The second-person point of view (“You”) is rarely used in fiction.
This intimate technique breaks the “fourth wall” to make the reader part of the story. It’s difficult to get right and can be uncomfortable for the reader, making it more successful in short stories or short diary entries/letters than in full novels.
Why Second-Person POV is So Difficult in Fiction
1. The reader may feel isolated/pressured.
While first-person point of view creates a similar closeness between a character and the reader, there is still a separation there. The reader can appreciate the character even if they don’t always understand or agree with them.
When second-person is used, however, the reader is being forced into a role they may not be comfortable with. Not only is this level of intimacy unsettling, but having to “identify” with actions of behaviors the reader may not exhibit themselves can make them disassociate, pulling them out of the story. Done right, though, a writer can make it easier for their reader to empathize with morally grey characters.
2. Any suspense will be entirely external.
With third-person, readers are told what the narrator wants them to know about the main character as the narrator wants them to know it. In first-person, readers are told what the main character wants them to know as the main character wants them to know it. With second-person, there’s nothing the character knows that the readers don’t. Not only that, but readers are being told what to think about a situation—it’s a level of control that doesn’t want (I hesitate to say “allow,” though that’s the idea) the reader to speculate beyond the limitations of the character. This means that suspense and reveals will be entirely left to other factors, putting more work on the writer to build this in a way that still feels interesting and natural.
3. It’s harder to build secondary characters and subplots.
Just like suspense, the limited/controlled point of view in second-person can impede the development of secondary characters and subplots. Because the connection is strictly between the reader and your main character and their actions, building a connection to other characters or understanding their arcs requires more skill.
4. The narrative can feel repetitive.
A risk for more inexperienced writers, this can be a problem in first- and second-person points of view where the pronouns are limited, respectively, to “I” or “You.” It can take more finesse to create clarity and a natural flow.
Should Writers Try it Anyway?
Why not?
Regardless of the pitfalls, experimenting with different styles of storytelling is always a great exercise for any writer. Second-person point of view will challenge you to think and write in ways you may not have experienced in first- or third-person.
Second-person point of view is a very unique perspective. Done well, it can create a connection between your reader and character like no other.