2nd person point of view examples in literature

Did you ever read those pick-your-path books as a child – the ones where you got to choose how the plot progressed?

Those stories are the perfect example of second person point of view fiction writing. They put you – the reader – at the very centre of the action.

But second person isn’t a POV we come across very often in fiction.

Here I take a look at why that’s the case and share some excellent examples of second person point of view from fiction writers who chose to go against the grain.

What is second person point of view?

Second person point of view is written in the second person, using the pronoun you.

It’s a point of view that we associate with self-help books and advertising slogans. We also come across it in poetry and in song lyrics. But in fiction? Not so much.

In fact, this POV is probably the least utilised of the lot.

First person, third person limited and third person omniscient poi Third person narrative.