This book just didn't do it for me. It started out with a bang, but somewhere near the center I kind of lost my way. If you have read and enoyed Caroline Kepnes before, then you will this one, too. The story just fell flat (for me).

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this advanced readers copy.

Kepnes is good. Really good. I dig her style and was chomping at the bit to get to this one.

“Providence” has a solid plotline with an eclectic cast of characters that were fleshed out extremely well. My only peeve really was that it felt a bit too long and could have used a wee trim here and there. Still a very good and engaging story with a few nice turns thrown in to keep it moving.

Kepnes makes this writing thing look easy. Her characters have real depth and her storytelling flows effortlessly. If you haven’t read her yet, then you need to pick up “You” and “Hidden Bodies”. They were both most excellent.

3.5 Stars with a disclaimer: My super high expectations may have hurt my star rating of this one, but it should not take away from the fact that I dig this authors style and look forward to whatever she is going to put out there.

I went into Providence with an open mind. I knew the author wasn't going to write a repeat of You.
And I think anybody looking for more of the same will be disappointed.

Providence does have some of the cultural references that add a little flavor to her writing (especially to Lovecraft fans). But this is about a jr high boy that gets kidnapped. He eventually returns back to his life and to the girl he loves but he's different. And I don't mean different like he's seen awful things. I mean he's physically different and there is something a little supernatural about him now.

Providence is written in a sort of stream of consciousness. There is so much packed into every paragraph. It can make you a little dizzy at times with information.

Providence is sad and somewhat depressing. Its a love story at heart. But these star crossed lovers are separated by circumstance. I loved how the book starts. Interesting characters and synopsis. Fast pace flow. But after time I felt like the pacing slowed down which is why this wasn't a 5 star book for me.

***Advance copy obtained from Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley***

I had high hopes for this book and it definitely didn't disappoint. Filled with quirky characters, an interesting storyline and I love the H.P. Lovecraft tie in. I couldn't put it down! I loved the different feeling of this tale and the protagonists really made the story. A coming of age/mystery/kidnapping/suspense!

*I'd like to thank the author/Publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review"

This is a well-written young adult book with an edge. Strong language. Difficult situations. Unrequited love. It was a bit slow-going and confusing at times, but in the end, I liked it.

Providence is trying to be too many things at once, so it ever fully expands on any of them, which leaves the reader confused and frustrated.

Providence tells the story of Jon and Chloe and their difficult friendship. The novel opens with a clear depiction of the contrast between Jon and Chloe’s lives. Unfortunately, the beginning is rushed, so the reader only gets a brief glimpse of the brewing romance between the characters. Their feelings for each other are complicated and rooted in middle school drama with popular friends and reputation colouring their friendship, but Kepnes does not spend enough time developing these feelings that are the driving force of the novel and the motivation for the characters.

The love Jon has for Chloe and Chloe has for Jon is one of the main forces driving this novel. Regrettably, there is no chemistry between the characters throughout the entire novel. The feeble amount of time spent developing those budding feelings is a disservice to the story as whole since they’re the backbone of the novel and the characters’ motivations.

Providence is deeply connected to Lovecraft, more specifically The Dunwich Horror. I thoroughly enjoy when novels are connected to classics and is a sort of English lesson within the text. Unfortunately, Providence did not interest me enough to seek out The Dunwich Horror and read it to get a better understand of the story and character motivations.

As with You and Hidden Bodies, Kepnes writing in Providence is flawless. I would describe it as a sort of cleaned up stream of consciousness that’s rooted in the mundane, but is able to toe the line of tedious monologue with interesting introspections. Her writing is the only reason I was able to finish the novel despite the boring story.

Overall, Providence bit off more than it can chew by trying to be a mystery, romance, and science fiction novel all rolled into one, but, unfortunately, never expands adequately on any of them. Had Kepnes solely focused on the mystery and romance, I think the novel would have been more successful.

I absolutely LOVED Caroline's books with Joe as the main character. I am not sure how to review this book, because I do enjoy a quirky, slightly weird read. However, both Jon and Chloe were unlikable to me. I even yelled at my book a few times, "Jon, just tell her what the deal is through an email!" That would have cut out over half the book though, which I'm sure is unacceptable. The Eggs guy was super frustrating. First of all, it took me a few chapters to figure out who he is and why he's in the book. The part about his son seemed super random.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

THIS BOOK. I'm in a haze after reading it. I want to hug it, and think about it, and then hug it some more. Definitely one of my favorite reads in a while.

I loved YOU and HIDDEN BODIES. PROVIDENCE absolutely carries over Kepnes' style from these previous works: the lyrical sentences and quirky characters, the pop culture references and biting social insights. But whereas her Joe Goldberg books had me disturbingly giddy about rooting for a psycho-stalker, this book's characters are more obviously lovable from the get-go. And still, Jon, Chloe, and Eggs' decisions often occupy delicious moral gray areas that let the reader speculate: 'What would I do in their shoes? Would I judge someone I know for these choices?'

I enjoyed each of the three narrators, but Jon's narration in particular will get you thinking. Is someone a "monster" if they can't help it? And if another person made them that way? His story begs loads of questions on actions vs. intent, fantasy love vs. real love, and if ends ever justify means.

I can't wait for this book to get out in the world, so I can recommend to it to more people.

One more personal to-do after this read: Use the word "fluffernutter" more in everyday conversation.

I LOVED You and Hidden Bodies and was so excited to find out she had a new book. While I still love her writing, this book didn’t connect for me. I don’t generally care for supernatural and I’ve never read Lovecraft and the rest just fell flat because of it. I didn’t particularly like the characters or plot, either. Did like the epilogue, though. I can see why some might flip over this book but not me.

I loved this book. So well written. I found this book unputdownable!!

I did enjoy the book, unfortunately I had figured out the twist. But still a fun beach reading book.

There is no other way for me to describe this book other than heavy. At times it seems there is no real purpose to this book, there's no glowing happily ever after promised, but as you get into the minds of Jon, Chloe, and Eggs we begin to understand how obsession can take over your life. The teacher was obsessed with a book and a crazy idea, Jon is obsessed with finding a way to be with Chloe and around others, Chloe is obsessed with Jon and popularity, Eggs is obsessed with finding the answer. Each is in a terrible position where their life is out of control and though each could sit back and accept it, they don't.

It certainly wasn't the easiest book I've ever read, in fact it took me four days to get through it, but that's mainly due to the weight. The emotions in this book are heavy, it's very sad and disheartening how each character is so affected by a single event. Jon's world is not easy, there's no possible pathforward to make it easier either, but he pushes on and I loved that about him. I ached for him, for his life stunted in his youth, but he took what happened to him and I do feel like he lived in a smart way. His effort to save others, to protect them at all costs, and to still be a productive, functioning member of society is something I applaud. Chloe was impossible to connect to, a flighty woman who really only is herself when she is painting. I liked her and I hated her all at once. Eggs, on the other hand, is this sort of character you are so fascinated by, but you are also terrified of him. Readers grow to care for Jon, we want him safe, he doesn't mean for things to happen, so Eggs' efforts to find him, to take him down, are hard to accept. That said, his desperate obsession with Jon is so interesting, especially with his own personal experiences with life being so out of control, with illness taking over. For me, the heart of this story is in the characters, in the way they obsess and grow and come full circle.

Caroline Kepnes uses a sort of odd humor at certain times and the favorited pop culture references she is known for are weaved into the story. I know of H.P. Lovecraft, but I can't say I ever have or ever would read his work, so I felt a bit disconnected from the Lovecraft obsession. Kepnes gives a very solid effort to include details from Lovecraft's books, but when weird fiction just isn't your thing it sometimes just didn't click. I did love that it was a thing though, that there are these people who follow his work, who live by it in an odd sort of way, that Jon could see others who knew the stories even if they didn't know just how much of those stories are a part of him.

I didn't quite know what I was getting into when I started Providence, but I'm glad I read it. It's different, a very fascinating story that, though unreal at times, is easily applied to real life. I'm not usually a science fiction fan and lucky for me I can say this doesn't have as much in it as you might thing. It's there, it moves the story along, but it isn't what the book is about. I definitely suggest Providence to thriller fans and I think fans of Caroline Kepnes' previous novels should open their minds up for something a bit different. It's not Hidden Bodies or You., but it is Providence and it is very good.

Caroline Kepnes' latest offering is quite different from her previous two novels, but every bit as engaging. We trade psychotic stalker Joe for inadvertent killer Jon. Told through multiple POVs, each character is fully realized and sympathetic - somewhat of a difference from YOU/HIDDEN BODIES! This novel will appeal to Kepnes' established fans as well as newcomers, particularly those who enjoy Dan Wells' I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER series.

This is a well written book. There are several messages in this book. We should never give up, there are things in the world we don’t understand and are mysterious. This book wasn’t what I thought it would be. It often left me feeling sad. It doesn’t have a happy ending but it doesn’t had a bad ending either. It just is. Received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.

I wanted to love this book. I felt disconnected at parts though. I didn’t really understand the “I am Providence” and “lovecraft” references. I think if I had understood that better, it may have made more sense. I still love Caroline, and I will continue to read all of her books!

Very original story by Caroline Kepnes of "You" fame. She puts forth a new book completely different from her previous two. The main characters of Jon, Chloe, and "Eggs" in the book "Providence" are stuck in their own unique but tragic lives. The book follows Jon's disappearance and relationship with Chloe from when they are kids to when Jon is discovered in a mall four years after we was taken. Egg's story line focuses on him and his wife, Lo (whom I loved) and his desperate search for the reason why all these seemingly healthy people are dying from heart attacks. There were some parts of the story that dragged but the beginning and the end fly by and you hope that all three of these main characters get a happy ending. A little Lovecraft horror is thrown into this and that is the part I enjoyed the least. I guess because I am not a huge fan of Lovecraft and his creepy novels. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading books where you have to suspend your belief a bit and enjoys books that are different. .

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

This book was very interesting, and I finished it quickly. I was rooting for the main characters the whole time. Its about a loner who ends up getting kidnapped and coming back 4 years later and realizing he is now different and unable to be with the love of his life. I liked the concept of the novel. I was hoping for something a little more on the lines of Caroline Kepnes's previous novels, but it wasn't really similiar at all, but I did like the book and I thank you for the early copy. I look forward to more books by this author in the future.

If a line was drawn from Mary Shelley through H. P. Lovecraft, it would end with Caroline Kepnes. Providence is a mesmerizing story that had me in tears by the ending.

Caroline Kepnes has proven that she is a dynamic writer. While I liked her previous novels (so much) I LOVED this book to pieces. It is so different than anything I was anticipating but that it what made me enjoy it so much more. I highly recommend it to all readers.

4.5 stars

Holy moly. Caroline Kepnes is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I LOVED her first two books, so I was very excited when I saw this book was coming out.

I was interested to see if I enjoyed this book as much, as this was a completely new story. The answer was an enthusiastic yes!

She definitely has a way with character development. I would love to read another story with these characters, or new characters. Keep them coming!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.