My first thought after tearing through PROVIDENCE, my first Carolyn Kepnes novel, was "amazing". I loved the way the book was laid out - the chapters alternating between characters, each told in the first person. Each character was fully developed; I felt I was inside their head.

In some ways this reminded me of very early (1970-80's) Dean Koontz and John Saul, but with outstanding writing and research. That's a good thing, btw. 

This is mystery, thriller, paranormal with a dash of science fiction, but at its heart it's a love story as all the best stories are. I highly recommend PROVIDENCE, especially to those of you looking for something new. Then, like me, you can grab all of Carolyn Kepnes past books and feast!

I am a HUGE Caroline Kepnes fan but Providence strayed a little too far from what I love most about her writing. I think it just tried to do too much in a short span of time and it didn't really work for me.

This is one of those beautiful books that transcends genres. I don't really feel like it was a thriller, though I couldn't stop reading. I'd say it leans more towards a mystery with a side of romance and dips a toe into the supernatural superhero style. It's hard to pinpoint because each of the three main POVs (Jon, Chloe, and Eggs) have their own goals, their own feelings about things, and they're moving separately yet together toward an inevitable collision. A life is more than one thing.
Jon, Chloe, and Eggs felt so real. I would definitely say this is a character driven story and Caroline Kepnes did her characters justice, fleshing them out so where they felt like real people. I grew very attached to Jon especially, though I loved them all in their own way. I was rooting for their success.
I would also say this is novel is for readers who enjoy books charged more with emotion rather than action. Events occur, the stakes are raised, but there's an unresolved question I would expect an answer to from a more plot based novel and it's the character's emotions that are so striking - Chloe and Jon's attachment to one another, their desperation to be together; Eggs obsession to catch The Beard while he tangles with the difficulties of thoughts regarding his son. Their emotions and thoughts were what really drew me in. That, for me, is what really stood out.

I about fell over when I was granted an early digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review for Providence. Especially because the author, Caroline Kepnes knocked it out the park with You & Hidden Bodies but this one didn’t do it for me. I’m sad to say, it’s a 2.5 Star Read for me.

I was disappointed. Left me confused, frustrated and feeing like I just missed something.

its always a wild read with this author. She pushes me outside my regular read. Different and thought provoking.

I've read Kepnes' other books and was excited to get a sneak peek at her new novel. I'm sorry, but it was a huge disappointment. I wasn't sure the age of the main characters when it started out, so I had a hard time trying to relate. Jon's disappearance was clunky, but I read on interested to see what happened. After his return, the book took a downward spiral for me. It became tedious and boring and I had no opinion on the characters at all. This was a stilted and strange book, but not in a good way.

4 Stars

Jon and Chloe are friends that have grown up in together in a small town in New Hampshire. Jon and Chloe are about to share their true feelings for each other when Jon is kidnapped by a substitute teacher. Four years later, Jon wakes up from a coma with nothing but a copy of HP Lovecraft's The Dunwich Horror. Chloe has changed and made her into the popular crowd. Jon has changed too, but his change makes him a danger to be around.

I think people are probably going to be mad because this isn't You. Kepnes went in a different direction this time, and I think she did a great job. I was a little hesitant going in because I am not familiar with a lot (any) of Lovecraft's works. This didn't stop me from enjoying the story in any way. Kepnes employs some expositional characters to fill us in, and I learned alongside Jon. I liked the tragic love connection between Jon and Chloe, the fight that Jon has with what he has become and how that dictates how he relates to people around him, and I enjoyed the character of Eggs. I also love how her characters use pop culture so naturally. Kepnes has a very captivating writing style that had me invested the entire time I read this.

Well, this is certainly the most unusual example of a "Lovecraft-influenced" tale I've ever seen! It's hard to imagine a romance- and relationship-oriented novel to be, of all things, "Lovecraftian". But that's what Caroline Kepnes gives us in her third book, exhibiting the same excellent writing we saw in _You_ and _Hidden Bodies_, but stylistically miles away from the tone of those two books. There is humor here, but it is wry humor, and the overall mood is melancholy.
Actually, Kepnes leads off with a kick-ass idea; by a third of the way through the book, I was excited. I had the impression that the story was going to go somewhere that it ended up, well, not going. So yes, there is an unavoidable impression of (mild) disappointment that goes along with this, but once my expectations were appropriately adjusted, I was able to settle into a comfortable appreciation of the book. And looking back on it, I find it has really made me think a lot, both during the read and in its aftermath.
Quickie Q&A take on _Providence_: What might an "urban", relationship-driven adaptation of (or "meditation=on") Lovecraft's story "The Dunwich Horror" look like? Is such a thing even imaginable? Kepnes imagines, and realizes it. Respect: for the unique imagination (and fine writing) of Caroline Kepnes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a fan of Caroline Kepnes previous books, You and Hidden Bodies I was beyond excited to receive an early review copy of her latest book, Providence. My expectations were unrealistically high which definitely worked against this book. This book is not JOE, which is fine but it’s not even a quarter as good as YOU. The wit and acidic sharp tone I love from Ms. Kepnes was completely missing. The humor fell flat as did the dozen different plot points. This book was trying to be so many different things and in my opinion none of them worked. I’m pretty sure not being a Lovecraft fan or never reading Dunwich Horror probably blew this book for me as well.

I truly appreciate the chance to read this book and I am sorry it was such a big miss for me. Perhaps others will approach this read differently and enjoy Providence. I am curious to see if Caroline Kepnes returns to Joe or if she will let him go and continue on her new path. Whatever she writes next, I will still be interested in reading.

[3.5 stars] I know many readers are excited about Providence because they loved You, which I haven’t read. I’ll be honest: I mainly requested this from NetGalley because I live in Providence and wanted to read something set where I live. I enjoyed the many PVD in-jokes. Rhode Islanders will definitely get a kick out of seeing the city woven into this book. If you’ve lived in Providence, you’ll recognize various streets and venues (Lupo’s, that gas station on Wickenden, etc.), and that’s definitely fun.

I found the story compelling, but the writing itself was a bit tedious, so I’ll get the most critical part of this review out of the way. The style is often clipped and silted, and the tone quite dry. Physical settings are under-described, which makes it a bit difficult to follow certain scenes in which characters move through space. All three of the first-person narrators are given the same stylistic quirks: fused sentences, excessive comma use, and a habit of repeating the same thought two or three times in a row. There were SO MANY references to real-life things and people (some obscure, some Kardashian-level) that it took me out of the narrative. I frequently had to look things up to determine whether they mattered to the plot/would contribute in any way to my understanding of the novel. They almost never did. (One major exception: it is helpful to have at least a passing familiarity with Lovecraft—references to his life and work abound.)

Providence is told through three alternating first person narrators, Jon, Chloe, and Eggs. Jon is a lonely boy, harboring early-pubescent love for his best and only friend, Chloe. After Jon is kidnapped, Chloe betrays Jon in the worst way he can imagine—by dating his bully, the truly vile Carrig, who is Jon’s foil throughout the novel. Jon is eventually freed by his kidnapper, but something has changed about him. He isn’t unhealthy and weak. He doesn’t seem to have any mental deficits from his four years in captivity. He’s big and handsome, and he has no memory of the years spent in a basement—but he does have a copy of a Lovecraft novel, containing a note from his kidnapper, and a strange effect anyone he feels strongly about. A couple years later, a detective called Eggs is obsessed with the deaths (by apparent heart attack) of a handful of twenty-somethings. His wife, Lo, and boss, Stacey, are desperate for him to let these odd but seemingly innocent deaths go.

The alternating perspectives keep the novel moving at a nice clip, but if you’re expecting the pacing of a thriller I think you’ll be disappointed. Aside from the ongoing question of what, exactly, was done to Jon in that basement, there isn’t much mystery or suspense here. The deaths are, of course, suspicious, and similar cases follow Jon wherever he goes. For me, the most gripping thing about the novel was seeing the ways in which these deaths affect Jon and Eggs, from opposite sides. This really is a compelling read, in spite of my issues with the writing! I have a feeling this will make a great audiobook—the awkwardness of the writing would likely be smoothed over by talented narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oooh, so creepy. Absolutely compelling and readable, and very different from You. Great read but disappointing appearance of the dad...out of the blue, without lead-in and with no real impact.

This book proves that Ms. Kepnes is not a one-hit (er, character)-wonder. Providence is a gripping story from start to finish. I highly recommend this book!

Told from three different perspectives, Caroline Kepnes'Providence is an unusual story that weaves together threads of obsession, mystery and H.P. Lovecraft.

Kepnes seems to specialize in unlikable narrators, yet somehow she still makes them accessible and engaging. You can't help but love them despite their flaws. Well . . .most of them.

Kepnes also does a great job keeping the reader immersed in the world of the story. I very nearly missed my subway stop on more than one occasion because I was so engrossed in the book, I didn't want to put it down.

In the end Providence leaves us asking the question, "Who are the monsters, really?"

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed her previous books, people who like super dark mysteries, fans of H.P. Lovecraft and weird fiction in general. I would not recommend this book to folks who can't deal with an unlikable narrator.

I absolutely loved Kepnes’s first book You, but since then have been disappointed. I wanted to like this book, it seemed like she was trying to hard to write something unique and it fell flat.

I expected to rate this a little higher because I did enjoy my time reading it, thing is I wanted to know more. It’s a story that doesn’t fit any contemporary genre. It’s not a thriller, or a coming of age, it’s got some romance but not really. This is what makes it tricky to recommend
Kepnes is a talented author, no doubt about it, she is creative and wrote a wholly original novel. It’s nothing like You so that will disappoint her fans but Providence is a good read and worth your time.

Teenagers doing what teenagers do, hanging around and having fun. Throw in a bully and a meek victim, a strong connection between boy and girl, and the sudden disappearance of one of the boys. What you have is a riveting story of loyalty, suspense, and the tragic consequences of an experiment gone wrong.

This is the first book I have read by Caroline Kepnes so I had no expectations of the type of story it would be. I found myself captured by the premise of the story, the strong development of characters, the denial of what could have been, and the heartbreak of the man whose life was changed by one fateful event.

The writing was strong and compelling, the events well described, and as the story developed I could feel the joy, frustration, desperation, and hurt of the characters as the tale progressed. I’m not going to describe the plot, others have done that very well. Suffice to say I loved the book, the story, and the author’s ability to bring the characters to life. Well done, Caroline Kepnes, I’ll be reading more of your work.

I received a free advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I read Caroline Kepnes' first book "You" and she masters the voices of the characters so well that I couldn't wait to read this one too. Although this book is very different from her others, she masters her characters here with Jon, the main character, who is kidnapped one morning on his way to middle school. His best friend Chloe is heartbroken and leads a half-hearted search for Jon that doesn't last long because Jon isn't one of the popular kids and no one is overly worried about him. He eventually comes back years later, but he doesn't stick around long once he realizes he has powers that cause him to hurt anyone he gets too close to.

Overall I really liked this book, even though some parts of it were a little uneven. The chapters go back and forth between Jon, Chloe and a detective named Eggs who is investigating a series of deaths that he thinks are suspicious.

Jon's chapters are the most interesting and authentic. He tries to figure out what happened to him when he was kidnapped and as a reader I was totally with him on his journey, wanting to know how he stays away from people all the time so he doesn't hurt them. Chloe tries to move on with her life as Jon comes in and out of it and while I wanted to find out what happened with her and Jon, I didn't find her love for Jon, her best friend, to be entirely convincing. Maybe it's because the book starts when Jon is kidnapped and then jumps forward a few times (skipping 4 years, then a year, etc etc). I wish there had been more in the beginning, before Jon got kidnapped, to really show their relationship and why they were so close.

Overall though, this was a solid read and definitely worth picking up!

I was seriously disappointed with this book and I really tried to love it. I flew through Kepnes' YOU and had very high expectations for her next thriller. Providence started out well but then took a turn downhill for me with the supernatural element. It was a strange read for me in this respect as I do not normally gravitate toward sci-fi or fantasy. The author's writing style was still strong for me despite my loss of interest in the story line and she's still on my favorite thriller author list, but I hope that she reverts back to her (strictly) thriller ways.

I burned through this one in under a day--what an amazing read!

It's so hard to review because there are so many parts to this book. It's a supernatural tale with elements of gothic/cosmic horror, but it's also a bittersweet love story that burrows so deep in your heart, you'll be thinking about it for days after you finish. It's billed as somewhat of a thriller, but its roots go much deeper than that, and I would advise readers not to go into it thinking it's going to be a fast-paced action book. It's much more, and if you read it with the same mindset you would a straight literary fiction novel--as something to be savored--you won't be disappointed.

There are a lot of intertextual references here, most notably The Dunwich Horror by HP Lovecraft. I'd never read any Lovecraft before, but I stopped reading halfway through this book to read Dunwich. (You don't need to do that to enjoy this book, but it definitely gave me more context--and also turned me into a Lovecraft fan!)

A lot of people are saying this is a scary story, but I didn't find it very frightening. Most frequently, I was sad--sad for the characters and their circumstances, and praying that things would turn around for them. Jon is one of the most heartbreaking, endearing characters I've ever read. I ached for him to be reunited with Chloe, and I hoped against hope that he'd find a cure for what was done to him.

Oh, and the VOICE of this book. All the characters were so clear on the page; Kepnes made it so easy for us to feel for them after reading their thoughts and funny observations about life. To be honest, I was hooked during the very first paragraph, when Jon says: "Nobody can kick your ass for what you think in your mind, not even your mom." That sentence is like most of the book--real, relatable, and so refreshing it makes you laugh out loud.

My only problem with this book was how long it took for Jon and Chloe to reunite. I don't think we were given enough time to see them together, and after all the yearning and hardship they both went through, it still didn't feel resolved by the end. I'm not sure if the author plans a sequel to this book, but I would totally read one. At the conclusion, I was left feeling hopeful, but also a little disappointed. Maybe that's by design, though.

I will be telling all my reader friends about this book; it's so well done that I'm also going to buy the other books by Caroline Kepnes. Her voice and observations are simply too good to miss!

The story begins with Jon being kidnapped by a man who was a substitute teacher at his school. He uses Jon to undergo some form of experiment to save humanity giving Jon uncontrollable powers. With this beginning, I pictured a completely different read from what I actually read. This story was nothing what I envisioned.
Jon and Chloe are friends who never find the words to express how they feel about each other, yet they are the only ones who truly understand each other. They have a solid connection with each other, yet they drift apart from each other. Even though Jon and Chloe started off as friends and Chloe showed immense effort in trying to find Jon I never felt more than friendship between them. When Jon returned I couldn’t understand why he didn’t reach out more to Chloe. They occupied a parallel universe of time living in the same vicinity, yet apart. They had an odd connection of which they understood and I couldn’t understand the connection.

The timeline was choppy going from four years to one year to another just living life. I wasn’t in favor of the way Kepnes delivered the information in this book. There were many components to this story: Jon’s superhuman powers, the cop building a case against Jon, and Chloe the love interest. Yet for me they didn’t flow. These components felt like separate stories.

This story reminded me of a comic book character with these strange powers. The weirdest thing about this story was the comparison to the Dunwich Horror book about Wilber. Wilber was a deformed boy with special powers that grew at an abnormal rate. I felt like Kepnes was using this platform to write her thesis about the Dunwich Horror story referencing Jon in comparison to Wilber. It felt like an unoriginal topic to compare Jon with Wilber.

I didn’t like this story, not one single part of it, but that’s okay. I gave Kepnes a second chance to wow! me, but it didn’t work out that way. I was bored by the Dunwich Horror comparison. The cop known as Eggs wasn’t very relevant to Jon’s character as far as helping his situation and his character was disappointing.