Providence is Kepnes’ first novel not to feature the brilliant Joe. It’s also her first dip into a bit of sci-fi and while it reads well enough and I enjoyed it, I did finish the novel and wonder what the point of it actually was? There was no resolution or answers.

There is so much Kepnes could have explored with Jon, and it just all fizzled into this romance with Chloe. The most interesting storyline was Eggies. His was the narrative I was always keen to get back to and even that died a death.

I just don’t know what Kepnes was going for. It felt like 300 pages that just went nowhere which was incredibly disappointing. She is such a good writer, but it’s like she didn’t want to delve properly into what happened to Jon and so it all fell very flat.

This was by far worse than her other books... and I didn't even finish "You" because it was too triggering for me. I'm not a delicate reader, but I couldn't hang with the stalking and third person narrative.

This was a fun book to read because I feel like it straddled a few different genres which kept me guessing and gave me a variety of feels. I've read only one other book by Kepnes but she's definitely an author I would continue reading/supporting.

Well, I made a mistake with this one.  

It happens to the best of us. 

You see an author that your LOVE and you dive into a book expecting it to give you all the same feels.  

Unfortunately, I didn't consider (even after reading the synopsis) that this novel would NOT contain Joe Goldberg.  The anti-hero from YOU and Hidden Bodies that I have come to know and (pretty much against my free will) love. 

This novel is COMPLETELY different from Kepnes' prior novels.  It is like comparing apples and oranges; and that, my friends, was probably my first mistake.  I went into this one thinking I would get the dark and twisty vibe that I have come to know and love, but Providence is really a hodgepodge of all different types of genres: a little bit paranormal, a dash of coming of age, a pinch of YA thriller.  

I think Kepnes is fearless for doing something SO different, but, it wasn't for me. I didn't understand all the Lovecraft references and I don't really love YA (I teach high school students- I get enough teen drama on the daily).

Overall, I would probably recommend this to my students or add it to my classroom library.  

I'll continue waiting for more Joe.

This book was such an interesting read. It's a page-turner you won't want to put down.

The way that the primary character was written was both, unique and mysterious. The story will stick with you long after you finish reading. Honestly, it's probably the kind of book you would want to read again to catch whatever you've missed.

Jon and Chloe are dynamic, on their own and together. It's hard to explain what is so interesting about their relationship and who they are/were in the story without giving too much away, but their history and connection make you want to learn more.

And the back and forth between them and additional characters as each chapter ended is critical to the story as a whole. It's important to remember that people aren't always who we think they are, and they're also not exactly who an author makes them seem to be. ;) Definitely worth the read.

I waited to long to review it, and now don't remember the details, dammit! I do remember that I loved it though. Caroline Kepnes is one of my favourite authors of all time.

Providence by Caroline Kepnes explores super-science and supernatural themes. After nerdy, awkward teenage Jon is kidnapped by unknown forces and strangely modified, he discovers he’s stronger, tougher, and more powerful. But his mysterious transformation has strange, dangerous side effects, and until he can figure out what happened to him and how to manage it, Jon is a danger to everyone around him. This makes getting back in touch with Chloe, his old friend and maybe love, much more difficult. Plus, the police are investigating all the seemingly unconnected, random deaths that keep happening around Providence, RI, which Jon is doing his best to keep a low profile and get control of himself. This is a novel about superhuman enhancements and the very human desire for affection and connection.

Caroline Kepnes does such a wonderful job of commenting on our society's lack of tolerance as well as its confusion regarding where our public life ends and our private life begins, just as she did in You and Hidden Bodies. She has also succeeded in once again creating a killer character you can't help rooting for. I found myself worrying about how the book would end, but was very pleased with the final note of hope.

Oh Lord how I've tried to finish this book! Unfortunately, it's just not going to happen. I think I've attempted it no fewer than 6 times at this point (always thinking I was just in the wrong frame of mind for this type of story), but I'm never able to get further than 40% of the way through. Maybe it's about to get better just after that point, but I don't have any more tries left in me.

This book starts out with the same compelling writing style that made Kepnes' "You" so very unputdownable. But after the first part, things get all supernatural and kinda weird and I lose interest. It doesn't help that the story starts in what seems to be the present, then there is a rather significant time jump (years), but never any clarification about exactly when things are happening. I end up so distracted trying to sort that out that I'm yoinked out of the magic of the story.

Different sections are told from the perspective of different characters, and in some cases that also adds to the disjointed feeling of the story. At the 40% mark, at least, it's not even clear who these people really are or why their perspective matters.

Perhaps I have always quit this just a few pages before it's about to start making sense, but I have my doubts. If you enjoy Lovecraftian elements, then there's a really good chance you'll like this more than I did. If you are not a fan of Lovecraft, then I recommend you give this one a pass.

Have you ever read a book that you couldn't put down, but you had no idea why? Do you love it? Is it just like a trainwreck you can't look away from? You can't stop thinking about it, but you aren't sure if it's because the story was amazing or you're unfulfilled? Well, that is exactly how I felt about Providence. I was conflicted in more ways than one, and I had no idea how to rate it for weeks. 

Thankfully, I finally settled on a 4. I'm still not sure if that's right, but upon reflection, I realized that I enjoyed the story a lot. Though the book was weird, it's one I feel will stick with me in ways...maybe for that reason. Idk. I'm still having trouble sorting out my feelings enough to write a complete review. All I know is I'm really glad I read it. Caroline Kepnes has me for good. Whether what she writes is about my man, Joe, or some strange scifi shit. 😂 

I adore her writing style, and I definitely think that contributed to my enjoyment of the novel. Honestly, I could probably be entertained by her shopping list. She is so fucking talented that it astounds me. Her writing style isn't the only thing that makes me a fan her work. Her brilliant storytelling blows me away in every book she writes. The characters are interesting and flawed, and her creative, dark, complex stories make my heart happy. 

That being said, this book definitely won't be for everyone. First, if you're looking for another book like You, you should just wait for the third book to come out. Second, this isn't really a thriller. It's scifi with some mystery and romance (but not of the romance novel variety if that makes sense.) The overall feel of the story is slightly dark and kind of melancholy, so if you don't appreciate those type of books, don't bother picking this one up. 

I don't want to spoil the ending, but I know some people need a happy one to be satisfied. This ending isn't 100 percent happy, but it isn't completely sad either. There are some good parts, and there's a clear sliver of hope there too. It's actually why I wish the author would give us another book. I don't really think that will happen though, so I guess I will just have to be happy with what I got for now. Lol

Very enjoyable book. Good mystery and was a real page turner! Looking forward to reading more by this author!

I’m still not sure what I just read. This book made me long for the masterpiece that was You, but it seemed like i was reading a book by a completely different author. I felt like Kepnes was going for some sort of weird romance with a slight Stephen King like angle.

Reading this novel was difficult for me. I really wanted to devour it all in a day but I just couldn't stay focused on it. There was some great plotlines but overall it didn't work for me.

Kepnes writes characters that you love and loathe and plot lines that keep you guessing and racing to the end.

I have discovered I am not a huge fan of Caroline Kepnes’s writing. The characters are just awful and I find I cannot relate to them at all. Even the dark and twisted ones should be a little endearing in some way. Didn’t enjoy this one much at all.

A quick note: this book is VERY different from Kepnes' earlier novels, YOU and HIDDEN BODIES. Instead of delving into the minds of psychopaths, instead, Kepnes explores the difference between who we think we are and who we could be.

Jon is awkward kid and Chloe is his only friend. When Jon is kidnapped and goes missing, Chloe desperately misses her friend and struggles to move on. When Jon suddenly returns, six years later, Chloe is so excited to have him back. Only Jon has a secret. Something horrible happened to him while he was gone—something he can't remember, but that makes him dangerous to be around.

Told from the focal points of Chloe, Jon, and Eggs, a detective who is secretly investigating a series of heart attacks that he thinks may be more than that, this supernatural thriller is slower-paced than YOU, but offers much richer characters. And doesn't make you feel like you need to take a shower afterwards.

Don't get me wrong, I really like YOU, but I think this work let Kepnes' writing shine a bit more and let her stretch the parameters of a thriller novel, much like she did with YOU, but in a different direction. It took me until I was about 30% into the novel to really get into, but then I couldn't put it down. The characters are complex and even more than the plot, I loved getting to know them and what drove their fears and insecurities.

Once again, Kepnes has proved that she's a writer to watch.

I read "You" when it first came out and it was dark and different. I gave four stars for a unique premise. This is good too, but the narrative felt a little too similar to the first book and the plot was a little too generic. I ended up skimming the second half because it just wasn't quite as engaging as I wanted it to be. If you burn through thrillers it's good enough to add to your pile.

This book is a hard one for me to review. I am a huge fan of Caroline Kepnes, and You is my favorite book of all time. So, as many others were, I was completely thrilled when i found out that she wrote another book. I jumped on NetGalley, and sure enough there it was. Ready for me to tear through those pages, and devour every word..... but it just didn't happen for me. I attempted to read the ebook 3-4 times, and couldn't get past the first quarter of the book. There's this scifi vibe to it, and its jumping back and forth in time.... and I just could not for the life of me get into it.

Months after the release, I downloaded the audio book and was finally able to make it to the end of the book. All in all, I did like it enough to finish it, but I certainly wouldn't blindly recommend it, like I do with the authors other books. This one isn't going to be for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, as well as the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

The only reason why I did not devour this book in one-sitting is because I was exhausted from waking up at 4am. I started this book late last night, fell asleep while reading it, left home late today because of it, and spent my prep time at school finishing it.

Caroline Kepnes creates unforgettable characters who stay in readers' mind long after the final page is turned. There is something about this book that feels as if Stephen King could have written it.

Jon is the right amount of broken and noble. I would say that Chloe is stunted, but she isn't really, she just hasn't been able to develop her true potential because she carries around the guilt of not believing Jon would come back the first time he went away. As for Eggs, Kepnes should venture out onto detective novels because I would read more about him.

A little odd but definitely still very fun and well written! I will absolutely be checking out past works from this author as well as anything new coming their way. Characters are expressive and solid and has a great small town vibe representation.