I wanted to love this. I planned on loving it. And I tried not to compare it to You or Hidden Bodies, both of which I adore. Truly I did. But...
I'm not sure what kind of book this wanted to be. Horror? I didn't get that at all. Supernatural? Is Jon's ability supernatural or grounded in science gone wrong (an absolutely favorite genre for me)? Thriller? I did not have that "can't put it down" feeling I get with really good thrillers. I think this book has elements of all of the above; it's just not a great example of any of them.
The book started out pretty good. Kepnes had a real person in Jon. Flawed and awkward, he even made you a little uncomfortable. I related to him almost too well.
Then Jon gets kidnapped. It reminded me a bit of PenPal by Dathan Auerbach. I was prepared to be really creeped out. Then things begin to fall apart for me. We jump ahead 4 years. Okay for the first time, but the constant jumping of years felt disjointed to me. I could never get really invested in the story before it got yanked out from underneath me.
This novel left me wanting..more. And not getting it.
More character development. More backstory. More Lovecraft. Just more.
I'm going to get slammed for this, but I really disliked Eggs for most of the book. His character put me off. I couldn't feel sympathy for him at all. I routed against him. Part of the reason is very personal and subjective. (view spoiler) At the end though, I started to warm up to him.
At least I felt I got to know him as a character. I can't say the same for Chloe. She did not feel like a real person to me. She was a cardboard cutout of what a popular (mean?) girl is in a young adult novel. I never quite bought that she loved Jon. It didn't seem genuine. Come on, if Jon is your soulmate since childhood, you would NOT befriend, date, (view spoiler) his bully; even if you thought he was dead. No way.
And Blair was a non-starter. What did he do? Why did he do it? The perfect villain(view spoiler)?
I did somewhat enjoy the book. I finished it; and I do not do that anymore if I book doesn't hold my interest at page 100. So, there was interest. I will not, however, wait with bated breathe for a sequel. And that's what this book felt like; an introduction to the main story, a superhero-ish origin story. I was left a little disappointed. I think I expected to much. And that's on me, not Kepnes. I give this 2 3/4 stars.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

This is a great thriller. Throughout the book, I had no idea how it would end, but I was satisfied with the final pages.

This was quite an emotional story. Both Jon and Chloe struggled with the loss of each other. It was heartbreaking to see them apart, because they really were meant to be together.

Jon’s condition reminded me of the main character in the Joe Hill book Horns. In that book, the character grows horns, like the devil, and people tell him their worst secrets. He can’t escape it, just like Jon.

I have never read any Lovecraft stories before, but now I’m tempted to.

You know the thing about expectations? It can really crush the reading experience. I’ve enjoyed reading Caroline Kepnes in the past and when I saw she had a new book coming out, my love for YOU made me want to jump all over this with high expectations and not even read the blurb. What was I expecting? A great, riveting story. Thrilling and unputdownable. So that makes this so much harder for me because I expected to be blown away and was highly disappointed.

PROVIDENCE was nothing like I expected, in all the bad ways. The one thing about this book that stands out though, is the amazing writing. The writing is what kept me reading it until the end. Caroline Kepnes is such a talented writer that I was engrossed in reading something that I wasn’t even really enjoying. There’s something to be said about that.

The first thing you should know going into this book is that this is a paranormal thriller. I don’t do well with stories that have that thrown in like that, especially when I don’t know before hand. Should’ve read the blurb, and then should’ve skipped reading this. But here I am.

The beginning of this story was actually really good and I can honestly say the thing that also kept me reading was the fact that I genuinely felt bad for our main character Jon. His life was forever changed because of a tragic event from when he was a teenager and he never really figured out how to cope with it. The aftermath and what it did to him, what it turned him into. At the same time, I really disliked his best friend and love interest Chloe. Something about her character just rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn’t be bothered with her. Then there’s the story. Honestly that’s what felt the most underwhelming. I wanted it to be more suspenseful, more thrilling. In the end those were the very things it was missing. It was all very predictable, there was no big mystery to unravel. All the cards were laid out pretty early on and then we just went through the motions to see how things would turn up. The plot didn’t draw me in and keep me excited. And the ending was such a wishy-washy wrap up of the problems presented that it just made me angry.

I’m sad to say this was a miss for me but I am looking forward to reading what Ms. Kepnes puts out next. I’ll definitely just be more careful reading blurbs from now on.

Well, this was NOTHING like I expected it to be! Partially this is my fault because I had read the synopsis AGES ago and completely forgot about it and went into this fairly blind. I was expecting something more along the lines of a thriller (which I wouldn't QUITE categorize this in) and instead got a part contemporary, part romance, part sci-fi/mystery type read. Please, for those who are so anti sci-fi for some reason, bear in mind this plays a lesser part to the story than the contemporary "mystery" type feel that we get even though it is a big part of the book. Don't quite know what I mean? Well, that's actually what I LOVE about this book. I pretty much had no idea what was happening the entire time. I don't know if it's my lack of knowledge of Lovecraft, which seemed to be referenced a lot, or that it never quite gave me any of the answers that I wanted.

I do applaud the uniqueness of this story and absolutely felt for Jon and Chloe throughout the entire read. However, at a certain point I could feel my interest wane. I needed to know exactly how it would play out and what exactly DID happen to Jon?! Although I think the answers towards the end were supposed to round it all out for me, either I missed some of the point or it just didn't quite work for me. I can't quite pinpoint exactly the reasoning behind what didn't work for me.

What DID work for me was the intricate way in which Kepnes brought you right into the story. I love all the characters... well except for maybe one particular guy but that's a whole other story. This really, to me, felt more of a story of Jon and Chloe and their trials and tribulations while having to be a part - with neither of them fully knowing the reason why. This is a look at relationships, friendships, love and the intricate threads that come with all of them.

There's absolutely no taking away from the talent that is Kepnes. While I'm left still feeling a bit befuddled, I did love the relationship between Jon and Chloe.

Firstly, I need to mention how very different this book is to Ms. Kepnes' previous books You and Hidden Bodies. So much so that I think peoples reactions to this are going to be all over the place. Where do I stand? I LOVED IT!!!!

Where You and Hidden Bodies were dysfunctional (putting it mildly) love stories this is a more of a classic love story. There is never a doubt that Jon and Chloe are in love and what they will do or won't do to preserve that love. Here's the thing....I don't do love stories. I don't do romance. However, sometimes a book just moves your soul and you can't help rooting for the characters. Jon, Chloe, Eggs, & Lo - I loved all of you. I wanted nothing more than for your happiness.

There is a strong Lovecraftian theme in this story but I don't think you need to be a Lovecraft fan to enjoy this. I've read some of his short stories years and years ago so truly my knowledge of him is quite limited but still I had no problem following along to this. I'm also not one for supernatural elements but Kepnes made it work for me here. Her writing is so evocative, so lovely....perfection. I commend her for going in such a different direction and making it work. Well done, indeed!

I first want to thank Netgalley and everyone involved in making the master piece that is Providence by Caroline Kepnes. I LOVED Caroline Kepnes’ YOU and Hidden Bodies so when this came up on my screen I knew I had to read it. Providence is a mishmash of genres- thriller, paranormal, urban fantasy, young adult and it made it a mishmash 0n how I felt about it at certain times but it is so interesting and well written that by the end you love it. Jon and Chloe grow up as best friends in New Hampshire. Their feelings for each other start to grow, but they never talk about it. Just as Jon is about to confess how he feels, he is kidnapped by his teacher. His teacher has an obsession for H.P. Lovecraft, an author of horror pulp fiction, and by kidnapping Jon, the teacher is planning to save the world. Chloe is left to mourn Jon and becomes an adult without him there to support her. Jon finally escapes, but does so with an uncontrollable superpower, which can hurt the people he loves most. Of course he runs away to protect Chloe from his power, but all the while, he is being tracked by a detective.  What is good about this story is that it is told from multiple points of view. I find Cloe and Jons story easy t0 read and likeable characters. The story is well written and shows the different dimensions of the writer making this a must read book.

Loved this book! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book wanting to know what would come next.I find myself feeling bad for Jon he's kidnapped and overcomes this and then he is still isolated I found myself hoping throughout the whole book that Jon and Chloe would get back together and live happily ever after but twist after twist happens and the end of the story makes you wish for more.

Wow! This book took me on a wild ride! I work with teenagers every day so when I started reading Providence it felt as if it was a typical teen mystery but THEN part way through I realized I was reading a sci-fi love story. It was new. And it was fun! Even transitioning from one person to another was very smoothly done. #NetGalley #Providence

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I really wanted to like this book more then my did. The story appeared interesting but for me it never really went anywhere. The story seemed to drag on and the ending was somewhat unsatisfying. It was completely horrible and I did like the characters but overall it seemed to lack some fire. If you enjoy HP Lovecraft you will probably find the story more relatable and interesting but I don't.

Neutral rating due to error downloading. For some reason, this book is not showing on my kindle. I’ve tried sending a few times, made sure my email was correct and unable to download and review. However, I plan to buy the book and review anyway!

My, oh my is Caroline Kepnes a unique creature... she needs to be in a genre of her own! Although I’m a romantic, I don’t typically read love stories. Although I’m a fan of shows such as Stranger Things and X-Files, I tend to stray away from novels in the fantasy genre as well. But, I’m seriously convinced I would read anything created from the mind of Caroline Kepnes. This is unlike the YOU series so I encourage you to begin this read with an open mind and without the expectation of Joe. Jon is a whole different beast and I fell for him in a completely different manner than I did for Joe.

Caroline has a way of making you feel, and oh boy did I FEEL throughout the journey that is PROVIDENCE. Although the words are in black and white, they were so colorful., and this I feel is one of Caroline's biggest strong suits in her writing. It’s impossible not to feel for her characters. Feel their pain, the crack of their voice, feel their happiness, their passions.  I'm a sucker for a good character driven novel and Caroline know just how to serve this up for her readers. My heart soured, my heart exploded, my heart sang, and my heart broke.

Another thing that I absolutely loved was the choice in setting. If a book even captured New England living, this is that book. Being born and raised in Rhode Island, and now a New Hampshire resident for the past five-years, it was really cool having familiarity in locations and establishments that were mentioned. This gave me the feeling of home, which was captured perfectly within both states.

I am all about Providence! Seriously ladies and gents this book is a must read this summer. Caroline writing is something I can always get lost in, want to get lost in. Give me a one-way ticket to the fictional world Caroline creates anytime... I’ll be the first person in line to board the trip!

The description of Providence as "part love story, part detective story, and part supernatural thriller" is apt. It is a tale about unconditional, unrequited love; a detective who is determined to solve a mystery and in the process finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew; and a "what if?" exploration about the results science might produce.

When the story opens, Jon and Chloe are growing up in a small New Hampshire town, Chloe is beautiful and popular. Jon is a bit of a nerd who gets bullied at school. But the unlikely twosome are the best of friends.

One morning Jon takes a remote route to school in order to avoid being confronted by a group of bullies led by the most popular boy at school. But he never arrives at school. He vanishes and the desperate search for him is futile. Eventually, Chloe gives up hope that Jon will be found, and carries on with her life. Her popularity at school does not wane, especially since she ends up dating the very boy who taunted Jon.

Four years after he disappeared, Jon awakens. He has no memory of those years and has physically transformed. He has grown and is strong. His abductor is gone, but left him a cryptic note. And Jon realizes that he is not far from home.

When he returns, his parents are elated, of course, and he desperately wants to renew his relationship with Chloe. But he is horrified to learn that in the time he has been away he has developed a mysterious power to bring harm to others. And those he loves are not immune. He cannot control that power or alter its outcome so he dares not be near Chloe.

Living in self-imposed exile in Rhode Island, Jon supports himself by delivering papers and performing other work that doesn't require him to interact with others he cares about. He tries to get close to someone new . . . with disastrous results.

Jon decides to put his power to use delivering justice to those who deserve it which brings him to the attention of Detective Charles “Eggs” DeBenedictus. Eggs is a dedicated investigator who tends to get himself into hot water with his superiors because of his determination to follow up on clues that don't seem relevant to his fellow officers. He thinks he is on the trail of a serial killer, but the profile doesn't quit fit. Meanwhile, Eggs has a troubled home life. His wife wants him to take care of himself by undergoing his annual physical examination. She also wants him to accompany her to visit their severely autistic son who resides in a care facilities. Eggs avoids doing either one as he becomes increasingly obsessed with the case.

Meanwhile, Chloe becomes a successful artist who specializes in painting the eyes of the boy who still haunts her. She plans to marry her high school boyfriend, moving into his luxurious apartment with him. But she can't forget Jon, especially since he occasionally is unable to resist the urge to communicate with her.

Providence is an inventively unique story about a bond between two people that defies description and all attempts to sever it. It is a tale about a young man who loses four years of his life through no fault of his own and, upon learning that he has acquired a power he neither wants nor can control, just wants to resume leading a normal life. It is an exploration of the impact Jon's transformation has upon everyone he loves -- even though they don't know about the strange power he possesses. Kepnes have woven a nuanced, complex story about loyalty, trusting one's instincts about another person's spirit, and the lengths to which we are willing to go in order to maintain relationships that bring meaning to our lives and make us feel better about ourselves. It is an entertaining and heart-breaking story that readers will ponder long after reading the last page.

**edit**
The last half of the book was a much faster read than the first half, but mostly because I was skimming the pages.

It took me 2 weeks to get halfway through. I know I'm in the minority saying that I didn't even like You, but I thought I'd give Caroline Kepnes another shot when I saw this ARC posted on Netgalley. I was actually excited to see it and thrilled when I was approved.

The first part of the book was good, it had me, intrigued by the relationship between Jon and Chloe, best friends - would it evolve into something more? Then Jon disappeared for 4 years and reappears, but is not himself.

This is where things went downhill. Then came more characters, more genres, and it went from an enjoyable read to just making it through.

The story, told from three different perspectives, is convoluted to say the least.

Once the story jumps to adult Jon & Chloe, I lost interest, I no longer was curious what would happen to this relationship as it was hard enough to focus on what I was reading.

I decided to finish the book, despite my disinterest, as this was provided free to me for my honest review. Had it been something I'd purchased I would have donated it at the halfway point.

A little too weird and convoluted for me. Great characters, less of a thriller than was anticipated. My video review can be found here: https://youtu.be/Adu0UcUhIgA?t=9m17s

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I really liked this book. Even though it was very different from her previous series, You. I felt like the style was still there. The crazy ways of people was still in the story. The story developed a bit slowly but about halfway through I was hooked.

It starts out with a kidnapping and it takes a paranormal twist when Jon returns 4 years later. We follow his story and his best friend Chloe. Nothing is the same after the kidnapping , especially Jon’s social life .

I like how Kepnes brought Lovecraft’s followers into the story. People nowadays become obsessed with authors and books to the point of attending conferences and getting autographs. It was a neat addition to the book.

I would recommend this book to fans of Caroline Kepnes and Mystery Thrillers.

I was so excited to see another book by Caroline Kepnes since I enjoyed her first two so much. This book is completely different. I did not like the supernatural component to the story and felt like that part of that backstory was confusing. I thought the characters were well developed and all likeable in their own way. Based on the subject alone, I would have had no interested in reading this, but I thought it was well done. I would love to see Kepnes come out with another one of the Joe Goldbery series.

Providence by Caroline Kepnes

I was really excited to read this since I loved Caroline Kepnes first book, "You." I totally get that author's do not want to write the same kind of books over and over. Diversity is good. I was hugely disappointed in this one. It is categorized as a thriller, but it was more science fiction or fantasy. For readers who love that genre might love this third novel. It tip's it's hat to H. P. Lovecraft. So maybe it is just me.

Jon is kidnapped by a substitute teacher one day on his way to school. Jon wakes up from a medically induced coma four years later. He is free to leave. This is where I started to lose interest in the story as we or Jon are never told how Jon is magically changed to where if he has feelings for anyone they die of a heart attack.

I really wanted to like this more, but it was not enjoyable or suspenseful to make me want to keep reading. I had to force myself to finish it. It had more of a young adult aimed audience, which there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes a book has to be appreciated by the lovers of the genre. I hope that others will enjoy the book, but I can't lie and say I did.

Thank you to Net Galley, Caroline Kepnes and Random House for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was incredibly drawn to push through and finish this novel quickly. Kepnes made you want to know the characters and feel how they were feeling in the moment. I don't know if I read the summary prior to requesting this on NetGalley, or if I liked the cover and saw that it was a thriller. I had no idea that Jon was going to get kidnapped and it says it flat out in the summary. While I really loved the novel, I felt like something was missing - so I gave it four stars. I was left wanting to know more about H.P. Lovecraft and Roger Blair. While I thought the plot was fascinating and fairly fast moving, I would've felt more in-tune with the novel if I truly understood where Blair was coming from with his experiments. I was waiting and waiting for more of an explanation... and it kind of came in the end, but I was left wanting more.

I enjoyed "Providence", but it didn't wow me. The strongest part of the book, for me, was the beginning and the mystery surrounding Jon's disappearance and later reappearance.

The book began to lose my interest as it went on, however, and it seemed like not a whole lot happened for many chapters. Jon and Chloe wanted to see each other, but couldn't. They would nearly meet, but not quite; this happened over and over. There was a strange attraction between them that was never fully explained. After a while I just wanted the book to be over; I wanted to know what happened to the characters in the end, but I wasn't very invested.

Maybe this just wasn't the right book for me, or perhaps not the right time. Clearly the author is a talented writer and I would be interested in reading other books by her.

Providence was my first book by Caroline Kepnes. Thank You Netgalley for letting me review, I was not diappointed. CK does a great job telling this story and the characters were very well written.
I loved Jon from the beginning, my heart ached for him threw out this novel. I was definitely rooting for him to get the girl on the end.
There were times where I was holding my breath and didn't even realize it.
Five stars for Carolin and the piece of art.