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.

on and Chloe are best friends who have grown up together in a small town in New Hampshire. Jon is sort of an outcast and is bullied by his peers. Chloe does not care when her friends ridicule her for sitting with Jon at lunch or for hanging out with him after school. Both feel a connection to the other and feel as if he/she has finally found someone who "gets" him/her. Then one day Jon is kidnapped and not seen or heard from in four years.

Chloe has gone on with her life and makes attempts to fit in and be a "normal" teenager even though her best friends is missing. Jon suddenly wakes up from a medically induced coma to learn he has been kidnapped by a substitute teacher who leaves him a note telling him that they did "good work" and "you're welcome." Jon realizes he has powers now and that people are not safe around him. Jon decides to leave town but not before attracting the attention of a detective who becomes obsessed with a series of deaths that appear to be connected.

I know a lot of people are really enjoying this book, but it was not for me. We are not all going to like the same books, this is a book I had high hopes for, but just didn't enjoy. There is a strong emphasis on H.P. Lovecraft here and that is not a bad thing, possibly fans of Lovecraft will enjoy this book more. I believe a lot of the references were lost on me. There are also some elements that just had me scratching my head. I admit, I wanted to learn more about his kidnapping and what occurred while he was kept in the basement. Jon never learns the full truth and I guess that is why the reader never learns the truth either.

This book started out good. I was really enjoying it up until Jon decided to leave town for good. That is where the book went downhill for me and I found myself losing interest in this book fast. I knew that this book was going to be nothing like "YOU" and I was expecting that, but this book just failed to grab me. I'll go so far as to say I was bored while reading this book. I found myself skimming through parts that were just dragging on and on and on.... Sadly, this book was just not for me.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciated the writing but I didn't click with the story. I know many will.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I guess I went into this expecting another YOU. Not exactly, but just something as good and dense and witty.

I did not get that. Everything that made YOU good was either absent or half-hearted in PROVIDENCE: the writing was not clever, the pop culture references were clumsy, and the observations weren't snappy. The characters were unlikable, and not in a fun way. I never believed in their relationships, which clouded my enjoyment of the entire book.

I don't think it's fair to compare the two though, and I doubt I'd have liked this even if I hadn't read YOU first. Because what really ruined it for me was the thin, vague plot. Everything about Jon's kidnapping just didn't work for me; in particular, I didn't understand why the story needed to rely so heavily on H.P. Lovecraft. Why couldn't it stand on its own? I'm entirely unfamiliar with Lovecraft, so maybe this book wasn't for me.

Toward the end I felt it got better, but I'd already tortured myself slogging through the first 90% of the book, so I didn't care.

I’m a huge fan of Kepnes other books so I probably rated up because I do like her style of writing.

I enjoyed “Providence” and loved the characters, but I feel like the ending was really rushed. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a very different read for me but I really enjoyed it. The way it started off literally had me on the edge of my seat. Wondering and waiting to see what happened or was going to happen to Jon. Seeing Chloe change so much and adapt in his disappearance was heartbreaking. It was so hard for her to let go but in the end she had to for her own growth. Once he came back in to the picture is where the real turn happened. The blurb was vague compared to how this book turned out. So I really had no clue what was really supposed to be going on. I was blown away by the direction it took. It was a real, it was heartfelt, and just tugged on your heartstrings. To want to be with someone so bad but you can't at fear of putting them at risk. I would definitely recommend this read.