While I found this book to be engaging, I couldn't relate to the characters at all. There was nothing that had me cheering for any of the characters. It was an interesting book, but I probably wouldn't recommend it.

knew nothing about this book besides the fact that it was a thriller/mystery and to be honest, that was enough to make me excited about reading it. I’ve really been into thriller/mystery/cold cases lately and I was looking forward to getting sucked into the mystery and wanting to know more about what happens in the story and reading a surprising ending… but sadly it didn’t fulfill my expectations and here’s why.

When I started reading the book I fell in love with Jon, he was so cute, caring and sweet. I was very sad when he was taken and I just wanted him to be okay. Then we met Chloe, I liked her at the beginning and then, for me, she turned into someone she wasn’t and I didn’t like that. Although the characters were nice and perfect for this story it just wasn’t enough for me.

There are a couple jumps in time and I really didn’t like that because as soon as I was getting the hang of things the story jumped four years and all of a sudden I started reading something completely different with new characters. You are not slowly eased into it, you’re just pushed into something and you’re trying to get the hang of this new characters and their lives. I didn’t enjoy that at all.

The last thing that kept me from loving this book was the lack of excitement, it’s not a rollercoaster of emotions, you’re not at the edge of your seat wanting to know what’s next, there’s no big climax, it’s all just… happening. For me the ending was just a “well, okay” moment. I found it a little monotone.

I will say it’s not a bad book, it just wasn’t for me. After noticing a few reviews I know it’s a book that you either love or hate, there are almost no in-betweens. For me hate is a very big word so I won’t say I hated it, I just didn’t love it yet I do think it’s worth a shot.

This book. Caroline Kepnes has a way with words. She blew my mind with Joe in You and Hidden Bodies. I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book. I knew it would be different. I think I had trouble with it at first because I think deep down I was really expecting something similar to Joe. It is nothing like Joe's story. But it has blown me away just as much.
Her words transport you into a world and you get lost to the point that when you stop reading, even for a minute, it takes time for you to come back down to reality.
Jon captured me the same way Joe did. I hurt for him. I physically wished I could reach into my kindle and hug him.
Watching the characters change in time took me to certain times in my life and had me feeling very emotional.
Eggs character fascinated me. His constant drive to find out more. That nagging, gut feeling.
I think I found a little of me in each of these characters. When an author does that I know I am reading something I will forever cherish and share with everyone I know.
This story I seriously can not put into words the amount of love I have for it. I know it will not be for everyone. But for me it absolutely lived up to all the hype that I had built up in my head for it. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I can absolutely say it is A MUST read!!

Chloe and Jon are friends, growing up united against the world, when Jon was kidnapped by a substitute teacher and disappeared for 4 years. Except when Jon does return , something has happened to him, something his kidnapper has changed in him. Jon has been cursed with an incredible power to kill anyone in his immediate vicinity.

Hearbroken, Jon disappears again as he doesn't want to kill those he loves -- Chloe and his parents. A police detective struck by deaths by heart attack in a number of young folks investigates. And this is his story too.

At times, I really enjoyed this book, but at times it left me cold. But I won't be forgetting it.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

This is an absolute stunner of a new read from Caroline Kepnes.

Jon and Chloe are best friends growing up - until Jon is kidnapped and disappears without a trace. Chloe is left behind, always with Jon in her heart, always working to bring him home to her.
When Jon finally escapes, he discovers he has a new incredible power that he cannot explain and that seems to destroy anyone he cares about.

This book was terrifically surprising to me. I LOVE Caroline’s other work, and I loved that this book was equally absorbing, engaging and suspenseful - while being a complete departure from her first books. Don’t go into this book expecting another Joe Goldberg story, or anything like it. Absolutely go into this book expecting to fall in love with Jon and Chloe, and finding yourself completely lost in their world of impossible love.

I don’t always love a book with a supernatural twist, but I do love it when that twist is done in a completely unique, wonderful and human way. Caroline accomplished that, and then some making this a strong 5 star read for me.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. For me it had a romance and sci-fi feel which was something I didn’t expect. The writing really sucks you in and I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that the characters had such strong voices and each added their own part to the story giving it a rounded feel. To me it was two stories in one which I really liked. You get Jon and Chole’s tragic love story and also Egg and Lo’s journey. I am really glad I went in blind with this book I feel it allowed me to really have my own opinion on the story. So many people compared this book to the authors past books but you really can’t do that. Each book an author writes takes you on a unique journey. No story should be the same. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

I will put some of the blame for my feelings on this book on myself- I didn't pay enough attention to the description to realize that it was going to really be more of a science fiction book than a mystery/thriller as I initially expected (and looking at the most populuar shelves for this book on Goodreads, I'm not the only one). I haven't read the author's previous books (though they are at the top of my "backlist must read" list), but this was definitey unexpected. I'm not an avid reader of speculative fiction, but I dabble, so I when I started I thought it might still work for me. Unfortunately, it felt like it dragged- the middle section felt repetitive as the same couple of points were rehashed over and over, and there wasn't much in the way of tension. The beginning held promise and I felt that the ending was satisfactory after the long middle.

I honestly believe that this one of the best books that I have read this year and that you should not pass up this book. Caroline Kepnes is flexing her muscles and showing us exactly what makes her an author who not only writes solid strong books but books that you just can't put down. Happy reading!

First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for an eARC of Providence in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this eARC in no way influences my opinions of the novel and all words below are my own.

If ‘You’ did not put Kepnes on my must-read list, Providence did the trick. Providence is a tale of love lost and thought buried, only to return with deadly consequences. It is also infused with some Lovecraft horror which will be up plenty of peoples alleys.

Jon and Chloe are best friends, but their relationship stretches beyond that label into something neither of them can truly explain. Before Jon is able to finally express his feelings, he is kidnapped by one of his substitute teachers and, for all intents and purposes, changed. Chloe, believing Jon is never coming back, attempts to move on with her life but her thoughts always come back to him.

But when Jon comes to and escapes his captors grasp, he finds that he has an overwhelming emotional power over those he loves. Not wanting to harm Chloe, he runs away for good and attempts to find answers to what he has become, and how he can revert back to his old self. Meanwhile, a detective who has an obsession with a handful of recent killings his hot on Jon’s heels and may find more than he bargained for.

Providence, much like You, was full of romance (which is not my cup of tea whatsoever) but was so engaging that I couldn’t turn away. Kepnes has a way of drawing you into her world with ease and keeping you there, rooting for her characters all of the way through. I really enjoyed Jon’s storyline and how he attempts to use his newfound power for good, though it comes with the occasional bump in the road. Eggs and Lo were by far the forefront couple in my mind, even though they were secondary characters. They really drove the middle to end parts of the novel and I don’t believe it would’ve been as enjoyable without them.

Overall, Kepnes will be a name on my TBR for life, along with a few others I have found since I fell back in love with the written word. Though I cannot precisely categorize Providence, and I cannot say everyone will love it, I can definitely recommend that you pick it up and give it a shot.

Rating: 4/5

I absolutely ADORED this book! My favorite aspect of it by far was Jon and Chloe’s un-breakable love for each other. Caroline Kepnes truly did an amazing job putting that relationship into words. I knocked a star off because I felt that it moved a little slow, and I would have liked more about Jon or Chloe than Eggs, but other than that I thought this book was perfect! I can’t wait to read more for Kepnes, she is definitely my new favorite author!

3.5/5

This may be one of THE most anticipated new releases this summer, I know it was high on my list of must haves and I know many others feel the same, but if you’re looking for a book that is similar to You then you better adjust your expectations because while there are a few aspects of Kepnes’ trademark style Providence takes a completely different turn than her earlier books did. For me this was not a bad thing at all, but I think it’s crucial for future readers to be prepared to avoid disappointment.

Kepnes has one of the most unique voices out there and that’s just as apparent here as it was in You. Her writing is top notch, she really blows me away with the brand of prose she creates, parts of this were pretty out there and I honestly wasn’t totally sure what was going on yet I was still hanging ontonher every word. If that isn’t the sign of an outstanding writer, I don’t know what is then, the woman can captivate me like no other. I did get glimpses of the same obsession and complexities of male/female relationships as in You but it’s SO much different from that, saying it was similar would be like comparing apples to oranges.

This is a little out there, a major plot point deals with the paranormal/supernatural and I know not everyone enjoys that type of thing, but I think the blurb hints at enough that I wasn’t surprised by it and hence, was unbothered. This explores the relationship between Chloe and Jon over the course of several years and alternates between their points of view and a detective named Eggs. The time jumps are frequent and a little extreme but I felt that it propelled the plot forward in an exciting way and timeline changes never tend to bother me anyway. If you’re expecting an edge of your seat thriller you’re going to wind up disappointed because I would say this is more of a deep exploration of the relationship between two people with a side of odd and a handful of suspenseful moments instead of a standard thriller. Yes, it’s mysterious but more in an otherworldly way that leaves you with questions in the end, nothing is straightforward or easily wrapped up in the end so don’t expect a neat and tidy resolution.

Bottom line? This will be a decisive book, I think people will either love it because it’s so different or they’ll hate it for the same reasons, but if you’ve been waiting for it then I say give it a try for yourself and let me know what you think!

Providence in three words: Unique, Complex and Captivating.

Oh.My.God. I love Caroline Kepnes. You and Hidden Bodies had me SHOOKETH. And so did this book. It felt like a ramped up episode of Criminal Minds. Every single word, paragraph, page was just ramping up and up and up, it's so enthralling. I literally got sucked into the book so quickly.

This book is very much different than You and I think it shows how amazing and versatile Kepnes can be. I love how amazing of an author she is. Literally blowing my mind. I find myself wanting to re-read this book again right away.

I had a hard time getting through this book. I was so looking forward to reading something new from Caroline Kepnes, but this book was a struggle. It never grabbed me and I was easily distracted. The summary sounded so great, but the story itself wasn't easy to read. Why? I'm not really sure to be honest. Maybe because it was SOOOOO far fetched. Or maybe because I have not read the book that this book kept referring to. I just know that this book never drew me in and I never fully liked the characters. Her writing style is good but this just wasn't the book for me.

I was very excited to read this book as Caroline Kepnes is one of my favorite authors. I knew going in that it may not be the best book for me but I decided to give it a go anyways. The writing was as good as one can expect from her so no complaints in that department. However, that might be the only positive thing that I can say about this read. First, the so called romance in this novel was very shallow. It was difficult to understand why Jon and Chloe kept obsessing over each other if they were just friends at best. Even after 4 years, even after 5 (or whatever it was) years. It just didn't add up. I also didn't like the introduction of a random cop Eggs, because I have no idea where he came from. Who is this guy?! Lastly, it felt a little pushy towards a superhero narrative and I wasn't really interested in that. Maybe this book will be better off as a Netflix show. Next!

Caroline Kepnes has crafted a masterful mystery/thriller with a touch-o-romance, a smidgen of science fiction, combined with an homage to H.P. Lovecraft. She has paired engaging characters with a unique plot.

I love it when an author can pull me in with their characters. Kepnes’ story shifted between three characters’ points of view. Jon, Chloe and Eggs were exceptional, and I was captivated by each of their stories. Having the three perspectives made things interesting and frustrating at the same time. The story was a comedy of errors of sorts. As the reader, I knew the solutions to each of their problems, but had no way of helping my newfound friends.

Despite the Lovecraft references here, there and everywhere, there was little in the way of a true horror aspect to the story. It did give me more of a desire to read Lovecraft. Yes, that’s right, I have not read any Lovecraft, it’s on my bucket list. Kepnes illuminated the cult following that has built up around the author, she made me question what I may be missing.

For me, Providence became a story of what would you do to protect the ones you love. How much would you suffer to make them happy and safe? The story was unique and well worked out. I’ll definitely be reading more from Kepnes in the future.

*4.5 Stars

4 Wild Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow! This book was nothing and I mean nothing like Caroline Kepnes’s previous books.... this book was a mixture of young adult, crime fiction, the supernatural, and much more! It was a genre potpourri... and it worked... because the thing this had in common with Caroline’s previous books is it was very well written with some interesting characters.... I just don’t want you to enter this book thinking it is a dark demented twisted psychological thriller, it is far from that... although there are some disturbing and demented parts....

The book is told from multiple points of view including John and Chloe.... we met these two when they were still pretty young and I enjoyed the young adult aspect of this book... John is kidnapped when he is young and comes back with a superpower of sorts.... now here is the part that I might not have appreciated as much as I could have.... because I know absolutely nothing about H.P. Lovecraft... so if you are better acquainted with him perhaps this part will resonate with you much more than it did with me....

Our third point of view came from Eggs A detective... and that is not my autocorrect that is his actual name! Eggs has some demons of his own and is consumed with a case of young healthy people dying from heartattacks... he was an interesting character as well and I really liked the growth in him throughout the book.... how do all these characters tied together? Well you’re going to need to read the book to find out!

Recommend you read this book with an open mind, it is unlike anything you’ve read before, guaranteed!

*** many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this most interesting book ***

A highly captivating supernatural love story is at the heart of this tale. When they were kids, Jon was ready to tell his best friend Chloe that he loved her but right before he could, he was kidnapped. Four years later Jon comes back but he is different. He is bigger and stronger and much more powerful. This story takes places over many years and at the very core shows you just how enduring true love is.

Thank you for the opportunity for the early read, unfortunately I will not be able to complete a full review as I was unable to finish the book. I absolutely loved Kepnes's book, YOU, however, I just could not get into this novel.

Providence by Caroline Kepnes is a character driven novel, each chapter is in the eyes of either of three characters. We have Jon a boy that was kidnapped and then his best friend and the life they lead and how they felt with Jon's disappearance. We also have Eggs a police officer or detective I can't recall which since I read this a month ago (to let the feelings sink in before talking about it).
The story takes place in many different places and times. We see the different characters grow and we either love them or hate them. I hated the two main characters and their relationship, it felt so fake and unreal. The relationships in Eggs life is much more interesting even if most of the relationship between his son isn't even really seen only talked about.
Caroline Kepnes has a good way of making you fall in love with characters who are making bad choices and I'm sure there are some characters in this novel you won't fall in love with, but it is a good read.
The novel starts up fast paced, but in the middle of the book it felt a bit slow and the main characters actions started to annoy me. I don't want to say to much about the story because I love to go into books a bit blind, but this book isn't revolutionary. Nothing really made me think back to this particular novel, but if your looking for a book that will hook you in the very first chapter this is it. Eggs made me want to keep reading the story and I wanted to know what the resolution would be to the main character's problem (which I didn't really enjoy in the end). There was a romance in this novel that I hated, but it drove the story. In the end I liked Eggs and hated the rest of the book. Well not really hated I just didn't enjoy the end result which again you have to pick up the book to know exactly what I mean.

I got a chance to read this book ahead of it's release date thanks to NetGalley, all opinions are my own. If you want to pick this book up for yourself it is available Tuesday June 19.

2.5/5 stars

Initial thoughts: I was very excited to read this book. It is being marketed as "a novel that is part love story, part detective story, and part supernatural thriller." That is all that I knew about this book before starting it.

I really struggled with this book. The romance part was probably the only part of the story that I sort of liked. I do read some YA fantasy. I do read some paranormal. But I really didn't enjoy the supernatural thing that happened in this book.

Review: Providence is a mystery thriller with a supernatural element. The narrators are Jon, Chloe and Eggs.

As soon as I saw that there was a supernatural element I was really curious. Would it have to do with ghosts? Talking to dead people? Something to do with psychics? It was actually none of the above.

The beginning part of the story takes place in New Hampshire. Jon and Chloe were friends as kids. Jon had a huge crush on her. But something bad happens to him that changes him forever.

Eggs is a police detective who becomes obsessed with certain cases that he has noticed. His wife is Lo.

I am really not sure how to rate this book. The characters were all okay. But I just didn't love any of them. And the story did not keep my interest. I asked myself if the supernatural element was the reason that I did not love this story. I think that it partially is. It makes the story seem completely unrealistic.

The last part of the book was definitely the best for me. It was more interesting and action-packed. But overall I just didn't love this book.

*I was trying to decide how to rate this book. Normally I don't rate books this low. This isn't the worst book I've rated. But since it is such a high profile book I just really expected more.