Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For as long as they've known each other, it's always been Jon and Chloe. Even when the pressures of growing up and fitting in get in the way, Jon and Chloe remain the best of friends. The type of friendship that could one day be something more. That is, until Jon is kidnapped.
Four years later Jon returns, changed in ways he has yet to understand. The only thing he does understand is that he's a danger to those around him, especially those he loves. So Jon leaves again on a quest for the person who took / changed him, and to protect Chloe.
Heartbroken, Chloe delves into her art, the only place she can truly express the waiting and wanting and love. Neither Jon nor Chloe ever fully gives up on the other or their bond, but with Jon a danger to those around him, how can they ever be together?
I'll be honest, I was first attracted to Providence by those pops of color on the cover. That neon electric pink drew my eye enough that I had to give this book another glance. This is also the first book I've read by Caroline Kepnes although upon starting this one, I learned that one of her previous books is soon to become a Lifetime movie so maybe it's fate that put me in the pathway of this book, I don't know. The stars aligned, or some such.
I felt like Providence was a pretty easy read. Early on, right after Jon is kidnapped, I thought this book would turn down a dark path and be one of those that I couldn't read for long stretches of time. I was surprised then that, while not what I would call "light", it certainly maintained a somewhat neutral tone. Never verging too far into darkness or lightness, hovering somewhere in the middle. I liked that the story doesn't fit neatly into one specific genre. On one hand it's a love story, with elements of sci-fi, yet also a mystery. I think Caroline Kepnes does a great job juggling these different aspects and making them work together without fully committing to any of them.
When we get to the third part of the story, when things really begin to take off, our book diverges into three seemingly separate plot points that all drive the story toward the inevitable conclusion. One obviously involves Jon who finds himself an outsider. Because of what was done to him - which is something he doesn't fully understand and therefore the reader doesn't fully understand either - Jon cannot have normal human contact. He's stuck between missing Chloe and knowing, to save her, he has to stay away.
Then we have Chloe who, also obviously, is kind of in a stasis waiting to hear from Jon. Her art, which she started doing by drawing Jon's face after his disappearance, is still connected to Jon. He is her inspiration. I really liked the undeniable bond that these two clearly have with one another which makes their separation at times heartbreaking and irritating, because how hard is it to reach out with a phone call or email or text? But I feel like Caroline Kepnes was commenting on the fact that as much as we're all glued to our smartphones, and as easy as technology makes it to stay in touch with our friends / family, technology, in this case, cannot account for a true relationship. A person needs that actual physical interaction with another person or people to really thrive.
Caroline Kepnes throws in a third perspective in the form of Charles "Eggs" DeBenedictus, a police detective, and his wife Lo. Eggs has a hunch: that a bunch of seemingly random cases are all actually connected and that there is one perpetrator behind these strange occurrences. Of course the reader knows he's looking for Jon, and I would say Eggs storyline, more than even Jon and Chloe's, pushes the book forward the most because he's such an unassumingly likable character who has gone through some pretty difficult times over the years, you want to see him win. You want to see him vindicated. The relationship between Lo and Eggs is like this center unwavering force. It goes through its ups and downs, but it's solid. It's kind of like the relationship between Jon and Chloe. Or what that relationship could become after years together.
So while I found Providence to be extremely readable and very interesting, I also felt like it mostly maintained that neutral level. Besides Eggs and Lo, I felt like Jon and Chloe were left a little underdeveloped. They both felt like they were in that stasis. Unable to move forward from Jon's disappearance / reappearance / re-disappearance. The ending paves the road for the possibility of more, and I wonder if that "more" means a continuation of the story, or if we're are only supposed to be left with that feeling of forward momentum.
I feel like this is definitely a book that I'll think about long after finishing it, and probably one I'll pick up again and discover new secrets I didn't even think about, or couldn't even comprehend, the first time around.
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Four years later Jon returns, changed in ways he has yet to understand. The only thing he does understand is that he's a danger to those around him, especially those he loves. So Jon leaves again on a quest for the person who took / changed him, and to protect Chloe.
Heartbroken, Chloe delves into her art, the only place she can truly express the waiting and wanting and love. Neither Jon nor Chloe ever fully gives up on the other or their bond, but with Jon a danger to those around him, how can they ever be together?
I'll be honest, I was first attracted to Providence by those pops of color on the cover. That neon electric pink drew my eye enough that I had to give this book another glance. This is also the first book I've read by Caroline Kepnes although upon starting this one, I learned that one of her previous books is soon to become a Lifetime movie so maybe it's fate that put me in the pathway of this book, I don't know. The stars aligned, or some such.
I felt like Providence was a pretty easy read. Early on, right after Jon is kidnapped, I thought this book would turn down a dark path and be one of those that I couldn't read for long stretches of time. I was surprised then that, while not what I would call "light", it certainly maintained a somewhat neutral tone. Never verging too far into darkness or lightness, hovering somewhere in the middle. I liked that the story doesn't fit neatly into one specific genre. On one hand it's a love story, with elements of sci-fi, yet also a mystery. I think Caroline Kepnes does a great job juggling these different aspects and making them work together without fully committing to any of them.
When we get to the third part of the story, when things really begin to take off, our book diverges into three seemingly separate plot points that all drive the story toward the inevitable conclusion. One obviously involves Jon who finds himself an outsider. Because of what was done to him - which is something he doesn't fully understand and therefore the reader doesn't fully understand either - Jon cannot have normal human contact. He's stuck between missing Chloe and knowing, to save her, he has to stay away.
Then we have Chloe who, also obviously, is kind of in a stasis waiting to hear from Jon. Her art, which she started doing by drawing Jon's face after his disappearance, is still connected to Jon. He is her inspiration. I really liked the undeniable bond that these two clearly have with one another which makes their separation at times heartbreaking and irritating, because how hard is it to reach out with a phone call or email or text? But I feel like Caroline Kepnes was commenting on the fact that as much as we're all glued to our smartphones, and as easy as technology makes it to stay in touch with our friends / family, technology, in this case, cannot account for a true relationship. A person needs that actual physical interaction with another person or people to really thrive.
Caroline Kepnes throws in a third perspective in the form of Charles "Eggs" DeBenedictus, a police detective, and his wife Lo. Eggs has a hunch: that a bunch of seemingly random cases are all actually connected and that there is one perpetrator behind these strange occurrences. Of course the reader knows he's looking for Jon, and I would say Eggs storyline, more than even Jon and Chloe's, pushes the book forward the most because he's such an unassumingly likable character who has gone through some pretty difficult times over the years, you want to see him win. You want to see him vindicated. The relationship between Lo and Eggs is like this center unwavering force. It goes through its ups and downs, but it's solid. It's kind of like the relationship between Jon and Chloe. Or what that relationship could become after years together.
So while I found Providence to be extremely readable and very interesting, I also felt like it mostly maintained that neutral level. Besides Eggs and Lo, I felt like Jon and Chloe were left a little underdeveloped. They both felt like they were in that stasis. Unable to move forward from Jon's disappearance / reappearance / re-disappearance. The ending paves the road for the possibility of more, and I wonder if that "more" means a continuation of the story, or if we're are only supposed to be left with that feeling of forward momentum.
I feel like this is definitely a book that I'll think about long after finishing it, and probably one I'll pick up again and discover new secrets I didn't even think about, or couldn't even comprehend, the first time around.
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ugh. Audiobook chapters are awful. So much potential but it's just dragging af. This could have been an 8 hour book!
'I remember staring at Kitty, wondering what it was like to be her, as if she was a painting and you were allowed to gawk at it.'
Jon and Chloe are best friends, but when he is kidnapped and goes missing, Chloe doesn't know what to think.
She tries to fit in and not let the disappearance affect her but when Jon escapes, everything changes and he finds himself having magical abilities that he can't control.
This book was fast paced, at times irritating but left me intriuged none the less!
4 stars!
Jon and Chloe are best friends, but when he is kidnapped and goes missing, Chloe doesn't know what to think.
She tries to fit in and not let the disappearance affect her but when Jon escapes, everything changes and he finds himself having magical abilities that he can't control.
This book was fast paced, at times irritating but left me intriuged none the less!
4 stars!
There is nothing flashy about this book but what kept me reading and hanging around were the characters. What this book lacked in theatrics made up for in character connection.
The beginning of the story begins fast. There are not a lot of details given about Jon's kidnapping. Yet, all is revealed as the story progresses about what really happen to Jon years ago. To be honest, I feel like what happened to Jon made him a more interesting person. If, he had not been kidnapped, than, he would have been just another guy. Jon and Chloe's relationship is a sad one. They can't be together but yet they are drawn to each other like magnets.
Although, Jon was no the only person that I was drawn to. There is Eggs and his wife, Lo. Eggs is trying to make sense of his life. He works in law enforcement. As part of his job, he witnesses the destruction left behind in Jon's wake. Don't miss out on this book that is sure to be talked about for 2018.
The beginning of the story begins fast. There are not a lot of details given about Jon's kidnapping. Yet, all is revealed as the story progresses about what really happen to Jon years ago. To be honest, I feel like what happened to Jon made him a more interesting person. If, he had not been kidnapped, than, he would have been just another guy. Jon and Chloe's relationship is a sad one. They can't be together but yet they are drawn to each other like magnets.
Although, Jon was no the only person that I was drawn to. There is Eggs and his wife, Lo. Eggs is trying to make sense of his life. He works in law enforcement. As part of his job, he witnesses the destruction left behind in Jon's wake. Don't miss out on this book that is sure to be talked about for 2018.
i love the you series so decided to try this out. it’s rare that i like a male pov & this is no exception. the characters were just weird & not likable. halfway through it changed to a whole new character’s pov & i couldn’t listen to a second more of it… oops
This reminded me of The Nix in the way it was written-- seeming unconnected narrators. I picked this up because it said there was a love story involved, more like obsession, because can you really fall in love with someone for years and years if you only really knew them in middle school, and no real contact since then?!
Also, this book may have been interesting if I hadn't been questioning the whole time whether it was fiction or science fiction, due to an apparent unexplained supernatural spiderman-like ability. Still not really sure.
Also, this book may have been interesting if I hadn't been questioning the whole time whether it was fiction or science fiction, due to an apparent unexplained supernatural spiderman-like ability. Still not really sure.
https://angelerin.blogspot.com/2018/02/providence-by-caroline-kepnes-arc-mini.html
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy of Providence By: Caroline Kepnes in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to try a new book from Caroline Kepnes. You is one of my favorite books and I was glad that Providence sounded a bit different. However, this did not meet my expectations at all. It started off SO STRONG, but about 25% in it really lost my interest. I could start to see where things were going and I didn't mind that so much, but holy cow everything just draggggggggged. The last 75% was so dull and I probably should have DNF'd. I did like Jon's character and his chapters, but Eggie's chapters were such a slog to get through. Also, all of the time jumps in the book drove me bananas. They did not flow well enough for my taste. Honestly, this book had so much promise. It started off very intriguing, but then it went way downhill and did not keep my interest. Which really makes me sad because I feel like this should have been one that I really enjoyed. I tried.
#StrongStartButWentOffTrack
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy of Providence By: Caroline Kepnes in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to try a new book from Caroline Kepnes. You is one of my favorite books and I was glad that Providence sounded a bit different. However, this did not meet my expectations at all. It started off SO STRONG, but about 25% in it really lost my interest. I could start to see where things were going and I didn't mind that so much, but holy cow everything just draggggggggged. The last 75% was so dull and I probably should have DNF'd. I did like Jon's character and his chapters, but Eggie's chapters were such a slog to get through. Also, all of the time jumps in the book drove me bananas. They did not flow well enough for my taste. Honestly, this book had so much promise. It started off very intriguing, but then it went way downhill and did not keep my interest. Which really makes me sad because I feel like this should have been one that I really enjoyed. I tried.
#StrongStartButWentOffTrack
This was an interesting story - one of those where the sci fi element in and of itself doesn’t drive the story. It’s much more focused on the characters. I really enjoyed it.