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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
February seems to be the month of mislabelled books! This is the second ‘thriller’ I’ve picked up that doesn’t actually give me that vibe. This isn’t a badly written book and the horror junkie in me appreciated the drenching of Lovecraftian references, but Providence definitely reads more as a romance mystery than any sort of thriller. Nonetheless I really loved the characters Kepnes brought out in our three main narrators and while I was never shocked or thrilled about anything happening, I definitely found some moments I really enjoyed with it. Not bad but not what I was expecting.
I was so excited to read this because I loved You and Hidden Bodies but....ugh...this was just awful. It started off okay I thought it would improve because it had a lot of good elements that it brought together but none of them ended up being executed well. It ends up trying to accomplish too much and in the process accomplishes nothing. Getting through this was torture and the only reason I continued reading was that I really thought that there would be something else revealed or some defining conclusion to make this book worth it but no that never happened.
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 though. 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
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 though. 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
Rounded up from 3.5⭐️
This is an interesting character study within a sci-fi/fantasy love story with a detective thrown in for good measure. The three narrating characters have layers to them, but the plot never really intensifies enough for me. It was a quick listen as an audiobook, and the 3 performers do an excellent job. I was particularly drawn to John’s narrative and psyche as he had to deal with his unwanted powers and how they erected a barrier between him and those around him.
As the work and themes of H.P. Lovecraft are central to the story, familiarity with them might help readers, but I’m not sure. I did appreciate how the author used Lovecraft while also acknowledging his racist and complicated history as a figure by having her characters each recognize the fact. It shows that she is aware that he is not with our controversy and it provides a good example of how to both pay homage to the quality of a writers work while also calling attention to the horrible aspects of their personal character.
This is an interesting character study within a sci-fi/fantasy love story with a detective thrown in for good measure. The three narrating characters have layers to them, but the plot never really intensifies enough for me. It was a quick listen as an audiobook, and the 3 performers do an excellent job. I was particularly drawn to John’s narrative and psyche as he had to deal with his unwanted powers and how they erected a barrier between him and those around him.
As the work and themes of H.P. Lovecraft are central to the story, familiarity with them might help readers, but I’m not sure. I did appreciate how the author used Lovecraft while also acknowledging his racist and complicated history as a figure by having her characters each recognize the fact. It shows that she is aware that he is not with our controversy and it provides a good example of how to both pay homage to the quality of a writers work while also calling attention to the horrible aspects of their personal character.
An enjoyable merging of genres, while still in Kepnes’ signature style.
3.5 rounded up. Looks like another love it or hate it book, I find myself leaning towards the former.
This was perfect! A big thank you to Caroline Kepnes for writing this emotional rollercoaster, and allowing me to spend time with these amazing characters, especially Eggs. I feel gutted right now, but could easily start reading this all over again. One of the best of the year!
I was excited to see this book was part of the @booksparks #src2019 lineup because I had read both You and Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes but hadn't gotten to Providence yet. This book is very different from the others, a bit more sci-fi/romance. It is a slow burn of a read and the beginning had me so nostalgic for the type of romance that is only found in the teenage years. I love Kepnes' character development in her books and this is no different. My emotions were all over the place - and right now I'm feeling particularly sad because I have nothing left to read from this wonderful author at this time.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There’s only one person on this Earth who understands Jon, and that’s Chloe. Jon is constantly made fun of and picked on by other kids for being “different,” but Chloe gets him. She doesn’t laugh at Jon, she’s the only person who sits by him at lunch, and the two text each other pretty much constantly about the most random and obscure things. It’s obvious ... Chloe is Jon’s person and he is hers.
When Jon goes missing one day on his way to school, Chloe is expectedly devastated. She falls into a depression, pining after Jon and mourning the loss of her best friend, until he re-emerges one day four years later ... completely changed. For one, he’s a lot bigger ... like, muscle-bound bigger. And strangely, anyone who physically gets too close to him gets weak and dizzy and faint. See Jon was the subject of some bizarre experimentation by his kidnapper, and he is harboring an awful secret about what happened to him while he was missing these past four years. When he realizes that the “new him” has the uncontrollable ability to hurt those he loves, Jon runs away, leaving chaos in his wake.
Although Providence by Carolyn Kepnes, author of the renowned You and Hidden Bodies novels, is marketed as a Mystery/Thriller, this book is more a story of first love than anything else. Told through multiple perspectives, Kepnes explores Jon and Chloe’s feelings for each other, as well as how they try to cope in the world without one another after Jon’s kidnapping and later disappearance. While Kepnes’ writing may feel choppy at times, it resembles a stream of consciousness, allowing readers to really get into the heads of Jon and Chloe as they work out their feelings for each other and find their footing in the world.
When I learned that Carolyn Kepnes had a new novel coming out, I was super excited. I loved You and Hidden Bodies, and found them to be incredibly compelling, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on more of Kepnes’ work. However, I was disappointed to discover that Providence is steeped in supernatural elements, which are admittedly, not my favorite thing. Psychological suspense is what Kepnes did so brilliantly with You, and while Providence is not a novel that will provoke a lot of apprehension, Kepnes nonetheless does a fantastic job of getting into the heads of her characters. There’s so much to learn about human nature from her books, and any readers who enjoy a good character study will enjoy Providence, even if it’s not their typical genre.
On the other hand, there’s a lot that didn’t work with Providence as well. The storyline was not very compelling, and while Kepnes goes deep with her characters, I always felt one step removed from their lives like I was an outsider looking in instead of being right there with them in the story. When it is all said and done, this story doesn’t really go anywhere, and readers may end up feeling frustrated and disappointed with this novel that often reads “half-baked.”
There’s only one person on this Earth who understands Jon, and that’s Chloe. Jon is constantly made fun of and picked on by other kids for being “different,” but Chloe gets him. She doesn’t laugh at Jon, she’s the only person who sits by him at lunch, and the two text each other pretty much constantly about the most random and obscure things. It’s obvious ... Chloe is Jon’s person and he is hers.
When Jon goes missing one day on his way to school, Chloe is expectedly devastated. She falls into a depression, pining after Jon and mourning the loss of her best friend, until he re-emerges one day four years later ... completely changed. For one, he’s a lot bigger ... like, muscle-bound bigger. And strangely, anyone who physically gets too close to him gets weak and dizzy and faint. See Jon was the subject of some bizarre experimentation by his kidnapper, and he is harboring an awful secret about what happened to him while he was missing these past four years. When he realizes that the “new him” has the uncontrollable ability to hurt those he loves, Jon runs away, leaving chaos in his wake.
Although Providence by Carolyn Kepnes, author of the renowned You and Hidden Bodies novels, is marketed as a Mystery/Thriller, this book is more a story of first love than anything else. Told through multiple perspectives, Kepnes explores Jon and Chloe’s feelings for each other, as well as how they try to cope in the world without one another after Jon’s kidnapping and later disappearance. While Kepnes’ writing may feel choppy at times, it resembles a stream of consciousness, allowing readers to really get into the heads of Jon and Chloe as they work out their feelings for each other and find their footing in the world.
When I learned that Carolyn Kepnes had a new novel coming out, I was super excited. I loved You and Hidden Bodies, and found them to be incredibly compelling, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on more of Kepnes’ work. However, I was disappointed to discover that Providence is steeped in supernatural elements, which are admittedly, not my favorite thing. Psychological suspense is what Kepnes did so brilliantly with You, and while Providence is not a novel that will provoke a lot of apprehension, Kepnes nonetheless does a fantastic job of getting into the heads of her characters. There’s so much to learn about human nature from her books, and any readers who enjoy a good character study will enjoy Providence, even if it’s not their typical genre.
On the other hand, there’s a lot that didn’t work with Providence as well. The storyline was not very compelling, and while Kepnes goes deep with her characters, I always felt one step removed from their lives like I was an outsider looking in instead of being right there with them in the story. When it is all said and done, this story doesn’t really go anywhere, and readers may end up feeling frustrated and disappointed with this novel that often reads “half-baked.”
I love how Carloline Kepnes writes. She knows how to keep the story moving and you feel connected to the characters. In Providence we meet Jon and Chloe. Two young teens who are friends, but maybe more. Jon is picked on by a classmate causing him to choose a path through the woods to school one morning and he's kidnapped. What follows is alternating viewpoints from Chloe, Jon, and an obsessed cop named Eggs.
If you enjoy stories that are about the characters and a peek into their lives then you will enjoy Providence. It's part mystery, part sci-fi, and a little bit of horror all rolled into a love story. While I wish the ending was a bit different I'm hoping it means we're not done with Chloe and Jon...
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House - Lenny for this ARC.
If you enjoy stories that are about the characters and a peek into their lives then you will enjoy Providence. It's part mystery, part sci-fi, and a little bit of horror all rolled into a love story. While I wish the ending was a bit different I'm hoping it means we're not done with Chloe and Jon...
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House - Lenny for this ARC.