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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
[3.5 stars] I know many readers are excited about Providence because they loved You, which I haven’t read. I’ll be honest: I mainly requested this from NetGalley because I live in Providence and wanted to read something set where I live. I enjoyed the many PVD in-jokes. Rhode Islanders will definitely get a kick out of seeing the city woven into this book. If you’ve lived in Providence, you’ll recognize various streets and venues (Lupo’s, that gas station on Wickenden, etc.), and that’s definitely fun.
I found the story compelling, but the writing itself was a bit tedious, so I’ll get the most critical part of this review out of the way. The style is often clipped and silted, and the tone quite dry. Physical settings are under-described, which makes it a bit difficult to follow certain scenes in which characters move through space. All three of the first-person narrators are given the same stylistic quirks: fused sentences, excessive comma use, and a habit of repeating the same thought two or three times in a row. There were SO MANY references to real-life things and people (some obscure, some Kardashian-level) that it took me out of the narrative. I frequently had to look things up to determine whether they mattered to the plot/would contribute in any way to my understanding of the novel. They almost never did. (One major exception: it is helpful to have at least a passing familiarity with Lovecraft—references to his life and work abound.)
Providence is told through three alternating first person narrators, Jon, Chloe, and Eggs. Jon is a lonely boy, harboring early-pubescent love for his best and only friend, Chloe. After Jon is kidnapped, Chloe betrays Jon in the worst way he can imagine—by dating his bully, the truly vile Carrig, who is Jon’s foil throughout the novel. Jon is eventually freed by his kidnapper, but something has changed about him. He isn’t unhealthy and weak. He doesn’t seem to have any mental deficits from his four years in captivity. He’s big and handsome, and he has no memory of the years spent in a basement—but he does have a copy of a Lovecraft novel, containing a note from his kidnapper, and a strange effect anyone he feels strongly about. A couple years later, a detective called Eggs is obsessed with the deaths (by apparent heart attack) of a handful of twenty-somethings. His wife, Lo, and boss, Stacey, are desperate for him to let these odd but seemingly innocent deaths go.
The alternating perspectives keep the novel moving at a nice clip, but if you’re expecting the pacing of a thriller I think you’ll be disappointed. Aside from the ongoing question of what, exactly, was done to Jon in that basement, there isn’t much mystery or suspense here. The deaths are, of course, suspicious, and similar cases follow Jon wherever he goes. For me, the most gripping thing about the novel was seeing the ways in which these deaths affect Jon and Eggs, from opposite sides. This really is a compelling read, in spite of my issues with the writing! I have a feeling this will make a great audiobook—the awkwardness of the writing would likely be smoothed over by talented narrators.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I found the story compelling, but the writing itself was a bit tedious, so I’ll get the most critical part of this review out of the way. The style is often clipped and silted, and the tone quite dry. Physical settings are under-described, which makes it a bit difficult to follow certain scenes in which characters move through space. All three of the first-person narrators are given the same stylistic quirks: fused sentences, excessive comma use, and a habit of repeating the same thought two or three times in a row. There were SO MANY references to real-life things and people (some obscure, some Kardashian-level) that it took me out of the narrative. I frequently had to look things up to determine whether they mattered to the plot/would contribute in any way to my understanding of the novel. They almost never did. (One major exception: it is helpful to have at least a passing familiarity with Lovecraft—references to his life and work abound.)
Providence is told through three alternating first person narrators, Jon, Chloe, and Eggs. Jon is a lonely boy, harboring early-pubescent love for his best and only friend, Chloe. After Jon is kidnapped, Chloe betrays Jon in the worst way he can imagine—by dating his bully, the truly vile Carrig, who is Jon’s foil throughout the novel. Jon is eventually freed by his kidnapper, but something has changed about him. He isn’t unhealthy and weak. He doesn’t seem to have any mental deficits from his four years in captivity. He’s big and handsome, and he has no memory of the years spent in a basement—but he does have a copy of a Lovecraft novel, containing a note from his kidnapper, and a strange effect anyone he feels strongly about. A couple years later, a detective called Eggs is obsessed with the deaths (by apparent heart attack) of a handful of twenty-somethings. His wife, Lo, and boss, Stacey, are desperate for him to let these odd but seemingly innocent deaths go.
The alternating perspectives keep the novel moving at a nice clip, but if you’re expecting the pacing of a thriller I think you’ll be disappointed. Aside from the ongoing question of what, exactly, was done to Jon in that basement, there isn’t much mystery or suspense here. The deaths are, of course, suspicious, and similar cases follow Jon wherever he goes. For me, the most gripping thing about the novel was seeing the ways in which these deaths affect Jon and Eggs, from opposite sides
Spoiler
—Jon as the man causing them, Eggs as the man determined to figure out how and whyThank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
DNF, so no rating. The beginning was slow. I almost lemmed it in the first few pages. It got a bit better and I was marginally interested in Jon and Chloe. Then it switches to some other random people and I just couldn't do it. DNF.
Closer to 3.5 stars.
First let me say that I love reading Caroline Kepnes and flew through You and Hidden Bodies.....
However this is vastly different then both of those and it just left me wanting more. There was no real conclusion. Although if there was a second part I would def read it, I just wanted more finality to the characters, I just kinda ended.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kepnes and RandomHouse for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
First let me say that I love reading Caroline Kepnes and flew through You and Hidden Bodies.....
However this is vastly different then both of those and it just left me wanting more. There was no real conclusion. Although if there was a second part I would def read it, I just wanted more finality to the characters, I just kinda ended.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kepnes and RandomHouse for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.0/5.0
I am a huge fan of You, so when I heard Caroline Kepnes had a new book coming out I was excited and intrigued...would she be a one character wonder? The answer is no. Providence is a book that grips you and has characters that stay with you long after you finish. Though there is a touch of sci-fi, it is not over the top. I will be curious to see what Caroline Kepnes comes out with next.
I am a huge fan of You, so when I heard Caroline Kepnes had a new book coming out I was excited and intrigued...would she be a one character wonder? The answer is no. Providence is a book that grips you and has characters that stay with you long after you finish. Though there is a touch of sci-fi, it is not over the top. I will be curious to see what Caroline Kepnes comes out with next.
Loved the way this book was written.
I didn't quite understand what the sub teacher could have possibly done to Jon to make him that way but it made for a good story.
I kept thinking the teacher would come back and come in to play more so than he actually did, which was kind of disappointing.
I didn't quite understand what the sub teacher could have possibly done to Jon to make him that way but it made for a good story.
I kept thinking the teacher would come back and come in to play more so than he actually did, which was kind of disappointing.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jon is a lonely kid who gets bullied, but he has one really good friend in Chloe. When he gets abducted, it changes Chloe's life... And when he suddenly reappears four years later, with a mysterious note and no memories, life changes again.
Chloes whole life is based around being available to Jon, but he seems to want nothing to do with her. What she doesn't know is that he loves her more than anything, but something happened to him when he was abducted that makes him dangerous to be around, so he stays away from everyone he loves to protect them.
Eggs is a policeman with a disabled son and a struggling marriage who is obsessed with finding a connection between so many young people dying of heart attacks in his town, a connection that no one seems to notice but him.
Providence follows these three characters through years of their life. The characters are extremely well developed and the story is mysterious and thrilling. There is so much going on but the story stays cohesive. I think some people might not like the ending, but I found it all came together really beautifully in the end.
Chloes whole life is based around being available to Jon, but he seems to want nothing to do with her. What she doesn't know is that he loves her more than anything, but something happened to him when he was abducted that makes him dangerous to be around, so he stays away from everyone he loves to protect them.
Eggs is a policeman with a disabled son and a struggling marriage who is obsessed with finding a connection between so many young people dying of heart attacks in his town, a connection that no one seems to notice but him.
Providence follows these three characters through years of their life. The characters are extremely well developed and the story is mysterious and thrilling. There is so much going on but the story stays cohesive. I think some people might not like the ending, but I found it all came together really beautifully in the end.
"Providence" is a hard book to put down yet devastating. Half of me NEEDED to keep reading to discover what would happen but the other half was heartbroken. I just wanted the characters to be happy!
This book may appeal to some teens. The audiobook was solid.
This book may appeal to some teens. The audiobook was solid.