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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
Dnf @ 50%.
"Stephen King for the avocado toast generation" this is true, because just like King this has an interesting premise, but is too long and needs better editing. Also the inclusion of an unnecessary character.
Seeing as I didn't like Hidden Bodies when I read it, Kepnes is either a one trick pony or I read You in a daze.
"Stephen King for the avocado toast generation" this is true, because just like King this has an interesting premise, but is too long and needs better editing. Also the inclusion of an unnecessary character.
Seeing as I didn't like Hidden Bodies when I read it, Kepnes is either a one trick pony or I read You in a daze.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, I made a mistake with this one.
It happens to the best of us.
You see an author that your LOVE and you dive into a book expecting it to give you all the same feels.
Unfortunately, I didn't consider (even after reading the synopsis) that this novel would NOT contain Joe Goldberg. The anti-hero from YOU and Hidden Bodies that I have come to know and (pretty much against my free will) love.
This novel is COMPLETELY different from Kepnes' prior novels. It is like comparing apples and oranges; and that, my friends, was probably my first mistake. I went into this one thinking I would get the dark and twisty vibe that I have come to know and love, but Providence is really a hodgepodge of all different types of genres: a little bit paranormal, a dash of coming of age, a pinch of YA thriller.
I think Kepnes is fearless for doing something SO different, but, it wasn't for me. I didn't understand all the Lovecraft references and I don't really love YA (I teach high school students- I get enough teen drama on the daily).
Overall, I would probably recommend this to my students or add it to my classroom library.
I'll continue waiting for more Joe.
It happens to the best of us.
You see an author that your LOVE and you dive into a book expecting it to give you all the same feels.
Unfortunately, I didn't consider (even after reading the synopsis) that this novel would NOT contain Joe Goldberg. The anti-hero from YOU and Hidden Bodies that I have come to know and (pretty much against my free will) love.
This novel is COMPLETELY different from Kepnes' prior novels. It is like comparing apples and oranges; and that, my friends, was probably my first mistake. I went into this one thinking I would get the dark and twisty vibe that I have come to know and love, but Providence is really a hodgepodge of all different types of genres: a little bit paranormal, a dash of coming of age, a pinch of YA thriller.
I think Kepnes is fearless for doing something SO different, but, it wasn't for me. I didn't understand all the Lovecraft references and I don't really love YA (I teach high school students- I get enough teen drama on the daily).
Overall, I would probably recommend this to my students or add it to my classroom library.
I'll continue waiting for more Joe.
Just a big why really. This book could not decide which genre it wanted to be and the storyline was boring :( had very good expectations:(
“Being alive is nothing without being able to live.”
Providence by Caroline Kepnes is about the life of Jon, a young boy who is kidnapped and is found four years later. There is a huge change within him and his close friend Chloe notices there’s distance between them and he then disappears again. Years later, Detective Charles is looking into a string of mysterious deaths which lead him to cross paths with Chloe and Jon unveiling an unimaginable reality.
I am a little late to the party with this book and quite annoyed I left it this long to get to it. I feel like this is a reoccurring theme with my recent reads!! The book is written by the author of YOU and Hidden Bodies. This book reads well just like YOU. The story is what held my attention throughout. The pacing of it is of a thriller however there are enough pauses throughout allowing the reader to soak in exactly what is happening.
The major theme which I enjoyed within this book is the intricate look at what makes us human and the idea of the monsters within us which overpower our emotions. There are major nods to “Frankenstein” and a specific awesome Lovecraft novel is the core of this book. Having just read his works this part of he story is a right treat. I couldn’t help but feel invested in finding out the end game for our protagonist Jon.
A modern twist on some classic stories with an unpredictable twist make this book enjoyable to read. I devoured this in a day and most definitely recommend it.
Providence by Caroline Kepnes is about the life of Jon, a young boy who is kidnapped and is found four years later. There is a huge change within him and his close friend Chloe notices there’s distance between them and he then disappears again. Years later, Detective Charles is looking into a string of mysterious deaths which lead him to cross paths with Chloe and Jon unveiling an unimaginable reality.
I am a little late to the party with this book and quite annoyed I left it this long to get to it. I feel like this is a reoccurring theme with my recent reads!! The book is written by the author of YOU and Hidden Bodies. This book reads well just like YOU. The story is what held my attention throughout. The pacing of it is of a thriller however there are enough pauses throughout allowing the reader to soak in exactly what is happening.
The major theme which I enjoyed within this book is the intricate look at what makes us human and the idea of the monsters within us which overpower our emotions. There are major nods to “Frankenstein” and a specific awesome Lovecraft novel is the core of this book. Having just read his works this part of he story is a right treat. I couldn’t help but feel invested in finding out the end game for our protagonist Jon.
A modern twist on some classic stories with an unpredictable twist make this book enjoyable to read. I devoured this in a day and most definitely recommend it.
premise:
Jon and Chloe are best friends. Jon is the outcast and Chloe is the popular one. Jon is then kidnapped and nobody but Chloe really cares. Eventually, she moves on and tries to enjoy life. Four years later, just prior to the end of senior year, Jon is found; he was in the basement of the local mall. He's a brand new person, tall and strong, but very clearly different in an inexplicable way.
spoilers/personal reaction:
I'm kinda between liking it and not liking it. At its core, it's a forbidden love story between Jon and Chloe. The surrounding mystery portion of the story is what is Jon. And the best way to describe Jon is Bruce Willis' character from Unbreakable. He's doesn't have a superhero superpower, per se, but he has this really dangerous ability to kill people. When his emotions get really fired up, he causes the person causing him to be evoked to have a heart attack. Unfortunately, Jon does kill a person before truly understanding his 'power' which is why when he first reappears after being missing for 4 years, escapes shortly after. So he lives a secret life and keeps a close watch on Chloe. He has unintentionally killed a few more people along the way and he understands he can never physically be with Chloe without killing her. So when they have this realization quite a few years after high school graduation, they recognize they both love each other but need to love from afar.
Jon is in hiding because you know, he murdered many people. In a weird full circle situation, his kidnapper who did this thing to him, has kept tabs on him keeping tabs on Chloe and saves Chloe because she's almost dying (there was also another thing with her fiance death-threatening jealously that was provoking Jon but lets just kinda ignore the details) and protects Jon from the law after their big realization moment. It was all a little odd.
Jon and Chloe are best friends. Jon is the outcast and Chloe is the popular one. Jon is then kidnapped and nobody but Chloe really cares. Eventually, she moves on and tries to enjoy life. Four years later, just prior to the end of senior year, Jon is found; he was in the basement of the local mall. He's a brand new person, tall and strong, but very clearly different in an inexplicable way.
Spoiler
spoilers/personal reaction:
I'm kinda between liking it and not liking it. At its core, it's a forbidden love story between Jon and Chloe. The surrounding mystery portion of the story is what is Jon. And the best way to describe Jon is Bruce Willis' character from Unbreakable. He's doesn't have a superhero superpower, per se, but he has this really dangerous ability to kill people. When his emotions get really fired up, he causes the person causing him to be evoked to have a heart attack. Unfortunately, Jon does kill a person before truly understanding his 'power' which is why when he first reappears after being missing for 4 years, escapes shortly after. So he lives a secret life and keeps a close watch on Chloe. He has unintentionally killed a few more people along the way and he understands he can never physically be with Chloe without killing her. So when they have this realization quite a few years after high school graduation, they recognize they both love each other but need to love from afar.
Jon is in hiding because you know, he murdered many people. In a weird full circle situation, his kidnapper who did this thing to him, has kept tabs on him keeping tabs on Chloe and saves Chloe because she's almost dying (there was also another thing with her fiance death-threatening jealously that was provoking Jon but lets just kinda ignore the details) and protects Jon from the law after their big realization moment. It was all a little odd.
a solid 3 stars, possibly 2 1/2. The story was interesting but at times excruciatingly boring. I'm still not exactly sure where the cop comes into the story - there was no clear purpose, he didn't have a hero moment or significant role. They could easily remove him and the ending and story line would have remained unaffected. It seems the cop was just put there to fill in time and space. I finished it but it fell short. The story dragged and dragged. Kept you anticipating a big wow moment that never came.
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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.
Providence 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 think. 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.
ARC provided via Netgalley.
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.
Providence 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 think. 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.
ARC provided via Netgalley.
****4.25 stars.
Starting this review, I would like to say that I have not read Caroline Kepnes' work before this book. I have not read "You" though I have been meaning to pick it up. That being said, I think, based on other reviews, that I have made the right decision to read this one first. A lot of people that were big fans of "You" seem to not like this book. My advice to anyone reading this after reading "You" would be to separate this from the other book and try not to compare.
Providence is the story of Jon and Chloe and how their lives were drastically changed after Jon was kidnapped. I don't want to go too much more into the story. I went into it not knowing much about the plot and I think that it helped my reading experience immensely.
I think one of the things that stood out to me the most was the way this book was written. I am not generally a huge fan of thriller/suspense books because I often find them too tedious. That was not the case with this book. In fact, I found myself wanting more. Kepnes does a good job of not giving too much away. There is a slight paranormal aspect of this book that I found fascinating and a lot of that had to do with how open it was left. It wasn't boxed in so there was a mystery to it.
I also liked the characters quite a bit. The love story was unlike any that I had read before and I appreciated it. I had a couple of issues with some of the pacing when it would time jump. But that was one of my only issues. I cannot wait to read this author's other books.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to try something that is more of a thriller especially if it is not their go-to genre.
Starting this review, I would like to say that I have not read Caroline Kepnes' work before this book. I have not read "You" though I have been meaning to pick it up. That being said, I think, based on other reviews, that I have made the right decision to read this one first. A lot of people that were big fans of "You" seem to not like this book. My advice to anyone reading this after reading "You" would be to separate this from the other book and try not to compare.
Providence is the story of Jon and Chloe and how their lives were drastically changed after Jon was kidnapped. I don't want to go too much more into the story. I went into it not knowing much about the plot and I think that it helped my reading experience immensely.
I think one of the things that stood out to me the most was the way this book was written. I am not generally a huge fan of thriller/suspense books because I often find them too tedious. That was not the case with this book. In fact, I found myself wanting more. Kepnes does a good job of not giving too much away. There is a slight paranormal aspect of this book that I found fascinating and a lot of that had to do with how open it was left. It wasn't boxed in so there was a mystery to it.
I also liked the characters quite a bit. The love story was unlike any that I had read before and I appreciated it. I had a couple of issues with some of the pacing when it would time jump. But that was one of my only issues. I cannot wait to read this author's other books.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to try something that is more of a thriller especially if it is not their go-to genre.
It was a little strange to read about places I frequent everyday but also a little cool.