Reviews

Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson

wdianasheppard's review against another edition

4.0

"Deep in Providence" is a slow-moving examination on love, grief, and loyalty wrapped in a coming-of-age tale. Following three teenagers as they attempt to come to terms with losing one of their own, "Deep in Providence" reckons with addiction, anger, sexuality, and unplanned pregnancy through the lens of a haunting. This book defies a lot of genres - I'd call it contemporary YA, but it takes place nebulously in the early aughts, and in places it is quite unsettling and frightening like a horror. The girls meddle in magic, trying to bring their lost friend back to life, but something is stalking them from the shadows.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this book. It's not about Big Plot - it follows their lives, the minutiae and the mundane - but deals with all the thorny strangeness of their emotions as they reckon with their families and their ambitions. "Deep in Providence" features a diverse cast and set of cultures, but is wonderfully rooted in a sense of place - that of Providence, Rhode Island. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes slower burns, who values character over a swiftly-moving plot.

antarcticsloth's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jaded618's review against another edition

5.0

This book was wonderfully written! This was not my typical genre, which is why I was thrilled that Once Upon A Book Club picked this novel so I was exposed to something new. These girls had so much going on in their lives, and their friendships really helped them through so much. The book also had me remembering the old movie The Craft, that I saw when I was younger. Creepy vibes during different scenes of the book.

Overall a great debut novel and I am looking forward to more from this author!

sagittariusreads_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

bcat0124's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

danika_eden1038's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

valvallie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

_shari's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

danireadsthings's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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? No

4.0

julialudovici's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0