Providence: A Novel

For all the reviews of people saying this is no Joe and Genevieve book. Three words for you. "You're Absolutely Right." It's not a Joe and Genevieve book, that’s the point! If You want another Joe and Chloe book, then you're just going to have to wait for the third installment. An author is allowed to write about other characters in a completely different world then their best sellers. This is a book about, Jon, Chloe, and Eggs and it is fantastic! Before reading Providence, I had taken a hiatus on book reading. It had been over four years since I read a book that I could pick up and not want to put back. I hadn't read a book that had connected to me on an emotional level in such a long time. Originally, I had bought the book as a joke. My boyfriend kept telling me that I need to finish at least one of the many books I had bought over the years. We had recently binged watched season 2 of You and so I was looking up Caroline Kepnes books. I imagined me reading the You series and thinking "I like the show, I should be able to read the series no biggie." BUT I have a type like most readers do, and my type of book is supernatural. I live in and breath a good book about vampires, witches, werewolves, etc. Naturally I was on the fence on reading You, since it is not my preferred genre. But that’s not what drew me to Providence. The title itself caught my eyes. I grew up in the capital of the smallest state in the United States, Providence, Rhode Island. I went into this book just buying it as a statement piece. I did not read a single review, or even what it was about. All I knew, was the cover felt like home. I wanted it for my collection, memorabilia from my childhood. I didn't think that it would take place in the city I grew up. I didn’t think I would fall in love with the story. I read (or should I say started) so many books over the past years and each one I put down and just couldn’t finish them. I didn't think after turning page by page that I would recognize street names, or my high school or even our greatest attraction for tourist, the Water Fires. I smiled at every reference to home that was brought up in the book. No one knows Providence, or even Rhode Island unless you have lived there. But the book takes place in more then just little old Rhode Island. Any New Englander can find home in this book. Any who on to the book. . . THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW! If you enjoy supernatural beings, destiny, love, family, and friendship, then THIS is the book for you! Right off the back you are rooting for Jon. You love him. You want him to have the world, because he deserves it! He is genuine, and real, a lost soul in a world filled of broken people. He wants to love, he wants to live and at a young age that is all taken from him. You want Jon to be victorious at the end. He doesn't deserve the cards he has been dealt. Each section that features Jon, you long for his redemption, and each page you turn you find that Caroline Kepnes is NOT going to give us what we want so easily. Just like Jon, we need to work for it. Then there is Chloe, a broken girl. A girl that is too ashamed to admit she loves the boy that everyone picks on. A girl that would do anything just to have that boy. She is strong in her own way and you get to see her blossom into a beautiful woman by the end of the book. But my favorite part about Chloe's chapters are you get to feel all her pain. You understand that no matter what, she will always love . . . him. Chloe is not just any girl. She is a girl so in love with something she can't have that she tortures herself for the fantasy of it. A hopeless romantic and she uses her pain to create masterpieces. Good ol' Eggs. A middle-aged man so determined to solve a mystery that his pride doesn't see what’s happening around him. His world is falling apart, and no one can tell him he is wrong. Eggs is the type of man that will risk even the loss of his family if it means he has proven to everyone that he was right. To him that is worth the sacrifice. He wants to figure out what is happening in Providence. He knows that not everything is what it appears to be. You want to hate Eggs, but by the end of the story if Eggs doesn't make you cry than one question . . . Are you even human? I give this book a 5-star rating because that’s what it deserves. I couldn't put this book down. I read 200 pages the first. It was so good that I refused to continue reading it because I didn't want it to end. After a two-week break, I put my stubbornness aside and finished the book. If you plan on reading this book after You. Put You out of your mind because this book will pull at your heart strings in ways I couldn't imagine, and I am longing for a sequel.

I feel like books are becoming more diversified. They’re not just one or two things anymore. Where the Shadow Lies was a mysterious thriller with a side of romance. Folsom was a political romance with a side of dystopia. And this book—Providence—is a romantic mystery with a side of science fiction. It’s impressive really. People are so complicated; we’re never just one or two things. We’re many things, and we have many sides. So it makes sense that what we like to read is just as complex. I must admit, I was a little reluctant to read this book. I’m not a sci-fi fan. I like books I can relate to, and supernatural qualities are often unrelatable. Unless I’m smack dab in the middle of watching a Marvel movie, I shrug off the idea of super powers. A web can’t stop a train from crashing, a root can’t defuse a bomb, and a hammer can’t crush a building with one swing. It’s unrealistic to the point of being ridiculous. (Sorry, Marvel fans! I know, I know…you’re booing me right about now.) But that’s what’s so great about this book. Caroline creates an environment that is unlikely and makes it completely believable. Once you’re immersed in the story, you find that you’re less focused on the supernatural element and more focused on the brokenness of the characters and their unjust circumstances. It becomes a matter of who instead of a matter of how. Let’s talk about the main character, Jon Bronson. On the surface, he is a villain or—as he refers to himself many times—a “monster.” He harms people and, at times, he feels no regret. You should dislike him because of what he does, but you find yourself sympathizing with him because of who he is. Sound familiar? If you’ve read Caroline’s first book, You, then you’re very familiar with its main character, Joe Goldberg. Like Jon, Joe is also a villain. He harms people too, and he seldom regrets his actions. And yet, villain or not, you find the guy endearing. Some would even say they’d want to be BFFs with him (ahem, ME). Reading about Jon made me think about Joe. But aside from their three-letter, three-syllable names and “monsterlike” qualities, the comparison pretty much stops there. While there is a similar cadence in the books—story-wise, Providence is a very different book. One of the ways Providence is different is its manipulation of time. The novel spans many years. In that time, settings change and most characters evolve. There’s a real sense of “growing up”…or not. You see that some people mature while others remain stagnant. Some people deteriorate while others flourish. Now, I know you’re all wondering about the ending, and without giving much away, I will say, I had some questions at the end of this book. My thoughts went like this: “Wouldn’t they have [something spoilerish]?” “Why didn’t they [something equally spoilerish]?” “Do they end up [MAJORLY SPOILERISH]?” Some readers have docked the book a star or two because of these questions, but I honestly love novels that leave you guessing. I don’t want everything tied up in a perfect little bow. The fact that Caroline left a few things up to interpretation says (to me) that she trusts her readers. She thinks we’re intelligent, that we can handle the mystery. This just makes me respect her more. My advice to you, should you decide to read this book (and you really, really should) is to go into it with an open mind. Don’t think, “This won’t be my cup of tea.” Don’t think, “I loved You, so I know I’ll love this book.” Don’t think, “All villains deserve to die” (okay, maybe that one’s a bit harsh). DO think, “I want to escape,” “I want to be entertained,” “I want to read something different,” “I want to use my imagination.” If you can do these things, then you’ll love this book as much as I do.

Caroline Kepnes is brilliant, and this novel really proves it. Yes, You is fantastic. But this triple character novel was just engrossing and heartbreaking (maybe pun intended?) Jon and Chloe start as pretty average and recognizable kids. They're both a little odd, not the same as their peers, but Chloe knows how to fit in (when she wants to). Poor Jon is just clueless, an adorably unrepentant nerd who likes what he likes, adores his only friend Chloe, and really doesn't care that he's bullied. He's so innocent and happy, until he's kidnapped and his world flips upside down. Not to give away spoilers, but let's just skip ahead to Jon gets changed by these events (literally) and he has to leave. But what's worst, he has to leave Chloe. And really, the pain of that is palpable, carrying through the novel. I had tears in my eyes a few times for these two people who loved each other so much for so long and yearn to he together. Emotion like that...well, not every writer can manage such a feat and brava! But as much as I enjoyed Jon and Chloe, the real connection I made was with Eggs and his wife, Lo. Maybe it's my age, not much younger than them. Maybe it's experiencing similar issues in my own life, but Eggs and Lo cut me deep. First off, I never realized until his PoV how much I love well-written detectives and watching them work. But their relationship, the details, the tensions beneath years of support, love, disappointment, and guilt...holy hell. Now that made the tears fall. Just so well done, so real. My one complaint is the big mysteries of how and why involving what happened to Jon are never really answered. And I get that not all mysteries are unraveled in a story. I'm only giving my humble opinion that the build-up was just so good and intense so I wanted a little more on that end. But other than that, as a fellow former New Englander and a woman who loves a good tearjerker, I highly recommend this. As far as genre, it's a delightful blend -- horror, thriller, dark fantasy, maybe more. There's a lot of wonderful elements to this book which should appeal to most readers. I have no idea why the reviews are so mixed. I say, give Providence a chance. This is the kind of book that can change the way you view the world💖

While i found this book to be really interesting, the writing style was so similar to her You series that I kept envisioning the Joe character. That makes it difficult to keep the new character separate. Usually I’m not so bothered by something like writing style but it’s so significant. It’s when you’re in the character’s thoughts and they repeat words over and over. She usually does three words and then repeats them again later to tie in the thoughts and actions. Ugh... if you know what I mean, you know. I also didn’t like the lack of resolution. Some people find that fascinating but i would’ve liked at least some kind of justice or meaning behind it. Just my opinion... in would still read more from this author regardless.

Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down. Providence weaves a young friendship that’s postponed, over and over, from becoming more. Jon is awkward and kind. Chloe has many friends but she considers Jon her best friend. Her other friends don’t like Jon and some of them are outright bullies to him. He walks through the woods to get to school so he can avoid the bullies. One day, while walking through the woods, Jon is hit over the head and kidnapped. He isn’t heard from for four years. He does return home but he’s different and so is everyone else. Chloe mourned him along with his parents but no one else did. Jon discovers that he has a negative effect on people, causing them to have heart attacks if he gets too close or too emotional. His life becomes lonely solitude and he doesn’t dare get near his parents or Chloe. Providence is a unique story with complex characters. It’s a thought provoking read that never reveals the mystery entirely; 5 stars for characters that I truly cared about!

4.5 stars! After reading YOU and Hidden Bodies earlier this year and falling madly in love with Caroline Kepnes' writing style, you can imagine how eager I was to read Providence by Caroline Kepnes. Now, Providence is not a 'Joe & Beck' story, let's just clarify that straight away. YOU and Hidden Bodies are the Joe & Beck stories and if you haven't read those two books, I highly recommend them (You is my favorite of the two-I have Goodreads reviews for both) Providence is a 'Jon & Chloe' story. The magical things that Kepnes does so well as an author are the best things about this book. Caroline has this casual, accessible, and compelling way of storytelling that is immediately captivating. The pages fly by as the "movie" begins to play in your mind. She also builds characters that are like flesh and blood people and she stages the interactions between them with so much realism, I forget that I'm reading a piece of fiction. Dialog exchanges sound like real life conversations-the way people really talk and the characters open up like flowers to the reader with their steady streams of inner mind-chat. The story here was so totally original, I found myself not finding an easy place to drop the bookmark at bedtime...each chapter was an invitation to keep reading. This story is equal parts love story/romance, supernatural sci-fi and maybe even some mystery/hardboiled detective threads. I would not say this is horror at all, as some were suggesting. But genre aside, this book is entertaining on so many levels and Caroline's writing is so engaging, I can't imagine a reader that wouldn't be interested in this book. Seriously, there's something for everyone here. My only real complaint would be that this book checked all the boxes for me except one: Teeth. I felt myself hoping that the story would eventually leap off the page and land in some really dark territory--there was some opportunity with the antagonist where I felt like I needed a little bit more from that part of the story. I wanted more motive there. But that's my only real complaint, the edge of the knife was a bit dull but other than that--everything about this story was speaking my language. Mad love for Caroline Kepnes. She an insta-buy author.

I am so glad that Caroline Kepnes went "rogue" with "Providence." This is completely different from "You" as well as "Hidden Bodies." Having loved both of the former novels, I wondered if Kepnes could outdo herself as a writer. Providence is so different, part science-fiction, part detective story, and part love story. Enter Jon and Chloe, best friends...until Jon is kidnapped by his substitute teacher. Missing for four years, Jon suddenly wakes from an induced coma in the basement of the mall. "Basement boy" returns home to the usual media fanfare that we are so accustomed to in this day and age. But alas, Jon is not as free as it would seem. Strange things begin to happen. Tragedy strikes and strikes again and again. Jon and Chloe cannot be together, but they are doomed when they are apart. Without ruining the plot, I do not want to reveal anymore of the story. DO NOT compare Providence to You and Hidden Bodies. THIS IS NOT "Joe Goldberg." This is Jon & Chloe, an impossible love story. I enjoyed it immensely.

Unlike some readers, I didn't purchase this book because of my love for the "You" series (books or show). I have watched "You" on Netflix and somewhat enjoyed it. On the other hand, what drew me to this book was the promise of a supernatural thriller about an unbreakable bond of love and friendship between two people that overcomes all obstacles. To some extent, the author delivers on that but not in a traditional, satisfying way. I read the book in a little over a day, and I was left feeling discontented and let down. Most of the events of the book are resolved by the final pages but in a way that was too bittersweet for my taste. I suppose that's more parallel to real life--there are no happy endings in real life, after all; but that's not why I read books. Like most people, I read books to escape real life. I enjoy the roller coaster of emotions that comes with reading a book full of sad, scary, and thrilling moments; but in the end, I want to leave feeling happy and safe. The conclusion of this book leaves you with a vague hopeful notion, but anyone with a pragmatic mind can see how flimsy that hope really is. As others have mentioned, the scenes that involved stalking did remind me of scenes from "You". The character, Jon, does have a more innocent reason for stalking people than Joe does, but the similarity is there nonetheless. Also, for anyone who's read the Bill Hodges Trilogy by Stephen King, I found an uncanny resemblance between Detective Eggs and retired detective, Bill "Kermit" Hodges. Ms. Kepnes was clearly inspired by King's successful work. Overall, the quality of the book is acceptable from a literary perspective. Caroline Kepnes' writing style is clever enough to be engaging but also approachable enough to not be too pretentious. It just wasn't what I was looking for; and subsequently, I probably won't read any of her other books.

A modern love story with supernatural undertones throughout. You feel for the characters, each one of them. Amazing and gifted author. A truly captivating love story for the ages. Cannot wait to get my hands on every book she writes.

I have read both previous novels by Ms. Kepnes and really enjoy her writing style. Bought this item from wordery and am pleased with the speed and the quality of the book and would recommend this seller. I would buy from them again.

Bellissimo. Mi piace sia la scrittrice che il genere. Lo consiglio vivamente.

Big fan of this author already. This book was very different to the previous two but I have no complaints... I won’t go through the plot, best to go in with an open mind but this was unlike anything I’ve read before. Read the whole book within a day, great writing as always. Can’t wait to see where the author goes with her next book!

Buen libro. Me gusta mucho el estilo de escritura de Caroline Kepnes.