Providence by Caroline Kepnes

Growing up as best friends in small-town New Hampshire, Jon and Chloe are the only ones who truly understand each other, though they can never find the words to tell one another the depth of their feelings. When Jon is finally ready to confess his feelings, he’s suddenly kidnapped by his substitute teacher who is obsessed with H.P. Lovecraft and has a plot to save humanity.

Mourning the disappearance of Jon and facing the reality he may never return, Chloe tries to navigate the rites of entering young adulthood and “fit in” with the popular crowd, but thoughts of Jon are never far away. 

When Jon finally escapes, he discovers he now has an uncontrollable power that endangers anyone he has intense feelings for. He runs away to protect Chloe and find the answers to his new identity–but he’s soon being tracked by a detective who is fascinated by a series of vigilante killings that appear connected.

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Providence was not what I expected at all. I really enjoyed Caroline Kepnes’ other novels, You and Hidden Bodies. If you are looking for a mystery that is different and has you somewhat rooting for the killer, check out You. You is also going to be a Lifetime TV series starring Penn Badgley coming this September.

If you plan on reading Providence, understand that this is not You or Hidden Bodies. It is a YA novel with hints of sci-fi and fantasy. If I knew that going into the novel, I wouldn’t of read it.

Providence goes deep into Jon, Chloe and Eggs. Jon disappeared on his way to school one day and appeared 4 years later without remember what had happened to him and with a “superpower”. Chloe was Jon’s best friend and Eggs is a detective looking into mysterious deaths.

I think my biggest dislike with the novel was that so little happened. Jon came back and there was still another 300 pages to go. The reader then got bounced back and forth between Jon, Chloe and Eggs and I couldn’t connect with any of them.

1 calculator out of a potential 5. Not for me! Check out You instead!

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Thank you to Netgallery and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.