I think the most telling
thing I can say about Caroline Kepnes’ work is this:
three months ago I hadn’t even heard of her...and as of today, I’ve read each
of her three novels--one of them twice (You).
They are equally
exceptional. I was about to write, “Each one is better than the last,” but that’s
not true at all. They are all good. Really good.
But Providence may be my favorite. At its core, it’s a love story--not
something I would consider to be right up my alley--but the backstories
and the genre-bending inclusion of sci-fi, the supernatural, and even shocking
horror elements make the love story almost, but not quite, secondary to the
work as a whole.
There are deep senses of
despair, redemption, and salvation that recur throughout the book and the
roller coaster ride this gives the reader almost forces a page-turning,
one-sitting read. Yeah, you can put it down if you just can’t keep your eyes
open any longer at night, but you’re going to want to pick it right back up
when you awaken the next morning because the story doesn’t leave you when you
put the book down.
No normal person could
possibly say, “Well, I’ve read a few chapters and I don’t care what happens
next.” This book sucks you in and holds on to you until you finish it. And even
after you finish it, after you blink your eyes a few times and say, “Whew...”
even then, Jon and Chloe won’t leave your thoughts. They’ll hang with you for
days.
Easily one of the best
novels I’ve read this year...perhaps in 5 years. Maybe 10.
Possibly more.