Providence

by Craig Willse

An introverted English professor falls for an enigmatic sophomore and is lured into a web of chaos and deceit.

Mark Lausson, a professor stuck in the middle of Ohio, is smart enough to get a job at an elite liberal arts college but not smart enough to know better when he meets charismatic sophomore Tyler Cunningham. In Tyler, Mark sees another way of being in the world—he finds Tyler’s self-possession both compelling and unsettling. Caught in the rush of sex and secrets, Mark ignores the increasing evidence that Tyler can’t be trusted. But by the time Mark comes to his senses, the irreparable damage is done. Providence shows how feeling trapped in our own lives can lead us to make choices we otherwise would not and the ways in which sexual desire can distort our senses of self and other, right and wrong.

Genres: LGBT, Queer, Thriller, Fiction, Gay, Queer Lit, Mystery Thriller

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2024

Reviews

[Clace · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.50!

This is the most honest I can get and yes this is an ARC review.

First let me highlight why it is important to market a book right. This book is marketed as a murder mystery/thriller however there is nothing thrilling about this book in the slightest and the murder part? yeah that does not happen until the 80% mark and honestly if you ask me what this book was about? I would have no answer for you because I myself am very confused as to what this book was about, the most simple way I could summarize this book would be:

"The professor gets hots for his student and the student is of course a jock, they meet they fuck, the professor thinks its too taboo, says no, fucks again, plain boring drama, Ooo murder, ends"

In the most respectful way, What. The. Fuck. Was. This. Book.
The writing style I did not mind but what I did mind was how everything was handled with the build up being too long and the climax being very disappointing to how the author failed to portray any of the characters in a manner where we would be able to understand them.

The pacing is so incredibly slow, I started this in March in hopes to finish my arcs so my ratio could go back up but this was just so goddamn slow and there wasn't even anything happening until like the 80% mark so it was all just them talking and fucking and feeling bad and scared that they would get caught and it all repeated and fell into a cycle and eventually when it did start to change or progress, I was so done with this book because it was not even worth all this wait yk? like I waited all this time for that?? like I had the same problem with a little life...it took too long to progress but when it did, it actually did hit hard but this one didnt even graze my heart. I was neither thrilled or even amused in the slightest by it.

Everything about Mark (our MC) screamed boring, he was just so boring to read about and so goddamn unlikeable that it did not help at all like?? he made bad decisions after bad decisions, told himself he would not but then did the same thing all over again and 😭 the sex scenes were so blah the characters had zero chemistry, zero angst, zero anything it was just a mixture of everything put in together excluding the flavor...in much simpler words: BLAND. Also, the fact that Mark cheated on his boyfriend??? just because he saw a student all sweaty after a match?? and him trying to explain himself gave me second hand embarrassment because honestly nO.

Tyler (the student) was so toxic 😭 I cannot. It was shown that he actually liked Mark?? but it felt like he was only there for the sex because we literally get zero crumbs let alone spoons of them doing anything together besides (mind my language) fucking. He treated Mark like shit and honestly Mark deserved it, and the doormat that mark was ended up right back at him. Both the characters were so poorly written.

I would write something about the plot but there was nothing interesting or basically anything to write about.

One of the worst books that I have read this year or maybe the worst book that I read, it right alongside Credence or maybe slightly above it. Also, believe me if I could give it a zero I would.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. I think this will be my final arc read of.. forever. 😇

I don’t like that arc reviews are supposed to be honest, but I feel there is a weird stigma attached to actually being honest??
/I had a whole rant here but I deleted it because I don’t want to upset people but I love you all for being kind. I am not feeling kind today 😈 I choose violence today.

Let’s get to this review. I’m going to attempt to do it properly.

The words will not come easy for this book.
I’m really struggling to piece together what I just read.

I will say, this book takes 78% to even get slightly interesting. That is too fucking long for a build up, especially when the events during that first 78 % BARELY get redeemed because the ending was pretty average imo.

(I was HOPING the whole way through reading this, that maybe this book would be like bear town or a little life, where you need all that build up to make the story go ✨POW✨ at the end. But, it was not like that at all for me, it was all just blah blah blah before the book was over)

The first 78% was babbling, long-winded, had way too much academic talk, and was filled with interactions with people and side characters that… once you got to the end of the book, you realise were completely unimportant?????
Maybe about 1 of 10 interactions really had any point.
I assume it was more to build up Mark’s (the main MC) personality as a bit of a loner professor at a prestigious uni, but holy hell, WHAT A FUCKING DRAGGGGGGGG ‼️

I’ve seen some marketing for book as a “thriller” but there is absolutely NOTHING thrilling about that first 78%… nothing even ELUDING to a thrill… and when it did get “thrilling”… it just wasn’t that thrilling?? An incident happens, it’s dealt with, it’s over…. Wow… ✨THRILLING✨🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

*****slight spoiler ahead, stop reading now if you plan to read this****






The two MC’s are VERY unlikable.
Mark being a complete idiot (examples: he cheats on his boyfriend who is an absolute SAINT and did not deserve that, mark ignores every single one of Tyler’s red flags AND FUCK ME THERE ARE SOME RED FLAGS 🚩🚩🚩, gets himself into a stupid life ruining situation that literally COULD HAVE JUST BEEN AVOIDED???, ect.)

And Tyler, being a lil fuck boy with minimal personality,
He literally shows no interest in mark EVER, except for in ONE scene… one….

The way mark was portrayed as this lil love sick dude, was so pathetic. Maybe that’s good writing? Because I was like… eye rolling at how dumb mark was the whole book??
Tyler gave him absolutely nothing, maybe ONE CRUMB of attention, and mark was eating that shit up like a starving dying man… why?? WHAT WAS THE FUCKING REASON?!

The friendships between Mark and his friends feels flat, even when he was in conversation with people who actually liked him, I’d question… why? He is literally such a boring person who never shows up for you? Why do you like this human??
He doesn’t do anything to be worthy of friendship 98% of the time?

Also, it did get interesting there right at the end… to completely fall flat on its face and end terribly. I guess the ending was to kind of show/prove that mark had always been a bit of a numpty and not good at seeing signs maybe???

I DON’T KNOWWWWWW. FUCK ARC READ STIGMA.

I just wanted more thriller.🎢
More gay crime. 🌈🦹‍♂️
Less fucking talking. 🚫
More Tyler being insane. 🔪
More mystery. 🧙🏼‍♂️
More…….

This had the potential to go very salt burn, or very dark, or very evil.
I think I wanted that and even though it’s like 310 pages, it felt never ending..

I did really enjoy the sentence structures and language and such throughout.
Maybe I’m just not smart enough for books like this 🤷‍♀️💖
I actually think that might be why 😂
maybe educated people will enjoy this book.

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ 4.25 stars ✰

“I think the second greatest mystery of the universe is other people.”

“What?” I had no idea what she meant.

She laughed again. “Just like, you can never really know another person, like what they’re thinking or feeling. I mean, you have your ideas of something, like being sad, but you can’t know exactly what sad feels like to someone else. Or happiness, or love. Not truly.”

“Okay,” I said. “Then what’s the first greatest mystery?”

“Ourselves,” she said. “Obviously.”

It's been quite a while since a book has had such a strong hold on me the way Providence did, a psychological thriller about an English professor, Mark Lausson, whose life quickly spirals into a path of destruction when he begins an illicit affair with his charismatic and enigmatic sophomore student, Tyler Cunningham.

“I can make myself crazy trying to figure out what of that night was real—whether it was Tyler at his most loving or his most traitorous. Sometimes, I’m not sure there’s a difference.”

I read this in the early hours of Saturday morning - y'know, before the household wakes up and there's only the silence and the words that envelop you in a story that makes you neglect all other household chores. And yet, when the time came for the day to actually begin - weekend chores waiting for me to attend to, I didn't want to. I didn't want to, not until I finished reading it - not until I knew the ending of what would happen to Mark - I could not put it down - Craig Willse had been pulled me into the story - riveted by the nature of their relationship. The writing was so appealing to my aesthetic senses - the plot positively gripping - such a page turner - so well-written that drew me into Mark's plight -it's been so long since a book has captivated me so much. I really liked it. 🤌🏻🤌🏻

Did Mark make stupid and bad judgment calls? Yes, more than I would like for him to have done - but, it was such a clear example of how the lust for desire - that urge to be wanted by Tyler - had hindered all rhyme or reason for him. 🙍🏻‍♀️ It was almost intoxicating the way Tyler had completely mesmerized him - how he was willing to give up everything and anything to help him out. 'How it felt to confess, the way he offered his body to be held like a child, when it was him holding me. And other times, I obsess over it, searching out some detail I missed, desperate for knowledge I will never have.'

I liked how the author didn't make it like an instant attraction - Tyler toyed with him, almost to the point of luring him in with such heated chemistry till he had no choice to give into temptation; and yet, I believed it. I believed how their relationship unfolded, that their emotions for each other were genuine - heady with want and lust - despite me inwardly yelling at him not to listen to him - can't you see he's using you??? 😥😥

But, I still understood why Mark was so drawn to help Tyler. He had been living such a mundane and ordinary life before Tyler came into his class, and then just to have this insane pull of this beautiful young man who actually wanted him - wouldn't he do anything to keep him? It was stressful seeing how rapidly his life was deteriorating - as he became completely alienated from his colleagues, isolated from his boyfriend, losing interest in his work, he truly believed that Tyler would be worth it. '. . . is this all the world was? A chain of misplaced longings, never met? But now, in some twisted, unbreakable way, I had gotten what I wanted.' 😞 They had some really wholesome and heart-warming intimate moments, that I hoped against hope that things would turn out for the better. Mark's thoughts and actions really kept the pace alive; I never felt a lull in the story, I was constantly on alert - the tension of the situation so clearly evident of waiting for that anvil to fall where everything falls apart - and boy, did it ever! 😭😭

“Tyler cares about me.”

“I don’t doubt that. You know what they say—we always hurt the ones we love.”

And y'know what the truly sad part about all of this was? As much as Mark basically kept digging his own grave by making conscious mistakes because he was so foolishly enraptured with the hope that Tyler would choose him, I wanted him to find a way out. I wanted him to succeed and get his happy ending. 'What were we protecting? What was there to lose? Everything, it seemed, and nothing.' ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 He was a rueful pawn in Tyler's schemes and as he uncovers more truths about who Tyler really is - the irony of the title really comes into fruition; and to me, that's truly the mark of a tragic hero. 💔💔

I also appreciated the subtle ways in which the author addressed misogyny and racism - it's not painstakingly evident, but the little hints that were dropped, really does show the depravity of humankind - and how even under the guise of decency and kindness, there is still so much unaddressed and unnoticed - that people can be rotten to the core even under the veneer of grace and beauty. 👍🏻👍🏻 The side plot regarding Mark's sister also kept the tone alive and aided Mark in making some timely decisions that would either cost him his life or save him, instead.

“If you have come to hear a heartwarming story about queer resilience,” I started, “you have come to the wrong place. There are no heroes here.”

The publishers have hinted that the cover is subject to change; personally, I hope that they don't. It was the cover that drew me to it, and it also, in my opinion, perfectly captures the magnetic allure of how Tyler drew Mark towards him and the painful way in which by getting involved in him, his life was irrevocably shattered. 😟 I wouldn't also mind a companion novella from Tyler's point of view; there were still so many layers to him that I felt could have been explored - mysteries left unanswered. What led him to target Mark? How much of how he behaved with him was fiction or truth? Was his intentions always to ensnare Mark as an unwitting participant - a rueful target of Tyler's schemes? 🥺

But, then I think, does it really matter?

In the novel, Mark is researching a crime case that took place in the U.S during the early 20s. It piqued my interest, but I was unsure whether or not it was true or not - so I looked it up. Turns out it was, and while I was disgusted with the crime itself, the perpetrators did not receive the death penalty, rather life in prison, because their lawyer defended them, sources describing his defence simply as, 'Nature made them do it, evolution made them do it, Nietzche made them do it.' And while it's not an argument I would support, I think the opening statement to Mark's dissertation speaks volumes for the entirety of this novel, as well.

“Instead, I want to think about why we find these stories fascinating. What they tell us about how we imagine depravity—sexual and criminal. And, ultimately, what we can see in these stories about ourselves—or as French philosopher Michel Foucault might put it, the ‘mirage in which we think we see ourselves reflected— the dark shimmer of sex.’”

It was really a very impressive and compelling debut that truly satisfied the reader in me. 👏🏻 👏🏻 I wouldn't mind reading it again when it comes out, just to experience the tumultuous way in which Mark's steadily but surely fell apart.

*Thank you Union Square & Co for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dr. Mark Lausson throws his entire life away for a twink who chews with his mouth open.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unofficial Synopsis:

Mark’s life come crumbling down at the start of his second year of college. It’s not long after that Tyler enters his life and seems to have everything that Mark wants. Mark finds Tyler magnetic and ignores the lingering thoughts that he can’t be trusted.

By the time Mark comes to his senses, the damage has been done and you can’t come back from everything.

Review:

This book is a slow burn with pacing to match. I often struggle with slower books and that was the case here. I find my mind wandering and I struggle to focus so it takes away from my enjoyment of the story. However, around the 80% mark, things started to wrap up and become resolved, though I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the resolution either. For all the buildup and tension that was created, it just seemed to fall flat to me. While I understand that suspense is a subgenre of thriller, it is important to me that books like this get labeled as suspense rather that just thriller, so readers can have clear expectations. The characters were also unlikeable, which isn’t always something I need in the book, but with the plot lacking I was looking for something to hold onto and enjoy. This is just one of those books that didn’t live up to the premise for me though I think had it been marketed slightly different results might have differed. I do think that this is a talented author as he had a way with invoking emotions, which is important, so I will read their work in the future.

[Vini · Rating 2 out of 5]

some of you would rather top a twink than stop and think!

This was interesting! It was not at all what I expected, but I ended up reading it in two sittings, so I enjoyed my time with it. This is another book about toxic, codependent gays in an academic setting (a trope? subgenre? that I love), but this time, we follow an English professor who becomes infatuated with his younger student.

This book keeps you reading because, at all times, we know that something will go down, but we're never sure what. But idk I feel like something is missing from it. A lot of it is very slow, slower than it probably should be, and then the pace ramps up in the last third, only for the book to just end suddenly. I felt like I had pages missing? I think maybe this book could have been so much better if we had Tyler's perspective because Mark was just very unlikeable and not that interesting of a character to read about for 300 pages. If we had Tyler's perspective, it would make the whole story a lot more unreliable; we wouldn't know who's telling the truth, making it a lot more complex.

The writing was good, though, so I would definitely pick up something else from the author! Thank you, Union Square & Co., for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig Willse's dark academia gay thriller, PROVIDENCE, was a total blast—infusing The Talented Mr. Ripley, Saltburn, and Micah Nemerever's These Violent Delights into one wildly entertaining experience.

The story is centered around Mark Lausson—an English professor at an elite liberal arts school in the middle of Ohio, who becomes infatuated with a sophomore soccer player, charismatic and handsome Tyler Cunningham. Tyler draws Mark in with his personality and looks in ways that Mark can't describe. Mark starts centering his life around Tyler's every move, becoming more and more ingrained into Tyler's world. Knowing that this relationship is unprofessional, Mark tries to fight back, but can't seem to let Tyler go. As the two forge a sexual relationship, Mark starts seeing that Tyler can't be trusted. However, once Mark is locked into Tyler's world, it's hard to escape.

This book was so much fun and I read it in two sittings. I normally don't prioritize dark academia books, but the cover and synopsis drew me in immediately. This book will turn in ways you won't expect and its steamy in all the right ways without going over the top. At its core, PROVIDENCE is a mystery/thriller, but there's moments in which we get social commentary on LGBTQ+ culture as well. I absolutely loved how the story ended and was surprised to see it go that direction (in a good way). I can't wait to see what Craig Willse has in store for readers next.

[Jason Conrad · Rating 2 out of 5]

First -- thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (and their very kind publicity staff member!) for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. When I read the synopsis, I was intrigued, and knew I needed to read it.

A few positives first — there was an underlying sense of dread and anxiety that made me, as a reader, incredibly curious to continue reading. The writing itself was very good, and I enjoyed the prose. The atmosphere was very unsettling, which is so important in thrillers. Willse did an excellent job of setting everything up.

Providence started out very promising. There was some good work with the exposition as we eased into the main plot. Mark was being established, and we understand immediately that he's a symbol of unhappiness, stuck in a life that he once felt would be fulfilling. The themes of unhappiness, stagnancy in life, and the need to feel alive were present throughout the book, and I thought they were used well.

Unfortunately, a lot of the plot ended up falling flat. It almost felt like a collection of scenes that created a story, but weren't that meaningful.

The book was labeled a thriller, but there were honestly no thriller elements until the final 3 chapters of the book. There were some psychological thriller elements here and there, but they were minimal.

The characters were thinly developed in a book with a premise that would've benefitted significantly from stronger, more fleshed-out characters. The "gay murder" motif had so much potential, but I felt it wasn't explored as much as it could've been.

The problem I had was that the protagonist, Mark, wasn't likable or unlikeable. I was just completely indifferent towards him. And because I was indifferent toward him, I didn't care too much what would end up happening to him. I wanted more of Tyler -- he was dangerous, definitely, but we didn't get enough insight into him and what was going on his mind.

The ending was abrupt and provided minimal closure. We didn't get too much insight into the aftermath of the events, and "Part III" felt like an afterthought.

There were some good things about the book, as listed in the beginning of this review. Unfortunately, those positives felt overshadowed by the negatives.

[Stoic Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

At its core, Providence by Craig Willse explores the consequences of unchecked desire and the fine line between love and obsession.

Reminiscent of *The Secret History by Donna Tartt and *These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever, this bewildering and intoxicating dark academia thriller is nothing short of brilliant.  The writing is so exquisite, with sentences and phrases so masterfully crafted. Craig Willse, a round of applause 👏

The narrative plunges into a world where intellectual ambition and emotional intensity collide, creating a gripping atmosphere that is both alluring and dangerous. The characters haunted by their own desires and demons; their interactions are charged with passion and intimacy so intense, it feels destructive.

This book is an experience. It’s a journey through the darkest corners of the heart and mind, one that lingers long after the last page is turned. For those who appreciate literary thriller that challenges and enchants in equal measure, this novel is an absolute must-read.

By the time I reached the final page, I was left breathless, pondering the haunting beauty of what I had just read. 🙌👏

[Grant Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not heard much about Providence before receiving my ARC from Union Square & Co, but felt that it was right up my alley after reading the synopsis- a gay English professor falls for his young attractive sophomore student? I’m in!

Craig Willse instantly puts the reader into the mindset of what life can be like at a private university with privileged students. From the get go, we see Mark become almost obsessed with Tyler, and we know it is only going to become more and more unhealthy. I felt really connected throughout the story having gone to a private university in New Orleans, and now living in Florida- both of which are mentioned/visited in the book.

Did Tyler have a million red flags from their first encounter? Yes. Was Mark smart enough have known better SO many times throughout the book? Yes. But I think that’s the point. And what Willse has done an excellent job of here is showing how strongly sexual desire and needs can supersede even the strongest logic. The angst and desire Mark felt for Tyler came across very clear on the page, even with his relationship with Stephen and friendship with Sadie. He prioritized Tyler above all else, and the flippancy and disregard Tyler showed him in return is so typical of a spoiled 19 year old.

Overall, I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. But if you are looking for a suspense about lusting after the unattainable, and never being satisfied with what’s in front of you, be sure to grab a copy of Providence on 4/23!

[ivy]

DNF @ 80% - I got everything the summary promised and was enjoying it until now, melodrama.

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wavered on buying Providence because the reviews I saw were extremely polarizing.
I can see how readers might be disappointed if they were expecting a psychological thriller. I don’t think art needs to be bound to genre. However, Providence is more of a character study with a few dashes of thriller.

I honestly think this book should include more pages to tell the story, which is something I rarely say. The character analysis felt shallow. Providence hints at themes but doesn’t commit to exploring them more deeply.

I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this more. However, I would read another book from the author.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing and gradual build of stakes and stress was not great for my blood pressure, in a very good way. Mark was a really well-developed character-I wish he was real so I could strangle him and his decision-making processes. I think I wanted to see a little more of Tyler and what it was Mark saw in him, and I'm sure a lot of the literary references went right over my head (my problem, not the author's), but overall it was a great and tense read.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reviews for this book are all over the place, and I get it. It's a well written novel about a lonely English professor making extremely poor choices at every turn, to the point where you really can't root for him, he's just such a dumbass. Mark Lausson, our protagonist, teaches at a small, elite college in Ohio. He has always been a loner, but his life has shrunk down so small, he doesn't realize how trapped he is. Then in waltzes Tyler, a nineteen-year-old student who for some reason captivates Mark utterly. Mark and this student embark on a brief, intense affair that will come to have wide-reaching consequences.

We get this story entirely from Mark's perspective, Tyler is inscrutable to us and his motives difficult to work out. Being stuck in Mark's head was not fun. He is a kind of pathetic, a highly intelligent person who thinks they are self-aware, but actually just like ghosts though life with little self-reflection. I really didn't like him and was not sympathetic to him at all, which makes it difficult to really love the read.

The third act of this book, the last 20% or so, was meant to be shocking, but really just felt like a lazy and heavily foreshadowed plot point, it was rushed and a little incoherent, like the author wasn't sure where to go with this.

It wasn't a bad read, but I'm glad to be done with Mark, to be honest.

[Caleb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll start with the good: Willse's writing style is very enjoyable and calming. I liked the main character Mark: a flawed, lonely gay academic in Ohio. I liked the setting and the environment. I even enjoyed the evil twink ruining Mark's life. This was all Willse's doing.

But, maybe to his detriment, Willse was too good at making me think I understood this "Mark." That this "Mark" was a reasonable person who got caught up in a bad situation.

Then, the big event happens, and everything that happens thereafter was mind-bogglingly unbelievable and silly. The character I thought I knew became a caricature of himself, abandoning all logic and leaning into pure insanity.

This story devolved into a plot that was ripped straight from an SVU or Criminal Minds script. There was much promise, but ultimately things went very wrong after about the three-quarters mark. So much of Willse's hard work and good writing came to mean nothing as the story limped into the epilogue.

I would read Willse's next piece, but I can't recommend this one for consumption. Two stars.

***Note: I received an ARC of this novel from Union Square & Co. and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.***

[Dylan Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. This was definitely a slow burn, but I disagree with other reviewers who say it’s not a thriller. It’s a psychological thriller - that doesn’t mean it has to be action-packed with edge-of-your-seat suspense. The underlying anxiety and pulse of the novel, and the intriguing pull of the characters’ psyches and not knowing what they would do next, is what makes it a thriller. I really liked Willse’s writing style, how he created a distinct sense of place, human interactions that felt real, and biting commentary on racism, academia, class divides, and more.

I do think the climax and ending felt a bit rushed and not as climactic as it could’ve been. It would’ve been more fun if the reveal didn’t come from who it came from and if there was more of a sense of danger. I also didn’t really understand the point of part 3. But overall enjoyed this and would read more by this author!

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

the synopsis of Willse’s debut is right up my alley - a gay psychological thriller revolving around a tryst between a professor and his student. it sounds JUICY but the execution just wasn’t quite there. Willse’s writing is great and there are definitely the bones of a fantastic book in here somewhere but it felt like he tried to put too many ideas into this story and a lot of it ended up feeling like it lacked development. the mentioned professor-student romance was bizarrely sudden, and needed more tension. Mark as a character was also a bit confusing to follow, there were certain parts where he felt like a completely different character.

Willse is a promising queer fiction author, and if a few things were tightened up a little more this would’ve been great.

[jocelyn • coolgalreading]

I was intrigued right away and was drawn in immediately but ultimately the pacing didn’t work for me and I didn’t feel compelled to finish, thank you to the publisher for the eARC.

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

A slow burn story that leads to nowhere, really, with an incredibly creepy teacher as the main character who should have known better.

Sorry but just too boring for me!

[Jarrod Murrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so this book has been popping up a lot lately on my feed, and I’ve been keen to read it since seeing the first couple of posts. Let me just say that it is so worth the read.

Mark is an English professor at a prestigious college in the middle of nowhere, Ohio. He’s bored with his job, struggling to write his book on gay murders, and coasting through a relationship with another professor. That is until Tyler shows up on his class.

Right away Mark is intrigued by Tyler, bordering on obsessed. Things take a turn when they start an affair and Mark is entirely swept up into Tyler’s hurricane. What could go wrong?

Gee, I don’t think I was expecting what this book turned out to be. I mean, thinking back on it,it all makes sense. Like it plays out exactly as it should, but while reading it, the twist comes out of nowhere.

Mark’s relationships are complicated, he has a need to be around people, but also prefers the solitude. Often the way he’s written makes it feel like socialising with his friends is a punishment. Which is a shame because Safie, Colin and Priya all come across as great support characters. Stephen I’m unsure of, and that is down to Mark’s apparent indifference to their relationship.

I enjoyed watching Mark get sucked into the whirlwind that is Tyler, watching him slowly descend into obsession. Going so far as to further push away his friends and family, avoiding work, and eventually obsessing about finishing his book so that he and Tyler can escape together.

A huge part of me wishes that he never came back from New Orleans and that the story pivoted to his escape and slowly forgetting about Tyler, but of course that wouldn’t have been as gripping as what came next.

As the pieces all fall together the story made me question all I had read before, had I missed something? Was there something that was so obvious at the time? And the way it ends left me wanting more clarity. But the questioning at the end was perfect. Anything else and it would have felt wrong to me

[Alex Schneider · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 - is the “thriller” in the room with us?

[That One Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

How this is classified as a thriller I do not understand. Nothing thrilling happens until like page 250. Even then, it never really becomes a “thriller,” so much as a rapid descent into nonsense.

To be honest, I enjoyed the writing style and as a character driven narrative I actually liked the story. If we were simply focused on Mark and his slow collapse into depression and uncertainty around his life and relationships, I would have loved this book. It’s a great exploration on how obsession can take over your life and how people can spiral with self destruction.

Yet, the moment it switched into “thriller,” it lost me. It felt forced in, and honestly just didn’t work on any level. It all felt anti climatic, and dull. We get no real answers as to Tyler’s motives or psychology.

I want to give this a 2 star rating for how much I truly hated the ending. I am giving it three however because until page 250, and ignoring that it’s supposed to be a thriller, I really liked the writing and the character driven narrative.

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I keep going back and forth between 2 and 3 stars in the time since I read this book and have had a hard time coming up with a review. So, I'm going to keep this at my initial 3 star rating.

I came for the murder mystery and not suer what I got instead. I guess it's got MM romance elements to it in the sense that teacher and student screw a few times. It's too "taboo" for Mark so he tries to end it multiple times, but gets caught up in the drama of the college students. Said murder is basically at the end of the book and I honestly can't remember who was murdered, who did the murdering, and why they were murdered. This book was so slow that I had to re-listen to a few chapters because I found myself zoning out.

Mark and Tyler were one-dimensional to me. There was no development. No chemistry between the two. Nothing redeeming about either one of them. There was just nothing, really.

I listened to the audiobook for this and while I was indifferent to both Mark and Tyler, Marcus Zarco did what he could to make this a decent book. I honestly think he's the main reason why I keep going back and forth between 2-3 stars.

[Joey Vich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Craig Willse and his team at Union Square for an Arc of this novel :)

“Before I completely destroyed my life , I taught English at Sawyer College in Ohio.” Is what our narrator Mark offers to us in the first sentence of Providence, and this may be the only honest thing that he says in the entire novel. I have got beef with this man, let me get that out of the way first. I’m not sure if we’re supposed to like Mark but I’ll tell ya what, he got on my nerves. Which is why it is so surprising to me that by the very last page, I wanted to cry for him.
That does not negate the fact that Mark single handily makes thee worst decisions that I’ve ever witnessed a protagonist make in a psychological thriller. A BOLD statement, but one that I stand behind. Still, while I do not condone the decisions he makes nor am I defending them, Willse does do a good job of showcasing the “why”. Why is Mark like this. Why IS Mark like this ?
The dude is traumatized and obsessive. He’s begging for a break up in his mundane reality - and boy what a break-up does he get all at the hands of a pretty little twink. If you thought I had beef with Mark, get ready for my beef with Tyler. If Tyler has zero haters, I am dead. That being said, perhaps we could have used a bit more of what Tyler’s motives were here — we know why Mark is the way he is, but not Tyler ( from my perspective. )
Willse does a great job of exemplifying just how fast your life can spiral when the wrong person steps into it. But the thing is, Mark has been itching for this discourse in his adult life since he never got the closure that he so craves from the traumatic disappearance of his older sister— an event that he often writes and rewrites inside his head.
It’s just such a sad story with a truly chilling ending. Like I said, despite Mark’s flaws I really did get emotional for him in the end and I think that’s 100% because of Willse’s ability to humanize him in the midst of all the bafoonary that Mark creates.
Check this queer psychological thriller out April 23rd ! It’s a fast paced read that will have you yelling at our protagonist and flipping the pages until the very end.

[matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - thank you Union Square & Co for the ARC!

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars

Providence is a book full of questions: Is Tyler a mastermind or an innocent victim? Does Mark love Tyler, want to own him, or become him? Mark is proven again and again to be an unreliable narrator, oblivious to the people around him and to their emotions and thoughts. He is both indifferent and certain at the same time that he knows all he needs to know. And even at the very end, who can you really trust between Tyler and Mark? As Tyler said, he realized early on that Mark saw him as someone needing saving, and so he performed that role. He was using Mark, but to what end, and how much? Was it the excitement of sleeping with a professor, someone he could manipulate more easily, or was he just lonely, reaching out to another lonely person?

The book has no answers to any of these questions. And that might leave some people unsatisfied, and I get it if they feel that way. But this book was never about the big twist or the clever reveal for me.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fantastic. It had such a posh, intelligent, and classy university vibe, with plenty of steamy moments mixed in. I noticed a lot of negative reviews from readers expecting a more straightforward crime novel, when in fact this is literary fiction, I’m so happy it wasn’t crime.

The two characters and their scandalous teacher-student affair were really captivating. I especially loved their conversations; so often in queer books, the dialogue and conversations feels worlds away from my own conversations with my queer friends. But this one? With talk of serial killers and southern gothic novels and a kind of pessimistic view of the world, it was way more my vibe.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Madison Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. The writing was great and I had a hard time putting it down at the end of every reading session. The characters were rich and easy to care about, even when I wasn’t really sure how I should feel about them.

I knew there was going to be a twist and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The plot was great, the descriptions were vivid, and the ending was set up really nicely.

Murder thriller? Men kissing? University setting? I was destined to like this one from the beginning. It was haunting and I do think I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

I will say, on page 180, there was an editing error. The same sentence was used twice as if the author was trying to decide where he wanted it and then forgot to delete the other one. Perfect otherwise.

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

dear god i raced through this because it kept getting worse and worse. i wanted to like it so badly, and i was really looking forward to there being a turning point where it became good…. alas. the dialogue is cringe beyond belief, the character development is so contrived and lackluster, and the plot itself is completely a copy-paste of The Secret History. won’t tell you which part so it’s not a spoiler. the plot twist bored and confused me.

[Derek Driggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely compelling and interesting, good enough writing. The thrill of it all kind of fell flat by the end. I was hoping it would be more akin to Brett Easton Ellis’s gay thriller “The Shards,” but so far nothing matches that one.