For seventeen year old Kayhlieh Justice, life has always been fairly normal despite her country's fragile state. So when her best friend suddenly disappears without a trace of ever even existing, she knows something isn't right.
Things take a turn for the worse when on the first day of her senior year, Kayhlieh's school is raided by a mysterious group that calls themselves The Guild. Even worse, the entire senior class is taken captive, including Kayhlieh.
The kids find themselves taken to a secret location known only to them as Providence. As Kayhlieh does her best to stay alive she soon realizes The Guild has a much bigger plan than she first imagined and to try and escape may be a death sentence.
Carley Hoffman is the author of her debut young adult dystopian novel PROVIDENCE, the first book in a trilogy she began writing while still in high school. From reading all day to binge watching her favorite movies, she has always loved the art of storytelling. Now in college, she hopes to continue writing full-time and is even pursuing a minor in creative writing. You can find her on Instagram (@carleyhoffmanauthor).
5 stars!! WOW this was incredible! I finished reading this at 1:30 in the morning. I could not put this book down! I love Dean!! Dean and Kayleigh have the best enemies to lovers relationship I’ve ever seen!! My only note is that some of the violence made me an uncomfortable, but it’s ya dystopian so I should have expected that. And that cliffhanger…. I want the next book now. So grateful I got an ARC for this.
More in-depth review: This story was so good! The story starts when Kayleigh’s high school is attacked and She and what of her senior class survives are kidnapped. the violence made me a little uncomfortable. But once you get through the 1st 25% the rest of it is not as violent. On to what I loved about this book. Dean and Kayleigh have the best enemies to lovers relationship I’ve ever seen!! At one point Dean teaches Kayleigh self-defense. I really liked that addition. Dean was such a fascinating character. We don't know much about him for most of the story but you like him anyway. The back story of both of the main characters was done really well. The author did a great job developing their family and their history to make their personalities really shine. I was mostly blown away by the romance in this story. I loved it. The plot twists were unexpected and the plot was really good. I was never in a place where I wanted the plot to stop so we could get back to the romance. There was a perfect mix of both of them. The mental health representation was great with the main character having panic attacks. Seeing Dean comfort her in those moments was amazing. I read 64% of this book in one night and stayed up till 1:30 AM in the morning to finish it. And that cliffhanger was cruel! I want the next book now. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book for days afterwards. I feel like I don't have much more to say about it except if you love dystopian please read this book. Even if you don't and this sounds good to you please read it! I loved this book!!
Recommend for 15+
Content notes: a few sexual jokes reminiscent of Shakespeare, “never thought you’d ask me to take my clothes off” (the male character was whipped and the female character has him take his shirt off so she can bandage it.) or character comments save it for the bedroom when two characters are kissing. Two characters share a bed, clothed because of the dystopian group that took them captive and “married” them. A guard tries to kiss the main character and another stops him.
Romance: Some kissing and one make out scene. (it’s a fake dating thing for a camera so they can escape.) Only minor detail for both.
Violence: school shootings, blood, one character is whipped off page, car chase scenes, dystopian themes. Character writhes to death.
edit: one month later I'm still thinking about this book every day. Originally I gave this 4.5 stars but because of how much I think about it it’s a 5 star.
I don’t know if it’s weird or wrong for me to rate and leave a review for my own book but I did read it multiple times and I do want to leave a note here for everyone who reads it :) I’m also doing this on my personal Goodreads account so that I can keep track of it with my Read list.
Anyways, first off, I want to thank everyone who has read my book. It means the world to me! I loved writing this story and I can’t believe my book is finally out and available to the public!! I hope you enjoyed and keep a look out for book 2 coming soon!
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Now, some content to be aware of in Providence:
Violence: There is a fairly graphic school attack at the start of the book which does involve high schoolers. There is mention of blood and there are a few on page deaths throughout the book. This is the most graphic part of the book so I do want readers to be aware of that.
Sexual content: I keep my books clean of sex scenes and they won’t contain anything further than kissing/making out. There is a make out scene in Providence and a few kisses.
Language: No cuss words are used, though a few characters are mentioned to have “sworn” or “cussed”. No words are spelled out.
Drinking/Drugs/Smoking: A few adult characters are mentioned to partake in drinking alcohol and smoking. There are references to past uses as well.
All in all, I want to keep my books clean while also addressing harder and real topics. I won’t shy away from mentioning these issues but I strive to do so in a way that is sensitive and appropriate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have been waiting to read this book for about a year now and it certainly did not disappoint!! I loved the characters and the world!! The plot twist kept hitting me and hitting me, the world was so interesting, I loved a lot of the factors that you don’t see in other books (I can’t tell you what exactly that’d be a spoiler but you’ll find out soon😉) I loved how Kayhlieh and Dean’s relationship progressed it was so interesting, this book gave me everything I needed and more, I CANNOT WAIT for the second book ugh I’m just itching for it 🤭 It was just so so good, If you like the 2010s dystopian vibe you’ll love this book.
⭐️4.75 The ONLY reason this book is not 5 stars is because I guessed a couple of plot twist but don’t mind that, just worry about the vibes, which are ✨immaculate✨
Providence by @carleyhoffmanauthor comes out on May 17th
Oh my gosh this was incredible. I could not put this down?!
YA romance with Dystopia all over it. (It does have some darker triggers at the beginning & throughout!)
The whole plot was insane. The characters..the amount of things you learn as you keep reading?! And the ending… I can’t wait to read more about this story!
The FMC school is raided by a group known as ‘The Guild’ & they are all taken hostage & sent to this space known as ‘the Providence’ & they are then given set rules & told how to live going forward.. & they realise what is happening & can they escape? Trust me on this one!!
There is twist & turns, there is betrayal & there is sacrifice.
This book was amazing.I really loved the writing style and how Carley wrote the characters.The betrayals in this book left me speechless.Because this book had me hooked from the beginning I read it in one sitting and finished it at 2 in the morning.Anyway if you loved the YA dystopian phase in the 2010s you should really read this book.
This book had me hooked! Carley’s way of ending each chapter had me wanting to keep reading. It has a very dystopian feel to it, similar to the Hunger Games or Divergent- but unique in its own way! I loved the dynamic between the two main characters, Dean and Kayhlieh, and how their relationship developed through the story. The plot twists too!!! Did not see those coming! I mean I knew there was a betrayal of sorts from a previous review but I didn’t expect THAT. It was also very interesting to see some parallels in the story to our society today. Super excited to read the next book in the series!
Reading this book reminded me of the first time I read my favourite dystopian books such as The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner. The action, the suspense, the romance - everything worked so well together to draw you in and keep you invested in the story from start to finish.
If you’re looking for a Dystopian YA book which has Christian themes, plot twists, cliffhangers, and more, then this is the book for you!
*I received this book for free from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review*
When I say my jaw dropped within the first few chapters over a hundred times, I am not overexaggerating. Genuinely there were times when I had to put the book down for a second, reread the line, and then go "WHAT?" I think the plot is so creative, I love the storyline and the different sides to a dystopian world (we usually don't see the brutally dark depiction of the "uprising"). I will say it is very dark, especially at the beginning (personally I found that the "worst" part). *Not worst as in bad, worst as in dark.* If you're considering reading PROVIDENCE, I would definitely recommend it. I think it's a very good and interesting story, the characters are amazing, fun to read and keep you interested the whole time.
Wow, wow, wow! I could not put this down!! The rug just kept getting pulled out from under me at every turn and I loved it! Unpredictable, unexpected, and just mind blowing. Everything you want in a good story. Well written plot, interesting characters; I cannot wait to read the next one!! I was left on the edge of my seat multiple times. What will happen?!? Who can you actually trust?!? Ah! So good!
Holy moly. I hope I can articulate a real human sentence about my thoughts on this book. Carley Hoffman's writing style in this book is unmatched. Her sentences are eloquent but concise and perfectly sum up the characters feelings, expressions, and actions without dragging on and on. Oh, and also, I LOVE DEAN. Anyways, I cannot say too much more without spoiling the book. If you are a dystopian lover, please please PLEASE pick up this phenomenal read. You will not regret it.
A genuine dystopian fiction that reflects some element of our society. For the romance trope fans, this contains the element of Love and relationship in a difficult time. This book is a must-read, if you're a die-hard dystopian fan of divergent series, Hunger Games, and so forth.
DYSTOPIAN ROMANCEE? Im deadddd. Literally so shocked when I saw that this MASTERPIECE was written by a HIGH SCHOOLERRR! AHHHH! Carley Hoffman is gifted and this book is amazing. Proud to be her 14th follower of the thousands more to come. LOVE ITTT
I wish I could put it into words how much I love this book! Carley has a way with words and this book goes to show it. She sure knows how to paint with words.
This is a fantastic example of YA dystopia. I was hooked right from the start and loved the world building. There were some great twists and turns and I can't wait for the second book!
If you love 1984, Maze Runner, and A Handmaid’s Tale, this story is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed the dystopian tropes, and the plot had me guessing the entire time. The characters were really interesting and relatable! I’m excited for book 2!
100/10! From beginning to end!!!!! This book immediately pulled me in from the first page. The end of each chapter made it very hard to put down. The way that the scenarios were described, and the detailed accounts of the various places they were at, it made the whole scene come alive. It was so easy to see the world around them as if I was there. The dialogue is pristine and the way the emotions of the characters were portrayed made it feel so much more real. How Dean and Kayleigh’s relationship progressed was honestly the best part, they worked through things together. The plot twists and the betrayals made this whole book an emotional roller coaster. But I loved this from the first chapter. I would 110% recommend it to everyone that likes these dystopian kinds of books because it is one of the best I’ve ever read. And I can’t wait for book 2!!!!!
What a good read! I enjoyed the character development of the two main characters very much and can’t wait to see how they grow and expand as the series continues. I found the book to be very similar genre/tone to The Handmaids Tale but more accessible for all/younger audiences. Looking forward to book #2. Great first book, Carley!
This is definitely a top read of the year for me! For lovers of dystopian novels this book is for you! The plot was new and exciting and kept me on my toes, while the characters were real and made sense, acting like real teenagers would in such traumatic situations. The romance was well done and definitely a highlight, enemies to lovers, slow burn, “don’t touch her” vibes that I was here for the entire time. It made sense and took its time, the characters had to fight for it, had to grow in it. It didn’t feel forced, which is one thing that bugs me a lot with romance in books, so that made me super happy. For lovers of hunger games and divergent this book is the next dystopian book you should read! One thing is there was quite a lot of bloody scenes in the first few chapters, so be weary of that if it might affect you. While bloody, it did make sense and made the stakes high and real, I personally don’t think it was just a bunch of unnecessary violence. I can’t wait for book 2, that ending has me so desperate😩 Also this is the authors debut novel, which is crazy impressive, she’s definitely super talented and I’m so excited to see what she does next!
I have to be honest when I say I could not make it past the half way point in this book.
This book is explicitly marketed as containing Christian\Biblical themes. To be frank, I could not find them. I understand that dark things happen in life, and I am not saying Christian literature should whitewash this. The Bible certainly doesn’t. But the first few chapters felt excessive to me, in terms of graphic descriptions of death, horrific nightmares, blood, etc. that I quickly began skimming. If the purpose had been to parallel a real life event, it might have been more tolerable. I’ve read some pretty disturbing WW2 fiction, but the purpose of said work is to shed light on actual atrocities, whether the actual characters and exact situations existed or not. It feels purposeful, aiming to empathize with and bluntly tell the stories of those who endured such pain. In this book, there was no productive commentary on the human condition, the nature of good and evil, our society, or really any commentary on anything at all. It was just Kayhlieh, the point of view character, experiencing and witnessing horror after horror, all while being occasionally comforted by the character of Grant. This brings me to my next point, the character of Dean and the love triangle that follows between him, Kayhlieh, and Grant. Dean feels like a character entirely made for a young female audience’s enjoyment. Dark, brooding, aggressively protective, a dark past, starts off cold and distant but quickly comforts the main female character in his arms, etc. A perfect man that could never exist, with some sharp edges and traumas masquerading as ‘flaws’ that really only serve to make him more charming and sympathetic, if we’re being realistic. Eventually, a little while before the point I felt I should stop reading, the three characters all meet, and a heated exchange happens between Dean and Grant, where if we boil it down, they are essentially fighting over Kayhlieh. Both Grant and Dean, but especially Dean, were images of Baal. Characters without any unlikeable traits or consistent flaws to match their strengths. Kayhlieh isn’t shown to have any real character flaws either, just tons of intense trauma the plot inflicts on her in the early chapters. Her point of view isn’t irritating to read, but it doesn’t delve into any core aspects of her personality either. I’m pressed to find anything distinguishing about her. You could argue her dislike of the character Mackenzie is a flaw, but you can hardly blame her for it at all, with how Mackenzie acts, and besides that, it’s not a major focus in the plot. If this were a book that made no claims of being associated with God, I wouldn’t have any issues with it. The prose flows, the plot and dialogue feel naturally paced, the physical descriptions of characters and settings are vivid and clear, it was ‘clean’ as promised. But since it’s specifically targeted at young Christians, I don’t feel right about it. It felt mostly like addicting, romantic wish fulfilment, and the, albeit unintentional, glorification of darkness. I believe I can see it because I’ve certainly done it myself, wallow around in darkness, cruelty, despair. It’s intoxicating and easy to fall into. Believe me, I know. I didn’t feel edified at any point during reading, or even intellectually stimulated. Just because there is no sexual content on the page and the characters don’t swear doesn’t make something a wholesome Christian read. Making things dark does not make it deeper or more mature. A dystopian backdrop for an indulgent ‘love’ story does not give it more substance than if it was set in an average high school. This sort of content, especially as the main focus in the plot, is just Baal and Ashtoreth worship. It almost felt like it might as well have had smutty content and swearing, because it would at least then be hot or cold.
Revelation 3:15-16 NKJV “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
This book was lukewarm. Not committing to being worldly and sinful, nor to being wholesome and Christian.
This book was soo good!! The relationships between Kayleigh and the other characters develops and progresses very well throughout the story. AND THE PLOT TWISTS!!!! Ahhhhh those are everythingggg in this book!!!! if you like dystopian you will LOVEEEE this I PROMISE!!! The writing style is amazing and the entire book has a good flow and pace!! 1000/1000 ⭐️
I was hooked after the first few chapters! Love how relatable the main character is and the plot is so unique! The detail is amazing, I was easily sucked in and loved how easy it was to visualize the scenes!
That was INCREDIBLE!!!! I am super big on dystopian romance books and this was absolutely perfect for me! It had me on the edge from beginning to end and I finished the whole book in under 24 hours. Definitely recommend, this book is a must read!