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The Provider

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“From now on, all you have to do is exist. I will feed you, clothe you, and provide for you. And if you need anything, all you have to do is ask. I am watching and listening.”

Eveline Grace Davis has very particular reading tastes. The sort where she favors ebooks over paperbacks, so the covers won’t give away why she’s blushing in public. But someone’s been watching. Waiting. And that someone is taking Evie’s harmless fantasies literally.

When she wakes up in a basement, head pounding, hands chained to a bed, she’s terrified. Her kidnapper is a stranger. Tall, handsome, unhinged. He tells her he built this place just for her. It’s clean, comfortable, the walls are painted bright pink, and the closet is full of expensive dresses.

He plans to keep her. If she doesn’t behave, he’s not above physical and psychological torture. He says they can be perfect together. He’s the only one who can give her everything she desires, if she’ll simply let him provide.

To survive, Evie must follow her captor’s every rule. For one thing is this is no romance.

451 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2024

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Joanna Margot

3 books14 followers

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5 stars
67 (44%)
4 stars
60 (40%)
3 stars
17 (11%)
2 stars
4 (2%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica.
68 reviews
August 3, 2024
got a copy of this as an ARC for a honest review:

the beginning, middle & end of the book was gripping and made me want to read page after page, some of the switching POVs per chapter (from first to third) made it a little hard to follow at first, but made sense once you got more into the book

Definitely did not predict or expect the twisty turns in the ending!
Profile Image for Danielle Hennessy.
110 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2024
Ok, this is a great book. Some incredible twists that I probably should have seen coming but didn’t and I loved how everything came together at the end.

I loved that you had a fully and detailed explanation about Oliver and not just a page or so briefly explaining why or how he came to be. This was refreshing.

A bit repetitive at times but this also makes sense as every day was repetitive for Evie. She didn't have many newer things to think about.

Very well done overall!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for NatNat BatCat.
11 reviews
August 7, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this Psychological thriller. Psycho is correct! All characters need therapy or a mental institution. This was a wild ride and poor Evie was the ultimate victim to everyone, including her family. This is not a book for those who struggle with mental, verbal, and emotional abuse. There were a few parts that were making my stomach queasy as I was feeling that mental headspace of abuse with Evie. It makes you think why do I enjoy Dark Romance if that is your thing? The last quarter of the book I couldn't read fast enough once everything unfolds. If you start this and get stuck I did a few times then the ending is worth the payoff!
Profile Image for Shelb_yyttt.
3 reviews
August 2, 2024
I went into this thinking it was a completely different genre. When I signed up to be an ARC reader I thought it was going to be a dark romance book. Oh boy was I wrong. I absolutely loved this book especially with it going in the complete opposite direction I thought it would. There are two very big twists that were not expected! I highly recommend this book!!
Profile Image for Pav S..
223 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2024
A woman named Eveline Grace Davis is kidnapped by a stranger who wants to fulfill her every desire in a twisted way. He keeps her locked in a basement but provides for her needs and tells her to simply exist and ask for anything she wants. However, he uses physical and psychological torture to make her obey his rules, insisting that they can be perfect together even though this is not a romantic situation.

This book was unexpectedly wild and captivating! The story was so believable and suspenseful, leaving you on the edge of your seat. Just imagine being a bookworm like yourself, suddenly going missing. Who would notice your absence? Who would be the first to realize you were gone?

For a first attempt at a psychological thriller, this book was truly remarkable! I found myself unable to set it down, completely engrossed in the plot. The unexpected twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end, without any last-minute hints to spoil the surprise. I don't want to give too much away.

The characters were well-developed and likable, adding depth to the story. The book had a great flow, drawing me in from the very beginning. The locked room setting was eerie and realistic, adding to the overall suspense. The ending! I can't believe the ending! It was smooth!!!

In conclusion, this book is perfect for fans of locked room mysteries or anyone looking to dip their toes into the thriller genre. I highly recommend this as a must-read for anyone seeking an exciting and engaging story.

Thank you, Booksprouts for digital ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Mandy.
101 reviews4 followers
August 2, 2024
Captivating and Chilling!

The opening line sets the tone for a gripping and unnerving thriller that held me captive from the very first page to the last.

Eveline Grace Davis is a character whose harmless fantasies suddenly spiral into a living nightmare when she finds herself kidnapped by a stranger who is equal parts charming and deranged. The psychological tension in this novel is masterfully crafted, with every page adding a new layer of suspense and dread. The author does an exceptional job of delving into the mind of Evie as she grapples with her terrifying new reality, her fight for survival, and the dark allure of her captor's twisted promises.

The setting—a meticulously constructed basement painted in bright pink and filled with luxury—adds an eerie contrast to the dark themes, making Evie's ordeal all the more disconcerting. The antagonist, though unhinged, is depicted with a complexity that makes him both repulsive and fascinating, adding depth to the chilling narrative.

This is a psychological thriller that explores the darkest corners of obsession and control. The plot twists are unexpected and the pacing is relentless, ensuring that you won't be able to put the book down. If you're a fan of dark, psychological thrillers with a strong female protagonist who must outwit her captor, this book is a must-read.

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions and a story that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the last page!
Profile Image for Bri Wilson.
170 reviews
September 9, 2024
Talk about a true psychological thriller. The book is initially told in 2 perspectives, but a 3rd is thrown in about halfway through. The extra perspective actually makes a lot of sense and throughout the book there’s so many twists and turns that actually need those perspectives told the way they are. The end was so shocking! The true provider is not at all who you think it is!
Profile Image for Myrna O.
106 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2024
Just finished my ARC of The Provider!

In the begining I was wondering how the characters were connected. Little by little it came together and I just knew I had all figured out! How wrong was I ... very wrong.

This story took lots of twists and turns until the last page. So there were lots of OMG, What?, How? And Ohhhh’s.

So many different personalities in the characters. Everyone had their own agenda and only poor Evie paid for it all.

Definitely a recommended read.
3 reviews
September 19, 2024
Very good

I really enjoyed this book, you could say it held me captive in fact! This is the first book I've finished in a while and has brought me out of a reading slump. I will certainly be keeping an eye on this author and their future releases.
Profile Image for Michelle Fortune.
1,656 reviews4 followers
September 1, 2024
I absolutely loved this physiological thriller and could not put it down. This sent chills down my spine because this really could come true for anyone of us. It was scary in the accuracy of how well the brainwashing could be for someone and in the end what really happened. I feel so sorry for Evie and everything she went through in this book. Syd is interesting in her own way and it would be interesting to see what happens in the future with them.
Profile Image for Samantha.
35 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2024
A big thank you to the author for letting me read the ARC!
Wow! What a read. I did not see those twists coming. This book kept me so intrigued with what was going to happen next and with seeing how everything was going to be brought together.
Profile Image for Kari Blocker.
11 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2024
After an early look at this book, all I can say is wow. I’m usually pretty good at sensing where everything is going, and this took me by surprise. Well written and definitely worth a read. I will be recommending this book.
Profile Image for Myrah Graham.
36 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2024
I COULD NOT put this book down!!! The Provider was a gripping page turner that I did not want to put down! A definite thriller that you do not want to miss out on! The ending of the book was shocking and unexpected!
144 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2024
This was a great first psychological thriller from this author. I loved every minute of it and was hooked right at the beginning. Great twists! I suspected one bit had no idea to the depths that it went. If you’re looking for a great psychological thriller read this one!
Profile Image for Lolly.
7 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2024
So many twists & turns in this book I feel dizzy !!!
Loved the multiple POVs and how well thought out the plot was, I was well and truly gripped from the first page right until the very last. Unputdownable!
Profile Image for Heather.
1,334 reviews19 followers
August 27, 2024
I enjoyed this twisty thriller. I didn't see the final twist and I was really surprised. The book is well written and the plot is interesting. There are plenty of turns to keep you guessing. I binged this book in an afternoon. I had to know how it ended. Overall a really good read.
Profile Image for Angela Hodgetts.
35 reviews9 followers
August 3, 2024
This is the first psychological thriller by Joanna Margot and she really knocked it out of the park!

The Provider centers around 4 main characters: Oscar the handsome psychopath, Evie the innocent and frightened captive, Nora the ‘housekeeper’ and Syd whose story is interwoven and critical to the overall plot.

All Oscar wants is to completely provide for someone, and he chooses Evie. He kidnaps and keeps her locked in his basement, in a beautiful room full of whatever she may need.

Oscar seems driven to make Evie love and appreciate him, but she only wants to be free. Attempts to escape are met with punishments and even murder.

Oscar brings in Nora to clean Evie’s basement prison and to cook for her. She appears to care for Evie’s health and happiness, but is she genuine?

Evie’s depression grows, so Oscar kidnaps Syd to befriend and keep her company, but it seems that just like Oscar, Syd may have plans of her own.


The book is well written and I found myself reading late into the night. Great character development made me really like and / or dislike the characters. There was great little twist that took me by surprise, then yet one more that had me thinking “oh noooo” and “whaaaat!!”

A solid 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5) from me.

Thank you to booksprout for the ARC. My review is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Brandi.
101 reviews52 followers
August 29, 2024
✨ The Provider ✨
Joanna Margot

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I first want to send a sincere thank you to the author and booksprout for the digital ARC copy of The Provider in exchange for my honest review.

I want to say as soon as I saw the premise for The Provider I jumped right on it. I’m a phase reader and in a deep psychological thriller phase right now but often you’ll find fantasy or dark romance reads in my hands.

Based on the premise alone I was ready to give this book a 5 star rating. 🤪

For me the story was good, it was all tied together nicely by the longest chapter in the history of any book I have ever read.

It takes about 50% of the book for anything to happen and for me that knocked down a star, I felt little to no connection to several characters (honestly Syd felt like a side character being forced into a primary character). Eveline’s lack of desire to survive made me struggle. Of course she isn’t happy, but why isn’t she doing what she can to survive. Silly decisions throughout the book.

Overall I had fun reading it, I’d suggest this to any dark romance reader/thriller reader. I will definitely be checking out Joanna’s next book!

(personal star ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - best of the best, WILL read again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - LOVED it! Just may not read again
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - had fun reading it and will suggest it
⭐️⭐️ - not my favorite, no suggestion
⭐️ - DNF
Profile Image for kymagirl.
4,250 reviews60 followers
August 5, 2024
Evie wakes up handcuffed in a basement, realizing she has been kidnapped by Oscar, a man obsessed with her through social media and her favorite dark romance novels. Believing he is offering her the perfect life, Oscar's twisted sense of care quickly turns into a nightmare of control and violence. As Evie struggles to survive, Sydney crosses paths with Oscar at her workplace and unwittingly becoming part of Oscar’s delusional world as he observes her and manipulates her, eventually bringing her to join Evie. With their lives intertwined, Evie and Sydney form an unlikely bond, navigating the psychological and physical tortures inflicted by their captor, even as they hope to find a way out. An intense psychological thriller that follows the dark, violent experiences of Evie and Sydney, two women entrapped by a deranged captor. Explores themes of obsession, resilience, and the unbreakable human spirit, delivering a powerful and intense story of survival and hope with lots of twists, turns, and dark moments.
Profile Image for Nadia Nguyen.
22 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2024
I received a copy from ARC and this is an honest review.

I thought it was good for someone who is publishing their first psychological thriller. The story is told from basically 3 perspectives: the one (Evie), the other one (Sydney/Syd), and Oscar. It was hard to read at times because the story kept changing from first and third person. I think if each perspective was told in first person, it would have the storyline better. When reading “the other one”, Sydney/Syd were used interchangeably, which for some reason annoyed me a bit. I also felt that it was repetitive at times. A lot of grammatical errors and choppy sentences that made it harder to read. The memoir tied everything together. If the author didn’t include the memoir towards the end of the book, then it would have gotten lower rating. I think if the grammar was cleaned up and more concise, the storyline would have been stronger.

Overall, the author did a good job of providing unexpected twists. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work in the future!
113 reviews4 followers
August 5, 2024
I have just finished this book and am struggling to convey the many layers of this story. The characters are well developed and bring out strong emotions in the reader. I was compelled to continue reading late in order to find out what happened to each of them. I thought I had figured out a connection between Evie and Syd but I was completely misdirected. There are twists that I never saw coming especially the second surprise.

This may be Ms. Margot’s first foray into this genre, but I doubt it will be her last. This is an engrossing story with underlying connections between the characters. While the initial plot appears to be a dark romance, it is very much a psychological thriller, memories of which may stay with the reader long after they have reached the end of the book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
2 reviews
August 7, 2024
This one had a slow start setting up the main characters and the situations Evie, Syd and Oscar are in, at times it was a bit repetitive and I hate a plot point being pushed again and again (I get it, Evie likes Dark Romance).

However… once the pace picked up I couldn’t put it down!

There were real moments of shock and terror as the story built, and as it reached its climax I could hardly breathe waiting to see what would happen.

The twists were twisting!! Did not see them coming, but looking back felt believable. The best kind!

Towards the ending it was a bit drawn out, which is great if you like twists that explain the “why”, the very ending though was the opposite. Quick and explosive. Loved it.

Good read overall and can’t wait to see what the author comes out with next.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2024
Thrillers are not my genre, but this was gripping enough that I finished it. I especially understood Evies thoughts, actions and her progress throughout the book. I also liked the other POVs. They kept things interesting. One detail I really liked was the criticizing of dark romance themes, both through the sujet of the novel and in Evie`s thoughts. What woman would really love her kidnapper? Several references to the fact that women who like to read dark romances do not want those things happening to them were well placed. After all, we all like strange fantasies now and then.
I definitely did not expect the twists at the end, especially the final one. I can really recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jodie Lott.
2 reviews10 followers
August 10, 2024
I was lucky enough to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book by Joanna! It did not disappoint!

I loved the multiple POVs and the story lines running along side eachother! Especially with one in first person and the second in third person

The only reason this hasn’t got a five star is because during the middle section I think there was a little bit of filler moments/chapters which could have been left out - but over all it was a fantastic book!

The twists (plural) I did not see coming and I had moments where my heart was literally pounding

Well done Joanna, I thoroughly enjoyed this and I look forward to reading some more of your work in the future
Profile Image for Caroline.
68 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2024
The cover attracted me to this book and the synopsis sealed the deal. With that said, it was so much more than I ever anticipated. Evie finds herself in a basement with a stranger. The basement is decorated in pink and all the things Evie loves. He promises her that he will take care of everything for her and will give her anything she wants. All she has to do is stay. This book gave me an uneasy feeling with some layers of creepy. We get into the minds of the characters and we may not like what we find there. Hold on tight because this one has twists that will blow your mind.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mimi Le.
1 review
September 19, 2024
Evie is a young woman who lives alone and doesn’t have much contact with friends or family. She loves reading dark romance books which turns out to be her undoing when a stranger kidnaps her and turns fantasy into nightmare. The book is mostly from her perspective but there are three other perspectives throughout the book. I got engrossed in Evie’s chapters and it felt like I was trapped with her, enduring the psychological torment brought on by her captor’s challenges. Every change in routine could spell trouble. There are several plot twists towards the end involving various characters’ relationships with each other. Some were predictable but others came out of the blue. Overall, it was an exciting read and I look forward to reading this author’s other books.
Profile Image for Amanda (:.
73 reviews25 followers
August 6, 2024
I got this copy as an arc.

The beginning started slow for me. I didn’t like the constant changing of perspectives, but once more characters got added into the story I got drawn in again. Found it to be slow going til about half way into the book when the plot thickens. I liked the character development throughout, and the unsuspecting twists and turns of the events happening kept me up at night! I really didn’t want to stop reading but I had to see what would happen next! I found the last 10% ish of the book to be kind of meh. Lost me a bit… might go back to reread what went over my head 😅
August 19, 2024
I was lucky to receive an ARC of *The Provider* by Joanna Margot in exchange for an honest review, and I have to say, I loved it!

From the start, the book had me hooked and I couldn't put it down. The multiple points of view added so much depth to the story, and the twists completely took me by surprise. If you’re into Freida McFadden’s thrillers, I think you’ll find this one right up your alley. Margot’s ability to keep the suspense high and the narrative engaging made this a great read.
Profile Image for Kara Marks.
355 reviews72 followers
September 3, 2024
Wow. Just. Wow. What a well-written creepy thriller. It was hard to put down, right from the start. There are lots of twists and turns as we learn more about the victim of the kidnapping, Evie; the kidnapper, Oscar; another possible victim, Sydney; and various secondary characters. As everything unfolds, the story becomes more mind-blowing and intriguing. I can definitely recommend this book, but carve out some time, because you may not be able to put it down once you start.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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