Book: The Project
Author: Courtney Summers
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC.

I must say that I have come to really enjoy Courtney Summers’s books. I like that she is a young adult author who isn’t afraid to write about the ugly and hard sides of life. This book is no different. Here we get to see the affects that a cult has on people and how it can be a struggle to come back from that. We also get to see the power that people can hold over someone and how that can affect a person’s mental state. It’s just something that you have to see in order to see just how it pans out.

I really enjoyed Lo’s character and strength. We start out seeing her at her lowest point. Yes, the story does kind of run backwards. We start out not knowing a lot about her and we get to see how we got to this point-through her eyes. We don’t know for sure if she is telling the truth or not, but we do get to see her pain and her struggles. She’s young and has lost so much already. She has been through more than anyone should have to go through-let alone someone as young as her. We also see her struggle with coming to terms with what may not be true and lose pretty much everything that she has ever known. This struggle comes across the page so brilliantly. We get to see Lo really question her life and everything. We get to see her struggle with coming to terms with the ugly truth. I loved getting to see this struggle. It gives her a human element and makes everything seem all that much more real.

I also love the way that Courtney has this way of pulling you in and making it hard to get away. You will feel something while reading her books. You will feel your heart being torn in two, as well as feeling the true horror that these characters must live through. You also find yourself really wondering how society gets to this point. You feel something and it may not always be the feeling that you want to feel. You will feel disgust, horror, and maybe even a little bit sick. With that being said, this book does contain a lot of mature content and is not suitable for younger teens.

While this book is about a girl trying to deal with the aftermath of a cult, we get to see a lot of themes throughout the book. The one that stuck out the most to me was the theme of loneliness and wanting to belong. That is the core of this book. The characters are searching for a place where they belong and it’s why so many of them end up where they did. This is why people ended up in the cult to start with. Then, as we learn more about what has happened, we get to see the flip side of this journey. We get to see families trying to save their loved ones from this dangerous path. We see the family trying to save their loved one, while their loved ones want to stay where they feel like they belong. This struggle and this quest is so well done that it will really make you feel something.
This book didn’t hit me as hard as Sadie did, but this is one that I can see myself thinking about and picking up again. I really do enjoy Courtney’s books and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

This book comes out on February 2, 2021.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ek3UiXQuuwc

19 years old Lo is alone. After her aunt died, she has no one left in this world except for the sister she hasn’t seen in years. Shortly after the accident that killed their parents, Bea left and joined the Unity Project. She hasn’t contacted Lo since. The Project claims that Bea doesn’t want to contact Lo no matter how much she tries. Working at a renown magazine, Lo is set to uncover the secrets of the Project and reach her sister. But the Project has a very good image and, on the surface, doesn’t appear as a cult. But surely the man called Lev claiming he’s God’s messenger sent to save souls, can’t actually talk to Him and guarantee paradise to his followers, right?

I’m not a fan of contemporary YA but in this book, the main character isn’t a minor nor is her sister. It also doesn’t focus on a romance just like Summer’s other books that I have read. You see, I loved Sadie. It was truly brilliant. All the Rage wasn’t bad at all either. I wanted to give this book a try because of my previous positive with Summers. Only this book wasn’t good enough.

The book is told following two timelines throughout this book. One is from Bea’s pov (third person) and the other from Lo’s (first person). I didn’t mind going back and forth between povs but I admit, some were abrupt.

Before I explain my main issues, I want to say how solid Courtney Summers writing style is. It’s very addictive. It’s easy to read and follow all while not being “simple”. I flew through it especially since I was reading a heavy fantasy book too. <i>The Project</i> was a breath of fresh air. But don’t get me wrong, it certainly didn’t deal with light topics.

Yet, I can’t name anything else that I liked. It was just very meh and forgettable. I also didn’t <i>dislike</i> it save for two things that I couldn’t stand.
1) Lo’s character was interesting… until she started complaining about being a secretary at a well-known magazine. She wants a higher position, she wants to write, but she doesn’t have any previous experience (other than this job) nor a diploma. And I’m here, working a job I’m very overqualified for with a diploma and I’m pretty sure I earn less than her. To say this attitude annoyed me to no end is an understatement. She should be grateful. She should be working to build her skills, taking courses and certifications, <i>trying</i> to build her portfolio, instead of waiting for a promotion after a year at the company.

2) Something she shouldn’t have done, no matter how much Bea hurt her by not reaching out. Even though she didn’t do it for revenge nor hate, Lo did something inexcusable, sisters should never do. I can’t believe someone, with a character like Lo, would’ve done it. I felt like it was out of character in a way. I will add it later when the book is released because now I don’t want to post any spoilers.

Other than that, I simply didn’t enjoy the book, particularly the second half. The first half was engaging. Lo’s devotion to finding her sister even though she cut all contact with her was fascinating but again, the incident that takes place in the second half ruined it for me in a way. I have a sister myself and that’s something sisters who care and love each other would never do.

As for the Project, I was interested in how they attracted new members but I really wonder if it’s so widespread how can it manage to still be so secretive? Sure, we see how Lev attracts new members, <i>who</i> they attract, but if there was actually something bad happening, how did it never get out?

By the end and even with that ending, <b>I was completely indifferent about <i>The Project</i></b>. Luckily, it was a quick read, and thanks to the writing style, I didn’t struggle to finish it. I debated whether I should give this book 2 or 3 stars, I settled on 2. Even though I didn’t hate it, I certainly did hate a couple of things about it. On the other hand, the only thing I liked was the writing style. 3 stars books have more than that.

Briefly, I didn’t feel much reading this book. The first half was interesting but then the book took a turn I disapprove of (ha ha I feel like an uptight reader now). But the characters were the highlight of this book and I couldn’t connect to them although I have a younger sister too. I only recommend this book if you’re looking for a book revolving around cults. Or if the description interested you.

Well written book
Parts of it seemed a little rushed more near the ending. Was a slow read for me had so much going on. Enjoyed the cult aspect and learning about the sisters. Parts of it I had to stop and remember what sister was talking.
Good overall book.

Thanks to the Author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books and Netgalley.

This book was a wild read. I really enjoyed it although something's just happened a little too quickly to be entirely believable to me.

It is very well written and told from the first person of Lo and through third person, her sister Bea.

Bea joined a cult after the accident killed their parents and left Lo hospitalized and for years So has been searching for her sister.

The story focuses on the narratives of two sisters, Bea and Lo, as they slowly unfold the truth behind a religious community - The Unity Project, which is, allegedly, a cult, and on how this organization impacted the siblings' relationship.

I remember reading an article on how Courtney Summers often has different approaches to her characters from other YA authors. Well, I can guarantee that's true. Both the sisters are so unlikeable to me. But that's part of the book's appeal. Another is that it has one of the most garbage, disgusting, detestable, manipulative sickening, punchable fucks I've ever had to read about.

From what I saw, the book is tagged as 1) Young Adult, in which I'll say: It's not. Recategorize it.; 2) Mystery: This mostly failed for me because the plot twists were too predictable (If Summers wants to manipulate her readers, she needs to try harder). And 3) Thriller: Well, Part Four and Part Five of this book were really gripping. So at least we have that.

I myself have little experience with cults but the way it's seemed quite realistic and disturbing to me. Some details were so morally questionable that I had to discuss them with my friend to clear things out. Anyway, great theme, bad execution.

When I first saw the cover of The Project I was blown away. I wanted to read this book immediately. Who doesn’t love a good cult book? Unfortunately this book didn’t check all the marks for me.

I was sucked into the story in the beginning and really loved the duel perspective aspect. Courtney Summers has such a way with describing pain and lost that is truly beautiful.

Unfortunately I did find the set up of the narrative a bit confusing in this one. At about the half way point I was completely loosing interest. I saw the ending coming from a mile away. But I will say if you aren’t into true crime as much you would probably have no idea what is going to happen.

That beginning said I still really enjoyed aspects of this book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good sister relationship mystery. There is no denying Courtney Summers knows how to break your heart in her books. I also thought she did a really good job of representing the nature of cults and people that find themselves in them.
I gave this one a 3/5 stars.

Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, this book was CHILLING! I really love a good thriller and I'd only ever heard really positive things about the author, so I figured I'd give this book a shot and it really didn't let me down! I was drawn in and couldn't look away until it was over and I love that in a book more than anything. I genuinely loved this.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Sadie, possibly because I had just read a book very similar to it, but The Project was wholly original. Summers's writing was never the problem and it just shines here.

Trigger Warnings: violence, abuse, self harm, murder.

“But where is the line between what circumstances have turned you into and who you choose to be?”

I went into this book knowing nothing other than Courtney Summers is a beloved author and it was about a cult. I love books involving cults so I was incredibly excited, however I was disappointed.

This book is cantered around the after math of a tragic accident where a pair of sisters are left orphaned after a car accident. It follows Lo as she navigates young adulthood after her sister Bea cuts off contact with her in order to join a cult that allegedly saved Los life. Lo begins working in journalism and becomes obsessed with trying to find her sister as well as expose the cult to the public.

Things I liked:
* It is very quote worthy with nuggets of wisdom and interesting perspectives throughout.
* It truly kept me guessing until the end, I didn’t know what was going to happen to Lo!

Things I didn’t like:
* The pacing was off, I think the beginning was extremely slow and had me putting it down several times whereas the end felt extremely rushed.
* As stated above the end of this novel in my opinion was rushed and didn’t do the rest of the novel justice, you’re left with so many questions in the last chapter “ how did we get here?” “How did that actually happen?”
* Stylistically I don’t think a “part” approach instead of chapters worked all that well here. I think chapters would have made the novel possibly more cohesive and possibly would have made it easier to fix the slow beginning and fast ending.

Overall I had high hopes for this book but it fell short. I ended up giving it a three stars, not the worst thing I’ve ever read but I’m not sure if I have a desire to pick up any other Summers novels.

Few things are as much fun as getting to read the newest book from an author who continues to rise towards the height of her power. Courtney Summers is the Queen of YA/NA Devastation, and with good reason. Her stories, like so much great YA and NA literature, belie the idea that teen and young adult stories can’t grapple with the dark and dangerous aspects of life. The Project is a miasmic and cloying journey through the heart of a cult and out the other side. The ending, while not quite happy, demonstrates Summers’ knack for nuanced devastation, delivering just the right balance of optimism and despair.

Lo (Gloria) Denham is 19 years old with dreams of being a magazine writer. A few years ago, just as Lo was recovering from a car crash that killed her parents, Lo’s older sister, Bea, became wrapped up in the Unity Project. The Project is, to all outward appearances, a vehicle for good works to redeem humanity in the eyes of God. Frustrated by her lack of progress at the upstart magazine where she has been the editor’s assistant for a year, still hurt from the separation from her sister, Lo resolves to uncover and expose the Project—and its charismatic but reclusive leader, Lev Warren—for what it is. But she soon learns that bearding the lion in his own den is easier said than done, and the price of learning the truth of the Project and Bea’s involvement might be Lo’s very own soul.

Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, verbal abuse, as well as child abuse, parental death, car accidents.

This book is creepy—like, proper creepy. In the month or so prior to finally reading this copy from NetGalley (even though my paper copy is on pre-order for release day!), I had immersed myself in the two documentaries about the NXIVM cult. So I naturally kept comparing Lev Warren to the real-life Keith Raniere. Summers has discussed how Jonestown was the primary template for the Unity Project, but at the end of the day, if you are at all familiar with cults, you will recognize what happens here. The way that Warren deflects and uses minions to do his dirty work. The way that any criticism of the Project automatically becomes, conspiracy-theory fashion, proof that the Project is doing good work, and it’s just people who are jealous or have bad intent. The way that Warren twists your mind enough that you begin to believe his abuse of you is warranted, is what you deserve and must endure to atone and get closer to his light.

The narrative has a spiralling structure, dualistic both in timeframe and in mindset. I wasn’t a huge fan of this to begin with, but now that I look back at the novel as a whole, I appreciate it. Lo, told in first person in 2017/2018, starts skeptical of the Project yet finds herself inextricably drawn into its folds: the more she tries to discredit it, the more it seems to suck her in. Bea, told in shorter third person scenes from 2013 or so up until 2017, starts off enthusiastic about the Project and Warren, only for her disenchantment to become greater and more frantic as the story moves on. The complementary nature of the sisters’ narratives demonstrates how each person comes to a cult for different reasons, but the levers that move them into place and ultimately cause them to embrace the leader are the same. Cults act like viruses to the programming of the human mind: once they find the initial weakness that grants them entry, their MO and approach is almost always the same. Comfort. Empower. Isolate. Create dependency. In the end, the cult doesn’t want you to see yourself as a person anymore but as a part of something larger. If that sounds familiar … well, that’s why cults are so pernicious. A lot of the things we see as positive in our society can easily tip over into being cults. Humans are just messy that way.

The Project asks us to sympathize with Lo and also to marvel at her. We know as readers going into this book that the Unity Project is a cult. We know it’s bad news. So, like in a horror movie as the protagonist runs up the stairs, our first instinct as the audience is to yell at the book and wonder at why Lo doesn’t see her entrapment as it happens. This is the challenge to which Summers rises in this novel, a storytelling conundrum that proves as thorny as it is rewarding once unlocked: we all like to think we’d never join a cult, never fall for their recruitment tactics, so how does the author get the reader to sympathize with a main character who does fall for it?

Start by making your character angry. Not upset, not frustrated. Proper angry, the kind of anger that develops over time like an ulcer, burning away at you until it’s all you have left. Lo has lost everything: her parents, her sister, and even, really, herself.

Next, make the world around your character utterly unsympathetic to her emotions and needs. Paul doesn’t care about Lo or her career; he sees her as a useful employee (and he is really quite a dick). Lauren, similarly, is not a friend. Lo doesn’t get friends, doesn’t get connection. Her last real connection is with a stranger who subsequently jumps in front of a train. So you might understand why Lo’s psyche is fragile on this point: it is easier to turn your back on the world when, as far as you are concerned, the world has turned its back on you.

Finally, the carrot. Bea. Lo wants to take down the Project, yes, but deep down what she truly desires more than that is to be reunited with her sister. Warren understands this and uses this in such a cruel way, basically tearing down what is left of Lo’s sense of self by dangling that potential reunion in front of her, the carrot to the stick that was Bea’s initial estrangement. He strings Lo along even as he exposes Lo to numerous harmful encounters, psychologically and physically. No, he doesn’t cause Lo’s car accident—but he seizes every opportunity that presents itself, every crack in her exterior, and expertly applies the wedges that allow him to infiltrate and infect her very being.

Ultimately, if you sympathize with Lo as a reader, it doesn’t have to be because you think that you also could be seduced by a cult (though, let’s be real—I suspect most of us could, under the right circumstances, ego aside here). Rather, you should sympathize with Lo because Summers creates the conditions in which it becomes evident, even inevitable, that she should be seduced by a cult.

That is the project of The Project and what makes this novel so creepy. This is not a book about how cults are creepy and scary and harmful places—that would be boring and nothing new. No, this is a book about how cults could be appealing places under the right circumstances. The question, really, isn’t “why do people join cults?” but actually “why don’t more people join cults?” We like to think that cults recruit the broken and the lost, but if you find in a cult your family and your people, you are human and working as intended—that’s what the cults take advantage of, our very human need for connection.

Ok, so for the rest of the review, I’m going to get intertextual and compare The Project to Summers’ previous novel, Sadie. No spoilers, but if you haven’t read Sadie, it might not make much sense to you. If you stop here, you are not missing anything else. I hope you liked this review!

Honestly, Sadie remains my favourite, for the simple reason that Sadie’s brutal first-person narration of her single-minded revenge journey fucked me up, and I cannot get it out of my mind (body “sharp enough to cut glass” but still “a beautiful deception,” oh my god …). As much as I enjoyed The Project’s structure and storytelling overall, there is nothing quite so captivating or heart-stopping in its prose for me.

However, I think there is some value in comparing these two novels—not in trying to determine which one is better, because I think they are fundamentally different in that regard—but rather in terms of how Summers continues to evolve in her writing and storytelling.

Summers has always written about lost girls. It’s her thing, ok? Perhaps the most compelling facet of Sadie was that it was literally about a lost girl, both in the sense that Sadie was lost to us and to herself. And I think, recognizing that she had reached kind of the epitome of that particular incarnation of the lost girl narrative, Summers looked for another angle and found one for The Project. See, in many ways, The Project is an inversion of Sadie. Both are about lost girls, both are about sisters, and both are about cults.

Whaaat, you say? Sadie has nothing about cults in it! Except, dear reader, that book is all about the cult of the Lost Girl as seen in our media. West McCray’s entire half of the story is about establishing this, exploring the way that we as a society mythologize, idealize, and sacrifice these Lost Girls. Having never met Sadie, West himself forms this ersatz picture of her that we get to compare to the girl we know from her own (unreliable) narration. His podcast is the continuation in a long line of media fixation with what happens to the girls and women in our society too damaged for us to “fix.” We don’t just love trainwrecks; we worship them to the point of causing them.

So both novels are about cults, although the cult in The Project is much more straightforward and obvious. Additionally, both novels feature an intense bond between sisters. Whereas in Sadie only the eponymous sister has a voice, in this book both sisters get a chance to share their experiences with us. In many ways, Mattie is a MacGuffin: she exists as a memory for Sadie to cling to, her only tentative link back to a humanity that has, for all intents and purposes, rejected her. In contrast, The Project is where Summers digs deeper into the idea of sororal bonds by examining how Bea feels about Lo and vice versa and helping us to understand that their relationships can be equally intense yet not reciprocal.

And so the inversion: The Project turns inwards what Sadie left diffuse: the cult, making it a more focused and defined phenomenon versus its metaphoric status in Sadie; likewise, it turns outwards and makes more explicit what Sadie left implicit and ineffable: the relationships between two lost girls.

Both of these novels deserve accolades, and while I might prefer one to another, what I have discovered by doing this comparison (this is why I love writing reviews; they help me understand my feelings about a book) is that The Project struck a chord in me that Sadie did not. And that is what is so valuable about authors like Courtney Summers: even as her work explores similar motifs time and again, each of her books is its own self-contained symphony, recombining those motifs to explore new and valuable themes.

The Project is about loss, but it is also about (false) hope for redemption. The idea that there is something very human about wanting to be forgiven, to be told it is all right, you are all right. It is a novel about power and how we are willing to give it up before we even realize we have it, because part of being human is valuing connection and belonging even at the expense of our independence. Because the world, the whole world, is so scary and random that, in the face of something like a car accident, the small amount of power we possess seems so trivial that when someone more apparently powerful asks us to give it up, we might say, “Why not?” In the face of uncertainty, a certain face can feel like a life preserver, even while their hands tie the rock around our waist that ultimately drags us to the bottom, smiling along the way.

So … I guess I liked this book?

I must say that although I liked the idea of the plot, the execution didn't fascinate me.

I found Lo irritating and I didn't understand many of her actions, she was very annoying. But Bea's POV fascinated me, her part of the story had more depth and many more interesting things to explore. And yet the characters are worked very superficially. Considering that cults play with people's vulnerabilities, exploring those vulnerabilities is what makes these types of topics interesting. And in that case, only Bea manages to be interesting.

the book lacked suspense and character development. The ending is easy to deduce ... actually the whole plot was quite predictable. It entertained me for a while, but it is not a book that I place among my favorites or one that I'll remember.

Courtney Summers is a master at writing unsettling and uncomfortable stories, that never really go where you expect them to, so her and a cult story seem like a no-brainer. I found it to be a bit predictable and it's slower, but it definitely reads more as a character study and about the relationship between sisters than a thriller. It should be obvious, but expect a lot of religious talk.

The last book I read about cults featured the Manson Family, so it’s been a while. The way Charles Manson convinced people to follow him was disturbing and horrific, but also eerily intriguing. The cult in this book isn’t that extreme (thankfully), but there are still some similarities.

I like the way this story is contructed. Alternating between Bea’s and Lo’s perspective along with chapters from the past and present, the pieces of the puzzle gradually form a complete picture by the end – and it may not be what you expect. The Project has a different effect on both sisters, and their bond is demonstrated early and plays an important part of the plot.

The Unity Project initially sounds like a legitimate organization who does charitable work and community outreach. No one has been able to prove otherwise so far, and most of their members are unaware of the truth. It’s easy to see how they’ve won over so many folks. Lev Warren, their leader, is charismatic, empathetic, and knows exactly what to say to get into a person’s head. He preys upon those who are lost, vulnerable, and searching for something to cling to, a purpose. It’s hard to disagree with a lot of what he says – and that’s kind of unnerving. It’s nearly terrifying how quickly he is able to influence others.

As Lo investigates The Project and pushes for a reunion with her sister, she finds herself unsure of what or who to believe. Although determined to discover the truth behind The Project, she wasn’t exactly on sure footing before meeting Lev Warren, and he seems to understand her like no one else she’s ever met. And he takes advantage of this.

After a bit of a slow start, this book grabbed me immediately, and putting it down wasn’t an option. I had to see what happened next. Parts of it are very emotional and ripped my heart out, so be prepared. It’s a compelling, addictive read you’ll still be thinking about days after finishing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Social Justice Topics:
▪️Mental Health
▪️Cult Thriller

Grade Level: 9+

✔️ Finished in a day

I haven’t read a book in a day (besides middle grade books) in such a long time. That just shows how good Summers book The Project was, but I shouldn’t have been surprised—Summer’s writes the best YA thrillers.

Someone had said that this book reminded them of Gillian Flynn’s book Gone Girl. I completely agree. Only Flynn & Summers can write books that put you in a state of fear, anxiety, and excitement about the characters, as well as constantly wondering what could be happening in the story.

High schoolers are going to love this book when it comes out. I mean, what high schooler doesn’t love a good thriller. Especially one about a cult!

Well this was certainly a ride! This is exactly the kind of book I want with me on an airplane. It moved confidently along, kept me invested and was, overall, just so deliciously binge-able! I was really hankering for a fun thriller and I feel that I found one in The Project.

My only real complaint is that so much is left up to the imagination of the reader near the end. Having just spent a whole day of impassioned investment in these characters (because, I’ll have you know that once I started this book I genuinely could NOT put it down) I was looking forward to a grander conclusion. For everyone! The most high stakes event of this story takes place off the pages of the book which felt a bit unfair? I think I just needed more. That being said, if this was made into a series where the protagonist is now roaming the world, looking into nefarious activities as an investigative journalist, I would read every installment. Would absolutely recommend this title to someone looking for a “beach read” sort of experience. This book brought the drama I craved without getting too bogged down in real life. And in a year like 2020, that’s 99% of what I’m looking for!

PS I’m in love with this cover. Going on my list of favorites WITHOUT QUESTION!

I wasn't sure what I thought this book would be going in, and I was really surprised by how quickly it sucked me in. We have alternating time lines from Bea's and Lo's perspective the past and the present. After a devistating car accident kills their parents and severly injures Lo, Bea feels lost until she meets Lev.. He takes her away and gives her something higher to believe in.. But in doing so she never sees her little sister again. Lo only wants a few things, she wants to be a writer, to find Bea, and take down the cult that took her sister from her.
We see all of Bea's struggles as her sister is lying in the hopital and how she feels like she has found something new with Lev and his belief in God. We also get Lo's anger at her sister for leaving her behind, and staying away. Her anger at Lev, and the people that blindly believe in him. Even at her boss a journalist who feels like something is going on with The Unity Project but doest believe Lo when she tries to tell him more. Lo feels so many things, and ends up being torn in so many different directions that I had no idea where the story was going to lead. It kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire story, and I just needed to know how it was going to end. I haven't read any thing by Courtney Summers before, but after reading this I definitely want to read more.

The Project is the next novel by Courtney Summers that dives deep into the makings of a cult. And not only is it just a "normal" cult, but one that claims to even have saved your life as a child. I love the interesting dynamics that this already brings up, and how Lo perceives The Project when her family and entire life is so completely involved intertwined with.

And I'll start here by saying I love Courtney Summers as an author, and I think her most recent books are a go to YA recommendation. The whole story is pretty easy to grasp and also doesn't follow the usual Young Adult cliches, so it does make you feel like you're reading something new and exciting.

The two biggest things I struggled with in the Project were pacing and the nonlinear timeline. I don't think the switching between characters was very necessary, and I know it has become popular in thrillers in the last couple of years but I think it would build even more suspense if we left a lot of Bea's character completely in the dark until the very end. And I also felt like there was an intensity that Sadie had that this book was lacking, especially at the climax.

Overall this was a pretty quick read, definitely a good book recommendations for teens. And I'll also give MASSIVE props to whoever did this cover, it's the best I've seen in months.

THIS. I didn't expect it to leave me absolutely wrecked. This was my first book by Summers, and I'm very happy to say that it did not disappoint!!

The characters were so well-developed, and you'll definitely end up rooting for them. Lo and Bea are sisters who lose each other, and their relationship was so well-developed. They are so flawed; it was so nice to see this.

The cult aspect of the story was so intriguing, and the plot twists will keep you guessing at what will happen next.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of The Project in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions in any way.

Marketed as a book that would make you reconsider everything you think you know about yourself taking things a bit too far.
I did not reconsider anything at all. Sure, I enjoyed my time reading this but this definitely oversold the story and gave me so much higher expectations.
Sure, it was one wild ride from start to finish but I already knew that cults were insane. I never bought anything Lev was selling to begin with.
Overall, better than Sadie for me, but still not 100% what I was expecting from Courtney Summers

The Project is a mystery thriller about family who is devastated by a car crash. The younger sister, Lo, was injured and might not survive, and the older sister, Bea, who would do anything to make sure she does since both their parents died. Bea is comforted and saved by Lev Warren who is the leader of The Unity Project, which helps people who have lost their way.

Lo has trying to find her sister and infiltrate the organization that Bea has been a member of for the past six years to expose their cult-like practices. While working at her magazine, a break through occurs when a man comes in claiming that the The Unity Project killed his son. She finds herself being compelled to believe in their mission too.

This intense story had me guessing so many times that I couldn't keep up, which is one of my favorite types of mysteries. It also gave a perspective on how a cult can manipulate anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book for an honest opinion.