I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Project, but there are a few things that are keeping me from giving it 5 stars:
- I wished that there was a little more development of the Lo and Bea's relationship. I felt like the strength of their bond was told to the reader more than it was shown. Maybe that would have slowed the pacing of the book down, but I just didn't feel attached to either of them enough to be fully emotionally invested in the story.
- I was interested in finding out what happened at the end of the book, but I wasn't on the edge of my seat the way I like to be when reading thrillers.
- There was a line painfully similar to "I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding" during the scene where Lo is outside Arthur's house on the night of his meeting. It was just one line, but it really jumped out at me because the rest of the book was written very well.

Overall, though, I'd say this is a good book and I would recommend it to people I know.

I don't often read books like this, especially those that don't have a fantasy element, and this book reminded me why. Not because they're bad - more so because they hit to close to reality for my comfort. Summers has wonderfully captured the craze of the cult, and I was wary most of the time.

The book constantly made me second guess what was happening. I did not know who to trust, and reading the book I understand why people can be so drawn to cults. The haunting loneliness and the sense of stability one can crave is so well written. The characters and relationships in The Project are well written as well. I found Lo a captivating protagonist, and Bea held my interest even when I wasn't particularly fond of her. Reading about all the different ways the characters were connected, and Lo's journey to figuring out what happened was wonderful and exciting. I am really glad I got to read this book! I haven't read a book by Courtney Summers before, and now I think I have to.

Wow! Courtney Summers does not disappoint! I love all culty books and I love that this portrayed a character begin to be sucked into the cult she was against. I do wish it had been a bit creepier but I still really enjoyed it.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I had flashbacks to A Woman is No Man in the sense that my heart hurt much like it did when I finished that book; I feel like my heart was ripped out was stomped on. This really convinces you to read it, right? I actually hope so because, despite how sad parts of it were, it was an excellent read. I was not prepared for how emotional this would be, but this is my first Courtney Summers novel so if you are more familiar with her then it might not surprise you at all. I think if you are looking for a light-hearted read with a perfect happy ending, run far away. If you are looking for a gritty, psychological read this is the one for you.

The overarching theme of familial love really was well-drawn here. The relationship between the two sisters in this book, Bea and Lo, makes an impact from beginning to end. Then, of course, there is a cult to keep things interesting. I will be honest, the fact that this book was about a cult was the main reason I wanted to read this. It is not the reason I stayed though. The story of Bea and Lo is one that ultimately drew me in and had me rooting for them.

It was close to a perfectly written read, but there were a few things that made me pause. First the narrative style is a challenging. Some of the transitions are abrupt. There were times I had to go back and reread several passages just to make sure I understood where exactly I was in the narrative. There is also something that happens at then that I cannot really go into details about because, you know, spoilers! I will say the explanation for what happened was vague enough that I was left wondering not what happened, but how it happened. I have questions!!

This gets released in 2021 and I really think it needs to skyrocket to the top of many reader's TBR for 2021. It is one of those reads you see on a shelf after you have read it and turn to your friend to say, "This is a good book."

The Project was heartbreaking and tragic and not at all what I expected it to be. The most terrifying things about it weren’t evident from the start: they creeped in slowly and left me with an unsettling feeling, made me doubt my own instincts in seemingly effortless ways.

I’ll have to think a bit longer on it, have to gather my thoughts, before writing a full review, but I can say without a doubt that I’ll pick up another of Courtney Summers’ books soon!

(Full review will be posted closer to the release date on my blog, Ink & Myths.)

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher.

Lo Denham is an aspiring journalist who is haunted by the untimely death of her parents and the loss of her older sister, Bea, to the Unity Project. Determined to find out the truth about the project and to see her sister, Lo starts to investigate the group in order to expose their practices.

This was the first book I’ve read by Courtney Summers. She is a compelling writer, and this book was a fun and engrossing read. The Unity Project definitely reminded me of Nxivm, a group that ran out of upstate New York that was supposedly set up to help others but all was not as it seemed. Summers writes plot and characters very well, and I enjoyed this one and will seek out her other work.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3681890555

WHEW, what a book - highly recommended if you're into thrillers or books about cults or sisters or complicated relationships. Summers does a great job here of showing how attractive the cult's teachings are while also making it very clear that the leader is a monster, which is a fine line to walk. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

One thing Courtney Summers can do well, is make people disappear. And now I'm afraid if I ever meet her, I'll turn into a ghost on a page. The Project is a fantastically written book that delves deep into the world of a cult, and shows you just how the leaders can get under your skin and twist your mind to believing what they want you to believe.

A huge shout out to #NetGalley for an honest review. 🙏🏼

Although I was uncomfortable reading this book, I did finish it in one sitting. Lol. I truly love how Courtney Summers creates such turmoil in her readers while they are reading. It makes the need for balance so dire that we CAN’T stop reading!!

The only issue I had with this one was with the unreliability of the mc. Without giving away any spoilers, I was just disappointed at how quick Lo dropped her guard. I also guessed the ending based on my obsession when I read “Sadie”. Courtney Summers is definitely one of my favorites.

*I have added my review to Goodreads already.*

Courtney Summers has an incredible way of writing well-rounded, flawed characters that you cannot help but love. When you mix that with Summers’ heartbreaking, tragic storytelling, it’s a perfect pair. And I loved that a story of sisterhood is really at the heart of the book. 
The Project was a bit slow-moving. With every turn of the page, it felt like the story wasn’t really progressing into much for me. The timeline jumps back and forth between the past and present with each sister telling their side of the story before it all comes together at the end - another gift Summers has. No one can wrap up a story quite like her.

I found the cult aspect of the book to be really interesting. It felt authentic and wasn’t overly flashy with dramatics like it is easy to do when dealing with cults centered around religion. The members of The Project felt like normal, everyday people with their own personal reasons for being there. While getting to know the characters on the page, it is easy to see how quickly and easily vulnerable people looking for a place in this world can fall into these groups that prey upon them.

The Project is a good young adult thriller and great for those who enjoy reading cult-specific plots.

This was a charismatic read that left me questioning what was truly real. Despite knowing in my heart that The Unity Project was a cult, I couldn't help but sympathize with their cause and that's a true credit to the writing. It became so easy to see how someone could get wrapped up in false promises and a perceived religious backing. I loved being able to hear from Lo and Bea's perspectives, though I felt that the ending was a bit rushed.

I like the approach of a non-linear narrative, but for me, it was at times difficult to follow the pacing and characters. The development of the novel was a bit slow but it was an incredibly interesting premise and was fascniating once it developed.

I've tried really hard to connect with this story, but it's just not happening. I find it disjointed and needlessly confusing. I don't have any connections with the characters or any reason to care what's going on. Overall I'm just bored.

This was everything I wanted in a cult book. I felt like I understood why people joined and why people stayed. I loved it as a sister book. And the twists and turns were exactly what I'd expect from Courtney Summers. <3

Lo Denham lost her parents, and almost her own life, to a tragic car accident. She lost her older sister, Bea, to The Unity Project, a religious group that's known for its public outreach and good works. Now, Lo is determined to reunite with Bea and find out why her sister abandoned her after the accident. As intrigued as I am by cults, I couldn't get into this one. The plot builds slowly and some questions are never answered.

This is a case of "its me not you" type of thing i love the concept of this story i just don't like Courtney Summers writing but i did skim the last 15% just to see what happened.

I;m giving it 3 stars because if it wasn't for the writing style i would have liked this story.

I devoured this book in a single night. Such a fascinating portrayal of cult behavior; the characters were sympathetic and engaging, and I loved that we got to track Lo's descent into the same cult mindset that had ensnared her sister.

Wow sooooo good! I am a huge fan of this author and this one did not disappoint! I can't wait to make all of my family and friends read it!

I was so psyched when I got this book and couldn’t wait to dig in because I’m a big cult buff, but man it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I can get behind a slow burn, building up the suspense etc., but this book never took fire for me. It was slow all the way through, none of the characters were super loveable (or detestable for that matter), and it didn’t meet my expectations at all.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.