Good! Very good. One for fans of I Who Have Never Known Men and Everything I Ever Wanted. Love Island dystopia, it's a thoughtful, gripping exploration of consumerism, superficiality and identity in the modern wold.

What a great debut book, I absolutely flew through this in 3 days (which is fast now I have a toddler). I sort of knew I would love this going into it because reality tv is right up my street so I’m glad it really is as good as the reviews told me.

At first I was a little overwhelmed by all the characters but the author does such a good job with the character development that you quickly learn who are the main characters and what you need to know about them. Surprisingly I actually liked a lot of the characters too, and the ones who are clearly menacing keep you on your toes as a reader.

Whilst it’s a fun book, it also does cover some important issues in society such as greed, the desire for fame/ influencer lifestyle and consumerism and ultimately shows how lonely that can be. The book does make you think and I think it will stick with me, but the author doesn’t say any of this in a preachy way.

Clearly this is massively inspired by love island, and I can see why people are also saying big brother. Another show this reminded me of is ‘Eden: paradise lost’ which was a c4 show where contestants went to live remotely for one year and producers really didn’t get involved unless absolutely necessary. If you enjoyed this book I highly recommend watching it on 4OD I think there are some striking similarities.

Thanks so much to netgallery and the author for this ARC I absolutely loved the book and I will recommend to all my fellow reader friends

A reality TV show in the middle of a desert, valuable prizes up for grabs, and a group of total strangers—sounds like fun, right? Of course it does, especially when the book is marketed as a thriller. As intriguing as the premise may be, the story doesn't quite deliver on the thrill. It's a good read with an interesting setting and solid plot, but I wouldn’t call it a true thriller. That said, it’s still enjoyable and entertaining—definitely not a shallow read either.

I thought that this was going to be a thriller... and by the end it was just dull. It does execute an interesting examination of whether material goods are more valuable to people than personal connections, whether the world can truly be ignored in favor of an 'easy' life, but we are left wondering some key questions: what happens to contestants once they are banished? How do the producers get to the compound so quickly? Also, our main character is very shallow, and does perhaps become less so across the book, but I only really felt connected to Sam while reading. I did enjoy the drama at the end with our main character, Lily, getting a bit cunning, but it is probably one of the only moments she shines.

I loved the sound of this book, and it started promisingly enough., but then for me it stalled .I didn't find enough happening, and wasn't keen on some of the characters. It wasn't terrible, but just didn't quite hit the spot for me.

The Compound is a super-interesting debut, a searing commentary on human nature through the magnifying glass of reality TV, in this case a mashup of Big Brother and The Bachelor set in the compound as eight men and eight women (if I recall the starting numbers correctly) must couple up and not get banished in order to accrue group and personal rewards.

If Lily can ultimately win the show, she’ll become famous / an influencer / a brand ambassador. Her passport out of a life of drudgery working in retail. I wonder if Aisling Rawle considered a multiple POV for this; initially I was disappointed that the POV is all from one character, Lily. But that enables Ms. Rawle to really bring us into the life of a contestant in this artificial reality, as we too are one of the millions of viewers.

This is very much a commentary on modern life: lack of opportunity, disenfranchisement, transient and transactional relationships, and rampant consumerism. And while that’s clear, it in no way obscures the story development as our happy campers become less happy and more challenged.

I’ve read that some readers feel there are too many characters to follow. I think that’s part of the nature of how such a reality TV show begins with a lot of people in it. We don’t recall well those that don’t last, and producers construct narratives for those that have more viewer appeal and/or spend more time on a show like the one featured here. So if you can’t recall exactly who is who early on, do not worry. That’s expected and unimportant. It’s who’s left near the end that very much counts.

Be ready for unpleasant events and people’s agendas. That’s all I’ll say on that so as not to spoil anything.

The story is set fully within the confines of the compound. Yes, the clue is in the title. So don’t expect a lot of exposition laying out the dystopian nature of the world outside. Indeed, the references to the world, changed somewhat since “the wars,” are oblique—a choice I liked as that keeps us very much in the goldfish bowl of the compound.

The pacing is good once you are immersed in the main characters and their daily lives, but it might take you around 80 pages or so to get to that point. Be patient, and you’ll be rewarded.

This is an interesting novel told through the eyes of a character who herself might lack—by her own admission—notable traits, but one who knits the piece together marvelously through her observations and perceptions, which many readers will enjoy. And I found both the story and Lily resonated days after finishing, and why I feel that it deserves 5 stars, not 4.5. The Compound is not perfect, but it is an assured debut. It’s got plenty to say, and while it says those things well, you’ll not forget the characters, Lily in particular, who, in the end, is more remarkable than she gives herself credit for.

Thank you to the author and the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to “suffer” along with the contestants in this fascinating and hugely enjoyable ARC.

I tried very hard to get into this book as the bio gave it to be a cross between love island and big brother
I read for a number of chapters and found it under stimulating I found plot really boring sorry I know some of you will love it
So I apologize different strokes for different folks as they say
Good luck with publishing of book

The Compound has been likened to a cross between Love Island and Lord of the Flies. Now, I (happily) haven't watched a single episode of Love Island, so I can't possibly comment, but I did read Lord of the Flies not so long ago, and I'm failing to find a common denominator. If The Compound can be compared with anything, it would be Big Brother, with sinister undertones.
The premise is simple; twenty people (10 guys, 10 girls) share a house in a compound in the desert. They must complete tasks, some communal, some personal, to earn rewards and avoid banishment. They must couple up each night to avoid banishment. They must abide by certain rules to avoid banishment. All the while their action and interactions are filmed for the viewing pleasure of those back home. 🏡
As I already mentioned, there is a sinister undertone to the book. A lot of the tasks are engineered to either humiliate the contestants, or cause dissent. There's violence, and minor torture. 🏡
The Compound moves at a (very) slow pace, yet despite this, and the dark, disturbing events that unfold, it's hard to put down. 🏡
Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

I was really looking forward to reading this book which would be perfect for lovers of reality TV shows

It's a blend of "Big Brother" meets "Love Island" with a group of people in an isolated venue being thrown together in a social experiment.

Working together they can earn rewards and, as individuals can perform their own tasks to earn personal treats.

Despite the sinister overtones of The Compound I'm sorry to say that not nearly enough happened to sustain the suspense and hold my interest.

I did finish the book but ultimately I was disappointed.

I don't watch reality TV shows but the concept of this book fascinated me. The Compound is set I think in the not too distant future. Life seems pretty bleak on the outside. The show seems like a mixture of Love Island and Big Brother but taken to extremes. It is narrated from the POV of Lily one of the female contestants who seems to be very beautiful but not very bright. I loved the book and got really invested in who was going to be 'banished' and who was going to win! I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out what happened but at the same time didn't want to finish the book. Definitely a recommended read reality show fan or not and I'll be watching out for more from Aisling Rawle.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

It starts off fairly slow and the amount of characters were difficult to follow until they started to drop off bit by bit. However, this somewhat dystopian read is a stunning debut. Gripping, engrossing and had me coming back for more.

3 stars for The Compound, where an idyllic oasis in the desert isn’t all it seems. Ten men and women live in luxury accommodation, they can win anything they want if they complete the challenges set and find someone to share their bed overnight.
There were some great moments of tension but once you’d become familiar with the routine in the compound, the pace felt like it dropped quite a bit. Unfortunately, I found most of the characters quite unlikeable.
It often felt quite superficial. There were constant mentions of how beautiful people were and how the women should look after the men. I know people vs capitalism , what’s really important in life etc is one of the key themes of the plot but at certain points it felt watered down in the slower pace. I would have liked a lot more world building and information about the dystopian world the characters were trying to escape. The ending was a little anti-climatic.
Having said that, I do think it’s an original concept for a book and it kept me interested until the last page.
If domestic and psychological thrillers are your favourite reads, or if you enjoy reality tv shows, you should add this to your TBR pile.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me hooked from page 1. Being a huge love island / BB fan I thought this book is for me.

I absolutely loved the concept and the idea. It did give me lord of the flies vibes throughout.

I kept thinking what would I do in these situations.

I really became attached to the characters and their stories.

I was a little disappointed with the ending I would have loved an extra chapter to tie things up.

Would highly recommend.

Clever courtroom drama.
Here, we have the third book in Rob Rinders' excellent series featuring Adam Brown,a Junior Barrrister at the Stag Court practice.
It opens with a sumptuous party for a new exhibition at London's Royal Academy, featuring the work of famed artist Max Bruce. The highlight is his rarely seen work"Primal Scream" that has been in private hands for many years. Max is suddenly attacked with blue 6 Lexi Williams, an inten at the gallery.. Max confuses and dies. Lexi is arrested, and later, the paint is found to contain cyanide.
Adam is part of a team from Stag Court to defend Lexi, whilst another of their teams are prosecuting.Whilst Adam feels that this appears to be an open and shut case, he soon realises that the police have been lax in 3xamining the scene and arranging for Forensic examinations.
Adam is simultaneously involved in another case, helping out with a court marshal trial of a soldier charged with being responsible for the death of a civilian, a child.
We learn a lot about the workings of Stag Court and more about the characters who have been introduced in the earlier two books. For me, the book is a perfect mix of a court procedural and the interplay of the main characters. It also emphasises the high workload of Junior Barristers as they strive to succeed in their chosen profession.

To get it out of the way up front, I loved this book. I read it over two days in two sittings.

I'm not a fan of reality TV and have never seen Love Island, so it was definitely words like Lord of the Flies, dark, thrilling and compound that attracted me to it.

From the very beginning when Lily wakes up in a room with multiple beds unaware of how she got there, where she is geographically and where anyone else is i was hooked. Over the first few chapters we're introduced to 10 women, and we learn that they're part of a Reality TV show and will be joined by 10 men shortly. During their time in the house, they'll complete both group tasks and personal tasks. They can't talk about their personal lives or there will be punishments, they'll couple up with the men and if anyone is in a bed alone they'll be gone by sunrise and some tasks will involve banishing people.

Banishing them where? Into the desert that surrounds the house - where the men will eventually come from.

One of the things I really love about the book is how it is all told from Lily's perspective and through her you learn more about the show, that the final people/person can stay in the house as long as they want, that the final 5 are pretty much guaranteed fame and fortune, that when you received a prize from a personal task you must thank the provider of the gift to camera, and the more gushing you are the more expensive the prizes will be and the more likely they are to sponsor you when you're out of the house.

Apart from the tasks displayed on giant screens and small devices for the personal ones, there is little to no interaction from the producers. And so the group are pretty much left to their own devices to get along (or not). And as time goes on the relationships change and develop tension ramps up.

Aisling's writing is amazing, I could picture every room, every area of the grounds and how everyone looked. It can be tough because there's around 20 people in the house, but as they leave or are banished you get to know a core group more and more.

I could not put this book down and I 100% recommend it to everyone, and can't wait to read future books from Aisling.

This isn’t the usual type of book that I would pick up but found the concept absolutely fascinating. It was like a mix of love island and a survival show. Contestants arrive on the island and and to survive and keep their place to the end they must pair up and share a bed with someone else. While competing tasks as a group they can win prizes to improve life in the luxury house. Contestants are also given personal tasks to spice up the show and win luxury prizes.. it was fascinating to watch the decline of the group and the lengths some would go to to win! This was such a good read! I would highly recommend.

Over all I enjoyed this book, but it was slow in the first half and slightly confusing as there were so many characters.
The second half was more fun to read. All characters were unlikeable which figures for most reality TV scenarios!
However there were several holes in the concept for me.
All in all a decent beach read for when you don’t need anything too taxing.

This was a really enjoyable read. Showed the attitude of a generation to the need to be known and famous as well as the dangers of end stage capitalism.
Some interesting characters... Both obnoxious and loveable.
Really enjoyed it all though the ending was a little unsatisfying.

This is such a surreal look at consumerism and capitalism with a dripfeed of dystopian details. It is a slow burn descent into madness with brilliant ambiguity. The Love Island meets Lord of the Flies comparison rings true.

Unfortunately this was a book that wasn’t for me I just couldn’t get into it. I would still recommend people read it.