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.

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.

I love a good reality show so I had high expectations for this book. I really liked the idea but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it just wasn’t the type of story for me right now.

My first read from this author but definitely not my last. Full of intrigue, intensity and mystery, this was a truly fascinating read and has made me want to read more from this author.

Such a fun and interesting concept, I think calling it Love Island thriller undersells it. It's a really interesting psychological experiment looking at humans exposed and what truly lies in their brains

Wow, this one completely got under my skin, and in the best possible way. The Compound is one of those books that creeps up on you slowly and then refuses to let go. Aisling Rawle has crafted a tense, eerie, and oddly intimate story that blurs the lines between safety and danger, trust and paranoia.

From the moment we step into the compound, there's this quiet sense of unease simmering under everything, and I loved how the atmosphere just kept tightening. It’s not flashy horror or an over-the-top thriller. It’s more unsettling than that, which honestly made it so much more effective. Every character felt just a little bit off in a way that made you question what was really going on.

What I especially appreciated was how Rawle never spoon-feeds you. She gives just enough to keep you guessing, but you’re constantly piecing things together, second-guessing everyone, and that made the whole reading experience super engaging. Plus, her writing is sharp, observant, and a little bit biting, which I loved.

If you enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers with a claustrophobic vibe and characters you don’t totally trust (but can’t look away from), definitely pick this one up. It's weird, it's tense, and it's kind of brilliant.

I read an eARC of this book on Net Galley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

I’ve never watched Love Island and I’m not a big watcher of reality TV, but I found myself intrigued by the premise of this book. I was not disappointed! The author had me completely engrossed. This is centred around a reality TV dating show, but it’s in a bit of a sci-fi leaning space. This is much darker and there’s a level of desperation from the characters. This takes place in a world where there’s not much hope, we get allusions to the devastation of the world and the lack of opportunities. The characters wake up in the compound after being drugged and transported there. They find the place filthy, no front door, no bathroom door. At one point they run out of food and are forced to do degrading and dangerous challenges to get food and basic amenities. There are communal tasks so people are villainised if they won’t or can’t contribute. There are people who have a mean or vicious streak. It felt constantly like there was this looming sense of menace and I never felt like our main character was safe.

I found this book so interesting. The show itself sounds so unhinged and exploitative. Putting people in desperate situations to force them to embarrass themselves or to create drama for entertainment. If it wasn’t for the fact that the main character references watching the show herself you might think there is no show and this is the playground of some wealthy sociopath. But no, there is really a show and our characters have choose to do these tasks for their own wellbeing.

This was a truly engrossing, unnerving read.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for a honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. Although I’m a little unsure of the ending it felt slightly anticlimactic.
Other books I’ve read based around reality tv have not gripped me as much as this one has. I deffinately will be recommending to all my reader friends. With a different ending it may have been a 5 star