I feel like this is a story that you’ll be thinking about long after finishing it, it’s gritty, it’s suspenseful, it’s dark and I found it to be a really interesting read. I’ve never read a book about a cult before and I think it worked really well with hearing about the timeline from start to finish, I liked the dual timeline too, it really added to the mystery build up. It was quite a hard read at times regarding all the manipulation, grooming aspect of it and what all the characters went through.

I really liked that there was constant conflicting with Lucy’s character, she was obviously flawed and questionably unreliable and I never really knew how to feel about her, but I feel like that was the point. learning about her upbringing and her experiences was interesting when reflecting on what type of person she was as she explains everything about her journey, both past and present. I did really enjoy the psychological element of it and the true crime & the ways of the industry that was all included in the story, I thought it worked really well.

I loved the writing too, I’d definitely be interested in reading more of the authors work based off this book.
Overall it was incredibly thought provoking, intense, well written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

This is a sharp, addictive debut that reads like a true crime documentary you can’t stop watching. Lucy Golden, cult survivor, controversial memoirist, and reluctant public figure, is a wonderfully complex protagonist: part victim, part icon, and never as straightforward as people want her to be.

The dual timelines and mixed formats create a tense, layered narrative that’s both fast paced and emotionally grounded. Once the story drops into the 'Oasis', we get a character study mixed with pure thriller energy. The ending actually made me a little teary eyed too.

A little dark, a little unsettling, but incredibly compelling, this novel explores trauma, fame, and the messy business of owning your own story.