An excellent story and very well-written. I felt like I was as caught up in this world as each of the characters. I will definitely be looking for more to read from this author! And I will be recommending this to teens and adults looking for a novel that is like a true crime podcast and a thriller combined.

I really loved SADIE - it was the kind of addicting read I'm always looking for when it comes to mystery/thrillers. It stuck with me for a long time after reading too. I've only read a few (at most) cult-related books so I was intrigued by THE PROJECT.

Lo's parents died in a car accident (she survived) and her sister joined The Unity Project, a group in New York that pretty much screams "cult" to everyone outside it, so she's been alone for a number of years when the book begins. The story goes back and forth between her POV in present day and Bea's (her sister) in the past as she is getting deeper in the Project. I enjoyed reading about how Lo tried to make a life for herself, as imperfect or sad as it was, and her time investigating the Project.

It took me a really long time to get into this one. It was interesting for the most part but I knew exactly where it was headed. Too many reviews or summaries said the ending was "unexpected" so I kind of knew where it was probably going as a result. I kept mixing up the two characters names in my head and it went back and forth between them, which didn't help me.

While I liked the book overall, it won't stick with me like SADIE did. I wish I didn't see parts of the ending coming because I do think it impacted my reading.

Having absolutely loved Sadie last year, I was really excited to read more from Courtney Summers - and a book about CULTS?! I was sold. Unfortunately, in execution, this one didn't quite live up to my hopes and came in around 3 stars for me. I am still very much looking forward to reading more from Summers in the future.

A disappointing book about a cult, usually one of my favorite thriller novel tropes. I couldn't separate how much the author lifted from the NXIUM cult though, and found that distracting. The story was also hard to follow and the ending was less than satisfactory.

I finished reading The Project about a week ago and I am still reeling from how well done and impactful this novel is, and have raved about it to several people and will continue to do so until I have more people to discuss it with!

When Lo survives the car crash that killed her parents, her older sister Bea immerses herself in a religious organization named The Unity Project, believing that Lev, its leader, is responsible for Lo’s recovery. Bea eventually leaves Lo behind and, several years into the future, we see Lo’s hatred for The Unity Project come to a head when a father claims the organization killed his son. Lo digs deeper into The Unity Project and accusations about it being a cult, and her story is told in parallel with Bea’s experience joining the Project years earlier and her growing concern about her safety. As Lo spends more time with the charismatic Lev, working on an investigative piece on the organization, she finds herself wondering if all her previous assumptions about The Unity Project were unwarranted.

The Project is un-put-down-able. The prose about Bea’s raw grief and Lo’s crushing loneliness is gorgeous and sweeps you up in the emotions. It’s the subtle way that you see Lo fall in deeper and Bea struggle to get out, their paths criss-crossing, that really makes this book shine. The rhetoric of The Unity Project is a fascinating look into the realities of groupthink and how easy it is for people to get in over their heads without realizing it until it’s too late.

I will be thinking about this one for a long time to come. It is definitely going to be a purchase for my personal collection and is already on order for my school’s collection. This thriller will break your heart, draw you in, and leave you stunned.

Will be posting this review to my instagram @livinthestacks by 2/12 - I am waiting on a physical copy to arrive so I can post with the cover, as the ARC was before the cover was finalized.

Tw: suicide, grief, hospitalization, coerced sex, physical assault, branding

This book was interesting, to say the least. Though I had to admit, I was a bit lost in the beginning, but as the story progressed, it started to get more intriguing. The writing style and story plot line were planned pretty well and although the beginning was a bit confusing, the ending was all worth it.

Unpopular opinion, but I didn't love this.

I have really enjoyed some of Summers's other books, but this one didn't capture my attention in the same way. I felt like the first half was really slow yet happened over just a couple weeks, and then the second half was a few months all shoved together really quickly. Additionally, once we got to the second half, some of Lo's decisions didn't feel as in line with the character set up in the first half.

Maybe I've just read too much true crime/culty things, but I just kept on expecting this to have more of a twist than it did.

Deep Breath! That’s what I told myself at the end of this book. I put the book down, stared at the wall for a bit and took some very deep breaths. The ease with which this book gets under your skin makes this a must-read recommendation from me!

You know how they say it’s a fine line between love and hate? I think that fine line applies to religions and cults as well.

This book. This book! I thought when I got this book that it was going to be a thriller. I wouldn’t really call it that. It’s more of a mystery with a few thrillerish moments thrown in. But I really don’t want to get stuck in the details of which category it fits in to. I’d rather just focus on how I could not put this book down and had to read it in 24 hours. I had to know! Had to know what was really happening!

The author did such a good job of writing this story that you can’t tell if The Unity Project is a religious following made up of love and light, friends and family or if it is a cult who brainwashes its followers and doesn’t allow them to leave.

Lo’s sister Bea has become a member of The Unity Project after a tragic family loss. Lo does everything she can to find Bea for years, thinking that she is being kept against her will within The Project. Lo begins to write a story about The Project to show that they are a cult. She is granted inside access for interviews with the leader, Lev, as he claims he has nothing to hide and wants to show the world that there is a better way. What she finds is not what she expected.

Following in Lo and Bea’s footsteps, I was sucked into this world of love, family, grief, sadness, forgiveness, acceptance and faith. The feelings of giving yourself to a higher power and having faith in the unseen that are the foundations of religious practices. How do you know if/when it has gone too far? These themes explored in this mystery are gut-wrenching at times. Even now, days later, I’m overwhelmed by the emotions from this story.

The characters jumped off the page for me. Each main character was so well-written, it feels like I have known them for years. At the same time, there were a few holes in the story and focuses on things that didn’t seem that important. These issues caused me to rate the book as a 4. A little more clarity in some situations would have made a couple of places less confusing. Some parts of the life of Lo were skipped over completely and it seems that there could have been a chapter or two spent on the years in between the last time she saw Bea and the time she is working at the paper. Just for continuity. These aren’t huge issues but I feel they would have made for a more well-rounded story.

The way charismatic people can have such profound effects on those that have suffered loss, tragedy or abuse is astounding on the one hand and very, very scary on the other.

I would urge readers of emotion-filled dramas, mysteries and thrillers alike to take grab this book and clear your schedule!

Thank you to #WednesdayBooks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Project by Courtney Summers is an unusual book that is twisted and makes you suspicious of a number of the characters in the book. Lo and Bea Denham are sisters and after their parents' accident are left only with an old aunt. Bea is determined to start a new life, but waits for Lo to recover from the accident, then leaves. Years later Lo is determined to find her sister and to learn the truth about where her sister is. But sometimes the price of truth is too high.

Bea has gone and joined The Unity Project. She believes that this is her destiny. Lo has never totally believed that the charitable works and outreach is all The Unity Project is about. She has tried for years to find out the truth, but to no avail. She has called and tried to see Bea, again with no luck. Then Lo sees a man commit suicide and knows he is part of The Unity Project, so she is more determined than ever to find the truth.

The story was unusual and not your run of the mill thriller. It is clear that there are so many secrets that are all around the storyline and none of them help you figure out where the story is going. I didn’t love the story, but neither could I put the book down and stop reading it. I found it fascinating in a rather twisted way. The Project by Courtney Summers is a book that held by attention and aroused curiosity about different parts of the storyline.

This book!!

I don't even know if I can out how I feel about this into coherent thoughts... But I loved it!

I loved how messy it was and how nothing was simple. Courtney Summers blew me away with Sadie, and she has done it again! That ending broke me, and I need anything that Courtney Summers writes.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the name Courtney Summers attached to this, I immediately requested the NetGalley ARC and didn't bother to read the description. I should have because to put it plainly, I just don't do cult books and there are very few exceptions to the rule. Maybe it's because as a small child, the first time I saw a photo of Charles Mansion (without obviously knowing the story - what little kid does) I immediately thought it's the devil!) Whatever the reasons, they just give me the heebie jeebies - give me a serial killer thriller instead. This, thankfully, wasn't exactly that and the story was provocative enough (although it lacked the author's previous wow factor for me. As always, it's well written with likewise well developed characters and I found Lo and Bea to be particularly empathetic, but it wasn't what I was expecting and admittedly hoping for when I dove into it blind, which left me wishing for something altogether different or at least wanting a little something more. Is that a fair assessment? Maybe not, but it's an accurate assessment of my experience.

The Unity Project draws from a lot of cult indoctrination techniques including isolation, gaslighting, emotional manipulation, physical abuse and torture, and financial control. While reading it seemed to have a lot of similarities to the stories coming out of the NXIVM cult. If any of that is triggering to you I encourage you to proceed with caution while reading if you choose to.

Lo was in a horrible car accident killing her parents and leaving her in dire straights in the hospital. Bea wasn't with her family when the accident occurred and is praying for a miracle to keep Lo alive. Just when she needed it most Bea joined The Unity Project, a charitable organization well known through Upstate New York leaving behind all contact with Lo. Lo knows there is something incredibly off about The Unity Project when she hasn't been able to see or talk to her sister for years. When the opportunity arises for her to write an investigative article on the group and join the orbit of the groups leader Lev Warren Lo realizes getting to the truth might be the hardest thing she's even done. Facts blur and everything she thought she knew about her sister, The Project and herself is brought into question.

There's books that stay with you after you read them, The Project is one of them. Courtney did an amazing job weaving together Bea and Lo's story with Lev and their individual experiences with The Project. It was interesting to see the path to Lev from two perspectives, the doting disciple and the family member trying to get through to a loved one. Like a lot of abusive relationships things don't start out bad and by the time they do you either don't know how to get out, or worse you agree with your abuser that what you're enduring is deserved. It was also a personal stark reminder that even if you've come from abusive relationships with the right wording and inflections you can be convinced something is okay that isn't.

This is a book a would highly recommend school systems integrate into their curriculums. In today's world where people especially teens and young adults base their self worth on likes and comments on social media it is not difficult for predators like the Lev Warren's in the world to find vulnerable people and even easier for people to connect and idolize the faces online encouraging them to walk a potentially more dangerous life path.

The Project by Courtney Summers

Non-spoiler

I’d like to start out by thanking the publisher for providing a free e-book in exchange for an honest review. Please bear in mind the following only contains my opinions and reflects my experiences with the novel.

Undoubtedly, Courtney Summers is a talented writer. They know how to craft a story and as a reader you can tell they put research into provide a seemingly honest, if fictional, account of people that have been used by a cult. While I cannot be a voice that authenticates that journey, some of the information presented tracks with accounts provided by actual people that have shared their stories after “waking up” and leaving a cult.

Now to the meat and the bones of this review. Overall, my take away of The Project is that it’s interesting, but not gripping.

Potential and absolute spoilers

Very early on in the story there were mentions to the Trump administration. Considering the time period in which the novel takes place, it makes sense; however, it’s strange, not bad just strange, to read references to this deplorable era in American history when we are still freshly dealing with the horrific aftermath.

Jumping in to the criticism…

Nothing in this book was really surprising. Even without prior mention that they existed, it was clear who the person was that showed up to Arthur’s house once Casey arrived. As soon as it was mentioned Foster was having issues with the religion, the immediate thought was what happened. Once a murder was revealed, my first thought was, “of course she was murdered.” The story was predictable. Leading into the next point…

This is the fourth Courtney Summers book that I’ve read, and they all have glaring similarities. It seems the draft of these stories are laid out to include two sisters (or people with a familial bond), missing girl, assault, murder/revelation of what happened to missing girl, and conclusion. The details are different, but the beats are the same.

I think one of the most infuriating things about the story was that the novel entirely skipped over how Lo survived the final attack. The conclusion went straight from she’s dying into a time jump where she’s fine, well, alive to deal with the repercussions of what she’s been through. Absolutely no details on how she survived and her attacker died other than essentially, meh, it is what it is…moving on.

There are formatting issues in the advanced e-book I received that could absolutely be because it was an arc and not a final copy; however, these issues were enough to take me out of the story and I hope they were not included in the finished product.

With all this being said, if you find the premise interesting and enjoy mysteries, you should read this novel. These are just my opinions and should be taken with a grain of salt.

The story revolves around two sisters- Lo and Bea Denham who lose their parents in a car accident. Lo was also a victim of the accident but she somehow manages to survive. While on the other hand, we have Bea who left the entire world behind (including her sister Lo) and joined The Unity Project. Basically, it is a group of people that everyone likes but Jo doesn’t. You know why?! Because this group is the only reason why Bea left Lo thereby breaking all the sisterly promises they made.

The rest of the story about how Lo uncovers the truth behind a death which is somehow or the other linked with this group.

It is a story of will power, manipulation and the bond that we get to see between the sisters.

The moment I finished this book, a lot of things were going inside my head. I felt as if I am living the life that the characters are living. I could feel how Lo and Bea must be feeling when they lost their parents in a car accident. It just took me two days to finish this book and ever since then I am recommending it to everyone.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

Trigger warning: Statutory rape, birth, car accidents, torture, gaslighting, child abuse

As mentioned up above, Lo and Bea have been estranged for several years when the story begins. Both lost their parents at a young age, which makes them almost perfect prey for the predation of a man believing himself to be a deity.

Like other Summers books, this one broke me thoroughly, leaving me in a bit of daze of hope and heartbreak.

There is such care taken to follow both girls’ points of view: One whose faith wavers and another trying to regain a sense of family. Lo’s perspective is firmly rooted in things familiar, like having a job and wondering what comes next. Bea’s provides a heart-wrenching lens into a young woman who’s trying to find something resembling a family in a toxic environment. But no one realizes until it is far too late. It truly is reminiscent of the story arcs of Peoples Temple, so brace yourself for that. The way Summers ties in contemporary events is also effective and feels uncomfortably plausible.

One thing that Summers excels at is absolutely destroying her readers and this book is no exception. The ending is hopeful, but wow does it come at a cost.

“You wanted the truth. Or are you afraid of it now?”

The Project was my first Courtney Summers book but it certainly won't be my last! I have heard universal praise for her novel Sadie, so was excited to see this book was available on Netgalley. All I knew was that The Project had a focus on cults and sisters and I was in.

We follow two sisters who follow different lives, but somehow each becomes involved in some way with a religious organisation called The Unity Project, and its leader Lev Warren. We mostly follow the point of view of Lo, the younger sister who hopes to expose the truth behind the Unity Project. But we also hear from the eldest sister, Bea in the past. The non-linear storyline and jumping from past to present and sister to sister was a bit confusing at times, but I eventually got the hang of it.

Perhaps it is my innate scepticism and lack of spirituality- but I never for a second considered that The Unity Project was anything but a cult. Lev Warren's charisma just made me more suspicious of him (maybe that's the true crime lover in me, though). For those reasons, this book didn't give me the gut punch feeling or shock that I think was intended. Nothing really took me by surprise.

That being said, I didn't dislike anything about this book- I more so felt indifferent. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters (except for the young child, Emmy, who I just want to protect). I liked the writing but didn't find it exceptional. I found the plot to be pretty slow burn, but without the payoff at the end that I was expecting.

My favourite thing was without a doubt the exploration of cults, manipulation and trauma. I would have preferred for it to go a little deeper and darker, but I can understand that this is meant to be for younger audiences. I found the discussions to nevertheless be interesting.

I would overall recommend this to readers who are looking for a entrance into the ya mystery/thriller category, and who can sympathise with at times unlikeable or weaker main characters.

I am still really interested in Sadie in particular, and hopefully will read that one soon!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this ARC

Release Date: 2 February 2021

Oof, this was a flop for me. I can see where there could have been potential, but it just never lived up to it. The multiple timelines were not well executed. I wanted to give up half-way, and maybe I should have...I've got so many friends that rave about Sadie, so I think I need to go back and start there and have skipped this one entirely. Can't all be winners!

This was my first Courtney Summers but it's absolutely not going to be my last.

Courtney Summers is *good.* The plot, narrative, character development, and dread in this novel is phenomenal. I was hooked from the beginning. I personally think the dual narration of Lo and Bea was perfect--it gave readers the ability to absorb what was happening in both of their lives sometimes simultaneously even though the events were happening years apart.

What is, in my opinion, the most masterful part of this book is how Summers is able to describe the pervasiveness of religious cults. Without going too deeply into it because I don't want to spoil anything, the way Summers unfolded Lev Warren's and The Unity Project's true nature was truly stunning to behold. The content was dark and difficult to read at times, but looking back on it now, I am really in awe of what Summers was able to create.

I think I'm going to be left thinking about this book for a while. That last chapter in particular...just *oomph.* I have a lot of emotions. And I can't wait to read what else Courtney Summers has written.

**Maybe 3.5-stars**

After being in a terrible car accident, which killed both of her parents, Lo Denham lies close to death herself. She's young though and ultimately pulls through, but with lasting repercussions. Lo's older sister, Bea, abandons her after the accident, leaving Lo in the care of their Aunt. Understandably curious about why her sister would leave, Lo only knows that Bea has joined a mysterious group called The Unity Project.

The Project has deeply embedded itself within a few towns in Upstate New York through extensive charitable works and community outreach. Even with their good deeds enhancing their image in the eyes of some, many assume The Project is a cult, led by a charismatic leader, Lev Warren. Lo is one of those who believes something is not normal about the group.

Years later, when a good friend of her boss loses his son, Jeremy, to suicide, he blames The Project for driving him to his death. It turns out Jeremy had been a member and as such was purportedly kept from his family and friends. Looking through photos of the man's son, Lo stumbles upon one with Bea and Jeremy together. Lo has been desperate to be in contact with her sister again and vows to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Lo works for a magazine, currently in an administrative position, but she dreams of being a writer. Getting the scoop on The Project could not only help her find her sister, but also help her to reach her goals. She infiltrates and things progress from there.

The Project is a slow burn. Unfortunately for me, one that fizzled out rather than ignited. The last quarter of the book started to intrigue me more, but prior to that I felt nothing for it; no passion, no intrigue, no curiosity, it was just sort of meh.

I had a hard time with some of the back and forth between perspectives and timelines as well. I would often forget whose perspective I was reading from, as I didn't find them particularly distinct. Also, the timelines that it switched between were all fairly close together, for example 2012, 2017, 2018, and I am just not used to that type of format. I think I am used to larger gaps in time, say for example from 2000 to 2020, but that is a me problem, not a book problem, however it did impede my enjoyment.

Since I was so highly anticipating this, I am left with a sense of disappointment. Even though it is a good book, there's nothing wrong with it, for me it fell flat. I wanted it to go darker, the atmosphere to be more ominous, and I wanted more suspense.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Being a teen in the 90s and growing up with stories of cults like Waco, Heaven's Gate, etc., I've always been fascinated (and horrified) at how people get drawn into these groups. I thought, "Wow, how does a person let themselves get so brainwashed?" I had heard that this book gives the reader an idea of how that happens so I was excited to see it pop up in the "Read Now" section of NetGalley.

The premise of The Project is pretty straightforward: two teenage sisters, Bea and Gloria (Lo for short), lose their parents in a car crash. Lo is in the same crash and almost dies as well, and while she's recovering in the hospital Bea finds solace in a group (cult) called The Unity Project, led by charismatic leader Lev Warren. Lo finishes her recovery at a Great Aunt's house and spends a good portion of the story trying to find Bea, who has gone missing. The cult claims she left on her own but Lo suspects foul play.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

First, and foremost, the author did a fabulous job at flipping the narrative by giving the reader some insight as to how a person can get swept into a cult. The trauma that these sisters endure is painful and heartbreaking. Bea has no one while Lo is in the hospital, and Lev exploits this trauma to manipulate Bea into joining The Project. There were parts of the book where I had to stop and say to myself, "Wait a minute, this Lev guy is complete human garbage, why TF am I thinking of him as a good guy???"

This book is a slow burn with a dual timeline alternating between Lo in first person and Bea in third person. I generally enjoy dual timelines but there were a few confusing parts throughout. Even though I tend to favor fast-paced reads a little more, I found myself engaged for most of this story. The author did a great job of leaving little cliffhangers here and there that made me keep saying "just one more chapter!”

🚨TW/CW: Suicide, physical and emotional abuse, murder, torture