I must say that although I liked the idea of the plot, the execution didn't fascinate me.

I found Lo irritating and I didn't understand many of her actions, she was very annoying. But Bea's POV fascinated me, her part of the story had more depth and many more interesting things to explore. And yet the characters are worked very superficially. Considering that cults play with people's vulnerabilities, exploring those vulnerabilities is what makes these types of topics interesting. And in that case, only Bea manages to be interesting.

the book lacked suspense and character development. The ending is easy to deduce ... actually the whole plot was quite predictable. It entertained me for a while, but it is not a book that I place among my favorites or one that I'll remember.

Courtney Summers is a master at writing unsettling and uncomfortable stories, that never really go where you expect them to, so her and a cult story seem like a no-brainer. I found it to be a bit predictable and it's slower, but it definitely reads more as a character study and about the relationship between sisters than a thriller. It should be obvious, but expect a lot of religious talk.

The last book I read about cults featured the Manson Family, so it’s been a while. The way Charles Manson convinced people to follow him was disturbing and horrific, but also eerily intriguing. The cult in this book isn’t that extreme (thankfully), but there are still some similarities.

I like the way this story is contructed. Alternating between Bea’s and Lo’s perspective along with chapters from the past and present, the pieces of the puzzle gradually form a complete picture by the end – and it may not be what you expect. The Project has a different effect on both sisters, and their bond is demonstrated early and plays an important part of the plot.

The Unity Project initially sounds like a legitimate organization who does charitable work and community outreach. No one has been able to prove otherwise so far, and most of their members are unaware of the truth. It’s easy to see how they’ve won over so many folks. Lev Warren, their leader, is charismatic, empathetic, and knows exactly what to say to get into a person’s head. He preys upon those who are lost, vulnerable, and searching for something to cling to, a purpose. It’s hard to disagree with a lot of what he says – and that’s kind of unnerving. It’s nearly terrifying how quickly he is able to influence others.

As Lo investigates The Project and pushes for a reunion with her sister, she finds herself unsure of what or who to believe. Although determined to discover the truth behind The Project, she wasn’t exactly on sure footing before meeting Lev Warren, and he seems to understand her like no one else she’s ever met. And he takes advantage of this.

After a bit of a slow start, this book grabbed me immediately, and putting it down wasn’t an option. I had to see what happened next. Parts of it are very emotional and ripped my heart out, so be prepared. It’s a compelling, addictive read you’ll still be thinking about days after finishing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Social Justice Topics:
▪️Mental Health
▪️Cult Thriller

Grade Level: 9+

✔️ Finished in a day

I haven’t read a book in a day (besides middle grade books) in such a long time. That just shows how good Summers book The Project was, but I shouldn’t have been surprised—Summer’s writes the best YA thrillers.

Someone had said that this book reminded them of Gillian Flynn’s book Gone Girl. I completely agree. Only Flynn & Summers can write books that put you in a state of fear, anxiety, and excitement about the characters, as well as constantly wondering what could be happening in the story.

High schoolers are going to love this book when it comes out. I mean, what high schooler doesn’t love a good thriller. Especially one about a cult!

Well this was certainly a ride! This is exactly the kind of book I want with me on an airplane. It moved confidently along, kept me invested and was, overall, just so deliciously binge-able! I was really hankering for a fun thriller and I feel that I found one in The Project.

My only real complaint is that so much is left up to the imagination of the reader near the end. Having just spent a whole day of impassioned investment in these characters (because, I’ll have you know that once I started this book I genuinely could NOT put it down) I was looking forward to a grander conclusion. For everyone! The most high stakes event of this story takes place off the pages of the book which felt a bit unfair? I think I just needed more. That being said, if this was made into a series where the protagonist is now roaming the world, looking into nefarious activities as an investigative journalist, I would read every installment. Would absolutely recommend this title to someone looking for a “beach read” sort of experience. This book brought the drama I craved without getting too bogged down in real life. And in a year like 2020, that’s 99% of what I’m looking for!

PS I’m in love with this cover. Going on my list of favorites WITHOUT QUESTION!

I wasn't sure what I thought this book would be going in, and I was really surprised by how quickly it sucked me in. We have alternating time lines from Bea's and Lo's perspective the past and the present. After a devistating car accident kills their parents and severly injures Lo, Bea feels lost until she meets Lev.. He takes her away and gives her something higher to believe in.. But in doing so she never sees her little sister again. Lo only wants a few things, she wants to be a writer, to find Bea, and take down the cult that took her sister from her.
We see all of Bea's struggles as her sister is lying in the hopital and how she feels like she has found something new with Lev and his belief in God. We also get Lo's anger at her sister for leaving her behind, and staying away. Her anger at Lev, and the people that blindly believe in him. Even at her boss a journalist who feels like something is going on with The Unity Project but doest believe Lo when she tries to tell him more. Lo feels so many things, and ends up being torn in so many different directions that I had no idea where the story was going to lead. It kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire story, and I just needed to know how it was going to end. I haven't read any thing by Courtney Summers before, but after reading this I definitely want to read more.

The Project is the next novel by Courtney Summers that dives deep into the makings of a cult. And not only is it just a "normal" cult, but one that claims to even have saved your life as a child. I love the interesting dynamics that this already brings up, and how Lo perceives The Project when her family and entire life is so completely involved intertwined with.

And I'll start here by saying I love Courtney Summers as an author, and I think her most recent books are a go to YA recommendation. The whole story is pretty easy to grasp and also doesn't follow the usual Young Adult cliches, so it does make you feel like you're reading something new and exciting.

The two biggest things I struggled with in the Project were pacing and the nonlinear timeline. I don't think the switching between characters was very necessary, and I know it has become popular in thrillers in the last couple of years but I think it would build even more suspense if we left a lot of Bea's character completely in the dark until the very end. And I also felt like there was an intensity that Sadie had that this book was lacking, especially at the climax.

Overall this was a pretty quick read, definitely a good book recommendations for teens. And I'll also give MASSIVE props to whoever did this cover, it's the best I've seen in months.

THIS. I didn't expect it to leave me absolutely wrecked. This was my first book by Summers, and I'm very happy to say that it did not disappoint!!

The characters were so well-developed, and you'll definitely end up rooting for them. Lo and Bea are sisters who lose each other, and their relationship was so well-developed. They are so flawed; it was so nice to see this.

The cult aspect of the story was so intriguing, and the plot twists will keep you guessing at what will happen next.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of The Project in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions in any way.

Marketed as a book that would make you reconsider everything you think you know about yourself taking things a bit too far.
I did not reconsider anything at all. Sure, I enjoyed my time reading this but this definitely oversold the story and gave me so much higher expectations.
Sure, it was one wild ride from start to finish but I already knew that cults were insane. I never bought anything Lev was selling to begin with.
Overall, better than Sadie for me, but still not 100% what I was expecting from Courtney Summers

The Project is a mystery thriller about family who is devastated by a car crash. The younger sister, Lo, was injured and might not survive, and the older sister, Bea, who would do anything to make sure she does since both their parents died. Bea is comforted and saved by Lev Warren who is the leader of The Unity Project, which helps people who have lost their way.

Lo has trying to find her sister and infiltrate the organization that Bea has been a member of for the past six years to expose their cult-like practices. While working at her magazine, a break through occurs when a man comes in claiming that the The Unity Project killed his son. She finds herself being compelled to believe in their mission too.

This intense story had me guessing so many times that I couldn't keep up, which is one of my favorite types of mysteries. It also gave a perspective on how a cult can manipulate anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book for an honest opinion.

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.*