I thought the plot was a little hard to follow. It was depressing and a little disjointed which made it difficult to relate to the characters.

2,5 ⭐️

You'll be wondering, if you don't like YA (I guess I'm more adult than young now) and cult stories, why would you pick this book? Duh, by its cover! I totally judged it by its cover. That and the fact I enjoyed "Sadie" a lot a couple of years ago made me decide to give this one a chance, but sadly it wasn't for me. Serves me right for not trusting my instincts and being dazzled by a creepy cover.

This is the story of Lo, a young girl trying to expose an alleged cult called "The Unity Project", of which her sister Bea is part of. Project leader, Lev, proclaims their motives are just charitable but Lo suspects different after witnessing a traumatic incident.

And that's it. Halfway through I wondered where the story was headed seeing nothing much had happened till then, but it's really not going anywhere till the last 15%. There was too much talk and not enough action. And the talk there was managed to make me so angry. All that conversations about religion, faith and so on... It was so clear to me that Lev was just a charlatan full of BS, preying on vulnerable people and taking advantage of their weaknesses that I could not understand how everyone fell for his cheap wordiness. And that's why I don't like cult stories!

I guess I was suppose to feel sympathy for Lo and empathize with her and her situation, but I did not connect with her at all. She came as so entitled, specially in her job. You don't want others to treat you a certain way because of your past...unless that certain way works towards your interests. Very mature! Her sudden change of heart made her even more unrelatable, going from black to white in an eye blink, no greys at all.

I called part of the ending at the halfway point, so no surprise at all. There were certain aspects of the ending that needed more of an explanation, because divine intervention in not an acceptable one for me!

The writing was pretty good, I'll concede that, but I found the plot execution a bit lacking. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer with my review, but I'm sure this book will appeal to lots of readers. Sadly, not me.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

5/5⭐️Mmmmmmmm burned my way through this novel in less than a day only to have my brain melted to a soupy slush. Much like with #addielarue , The Project will sit with me for quite some time.
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My honest review of The Project boils down to a few highlights (can’t spoil it just yet, gentlefriends):
-whatever you think you know about cults or faith or god or what man says about god...try again.
-whatever notions or opinions you had about cult leaders and their “obvious” depravity…chuck that out the window.
-whatever judgement you cast on the followers for being blind sheep at best and willing villains at worst...check yourself.
-humble yourself before the master of recalibrating my brain, Courtney Summers.
-I knew I would like, love even, this novel because it’s Summers’s.
-I didn’t anticipate the carnage and at times almost unbearable brutality of this narrative.
-put it this way, I never fancied myself a person to sympathize with wrongdoers, disbelieve victims, or question my own moral fortitude (can I ever trust my mind again?!) but all that and more was traversed and revisited as I pummeled through.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Project was so freaking wild. So much happens throughout it and every twist and turn just made my head spin round and round. I honestly didn't know what I was going to get when I reached the ending of this wonderful book but I did know one thing. Lev was beyond creepy.

Also Bea and Lo were dealt with some pretty shitty hands when they were little. Especially Lo. She is 19 years old and has lost basically everyone she loved. It doesn't help that her and Bea lost their parents at a young age but Lo ends up losing Bea as well. She didn't die or anything but she ended up abandoning Lo at some point.

Then there's the small fact that they are basically in a cult. Again, this book was WILD. Each part just brought me so much information that I had no idea what was going to happen next. I had some theories and opinions of what was going to happen but nope - the only thing I got correct was freaking Lev.

Definitely devoured this book and I can't wait to dive into the next book by Courtney!

I found this to be very compelling and a little disturbing, since you know...cults are kinda scary! I haven’t read anything else by Courtney Summers but I plan to after reading The Project!

I loved this book. The alternating POVs of the two sisters combined with the shifts between past and present really give the book a rich, complex texture that enhances the story. I love that neither sister is perfect or above reproach, but they both love each other in flawed and difficult ways. I was especially impressed by the way The Unity Project is presented within the real-world context of the Trump administration and that it presents a view of Christianity that goes against the grain of right-wing evangelicalism, preaching against hate and doing good works for the poor and outcast. As a left-leaning person, that created an interesting interplay between my own values and confirmation bias as the reader and the inevitability of The Project and Lev's dark reality. It's always refreshing when a book refuses the straight or easy paths, and this book does that beautifully. Highly recommend!

I cannot recommend this book. If you already believe cult leaders to be awful, manipulative people, then what's the point? I slogged my way through the story knowing how it might end. That's not to say Courtney Summers isn't a good writer. I enjoyed Sadie and hoped to like this one. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This was a fun quick read, but had some drawbacks. The Project is a book about a young girl who has faced challenges in her life. After losing her parents, Lo's sister gets drawn into the world of "The Unity Project". The Project claims to save people and do good work in the community, but some call it a cult. It was a page-turner that I couldn't put down. The drawbacks for me were twofold: I felt like the evolution of the Lo character was abrupt and unbelievable. And, I was looking forward to the climax, so I could see how the book could end. But it happened too quickly and without much detail. While that may have been the point, it left me disappointed.

I just reviewed The Project by Courtney Summers. #TheProject #NetGalley

4.3/5 stars.

The Project was a beautiful and tragic novel, exactly what I had hoped for from Courtney Summers. I went in with high expectations after having adored her previous novel 'Sadie' and, while this book was vastly different in tone and story to her previous novel, The Project was still a riveting read.

The book starts off somewhat slow, letting the details seep in bit by bit. We are introduced to Bea and Lo, or protagonists who are sisters but rarely interact in this novel. Told in dual points of views, jumping from the beginning when the domino pieces fall leading to Bea joining 'The Unity Project', to Lo's point of view as she starts to delve further into unravelling the Project and finding out why she hasn't seen her sister in years. Despite the novel not explicitly stating whose POV you are reading, only giving the year, it's easy to tell whose voice you're hearing since the sisters' are so different but so similar in many ways too. Bea is sweet and loyal and somewhat naive, while Lo is brash and ambitious and a little prideful. I loved them both, and reading about their love for each other broke my heart in the best way.

While the plot's main focus is unravelling the unity project and Lev, the enigma of a man who runs it, so much of it is also about what drives people to join in the first place. Bea and Lo are both lonely individuals, feeling so far from each other and desperate for belonging, and the unity project offers just that. It's horrifying yet intriguing about how it draws them in, about all the good things Lev postulates to his people that made even myself wonder, for a moment, if maybe we've had it all wrong and there's nothing sordid about it. After reading the midway point, it all starts to fall into place, and I couldn't put it down as I was desperate to find out how it ended.

The ending left me feeling so emotional. Courtney Summers knows how to end a book (take 'Sadie' as another example) that gives you closure but still has you reeling. With a story as fascinating as this, it's hard to not want for more, and I'm sure to be thinking about this book for weeks to come.

Another thrilling, dramatic, and sad contemporary YA thriller from Courtney Summers. Recommended for readers of her last book.

The Project by Courtney Summers. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with either Bea or Lo so I lost interest in the story and it was difficult to continue reading. Most assuredly, fans of Ms. Summers' works will enjoy the book.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Having read SADIE, I came into this book with high expectations, and boy howdy were then met and then some! If you're looking for a dark, gripping story don't pass this up! I don't want to get into spoilers, but the language is compelling and haunting, and the whole thing is a wild ride you won't be able to put down! Lately it's taken me ages to read books, but I flew through this one!

Wow, what a ride! I love the way the author plays with your belief just as it does with both Bea and Lo. You go through the questioning of whether Lev is legit or not. I also appreciate the way the author skillfully wove together both sisters' points of view until they came together near the end. Finally, on one hand I wanted more at the end, but on the other hand, it ended perfectly where it should. Overall, I enjoyed the look inside this type of religious group and how someone like Lev could be engaging enough to attract people gain their strict devotion.

ARC received from Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher!

I'm wow?! What the actual heck did I read? So gripping, so heart-wrenching, this YA thriller is too good. I loved the sisterhood aspect of this story, the storyline is so emotionally moving and yet the events that unfold gives you goosebumps. Summers' writing lures you in from the start, with the cults, murder and emotional torment. She's written her character so well, we seem to believing them knowing things are about to head south. Even though I'm running with less free time, I came back to this one in that time because I wanted to devour it all!! Courtney Summers is here to destroy us again. Can't wait for more people to read this in February

I selected this book because I loved Sadie. This book didn't disappoint. I found myself holding my breath page after page. Frankly some of this was gut wrenching. I wanted more for an ending. I get it but still wanted more of a resolution.

Stunning, emotional, and highly intense, "The Project" by Canadian author Courtney Summers is going to be a highly anticipated must-read novel for 2021. Summers delivers another emotionally intense thriller with the same dark, sinister undertones of Sadie. "The Project" is an incredibly unique, unflinching journey about how easy it is to lose oneself on the path towards truth, hope, and empathy while grappling with one's own suffering.

Lo Denham is well acquainted with loss. From the accident that killed her parents and left her with a permanent scar down the left side of her cheek, to her sister Bea abandoning her at the hospital where Lo fought tooth and nail to survive. When the aunt who took care of her passes, Lo finds herself stuck as a receptionist for a self-assured writer who won't let her amount to anything, not even the writer she has always envisioned herself to be.

Her chance to move up in her career comes in the form of a young man's suicide, a man who has a connection to the Unity Project, and Bea, who joined the group shortly after Lo's hospitalization. Sensing there is more to the Unity Project than what meets the eye, Lo becomes solely focused on proving the sinister inner workings of its members, including the leader Lev Warren.

When the opportunity presents itself to move and speak freely among its members and Lev, Lo begins to question everything she thought she knew about Bea, herself, and the Unity Project. With her sudden loss of control and grip on reality, Lo finds herself walking down a dangerous and deadly path she may not return from.

While the general inner workings of cults are unsurprising and may feel overdone, "The Project" is highly recommended for Summer's brilliant and brutally honest depiction of human suffering that sparks a new way of looking at cults, its members, and the way they function. Nothing about Lo's story is overdone, exaggerated, or overdramatic, but rather, an intriguing outlook at the ways in which those who are hurt and desire love and acceptance, will band together to feel less lonely, Sometimes, that desire can lead people to dangerous places, such as Lo. Summer's style of writing is fresh and unique, which alone makes this novel worth reading.

Look for "The Project" by Courtney Summers on the expected publication date of February 02, 2021. Deliciously thrilling and wonderfully insightful, this is not a novel to miss out on.

A warm thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a free e-arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s still been a few days since I finished The Project and all I can say is this: Courtney, why did you put me through such pain? I loved Sadie so when I heard news of The Project I was instantly interested. Especially that this book is centered around a cult was a selling point for me, something about these kinds of books just trap me in. I can’t give The Project enough praise, but I’m hoping this review is a little drop in the tons of love it will get.

I love Courtney’s writing style. It’s easy to follow, imaginative and leaves the reading sitting on the edge of their seat eager for more. She did not disappoint on the twists and turns in The Project. There would many times through out this book that I would have to stop and process what happened.

I loved Lo’s character and her dedication to finding her sister and finding is place in the world after something horrific happened to her. I especially loved seeing how as the story went on how Courtney subtlety shifted certain aspects of Lo’s beliefs and actions to meet those of The Project, it was masterfully done. This whole entire book is masterful.


The Project left me crying in my room at 1a.m. because the ending is unlike anything I predicted it to be, especially having read Sadie and knowing how that ended. But as much as it emotionally destroyed me I loved every moment of this book and I hope everyone else who reads it does too. As I said, this review won’t do The Project justice so You have to read it for yourself to see!

''Having a sister is a promise no one but the two of you can make - and no one but the two of you can break.''

This is a book that immediately grabs you and holds you tight, offering you instantly the reading experience you were craving to have. No waiting around to get the best of it, you're in it from the first page. Those are the kinds of books I really love. I loved Sadie, but I think I love The Project even more.

SHORT SUMMARY: Lo and Bea are sisters who lose their parents in a devastating car crash, which Lo was a part of. While Lo is struggling to survive, Bea is struggling with finding sense in the hard life that suddenly hit her. She finds this sense in The Unity Project, a famous organisation that saves her life. Or does it? We follow Lo a couple of years later, as she investigates The Unity Project to find out whether her sister really abandoned her or there was something more to it.

CHARACTERS:

Lo, the MC, is such a strong character. The author builds her from the ground up and adds all these dimensions to her that slowly start to show themselves as we progress. Lo is brave, fierce, curious, ambitious, but also angry, frustrated. I absolutely loved her from the first to the very last page of the book. Her growth as a character couldn't have been presented any better.

Bea was a mystery to me for half of this story, in the sense that I couldn't figure her motivations out. I had my own conclusions, but in the end, her story brought me to tears. I finally understood her, and it broke my heart.

Lev was the kind of character that you knew is up to something. Underneath all the layers of pretty wrapping and bows, there was something just waiting to get out. As a master manipulator, he conceals his true personality so well, to the point where he seems too perfect. Once you figure that out you start noticing all the things that are wrong about him. The first groundbreaking moment was when his best friend left the Unity Project. This is the first instance where you see his manipulation manifest. He convinced everyone that Rob was banished because he was a danger, successfully distorting the truth. And this was just the beginning.


THE CULT: It shows you how cults work, how they lure you in, how they run things, and how people end up there. It shines a light on the fact that these are real people with real lives, not some lost causes who didn't know better. And it's absolutely chilling when you realise that.

THE WRITING: It took me less than 20 pages to get into this book. It's fast-paced, but your mind doesn't run the marathon to catch up. It's instantly gripping and suspenseful, and it's exactly what I would have expected from this author. She has this amazing way of finishing her paragraphs so that you just have to continue reading.

The atmosphere building was off the charts. It builds up slowly and tingles gently all throughout your reading experience, constantly keeping you on the edge.

We do jump between past and present, but it was easy to get lulled into that rhythm. It doesn't get confusing and it's really easy to follow.

Little hints are peppered through the entire story about what might have happened in the past, or what might happen in the future, but you're never quite sure, as the writer immediately lures you away with something else, just as you're starting to think you figured something out.

Needless to say, this book kept my mouth open. I'm sure I even got a few extra wrinkles on my forehead from all the frowning and uncertainty. The deeper you go into the novel, the heavier it gets because you start to really feel the burden of this world of delusions and manipulations.

WHO WOULD LOVE IT: People who enjoy suspense, thrillers, stories about cults, stories about family bonds, more specifically the bond between two sisters.

After falling in love with the cover, I fell in love with the novel. Dark, emotional and addictive read.

I'm not a young adult, so while I don't usually reach for YA novels, this one hit it out of the park for me. The themes in it are very adult: loss, grief, abandonment, religious fanaticism and a dangerous cult investigation. My heart was ripped out as I turned the pages on high alert, devouring the writing and the story.

The Project is a story of Lo - a girl who, at just nineteen, became victim of an accident which left her with significant scars, her parents dead, and her sister wandering off to a cult, the Unity Project.

The one thing that keeps Lo sane is her job at a magiazine. But then she witnesses a suicede of a boy - who was a member of the Unity Project, and whose father claims it was the cult that pushed the boy to suicide. Lo begins to investigate the cult, but she may not be ready for what she can find there. Most importantly - what happened to her sister?

This book is heavy. Dark. Difficult. Emotional. You will likely cry and wonder what you would do in Lo's shoes. Her life is so difficult it is hard not to feel overwhelmed. But it is also a truly beautiful and important novel which I know I won't forget for a long time.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an emotional, compelling, and immersive read. The main characters, Bea and Lo, lost both their parents in a car accident. After the accident Lo was in the hospital and nearly died. During her recovery, the sisters became estranged as Bea was sucked into a cult called the The Unity Project. Lo, scarred for life both physically and emotionally was struggling with life basically on her own. Six years after the accident, Lo is working for a newspaper and decides to start investigating The Unity Project in hopes of reaching her sister. What she begins to uncover puts her life in danger.

I was totally immersed in this book and kept rooting for Lo to succeed in her endeavors. The cult leader, Lev, was a charismatic leader. It is soon obvious that his difficult upbringing was a major factor in his life and his mind is a strange landscape. It was a fascinating read for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.