4 ⭐️ This was a fast paced and ever evolving story dealing with cults, mental health, trauma, and love.

The main character, Ophelia “ Lee” is a a young mother struggling with mental health issues. She grew up in a cult and struggles with reality. What seems to be Lee’s journey to get well for her husband and daughter takes a turn and becomes a mystery thriller with a twist I did not see coming.

Great writing and plot, strong characters, satisfying surprise ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Allison Buccola for allowing me to read and review this book.

In this book we follow Lee today and twenty years in the past. Lee grew up in a cult that one day disappeared, well everyone but her. She has no idea what happened to them, and neither does the rest of the world.

One day a new documentary on the cult airs on Netflix. This concerns Lee greatly. Even though she has changed her identity, she is still afraid people will find out she is the lone member of this cult that did not disappear. She is especially afraid her husband will find out, she has never told him her past, and she's afraid that he will pity her or worse.

This book grasped me from the beginning. All I wanted was to find out what happened to the cult and why they left Lee alone at the age of twelve. The characters are interesting, and the plot is so well written. I was gripped from the beginning and had a hard time putting this book down. There are so many twists and turns throughout the book, you never know for sure what will happen next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and learning about cults.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for an early digital copy of THE ASCENT by @allisonbuccola.
| RELEASE DATE : MAY 20, 2025 |

The vibes for me on this one kept me thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it and would recommend for people who are intrigued by cults. I thought this was a well done story and left me satisfied upon finishing the read. I like how we got a POV from the past and current day.

I always forget kindle has a highlight feature so I’m trying to be better at utilizing that this year. I’ve included some SPOILER-FREE quotes that resonated with me for one reason or another.
📍“Work doesn’t calm down,” Fey says. “That’s just a lie we tell ourselves. You have to make time for the things that matter to you.”
📍“Sometimes we can know what’s good for us, on a conscious level, but still have a hard time putting it into practice.”

Title: Ascent
Author: Allison Buccola
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Random House
Genre: Mystery Thriller, cult
Pub Date: May 20, 2025
My Rating: 4.2
Pages 352

I was drawn to this as I have always been fascinated by cults and curious about the survivors ~ e.g.
• Manson Family- 1969 ~
• Jonestown-massacre Guyana.- Peoples Temple, 1987 ~ and
• Waco massacre-Branch Davidians, 1993. ~
My go-to reads are psychological thrillers- I believe there is a connection between cults and psychology.

Story is story is divided into four parts:
1. Sleepwalking
2. The Awakening
3. Resistance
4. The Ascent

Twenty years ago, members of a reclusive cult near Philadelphia vanish. No sightings of any of the member’s bodies were ever found; except a twelve year old girl named Ophelia Clayborne was found near a road searching for her lost family.

Now, Ophelia (Lee) Burton is married to Theo and they have a seven month old daughter Lucy. Lee however is experiencing postpartum depression; she has no friends or family- other than Theo and her mother-in-law,

When a woman shows up claiming to be Lee’s sister, Mona who was six when the cult vanished, Lee desperately wants her to be her sister.

Theo is sure she is a fraud and has concerns about Lee’s obsession. He threatens to take baby Lucy and have Lee institutionalize.

As someone who loves psychological thrillers and expects a “Big Reveal” I have to admit the ‘the reveal wasn’t a ‘Big’ ’surprise but it did fool me.
This wasn’t a thriller but it certainly was an interesting story with a satisfying ending!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~ Random House for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 20, 2025.

Wow!!!! 😮. What an incredible book! First time reading this author. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end. I will definitely recommend this book!!!

This book is an enthralling thriller that combines suspense with heartfelt moments. The plot takes a thrilling twist when a stranger arrives, promising answers to Lee's long-held questions. The tension between maintaining her safe, stable life and uncovering the truth about the commune adds an exciting layer to the story. The author keeps you on the edge of your seat, seamlessly blending nerve-rattling suspense with the emotional depth of a mother's love and paranoia. I loved how this book navigates themes of identity and family truths. The blend of mystery and personal growth makes for a compelling read that leaves you pondering long after the last page.

If you're looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing while tugging at your heartstrings, this one is the perfect choice.

I loved this book and think my older students will as well. A woman, a survivor of a cult, deal with new motherhood, with trust with abandonment, with the possibility of finding her missing mother and sister. It was instantly absorbable and kept me reading on and on. It deals with both the past and how it haunts us, defines us and the present. It also looks at class privilege and mental health and trivializing someone's truth. It has strong vivid characters and an ending that is satisfying. Loved it.

Wow!!! I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the alternating perspectives from past and present that kept me going. Despite Lee not being the most likeable character, it added to the intrigue. I'm fascinated by the cult mentality. Her past seriously impacted her mental health and this led to her to cling to her daughter in order to keep her safe. Throughout the novel, there was more than one mystery to solve and I wasn't expecting the turns that it took.

Thank you netgalley for the copy of this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7184240365

I devoured this book! The pacing was spot on, and I loved the richly drawn characters. The twist felt fresh and earned. I will be recommending this book to others who love thrillers, cults, and a past the refuses to stay buried. Bravo!

The Ascent by Allison Buccola is a haunting and gripping psychological thriller that lingers long after the final page.

At the heart of the novel is Lee, once known as Ophelia, the sole survivor of a cult where all members disappeared during the night including her beloved mother and sister leaving only Ophelia. Left behind at the age of twelve, Ophelia is taken in by her estranged aunt and uncle and two younger cousins. Lee endures years of scorn and taunts, a reminder that her past is something she must bury to survive.

Now an adult, Lee has changed her name, married, and has become a mother. Lee has not shared her story with her husband Theo and begins to panic when a chilling true crime podcast is aired with raising questions especially about her; “The Survivor”. Lee is asked repeatedly to tell her side of the story, but she will not and is relieved they do not use her name.

When a woman appears at her door claiming to be her sister, one Lee believed was lost with the cult, her carefully constructed world begins to fracture. This woman’s presence is unsettling, her answers elusive, and Lee’s relentless questioning drives a wedge between her and her husband, Theo.

As Lee’s obsession grows, Theo confronts her, accusing her of delusion and paranoia. The woman is declared a fraud, cast out by Theo, and Lee’s desperation to understand the truth becomes her undoing. In a cruel twist, Theo takes custody of their child, and Lee is institutionalized, labeled by those around her as unstable. I was frustrated with this part as I wished Lee had shared her story with her husband and her character seemed weak not demanding answers from her “sister”. Where were you? What happened? Why did you leave me behind? I wanted to learn more about the cult and their members. Why did her mother choose to follow them?

The Ascent is not just a thriller—it is a meditation on the scars of survival and the fine line between reality and memory. Do we ever just leave the past behind?

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House and Allison Buccola for an advanced copy of this to read.

I absolutely loved this one. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Lee Burton, the sole survivor of a mysterious commune disappearance outside Philadelphia, has spent years trying to leave her painful past behind. Now married with a young daughter, Lee’s life is unraveling as she struggles with overwhelming paranoia and a desperate need to protect her family. When a stranger arrives with answers about her past, Lee must confront the chilling truth behind the cult's disappearance and decide whether she can hold on to her fragile new life or face the terrifying revelations that threaten to shatter everything.

I really thought I knew which way the plot was going several times, only to be taken elsewhere. What a great, twisty ride this was. I think some people might be bothered by the slow-burn nature of the plot, which I would usually take issue with. But The Ascent had me glued to the pages. Highly recommended for those interested in cults or domestic mysteries/thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Easily one of the best books and most surprising books of the year.
I was expecting a story like “The Children of Red Peak” in the supernatural genre.
When the first twists hits I was shocked and had to walk away for a minute. I’m rarely ever surprised by a twist and especially not multiple times.
This was an absolute masterclass in storytelling.

This was my first novel by this author. What an engaging story! Grateful for the opportunity to read it.

At first glance, this book unfolds at a somewhat leisurely pace; however, it soon ensnares the reader's attention in a way that makes it nearly impossible to put down. It masterfully weaves together a rich tapestry of themes, including the enigmatic world of a cult, the complexities of mental health issues arising from trauma, intricate family dynamics, and an underlying suspense that compels you to turn the pages in anticipation of what lies ahead. By the time I reached the final chapters, I found myself deeply resonating with the central character, Ophelia, feeling as though I were inhabiting her very being as she grappled with her quest for sanity. The prose is exceptionally crafted, making this book a standout read that I highly recommend to anyone seeking a compelling narrative.

3.5⭐️

I think this book had a lot of potential but the execution needed some work. The majority of the book was incredibly slow and I think a lot of the word count could’ve been cut down and still maintained the character building the author was going for. It’s a slow-burn thriller, but it wasn’t particularly thrilling. The big reveal at the very end was disappointing, and I didn’t find the writing to be anything special. Overall, I think there are better books about cults out there.

Oh. My. Gosh.

This is so hard to write a review for because I had about 1,000 ways I thought this book was going before we got to the end. For some reason I went in thinking it was one thing, but by the end, it was another thing completely. I'm always fascinated by "cult" stories, and this one left me questioning my own reality. If you're looking for a thriller that completely flips everything you know upside down, this one is for you. I started reading it for a few days a chapter at a time, then once I hit a certain point, I literally stayed up until 4am. Read it, you're welcome!!!

Allison Buccola is back with another twisty thought-provoking thriller! I loved her debut Catch Her When She Falls and was happy to see she had a new book coming out. The Ascent is about a woman who is struggling after becoming a mother. Her situation is unique, she was part of a cult as a child. Everyone vanished and left her behind.

Lee has made a life for herself and put all the trauma behind her. Her husband knows nothing about her past. Then she had their daughter and worries about her safety and well-being all the time. She's barely keeping it together but trying her best.

A person claiming to be someone from her past shows up and gives Lee hope. Her husband is obviously skeptical but Lee has to believe them. She thinks now she'll get answers, find out where everyone went and where they are now. But things aren't that simple and only lead to more questions.

Eventually Lee has to figure out for sure who this person is and her life starts to unravel. The one thing she wants to avoid more than anything is to lose her daughter. But that's a very real possibility as her husband loses patience and she seems to be losing her tenuous grip on reality.

All of this made for a nail biting experience! Lee is unreliable but you just know her paranoia is justified. The plot unfolds perfectly with a twist you will not see coming. I was riveted and highly recommend The Ascent.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved everything about this - the setting, the topics, how much this had me questioning my own understanding of what I'd already read. It started just a little bit slow but then really picked up!

This was quite a fascinating book that kept me guessing to the end. In the end it turned out to be more of a domestic thriller than a cult-mystery story, which may be disappointing to some readers. But I think it will be read widely and received well, and I'll be recommending it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

I loved this book so much I can't remember if I've already reviewed it, but there isn't enough praise for a book you read until the wee hours of the morning. This may be my new favorite genre...suspense, thriller, mystery, cults! We really care and feel for the main character who has lost her family as a child and now struggles to move ahead as an adult with her own new growing family. The writing is fast paced yet still has time to give a sense of place in their home and the neighborhood they live in. We will definitely be hand selling this at our store!