This book was fast-paced and engaging- I think I finished it in under 24 hours. It centers on Lee, who was part of a cult as a young teen when everyone else disappeared one day. Now 20 years later, she is married with a young daughter but still haunted by the past. The story is told in dual timelines and alternates chapters between them.

Lee was a likable character, for the most part, though I found her to be more gullible than I would have expected, based on what she has gone through. There were times where the book was a little heavy on her internal monologue as it related to her hypercare of her daughter, but that didn't really affect the pacing of the book. The dynamics between her and those around her felt realistic. There were some really good twists in the book- though I did predict them, I didn't have them exactly right and I really enjoyed the way it all fit together. I liked the ending and felt that the loose ends were tied up.

Overall, this was a fast read with great suspense and I would recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in 48h. Compulsively readable, with multiple layered mysteries that kept me turning pages as fast as I could. The prose is *chef's kiss* and the ending was soooo satisfying. Highly recommend!!

Wow this was such a page turner! I think it took a turn I wasn’t really expecting and would have loved to focus more on the cult however it was a thrilling and fast paced read. I enjoyed the resolution but of course I still have questions! I think true crime readers will enjoy this as it brings a fictionalized narrative of a survivor of a cult and how she copes as an adult.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to the publication of The Ascent!

Twenty years ago members of a sect called The Fifteen disappeared without a trace from a commune outside Philadelphia. However, one 12 year old girl, Orphelia, was left behind, claiming she had no knowledge of the groups whereabouts, or even what happened that day. Present day, Lee, as she’s now known, is happily married with a newborn, when she’s approached by a woman who claims she holds secrets about the past, throwing Lucy’s life into turmoil. The Ascent is a bonafide page-turner that is a classic thriller, challenging the reader to decide what’s true and what’s not, keeping you off balance all along the way. You find yourself rooting for a character, until you start to second guess yourself, and that’s part of the fun. Loved the plot, with details of Orphelia’s commune life interspersed throughout, which all comes together in an unexpected way. Highly entertaining, highly recommended, five stars for sure! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Ascent. The writing was strong and the story completely pulled me in. It follows Lee, the only member of a secluded commune who didn’t disappear when she was twelve. Now an adult and new mom, she’s trying to move on when someone from her past shows up with answers about what really happened. I love a good cult story, and this one hit the mark. It’s eerie, emotional, and unfolds at a steady pace without being over the top. A solid, character-driven thriller that kept me invested the whole way through.

Oh my god never trust anyone but yourself!!!

This was the wildest gaslight I’ve ever seen and I was hooked because of the cult angle and stayed for the fucking wild ass ending angle!

This story follows a woman who grew up in a cult and never really “knew” what happened to the members- they just disappeared (which in retrospect makes me feel like the police really didn’t look as well as they could have after knowing the ending) and she has to battle herself, her past, and her present as she tries to create a safe world for her daughter Lucy. There are so many red herrings in this book and a really unreliable narrator whose doubt feeds into our own mind - is she really telling the truth or is there something wrong does she need medical help? We honestly don’t know right up until the end and I was enthralled the entire time. I binged this book because I HAD to know the end. Amazing thriller I loved it! Not only did it thrill me but I also really felt for the main character and felt sad for her too because her ending isn’t the happiest but it’s honestly realistic.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC!

Allison Buccola is an author to watch. This is my second read from her, and I enjoyed both of them. First of all, anything involving a cult, sign me up!! This story is of The Fifteen, basically a cult who just disappeared. All that was left was Lee, a child found wandering the streets. Now Lee is married, has a baby daughter and a huge case of paranoia based on her past. A stranger shows up and offers answers to Lee's past. Can she trust the stranger, and does she really want to know? This story started off slow, but I'm really happy I stuck with it. It takes off and keeps rolling with several good twists and great characterization. I did have few questions left, but overall, I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Allison Buccola and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other social media and retail sites upon publication day of May 20, 2025.

A gripping read that had me mesmerised until the last page.

Ophelia is a wonderful character full of bravery and vulnerability - it is no wonder she is obsessed with protecting her baby.

The cult theme was very well done and the intelligent plotting had me wondering if I was also losing my mind.

Such an emotional and scary read - readers of psychological thrillers will love it.

The Ascent is a fast paced read that grabs your attention from the first to the last page.

The book is told in two timelines.

One is the past where an entire cult named Jacob Hill disappeared and never seen again.

Except one young girl Ophelia.

In the present Lee is now married with a young baby when her past comes back to haunt her.

Her husband thinks she is simply suffering from post partum depression.

But then again he does not know the truth about her past.

Twists and turns makes this crazy ( and I love crazy) read fly by with an ending I did not see coming at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Random House for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Ascent.

I am a sucker for a book about cults, so that's part of the reason I picked it up. Pretty good story.

Ophelia has gone to great lengths to hide the fact that as a child, she was the lone survivor of a notorious doomsday cult: even her new husband doesn't know of her past. But when their daughter Lucy is born, suppressed memories bubble up. Is someone trying to harm Lucy, or is Ophelia the one who can't be trusted? This thriller had me on the edge of my seat, second-guessing right to the last page. #RandomHouse #Netgalley

The Ascent" is a tense and gripping story about the danger of blind belief, the process of reclaiming personal agency, and the path to liberation from psychological control.

This is a fascinating book about a cult and the survivors who are traumatized without even knowing it. Protagonist Ophelia (Lee) is a small child when her mother--and everyone--including leader, Christopher--leave Jacob Hill cult. Now as an adult, she is married to Theo and they have a young daughter, Lucy. But strange things begin happening and Lee isn't sure what is the truth and what is fiction as the story of the cult breaks and a former member finds them. It's a wild ride that had me gripped in its clutches the entire way through!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Book about a woman who as a 12 year old was the only person left behind when an entire cult disappeared. She changes her name and starts a new life away from the area she grew up in. But when she becomes a mother herself, she starts to feel anxious again about her past. This is not helped by the broadcast of a Netflix show about the cult. Her husband is unaware of her troubled past. When someone claiming to be her sister turns up, everything changes for her and her new family.

This was a very suspenseful, well-thought out plot. Though the cult theme is quite common in psychological thrillers, this was a gripping story. Couldn't put it down.

The Ascent by Allison Buccola is definitely worth your time. This is the first book I have read by this author but it will definitely not be the last. I felt like I stayed in a state of confusion during the entire book. Just when I thought I had figured out what was happening in the storyline something would totally change and I would go down another rabbit hole of suspicion. The book has a whiplash effect. The storyline changes so quickly that it was difficult to find a place to put the book down because you were just figuring out what changed! After reading the synopsis of The Ascent, I assumed the story was about the after effects of growing up in a cult and how mentally it took a survivor of the cult quite some time to recover and have what we would call a normal life. I was so wrong! If you are a Janelle Brown fan then you will love the ascent by Allison Buccola. Prepare for the unexpected and never assume!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from netgalley

I really loved this book! The cult angle was interesting, the characters were complex, interesting plot, and it was very well paced. I couldn't tell where things were going to end up and really enjoyed all the twists and turns along the way. The ending made the whole thing come together nicely and it was a 5 star read!

good premise. interesting idea, and the vibes are generally good. the twists are twisting, and characters like the supposedly associated woman. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 stars)

This book drew me in with its eerie premise, and while the first 15% was a little slow, once the story picked up, I was completely hooked. The dual timelines were such a strong element—I loved how they gradually unraveled the mystery of The Fifteen and Lee’s past, making for an immersive and suspenseful read.

Lee is a fascinating protagonist, grappling with the trauma of her childhood while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy as a new mother. Her paranoia and fear felt so real, and I was constantly questioning what was true and who she could trust. The tension builds beautifully, and even though I found the ending a little rushed, it ultimately wrapped up in a satisfying way.

If you love psychological thrillers with cult themes, dark secrets, and a compelling exploration of identity and motherhood, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you, NetGalley & Random House Publishing, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher at to NetGalley for the ARC. This is a new to me author and this was a fantastic thriller. About a woman who grew up in a cult, and what happens when everyone but her disappears, it was a thriller with twists and turns and kept you guessing. I could not put it down.

I wish I could give this a better review than I will. The intent was there; however, there was a lack of character development and the plot never thickened. There was so much potential for backstory and for more of the past to resurface. I was disappointed in that. The twist with the sister not being the sister was good but that was the only time I was ever “into” the book. There needed to be more information shared about the cult and the reason for the sections in the book. Sadly, I am giving this book 3 stars.