Took me reading about a third of this book before I became invested in the storyline, but wow what an engrossing read! This book had me sold at "Hunger Games meets Lord of the Flies" - I just wish there was a bit more depth to Lily as the main character. I also would've loved to learn more about the creators of the show outside of the gifts and tasks they gave to the contestants. Regardless, this novel includes plenty of commentary of the consumerism, overconsumption, class, gender - incredibly relevant and timely!

Sometimes you start a book late at night before bed and think, oh I'll just read a chapter. And then suddenly it's 3 am because you must know what happens next and you have work the next morning. I seriously couldn't put this book down. As someone who absolutely love reality TV and dystopian novels, I just ate this one up. Highly recommended!

This was a very intriguing plot. I really liked how the author upped the stakes. The mysterious parts (what’s happening outside of the Conpound) were almost too mysterious and left me wanting. If it was heavily edited, could work itself into a series…I truly just didn’t love the writing style.

3.5 stars. I felt it was a little misleading to market this as a "Hunger Games meets Love Island" as I went into this expecting there to be more bloodshed and violence and was let down. However, I did enjoy the book overall, even if the main character is not really likable and does not give the reader much to connect with, but I also recognize that is kind of the point with Lily. Overall, I would recommend this, as it was interesting and kept me interested, and the social commentary and message of the need for adoration and material prizes over human connection is alienating, was a timely message.

I've never read anything like this! As a huge fan of reality TV, I ate this one up. Super interesting and engaging- highly recommend if you love Big Brother!

This book was interesting to say the least. I loved the Love Island vibes but the idea of “the outside” being some scary place was just an element that felt…entertaining but super twisted. The end wasn’t too shocking because of all the previous twists and turns but definitely interesting.

Alright I see you Love Island meets Lord of the Flies.

Luckily for this reader (aka me), I watch almost exclusively horror movies and bad reality TV. This novel follows a group of young people during some unknown war/crisis who join a reality television competition show where you are in the middle of the desert and have to couple up and do tasks or you get banished.

No spoilers but I was hoping the book would go there way more in the extreme. It all felt kindof...meh. Even the villainous character kept having excuses made for his behavior through the narration.

However

I did enjoy this. It did feel like a first novel. I will read whatever she writes next.

Thank you to the publishers and sweet netgalley for the arc!

I loved this book, it was different and fresh and I didn’t know what was coming next. It reminded me of a Black Mirror episode - something that is partly futuristic and out there, but could also totally happen in the near future. Definitely going to recommend to my friends and fellow readers!

This book is an absolute standout! The concept immediately grabbed my attention—it felt like it could be a dark mix of The Hunger Games and Love Island, but it turned out to be so much more. The story dives deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of reality versus performance, materialism, and holistic survival. While I’ve read many "stranded on an island" stories, this one stood out as incredibly original and fresh, offering a twisted take on one of my favorite reality shows. The narrative is gripping and compelling, balancing thriller and suspense elements with sharp satire. A fascinating and thought-provoking read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. Set in a compound in the desert a reality show about gaining prizes, whether they be basics or luxuries, Lily is a young woman contestant with several other young people both women and men. The story is mix of a reality show but with cruel outcomes for some of the contestants. There is the usual backstabbing and some teamwork. This might be a perfect book for someone younger than I am but I started to lose patience about halfway through.

“The Compound” by Aisling Rawle is an interesting social commentary on reality TV shows. It is a dystopian take on the program “Big Brother” and equally addictive. We are taken into the villa with 19 sexy and beautiful contestants and watch them complete tasks for both essential and fabulous prizes. Similar to the program, the challenges and tasks get more difficult and dangerous. As with the program the suspense of what will happen to these contestants kept me turning the pages. I kept expecting a shoe to drop and sinister forces to show up. This was alluded to throughout the novel but it never came to fruition. For me, what was happening behind the scenes and the backdrop of a dystopian war was much more interesting than the shallowness of the characters. This would normally be a 3.5 for me but I’m rounding it up to a 4 because I couldn’t put the book down it was very entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a surprising book! This book is pitched as Lord of the Flies meets Love Island, and I can definitely see the comparisons. The book takes place in a speculative future with a Love Island style esque reality show that unfolds over the course of the novel. You are just dropped in at the beginning, and a creeping sense of dread pervades throughout the whole novel because you realize that something has happened to the world it’s set in. I loved seeing what happened and the commentary and how realistic and flawed the main character was.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: Love Island (obviously), the Hunger Games, and One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Warning: The is VERY slow and laborious at times and I wouldn’t say it’s particularly satisfying at the end. I think it goes with the author’s intent though, and it could lead to interesting discussion if you dissect it with a buddy read. You need to be ok with ambiguity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

Aisling Rawle’s “The Compound” focus is reality TV following 20 contestants who face challenges and cruelty beyond belief to earn rewards and a potentially better life in a world apparently at war. The writing is quite good and the characterizations fascinating. I kept expecting more though. More about why contestants would choose this show - just how bad was life outside the compound? I also expected the outside world to infringe on the compound. It never did except for a fire the producers started as a punishment. It was a fast fun read, but I kept craving something. I just wish I knew what it was.

I found this book to be incredibly compelling and interesting - I read the whole thing in one sitting. I'm a fan of The Bachelor and reality TV shows like that, so I knew this book was going to be right up my alley from the moment it started. I found it to be an interesting social commentary on reality TV shows and also what people would do for love and/or fame and/or basic necessities.

The main character I found to be a little empty and shallow, which I didn't really like at first, but I grew to realize that this was just an important part of her character traits and explained some of her actions.

My main criticism of this book was that I felt like the dystopian aspect of this book wasn't really explored enough - they kept referencing the war and there was definitely some hints as to this not happening in the world as we know it, but it was so far off in the distance. I kept thinking they were going to get into it, but they didn't really.

Overall, I really liked this book and recommend to anyone who likes watching reality TV with a little too much of a critical eye.

The Compound by Aisling Rawle is a captivating book. I devoured it within the span of a few days.

This book is based on a reality tv show where contestants are in a remote desert and must be coupled by the dawn in order to continue living in the seemingly paradise compound. They are given group and personal challenges that will result in necessities or luxuries for themselves.

I found this book to be easily digestible, and full of comparisons on modern-day society. What are we valuing? Consumerism at the expense of all else? Community vs individualism, etc. most if not all of these themes were more subtext and just thoughts that crossed my mind while I was reading the book. That’s really the only thing I wish was explored further and more explicitly within the book. As it stands the book is more surface-level; which is what I think makes it easily digestible.

In the beginning, I found it a bit difficult to keep track of the different contestants, once they started to leave the Compound I was able to keep track more clearly.

The plot kept me interested throughout the whole book. I was curious to see what would happen and even when I put the book down, I was still thinking about it. Similar to a reality tv show, I had thoughts about what choices certain characters would make and then later would be surprised by their actions. It wasn’t predictable (which as a reader I appreciate).

There was an underlying sense of foreboding and an almost sinister feeling through portions of it. I felt intensely enthralled and on the edge of my seat with anticipation. I honestly expected a death to occur at some point.

I think the length of the book was good. It wasn’t overly long nor was it so short where I craved more.
I’d recommend this book if you are interested in the premise of a dystopian reality show. You’ll love it if you are someone who is ok with the unknown, you are able to question and interrogate the actions of characters, and you tend to compare books to real life. The beauty of this book is how it can make you think about life, culture, and values.

Personally, I greatly enjoyed this book and would give it 4 stars. Big thank you to Aisling Rawle, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC for review.

This book was SO good and I read it all in one day! I have read a lot of fiction books set in reality TV, but this one felt truly unique & addicting. I couldn’t put it down because I had to see what would happen to Lily and everyone else! I normally don’t like ambiguous endings, but I feel like the loose ends made perfect sense for this sorry. Again, this book was so unique and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a very long time.

Lily, a beautiful twenty-something, wakes up at a remote desert compound along with 19 other contestants. 10 women and 9 men must compete to stay in the compound the longest all while competing in group and personal tasks. Each time a task is complete, contestants receive rewards ranging from essential everyday items to luxury designer goods. As the days and weeks go on, and the number of contestant dwindle, Lily and the others are challenged even more by the unseen producers. Fighting urges of romance, fierce competition, consumerism, and more, how will the contestants fare as their numbers diminish? Who will be the last one standing and receive prizes beyond their imagination.

The Hunger Games meets Bachelor in Paradise, “The Compound” is an excellent novel for readers who love a great closed door setting with a fun concept. The action begins almost immediately and leaves readers always guessing what will happen next. The story manages to pull on your heartstrings and get your adrenaline pumping at the same time. The only downside is a bit of an anticlimactic ending. Otherwise 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Compound.

This book had me hooked from the very first page. I devoured it in two sittings. The Compound is a fast-paced read that fans of Big Brother, Survivor, and Love Island will love. It perfectly captures the dangerous, high-stakes energy of reality TV, blending it with sharp social commentary.

One of the book’s standout strengths was its exploration of consumerism. Aisling Rawle cleverly weaves this theme throughout the narrative. The story also touches on gender roles, which added another layer of complexity, though I would have loved for the book to dig a bit deeper into that particular theme.

Overall, The Compound is an exciting, addictive read that I highly recommend. It’s one you’ll want to add to your TBR list, especially if you’re looking for something that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.

I used to watch Big Brother for many years and loved it. This totally had Big Brother vibes but with some extra unique twists. I enjoyed reading about most of the characters even though some of them were just so easy to hate! This was addicting, bingeable, and had a nice little life lesson at the end to wrap it all up. My only complaint was the major gender stereotyping that occurred: the girls cleaned and cooked while the boys lifted weights and built things. I could have done without that. 4.5 stars rounded down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this novel.

This book is fantastic, I think it was insanely interesting and I was sucked into it immediately. I read this in a day, I truly could not put it down. I don't want to ruin any plot of this book but I really think this is one of the most interesting books I've read.