I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

I've read another one of the author's work before and loved it. But this one was no t upto the mark for me. I've expected a lot more.

Sadie was my favorite book FOR YEARS so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it did not reach my standards.

The Project is a mystery/thriller involving sisters getting involved in a cult. Cults have always been fascinating to me, which made me drawn to this book. However, I lost interest somewhere along the way — maybe because of misguided expectations, maybe because the pacing was really slow, or maybe because I didn't enjoy that ending.

I still enjoyed how Courtney Summers creates her characters, and how dark she can get in her stories.

If you are in the mood for a slow burn thriller that will tug at your emotions, it might be a book for you.

One of the best YA thrillers I've read in a long time! The twists & turns were perfection.

Lo and Bea are sister who have lost their parents in a tragic accident. This same accident has Lo fighting for her life. While Bea is praying for a miracle for her sister when a mysterious leader of the Unity Project walks in. Bea takes him to her sister and credit this charismatic leader with her sister's recovery and joins the Unity Project. From here the story moves forward in time, and Bea has disappeared and Lo is determined to find her and bring her home.

This is book is well written and the twist and turns will keep you guessing. I loved how the character development is so well done that you feel that you've known Lo and Bea all your life. Definitely a good read for any thriller lover.

Bea and Lo Denham lost their parents to a car accident that almost took Lo‘s life, too. Bea finds solace in The Unity Project, a religious cult. When Lo recovers, she only wants her sister back but is soon tangled in the web of the Project. An eerie atmosphere, slowly revealed truths, believably damaged main characters and perspectives on the cult and its leader from both inside and outside make this a compelling read.

I tried to get into this book but it just didn’t work for me. In general I like this author, just not this one.

In 2011, Lo was in a terrible car accident that left her fighting for her life, and killed her parents. Her sister, Bea, searching for a miracle, stumbled upon a Lev Warren, leader of the Unity Project, and Lev saved her sisters life. Now a full believer in Lev and the miracles he performs, Bea joins the Unity Project, and all but abandons her sister, fresh from the hospital. Now in 2017, Lo has spent years of her life trying to find her sister and get in contact with her again, but the Project keeps stopping her. When a member of the Unity Project jumps on the subway tracks in front of Lo, Lo is forced back into the world of the Project and once again attempts to get in contact with her sister. Though he has denied meeting with any members of the press since a piece in early 2011 compared him to other cult leaders, Lev Warren agrees to meet with Lo and do an op ed for the magazine she works for. Lo is brought into the Project and given a first hand experience of how their day to day is run, who the big members are, how they started, why they do what they do, and all but proving they are not a cult in the slightest. The more time Lo spends in the Project, the harder it is for her to understand why Bea would leave the project, as she is no longer a member anymore. However, with every secret that is unfolded, a deeper and darker side of the project is revealed- yet Lo and the other members are now in so deep that they fail to see the shift, until it's too late.

A gripping story from start to finish. I was worried about half way through when the Project was starting to seem very cultish and no one in the story started to see it either, and just kept falling deeper and deeper in. Though, that's how it really works. Cults pray on the vulnerable and weak and convince them these "miracles" are happening because of the things the cult leader has and continues to do. All of the secrets that come out about this cult throughout the book were absolutely wild though- Lev shacking up with a MINOR, keeping that child away from her mother, keeping sisters and family away from each other, the physical and psychological abuse?? This one was dark. But such a thrilling read nonetheless. I think though that as a reader you sort of forget that Lev is a grown man and that Bea was 17ish when they got together, Lo only 19, it's yucky.

This fell flat for me. I didn't find the characters believable, I wasn't rooting for anyone. It's too bad because I've enjoyed her books int he past.

Psychological thriller about a cult located in Hudson Valley, just north of NYC. To young sisters, Bea and her younger sister Gloria (Lo) for short. Lo and her parents are involved in a car accident and Lo is the only survivor. Her chances of recovery are very slim and the doctors recommend that Bea prepare herself. In desperation Bea makes a pact with the leader of a cult (who happens to be in the hospital chapel) to join the cult if he can make her sister survive. When Lo survives, Bea joins the cult and cuts all contact with the outside world. Years later Lo tries to write an article about the cult while trying to locate her sister. But not all is as it seems. This was an interesting book about how cults can draw people in and indoctrinate them when they are at their most vulnerable, and how difficult it is to leave them. Good storyline too.

Courtney Summers is an absolute expert at building up the suspense, only to switch gears and leaving the reader trying to catch up. But in the end, all comes clear and the ending is a BANG!

Bea and Lo Denham sisters are very close until their parents die in a car crash that Lo narrowly survives.
Bea, falls into depression after the accident and falls into the arms of The Unity Project.
A religious community that embraces her as she abandons her sister to the care of their great aunt.

Fast forward years later - alone in the world after the death of their aunt and working as a secretary for a prestigious journalist, 19-year-old Lo is determined to unmask The Unity Project for what she believes it to be: a cult that indoctrinated her unwitting sister.

Thanks for the review copy. I’ve enjoyed other books by Summer more than this one but I will continue to read her books. I did learn a lot about cults.

I really enjoy Courtney Summers books and The Project was no exception. She deals with difficult topics in such a real and eye opening way. I felt that her portrayal of these characters trapped within a cult and Lo’s attempt to expose the cult for what it truly was, was very powerful and emotional. Great book, great concept, great execution!

I tried a few times to get into this book but haven’t been able to. I definitely think it’s just a me thing and others will love it

I would describe this as a cult thriller: Lo, an inspiring journalist, lost her sister to The Unity Project 6 years ago and hasn’t her from her since. Now, she has an opportunity to expose The Project through a new case at work, but she gets herself in too deep trying to figure out the details of the past as well as solve the current

Now, I’ve realized that cult thrillers just aren’t my thing. I realize the manipulation it takes to influence others to join, but for this to be believable for me, it needs to be very well done. I just wasn’t convinced that The Project was ever anything any unwilling participant could be sucked into, so the rest of the plot just fell flat for me. It was pretty twisty but I’m not sure any of the twists were all that surprising. There was also a back and forth between timelines and characters that I often had to stop and double check whose narrative I was reading because I don’t think the voices were that distinct. There is also a scene that really did it for me (in a bad way) - I’m not sure the purpose for including it because I can’t quite understand the intent and it felt out of character (sorry, being vague to avoid spoilers). My final qualm was her age - she’s supposed to be this (19 yo) young journalist prodigy? But the choices she makes throughout the book were so naive and immature for someone with such high regard.

Overall, I think I had a fine time while reading this, but reflecting, there wasn’t much that I actually enjoyed. I’ll give this one 2.5⭐️ but if you enjoy this theme of a thriller, it might work better for you.

I tried multiple times to read this one. The synopsis intrigued me but sadly it just was not for me. I did not connect with the writing the way that I hoped to and after a few times trying to read i came to the conclusion that this one just wasn’t for me.

**thank you to the publisher for the review copy**

ARC was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Hospitalization, mentions of automotive accident, loss of parents, grief, scene of suicide, occult themes. depictions of anxiety & panic attacks, trauma, abandonment, complicated child birth recounted, and potentially more!


Before I dive into my thoughts, I did pick this up again recently and dnf this book for the second time in a row. I also rounded up my rating to 4 stars, but I do have my actual rating listed above. While I love this author's work, this book just hits too close to home with cult themes concerning my spouse. This isn't a bad book, just not a book for me, personally.

This book is eloquently written and touches on some scary, serious themes when it comes to cults. If you're someone like me who deep dives into the dark, scary, spine-chilling, spooky topics in your spare time then you'll most likely enjoy reading this book. The way the characters are written are so captivating and the way the sense of dread is built upon will bring goose bumps to your skin. This book does have duel perspectives and that may be hit or miss for some readers, but I thought it was very well written and the different tones for each perspective just adds to the atmosphere. I almost wish I would have listened to the audiobook because I feel that would have added to the atmosphere and the reading experience. There's also some really great quotes laced through this book. I also fell in love with the bond between the two sisters. I always love a really strong sibling relationship and the way Lo refuses to give up on her sister, it was just everything to me. Overall, this is a very fast paced read and like with all the books from this author, they just suck you in. I think many readers will enjoy this book especially with how easily it is to get pulled in, but I also want to recommend caution to those who may have endured cult happenings and may be triggered by some of the themes in this book.


All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.

This wasn't too bad of a read, I just don't think it was for me. After reading Sadie, I was really excited for this one. Unfortunately, I had a hard time reading it. I'm still not quite sure how I even feel about it. But I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Courtney Summers!

I read/listened to Sadie and really liked it, so I was excited when I saw Courtney Summers had another book coming out. I was disappointed in this book. I did finish reading it, but when reading feels like a chore and not a pleasure - it's not enjoyable. I really wanted to like it, but the book was all over the place and I had to go back and reread to remember who characters were.

I thought I would give this YA book a try because I was hearing good things about it. I am not a YA reader, and this didn't help convert me either. I just didn't enjoy it like I thought I would. Maybe if you really liked YA novels you will like it, but it wasn't for me

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*