The Project by Courtney Summers ★★★½

Lo is an aspiring journalist. Her parents were killed in a car accident that also left Lo physically and emotionally scarred. Her sister, Bea, seemingly abandoned her to join The Unity Project, a charitable but elusive group led by the "charismatic" (more like creepy af) Lev Warren. When a man comes into Lo's place of work claiming The Unity Project killed his son, she takes this as her chance to make a name for herself by exposing the group that took away her sister.

Initially, I really didn't like how the book skipped back and forth between Lo's present and Bea's past. It felt choppy and halted any suspense. I wanted to know what was happening in the PRESENT. But halfway through, the flashbacks got spicier. Ultimately, the mystery of Bea and her story kept me invested.

Lo was hard to root for. I had to side eye at a nineteen year old with no degree or previous experience, feeling so entitled to a promotion like damn sis chill I felt sympathy for her bc her life was so bleak but even that had it's limit.

At a definitive point, I was so so so confused by Lo's actions I had to go back and see if I missed something?? It felt like /I/ was being gaslighted by the absurdity of what was happening..

I would recommend this. There are thrilling moments and Im glad to have finally read Courtney Summers engaging and immersive writing. I love the theme of sisterhood and even though I didnt hit it off with Lo, I am even more eager to eventually read Sadie.

tw: death of parents, car accidents, abuse, cults, gaslighting, torture

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook for Sadie by Courtney Summers, and I was looking forward to her next book. Her thrillers land so perfectly on the cusp of YA and New Adult. The Project is great for those of us who love to delve into true crime documentaries about mysterious cults, but it also tugs the heartstrings as a beautiful portrayal of grief and sisterhood. In no way is this a straightforward mystery - it will take you in and have you second-guessing until the end. Would definitely recommend.

The Project is one of these books, where I don't really know what to say about it, without spoiling anything.
I think the summary gives a good idea of what this book is about and it definitely wasn't a surprising read, plot-wise. Everything that I expected to happen, happened. That may sound boring, but it really really wasn't. I was captivated from the first page and totally immersed in the story. I couldn't put the book down in the second half, because it was just such an intense read and I needed to know what happened because I admit, I was questioning myself along with Lo sometimes. Just a teeny tiny bit.
The Project also reminded me a lot of Sadie, the only other book I read by this author - but in the best way possible! This has a different topic and lacks the podcast element, but it still gave me similar vibes, which I loved.
So basically this book was what I expected and the things it did, it did really well in my opinion. As I said, I was instantly hooked and wanted to know what was going on.

The Project is riveting, thrilling, and thought-provoking. Another knock-out hit by Courtney Summers. Lo’s sister is devoted to The Unity Project, a cult that Lo vows to investigate and discredit. This book delves into sister relationships, cults, wanting to belong, and the way charismatic people can lead vulnerable people astray.

Lo navigates life alone. After she lost her parents to a horrible car accident, she loses her sister Bea to the Unity Project, a well respected community that focuses on charitable service. Lo has a suspicion there’s more to the group than meets the eye, but just can’t put her finger on it.

When she witnesses a suicide of a Project member and his father publicly seeks to expose them as murderers, Lo seizes an opportunity to delve into uncovering the group’s dark underbelly, and hopefully, find her sister.

Alternating between Lo and Bea’s perspectives, the reader slowly starts to unravel the slew of unanswered questions about the Unity Project and Bea’s disappearance within it. As we learn more about Lev, the charismatic cult leader, my questions and theories doubled and became more sinister.
Ultimately, it was a slow burn, but it kept my interest until the very end. Like Lo, I wasn’t sure what I felt about the Unity Project until all was revealed. The close up of religious extremism was sickening, and the way vulnerabilities can be exploited with the promise of redemption - asking how far one would go for one’s faith, unquestioningly.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy

Bea and Lo Denham share a sisterly bond, but that bond is broken after their parents die in a horrific car crash that also leaves Lo barely hanging to life. Bea is destroyed, desperate for Lo to recover and terrified she won't. When Lo awakes, Bea is gone and an aunt she has never met takes custody of her.

Years later, Lo is an aspiring journalist working for a news magazine and her ongoing attempts over the years to get in contact with her sister have been continually rebuffed. Bea has joined The Unity Project. Some say it's a cult, it's members say it's a calling - a way of life that allows them to serve others. After a member of The Project commits suicide publicly in front of Lo, she decides to dig into their story and investigate what she sees as a cult, and to find her sister.

As Lo is pulled into the world of the Unity Project, she discovers its appeal and its danger. The Unity Project offers sanctuary and purpose to the lost and in exchange requires unwavering loyalty. It's a place that provides family to those who don't have it and spiritual fulfillment to those seeking faith. Lo is pulled deeper and deeper into the world of The Project until she finds out unexpected information that opens her eyes to her sister's experience.

I wanted to love The Project the way I loved Sadie, but I found it difficult to get into. I found Lo to be naïve, whiny, and entitled and I just couldn't connect with the character. It just didn't grab my attention until about halfway through the novel. The end redeemed it a bit for me and brought it from a 2.5 star read to 3.5 star, but this one was mostly a miss for me.

This book is so intense! Courtney Summers truly knows how to write novels that take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. I would recommend this to older teens and adult readers. It would make a great book club selection.

I haven’t read any other reviews yet, so I have no clue if I’m of the popular or unpopular opinion, but I think while the events of The Project are pretty sensationalized for the sake of literature, the emotions and motivations behind the characters are pretty realistic as far as what goes on in a cult.

Where I imagine people will find issue is with Lo and how quickly she kind of switches up, but I don’t think that’s unrealistic at all, all things considered. She’s been isolated for so long and is a really easy target, the exact type of person cults tend to prey on. I think a lot of people won’t find her to be a compelling protagonist because it’s like we’re constantly being told her motivation is Bea but we’re rarely ever shown that in a believable manner? Also she just completely lacks conviction. Her being unlikable didn’t bother me or impede my reading experience though.

I did find all of the events in the book extremely predicable, like I saw everything coming, but it was still a fun read. I read around half of this when I was coming down with covid and I don’t know if my frying brain messed with my understanding of the story at all, but cut me some slack with this review because I can still barely form coherent thoughts.

Overall I thought the book was fun, which kind of sounds bad since it’s about an abusive cult but hey that’s how I feel and I look forward to whatever else Courtney Summers releases in the future.

This was an interesting book to read from many angles. There is a sisterly bond between Bea and Lo, a cult, death, intrigue, and maybe a bit of romance (but not much).

Bea and Lo are close sisters until an accident leaves Lo for dead. What Bea perceives as a miracle has her joining a cult because she believes that the cult leader saved her sister and this is the price she must pay. This seems to sever the ties between the two sisters since Bea in essence disappears into the cult. I think Bea's youth and naivete make her a perfect target for someone older and wiser and this is evident throughout the novel.

The story is told primarily from Lo's point of view, but there are sections from Bea's perspective. The story slips back and forth in time and while there are some indications when this happens with the year at the top, at other times it will flip suddenly which threw me off. It would have been helpful to have a small break or something to indicate there is a change in perspective.

Lo is approximately 19 and comes across as very immature for her age. I am sure she did not have a normal life after the accident, but it seemed like she expected everything to be handed to her without working for it. I think I felt more compassion for Bea because she loses her parents but doesn't have anyone to help guide her through life and she was still a teenager. I felt like she was left to fend for herself and she left Lo to their Aunt's care knowing that she couldn't take care of Lo's needs by herself. 

The story was intriguing and I wondered if it really was a cult or if The Unity Project was a caring organization as their leader, Lev, proclaimed. We see the good works that they do, but not everything is always as it seems on the surface.  This becomes more evident towards the end of the book. In fact, the action really picks up in the last 20% or so of this book. It is horrifying the details that come out in the end. It definitely will make most readers feel uncomfortable and sad by the turn of events.

There were still a few questions that I don't think were answered, but not too many. 

Overall we enjoyed this book and give it 3 paws up.

The Project by Courtney Summers is a young adult thriller full of mystery and suspense. The characters are incredibly complex, and the writing style provides an immersive reading experience. The Project is a dark read, one about emotional manipulation and how cults prey on vulnerability.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me a copy to read and review.

When I first seen this book the cover and the synopsis really intrigued me. I thought it was gonna be a great thriller/mystery but maybe I was expecting too much. I actually DNFd this because i couldn't do anymore.

I'm pretty happy with slow burns as long as I get some excitement and suspense along the way and a great payoff at the end. But with this one I couldn't finish it. Nothing could grab my attention and make it stay at all. I just wanted stuff to go a little faster at moments. I think cults can be a little entertaining and fascinating sometimes but this book wasnt for me sadly. It was just way too preachy and not enough suspense. I didnt care for the characters either or Lo's search for answers. The jumping from past the present timelines was a little confusing at times. I know it's common but I dont think it worked for this book.

A cult. Yes A CULT! Any book that has a cult in it I’m there for. It’s a morbid fascination I have with misplaced faith and belief - and The Project started out strongly. A missing sister, a cryptic bible verse, a tragic suicide.

And then the middle fizzled out. Nothing much happened. I could see what was happening to the main protagonist and felt like shaking her just a little bit. It was slightly predictable, and then ......

That ending! Once again, strong and satisfying. I preferred Sadie, but will definitely read Courtney Summers future works.

This was a perfect book for me. Dark and a little creepy, not quite a thriller, with a cult, some family tragedy, and heart. So whatever that genre is called, it’s my favorite. I need to read more of Courtney Summers books. Recommended for teens and adults.

I whole-heartedly believe if you loved Sadie, you will love The Project. With its equally dark tone, another "follow you to the end of the earth to save you" sort of sister relationship, and a story told in parallel perspectives, it will keep you riveted until the very end. Beyond that, it realistically captures the inner workings and complexities of a cult and how someone can get trapped. It's hard to deny that Courtney Summers has found an amazing narrative formula that works and I have no doubt she'll keep releasing banger after banger in the future.

When you give yourself away to feel less alone, you’re walking into dangerous waters. The Project knows that, preys on that vulnerability and pulls you in. But a man is no prophet, healer, or God, he’s just a man, and a manipulative one at that! This story of a pair of sisters and their plight to be reunited comes at a twisted and heavy cost.
Summers has captured the indoctrination well, and each character plays their part flawlessly. Her writing is skillful, creating pictures in your mind on top of the story she’s already telling. I couldn’t put this one down, drowning in its complexity and eager to see what happened next.

Lo Denham's life has been built on tragedy. Her parents died in a car crash, a crash which left her scarred and fighting to survive in the hospital. Her sister, Bea, ran off to join a cult called The Unity Project at the same time, and Lo was left to be taken care by her great aunt. Then her great aunt also dies, so Lo turns to writing, which lands her a job with a magazine, and eventually a man comes in with a story about The Unity Project for Lo to pursue. Seizing her chance to reunite with Bea, Lo is on the case, diving into the cult's inner workings and coming face-to-face with its charismatic leader, Lev Warren. Lo finally learns why Bea abandoned her so long ago, but the answers are not what she expected, and The Unity Project is not what she thought it was. Will writing this story be her salvation, or is there yet more tragedy in store for Lo?

This was a sad, somewhat disturbing read, one that examines charismatically dangerous persons who take advantage of people who feel alone in the world. Lo in particular feels alone, because those who she loves or loved either died or left, so all she has is her writing and herself. Bea, her sister, has her reasons for leaving, but those reasons are also saddening from an outside perspective. Most of the story is conveyed from Lo's or Bea's perspective, and each perspective shows different interpretations of characters and events over time, particularly Lev Warren and the cult The Unity Project. Lev manipulates those around him to get what he wants, devotion and participation, and it is interesting and appalling to see how different perspectives change how Lev is perceived. The story gathers momentum at the end as Lo's journey into the bowels of the cult draws to a close, and the bonds of sisterhood and family are drawn to the forefront. This is a heavy, insidious read that will likely get under your skin, and may frustrate you, but perhaps that's the point, to illustrate the dangers of charismatic cult leaders. The Project is an intricate read with pages dripping in sadness and twisted devotion. Are you ready for some unity? You are needed.

Courtney Summers books always rip me apart in the best ways and The Project is no different. I finished this book two days ago and I cannot get it out of my mind. I keep thinking of Lo and Foster and Emmy. I've been sharing it everywhere and telling all my friends to get their hands on The Project.

After witnessing a shocking suicide, Lo Denham decides to expose a high profile charitable organization as a cult. Lo is intimately connected to The Unity Project; her sister Bea joined years ago and Lo has not heard from her since. Their charismatic leader proposes a deal: she can have unheard-of access, and if she can prove any of it, she can expose them. Can Lo find the proof she needs and reconnect with her sister, or will she be pulled in as well?

I was expecting a fast-paced young adult style thriller, but for me, the storyline dragged. Although I enjoyed Bea's past storyline, Lo didn't captivate me at all. By the time the big twists come at the end, I had lost interest. Some reviewers are loving this book, so it might still be worth a try, but it just did not do enough for me to recommend it to anyone.

What a hell of a ride that was!

For my full spoiler free review- check out the blog (www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com)

I will say I'm not sure how or when I stumbled upon requesting this book on netgalley, because I don't even remember reading the synopsis, but I am so glad it was waiting for me on my approved shelf! It was so hard to put down. I couldn't read it fast enough.

If you have a morbid fascination with reading about cults, don't sleep on this book! It is stimulating and complex and leaves you with much to think about! Many thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress/@wednesdaybooks for providing me with an earc in exchange for my honest review. Thank you @summerscourtney for writing this bold and gripping story!

TW: suicide, abuse, cults

Lo Denham works for a fledgling newspaper. When she sees a man commit suicide after quoting a Bible verse, her decision to reach out to the cult he was a part of—the same one her sister is in—changes her life.

This book is what you might call “slow burning”, which is normally not my style, but it works here. Summers alternates between two voices, Lo and her sister, Bea. Each voice is in a different timeline: Bea’s is in the past, and Lo’s is more or less in the present (the novel ends in 2018).

After Lo is in a car accident that kills her parents, Bea ends up at The Unity Project, a cult run by Lev Warren. Lo sets out to discover if the rumors she has heard about The Unity Project are true or not. I do wish that some of the characters involved in the cult had been a little more skeptical before joining, but the need for something to believe in is certainly relatable. I also appreciate that the author recognizes how hard it is to condemn something when that thing has also gone so much good in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s, and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.