I expected more twists and turns in this novel, but it was still an enjoyable ride as we follow Lo's investigation and experience in The Unity Project.

I was super impressed by Sadie, so I was excited to get a chance to read The Project from Courtney Summers. Well, this book is definitely not at all like Summers' previous novel, and I am still unsure how I feel about it even after waiting a week to write my review. I loved the cult aspect as well as the viewpoint changes between Bea and Lo, but the storyline didn't quite do it for me. It was off to a quick start but then became a really slow burn, and I was glad I was listening to the audiobook, or I would have had a hard time finishing it in a timely manner. It definitely held my attention well enough, and as always, her writing was fantastic, but it didn't draw me in quite the way I had hoped it would. The story has a mystery to it that spans the length of the book, and I didn't see the ending coming although some people may predict it. However, deep down this is a story of sisterly bonds and the relationship between Bea and Lo which is something I really enjoyed.

The audiobook is narrated by Emily Shaffer & Thérèse Plummer, and it was great having a narrator for each sister. I always approve when audiobooks have a narrator for every viewpoint, and I loved both Shaffer and Plummer for this book! At one point there was a bit of a weird spot with a narrator (and I don't think it was my phone?), but other than that I loved the audiobook and would definitely recommend it. I wasn't buying anything The Unity Project leader was selling and because of that became very frustrated toward the end of the book. There are a few stupid decisions made that drove me nuts, but I also tried to keep in mind this is a young adult novel, and these girls were young. I do love the way this author writes and always love to read her books, so even though this wasn't a complete winner for me, I will definitely be reading whatever Summers writes next!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Project by Courtney Summers follows Lo, who's parents died in a car accident when she was very young, on her quest to discover the truth about the cult her sister joined soon after. The plot of the story was a little bit slow moving for me and the ending was not as exciting as I had hoped. If you are going to read a book by Summers, I'd definitely recommend Sadie first.

Courtney Summers don't know what is to write a bad books. The Project is a hard read if you have sisters. I recommend this in my knees.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I love Courtney Summers' books. I loved Sadie and was excited for this one. Unfortunately this wasn't everything I wanted it to be. It was lacking a little something.

Courtney Summers has done it again.

This was easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year, the follow up to 2018's Sadie was something I wanted to get my grubby little mitts on as soon as I could. Once again, we follow two sisters as the tragedies of life have torn them apart from each other. Lo, the younger sister, is our main protagonist, attempting to break into the journalism scene while investigating the cult her sister has been a member of ever since a car accident killed their parents and left Lo scarred.

The way Courtney Summers writes sisters is messy and beautiful and brilliant. Lo and Bea are six years apart, just like Sadie and Mattie. This also happens to be the exact age difference between my sister and me, so these books just hit different. The way their relationship is so complicated, the baggage Lo carries from feeling like she was abandoned while also desperately wanting nothing more than to see her sister again is intense, and I mean that in a good way. We also see Bea in flashbacks, right when she joins the Unity Project and you can see how it seduced her away from Lo when she was grieving. They are both put in difficult situations that are so raw and real.

This is a book that will stick with me. I imagine the more I think about it, the more it will show the intricacies of what a work of art it is. This has solidified Courtney Summers as a favorite author of mine for sure.

The Project is terrifying. It’s so easy to fall in line with our main character’s thoughts and feelings, so easy to get swept away. Caught up in despair and suspicion, then an almost painful hope. Scary on a conceptual level, and stunning on the line level.

I’m not usually one for cult stories, but I *am always* one for Courtney Summers, and I have no regrets. Anyone with an interest in cults (but who perhaps wants a little distance from actual real cults) should read this book.

I received a digital advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping novel testing the bonds of sisterly love. The book is candid, raw, and filled with suspense.

I really do enjoy the grittiness of Summers’ writing. Her novels always read as true crime. This one lulled in the middle for me, and I was almost ready to DNF it. But then the plot turned and I was invested. I know students will love this as an independent reading book.

Other readers may enjoy this but it wasn't for me. I expected it to be an adult novel, but it felt more YA.

Wow! What a spooky read! This one really shook me up. It was equal parts terrifying and shocking. I loved it. What a wild ride!

Another brilliant book by Courtney Summers! This one had me hooked right from the start, great for fans of true crime and of tell-all podcasts of fringe cults like Escaping NXIVM!

I have attempted to read this book multiple separate times. Despite loving Courtney Summers's previous work and books about cults, this one failed to hook me.

This YA novel had more of the feel of an YA crossover novel as Lo Denham is 19 years old working for a receptionist at a magazine with aspirations to write for it. She believes she gets her opportunity when a man wants the publisher to do a story on the Unity Project as the man believes the quasi- religious organization caused his son's death. Lo's older sister Bea belongs to the Project, and Lo has never been able to have contact with her sister. Lo believes the Unity Project is a cult and wants to burn it to the ground. Its leader Lev Warren is willing to let Lo do a piece on him and the Project. As Lo digs deeper she starts to wonder if Warren and the Project aren't legit, but Bea is a narrator throughout the story as well and her story is told in flashbacks and the reader discovers not all is at it seems with the Project. Courtney Summer is a very good writer and her YA novel, Sadie, was excellent, but Lo's transition from a Project hater to supporter is not very convincing and neither is the ending and I can't go into further details without spoilers.

I found this to be an enjoyable read, keeping me on my toes throughout. The storyline was written well and flowed seamlessly. I look forward to reading more by this author!

A bit disappointing. I really love “culty” books but this one lacked something and I found that it dragged a bit. It had a lot of potential but didn’t seem to go far enough. I received a copy of this book from. Netgalley to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited for this because I’m fascinated by cults, but it did NOT work for me. How could Lo actually fall for the cult leader, when she hated him for years and years. Also, it’s obvious that something fishy happened with her sister, yet Lo believed she left. Just not a smart protagonist. She was young, but that doesn’t mean she had to be clueless.

I absolutely loved this book with all the twists and turns, thank you so much for the free copy! I would read this again more than once.

This book will be perfect summer reading for our high schoolers. We often hear that “all religions are cults” from our students, but what does that really mean?

This book completely passes the Bechdel Test, brings up strong emotions, and really gets the reader to question what they would really do in this situation.

Young girls are subject to so much outside pressure, The Project will certainly get them critically thinking about what and who to trust.

Highly recommended.

This book totally met the mark! Courtney Summers continues to blow me away with her writing and character development with each new book I've read by her. This is a must read!