Wow. I could not put this book down. It was absolutely intoxicating. I predicted some of the twists and while I'm not sure I loved the ending, I really loved the experience about reading this book. Great exploration of trauma, grief, and healing.

Not bad but not great. I found it a little complicated to follow with the back and forth in time. I did not find the characters believable.

** A copy of The Project was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Courtney Summers does it again! The Project is gripping and haunting, but still manages to hit you with all the emotions. The story is a rollercoaster, and is a very in-depth look at indoctrination, faith and cults. Lo and Bea are both struggling and searching for something to hold on to. Courtney Summers writes them beautifully - you really do understand their emotions and thoughts. 

Also bonus: I read this right after watching The Vow, and the parallels are haunting!

This books is right up my alley. I love the multiple timelines, dual perspective and the content (cults, sisters, death, writing) are all things I love to read about. I loved these characters and how Summers showed the nuance on how someone can get sucked in and how people are convinced to stay in.

I was given an ARC of this book, and I am so glad that I have it a read. The story of Lo and her struggles of belonging resonate deeply with me, and I know I am not the only one; we all want a place of belonging. A family. A purpose. That’s what makes this story so eerie; getting caught up in someone else’s lies so easily that you start to believe whatever it is they say of you, rather than what you say of yourself. Also, I definitely had to call my sister and tell her I loved her after reading this. In all, we will be purchasing this one for the library I work at, and I’ll be recommending it. It legit left me feeling a little haunted, a little sad, and a little hopeful all at once. It made me think more about faith, and how it is so easy to misconstrue things (I’m attempting to make this spoiler free, so if you know, you know.” And I couldn’t help but have this particular verse from the word of God in my head whilst reading this one, “And Lo, I am with you always, even until the ends of the earth.” Matt 28:20.

**Full review to be added to my blog, Goodreads, NetGalley, and Amazon closer to publication!**

This is the first Courtney Summers novel I've read, but after all the rave reviews I've heard for her other books I had pretty high expectations--and I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed in the slightest! This book is an intense, emotional, and utterly captivating ride that I could not put down. I was constantly hooked on finding out what would happen next in Lo's unpredictable journey, and Courtneys did an excellent job in crafting such a well-written and impossible to put down read.

"The Project" was sort of an odd book.  At its core, the book is about the lure of a cult.  When Gloria (Lo) Denham was thirteen, she was in a car accident that killed her parents, almost killed her, and left her physically and emotionally scarred.  In the aftermath of the accident, Lo's older sister, Bea, becomes involved with Lev Warren and The Unity Project.  Bea believes that Lev saved Lo physically and that Lev can save Bea spiritually. The Unity Project has been called a cult before, but no one has been able to prove anything negative about it, in contrast to its very public service projects and outreach efforts -- drop-in shelters throughout the city, mentor programs, programs for addicts, at-risk youth, domestic violence victims, charity projects, etc.  When Bea joined The Unity Project, she cut herself off (or was cut off) from Lo.  Over the years, Lo has tried to find Bea, but the leaders of The Unity Project have prevented her.  However, after she witnesses a young man (Jeremy) who knew her sister and was a member of The Unity Project commit suicide, Lo, an aspiring journalist, sets out to write an expose of The Unity Project and find out the truth about her sister.

The book alternates between events after the accident, especially Bea's involvement in The Unity Project and how it evolves over time, and the present day efforts of Lo to discover the "truth" about The Unity Project.  Over time, Lo finds that she is given unexpected access to Lev and she finds herself questioning what she believed. However, someone else is setting out to destroy The Unity Project.

The author does a good job of expressing the allure of a cult and how a skillful, manipulative leader can utilize a mixture of praise, hope, shame, fear and punishment to convince others to believe in a doctrine and carry out its tenets, even to their own detriment at times.  What The Unity Project seems to provide is a sense of greater purpose and an ability to truly make a difference in the world.  The author does a good job of portraying how the accident and its aftermath have defined Lo's life, leaving her "incomplete" and cynical.

There are times when the story feels incomplete.  There are numerous instances where the author leaves out details because she intends to reveal them later in the story, and it is often obvious that is what she is doing.  However, there are other times where something is happening and then suddenly it shifts to a new scene or later period in time and it feels like part of the story is just being skipped over.  Lev's downfall, when it finally happens, is also somewhat unsatisfying and strains credulity even in the overall context of the story.  

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This review is based on an E-ARC provided by Net Galley and the publisher.

Although I was very interested in the premise, this book ended up not being for me. The voice is very detached, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Without a connection to the characters, it's difficult to understand why anyone would fall in with Lev and his cult, and the quick ending prevents any exploration of the effects the cult may have had on the characters. Others may enjoy the removed and wandering style.

I've read to books by this author and the two books that I have read O loved it. 
I love books that make me fell things and think about things. 
And this author definitely does that. 

This book was really well writing and done. I definitely recommend

I don't know what to say about this book. This is the first time I didn't like one of her books and I can't really even put my finger on exactly what it is but something feels like its missing. The plot ended and there was an ending but it felt so dead and incomplete. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I expected more of an explanation about Bea and I didn't get one.

The biggest question I got from this book is: Will Courtney Summers ever disappoint me? Because she hasn't and I don't think she ever will. When I saw that she had a new book coming out, I was thrilled so you can only imagine my excitement with Wednesday Books and NetGalley approved me for the title. 

I loved the idea of a fiction book written about someone investigating a cult that they were personally affected by. The story answers really shows the ease at which one can be groomed and how people can lose who they truly are.  I am very excited for this to publish because I know many people will love it as much as I did.

This book was a straight up struggle for me to get through, and I do not feel like this book was on the same par as Courtney Summers’s previous novels. I loved Sadie, and reading this was a slog. 

I wanted this arc so badly, and I’m so appreciative to receive it, but this was just not for me, and I don’t know that I would recommend it. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free eARC of this novel. My opinions are my own.

What would you sacrifice to save your sister’s life? Is that sacrifice worth it?

Courtney Summers, already a game-changer in the genre of coming-of-age suspense, continues to change the game even more. I am absolutely blown away by “The Project.” I read this book within two hours, because it just zapped me into the story, the world, and I don’t know if it’s too soon to say, but I feel forever changed after reading this. 

Whether Young Adult is your thing or not, The Project will entice readers of all ages — teen and up, though. 

Thank you SO much to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Courtney Summers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest and bias free review.

What secrets does The Unity Project hide? Lo Denham has been plagued as a miracle child after being the only survivor of a car accident. Working as an assistant at news publication, Lo feels that her life is at a standstill, until a young man approaches her before jumping in front of train. The young man was part of The Unity Project, a group of people who are looking for something to believe in. It is also the same group that her older sister, Bea, joined after Lo miraculously woke up. Now on a mission to find out the secrets of The Unity Project and what happened to her sister, Lo is allowed to interview the groups leader to find out the truth.  Courtney Summers illustrates high levels of suspense making the reader feel on edge and wanting to find out the truth.  The Project will remind readers of her previous book, Sadie, as they are unsure what direction the story will take and how much Summers is willing to reveal. Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers books and those who enjoy biting their fingernails with anticipation.

I looooooved The Project so much!! I didn't think Courtney Summers could pack so much of a punch after Sadie but boy was I mistaken.  So many twists and turns, so much emotional investment, and OMG the tension and heartbreak as a reader!!!  Another amazing book!!!

Courtney Summers always seems to reach into my mind and pull out the exact words that will create a shudder down my spine. The Project is delightfully really enough that you can see this happening in your own town. The characters are three-dimensional and fantastically written.

Bea Denham almost lost her whole family in a car accident. As her sister, Lo, barely clings to life, Bea's desperate prayers are answered by The Unity Project and their leader Lev Warren. Years later and estranged from Bea, Lo is trying to make her way all on her own. When her job as assistant to a high-profile journalist brings The Unity Project to Lo's attention, she dives deep into the world that completely took over her sister's life. Will she expose the Project's supposed dark secrets or will she be taken in by its leader just like Bea was? THE PROJECT has all the devastating twists you'd expect from a Courtney Summers's novel and a dynamite ending.

A fun read, a decent ride, a little simplistic but will be eye-opening to many, even if from a fictional perspective.

this really had me invested from the cover, I loved the psychological elements in the book. The writing was well done and I really enjoyed reading this book.

This was a powerful novel about loneliness, family, deception, and faith. The characters were interesting and real. Although the plot lagged a little (especially in the parts where Lev explained the rationale behind The Project), it routinely made me want to read more. I loved the motifs the author introduces, including the bond between sisters and the sisters’ calling each other’s names.