I’ve been fascinated by the concept of cults since I was in high school, when I watched a documentary about Jonestown for the first time. I remember being transfixed by the idea of mind control, brainwashing and psychological manipulation and then, consequently, by the very essence of religion and its impact on society (even though not all cults are religion-based, the majority of them is).
As I grew older, I realised that what made cults what they are, is not so much their leader, who all pretty much share the same psychological profile, but their members/followers/survivors. They are all of different ages, races, sex, educational backgrounds, from completely different walks of life, and yet they all blindly follow one man, one stranger, to the point of willingly taking their own lives for that man and his/their beliefs.

Based on Courtney Summer’s track history of amazing books, I was under the impression that The Project would be a very nuanced exploration into the workings of such a community, the emotional and psychological abuse that takes place there, and maybe a little mystery to lighten the mood.
But I hardly got any of these things ☹

Let me start by saying that Summer’s writing remains top notch and that will never change. I almost read this book in one sitting, that’s how addictive it was, so pacing was no issue for me.
That being said, I personally needed more from it. The book was too short to tell this kind of complex story and I felt like half of it was spent focusing on the wrong things (Lo’s job), and by the time the ending came, it was too late to say everything that needed to be said.

I expected more exposition on the cult itself and its members, their way of life, Lev’s teachings. I wanted more insight into Lev himself, truly showcasing what a cult leader is and why Bea chose a secluded and secret life with him over her sister, who she seemed to adore. As it was, we learn nothing about Unity, even though half of the book takes place there. The fact that Unity was a cult factors in the story so little in my opinion, that the setting might as well have been anything, an old cottage, a holiday house, and Lev the cult leader could be a scumbag ex or something.
That is why it shocks me when reviewers complain about “too much God talk”. Um, did we read the same book?
The only promising relationship was that of Bea and Foster’s, but that too didn’t go anywhere. Who was Foster even? Some background info on him would have been nice.

The mystery component that Summers had so expertly weaved in previous books, was not present at this one. I went in already thinking that Lev was a sketchy dude, the book is about cults after all. However, I felt that the book very hesitantly took his side on some occasions, claiming that Unity actually did amazing work with the underprivileged, and there was a possibility that Lev was misunderstood. Except for the ending of course, when Lev’s true self is revealed, coming as no surprise at all.
Lo drinking the kool aid and falling for whatever nonsense Lev spewed, happened so fast my head spun. She went from absolutely despising Unity for taking her sister and wanting to expose them hardcore, to becoming Lev’s groupie in a matter of 50 pages. And then realised what an idiot she’s been in a matter of another 50 pages.
Again, I am coming to the same conclusion: this book needed to be longer in order for characters and situations to be explained better and more convincingly.

Don’t get me wrong, The Project wasn’t a bad book and I didn’t hate it. I overhyped it in my head as one if my most anticipated 2021 releases, and I thought it would be so much different than it was. I will continue reading any book Courtney Summers comes out with because she is a brilliant writer, but this one didn’t blow me away as much I wanted it to.

The story revolves around two sisters- Lo and Bea Denham who lose their parents in a car accident. Lo was also a victim of the accident but she somehow manages to survive. While on the other hand, we have Bea who left the entire world behind (including her sister Lo) and joined The Unity Project. Basically, it is a group of people that everyone likes but Jo doesn’t. You know why?! Because this group is the only reason why Bea left Lo thereby breaking all the sisterly promises they made.

The rest of the story about how Lo uncovers the truth behind a death which is somehow or the other linked with this group.

It is a story of will power, manipulation and the bond that we get to see between the sisters.

The moment I finished this book, a lot of things were going inside my head. I felt as if I am living the life that the characters are living. I could feel how Lo and Bea must be feeling when they lost their parents in a car accident. It just took me two days to finish this book and ever since then I am recommending it to everyone.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

Trigger warning: Statutory rape, birth, car accidents, torture, gaslighting, child abuse

As mentioned up above, Lo and Bea have been estranged for several years when the story begins. Both lost their parents at a young age, which makes them almost perfect prey for the predation of a man believing himself to be a deity.

Like other Summers books, this one broke me thoroughly, leaving me in a bit of daze of hope and heartbreak.

There is such care taken to follow both girls’ points of view: One whose faith wavers and another trying to regain a sense of family. Lo’s perspective is firmly rooted in things familiar, like having a job and wondering what comes next. Bea’s provides a heart-wrenching lens into a young woman who’s trying to find something resembling a family in a toxic environment. But no one realizes until it is far too late. It truly is reminiscent of the story arcs of Peoples Temple, so brace yourself for that. The way Summers ties in contemporary events is also effective and feels uncomfortably plausible.

One thing that Summers excels at is absolutely destroying her readers and this book is no exception. The ending is hopeful, but wow does it come at a cost.

“You wanted the truth. Or are you afraid of it now?” 

The Project was my first Courtney Summers book but it certainly won't be my last! I have heard universal praise for her novel Sadie, so was excited to see this book was available on Netgalley. All I knew was that The Project had a focus on cults and sisters and I was in. 

We follow two sisters who follow different lives, but somehow each becomes involved in some way with a religious organisation called The Unity Project, and its leader Lev Warren. We mostly follow the point of view of Lo, the younger sister who hopes to expose the truth behind the Unity Project. But we also hear from the eldest sister, Bea in the past. The non-linear storyline and jumping from past to present and sister to sister was a bit confusing at times, but I eventually got the hang of it. 

Perhaps it is my innate scepticism and lack of spirituality- but I never for a second considered that The Unity Project was anything but a cult. Lev Warren's charisma just made me more suspicious of him (maybe that's the true crime lover in me, though). For those reasons, this book didn't give me the gut punch feeling or shock that I think was intended. Nothing really took me by surprise. 

That being said, I didn't dislike anything about this book- I more so felt indifferent. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters (except for the young child, Emmy, who I just want to protect). I liked the writing but didn't find it exceptional. I found the plot to be pretty slow burn, but without the payoff at the end that I was expecting. 

My favourite thing was without a doubt the exploration of cults, manipulation and trauma. I would have preferred for it to go a little deeper and darker, but I can understand that this is meant to be for younger audiences. I found the discussions to nevertheless be interesting. 

I would overall recommend this to readers who are looking for a entrance into the ya mystery/thriller category, and who can sympathise with at times unlikeable or weaker main characters. 

I am still really interested in Sadie in particular, and hopefully will read that one soon!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this ARC

Release Date: 2 February 2021

Oof, this was a flop for me. I can see where there could have been potential, but it just never lived up to it. The multiple timelines were not well executed. I wanted to give up half-way, and maybe I should have...I've got so many friends that rave about Sadie, so I think I need to go back and start there and have skipped this one entirely. Can't all be winners!

This was my first Courtney Summers but it's absolutely not going to be my last.

Courtney Summers is *good.* The plot, narrative, character development, and dread in this novel is phenomenal. I was hooked from the beginning. I personally think the dual narration of Lo and Bea was perfect--it gave readers the ability to absorb what was happening in both of their lives sometimes simultaneously even though the events were happening years apart. 

What is, in my opinion, the most masterful part of this book is how Summers is able to describe the pervasiveness of religious cults. Without going too deeply into it because I don't want to spoil anything, the way Summers unfolded Lev Warren's and The Unity Project's true nature was truly stunning to behold. The content was dark and difficult to read at times, but looking back on it now, I am really in awe of what Summers was able to create. 

I think I'm going to be left thinking about this book for a while. That last chapter in particular...just *oomph.* I have a lot of emotions. And I can't wait to read what else Courtney Summers has written.

**Maybe 3.5-stars**

After being in a terrible car accident, which killed both of her parents, Lo Denham lies close to death herself. She's young though and ultimately pulls through, but with lasting repercussions. Lo's older sister, Bea, abandons her after the accident, leaving Lo in the care of their Aunt. Understandably curious about why her sister would leave, Lo only knows that Bea has joined a mysterious group called The Unity Project.

The Project has deeply embedded itself within a few towns in Upstate New York through extensive charitable works and community outreach. Even with their good deeds enhancing their image in the eyes of some, many assume The Project is a cult, led by a charismatic leader, Lev Warren. Lo is one of those who believes something is not normal about the group.

Years later, when a good friend of her boss loses his son, Jeremy, to suicide, he blames The Project for driving him to his death. It turns out Jeremy had been a member and as such was purportedly kept from his family and friends. Looking through photos of the man's son, Lo stumbles upon one with Bea and Jeremy together. Lo has been desperate to be in contact with her sister again and vows to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Lo works for a magazine, currently in an administrative position, but she dreams of being a writer. Getting the scoop on The Project could not only help her find her sister, but also help her to reach her goals. She infiltrates and things progress from there.

The Project is a slow burn. Unfortunately for me, one that fizzled out rather than ignited. The last quarter of the book started to intrigue me more, but prior to that I felt nothing for it; no passion, no intrigue, no curiosity, it was just sort of meh.

I had a hard time with some of the back and forth between perspectives and timelines as well. I would often forget whose perspective I was reading from, as I didn't find them particularly distinct. Also, the timelines that it switched between were all fairly close together, for example 2012, 2017, 2018, and I am just not used to that type of format. I think I am used to larger gaps in time, say for example from 2000 to 2020, but that is a me problem, not a book problem, however it did impede my enjoyment.

Since I was so highly anticipating this, I am left with a sense of disappointment. Even though it is a good book, there's nothing wrong with it, for me it fell flat. I wanted it to go darker, the atmosphere to be more ominous, and I wanted more suspense.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Being a teen in the 90s and growing up with stories of cults like Waco, Heaven's Gate, etc., I've always been fascinated (and horrified) at how people get drawn into these groups. I thought, "Wow, how does a person let themselves get so brainwashed?" I had heard that this book gives the reader an idea of how that happens so I was excited to see it pop up in the "Read Now" section of NetGalley.
 
The premise of The Project is pretty straightforward: two teenage sisters, Bea and Gloria (Lo for short), lose their parents in a car crash. Lo is in the same crash and almost dies as well, and while she's recovering in the hospital Bea finds solace in a group (cult) called The Unity Project, led by charismatic leader Lev Warren. Lo finishes her recovery at a Great Aunt's house and spends a good portion of the story trying to find Bea, who has gone missing. The cult claims she left on her own but Lo suspects foul play.
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
 
First, and foremost, the author did a fabulous job at flipping the narrative by giving the reader some insight as to how a person can get swept into a cult. The trauma that these sisters endure is painful and heartbreaking. Bea has no one while Lo is in the hospital, and Lev exploits this trauma to manipulate Bea into joining The Project. There were parts of the book where I had to stop and say to myself, "Wait a minute, this Lev guy is complete human garbage, why TF am I thinking of him as a good guy???"
 
This book is a slow burn with a dual timeline alternating between Lo in first person and Bea in third person. I generally enjoy dual timelines but there were a few confusing parts throughout. Even though I tend to favor fast-paced reads a little more, I found myself engaged for most of this story. The author did a great job of leaving little cliffhangers here and there that made me keep saying "just one more chapter!”

🚨TW/CW: Suicide, physical and emotional abuse, murder, torture

I received a complimentary copy of The Project by Courtney Summers from Wednesday Books through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Project was released on February 2nd!

After Lo and Bea's parents died in a car accident, Lo was sent to their great aunt to recover from her own injuries. Bea, legally an adult, drifted away from her family and joined The Unity Project. Even though The Unity Project has cultivated community outreach programs that endear them to their community in Upstate New York, after six years of trying and failing to contact her sister Lo knows there's more to The Unity Project than meets the eye. When the cult's leader Lev gives Lo the opportunity to write an article about The Unity Project--their first contact with the press in years--she knows it's her best chance to reconnect with Bea. As she dives deeper into The Unity Project, Lo begins to question everything she thought she knew.

Although I didn't feel very connected to the characters in The Project, I found this story very compelling. I've always been fascinated by the horrors of cults. The Project swings back and forth between Lo in the present and Bea in the past as she first became immersed in The Unity Project. I was really invested in the story that unraveled, but at about the 75% point Lo started making decisions that made no sense to me. Still, I couldn't stop reading. If you're looking for a happy or uplifting story, this isn't it. As usual, Courtney Summers brings the darkness. Trigger warnings for all the things you might expect from a story about a cult: emotional abuse, physical abuse, and serious gaslighting. If you're interested in a compulsively readable, dark, and twisty story about a cult, this one's for you!

Courtney Summers’ newest release, The Project, follows in the footsteps of Sadie, where a troubled young woman with a trauma-ridden past reckons with the adults (and men) who took so much from her.

Unlike the podcast style narrative of Sadie, The Project switches between the points of view of two sisters, Bea and Lo Denham, who are pulled apart after a terrible accident. Bea will do anything to save her sister, and in her darkest hour she meets Lev Warren, the leader of the cult-like Unity Project. Years later, Bea and Lo have stopped speaking and a fateful encounter at the magazine where Lo works prompts her to begin to unravel the tangled web that she hopes will lead her back to Bea. But the Unity Project has a lot to hide, and Lo fears she doesn’t have much time left to find her sister before she too is sucked into the cult that cost them both so much. 

This one was a slow burn but the ending was electric! An easy weekend read that explores the complex love between sisters and the unshakeable bond that tethers them.

This. Book. Was. Fantastic!! I loved the aspect and the intricate details dealing with the inner workings of the  Unity Project. I love the way Courtney Summers writes and makes you want to keep reading. This book literally will keep you guessing until the final pages! Can't wait until my finished copy comes in!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, for letting me read an ARC of this amazing novel for an honest review!

3.5 stars
<b><i><blockquote>"Having a sister is a promise no one but the two of you can make - and no one but the two of you can break."</blockquote></i></b>

Lo and Bea are sisters.  In their early years they are as close as any two sisters can be.  Then their family is ripped apart by tragedy.  A car crash takes their parents' lives and Lo is near dead.  Her survival is seen as a miracle.  But a wedge has formed between the two sisters.  Lo is left behind with an aunt and Bea has committed her life to The Unity Project.  Questions surround the group.  Is it a charitable organization or a cult?  Lo has tried repeatedly to reach out to her sister but has been shut out at every turn.  Still she remembers her promise to her sister.  

I recognized a few parallels with Courtney Summers runaway hit Sadie.  You have the unshakeable bond of sisters.  One sister most likely in danger and the other leaving no stoned unturned to save her.  I wanted this one to be as great as Sadie but I didn't get the same emotional pull as I did with that book.

Having a sister is a promise no one but the two of you can make - and no one but the two of you can break.
I think the best thing about The Project is that it made me unsettled the entire time I was reading it. The multiple timelines was very effective at keeping the pace up and keeping me guessing at what was real and what was influenced by Lev and The Unity Project. And Lo's journey was so heartbreaking and devastating to read about but I empathizes with her so much because I know that if I was her, I'd go the the ends of the my means for my sister too. And I think Lo and Bea's relationship and their -sometimes misguided- dedication to family was the heart of this story, which I greatly appreciated. The story was horrifying in a very human way - seeing people's hope and desperation being twisted and manipulated, seeing the effects of charisma and power, it showed a kind of pain that is both easy to judge (or misjudge) and impossible to ignore.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In typical Courtney Summers fashion, this book made me feel many different emotions. The first half of the book starts out a little slow but by the halfway point I was hooked. This book does a fantastic job discussing grief and loss. Courtney Summer’s portrayal of a cult and how people can get sucked in so quickly, especially those that feel “lost” was so well done. I will say that this book even made me question organized religion. 

I have definitely come away from this book thinking upon many important topics and have urged other reader friends to pick this up so we can have a discussion about it. 

A big thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for allowing me to read a copy of this book!

I've been a Courtney Summers fan for years and have really loved watching her writing evolve. She started out writing contemporary YA featuring female characters who were always a little more complicated than your average YA character in the 2010s (Cracked Up To Be, Some Girls Are and Fall For Anything). Then she did zombies. Then a sexual assault book, All The Rage.

That said, The Project didn’t feel at all like YA to me. It’s almost as Lo is the adult version of those complicated teen girls from Summers’s earlier books. The Project features characters out of high school and in the adult work world and, to me, felt much more like a literary suspense novel.

I also think that The Project is Summers’s best book by far. No, it doesn’t have that angsty, angry teen girl feel that her earlier books did. Instead, it’s a really interesting, beautifully written, adult book that explores the issue of faith in its most positive and negative iterations.

Lo and Bea only have each other after the terrible car accident that killed their parents and left Lo clinging to life. When Bea thinks Lo was miraculously saved by a charismatic cult leader, she joins his group, leaving Lo in the care of her aunt. Years later, Lo tries to save Bea back by infiltrating the cult.

The story is told from the point of view of both sisters and moves forward and backward in time. It’s not quite as dark a book as Sadie, but is chilling in a much quieter way. I thought it did a great job of showing both the seductive side of a cult, and the controlling, dangerous side.
 I definitely think this should be up for award consideration as even though it doesn’t really feel like YA, I think it’s an impressive piece of work.

If you’re looking for a feel good book or one with a definitive ending, maybe save this one for another time! But I loved this and definitely recommend it!

The Project is about one girls quest to find her older sister who joins a local cult after a horrific car accident that leaves her younger sister in a coma and their parents dead.  It definitely paints a true depiction of the grooming and predatory ways of cult culture and how easily one can be lured into joining them. I was hoping for some serious creepy thriller vibes just because how this book was marketed but I found it to be a bit subdued where I felt it should have had my heart racing. This was very different from the typical thriller template I’m so used to. While it’s a slow burn like no other,  it has some redeeming qualities which I won’t give away in case you decide to pick it up! I'm sure many will love this book!!

This book was unsettling, and it was thought provoking, and it was twisted, but not in the way I expected. I like Young Adult novels, and I like novels about cults and the methodology behind them, so when I had the opportunity to read this one, I jumped for it. 

Lo and Bea are sisters, but they’re estranged. Lo is in a terrible car accident when she’s 13, and both of their parents are killed. Lo is hanging on by a thread, and Bea is breaking down at the possibility of not only losing her sister, but being well and truly alone. One night, while crying alone in the hospital chapel, a man comes across her and promises to save Lo in exchange for devotion. 

Bea accepts. And from there we start her journey into Lev’s web as a member of the Unity Project. 

And Lo lives. 

Told in dual timelines, what I think was most unique and intriguing about this book was how we watched two sisters, in two completely different situations at two completely different times, come across Lev and watch them get twisted up into his world. It’s subtle, how he manipulates the situation, and it’s impressive, how he knows just what to do with each person he comes across to appeal to his new recruits. Watching this story unfold, and working with Lo as she tries to track down Bea and find out just where she went and what happened to their relationship was both heartbreaking and fascinating. This story gives you a unique perspective on how cult leaders find their marks, and I was wrapped up in this entire narrative from start to finish. The characters were well developed, they were unreliable, and they were all selfishly driven, and it was hard to know who to trust. I think I liked that most of all.  

I do think it wrapped up a little prematurely (and quickly) and I think it was a little too neat, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story at all. It was a long, slow burn, and it was worth every minute of my time. Honestly, I still feel a little unsettled by the entire story and I think that feeling will linger every time I think back on this book. The idea behind it all, and how real it is (and can be) is probably the biggest reason I keep coming back to it.

I hope you get the chance to read this one, and I hope you enjoy it. 

Welcome to the Project. 


{Many thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the review copy}

Just like her previous novel, Sadie, Courtney Summers once again writes a devastating novel about  tragedy, family and trauma.

When Lo was 13 years old, she was in a car accident that killed her parents and left her on a ventilator.  The only family Lo was left with was her 19 year old sister Bea.  Bea was so broken after the accident that instead of being by Lo's side, she joins a cult called the Unity Project led by the charismatic leader Lev Warren, leaving Lo behind.  Now, Lo is 19 and a journalist.  After another tragedy happens, she is determined to find Bea and get to the bottom of what the Unity Project is up.  She has no idea what is about to go up against.

Summers has such lyrical writing that this was a truly a book that was hard to put down.  While the plot was a slow burn in the beginning, as the story progressed, I was eager to see what would happen to the characters next.  This book is told in alternating perspectives from Bea in the past and Lo in the present, which presents even more complex layers to the story.  While some parts of the story were a bit unbelievable, I was really rooting for the sisters and family at the heart of the story.  I loved all the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the last few pages.  My only worry is that while this book is marketed as a teen book, there are a lot of very mature and disturbing things in this book that may be uncomfortable for younger readers.  Overall, this was a great read and I will be recommending it.

This is exactly the intensity and intrigue I have come to expect from Courtney Summers. The author excels at writing multiple perspective books and creating a story that keeps you hooked through key reveals, parallel experiences and complex webs of characters. The two main characters Lo and Bea sisters whose parents die in a car crash that left Lo in the hospital are well developed and really bring forth the resonance of the special bond siblings have. This journey of faith, fear, and family is definitely one you do not want to miss. 

I received reviewed The Project by Courtney Summers as an ARC through NetGalley. #TheProject #NetGalley

After reading 7% of this book, I couldn't remember why it had appealed to me, and I couldn't seem to work out where the story was going. 
So, like a fellow reader, I went back and looked up the blurb. The beginning of the book seemed to have NO relation to what the book was about, and I really hate that. The frustration continued as I waited for the nitty gritty plot to get going, and for me it just didn't. It sounded like a totally different book!
The prologue concerning the sibling rivalry was the same as any birth of a sibling, and doesn't give me any information about Bea and Lo's future relationship, and then it went to Lo's perspective but it wasn't clear enough to me. 
I wanted to love this book, but it was such a confusing read. 
Thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.