3.5 stars rounded up. In the past: Ophelia lived with her mother and younger sister in a commune/cult deep in the Pennsylvania countryside, and one morning when she was 12, she woke up and everyone had disappeared, leaving her behind. In the present: Lee is a new mother who is still haunted by the mysteries of her past. Struggling with unhealed trauma and lack of sleep, Lee has intense fears of losing her daughter, Lucy, rendering her incapable of leaving the baby in anyone else’s care. When a stranger appears in Lee’s life claiming to be someone from her past, Lee finds her need to protect her family at war with her desire for answers about her history.

The Ascent is a deeply psychological story that focuses on the long-lasting effects of childhood trauma and dysfunction, as well as on the mental and physical toll of early motherhood. I thought Allison Buccola captured those aspects well through the character of Lee, which made her easy to sympathize with. It also provided justification for some of Lee’s more volatile choices, which otherwise would have seemed downright reckless without that context. Her anxiety and paranoia, as well as the naivete born out of a desire to resolve the mysteries of her past, all made sense.

The narrative alternates between Lee’s childhood as a member of the Jacob Hill cult, when she was known as Ophelia, and the present. I am fascinated by cults, both imaginary and in the real world, so I couldn’t get enough of the sections in the past. I wanted more focus on Jacob Hill – their origins, belief system, rituals, etc. – which I think would have added so much texture to the story. I do understand that Lee’s memories, experiences, and impressions were incomplete due to her age, but I definitely wanted Buccola to lean in to the culty aspects of the story a bit more.

I was also somewhat disappointed with the direction the book ended up taking. For me, the domestic suspense/drama of it all felt expected and cheapened all of the really interesting psychological stuff that Buccola had developed in the narrative. I know it will appeal to most readers of psychological thrillers; I was just looking for something more nuanced and not so over the top. Still, The Ascent is a well-plotted book that manages to be both propulsive in its pacing and meditative in its themes, exploring the reverberating effects of trauma, the suffocation of new motherhood, and all the ways memory and reality can converge and diverge. Thank you to Random House for the complimentary reading opportunity.

Allison Buccola is so good at the slow burn, and when this one spiraled, I was fully invested. I love a cult story, and the thing is that this is only kind of that- more it is about the lingering effects on someone who felt left behind by the group, who didn't necessarily WANT to leave it. The last third or so of this is unputdownable.

I love reading books about cults and motherhood, so this was a fun, entertaining read for me, that was right up my alley! However, I was left disappointed and confused by the ending. It seemed like she had the answers all along-- so I am confused about the whole premise of the story. It seemed like the ending was wrapped up too quickly, with lots of questions left unanswered for this reader.

Are you looking for a domestic thriller with dual timelines and a doomsday cult involved to read during your summer vacation?! Then The Ascent by @allisonbuccola is for you 💙

The main character, Lee, is the only survivor of a cult that disappeared off the face of the Earth when she was a child. Or at least that’s what she thought until her little sister shows up on her doorstep 20 years later. This was such an interesting story and the twist at the end was surprising. It is a great read for vacation or by the pool this summer!

A very intriguing thriller focusing on a mysterious cult that shockingly disappeared over twenty years ago. But not everyone disappeared, one survivor remained and is currently living a quiet life with not even her husband being aware of her upbringing. She continues to quietly wonder where her family went and if they will ever come back to her, when one day a woman shows up claiming to be her sister. Lee's life is turned upside down at that, as she struggles to make sense of what is reality and if she is telling the truth.

I truly enjoyed Allison Buccola's writing and felt both storylines, past and present, very vividly throughout the entire book. I quickly read this one, eager to determine just what is going on!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

This book is out NOW-grab it asap!

The Ascent - Allison Buccola

A woman who grew up in a cult must decide if she can trust the stranger claiming to have answers to the dark mysteries of her childhood

Twenty years ago the members of a reclusive cult, dubbed The Fifteen, disappeared, leaving behind a twelve year old child, the sole survivor. The mystery of their disappearance has never been solved.

Twenty years later, in the midst of a documentary commemorating the unsolved case, Lee Burton, has kept her secret safe , from her husband and her friends. But when a woman shows up claiming to be her long lost sister, Lee is forced to confront her past while try to protect her 10 month old daughter.

A very twisty thriller with an unexpected ending.

Where does a cult go when it disappears? That’s the question Lee Burton, aka Ophelia Clayborne wonders in Allison Buccola’s newest stand alone thriller.

When Lee was 12 years old she was found wandering the side of the road looking for the charismatic Chris and his followers, known as ‘The Fifteen’. Where is her mother and sister and how could they have left her behind to face the world alone? Luckily enough,Lee is taken in by a distant aunt and lives with her two cousins. But how can she learn to trust when her whole world has been shattered? Lee eventually puts it in the past and tries to move on with her life. She marries Theo and now has a seven month old daughter. But motherhood is so very hard and she is so overprotective that the lack of sleep allows paranoia to set in. Then, after 20 years have passed, her sister, Mona shows up! Could it possibly be true? Can Lee trust this woman? She seems to know so much of the past. And why is Theo becoming more and more distant?

As Cousin Clara attempts to participate in a documentary about The Fifteen, Lee finally begins to find some peace, but not without a few barriers in the way. As she searches for answers, she learns much more about herself, her identity and her place in the universe.

I loved this book! As a Delco girl through and through, I lived only 5 minutes from any of the towns she wrote of. I could just picture the woods that The Fifteen used to use to practice their getaway. All that made it seem like a story someone was actually telling me while walking the trails. The writing was clear and concise and led to a very enjoyable read. I think this is my first Allison Buccola novel, but it won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The Ascent by Allison Buccola is ultimately a story about how far someone will go to get answers. Lee Burton has created a new life with her husband and baby girl. Twenty years ago, a cult disappeared and she was the only member left behind. A stranger shows up on her doorstep claiming to be someone from her past which sends Lee on a wild chase to fill in the holes of her life.

The story is told in two timelines, Lee as a child and as an adult, and deals with her struggles with mental health stemming from the trauma of her life in a cult. This book will have you questioning everything but the middle dragged for me. Lee isn't a particularly likeable person and her actions are questionable at best. I wasn't expecting the twist but ultimately felt like this story wasn't for me.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

This book had all the elements of a five star read for me - cults, new motherhood and a stranger at the doorstep. Unfortunately, I just cannot finish it. Currently at 63% and not interested in moving forward.

This was really interesting but also really slow - also I’ve been reading a lot about mothers and babies lately and it’s really not my fav topic to read about so others may find those chapters more interesting than I did . At about 60% there is an unexpected twist and then the book gets quite exciting and has a good ending

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This release has been on my "upcoming releases" spreadsheets for almost 2 years. The summary had me so intrigued because I love anything cult related. Unfortunately, this was quite the letdown. However, I could see this being recreated as a television series.

Yes, Yes, Yes! All of the Yes's!! I LOVED this book!

Ophelia was the lone survivor from Jacobs Hill. She was part of a cult as a child. The Ascent switches between current time period and during her time in the cult and right after the disappearance of all of the members except her.

Current time period she is married and has a 7 month old. With a baby, she has been struggling with her past and keeping her daughter Lucy safe.
Her sister, Mona, shows up one day and Ophelias husband wants her to be cautious as he believes shes on drugs.

There are a lot of different tropes going on here: cults, mental health, marital issues etc..
But i think it all flows so well.

I didn't want to put this down. It hooked me right away!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Twenty years ago, all the members except one lone twelve year, old vanished into thin air from a cult outside of Philadelphia. Ophelia was left confused and abandoned. Twenty years later Ophelia is now Lee Burton. She has come to terms with her abandonment and has a loving husband and baby daughter. When a stranger arrives on her doorstep offering her answers to her unanswered questions, she’s willing to do most anything to find out those answers and close the door to her past once and for all. Unfortunately, all is not what it seems and as the story progresses, the plot thickens. Who can Lee believe when she’s having trouble believing herself? This book had a great plot with some surprising twists along the way and it will have you staying up way too late to finish! Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this one- at times, I wasn't sure where it was going and more than frustrated with some of the FMC's actions, but I love a cult story and couldn't wait to see how this one turned out! This one definitely wasn't neat and tidy but if you like a slow-burn, try this one!

“The four stages of enlightenment: sleepwalking, an awakening, resistance, and ascent.”

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a cult thriller. But every time I do, I’m reminded just how much I enjoy them.

I really enjoyed this one. My only critique is hard to spell out without spoilers, so all I’ll say is I personally wanted two storylines to converge a bit more. Vague, I know…sorry. 🙈

Other than that, I wholly enjoyed myself. And the very end shook me!!

Cults and a domestic thriller? Sign. Me. Up. This book was super believable and yet, I didn’t guess a single thing that happened which is how you know it was well done. Buccola does the unreliable narrator trope well - you do not know who to believe and it will keep you guessing as the plot moves. I felt terrible for Lee and her struggles which you really dive deep into with the single POV from Lee. I will definitely be checking out Buccola’s first novel CATCH HER WHEN SHE FALLS.

Reading The Ascent felt like climbing a mountain that never had a peak – lots of effort, not much reward. I went in expecting a nerve-rattling thriller about cult secrets; I came out with aching legs and a mild case of disappointment. Turns out, this is one ascent that never really takes off.

Plot: The Scenic Route to Nowhere

Allison Buccola’s The Ascent kicks off with a compelling setup: a woman who survived a cult as a child is now a new mom coping with trauma and paranoia, when a stranger arrives offering answers about her past. It sounds exciting, right? Unfortunately, that premise is a bait-and-switch. The intriguing mystery of the vanished cult takes a back seat for most of the book, replaced by the protagonist’s day-to-day anxieties and domestic drama. I kept waiting for the story to kick into gear, but it just moseys along. And when the big revelation about the cult finally does show up (in the final pages!), it lands with a resounding “meh” – essentially “thrown in like an afterthought”  rather than a thrilling climax. The novel sets up a mountain of questions but delivers only a molehill of answers, leaving me distinctly underwhelmed.

Characters: Unlikeable All Around

It’s hard to enjoy a thriller when you don’t like any of the characters, and here that’s exactly the case. Lee, our heroine, could have been sympathetic given her horrific past, but her constant paranoia and questionable choices make her more exhausting than endearing. She spends most of the story stuck in her own head, vacillating and mistrusting everyone. And her husband? Let’s just say he practically deserves his own 1-star review. He’s a controlling, unsupportive jerk from page one , so unlikable that I found myself rooting against their marriage. Honestly, I wouldn’t grab coffee with any of these people, let alone follow them through 400 pages of supposed suspense.

Conclusion: An Underwhelming Climb

As a thriller, The Ascent ends up surprisingly low on thrills. The ideas of a cult mystery and a motherhood journey had tons of potential, but the execution just doesn’t deliver. By the end, I felt like I’d been promised a rollercoaster and got a slow carousel ride instead. I’m giving this book 2 out of 5 stars – one star for the intriguing premise (it really could have been great), and one because I somehow made it to the end. In the literary hike that is The Ascent, I kept hoping for a breathtaking view at the summit… but all I got was another hill to climb, and frankly, my patience ran out.

This book was way too slow for me. I found myself just waiting for the pages to end. I also get frustrated when all the main character needs to do is ask a question, but they take too long. Thank you, NetGalley.

I really enjoyed reading Catch Her When She Falls.
So I was super excited to start a new novel by Allison Buccola which did not disappoint.
So enthralling and intriguing that I devoured the book in matter of 6 hours, I didn't want to put it down.
I had so much fun reading this book!

Thank you again Publisher, NG and Author for this amazing story!

3.5 stars. A cult, alternating timelines, domestic suspense-all the makings of a great book! Personally I was not on board with all of the twists and felt like the ending wasn’t developed enough. It definitely left me wishing there was more. It kept my attention and had a strong sense of place (Philadelphia) so I had a good reading experience. I recommend for a good summer suspense!