2.5 stars. This book just wasn't for me. I should have predicted that, I guess - it's about a reality TV show in a near-future dystopian society and I'm not a reality TV show fan. If you are, you'd probably love it. Here's how it fell off the rails for me -- There were hints of wars and chaos and society generally being in an awful place in the outside world, and I would have loved more of that to read about. As it was, there was too much repetition. The pattern of the players getting a challenge, then getting a reward for completing it, and then somebody being banished from the compound was repeated for almost the entire book to explain how each and every contestant ended up leaving. It definitely was a commentary on consumerism, which I can get behind, but I didn't think it managed that in a creative way. It got very Lord of Flies, which I'm not a fan of, and didn't go deep enough to examine the downfalls of their society that led the players to participate in the show. My book club had widely varying experiences with this book - folks that are big reality TV fans loved it - so please give it a go if that describes you. I was in the minority. It's super discussable for book clubs as well. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a digital copy to review.

3.5 rounded to 4!

I absolutely loved the premise of this but felt like we could've dug a little deeper into the messaging rather than skimming it. It would've been more engaging for me to know a bit more about the motivations, and perhaps to have a clearer 'moral' of the story. Of course as the reader you do understand what that moral is, but I think it would've been interesting to have the characters themselves explore that. Multi-POV would have really elevated the story and given a touch more depth.

That being said, I highly recommend reading this! It was so different to anything else I've read, and it was engaging throughout. I didn't know where the story was taking and was along for the ride. An interesting commentary on reality TV and our materialistic desires for sure. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Lily has decided to take part in a reality TV show. She doesn't know where she is but it's in the middle of a desert and civilization is out of sight. There are nineteen of them (one male participant was lost in the desert as the men were making their way to the compound. The house is in ruins and they come to understand that they will get items based on doing certain tasks, known only to them. It's winner takes all and Lily has everything to gain. As relationships develop, it's hard to know who to trust and what is real and what is the game. The producers increase the stakes and crazy things start to happen...how far will Lily and the other contestants go. I found the storyline interesting as it was a mix of Big Brother and The Hunger Games and a look at a future world that is falling apart, the role of consumerism, and the interactions of twenty-somethings playing a game that seems a lot like life. Entertaining and filled with social commentary.

4.5 ★

I'm not generally a fan of reality tv and didn't have high expectations for this book... but boy was I wrong. I was hooked from the beginning and was left eager to find out what happened to the characters after the end. Like reality tv, this story is a social commentary on human nature.
We follow Lily, one of 19 contestants on a reality show that takes place on a compound where contestants participate in personal and team challenges for prizes to make their stay more comfortable (contestants are allowed to take their personal prizes home with them). As contestants are eliminated, the prizes become bigger and better. Everyone has their reason for being on the show, and we see what lengths people will go to win prizes and avoid returning to the real world, as the final contestant can stay on the compound as long as they'd like.
It's just a fun little reality show. There have been many past seasons of the show that have gone off without a hitch, what's the worst that could happen...
"The Compound" is a such a unique concept for a story and I wanted to binge it like a tv show.

Thankyou NetGalley and Random House for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I love reality shows like Big Brother and The Circle so I jumped at the chance to read this debut by Aisling Rawle!

The Compound is like a reality show but better because you know what at least one person is really thinking. Though the way these players are scheming makes me wonder about their situations before they entered the game and what's really going on in the outside world!

Such an entertaining read with lots of topics for discussion...voyeurism, reality shows, teams vs individuals in reality competitions, ambition, pretty privilege, manipulation both by the players and the producers, and just human nature in general.

I have so many questions about what happens next! Also, I feel like I need to watch Love Island now to see how it compares.

Read this if you like:
• Page-turners
• Plotting and scheming
• Reality shows
• Books that examine human nature

Many thanks to @randomhouse for the complimentary copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and provided voluntarily.

The Compound is definitely going to be a big summer hit based on the summary alone. I enjoyed my reading experience and felt like I was watching episodes of Survivor meets a dating reality show. I do wish there was a bit more background on what was taking place in the world at the time the story took place. I also felt like the end just ended and I wanted more information.

Thank you to Aisling Rawle, Random House, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to PRH Audio, NetGalley, MacMillan and Feiwel and Friends for an audio and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mysterious, dystopian, and darkly compelling, The Compound was a wild ride!

Lily earns a coveted spot on a secretive reality show that picks up right where the last cast left off—deep in an unknown desert at a derelict compound where contestants compete for fame, riches, and glory. But behind the glamor lies a sinister game designed to exploit insecurities and pit housemates against each other. The rules are harsh, the punishments harsher, and survival means coupling up, ranking each other by looks, and putting themselves through the ultimate psychological tests. As Lily walks a fine line between strategy and sincerity, she begins to unravel, risking everything in her quest to become the last one standing, but at what price?

🌴Billed as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies, it definitely leans into the latter’s tone. The tension wasn’t about who would win—it was about how far people were willing to go for what they thought they wanted.
🌴This was a slow burn, psychological thriller with a subtle tension that stemmed from commentary on self-worth, consumerism and manipulation.
🌴I listened to this one on audio, and while the clipped British accent took a minute to get used to, it ended up adding this cold, detached vibe that made the whole thing feel even more unsettling—in the best possible way.

Hear me out. I know this book is not anything like “The Martian.” If you saw that movie with Matt Damon, you know what I’m talking about. Lily had the potential of being the Matt Damon in this novel though, but there was no real world-scape, no real sense of world-building, no real substance, and no real stakes. That’s a part of the commentary about Lily, I believe, (the aloof, materialistic, relatively apathetic protagonist), but it wasn’t titillating enough to really hold my interest for long. I wanted to know what was happening outside of the compound, what the world looked like, and what this endless war being alluded to really entailed. All in all, it wasn’t what I was hoping for after the hype, but it’s still entertaining enough to warrant three stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF @ 25% | I could not get into this one for some reason. Something about the tone felt off, and despite the fact that everyone said they were hooked from the very beginning, I found myself bored. I could see coming back to this one in the future, but it's not right for me for now.

3.5 / 5 stars

Lily isn’t the prettiest girl in the compound. She certainly isn’t the most clever or cunning. Her life outside the compound feels aimless and dull. But inside the compound… Lily can complete tasks for prizes. Sometimes they’re simple solo challenges. Sometimes the whole group has to work together. Either way, the promise of rewards — ranging from basic necessities to high-end luxuries — gives Lily the drive her life has otherwise been missing. The compound might be artificial, but compared to a crumbling world of wars, climate disasters, and gray skies, it feels like easy street.

The rules of the compound — a reality television show that plays like a cross between Love Island and Survivor — are straightforward: share a bed each night with someone of the opposite gender or be banished, don’t harm other players, and don’t talk about your life before the show — or else. There are no visible producers, just cameras capturing everything for the outside world. And within this strange construct, Lily must forge relationships — alliances, romances, friendships — all while navigating a system that rewards surface-level connection, punishes emotional honesty, and blurs the line between community and conformity.

I had such a good time reading The Compound. It’s buzzy and bingeable, with just enough strangeness to keep you turning pages. The setup is sharp, the isolation is eerie, and the social dynamics feel like they’re teetering on the edge of something darker. For most of the book, I was totally on board.

But once I finished, I realized I’d been snacking on vibes, not substance. The themes — consumerism, gender roles, queerness, performance — are all there, but the execution feels broad, even heavy-handed. I wanted the book to push further, to give me more friction. Lily is deliberately unremarkable, and her apathy is clearly part of the commentary… but without a strong internal arc or emotional stakes, her ending didn’t feel earned. And while the outside world is meant to be vague, I think I needed a clearer sense of what was at risk — for Lily, for the viewers, for the world that tuned in every night.

Still, if you love dystopian fiction or reality-TV-with-teeth (even if those teeth didn’t bite quite as hard as I’d hoped), this is a fast, fun, disquieting read. I might not remember all the plot points in a month, but I won’t forget the unsettling sense that maybe Lily’s world isn’t so different from mine.

As someone who watched all of love island this summer and previous summers, I loved this book. So different but really a social commentary on these shows and what’s the point. I liked that it didn’t focus entirely on the relationships but at the end our main girl realizes that maybe that is the point more than things.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – One of my Top Reads of 2025!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Compound. This book was de one of the wildest books I’ve read this year.

This was like a dystopian Love Island mixed with those old Real World / Road Rules challenges that used to come in MTV back in the day… with a dash of hunger games! And I devoured every page. Seriously, while the whole world (plus their grandma and second cousin) is obsessing over Love Island, I can’t even fake the interest. But The Compound? This gave me everything I wish reality TV would: flawed characters, juicy drama, psychological twists, emotional manipulation! I’m down!

The cast was messy in the best way, each with their own baggage and backstories, and the story pulls you in deeper than any TV episode ever could. That’s the beauty of books, right? The details, the mental movie, the layers that make everything hit that much harder. Watching drama unfold on-screen can feel almost feel shallow after the books I’ve read lol, but in The Compound, it was addictively immersive.

If Love Island had this kind of intensity and depth, I’d binge every season. Until then, I’ll stick to reading books like this one.

Absolutely recommend! No notes. Just vibes.
5 ⭐️

Aisling Rawle's The Compound is a thrilling dive into the world of reality television, blending elements reminiscent of Big Brother, Love Island, and even The Hunger Games. For fans of reality shows, this novel is a captivating exploration of competition, survival, and the complexities of human relationships under pressure.

Set in a remote desert compound, the story revolves around twenty contestants who are not only vying for luxury prizes but also for their basic necessities. The premise is intriguing, and Rawle does an excellent job of immersing readers in this high-stakes environment. Initially, the book requires a bit of patience as readers are introduced to a diverse cast of characters. With so many personalities to keep track of, it can feel overwhelming at first. However, once you settle into the rhythm of the story, the characters begin to come alive, each with their own motivations and backstories that add depth to the story.

What truly stands out in The Compound is Rawle's ability to weave suspense and drama. The stakes are high, and the interactions between contestants are fraught with tension, alliances, and betrayals. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper into the emotional turmoil that accompanies life in the compound.

Overall, The Compound is a gripping read that expertly captures the essence of reality television while exploring themes of ambition, trust, and the human condition. Despite the initial challenge of navigating a large cast, the book ultimately delivers a satisfying and thrilling experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. If you're a fan of reality shows, this novel is definitely one to add to your reading list!

This isn’t usually the kind of book I’d gravitate toward, but I’m really glad I picked it up. The slower pacing actually worked in its favor; it gave space for all the uncomfortable moments and strange undercurrents of the reality TV show setup to settle in, while the dystopian undertones simmered quietly in the background.

The Love Island comparison definitely holds up. I found myself constantly reading into every little thing the characters did, always questioning their true motives. That psychological tension was the most compelling part for me and was what kept me turning the pages.

While I thought the ending was satisfactory, the last third of the book took a noticeable turn from a more psychological, satirical narrative into fast-paced, survival-driven action. The Lord of the Flies comparison makes sense based on the final third, but I guess I just didn't enjoy the execution of it. I personally preferred the quieter, subtly unsettling tone of the first two-thirds.

That said, Rawle is one of the few authors I’ve seen successfully incorporate reality TV into a novel in a way that feels fresh and intentional. I’m definitely curious to see what she does next.

Aisling Rawle’s debut novel “The Compound” is a chilling and original dystopian tale set in a decaying desert compound, where contestants compete in a brutal reality TV show. The premise is deceptively simple: obey the rules, win prizes, and avoid banishment.


The rules are clear. Contestants are forbidden from discussing the show itself, their lives outside the compound (unless prompted), or harming one another. Breaking the rules results in punishment, often severe and psychologically damaging.


Lily, the narrator, opens the novel waking in a strange bed within the compound. She quickly introduces us to the other female contestants: Jacintha, Susie, Candie, Eloise, Vanessa, Mia, Becca, Sarah, and Melissa, ten women in total. The male contestants arrive later: Andrew, Seb, Marcus, Sam, Tom, Ryan, Evan, Gav, and Carlos, nine men to ten women. Once the men enter, the game begins in earnest.


Hidden cameras capture everything. Contestants must participate in both group challenges, broadcast on a large screen, and individual tasks, delivered via tablet. Group tasks range from deeply personal questions about past relationships to bizarre physical dares like holding their breath underwater or kissing everyone in the compound. Individual challenges escalate in discomfort and intimacy: confessing secrets, performing humiliating acts, even engaging in sexual contact.


Every night, each contestant must share a bed with someone of the opposite sex. If a person is found sleeping alone, they are immediately banished. With one more woman than man, the pressure is immediate and cutthroat. Women must essentially "sell" themselves to remain in the game, reinforcing disturbing dynamics of manipulation and survival.


As food grows scarce, the tasks grow darker. One group challenge reads simply: “Banish a resident of the compound”, the reward: food. These choices force contestants to weigh humanity against hunger.


Rawle’s novel is as addicting as it is disturbing. At its core, “The Compound” is a scathing critique of consumerism and moral decay. Contestants debase themselves for luxuries, sometimes even for things they don’t need. Lily, fully aware she doesn’t want certain items, still requests them just because “why not?” That phrase becomes a chilling refrain for unchecked desire.

The book examines how far people will go for rewards, however meaningless. Characters humiliate themselves for prizes, performing degrading acts like defecating on the floor or spitting into each other’s mouths. Beneath the grotesque spectacle, Rawle draws out emotional nuance. Romantic pairings form, but always under the shadow of doubt, does this person actually care, or are they just playing the game?

Lies abound. Real feelings are obscured by forced performances. Since contestants are forbidden from confirming whether their actions or words are genuine, trust erodes, and paranoia festers.


“The Compound” is both a gripping psychological thriller and a disturbing reflection of our modern obsession with spectacle and gratification. It's a perfect book club pick, unsettling, provocative, and sure to spark conversation. Rawle's debut proves impossible to put down, a harrowing look at what happens when entertainment, survival, and consumerism collide.

I had high hopes for this book because of all the hype surrounding Love Island and reality shows like that. That being said, I found this book sort of shallow. I think if it were more of a thriller, it would've been more enjoyable.

4.5 stars rounding up. Not sure I’ve read a book like The Compound before. A mix of Love Island and Big Brother with a survival/dystopian aspect this book was right up my alley as an avid reality tv watcher. I could not stop reading and easily finished it in a weekend. The author successfully builds and keeps the tension in this story that often left me with weird/off feeling (meant as a compliment). If you prefer a lot of world building this might not be your cup of tea as it has very dropped in feeling to it. This is not to say it doesn’t feel developed because the setting feels as important as any character. I loved how there was no extensive background and you learn things as they unfold through the POV character’s eyes. You have to allow yourself to not know the answers to the natural questions that arise. The structure allowed for multiple layers to emerge over time lending to social commentary (what is reality tv but social commentary) on gender, consumer/capitalistic culture and the draw of reality tv itself (both for participants and viewers). Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader’s copy.

Shared on Goodreads and Fable.

If you love reality tv competitions - and unhinged, dark plot lines - then The Compound is for you! This book is super weird but I could not stopped reading it. Even when all the characters grew a little unlikable - I could not stop reading. One of my faves so far this year.

I can see why this book has been so hyped -- it was such a wild ride. I love reality tv and although I haven't seen the show this book is mostly drawing from, I still really enjoyed it.

There is so much tension from the very beginning and Aisling Rawle does such a good job of building and sustaining it. I couldn't wait to find out how it would all wrap up.

I could have read a lot more about these characters and would love to have spin-offs of them in their pre- and post-show life - it would be so fascinating.

I am excited to check out what Aisling Rawle writes next -- her writing was so good and this felt like such a fresh, unique book. I'm really impressed that it is a debut!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

The Compound kicks off with Lily waking up in a remote desert compound alongside nineteen other contestants, all vying in a high-stakes reality show that dishes out luxury prizes—from champagne to straighteners—for accomplishing escalating challenges. It steadily builds from intriguing to downright chilling as boundaries blur between desire, manipulation, and survival. Rawle’s writing is propulsive and binge-worthy, delivering clever social satire wrapped in addictive drama. With sharp observations on consumerism, gender politics, and the voyeuristic lure of reality TV, this debut hooks you fast and sinks in deep. It’s equal parts thought-provoking and page-turningly entertaining—one of those novels you’ll be talking about long after finishing.

As a GMA pick, it’s exactly that mix: bingeable yet meaningful.