(3.5) Such an interesting read! The satire on dating/competition shows while the world is on fire was fascinating, and I loved reading this while also being the person who's entrenched in those programs, as well. It was lightning quick for me, and I enjoyed the journey; some parts were a bit hard to reach for me, but overall this was a winner. Thanks to NetGalley et al., for the ARC!

A weird dystopian reality show that feels almost like a bad trip. What a wild ride! I hung onto every word of this book but it was a journey. A fascinating study of character and what motivates an individual.

It had the fun of Love Island mixed with the challenges and competition of survivor mixed with the ruthlessness of Hunger Games. Absolutely riveting and disturbing. Something that will stick with me whether I like it or not.

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine alone.

What a debut novel! As a Survivor fan, the concept of a book described as Lord of the Flies meets Love Island was tempting from the start!

The Compound takes place in an undetermined time and location, and involves strangers (but fans of previous seasons of the show) coming together at a huge compound where they work to earn basic (and eventually luxury) items through group and individual challenges, all while being filmed 24/7. It's a sharply written story about power, and the attraction and lure of fame.
Lily is the narrator. She's a 20 something beautiful young woman who works in a retail job and is generally unsatisfied with her life. She could be called a Compound Super Fan and came to the game with visions of fame and fortune.
In addition to Lily, there are 9 additional women and 9 men initially living on The Compound. At first, it was a challenge for me to keep them all straight but eventually people leave and the bulk of the novel is focused on a core group of players.
Ms. Rowle does an amazing job of capturing how dynamics and relationships change in reality shows as time passes, although some of the things that happen are taken to an extreme. Suspense builds and you lose all track of time as the story comes to an explosive ending.
I look forward to reading what Ms. Rawle writes next! Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read The Compound. I received a complimentary copy of the book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

Not being a big reality show fan myself, I wasn't sure how I would like this one. But it was pretty buzzy and also a GMA book club pick, so I wanted to give it a try.

Ten girls wake up in the middle of the desert. They try to get their bearings while they wait for the guys to show up. There are supposed to be ten also, but only nine arrive. They are all part of a reality TV show being broadcast to millions of viewers. Cameras are tracking your every move. They now have to complete for prizes, some that are needed just for basic survival. The longer it goes on, the more extravagant the prizes become. If you're the last one standing and manage to win, you can ask for nearly anything you want. Pretty early on, they have to form alliances to survive. It's hard to know who to trust and what is real, and what is just for the game. There is a lot of rivalry, leading to jealousy and some really hard decisions. This is definitely a character study, set in a near future, which does give it a bit of a dystopian feel. The author does a great job of building tension and keeping you invested in the story. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but was hoping for a bit more from the ending. Definitely a fast paced read that's perfect for Summer.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousepublishing for this #gifted copy.

A Big Brother locked down reality tv show set in a remote desert compound where the 'challenges' go from bizarre to increasingly dangerous and deadly. This debut thriller sounded like a no-brainer win and when it was selected as the GMA book club pick for July, I thought for sure I was going to enjoy it.

Unfortunately that was not the case. I listened to the audio version of this and wasn't a huge fan of either of the narrators (which might have contributed to my lack luster feelings about the characters). I couldn't get invested or find myself really caring what happened to anyone in the house.

This was a miss for me but fans of reality show thriller stories might enjoy it more. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I considered DNFing halfway through and should have went with my first instincts.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read. Although on the surface it seems like The Compound is just another light, summer beach read, it really packs a punch. If you’re curious about a mash up between the main character of My Year of Rest and Relaxation and Love Island, definitely check this novel out. My one sticking point was that some of the dialogue didn’t feel realistic to the characters, but other than that I think this will be the book of the summer! Looking forward to reading more by this writer.

I loved this book! It makes me so happy that so many people are reading it this summer. I feel like I've seen it everywhere. I loved the whole premise of this book, and I do plan on reading it again!

WOW. This is like, Love Island meets the Hunger Games and it absolutely works. It's dystopian but we don't quite get a taste of what exactly is going on in the world outside of the compound...and it turns from dystopian novel to pure thriller. One that will stick with me for a while.

Love Island meets Lord of the Flies?

I was sold and immediately downloaded it on netgalley. I never got to it before it was published so I ended up getting the audio on Libby (love when that happens 🤓).

Summary
Aisling Rawle's debut novel The Compound takes place on an unnamed reality competition television show, where contestants live together, compete in challenges to earn rewards, and gradually get banished until only one remains to win the grand prize.

This would make one crazy, controversial show 😱 Although it isn't too far off from the kooky reality shows out there so maybe we'll see this book come to life one day.

It wasn't the best, parts definitely dragged but I did listen to it in two days so there's that.

What's your favorite reality show? I don't watch as many as I used to but I loooove me some Love Island 😆

Thank you @netgalley for this reading copy!
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A solid 4.5 stars. I absolutely tore through this and could not stop thinking about it. I dreamed about it. I found myself staring into space at random times of day wondering what certain characters were going to do next. I’m so in awe that this was Rawle’s debut—it’s such a unique concept and a very propulsive read about the nature of desire, consumerism, and boundaries of our humanity. “Love Island meets Lord of the Flies” overdoes it a little bit in my opinion, this story is a lot more understated and eerie than Lord of the Flies or The Hunger Games (in the absolute best way). It’s more like Love Island meets king of the hill but where anyone will do almost anything to be king. Gonna be pondering this one for a long time and recommending it to everyone I know.

The Compound exceeded all my expectations. I was initially intrigued by the premise but the execution and the questions it asked of the reader made it an even better read. I can’t wait to see what Aisling Rawle writes next.

This was a super entertaining read! I really liked the premise of a competitive dating show that slowly started to show some darker undertones. It was unique and very gripping. Just a few things took my rating down, the first being that the main character was really annoying. I didn't like her and I know that's probably the point, but I just kept thinking how she doesn't deserve Sam. I also wish that we got some more answers at the end about who the producers are, why some things happened, etc. Otherwise a cool book!

The Compound by Aisling Rawle
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Confession- my guilty pleasure is watching reality shows like Love Is Blind and The Perfect Match. The Compound reminds me of a cross between The Perfect Match and Hunger Games. Like these shows, once I start, I can’t stop. Part dystopian and suspense drama, as part of a tv show, 10 women and 10 men are at a desert compound. Couples pair themselves up and anyone left without a partner at the end of the night is asked to leave. The contestants are given daily tasks while being filmed for a tv show. There is a big screen that shows the daily Communal Tasks while the small screens assign Individual Tasks. These tasks result in luxury gifts/prizes awarded to the group (food, furniture)or individual (makeup, clothes)respectively. Contestants start doubting whether actions are true or done to complete a task for gifts from high end brand sponsors. How far will you go to be the last one standing? Materials vs morals is the name of the game. Filled with unlikeable characters and drama, this would be a great beach read. Thank you to @netgalley @randomhouse @aislingrawle for this amazing binge read! Out 6/24. #books #bookstagram #booklover #noseinabook #bibliophile #reading #read #bookreview #TheCompound #NetGalley #randomHouse #ainslingrawle #dystopiannovel

The writing is excellent, but man is the MC so dang unlikeable. Giving us the perspective of such a detestable character was an interesting choice for the this type of storyline. Not a bad call, honestly. One of my only two complaints about the book is you don't really get much of an idea of what's going on in the real world beyond some type of war? Also, the early stage of the show when they're running out of food, bananas are the last things they have to eat. Bananas turn bad quickly, so I feel like the author should've emphasized the deteriorating of the fruit. Maybe even mentioned a ton of fruit flies being drawn in by the process. Otherwise, a fairly thought provoking story.

I loved this book. Absolutely will be recommended. So thoughtful, gripping, a total page turner. Did not want it to end!!

Holy bingeable book! I could not put this down and I am dying to talk about it with someone! I honestly had no idea where this story would go from chapter to chapter. I found myself questioning so many of the characters decisions throughout the book and thought about the symbolism you could find in this one. It was compared to Bachelor in Paradise/Love Island with Lord of the Flies and I think that is a perfect way to describe it. My only critique is there was not a lot of information about what life was like outside the compound. I found myself wondering what motivated these contestants to continue to stay on the island (lots to unload with that honestly) and I really wish I knew! However, that is probably part of the point and part of why there would be a lot to discuss with this one. I don't want to spoil anything but if you are looking for a book you can't put down this is it. Just know it may have some romantic situations; this is definitely not a romance book!

"The Compound" was very different from things I typically read, but I was hooked by the tagline of "Love Island meets Lord of the Flies". This book left me wanting more, and I'm not sure if it's in a good way or a bad way.

First of all, the premise was super compelling and I loved seeing the reality show unfold. If this existed in real life I think I would probably watch it. I'm not sure what that says about me. The characters in the book were all very similar, which I think was kind of the point. However, I would have liked to learn more about some of them or experience a little more depth from them. Lily had no discernable personality, which I think was also sort of intentional. But there were times when she bored me.

I definitely would have liked to learn more about the broader world "The Compound" takes place in or the public perception of this season of the show. Again, I know this was part of the point, that the characters of the book went on the show to escape the wider world and are therefore isolated from it, but I think some hints of outside context would have added a lot to the story.

Overall, this book kept me hooked, especially towards the end, but I think it really had the potential to be a great book rather than just a good book.

3 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Solid debut novel! I thought it would feature more climate dystopia, but there's only a few sentences mentioning the 'outside' world. I didn't get to know the FMC well and other than her cursory motivations for entering the competition, but could also see with the book being a satire on consumer behavior, why character development was left at surface level. Around the last third, it turned into a fun thriller as stakes grew higher to stay on the compound. Would recommend!

This was a rollercoaster! 😱

So it took me a bit to get into this because there were a lot of characters at first, and I was trying to understand how this show worked.

So the compound is in the desert. The 10 girls wake up in the house and that kicks off the show, I’m guessing they’re like drugged or something? They wake up with nothing, the place is a mess from the last group that was there for the show. It’s like a big brother sort of? The guys wake up in the desert and they have to find their way to the compound. One dude doesn’t make it, one is attacked by a dog?

Once the guys show up, there has to be a guy in each girls bed each night and if there’s not the girl gets banished.

They have to complete tasks given to them by the screen/producers in the living room to get things for the compound, and complete personal tasks to get rewards that are like branded items. The whole thing is the longer you stay, the more famous you are when you get out. But then they also talk about staying on the compound awhile at the end to get free stuff and avoid going back to real life?

We never see cameras or producers, nothing behind the scenes, and I think that’s a huge benefit and leaves a lot of mystery and creates a lot of tension. It’s all from Lily’s POV. The ending gets very intense as people get banished, and the tasks turn into things like the producers taking all the food away, and a task has to be completed for them to get more food. Or the water being turned off. So the show is intentionally starving them, and it’s this like, how far will the producers go before stepping in if a participant is injured or sick.

It was all pretty dark near the end, overall a pretty good thriller, a great summer read!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Compound was a really unique amazing debut!

It starts off a bit suddenly and it took me a few minutes to get my bearings. But once I did, I couldn’t put it down! Despite not having much character development, I was incredibly invested in the story.

It had an eerie vibe from the beginning with a touch of dystopian undertones. I loved the reality tv setting and how it tackled so many topics in a really interesting way.

I found this to be a captivating read and I’d recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.