Wow this was so fun!!! It was a combo of Lord of the Flies, Black Mirror, and reality tv. I actually really enjoyed how distant we were from the MC - I never got to know her or understand her true motivations and I feel like it added to the story in a good way. I wanted to know more about the world and the war people kept referencing. I loved all the characters!! I was worried I was going to have a hard time keeping them straight but they were all pretty distinct. I also was concerned about it feeling repetitive due to the nature of the show, but it was pretty fast paced and escalated quickly. I thought this was such a cool concept and devoured the novel in one sitting!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise drew me right in - a reality show set sometime in the future in a world that seems to be falling apart. Contestants (the female ones) wake up in The Compound, a mansion in the desert that is messy and in disarray from the last group of contestants. As soon as the last contestant of the previous season leaves the new ones arrives. The boys however are dropped in the desert and need to find each other and make their way to The Compound.

If that is not wild enough it gets more and more bananas. They have to do group and individual tasks to earn rewards — things they desperately need (like food) and vanity items they want. But they also need to sleep in the same bed as someone from the opposite sex or they’re banished. There are other ways to be banished too.

The MC Lily wants badly to win so she can stay at The Compound for as long as she likes — maybe even forever. Only it’s not so simple!

That’s all I’ll say without spoiling it but definitely read this for a truly wild ride.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Compound is one of those rare reads that grabs you by the collar, pulls you in with its glossy premise, and refuses to let go until long after the last page. On the surface, it's flashy and voyeuristic—twenty contestants trapped in a remote desert compound, filmed 24/7, competing for luxury prizes and basic necessities while the outside world quietly collapses. But underneath the shiny veneer of lipstick rewards and lawn furniture is something far more chilling: a sharp, timely commentary on performance, power, and the way we consume both fame and human emotion like entertainment.

Lily, our reluctant antihero, is not your typical protagonist. She’s passive, disillusioned, emotionally detached—at times frustratingly so—and that’s exactly the point. You watch her, just as the cameras do, wondering what she’s really thinking, what she’s hiding, and what it’s going to take to wake her up. As the show’s rules shift, boundaries blur, and manipulations deepen, the question becomes less about who will win and more about what winning even means.

Aisling Rawle's writing is addictive and razor-sharp, playing with pace and structure in ways that mirror the disorienting rhythm of the show itself. It’s a little bit Love Island, a little bit Black Mirror, and a whole lot of existential dread dressed up in millennial pink. Some chapters simmer with unease, others hit you with a twist that feels like a slap. The tension builds not from explosions or violence, but from the quiet horror of realizing just how much we’re willing to tolerate—for attention, for survival, for a sliver of meaning in a chaotic world.

This book will absolutely mess with your head—in the best way. It’s weird, eerie, biting, and absolutely perfect for fans of psychological thrillers that make you squirm while also forcing you to think. I couldn’t stop reading, and when it was over, I just sat there stunned, asking myself what I’d just experienced.

Massive thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this erratic, fascinating debut in exchange for my honest thoughts—I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to read something this bold and unforgettable.

If you're a fan of suspenseful reality TV shows, this book is for you. Unfortunately, I'm not of fan of reality TV shows, but I do like suspense.

This book was pretty slow for the first third because the contestants weren't allowed to discuss personal details unless instructed to do so. They also weren't allowed to acknowledge that they were on a TV show. This made connecting to and caring about any of the characters very difficult. We get Lily's opinions of everyone, but not much else. Even she doesn't know them yet. All we get is a description of herself (materialistic, passive, and very beautiful). She very concerned with her looks and being liked by other people and, of course, winning lots and lots of prizes. To be honest, I never really liked Lily. I couldn't connect with her.

Eventually, we start learning about the other people and slowly opinions start to form. Everyone is some degree of materialistic, otherwise they wouldn't be on the show where the goal is to be the last person to stay and win lots of prizes. The only character that I actually liked was Sam. He seemed to not care as much about winning prizes. He ends up being the love interest for Lily. And even though I understand why she's attracted to him, I don't get why he's interested in her. He's reasonable, and smart. They kind of seem like opposites (which she does acknowledge a few times), and I get the opposites tend to attract, but I was hoping that there was something about her that would explain why he liked her. I would have very much enjoyed a chapter or two from Sam’s point of view to see what he thinks of the show and all the contestants, and to view Lily in a different light. We know how she sees herself, but how do others see her? Specifically, how does Sam see her? As it is, there's just not enough substance to their relationship for me to really root for them.

As people are banished from the house, things finally start to get interesting. But my attention wasn't fully grabbed until the water gets shut off. Suspense starts to build and finally peaks when it's down to just our main character and the easy-to-hate Tom. I honestly wasn't sure how things were going to play out.

However, after the exciting events events with Tom, things just kind of settle back down and then it's the end. I wasn't a fan of the ending because I don't agree with the main character's choice (not her choice to leave, but her choice to take as much as she could. I was hoping for a change of heart when it came to material possessions), but it wasn't a terrible ending.

In it's current state, this book has some inconsistencies and grammar errors, but hopefully those will get addressed before it's released. There's definitely a lot of potential for this book, it just needs a little fine-tuning. I can even see it becoming an actual TV show or a movie, maybe. Overall, it's an pretty enjoyable book.

4

Setting: unknown
Rep: queer protagonist; multiple queer side characters

I love a reality TV plot and I love a slow dread literary thriller so this really worked for me (right up until the end, anyway, which was so anticlimactic, but I also understand why it's that way when this book is a critique of shows like love Island). Unhinged and weird and tense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am not a fan of reality dating TV shows..as in I’ve seen maybe 10 episodes total ever. So imagine my surprise when I could not put this book down.

I found Lily to be an interesting MC. She is aware of her beauty, and also aware that it really seems to be the only thing she brings to the table. I love when a character is able to be honest about their level of intelligence, especially when we’re all apt to overestimate our intelligence. I found myself drawn to Lily because of this and was heavily invested in the ways she was able to escape and de-escalate conflict.

I also enjoyed subtle references to a world where turmoil is thriving - burning wildfires, vague references to “the wars”, an obvious need for escapism TV. The background threat of a world in chaos makes the desire to watch this kind of show understandable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I wouldn’t label it a thriller per se, but I think fans of thrillers will enjoy the tension that builds and builds.

Review: The Compound by Aisling Rawle

I didn’t finish The Compound, and here’s why: while the premise was intriguing, the pacing just didn’t grab me. The writing felt a bit too slow and the characters, although interesting, didn’t compel me to keep turning the pages. It had potential but I couldn’t connect with it enough to see it through. If you're a fan of slow-burn, character-driven thrillers, it might be worth checking out, but it wasn’t for me.

I enjoyed this far more than I thought, as someone who has watched shows like The Circle and Too Hot to Handle. The whole fighting through the desert to get to the compound thing is a bit intense, and there are other moments of extreme violence and negligence, and it is an interesting read! I cannot say I know the characters deeply, but their motivations are clear enough that the story remains worthwhile, and I would describe this book as a pageturner that is meant to turn into a movie. I have high hopes for the next book that Rawle publishes.

I thought this book was okay. The premise is a reality show that’s described as a cross between Love Island and The Hunger Games. This book has a lot to say about consumerism and relationships. Tbh not a ton happens plotwise, but it was entertaining enough. I was expecting more drama and higher stakes. The story is pretty repetitive until about 75%. The characters don’t stand out much so it was hard to remember who was who. The world outside the Compound is hinted to be dystopian and I wish we knew more about that. Overall, good concept with mid execution.

The Compound is a compelling quick read that delivers on the premise “love island” meets “lord of the flies”. It reads like a Black Mirror episode turning the premise of a dating reality show into a deep look at what we do for entertainment and the cost of living and finding love on television.

Contestants arrive at the compound and compete in group and individual challenges to win prizes, big and small. Upon arrival the compound is sparsely furnished with limited food, so the challenges are essential to complete. The large screen in the living room dictates the group challenges, and personal screens dole out the secret individual challenges. The prize of the show is staying as long as you want and taking with you everything you can carry.

It’s dark and weird and turns the idea of reality tv on its head. Who do we become while we watch it, and who do the contestants become as the producers pull the strings?

This will make a great book club book. Investigating the woes of who you would rather be, the viewer or the viewed? How much would you compromise to win it all? And what can you really take with you once you’ve lost yourself?

This is going to be a great summer beach read. And yes I will still be watching Love Island

Great for fans of Love Island style reality shows, Sci-fi, and "weird girl" books. No Spoilers!


I devoured this book in one late night read, the writing is compelling and descriptive without being too flowery. The characters are well fleshed out while remaining a little mysterious even if they are "types" you'd see on a reality show. I really couldn't wait to find out what would happen next and how our house members and Lily would survive or what they would do next. It never takes it too far although the implications that it could are there throughout (this is not a pure horror book!)

One critique could be that some things are left kind of vague about the world but we get enough backstory that I was satisfied some readers who like more explicit descriptions or "reveals" may not enjoy that aspect

The plot of this book is very interesting and engaging. It does feel like more was bitten off than could be accomplished in a 300 page book. The main character was fairly underdeveloped and I think more backstory would have been beneficial. There were times halfway through the book that were lacking the necessary world building. The premise is fantastic though but I think it honestly would make a better tv show with a more long for format so the characters and world could be better established.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
OMG what a book! This was such a unique story! I read the majority of it in one day.
Following the contestants of this dystopian-esque Love Island-meets-Lord-of-the-Flies reality show through the narrator, Lily’s, POV is incredibly gripping. The author keeps you guessing with what is happening next, and the tension between the characters builds so quickly and only made me read faster. The lengths some of them go to in order to win were horrifying and I could not look away. My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed, and somewhat anticlimactic. Really solid sci-fi horror novel!

I thought, from the blurb, I'd enjoy the novel. I didn't think I'd love it as much as I did. By the time I got a third of the way in, I found it un-put-down-able. I quickly embraced the manufactured drama of the tasks as well as the rules (the voice of production reminding players not to discuss production is soooo Big Brother lol). It's reality TV with the social commentary of The Truman Show.

I almost don't want to talk more about its details with those who haven't read it, the same way I didn't want to read commentary beyond the blurb because I knew I'd buy into it. And I did.

Highly recommended, and it'll probably be one of the books I can (and will) recommend to a lot of people.
I can't wait to read what she writes next.


Yep, I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved so much about this book. The reality tv show aspect, and especially the game aspect, led to some messy drama. Described as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies or The Hunger Games, there’s plenty of drama and deception.

Honestly just like when I’m watching a reality competition show, I can’t learn all these people’s names until it’s down to the final few. There were several that I didn’t even try to remember because I could tell they weren’t going to be super relevant or important. I think the idea for this tv show was really creative, and I enjoyed reading about the tasks they had to do to earn rewards.

This was a thought provoking read. We don’t know much about the world outside the confines of the compound, which makes for an interesting read. I wouldn’t say any of the characters are really likeable, but it was still fun to read about them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I highly recommend getting into this cold. The first chapter makes for a very disorienting experience but the set up works really well.

Absolutely compulsive read that for the most part hits that sweet spot between shallow escapism and a more profound existential message. The existential dilemma here being the mundane, routine existence vs instant gratification and superficiality.

The writing is simplistic, juvenile even and it fits perfectly the premise of the story. I don't have many complaints but one of them is that the author break the rules she laid out herself whenever the narrative requires it. Without revealing the plot, we are told several things about the life in the Compound at the beginning. Towards the end when the stakes are much higher these rules completely change or characters acquire useful skills out of nowhere.

Several times the narrative touches on the concept of weather the actions of the participants are real or driven by the desire to win rewards and I wish this is where it stayed as it would have made a much more interesting reading experience. On that level making Lily more of an observer rather than a participant is quite fitting, in theory. Unfortunately Lily isn't shrewd or observant and so we are stuck with her dullness.

In the end I feel that the book is very aware of its own shortcomings and the author understands the importance of moving things along at a really good pace. I anticipate this will be the breakout summer read.

Love Island meets the Hunger Games, a compelling read in a wild setting for the ages!

I really enjoyed this unique read!

Interesting premise. Loved the locked room aspect as it provided a feeling of uneasiness throughout whether it's the uncertainty of the outside...or the inside of the compound. Easy to read despite longer chapters. This book has relevant social commentary about happiness, race, gender roles, sexuality, consumerism, in a way that's digestible but isn't afraid to go there.

Found the characters to be realistic, if a bit extreme at times. Nothing happens but also so much happens that inform us about these characters and the society. FMC is kind of detached; not super relatable to me but easy to follow alongside and understandable. I feel like I KNOW this girl and girls like her. She is truly a product of her unhappiness, dead end job, uneasy society, etc.

An abrupt yet solid ending made this well done, thought provoking debut through and through!

READ FOR
- Reality TV Setting
- Locked Room Suspense
- Quick Read

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC in exchange for honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. When I read the premise I was so excited, I’m a huge Bachelor/reality dating show fan and also love apocalyptic and competition books. I did overall enjoy this and found it hard to put down, I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen to all of the characters. I wish there was more context as to what the state of the outside world was, and a little more from the ending. Overall I would recommend this, if you think the premise sounds interesting you will likely enjoy it!

The Compound follows reality show contests at an isolated compound in the middle of the desert. The book has been described as "when Love Island meets Lord of the Flies" but I'm not sure if I would characterize it this way. Yes there is a reality tv show component to it that focuses on heterosexual companionship, but this dystopian fiction lacks the violence of Lord of the Flies, Battle Royale and even Hunger Games. It's more like The Last One by Alexandra Oliva. The dystopian aspect for this book is referred to as like a background character but not explored.

I liked how this book uncovered individuals layer by layer. The character development was amazing. At it's heart this book is about relationships and materialism. I really enjoyed this debut book! Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this advance reader copy. My opinions are my own.

E-ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and the publisher: thank you! 4 ⭐️

Through Lily, the protagonist, we get the honest account of a woman competing on a reality competition show (more Big Brother than other games mentioned) desperate to win. The question is of course, at what cost; and to what end? Winning promises celebrity-status.

The backdrop is a “Compound” dropped into the desert, where 20 people compete for purported “love,” adoration of the invisible tv audience, and most importantly, the material goods they get as a result of completing assigned tasks (with a cheeky shout out to the name brands that provide them, of course!). Life is pretty good, until you wake up without a member of the opposite sex in bed with you. Then you are banished to the desert, never to return.

Outside of the compound, a dystopian near-future reality that doesn’t seem, to some characters, all that desirable to go back to.

As someone who loves Big Brother, I was delighted by this. It’s like your favorite vapid houseguest in a single unedited confessional detailing their entire season. But I think there are some genuinely GOOD writing choices in this that made me think at the end.

I am a gay man and of course at one point was like, “surely this gets addressed? These can’t all be straight people.” And then that same page there was an acknowledgment of that; a wink of queer that got me back on board and didn’t feel “token”-y when it really could have. Whether other characters fell into being that is another discussion, and perhaps that was part of the point.

Anyway, this has gotten long. I said to my partner, “it wasn’t challenging, but it was FUN! I was hooked.” And I stand by it being fun, but I’m thinking about that trampoline anecdote and realizing I missed the thesis of the book when it was thrown at me so early on, and so maybe I sold it a bit short.