this is a perfect book to get ahead on your reading challenge when you really just want to be watching reality tv. an ideal beach read. it slightly heightens the stakes with traces of a dystopian future outside, but it's not too far off from traitors, which makes it fun. i expected that this would get darker or have some light themes of greed and fame take more precedence, but i'm not mad that it didn't. i enjoyed this book to the end and was desperate to find out where it would go.

The Compound has such a great premise: Lily is a contestant on a reality show where she wakes up in a compound in the middle of the desert with 9 other women, waiting for 10 men to arrive. Lily does not have much to look forward to in the "real world" and hopes to win and stay on at the compound indefinitely. I flew through the first half but then it began to feel a bit redundant, and then it went a little off the rails. I loved what it had to say about our current culture, consumerism and group dynamics in general. It was a fun read that I wish could have ended a bit more solidly. I liked Rawle's writing style and would be interested in what she writes next. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. 3.5/3.75 stars rounded up

Brilliant, compelling, a book for the summer or fall or winter - don't box it in. A take on current reality show dating culture with a dash of Hunger Games, I couldn't put it down.

Imagine a game show that is a crossing of Love Island and a not-exactly-lethal version of The Hunger Games. If that sounds intriguing, you might be the perfect reader for Aisling Rawle’s new novel, The Compound (note: a Good Morning America Book Club pick). Reality TV meets a near future climate and tech capitalist dystopia. How’s that for a Black Mirror episode?

I think it’s best to go into the novel fairly uninformed, so I won’t say much more than what I have. However, there is something else to keep in mind here. While this novel has plenty of action, the book is really character-driven. We see and feel every piece of one contestant’s experience on The Compound. Lily’s perspective, start to finish, drives this book, and the action serves that end.

I admit that I struggled at a few points with her character’s journey, as well as with the ending. But the publisher’s description promises that this book “will linger in your mind long after the game ends”. I finished the novel two weeks ago, and that has certainly been the case for me. The more I’ve thought about it, the more Lily’s journey and the ending ring true with its message. It may not be traditionally satisfying, but it packs a punch. Recommended for readers of character-centric dystopian fiction. Ripe for discussion -- would make a great book club pick, as long as your club members can take some intensity. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to RandomHouse Publishing Group – Random House, the author, and NetGalley for providing this copy of The Compound for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. This one was very slow for me, I felt I couldnt' get into it because it was going so slow. Also had a hard time with the amount of characters to track.

Love Island meets Lord of the Flies in this addicting, propulsive read. I was obsessed and went in totally blind.

I really enjoyed this book, as a fan of shows like Love is Blind, Too Hot To Handle, it very much gave off that feeling. The only difference is the tasks are a little more out there then the shows I watch.

"The Compound" is a gripping and thought-provoking debut that kept me hooked from start to finish. The premise of a reality show set in a remote desert compound is both intriguing and unsettling, as it mirrors the voyeuristic nature of our society. Lily, the protagonist, is a fascinating character whose journey from boredom to desperation is both relatable and compelling. The book does an excellent job of exploring the blurred lines between reality and performance, desire and survival, making it a captivating read.

The challenges and dynamics between the contestants are well-crafted, adding layers of tension and intrigue. The author's ability to create a vivid and immersive setting, combined with the psychological depth of the characters, makes this book hard to put down. The stakes are high, and the twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end.

While the book is addictive and engaging, there are moments where the pacing could be tighter, and some plot points feel slightly predictable. However, these minor issues do not detract from the overall impact of the story.

I do not agree with classifying this book as dystopian. While it explores themes of societal breakdown and human behavior under pressure, it feels more like a psychological thriller than a traditional dystopian narrative.

Overall, "The Compound" is a compelling and timely novel that offers a sharp critique of reality TV culture and the lengths people will go to for fame and fortune. It's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Things I enjoyed:
- the slowly escalating tension
- the general plot (esp the reality show element)
- the hints at what the rest of the world is like / war (felt somewhat prescient without going too far afield from the topic of the book)
- the writing itself was enveloping and I didn’t want to put it down!

Things I didn’t enjoy:
- the ending left me wanting more
- not quite sinister enough for me
- this is the rare book I would have liked to see other character perspectives and possibly information about the reception of the show/people

The Compound was a fun and fast-paced read. I'd give it a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It follows Lily while she is on a reality show with 19 other contestants. They must complete challenges to gain food or items and avoid being banished. While it’s listed as a thriller/dystopia, it’s more reflective than dark or twisty and I feel like there could have been so much more potential within those genres. I did enjoy delving into themes of influencer culture and consumerism and it definitely made me think a lot after having read the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I don’t have a lot of positive things to say about this one and honestly probably should have DNF’d it. I picked this one up because I love a trashy reality show now and then and thought this would be a fun summer read. But this book tries to be something more and doesn’t deliver at all. I guess it’s kind of dystopian but with zero background on what is going on in the outside world or what the stakes even are, it's hard to be too invested. There is almost no character growth or development throughout the story, making it equally difficult to care about any of the characters. And then the book just kind of ends without giving you any background on what the compound is, what the point of it is, who runs it, etc. To say I was mad at the end of reading this one would be an understatement because the whole thing felt like a waste of time. I kept waiting for something to happen (especially since the description says Lord of the Flies meets Love Island) and honestly didn’t get anything. So I cannot recommend this book to anyone.

If you’re into deeply f’ed up climate fiction dealing with class and consumerism? Grab this one. Immediately. I was sucked in from page ONE and the book did not let me go until I finished. Read this one in 2.5 sessions. It’s giving Yellowjackets meets 1984 meets Love Island??? Go with me here, okay. It’s wild. Read it.

This is quite the social experiment. It reminded me of Big Brother but goes deeper. Jeff Probst would love it as he loves to see how people react to different situations. It gets a little dark towards the end. Made me think of Lord of the Flies or Yellowjackets. Really great debut novel that makes you think.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: unfortunately this one did not work out for me. I loved the premise, and some aspects of it are done well. The things I enjoyed are the survival aspects of playing games to get food but also they would sometimes be tricked into playing a game for something useless. That was interesting. The thing I largely disliked was the characters. They were not likable what so ever (for my taste). The writing also felt pretty dry and straightforward which sometimes is okay but for this story there just wasn’t enough in it for me to fully enjoy it. Because I didn’t care about the characters, and didn’t enjoy the writing, this just wasn’t for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was either more over the top or more mysterious with more complex characters or immersive writing. I think the author has a very creative idea, I would try the author again in the future.

The way I was sucked into this book from the start! I can’t give a better description than the official synopsis, “Love Island” meets “Lord of the Flies,” as twenty hot singles arrive to The Compound and compete to be the last one remaining. There’s love, friendship, strategy, and plenty of deceit; a page turner that will keep you coming back to find out who’s banished from the compound next!

Reality TV with a dark little twist… I couldn’t put this one down. The characters were exactly who you picture from your favorite trashy hookup shows, and it’s so easy to love and hate all of them. The “classic” show premise had a fun spin to it, with a touch of politics and consumerism rolled in. I gave this a 3.75 star because of the ending, though. Without giving spoilers, I was glued to the book and excited to see how it wrapped up… there was a good climax, but the conclusion was a real letdown. It felt like a big buildup, then a very abrupt finish.

If you’re a reality love show fan, I think this one will spark your interest, especially if you like things a little dark and thrilling.

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

Love island meets Lord of the Flies in this new novel. It’s unclear what’s happening outside the compound but inside contestants have to complete tasks to get the basics like food, sunblock and even a door. How far will the contestants go? Also if you don’t pair with another contestant each night and wake up next to one you are sent home.Reading this book is like being a fly on the wall of a reality tv show while it’s being filmed. Fans of these kinds of shows will love this book and recognize what the author is doing to expose what really goes on behind the scenes. Different from anything else out there.

This is one of those books that while you're reading, you're like WTF? And then when you get to the last page, you flip back and forth and say WTF?

I've never watched "Love Island" and it's been at least a decade since I last read "Lord of the Flies" so I can't speak to how it's advertised. BUT! I can speak to how you're likely going to go into this one thinking it'll be a bit of fun but the longer you read, the more you're questioning your own morals and how you would behave in such an environment.

I have a lot of questions about what exactly is happening outside the walls of The Compound and I guess we'll really never know.

If you're looking for a read that's set in a dystopian world where people are willing to sacrifice A LOT to not be on the outside world and the way it's written is you get to experience a reality show from a first person POV, this one's for you.

The Compound by Aisling Rawle is a tense, high-stakes psychological thriller that expertly unravels its secrets layer by layer. Rawle’s tight prose and mounting suspense keep you hooked till the very last moment. A deliciously sinister read.

This is in my running for my favorite book of 2025 so far!

I do watch some Love Island, so I was certainly intrigued by this dystopian satire on shows similar to it. And from the start, I was as hooked on this book as many are on the shows. I think if you do watch these shows, you’ll pick up on more than if you don’t, but I think you could have a good time either way.

The book went deeper than I expected, hitting on topics these types of shows get criticism for: vanity, over-sexualization, male intimidation, misogyny, racism heteronormativity, and consumerism/overconsumption. And it kept hitting on a major point that I feel many can relate to in our current times - the pointless feeling some of us get going to work at silly little jobs while the world burns.

In this dystopia, I guess production companies can get away with a lot more, because these contestants go through some torture. But, I don’t feel like it got as dark as I was expecting it to, based on other reviews. Still, check trigger warnings.

On a lighter note, this book was funny! There’s a running joke that a contestant keeps using big words incorrectly (as you do sometimes see on these shows!) and it’s my favorite gag every time it’s casually dropped into the dialogue.

The Compound had what I felt was a satisfying ending, though I’m not sure everyone may agree on that point.

The concept of this was truly fascinating to me. I love any sort of weird thriller/mystery revolving around a TV show. Nothing is what it seems to be, and the Compound is in disarray. I enjoyed the parallels with real life, and the way the commentary was woven into the narrative of the story. My only real gripe is the ending. It felt too abrupt for my tastes, though I can understand the choice to end the story like that, I just wanted more from it---perhaps a deeper look into Lily and her choices. Overall, though, this was a sort of surreal but great read.