Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars rounded up.

This was a wild book. I was hooked on it right away from page one! Once I started I didn’t want to put the book down! I had to see what happened next.

It read exactly like a reality tv show. I could see it playing out right in front of my eyes as if I were watching it on a television screen. I thought the author did an amazing job in that regard.

I’ve read a couple of books that say it’s like a reality tv show, but doesn’t actually deliver those vibes. This one served what was promised!

It had an eerie feel to it; the situations they were put in were so creepy. There was a sinister feel throughout the whole entire book. I know they agreed to the terms, but it was so inhumane at times. There is no way this would ever be a show that could actually air in real life.

Some of it made me mad to read, but that is unfortunately the truth with a lot of reality tv shows. Like people of color/black people getting voted off first or early, or only caring about how skinny and beautiful someone is, or women waiting on a man’s hand and foot. Not that it made the book bad, but if that sort of thing really upsets you I wouldn’t read it.

Unfortunately there was what I would call animal cruelty. I know they need to eat but it goes into detail describing how they killed ducks for food and there was a scene where fish were needlessly killed. That really made me sick and upset. It at the very least didn’t need to be described like it was.

By the end of it I really didn’t like Lily. Most of the people in there weren’t good people. Which was the point, but it was hard to root for anyone. But reality tv is for unlikeable people!

I didn’t care for the relationships because I knew they wouldn’t go anywhere. I was mainly intrigued on how everything would play out.

The fact that the author is younger than me and wrote something this good is mind blowing! The ending was a little abrupt but honestly I didn’t mind where it ended! Sure it would have been nice to see some of the aftermath, but we don’t get that as viewers since we are not the people on the show. I think it would ruin the “tv show magic” because the audience wouldn’t get to see stuff like that, so it’s kind of the point that we don’t either.

If you love reality tv like I do, you will throughly enjoy this I can guarantee!

I posted this review on GoodReads on 6/13/25 and will post it on Amazon on the release date! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7114668450

This book is described as The Lord of the Flies meets Love Island, and I would throw in Animal Farm too. In a slightly distopian future, a group of beautiful young 20-somethings compete for prizes and relationships in front of cameras for a viewing audience. The reality tv elements of completing tasks for things needed for survival made me think of the Hunger Games. None of the characters, including the main female lead Lily, are particularly likable, and most of them end up performing tasks that are demeaning or downright mean. Overall, I enjoyed this addictive read and think it would make a great vacation book. The pacing seemed a little uneven and some of the actions were too over the top, but I quickly read this book. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to pause for some thought about today's consumerism and voyeurism while breezing through a guilty pleasure summer read.

Wanted to love this soooo bad. Got this just as Love Island was starting and thought this would be the perfect pairing. It moved a little slow for me and I could never find a good rhythm with it. I ended up DNFing around the 50% mark but I just wasn't itching to pick it up. I would love to know how it ends though. Better than most reality-show like books I've read. With the right reader they will love this.

I received an invitation to this E-Arc and felt a bit cautious, even after really liking the summary. However, it blew me away, and I will accept no slander—well, I will, but I won’t listen. I know there are some things that could have been tweaked, but they do not change my feelings for the novel.

There is a bit of uncertainty at the beginning, as we are not privy to what happened before the compound, their lives, and how they came to be there. We are left to figure out who these people are and how far they are willing to go. Being in Lily's point of view was perfection; I wouldn’t change anything about her. She felt so normal and realistic, even framed as shallow, beautiful, and dumb. I didn't agree with that characterization there is much more to her than that. In the second half of the book, you can see how unhappy she is with her life and how much she is struggling. We gradually learn more about the dystopian world they inhabit, particularly how they perceive rewards and life in the compound. My favorite parts were witnessing Lily being underestimated, fighting with everything she has to stay in the game. You can even see moments when she forgets she is in a game, so immersed is she in her environment.

I absolutely demolished this book! I couldn't put it down and stayed up late to finish it. It was a perfect read for me, convincing me to pick up anything else this author publishes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing I received a ARC for an honest review !

Reading "The Compound" was a bit like watching a television reality competition show but a lot darker. It's a mix between 'Big Brother' and 'Love Island' and 'Hunger Games.' The challenges were sometimes troubling and often brought out the worst in people. It was an engaging read and would likely really be enjoyed by those who like reality shows. The characters are interesting, if a bit one-dimensional. The world outside is perhaps even darker than the remote reality environment created in The Compound but we never fully learn about it.. I found the ending a bit troubling and unsatisfying but I think others will be more enthusiastic about this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

The Compound is the setting of a reality show in which 20 twenty-something’s live together in the middle of a desert. The players complete group tasks for group rewards like tools, furniture, and food. Individual tasks yield personal rewards which grow in value as the game proceeds. A twist is that everyone needs to find a bedmate in order to stay in the game. Like many other reality shows, players can be banished by a vote. Though the premise sounded much like Big Brother or Survivor, Rawle has incorporated several twists including the desert location which increase the danger in the game. I found this to be engaging and engrossing. Lily is the central character. She works as a makeup assistant in a department store so she has no desire to return to the outside world. She plays the game well. One of the characters is a true villain. Not much is known about most of the others but despite this I had trouble putting this one down. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a page turner for me! Since I'm not really a fan of reality TV, I wasn't sure if I would appreciate this one but kept hearing about it, so I gave it a try. I got hooked fast and mostly flew through it- except for a bit in the middle where I got tired of their daily life. I did not like the abrupt ending, but I know it had to be that way to keep the focus on what happens at the compound.

The characters themselves varied greatly, and though I often got irritated with Lily's voice, her passivity allowed us to see the other contestants more clearly. Lily herself is unapologetically there for the prizes. She is materialism and influencer life. She has no other depth to her, and though she sometimes get uncomfortable when her goal is revealed, she otherwise doesn't care.

I was worried about the dystopia/sci-fi feels, but they are so low key with small mentions of a "war" and references to "what's the point" of long term thoughts, that I didn't really notice it at all. It really is kept to life on the compound not the "real world."

I would suggest this as a book club book. There are many parts I wanted to discuss as I was reading.

Overall, this is a great summer read that leaves you with a lot to mull over. It won't be a favorite of the year for me, but I don't think I'll forget it any time soon.

There are some trigger warnings for violence, blood, confinement, vomit, physical abuse, cursing, etc.

What a ride!!! This is one of those reads that grabs you immediately— such a unique storyline and a play on the dark side of reality tv and what people will do for fame and fortune. For fans of Love Island and Survivor— each chapter had my heart racing and I truly didn’t know where it was headed. I do wish we got a little bit of a better ending but I really appreciated the underlining message of this book—it really makes you think about what is important in life. Definitely recommend for a summer read by the pool/beach!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! :)

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

Big Brother is one of my favorite shows for the past few years, so when I saw this book description I was so excited. And it did not let down! Other reality TV based books I've read have just had a bit of the reality show mixed with a mystery or thriller. This whole book is the reality show though, which is great for those of us who love some trash TV.

I loved the dystopian setting of this book and how unique the TV show was. The characters were entertaining and real, definitely not your normal heros. The rules and the game were very entertaining. There were a lot of twists I didn't see coming.

This definitely is a social commentary on overconsumption, Fame, fortune, and what's really a good life. Are you really a winner if you aren't with the ones you love?

In the end though I was there was a bit more closure, it felt like it ended abruptly but I guess that's the point. Its my reason for pulling down the rating a little because I loved every part of the book.

If you love reality TV, read this! Its great!

I’m not sure about this one. This is a dystopian book in the setting of a reality TV show. 20 people are sent to a compound in the desert to participate in challenges and maintain the compound until there is only one left standing. When challenges are completed the people get either personal rewards or rewards to make their lives easier on the compound. With all reality shows, there is camaraderie, coupling, and back stabbing.

There are some serious undertones to this book. It looks at over consumerism and the thought that if we have more possessions it makes us worth more in the eyes of others. Can possessions take the place of human interaction?

This isn’t my typical genre and I don’t really think this book was for me. But, if you find yourself interested in the themes above, give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

<i>Love Island</i> meets <i>Survivor</i> meets <i>Animal Farm</i>

In this reality tv inspired story, we follow a group of women who discover their quest for love isn't the only thing they need to focus on while the cameras roll. Their own safety and survival will be threatened. Everything will be televised, there is no such thing as privacy. Everything has a price, and anyone's morals can be bought.

The world may be falling apart, better make sure the hidden cameras capture your best side... there's prizes on the line

The ten women in the titular compound will have to ask themselves how far they're willing to go to remain on screen. The chance at escaping poverty may have brought them to this set, yet what they risk is so much greater—their very lives. A satire of our collective obsession with trashy reality tv and commentary on how society craves distraction as the world falls apart. Shiny baubles become more attainable goals than surviving, as they're the more realistic option.

The protagonist Lily is an incredibly passive character. Yet rather than being a detriment to the story, her self-awareness of this fact just further relays how detached one can become from life when constantly watched and scrutinized. Things happen to her, and she may briefly mention her own thoughts or feelings on the matter, however these are rarely voiced or acted on.

The little snippets of her past provided for gifts at the producers' whims do offer a glimpse into the life of a sad, mean girl capable of things far worse than one might initially expect. She has the potential to snap—becoming someone utterly unhinged—yet elects to do nothing and coast vaguely through life instead.

The narrative style isn't quite my cup of tea: wry, direct thoughts and word for word explanations of events transpiring. The intent for such a voice makes sense however in a world where sentiments of 'this might as well happen' barely cast a thin veneer over the horrors of reality. If one thinks too deeply about what's occurring they'll go mad; or in this case ruin the show and distraction for folks back home.

What a gem! The Compound is wonderfully written and filled with compelling characters. While the main storyline may seem basic at its core (simply a story of a group of contestants competing in their stay in “the compound”), there’s an undercurrent of suspense. The story serves as a nice thought-provoking “what if” and is really a strong story that would delight all readers.

Tried to get into this one, but I didn’t love it.
Thanks NetGalley, Random House, and Aisling for letting me read before its release.

This book was a wild, unforgettable ride—equal parts thrilling, unsettling, and thought-provoking. Imagine a dystopian reality show where emotional stakes run high and every twist leaves you questioning the characters' motives—and your own instincts. It’s a genre-blending story with hints of Lord of the Flies and Yellowjackets, but filtered through the lens of modern reality TV drama. The author crafts a world full of tension and emotional depth, where each character—whether lovable or deeply flawed—adds something meaningful to the story. The narrative unfolds in three parts, each more intense than the last, with long, immersive chapters that explore what happens when people are pushed to their limits. As a debut, it’s bold and ambitious, keeping me hooked and guessing until the final page.

Wow, "The Compound" by Aisling Rawle was an absolute ride! Seriously, I devoured this book in like, 24 hours. If you're a fan of reality TV, especially "Love Island," "Big Brother," or even "Survivor," you are going to eat this up. It's got that perfect blend of dystopian vibes with all the drama and twists of a reality show.

From page one, you're just thrown right into "The Compound" with Lily and the other contestants, and it's so much fun learning how this bizarre show works as you go. Rawle does such a great job of building the tension and keeping you hooked. There were so many shocking and unexpected turns that I literally couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen next. It definitely felt like I was right there with the characters, navigating all the weirdness.

Lily, our narrator, is pretty aggravating at times, but that just made her feel even more real. All the characters felt incredibly authentic, which is a huge plus for a story like this. And let me tell you, the social commentary in this book is chefs kiss. It really makes you think about late-stage capitalism, how we justify violence (both physical and economic), and the dark side of entertainment. It's kind of like "Black Mirror" meets "Love Island" – can it get any more dystopian? Apparently, yes!

My only minor gripes were that with so many characters, it was a little hard to keep track of everyone at times. Also, while the ending was good, I was hoping for just a little bit more closure. And I really wish we had more world-building on the outside world, because it would have made some of the characters' desperation even more understandable. Plus, what was up with that maze? It felt like an ominous detail that never quite got its moment.

But honestly, those are minor things. This book was such a unique and compelling read. It’s definitely a perfect summer read to devour by the pool. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loves reality TV, dystopian fiction, or just a really thought-provoking and fast-paced story. Aisling Rawle has written something really special here, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the unique concepts and premise of the story. It reminded me of a mix between big brother, love Island/bachelor in Paradise. The book kept my interest the whole entire time, which was wonderful! One thing that did not work so well for me. There were a lot of characters which at times was hard to keep track of for me. I also felt the ending fell a little short while it was still really good, I was hoping for a little bit more to end the story! Overall, I highly recommend this read.

what a unique book! Rawle creates a fully fleshed out reality show in which young singles live at a compound together - kind of a mix of love island and big brother with a little survivor thrown in, and of course I ATE IT UP. it seems to take place in a bit of a vague alternate or near future timeline and there are some unhinged twists and turns. I liked how we jump right into the show from page one and learn how it functions as we go, instead of Rawle giving a ton of exposition to explain it. I had so much fun with this one!

4.5 ⭐️ the way I DEVOURED this book in 24 hours omg. This truly was a dystopian love island vibe and I ATE it right up. I felt transported into this world and can’t wait to recommend this to everyone as a perfect summer read.

Perfect for fans of white lotus, love island, and survivor!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

The Compound is such a fascinating story, releasing it during Love Island season is such a great move too. I loved the dystopian vibe of this story and the generally aggravating narrator, Lily. Every character felt real and the storyline was compelling basically from page one. I highly recommend to anyone who loves reality tv or dystopian books!

The Compound is a first-person account of Lily’s experience on a reality TV series in which 20 contestants compete for the chance to live an unbothered life in the compound and endless material rewards in exchange for [redacted].

The book is an in-depth chronicle of Lily’s time on the show. I found each new turn of events shocking and unexpected, which made the book compulsively readable. The reader is limited to knowing whatever it is that Lily knows and experiences, and so the compound remains mostly mysterious due to this. It really felt as though anything could happen next.

There is little world building on the state of things outside the compound. There are references to wars and short life expectancies, which are motivators for contestants to be on the show, but the author does not give much attention to it. I felt that this left me wanting a bit more so that I could better understand some of the desperation characters were going experiencing to get here. Without knowing fully how bad the outside was, it doesn’t make sense for some people to be there.

There are some details that never got their time on the page. Mainly the maze. It was an ominous element, but played a very minor role.

Nice debut. I would be interested in reading more from this author. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.