This was such a fun read. I really loved the plot. As someone who watches Love Island, reading this truly felt like watching a new season of the show. I would highly recommend this if you want a fast paced read!

I don’t watch a lot of reality TV (except anything real-estate related), but I do find the concept fascinating. One of my favorite things about these types of shows are the wildly different personalities that clash on screen, creating the drama we all cringe at but can’t turn away from. Which brings me to The Compound by Aisling Rawle. I initially thought the story started off on the slower side, until I realized Rawle was using a unique narrative structure to mirror that of a reality TV show. Slowly unveiling new characters, the curious setting, and strange tasks each contestant is faced with to win personal items and eventually, survive. Little is known about the outside world, but hints are dropped which caught my attention. Specifically the mention of increased suicide rates by former contestants who are banished from the compound. By the time I reached the midpoint the story took a sharp dark turn and I was completely hooked.

It highlighted some dark truths about society and reality TV as entertainment that disturbed me. How destructive and obsessive consumerism has become. How low some people will stoop to be liked and gain certain comforts, and how meaningless it all is in comparison to living outside the compound in the real world. There were a few scenes that emphasized these points, including Lily, poolside, calling her mother after months of being apart. It was the first time she had spoken to another person outside the compound and I expected her mother to be happy to hear from her. Instead she didn’t have much interest in the show and made general chit-chat before they eventually hung up, calling attention to their strained relationship and Lily’s general isolation in life. It was, perhaps, one of the sad reveals behind her motives for joining the show. In another scene, Lily listening to a voicemail from a contestant who had left, Sam, updating her on his life outside the compound, including sailing his boat around the world and trying to find joy in the day to day. I hoped she would learn from her experiences inside, and run toward a less materialistic future, maybe with Sam. The ending left me feeling curious but hopeful, and deeply disturbed.

For readers watch reality TV shows, are interested in the dark side of entertainment, and who enjoy stories about flawed characters.

Aisling Rawle's The Compound draws from the addictiveness of reality tv through the experience of Lily. She is one of twenty contestants competing to be the only one left living in a desert compound under mass surveillance. Much like the shows that inspired it, the concept and rewards are more promising than the journey.

Lily and her co-contestants just wake up one morning under constrained circumstances in a desert compound. They have just clothes and shelter, the men must journey through the desert to reach them. Once they arrive, the contestants pair off in coed relationships, at least 'sharing' a bed overnight. If not, they are disqualified. Throughout their days they are challenged with group tasks for collective prizes, like food, a large couch, etc.. or individual challenges that reward them with personal care products, jewelry, etc. By collaborating they can improve life in the compound for all, but like in Survivor and other shows, ultimately only one person can win, and there are the machinations of who actually loves who, hiding of pasts or skills. What social capitol is worth anything, the muscular brutes, the vapid pretty people and the take charge all vying for something.

There are hints that this near future world is not doing well, with a multi-decade war and regular fires effecting the environment. But instead, we see it through Lily, who freely admits to being poor at math, pretty, uninterested and trapped in a unending retail hell. It's also a slow build, you know the competition will be the driving force of the narrative and the little quirks of personality and minor disagreements building to emotional climaxes and the brutality of decision for victory.

Much like Lily we never move beyond an obsession with the compound.

Recommended to readers of reality tv, simple concept fiction, pop culture satires.

This book is a MASTERPIECE and I am desperate for it to be officially released so that I can talk about it with more people! Just like reality TV itself, this book is SUCH a rich text with so much to say about late-stage capitalism, forms of violence both subtle and overt, and the way economic instability warps sex and relationships beyond recognition. I was also really impressed with how well thought-out and genuinely compelling the format of the TV show is--I found that aspect of it very similar to The Hunger Games, in that I immediately understood why people in this world would watch this show, how and why contestants are incentivized to act the way they do, and how the show as a cultural institution fits into the political and social climate described in the book. Similarly, what we learn about past seasons/contestants feels thorough and realistic without ever being excessive. Reading this book felt intensely claustrophobic in the best way, and I think the building tension was executed really well. If you’ve ever watched Bachelor in Paradise/Love Island and thought “can this get any more dystopian?,” this one’s for you.

The Compound uses a very brisk, factual writing style that I thought was really effective and fit the plot/protagonist well. In a lot of ways, the narrative voice reminded me of Emma Cline's The Guest (another personal favorite) where there’s clearly a lot of trauma/fear hidden right under the surface of the narrative, informing everything but (mostly) not being explicitly addressed, and everything feels very claustrophobic as a result. This sense of being trapped in The Compound with Lily and her fellow contestants and the slow escalation of violence is done SO well—in my notes at the 35% mark, I wrote "very little bad stuff has happened so far, but I’m terrified."

I also really loved how little we learn about the producers (and even less about the network/execs behind the show) and how easy it was to forget about them and their motivations. The book focuses so heavily on the mechanics of the show and the actions of the people onscreen, and because of that it's easy to focus on judging what we're shown and forget entirely about the context it's all occurring in and that the contestants' choices are heavily driven by the producers, which mirrors the way the show’s viewers would experience watching the show

I also thought the casually dystopian nature of the world the book is set in was really interesting—there are horrific wars going on and Lily's mom is hoarding food back home, but there are also still influencers and reality TV, and Lily's full-time job before going on the show was selling makeup at a department store. The section where she worries about being sent home and thinks about the dull and demeaning realities of her everyday life was SUCH a gut punch—it really effectively makes the point that in a lot of ways, trying to survive under capitalism is more degrading and depressing than even the stupidest games and tasks on this reality TV show. There are lots of thought-provoking moments throughout The Compound like this, and it touches on a huge range of related issues—the depiction/treatment of Black people on majority-white reality TV shows (and to a lesser extent, bi people on straight dating shows), how far people will go when they’re desperate for an “easier” life and the extent to which we justify or ignore physical violence vs. economic violence, the way men in poor/violent situations often transfer their frustration at their circumstances to women, and so much more.

I could talk about The Compound all day (and as I said, I can't wait to get to do that when the book is released). Aisling Rawle has written something very special here.

This was quite the ride. I have never read anything like this and thought the premise was beyond creative. It was Love Island meets Panic Room? I do wish we knew more about the troubles of the outside world that were driving the characters to want to prolong their stay in the house. The way the house is in disarray when they arrive (and leave) was such an interesting aspect to me, as you picture the house being this pristine mansion such as we see on reality TV. The tension brewed so so well in this book and while I had absolutely no idea where this was going to go, I was absolutely hooked on finding out and felt like I was right there alongside the characters tip toeing through the property. Really cool read.

The Compound is exactly what you'd expect from a summer thriller: there's intrigue, scandal, and a bit of dystopia. What starts off as a decent mystery descends into absolute chaos as the plot keeps taking unexpected turn after unexpected turn. If you're ok suspending belief, this is a fun read. But it may be a bit too outlandish for more serious readers of the genre.

The Compound was one that I was most looking forward to reading this year - it had everything I could ask for out of a premise: a reality competition show, a set location, a diverse cast of characters, and an air of mystery…but it never ended up going anywhere beyond an initial great concept. I unfortunately found this to be one-note, with very little plot movement, and I found myself pushing my way through it to see what would come of everything, but there was nothing there for me to grasp at in the end and I left feeling like I watched a boring handful of Big Brother and Bachelor In Paradise episodes. I can absolutely understand the appeal it could have to a lot of readers, but unfortunately it didn’t do it for me. I would, however, be very interested in any future works from this author!

The Compound is a fascinating look at human nature. Reality TV books are hard to do right without being gimmicky or cheesy but I feel this one nailed it. It was, of course, far fetched but it was well developed and creative. The characters are still enigmas to me. I did not get a good read on any of them outside of Jacintha, Sam and kind of Becca. It could be a take on how situations like that can change you as a person but it didn’t completely translate for me. Oddly enough our main character Lily was the one I left the novel most confused about. I wish the ending had a bit more meat to it. People changed at the flip of a switch seemingly and then the book was over. I am not one who needs a super tidy ending but it did miss the mark for me a bit

LOVED this book! Its right up alley! I think its a perfect summer read, to read by the pool in one sitting!

This was so intriguing! As someone who loves reality tv shows like love island this really scratched that itch for me. I love that we felt so encapsulated and stuck with the characters and not getting to see an outside perspective. this really added to the atmosphere and suspense. my one issue with the book was the ending. i feel like it kind of led up to nothing and then i didn’t love the open endedness of it as it didn’t seem likely.

Wow, this one totally took me off guard with how good it is—I knew very little about it going in, and it was such a ride! I've read quite a few novels that attempt the "reality show" setting, and this is one of the best. It really used the surveillance element to build tension into the story, like a mix of a much darker Big Brother and The Bachelor. I enjoyed the slow burn in this one, and the last quarter is INTENSE in the best way. Give it a bit of time at the top to get your bearings with the settings and characters, and you'll be rewarded. Definitely recommending this to friends!

The Compound by Aisling Rawle is a tense, slow-building psychological thriller that had me questioning every character’s motives from the start. Set in an isolated, high-security facility, the novel creates an atmosphere of dread that’s almost cinematic. Rawle does a great job pulling you into a setting where control, secrecy, and manipulation run deep, and the further you go, the harder it is to put down.

The characters are complex, especially the protagonist, whose paranoia and self-doubt feel believable without becoming frustrating. I also appreciated how the story touches on ethical gray areas without spoon-feeding answers. It invites you to sit with the discomfort. There are a few well-executed twists, some of which I didn’t see coming, and others that felt satisfyingly earned.

The only reason I’m not giving it a full five stars is the pacing in the first third. It took a bit longer than I’d like to really kick into gear. But once it did, I was all in. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a dystopian edge and layered moral tension, The Compound is absolutely worth the read. A strong debut that left me curious to see what Rawle writes next.

This book had an interesting concept and I think I would have liked it better if there was a little more personality to the main character. The participants aren’t allowed to give away personal details about their lives, but the internal thoughts of the main character were boring and bland. I did not finish it.

This story kept me entertained and anxiously awaiting what would happen next. A bunch of beautiful people all vying for luxurious gifts and fame, there's bound to be drama! I would have enjoyed this more if there had been just a bit more to the ending. While I can draw my own conclusions, I would have preferred to be pushed in the direction just a little more. 3.75 stars.

At first I wasn’t sure if this book was gonna grab me, but as soon as I started it I was hooked. It reminded me a lot of Love Island or Big Brother, like most other reviews are saying, but dystopian almost. I saw another reviewer say that this book is truly a character study, and I very much agree. The characters had similarities, but at the same time felt drastically different. I really enjoyed this one, and thank NetGalley for the early access to it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this novel!


The Compound by Aisling Rowle was a really fun foray into a near future reality tv show.

Contestants at the compound have to work together to complete tasks and earn basics such as food and furniture or extravagances like diamond earrings. With elimination rounds such as pairing up with someone from the opposite sex every night, and voting someone out of the compound and into the desert, the game gets tense at times.

I loved this fast-paced quick read. The amount of tension throughout the entire book was done well. I think the examination on human behavior was also interesting, without being too complicated. I think this would be a great beach read or airport purchase!

I’ve always been a passive kind of person; it is both my worst quality and the thing that people like most about me.

If you've ever watched the tv show Big Brother and wished it had a darker vibe, then you're going to want to read The Compound. Told from contestant Lily's point-of-view readers wake up with her in a house in the desert. As she finds nine other younger women scattered throughout the house we learn that the ten men who will join them will come from the surrounding desert. They will be filmed constantly, Lily's watched and been a fan of the show, and have to complete tasks as a group for rewards and be able to complete personal tasks for goodies. The goal is to be the last one house-guest, when you'll be able to ask for anything you want and get it, provided you still remain in the house. It all sounds like a fun break to win prizes but as the story went on, competitiveness and darker personalities began to seep in through the cracks.

I was there because I thought that this was what I was supposed to want: the house and the rewards and all the nice things.

As the narrator, you'd think your sympathies will be solidly with Lily, and they are at times, but she works as a mirror to hold up to yourself, consumerism, and influencer culture. Lily's honest with us readers and as someone who works a retail job, lives at home at twenty-five, and has a father she hasn't seen in years because he's off fighting a war, she's on the reality tv show to “take a break” and win prizes she would otherwise never be able to afford. Part of the show's concept is that each night the men have to pick a woman to sleep with in bed, if someone doesn't have a partner the next morning they are banished. This creates competition between the women and sets up a heteronormative dynamic. There is a lot being said in this story and while I think the author started some conversations that need to be had, I'm not sure they all stuck the landing, especially towards the end. There wasn't much outerworld building, it's vague future dystopian with climate change and wars, but if you're here for discussions on some of the topics I mentioned, the microcosm world in the house provides enough different personalities and situations.

He looked around him, his face pinched in sadness. “Do you really want to live here, in this…wasteland?”
“It’s no worse than what’s out there! Is that what you want to go back to? Constantly living on the periphery of disaster, just waiting and waiting and waiting for it to finally reach us, doing stupid, dull work to pass the days until then? We’re safe here— we’re removed from all of it.”
“It’s still there, Lily. It’s still happening. You think that because we can’t see it, it’s not going on?”

With so many characters the beginning was a little tougher to get a handle on but it becomes clear fairly early who are the contestants to keep an eye on. I liked how Lily had some personality components that we all probably have and don't necessarily like about ourselves and following along with the choices she made works to confront some of those indoctrinated lines of thought. This had some thriller vibes that I enjoyed, the threat of violence was always prevalent. This often felt poised to say something, it got there at times and never quite reached it at others for me. Coated in the bleakness of late stage capitalism, this dark vibed Big Brother starts a lot of conversations on the ever fascinating topics of societal structures and human nature.

As a reality TV lover, I couldn’t get enough of this book! Clearly inspired by shows like Love Island, it features all the addictive elements—shared living spaces, bed-hopping, and round-the-clock cameras. But what sets it apart is a high-stakes twist: contestants must complete challenges for rewards and vote each other out until only one remains.

From the first page, I was hooked. The characters are messy in the best way, and the drama is non-stop. It’s the perfect mix of chaos and entertainment. That said, the ending left me a bit unsatisfied. I was hoping for more character growth from the protagonist and a deeper emotional payoff. Still, it’s a fast-paced, highly engaging read—perfect for summer!

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Mix together Love Island/Big Brother/Lord of the Flies and woah.... this book sucked me in and I couldn't put it down! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I am speechless... the last quarter of the book was
INTENSE! The whole thing was crazy but it took a sharp turn into violence. The storyline was truly unique. I felt a sense of dread the entire time reading it as if I was one of the contestants in the book trying to survive in confinement while the outside world crumbled. The characters were very diverse and complex and most of them had many flaws but I think that's what drew them to the challenge in the first place. It was tricky to connect to them as first because one of the rules of the house was that they couldn't talk about their personal lives, but as the story went on I developed a soft spot for many of them especially Sam. I would totally recommend this to anyone. All you really need is 24 hours bc your eyes will stay glued to the pages.