The Compound is a sharp, fast-paced debut from Aisling Rawle that pulls readers into a glittering nightmare of reality TV gone off the rails. Told through the eyes of Lily, a savvy but vulnerable 20-something lured into a desert-based dating show, the novel balances satire and suspense with impressive agility. What starts as a glossy quest for luxury and love quickly devolves into a brutal game of survival, where the imbalance of power between contestants becomes increasingly sinister.

Rawle masterfully paces the story, using daily eliminations and cutthroat competitions to build tension. Lily's evolution from passive participant to calculating competitor is compelling and believable, making her more than just another reality-show archetype. The skewed gender dynamics and commodification of the contestants feel disturbingly plausible, adding a layer of social critique beneath the drama.

While the premise flirts with the absurd, Rawle’s smart prose and tight plotting keep it grounded, even as the stakes spiral. The only thing holding it back from five stars is a slight lack of clarity in the show's broader mechanics and a few supporting characters who never quite escape their stereotypes.

Still, The Compound is an engrossing, surprisingly thoughtful thriller that fans of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games will devour. It’s glossy, grim, and impossible to put down.

I tore through this book in less than 24 hours. I would have done it faster were it not for pesky interruptions like work and sleep.

Aisling Rawle makes it look easy, and I was surprised to learn this is her first novel. Under a seemingly simple plot about a rather vicious and degrading reality show is a scathing indictment of capitalism, materialism, and escapism. You can't just put your head in the sand and pretend everything is fine, the author warns. Reality is coming for you one way or another.

I read another reviewer refer to The Compound as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies, which I absolutely agree with, but in many ways it reminded me of I Who Have Never Known Men: the liminal feel to it, the dread that is always just out of reach and never quite named, and a certain horror in how little we know.

I love Rawle's writing style. I love this book. It is weird and eerie and anticapitalist and biting and vicious and maybe even a little hopeful. What a thrill. This book won't be right for everyone, but it certainly was for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, and Aisling Rawle for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly am confused about this one. not a thriller, or a mystery, or a romance or really anything that grabs you. the most boring main character and her equally boring counterparts. I kept with it the whole way for a twist, or something..
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I am absolutely not even a little bit ashamed to say that I begged Random House for an ARC of The Compound.

My not-so-secret guilty pleasure is a trashy reality show. I fully blame my parents for introducing me to Survivor when we watched the first season many (many) years ago. The obsession started there, but very quickly spread to shows like The Amazing Race and Big Brother. Now, one of my favorite things to do is put together a little snack plate, fill my beloved water bottle, and settle in for some Love is Blind.

This book had me feeling more than a little convicted about that love.

The Compound follows Lily as she wakes up in a compound with nine other women. The compound is isolated in the middle of the desert, and, as she and the other girls find each other and explore their surroundings, they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their male counterparts. We aren’t given many clues as to what is going on in the outside world, but what is provided alludes to a vaguely dystopian landscape filled with some kind of war. What follows is a dark critique of just how much people are willing to do to get more, and what viewers are willing to watch and label as entertainment.

Lily was such an interesting main character to me! She’ll be the first to tell you that she is beautiful, but she’ll also be the first to be the first to say that she really has nothing else going for her. There were a lot of other characters to keep track of, and honestly, some of them just did not stick in my radar at all. That holds true to a typical reality TV show, though, to be honest. Many of the side characters did hold my attention though, and I couldn’t wait to see where their journey led them.

I obviously loved the premise of this one, and the delivery did not disappoint in the slightest. It was dark, clever, and captivating. The writing style was perfect for the story, and I genuinely didn’t want to stop reading it despite the overwhelming sense of dread over what was happening and what was yet to come. It was a slow build, but that made it so much more bingeable somehow! There was so much I loved and want to say about this read, but I truly think going into it as blind as you can is the best way to go into this one.

My only complaint is that I did want just a little bit more. A little bit more of a glimpse into the outside world, a little more from the ending, and maybe even a little more of the compound. That’s just a tiny critique though, and it isn’t one that truly hindered my reading experience.

If you like social commentaries, twisty reality shows, or books that have a somewhat Black Mirror feel to them, pick this one up! The Compound will be released 6/24/2025.

Thank you so, so much to Random House, Aisling Rawle, and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley & Random House, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Compound is such a sharp, addictive ride—I felt like I was binging a reality show I couldn’t tear myself away from. Aisling Rawle takes the familiar setup of cameras, competitions, and chaos, then dials it up with eerie tension and emotional complexity. I loved how the book blurred the line between performance and survival, especially as Lily’s motivations got murkier and the stakes kept rising. The commentary on our obsession with spectacle and the illusion of choice hit hard without ever feeling heavy-handed. It’s eerie, stylish, and smart, and I’m still thinking about that final act. A bold, twisty debut I’ll be recommending to friends who love their fiction a little unsettling in the best way.

3 Stars – A Weird, Frustrating, Yet Oddly Compelling Read

The Compound by Aisling Rawle is one of those books that leaves you feeling… conflicted. I didn’t hate it, but I’m not sure I enjoyed it either—and somehow, it still managed to keep me reading.

Set entirely within a reality TV show that’s part MTV’s Big Brother, part Lord of the Flies, the story explores themes of materialism, consumerism, and the darker sides of human nature. It’s supposed to take place in a near-future, post-apocalyptic world, but aside from the setup, that world is barely explored. If you’re looking for rich world-building, this isn’t it.

The portrayal of gender dynamics was frustrating. Women weren’t even referred to as women—they were “girls,” yet the male characters were also called “boys,” despite all of them being late teens or early 20s. It felt intentionally sexist, perhaps meant as social commentary, but instead of sparking thought, it mostly highlighted female weakness without much deeper exploration.

The pacing dragged through the first two-thirds, spending too much time “setting the stage” without clear purpose. Things finally picked up in the last third, but just as it got interesting, the story ended abruptly and without a satisfying conclusion. The main character was flat and lacked any real development, which made it hard to connect or care much about the outcome.

In short, this book was weird, a little maddening, but oddly hard to put down. If you’re into dystopian social experiments and don’t mind a slow burn with a less-than-fulfilling payoff, it might be worth a try. Just don’t expect to walk away feeling satisfied.

The Compound is a slow burn thriller set in a Love Island like reality show. Contestants have to couple up and complete challenges in order to not get eliminated.

I was a bit disappointed by how tame the first half of this book was. Most of my reality tv experience was with early 2000s VH1 shows, so I was expecting there to be a bit more oomph to both the challenges and the romantic drama. The action does pick up significantly in last third or so, but Lily's narration is so passive most of the time I never really felt like she was in much danger.

Overall I enjoyed this novel, even if it was a bit less fun and campy than I was anticipating.

I received an ARC from Random House in exchange for an honest review.

3⭐️ – Interesting concept, but didn’t fully land for me.
I was really intrigued by the premise—dark, reality TV satire with survivalist vibes—but I struggled to connect with the characters. There were moments that felt sharp and well observed, especially around media obsession, but overall it didn’t hit as hard emotionally as I hoped. I wanted more depth, more grit. Still, an ambitious debut with some memorable moments.

I could not put The Compound down and devoured this in the span of a weekend. This was a fascinating character study, centered on Lily, one of a group of twenty twenty-somethings, who are competing on a reality show to see who can stay the longest in The Compound. The women wake up at the compound after the previous group has left, and slowly begin putting the house in order. The men show up after having to find their way through the surrounding desert, glad to see the women. As the group pairs off, the games begin.

I went in knowing very little about this book, and holy cow it just absolutely grabbed me and I could not look away. This is such an interesting piece of speculative fiction - we slowly get to know each of the remaining characters through the lens of Lily's experience, but in the background it's clear that the world is on fire and there are references to an ongoing war and how the characters don't want to return to their lives.

There were so many facets that I'm still thinking about. The challenges the characters complete - both personal and a group - were a different sort of head game. The characters never knew if people were interacting with them because of a personal challenge or out of genuine human interaction. And then when you think about the producers behind all of this - who are these people trying to torture these twenty somethings and why are they letting things get so completely out of hand?

Definitely get this book and read it mostly so I can discuss it at length with you because I still have so many thoughts. Thank you so much to Random House and to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I had a great time with the Compound and think it will make a delightful summer read! I did find the lord of the flies thing wasn’t as applicable as maybe it was marketed to be?? I kept waiting for a darker turn that ultimately didn’t come. That being said this book was still a banger and will be a recommendation for me!

Thank you for the advanced copy. In The Compound, Aisling Rawle tells the propulsive story of a reality show set in a dystopian world. The world outside the compound is bleak and viewers tune in daily to watch the reality show that is a combination of Love is Blind and Big Brother.
Rawle weaves in themes of gender, class and race with the overarching goal of survival. I could not put this book down and even after over a week of finishing it I find myself thinking of the storyline. This is a creative survival story and I cannot wait to see what this author does next. The only thing that would improve The Compound is an epilogue!

I didn't think I'd enjoy reading my way through a reality dating show but boy, was I wrong. The Compound by Aisling Rawle was not only as dramatic as every one of my favorite reality shows, it was also shrouded in mystery about the world beyond the compound. The unknown hung on like the heat in the desert, creating tension in every scene.

I was completely immersed in the book right up until the end. However, the ending fell really flat for me. The entire book felt like it was building to something and then... flat. I would've happily stayed in the crumbling compound just to have a better ending.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Compound, by Aisling Rawles, from Random House Publishing Group - Random House/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

In retrospect, it was probably ridiculous for me—as someone who doesn’t like reality TV shows—to request a book about a fictionalized reality TV show. I guess maybe I was trying to get some insight into the psyche of those who would “compete” on such? And to learn more about the inner workings?

I got about a quarter of the way through this book and almost stopped. It was just that boring. But then I decided to give it one more try, and it picked up some after that. If watching a train wreck in slow motion can be considered “picking up.”

In the end, I did feel like I’d accomplished my objective, but I was on the struggle bus most of the time. Just didn’t like any of the characters, hated the idea of such a show (even knowing what’s really “out there” in this day and time), and found everything to be just generally depressing and—if not dystopian—at least dystopian adjacent.

But, hey. That’s just me.

DESCRIPTION
Nothing to lose. Everything to gain. Winner takes all.

“I dare you not to tear through The Compound at lightning speed.”—Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl

“The Compound is a debut so gripping and propulsive that it beats reality TV at its own game.”—Torrey Peters, bestselling author of Detransition, Baby

“Impossible to put down.”—Leila Mottley, New York Times bestselling author of Nightcrawling

Lily—a bored, beautiful twenty-something—wakes up on a remote desert compound, alongside nineteen other contestants competing on a massively popular reality show. To win, she must outlast her housemates to stay in the Compound the longest, while competing in challenges for luxury rewards like champagne and lipstick, plus communal necessities to outfit their new home, like food, appliances, and a front door.

Cameras are catching all her angles, good and bad, but Lily has no desire to leave: why would she, when the world outside is falling apart? As the competition intensifies, intimacy between the players deepens, and it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between desire and desperation. When the unseen producers raise the stakes, forcing contestants into upsetting, even dangerous situations, the line between playing the game and surviving it begins to blur. If Lily makes it to the end, she’ll receive prizes beyond her wildest dreams—but what will she have to do to win?

Addictive and prescient, The Compound is an explosive debut from a major new voice in fiction and will linger in your mind long after the game ends.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine via NetGalley. Do you enjoy watching reality television, along with extreme suspense and chaos? You will love The Compound. This story begins with a fast pace, then turns into a slow-burn towards the middle to end of the book. I would have liked to have seen more character growth from Lily. Overall entertaining, thought-provoking read despite some flaws in the plot and character development.

This is being pitched as a mash-up of the Love Island/The Hunger Games/Survivor and that could not be more accurate. I devoured this, it felt like watching an addictive reality show which was obviously what the author (Irish, born in 1998 - and it shows in the best way!) intended. In this hit show, set in a kind of war-torn, depressed "real" world, puts ten men and ten women in a compound in the middle of the desert. In order to stay in the compound, they must couple up with someone of the opposite sex, and compete in group and personal tasks to win prizes. Anything from basic necessities food and furniture to luxury clothing and jewelry, sent by corporate sponsors looking for brand ambassadors. Perfect summer read!

It’s pitched as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies and while it is very much that, it has a distinctly apocalyptic feeling boiling under the surface. Lily’s point of view is interesting, her so convinced she’s stupid all the while proving she’s not. It’s really, more about existential dread, the looming decline of the world as we know it, the fruitless rat race of daily life. I have felt and feel the same things Lily has, going day after day to a job that doesn’t pay me enough to buy a house or make a difference in any meaningful way. Why not then enjoy nice clothes, makeup, things? The world building hints at a near future when some undefined war has broken out, when the environment has grown more insurvivable, where it all just gets ever so slightly worse. It’s a strange, tense, and riveting read.

I really enjoyed this. I do not know that I would go so far as to call it a thriller, more of a literary thriller or a character study. This was engrossing and not as vapid as the description makes it out to be. I was engaged throughout the entire novel and was not entirely sure what would happen in the end. I like the slow turn up of intensity, it suited the story.

3.75 stars

Rawle is putting forth one sinister debut here, and its most disturbing feature is how clearly this imagined world could fit right into ours today.

Lily isn't really interested in much, so when she lands a coveted opportunity to go to the compound - and have her every move filmed there (and in a place that comes sans bathroom doors, I do mean every move) - she's delighted. What could be better than escaping political and social realities, working toward high-level consumption, and maybe finding love in the process? See how A LOT is supposed to happen during this experience? That has Lily and other contestants confused, too. What really IS the point of this show? No one seems to care as long as it's something different from their day-to-day lives.

This book captures so much of what is disturbing in our society at this very moment: a desire to avoid critical thinking and credible information, a reliance on others (people and bots) to do things and think for us, opportunities to consume ourselves silly, and a view of relationships that is both unrealistic and apocalyptic all at once.

This is not an uplifter, and I waited - wisely, it turned out - for a time when I was in the right headspace to devour this read (whatever that means during this current reign of terror). There's a lot of commentary here, and it's put together in a readable, if depressing, package.

This is a creative debut from a young author (Rawle's bio includes a birth year of 1998), and that youth shines through in a positive way here through cultural touch points. I'll be back for more from this writer, but I'll also be processing some of this content in various forms of therapy in the meantime.

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Love Island meets Lord of the Flies in this sci-fi dystopian novel - I had so much fun reading this debut novel from Aisling Rawle! This was so thought-provoking, engrossing, and entertaining.

I devoured this book. Compulsively readable, not unlike the way reality TV often is. The book centers around a reality TV show involving people voting each other off, forming relationships and alliances while completing challenges for rewards and living together. The outside world is vaguely dystopian and the character’s lives are kept mostly secret. Definitely worth the read - thank you NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!