I really enjoyed the originality and novelty of this story! The suspense and tension carried throughout the novel, and I became really invested in the main character, someone with no "notable" qualities. I enjoyed that the main character wasn't a genius or secretly really skilled at X, Y, and Z that would help her on the show. I read this entire book over the course of a day, so it definitely grabbed my attention. I look forward to reading other books by Aisling Rawle!

I can’t say that I’ve ever read a book quite like this one!

The Compound follows a group of individuals on a reality tv show, living together and completing tasks to earn rewards. Tasks and rewards are simple at first, but as time progresses, things get more uncomfortable and the stakes get higher. The viewers become invested as the season progresses and the producers start to play dirty.

I love that the book starts as the girls are waking up in the compound alone. As the reader, it made me feel anxious for them and made it feel that much more real. I read most of this book today because I just couldn’t put it down. Though it was a bit of a slow burn, there was enough drama that kept you interested and yearning for more information.

This was pretty light-hearted at first, and I was shocked (but not surprised) when the game started to get a bit more grisly! Lies, deception, violence, I was HERE FOR ITTTTTT!

Definitely a 5 star read for me, the characters and the competitive nature of the games kept me hooked throughout, and there was never really a point where I got bored. I would LOVE to see this played out as a TV show, it was so descriptive that I could see the scenes playing out in my head as I progressed through the book. This will definitely be one of those books that sticks with me!

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

The Compound is the debut thriller novel by Aisling Rawle and I am in awe with how well this worked for me! I have been in a thriller drought for months because I am so tired of the same kind of stories and this was so refreshing!

I went into this book completely unaware of the plot. I didn’t read the synopsis or anything. I just got an email from the marketing team with the widget for the arc and decided to go for it and I’m so glad I did!

That being said, I think not knowing anything is the best way to go into this book. So I won’t be saying anything about the content of the book.

This story is a little slow moving and I think it works so well to create an atmosphere in this novel. The main character, Lily, is very interesting to follow. Getting her perspective, I feel like she questions a lot of things that are going on around her but she also has goals that are more important to her than figuring out answers to her questions. Which I know some readers will find a bit frustrating but I think it worked so well for what the story was trying to say.

I feel like this would make an absolutely fantastic book club book because of the discussions that could be had around it. The more I think about it, the more thoughts I have about it. What would I do in certain situations? How would I act?

I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being my favorite book in this genre this year. I can’t wait until it releases and I can get a physical copy of it!

I’m a big fan of trash reality tv, and so I decided to check this out. For me personally the first half was relatively slow and then began to pick up pace about halfway through. I thought the beginning could’ve done a bit better about incorporating some other elements, because the underlying tone of “is something nefarious going on here” started to feel very one note after a while. Lots of life outside of the compound is discussed but there’s no real solid understanding of how exactly bad it is outside of the compound. There’s a lot of ambiguity in interactions and the ending as well.

The Compound by Aisling Rawle is like Love Island meets Lord of the Flies—dark, twisted, and totally addictive. It follows Lily, stuck in a messed-up reality show where luxury comes at a serious cost.

It’s satirical, a little unhinged, and makes you question everything about fame, comfort, and how far people will go to win. Super bingeable and hard to put down

I can safely say I was hooked as soon as I picked this book up. what a fantastic vacation read!

i'd seen it described as Love Island meets The Hunger Games, and as a huge fan of both, i had to love it, right?!
Contestants are essentilly dumped at a place called The Compound, where they must learn to live amongst each other and complete communal, as well as individual, tasks in order to win things such as clothing, food, building material, and so on. i enjoyed the pace of the book, but i also feel like too many characters were introduced a bit too fast within the beginning. nonetheless, i liked getting to know everyone, i only wish we could have gotten to know them a bit more individually; why did they join the show? what was their life on the "outside" like, etc. I think that would have added deeper feelings for readers toward those who had to end up leaving the compound, and made it harder to part ways with some characters.
as I kept reading, I sort of expected things to become more gruesome (again, since I had read that it was compared to The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, etc), but it didn't really lead up to anything i originally anticipated. I think it's safer to say it had more of a Love Island/Survivor vibe to it. I also wish we got more information on "The War" that was mentioned to be happening on the "outside." it had a very dystopian nature to it, but was never really dissected in depth, even though it was mentioned a few times and affected a couple of the characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this! Hooray for Aisling Rawle's debut novel!

The Compound initially seems like a novel based on the television reality show, "Love Island". But then, it cleverly uses that premise to squeeze in quite a bit of social commentary, especially regarding gender roles and consumerism. It's an engrossing read, and one I would definitely recommend if you like these types of reality television shows. It has a similar voyeuristic appeal to that type of television, but done in a smarter, more insightful way. It definitely was hard to put down from my perspective. Unfortunately, while I did root for the main protagonist, Lily, for a while, as it turns out, she didn't really deserve my empathy - - but I'm okay with a less than likeable character. What didn't quite work is she also doesn't really grow, and the ending feels unsatisfying. Almost like it's set up for a sequel? Which I will confess - - I would definitely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. WOW. What an addictive read. I read this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down. The Compound is about a group of 20 single people who come together at “The Compound” to live. In order to stay at the compound, they have to complete tasks, but eventually, the tasks take an interesting turn. This book was very fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. Great read!

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

Sad to report this was not it for me. It was boring from the start. It kept teasing "something" but it never happened. Super hetero normative bordering on toxic patriarchal behaviors.

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

Woaaaah was this a wild ride. If you like reality TV dating shows, think that but with a more unsettling premise. Contestants are together in a house in the desert, amid extreme temperatures, burning fires, and wild dogs, and are only able to obtain basic needs and wants by "earning" them through set tasks, which range from benign to sinister. All the while, contestants are forbidden from talking about their personal lives unless it states to do so in a task. Breaking the show's rules means the producers can punish contestants even to the point of bodily harm, and meanwhile the whole world is watching.

This setup in general really kept my interest because the pacing was fast and the stakes remained high, especially towards then end when everything began to fall apart. But what I loved was how this book really opens your eyes to the consumerism and shallowness of our society, and how easily we are willing to hurt others just for the sake of having something we don't need or earning approval from people who don't care about us. It shows so clearly the value of material things in the face of real relationships and survival, and about how this specifically impacts women and the double standards they are held to. Lily and Becca's interactions with Tom and Andrew also make you think about the sheer power that is there keeping women in their place, and the different ways this can be represented.

I wish the ending had been a bit more shocking, but I loved never knowing who would be kicked out next or what crazy tasks/rewards would come up. Slowly discovering things about the other contestants along with Lily was also really interesting. I couldn't put this one down and would def recommend!

For lovers of reality tv this is the book for you. For lovers of speculative fiction, the same holds true. Aisling Rawle’s book is a cross of Love Island and Lord of the Flies meets a kinder, gentler Chain Gang All Stars. The protagonist Lily, a likable but naive young girl, competes inside The Compound in a reality based television show with 19 other contestants. Cameras watch their every move. As the competition ratchets up the connections between the contestants deepens. All the while the real dystopian world moves just outside.
I was quickly pulled into this book and was surprised to find myself fully engrossed. What was happening just outside the compound walls was always in question and just out of reach. I wish we were given more information on this dystopian world. I think that would have given the book more dimension. The Compound is complex as it also interestingly points out the dangers of materialism and social media.
I found the book entraining and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
I want to thank NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

A riveting and engaging book. What starts as an interesting story about a reality TV show shifts into something far more impactful. The plot is like a reality show crossover of "Big Brother", "Bachelor in Paradise", and "Survivor".

The Compound is split into three parts, told from Lily's point-of-view, about her time on the show. The contestants can't speak about their outside lives, can't talk about the show itself, and must complete personal and group tasks to earn rewards and incentives.

I really liked Lily, and truly connected with her as she processed her motives and mindset over the course of the show. She felt her life back home was insignificant, and now feels of value in The Compound.

The contestants do tasks, sometimes at the expense of others, to earn rewards. The goal is to be the last one remaining, and "win it all" by getting to request anything you want. The question is, will Lily make it to the end?

The Compound is a meaningful lesson on material possessions, greed, status, relationships, and reality. I was truly captivated and enjoyed reading this book! It left me thinking long after the last page.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

The Compound is a gripping and unsettling read that masterfully blends elements of Lord of the Flies, The Purge, Big Brother, and Love Island—and the comparison is spot-on. Aisling Rawle creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere where human nature is stripped bare under pressure, surveillance, and the illusion of choice.

The social dynamics are just as volatile as the physical threats, with a cast of characters constantly shifting between alliance and betrayal, much like the psychological games of reality TV. The book explores power, control, and identity in a way that feels both terrifying and entirely plausible.

If you’re into dystopian thrillers that make you question morality, manipulation, and the cost of entertainment, The Compound will leave you thinking long after you finish the last page.

I’m honestly still processing how I feel about The Compound. On one hand, the writing is crisp and engaging, and the mix of characters, both likable and deeply frustrating, keeps things dynamic. The premise is a fascinating mash-up of Love Island and The Hunger Games, blending dystopian spectacle with social critique in a way that feels eerily relevant.

There’s a lingering ambiguity throughout the novel about what’s happening outside the Compound, with only vague references to war, recession, and disease. While that mystery adds an element of intrigue, it also leaves you wondering why anyone would willingly sign up for this environment; which may be part of the point, though I found myself wishing for more clarity.

The pacing has its ups and downs. Some sections drag with too much introspection or repetition, while others race forward with shocking developments. As for the main character... she was, frankly, maddening. She often felt like a caricature of the clueless female protagonist that male authors tend to overuse: naïve, underprepared, and hard to root for. Yet, surprisingly, that didn’t ruin the experience for me.

And then there’s the ending: unexpected and completely unhinged. I didn’t see it coming, and it left me both horrified and impressed. The Compound may not be a perfect book, but it’s a provocative one that plays with genre in interesting ways and sticks with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Aisling Rawle, and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

DNF--I didn't personally jive with the writing style. The concept sounds so cool though! Maybe would try again another time, but not for me right now.

Reality TV is my guilty pleasure and books about reality tv are no different so it’s safe to say I’ve read a bunch. Somehow Rawle was able to take such a formulated concept and make it into something entirely new. From start to finish I felt like I was tuning in daily to my favorite show. The concept of The Compound is so unique and takes the reality part of reality tv to an entirely new level exploring just how far humans are willing to go to satiate their materialist greed. Could this work in real life? I mean probably but it would be scary to watch and would require some seriously intense psych evaluations and on site mental health services. Would I be the first person to sign up for it? Absolutely 🙋🏻‍♀️

I enjoyed this debut novel quite a lot. The Compound tells the story of Lily, and 19 other contestants on a reality tv show that combines elements of Love Island with Big Brother. To win, Lily must be the last contestant left on the compound by beating the other contestants in challenges, as well as by avoiding being voted off the compound. I truly had no idea where this story was taking me but it beat reality tv at its own game, keeping me hooked until the last page. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House NY for the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy of The Compound. I highly recommend this novel to other readers.

Wowza, what a read! I couldn't put it down. Part Bachelor, Love Island. Animal Farm and the Lord of the Flies-- this was such a captivating, propulsive, and deftly crafted suspense with elements of science fiction and horror. I really enjoyed the development of each character and how we can find echoes of their behaviors in some of the worst governments/politicians playing leaders on our global stage. Great commentary on the dangers of materialism, social media, technology/AI, and our obsession with the narrative of :"love". This ending with a bang and I was left with the pieces...There were some chapters that leaned a little long but given the premise, I understand why the author had to take her time world building. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to see more from Rawle!!!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. The premise of this book immediately intrigued me. Love Island meets Big Brother meets dystopia? I'm sold. I have read MANY books about fictionalized accounts of reality television, and this is absolutely top tier. Despite the fact that the first part of the book is a little disorienting as you come to understand the world and the show, I was instantly hooked. I tore through this in two days, but could easily see a world where this can be read in a single sitting. I don't want to discuss the plot too much because I think part of the experience of reading this book is to learn things on your own. I will say, this is relatively character driven - there is plot, but it is not particularly fast paced. The spare writing style really helps set the tone for the book, but it is not particularly beautiful. All that to say, I couldn't stop reading and really wanted to know how the book would end. I also wasn't ready for it to end, and would have stayed in that world to learn all about it that I could. It's rare that a sci-fi/dystopian novel lives up to its premise for me, but this one did. 4.5 stars, rounding up.

A reality show inside of a book?? Say less — I was hooked. 🎥✨ I tore through The Compound by Aisling Rawle like it was a brand-new season of Love Island and I had nothing but free time... except I didn’t. I had work. And I was a little late because I needed to finish this book.

This story reads like Love Island meets Survivor with a dash of The Hunger Games — high-stakes competition, emotional depth, and characters you can’t help but root for (or against 👀). I’m genuinely torn — part of me desperately wants a sequel because I'm obsessed with Lily, and part of me feels the ending was so satisfying that it’s better left untouched. Either way, this was such a wild, addictive ride and I can't wait to see what Aisling Rawle writes next. Thank you so much to Random House for the ARC! 💖