This book was good in a weird way? I felt the ending left more to be desired but overall a good read. I went into it thinking I was going scratch the itch that Love Isand Season 7 left, but this was better and I felt more a connection to these characters.

This was so fun! Love island meets Lord of the flies. Say yes. A little dark but just as entertaining as some good reality tv.

This book was so fun!! Imagine a futuristic/dystopian love island with some messed up challenges. Super great summer read!

The Lord of the flies-meets-Love Island comparison is apt but the book's execution falls short. Multiple times there's mention of the wars and devastation of the outside world. I kept waiting for...something to happen. It felt like all the hints of whatever went on prior to the book's opening and what took place in the medical center were building up for a major reveal that never came. This had so much potential to be a fantastic trashy thriller.

A reality show in a (possibly) dystopian world. I’m not really a reality showing watching girl, but I was quite intrigued by this book. Quite the commentary on human relationships, the emptiness of consumption, and life in general. I read this in less than 24 hours. A really fast read that pulls you in.

I seriously finished this book in two days, I could not put it down and just had to know what would happen next! The Compound is a reality show set in the remote desert, giving lots of Love Island and Big Brother Vibes – if you like those shows, you will likely enjoy this book. The story is told from the perspective of Lily, a young beautiful girl in her early twenties. The housemates try to make romantic connections while also outcompeting and outlasting each other. The story starts out innocently enough but don’t be fooled into thinking this book is all just light, fun, and romantic. It is set in what appears to be the near future with a dark dystopian twist, and the competition and tensions continue to rise until it is no longer fun and games. What lengths will Lily have to go if she wants to win?
While reminding me of many present-day reality TV shows, this book actually illuminates how reality TV plays with real human lives and emotions purely for the purpose of entertainment. It does a excellent job of showcasing how the producers fabricate tasks purely to start drama and make for better TV, typically with little to no concern for the contestants. There is commentary on racism, sexism, and the value our culture places on more superficial things such as looks and luxury items/branding, in comparison to friendships, relationships, and general empathy toward other human beings. I also feel like the contestants were all unique in their own way and an accurate representation of a group of houseguests on a show like this. I loved the message of this book but the ending left something to be desired in my opinion – I wish there would have been more information about the outside world, how the contestants were perceived by the public, and what happened after they left the compound. I still really enjoyed this read and would recommend it to others! Thank you to NetGalley, Aisling Rawle, and Random House for the gifted ARC. This is a voluntary and honest review.

I've been seeing so many posts and tiktoks claiming that The Compound is THE book of the summer for Love Island fans, and the suggestion is obvious: 10 contestants are locked in a remote desert house with cameras tracking their every move for the viewers at home, an ominously vague dystopian world burning around them.

From the beginning, as the story, told through a protagonist that has so little to lose that she refuses to be eliminated, hints at what's to come, it immediately feels more sinister than the real Love Island. In The Compound, as contestants get closer and closer to the finale, they are rewarded with increasingly ridiculous material goods that they have no use for. An obvious critique of overconsumption culture, yes, but a clever one nonetheless. In the meantime, the contestants must complete group tasks for basic necessities — food, water, materials to fix up the house that was left in shambles by the previous season's residents — and smaller, more psychologically nefarious personal tasks that, once completed, reward them with shiny gifts from brands they must publicly thank in the hopes of landing a brand deal upon their return to reality.

The story turns delightfully sinister as the contestants grow more and more desperate to make it to the end, their true selves being revealed in a scramble for more adoration, more things, more power. Like many reality TV shows, it's purported to be about love, but what kind of love can exist in a simulation designed to distract us from capitalism and disaster? Readers will grow frustrated as they wait, and hope, for the contestants to wake up and save not only themselves but each other from the microscope that threatens to show us all the social experiment that is living in the here and now. None of us is immune to the disease.

I can't stop recommending this book — I think it has such broad appeal, despite its seeming play toward certain audiences, and there is an urgent message that feels fresh and inevitable coming from such a young author. I expect to see more published in this vein as gen z ages and increasingly dominates the fiction market.

This book just wasn't for me. I should have predicted that, I guess - it's about a reality TV show in a near-future dystopian society and I'm not a reality TV show fan. If you are, you'd probably love it. But, right at the outset, it was a bad fit for me. Here's how it fell off the rails IMO -- There were hints of wars and chaos and society crumbling in the outside world, and I would have loved to have read more about that. Instead, there was too much repetition of the same plot element. The pattern of the players getting a challenge, then getting a reward for completing it, and then somebody being banished from the compound was repeated for almost the entire book to explain how each and every contestant ended up leaving, even the bit players. It got fairly dark, which was fine, but the motivation for those dark decisions was missing because we didn't have enough understanding of what things were like in the outside world. It definitely was a commentary on consumerism, which I can get behind, but I didn't think it managed to carry it out in a creative way. It felt very much like Lord of Flies, and that's not a positive comparison. Unfortunately, it didn't give us enough information about why the players chose to participate in the show, which I would have liked to see. My book club had widely varying experiences with this book - folks that are reality TV fans loved it - so please give it a go if that describes you. It's super discussable for book clubs, for sure. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a digital copy to review.

Edit: I have now been able to read this book!

Wow that was such a fun and quick read I simply couldn't put it down

I do think some things could have been a little more subtle, but otherwise, this book delivered exactly what I was hoping it would, and I think it would be such a great book for bookclub to discuss the characters' decisions as well as the expectations and pressures put on them by the plot

Such a strong debut, I will be following this author's future works!


Original review :

I was really really interested in reading this book but NetGalley changed its whole system after I was approved so I couldn't read it on my Kobo anymore, and then they said they would make books available on Kobo again but this one isn't, so I can't read it, but I'm giving it 5 stars anyway because this isn't the book's fault and it sounded really good, can't wait to read it once it comes out!

I ended up giving this book 4 stars and enjoying the overall reading experience. But, I do have some caveat to this.

This book is correctly comped as a slightly dystopian reality show thriller that mixes elements of Big Brother and Bachelor in Paradise or Love Island with Lord of the flies. And I would say to a certain extent that that is an apt description.

There was a lot to be interested in right from the beginning. We don’t get a lot of information we don’t get a lot of context we kind of just dropped right in the middle of the action and I like stories where I have to figure out what’s going on. That’s fun for me. There are a lot of characters, just like there are in any of those reality shows and they’re all a certain type of character, right? Young beautiful, slightly vapid.

But the structure of the story element of the “show“ does a lot to move the action along to a certain extent. But by the time we were about 35% in, I wanted to keep reading but I wanted something to happen.

And this is one of my two big issues with the book. I think I thought this was going to be more dystopian and less reality show. But that’s not what this is. This is the book about a very intense reality show and it’s a book that plays heavily on the themes of consumerism and performance culture on television and in social media. I think if I had known that’s what it was then I could’ve settled into it better. But as it was, I kept waiting for some dystopian element to evidence itself and it didn’t.

The other big problem that I had with this book is very much a me problem. I do not need all my characters to be likable, you guys know that about me. But I hate it when the character through which I am seeing the story is someone who is just a limp noodle. And that’s what we get with this female main character. Lily is blonde and tan and pretty, but she’s almost nothing else. Her interior monologue is as boring as what’s happening on the outside. She just readily admits she doesn’t have a lot of thoughts in her head and kind of just wants to be taken care of. Now that’s a big trigger for this reader.

Love Island meets Lord of the Flies in this book about a group of young, beautiful, (mostly white) people looking for love, luxury, and ultimately to make it to the end of the competition to receive unlimited prizes. The outside world is in shambles because of "the war," making the emotional turmoil experienced in the Compound seem almost worth it to the competitors. Plus, every one of them has watched the competition from the outside and knows what they signed up for... right?

I'm so shocked that this is a debut novel. Aisling Rawle created a world so like ours that it could be real, and so addictive that you won't want to put it down. The characters behave as those we watch on reality shows, the line blurring between entertainment and survival. The portrayal of consumerism and greed asks whether you'd give up personal luxuries in order to work towards the common good of all, or even just for your friends and relationships. A fascinating read that will keep you hooked!

3.5 rounded to 4!

I absolutely loved the premise of this but felt like we could've dug a little deeper into the messaging rather than skimming it. It would've been more engaging for me to know a bit more about the motivations, and perhaps to have a clearer 'moral' of the story. Of course as the reader you do understand what that moral is, but I think it would've been interesting to have the characters themselves explore that. Multi-POV would have really elevated the story and given a touch more depth.

That being said, I highly recommend reading this! It was so different to anything else I've read, and it was engaging throughout. I didn't know where the story was taking and was along for the ride. An interesting commentary on reality TV and our materialistic desires for sure. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Lily has decided to take part in a reality TV show. She doesn't know where she is but it's in the middle of a desert and civilization is out of sight. There are nineteen of them (one male participant was lost in the desert as the men were making their way to the compound. The house is in ruins and they come to understand that they will get items based on doing certain tasks, known only to them. It's winner takes all and Lily has everything to gain. As relationships develop, it's hard to know who to trust and what is real and what is the game. The producers increase the stakes and crazy things start to happen...how far will Lily and the other contestants go. I found the storyline interesting as it was a mix of Big Brother and The Hunger Games and a look at a future world that is falling apart, the role of consumerism, and the interactions of twenty-somethings playing a game that seems a lot like life. Entertaining and filled with social commentary.

4.5 ★

I'm not generally a fan of reality tv and didn't have high expectations for this book... but boy was I wrong. I was hooked from the beginning and was left eager to find out what happened to the characters after the end. Like reality tv, this story is a social commentary on human nature.
We follow Lily, one of 19 contestants on a reality show that takes place on a compound where contestants participate in personal and team challenges for prizes to make their stay more comfortable (contestants are allowed to take their personal prizes home with them). As contestants are eliminated, the prizes become bigger and better. Everyone has their reason for being on the show, and we see what lengths people will go to win prizes and avoid returning to the real world, as the final contestant can stay on the compound as long as they'd like.
It's just a fun little reality show. There have been many past seasons of the show that have gone off without a hitch, what's the worst that could happen...
"The Compound" is a such a unique concept for a story and I wanted to binge it like a tv show.

Thankyou NetGalley and Random House for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I love reality shows like Big Brother and The Circle so I jumped at the chance to read this debut by Aisling Rawle!

The Compound is like a reality show but better because you know what at least one person is really thinking. Though the way these players are scheming makes me wonder about their situations before they entered the game and what's really going on in the outside world!

Such an entertaining read with lots of topics for discussion...voyeurism, reality shows, teams vs individuals in reality competitions, ambition, pretty privilege, manipulation both by the players and the producers, and just human nature in general.

I have so many questions about what happens next! Also, I feel like I need to watch Love Island now to see how it compares.

Read this if you like:
• Page-turners
• Plotting and scheming
• Reality shows
• Books that examine human nature

Many thanks to @randomhouse for the complimentary copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and provided voluntarily.

The Compound is definitely going to be a big summer hit based on the summary alone. I enjoyed my reading experience and felt like I was watching episodes of Survivor meets a dating reality show. I do wish there was a bit more background on what was taking place in the world at the time the story took place. I also felt like the end just ended and I wanted more information.

Thank you to Aisling Rawle, Random House, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to PRH Audio, NetGalley, MacMillan and Feiwel and Friends for an audio and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mysterious, dystopian, and darkly compelling, The Compound was a wild ride!

Lily earns a coveted spot on a secretive reality show that picks up right where the last cast left off—deep in an unknown desert at a derelict compound where contestants compete for fame, riches, and glory. But behind the glamor lies a sinister game designed to exploit insecurities and pit housemates against each other. The rules are harsh, the punishments harsher, and survival means coupling up, ranking each other by looks, and putting themselves through the ultimate psychological tests. As Lily walks a fine line between strategy and sincerity, she begins to unravel, risking everything in her quest to become the last one standing, but at what price?

🌴Billed as Love Island meets Lord of the Flies, it definitely leans into the latter’s tone. The tension wasn’t about who would win—it was about how far people were willing to go for what they thought they wanted.
🌴This was a slow burn, psychological thriller with a subtle tension that stemmed from commentary on self-worth, consumerism and manipulation.
🌴I listened to this one on audio, and while the clipped British accent took a minute to get used to, it ended up adding this cold, detached vibe that made the whole thing feel even more unsettling—in the best possible way.

Hear me out. I know this book is not anything like “The Martian.” If you saw that movie with Matt Damon, you know what I’m talking about. Lily had the potential of being the Matt Damon in this novel though, but there was no real world-scape, no real sense of world-building, no real substance, and no real stakes. That’s a part of the commentary about Lily, I believe, (the aloof, materialistic, relatively apathetic protagonist), but it wasn’t titillating enough to really hold my interest for long. I wanted to know what was happening outside of the compound, what the world looked like, and what this endless war being alluded to really entailed. All in all, it wasn’t what I was hoping for after the hype, but it’s still entertaining enough to warrant three stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF @ 25% | I could not get into this one for some reason. Something about the tone felt off, and despite the fact that everyone said they were hooked from the very beginning, I found myself bored. I could see coming back to this one in the future, but it's not right for me for now.

3.5 / 5 stars

Lily isn’t the prettiest girl in the compound. She certainly isn’t the most clever or cunning. Her life outside the compound feels aimless and dull. But inside the compound… Lily can complete tasks for prizes. Sometimes they’re simple solo challenges. Sometimes the whole group has to work together. Either way, the promise of rewards — ranging from basic necessities to high-end luxuries — gives Lily the drive her life has otherwise been missing. The compound might be artificial, but compared to a crumbling world of wars, climate disasters, and gray skies, it feels like easy street.

The rules of the compound — a reality television show that plays like a cross between Love Island and Survivor — are straightforward: share a bed each night with someone of the opposite gender or be banished, don’t harm other players, and don’t talk about your life before the show — or else. There are no visible producers, just cameras capturing everything for the outside world. And within this strange construct, Lily must forge relationships — alliances, romances, friendships — all while navigating a system that rewards surface-level connection, punishes emotional honesty, and blurs the line between community and conformity.

I had such a good time reading The Compound. It’s buzzy and bingeable, with just enough strangeness to keep you turning pages. The setup is sharp, the isolation is eerie, and the social dynamics feel like they’re teetering on the edge of something darker. For most of the book, I was totally on board.

But once I finished, I realized I’d been snacking on vibes, not substance. The themes — consumerism, gender roles, queerness, performance — are all there, but the execution feels broad, even heavy-handed. I wanted the book to push further, to give me more friction. Lily is deliberately unremarkable, and her apathy is clearly part of the commentary… but without a strong internal arc or emotional stakes, her ending didn’t feel earned. And while the outside world is meant to be vague, I think I needed a clearer sense of what was at risk — for Lily, for the viewers, for the world that tuned in every night.

Still, if you love dystopian fiction or reality-TV-with-teeth (even if those teeth didn’t bite quite as hard as I’d hoped), this is a fast, fun, disquieting read. I might not remember all the plot points in a month, but I won’t forget the unsettling sense that maybe Lily’s world isn’t so different from mine.