This is an excellent, sharp and lightly dystopian commentary on reality TV and consumption culture. The protagonist is one of 10 women on a reality show with hints of Love Island and hints of Big Brother. There's an eerie tone that sort of hangs over the book, and you never really get the level of detail you're craving about the show, how or why people would join, or the surrounding society, which made it even more compelling. I was thinking about the end of this book for a while after I read it. Definitely recommend going in with as little info as possible.

Absolutely obsessed with this. Perfect for fans of love island, big brother, and survivor. It was thrilling and exciting and I never knew where we were going next. It’s hard to review this without spoiling it. It’s one you just have to go in blind. And it’s absolutely worth it. It’s a perfect fun beach read that has a little more thrilling aspects to it. Go into it expecting nothing and you’ll come out having had a great time!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Aisling Rawle for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I didn't have a clear picture of what this book was going to be like but nonetheless, I was super excited. In my personal life, one of my red flags Is that I love trashy reality tv. I love the Bachelor, Love Island, any disgrace to television is my jam. Along those lines, I thought the book could end up being something like that, and that jumpstarted my intrigue.

I really enjoyed this one, I'm a sucker for anything vaguely dystopian-esque. I read it on a flight from London back home to Seattle and I was hooked the entire time. There were brief periods where I felt like the writing might've needed a little extra TLC but other than that, no complaints! I would absolutely recommend if you're also interested by trashy reality tv and the idea of some borderline-apocalyptic drama excites you!

A slow burn with a lot of characters.
If you like reality television, chaotic people, dystopia you will enjoy this book.

#NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Aisling Rawle for a chance to preview this title ahead of its publication date.

This story is like Big Brother set in a dystopia world. It features 20 contestants, 10 girls and 9 boys, who are brought to a compound to live and have to do tasks in order to get things they need or want. You do have to share a bed with a member of the opposite sex or by sunrise, the lone bed occupant will be banished. Just like in a real reality show, chaos ensues and there is heart break and drama.

This book was simply okay. It was not terrible. It was not that good. The characters were wholly forgettable. I didn't have trouble finishing the book so it wasn't boring, but it wasn't exciting or really that interesting. When I finished it, I would have given it 3.5 stars but as I sat down to write this review, I was struggling to remember what even happened or how it truly ended.

I would not recommend this book, however, if it sounds interesting to you, then I would say read it. It was that type of book...

Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this ARC! The Compound had me hooked from the start - it’s like Love Island was combined with the Hunger Games and I loved it. It was an interesting spin on LI to show how fake reality tv can be, but with a sinister twist. I would’ve liked to hear what happens after the show is over but overall this was an enjoyable read. I wasn’t expecting things to get sinister but I think the book would’ve been a bit dull without the sort of thriller element. Would definitely recommend to fans of Love Island/reality dating shows!

I was completely drawn in by this book. It drops you right into the scene and lets you gather what you need as it goes. It is a glaring commentary on society today, but isn't overly blunt or skiddish about it. It knows what it wants to convey. Its pacing matches the experience of the characters and while written in first person, it has a slightly removed tone that fits the message it's conveying. It has humor, horror, and surprises. Would definitely recommend giving it a try. It is probably a little dry for everyone, but worked extremely well for me.

I devoured this book about a reality show in the middle of the desert. While I’ve never watched ‘Love Island’, I’ve watched enough ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ to understand the premise of trying to find love in a house of competitors. The story follows Lily, who is searching for another life beyond her experiences back home. Initially, Lily is just a pretty face, but as the book continues, her desire to stay and win outweighs her survival skills. This was thought-provoking and a modern-day ‘Lord of the Flies’.

Twenty contestants are on a secluded compound filming a reality show in a near dystopian future, where the only description of that world is a miserable existence with ongoing wars. From the point of view of Lily, it’s a chance to be famous and to secure all sorts of flashy, expensive products, as well as the necessities of food and water. All the contestants are described as beautiful and they are expected to pair off, yet individually fight off eviction. This doesn’t feel like your average reality show that’s on now. The stakes are higher, the alternative is frightening, and the question is what does winning really mean. This is an interesting book full of suspense, with strong social commentary which left me feeling very unsettled at the end. I recommend it. With thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

I had heard mixed reviews about #TheCompound, but it was exactly the type of book I was looking for in this moment. The set-up makes it seem a little like a thriller or mystery, but it’s definitely more literary fiction. Having that it mind from the start definitely made for a better reading experience - I ended up reading this in one day!

Lily wakes up one morning in a house in the desert; she doesn’t know how she got there, but she knows that she’s part of a reality show, one that she’s been watching for years. There are other women scattered around the property (known as The Compound) and soon a group of men will arrive, which is when the rules and games will begin.

We’re dropped into this story without a lot of exposition or over-explanation; while this brings some intrigue to the story, I really enjoyed that it truly puts us inside of Lily’s head. She’s been watching this show for years (decades?) and to spend too much time explaining things would have made her narration feel less authentic.

I’ve read a handful of similar books over recent years that center on a character who is an unwilling participant, but Lily is here willingly, she’s very aware of how the game works, and she knows what she wants.

From there, I found this to be a fascinating character study - at first we’re absorbed in seeing all these other people through Lily’s eyes but as the book goes on, it really becomes so much about Lily’s character.

Thank you Random House and #NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

This book was such a fun ride! Similiar to the show Survivor! The Compound takes that concept and runs with it in a fresh, unique way. I was hooked from the very beginning and constantly found myself sneaking in extra reading time just to see what would happen next!

The premise was unlike anything I’ve read before, and the cast of characters kept things interesting throughout. The dynamics between the contestants, the shifting alliances, and the tension of the competition made this a real page turner!

The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is the ending. After all the buildup, I was hoping for something more impactful or satisfying. It felt a bit anticlimactic and left me wanting just a little bit more closure or punch to wrap things up.

Still, The Compound is definitely worth the read if you enjoy reality competition vibes with a psychological twist. I’ll be watching for what Aisling Rawle writes next!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group & Netgalley for the ARC!

I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve watched and enjoyed my share of reality tv. That kind of escapist guilty pleasure drew me to this book by Aisling Rawle. THE COMPOUND is a cross between Love Island, Big Brother, Bachelor in Paradise, and a host of other reality offerings where seemingly normal people sell their souls and their dignity for their 15 minutes of fame. Add in a Lord of the Flies vibe and I couldn’t look away.

The premise is intriguing. Ten women wake up in a house and find themselves waiting for the mysterious “boys” to arrive. They can remain in the house as long as they wake up each morning with a partner in their bed. Ok … sounds a little sketch, but I’ve watched worse. There are team and individual tasks with the potential for prizes. The more demeaning the task, the bigger the reward. And don’t forget to thank those sponsors!!!!

There are a host of messages and themes in this book, not the least of which is the emphasis society places on physical attractiveness. The author explores just how much individuals are willing to sacrifice to “win” - even when winning comes at the suffering of others. There’s no shortage of references to the effects of consumerism on human behavior.

The book left me with questions; lots and lots of questions. There is reference to wars, but few details about the works outside the compound. There are quite a few characters and keeping them straight was occasionally a challenge, but it got easier to follow as eliminations occurred.

This is a compelling read for reality tv fans and those who enjoy watching spectacles unfold from the comfort of their living rooms. Grab a bowl of popcorn and settle in for the show.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a very different kind of book. It is perfect for those who love realty tv. It take place entirely within g the confines of a realty tv show in the desert but is a nightmare scenario, yet totally plausible. It is definitely a commentary on reality shows in general and how far they have gone. It is also suspenseful, as the reader is essentially following the course of a nightmare type big brother show and the contestants dwindling down from 20 to 1. I recommend this book for anyone who loves reality television.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my free copy.

This was a unique story and I loved every second of it. I'm not even a reality show watcher, but I really enjoyed this one. I definitely recommend!

This was so addicting! I loved the game aspect, it really helped the plot move along at a good pace. I was totally interested during my whole reading experience, which is hard to do.

The Compound is an interesting look at consumerism through the lens of reality television.

"LORD OF THE FLIES meets LOVE ISLAND in this explosive, addictive debut novel, as bingeable as the best reality TV, with dark undercurrents of literary dystopia and consumerist satire."

The Compound follows the FMC as she wakes up at the compound to begin the game. Contestants must find a bedmate at the end of each night or be banished. During the day, contestants complete challenges as a group for rewards that make their lives easier and/or more comfortable during their stay. They also have the option to complete personal challenges for personal rewards.

The FMC can be frustrating at times, though she’s exactly the type of character brought to mind when thinking about reality television: passive, disillusioned, emotionally detached, and sometimes vapid.

At the core of The Compound is a story about consumerism. We’ve been fed a life of want, want, want, so we’ve confused want with need. The accumulation of stuff is nothing without people to share it with.

Without getting into spoiler territory, I very much enjoyed the fire metaphor and its ultimate conclusion.

Overall, The Compound is an interesting look at consumerism through the lens of reality television. It’s a novel that will simultaneously keep you on your toes, make you swoon, and frustrate you.

This is a book you will finish and then immediately want to discuss it with a friend! Like, what the heck just happened??
It is a very unique premise- near dystopian future (natural disasters are referenced) where 20 contestants (10 men, 10 women) are invited to the compound as reality show contestants. They must ‘partner up’ to survive being banished, and can complete team and individual personal tasks for basic survival needs & rewards. However, they cannot discuss anything about their lives outside of the compound and they *must* have a bed-mate to continue to the next round of cuts.

At first, I was anticipating some messy drama and fun, but this book delves deeper into darker themes of power, desire, vanity and survival. Engrossed from page 1 to the end, I absolutely had to see who was cutthroat enough to be standing at the end. The protagonist, Lily, is a great anti-hero who I couldn’t help but find endearing in an odd way, and her motivations and interactions with the other characters were addicting. If you are looking for a page-turner book that doesn’t fit into the traditional mold of a reality TV show set-up, you should absolutely give this one a try!

Vaguely dystopian, makes you think, a lot of fun. Love island meets lord of the flies is accurate yet sells it short. This was a great read.

This was an interesting and weird little novel. Even though I enjoyed the premise, I couldn’t connect with the characters. They felt so wooden and artificial. The strength of this book was the writing style. The author has a lovely and unique prose. I think the author is a good storyteller but she needs to work on her character development. A quirky story that I think a lot of people will enjoy.

I unfortunately gave up after a few times trying with this one. The premise for this novel is riveting but the characters don’t hold up for me. They felt two dimensional and lacked substance hence why it was hard for me to keep going. I do think with a bit more work on character development it would make for a great read. I could totally see it being optioned for a television series though since it is such a unique take on entertainment television and real life relationships.