As someone who watched all of love island this summer and previous summers, I loved this book. So different but really a social commentary on these shows and what’s the point. I liked that it didn’t focus entirely on the relationships but at the end our main girl realizes that maybe that is the point more than things.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – One of my Top Reads of 2025!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Compound. This book was de one of the wildest books I’ve read this year.

This was like a dystopian Love Island mixed with those old Real World / Road Rules challenges that used to come in MTV back in the day… with a dash of hunger games! And I devoured every page. Seriously, while the whole world (plus their grandma and second cousin) is obsessing over Love Island, I can’t even fake the interest. But The Compound? This gave me everything I wish reality TV would: flawed characters, juicy drama, psychological twists, emotional manipulation! I’m down!

The cast was messy in the best way, each with their own baggage and backstories, and the story pulls you in deeper than any TV episode ever could. That’s the beauty of books, right? The details, the mental movie, the layers that make everything hit that much harder. Watching drama unfold on-screen can feel almost feel shallow after the books I’ve read lol, but in The Compound, it was addictively immersive.

If Love Island had this kind of intensity and depth, I’d binge every season. Until then, I’ll stick to reading books like this one.

Absolutely recommend! No notes. Just vibes.
5 ⭐️

Aisling Rawle's The Compound is a thrilling dive into the world of reality television, blending elements reminiscent of Big Brother, Love Island, and even The Hunger Games. For fans of reality shows, this novel is a captivating exploration of competition, survival, and the complexities of human relationships under pressure.

Set in a remote desert compound, the story revolves around twenty contestants who are not only vying for luxury prizes but also for their basic necessities. The premise is intriguing, and Rawle does an excellent job of immersing readers in this high-stakes environment. Initially, the book requires a bit of patience as readers are introduced to a diverse cast of characters. With so many personalities to keep track of, it can feel overwhelming at first. However, once you settle into the rhythm of the story, the characters begin to come alive, each with their own motivations and backstories that add depth to the story.

What truly stands out in The Compound is Rawle's ability to weave suspense and drama. The stakes are high, and the interactions between contestants are fraught with tension, alliances, and betrayals. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper into the emotional turmoil that accompanies life in the compound.

Overall, The Compound is a gripping read that expertly captures the essence of reality television while exploring themes of ambition, trust, and the human condition. Despite the initial challenge of navigating a large cast, the book ultimately delivers a satisfying and thrilling experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. If you're a fan of reality shows, this novel is definitely one to add to your reading list!

This isn’t usually the kind of book I’d gravitate toward, but I’m really glad I picked it up. The slower pacing actually worked in its favor; it gave space for all the uncomfortable moments and strange undercurrents of the reality TV show setup to settle in, while the dystopian undertones simmered quietly in the background.

The Love Island comparison definitely holds up. I found myself constantly reading into every little thing the characters did, always questioning their true motives. That psychological tension was the most compelling part for me and was what kept me turning the pages.

While I thought the ending was satisfactory, the last third of the book took a noticeable turn from a more psychological, satirical narrative into fast-paced, survival-driven action. The Lord of the Flies comparison makes sense based on the final third, but I guess I just didn't enjoy the execution of it. I personally preferred the quieter, subtly unsettling tone of the first two-thirds.

That said, Rawle is one of the few authors I’ve seen successfully incorporate reality TV into a novel in a way that feels fresh and intentional. I’m definitely curious to see what she does next.

Aisling Rawle’s debut novel “The Compound” is a chilling and original dystopian tale set in a decaying desert compound, where contestants compete in a brutal reality TV show. The premise is deceptively simple: obey the rules, win prizes, and avoid banishment.


The rules are clear. Contestants are forbidden from discussing the show itself, their lives outside the compound (unless prompted), or harming one another. Breaking the rules results in punishment, often severe and psychologically damaging.


Lily, the narrator, opens the novel waking in a strange bed within the compound. She quickly introduces us to the other female contestants: Jacintha, Susie, Candie, Eloise, Vanessa, Mia, Becca, Sarah, and Melissa, ten women in total. The male contestants arrive later: Andrew, Seb, Marcus, Sam, Tom, Ryan, Evan, Gav, and Carlos, nine men to ten women. Once the men enter, the game begins in earnest.


Hidden cameras capture everything. Contestants must participate in both group challenges, broadcast on a large screen, and individual tasks, delivered via tablet. Group tasks range from deeply personal questions about past relationships to bizarre physical dares like holding their breath underwater or kissing everyone in the compound. Individual challenges escalate in discomfort and intimacy: confessing secrets, performing humiliating acts, even engaging in sexual contact.


Every night, each contestant must share a bed with someone of the opposite sex. If a person is found sleeping alone, they are immediately banished. With one more woman than man, the pressure is immediate and cutthroat. Women must essentially "sell" themselves to remain in the game, reinforcing disturbing dynamics of manipulation and survival.


As food grows scarce, the tasks grow darker. One group challenge reads simply: “Banish a resident of the compound”, the reward: food. These choices force contestants to weigh humanity against hunger.


Rawle’s novel is as addicting as it is disturbing. At its core, “The Compound” is a scathing critique of consumerism and moral decay. Contestants debase themselves for luxuries, sometimes even for things they don’t need. Lily, fully aware she doesn’t want certain items, still requests them just because “why not?” That phrase becomes a chilling refrain for unchecked desire.

The book examines how far people will go for rewards, however meaningless. Characters humiliate themselves for prizes, performing degrading acts like defecating on the floor or spitting into each other’s mouths. Beneath the grotesque spectacle, Rawle draws out emotional nuance. Romantic pairings form, but always under the shadow of doubt, does this person actually care, or are they just playing the game?

Lies abound. Real feelings are obscured by forced performances. Since contestants are forbidden from confirming whether their actions or words are genuine, trust erodes, and paranoia festers.


“The Compound” is both a gripping psychological thriller and a disturbing reflection of our modern obsession with spectacle and gratification. It's a perfect book club pick, unsettling, provocative, and sure to spark conversation. Rawle's debut proves impossible to put down, a harrowing look at what happens when entertainment, survival, and consumerism collide.

I had high hopes for this book because of all the hype surrounding Love Island and reality shows like that. That being said, I found this book sort of shallow. I think if it were more of a thriller, it would've been more enjoyable.

4.5 stars rounding up. Not sure I’ve read a book like The Compound before. A mix of Love Island and Big Brother with a survival/dystopian aspect this book was right up my alley as an avid reality tv watcher. I could not stop reading and easily finished it in a weekend. The author successfully builds and keeps the tension in this story that often left me with weird/off feeling (meant as a compliment). If you prefer a lot of world building this might not be your cup of tea as it has very dropped in feeling to it. This is not to say it doesn’t feel developed because the setting feels as important as any character. I loved how there was no extensive background and you learn things as they unfold through the POV character’s eyes. You have to allow yourself to not know the answers to the natural questions that arise. The structure allowed for multiple layers to emerge over time lending to social commentary (what is reality tv but social commentary) on gender, consumer/capitalistic culture and the draw of reality tv itself (both for participants and viewers). Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader’s copy.

Shared on Goodreads and Fable.

If you love reality tv competitions - and unhinged, dark plot lines - then The Compound is for you! This book is super weird but I could not stopped reading it. Even when all the characters grew a little unlikable - I could not stop reading. One of my faves so far this year.

I can see why this book has been so hyped -- it was such a wild ride. I love reality tv and although I haven't seen the show this book is mostly drawing from, I still really enjoyed it.

There is so much tension from the very beginning and Aisling Rawle does such a good job of building and sustaining it. I couldn't wait to find out how it would all wrap up.

I could have read a lot more about these characters and would love to have spin-offs of them in their pre- and post-show life - it would be so fascinating.

I am excited to check out what Aisling Rawle writes next -- her writing was so good and this felt like such a fresh, unique book. I'm really impressed that it is a debut!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

The Compound kicks off with Lily waking up in a remote desert compound alongside nineteen other contestants, all vying in a high-stakes reality show that dishes out luxury prizes—from champagne to straighteners—for accomplishing escalating challenges. It steadily builds from intriguing to downright chilling as boundaries blur between desire, manipulation, and survival. Rawle’s writing is propulsive and binge-worthy, delivering clever social satire wrapped in addictive drama. With sharp observations on consumerism, gender politics, and the voyeuristic lure of reality TV, this debut hooks you fast and sinks in deep. It’s equal parts thought-provoking and page-turningly entertaining—one of those novels you’ll be talking about long after finishing.

As a GMA pick, it’s exactly that mix: bingeable yet meaningful.

Perfect satire on reality dating shows! I loved the ridiculous challenges the contestants had to do and the slight horror/sci-fi element to the book.

I think I heard "cult" and maybe jumped the gun on this one. It wasn't what I was expecting at all and idk how scifi comes in. I just never really got into this one but it was well written.

Wish I could say I loved this one after being totally obsessed with it for a few days, but unfortunately, the ending didn’t do it for me.

The first two parts of this book were packed with drama, dysfunction, and tension. It’s basically a dystopian reality show where men and women live in a compound under strict rules: no talking about personal matters (leading to the dullest conversations possible), a member of the opposite sex must sleep in your bed each night (or you’re banished if your bed is empty in the morning), and you’re given secret tasks to win rewards—but you’re not allowed to talk about them.

This had so much potential to be something special, especially with the intense buildup of conflict, manipulation, and betrayal. I definitely see the social commentary—especially around consumerism and how far people will go for even the smallest luxuries—but the ending left so much to be desired. After such a delicious setup, we got a bland and ambiguous finale that felt like a missed opportunity. I kept waiting for a twist or something exciting to end the book with, but it never came.

Honestly, if this had leaned more into being a thriller—or even a suspenseful romance—it could have easily been a five-star read. The plot and characters were strong, and the execution was exciting… right up until the final act.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!

When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it. I couldn’t wait to get back to it! The complex characters had me intrigued, much like the tv audience would have been enthralled with their reality show drama. Each of the main characters had both positive and negative character traits and also different motivations that made this book much less simplistic than a book about a reality show could have been. Waiting to actually see how far each would go to get their rewards and stay in the compound really kept me turning the pages. There is a deeper meaning with what goes on in the story that mirrors aspects of our society. It gets very dark with shocking events taking place as we get towards the end. A wild ride!
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in return for my honest review.

What a great debut! The concept of the book was extremely interesting. Gave love island meets hunger games in a good way.

I enjoyed this thriller set in the reality tv setting. This story gave Big Brother meets Love Island with a dystopian twist. In The Compound, the contestants must couple up to stay and perform tasks to earn every day items and luxury items but you get a sense that the world outside is a mess which is why many of these contestants agree to be on the show. Although I really liked the story, there were a couple things that had me lowering my rating:
1 - some of the story felt repetitive as the story went along. I felt like the same story could have been told with 50-100 less pages and been the sweet spot.
2 - I think the dread of the outside world and what is waiting for them felt too under explored…what kind of lives wait for the contestants - a couple references to a war, a couple to meaningless lives, a couple to only having 15-20 more years to live (why??)

Overall this was a fun summer read though and I recommend for reality tv watchers.

Wow, what a book! The Compound unfolds on the bizarre and haunting set of a dystopian reality TV show, where performance and surveillance blur the line between entertainment and existential dread. The setting is unlike anything I've encountered—eerily plausible, sharply surreal, and wholly original. Though the protagonist is somewhat emotionally distant and hard to connect with on a personal level, this detachment somehow works in the book’s favor, emphasizing the alienation and disorientation that permeate the story.

What kept me hooked was the world itself: claustrophobic yet sprawling, constructed with a dreamlike logic that constantly challenged my assumptions. The narrative has a strange, quiet intensity to it, and I found myself compelled to keep reading even when I wasn’t entirely sure where it was leading—because that uncertainty felt intentional, even meaningful.

In tone and emotional weight, it reminded me of I Who Have Never Known Men—both books carry that same quiet horror, the sense of life being observed rather than lived, of freedom being just out of reach. It’s a story that doesn’t offer easy answers, but it lingers in your mind long after the final page.

A surreal, unsettling read—one I’d highly recommend to anyone drawn to speculative fiction that doesn’t play by the rules.

I liked this book but it took about 60-70% of the book for it to really really hook me. I am a reality show lover and I read it while simultaneously watching Love Island and the similarities are clearly drawn from the show while trying to create dystopian world allusions but nothing really came from that subplot. Talk of a war outside of the home and how that affected the characters and their actions came and went but wasn’t consistent and was frustrating-either make it a part of the story or drop it.

3.5 stars.
I received a copy of The Compound from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book definitely kept me turning the pages, I was hooked from the start and had to see how it all played out. The pacing is strong, the tension is consistent, and there’s a real sense of unease throughout that works well for a thriller.

That said, it wasn’t quite what I expected going in. Without giving spoilers, the direction the story took felt a little different from the premise I had in mind, and that shift left me feeling slightly off balance. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, but I did finish the book with more questions than satisfaction.

Still, if you’re in the mood for a dark, suspenseful read with some twists along the way, The Compound is worth checking out. Just go in with an open mind and don’t assume you know where it’s headed!

Ok wow, what a fascinating book idea. I felt uneasy the whole time reading this waiting for danger at any moment..so many questions at the end! A follow up would be so welcome.