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house_of_hannah's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book ended up being nothing like I expected. I find cults fascinating, and I enjoyed Sadie, so I thought this book would be right up my alley. Instead it was simply boring.
A majority of the book is conversations between several people. One of them is constantly preaching, which just ended up being annoying after awhile. The multiple timeline ended up not giving as much insight as I hoped either, so it just never really felt like anything was happening. Lo, the sister trying to find the one who joined the cult, goes to the Unity Project, yells at someone, goes to work, and repeat. That's it, that's the book.
I thought there would be some surprise, or intrigue, but it just ended up being a stereotypical cult story. The climax of the story even happens off screen, and since the MC doesn't even know what happened we never get any answers. Unfortunately for me there weren't any likable characters to make up for the plot either, so this one is a disappointment in the end.
A majority of the book is conversations between several people. One of them is constantly preaching, which just ended up being annoying after awhile. The multiple timeline ended up not giving as much insight as I hoped either, so it just never really felt like anything was happening. Lo, the sister trying to find the one who joined the cult, goes to the Unity Project, yells at someone, goes to work, and repeat. That's it, that's the book.
I thought there would be some surprise, or intrigue, but it just ended up being a stereotypical cult story. The climax of the story even happens off screen, and since the MC doesn't even know what happened we never get any answers. Unfortunately for me there weren't any likable characters to make up for the plot either, so this one is a disappointment in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy and Murder
lilacs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Courtney Summers may be one of my favourite authors, but she can also be kind of hit-or-miss. I was all but ready to abandon this book half way through, bored out of my mind, but because it was Courtney I kept reading. It's actually a shame that the book gets good near the end, because it makes you think of what it could have been all the way through. In the end I'm glad I made it to the climax but I am also disappointed because I know that the author is capable of much more, and she's always showing it in her worst books even (here, and Fall for Anything) but sometimes just fails to take it all the way home.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
rhguerrero's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage and Infidelity
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Told from dual-POVs and dual-timelines, this story explores what happened to two sisters after one was in a tragic accident that killed her parents, and the other joined the mysterious religious group, the Unity Project.
This was a very high-intensity thriller. This deals with some really tricky subjects, and does a good job expressing the feelings of loss, grief, and loneliness that are preyed upon by Lev and his cult. Though I can't really say I liked the characters, I did enjoy reading about them, and I was on the metaphorical edge of my seat while racing through this book! I really enjoyed the way this ended, as well. I'm definitely scoping out this author's other books to read.
This was a very high-intensity thriller. This deals with some really tricky subjects, and does a good job expressing the feelings of loss, grief, and loneliness that are preyed upon by Lev and his cult. Though I can't really say I liked the characters, I did enjoy reading about them, and I was on the metaphorical edge of my seat while racing through this book! I really enjoyed the way this ended, as well. I'm definitely scoping out this author's other books to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy
bookish_owl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Murder, Grief, Confinement, and Car accident
Minor: Death of parent
princessgonchar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
There's a point at the end of the novel where Lo says "I was barely there" in response to the cult to which I respond "yeah! you were BARELY there!"
I'm frustrated by this book because there were so many ways that this book could have gone, and this was the least exciting version of the book. Some examples:
- The story told entirely from Bea's perspective/someone else from within the cult
- Lo trusting the cult at least a little in the beginning
- Lo never trusting the cult at all
- Some of Lo's "enemies" specifically Paul and Lauren having more to do with the whole story (wouldn't that have been so cool???)
Etc. etc. I just feel like the story was very bland, Lo fell for the cult out of practically nowhere , and none of the things that I think we're supposed to be surprising were actually surprising. It just could have done so much more and been so much more surprising.
It's not terrible; I'm just disappointed.
I'm frustrated by this book because there were so many ways that this book could have gone, and this was the least exciting version of the book. Some examples:
- The story told entirely from Bea's perspective/someone else from within the cult
- Lo trusting the cult at least a little in the beginning
- Lo never trusting the cult at all
- Some of Lo's "enemies"
Etc. etc. I just feel like the story was very bland,
It's not terrible; I'm just disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Kidnapping, Stalking, Torture, and Violence
thereadingrambler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was a super intense read, especially if you, like me, come from a religious background. Some elements of the plot were definitely not as well set up as other parts, but Lev's character and how he slowly took ahold of everyone's lives were so well depicted and believable. If you are a fan of cult-based thrillers, I would definitely read this one.
Although it is classed as YA, I don't think it is really a YA book. The main character is an adult (she's 19) and there are definitely more adult themes addressed in this book than I find in most YA.
Although it is classed as YA, I don't think it is really a YA book. The main character is an adult (she's 19) and there are definitely more adult themes addressed in this book than I find in most YA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Murder
gabrielareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
vlntnmz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
gracefulbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The actual rating is 4.5 for now.
So this story follows the alternating perspectives of two sisters who are estranged. Bea the older of the two checked out at some point and joined a group called The Unity Project where she felt like she found her purpose. Her little sister Lo, holds nothing but resentment for The Unity project and wants to see it exposed for taking her sister away from her. As a journalist, she dives deep into The Unity Project so she can expose it for what it truly is...a cult.
Probably not the best description but I don't want to spoil too much about this book.
But to put it simply Summer's writing, per usual, grabbed me the second I began reading this book and didn't let me go until I hit the end pages. I felt such massive frustration throughout this as a Christian because I absolutely HATE seeing God's existence used in such a manner. So I just felt so utterly frustrated and aggravated throughout the entire book-BUT that was the point. You were supposed to be aggravated as the reader seeing all these mistakes and choices be made by both sisters.
Also being a weird fanatic for cults. Having listened to countless podcasts that delve into cults as well as watching a bunch of documentaries this is a massive interest area of mine so to have this book show up being right up my alley. I knew I needed it and I enjoyed every awful moment of it.
This book is not easy to read or process at times. And what is more worrisome is that some parts of the cult sounded so nice. But then being slapped by the reality of it with Bea's perspective while simultaneously seeing the appeal through Lo's eyes-it really messes with you while you're reading it. I mean Lev, for example, he comes across as so charming at moments with Lo but you also know he groomed Bea, kept her from her daughter, and is the reason Bea is missing. You KNOW he's abusive, controlling, and just so beyond fucked.
To read some of his dialogue and have it seem so level-headed...was so frustrating. As the reader you know it's fake and it's a trap but Lo doesn't. It just-the emotions I felt while reading this was so visceral. It's like being Arthur throughout this story or Lo at the beginning and wanting to desperately keep your loved one safe from this bullshit but them not seeing the truth of it. And then watching them fall into it and let it brainwash and consume them.
The horror of it.
I know some people were let down by thinking this story would follow a cult that was more...upfront with their messed-up practices. But to me, this showcased the more dangerous cults that go under the radar because they can also easily just come across as do-gooders who are religious.
I really appreciate what this book but damn was so much of it messed up and so many parts of it aggravating at the same time.
So this story follows the alternating perspectives of two sisters who are estranged. Bea the older of the two checked out at some point and joined a group called The Unity Project where she felt like she found her purpose. Her little sister Lo, holds nothing but resentment for The Unity project and wants to see it exposed for taking her sister away from her. As a journalist, she dives deep into The Unity Project so she can expose it for what it truly is...a cult.
Probably not the best description but I don't want to spoil too much about this book.
But to put it simply Summer's writing, per usual, grabbed me the second I began reading this book and didn't let me go until I hit the end pages. I felt such massive frustration throughout this as a Christian because I absolutely HATE seeing God's existence used in such a manner. So I just felt so utterly frustrated and aggravated throughout the entire book-BUT that was the point. You were supposed to be aggravated as the reader seeing all these mistakes and choices be made by both sisters.
Also being a weird fanatic for cults. Having listened to countless podcasts that delve into cults as well as watching a bunch of documentaries this is a massive interest area of mine so to have this book show up being right up my alley. I knew I needed it and I enjoyed every awful moment of it.
This book is not easy to read or process at times. And what is more worrisome is that some parts
To read some of his dialogue and have it seem so level-headed...was so frustrating. As the reader you know it's fake and it's a trap but Lo doesn't. It just-the emotions I felt while reading this was so visceral. It's like being Arthur throughout this story or Lo at the beginning and wanting to desperately keep your loved one safe from this bullshit but them not seeing the truth of it. And then watching them fall into it and let it brainwash and consume them.
The horror of it.
I know some people were let down by thinking this story would follow a cult that was more...upfront with their messed-up practices. But to me, this showcased the more dangerous cults that go under the radar because they can also easily just come across as do-gooders who are religious.
I really appreciate what this book but damn was so much of it messed up and so many parts of it aggravating at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Death and Death of parent