Reviews

2.5/5 stars. I was really excited to pick this one up and it was even one of my most anticipated reads of the new year. Having read and fallen in love with "Sadie" a couple of years ago, I've slowly been working on and enjoying the author's backlog. From the blurb, this sounded like a such a twisty read about a creepy cult. That's also what I felt like the characters in the book tried to chalk it up to be, when in fact The Unity Project was quite boring. I think my other problem with this book is that I didn't care for any of the characters. I didn't find Lo or Bea to be all that developed so I had no connection with them and wasn't really rooting for them. That being said, I still think this was well written and I'll continue to check out books from this author. (Also, that cover is stunning!)

Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley and Goodreads giveaway.

anna72123's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

catofbones's review against another edition

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2.0

Lo had no brain to wash.

isaac_c's review against another edition

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2.0

This was... weird.
I don't exactly know what else to say about it. This novel had kind of failed to meet my expectations from the outset, but I was still interested in seeing how things would unfold as the story progressed. But in the end it all just felt underwhelming? Pointless?
It's sad because I loved Summers' other novel, Sadie. Maybe it's just because I read that so many years ago, or maybe this was just a flop.

edit: I think part of where the novel fails so hard for me is that when we're shown the Unity Project's indoctrination, it feels rushed and unconvincing. I understand that people can easily be manipulated when they're at their most vulnerable, but the scale at which the Project's operation is described, I would expect a leader with a little more on-the-page charisma.

minnietimperley's review against another edition

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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

2.75

thelibrarian390's review against another edition

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3.0

This was a good read. I won't put it up there with my absolute favorites. I felt like I saw the ending a million miles away though. What I liked about Summers' last book was I don't remember seeing the ending coming. This one, I totally did. Maybe it's because I'm a cynical adult. Maybe it's because of my lack of trust of religion or maybe it's because I've seen one too many true crime documentaries or escaping Mormonism shows.

Lo is hard to relate to. She's still very juvenile and angsty, which I realize this is a YA book so, she should be at the very least angsty. She just... doesn't have a worldliness I would except from someone like her. It was a bit unbelievable to me that she would or could fall into the trap of Lev so easily when she rallied so hard against him. It's like she completely forgot all the reasons she hates him and his community all because he was nice to her. Well once in a while bad people are nice, that doesn't mean we should give them another chance or forget the awful things they've done. It was an ok read, definitely a decent book to read about the potential dangers of some religions and cults and how apparently easy it can be for them to lure you in even if you're an ardent proponent against them.

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