The Project: A Novel

“Having a sister is a promise no one but the two of you can make-and no one but the two of you can break.”The Project by Courtney Summer was published in Feb of 2021 by Wednesday books. Trigger warnings for suicide, cults, physical deformities, physical abuse, and parent death.Never in my life have I read relationships about sisters that have felt more really than reading Courtney Summers books. I went into this book not knowing more than this was a book about sisters where one sister is a member of a cult and the other sister is trying to figure out how to get her out of it.I felt like all of the main characters in this book were crafted so well and The Unity Project itself felt so real. I felt like Bea and Lo’s relationship was laid out so well to show how much they mean to each other from page one. When we start seeing the parts of Bea’s story where Lev starts showing up it is so obvious to the reader in my opinion how much of a manipulator this person is.I felt like the way that the “cult” was handled was very true to what you read about some of the more well know cults in recent years. The charasmatic man who is recieving visions from God and who wants to pull their followers away from the world. This part of the story just really pulled me in and had me speaking out to the characters that I didn’t think Lev was all he seemed.Lo as a character took such a big turn through out the whole story that was so refreshing to see. I thought that the way her feelings and thoughts about the unity project changed as she was researching them made complete sense to the story.I think if you like stories like The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni I think you will enjoy this book as well.I gave this book 5 stars and will be reading more by this author very soon.

This book is pretty good. I fully recommend it to anyone who wants a fun and fresh book.

Well, I didn’t realize this is mostly a ya novel. They have certainly changed since 1968-1971 when I was in high school. Then, I was astounded by A Separate Peace. This is a whole other animal! The writing style here is intriguing as it keeps the reader involved by switching time periods and points of view. We get to know Bea and Lo pretty well while Lev remains an enigma until the end. It’s a story of many really damaged people.Leaving religion completely out of the equation, I feel it might have improved the book if some questions had remained unanswered. It was tied up into a neat knot at the end. And people like these rarely end up in such neat packages. Just a thought. I mean, look at Phineas and Gene!! 😉

After reading SADIE I knew I wanted to read the next release by Courtney Summers... as soon as I heard THE PROJECT was coming out, I was thrilled. I love reading about cults, mystery, danger, and psychological storylines.I was not disappointed.Summers did a fantastic job writing the story to keep you consistently guessing what might be going on and who we should be keeping a closer eye on. I love the character development, the dual POV, and the feeling of unease as I am reading the book. I felt like this book would be great for a mini series.I will most definitely be keeping an eye out for any more of her future releases and may start reading more of her older works.5 stars.

Courtney Summers is my favorite author. She has a way of making you feel such complex and complicated emotions that I cannot properly put into words. You just have to read them to understand. I have been fascinated with crime stories and cults for a long time, largely because I cannot fathom how anyone could just be a part of that willingly. Courtney makes you feel it. She makes you see just how easily someone could fall pray to it brilliantly. Even as I was reading I felt myself being masterfully drawn into The Unity Project, but I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say this. Please read this book. And while you’re at it, read her other ones as well.

I fell in love with their suspense with Sadie, HAD to read Cracked Up To Be and just itched to dig into The Project. All I knew going in was that there was a journalist and a cult, that's it and I didn't want to know more. I enjoy the analysis of relationships in their books. Both with Sadie and The Project it's with sisters and Cracked Up To Be is friends. Could not recommend these three books enough.

I absolutely loved “Sadie” and while this book doesn’t disappoint, it does take some time to become attached to the characters and their stories. Pay attention to the inaccuracies in their “truths.” It will be important when you reach the conclusion. Another mind-blowing gut-punch of a story that you wish you had never read, so that you could read it for the first time again.

This was the best book I’ve read in a really long time. It broke my heart in so many ways it’s hard to describe. The book was flawless from start to finish and will always stay in my heart.

I was interested in this due to the focus on cults. Just wow. It stayed with me well after I finished - a careful and considerate look at religion and spirituality with fully formed characters who are as strong willed as they are blindsided. I would definitely recommend.

Lost for words...OMG what a book

It was intense and also very on how easy cults develope

The story has an amazimg plot, how it evolves you around this cult that you know it has to be bad, right? Then why are they such good persons and how can they make miracles and help a lot of people? Maybe they are not bad, maybe they can help.It really makes you wonder who to believe and how this organizations works with your mind.I wish it was longer! Id love to know how was Lev's point of view. More insight about cults! I hope the author explores more about this topic.Still crying about the end and the amazing plottwist

It‘s almost impossible to mention everything this book is about. The Project moved me in a unique way and it‘s definitely my highlight of the year.I can’t wait to get my hands on Courtney Summers‘s other books.I think I need some time to digest this book and to read it again.