jj2007's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- 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
3.5
chloethewriter's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kiraeth's review against another edition
5.0
it was amazing from start to finish. i’ve been in a DEEP reading slump and this took me out of it. the way the story revealed itself was so enjoyable! i highly recommend this book if you love anything to do with cults and the thriller genre. definitely will reread in the future!
alexabookish's review against another edition
5.0
i loved this book even more than Sadie, and i don’t know how courtney summers was able to achieve that. the characters were so vivid, and developed, and flawed. they felt like real people. i loved the main character Lo, i saw parts of myself in her. the way trauma was portrayed was especially well done in my opinion. the best part of the book though was the cult that the story centers around. it was so well written! i’ve always been interested in cults, and i’ve always said i’d never join one. but about halfway through i had to stop and think. under the perfect storm of life circumstances, i could see myself potentially falling into the trap of this specific cult. it made me think, and if made me feel.
guerra_sio's review against another edition
3.0
Six years after Bea left her sister Lo to join the Unity Project, Lo starts investigating the cult and its charismatic leader. The journey will unravel and put her back together. Will she survive?
alyssapopulus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
sweet_t_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This book should be categorized as a new adult, not young adult.
rrickman33's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars
There is truly no way to describe this book without giving it away. It had cult vibes, like very scientology "we're going to make you cut off your family because they don't like this" vibes. But sadly, the characters were flat and the pacing of this book was wild, I went from bored to overwhelmed.
In her Author's note, Courtney Summers does say she wrote this book with that wild pacing in mind. In a cult you don't believe until suddenly you believe. But she had written Lo to the point where I thought she was smart enough not to fall for it. So it just seemed off to me but maybe i'm just uncomfortable reading about someone easily falling into a cult they used to hate.
Overall, this is a perfect psychological cult YA novel if that's what you're looking for. Push through being thoroughly confusing in the beginning- it does come together!
There is truly no way to describe this book without giving it away. It had cult vibes, like very scientology "we're going to make you cut off your family because they don't like this" vibes. But sadly, the characters were flat and the pacing of this book was wild, I went from bored to overwhelmed.
In her Author's note, Courtney Summers does say she wrote this book with that wild pacing in mind. In a cult you don't believe until suddenly you believe. But she had written Lo to the point where I thought she was smart enough not to fall for it. So it just seemed off to me but maybe i'm just uncomfortable reading about someone easily falling into a cult they used to hate.
Overall, this is a perfect psychological cult YA novel if that's what you're looking for. Push through being thoroughly confusing in the beginning- it does come together!
luosymekawa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is so deep and complex, each sister a reflection of the other through their prospective journeys. The narrative was expertly crafted, using multiple strategies two tell two stories simultaneously as the mystery develops. We are dragged through the manipulation and gaslighting just as Lo is, all lies easy to believe in.
This book contained tough meditations on the body and personhood. Honestly this could have been literary rather than YA. I kept thinking of The Echo Wife.
This book contained tough meditations on the body and personhood. Honestly this could have been literary rather than YA. I kept thinking of The Echo Wife.
asoulum's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5