Title: The Project by Courtney Summers
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 339 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
From Courtney Summers, the New York Times bestselling author of the 2019 Edgar Award Winner and breakout hit, Sadie, comes a sensational follow-up—another pulls-no-punches thriller about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult.
“The Unity Project saved my life.”
Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo’s sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there’s more to the group than meets the eye. She’s spent the last six years of her life trying—and failing—to prove it.
“The Unity Project murdered my son.”
When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its charismatic and mysterious leader, Lev Warren, he proposes a deal: if she can prove the worst of her suspicions about The Unity Project, she may expose them. If she can’t, she must finally leave them alone.
But as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members, and spends more time with Lev, it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her—to the point she can no longer tell what’s real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn’t know if she can afford not to.
Welcome to The Unity Project.
Review:
The Project by Courtney Summers is a poignant young adult novel that is full of suspense.
Bea Denham is heartbroken when her parents die in a car accident. Her younger sister Lo survives the crash but she is in critical condition. Bea is looking for a miracle when she encounters Lev Warren, the charismatic leader of The Unity Project, in the hospital chapel. Lo survives her injuries but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her. Bea is supportive but when their great aunt steps in to help them, she spends less and less time with her sister. Lo leaves the hospital and not long after, she loses Bea to Lev and The Unity Project.
Six years later, Lo is now working at a digital magazine with hopes of eventually becoming a journalist. She has never given up on she reuniting with Bea, so after witnessing a tragic event, she decides to investigate the Project. Lo believes it is a cult and she is determined to find Bea and answers about the Project. She begins by attending a public event in which Lev’s speech is designed to bring in new members. However, after being unceremoniously removed by his assistant, Lo tries to figure out her next move. She also continues trying to reach out to Bea.
Bea’s part of the storyline unfolds in a series of flashbacks. Her feelings about Lo following the accident are complex as she joins Lev at the Project. She never stops missing Lo but she is soon distracted by Lev and their efforts to recruit more members into their fold. As her circumstances evolve over the years with Lev, Bea reflects on her choices.
The Project is an engrossing young adult novel with an engaging storyline. Lo and Bea are well developed, sympathetic characters. Lo’s research into the Project takes an unexpected turn yet she never stops trying to find Bea. With shocking twists, Courtney Summers brings this emotional novel to a bittersweet yet gratifying conclusion. I enjoyed and recommend this unique young adult novel to adult and teen readers.
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