The Project by Courtney Summers Review

The Project by Courtney Summers
Series: –
Publisher: Wednesday Books
First published February 2nd 2021
Genres: YA,Thriller, Mystery
Pages: 346
Format: Paperback
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon

Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died in a tragic car accident, her sister Bea joined the elusive community called The Unity Project, leaving Lo to fend for herself. Desperate not to lose the only family she has left, Lo has spent the last six years trying to reconnect with Bea, only to be met with radio silence.

When Lo’s given the perfect opportunity to gain access to Bea’s reclusive life, she thinks they’re finally going to be reunited. But it’s difficult to find someone who doesn’t want to be found, and as Lo delves deeper into The Project and its charismatic leader, she begins to realize that there’s more at risk than just her relationship with Bea: her very life might be in danger.

As she uncovers more questions than answers at each turn, everything Lo thought she knew about herself, her sister, and the world is upended. One thing doesn’t change, though, and that’s what keeps her going: Bea needs her, and Lo will do anything to save her.

From Courtney Summers, the New York Times bestselling author of the 2019 Edgar Award Winner and breakout hit Sadie, comes her electrifying follow-up—a suspenseful, pulls-no-punches story about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister no matter the cost.

I would read anything written by Courtney Summers. I seem to like all her books. They tend to be the perfect amount of dark and deep for me and this one was no different.

This is the story of two sisters – Lo and Bea. When Bea was 19 her sister Lo of 13, was in a car accident that tragically killed both her parents and almost took Lo. Bea tried to survive the loss of her parents and almost losing her little sister. But that was proving devastatingly difficult, and while trying to find hope, she came across Lev Warren. When her sister miraculously started recovering after she met Lev, Bea believed he was the reason and decided following his steps was the way to live. Bea and Lo lose connection after that and Lo is angry at The Unity Project and Lev Warren for taking her sister from her. Until her path crosses again with the Project and everything evolves from there.

This book reminded me a bit of The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oaks. I absolutely love books with cults, they are always incredibly interesting to me. There’s just something about religion, cults, and hope that grabs me and doesn’t let me go. I think it’s because of the believes, when it’s done right you get really invested and are able to believe what they believe in. It’s kind of scary actually, and this book did that for me.

I loved the sisterly bond. It was felt throughout the book and all that love, helplessness, desperation, and anger was felt deeply. I don’t have sisters or brothers and I still could feel how a connection that deep might be. I couldn’t help but root for Lo to unveil all that was happening and get her sister back. I was feeling as desperate as her throughout the story.

As for Lev, he is the type of character I love to read about. It makes you believe and doubt at every corner and keeps you on edge. He was so well drawn it was incredible how real it felt. The way he prayed on people and changed the truth to his benefit was astonishing and what’s even worse, people like him do exist. He is scarier than most villains for that. You could say Helter Skelter met his match in Lev. That’s how dark this book went.

This is a hard-hitting, dark, and on-the-edge-of-your-seat type of read. There are twists on every page and it keeps you invested in the sisters’ lives till the end. It’s an emotional read with the power of sisterhood that only Summers’ knows how to write and it ripped my heart out.

TW: Loss of loved ones, grief, emotional and physical abuse, murder, child abuse, and everything cults entail really. It’s incredibly dark so read with caution.

Have you read this yet? What do you think of it? Let’s discuss it in the comments below!

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