Review: The Project

The Project by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I requested a copy of this book through Netgalley for a few reasons. First, I had heard some very positive things about one of Courtney Summers’ earlier books, Sadie. Second, the blurb indicated that the book involved a cult, which intrigues me. We live in a time where people seem to be more likely to be extreme in their views, and even political leanings have shifted into an almost cult-like following, so the topic of the book felt fitting to me with the current culture/climate. Lastly, I love a good mystery thriller where the main character is a reporter, digging up the dirty and juicy details.

The book didn’t thrill me but didn’t disappoint me much either. I felt like some sections of the plot were a little dragged out, but not too many, as most of the book actually moved at an excellent pace. It was fast enough to keep you interested, but had enough backstory and detail to flesh out the story in your mind. One plot device used had a nice surprise reveal - the author didn’t go the expected route, but made you think she was. I really liked that she got that one over on me.

One thing that I really loved about this book was the depth of pretty much all of the major players. Lo was a strong, independent and ambitious young woman, but we also saw her vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a powerful way. Lev’s history and ability to charm were developed perfectly, leaving the reader to wonder if his patience and loving behavior were a facade or his true nature. Bea’s need to believe in something bigger, her latching on to a spot of light in her time of darkness, and her innate drive to connect with others is superbly written. Lev’s right hand Casey, Unity Project members Foster and Emmy, Lo’s boss Paul, Unity Project member Jeremy’s father Arthur - all are fleshed out and we’re allowed to see what pushes them forward, what has broken them, and glimpses into their inner selves. Honestly, I’d say this author’s best skill is her ability to write characters extremely well.

This is marked as a young adult novel, but while it wasn’t super gritty, it got pretty dark at times. It didn’t read as a young adult novel, at least to me. So please don’t let that genre tag stop you from giving the book a chance.

Overall, I’d say it’s a little more than three and a half stars, but a little less than four, so I’ll round up to four. I enjoyed this book enough that I’ll definitely be going back and picking up some of the author’s other books, including Sadie.

I’d also like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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