Hey book lovers! I’m here with a book review for a new Mystery Thriller by Courtney Summers called The Project. After enjoying Sadie, I jumped at the chance to get an ebook ARC for The Project, particularly after seeing this awesome cover. This might become one of my favourite covers of 2021.
About The Book 📚
Publication Date: February 2, 2021
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Suggested Reader Age: New Adult
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Cult
Triggers: abandonment, grief, abuse, murder, depression, captivity, cult, death
Synopsis
“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.
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 leader, Lev Warren and as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members 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.”
About The Author
“Courtney Summers is a New York Times bestselling author of several novels. Her career in writing began in 2008, when she was 22. Her work has been released to critical acclaim and multiple starred reviews, receiving numerous awards and honors—including the Edgar Award, the John Spray Mystery Award, the Cybils Award, the White Pine award, the Odyssey Award and the Audie Award—and has enjoyed recognition on many library, state, ‘Best Of’ and Readers’ Choice lists. Courtney has reviewed for The New York Times, is the founder of 2015 worldwide trending hashttag #ToTheGirls, and in 2016, she was named one of Flare Magazine’s 60 under 30.
She lives and writes in Canada.”
https://courtneysummers.ca/bio/
FEBRUARY 16 | 7 PM EST
Indigo: Live and In Conversation
Join bestselling author Courtney Summers for a discussion about her latest thriller The Project – an addictive and emotionally gripping read about the bond between sisters and those who prey on the vulnerable.
WATCH LIVE ON INSTAGRAM: @INDIGO
My Review
› “1980, Indiana. A boy is born.
His mother doesn’t love him; she shows him so with her fists.
He’s hurting, angry and alone. He yearns to be seen.”
In 1998: Bea is six-years-old when her sister Lo is born. Gloria: Latin, meaning Glory. Beatrice: Italian/Latin, meaning bringer of joy.
“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.”
› In 2011 Bea, 19 years-old, is at the hospital. Her sister Lo is on life support and her parents are dead after a car accident.
› In 2017 Bea is 25 years-old. She has a thick scar running down the left side of her face from eyebrow to jawline. A young man recognizes her at the subway station. He even knows her name and tells her, “Whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it”, before jumping in front of the train. That’s a horrendous death to witness, but what makes it even stranger is when she discovers who he is, that he knew her sister, and that Jeremy’s father, Arthur, is friends with Bea’s boss. Bea has been working as an assistant to SVO magazine founder Paul Tindale for one year.
› The leader of The Unity Project, Lez Warren, has a theory of “Atonement and Redemption”. He believes and teaches that “the sins of humanity have cut us off from God’s grace, and the collective good works of The Project will atone for our sins and bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
› Lo joined The Unity Project and Bea hasn’t seen her sister in years. After Jeremy’s death Bea is wondering what’s really going on with the Unity Project. She pays Lev a visit and says she’ll write a story unveiling all their secrets if he doesn’t let Lo talk to her. Bea wants to prove herself to her boss Paul just like Lo wants to prove her worth to Lev. The Project will take you on a wild ride as Bea finds herself, uncovers the truth about the cult, and what happened to her sister.
› I use the CAWPILE method to rate books.
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding
› Characters: 9
› Atmosphere: 10
› Writing Style: 9
› Plot: 8
› Intrigue: 10
› Logic: 9
› Enjoyment: 10
Average 9.3
1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★
My Rating ★★★★★
› Final Thoughts
• As an older sister this book hit me in the feels big time. The Project is a hart-hitting story about forgiveness with many twists and turns that will leave you wanting to call your sibling or best friend.
Also by Courtney Summers
Cracked Up To Be
Some Girls Are
Fall For Anything
This Is Not A Test
What Goes Around
Please Remain Calm
All The Rage
Sadie ★★★★
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
*Quotes taken from an ARC copy and subject to change*
Smitten For Fiction 