If you are searching for the same energy Sadie brought, maybe skip this novel. The Project falls just short of the potential it held. It is a slow read and despite being about a "cult-like" organisation, it lacked the intensity I expected. This is a miss if you want something intense or want to read a fictitious cult novel. Something that is more intense with similar ratings to this novel is Final Girls by Riley Sager. That may be a hit if you want something with light-hearted intensity.

The Project by Courtney Summers is a hit if you want a slow-burn and average ending. Actually, the ending is the best part of this novel. It is the most intense part leaving the rest to be a straightforward story told by a straightforward protagonist but the ending is a hit.

In all, a hit or miss - up to you if it is worth your time.

The plot revolves around Lo and her fight to retrieve her sister from the clutches of the Unity Project. Except, her sister doesn't want to leave so where does that leave Lo? Fighting, of course.

You may feel that the fight is not enough causing the plot to not be enough. A hit or miss plot truly.

Lo is a nineteen year old protagonist who has tried desperately for the past six years to get her sister back from the Unity project. Bea, her sister joined days after Lo's recovery and hasn't looked back since. Combined with Paul, Lo's boss and Lev, the Unity Project leader, this is a story of powerful people and a small voice trying to fight back.

Lo is nothing new character wise. Her motives will be easy to understand if you read this and so will all the other character's motives. It leaves the characters neutral in emotion, but there was one I liked who I think you'll enjoy too.

The ending is where all the punch is. The ending is a strong finale worth your time.  It will make you nod your head in satisfaction as you put this book down.

A bit lacklustre overall, I expected more. I did like Lev as a character, he embodied a megalomaniac to a T. He wanted power he did not have as a child and believed he deserved to be on top. I assume because he was so charismatic and handsome that his rise to power came with ease. I understand his appeal, certain personalities have the ability to fool masses and he had one of those personalities.

What I don't like is that he was able to fool Lo so quickly. She had just spent the last six hating the organisation and the man who ran it; for her to fall into his arms so quickly, that frustrated me slightly. It either speaks to the power of Lev or the weakness of Lo but I will go with the former because he was quite powerful if he was able to convince so many.

I wish Lo had stood up for herself more. She let Paul walk over her and then Lev BUT she stood up for herself in the end which is why I like the ending because she fought. Finally, Lo stood up for herself and knew who she was and that powerful recognition in self is why I think this was overall, just worth my time.

If I hadn't heard so much hype surrounding its release, this novel may have been more enticing. It did not contain the punch I was told about and I wish there had been some sneaky infiltration of the Unity Project. It was all too convincing and some secrecy would have been nice. A not too shabby but not too great novel, one I read and felt "okay, good enough."