Most of the books I read lean towards the rom-com variety that leave me with happy feels. Every now and then I will read something out of my comfort zone, whether it be a drama, a mystery or a thriller. When I read about Courtney Summers’ new book, The Project (out February 2nd), I was intrigued. I have read some of her prior books, and while I enjoyed them, they did deal with heavy subject matter. This time around we are dealing with cults. Trying to find a sister, while exposing the cult for what it is.

WHAT I ENJOYED

Like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, I think many are intrigued by the inner workings of cults. No? Just me? The book fluctuates between Lo’s POV and Bea’s POV. Lo is in the present, and Bea is in the past, which is how we learn how Bea joined the cult, and events that happened to her once she joined the cult. Bea’s parts kept me intrigued and turning the pages. What happened to her? Where was she now? For some reason, I couldn’t get the idea of Lev Warren (the cult leader) looking like Steven Weber (look him up!). I don’t know if I will ever watch a movie or TV show with him the same again.

While the pace of the book is very slow, Summers’ writing style keeps you from putting the book down. From the few books I read of hers, my reviews always say “I couldn’t put it down” or “I read it in a day!” The same applies here, which really says something when I also say it’s a slow burn of a book.

WHAT MAKES ME WANT TO RUN – BUT NOT TO A CULT

As I mentioned above, this book had a good setup of a story, then the middle dragged. The action picks up again at the end, and then that’s it.

There is a side storyline that helps propel the story forward about Lo’s career. She’s an assistant at a magazine and wants to be promoted to a writer. She has no prior experience, but has dreams where she has a byline and is this amazing writer. She’s going to expose the cult through an amazing story and find her sister! What felt awkward to me was that the want of being a famous writer felt more real than her wanting to find her sister. There was just no connection between them. The set up left it where the family put Bea at odds with Lo, then she jets off to a cult and Lo grows up without her. Makes sense that there is no connection, but if you want me to buy into a storyline of “I must find my sister!” then I need to feel something. Instead, I only felt like writing was what was important.

WHAT WILL STICK WITH ME FOREVER

There’s a part of the book where one of the cult members is telling Lo why they joined. They said that the cult was the first person to tell them that they mattered. That they were worth something. Having read that line after having a rough day with my kids, I immediately panicked and had to stop myself from waking them up just to tell them they were worth it.

Dear kids of mine. You are worth it! YOU ARE WORTH IT! I may never sleep again.

Let me know what you think if you give this one a read in the comments below!!