"The Project" by Courtney Summers

The Project is a contemporary novel set in upstate New York. The book is written from the perspective of two sisters: Lo (first person narration) and Bea (third person narration). Lo was in a horrendous car accident when she was 13. Her parents were killed and she ended up in an ICU. Bea (the older sister who was not in the car with them) is now desperate for her sister to survive. After doctors tell her that Lo might not make it, Bea in utter despair reaches out to God and pleads for help. At that time a strange man shows up at the hospital. It is Lev Warren, a self-proclaimed redeemer and founder of a religious community called the Unity Project. He talks to Bea, lays hands on Lo and she miraculously recovers. Now Bea, in awe of what she witnessed, follows Lev and joins the Unity Project. We then fast-forward a few years into the future. Lo is now a young adult living on her own and franticly trying to find her sister.

When I first began reading the book, I felt it was maybe a 3-star read at most. Lo’s anger was just too over the top for me. As the plot moved along, however, the story twisted in a way that made it hard to put the book down. In the end, I ended up giving it 4 stars. 

The narrative is structure in a way that the reader experiences the pull of Lev Warren’s charisma through the eyes of the two main protagonists. Bea is immediately taken with him. He brings her baby sister back to life so she wholeheartedly believes in him and abandons her life for the Unity Project. Lo on the other hand, has grown up hating Lev Warren and all that he stands for. As far as she is concerned, he and his cult have kept her sister away from her all these years, and she is on a mission to bring him down. The closer she gets to Lev though, the harder it is for her to figure out what is true. Is he a manipulative cult leader, or truly a holy man walking the earth doing good works? The reader is left wondering along with Lo.

Even though the Unity Project hits all of the bullets of being a cult, their good works (shelters, soup kitchens, etc) are too big of a presence in the community. All of the members are also tight lipped about the inner workings of the group and are fiercely loyal to Lev Warren. The author gives us just enough hints to keep wondering.

What I really liked about this novel is the way it examines psychological manipulation, group psychology, and vulnerability that leads to blind faith. It was a fascinating read. I would love to know more about the author’s research into the subject. I think this book would make a great read for book clubs and would spark some interesting discussions. 

One weakness in the novel is the relationship that Lo has with her boss Paul. It is just too unrealistic. As someone who has held jobs in various business settings for over 20 years, I have never seen a boss and a personal assistant speak to each other the way these two do. It is too informal and at times borders on familiarity largely unacceptable in today’s business world. In addition, their last phone call with Paul basically begging her to come back to work for him is simply unbelievable to me. No matter how good of an assistant Lo was, it is hard to imagine this would ever happen in real life. Finally, I wish the author would explain a bit better the final scene in the lake. We know Lo mysteriously ended up on shore, and I am not sure if there was supposed to be some sort of mystical element here. It did not come off as one and instead was just confusing.

Overall, I do recommend this book. 4 out 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com