Review Detail

The Project by Courtney Summers is a psychological thriller that follows nineteen-year-old Lo Denham as she investigates the mysterious Unity Project to find her older sister, Bea.

After losing their parents in a car accident, Lo and Bea were separated, with Bea joining the cult-like Unity Project and Lo left in the care of their great aunt. Lo spends years trying to uncover the truth about the group and its charismatic leader, Lev Warren. When a man claiming the Project killed his son comes to the magazine where Lo works, she seizes the chance to investigate, which leads her into the inner workings of the cult and dangerously close to her sister.

The story alternates between Lo’s and Bea’s perspectives, giving readers insight into both sisters’ experiences. Lo is determined, clever, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth, while Bea’s story shows how easily someone can be drawn into a group that preys on vulnerability and longing for purpose. Summers’ writing vividly portrays the psychological grip of a cult, showing both the allure and the darkness behind it. The novel jumps back and forth in time, which adds depth to the characters’ motivations and the unfolding mystery, and once you get used to the shifts, the tension is nearly impossible to put down.

The Project is an intense, emotionally charged read that explores family, faith, and manipulation. It highlights the lengths one sister will go to uncover the truth and rescue her sibling, making it both a thriller and a deeply human story.