The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young → Start Date: May 5th, 2014

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Please join Vicki and I in this buddy read!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

LOL! I hope we like this one

I've seen some pretty crazy reviews
it seems you either love it or hate it!!! I hope we love it :D

[Vicki]

I hope we love it too! Buddy reading at least makes the not-so-good books more bearable!

Thanks of creating the thread! I've wanted to read this since the first time I saw the cover. Lol

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yes! buddies at least make it bearable!

but I really hope we like it! I know, the cover is so intriguing and the synopsis kind of sold me. I've wanted to read this for a while too!!

[Vicki]

Keeping my fingers crossed that it's a winner for both of us!

[Amanda]

I will hopefully be able to join you both in reading this book I'm borrowing it from my library and it's due back the 12th.

[Life is wasted on the living [Elena]]

I'm joining :)

And quite frankly I think it'll be great, and since lots of my gr friends rated it well, I have high hopes for this one (:

[Mandiann]

I think I will join this read!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yay!!! Welcome Amanda, Elena and Mandiann!!! I think this one will be a good one too!! :)

[Amanda]

It looks like a good book that I will enjoy, just need to force myself not to start it sooner so I can read it with all of you. :)

[Vicki]

Looks like a great buddy group of readers! YAY!!! I'm getting excited to read this one. :o)

[Mandiann]

I am still waiting to get my copy from the library....

[Mandiann]

Nevermind. Wrong book. I have this one.

[Vicki]

Haha! That's funny Mandiann. I've done that type of thing several times. Lol

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yay!! LOL! I have this one too! I'll be starting in about 20 minutes! I'll update soon!

[Vicki]

Wow! I can't imagine a world where suicide is an epidemic, but I honestly can almost see that happening! There is so much drug/alcohol addiction, gang violence, parents absent or in drugs/prison, and so much sadness.

I felt so bad for (view spoiler)[Kendra when the handlers came for her. I can't imagine the fear. I haven't really read enough to comment on much but I just had to comment on this. It's a SAD day that suicide is that bad. Suicide is so bad and so hard on those left behind. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

YAY! I Finally have time to read!!!

I'm through Part I
(chapter numbers start over at each part)

James (view spoiler)[ OMG he was amazing
my heart is breaking He was so wonderful. How could they erase what an incredible person he was.

she has to find him again - where he is inside himself (hide spoiler)]

Miller (view spoiler)[ sad. I'm so so so sad. I can't believe he's gone (hide spoiler)]

Sloane (view spoiler)[ Here we go. to see the underbelly of this Program. Ugh. If anyone can crack it, she can.
she couldn't kill herself. they can't erase her.

she's going to kick their butts! I'm looking forward to reading it!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "Wow! I can't imagine a world where suicide is an epidemic, but I honestly can almost see that happening! There is so much drug/alcohol addiction, gang violence, parents absent or in drugs/prison, a..."

I agree! this reality is frightening! But WOW! I can imagine it!!

Tie into it that most of the youth have 90% of their relationships on-line. Okay, maybe not 90, but you know what I mean.
Less In person relationships.....their social skills and coping mechanisms are totally different from ours.......

and with cyber bullying..

Yeah, this reality is just all to real and so freaking scary

and every time her parents talk I cringe
but I would be just like them "aren't we so glad the program is there. to save them all"

ugh......

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Done with Part II
I'll read more tomorrow

Realm (view spoiler)[ ugh....just....so disappointed with him
and I really dislike the program (hide spoiler)]

Sloane (view spoiler)[ who is this girl now :( (hide spoiler)]

And of Part II (view spoiler)[ Okay, I don't remember everyone's description.
who was the girl in the window?? (hide spoiler)]

Roger (view spoiler)[ OMG how could this guy come back into her life?? I know he's not done yet (hide spoiler)]

James (view spoiler)[ I missed him :(
I wonder how he's doing.
I wonder if HE had a "Realm" when he was inside (hide spoiler)]

I can't figure out (view spoiler)[ why everyone spend so much time staring off when they come out
but Sloane sounds so much more adjusted

I also can't figure out why she was such a special case
why EVERYONE seemed so invested in her... or maybe that's her imagination (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished ch. 5...long day yesterday. But I still have to comment.

I thought the kids were really (view spoiler)[stupid to go to Sumpters High. I'm scared for all of them now. Poor James has taken on the responsibility to keep everyone safe, but he's up against the government. Ugh...I love his and Sloane's relationship. After she cried in the car I fear that somehow that will come out of she'll be seen as depressed. I also am concerned that any or all of them will be picked up by the handlers and have their memories erased. I can't imagine. (hide spoiler)]

James (view spoiler)[ Oh my goodness. He's so darn sweet, and I love how protective he is over Sloane. It's not a controlling type of protectiveness. (hide spoiler)]

Miller (view spoiler)[ Wow! I feel REALLY bad for him! He wanted so badly for Lacey to remember him. It must be awful to have someone you've loved totally not even know you. I don't think The Program is a good solution! Now they are going to wipe him out too, if he isn't more careful with his decisions regarding Lacey. (hide spoiler)]

[Celestial]

I love this book, sooo much. So much love.

[Vicki]

I'm loving it too!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

and I'm done


OMG I loved this one. Favorite so far this year. It was SO good.

I MUST read book 2. lol
I can't wait to see what you guys think!!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

The End

My favorite chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ OMG them re-finding their love for each other was just so fun to read. I loved this chapter (hide spoiler)]

Ally/Allison (view spoiler)[ My. heart. is breaking. OMG HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN??????? I hope she's faking! And where is james??? I hope this was Realm's idea to save her (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I'm reading it while my students are listening to Romeo and Juliet. I just want to READ it!!! I agree it's REALLY good so far!!!

[Life is wasted on the living [Elena]]

I am having so many obligations with the exams and stuff and I am really sorry for bailing on this one. Will read it when I get a glimpse of free time and say my opinion.
Again, so sorry for not participating in our buddy read. :((

[Mandiann]

oh I want to start it so badly. probably tonight.

[Vicki]

It's so good, Mandiann. A really good book to get philosophical and have intellectual discussion regarding our youth, teen suicide, resolutions, and more.

[Vicki]

Finished Part I and WOW!

I just read someone's review who gave this two stars, saying that Part I is boring. Okay, I'm not sure what people need to be "entertained" but I thought it was anything but boring!

Miller (view spoiler)[ OMG I didn't see that coming! I HATE that he killed himself! He just felt so destitute and lost without Lacey. SO freaking sad! (hide spoiler)]

James (view spoiler)[ Okay, I'm upset that they took him and that he is no longer the same person. I'm upset that he couldn't protect both himself and Sloane...not faulting him, but angry that the "save-them-all" PROGRAM seems to do the opposite of what they are intended to do. Just upset that we lost James. (hide spoiler)]

Sloane (view spoiler)[ Wow! Her mother ticks me off! I understand to a point why her mother called, but she'll have a stranger come home. I was really worried when Sloane jumped off the same cliff that Brady did. I knew she couldn't drown but I didn't know how it would end. She was luckier than lucky! I am glad that she realized that she didn't truly want to die.

I felt so bad for her that James doesn't remember her, either. I'm glad that when the handlers came for her that she had the chance to bury her pic and ring. I wonder how that will come in to play later. I hate that we are losing those we love, too. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished Part II

OMG I want to scream! I am SO, SO sad!!!

Realm: (view spoiler)[ I am SO upset that he was not her true friend in the realest sense of the word. Betrayal is the worst kind of pain! I want to type away because I have SO much to say about him! I do think he has real feelings for Sloane, but OMG! I am SO angry that he betrayed her! (hide spoiler)]

Roger: (view spoiler)[ PIG!!! I hated him from the minute I was first introduced. The first few words he spoke to her concerned me that he was going to molest her. He was evil to me from the get-go! (hide spoiler)]

Sloane (view spoiler)[ Oh my gosh. I just wanted her to stop fighting the way she did! I wanted her to keep her mouth shut but fight internally so they didn't know. I really wanted her to beat them at their own game. I think somehow she will, but not sure how. I am SO freaking sad that she doesn't remember James. But she does have that memory of the ring. Why? Did Roger's pill really work? Hmmmm (hide spoiler)]

The girl: (view spoiler)[ Who is that girl in the window? Blonde? Nobody came to mind except Miller's mother (but she's too old to be in The Program and Lacey. I wonder if she had to come back. Whoever she is I know that Sloane knows her. (hide spoiler)]

The Program (view spoiler)[ I hate how they took Sloane's memories, especially of James. I like how the author gave us such insight into James and Sloane's relationship. I thought that was clever, but I was SO darn sad knowing that as she was so fondly telling of her relationship with James that they were erasing each memory. I just wanted Sloane to figure out a way to shut up and keep those memories. How CRUEL is that Program!!! Ugh...(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Mandiann]

I am 5 chapters in. I am liking it and the characters but want to find out more about the program.

It's so sad that Lacey (view spoiler)[ doesn't remember Miller. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I know, Mandiann. This book has a lot of sadness in it. But it's still so good.

[Vicki]

Trisha, where are you?? LOL I need help!

Finished the book and wow!

I agree with you that chapter 13 was my favorite chapter as well. (view spoiler)[ Finding their way to each other and falling in love and in the same way all over again just was so touching! I loved that chapter. (hide spoiler)]

Ally/Allison (view spoiler)[ Please tell me that is NOT Sloane??? It looks like Realm slipped when he called her that. I hope like heck that she wasn't sent to the Program again! Is that who you think Ally is? And James? I think is that is Sloane that James must be thrown in the Program too, don't you? (hide spoiler)]

Realm (view spoiler)[ I really can't stand him! I don't like that he is saying the exact same things to Ally as he did to Sloane, whoever Ally might be. I just see him as such a betrayer. I'm wondering if he got his "sister" to set up Sloane so he could get her back and give her the memories he wants her to have. I think he's a perv. LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I KNOW!!!! OMG! You're done!!!

So (view spoiler)[ ....I'm hoping that Sloane was recruited to act like Realm does....
but it doesn't seem that way does it???
It seems like they entirely wiped her!?!?!

Ugh!!! AND WHERE IS JAMES!!?? (hide spoiler)]

Please tell me we'll read book 2 ASAP! LOL

[Vicki]

You know it! I had no idea what this book was about when I said I'd read it. It was SO good!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I know, me either! And I bought it! LOL!

I'm rushing off to see if my library has on order book 2 yet!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Did you see my spoiler above??? I'm so confused. (view spoiler)[ I don't know what the end means!! ACK! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

(how did this get to Archives??? Isn't Mandiann still reading with us???)

[Mandiann]

I sure am. I fact I just picked it up to read another 5 chapters.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yikes, I'm not sure how it got moved....hopefully it will get moved back? :)

[Mandiann]

You should be able to move it back, Trisha.

Just edit the first post and change the folder it is in.

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Did you see my spoiler above??? I'm so confused. [spoilers removed]"

I read everyone's comments in full! That's why I asked you. LOL

[Vicki]

My Link+ system has 8 copies but when I request it, it says "No copies available." Making me mad!!

We can set a date whenever you guys are ready and if I have to I'll buy it. I have to know!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

mine are "in process" too so I'll keep you posted

so....question

Do you think (view spoiler)[ Sloane has been recruited or do you think they wiped her mind??

because if they wiped it, she still has the pill to reset it all right???

(hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I hadn't even thought about her being (view spoiler)[ recruited until you said that. I think since book 2 is about the treatment, I have a feeling that she is one of the "rebels" now and possibly James too. I think MAYBE she is back in The Program to find out what they can do to really bring it down. But I don't know. I'm not sure how that would have come to pass. But at the end of chapter 14 Sloane said, "I think maybe Realm is wrong. That James isn't the only troublemaker, the only one willing to take up the cause. He's not the only one who wants to fight." So I have a feeling she's allowed herself to be planted in their for that purpose, so perhaps she's a plant that is rebelling. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, and the (view spoiler)[ pill supposedly gives her her memories back. Do you think that's "the treatment?" LOL Because she kept it, I believe it will give her back her memories BUT there's only one pill. So now what? (hide spoiler)]

[Mandiann]

10 chapters in. Oh my!! this isnt going anywhere good is it?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "I hadn't even thought about her being [spoilers removed]"

ooooh!!! That gives me (view spoiler)[ SOOO Much more hope!
maybe Realm and Shep and the whole crew inside is helping her...by covering for her being planted

that would be so awesome!

But wasn't she being escorted by Nurse Kell or whatever her name was?? So they must think she's been wiped but she really hasn't??

(hide spoiler)]

Roger (view spoiler)[ you think he'll be back right??
he's definitely somone who can blow her cover...... yikes. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Mandiann wrote: "10 chapters in. Oh my!! this isnt going anywhere good is it?"

right?? You can kind of sense that, huh? It's just so hard at first. With everyone being so sad....

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I hadn't even thought about her being [spoilers removed]"

ooooh!!! That gives me SOOO Much more hope!
maybe Realm and Shep and the whole crew inside is helping her...by covering for..."

I hope I am right but who knows?

Roger (view spoiler)[I hope he rots in hell! But you are absolutely right. He could blow her cover, if Ally is Sloane. I have to know! LOL (hide spoiler)]

We have to read book 2 yesterday! LOL

[Mandiann]

Just finished Part One and the first chapter in Part Two.

Miller (view spoiler)[ So sad he died. I think Lacey will be heart broken if they ever find a way to restore their memories (hide spoiler)]

James (view spoiler)[ I hope Sloane will be able to make him remember her using the picture and the ring. (hide spoiler)]

Sloane (view spoiler)[ I am sad that she was taken and so very worried that the creepy handler is going to do something despicable to her but I really want to find out what happens behind the closed doors so I am glad the book is progressing to this. (hide spoiler)]