The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young - Restarting November 8th 2021

[Sarah Elizabeth]

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young will be our 1st GBR for October 2018.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Anabel]

I’ve been wanting to read this book for I while now. I’ll try to read it with the group.

[[deleted user]]

19% (view spoiler)[ NO!!! Miller are you kidding me? I hope 911 gets there before that stupid QuikDeath Takes effect! I am so mad at miller right now. I can only imagine how he feels at losing Lacey like that. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

32% (view spoiler)[ Aww doesn’t this just suck!!? Sloane is now in the program… I gotta say I have been curious at what they do at the program!! Lobotomy’s? I hope they don’t find the pictures and the ring when they strip her room. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

54% (view spoiler)[ Man I was having a little hope for Dr. Warren too… I really thought that black pill was gonna help Sloane conserve that memory of James telling her he loved her. But I should’ve known black pills cannot mean something good. I feel so bad for Sloane always drugged up. I can’t wait til something happens to Roger. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

73% (view spoiler)[ All these guys I don’t know who to trust… I want James to remember Sloane and for her to remember her too. I don’t know if I can trust this Kevin guy I don’t even like Realm anymore… but he was honest with Sloane but now she doesn’t remember that he told her he works for the Program… ugh… I’m glad her and lacey are becoming friends again. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

99% (view spoiler)[ well that ending was just a tad creepy!!! Could it be that Realm is the one running The Program? Questions and more questions… (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

19% (view spoiler)[ This is all so messed up?? Like I'm glad people are taking an interest in mental health, but this is too the extreme. I honestly think that much observation wouldn't be good at all. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

30% (view spoiler)[ Okay Sloane's parents have now put her in the program and I really hope it gets better from this point on because honestly, that first part was um... something else. I hoped this was going to be good representation for mental illness and right now it's just... Idk. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Cinthia wrote: "54% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ She's been drugged up this entire time. But don't worry, they are helping her. 🙄 So many lies throughout this. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Cinthia wrote: "73% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I'm definitely learning towards trust no one. Because well... the Program is messed up on so many levels, so I can't find myself trusting people who work as part of that. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Cinthia wrote: "99% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah I don't know if he is or not, but he is definitely deeper in it than I think we were originally led to believe.

But really, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this? It just kinda... I don't know. It fell flat for me I think? It didn't really feel like there was... I don't know. Maybe it's because it is different from other dystopian books where you don't have this real big bad individual instead it's more of an inner conflict sort of thing? I don't know what it was. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaleigh]

I've actually already read this book and it's amazing! I'm sure all of you will love it. If you decide to continue with this series I'll tell you that you wrote this as a 6 book series but they are written in pairs so pretty much the first two are about Sloane and James and the next two are set in the same dystopian world but are about a different person. Same thing for the last two. I seriously recommend it because it really is amazing! Enjoy!

[Kelli]

I am always down for a good dystopian series and this one is proving to be no different. It's still early in the book and I'm learning about the suicide and 'infection' as well as the characters, but I am definitely falling into it already.
Page 66
(view spoiler)[ It seems to me that both James and Sloane could probably be classified as 'infected' after Brady committed suicide They are so lucky to have each other to confide in and even semi-process life without others seeing and reporting them. In my eyes everyone basically lives in fear here! Like you can't have a sad emotion without being flagged. Miller definitely had it hard when Lacey came back. I couldn't even begin to imagine what he was going through and my heart was in my throat when they got that phone call from him on their way back from camping. James is definitely in a very hard place now and I don't know if Sloane can save both of them. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Erin wrote: "Cinthia wrote: "99% [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I don't know if he is or not, but he is definitely deeper in it than I think we were originally led to believe.

But really, I'm not entirely sure ho..."

I wish you would've like it more... yeah it was different but I think that is what pulled me the whole (view spoiler)[ can't defeat them, join them. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Kelli wrote: "I am always down for a good dystopian series and this one is proving to be no different. It's still early in the book and I'm learning about the suicide and 'infection' as well as the characters, b..."

yes! That is exactly what I thought. I kinda am in the parents side.

[Kelli]

page 203

(view spoiler)[ I knew it was only a matter of time before James and Sloane found themselves in the program. The spiral that Sloane found herself on after finding the James did not remember her was bound to get her taken. Even at that point I was curious what that particular handler was doing - he seemed drawn to her. In the program we see some weird stuff going on with him - trying to take advantage of her by bartering pills that were supposed to help her hang on to memories - but was he this persistent with the other girls he tried this with? Realm is definitely grounding her here. Maybe its my skepticism towards everybody, but I do kind of wonder about him. The way he got worked up about Sloane not having the pill anymore. This makes me wonder if he has done this with other girls and gotten their pills to in turn keep his own memories. Like I said though, I feel like I'm pointing fingers and upset with everyone about what these kids are going through at this point! lol (hide spoiler)]

[Kelli]

Page 360

(view spoiler)[ Well - I was a little off on how Realm was deceiving everybody, especially Sloane, but I was right to be skeptical of him. Though I really do think that his heart is in the right place - especially when it comes to Sloane. I have read a book in the past where they erased people memories and they still ended up having certain feelings and emotions with nothing to attach those to which in the end only made it worse. I can see where that would be a likely think. Your body has still experienced these things and will still feel certain emotions in particular circumstances, but without a memory to attach them to you're basically just left unable to process what is going on and why you feel that way. I am happy that Sloane and James are finding this in each other, but I also feel like everyone is going to do everything they can to keep them apart. If this wasn't a thing I do feel like Realm and Sloane may possibly have had a future together. I'm wondering if maybe Realm was thinking that Sloane could do what he does? Kind of undercover in the program? I'm also suuuuper thrown aback by what went down with Liam! Both his outburst at her and then of course his death. Definitely not something I would have anticipated and I wonder what will result from it. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

15%
(view spoiler)[ Jesus they are freaking out over Miller. Slamming her head against the glass. James craving his freaking name on his body. Calm down! (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

End of Part 1:
(view spoiler)[ i mean what did you think would happen to you lady if you skipped school and was on this whole "i want to die just over a boy", then you cut your wrist when they came to get you, way to act "normal" there. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelli]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to moving on to the 2nd one in the series. While I was a little 'wow' over Sloane's mom calling the program again I can't say that I was necessaily surprised I don't feel like she was proving to be a danger to herself or anything, but she wasn't following this perfectly laid out plan that everyone had for her - most of all avoiding James. So do they dictate everything in hope that no memories will resurface? And now Realm - oh boy I wonder what kind of trouble he will be in. I hope that we catch up with him in the next book sometime. I also hope that Sloane doesn't take the pill - I think she would feel more alone than ever if she did. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

44%
(view spoiler)[ What a fucking pervert with a pervert name Roger. I know Realm knows him somehow but i can't remember how. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

55%
(view spoiler)[ Damn girl stop tugging this kid around. Let him make out with you then push him off. Wait til she gets back to the normal life. Love this love triangle... (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

64%
(view spoiler)[ Aw she found Lacy, best friends even after The Program erased all that shit. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelli]

Brooke wrote: "64%
[spoilers removed]"

Poor Lacey. She doesn't necessarily play a large role in this story, but I feel like she continually draws the short straw (even in the 2nd book).

[Kelli]

Cinthia wrote: "19% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I seriously slammed the book shut when Miller made that phone call. I just couldn't.....I mean for a few minutes because of course I had to see just WTF happened!! lol (hide spoiler)]

[Lenni]

Ah! I just finished this book and I thought it was FANTASTIC. I love it!!!!

[Saar The Book owl]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting September 1st 2020. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Krystal]

Up to chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ So sad the program basically brianwashes the person and they don’t remember anything. Had to be a better way. (hide spoiler)]

[ellen]

Krystal wrote: "Up to chapter 5 [spoilers removed]"

Very heartbreaking. I'm not sure if I care for the main characters BF at the moment, his personality, but still very early in the book.

Up to chapter 8.

[ellen]

Whew! Now this story is picking up and going somewhere. Up to Part II, cp. 6.

[ellen]

This has been added to my DNF. I got to page 188 and then was done. I wasn't feeling this book from the beginning as it was very dull and slow to start. Once we enter Part II my hopes were up, but I was disappointed still. I'm a huge proponent of not reading a book just for the sake of it. It starts to feel like work and then I start to hate reading and I don't want that to seep into my otherwise joy of reading books that I actually enjoy. The premise was intriguing but the main character I was indifferent towards and I just wanted something to actually happen.

[Krystal]

ellen wrote: "This has been added to my DNF. I got to page 188 and then was done. I wasn't feeling this book from the beginning as it was very dull and slow to start. Once we enter Part II my hopes were up, but ..."

I got really behind in reading. I totally get it. I have a ton of DNFs.

[Krystal]

Up to chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ I want to know why they even made quick death to begin with.. everything is pretty sad at this point with Miller gone and James basically almost gone. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting November 8th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Aaron]

Might join you on this one if that’s ok?

[Ashley W]

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[ That was a lot to process in the first two chapters! The Program sounds terrifying even they are 'trying to help.' And I have so many questions about why suicide rates are so high. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ Maybe I'm old fashioned, but in my day, skipping school like this was a way of getting attention, not avoiding it. I feel bad for Miller. More than Lacey even. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ With James gone now, of course Sloane is going to spiral. Her parents are in such denial, I would hate to live with them. I get where they are coming from, though. They lost one child and don't want to lose another. Still, it would drive me crazy. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[ That was a really intense opening to the book/series. Really depressing, but at the same time, kind of realistic. Every person so far has made different choices and mistakes, but I understand all of them, which is rare. Very eager to see what happens in The Program. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Part 2 Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[ How is she still remembering her times with James? I thought her handler said they'd already taken her memories? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Part 2 Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[ Realm is so thoughtful, at least as much as he can be. And Roger is so slimey. I really hope at some point, he gets what he deserves. I wonder how Realm gets out of punishment? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Part 2 Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ What kind of special pull does Realm have? Somehow he gets away with everything. I am glad that Roger is gone finally. Now I want to know what James really said to his therapist. I don't believe that he didn't really love her. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[I'm so disappointed in Realm and his whole role in this. I do think he cares about her, but there can't be any real trust there. I miss James and would love to know what he was doing to get into so much trouble. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Part 3 Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ The banter between James and Realm was a bit much for me, though I think she handled it well. I hate that Realm is keeping things from her after saying that he wants her to be better. It's interesting that Sloane and Lacey found their way back to each other just like she and James did. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I have way more questions than I did at any other point in this book. Who is Realm really? Was that really his sister? Some sort of agent? Who are the rebels and what would Sloane and James do for them? I need answers! (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

Aaron wrote: "Might join you on this one if that’s ok?"

Of course!

[Krystal]

Up to chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ While the fear of suicide is important, it's terrible they can't ever express any true emotions for fear of being sent away. (hide spoiler)]