The Program

Wow, I knew I wanted to read this book but I didn't realize just how good it was going to be until I read it. The Program was amazing to me. Everything I wanted in a dystopian, and while some of it reads similar to other dystopians out there, there is a lot that is different and fresh about this book as well and that is what drew me in and kept me reading!

Sloane and James are in love but worried about the sickness that can land them in the program. Life as a teenager in the normal world is stressful enough. But in the world that Suzanne Young has created, there is so much more to worry about. What happens when you go in The Program and why don't you have any memories when you come out. James and Sloane are determined to not get "the sickness" or at least not get caught with it. But when all good intentions fall aside what do you do with the hand that life deals you? Well Sloane is a smart cookie and I love that about her. Yes she is dependent on James, but when the cards are down, she really comes into her own.

The first part of the book gives the back story and what is happening in the now up until the breaking point. Then the story is broken up into two more parts, one being The Program and the other (I can't remember the actual title) but it's the time after The Program. I won't go into details to keep this spoiler free, but let me just say that once this story gets rolling and I found myself invested in the characters and interested in the world I could not put the book down. It also read very fast. I think I sped through 200 pages in no time at all. It's just that interesting.

I've read The Hunger Games, I've read the Crossed trilogy, and while I see shades of similar dystopian features here (it's like all types of books, there are similar formulas), the formula is where it stops. The Program is a very original story. Centered around an outbreak of teen suicide and what the government is doing to try and stop it. Once it again it shows the lengths some people will go to to control people (it's not a political statement, it's very generic in the book). It's scary and fascinating at the same time and I found myself pulling for Sloane through the whole book. She has spunk and love. And I love that about her.

Are you looking for the next great YA dystopian or just a quick summer read? The Program is it. From the way it ends I am guessing it's part of a series and must admit I did not do my homework here. If it is I am looking forward to the next book. But don't worry, it's not a huge cliffhanger that will leave you miserable, just teased for the next book. With tight writing and engaging characters this may just be one of my favorite books of the year. I can't say enough how much I loved this one and can't wait to read the next in the series (if it is a series, oh please tell me it's a series!)

I trust Suzanne Young to write an amazing book. I do. Honestly, 100%. But I still wasn't sure how she was going to pull this one off. I just felt like the description of this one just seems a bit far fetched. The thing is, I was completely convinced! A good author can take what seems like a far fetched idea and convince you that it could really happen, and Suzanne did that. She weaved all these things together that really made this book work incredibly well.

I'm starting with the romance this time around because it was such a major part of the story. I really loved that Sloane and James have an established relationship. They truly love each other and have an amazing connection. I really felt the love they had for each other. And when things kept falling down around them they always had each other. But when things go from bad to worse and they can't continue as they were, then how will it all work? Well, I can't tell you that, but it all worked out perfectly. Even though there was what could have been a love triangle thrown in, or a love wrench maybe, it didn't ever really come to that. And what plays out was absolutely perfect. Things aren't easy, they go through hell, but how things end up made me happy. The romance in this book was incredible.

I really liked Sloane. She's strong, even when she's losing it, when her life is crumbling around her. She still has this survival instinct even when she's wanting to die (or thinks she might want to die). She really doesn't have anyone to trust at times in the book and while it wears on her, she pushes through. And while there was one small portion where I wanted to slap her, for the most part she was a fantastic character.

The whole plot of this book is very unique and pushes us to really think about things. In this society suicide is an epidemic and they say it's contagious, but we see that kids are pushed to the edge, terrified they'll end up in The Program and that pushes them to actually commit suicide. So is The Program helping, or is it what is actually causing the epidemic? We get to think all this through as we read because it seems clear that suicide rates are high, and maybe depression really is worse then average, maybe due to some environmental reason, but is it really as bad as everyone makes it out to be? Would things be better without The Program? I really enjoyed thinking about all this so much, and debating it in my head. I think that this will be explored in the next book more and I really look forward to it!

The end of this one is perfect. There's not this big cliffhanger or anything, but yet we REALLY want to know what comes next. I also had a very hard time putting this book down. Every time I started reading, I wanted to keep reading until I finished.

I do have to give a warning for this one. I would say it's for mature readers as there's clear sexual relations, though it's off page, it's very clearly implied. And just the subject matter itself might be sensitive to some. I think the description will give you a pretty good idea whether this is one you should consider or not. I know I absolutely loved the book and for that reason I very highly recommend it!

A book about a suicide epidemic? Sounded super interesting to me!! I was intrigued. I wanted to know what happened. What is making people want to commit suicide? What do they do to the in The Program to erase their memories? I needed this book!! Unfortunately, it wasn't really as good as I was hoping. While I still enjoyed it, there were just a lot of things that didn't work for me.

Sloan is the main character and she was a character who I liked, despite some things that bothered me about her. I really loved how passionate she was and refused to let the program win. She was a mess of emotions and pretty all over the place, but somehow, she still manages to keep her head. Even with everything that happens and she's not sure she even knows herself. What I didn't like about her was her obsession with James and him being almost her only thought so often. I get that she loves him, but it's like everything she does is for him and about him and it got old very quickly. She was definitely a feisty chick and really determined though, and I liked that a lot about her.

There is a bit of a love triangle in this, but it was one that I actually didn't mind since it made sense. Of course James is the love of her life, but things aren't quite so clear after The Program is involved. I loved James and thought he was fantastic. He is caring, sweet, funny, and totally in love with Sloan and it melted my heart. I wanted so much for them to be able to be together and for everything to work out. Then there's Relm (I have no clue if that's the right spelling since I listened to the audiobook) and I never really trusted him. He seems to really care about Sloan and want what he thinks is best for her, but there's a big difference between what is best for her in his eyes and in hers. I just never felt like he was right for her, but I could understand why Sloane was torn.

What I didn't like about this book was, we never really find out what has caused the epidemic and why. We really find out almost nothing at all about the actual illness itself. It's obvious that it's a way to erase people's memories and make them who they want them to be in a way. It's like they wipe you clean and mold you to their specifications. They have "handlers" follow you and watch you, but we still don't know why or how. I just hate not getting important information in a book. Basically we just go through everything with Sloane, find out a little inside info about some people who work for The Program, but that's it.

The audiobook of this was a bit iffy for me too. I liked the narrator for Sloane. I thought she did a good job with her. I could tell who was supposed to be talking by how she changed her voice for the characters, but I didn't think the male voices were that great. Also, it might not bother other people, but the over emphasis on the "h" in the "wh" words, especially "when". It just really stood out for me and was a little distracting. Overall the audio was good though, and I think that I would have rated the book the same even if I had read it instead of listening.

The premise of this book sounded really awesome, and I think it really could have been, but it just didn't feel like I got enough out of it. I liked getting to know the characters, and see their struggles. I thought Sloan was done really well, but with the lack of information I had a hard time really liking this as much as I wanted to. It might be dystopian burnout, or it might just be the book. It was good, but it didn't stand out among all the other dystopian books on the shelf.

*a review copy was provided by the publisher for review. The original review appears on my blog [...]

As a "professional" reviewer (and believe me when I say I use that word lightly) I spend hundreds of hours each month immersed in the written word. Most of the time...I read a book, shrug/eye-roll/smile/or shudder/ write down a few notes and move on. These books are not bad, just... forgettable.

Other times, I'll pick up a book and be impressed. It's entertaining The characters are believable, and the plot is everything you expect from a quality crafted novel.

But rarely do I pick up a book and realize, too little too late, that what I'm reading is not a book at all, but rather someones soul slathered across page after page of brilliant white paper. That "words" is just a silly way of saying declarations/vows/edicts/pain and that "brilliantly heartbreaking" are the most beautifully combined adjectives known to man.

"The Program" is one of these rarities. It will influence your dreams. Dominate your conversations, and completely shatter any misconstrued sense of stability you currently possess.

It is also...one of the best book I have ever read. Period.

"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."

Someone once asked me what is harder: Writing a review of a horrible book or a wonderful book? And my answer has always been the same.

"It's much harder to express happiness adequately than to tell someone something stinks."

And while I still believe that to be true, today I found myself in an entirely different predicament. Writing a review for a book that has left an emotional footprint on my heart.

Contrary to popular belief I am not an Ice Queen. It DOES take me a little long to get emotionally involved (when it comes to books) I'll happily admit that, but if you are the person that is able to chip the armor you will forever have my respect.

Suzanne Young is now officially one of those people.

To make a long story short...The program is about love. It's not about suicide (though that is a major staple.) It is not about the pitfalls of a Dystopian society (Even if that is where the characters reside.) It's about the emotional and physical response a person has when presented with the possibility of having nothing. The torture they are willing to endure to guarantee happiness. The parts of themselves they are willing to sacrifice for their soulmate. The hatred felt when someone tries to take all of that away because they are convinced your emotions are a plague. To know love. Feel love. And then have it ripped from your mind under the guise of protection. That is the plot of "The Program." And it's a plot that touches on fears ALL of us have, but never admit.

Now...I could go on and on about the emotional ramifications of reading this book. Tell you that from page 90-220 I could have been mistaken for the bathroom faucet, my tears were flowing so heavily. But I have a feeling I wouldn't do it justice. That I'd sound mocking instead of sincere. So instead...I've chosen to speak through quotes. Quotes that only hint at the depth of emotion and heartbreak found in the pages of this astonishing addition to the literary world.

"Sloan," James says, pulling my arm. But I'm rocking, banging my forehead against the window, trying to make the memories, the regret, the pain go away. I want to stop moaning because I don't even know what I'm saying. But I can't control myself. I can't control anything."

"He smiles sadly. "It won't hurt anymore once you forget. It's the only thing that can save us now." He bends to rest his forehead against mine, whispering "We can't go on like this. You have a huge hole here." He puts his palm over my heart, and the touch is intimate and almost comforting. It's not butterflies or romantic - I don't have those feelings for him. But it's a touch that makes me feel human. Alive."

"Without thinking, I lean forward and hug James, making him stagger backward against the other side of the doorway. At first his hands are awkwardly at my hips as I rest my head on his chest. His arms wrap around me protectively the shock of his touch almost jarring in its comfort. "I'm sorry," I say suddenly, and straighten up. I back away, not sure there is anything I can tell him to make the impromptu affection less awkward. But James grabs my wrists and pulls me to him again, this time hugging me tightly like he's the one who needs it."

This, my friends, is a book worth reading, loving and sharing. It encapsulates the best and worst of human emotions, and it does so in a truly exquisite way. Don't let this one pass you by. You will regret it later.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: "Don't do anything by half. If you love someone, love them with all your soul. When you hate someone, hate them until it hurts." - Henry Rollins

Excuse me while I fangirl over another amazing Suzanne Young novel! I have been waiting and waiting, extremely patiently, to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint in the slightest!

The Program deals with the heavy topic of depression and suicide but not in a way that is terribly depressing to the reader. In this world, suicide has become an epidemic, a contagious disease that is spreading among teens. They are closely monitored and whisked away to join the Program at any sign that they might be infected. It's a scary world for the teens, fearing to be taken away, their memories wiped clean, leaving an empty shell of who they used to be. But it is also scary to deal with the deaths of family and close friends.

Our main character is Sloane, who is dealing with the loss of friends and family and struggling to maintain her emotions. She's afraid to be sad or cry and is basically walking around on emotional eggshells, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. She tries to be strong, but it's hard to fight against the demons slipping into your mind. The one who does let her cry when she needs to is her boyfriend, James.

One of my very favorite aspects of the relationship we see between Sloane and James is that they are an already established couple. I loved how Suzanne Young did this in A Need So Beautiful and once again she was able to floor me with the swoons. Sure we get to see flashbacks of how their friendship developed into the 'more' and they were perfectly intertwined into the plot in a way that fit. Now James... damn I loved him. He was so sweet and protective, and let's not forget swoony!

'We stay close until James's hand slides onto my bare thigh just below the hem of my skirt, his breathing deepening. "My lips are tired of talking," he whispered next to my ear. "Now kiss me and make me forget," he says.'

*dreamy sigh* There are so many of these moments that I loved. I ended up with so many flags in my copy so I could go back and reread these parts. But just as much as I was swooned, I also found my heart breaking too. The love and need they had for each other and then going through these difficult times that threatened to tear them apart... But it never felt overwhelming like a novel with this concept could come across as. Another thing I love is how the author isn't afraid to address sex with her characters and she does so in a respectable and real manner.

Needless to say, we get a glimpse of life on the inside of the Program. It is meant to save lives by erasing those memories and parts of your mind that is associated with depressing events, almost leaving its patients with a brain like Swiss cheese. Sloane and James have never trusted it. I don't trust it. Something screwy is going on in this dystopian world and I cannot wait to see how it all ends in the final novel in this duology, The Treatment!

'James smiles as he traces his finger over my mouth. "I think . . ." He stops and looks into my eyes, his stare arresting, pinning me in place. "I think I'm in love with you," he whispers. "Is that crazy?"
His words strike my heart, and the ache that's been a constant in my chest goes away completely. I lick my lips and smile. "So crazy."
"Then I guess I love you madly." And then he leans down and kisses me again.'

~Sara @ Forever 17 Books

The Program is the first in a new series by Suzanne Young.

In Sloane's world, teen suicide is an epidemic and the only known cure is The Program. Sloane knows not to cry in front of anyone. One little outburst or show of emotion could get her flagged and sent straight to treatment. Her parents have already lost one child to suicide and they will do anything to keep Sloane safe. However, anyone who enters The Program comes back with their memories gone. Their depression has disappeared but they also return a blank slate. Sloane goes to school and returns home every day, putting on a brave face and repressing her feelings. The only person she can be normal around is James, her boyfriend. He's promised to keep them safe and out of The Program but when an unexpected death occurs, James and Sloane's resolve is slipping. Can they keep themselves out of The Program or will they return with no memory of each other...?

So The Program was a book I was looking very forward to for quite some time. It ended up being different from what I envisioned it to be but I was still entertained and enjoyed it. As much as being a book on suicide, it is also a book about love and lost, and fighting for what you believe in. The book is divided into 3 parts and reads like a contemporary dystopian. The first part dragged on for me and was quite depressing since characters commit suicide, and James and Sloane spend that entire part feeling pretty miserable about their lives. But by the 2nd part, it started to pick up the pace and the pages started to fly by. The scenes within The Program (the treatment center) reminded me of the scenes in the detention center in the book Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky. You have the drugs, the crazy doctors and staff, and the guy who works there but is actually your friend. It was similar but The Program put its own little spin to make it unique. The book deals with a lot of heavy/deep issues such as teen suicide, relationships, depression, and being sexually active. Plus there is foul language here and there. So I would definitely recommend this book for older teens. I wish that the author addressed why teen suicide was an epidemic and why it started and became a problem. But I suppose that is what a sequel is for. The book also ends in a way that sets up the beginning of the next book. I will be looking out for the next book just to see where the story goes.

Overall, a fun, entertaining read that I am sure teens and young adults will enjoy. I recommend it to fans of dystopians, romance, and contemporary fiction. Looking forward to book 2 whenever it is out!

If ever a book exists that made me feel all kinds of conflicted, this is it. First and probably foremost, the topic of teen suicide, suicide in general really, makes me very uneasy. I work to prevent anxiety, depression and suicide every day, so it is something near and dear to my heart. I fear that The Program and its attitude towards suicide is a reflection of what our society feels about it. That it's casual, almost pedestrian. Yes, you read that right. Young does a really excellent job of showing the effects of suicide on the survivors, but the beginning of the book, which sets up this world where 1 in 3 teens "terminates" made it seem like a person goes from sad to suicide in about 30 seconds. I think the whole story, the world, would have been much more successful had suicide merely been a symptom of the greater issue of depression. Kids could have been flagged for severe depression, if Young had chosen to make that distinction, not necessarily just suicidal thoughts, which are often two different things in my book. Depression manifests itself in a lot of really interesting ways - not only suicidal thoughts but eating disorders, cutting, etc., and showing those symptoms too could have added a lot of depth here, but I digress. Just a comment, not so much a criticism.

I think the best part of this book was the relationship between Sloane and James in all its iterations. While the adults insinuated that they were attached to each other from grief, in an unhealthy way, I found their devotion to each other very touching. And very realistic. Teens frequently think that their current relationships are forever, I know I did back then, and I felt the intensity of their emotions through Young's words. They truly believed they could save each other. I also thought the grief and anguish rolled off these characters. Losing someone you love is never easy and Young really did a nice job of making the reader feel what Sloane was feeling. I enjoyed the romance aspect, with one exception - the sex felt as casual as the suicide. I loved that Sloane and James were friends first, that they were a team with Brady, and that ring! It was so sweet, especially when it made a reappearance. The idea that even if your head doesn't remember someone, your heart will always know them, really got me. Sniffles and swoons, kids.

With the sort of abrupt ending, there is clearly a sequel coming. I want to know more about Realm - he was such a strange character and I don't feel like I have a clear handle on him, which I'm sure is by design. I want to know more about the pills and erasure of memories. And I want to know more about the rebels.

There are shades of Delirium here, but truthfully I liked this one better. It was well constructed, with a few small errors, and I read it very quickly. I was definitely invested in the characters and wanted to know what would happen to them. I am still uneasy with the topic and am sort of afraid of what the reaction to this will be from educators and parents. But, it was a solid page-turner, very entertaining, one I'd recommend to older teens and adults.

4/5

Brilliant! I was not expecting it to pack such an emotional punch, but man, did it ever. It is so chilling to think about a teenage epidemic of suicide! My father did it back in October, so I know all too well the ramifications of family and friends left behind. Suzanne did such a good job portraying that.
The twist-- Sloane (the main character) and the other teens in this chilling world are being monitored for any signs of depression so they can't outwardly express their grief. I can only imagine not being able to cry for fear of losing all my memories.
Because that is what happens to the teens who are deemed at risk of suicide. They are sent through the program, and while it erases the depression it also erases all memories from their life before. So, I can't decide which they mourn more, the ones who are gone through suicide or their friends or boy/girl friends that have gone through the program but don't remember them anymore. So sad!
The dynamic of the characters was so well written and layered. Sloane and her boyfriend James used to run around with Lacey (taken into the program) and her boyfriend Miller. But James used to be a close friend of Sloane's brother Brady. So there is so much complex history and emotions driving their interactions.
One of the scenes that really got to me was when Sloane injured herself just so she would be free to cry because she missed her brother who died and her best friend Lacey who just came out of the program and didn't remember Sloane or her boyfriend Miller.
I adored the romance in this one. James and Sloane and their dynamic had me right away. I loved how they looked out for each other and provided the strength for the other when they were falling apart a bit, and glued them right back together. James is devoted and I was swooning all over him. Their teasing, banter, and loyalty had me cheering for them.
Each part of this book hooked me in even more, and made me realize how much I liked Sloane's character. There are new characters that I didn't know whether to trust, and even by the end of the book I have no idea what their angle is on everything, and how this person will play into things in the next part.
I love the line that if it is meant to be, it will happen. The first time I heard it I rolled my eyes, but I love how that is a theme, and the people that show up to prove that right, and things that happen more than once. I know that is vague, but I think that once you read it, you'll understand what I am talking about. It is so hard to review a book like this sometimes because so much happens that I want to talk about but, I also don't want to spoil anything. So I try to talk about what you can figure out from the synopsis or within the first couple of chapters.
The pacing was amazing, and kept me in suspense waiting for the next bit of action, or seeing how the characters are growing. I loved this first book and will definitely be continuing this series.

Bottom Line: Intense and emotional. I connected with Sloane and swooned over James.

The Program book was awesome! Even though the synopsis hints at a love story, I didn't expect it to dominate the book the way it did. I think I expected more of a sci-fi than a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out otherwise! This love story completely rocks. Imagine soul mates, destiny, "meant to be", love that knows no bounds.. but all without being cheesy.

The Program is completely effortless. I feel like it deals with so many intense topics, but without shoving it in your face. It just glides across the page flawlessly so you can soak it all in.

The first half of this story is completely heartbreaking. Just imagine: your brother commits suicide, your best friend forgets who you are, your other best friend commits suicide, left and right your friends from school have their memories wiped... and you know that you're next. Sloan and James are an adorable, super sweet couple, but they're on The Program's radar. If The Program takes them in, their memories will be wiped and they'll forget about their relationship and their love. They're head over heels for each other and don't want that taken away.. but they're also grieving over all the deaths and they can't hide from The Program.

I mean, holy crap. I didn't even know how to approach a situation like that. I completely felt for Sloan. I was heartbroken right there with her. And she and James were such an adorable couple. James was kind of cocky and arrogant, but so insanely sweet. I LOVED him!

Then when I settled into the second half, the book started focusing on a different element: if your memory was wiped, would you fall in love with the same person all over again? Are some things meant to be? And if your memories were wiped, how would you piece together the fragments of your life? You would have to rely on what people tell you.. but can they be trusted? This book was a whirlwind of confusion, hope, betrayal, loss, and love.

My only gripe was with Realm. An almost love triangle develops between Sloan, James, and Realm, and Realm was kind of a creepy guy. It wasn't really a love triangle, but it sort of was. It's hard to explain and I don't want to get into spoilers. But yeah, Realm = odd and creepy. Stay away.

But overall this book was super strong. It brilliantly explores the idea of star-crossed lovers and fate, but without causing me to roll my eyes. Honestly, not a lot actually happens in it in terms of action and plot development, but it has so much emotion that I didn't mind all that much. Just be prepared for an emotional love story rather than some hardcore plot stuff. But in the context of the book, I totally think it worked. The story wasn't so complex that it needed a lot of plot or world building. A lot of it is experiencing Sloan's memories, but they were so sweet, tender, and heartbreaking all at once. Even when not much was happening the book was still gripping! I'm eagerly awaiting book 2!

The Program was a strange read for me. After finishing it, I can't really tell you how I feel about the novel as a whole. There were parts I really loved and others that were just okay. I think the series has a lot of promise and with improvements in the world building and character development it can be truly exceptional.

The setup was intriguing--a suicide epidemic has brought into existence The Program, a government run mental health project that forces teens into a treatment program that erases their memories. Sloane begins to lose those close to her to either suicide or The Program. Her emotional outbursts due to these losses make her fearful that she'll be locked away in one of The Program's treatment facilities.

The Program had a strong start. I actually liked that Sloane and James were already a couple. Often I love the development of a new romance, but this was almost like witnessing the process in reverse. Although I liked the romance between them, I wished Sloane had her own identity. I appreciated the deep bond and how much James and Sloane loved one another, but it would've been nice to see Sloane have her own hobbies and interests outside of her boyfriend.

The secondary characters were all interesting, except for the unnecessary inclusion of a few baddies. I liked that the story was told from Sloane's POV and I thought the author did a good job of portraying the emotions of someone who had lost someone close to them to suicide.

What I felt the book was lacking is that it didn't delve enough into how the Program came into existence and what the reasoning was behind the us (teens) versus them (parents, therapists, etc) mentality. I could almost empathize with the parents. If the alternative were death, why wouldn't I want to do everything in my power to hold onto my child? What is the basis for the resistance? Plus, wouldn't facilities use proven treatment methods to cure the teens, not wiping all of their memories away?

The Program was thought provoking for sure and I'm curious to see how the series continues. There were some mature scenes and I'd recommend this book for older teens and adults.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!

I have seriously been waiting and anticipating reading this book for a long time. I don't know, something about the interesting concept portrayed in the synopsis just grabbed me and, ever since, I have been eagerly awaiting the release date! But then, I had to wait for my book store to actually put out copies of it! So, as soon as I saw it, I just had to buy it!

I really enjoyed The Program in its entirety. I could not wait to pick it up after setting it down and I didn't want to set it down, especially after certain things happened and I was like WTF? What's going to happen? I really wasn't expecting the story to go certain ways that it did, so in that way it was a nice surprise. I truly had no clue how it was going to end or how Sloane was going to get through certain situations. I still can't believe some of the things Young threw at me! The Program was definitely packed with emotion (how could it not be? -- it's about teen suicide after all!), good characters, and a unique and twisty-turny storyline.

Sloane was a great heroin. The Program is told in first person narration from Sloane's point of view and it was definitely an interesting ride! Sloane has lost her brother to suicide (which she and her boyfriend, James, witnessed), she lost her best friend to The Program, and throughout everything she has to put up a front so that she doesn't get flagged and taken to The Program. But, she also has to be careful that she doesn't let these things bother her to the point of depression...she doesn't want to get sick and end up committing suicide like so many other teens have done. Luckily, she has James as her rock. Someone she can completely trust, someone she can rely on, and someone she can let all her emotions out with. But, will it last? What if something happens to one of them?

The writing is decent. There's nothing extremely special about it or anything. But, Suzanne Young is a very good story-teller, which I think is most important when writing a novel. She definitely had me hooked.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It was a very good read. Lovers of YA Dystopian will really enjoy this one, I think! I cannot wait to see what happens in the second installment of this series.

I had the toughest time finding the right words for this review. That always seems to happen when I've just finished an absolutely amazing book. The subject matter is very strong and I can see why a lot of people might pass this book up, but I'm going to try my hardest to convince you to actually go out and pick this book up so you can enjoy it to its full potential.

In the not-so-distant future teen suicide is an epidemic and it's spreading like a disease. The Program is the government's answer in helping stop the disease. Anyone showing signs of sadness or depression is immediately flagged and is put under constant watch. The Program is the cure they say, but once you return all you'll be is an empty shell of yourself. Your memories are completely gone and you don't remember anyone from your past. It's what they call a clean slate. That is exactly why Sloane doesn't show any type of emotions at school, much less at home. The only person she can confide in is James. They depend on one another, and try not to bring attention to themselves. But most of all they're trying to figure out a way to fight the disease.

Anything that has to do with such a heavy topic is not something you can easily read, but the way Young captivates you from the very beginning with her incredible writing style you can't help but feel that immediate connection with Sloane.

I can honestly say there is nothing like The Program out there right now. The storytelling by Young is done so effortlessly that you lose yourself in this book within minutes. The idea of this actually happening is pretty scary. The thought of not being able to have a choice on whether I want to be admitted into The Program is terrifying and the fact that I wouldn't be able to properly mourn the lost of the people I care about is heart wrenching.

The Program is an intense emotional story about love, lost, hope and betrayal. The underlying message that you get from The Program is to basically value everything: the good, the bad and the ugly because in the end it's what makes you, you. I enjoyed this story tremendously and will for sure be picking up the sequel. - Andy

This was the saddest book that I had read in a long time! Don't get me wrong, I loved it!!! This was exactly what a great book is supposed to do for you. It leaves you with a ton of jumbled up emotions; I felt like my heart was breaking, I fell in love, I was confused and I laughed! This book definitely makes one of my top favorites this year so far!!!

Okay, so here's the story.....

Sloane, James and Miller live in a time when suicide had effected so many of the young people. The government believed that suicide was an infection and it could be contagious. So, they created "The Program".

The Program basically was set up where everyone would keep watch and if anyone noticed any changes in one of the town's young people, they would call the "handler's" and that person would be taken to the one of the rehab centers to start their working towards getting better. Also, they make each student fill out an assessment at school with crazy questions like:

Have you felt lonely or overwhelmed recently?

Has anyone close to you committed suicide?

Sloane, James and Miller think they have the system all figured out. They try to stay off the radar and keep all attention off of them. The problems start when Miller's girlfriend, Lacey gets released from rehab and she doesn't remember him at all. They know her memory has been erased, but they wonder what else had happened to her. What they don't know is that they have no idea of what it is really like on the inside of a rehab center. But, some of them will soon find out.

I cannot even express the feelings that I had while reading this book!

Sloane and James are a couple and their story is fascinating yet a very sad one. They share a tragedy that really, no one should ever have to witness. I think that is what holds them together so closely. I do believe that they adore each other and there were times that they gave me a chuckle, especially when Sloane was reminiscing! They also ripped my heart out. I found myself literally sobbing at some points!!

Suzanne Young, I bow to you for creating a superb storyline and characters that are real and very likeable! Although, I still am not sure about this Michael person??? I find it amazing and I really can't put my finger on it, but, some authors have the ability to literally pull us in with their characters and make us feel like we are a part of their story and we feel the pain and anguish right along with them. This was one of those times and I THANK YOU!!!

Highly recommended Read! Now, the long wait for the next book:(

I loved this book SO MUCH. I read the entire book on PulseIt.com (for free - yay), which means I had to read the entire book on my computer. No matter, I could barely stop because I was so engrossed! I cannot believe I'm going to have to wait for eons before there is a sequel.

Who are we without our memories? Parts of it reminded me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. and there were tinges of Delirium as well. In Delirium the epidemic was "amor deliria nervosa" and society had to be saved from LOVE. The epidemic in The Program is teenage suicide. In order to save the "sick" teens they are sent away to "The Program." The Program has found a way to erase all of the bad memories a person has, effectively leaving them a blank slate so they can start over. Teens are constantly monitored for ANY signs of sadness - no crying, no fighting, no sign of negative emotion whatsoever. A slip-up can, and WILL, send you directly into the sympathetic embrace (yeah, right!) of The Program. Take a pill, spill your guts, take a pill, forget everything.

The Program is divided into three sections - before, during, and after Sloane and James go through treatment. Part one is sad, tense, nerve-wracking even, because you feel so much sympathy for these kids that are going through SO MUCH and are having to keep it pent up inside. Um - HELLO - where do ya think the depression is coming from?! We don't get to read about James in treatment but we do know he was a troublemaker (heh - no surprise there)! It was disheartening to go through Sloane slowly losing her memories because I just REALLY wanted her to find a way to "beat the system." She's very lucky to meet a couple of friends, especially Realm. I'll leave it at that. Part three was my very favorite. Sloane is slowly reintroduced to life on the outside but she is still closely monitored by her handler. Lucky for her - Realm is helping her there as well. It's pretty amazing that even with her memories gone she is drawn to the same people. The Program raised an important question: Does your heart "remember" even when your brain cannot? Sloane is drawn to her best friend from before and then, of course, to James. The Program was so thorough in erasing her "painful" memories in order to "heal" her but it seems to do little good once she meets James again. I love the way the book ended, even if it is a cliffhanger! This is dystopian at it's finest: Society, with initial good intentions, tries to "fix" the human condition . . . but there will always be those that rebel. Bring on the revolution!

The quote that plays on loop in my mind throughout the third part of the book: "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." (Edmund Burke).

The Program is an intriguing and thought provoking first to a series that gave me all I wanted from it-romance, thrill and food for thought. I failed to completely connect with our main romantic couple, but in many ways I still consider it a great read. Given the heavy topic (suicides and depression oozing from the pages), I wasn't emotionally involved, and that is the only "negative" thing I have to say.

The Program has a great composition. It consists of three parts (before, during and after). The events in each accentuate a motif, a certain repetitiveness in the human nature that challenges the idea of the Program, to wipe out all potentially triggering memories. The dystopian streak is not that prominent. The Program is still in experimental phase, implemented in a small number of states. The focus of the story is the romance between Sloane and James, both in the high risk population. It's an interesting situation to watch the characters before and after the treatment and follow the train of their thoughts. The main idea is, even if all your memories were eradicated, would you make the same 'mistakes'? If most of your past were simply deleted, how much of you would there still be in you?

I was wondering all the time what would have to happen in the society to start such an avalanche of depression and suicide. Then there's the Program itself. While it's easy to adopt the characters' negative attitude toward it, Suzanne Young also gives you enough footage to see the upside of it. As a mother I had to ask myself what I would want for my child. Where is the morality of it if the patients have absolutely no choice? Is a clean and fresh start that horrifying an alternative to suicide? Is the cost of keeping your children alive living with barely more than a shell of its former self worth it? Read it and decide for yourself.

The Program raises a lot of questions, but ends on a hopeful and promising note, especially considering the epilogue. The same character that at some point I thought was cheesy soars to heroic proportions, and I cannot wait to read more.

(Disclaimer: I read this book for free via Pulse It. There was no obligation to write a favorable review)

4.5 stars!

From the very beginning Young had me intrigued. The premise of this book was interesting and unique and I loved every second of it! While it may seem like this book is about suicide... it really isn't. So please don't let that deter you from reading.

Teen suicide is an epidemic. It's rare that anyone Sloane's age doesn't know someone who's committed it. Her school has become the launching pad for something called The Program. Anyone who shows signs of depression or sadness is removed and their minds are wiped clean, removing the 'illness' that has invaded during a 6 week process. This offers the teen a clean slate and hopefully removes any memories that may have triggered the disease. For some reason this disease seems to be only affecting teens so Sloane and all her friends are under constant watch by the Handlers and the fear of losing their memories is constant, many instead deciding death is the better alternative.

Sloane has watched her brother and best friend succumb to the disease and with the reappearance of her other best friend, Lacey, she struggles with the idea that The Program is beneficial... yes, it's saving the lives, but at what cost? Isn't it our memories and our friendships that help make us who we are? And once you lose those, is history bound to repeat itself or not?

James and Sloane's story is the main focus here... seeing the evolution of their relationship... the dynamic between them so strong and solid in the beginning and then having to wade through what The Program did to them and the confusion and pain that occurred afterwards makes you question The Program and the solution they have come up with.

This is part of a series and I'm excited to see where the next book takes us. I had tons of questions by the end of the story and can't wait to get more answers. If you're looking for an intriguing story and plot, with great writing I would definitely recommend this book!

I could not put this one down. It is quite large, over 400 pages, and I read it in two sittings. I stayed up way too late, made myself finally put it down, and then couldn't stop thinking about it. I was sad when I finished it, because I loved reading it that much. It was the perfect first book in a series, drawing you in. It really wasn't an action-packed book like so many dystopians tend to be, but I really wanted to know more about the characters and keep reading. Maybe that helped, because there are quite a few dystopian novels out there that seem to follow the same set up. This one seemed to be a fresh take on a similar theme. There was at first the impending doom of who was going to be carted off to the Program and what would happen to them followed by the impending rebellion that was sure to come.

*Spoiler alert!*
We get to see inside The Program. I won't tell you what character we experience this through, because that is part of the anticipation with reading, but seeing how the program actually works is very interesting.
*End Spoiler*

This is a very interesting read about the epidemic that is apparently suicide. Are all of the kids getting so depressed because it is a disease, or is it more that they are too afraid to show what should be healthy emotions, thus causing them to be even more upset and/or confused, leading to the eventual disease? How much is too much government intervention? Is it right to send the kids through this program if it is going to turn them in to different people? All of these questions make for a perfect dystopian novel.

I read through The Program really quickly. The writing style and characters easily captivated me and kept me reading, although at first I was unsure of how the premise would hold up under a 400 page book. I think I expected more of a deeper meaning within the text rather than the use of the epidemic to add more pressure and a conspiracy feel to the novel. I wanted to learn more about how this was happening and wasn't sure of whether it was supposed to be taken that suicide was actually contagious like a disease in the world presented here.
That said, the way that the book tried to paint The Program in a bad light kind of confused me. I could completely understand why the characters were fighting to keep sane and away from depression because they didn't want to lose their memories and all of the connections in their old lives. But though The Program was viewed as something evil, it was actually working and keeping the teenagers going through it from killing themselves. I think that any parent who had the chance to save their kid rather than having them die with all of their memories intact would choose to keep their child.

When I started this book I didn't know that it was going to be a series and that partially annoyed me. I didn't realize until the end, which clearly led up to a sequel, that this wasn't a stand-alone novel. Everything I saw promoting it didn't hint at that and I'm not sure if I'm going to like the direction that the sequel looks like it will be taking things. I might read it but I might not; I don't have any particular inclination or obligation toward the characters to finish the series. By reading The Program, which I did enjoy and like, I satisfied my curiosity about it.

4/5 stars

My Thoughts: Whoa, this one was pretty fascinating. We are introduced to Sloane and James. They love one another. They will do anything to keep each other safe. They also have another friend who hangs out with them quite a bit at first. And of course there is also Sloane's brother who we learn a lot about in flashbacks.

Teens are committing suicide. Its spreading. 1 out of every 3 commit suicide.James and Sloane have lost many friends this way already. The only way to stop it is to be admitted into The Program. Its a place where teens go to make them better. To make them change, to feel better.

I loved reading about Sloane's brother and I felt like I really got to see him, and got to know him through her memories.

Sloane ends up in this place and she meets another boy who cares deeply for her. As she's forgetting James, this other boy thinks he might have a chance with her.

People aren't who they seem. Nothing is really. Its hard to trust anyone. Its hard to trust yourself even once your memories are taken.

I really enjoyed this one. It was weird at times, but in a good way. I loved James. He was such a tough guy but had a gentle heart. I loved the way Sloane and James got together. It was all too cute and romantic. I loved seeing all the things play out in this one. It was crazy but good.

Overall: Enjoyed it alot. I tend to like Johnson's novels, so I can't wait to see what else she writes. I also read this in one sitting, so it did draw me in!

Cover: I like it. I like the yellow and I like how we can't see their faces, only the backs of them.

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
_______
Taken From Princess Bookie

Fans of the Delirium Trilogy, look no further than Suzanne Young's THE PROGRAM for the next unbelievably heartbreaking dystopian. This book delivers a story with a deeply unsettling premise and a devastating romance. Powerful, provocative, and unputdownable.

Dystopian fiction works only as well as the corruption that defines it. In THE PROGRAM, it's the supposed cure for the suicide epidemic that is claiming the lives of one out of three teens. Teens are monitored for any kind of emotional outburst. If they cry or get mad or get `flagged' for any number of reasons, they get dragged from their homes, their classrooms and shipped off to The Program. When they return six weeks later, it's like the invasion of the body snatchers. They don't look the same and they have had their memories wiped of `infected' memories and people.

There are countless wonderful and terrifying moments in THE PROGRAM including the achingly tender romance that grows between Sloane and James. Every moment is made all the more acute because it could be lost forever. There is a desperation about their love because they are each the only thing keeping each other from an increasingly irresistible death. Talk about epic.

THE PROGRAM sucked me in with a frightening world and a with a hurts so good love story that is as tragic as it is wonderful. The is the kind of book that lingers. Beautiful writing, pain and passion mixed with near perfect results. I can't wait for the next book in The Program series.

Sexual Content:
Kissing, sensuality, multiple references to sex. References to sexual misconduct

Suzanne Young knows how to create a believable world with characters that you can't help, but loving and wanting more. I can see the dependence on prescription drugs, mandatory treatment, and the rush to premature conclusion from parents in the future. Actually many of these things are beginning to set into motion. I really like Sloane. She was smart, brave, and strong. I liked that she was able to take risk and I have felt a lot of the sadness and silence that she expressed. I understood her and related to her. I really liked James too. He cared about her, but also had his own flaws. I really enjoyed their relationship and kept on want more about them.
The Program was the perfect blend of action and romance. It was a book that ignited me with so many emotions and filled me with so many thoughts. I had to continue reading this book and I wanted more when it is over. The Program was a original take on a very serious issue in society that comments on some of the issues within the treatment of people dealing with depression or other mental illness. Young's writing is fabulous. The story is engaging and I just wanted and needed more. I am definitely excited for the sequel and can't wait to see what Young writes next. I recommend this to fans of Dystopian Novels or people that want strong characters, thrilling and epic plots, and just amazingly beautiful and emotional writing that impacts you with every word.

NOTE: This review may contain mild spoilers

In the near future, teen suicide is an epidemic. To prevent this, the government has issued a state wide alert: watch the children, or alert The Program to "assist" in the matter. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, lives in this world, and it's only a matter of time before the sadness in her life overtakes her. But she refuses to become part of The Program.

THE PROGRAM is a hard book for me to review. Don't let the simple cover deter you from the themes. I applaud author Suzanne Young's ability to wrench emotions out of the reader. It makes you look hard at teen suicide; some people like to dance over or pretend does not happen, but Ms. Young has taken it and given it a presence which shadows the characters. It has changed everyone in different ways. The book never shoves its message down your throat or downplays suicide. I had a constant lump in my throat while I was reading this.

At the same time, I can't help but wonder if certain people were put into the book just to wrench emotion from the reader. Each person is sympathetic, especially Sloane and James. But I felt certain characters, like Sloane's classmate Kendra, were put into the book just to make the reader feel bad.

There are some loose ends which speak of a sequel. But I thought this book could have been and should have been a standalone. It packs a punch the way it is. This novel is not for everyone--not if you're looking for a cute, fun read.

The Program by Suzanne Young is full of pain and sadness. It was about suicide as an epidemia and the only solution is The Program. BUT, ironically, it was The Program that had caused more suicide in the country. It was because nobody wants to get in there and get out as a NOBODY. A Nobody because you won't remember most things when you get out of The Program after six weeks of medication. You won't remember that you have friends and you won't know yourself. You are a stranger even to yourself. I'm sure you don't wanna be FLAGGED by the handlers of The Program, do you?

Sloane, James and Miller knows what to do best after their mate, Lacey, was sent to The Program by her parents. They act happy even when they want to burst out crying. They act strong even when they want to stumble down and fall. But not too long, Lacey returned and she had nothing remembered in her mind. It was twist and turns with his ex-boyfriend, Miller.

Sloane, being the girl in the group, had been through a lot. Well, all of them had been through a lot, but her brother, Brady, committed suicide infront of her. Then and there, her family mourned and sobbed but she wasn't allowed due to the fact that when The Program will notice signs of you having sickness or depression, you will immediately be flagged and be brought to their facilities to meet your 6 week long medication of erasing all your memories and replacing them with what you don't know. She is the only one that her parents have now. They don't want to lose her. Sloane herself, doesn't want to lose herself either.

James, boyfriend of Sloane, the best friend of Brady, was also there with Sloane when Brady jumped in a 20 ft high creek, falling hard in the strong current of the river, stealing from him his life. James blamed himself for not having saved his best friend.However, inspite of that, James was the funniest and the most lustful (appropriate enough :P) or taking it lower to "the most flirty" guy in the book. He would give you his lines and you sure would laugh. Atleast, he gave a tint of happiness to what was sadness and epidemia all around.

And Miller, the lover boy, was the kindest and the most tragic character in this book as for me. He was my most favorite character. He gave me most of the chills I've experienced with this book.

I love everything about the book. I love its characters. I love its plot. I love its twists and turns. I love its beginning.And, I love its ending. If it was a fruit, it would be the most luscious fruit I've ever tasted. It was also the most complete dish you will ever have in a plate. It was perfectly blended and mixed. No taste overpowered the other. It was perfection served in pieces of papers at its finest.

While reading the book, you will really squirm a lot. It is so painful. You will also be carried away by how smexy the way Suzanne have written the Rated M scenes. It was funny though because it's hanging. She will cut the scene right away. I want more, you know. Kidding aside, you won't regret spending your time with this book. You'll love it as much as I want to eat right now! ♥

This book is not recommended for you all but it's A MUST! YOU ARE COMMANDED TO READ THIS OR YOU'LL GET
FLAGGED! >:)

I would rate this a 5/5.

The Program by Suzanne Young is a combination of teen romance and adventure. The premise is to prevent teen suicide by capturing high risk teens that show signs of depression or loneliness and by using drugs, erase their memories that led to their depression. They are institutionalized for 6-8 weeks and then released under the watchful eye of handlers.

When I first heard about this being about teenage suicide, I thought I'd pass on it because it sounded so depressing. I thought it was going to be about one suicide after another but it isn't. I liked this book because Sloane, the main character, is strong and tries to keep her memories in spite of being turned in to "the Program" by her parents. It's an interesting novel that I had trouble putting down. I highly recommend this thought provoking read to anyone who enjoys teen fiction.

I really liked this book. Dystopian is literally what I live for. Very romantic, very realistic, and it took a personal toll on my heart. This book deals with depression as an epidemic. when kids show signs of depression they are sent to The Program to cure themselves. But with being cured of this epidemic you are also cured of yourself. They erase the memories of your past. they take away everything that had made you yourself. The book is in the perspective of a girl who lost her brother to suicide and is dealing with depression with her boyfriend. They are trying to hide it to not show the symptoms, to remain themselves and stay out of the program. It shows you the real issues of someone who's afraid to admit they need help because they know if they do that they will change them entirely and completely. I really liked this book it was very interesting and I couldn't put it down. I recommend this to everyone. Even though its really sad and I cried a whole lot.

The idea for The Program is interesting enough. In the future, teenage suicide becomes such a problem that it is deemed an epidemic and watchers are placed in schools to detect and quash any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions. If someone is diagnosed as potentially dangerous to themselves or catching to others, they are immediately and forcefully taken away to the Program, a place that erases your negative thoughts.

Of course our protagonist will do anything to stay out of the program but it is much more difficult than it seems. And once you're in, try as you may, you cannot prevent the inevitable brainwashing.

This book is entertaining enough to garner excitement for the sequel but the characters are somewhat wooden and the plot is predictable. This book is clearly aimed at younger readers who may not have read many books like this before. It doesn't offer much out of the ordinary.

Book #42 Read in 2013
The Program (YA) by Suzanne Young

An epidemic is spreading--suicide among teenagers and "the Program" is the cure. Sloane's brother Brady commits suicide. This places Sloane and her boyfriend/Brady's best friend James on a watch list by the Program. If they are placed in the Program, all of their memories, good and bad, will be wiped cleaned and then the "disease" will be removed from the brains, preventing their suicide. But is this truly the right thing to do? To make it that they have no knowledge of who they are or their feelings for each other? Sloane is not sure and she strives to hang on to her memories.

This book was a great read. There was a lot of action and twists and turns. The characters were well written and interesting, especially Sloane, James and Realm. There was a romantic element to the book that was interesting but not overpowering. I enjoyed this book a lot.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review from the the store Vine program.

[...]

I first found out about this book when browsing other book review blogs. As soon as I read the description, I knew I had to read it. Of course, with my luck, the person reviewed an ARC and I had to wait. Well, with all the waiting, I ended up waiting far too long before reading this. I wish I had read it sooner. It was so incredibly good.

There’s so much I enjoyed about The Program. The writing was absolutely wonderful. It’s some of the best YA writing I’ve read in a while. The characters were perfectly done. Every single character was unique and well-developed. The plot was interesting and fully kept my interest.

When I originally put this book on my to-read list, I believed it was a standalone. It isn’t, though. There is one more book, but it’s not currently out. Until I get my hands on it, I’ll be eagerly waiting. I can hardly wait for it to come out. Until then, I definitely recommend this to everyone!

Decent premise. One-dimensional protagonist. TYPOS and misuse of the English language and grammar GALORE. I mean, the fact that the author is an English teacher in real life and is talking about characters "pining" each other down, or "peaking" each other's interest, or "clamoring" over desks and out of cars, is just shameful. The editor should definitely be sacked for his or her work on this book. Timeline inconsistencies as well -- Sloane and James met when they were 16, but have been dating for "over two years" but both are still waiting to turn 18 so they can leave town? This book would have been truly exceptional if more time was taken in overall editing and character development. It reads like a first draft.

This book. Woah. I read it in one sitting, and nothing could get me to stop reading. It's been awhile since I've read a book by Suzanne Young, but The Program made me remember just how much I love her writing. From the very first page, The Program had me hooked. The world that Young set up is unforgettable. The characters are extremely well written. And the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. Also, I cried SO MUCH.

I felt so bad for Sloane. Not only is she in a society where suicide is trivialized, she has also been dealt a really bad hand in life. Despite this, she stays headstrong and keeps her goal of trying to beat The Program. James was an equally awesome character. Though at times slightly annoying, I still liked him. It was easy to understand why he acted the way he did, even though I didn't always necessarily agree with him. Because of this, I was able to appreciate the character more. He was kind towards Sloane, despite being a guarded person.

The Program is an amazing book. I couldn't stop reading it, and even now- weeks after I finished it, Sloane and James are still in my head. Young is an impeccable writer, and I can't wait to read the second book in the series. You need to read this book.

**SPOILER ALERT**

The Program is set in a world where depression and suicide are considered a virus. If you are thought to have caught the virus, the handlers come to get you and take you to a facility known as The Program. There, the memories in your brain that are believed to be the cause and contributing factors of the virus are removed. Usually after six weeks, the person is then thought to be cured and sent back into society.

Sloane and James have been together for over two years. He was her brother's best friend, until Brady killed himself. Sloane and James are constantly trying to appear happy and normal so they aren't sent to the Program, even though they both ache inside from their friends and loved ones who have killed themselves or are sent to the Program.

Then someone else they both love is gone and it's a trigger for James. He gets caught and Sloane is just beside herself. She knows that when he is released he probably won't know who she is, but she has faith in their love and is pretty sure he will. She bides her time and tries to appear happy and normal until his release. But when he is and he doesn't know her, it flips a trigger within Sloane that sends her on an emotional rollercoaster and eventually into The Program.

Will she and James find one another? Will they ever recover their lost memories? I really loved this book! From page one I was sucked in and I had a hard time putting it down. The end is satisfactory but leaves an opening for a sequel, which I hope to see. Young deals with the delicate subjects of depression and suicide firmly and puts a whole new spin on it that is very thought-provoking. Highly recommend!

I read this book in a matter of hours. I found it to be scary.
Imagine a world where our children get infected and kill themselves. The cure is the program a pill to gather memories and a pill to make you forget. Now for us adults and if this is the real world what a great concept. For our children? Their psych is not something to be messed with. I really enjoyed this book.
Everyone is so scared to go into the program but once they get to the program its not so scary. When they bring the kids out of the program they are totally different. The ones who have not gone through the program nobody remembers them. Lifes not fair. Memories start to crack through. And the whole psych breaks.

One out of every three teenagers committing suicide and society is desperate for a solution. Statistics say that The Program is 100% successful. After reading THE PROGRAM, I'm surprised to say that I can empathize with the people who created The Program. In most dystopian novels, society is evil. In this dystopian novel, society is desperate.

History has proven to us that when society gets desperate, it does some things that are regretted later, like Japanese Internment Camps or forcing people into mental institutions against their will. It's not that much of a stretch to imagine society sending teenagers into a rehab program, with the intention of removing negative memories so that only happy ones remain. Whether or not it works is not the point of the novel.

It reminds me of THE DARKEST MINDS in that sense. Society is desperate to find a solution, especially one that is easy to hide out of eyesight from grieving parents. After all, during WWII, didn't British families send their children overseas to protect them from the war? The children weren't too happy to be separated from everything they knew and everyone they loved. My point is that it is a very plausible reaction for parents to send their children off if they truly believe that it is in their best interest.

Sloane knows that her parents were heartbroken after the death of her brother. Sloane never got over the death of her brother, especially since she and her boyfriend James witnessed it. She knows that if she's honest with her own thoughts that they will probably send her into The Program, since they'd rather her lose her memories than suffer the lose of both children. Instead, Sloane and her friends bottle up the negative thoughts and feelings and can't even risk crying in private.

The romance between Sloane and James was so special, it made all the bad things worth reading. They truly care for each other and connect on a level most YA couples won't reach for another 20 years. James tries hard to be the rock in the relationship, but inside he's breaking apart too. They make a promise to each other to keep each other out of the program, but its inevitable that one of them cracks...and nothing can save them.

Reading THE PROGRAM was a heart-wrenching affair. I wish that Sloane had someone to confide in. Worse, when she does find someone to listen to her, it's not in her best interest. Sloane is on a one-track path to getting her memories erased and losing James. Nothing that Sloane tries and no matter how many times I screamed at the book, does that path change.

I like how the ending focuses on fate. No matter how circumstances change for Sloane, it seems like some things are just made to be. No matter how grim the story ending up being, I'm glad that I was left with a little bit of hope that the characters will finally find happiness.

(I purchased a copy from my local indie bookstore)

It's really amazing how YA authors keep mining the dystopia boom like '49ers of old. Why? Because there's gold in them thar YA hills! You'd think it would get old and, in its way, it does, but all credit goes to authors who keep finding variations on a theme. In this case, Suzanne Young makes like youtube and goes viral. That is, she takes a condition (suicide) and asks, "What if it was an infectious disease?" The answer is this book.

It tells the story of a young couple Sloane and James who try to hide their true feelings because they know one sign of depression (crying, even) can land them in the Program. Twelve steps, you ask? More like a purging of memory. In memory, after all, hides the source of the depression, or so this brave new world assumes. The book provides fight, flight, induction, endurance, and post-partum blues (whoops). And, apparently, it's but the first of a projected two -- good news for readers who take joy in reading about sadness.

Sloane lives in an alternate version of the U.S., where suicide has become an epidemic. The only cure is The Program. Kids are closely monitored for symptoms and tagged when they are thought to be at risk. That's when they are taken to The Program. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, try their best to put on a brave face, but the painful memories of her brother's suicide still haunt them. I was not expecting this to suck me in the way it did. I listened to nearly the entire audiobook in one day, almost in one sitting. It was riveting. Young's characters are real and raw. Her plot twists were awesome, and her writing was engaging the whole time. When I began listening, I expected another dystopia that was a copy of all the others out there, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how great this book is. It took me a little time to get used to the narration. After I got into it, I couldn't stop listening. She did a great job with the character voicing and the flow. By the end, I just felt like I was listening to Sloane tell me a story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thrilling, twisting plots that also contain a dose of sentimentality. I'll be picking up the next one as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this audiobook by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Program is set in a world where depression and suicide are considered a virus. If you are thought to have caught the virus, the handlers come to get you and take you to a facility known as The Program. There, the memories in your brain that are believed to be the cause and contributing factors of the virus are removed. Usually after six weeks, the person is then thought to be cured and sent back into society. Sloane and James have been together for over two years. He was her brother's best friend, until Brady killed himself. Sloane and James are constantly trying to appear happy and normal so they aren't sent to the Program, even though they both ache inside from their friends and loved ones who have killed themselves or are sent to the Program. Then someone else they both love is gone and it's a trigger for James. He gets caught and Sloane is just beside herself. She knows that when he is released he probably won't know who she is, but she has faith in their love and is pretty sure he will. She bides her time and tries to appear happy and normal until his release. But when he is and he doesn't know her, it flips a trigger within Sloane that sends her on an emotional roller coaster and eventually into The Program. Will she and James find one another? Will they ever recover their lost memories? I really loved this book! There was no dull moment throughout the whole story, when I finished it I couldn't wait to read the sequel. Sloane is actually a very strong main character. I feel so bad for all she has to go through. Highly recommend!

I loved this book, both for the uniqueness of the plot and the feelings it evoked. My heart broke for Sloane having to endure so much loss in her life and fight so hard for her relationship with James. I admired her resilience in the face of what seemed impossible. At times it was difficult to read this story because I felt so helpless and depressed for Sloane and James. There were many twists and turns that made for a wild ride filled with sadness and despair but also happiness and hope for the future. The concept of The Program itself was quite interesting. I am very excited for the continuation of Sloane and James' story in The Treatment.

I liked this book a lot, I think it had an interesting plotline and the way it was carried out was well done. I could hardly put this book down because things just kept happening and it was frightening and exciting all at the same time.

The ONLY thing I didn't like was that the editor did not catch a lot of mistakes. There were a few grammatical errors, and I am not even a grammar Nazi, but I did find the amount of mistakes pretty glaring. As I read, I took sticky notes and placed them every time I saw a mistake and there were quite a few. Putting this into school libraries may be of concern although the content is great.

The Good: Sloane and James are so perfect. They felt very realistic, especially given their situation. Even seeing beyond just what Sloane could understand and remember, I could never really decide how I felt about James, The Program, or Michael. I wavered constantly, fully invested in how things played out. The premise was interesting, and realistic - to a point. More elaboration on the epidemic itself could have helped believability, but The Program seemed a perfectly normal governmental reaction.

The Bad: I really wish Young had gone more into the how and why of the epidemic itself. Why teens? Why suicide? I also wanted to know more about the inner workings of The Program, beyond what Sloane was experiencing. It seems like we may get something along those lines in the sequel. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Let me start by saying that The Program has demanded it's way into by top 10 for 2013. I read many books every year but when you get one that screams when opened, I know it will be added to the list of favorites.
My copy is an ARC so I'm not too sure if the published copy is like this, but there are three parts to the story and every part begins at page one, so it's like three stories inside. This is the first I have seen of this and really found it interesting.

The story is about a time when a massively high amount of youth suffer from severe depression and thus, commit suicide if given the opportunity. There has been much work into helping save the kids and close observation is made for everyone. If signs are showing, they are whisked off to a place that everyone in their right mind fears. A place that alters your state of mind, making the children lose their memories and allowing them to return back to their lives as someone that they are not. Someone incredibly different than who they were because they have lost that person along the way. The children are said to be recovered, but anyone in their right mind knows better.

Sloane has had many friends and family that have committed suicide. She has all eyes on her now and can't even get the time she so deserves to grieve for her lost loved ones. She knows that the life she lives will end up getting disrupted and makes quick decision to hide her past so her future won't be left blank. Her journey is far more unpredictable than anyone could imagine.

A young girl named Sloane is the main character in this novel. she along with others, suffer from the horrible disease, depression. Sloane knows the pain of suicide first hand because she lost her brother, Brady to it. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, take on everyday avoiding the program, knowing that if they were saw for how they truly feel, they would be taken in within seconds. They've seen people they love go into the program and come out not remembering anything other than what the program wants them to remember. So there’s your answer, the programs key to curing depression and suicide, is erasing the memory, and this is why Sloane and James want to avoid going in at all costs.

I personally loved this book from the beginning to the end. Every page was so attention holding and had me on the edge of my seat. One of my favorite parts of the book was the fact that it was split into three parts. Sloan's life before the program, during the program, and after the program. Another thing I really enjoyed about the book was the fact that you were reading as Sloane was losing her memory during the treatment. I had so many assumptions about the ending of the book, but the actual ending was not anything of what I had in mind. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian, suspenseful, love stories.

Reminiscent of Slated by Teri Terry, Suzanne Young has created a disturbingly realistic dystopian world. The unique method used in the memory removal procedure was particularly alarming… all the more because it didn't even seem far-fetched.

I became so absorbed in this story that when I finally had to face the real world I brought back a lingering trace of paranoia….

Although it did not distract from the story as a whole, I wish we had been told the underlying cause of the overwhelming depression and suicide rate that triggered the need for a new society – I don’t like unsolved mysteries!4 Star

I loved this book! It has a lot action in it. The story is about teens being depressed and doing suicide. At school there's the program. If they expect your depressed they will force you into the program. After six weeks in the program you come back and you don't remember anyone or the past. I cried a lot for the main characters. I'm excited to start the next book. The treatment.

Although I really did love The Program! It made me feel like I was reading a Prequel to Lauren Oliver's Delirium series. Which really makes me wonder! Are the authors of today sitting in a room throwing ideas around? And then they all pick one and go from there? Then after a time two people end up writing the same story with a little twist or something? The only real difference is that with the Delirium series its all about love is a disease and in The Program its teen suicide. The difference really dont stop there! From the first few pages it really felt like this was the world that existed for Lena before they found out that it wasnt suicide that they had to worry about but love itself!

In this book they take away your memories that are to emotional for you to handle so they take them away so you cant remember. Like the memory of Sloane's brother whom committed suicide. My big question there is if he committed suicide couldnt she just look it up in the paper? Uncured cant talk or tell the cured about their life before the program. If you do you could be flagged and arrested or put into the program yourself. After you turn 18 the program cant touch you. But by the end of the book it started sounding like the epidemic was growing. So by the end of the book it REALLY started to feel like a prequel! I cant wait to see what is in store next for these teens. One thing I really LOVED about this book is that even though its about having your memories ripped away and about teen suicide. Its also about how true love can conquer all! That if you are met to be together you will be! NO MATTER WHAT! LOVE WILL ALWAYS FIND LOVE!!

So my recommendation for this is this!

1. I both loved and hated the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. It was slow and well just SLOW!
2. If you loved the Delirium series DEFF pick this one up! Then let me know if it felt the same for you as it did me!
3. I loved this one it was a lot faster and not to slow! It was easy to follow and only had a few typos (where they missed an it and the etc) so not to bad!

One other thing wanted to make sure that everyone knew that this is another series that is only two books! Book two The Treatment is due out April of 2014

And for anyone wanting to know here is my review of Delirium (Review: Delirium)

Although I purchased a copy of this from BAM I also received an ARC for review so I will still post the following!

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

First of all, I hate androgynous names. Anyways, this book has left me a mess. One million questions running through my head!!!! My head and my heart are just...I don't know how to feel. Maybe I've gone through The Program too and they erased that! *gasp* Not personally knowing anyone that has committed suicide, this book was still hard for me to read. What a difficult topic to write about. And the fear of The Program vs Death! I felt it. Really good book. Sad and quite emotional and you're left with quite a huge question at the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a page turner for me. I liked Sloane, the main character, and her boyfriend James. This book is based on the premise there is a suicide epidemic going on with the teenagers of the world. The only cure is a program that you are forced to enter at the onset of displaying symptoms of unhappiness. The downside of the program is you lose all your memories, good and bad. James enters the program first followed by Sloane. The book focuses on life before and after the program and also flashbacks that Sloane has about her life before her brother committed suicide. What threw me was the epilogue (WTH)? I'm so confused now what happens to the characters but I guess I'll see in book 2, The Treatment, in 2014.

All the other reviews are saying that is is another generic dystopian YA. I completely disagree. I think it was original, just sad and kind of "basic" as far as writing. But finished reading it because I appreciate the story. I think the romance part is pretty great actually.

Imagine a world where suicide has become an international epidemic, and the only cure revolves around removing all memories that made you depressed – even the memories that make you who you are. New York Times bestselling author, Suzanne Young, depicts this paradigm in her novel The Program. Her main character, Sloane, is a victim to this futuristic world. The Program itself is a government run facility that monitors minors in society looking for signs of depression. Once enough evidence is collected that these minors are a risk to themselves, Handlers (The Programs employees, if you will) forcefully remove them from their homes or schools, and their memories are erased in hopes to prevent future harm. Individuals usually only remember their parents – that is if they were not a source of the suicidal thoughts – meaning that the "infected" are no longer themselves.
Sloane has been on the top of The Program's list ever since her brother committed suicide over a year ago, but her boyfriend, James, and best friends, Lacey and Miller, maintain her sanity. However, Sloane's life takes a wild turn when Lacey is admitted into The Program. Miller, madly in love with Lacey, kills himself when she no longer remembers him. As a result of his best friends suicide, James falls into a deep depression, causing him to be admitted into The Program as well. Sloane tries to be strong, but soon she breaks to the contagious essence of depression and is admitted as well.
During Sloane's time in The Program, readers learn of Jame's and Sloane's tragic love story. While she tells her therapist their story, her memories slowly disintegrate, and she begins falling in love with another patient, Realm. Readers will be torn between the two men in Sloane's life, while Slone forgets that there was ever a first man to begin with. The Program promises a fresh start and a happier life once the "dangerous memories" are removed. Instead, Sloan finds herself overwhelmed with unexplainable emotions, uncontrollable grief, and love that seems to have no purpose. Sloane's body remembers what her mind has been forced to forget, and tortures her as she attempts to recollect what was destroyed resulting in a mad attempt to rediscover who she once was. In a series of suspenseful yet heart-breaking events, Sloane will rediscover her families most hidden secrets as well as The Program's true means of existence while struggling to create a new life for herself in a mind of incomplete memories. This novel will bring you through a roller coaster of emotions, but believe me, it's worth the ride.

This title has been on my radar for a long time as an intriguing take on teenage suicide although I wondered how it would be drawn out and built up into a full-length novel. As I was reading, I told some people about how weird this reading experience was and I struggled to formulate my thoughts. I hope to do better in my review here with the caveat that there are some spoilers.

I think my first problem is the world. In this future world, there is an epidemic of teen suicide. The solution seems to be to put any teen who cries a lot or may be depressed into the program which strips them of their memories and emotions, leaving them alive but as empty shells. All of the adults think this program is the best thing ever: it keeps their children alive. I didn't believe that everyone would be so in favor of this program because the way the kids return renders them vastly different. What parent would be happy with that outcome? I don't see how they would think it was worth it. (ETA: I guess I was trying to get more at would parents really be so accepting of their child's complete personality transformation even as it kept them alive? The child becomes a shell and no adult speaks out. It made me feel like the book was playing to the smart kids/dumb adults trope and I hate that.)

The second problem was the overall point of this book. I expected exploration of depression and reasons for suicide. I never really felt like I got that and the ending seems to turn this book more into a rising up against the evil government kind of dystopia. It was a rapid change of pace to me and I didn't think that the previous pages had spent enough time setting us up for this kind of story. For the most part, it felt like a meandering contemporary romance.

As for that romance, well that's the third problem. The main character Sloane begins the book in a relationship with James. Both are sent to the program where their memories are stripped and their relationship is forgotten with Sloane starting up a new relationship with someone else. Yet those memories are not fully excised, setting Sloane up to fight to get those memories back through rebellion. I didn't feel the romance either way but the second guy is pretty sneaky and repulsive.

Overall: I found myself unable to connect with this book, kept back by banal characters and nonsensical plot turns.

In Suzanne Young's The Program, teen suicide is considered an epidemic. In hopes of "saving" lives, an initiative has been created, the Program, that combats the depression by erasing memories. Our main character, Sloane, has lost a brother to suicide and has seen friends be taken off by handlers to be "cured". But what kind of life are the cured coming back to, with little or no memories of their past? Young brings up quite a few questions about life- the value of memories, and living in the past versus only in the present. She introduces us to Sloane and her boyfriend, James, and you are instantly drawn into their story, rooting for them to survive and keep them together.

Overall, I found The Program riveting but dark. Unlike similar dystopian reads, Delirium,Shatter Me or Divergent, this storyline feels very real. Depression is become more and more common. Teen suicide is on the rise, with more and more horrid stories of bullying. In this world, showing emotion, crying, or overreacting can get you into big trouble. But when friends are being taken from you and being returned as shells of their former selves, how can you not react? Sloane is surviving day by day, mostly by the support of James, and he by her support. So when things start spiraling out of control too close to home, their lives and relationships are in jeopardy.

There is quite a bit of profanity (f-bombs) and sensuality (teen sex, heavy kissing, talk of hard-ons, etc.) Given that and the subject matter, I would say this is for older teens (17+). I am curious to see where Ms. Young goes with the story, as the ending leaves quite a few questions left unanswered. But this wouldn't be a book that I would want to re-read (a mark of a 5 star read) or one that I would've wanted to pay $$ for. So if you're curious, I'd check this one out from the library first. This is definitely a book that will linger in your mind, but what remains is not too positive a feeling... Unfortunately dystopian romantic drama is the "it" teen genre of the moment, so having read other books that were better (see examples above), The Program is not as impressive.

This was such a good story that I had a hard time pulling away from it.
I'm not sure about the ending though. It confused the hell out of me. Was it Sloane or Ally? I don't know. I definitely need to read The Treatment to find out though.
This story could be labelled an epic love story or dystopian. For me, it's both. James and Sloane are my favorite couple at the moment, and honestly, I hope they end up together forever.
Too bad I don't have all the answers yet though. I'm literally dying to know what happened.
Ah well.
As you see, I'm thoroughly intrigued by this story. One you should definitely read.

4.5/5

This book is amazing, and while it touches on touchy subjects, it does so in the most classy way possible. I immedietly fall in love with the characters and the relationships in this novel, and you can't help but find yourself routing for them from the moment you realize how amazing they truly are. I could not stop reading this book. I could not put it down. I just wanted to keep reading until I got to the end! I finished it in a day.

The only reason I didn't get this novel 5 stars is because at times, it was difficult to keep up with what Sloane was aware of, and what she wasn't. We are given lots of information about her past that she is aware of, and then later she isn't aware of. If you rush through it as I did (I imagine if time allows, you will because the book is so amazing that it's hard to take your time with it), you may have to really try to keep up with what she does and doesn't know. However, this doesn't take away from the story at all, and eventually becomes entirely obsolete.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of romance and rebellion, of passion and determination. This book is absolutley amazing and I can not wait to get my hands on the second one! I have quickly become a HUGE fan of Suzanne Young, and plan to read all of her other books as well!

I really liked this book. It took me a little bit to get into this book and to understand what exactly was going on, but once I got a few chapters in, I took off and read the rest in two days. I liked Sloane and James together. They were a good couple with complementary traits. It sucked what they had to go through, but I guess that is what makes the book good. The treatment for the suicide epidemic is severe, but goes along well with the plot line of the story. Overall I give this four stars simply because it took me a few chapters to really get into it, but worth reading. I even had to tell my mom to stick it out for a few chapters, and then she really started getting into it too. But she will write her own review.

This book made me remember vividly why I love dystopia so much. That endlessly doomed feeling that intertwines so fiercely with the reader's endless hope. Equally sad as it is romantic, this new series is one of my new favorites.

The premise of suicide and depression being an epidemic was scarily realistic and well explored. The what-causes-what question always looming near by. At some parts, I felt depressed myself. More than once I felt the dread and hopelessness of James and Sloane's world. I could understand perfectly why the would want to end their lives in a world like theirs. But then some parts were so infinitely hopeful and uplifting that it completely compensated.

"True things are destined to repeat themselves"

The bits and pieces of James and Sloane's love story (how they came to be and how they fell in love) were so believable and mundane, and yet completely enchanting. They were my favorite part of the book. This is one of the most heartfelt romances I've read this year and I was definitely not expecting that. Sometimes the romance falls monotone when the focus of the book is the dystopian aspect. In this case, the author knew perfectly how to interlace the powerful love story with the premise.

It was also a very thought-provoking read making me wonder constantly if our memories constitute who we are or if, somehow, we can be the same person without them. If more than just our brains have memory. If there is an essence of who we are can transcend what we do or don't remember. And even how powerful our instincts can be with no memories to lay upon. And the fact that it made me think so much cemented my decision to give this book 5 stars.

Overall, one that I highly recommend and should be getting way more attention. If you love dystopian fiction or want a sigh-worthy romance this is for you!

I don't normally find myself crying when reading a book but I did find tears rolling down my face a couple of times during this one. At the roots it's a love story as well as a gutwrenching story about friendship, lost love and true love. An epidemic has hit the world and more and more teenagers are killing themselves. Society has found a solution, The Program ... a place where teenagers are sent to be fixed and made well again.

What is The Program? Well you will have to read the book to find out but I assure you, it's worth the read. The book is in three segments, before The Program, during the Program and after The Program.

I highly recommend this book for both teens and adults.

Don't read this book if you get depressed because the beginning is very depressing. It wasn't until after the first third of the book that I decided to continue versus putting this book down. No one seems to know why there is an illness that causes young people to commit suicide. The program is supposed to cure this epidemic to the relief of parents. This is the back drop for the main characters as they struggle to put their fractured selves together. This is the story of what is lost when they are saved.

I bought this book because I am a fan of dystopian novels and I found the premise to be intriguing. I made a huge mistake! This is one of the worst books I've ever read.

Like I said earlier, The Program's concept is unique. As someone who has had depression and faced strong suicidal urges, I was interested in reading something with characters I could relate to. I unfortunately wasn't able to with this book. Sloane has the personality of a soggy piece of cardboard. There is absolutely nothing special about her, she is completely generic. James is an obnoxious tool. Their love was unconvincing and at times came off as borderline creepy. Realm is a uninspired emo antihero who acts like he should be in a bad fanfic. The rest of the characters were so irrelevant that I can barely remember their names and I just finished the book. I didn't care about any of these poorly written characters.

Reading The Program was painful, and not because of the subject matter. It had terrible dialogue, using outdated terms like "emo". Seriously? This book was published in 2013, there's no excuse for that. The treatment made no sense. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Erasing a person's memory will not cure it. I know antidepressants were said to be banned, but I would think that the top psychologists and psychiatrists could come up with a better solution then turning teens into "preps"

I could probably rant about this godawful book more, but I wont waste my energy, just like you shouldn't waste your energy reading this travesty.

The premise of The Program sounds (to me) no more interesting than a lot of books, but its execution is so potent, the author is so skilled at pulling on your heart while keeping you on edge, that I can't remember the last time I continued to read anything so late at night that I almost reached the black out state and still I didn't want to put the book down. Teen suicide has reached epidemic proportions around the world and the only way the government has found to deal with it is forced admittance into The Program for any young person deemed at risk, but when those teens come back to their lives they are hollowed out shells with no memories. Sloane and her boyfriend are tight and do their best to have what fun they can while staying safely under radar, but because they witnessed a tragedy they are under constant surveillance by the authorities who determine who enters The Program. Can love and a sense of self survive when the world is falling apart and it's unclear who to trust? To say the story is compelling is a gross understatement. There is enough of a wrap up at the end to satisfy, but I was glad to find out this is the first of a series because I can't wait to find out what happens next.

This was a hard book to read. It's not bad, don't misinterpret me. I work with mental health patients every day and the program in this book is an infuriating and heartbreaking way to deal with mental illnesses.

But that's sort of the point.

Anyway.

Sloan is one of the strongest characters I've read in awhile. The world around her is going to hell and she's keeping her head down to survive, but also trying to help those around her.

I wish there was a bit more information about how the epidemic got started. I'm also curious as to how the series will play out. The Program works well as a stand-alone novel.

There is a place where suicide is considered a disease and it's contagious. The suicide rates are high amount the young so a Program is concocted to wipe the memories of these infected. But, are some mistakes destined to be repeated? Can you really change who a person is by taking their memories? Aren't you who you are and will create the same circumstances? And, is your soulmate really your soulmate no matter how many times you meet them for the first time?

Young's ideas for this book are very refreshing and different from the situations you read in some of the YA novels today. I loved the story!

In Suzanne Young's The Program, teen suicide is considered an epidemic. In hopes of "saving" lives, an initiative has been created, the Program, that combats the depression by erasing memories. Our main character, Sloane, has lost a brother to suicide and has seen friends be taken off by handlers to be "cured". But what kind of life are the cured coming back to, with little or no memories of their past? Young brings up quite a few questions about life- the value of memories, and living in the past versus only in the present. She introduces us to Sloane and her boyfriend, James, and you are instantly drawn into their story, rooting for them to survive and keep them together.

Overall, I found The Program riveting but dark. Unlike similar dystopian reads, Delirium,Shatter Me or Divergent, this storyline feels very real. Depression is become more and more common. Teen suicide is on the rise, with more and more horrid stories of bullying. In this world, showing emotion, crying, or overreacting can get you into big trouble. But when friends are being taken from you and being returned as shells of their former selves, how can you not react? Sloane is surviving day by day, mostly by the support of James, and he by her support. So when things start spiraling out of control too close to home, their lives and relationships are in jeopardy.

There is quite a bit of profanity (f-bombs) and sensuality (teen sex, heavy kissing, talk of hard-ons, etc.) Given that and the subject matter, I would say this is for older teens (17+). I am curious to see where Ms. Young goes with the story, as the ending leaves quite a few questions left unanswered. But this wouldn't be a book that I would want to re-read (a mark of a 5 star read) or one that I would've wanted to pay $$ for. So if you're curious, I'd check this one out from the library first. This is definitely a book that will linger in your mind, but what remains is not too positive a feeling... Unfortunately dystopian romantic drama is the "it" teen genre of the moment, so having read other books that were better (see examples above), The Program is not as impressive.

This was such a good story that I had a hard time pulling away from it.
I'm not sure about the ending though. It confused the hell out of me. Was it Sloane or Ally? I don't know. I definitely need to read The Treatment to find out though.
This story could be labelled an epic love story or dystopian. For me, it's both. James and Sloane are my favorite couple at the moment, and honestly, I hope they end up together forever.
Too bad I don't have all the answers yet though. I'm literally dying to know what happened.
Ah well.
As you see, I'm thoroughly intrigued by this story. One you should definitely read.

4.5/5

This book is amazing, and while it touches on touchy subjects, it does so in the most classy way possible. I immedietly fall in love with the characters and the relationships in this novel, and you can't help but find yourself routing for them from the moment you realize how amazing they truly are. I could not stop reading this book. I could not put it down. I just wanted to keep reading until I got to the end! I finished it in a day.

The only reason I didn't get this novel 5 stars is because at times, it was difficult to keep up with what Sloane was aware of, and what she wasn't. We are given lots of information about her past that she is aware of, and then later she isn't aware of. If you rush through it as I did (I imagine if time allows, you will because the book is so amazing that it's hard to take your time with it), you may have to really try to keep up with what she does and doesn't know. However, this doesn't take away from the story at all, and eventually becomes entirely obsolete.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of romance and rebellion, of passion and determination. This book is absolutley amazing and I can not wait to get my hands on the second one! I have quickly become a HUGE fan of Suzanne Young, and plan to read all of her other books as well!

I really liked this book. It took me a little bit to get into this book and to understand what exactly was going on, but once I got a few chapters in, I took off and read the rest in two days. I liked Sloane and James together. They were a good couple with complementary traits. It sucked what they had to go through, but I guess that is what makes the book good. The treatment for the suicide epidemic is severe, but goes along well with the plot line of the story. Overall I give this four stars simply because it took me a few chapters to really get into it, but worth reading. I even had to tell my mom to stick it out for a few chapters, and then she really started getting into it too. But she will write her own review.

This book made me remember vividly why I love dystopia so much. That endlessly doomed feeling that intertwines so fiercely with the reader's endless hope. Equally sad as it is romantic, this new series is one of my new favorites.

The premise of suicide and depression being an epidemic was scarily realistic and well explored. The what-causes-what question always looming near by. At some parts, I felt depressed myself. More than once I felt the dread and hopelessness of James and Sloane's world. I could understand perfectly why the would want to end their lives in a world like theirs. But then some parts were so infinitely hopeful and uplifting that it completely compensated.

"True things are destined to repeat themselves"

The bits and pieces of James and Sloane's love story (how they came to be and how they fell in love) were so believable and mundane, and yet completely enchanting. They were my favorite part of the book. This is one of the most heartfelt romances I've read this year and I was definitely not expecting that. Sometimes the romance falls monotone when the focus of the book is the dystopian aspect. In this case, the author knew perfectly how to interlace the powerful love story with the premise.

It was also a very thought-provoking read making me wonder constantly if our memories constitute who we are or if, somehow, we can be the same person without them. If more than just our brains have memory. If there is an essence of who we are can transcend what we do or don't remember. And even how powerful our instincts can be with no memories to lay upon. And the fact that it made me think so much cemented my decision to give this book 5 stars.

Overall, one that I highly recommend and should be getting way more attention. If you love dystopian fiction or want a sigh-worthy romance this is for you!

I don't normally find myself crying when reading a book but I did find tears rolling down my face a couple of times during this one. At the roots it's a love story as well as a gutwrenching story about friendship, lost love and true love. An epidemic has hit the world and more and more teenagers are killing themselves. Society has found a solution, The Program ... a place where teenagers are sent to be fixed and made well again.

What is The Program? Well you will have to read the book to find out but I assure you, it's worth the read. The book is in three segments, before The Program, during the Program and after The Program.

I highly recommend this book for both teens and adults.

Don't read this book if you get depressed because the beginning is very depressing. It wasn't until after the first third of the book that I decided to continue versus putting this book down. No one seems to know why there is an illness that causes young people to commit suicide. The program is supposed to cure this epidemic to the relief of parents. This is the back drop for the main characters as they struggle to put their fractured selves together. This is the story of what is lost when they are saved.

I bought this book because I am a fan of dystopian novels and I found the premise to be intriguing. I made a huge mistake! This is one of the worst books I've ever read.

Like I said earlier, The Program's concept is unique. As someone who has had depression and faced strong suicidal urges, I was interested in reading something with characters I could relate to. I unfortunately wasn't able to with this book. Sloane has the personality of a soggy piece of cardboard. There is absolutely nothing special about her, she is completely generic. James is an obnoxious tool. Their love was unconvincing and at times came off as borderline creepy. Realm is a uninspired emo antihero who acts like he should be in a bad fanfic. The rest of the characters were so irrelevant that I can barely remember their names and I just finished the book. I didn't care about any of these poorly written characters.

Reading The Program was painful, and not because of the subject matter. It had terrible dialogue, using outdated terms like "emo". Seriously? This book was published in 2013, there's no excuse for that. The treatment made no sense. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Erasing a person's memory will not cure it. I know antidepressants were said to be banned, but I would think that the top psychologists and psychiatrists could come up with a better solution then turning teens into "preps"

I could probably rant about this godawful book more, but I wont waste my energy, just like you shouldn't waste your energy reading this travesty.

The premise of The Program sounds (to me) no more interesting than a lot of books, but its execution is so potent, the author is so skilled at pulling on your heart while keeping you on edge, that I can't remember the last time I continued to read anything so late at night that I almost reached the black out state and still I didn't want to put the book down. Teen suicide has reached epidemic proportions around the world and the only way the government has found to deal with it is forced admittance into The Program for any young person deemed at risk, but when those teens come back to their lives they are hollowed out shells with no memories. Sloane and her boyfriend are tight and do their best to have what fun they can while staying safely under radar, but because they witnessed a tragedy they are under constant surveillance by the authorities who determine who enters The Program. Can love and a sense of self survive when the world is falling apart and it's unclear who to trust? To say the story is compelling is a gross understatement. There is enough of a wrap up at the end to satisfy, but I was glad to find out this is the first of a series because I can't wait to find out what happens next.

This was a hard book to read. It's not bad, don't misinterpret me. I work with mental health patients every day and the program in this book is an infuriating and heartbreaking way to deal with mental illnesses.

But that's sort of the point.

Anyway.

Sloan is one of the strongest characters I've read in awhile. The world around her is going to hell and she's keeping her head down to survive, but also trying to help those around her.

I wish there was a bit more information about how the epidemic got started. I'm also curious as to how the series will play out. The Program works well as a stand-alone novel.

There is a place where suicide is considered a disease and it's contagious. The suicide rates are high amount the young so a Program is concocted to wipe the memories of these infected. But, are some mistakes destined to be repeated? Can you really change who a person is by taking their memories? Aren't you who you are and will create the same circumstances? And, is your soulmate really your soulmate no matter how many times you meet them for the first time?

Young's ideas for this book are very refreshing and different from the situations you read in some of the YA novels today. I loved the story!

Not a book to read if you're feeling at all depressed, The Program is a gripping look into the way our world would react if suicide became an epidemic.

The characters are particularly strong. Even if you think James is a jerk (and sometimes he is), he feels real and you feel the connection Sloane has with him. We get a view into how suicide can affect friends and family (even discounting the epidemic aspect of this universe), and how people may react or overreact to the fear that they'd lose yet another person close to them. Sloane is, at times, a little too trusting of the drugs being given her for someone who is so suspicious of the Program to begin with. Every time she was offered a new type of pill, she'd take it without question, only questioning it later. But overall, we feel for her and what is happening to her. And the romance, of course--this being a Suzanne Young book--is pitch perfect.

The book raises the question of which is better: to feel depressed or suicidal or to have no memory of people you once loved if that will take away the depression? What's particularly interesting is the way Sloane's opinion about this evolves throughout the book, as she goes through the Program. On one hand, you feel that what's happened to her--you've experienced all those memories of hers even if she doesn't remember them--is wrong, but on the other, at times she doesn't regret losing those memories.

It is a very interesting perspective to know what she doesn't. It leads to Sloane trusting people you suspect she shouldn't, meeting people you know she already knows, and history repeating itself in a beautiful way at times.

I was pretty happy with the ending, bittersweet and open to the sequel as it was. It left questions open, but resolved enough to leave us satisfied with the end for now. And the epilogue was exactly what it needed to be.

Recommended for fans of: dystopias; strong romantic elements; strong characters; books about suicide/depression, if a little fantastical; books questioning reliance on medication to deal with feelings; psychological intrigue; knowing more than the MC; first books in a series; the color yellow

Very well written and I had a hard time putting this book down.

In Sloane's world showing emotion, mainly crying is forbidden, as it is seen as a sign of depression which is an epidemic the world over. The only "cure" for this is The Program, a 6 week stay in a facility were your depressing memories are erased and you're returned home once you're deemed cured.

Sloane is put in after her boyfriend James is forced to go in and her memories of him are erased one by one. They meet again after she gets out and begin to slowly put things together, they knew each other before and now need to remember how.

An interesting take on the effects of suicide and a good analogy for prevention methods designed to "cure" mental illnesses (gay conversion camps anyone?). Wouldn't recommend for a younger reader - might be a bit too graphic for some

I got this advanced ARC from the Goodreads first reads program!!

I was first introduced to Suzanne Youngs writing when I read A Need So Beautiful and A Want So Wicked. Both were books I equally adored. SO when I saw The Program on the GoodReads giveaway I automatically entered. I won a book and celebrated.

I sat down to read the book at work yesterday, and let me tell you, even though I was at work, anyone, and everyone that interrupted me got a death glare. I did not appreciate it. This book pulls you in like no other. This book is about a girl named Sloane who lives in a time where people don't talk about their feelings and emotions, teen suicide has risen to 1 in every 3 teens and the only cure for them is to enter the program. It gets to a point where she can only trust one person, James, who is not only her boyfriend, but her brothers best friend. Things start to happen and events unfold. The book is broken up into three sections. Each as equally amazing as the previous one. There was multiple times throughout the book where I literally forgot to breathe and would get to the end of the chapter and find myself sucking in air. Thats how good the book was.

Suzanne is an insanely talented writer that can you pull you in from the first page. Just the idea of her books are pretty awesome. And I liked how this book was focused on Suicide. I don't think I've ever read a book were suicide was even mentioned, except the anonymous book, go ask Alice. The emotions jumped off the page and felt so real. I found myself rooting for the characters and hoping for the best for them. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us for book two. I truly cant wait. It upsets me that it doesn't come out until Spring of 2014. That is WAY to long to wait. UGH!

ALL THE STARS!

The story was okay, but it definitely didn't keep my interest and so whenever I had to set it aside I didn't rush back to it. In fact I read many books during the time I started this and finished it.

It's not that the story was bad, it was interesting, but I just never understood when the Program started and why suicide was such an epidemic. Maybe the next book will cover these issues, but it would have been nice had they been in this book.

I'll probably read the next book but it's not one I'm going to go out of my way to get.

I read this book for bookclub and absolutely loved it, although almost everyone else hated what happened. The storyline picks up after the first book "The Epidemic", but revolves around Sloane and James. In the story, teen suicide rates have increased to the point it becomes an epidemic. In order to combat this problem some adults create the program. Anyone who is infected or shows signs of sadness is taken and basically stripped of their former life. Sloane and James love each other and are the only people they can be themselves around because you can't trust any adult to not turn you in, but will their love survive the program? This book will definitely tug on some heart strings (or maybe it's just me who got so emotional XD).

Okay, nice concept--in an alternative reality there is an epidemic of teen suicides due to some kind of strange infection. Some corners of the world react by creating 'the program,' whereby deemed at risk teens are basically jailed in this 'program' facility for reprogramming. Well, reprogramming consists of deleting the "bad memories." How exactly do you delete bad memories? You take certain pills. It's lame sci-fi that doesn't make sense on so many levels. That's the problem with magic pill sci-fi stick--you use pills to do all kinds of nonsensical things and you don't have to explain or be logical. And god does this story make no sense at all. Having said all that, the bottom line is memories are stripped out and yet love survives. That was well done. It ain't great, but it's decent. I'll belly up to the bar for the next book. The potential is certainly there for a good book 2. As for book 1, probably the biggest drawback was the middle section at the program facility when we have to endure long periods of boring therapy sessions that I found deadly dull. Things picked up nicely during the third part of the book and the ending was quite good.

I had the toughest time finding the right words for this review. That always seems to happen when I've just finished an absolutely amazing book. The subject matter is very strong and I can see why a lot of people might pass this book up, but I'm going to try my hardest to convince you to actually go out and pick this book up so you can enjoy it to its full potential.

In the not-so-distant future teen suicide is an epidemic and it's spreading like a disease. The Program is the government's answer in helping stop the disease. Anyone showing signs of sadness or depression is immediately flagged and is put under constant watch. The Program is the cure they say, but once you return all you'll be is an empty shell of yourself. Your memories are completely gone and you don't remember anyone from your past. It's what they call a clean slate. That is exactly why Sloane doesn't show any type of emotions at school, much less at home. The only person she can confide in is James. They depend on one another, and try not to bring attention to themselves. But most of all they're trying to figure out a way to fight the disease.

Anything that has to do with such a heavy topic is not something you can easily read, but the way Young captivates you from the very beginning with her incredible writing style you can't help but feel that immediate connection with Sloane.

I can honestly say there is nothing like The Program out there right now. The storytelling by Young is done so effortlessly that you lose yourself in this book within minutes. The idea of this actually happening is pretty scary. The thought of not being able to have a choice on whether I want to be admitted into The Program is terrifying and the fact that I wouldn't be able to properly mourn the lost of the people I care about is heart wrenching.

The Program is an intense emotional story about love, lost, hope and betrayal. The underlying message that you get from The Program is to basically value everything: the good, the bad and the ugly because in the end it's what makes you, you. I enjoyed this story tremendously and will for sure be picking up the sequel.

I suppose that, no longer being a teenager, I have a hard time returning to that stage of my life and remembering what it was like. Maybe that's why the intense depression these characters feel is so alien to me. Sure, I've had depressive periods in my life, but I've always known (intellectually at least) that life actually was good and that what was going on inside my head was just me. These teens really are committed to the idea that nothing is good, nothing can be good, and nothing ever will be good. However, I guess in this book there IS a disease causing suicidal depression, to the point where they manifest similar symptoms, so that probably contributes to their outlook.

I think the question Young presents is an intriguing one: would you rather die than lose your memories? Would you send your son or daughter to have their memories erased, if you thought the alternative was death?

I also think death is an important topic that needs to be dealt with, especially in our fiction. I don't think this book consists of a complete conversation, and that if your teen is reading this you need to be having the rest of the conversation with them. For starters: there are healthy ways to deal with and prevent suicide, and this book presents none of them. Crying isn't bad, and it's not only okay to grieve, but necessary to most people. People in the grip of depression (like these characters) need to not ignore their feelings, but find ways to focus on life. They need concrete goals that engage them in life, and support from their friends and family.

SPOILER ALERT

The main thing that stuck with me about this book was that the main character, Sloane, spiraled into depression when her boyfriend was sent to the Program and returned unable to remember her. She was unable to find any reason to keep "hanging on" at that point. I just couldn't understand that. She was so attached to her boyfriend that when he left, she had nothing left to live for. Her parents, her hobbies, her goals and dreams... none of that matters, or even exists, without her boyfriend. Sure, if I lost my husband I would be absolutely devastated. But I have my daughter, I have my family, I have my friends. And that's my HUSBAND. There's kind of a different level of commitment there that generally is lacking in high school boyfriends.

I probably won't be reading the second book.

The Program is set in a frightening future where suicide is a contagious disease and The Program, which systematically destroys offending, infectious memories in order to save the person, is the only cure. It never really answered how or why suicide is contagious, which annoyed me. The novel tackles interesting questions like is it better to be alive and an empty shell or a dead with all the feelings and memories of your experience. I like that there is a valid argument for both sides. The novel is steeped in teen angst, but understandably so.

I loved this book! There is an epidemic sweeping the under 18's which is causing people to become depressed and commit suicide. Sloane's school introduces The Program to help combat it, People that are seen as being depressed are sent to an institution to have their memories wiped, and come out as a returner, all fresh and happy, not remembering anything about their past.

This story really makes you think, Because Suzanne does not go into details about the epidemic we don't know what is causing it or even if there really is an epidemic, a lot of the kids that Suzanne knows that tries to commit suicide are depressed or scared to go into the program, The teens feel like they can't show emotion at all because they will be flagged and sent to the program, some even stating that they would rather die than be wiped clean. So my question is, Is the epidemic a product of the fear of going into the program, and not the program being a cure? what do you think if you have read the book?

This book would have been 5 hearts but for one reason, what is up with the ending? I hate confusing endings, and I know that it is to make you want to read the rest of the books but I felt like the ending was rushed a bit. and then I have no Idea what the epilogue was about.

Anyway you should really read this book, it is amazing.

I don't give 5 star reviews often, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I love dystopian YA fiction, especially books in the ranks of The Hunger Games, Delirium, Graceling, etc. This book reminded me of a cross between The Giver and Delirium, and it's been a long time since I've read such an intriguing book. It grabbed me from page one, and I was on the edge of my seat most of the book. I am definitely looking forward to reading the sequel!

I love this book so much that I finished it in one sitting, there was no way I could put the book down. While reading the book James Murphy has become my favorite male character of all time. He's a funny bad boy with a caring heart and willing to do anything for the people he loves. I also loved Sloane's character and her ability to handle all the things that have happened and happen to her.

Suzanne Young does a great job of describing what it is like to be a person with depression. I was honestly shocked at how well it was done.

I would recommend this book to everyone, it has definitely become my favorite book of all time.

So, the book doesn't start out as insta-love because Sloane and James have already been together for two years. But it still feels like insta-love because that is all the book is about from the moment the opening scene is over. That opening scene is deceptive. It's there to give you the dystopian setting--that's all. What follows are pages and pages of "his eyes are so beautiful" and jokes about getting each other naked even amid really serious and depressing situations.

I'm not going to say the writer doesn't have some writing skill. The voice is okay, albeit pretty typical of this genre. Sloane, though, is a non-personality. She doesn't exist outside of her love for James, who, I'm sorry, while he has some sensitive moments he still rubbed me the wrong way. He's too often rash and insensitive, and treated Sloane like a sex object.

I also just don't buy the concept. It drove me crazy--teens can't even cry for fear of being taken by the handlers and having their memories erased? No one ever thought that maybe living in a society like that might actually *increase* depression? That teens feeling that kind of pressure to be emotionally perfect while seeing their friends and siblings dragged off screaming in the middle of class isn't going to *make* them crack?

I know, I know...a lot of dystopians take things to the extreme (which is one thing that makes them dystopian) but this premise just didn't work for me. The reason I went ahead and got the book, though, was other reviews that said this author brilliantly made it plausible. Well, not for me.

Also, I must say this only because it seems like even the negative reviewers here are all gushy about this cover--I got the book despite the cover not because of it. I personally thought it looked like an egg (the yellow suits the yolk and the background the white).

The Program is a way to prevent teenage suicide which has become an epidemic. That is they way THEY sell it but is it really? Sloane and James do not believe it. Neither so the other teens. They have seen Returners and they are not the same, they are missing their memories.

Suzanne Young has created a compelling look into the future. The story keeps you wanting more. Luckily the sequel The Treatment is already out.

The book is a bit confusing. A bit morbid and dark too. But overall the program was spectacular. I let my friend borrow it and both of us agreed that the book is a rollercoaster of emotional issues. I loved it. I would give five stars but I feel like there were things forgotten in the book, even if she does forget her life. I feel like Miller could have been included at least once in the last part. A mention of his name. Something.

With suicide really becoming in issue throughout the world, this book really makes you think about what could be causing it and how the government would try to intervene. Love the relationship of Sloane and James! The story is fast moving and I can't wait wait to read Book 2.

The gist of this book is that teens can be "infected" with depression. And so many of them are being "infected" that they are committing suicide in droves. I think it said 1 in 3 teens committed suicide. That sounds like a really cool premise, except that... I didn't buy it.

The world of this book is SO DEPRESSING. All adults are so paranoid about the kids getting depressed that the teens can't display any emotion (even extreme happiness is frowned upon), can't disagree with anyone, and essentially they don't have any individualism. Who wouldn't be depressed in a world like that? If I had to keep such a tight leash on myself all the time I can actually see why suicide might seem like a viable option.

My best friend suffers from depression. And she's told me before that she knew she didn't have anything to be sad about, but she was still sad. Perhaps if the author had started earlier in the "epidemic" history. If we had seen teens who really did have nothing "wrong" with their lives get depressed and commit suicide in large amounts. But that's not what I saw. I saw teens in a crappy world with only one way out.

Because of this, everything else that happened in the book just seemed like a contemporary story. This was another one of those books where a good portion of it was told in flashbacks, and those flashbacks didn't have anything sci-fi or dystopian about them. I don't like contemporary romance. I find it dull. And yet when we would come out of the flashbacks we would get just enough of a glimpse into the sci-fi aspects of the book that I kept reading.

I didn't hate this book, but I was far from loving it. If there are more in the series I will not be reading them because I feel like there isn't enough sci-fi stuff to carry the story, and I don't care about the romance.

Ugh, I made myself finish this one. I’m going to give it one star and hope it doesn’t make the Gateway list, I do not want to buy it. The Program made me uncomfortable and not in a thought provoking way, but an eye-rolling way. Everyone feels like a stereotype. Sloane is the whiny protagonist, Lacy is the slutty best friend. James is the”bad boy” boyfriend. Realm is the insider manipulator. Mom and Dad are just caricatures. I kept waiting for the government conspiracy theory, and wasn’t disappointed to find may be coming in the sequel, as they are escaping to the “rebels.” Sigh.

Fascinating premise, but the book had some problems. Maybe spoilers, tried to tone it down.

LGBTQ are completely left out, while that population of teenagers has some of the highest numbers of suicide. I know I'm going to get a lot of comments about that, probably most of them hateful ones, but is it really so much to expect a book about teen suicide to mention them? Oh well.

To the book itself, it is so ridiculous to me that with one in three teenagers committing suicide, they decide to put even more pressure on these children by having them constantly put under the pressure of being "flagged" especially for perfectly normal and healthy human responses like mourning or simply being a little emotional. The book tries to explain it with desperate parents and what is basically an experiment, but I know each and every one of the ethical rules, not to mention basic personal human rights, that were being broken. It would've been helpful to have more background information so we could maybe see the process that led to all this. The little bit that we got was "practically overnight" and that there aren't many explanations for what is happening (I will say the prevailing theory was very interesting and worth looking into). That doesn't seem like enough for the rather drastic measures that are being taken, especially when several of the measures are just ridiculous. Considering basic theory about what causes depression and some of the explanations the book makes, some of the "solutions" don't make any sense at all. And the way the characters are presented doesn't suggest anything other than regular old depression that is compounded because of the number of friends and relatives of these kids killing themselves.

For the main character Sloane, I loved how she fought back against the system, and that she wasn't perfect and made some dumb decisions. I didn't like how everything was about James, however, I thought that the book did a good job of explaining why she was like that, it made sense given her character and the situation she was in. The characters in general were rather interesting and well rounded, especially Realm though I would've loved to see more of him.

The ending could've been a bit more wrapped up but as this is the first book in a series, the promise is that more things will be explained with the next book. I won't be reading it but I hope that those that liked it get their answers.

This book is fine - Nothing spectacular, but nothing horrible. Up until the very end, I probably could have put down the series and stopped with this one. But the ending just left too many questions unanswered. Words to the wise - if you must read this, do. But stop here. Much to my regret, I'm now reading the 2nd book in the series, and it's turned into an "Edward or Jacob" lovefest. The characters feel almost identical. But I'm not a fan of Twilight, so maybe if you are, you'll like these books more than I did.

Overall Suzanne writes good dialog, doesn't make nasty grammar mistakes, and develops interesting characters (in this book, not the 2nd - I'll review that one on its own page). Her storyline is cool, but certainly not unique. If you're looking for a heart-pounding book with similar themes, a better storyline, and deeper characters... try Delirium (Delirium Trilogy), by Lauren Oliver. You'll be much happier at the end of the day.

This book was better than I expected. I gave it 4.5 stars because the first two sections were flawless, but the last one left a bit to be desired. Really just the last few chapters, but the epilogue was really great, kind of chilling like I like. There is going to be a sequel called The Treatment and I'm already excited for it's release. I don't bash dystopians like most people do, it was one of my favorite genres before it got popular, and I can see the difference in the novels unlike most people I guess. And I've never read a story where suicide was a disease. It's such a great concept, especially for teenagers like me. And I adore books (that arn't contemporary) but are mainly focused on romance, like this one was. James and Sloane were such great characters, and I found myself close to tears many times throughout The Program (which doesn't happen to me) so if you're undecieded about picking up this book, you shouldn't be. It's one of the best 2013 releases I've read all year.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. Honestly, the best read I have had since The Hunger Games. In a not quite there reality where government control has taken on the teen epidemic of suicide, love struggles through. The feelings that the main characters felt, I felt. At times I found myself tearing up along with Sloan and others I was busting out loud laughing at something she said or did. I can't wait for the next one to come out!

I don't know what to really say about this book except that it was deliciously depressing and I absolutely loved every minute of it!! I definitely was rooting for Sloane and James to beat The Program. The ending had me at the edge of my seat and wanting more. I can't wait for the next instalment of The Program. I am going to love seeing what happens to Realm and finding out what happened after James and Sloane make it.

If you enjoyed divergent, I think you should try the program. The subject matter was dark, but I felt the characters come alive and I really had to know what was going to happen. Why is the sequel so far away? I totally related to Sloane and can only imagine having so little control over my life, my stuff, and my memories. I've read other Suzanne Young books and liked them okay but I am so glad I gave this one a chance!

Even though it had a lot of plot holes, I definitely enjoyed this book. So much that the plot holes that would normally annoy me, were overlooked. The characters were realistic, and I wasn't rolling my eyes the whole time like I do with some YA books. It has such a good plot, but I can see how dystopians may be getting old for some. Just read it already!!! :)

The writing in this book was fantastic. The world building was so vivid, I felt like I was there. This author did such an awesome job portraying the characters. The only negative was that it centered around suicide and depression in a dystopian setting. This book gets four glittery stars!

I read this one day, and it makes a huge statement about depression. I have this problem myself. Could the goverment ever take steps like that against it own population? Would we allow it? The characters seem very real and so does their environment.This a very good book on it's own, and must read for anyone looking for a good read. I just ordered book 2.

I am in love with this book. I am generally a very slow reader, but I finished this book in 2 days. It is an amazing and unique book. I recommend this book to everyone. Get this book and I guarantee you wont regret it. It is now one of my favorite books.

I only got about half way through this book and I just had to stop. The subject matter was just too depressing for me. Rather than learning more about people who commit suicide, I began to feel like I wanted to commit suicide. Not a good feeling, so that was the end of that!

Irritating romance novel masquerading as future dystopia. Not worth my typing time. I wish I could get the hours back from reading this and sequel. It's about as deep as Fifty Shades, minus the sex. do yourself a favor reads Blood Red Road or Mind Games instead. You'll thank me.

Even though I'm a young adult, I love dystopian novels. I was so excited when I found this series in the Teen section of B&N! Unfortunately it didn't take long to realize that it was mostly soft porn hidden in a storyline directed towards kids. Sickening. Why do writers these days think its acceptable to push sex and blowjobs etc on young teens? Could have been a good story if the author had used common decency, but I tossed the first book midway through.

It seems that I waited forever for this book to come out! I had heard the buzz about it early on and the simple cover lured me in. When I finally got to read this, I was on cloud nine. Amazing writing is what really surprised me with this book. It flowed beautifully and the characters were great. I am definitely adding this one to my favorite YA Dystopian reads of the year!

I love this book. It reminded me so much of Andrew Fukuda's The Hunt, and Scott Westerfeld's Uglies. The Program is a place that people are sent through when they begin to show signs of the sickness that has led to thousands of teenage suicide. I don't know why, but I am in love with this genre, and to be more specific, this book. This book will be the start of something new to the dystopian future genre, I guarantee it. This book will be to the dystopian genre what Mat Hoffman was to BMX. A game changer. Congrats to the author, for making such an amazing book. I hope that you enjoy this as much as I have.

An unsettling look at a society in which teen suicide is an epidemic treated by The Program—a cure to combat depression by completely erasing memories associated with the onset of that depression. The other teens fight not to catch it or show any emotions that could send them for treatment. Chilling, suspenseful, and thought provoking.

I thoroughly enjoyed this premise. Who would have guessed that "suicide" would ever be an epidemic. I enjoyed how you know more about the main characters at the end than they do about themselves. The world of The Program is a thrilling dystopian novel for anyone who enjoyed "Divergent" or "The Hunger Games".

I am a 11 year old girl and this book was definitely one of my favorites. It is one of those books that touches your heart as a reader. It makes you feel sadness, joy and many other emotions. It has a futuristic setting and a very modern topic, depression. If you don't like sad books I wouldn't recommend this, but this is definitely a must read for everyone else. Suzanne Young is an amazing writer and I have read this book many times. It moves your heart and you can't put it down. It has some more mature themes like suicide and depression, but this is an amazing book!

The creepy dystopian Program is the perfect makings of teenage nightmares. Their memories are erased, the parents are happy to have a shell of their child vs no child at all, and it's a massive machine that can't be stopped... Young asks the reader to consider what makes us whole. I couldn't put The Program down, reading until the wee hours of the morning to finish. Awesome story with fabulous story telling!

The story is pretty good, but had difficulty getting past the way too many references to sexual behavior. If I wanted to read a book about sex, I would have bought 50 Shades of Gray! Not appropriate for a young adult book!

Will not buy this book as the Kindle version is more than the paperback. It's the principle of it. So I will not read it. the store saying it is the author. Don't know the details but feel strong enough that I just won't buy a book for Kindle that costs more than the physical book. Asking all to do this also.

I really didn't like this book at all and the only reason I read it was out of curiosity based on the premise. I for one hate the idea of robbing anyone of their memories as that is taking away their identity and in effect a part of their lives. The good reviews it got was what ultimately drew me, although I do heartily regret having read it.

I, too apologize to the author for not liking this book at all and as another reviewer on the U.S. board stated, there just weren't any positives in this book for me. It was not for lack of effort to find positives; it was just that the story was devoid of positive qualities for me. Gently put, I felt it had not a damn single thing to recommend it. I hated this book.

The main premise was that a somewhat futuristic society operates a clandestine Program to erase potentially suicidal teens' memories. Sloane, the protagonist is just a clinging vine to her boyfriend. She is nothing but a shadow, a reflection and an echo. She has what appears to be a symbiotic relationship with him.

As for the Program - well, let's just say I certainly wouldn't endorse the place or the methods. If any treatment is being done in secret, then it should be called into question.

I share the feelings of the other reviewers who said they wished they hadn't read this book. I feel the same way as I truly hated this story; the characters; the overall premise and the ending. Others have found plenty of reasons to like this book and that's well and good. All I am doing is providing a different point of view. I didn't like this book and don't feel it has anything to recommend it.

Very interesting look at how the best intentions can destroy everything. Great relationship between Sloane and James. Only bad thing was the settings weren't always fleshed out and it felt like the characters were in white rooms all the time.

I bought this book at my book store and I am already expecting the next two in the mail shortly. This first one was so captivating, I would start reading and then without even checking themail time I would just want to keep reading and I would end up at page 100 really fast. At one point it even made me cry. Overall this book was really good and I strongly recommend it to anyone. Good work.

I really wish that the next book didn't cost so much, even though its still a preorder. I liked this book quite a bit, it held its own, despite wanting to read more. The most disappointing thing is the cost of the next eBook.

Why has this genre gone so wrong? Dystopians were what really drew me into young adult literature, but I've had such a string of disappointments that it's making me start to wonder what I saw in young adult literature in the first place. Then again, I've read some excellent young adult novels in other subgenres, so what I really think is going on is that what started out as a promising genre turned into a trend in which everything that had the faintest whiff of "dystopia" about it was rushed to press. This book is but the latest example. Some spoilers to follow.

First off, there's an important point that I think needs to be driven home to any author who is thinking about writing a book in this genre: a dystopia should be built from the ground up and then peopled with characters who provide a lens for examining the dystopia. This book, like many of the other young adult novels I've read lately, misses the mark entirely. The characters in this book feel like they were plopped into the middle of the dystopia. Dystopians should be all about gradually peeling back the layers of a supposedly perfect society, so that the reader is shocked and horrified by what they see, so shocked and horrified that it makes them think long and hard about whatever aspect of society the dystopia is exploring. The characters in the dystopia should not run around talking about how awful the dystopia is--because it's not a dystopia. What makes a dystopia a dystopia is the fact that it seems to be perfect until the characters either gradually realize it isn't or until the reader does, due to the casual way in which the characters navigate their world, a world that strikes the reader as utterly foreign.

The Program could have done this, it really could have. There were times when I was reading it where I thought it could have provided a compelling springboard for discussing how mental health issues are treated in our society, particularly when it comes to the use of medications. It's a topic that I think needs some serious discussion. Had this book served as a means of exploring the implications of drugs for depression and how they affect those who take them, it could have been very powerful. But I didn't think the book did touch this topic in any real way.

Instead, what this book is is a romance. There's nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but I wish that these books would label themselves more accurately. When the dystopian setting is just there to complicate the romance, I'm not interested. It's not to say that the premise of the book is without merit, because I think that it is. Exploring what it means to lose memories--particularly those of someone you love--is an interesting topic. And if it needs to have a dystopian setting, fine. But it should be clearly labeled as a "dystomance". This is not the sort of book I want to read when I'm looking for a dystopian. When I'm looking for a dystopian, what I want is something where world-building is essential because it's meant to provide a means of dissecting something about society.

Another big problem I have with this book is with the love interest, James. I never connected with him. At the beginning of the book, I thought he was kind of a jerk, and I didn't like how everything he said to Sloane had a sexual component. I don't want this portrayed as "typical" teen boy behavior because not every teen boy behaves this way and, more importantly, it's not okay if they do. I felt like James treated Sloane more like an object, and that turned me off immediately. I don't like the message it sends. I'm not saying that every YA should be about perfect boys who are on their best behavior at all times, but given the number of teen girls who stay in abusive relationships or who have sex before they're ready, I really dislike the way many YA novels portray boys who mistreat their girlfriends as hot. There's nothing hot about a boy who treats his girlfriend with disrespect, just as there's nothing hot about a girl who treats her boyfriend with disrespect. My dislike for James only increased at the end of the book, and I almost quit reading because I was so angry about his character. Not that Realm is any better, really.

My other big issue with this book was my inability to suspend disbelief. I can buy the idea that some parents would be so desperate to save their children they'd be willing to strip those children of everything that makes them who they are, but I can't buy the premise that all parents would. There is a clear dichotomy in this book: everyone thinks the program is wonderful except for the savvy teens. Maybe this will be fleshed out and given some shades of gray in future installments, I don't know. But it should have been done in this book. I don't buy that some adult somewhere wouldn't take issue with the methods used by The Program, wouldn't be upset when their child came back to them a shell of who they once were. The dumb/absent/gullible adults are a common trope in YA, one that was rather freely abused in this book.

It probably goes without saying, but I'm stepping off this train here and now, and I'm going to have some serious reservations about reading any more YA dystopians in the future. Honestly, it pains me to say this because I love this genre, but I kind of hope the YA dystopian trend dies out. It's not so much that it's been overdone but that it's been repeatedly done badly.

It was an ok story wrapped around a love story. A little bit too much sex for the young reader. Nothing graphic but very what the author is talking about. I would have liked to see more action for at times it got a little slow. Too touchy feely for me.

If you don't want to start another series, than this is not the book for you. Perhaps if I wasn't currently in the middle of several I wouldn't have been so angry with this book's epilogue...

This dystopian novel is about a world, in the not so distant future,that has been ravaged by an epidemic that causes teens to commit suicide. A program has been created with the supposed purpose of bringing those suffering from the epidemic back from the brink of death by eliminating their memories of the past and resetting who they are. It broaches topics ranging from suicide, loss, and familial trust to issues of identity, the rediscovery of self, and sacrifice. However, at the heart of this novel is a powerful love story that brings into question whether or not our feelings of love exist in our memories/brains or in our hearts/souls.

If you enjoyed the Matched, Divergent, or Wither series, I guarantee that you will find this book to be a page turner.

It was a quick read and obvioulsy a "teen" novel - the main character's name is 'Sloane'. I thought the story was good, but I'm not really liking the current trend of serial novels. I would have preferred a resolution - even if the author wanted to write more in this universe, but I prefer an ending.

I must say when I first saw this book and read the description on the book I wasnt sure I was going to like it....but I really did enjoy it I had it finished in a couple of days. The story was interesting and flowed really well. I do say read this book!!!

Definetly a 5 star book!!

I love this book, I am normally a slow reader but I finished this book in less than 4 days! I hardly put it down! Some of it was predictable but still this was the best book I've ever read and I'm excited for book 2!

**1 Star**

MY OVERVIEW: Honestly, I don't even know where to begin. I had so many problems with this book and shouldn't have even picked it up when I read the synopsis. But it got a lot of great reviews so I decided to give it a shot.

PROS: A huge apology to the author, but there wasn't any for me. Please, please don't take this the wrong way, the book just wasn't for me.

CONS: Ok, so depression and suicide are the main focus of the book - and the society thinks that they can just erase parts of a person's memory to remove these "tendencies". To me, the way it was written was just a slap in the face to anyone who has experienced true clinical depression. You can't just erase memories and make it go away. Also, the main character's whole life revolves around her boyfriend. Without him - she is nothing. What?!?!? Sorry, but that is wrong on so many levels.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: How I wish I hadn't picked up this book so I didn't have to write this review. Please take it for what it is - I didn't enjoy the book - that doesn't mean you won't. HOWEVER... if you are someone who has suffered from depression - you will probably want to avoid this book. It will only make you upset.

Along the way I felt like I was watching Twilight...not necessarily a bad thing but not a good thing. If the author's intent was to be the next author of “girl can't exist or live without boy” saga...she has succeeded.

See more of my reviews on Birth of a New Witch!

I want to kick this book in its nonexistent nuts, drown it with glee, tear it apart, and let my cats use it as cat litter. These are the degrees of hatred in our relationship. This offensive, anti-science novel with a narrow focus, shoddy premise, no records of previous medical discoveries regarding NUMEROUS things, and generally no idea how to deal with mental illness in a sensitive manner should never have been published. It made me so angry that I lost the ability to speak of the novel, RE-gained it, and must write this very angry review before the weight of this anger makes me implode. There were no words and there suddenly are now.

The only--ONLY--good thing I have to say about this novel is that it's packaged beautifully. The cover and dust jacket are lovely to behold and the hardcover itself has another image on it, showing us the faces of the models from the cover. It's smooth, unsettling, and would set the tone for the novel if it were a genuine, sensitive attempt at a dystopian with a focus on suicide. Too bad it's not!

To start, the characters are nothing to write home about. Sloane only exists within her relationship to James, which is pretty sad to see in 2013 with a female character. Since The Program strips people of everything they are (this is stated multiple times throughout the novel) and the only things they appear to take from her are memories involving James, that seems to point to her love for James being all she is. She has no hobbies, personality traits, or passions. Without James, she doesn't exist.

The two boys fighting over her suck. James is possessive, jealous, and a bit of a two-face in how he can be decent sometimes (mostly at the beginning of their relationship) and disgusting others (like in his posturing when Realm is around). Realm himself is gross too. He should know better than to pursue Sloane for a number of reasons--one of which involves a twist I figured out halfway through his first scene because he gets away with more than Sloane or another patient would.

The plot and writing are decent, I suppose. Nothing to write home about or remark upon, really. The themes about memory, identity, and if we remain who we are when both are taken away from us could be powerful were it not for the book they were put in. Young wrote them well in A Need So Beautiful, after all. Here? They're practically thrown out the window by ableist worldbuilding that grossly misunderstands the nature of mental illness.

On your way out, make sure to pick up a stuffed animal, some chocolate, or anything else you might need to cheer you up after this. There is plenty by the door for you.

First off, depression (one of many factors that can lead a person to suicide) and mental illness in general result from chemical imbalances in the brain. Outside factors like an individual's life can exacerbate it, but a person with an awful life does not necessarily have depression just as a with a great life isn't necessarily unable to develop depression. Erasing someone's memories to cure their depression/suicidal urges is like putting burn cream on a herpes sore: it's not going to help. At all. This is a scientific FACT. Not opinion, not theory. A well-researched FACT. How this research got lost when this is set in the United States in the near-future is beyond me.

Then again, research that indicates crying is GOOD for a person and lobotomies are BAD AS ALL GET-OUT seems to have been lost too. The only explanation for this is that an apocalypse happened. All records of medical research and anyone who knew even a little bit about any of it? Wiped off the face of the earth. Of course, the novel offers no explanation beyond "all these kids are killing themselves for whatever reason" and that's how we get here. It gives one treatment for mental illness and characterizes it as evil with evil people running it.

This becomes especially problematic when the novel draws parallels between how returners are treated when coming out of treatment and how people in our world are treated when they come out of treatment. Equating this novel's awful treatment with the treatment so many people desperately need in our world? No! My mother has depression and without medication, she would be a different person from the mother I know and love. This novel reduces mental illness treatment to one inherently evil "cure" for drama, gives it an anti-science slant, and gravely offends me personally.

Even more offensive is how it takes the very real issues of suicide and mental illness and uses them for cheap drama in a pseudo-dystopia. The dystopian society in this novel? All the younger people know it's bad and the older swear by it. Dystopians have EVERYONE buying the party line. There are no PGBTQ+ or POC characters of note, just straight white people. Japan, Russia, and South Korea are three countries I can name off the top of my head with worse suicide problems than the USA, where this is set in the near-future. LGBTQ+ teens committing suicide? It's been a bit of major issue in the last three years. Funny how that gets left out here.

If The Program wanted to say something meaningful about suicide and mental illness, it would be more diverse and utilize intersectionality by showing us how gender, race, sexual identity, etc. affect the way an individual or group experiences a problem. This is about nothing but straight white people killing themselves, tipping me off to the fact that his novel uses a very real problem millions suffer from as a cheap plot device. Even the sexual abuse Sloane suffers from one of her caregivers is cheap drama rather than a representation of a very real problem the mentally ill may face while in treatment.

Really, there are many problems with today's mental health industry and how society treats the mentally ill. There's misdiagnosis (misdiagnosis of her mental illness nearly killed my best friend's mother!), physical/sexual/emotional abuse by the people who are supposed to be helping, disbelief from people both inside and outside treatment, judgmental attitudes, and rampant ableism are just a few problems with modern mental illness treatment. Yet this novel does not bother with criticizing any of those when it has the perfect chance to. It wants drama, not genuine messages.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES. Count me out now and forevermore on anything else in this series and anything else by Suzanne Young in general. THAT is how offended I am by this novel.

Honestly I just started reading this and I made it to chapter 8 but this math keeps going through my head and I can't keep going. Sloane the main female character mentions that at 18 the program doesn't care about you any more because you are an adult and can make your own decisions, ok that makes sense but then later she's reminiscing about her boyfriend James and says that she was 15 and he was 16 when the got together and that was over 2 years (not almost but over) ago sooooo that makes him 18 right? No for this story to work he's 17 and 3/4.

So I knew going in that the content of this book was going to be heavy, but holy cow, this was the most emotionally ravaging book I've ever read. Which is saying something. It doesn't let up and could likely act as a trigger for those suffering with depression or who have had loved ones affected by it, and one thing I enjoyed was that the book doesn't try to offer one of those sappy "It'll all get better" concepts. But nor does it shy away from putting main character Sloane through some truly horrible situations. So many that I almost had to stop because it seemed like too much to handle at once, particularly in the first two parts of the book. But all of this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it. The concept, while heartbreaking, is engaging and really dives into the drama. Characters Sloane, James, and Realm are layered and interesting. The romance is abundant and equal parts painful and touching. This book might be emotionally rough to read, but it is very well written and definitely worth picking up if you're looking for a drama/romance heavy book.

In "The Program" by Suzanne Young, suicides has become an epidemic among teenagers. To fight this, the government has established The Program, ... but it also has a side effect: it leaves participants stripped of their memories, life-less shells that lack all sense of personality

...I don't get it?

I love the idea, but I think this novel severely lacks in execution. If you have such an interesting premise, the world building and characters are the most important thing to make it work. I didn't really understand why and how suicide can become an epidemic, the teenagers get depressed and then they just commit suicide as a consequence? I'm not a fan of this concept.

The protagonist Sloane mentions several times that she doesn't want to die, yet knows that she'll eventually will kill herself. That premise is just confusing to me and I didn't really get it. Suicide isn't treated as a mental illness, but more like getting bit by zombie and subsequently turning into a mindless shell. The depressed are even called "infected". With topics like these, you have to be extra sensitive and try not to make it patronizing.

Young is simply unable to get me really invested in the story. A huge part of that are the already established relationships. James and Sloane's relationship didn't really interest me until halfway into the novel. I only started really getting invested in the story with the introduction of Dr. Warren, Sloane's therapist in The Program, who points out how her and James aren't really in love, only co-dependent on each other. Basically the whole novel explores Sloane and James' relationship: Flashbacks, filler scenes, reflection monologues etc. If you don't like him from the get-go, you'll skim a lot of this.

Weak MC and a Lot of Co-Dependency

Sloane and James have zero chemistry. I have hardly ever read a book with so little chemistry between the main characters. Neither of them really has a personality at all and they seem very exchangeable and boring. You don't really get to know either of them until half of the book is already through and by then I couldn't really sympathize with either of them. I like that Young decides to base their need for survival on their love for each other, and therefore the established relationship is necessary, but ... eh.
The love triangle is done very lazily and I'm not a fan of characters that constantly need to be protected. Sloane is always at the mercy of some guy. Either it's James, or the creepy, rape-y employee of The Program, or the other love interest Realm. The novel has a strong premise, interesting beginning, but loses itself completely trying to make Sloane's and James' love story epic. It's not epic. It's annoying, actually.

Rating:
★★☆☆☆

Overall: Do I Recommend?

I had too high expectations. The premise is wonderful, but the novel just couldn't keep my interest for very long. It's just too long.

“It’s a question we often ask ourselves: Would we commit suicide without The Program, or does it help us drive us there?” — page 68
This book was absolutely amazing! I loved it so so much. Within 400 pages, so much happened within a short period of time. There wasn’t a period where I wanted to put the book down to take a break. I was constantly wanting more and wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Sloane lives in a dystopian society in which suicide and depression have become an epidemic. One a loved one has committed suicide, the person won’t be the same. They can’t function anymore. They are then placed in The Program where they are wiped of any memories of their lives. Only to be placed with known family members still alive and who they are. Nothing else. Nothing to remind them of who they’ve lost. Sloane’s brother has committed suicide in front of her and her boyfriend, James. Now trying to make it to the next day and trying not to get caught grieving, James is starting to slip and Sloane is trying her hardest not to have him placed in The Program. But can she escape it when James is placed in there? Can she keep her memories or will she loose James forever?

I seriously cannot get over how much I loved this book. I was captivated by the first chapter. I knew then that I was going to love this. From the first chapter, it had already taken off not giving the reader time to get used to it. Just diving right into the story.

I loved how realistic this was and how it could easily turn into our future.

I absolutely adored Sloane and James’ relationship. Their relationship was adorable. They were there for each other despite what happened to them. They told each other to be strong and not give up hope even though they knew what could happen to them if they started to slip. I loved that Susan Young added scenes from their past making it a lot easier to understand the story and how deeply they care. It helped a lot with character development. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like about this book. I absolutely loved it and I’m beyond excited to see what happens next in The Treatment!

The Program is a much different book than I thought it would be. I expected that after a little set up, it would turn into another book about a pair of over-romanced teens fighting in a dystopian world against an evil government. Don't get me wrong, I love those books, I read them almost exclusively. But it's so nice to stumble upon something surprising once in a while. It turns out that The Program isn't just another cookie-cutter story; in addition to having a fairly contemporary setting (some of the references hit so close to home they are downright spooky), it is also intimate, consuming, and thought provoking. It is a romance-driven plot, but it is more reminiscent of Ann Brashare's My Name is Memory than of Twilight. It is intelligent and honest. It is a story with depth, almost tangible emotion, and intense character development. Better than anything I've read in a while.

The novel begins as a bit of a mope-fest, which is understandable, given the nature of the story revolving around a teen suicide epidemic. But it does drag on a bit before the story picks up. At first I felt that it relied too heavily on flashbacks from the main character, Sloane, to tell the story, but later came to appreciate the use of flashbacks to illustrate Sloane's waning ability to recall memories. While much of the story may be predictable, there are enough unexpected and beautiful turns to keep you hanging on every word.

I DID have an slight issue with the fact that in the world of The Program high school athletics have been eliminated, due to the stress they put on kids. I find that so hard to believe, considering that being involved in team sports not only keeps you in a close-knit group of people who know you well and watch you closely, but also, playing sports raises endorphin levels, makes you physically healthier, and generally contributes to a healthy psyche and better self esteem. I'm sure reasonable arguments can be made in opposition, but i just felt like the inclusion of this idea in the book detracted from the story a little. But it's not a main plot point or often talked about in the novel, so I suppose it's not really a big deal.

My only real complaint is that I have seen this listed as a "book #1" in a few places and I'm terrified that the perfection of this story will be marred by subsequent books in a series. The ending could certainly be considered open-ended, but it would also be a perfect final ending, too. This book is magnificent on it's own, I hope they will leave it in stand-alone perfection and not try to drag the story of Sloane and James through another one or two books and thus cheapen it.

I love this book so much that I finished it in one sitting, there was no way I could put the book down. While reading the book James Murphy has become my favorite male character of all time. He's a funny bad boy with a caring heart and willing to do anything for the people he loves. I also loved Sloane's character and her ability to handle all the things that have happened and happen to her.

Suzanne Young does a great job of describing what it is like to be a person with depression. I was honestly shocked at how well it was done.

I would recommend this book to everyone, it has definitely become my favorite book of all time.

I cried through more than half of this book. Make sure that you're in the right state of mind before starting. Learning about James and Sloan falling in love was heartening, but watching them be pulled apart was heartbreaking. I can't decide if I'm ready to read the next one yet…