Review - The Program by Suzanne Young

The Program (The Program #1) 
By Suzanne Young
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Borrowed ARC from Stacee of Too Fond of Books
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
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 state. 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 promise they made to each other, it's getting hard to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

           I loved this book, I so did. It has such a unique concept and it was so well done. There were times that I was so involved in Sloane's story and what was happening that I wasn't aware that I was acting out how I was feeling through my facial expressions. I received some weird glances from my mom. I enjoyed this book so much that I'm buying myself my own copy and it's even going in my favorites pile.

Sloane isn't allowed to show her real emotions because if she does, she gets sent to The Program and her memories get wiped out. So ever since her brother's death, it has become even worse to hide her true feelings from her parents who have her under constant surveillance. She can only show her real emotions to her boyfriend and best friend, James, who is also struggling with hiding his emotions.

At first, this book sounds daunting and depressing but the minute I started reading, every pre-conceived notion I had, faded away. I was immediately sucked in and couldn't put the book down. I really clicked with Sloane and found myself living out her emotions. I felt her grief towards her brother's death, her anger with her parents and The Program, her desperation to understand what is real and what is fake, I just wanted to give the poor girl a hug and be there for her. I wanted to reach into the book and help her out and be the friend she needed.

Suzanne Young did such an awesome job in making the reader connect and feel everything her characters were feeling. As Sloane was explaining how she and James got together, I swooned and cried and fell in love myself. When I was reaching the end of the book, I was a nervous wreck because there were so many questions arising and the pages were dwindling that I just knew things weren't going to end happily. With that ending, I sure hope Ms. Young continues the series and give us a clue on what happens next because OMGINEEDTOKNOWWHATHAPPENSNEXT. I totally recommend The Program to anyone who loves a good, angsty, psychological, romantic book.