Well this was a wonderfully twisty story with just the right amount of tension running throughout! Even though this book is YA I really hope that doesn’t put anyone off from picking up this book. It works perfectly well all round and I do know for a fact that as a teenager I would have loved this story!

The Treatment is cleverly put together with a sense of unease just lingering below the surface. The story is fairly short but there is quite a lot packed in to it meaning my attention was kept focused throughout. Drew is a great character, you are given a good introduction to her life both at school and home. It is very easy to like her especially as she goes to great lengths to try and save her brother. With characters ranging from the likeable to the outright dark and disturbing there is a little bit of everything to keep you reading on to see how it will all end.

The Treatment is a story that will make you think and even worry, could this really happen? With mystery, suspense and twists I’m sure you will be involved in this book from the very first page!

I have enjoyed all of this authors books so when this one came up on Netgalley I was very excited to get a copy. This book is a YA novel. I got gripped very early on and really enjoyed it.

It took me a while to pick this up and actually read it and I don't know why, because when I did I was totally blown away by the story and drawn into Drew's life, I really liked her character and I found myself rooting for her all the way through the book, I don't want to say too much and give away the plot, so all I'll say is it is well worth a read, I was glued to it and couldn't wait to see what came next!! I personally haven't read anything remotely similar so I found the originality of the story refreshing as well.

The Treatment wasn't necessarily a bad book but I didn't care for it. I found the plot boring even though so much was going on mainly because I felt it was written for younger teens which took away from the 'thriller' aspect. I didn't like any of the characters and felt the plot was full of clichés. However I did like the idea/concept of the book and the link to the government and the entire brainwashing aspect. 

2/5

A tense and well paced thriller that keeps the reader guessing.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of Dying Day in return for an honest review.
When Mason gets sent away to a Residential Reform School after being expelled for the third time his sister Drew is almost glad as she didn't get on with him but then one day on her way home from school she meets his psycologist and she hands Drew a letter from Mason begging for her help because the RRA is not what it seems and teenagers are being brainwashed and Mason's turn is coming soon so Drew having nowhere to turn for help as it was her stepfather who sent Mason to the reform school so it's up to Drew to help him and after getting into a fight she finds herself inside the Reform School and sets out to save her brother.
Very enjoyable read younger readers will love it.

Thanks a million Netgalley and Bookouture. A brilliant book as always and one I'd highly recommend!!

Ok so if I am honest, I started this book a while ago, it was on my kindle and I read the first page then I got distracted (not sure with what now) and I honestly kicked myself when I got back into it. Why? Well because when I picked it back up I whizzed through it.

It is a compelling read which keeps you stuck to the pages. Great (in my opinion) for any YA reader. It has a slightly far fetched story line, but I am sure this is the point isn’t it. (Well I hope these places don’t exist.) To immerse you in a storyline which isn’t real yet it turns out reads to be really relatable.

The leading character Drew is a very determined character who has a lot of passion and wants to be strong for all members of her family and tondo the right thing.

All of the characters appear relatable (in my eyes) and you can honestly feel for some of them even if some of them are awful. But what’s a good book without a good mean character.

I decided to give it 4 stars on Goodreads mainly because I enjoyed it and don’t think I have given out a 5 star review. If I do its very rare. So I think 4 stars for me is pretty good. I would recommend this (as you may tell) so if you like C.L.Taylor’s work definitely check it out.

Massive shout out to Netgalley for approving me to read this book and I can only apologise for the time it took for me to complete my review.

I am a great fan of C.L.Taylor's adult books so I was interested to see what her YA book would be like.

Drew has never got over the loss of her father. son, her younger brother annoys her she is bullied at school and has little time for her step father and her mother. She lays low & tries to be as inconspicuous as possible. When her brother is excluded from yet another school and is sent to a reform academy she is at first glad of the peace.

When someone gives her a message from her brother, saying he is not being reformed but brainwashed and the messenger conveniently dies in a hit & run straight afterwards she begins to worry and in order to find out what is going on she gets herself sent to the same place. She soon finds that Mason was not joking and she needs to find a way to get them out before they turn into 'Stepford wives'.

This was a really gripping read. Yes, there were quite a lot of places where thing seemed very simplified but as this is intended as a YA read that can be easily overlooked. Everything did seem to be resolved quite simly. However it raises the scary question of how far might 'the powers that be' go to get what they want- such as a perfectly behaved young generation with no minds of their own?

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. If there is a sequel (& that seems a distinct possibility) I'll be lining up to read it.

The Treatment is a great, fast-paced read focused around the psychology of conditioning (Pavlov's dogs etc), which is an area of psychology that has always interested me. 

Mason has been admitted to a centre for treatment. One day his sister, Drew, is accosted in the street and passed a note from Mason pleading for help. The woman claims to have been his psychologist and comments on how she wishes she could have saved him. Drew sets out to find out what's going on. She finds someone who has undergone the Treatment and the effects are chilling.

Drew is an interesting character, loyal and head-strong, she often makes decisions without fully thinking through the consequences, but this makes for an interesting story. Other characters are also fascinating: Mouse and Lacey both interested me a lot. Mouse is quiet and unassuming. She is terrified, and seems nothing like the rebellious type of child the Treatment claims to "cure". Mason and Drew's step-father is volatile and more concerned with his reputation and being embarrassed than he is with caring for his family. I would have liked more of his backstory, but it wasn't really relevant to this story. 

The psychology in The Treatment is well-written. I particularly loved this part from Drew's story, where we learn more about the conditioning that is happening to the inpatients:

"The voice is tricking me. It's asked me to look in the hatch before and there's been a spider, an eyeball, an image of a child screaming."

The Treatment is a great read. My only disappointment was that the ending was a bit rushed and lack-lustre by comparison to the rest of the story, but it is a minor gripe in an otherwise brilliant novel.

Sixteen year old Drew has a lot to deal with. Her father disappeared several years before, he's presumed to have commited suicide. She hates her step father, is bullied at school and recently her brother was sent to a residential reform academy. The only way she can deal with life is to keep her head down and hope people will leave her alone. But then she is approached by a woman claiming to be a doctor at her brother Masons school. She has a message. The school isn't what it seems....the kids come away 'changed'. A little investigation convinces Drew something isn't right so she gets herself sent to the Academy with one plan - get Mason out before it's too late.

Let's face it C.L.Taylor is a bit of a favourite on Goodreads with her excellent psychological thrillers so I was surprised to see her venture into YA. I quite like YA but there's been a few times I've read forays into this genre by adult fiction writers and.....well let's be kind and say they should have stuck to the day job. It's not enough just to come up with a story suitable for the age range or that will appeal. No personally I think it's a totally different style of writing. Not more basic exactly, but certainly more direct. It's as if you open the book and a voice announces "we're here to tell a story folks, let's cut the crap and get on with it". And actually that's why I like YA. Good examples of the genre are very direct. So I was a little worried....one of my favourite writers moving from my favourite genre to another that I love....what could go wrong? Well quite a lot but thankfully it didn't! Yay, oh me of little faith eh? Taylor has adapted her style into telling a great story that will appeal to both the target group and older. Although they are completely different stories I was for some reason reminded of Z For Zachariah - it has that sort of compelling story telling that is both economical with words and yet really well written at the same time.

Drew is a likeable and feisty character that leads us through a institution dominated by creepy adults and backstabbing kids. It's easy to root for her as she realises how deep she is in and races to save her brother.

I'd recommend this for anyone to read but if you have a teen in your life you're looking for a gift for - look no further.

The Treatment was almost a DNF for me, I found the start to be quite slow and I couldn’t quite connect with everything that was happening but once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down and needed to know what would happen.

Our MC is sixteen year-old Drew Finch, she lives with her mother and step-father and has a younger brother, Mason who has been sent away to Norton House, a residential reform school to be treated for his bad behaviour. When Drew receives a note from Mason which was passed on by a mysterious doctor asking Drew for help, telling her the school is not what they believe it to be and that the treatment is brainwashing teenagers, Drew’s plan is to infiltrate the facility and break her brother out.

Drew was an interesting character, quite introverted with a love for online gaming which was her escape from bullying; she had her faults but she was determined to find out what was going on with Mason especially considering her mother and step-fathers lack of help in the matter. When it came to Drew, who kept out of trouble, I found it a little strange how quickly the decision was made to send her off to the same reform school as Mason and how fast she succumbed to their ways.

Drew teamed up with her roommate Mouse, to undercover the secrets of the school and to attempt to break them all out. She also encountered the typical mean girls who were quite clichéd, all of the secondary characters were interesting and played a pivotal role in the overall story.

I would never normally - or willingly - choose to read YA novels however I couldn’t resist this as it’s by one of my automatic go-to authors, Cally Taylor. Whatever the genre, you’re guaranteed a great read.
I can’t wait until my eldest niece is a couple of years older so she can read this.
Sinister & disturbing, I will recommend this to all mid-teens.
Thanks to HQ for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Initially I found this a little slow to get into, but once it grips you, you wont be able to put it down! A fab, enjoyable, rollercoaster of a story!

It all seems extremely far fetched & unlikely but if you can get past that then it's a pacy, entertaining page turner with great teen appeal.

I'm a huge fan of Cally Talor’s psychological thrillers so I was slightly miffed when I realised The Treatment is actually aimed at the young adult market, I'm not saying the author shouldn't write for a different audience by any means, in fact after reading this book I'm convinced the author has the ability and talent to write for any audience YA included. I wasn't really sure what to expect but I can say “hand on heart” I really enjoyed The Treatment and read it in one sitting, and I'm sure many adult will enjoy this book as much as the younger audience it's aimed at.

The Treatment has a very intriguing plot an sinister institute for wayward teenagers, I'm sure if there was such a place many moons ago I would have made the perfect candidate, cheeky, always pushing the boundaries and getting into trouble at school, well you get the picture! How does the institute turn wayward teens in respectable pillars of the community? Well you will just have to read the book and see as I'm not going to give away anymore of the plot. From the start The Treatment made for a sinister and chilling read that kept me captivated throughout.

C.S. Taylor has put her heart and soul into this book, she doesn't skimp on developing her characters they are a diverse bunch, some are good and so are pretty damn evil, but all have a place in this creepy tale. I think The Treatment has a lot to offer the YA, it's action packed with a heroine that's feisty and determined. The author has shown what a diverse writer she is, even more so when she is able to engage a reader who in no shape or form would be seen as a YA! The Treatment made for a intriguing and suspense filled read and one which I really throughly enjoyed. Highly recommended.

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

I read The Treatment over a few sittings. It is a fast paced young adult thriller and was my first book by the author. I had quite high expectations for a few reasons. Firstly, I hadn't heard a bad word said about this book. Also the synopsis sounded both intriguing and different from other YA books on the market and lastly the cover its self. I love an air of mystery and this book seemed to have all that going for it.

With some UK/British books I have a huge issue with the whole language/voice. Too many authors try to either pen us with the voice of Downton Abbey or worse still we end up sounding like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Not all 'Lanndon'rs' sound like upper class prep school people nor do they sound like they are chavs (If you don't know the meaning just look that one up). So yes, coming from the UK and near London (Dare I say) means I often hate reading British books for that reason. But C.L Taylor has really hit the nail on the head with the voice of Drew. In fact a lot of Drew's terms, 'Dick/Prick' and other name references are similar to what I use - now I sound like a teen. But what I mean is her voice sounded like talking to many teens. I have 3 teen daughters and an almost teen son and although I don't like the language Drew used her 'voice' was realistic to me from listening to my own children - there, I hope that makes sense.

Drew was a likeable character too. I loved her insecurities, her feelings, the confusion of being a 16 year old (Not a woman, not a child). She was the perfect voice for this story. I don't want to talk about the plot too much, I don't EVER give spoilers in my reviews. I will say that this would make a fantastic teen drama. The kind we used to see (Not Grange Hill/Byker Grove - I'm showing my age!!) around 5pm on BBC1. I especially liked Drew's step dad. I don't want to say anymore about him but felt he was a really good character and made the opening chapters for me. There are many other characters whom are good in this book too.

Although this book definitely sits on the realms of 'fantasy' or 'unrealistic fiction' I did feel the whole Government thing was a great idea. I love conspiracy things and again after some huge though I wondered where this book was actually possible in real life. So although unrealistic, thought provoking too.

Over all I can see many teens (13 and up) enjoying The Treatment and will be recommending it to my youngest Teen as I feel its something she would like. 4 stars - thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

So I've never read anything by C L Taylor, despite having one of her adult thriller novels on my shelf. I saw she was coming out with a YA thriller, which is a genre I really enjoy, and I was lucky enough to be accepted for it on NetGalley, so what better opportunity to dive into this authors work. This is the story of Drew whose twin brother Mason is sent to a residential reform academy after being expelled from another school. One day she is approached by a Dr from the academy claiming to have a strange message from Mason. It seems that the academy isn't what she first thought it was. Drew is determined to rescue her brother and discover the secrets of the academy before he undergoes 'the treatment'.

This was a really enjoyable read. It was fast paced and gripping and it kept me wanting to turn the pages. I thought the brainwashing idea was really interesting and it gave an interesting spin on the story. The chapters were short which, if you've read my other reviews, you will know is something I really enjoy in thrillers. It really helps to keep the story moving and encourages me to just read one more chapter. There were several twists and turns along the way that I didn't see coming and the direction the plot took was sometimes unexpected. It really kept my interest and as a result I finished this in a couple of days.

I liked Drew as a character, she did seem quite juvenile at times however, as a YA thriller I would expect this, but this didn't stop me from liking her. She showed determination when it came to rescuing her brother and she didn't let others get in her way. As someone who started off the novel as an introvert and someone who liked to keep to themselves it was nice to see her grow and develop in confidence throughout the book. I also liked the friendship that bloomed between her and Mouse. It was nice to see Drew becoming close to someone again. You had the usual mix of characters in this novel, the 'hero', the 'sidekick', the person being 'rescued' and the 'bully/villain' and they all played their parts well. Each one worked with the plot and had their own individual traits. The one character I would say felt a bit out of place was Lacey. I understand the part she played in Drew's high school life but I didn't understand why she arrived at the academy. I don't think this added anything to the story.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was an engaging and fast paced read with an interesting plot focus. I would recommend this if you are a fan of thrillers, particularly of the YA variety. I'm really excited to pick up some more of C L Taylor's adult work and I hope she writes more in the YA genre in the future.

Designed for a younger audience and not what I was expecting from Cally, but a great book all the same.

We meet the main character, a sixteen-year-old girl Drew Finch, her brother, Mason, has been sent to a reforming school known as Norton House, a place which is most definitely not what it seems. Randomly one day, whilst escape the high school bullies, Drews path crosses with that of a person we come to find little about called Dr. Cobey, a person who has been working at Norton House. Cobey gives Drew a letter from Mason saying that the school has been brainwashing teenagers.

From here on in we follow Drew in her quest to find out more about the school, what her brother is doing there and an insight into their past, which again opens many doors, twists the plot and left me randomly saying "Oh god" as it delved into deep dark themes, ones which were not expected and some which threw the storyline wide open.