This was sold to me as Love Island meets Big Brother meets Survivor, and oh my gosh it didn't disappoint! In this story we follow Lily as she enters The Compound, a house in the middle of the desert where contestants enter with two goals; find love and stay as long as possible.

As soon as I started reading I felt like this was an episode of reality television; the descriptions of The Compound, how the game works, and the depth to Lily's character were all brilliant. The rules to the game were really well thought out; as a reader I'm quite often sceptical and have to suspend my disbelief, but this was all logical. This book would be great for those who read for escapism and the enjoyment factor, but also great for those who like to delve deeper into the characters motivations, and discussions that the author made a point of in this book. Rawle picked up on some of the main issues that these reality television shows have; with discussions on race, sexuality, and gender roles (which I massively appreciated).

There aren't many books that I would want to read twice, but this is one of them. It's clear that this book was planned out meticulously, and was then very well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes even a little bit of reality television.

A fun and gripping read for fans of reality TV. Set in a vaguely Dystopian future that is all too believable, 20 young people arrive at a compound in the desert to compete for prizes - things they could never attain in their miserable lives in the real world. Lily is the protagonist, desperate to make it to the end and a life of riches and simplicity. But along the way the inhabitants of the compound increasingly lose sight of their humanity and what is important. I enjoyed this book - it races along and is a lot of fun.

This dystopian love island was a bit like actual reality TV - addictive and voyeuristic.

It was enjoyable enough but the main character was unsympathetic for me and I'm not sure it will live long in the memory.

However I think the author has totally pulled off what she was going for and I think this will be very popular.

Reality television meets Lord of the flies. If you like reality shows this is the book for you.

Cameras watching every move and microphones listening into conversations. The contestants have to do group challenges as well as personal ones to get gifts that could become useful. Who will get eliminated and when, that is the question they all ask themselves.

Page turning book, but I felt that the ending was a little weak.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I believe there are reality tv shows which take beautiful people to a tropical location and in big brother style, watch the fallout. I’ve never watched these shows although I did see a couple of the very early Big Brother shows, intrigued by the concept of people being knowingly manipulated. Compound is a dystopian tale based on similar themes. A group of females are enclosed in a desert compound and await the arrival of men, if that’s what the human condition has boiled down to, it’s a pretty sorry state of affairs, but Aisling Rawle has explored the odious side of reality tv, commercialism, shallow values and manipulation.

Overall I found the story interesting but didn’t quite buy into it, The location was so removed and remote from the outside world, it had limited context. But it’s well written and filled with sharp insight. Pacing is a little mixed and it’s a slow start. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley fir a review copy.

I loved this. It did seem to start off slow but I soon got right into it. Wish it told us more about the outside world though. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read it.

Aisling Rawle’s debut, The Compound, is a gripping and unsettling exploration of reality television's darker facets. Set in a remote desert compound, the novel follows Lily, a young woman thrust into a high-stakes reality show where contestants vie for luxury rewards and survival. As the competition intensifies, the line between performance and reality blurs, revealing the psychological toll of constant surveillance and manipulation.​

Rawle masterfully critiques consumer culture and the commodification of human relationships. The narrative delves into the moral compromises contestants make for comfort and success, prompting readers to reflect on the ethical costs of entertainment. The character development, particularly Lily's transformation, is compelling, showcasing her resilience amid escalating challenges.​
People.com

While the novel's pacing is generally effective, some character arcs conclude abruptly, leaving certain narratives feeling incomplete. Nevertheless, the book's satirical edge and psychological depth make it a standout in dystopian fiction. Fans of Black Mirror and The Hunger Games will find The Compound both thought-provoking and disturbingly relevant.​
People.com
NetGalley

The Compound is a chilling debut that lingers long after the final page, challenging readers to consider the true cost of our obsession with spectacle.

This is a bit of a different genre read for me as I normally read literary fiction or science fiction but we all love Big Brother back in the day so I decided to give this novel a go
The most memorable big brother novel that I’d read previously was a novel where Davina McCall becomes a zombie this one’s not quite so far-fetched but there are some elements of fantasy/dystopia
In this novel, a group of young men and women admitted to a big brother style house where they have to perform tasks in a similar manner to Big Brother in order to obtain food to decorate their property and to entertain themselves.

What is different to big brother is that the participants in this experience are encouraged to develop romantic relationships with each other and to sleep together /go to sleep in the same bed there’s an old number of participants so the person left without a partner when dawn breaks is voted off the TV show
Because you know the big brother format so well you quickly settle into this novel and some of the experiences are quite predictable however as the book progresses the realities of climate change and the extreme lengths to which the participants are expected to go to win the show, brings out some of the baser instincts of the participants .This book starts slowly and speeds up so that the excitement is felt particularly towards the end of the book.

The author has a clear easily read writing style. I was quickly immersed in this novel and enjoyed reading it. I read it pretty quickly. this is the author of first novel as far as an aware and I think she signs of being a fantastic storyteller. The book is well rounded and finished and is an accomplished novel.

I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased review. The book is published on the 3rd of July 2025 by Harper Collins UK/Harper fiction.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon/Waterstones.

Set in what seems to be a dystopian future, TV cameras focus on ten girls who are waiting in an isolated compound for ten men who have to make their way across the desert on foot to join them. The rules are simple, group tasks as well as individual ones get rewards and if you wake up alone you're evicted.

This novel started out well, a growing sense of unease as the groups tasks took on a darker tone, refusal to comply resulting in severe repercussions and as the numbers dwindled the remaining contestants lost their grip on reality in pursuit of more expensive rewards, more time in the compound and a need to remain to the bitter end.

I'd like to have known more about the world outside the compound, hints were given but it was never fully explored. That said it was an interesting look at reality TV with ever increasing boundaries in pursuit of audience figures, with some life lessons to be learned. It was a quick easy read thats sure to be a hit with reality TV fans.

My thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I loved the premise of this story and I was intrigued to find out how it would play out. I’m a big fan of dystopian fiction so this book really resonated with me. If you look beyond the glossy cover you will see a story with real depth and some interesting characters. I really enjoyed this book but my only tiny critique would be that the ending felt a bit flat for me. I’m not sure what I was expecting to happen but it just felt as though it ended rather abruptly. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Completely compelling, this is the dystopian game show of the year. A searing commentary on the world in its current state, this has a reality TV feel (ordinarily I hate reality TV but I’ll allow it here) and looks at our current bifurcation of attention span and over consumption. Can’t say I really clicked with any of the characters but I still enjoyed the ride.

I read this book in one sitting and I really enjoyed it. There was suspense and mystery along with some good characters. I would like to hear more about the wider world described in the book, however this wish didn't stop me enjoying the plot. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author.

This book wasn’t quite right for me but it definitely showed what promise Rawle has and I will be picking up her next book for sure.

Set on a remote location, the story begins as Lily and a bunch of other young women wake up and find themselves in the compound. You follow the women as they await the men and then as all couples (and individuals) battle it out to be the finalist.

I found the writing and the characters quite surface level and struggled to engage with them. I also found myself quite often comparing it (especially at the beginning) to I Who Have Never Known Men and sadly it didn’t quite match up.

Worth a read if you want some escapism and if you enjoy reality TV.

Reality TV and commercialism at it's finest! A different kind of read for me but still enjoyed it. For a debut novel, this is a great start - will be looking out for future books by Aisling Rawle.

I couldn't put this book down, I devoured it in two sittings. The book follows Lily, a contestant on The Compound, who is determined to use this opportunity to escape her dreary, normal life. I found the writing very engaging and did not want to stop reading, I was so invested in what would happen next. It felt just like watching reality TV and the premise is similar to Love Island, while also dealing with the topic of over-consumption. I did find the ending a little underwhelming but I also think that was intentional. Overall this is a really gripping read, and an excellent debut, perfect for a flight or a beach trip.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book overall: the concept was intriguing and it was well written. Felt relatable to modern day audiences without references being cliche or awkward.

The reason it wasn’t 5 stars: pacing in the middle was slow - the book could’ve been a bit shorter and had the same impact. Plus, it felt like we were building towards something mysterious or unknown in regards to the world beyond the compound, but we never got there. From references to war and something that would cause early deaths, I was waiting for more revelations that never came. Lily’s final decision to leave could have had a bit more detail too.

But overall I enjoyed the book - thank you to NetGalley, The Borough Press and Harper Collins for this Advanced Readers Copy.

A suspenseful and thrilling story which combines the atmospheres of Love Island, Big Brother and Lord of the Flies. The story explores the issues of modern society, in particular the issues of capitalism, consumerism and personal image. Aisling is a great writer who keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to guess what the contestants will do next. She is able to present some complex ideas and questions in a way which reflects modern society and entertainment whilst remaining accessible. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the story and the character arcs within the overall plot; which ultimately leaves you question what would happen next in the characters lives.
The story itself is set in a secluded compound, placed in the middle of the desert. Whilst the female contestants arrive immediately after the last group leave, the men have to travel across the desert to meet them. Once all the group has arrived, a series of tasks are set, both communally and personal, and result to material rewards; as time goes on, these gifts become more and more expensive and luxurious. All the while, the contestants must form opposite sex partnerships to stay within the compound. As time goes on and they build an idyllic compound there appears to be something sinister lying beneath the surface and questions how much should you sacrifice for material gain and luxury?

Wow! This book grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go.

Apocalyptic Love Island. A commentary on commercialism and voyeuristic television.
Sinister and twisty the contestants won’t pull any punches to win life changing prizes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review - hope it gets picked up for a TV series, it would transition brilliantly!

I really wanted to like this, but struggled so much with the writing and characters. The theme and certain aspects felt too similar to I Who Have Never Known Men, and I couldn’t help but compare the two while reading. I didn’t enjoy Lily as a character, nor did I enjoy reading her progression. It all fell a little short for me and didn’t grip me the way I was hoping it would.

‘The Compound’ is a strong debut novel, and it marks Aisling Rawle as a writer to watch. Although described as ‘Lord of the Flies’ meets ‘Love Island’, it will likely appeal to fans of the latter more than fans of the former, as the brutality and survival element of the story is somewhat over-egged in the synopsis. Indeed, while ‘The Compound’ does have dark and borderline dystopian elements, I was expecting something far more barbaric; however, this didn’t stop me from enjoying the story for what it is, and I’m not sure if I would have given the book a chance had it been marketed as more ‘Love Island’, as the dark underbelly of the industry and the social commentary around reality TV and consumerism are what appeal to me.

The writing is good (although tighter editing is required in places, as it occasionally becomes clunky, the same adjective is used a distracting number of times and there are inconsistencies in the narrative voice); the characters are intriguing, if unlikeable (by design), and I was eager to find out what would happen to them, even though I never knew for certain what outcome I was hoping for; and the world-building is well-handled, with readers being given exactly the information they need, when they need it (no info-dumping here). I also appreciated that the social commentary element isn’t directly pointed to and readers aren’t lectured, but instead are trusted to form their own opinions. At the end, especially, readers are invited to draw their own conclusion. For some readers, this might make the ending unsatisfying, but personally I thought it worked and achieved what the writer was hoping to achieve. I will certainly be thinking about it, and the book overall and the issues it raised, for a long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Aisling Rawle and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. My review will be posted on Instagram, Amazon UK, Goodreads and The StoryGraph nearer to the publishing date.