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    The Program
    The Program
    The Program
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Program

    Written by Suzanne Young

    Narrated by Joy Osmanski

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    The first book in Suzanne Young’s New York Times bestselling series is a “gripping tale for lovers of dystopian romance” (Kirkus Reviews) about two teens in a world where true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program—now with a freshly reimagined look.

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateApr 30, 2013
    ISBN9781442357938
    Author

    Suzanne Young

    Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Program series. Originally from New York, Suzanne is a dual US and Italian citizen, currently living in the Veneto region of Italy with her family. She has published more than twenty novels, including the Program series, Girls with Sharp Sticks series, In Nightfall, and her middle grade debut, What Stays Buried. When not writing, Suzanne is the founder of Writing in Italy—an Italian retreat and tour company. Follow Suzanne and her three photogenic dogs on Instagram at @authorsuzanneyoung.

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    Reviews for The Program

    4/5

    462 ratings44 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Not for the faint of heart. This book really pulled me in! Into the depths of true depression and what would happen if a teenage suicide epidemic became a virus that our society used as a tool to politically control boys and girls to the point where they are constantly being studied to determine if they need to be sent to “the Program” a facility that erases their memory in a suit of They are curing their depression.
      For me, this book started very, well, depressing. So much so I begun to notice the parallels between my diagnosed depression and that the characters suffer with. It’s ultimately a love story about fighting for the belief of freedom to love and how not to underestimate the power and devastation love Has on all of us. It’s a good fight Story that I can not wait to continue. At first, I was a little headstand to continue feeling too close To the material when it came to depression. The elements of suicide made my pain for the characters, but the author did an excellent job of detouring a story of despair and heartbreak into hope and resilience. It ends with a cliffhanger I can't wait to pick up in “the treatment”book two.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I ended up reading The Treatment first because I didn't know it was a series. I feel that book was complete and interesting alone, but was happy to find the series. I read The program second, which was the first book in the series. It answered a lot of questions. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The characters are believable and seem like people I have known.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 1/5
      This book deserves a big fat zero. It horribly stigmatizes people with depression and is clear Young is simply using a devastating illness to make money. Depression and suicidality is not contagious, antidepressants do not cause a changes in genes that can be passed down as an inherited trait, and increased suicidal thoughts is an INCREDIBLY RARE SIDE EFFECT OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS.
      I leant my physical copy to a friend so she could read my notes and understand my disdain for Young's abhorrent work, and as soon as I get it back, I am burning it. It's the only book I've ever even considered burning, and for a good reason.
      0/5 stars, would never recommend (unless it is read as an example of how NOT TO write about mental illness)

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I thought this book was good, considering the subject matter. At first the constant talk about suicide was a little disheartening, but after the initial shock I was able to really get into the book, and enjoy it much more thoroughly.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I love the love story. I was routing for them! But the whole book series is fantastic. I may listen to this just relive it again.
    • 5/5
      This book was great and gave me inspiration for reading more books like it. The characters were believable and left me wanting to know how they coped with such tragedy.
    • 2/5
      If you have mental health issues of any kind do not read this. While it is a very well written book it covers a myriad of issues that can be triggers.
    • 5/5
      Genre : sci-fi, dystopian, YA

      TW : mental health, depression, suicide, gaslighting, sexual assault, self-harm, abuse, violence

      SCRIBD suggested this book to me, and as I had busted my monthly limit, I decided to give it a go!! I'm usually a cover reader, and this one hadn't caught my eye.... but the synopsis definitely intrigued me!

      This was an absolutely unique dystopian sci-fi book, where teenagers suffer from a global epidemic : depression leading to suicide if untreated. The thing is, antidepressants are illegal, as it is believed to be one of the root causes of the epidemic. That's terrifying, isn't it??! I could feel the characters' descent into depression, how hard they fought to avoid being pulled into The Program. Because who wants to be erased? Who wants to lose the memories that make them ... themselves?

      This book is such a rollercoaster of emotions, infuriating, devastating, and heartbreaking. But it is also full of hope. In more ways than one.
    • 3/5
      The Program The Program was an unusual read that tackled the topic of teen suicide in a dystopian-like society. In this world, there is an epidemic of teen suicide and The Program was created to try to "cure" these teens and prevent them from killing themselves. In order to avoid being flagged and carried off to "The Program" by a handler, teenagers had to be very careful to show no emotion other than happiness and never draw attention to themselves. And these teens definitely felt that The Program was to be avoided at all costs, since everyone who returned from The Program was drastically altered, their memories wiped clean. I thought that the premise was interesting but too full of holes to be plausible. This story requires that the reader suspend a great deal of disbelief to accept the plot as it is presented. However, it was enough to keep me glued to the story from start to finish. The problem with the thin plot is that it makes the characters less than believable and even a bit annoying at times. The main character especially seemed like the proverbial "damsel in distress" always putting herself in positions where she needed to be rescued. Which brings me to the "almost" love triangle. Bleh. The positives were the relationship between Sloane and James and the suspense of the story. James was extremely likable, flaws and all, and I thought their relationship was sweet and tragic. I was definitely rooting for them against all odds throughout the story. The "other" guy was a bit too shady and he never worked for me as a possible love interest. I'm generally uninterested in the romantic aspects of books but in this instance, James & Sloane were a couple that made me want them to succeed. I was also pulled along by the suspense in the story, wanting to know what was going to happen, where the story was going to go, wondering if the MC would somehow overcome all of the obstacles against her. The Program, for all its faults, was an engrossing read. I don't know that I would describe it exactly as dystopian, but it had some dystopian-like aspects such as that all-powerful government that does what it wants with impunity. I would recommend this for fans of dystopian but with the warning that this is a bit different than what one would expect from that genre.
    • 5/5
      The Program really is worth the read. It makes you think of multiple different things all at once. To have a situation where at a pop of a pill your entire life could be erased from you is frightening yet makes you think what if you know? Also The Program puts in perspective how even when Jame and Sloan don’t remember each other love still brought them bring to each other. If I could give this book more than five stars I would. This is definitely a must read and a must share especially to someone who may be struggling with depression or just needs something to understand them.
    • 3/5
      Fast read love the sadness that runs through this world. Loved that we knew the behind the scenes in these characters life’s and then see the out come. Excited for book two
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was good, considering the subject matter. At first the constant talk about suicide was a little disheartening, but after the initial shock I was able to really get into the book, and enjoy it much more thoroughly.
    • 1/5
      To come. It won't be pretty. Here it is:

      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.
    • 1/5
      This book has been added to my DNF. I got to page 188 and then was done. I wasn't feeling this book from the beginning, as it was very dull and slow to start. Once we enter Part II, my hopes were up, but I was disappointed still. The premise was intriguing, but the main character I was indifferent towards, and I just wanted something to happen. Instead of focusing on long expositions of the character's day-to-day, which aren't very interesting or help the plot move forward tell me more about this epidemic of suicide and how The Program is trying to combat it. That's the point of the series, I thought. Unfortunately, this book falls into the trap of many tropes. Who cares about the tired romance of the characters, I thought the epidemic was the focus.
    • 5/5
      (This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).


      I'd been wanting to read this book for a long time now. The blurb really caught my attention (especially as I've suffered with major depression in the past), so when I got the chance to buy a book, this one was my choice. Luckily, it was a super fantastic read!

      I like the title of this book. I like how it's really plain and simple, yet, it works. The title very much suits the book as it's pretty straight-forward about what the book's going to be about.

      I like the cover for The Program. All teenagers who enter the program are made to wear yellow lemon colored scrubs. I like how it shows the uniforms.

      The world building is superb! Everything is explained fantastically throughout the book. Young makes it easy to believe that one day there will be a "cure" for depression and teen suicide. There's only one bit in the world building towards the end of the book that kind of made me question its reliability. I don't want to give away spoilers though, and this could just be me over thinking things.

      The pacing is spot on. From the very first sentence, this book had me hooked. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. To say I devoured this book would be an understatement.

      The plot was super interesting. Teens are being taken to The Program once they become depressed. Apparently, teen suicide is contagious and an epidemic, so the only cure is The Program where memories are erased. When Sloane's boyfriend, James, gets taken into The Program, it's not long before Sloane becomes depressed and is taken in as well. Will James and Sloane remember each other or will their memories be totally erased? I thought the plot was very original, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Some of the scenes in The Program reminded me of The Matrix. I believe this book could be read as a standalone since there wasn't a major cliff hanger, but I think it'd be better read as a series.

      I loved the characters! I loved how Sloane came across as just a normal teenage girl who had been through a traumatic experience. I felt that her vulnerability made her even more lovable. I also really liked James. I loved how he wanted to protect Sloane from everything. It was very evident how much James and Sloane loved each other. The only character I didn't really care for was Realm. It's not that he wasn't well written because he was. It was just that I never really felt like I could trust Realm. There's just something about him.

      The dialogue was fantastic and fit in well with a young adult novel. I loved reading the dialogue between Sloane and James the best. There are innocent mentions of sex although not many. There's also some swearing and some violence, but nothing over the top.

      Overall, The Program by Suzanne Young is an original story that has fantastic world building, great characters, and hits close to home. I've already bought the next book in the series.

      I'd recommend this book to those aged 16 who are after a book with an original story line and want a thrilling read.


      (I purchased this book in paperback format through Amazon with my own money. I was not required to review this book).
    • 3/5
      It's become a worldwide epidemic: teen depression and suicide is linked to environmental changes, medical treatments, etc - teens who exhibit symptoms are referred to The Program, a drastic gov't sponsored approach to erase teens' sad or harmful memories and "re-set" their emotional equilibrium - with the use of special brain/memory-altering drugs, counseling, and "centers" where teens are kept until cured. Cavalcade of Authors 2020 book/series.
    • 4/5
      More questions than answers by the end. Quick read.
    • 4/5
      Really pretty good book. Some emotional parts, some suspense... I look forward to future books in the series.
    • 4/5
      For me, "The Program" was an intense, page-turner. One of those enjoyable books that gives you just enough information in each chapter to keep you wanting more.

      In the world of "The Program," teenage suicide has become a global epidemic. No one can explain it. It seems to spread like a virus from teen to teen. To fight the epidemic, schools constantly watch their students for signs and symptoms. If signs or symptoms are displayed, teens are forced into The Program. The Program is an intensive, mental ward-esque therapy plan, where no one returns with any memory of their life before The Program.

      Sloane, is a strong main character, and when she is forced into The Program, she doesn't go down without a fight. She doesn't want to forget her life, and especially her boyfriend, James, who she has an intense and mature relationship. She strives to find a way to beat The Program and remember.

      Suicide is a very heavy and serious subject. My initial concern was The Program would be dark and depressing. However, while it does take its subject matter very seriously, its more of a thriller and mystery.

      Overall, it was very thought provoking. It begs the question if depression suffers would be better off without memories. For me, it also skated around the days when forced lobotomies were common, and questioned freedoms and individual rights.
    • 5/5
      it was different from what i expected. but it was really good.
      however, based on the ending, i don't think i'm going to read the sequel
    • 4/5
      This is the first book in a series and one I've had on my tbr pile for a while. From the first chapter I immediately knew that this book is unputdownable. True enough, I ended reading and finishing it in one sitting, up to the wee hours of the morning.The story is divided into three parts and told from the pov of 17-year-old Sloane. She is in a steamy relationship with James, her late brother's best friend. But their relationship is haunted by the deaths that surround them and the growing depression they are feeling.. In their world, teen suicide has become an epidemic. To address this problem, the government has come up with The Program, an intervention that aims to rehabilitate troubled teens by erasing their memories in hopes of preventing suicide. However, kids aren't the same when they come back after undergoing The Program, they are like empty shells of themselves. And so Sloane, James and their friends try their best to conceal their emotions for fear of being forced to undergo The Program.Will they succeed, or will they end up without their memories?  Is Sloane and James' love for each other strong enough to make their hearts remember what their minds might forget?I really like how the author slowly unfolded the story, giving readers an inside look of Sloane's life before and after The Program. The concept of suicide being an epidemic is  disturbing, and yet this book gives an interesting perspective on this topic. Are we really addressing the root cause of depression and suicide, or are we just masking it with all the anti-depressant drugs in the market today?Much as I love the story and the author's writing style, I wish there was less "sex" in this book. This is my gripe with some YA novels these days - underage protagonists who are already sexually active. I don't want to sound holier than thou, but I'm looking at it from a mother-of-a-teenage-daughter's perspective. Yes, it's good that Sloane and James uses protection, but they are still underage. And that's why, even though I like this book and would probably read the entire series, I will not recommend it to my underage daughter. Maybe when she's older. I'm not judging parents who allow their underage kids to read books like these, I'm just saying this is what I've decided for my child. It's precisely the reason why I read YA novels, to see which age-appropriate books to recommend to my daughter.Anyway, there is a love triangle in this story as well - Sloane, James and Realm. And though I don't have a problem with love triangles per se, I do have a problem when female protagonists always fall for the bad boy. That is my other gripe with YA novels nowadays, girls chasing after boys who are complicated instead of choosing the stable, more responsible guy. I also don't like it when attractive female protagonists are treated as objects. Sloane is described as being pretty, and because of that she has to avoid unwanted sexual advances, even her boyfriend James treats her like an object in some scenes. The only guy who treats her with respect is Realm, of course she "friendzones" him. I'm clearly on Team Realm instead of Team James, but this is just the first book in the series. Who knows, my opinion might change, right?Nevertheless, as an adult reader, I enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I'm reading the sequel - The Treatment, let's see if book 2 gives more info on why suicide has become an epidemic as this wasn't directly addressed in the first book.
    • 2/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      ***SPOILER ALERT***

      My take: 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3
      Maybe it's because it has been a long time since I experienced teenage angst, as well as a teenage love affair, but I found this book to be very sophomoric. Yes, it is a Young Adult genre novel, but so is The Giver by Lois Lowry, and it is beautifully written.

      Romantic? Not really, unless you are 14 years old.

      Suspenseful? Not really, unless this is the first book you've ever read and have no idea what is going to happen.

      It is written to read at a fast clip, but I still found it to be pandering and redundant.

      There were some very real issues that I think the book could have tackled: Who is Realm, really? (I hope to know more in the sequel). Is there actually a suicide epidemic or is this merely common teenage angst? We all know that teens feel deeper and sharper, in part because of raging hormones, and have not yet developed the tools necessary to wade through these years. However, there did seem to be a mental issue that was somewhat contagious. And the fact that it has started to spread to adults by the end of the book was telling. I hope this is explored in the second (and final, from what I have read) in the series. I also hope Sloane's mother is explored more. She seemed to be complex and conflicted, and I would like to see how she comes to terms with what has happened in her life.

      All in all, because the story held my attention, and I am interested in the ending of the saga, I am promoting this one to 2.5 looks. However, Young had a perfect opportunity to explore a very real and serious issue and decided to make it a Harlequin Romance Junior instead.

      Can't recommend this one.
    • 5/5
      Ever finish a book and immediately want to open it back up again? Even if you know the book will tear your heart out and leave you an emotional mess, like this?You’ve probably read The Program by Suzanne Young then. If you haven’t, here’s the deal: If you can’t handle emotional ups and downs, frightening situations and an incredibly suspenseful plot, then… maybe you shouldn’t read this.In all seriousness, The Program is one of the only dystopians that has made me completely terrified of the society presented in the book. The only other dystopian that was able to do that to me was George Orwell’s 1984 . Am I getting carried away? Probably. But, seriously, I was head-over-heels terrified of the “Program” (not the book, the actual Program).The synopsis makes us believe that ” love” is just a sub-plot, but in reality, it’s actually very predominant in the book. I thought this would have been a disappointment, but it was incredible. The love between Sloane and James was completely believable and not at all cheesy. This story isn’t completely over the top in sci-fi-ness, so it’s not a difficult concept to grasp. That’s what makes it entirely more terrifying! The fact that ” the program” is even scientifically explained (I’ve no idea if it’s true, though) makes me think that, just maybe, it could happen in our everyday life. This book is divided into different parts, each part emphasizing a different aspect of Sloane’s life.The first part of the book is completely heartbreaking! Sloane deals with grief over and over again, all while having to keep it bottled up in fears of being taken in by the Program. We the readers get a front row seat to her sadness and suffering. I couldn’t help but feeling the same pain and sadness that she felt. What really made this part for me was the romance between Sloane and James.They’re both burdened by holding in their feelings and being the “strong” ones that everyone else needs. They both suffered first hand the death of a loved one (specifically, Sloane’s brother) and the complications that come after someone you loved died.The love story they had together was so cute and smile-inducing. James was cocky and arrogant, but at the same time, a perfect match for Sloane. He was sweet, incredibly attractive, and caring.“You know I’m never going to be able to not kiss you again, right?” he said. “For the rest of my life, every time I look at you, I’ll have to kiss you.”The second part of this book is where the real substance comes creeping in. It’s where you see firsthand what actually happens inside the Program. This is truly the most terrifying part of the book. We practically realize how everything is being taken away because of the Program, with absolutely no hopes to stop it; but also, we see the reason behind the Program."…can a proper decision be made when the mind is clouded with disease? It’s an infection; a behavioral contagion. And we’re the only cure."The final part of the book is where everything comes together. This third part was so emotionally layered that I had to remind myself to breathe once in a while. I was up ’till the wee hours in the morning trying to finish this book, and I regret nothing . Part by part, Suzanne Young creative a wonderful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. You’ll feel as if you were living in the frightening and unsettling world that Sloane is living in. If you think that Dystopians aren’t your thing, then maybe you should reconsider.I can’t wait for Book 2, The Treatment after the frustrating cliffhanger at the end of this book.
    • 4/5
      Dystopian fiction is fun, the romance was cute, and the story was catching. I really loved this and went straight for the sequel (very glad I found it after the sequel had already come out). The only downside was the science behind erasing memories just wasn't there, otherwise I thought it was fascinating.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 2/5
      An average example of the young adult dystopia genre. Here suicide is an epidemic and the government(?) controls treatment. Gets a bit confused at points about whether all the depression is from Mystery Cause or whether it's caused by the threat of draconian treatment adding ridiculous pressures to the teenage population -- which would be pretty understandable (and seriously how are there apparently no parents saying 'You know, our kid just lost a brother and a bunch of friends, how about maybe they're justified in feeling a bit overwhelmed about being psychoanalysed every time they begin the schoolday?'?????) and yet by the numbers this treatment does appear to be reducing suicide so way to spread mixed messages. Also many unanswered questions about who benefits from the apparent corruption; perhaps to be followed up in the next book, but it turns out I'm not that interested.
    • 5/5
      This was one of the best books in this genre I've read in a long time. Holy moly! Suicide is an epidemic, sucking teens left and right into deep depression before taking their lives. Nobody knows where this virus has begun or why it infects only teens under the age of 18, but it does. Those who show any signs of infection are quickly carted off to The Program. After their friends all succumb to the depression, Sloane and James fight The Program.The Program is rooted in such an original idea, that I couldn’t help but get sucked into the story. I can’t rave enough about Sloane and James. Without spilling the beans about the ending, I will only say that true love can only be the thing with enough power to find their way back to each other.
    • 4/5
      I don't really know how to feel about this book. I really enjoyed the premise and the characters, but I felt like I had more questions at the end then I did at the beginning.
    • 5/5
      [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.