The Program by Suzanne Young

Source:  Purchased
Genre:  YA-Dystopian
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date Published:  April 30, 2013
Number of Pages:  405

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.    (from Goodreads)

This book....this book.  I loved it.  I devoured it.  It sucked me in and held me prisoner.  I felt for Sloane, and wanted everything to work out.  My heart broke when hers did and I felt just as angry as she did.

Suzanne Young's writing style pulled me into each of her characters.  I felt a connection to every character, and nothing seemed just thrown in for kicks.  The payoff at the end makes me very excited for the sequel, which gets released in April, I believe.  I enjoyed the first person narrative, but giving some of the characters a little more voice then some of the other narratives I have read.  

This is by far one of my favorite dystopians I have read yet, and the entire world she built seemed ultra realistic, as if this could happen suddenly in the next year.  I loved that it wasn't super sci fi and wasn't needing much explanation as to why things were the way they were.

I ate it like it was a chocolate cake and couldn't put it down.  It's not super romantic, and was very subtle in its tones of love and friendship, which makes me love it even more!

5 out of 5 Happy Clouds :)

Highly recommend (I even recommended it to my sister, who won't read anything with romance in it) and will definitely be picking up the sequel, The Treatment, when it is released!!