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.
The Program is set in a world where depression and suicide are considered a virus. If you are thought to have caught the virus, the handlers come to get you and take you to a facility known as The Program. There, the memories in your brain that are believed to be the cause and contributing factors of the virus are removed. Usually after six weeks, the person is then thought to be cured and sent back into society.
Sloane and James have been together for over two years. He was her brother's best friend, until Brady killed himself. Sloane and James are constantly trying to appear happy and normal so they aren't sent to the Program, even though they both ache inside from their friends and loved ones who have killed themselves or are sent to the Program.
Then someone else they both love is gone and it's a trigger for James. He gets caught and Sloane is just beside herself. She knows that when he is released he probably won't know who she is, but she has faith in their love and is pretty sure he will. She bides her time and tries to appear happy and normal until his release. But when he is and he doesn't know her, it flips a trigger within Sloane that sends her on an emotional roller coaster and eventually into The Program.
Will she and James find one another? Will they ever recover their lost memories? I really loved this book! From page one I was sucked in and I had a hard time putting it down. The end is satisfactory but leaves an opening for a sequel, which I hope to see. Young deals with the delicate subjects of depression and suicide firmly and puts a whole new spin on it that is very thought-provoking. Highly recommend!
I desperately want to read this one.
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