The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young

Title: The Treatment
Series: The Program #2
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date:  April 29th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 352 pages
Source: ARC from ALA Mid-winter

Summary from Goodreads:
Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?


Review

The Treatment is the second book in a fast paced, action filled, two book series.  I am definitely a fan of the fact that it did not just fall into becoming a trilogy.  Unlike some of the other books and series I have been picking up lately, The Treatment did not make me feel like I was lost in the beginning.  There was no sense of 'What is going on in the story?'; the book did pick up right away while still giving a bit of background to ease the reader back into the crazy lives of Sloane and James.

The weaving story line and the way the characters all had some direct or indirect connection to each other, maked for some interesting surprises along the way.  The overall premise, a suicide epidemic, remained a dark and heavy theme throughout the book which I continued to enjoy.  Even though it is kinda scary to think of something so terrible happening, the author excelled at making the story real and believable.  

My main issue was the terribly abrupt ending.  The ending could have easily used another 25-50 pages.  I felt so unfulfilled.  The epilogue was a nice touch but I felt like so much was left untold. Between the ending and the epilogue I felt like I was left with more questions than when I had started the book.  The only other slight issue was the love triangle; it felt a bit forced at times and just took away from the rest of the suspenseful plot.   

    Bottom Line ♥

    The Treatment is a book full of high stress, high stakes, and high tension.  I would recommend the series if you are in the mood for a serious, darker read about a terrifying world full of characters who just won't stop fighting.


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