Review: The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young
Quick review for a very sluggish read (on my part, even if it only took me a day, realistically speaking). I honestly didn't like "The Treatment" much at all, but I'm giving it credit for some moments that were harrowing enough for the characters to invest me in pursuing it to the end. The problem is that there really wasn't a lot happening in this book with respect to the central conflict. It begins where it leaves off - the promise of Sloane and James taking off and making their escape from the Program in order to find a way to take it apart and possibly recover their memories. Only this book is one example of the plot driving the characters rather than the characters driving the plot. The supposed love triangle is uber forced and the relationship drama is what takes center stage over any of the dystopian or hefty elements the story had to offer. It felt very weak in overarching delivery and emotion in places. It wasn't until after the first third of the book was over that I started to find my footing with the plot. Even then, it felt thinly drawn and mostly constructed for convenience. It was frustrating because I knew what was going to happen well before it happened and while I did applaud that certain characters were called out and realized for the crummy things they pulled, I still didn't feel as invested in the character journeys as I was hoping for.
I may check into the companion novels, but while this book gave a definitive ending for the characters contained within, I wouldn't cite it as one of the more memorable YA dystopian series I've read. I can say I've read it once at least, but it doesn't make me want to pick it up again after the initial read.
Overall score: 2/5 stars.
6
