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The Program #6
The Complication (6)
Tatum and Weston seek revenge against The Program in this heart-pounding final installment in Suzanne Young’s New York Times bestselling Program series—now with a reimagined look.
Every cure has a cost.
Tatum Masterson learned this after years of being monitored by The Program. She witnessed it when her boyfriend, Weston, came back changed, erased. The Adjustment came into Tatum’s life just when she thought she needed it most, a promise for Wes to get back his forgotten memories. But when the procedure went wrong, a revelation shattered everything Tatum thought she knew.
Now with no one left to trust, Tatum must find out what really happened last summer. With the help of the boyfriend she lost, Tatum digs into the past and future of The Program and its handlers. Will the two teens be able to bring about the reckoning their tormentors deserve?
Every cure has a cost.
Tatum Masterson learned this after years of being monitored by The Program. She witnessed it when her boyfriend, Weston, came back changed, erased. The Adjustment came into Tatum’s life just when she thought she needed it most, a promise for Wes to get back his forgotten memories. But when the procedure went wrong, a revelation shattered everything Tatum thought she knew.
Now with no one left to trust, Tatum must find out what really happened last summer. With the help of the boyfriend she lost, Tatum digs into the past and future of The Program and its handlers. Will the two teens be able to bring about the reckoning their tormentors deserve?
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2018
130 people are currently reading
9210 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Young
69 books4,873 followersSuzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program, The Treatment, and several other novels. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she teaches high school English and obsesses about books. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
November 6, 2017
I had HEART PALPITATIONS when I heard the words "EVERYONE FROM THE SERIES WILL MAKE AN APPEARANCE" !!!! Holy cheese balls!!!!!! I am so excited to see how everything is going to work out and how everyone will wrap the story up! Also very excited to see Sloane and James my favorite couple in this series!
I think before reading this final book you should definitely take advantage of the long wait to reread the series and refresh yourself on who everyone is. Honestly, at this point, there have been so many characters that I'm legit going to take notes on who everyone is lol.
Anyway, see you in another 5 months when the book comes out! Can't wait to post a super duper detailed review then while I cry about the fact that this is the LAST BOOK.
I think before reading this final book you should definitely take advantage of the long wait to reread the series and refresh yourself on who everyone is. Honestly, at this point, there have been so many characters that I'm legit going to take notes on who everyone is lol.
Anyway, see you in another 5 months when the book comes out! Can't wait to post a super duper detailed review then while I cry about the fact that this is the LAST BOOK.
May 19, 2018
I'm really sad that this fantastic series is over, but this was the perfect ending!
Read
May 9, 2018The conclusion to the series is very fulfilling. Everything comes full circle and you get a good sense of how everything is going to move forward from there. All the players are in the game and the stakes are high. My favorite scene was the epilogue.
March 25, 2019
“It's The Program or me. And I decide it's going to be me.”
Wow. I can't believe it's over. This is a series I talk about all the time - because the first book The Program, feels so.....uncomfortably prophetic. It's something I can see the happening - as the parents, as the kids. It's just so unsettling - and so well written. The whole series, all 6 books have been such a ride. And even though this one was a bit....neat...a bit pulled together and maybe pushed/rushed in a few places, I'm completely okay with it. I completely loved it - because it was everything I needed after the 5 other books - these character, this world, these lives - I just needed it all wrapped in a bow. It didn't all end how I thought it would so many books ago, but I'm so okay with how it all worked out.
I loved this one so much. Thank you, Suzanne Young.
Wow. I can't believe it's over. This is a series I talk about all the time - because the first book The Program, feels so.....uncomfortably prophetic. It's something I can see the happening - as the parents, as the kids. It's just so unsettling - and so well written. The whole series, all 6 books have been such a ride. And even though this one was a bit....neat...a bit pulled together and maybe pushed/rushed in a few places, I'm completely okay with it. I completely loved it - because it was everything I needed after the 5 other books - these character, this world, these lives - I just needed it all wrapped in a bow. It didn't all end how I thought it would so many books ago, but I'm so okay with how it all worked out.
I loved this one so much. Thank you, Suzanne Young.
July 24, 2018
Pre-release thoughts:
Let's hope the cover represents the state of Tatum and Wes' relationship in this book. Not together and broken apart.
Review:
It's unfortunate, but I think the final book in the Program series is the weakest one yet. I do appreciate how the story ended and how Young brought everyone back to finally put a stop to the Program, but I also feel like the book was a bit of a mess.
In the Program series, the second half of each duology has had the same problem. It’s much too slow. We get a lot of world building and interesting set ups in the first books, only to hit a standstill in the second. Once the story picks it, it does tend to get better, but with the Complication, I feel like it took way too long for that to happen.
The book starts right where we left off. Tatum has learned that she was once in the Program, but she doesn’t remember anything about her time there. Even though Nathan tells her about this and explains that he was told to keep quiet for the sake of her health, what do you think Tatum does?
a) Goes to her grandparents and confronts them with this information?
b) Asks Nathan what’s happening and demands the full truth from him?
c) Obsess over Wes and the fact that he doesn’t remember her?
If you said ‘c’, then you’d be right. Congrats. Tatum says that she wants to go to Wes, because he’s the only one who isn’t lying to her. Granted, he just had his mind wiped and he doesn’t know her, but that’s just how powerful True Love is amirite?
“Weston Ambrose is the love of my life. I loved him before he was taken into The Program, and I loved him again when he returned and was changed. But he has no idea who I am anymore.
And maybe that’s why I can trust him more than anyone else in my life.”
Unfortunately, this quote (which happens right in the beginning of the novel) reminded me of Tatum’s manipulative ways. The Adjustment was how Tatum’s obsession over Wes ended up really messing him up. Before and after he went to the Program. So once he comes back after having his mind wiped again and she says this, I was gobsmacked. To me, it seems like she’s using her own trauma as a means to get close to him again and I wasn’t here for it.
If you’re a fan of Tatum and Wes’ romance, then you’ll enjoy the book. But if you’re like me and find this relationship to be incredibly toxic, then you won’t. Tatum spends most of the book trying to get as close to Wes as she can. Even when the adults tell her to stay away due to what happened in the last book; she just can’t let her love go. Her friends enable her bad behaviour and anyone who comes between the two of them is viewed in a horrible light.
Wes’ mom hates Tatum for good reason, which is why the book paints her in such a negative light. Tatum learns the truth regarding her grandparents but can forgive them because they support her love of Wes and will let her do what she wants.
The little things like this made me physically roll my eyes multiple times during the book. It doesn’t help that Tatum isn’t self-aware. In one part of the book, she actually thinks this:
Jana is Nathan’s first serious girlfriend, and that worries me. Because he might really love her, and that would give her the opportunity to take advantage of him.
I mean, really? In the last book, Tatum and Wes broke up before he went to the Program and he was dating someone else. He started being happy again, but Tatum wasn’t happy so she manipulated him by saying that they (Tatum and Wes) should fake being in a relationship so the Program doesn’t go after them.
Like I said, your enjoyment of this book depends on how much you like this pairing. I don’t. I wanted to, but I can’t. I just can't. It’s not even for the reasons I mentioned above. (It is, but...) The thing is, Sloane and James had a toxic co-dependent relationship, but I could understand why they were together. Quinn and Deacon had their ups and downs, but I got why they loved each other. Tatum is a horrible person, but I don’t understand why she loves Wes so much. Saying you love someone doesn’t really mean that you actually love them. The only emotion I felt from her is obsession. She was obsessed with Wes in ways that would make any sane person run to the hills.
And Wes, well he’s not written in a way that makes him feel real. He’s just there. A prize for Tatum as she gloats over all of our heads about how right she was about everything.
The book is mostly about their relationship, with everything regarding the Program taking place at the end of the novel. Due to this, and the fact that the book is 456 pages, it just made the book go by so slow for me. When Tatum focuses on anything other than Wes, the book is significantly stronger. I wish we had more of that and less of what we got.
It’s a shame too, because I do like the series. I just can’t handle Tatum’s obsession over Wes. It doesn't help that all of the female characters (sans the Sloane and Quinn) are written in a bad way. It's almost like if you're female and do something wrong, then you deserve hate. Realm, who is shady, looks genuine while Jana is a shady bitch who shouldn't be around Tatum and her friends.
Not really a good look.....*sigh* I wanted so much more from this book, but it didn't deliver. It sucks, because I do like the series. I just don't like Tatum and her version of what love should be like.
Let's hope the cover represents the state of Tatum and Wes' relationship in this book. Not together and broken apart.
Review:
It's unfortunate, but I think the final book in the Program series is the weakest one yet. I do appreciate how the story ended and how Young brought everyone back to finally put a stop to the Program, but I also feel like the book was a bit of a mess.
In the Program series, the second half of each duology has had the same problem. It’s much too slow. We get a lot of world building and interesting set ups in the first books, only to hit a standstill in the second. Once the story picks it, it does tend to get better, but with the Complication, I feel like it took way too long for that to happen.
The book starts right where we left off. Tatum has learned that she was once in the Program, but she doesn’t remember anything about her time there. Even though Nathan tells her about this and explains that he was told to keep quiet for the sake of her health, what do you think Tatum does?
a) Goes to her grandparents and confronts them with this information?
b) Asks Nathan what’s happening and demands the full truth from him?
c) Obsess over Wes and the fact that he doesn’t remember her?
If you said ‘c’, then you’d be right. Congrats. Tatum says that she wants to go to Wes, because he’s the only one who isn’t lying to her. Granted, he just had his mind wiped and he doesn’t know her, but that’s just how powerful True Love is amirite?
“Weston Ambrose is the love of my life. I loved him before he was taken into The Program, and I loved him again when he returned and was changed. But he has no idea who I am anymore.
And maybe that’s why I can trust him more than anyone else in my life.”
Unfortunately, this quote (which happens right in the beginning of the novel) reminded me of Tatum’s manipulative ways. The Adjustment was how Tatum’s obsession over Wes ended up really messing him up. Before and after he went to the Program. So once he comes back after having his mind wiped again and she says this, I was gobsmacked. To me, it seems like she’s using her own trauma as a means to get close to him again and I wasn’t here for it.
If you’re a fan of Tatum and Wes’ romance, then you’ll enjoy the book. But if you’re like me and find this relationship to be incredibly toxic, then you won’t. Tatum spends most of the book trying to get as close to Wes as she can. Even when the adults tell her to stay away due to what happened in the last book; she just can’t let her love go. Her friends enable her bad behaviour and anyone who comes between the two of them is viewed in a horrible light.
Wes’ mom hates Tatum for good reason, which is why the book paints her in such a negative light. Tatum learns the truth regarding her grandparents but can forgive them because they support her love of Wes and will let her do what she wants.
The little things like this made me physically roll my eyes multiple times during the book. It doesn’t help that Tatum isn’t self-aware. In one part of the book, she actually thinks this:
Jana is Nathan’s first serious girlfriend, and that worries me. Because he might really love her, and that would give her the opportunity to take advantage of him.
I mean, really? In the last book, Tatum and Wes broke up before he went to the Program and he was dating someone else. He started being happy again, but Tatum wasn’t happy so she manipulated him by saying that they (Tatum and Wes) should fake being in a relationship so the Program doesn’t go after them.
Like I said, your enjoyment of this book depends on how much you like this pairing. I don’t. I wanted to, but I can’t. I just can't. It’s not even for the reasons I mentioned above. (It is, but...) The thing is, Sloane and James had a toxic co-dependent relationship, but I could understand why they were together. Quinn and Deacon had their ups and downs, but I got why they loved each other. Tatum is a horrible person, but I don’t understand why she loves Wes so much. Saying you love someone doesn’t really mean that you actually love them. The only emotion I felt from her is obsession. She was obsessed with Wes in ways that would make any sane person run to the hills.
And Wes, well he’s not written in a way that makes him feel real. He’s just there. A prize for Tatum as she gloats over all of our heads about how right she was about everything.
The book is mostly about their relationship, with everything regarding the Program taking place at the end of the novel. Due to this, and the fact that the book is 456 pages, it just made the book go by so slow for me. When Tatum focuses on anything other than Wes, the book is significantly stronger. I wish we had more of that and less of what we got.
It’s a shame too, because I do like the series. I just can’t handle Tatum’s obsession over Wes. It doesn't help that all of the female characters (sans the Sloane and Quinn) are written in a bad way. It's almost like if you're female and do something wrong, then you deserve hate. Realm, who is shady, looks genuine while Jana is a shady bitch who shouldn't be around Tatum and her friends.
Not really a good look.....*sigh* I wanted so much more from this book, but it didn't deliver. It sucks, because I do like the series. I just don't like Tatum and her version of what love should be like.
June 1, 2024
Reread 2024: I think I disagree about this one being my least favorite but the rest of my review is true. This series is so compelling and unique. There are definitely some repetitive elements but it’s usually because of people’s memories getting wiped lol. The characters do repeat a lot of the same mistakes and have the same conversations though. I like that this brings the entire series to a close, since it’s really like three duologies making up a six-book series. I think it holds up! The ending is stellar.
First read 2018: Really great end to this series. Suzanne Young has impressed me with every single book. I've never read a series this long that didn't feel like it was pushing it, adding more and more books until I was bored. I never felt tired of reading about this world or these characters. I can even see ways for her to extend this world with more books probably. I can always count on this series to break reading slumps and keep me engaged. Tatum and Wes were awesome and the cameos from everyone else were great too. I feeeeeel like this might be my least favorite? It's not bad by ANY means but if I were to rank all the books, this one would be lower. Still PLEASE READ THIS SERIES.
First read 2018: Really great end to this series. Suzanne Young has impressed me with every single book. I've never read a series this long that didn't feel like it was pushing it, adding more and more books until I was bored. I never felt tired of reading about this world or these characters. I can even see ways for her to extend this world with more books probably. I can always count on this series to break reading slumps and keep me engaged. Tatum and Wes were awesome and the cameos from everyone else were great too. I feeeeeel like this might be my least favorite? It's not bad by ANY means but if I were to rank all the books, this one would be lower. Still PLEASE READ THIS SERIES.
June 27, 2025
I feel iffy about this finale. It still had some epic twists, but I had more trouble suspending my disbelief. So many things were conveniently timed. For instance,
And Tate's backstory, while really cool at first, just felt like it was piling on anything and everything from the other books.
We get to see so many characters from other books, which I didn't know in advance or I might have read these closer together. I had a harddddd time remembering 😂 However, the fact that so many of these characters were brought back meant there was less time for Wes and Tate.
I'm also a little confused by the ending.
The Complication was a pretty good conclusion to this insane series, but I think I'll always prefer the first two books.
And Tate's backstory, while really cool at first, just felt like it was piling on anything and everything from the other books.
We get to see so many characters from other books, which I didn't know in advance or I might have read these closer together. I had a harddddd time remembering 😂 However, the fact that so many of these characters were brought back meant there was less time for Wes and Tate.
I'm also a little confused by the ending.
The Complication was a pretty good conclusion to this insane series, but I think I'll always prefer the first two books.
May 5, 2018
The complication 4⭐️
I loved seeing how everyone delt with the ending of the program. Tatum and Wes have this new found relationship and dealing with their past that was interesting, love struck and painful.
I love the program series and dont want it to end.
I loved seeing how everyone delt with the ending of the program. Tatum and Wes have this new found relationship and dealing with their past that was interesting, love struck and painful.
I love the program series and dont want it to end.
May 8, 2018
The Complication is the final book in The Program series. This series is comprised of three duets. But this last book ties together the entire series.
Do you have to read the entire series to read this book? Yes and no. I would say that it is mandatory to read book 5, The Adjustment because The Complication continues that story. I definitely think that most people reading this book will be fans of the entire series. A lot of previous characters return. And basically this book ties together the entire six book series. So I would definitely recommend reading these books in order.
This book is divided into parts. The narrator of this book is once again Tatum. The last book (The Adjustment) ended with some interesting bombshells. And this book picks up where that book left off.
I really enjoyed Tate and Wes' story. But I also really loved seeing so many characters from the rest of the series appear in this book. This was a good conclusion to an interesting and original series.
Thanks to edelweiss and Simon Pulse for allowing me to read this book.
Do you have to read the entire series to read this book? Yes and no. I would say that it is mandatory to read book 5, The Adjustment because The Complication continues that story. I definitely think that most people reading this book will be fans of the entire series. A lot of previous characters return. And basically this book ties together the entire six book series. So I would definitely recommend reading these books in order.
This book is divided into parts. The narrator of this book is once again Tatum. The last book (The Adjustment) ended with some interesting bombshells. And this book picks up where that book left off.
I really enjoyed Tate and Wes' story. But I also really loved seeing so many characters from the rest of the series appear in this book. This was a good conclusion to an interesting and original series.
Thanks to edelweiss and Simon Pulse for allowing me to read this book.
November 26, 2019
My review of "The Program" series will be live on December, 25th, 2019 here: https://youtu.be/MyVFNNOc32g
April 4, 2018
This is an amazing sixth book in The Program series by Suzanne Young! If you have yet to read the first five books, stop reading this and real those then this one!! You will be glad you did!!
March 10, 2022
So, i didn't hate the last two book in the series, but i have to admit that plot and character wise they're the weakest. The cure for the returners was so unimaginative and lame and wrapped up too nicely. Wes was too passive in the story and Tatum was tstl and very manipulative sometimes. My biggest issue is that Tate came off as very manipulative and her relationship with Wes was clearly very toxic. At some point, Wes is clearly moving on with his life and happier in a new relationship and Tate destroys it.
I noticed that the author made her female characters very strong, but very dumb when in came to trusting people. Clearly, there were clues to discrepancies in people's character and yet Tatum ignored them all.
I hated how consumed Tate was in the previous book with getting Wes back. Especially, because Wes seemed like he wasn't as invested in their relationship. My problem is that Wes lacked the personality to be a main character to the epic ending. He seemed more like a gratuitous pet that Tate paid attention to whenever she needed a buddy.
I also hated the whole Kyle storyline. What was the point of adding Kyle as Wes's former girlfriend; if she was going to be removed as a character in this book. Everyone kept talking about the epic love Wes and Tate had, however, clearly Wes moved on with Kyle very easily. I mean he had a real connection with this girl, even though he chose to "sacrificed" himself for Tate, he seemed to love Kyle and had easily moved on. There's a part where Tate questions if Kyle had spoken to Wes first, after his return, then maybe they would have gotten together again, and I honestly thought the same.
The author wrote about Wes's guilt that Tate spiraled into depression because of him and how he wanted to make it up to her. However, at this point he was already in a relationship with Kyle and moving on. What bothered me is that nobody told the last Wes about Kyle and how he might have had strong feelings for this girl. Maybe he wanted to get to know her again, more manipulation from Tate. I understand that this was a plot device to add angst to the story and the couple, but i didn't like that when they see Kyle at Lulu's Wes stared at her in a pensive way. Even Tate feared there was a connection there. It seems like Wes was forced to get back together with Tate.
I honestly thought that Wes was gonna step aside and Tate was gonna end up with Nathan. She spends about 75% of her story with him rather than Wes.
P.s i wanted more of Reed Castle in this book. Clearly, he's alive and is working alongside Dr. Ward, which means he might be a bad guy. I wanted a book or novella about him and not just a short story. Why give us crumbs if you're not going to follow through.
I noticed that the author made her female characters very strong, but very dumb when in came to trusting people. Clearly, there were clues to discrepancies in people's character and yet Tatum ignored them all.
I hated how consumed Tate was in the previous book with getting Wes back. Especially, because Wes seemed like he wasn't as invested in their relationship. My problem is that Wes lacked the personality to be a main character to the epic ending. He seemed more like a gratuitous pet that Tate paid attention to whenever she needed a buddy.
I also hated the whole Kyle storyline. What was the point of adding Kyle as Wes's former girlfriend; if she was going to be removed as a character in this book. Everyone kept talking about the epic love Wes and Tate had, however, clearly Wes moved on with Kyle very easily. I mean he had a real connection with this girl, even though he chose to "sacrificed" himself for Tate, he seemed to love Kyle and had easily moved on. There's a part where Tate questions if Kyle had spoken to Wes first, after his return, then maybe they would have gotten together again, and I honestly thought the same.
The author wrote about Wes's guilt that Tate spiraled into depression because of him and how he wanted to make it up to her. However, at this point he was already in a relationship with Kyle and moving on. What bothered me is that nobody told the last Wes about Kyle and how he might have had strong feelings for this girl. Maybe he wanted to get to know her again, more manipulation from Tate. I understand that this was a plot device to add angst to the story and the couple, but i didn't like that when they see Kyle at Lulu's Wes stared at her in a pensive way. Even Tate feared there was a connection there. It seems like Wes was forced to get back together with Tate.
I honestly thought that Wes was gonna step aside and Tate was gonna end up with Nathan. She spends about 75% of her story with him rather than Wes.
P.s i wanted more of Reed Castle in this book. Clearly, he's alive and is working alongside Dr. Ward, which means he might be a bad guy. I wanted a book or novella about him and not just a short story. Why give us crumbs if you're not going to follow through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2018
i cant believe this series is finally over. i feel like so much has happened over the last six books that i want to make sure this review is reflective of this book only, and not the series as a whole.
firstly, and most importantly, i will say that i was rather content with the ending to everything. it didnt leave me wanting more or unsatisfied. i thought everything was tied together nicely and resolved well. i thought it was really neat how all the stories finally converged and tied together. it was fun seeing everyone make an appearance and interact with each other.
that being said, i feel like this book in particular was my least favourite. the ending was basically the reason i rounded up on my rating, but everything else was just kind of average for me. i found myself not really liking tate, which is weird because i didnt mind her in the previous book. also, i felt really disconnected from weston. he just did not seem like the same character i read in the adjustment. and maybe thats the point and just good characterisation - because having your memories wiped would make you become a different person. but i just felt so so sad that i didnt care for him like i once did. maybe i shouldnt have read these books back to back and allowed some time to adjust before moving on with the story, but for me the characters were kind of a let down.
overall, a good conclusion to a great series but this was definitely not my favourite book in it.
↠ 3.5 stars
firstly, and most importantly, i will say that i was rather content with the ending to everything. it didnt leave me wanting more or unsatisfied. i thought everything was tied together nicely and resolved well. i thought it was really neat how all the stories finally converged and tied together. it was fun seeing everyone make an appearance and interact with each other.
that being said, i feel like this book in particular was my least favourite. the ending was basically the reason i rounded up on my rating, but everything else was just kind of average for me. i found myself not really liking tate, which is weird because i didnt mind her in the previous book. also, i felt really disconnected from weston. he just did not seem like the same character i read in the adjustment. and maybe thats the point and just good characterisation - because having your memories wiped would make you become a different person. but i just felt so so sad that i didnt care for him like i once did. maybe i shouldnt have read these books back to back and allowed some time to adjust before moving on with the story, but for me the characters were kind of a let down.
overall, a good conclusion to a great series but this was definitely not my favourite book in it.
↠ 3.5 stars
November 3, 2018
Suzanne Young has done it again. There was a plot twist within a plot twist that I never saw coming, and I have to applaud her work because not only did the plot twist that was revealed in The Complication blow my mind – it also tied in every other book in the series. Truly, The Complication is probably my favorite conclusion to a series. Not only because the story was filled with characters from the past, but because Tatum grew so much. She learned to accept herself and her faults, which made it easier for her to love Wes the way he deserved. I couldn't love Tatum and Wes's relationship – or the book - more. I'm sad to leave the series behind, but I'm excited to see what projects Suzanne Young works on next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2020
so i’ve never written a review on here but since this is the last book in the series it seems appropriate. to start all i can say is, wow this book is *chefs kiss*. i love how all the characters from past books are in this and how the ending just ties everything together. so many twists and turns it’s like a rollercoaster 10/10 would recommend this series.
August 6, 2022
I'm so sad this is the last book in this series. Such a good edge of your seat Dystopian series.
August 3, 2018
If I were to rate this book based just on the stuff I liked, it could have easily earned four stars. The stuff I didn't like would set it at one and-a-half, maybe two if I was being generous. So I'm giving the book overall a rating right in between those.
Let me get the stuff I didn't like out of the way first so I can end on a positive note. Just about everything having to do with Wes and Tatum's relationship irritated me to death. Just when I thought she was finally going to let him go and move on, something happened to bring them back together. Not only was this annoyingly repetitive, but this showed the relationship as even more toxic and co-dependent than Sloan and James. And even when Tatum realized this, she was all "fuck it I'mma go after him anyway YOLO". What's worse is that her friends, who in the last book were trying to talk sense into her, were being supportive and the other girl Wes dated was completely forgotten. I guess her emotional investment didn't matter. I was never sold on their romance because the author never gave them any time to fall in love. It was always just already assumed, and what was shown was incredibly toxic and they even admitted it was obsessive. But I swear, every time Tatum turned back to Wes, I was internally screaming in anger and frustration. It actually felt like their romance was constantly interrupting the story rather than fueling it.
This book took way too long doing nothing. Tatum finds out all these things about her past and you'd think she'd want to confront Nathan and her grandparents about it, but nope. Gotta chase after Wes instead, yanking him along and constantly going back and forth. By the end there still wasn't that much discussion on it. For all the telling these books do, we're not given a scene between her and her grandparents about all the lying and manipulating they put her through. I don't actually think there was closure on a lot of the physical things happening to returners: the nose bleeds, aneurysm and so forth. Maybe this is covered in some of the earlier books, I have no idea.
Which brings me to another issue: the whole thing was tied together a little too neatly. The book spent too much time on Wes and Tatum when it should have been focusing more on Tatum unraveling all the lies and manipulations and then using her grandfather's connections with the paper to expose that shit and finally shut down the Program for good. But having Tatum be the solution was just too easy. It almost felt like the author was justifying her being such an otherwise unpleasant MC to follow. It didn't even really make sense why Tatum was the solution when there were others who went through the same processes.
But now I want to talk about the good stuff. When it actually focused on Tatum trying to figure out her past, that was good. It was so chilling when it was revealed what happened with her as a child. I'm reading these books all out of order so that part made me excited to see it hopefully explored in more detail in Quinn/Nicole's story. I also liked her interactions with Nathan, Foster and surprisingly Michael. I thought for a moment they were hinting at her and Nathan having a romantic history, and I'm glad it didn't go that way. I really wish there was more of the secondary characters in this. The feeling of not being able to trust anyone, of being surrounded and monitored on all sides, that was cool and really needed more focus. Doctor McKee and Marie were interesting characters and again, hoping there's more of them in the prequels.
If all that nonsense about Wes had just ended at the beginning of the book, this would've been so much better. A little too neatly wrapped up and the good ideas weren't explored nearly enough, but I guess that's my impression of this series as a whole so far.
Let me get the stuff I didn't like out of the way first so I can end on a positive note. Just about everything having to do with Wes and Tatum's relationship irritated me to death. Just when I thought she was finally going to let him go and move on, something happened to bring them back together. Not only was this annoyingly repetitive, but this showed the relationship as even more toxic and co-dependent than Sloan and James. And even when Tatum realized this, she was all "fuck it I'mma go after him anyway YOLO". What's worse is that her friends, who in the last book were trying to talk sense into her, were being supportive and the other girl Wes dated was completely forgotten. I guess her emotional investment didn't matter. I was never sold on their romance because the author never gave them any time to fall in love. It was always just already assumed, and what was shown was incredibly toxic and they even admitted it was obsessive. But I swear, every time Tatum turned back to Wes, I was internally screaming in anger and frustration. It actually felt like their romance was constantly interrupting the story rather than fueling it.
This book took way too long doing nothing. Tatum finds out all these things about her past and you'd think she'd want to confront Nathan and her grandparents about it, but nope. Gotta chase after Wes instead, yanking him along and constantly going back and forth. By the end there still wasn't that much discussion on it. For all the telling these books do, we're not given a scene between her and her grandparents about all the lying and manipulating they put her through. I don't actually think there was closure on a lot of the physical things happening to returners: the nose bleeds, aneurysm and so forth. Maybe this is covered in some of the earlier books, I have no idea.
Which brings me to another issue: the whole thing was tied together a little too neatly. The book spent too much time on Wes and Tatum when it should have been focusing more on Tatum unraveling all the lies and manipulations and then using her grandfather's connections with the paper to expose that shit and finally shut down the Program for good. But having Tatum be the solution was just too easy. It almost felt like the author was justifying her being such an otherwise unpleasant MC to follow. It didn't even really make sense why Tatum was the solution when there were others who went through the same processes.
But now I want to talk about the good stuff. When it actually focused on Tatum trying to figure out her past, that was good. It was so chilling when it was revealed what happened with her as a child. I'm reading these books all out of order so that part made me excited to see it hopefully explored in more detail in Quinn/Nicole's story. I also liked her interactions with Nathan, Foster and surprisingly Michael. I thought for a moment they were hinting at her and Nathan having a romantic history, and I'm glad it didn't go that way. I really wish there was more of the secondary characters in this. The feeling of not being able to trust anyone, of being surrounded and monitored on all sides, that was cool and really needed more focus. Doctor McKee and Marie were interesting characters and again, hoping there's more of them in the prequels.
If all that nonsense about Wes had just ended at the beginning of the book, this would've been so much better. A little too neatly wrapped up and the good ideas weren't explored nearly enough, but I guess that's my impression of this series as a whole so far.
July 19, 2018
When I started this series years ago I never expected it to continue into six books. It’s bittersweet for the series to be over, but ... admittedly this wasn’t my favourite.
With cameos from previous characters, the storylines are connected full circle, which was needed, but I also felt the connections were stretched thin, like shocking reveals were forcefully added to tie everything together perfectly. I loved the discovery behind Tatum in this book, although I can’t say I’m satisfied with her conclusion — seems a bit too forgiving.
I appreciated Realm having moments to shine. I always felt like he was an understated character that I felt strange about, in a good way. He is so interesting. His small storyline throughout is still one of my favourites.
You’ll love the epilogue. Sloane and James were the beginning, so it was a perfect choice to have them on the final page.
3.5 stars
With cameos from previous characters, the storylines are connected full circle, which was needed, but I also felt the connections were stretched thin, like shocking reveals were forcefully added to tie everything together perfectly. I loved the discovery behind Tatum in this book, although I can’t say I’m satisfied with her conclusion — seems a bit too forgiving.
I appreciated Realm having moments to shine. I always felt like he was an understated character that I felt strange about, in a good way. He is so interesting. His small storyline throughout is still one of my favourites.
You’ll love the epilogue. Sloane and James were the beginning, so it was a perfect choice to have them on the final page.
3.5 stars
July 1, 2018
This is pretty much all of the other books in this one. There was nothing new. This series should have ended two books ago.
July 20, 2018
I literally cannot read books with any action in them. It is definitely not the book's fault, it is completely my fault. I keep trying to read books that are not usually the type of books I read, in an attempts to widen my reading horizons, but it never works out. I literally like what I like, and I hate everything else. I used to love dystopia-type books full of action when I was in middle school, but I can no longer read them anymore. I feel nothing, I get bored, I start skimming pages, I have to reread many sections, and I'm never content. I can literally only read young adult romance or contemporary. I found this book super boring. Like it took so long to pick up, there's too much scene building. I felt like it easily could have been condensed. Like how difficult is it to start a freaking uprising and stop the damn treatment? Divergent did it in 3 books, hunger games did it in 3 books, why does this series need 6 whole books when it's not even as serious a problem? Like okay, people have suicidal thoughts so you're just going to erase their memories so they aren't like that anymore, but that's so dumb because every memory, good and bad, is essential into making us who we are. We learn from our memories, we use them as guidelines, who ever thought that would work? Once they realized it's bad, why is it so hard to stop it? Y'all need advice from Katniss Everdeen or Tris Prior, if they can do it, why can't you? Also, I think I've read and watched too many things this year that are related to "memory wiping" I get the point, even bad memories are essential into shaping us, we learn from the bad ones. But the book was honestly such a bore, I felt like the author kept trying to stretch it on and on and on. Another issue was I didn't even read any of the other books in the series, so it took me a long time to even get focused into the story because I was just trying to understand the characters, relationships, and the world- once again my fault, I should have probably read the entire series properly and maybe I would have liked it more. But if I got sick of the story in one book, I could not imagine forcing myself through 5 others. A very disappointing read.
August 15, 2018
Promised by Suzanne Young to be the final book of the Program series, and yes, this is most definitely the case. It's not just the end of Tatum's duology, but the wrapping up of the original Program story and the Remedy duology as well. All three main concepts that started all three duologies figure strongly into this final entry. And while it's a bit of a long haul to the end of this one, with a bit of a slow and confusing first half, it's the second half where Young really outdoes herself. Endless surprises and twists, some pretty life-threatening ones, even...but then it all builds to a majorly hopeful ending. Though not every loose end is quite tied up, most are - including one reference to the original Chipotle, unless I miss my guess. And the very last page, it's so symbolically defiant of the Program and all it stands for that I can't help but smile thinking about it.
(Also, rereading James' description in this book, I now realize in hindsight he happens to resemble a buddy of mine from Oregon. Because why not?)
To the Program world, I now say ave atque vale.
(Also, rereading James' description in this book, I now realize in hindsight he happens to resemble a buddy of mine from Oregon. Because why not?)
To the Program world, I now say ave atque vale.
February 5, 2019
I loved how it all ended! I absolutely loved seeing all the characters from the entire series come together and to have all their storylines tied up. Especially loved the epilogue. <3 This is one of those underrated series more people should read.
September 17, 2022
I haven't been able to read like I used to in years, but thanks to this series I am back doing something I love. This series took me on an adventure and I would be lying if I didnt shed a few tears reading the last one tonight.
January 19, 2021
Good ending to a great series!
September 16, 2019
Really good end to the series. Lots of emotions.
July 6, 2018
The Complication brings The Program series full circle, giving readers what certainly seems like a final conclusion. Honestly, the book was too long and the author covers too much ground. In an attempt to give readers what they want, Suzanne Young ends up losing the thread of the story. I found myself skipping around, which is definitely a hallmark to me that the book has lost its way. I look forward to reading something new by this author, as she definitely has skill as a storyteller. The Complication, however, is a book that I would recommend only to readers who wish to have closure for the series.
November 27, 2022
Ahh such an awesome way to wrap up the series. Really came full circle. I grew to love all the characters even through some of their flaws. Sad this series has come to an end for me :(
April 13, 2020
This series has been so all over the board for me. I really liked the writing style of book one and thought there was so much potential. Then book two disappointed but was fine. Once I found out book three was a prequel I was very curious and absolutely loved it and the concept (favorite book in the series BY FAR) again, book four disappointed (books two and four seemed to be generic teen on the run stories). By this point I had already invested so much time into the series I was in it to win it. Book five was fine, but not exactly breaking new ground for the series. Then book six came along and took so long to get into. All the others I read in 1/2 days and this took a full week as I just wasn’t that invested and the story didn’t seem to be moving along. Eventually I got into it and I enjoyed hearing about characters from all previous books brought together and am curious about the overall ending (I’m assuming a book seven is in the works).
Randomly, the names in this series have always just bugged me. A lot of gender swapped names that just annoy me and it took me forever to recognize Nicole as Quinlan.
Also I feel like the writing style was at its strongest in the first book or two and has gotten simpler overtime. Maybe that was intentional because the series is three separate stories? I don’t know, seemed weird.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Randomly, the names in this series have always just bugged me. A lot of gender swapped names that just annoy me and it took me forever to recognize Nicole as Quinlan.
Also I feel like the writing style was at its strongest in the first book or two and has gotten simpler overtime. Maybe that was intentional because the series is three separate stories? I don’t know, seemed weird.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2018
It's all over and I've loved the whole damn ride. Never cried more in a book series ever. And I love it.
February 15, 2023
The Complication is the final book of a 6-book series called The Program, which I started reading last year in 7th grade. The overall setting in which these books are set is in a near future where teens are subject to suicide that causes an epidemic, a rather dystopian environment. There are 3 sets of books for 2 main characters, but the author Suzanne Young juxtaposes them effectively in the real world, intertwining all of their identities in the final book as a conclusion. In my opinion, I think this dystopian novel was fun to read because of the writing style which is very minimal and has direct descriptions, quite different from other novels that I read (which use eloquent language) such as Crime and Punishment or The Great Gatsby, a factor which could be due to the time period as well.
In the beginning, the author portrays the main character, Tatum Materson, coping with the fact that Wes has been “reset” and cannot remember who he loved, which is Tatum herself. Although the doctors in the Adjustment told her not to interfere with his life anymore, I think the theme topic of love continues to attract her to Wes and override her barriers through temptation. Despite how Wes fortunately realizes Tatum, he is also subject to a mental breakdown at the fact that Tatum has been in the program, which is shocking for both of them. An interesting fact that I noticed is how Tatum does not discover her true identity until relatively late in the novel; there were signs constantly implying her true identity, but she must have been confused with all the mishap in this false hoax and her forgotten memories of the experience at the Program, which ties in Michael Realm. He is a handler/contorller of patients at the Program and lures them with this sympathizing ability to commit harmful acts. After seeing Tatum and Marie Devoroux’s goal to end the Program, however, he decides to join them and fully reveals to Tatum that she has been in the Program. Another topic is the relationship between families both biologically and psychologically—when Tatum discovers her identity, her realization gives her mental disorders as she is questioning the existence of herself and whether she actually played a role in society ever before. Honestly, I believe that this choice of a permanent replacement is both selfish and unethical because her grandparents were not given the right opportunity to cope with loss, merely replacing their dead child Cynthia with another girl who looks similar. This made me think about adopted families which do not reveal the adoption until the child is 18; On both hands, this situation makes me feel that they are selfish but also sympathetic—Their thought process is that since the child is an adult now, their revealing the adoption to him/her will affect their decision being an adult which is fine, because now they are ready to live away from their parents. From this sprouts the central conflict that revolves around the theme of how “the people closest to you may be the ones that lie to you, even if it may be for a good cause.”
Throughout the plot, Tatum, as a protagonist, is presented as a hero/mother figure because Young shows multiple attempts of her trying to fight against stress and the epidemic in general, which is causing the death of hundreds of teens. Her ability to continue loving Wes shows her perseverance while her eagerness to end the Program shows her resilience and courage despite attempts being made to confiscate people she love or injure her. Wes, on the other hand, is more closed from society and is like the adventurer because he is willing to fight or do anything to defend Tatum, and his objective is identical to hers. Although there are no explicit villains except Deacon or handlers in disguise, I think the main villain in this story is the environment. The government in this society is their primary objective, which released the Program under a false illusion that it is a method designed to help teens fight against suicide thoughts, although it completely obliterates their memories instead.
This series has been very enjoyable since last year, and it is indeed comparable to the Uglies quartet, another fun book that avid readers of science fiction should definitely check out. I would say this book is more on the dystopian side of sci-fi, although the plot-lines full of action and vivid descriptions are likely to entangle any reader. If you are someone who is looking for a book to read, I highly recommend reading the Program; it does not contain any difficult vocabulary or eloquent language (although it does have some profanity), and it is a book that feels more closer to realistic fiction with its surreal environment, a depiction of something that could happen if teens are subjected to suicide that can result from many factors, even though my person opinion of this reason is school education/academic stress or peer pressure—in this world, it seems like suicide is a trend among teenagers. I would definitely rate this book 5 stars!
In the beginning, the author portrays the main character, Tatum Materson, coping with the fact that Wes has been “reset” and cannot remember who he loved, which is Tatum herself. Although the doctors in the Adjustment told her not to interfere with his life anymore, I think the theme topic of love continues to attract her to Wes and override her barriers through temptation. Despite how Wes fortunately realizes Tatum, he is also subject to a mental breakdown at the fact that Tatum has been in the program, which is shocking for both of them. An interesting fact that I noticed is how Tatum does not discover her true identity until relatively late in the novel; there were signs constantly implying her true identity, but she must have been confused with all the mishap in this false hoax and her forgotten memories of the experience at the Program, which ties in Michael Realm. He is a handler/contorller of patients at the Program and lures them with this sympathizing ability to commit harmful acts. After seeing Tatum and Marie Devoroux’s goal to end the Program, however, he decides to join them and fully reveals to Tatum that she has been in the Program. Another topic is the relationship between families both biologically and psychologically—when Tatum discovers her identity, her realization gives her mental disorders as she is questioning the existence of herself and whether she actually played a role in society ever before. Honestly, I believe that this choice of a permanent replacement is both selfish and unethical because her grandparents were not given the right opportunity to cope with loss, merely replacing their dead child Cynthia with another girl who looks similar. This made me think about adopted families which do not reveal the adoption until the child is 18; On both hands, this situation makes me feel that they are selfish but also sympathetic—Their thought process is that since the child is an adult now, their revealing the adoption to him/her will affect their decision being an adult which is fine, because now they are ready to live away from their parents. From this sprouts the central conflict that revolves around the theme of how “the people closest to you may be the ones that lie to you, even if it may be for a good cause.”
Throughout the plot, Tatum, as a protagonist, is presented as a hero/mother figure because Young shows multiple attempts of her trying to fight against stress and the epidemic in general, which is causing the death of hundreds of teens. Her ability to continue loving Wes shows her perseverance while her eagerness to end the Program shows her resilience and courage despite attempts being made to confiscate people she love or injure her. Wes, on the other hand, is more closed from society and is like the adventurer because he is willing to fight or do anything to defend Tatum, and his objective is identical to hers. Although there are no explicit villains except Deacon or handlers in disguise, I think the main villain in this story is the environment. The government in this society is their primary objective, which released the Program under a false illusion that it is a method designed to help teens fight against suicide thoughts, although it completely obliterates their memories instead.
This series has been very enjoyable since last year, and it is indeed comparable to the Uglies quartet, another fun book that avid readers of science fiction should definitely check out. I would say this book is more on the dystopian side of sci-fi, although the plot-lines full of action and vivid descriptions are likely to entangle any reader. If you are someone who is looking for a book to read, I highly recommend reading the Program; it does not contain any difficult vocabulary or eloquent language (although it does have some profanity), and it is a book that feels more closer to realistic fiction with its surreal environment, a depiction of something that could happen if teens are subjected to suicide that can result from many factors, even though my person opinion of this reason is school education/academic stress or peer pressure—in this world, it seems like suicide is a trend among teenagers. I would definitely rate this book 5 stars!
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