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The Program #3
The Remedy
This is an alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00L01GH8C.
Can one girl take on so many identities without losing her own? Find out in this riveting companion to The Program and the New York Times bestselling The Treatment.
In a world before The Program…
Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.
Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty. She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.
Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start.
Can one girl take on so many identities without losing her own? Find out in this riveting companion to The Program and the New York Times bestselling The Treatment.
In a world before The Program…
Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.
Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty. She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.
Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2014
474 people are currently reading
14808 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Young
69 books4,880 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 1,079 reviews
April 26, 2015
"Grief can be contagious."
If you're looking for an emotionally-scarring, mind-jarring dystopian read, The Remedy is the book for you! With its intriguing plot, honest characters and heart-wrenching romance, surely you're going to want to read this.
Admittedly, there wasn't much going on in this novel as a whole. I believe that it's more of a build up for the sequel, The Epidemic. That being said, this book read more like a realistic fiction novel rather than a dystopian most of the time. But that's okay, since we all love realistic fiction.
But believe me, this story was not entirely useless. The crazy plot made up for the lack of action. See, Quinn is a closer. She poses as a dead person so that their loved ones can experience another day with them, to say sorry and whatever else they want to say. Creepy, right?
There's also some pretty awesome characterization here. Quinn is always conflicted and confused as hell--but shw wasn't always this way. Something's changing. *cue eerie music* Quinn's emotions are all over the place, and we totally feel what she feels. She feels want, need, desperation, love, jealousy, anger--and we feel all these things alongside her.
The romance in this book will make you go crazy. It's kind of a love triangle, but not really. No spoilers. There's Deacon, Quinn's ex who's kind of moody like her. They have history, and they have chemistry. I love how he's the kind of guy who can never tell the girl no. On the other hand, we have Isaac, Quinn's assignment's boyfriend. He's sweet, but he's broken and grieving.
I also loved the amazing family in here. Quinn got really close to her assignment's family. She wasn't related to them at all, but they loved her and she cared about them. Even when people shunned her, they adored her and were infinitely thankful for her help.
Also, let's not forget the fucking crazy cliffhanger at the end of the book. I swear, you won't see it coming. Actually, there are *two* insane revelations in the end, and they will knock your socks off. So remove any socks you have before reading.
More reviews and fun bookish stuff at Deadly Darlings!
May 5, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss.)
“Aaron Rios and I are closers – a remedy for grief-stricken families.”
This was the best book of this series so far for me, and I actually enjoyed it.
I liked Quinn in this story, she had a really tough job, and her father pushed her so hard all the time. The way she was thrust into the homes of people recently bereaved and expected to make them feel better did not sound like the easiest or least-stressful of jobs!
“I’ll monitor Mr. and Mrs. Barnes for physical reactions to their grief,”
The storyline in this book followed Quinn as she became Catalina Barnes, complete with mother, father, sister, and boyfriend. The job came too fast on the heels of her previous job, and with the added complication of a boyfriend to boot. It was so easy to see why Quinn might have problems distinguishing her own life from that of the people she played, and so horrifying the way she even felt like she was losing her own identity at times.
“Anna and I were close enough to be sisters, and I miss her. I miss the thought of her.
Because I’ve never met Anna Granger. She belonged to someone else’s memory.”
There was some romance in this book, and it was a little triangle-like, with Quinn having to deal with both her ex-boyfriend, and Catalina’s boyfriend Isaac.
“I saw you,” he says miserably. “I saw you kiss him.”
The ending to this was good, and there was also a bit of a twist at the end. I’d really like to know more about what happens to Quinn next!
8 out of 10
“Aaron Rios and I are closers – a remedy for grief-stricken families.”
This was the best book of this series so far for me, and I actually enjoyed it.
I liked Quinn in this story, she had a really tough job, and her father pushed her so hard all the time. The way she was thrust into the homes of people recently bereaved and expected to make them feel better did not sound like the easiest or least-stressful of jobs!
“I’ll monitor Mr. and Mrs. Barnes for physical reactions to their grief,”
The storyline in this book followed Quinn as she became Catalina Barnes, complete with mother, father, sister, and boyfriend. The job came too fast on the heels of her previous job, and with the added complication of a boyfriend to boot. It was so easy to see why Quinn might have problems distinguishing her own life from that of the people she played, and so horrifying the way she even felt like she was losing her own identity at times.
“Anna and I were close enough to be sisters, and I miss her. I miss the thought of her.
Because I’ve never met Anna Granger. She belonged to someone else’s memory.”
There was some romance in this book, and it was a little triangle-like, with Quinn having to deal with both her ex-boyfriend, and Catalina’s boyfriend Isaac.
“I saw you,” he says miserably. “I saw you kiss him.”
The ending to this was good, and there was also a bit of a twist at the end. I’d really like to know more about what happens to Quinn next!
8 out of 10
January 12, 2019
Pretty good third book to the Program series but I would have loved to have more on Catalina’s past. The mystery of how she died was, in my opinion, the most interesting aspect of the story. I started this series many years ago when I was an undergrad and suicide clusters, suicide as a learned behavior, and as an epidemic called to me. However, now I have a doctorate in Psychology and the premise of having a closer for grieving families is a bit unsettling to me. I guess it could have just been the aspect of how it would be highly frowned upon in psychology just rubbed me wrong. I don’t really know. It did add to the reading experience and the unsettled aspect just made the reading experience more interesting for me. I usually do not have an issue with the fabrication of literature (heck, I’m a huge fantasy fan) but for some reason that part really irked the Psychologist in me. Anyways, let me get off my soapbox and say this is still a series I will continue because I do have that attachment to the world in this series.
My quick and simple overall: good installment with an interesting world and characters. The twist was good and I am excited to read the next book.
My quick and simple overall: good installment with an interesting world and characters. The twist was good and I am excited to read the next book.
Want to read
August 12, 2014When I found out this was a thing:
I want to devourer this book nomnom. (not literally because it would ruin the beautiful pages)
I AM SO READY FOR THIS BOOK.
I want to devourer this book nomnom. (not literally because it would ruin the beautiful pages)
I AM SO READY FOR THIS BOOK.
September 9, 2024
3.75 stars
This book gave me second-hand embarrassment. The Remedy answers the question of what it would be like to inhabit the life of a dead girl. The answer is pretty terrible.
This book gave me second-hand embarrassment. The Remedy answers the question of what it would be like to inhabit the life of a dead girl. The answer is pretty terrible.
April 22, 2015
Suzanne Young's The Program series is one of my all-time favorite dystopian books. It wasn't only a unique book, but it also tackled mental health issues. The ship in those books also had my heart aching with how beautiful it was. There were still some major questions unanswered at the end of the duology though, so when I found out that there was going to be a prequel to the series, I was beyond ecstatic. The Remedy was yet another thrilling novel from this very talented author.
The Remedy has the very disturbing premise of young people pretending to be dead teenagers in order to provide their families with closure. It's a truly dreadful situation that Suzanne Young explored, but she executed it so well. I felt so many emotions while reading The Remedy, but mostly I felt the grief of the families and the "closers". Like The Program and The Treatment, The Remedy was very much a character driven story line and it's one main reason why I cherish this series so much. It also helps that Suzanne Young is fantastic at characterizations. In The Remedy, we have Quinn, a closer. Quinn was an interesting character and I immediately felt a connection to her. There was something very relateable about her personality. When Quinn is assigned the task of pretending to be Catalina, a young woman who recently passed away, to give closure to Catalina's family and boyfriend, her whole world is turned upside down. Her forming an intense connection with the family members and Isaac, the boyfriend, wasn't the greatest idea and we see how her job as a closer slowly starts to eat at her. Her vulnerabilities, her fears and her grief were so palpable. The author did a phenomenal job at capturing the despair in Quinn's voice. Through Quinn, we also get to watch not only the downside and emotional impact of being a closer, but also the effects on the families. It was a very bittersweet experience.
The romance in The Remedy was a little complicated. Quinn has always had a bond with her ex-boyfriend, Declan, and theirs was a relationship that I quite liked. It was a comfortable relationship, but also one filled with swoony moments. When Quinn took up the Catalina job, however, she began to form a link of sort with Isaac, Catalina's boyfriend. Even though it felt like a love triangle, it wasn't exactly one because you knew how it was going to end from the very beginning. I also had a love-hate relationship with the final twists in this book. I went into The Remedy expecting it to be a standalone, so I was a little let down (and also incredibly frustrated) by the cliffhanger. Some major revelations were made at the end of the book. I loved them because they made me gasp out loud and screaming at how painful it all was, and also frustrated because I had absolutely no idea if there would be a sequel or not (I searched every nook and crook of the Internet and couldn't find anything!). I've heard murmurings of a sequel now and I'm crossing my fingers that that is true because I need more answers.
The Remedy was a unique YA novel that explored complex themes of human emotions. Relateable characters, swoony romance and crazy twisted plot turns - The Remedy has it all!
Want to read
April 30, 2015OMG OMG OMG I GOT AN ARC!!! WOOHOO!!!!
August 4, 2015
HOLY SHIT. I stayed awake till nearly 3 in the morning because I could not put down this book! I am a huge fan of Suzanne Young's "The Program" and "The Treatment". That series is one of my favorite series of all time, so it is an understatement to say I was excited when I heard this prequel was coming out! I was a little skeptical going into this just because I wasn't sure if I would like this book as much as The Program, and I didn't want this book to ruin my love and appreciation for this series. Not only did I like this book just as much as I liked The Program, but this book was unlike anything I've ever read before!
Quinlan McKee is a closer, and her job is to mimic someone who has died and help the family of the deceased move on with their life. This was very interesting to read about and I've never read anything like this. It was amazing to see all the crazy things that went on before The Program even began. Arthur Pritchard is one crazy son of a bitch. I ship Quinn and Deacon so hard. I know he wasn't always good to her, but there was something about their relationship that was so cute and perfect.
When Quinn goes on this particular mission, she has to mimic Catalina who died recently and her family is not dealing with it very well. But on this case, Catalina had a boyfriend named Isaac who also needs help with the grieving process. this was very interesting because Quinn has never had to help a boyfriend with the grieving process before, only a family. I enjoyed the relationship that formed between Isaac and Quinn, or "Catalina" I guess haha. Their relationship was cute. I loved the scenes at the batting cages. They were just adorable to read about. I was quickly caught up in the love triangle between Isaac, Quinn, and Deacon. It wasn't explicitly stated that it was a love triangle but I could feel Quinn being torn between Deacon (her reality) and Isaac (who was really only in love with Catalina). I just felt bad for Isaac because he's trying to deal with the loss of someone he was so close to and he's confused by Quinn's presence, and he desperately wants her to be real. It was heartbreaking to see him go through so much pain. I also really liked her partner Aaron. You could tell he really cared about her. I also really felt bad for Catalina's Mom and Dad. They seemed like genuinely nice people who were so broken over the death of their daughter. I loved the scenes where she would go in the backyard and hit some baseballs with the Dad, it was so sweet. I wasn't a huge fan of Catalina's sister, Angie, but at the same time I completely get where she is coming from. I can't imagine if my sister died and some stranger came to replace her and act like her. I would probably be the same exact way. I just felt so bad for Quinn though because a lot of people are disgusted by closers which is understandable, but it sucks because Quinn genuinely just wants to help people get over their loss. And she sacrifices her own life to help people get on with theirs. It's actually pretty selfless when you think about it.
I was really interested in the way Quinn started to lose her grip on reality. By being a closer her entire life, it has taken an affect on her own life ad her own memories. She has difficulty remembering which memories are her own and which memories are from her previous cases and previous closes. The reveals at the end of this book were so shocking and mind-blowing I was DYING. I finished this around 3 in the morning and no one in my house was awake but I wanted to scream cause I was so excited and I was freaking out. IS THIS BOOK GOING TO HAVE A SEQUEL??? BECAUSE I NEED ONE. This is not okay, and the ending changes everything and I JUST CAN'T. Suzanne Young is an incredible writer and this book is so intense and suspenseful. I would strongly recommend reading The Program before reading this book because it will all make a lot more sense, and it will make the plot twists more suspenseful in the end if you've read The Program first.
I just really loved this book even more than I was expecting to and I already had high expectations. I just really love this Program series and I am so invested in these characters. And like seriously, after reading that epilogue I was just like:
Quinlan McKee is a closer, and her job is to mimic someone who has died and help the family of the deceased move on with their life. This was very interesting to read about and I've never read anything like this. It was amazing to see all the crazy things that went on before The Program even began. Arthur Pritchard is one crazy son of a bitch. I ship Quinn and Deacon so hard. I know he wasn't always good to her, but there was something about their relationship that was so cute and perfect.
When Quinn goes on this particular mission, she has to mimic Catalina who died recently and her family is not dealing with it very well. But on this case, Catalina had a boyfriend named Isaac who also needs help with the grieving process. this was very interesting because Quinn has never had to help a boyfriend with the grieving process before, only a family. I enjoyed the relationship that formed between Isaac and Quinn, or "Catalina" I guess haha. Their relationship was cute. I loved the scenes at the batting cages. They were just adorable to read about. I was quickly caught up in the love triangle between Isaac, Quinn, and Deacon. It wasn't explicitly stated that it was a love triangle but I could feel Quinn being torn between Deacon (her reality) and Isaac (who was really only in love with Catalina). I just felt bad for Isaac because he's trying to deal with the loss of someone he was so close to and he's confused by Quinn's presence, and he desperately wants her to be real. It was heartbreaking to see him go through so much pain. I also really liked her partner Aaron. You could tell he really cared about her. I also really felt bad for Catalina's Mom and Dad. They seemed like genuinely nice people who were so broken over the death of their daughter. I loved the scenes where she would go in the backyard and hit some baseballs with the Dad, it was so sweet. I wasn't a huge fan of Catalina's sister, Angie, but at the same time I completely get where she is coming from. I can't imagine if my sister died and some stranger came to replace her and act like her. I would probably be the same exact way. I just felt so bad for Quinn though because a lot of people are disgusted by closers which is understandable, but it sucks because Quinn genuinely just wants to help people get over their loss. And she sacrifices her own life to help people get on with theirs. It's actually pretty selfless when you think about it.
I was really interested in the way Quinn started to lose her grip on reality. By being a closer her entire life, it has taken an affect on her own life ad her own memories. She has difficulty remembering which memories are her own and which memories are from her previous cases and previous closes. The reveals at the end of this book were so shocking and mind-blowing I was DYING. I finished this around 3 in the morning and no one in my house was awake but I wanted to scream cause I was so excited and I was freaking out. IS THIS BOOK GOING TO HAVE A SEQUEL??? BECAUSE I NEED ONE. This is not okay, and the ending changes everything and I JUST CAN'T. Suzanne Young is an incredible writer and this book is so intense and suspenseful. I would strongly recommend reading The Program before reading this book because it will all make a lot more sense, and it will make the plot twists more suspenseful in the end if you've read The Program first.
I just really loved this book even more than I was expecting to and I already had high expectations. I just really love this Program series and I am so invested in these characters. And like seriously, after reading that epilogue I was just like:
November 26, 2019
My review of "The Program" series will be live on December, 25th, 2019 here: https://youtu.be/MyVFNNOc32g
I am... speechless. While Quin sometimes acts like a little brat I guess she just wants to belong and have what others have, just a regular life so I guess she can be forgiven for wanting this new life to be hers.
Also my brat comment goes for something that happens near the end of the book and her reaction to it... maybe her dad is not her real dad, maybe he should have told her the truth, but I kinda feel he is still her father... right? Like the adoptive parents of a kid are the real parents as they have raised and cared for a kid, even if they are not blood related.
That said, now I get those memories she has about "another mom" that seem to have stuck with her thru all her jobs... probably her real mom!
Also... that ending! For me this one is the best yet in the series!
I am... speechless. While Quin sometimes acts like a little brat I guess she just wants to belong and have what others have, just a regular life so I guess she can be forgiven for wanting this new life to be hers.
Also my brat comment goes for something that happens near the end of the book and her reaction to it... maybe her dad is not her real dad, maybe he should have told her the truth, but I kinda feel he is still her father... right? Like the adoptive parents of a kid are the real parents as they have raised and cared for a kid, even if they are not blood related.
That said, now I get those memories she has about "another mom" that seem to have stuck with her thru all her jobs... probably her real mom!
Also... that ending! For me this one is the best yet in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2015
In a society before The Program there was closers.
Their number one sacred rule is don’t get attached.
A closer is the hired person by the family who is grieving. It’s the closer’s job to pretend and take the deceased person’s place and give the family the closure they want to attain.
Due to the order of the higher ups, Quinn was sent to a family to pretend to be Catalina Barnes. She had a perfect life, a boyfriend, a loving parent and a sister. But her occupational hazard came a very high price.
She sometimes confuses herself with the many roles she portrayed in the past.
And Quinn is the brink of discovering something that could have started the epidemic.
My relationship with Suzanne Young is certain and solid. I find her books enjoyable and great, but I am not emotionally invested with it. Nadah.
Hence the usual subpar rating.
To sum it up, here’s what I genuinely savored in this book:
The consuming depression and psychological aspect.
I adore Quinn and Deacon, especially their romance and their individual character arc.
The familial aspect of the story.
With how The Remedy ended, count me in on tuning in for the next book.
Review also posted at Young Adult Hollywood.
Their number one sacred rule is don’t get attached.
A closer is the hired person by the family who is grieving. It’s the closer’s job to pretend and take the deceased person’s place and give the family the closure they want to attain.
Due to the order of the higher ups, Quinn was sent to a family to pretend to be Catalina Barnes. She had a perfect life, a boyfriend, a loving parent and a sister. But her occupational hazard came a very high price.
She sometimes confuses herself with the many roles she portrayed in the past.
And Quinn is the brink of discovering something that could have started the epidemic.
My relationship with Suzanne Young is certain and solid. I find her books enjoyable and great, but I am not emotionally invested with it. Nadah.
Hence the usual subpar rating.
To sum it up, here’s what I genuinely savored in this book:
The consuming depression and psychological aspect.
I adore Quinn and Deacon, especially their romance and their individual character arc.
The familial aspect of the story.
With how The Remedy ended, count me in on tuning in for the next book.
Review also posted at Young Adult Hollywood.
August 14, 2018
Jajajaja, comencé con el tercero. Loca como siempre. Pero bueno, fue interesante. El concepto de los finalizadores, como sustitutos luego de que alguien muere fue algo nuevo, que no había leído antes. Y me gustó, ahora quedé con varias dudas, ¿a qué epidemia se refiere el doctor y cómo ella sería la cura? Pero bueno, tendré que leer los otros libros.
April 13, 2015
Young has quickly become a favorite of mine with her imaginative, creative, and sometimes heartbreaking worlds and charismatic characters. So it was without a hint of nervousness that I picked this up, eager for more set in the same world as her Treatment series.
Young once again managed to come up with something imaginative and so well written that the words seemed to flow off the page and sweep you up in their warm current and carry you away.
The idea behind The Remedy was both fascinating and morbid. I found myself one minute being sympathetic to those that needed it and cheering for the very idea of it helping someone and the next jeering right along with those that mocked it and thought it was an awful horrible and even demented idea.
My constant flip flop of opinion just reverberated to me how wonderful of a writer Young is, that I could feel all the emotions of all the characters, good or bad, conflicting or not.
I found myself wrapped up in the story and completely enthralled by it. So many things made sense and slowly came together from the previous reads. Questions that I didn't even know I had about the first two books, were answered. It was enlightening and eye opening while still bringing about more questions. More questions that I just knew I needed answered and while some were, some weren't and others just left me wanting more.
I'm seriously keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't the end of this world. I would love to get more because I'm just not ready to say goodbye.
Young once again managed to come up with something imaginative and so well written that the words seemed to flow off the page and sweep you up in their warm current and carry you away.
The idea behind The Remedy was both fascinating and morbid. I found myself one minute being sympathetic to those that needed it and cheering for the very idea of it helping someone and the next jeering right along with those that mocked it and thought it was an awful horrible and even demented idea.
My constant flip flop of opinion just reverberated to me how wonderful of a writer Young is, that I could feel all the emotions of all the characters, good or bad, conflicting or not.
I found myself wrapped up in the story and completely enthralled by it. So many things made sense and slowly came together from the previous reads. Questions that I didn't even know I had about the first two books, were answered. It was enlightening and eye opening while still bringing about more questions. More questions that I just knew I needed answered and while some were, some weren't and others just left me wanting more.
I'm seriously keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't the end of this world. I would love to get more because I'm just not ready to say goodbye.
February 10, 2017
Book one in the prequel series of The Program
“Deacon was good, too-almost as good as me. His charisma draws people in, even if it's only a facade.”
Woah. This book took me by storm. I didn't expect to be this intrigued or to find myself ranting about the story when I finished. Honestly, I read this because I loved The Program and The Treatment. But now I'm questioning if I like The Remedy, out of all the books, best.
Reading this in the beginning was incredibly hard. Sloane and James's story hadn't occurred yet. And they're by far one of my favorite couples in any book I've read. But then Quinn and Deacon happened. They're utterly messed up yet it's captivating to watch how they work things out even though they never last. I wouldn't say they're my favorite or that I like them better, just that they're interesting.
And the plot thickens.
I believe is to not be trusted. His love for Quinn will eventually destroy him, because he can't protect her. And others will use that against him. They already have.
I felt bad when Arthur Prichard was lobotomized in The Treatment, but now I'm only happy. He was a terrible person, forcing others to face their grief with Closers, who take on the identity of the dead. Creating The Program, where your memories cease to exist at the end. And Quinn. Prichard had something to do with Quinn, memory wise. And now she's fake, the prototype of The Program.
Memories can disappear with the help of unwanted people and drugs
Suzanne Young does it again, a story embodying The Program. With new characters, situations, and the before.
5 stars
“Deacon was good, too-almost as good as me. His charisma draws people in, even if it's only a facade.”
Woah. This book took me by storm. I didn't expect to be this intrigued or to find myself ranting about the story when I finished. Honestly, I read this because I loved The Program and The Treatment. But now I'm questioning if I like The Remedy, out of all the books, best.
Reading this in the beginning was incredibly hard. Sloane and James's story hadn't occurred yet. And they're by far one of my favorite couples in any book I've read. But then Quinn and Deacon happened. They're utterly messed up yet it's captivating to watch how they work things out even though they never last. I wouldn't say they're my favorite or that I like them better, just that they're interesting.
Quinlan McKee is a closer. The best actually. No one can play the part as well as her because she internalizes the people. Pretends she were them, sympathizes. But when you become the person completely, how can you keep your own identity? The answer is short. No. Quinn can barely hold on to reality. She's become so many different assignments, and when she leaves she takes a part of each home. Something to remember.
But then after coming home from a job, she's sent out again. Which is unheard of in her profession, because people tend to loose themselves going on back-to-back assignments. But this one is different. Arthur Pritchard called in a favor. A teenage girl died not too long ago. Leaving her family and boyfriend mourning the loss. But when Quinn arrives, everything is unusual. She has no idea how the girl died and the family talks about Catalina (the dead girl) as if everything were great. But their vision is skewed. Catalina is the beginning of an epidemic. The downward spiral of teens across the country.
Quinn becomes Catalina. Playing as if the girl were still alive. Not helping the family like she was trained for, hurting them further. Isaac, Catalina's boyfriend, especially. But when Quinn looses who she is one night, she shows up at Deacon's place. Completely disheveled. He brings her back to life, slowly reminding her who she is. And in the moment Deacon and Quinn get back together. Only for the night, because Quinn leaves that morning to go back to the Barnes' and right things.
Every time you finish an assignment, you have to go to your advisor and drink a liquid that will force you to be truthful, truth serum. Then you'll be asked questions that regard your mental state. So when Quinn shows up and her advisor's door is left open. She searches the apartment. Only to find a file left out in the open.
Quinn Mckeeis written on the front. Intrigued, she looks inside. Only to learn there are pictures inside, pictures of her with her parents. Except they're not of her dad.
And the plot thickens.
I believe is to not be trusted. His love for Quinn will eventually destroy him, because he can't protect her. And others will use that against him. They already have.
I felt bad when Arthur Prichard was lobotomized in The Treatment, but now I'm only happy. He was a terrible person, forcing others to face their grief with Closers, who take on the identity of the dead. Creating The Program, where your memories cease to exist at the end. And Quinn. Prichard had something to do with Quinn, memory wise. And now she's fake, the prototype of The Program.
Memories can disappear with the help of unwanted people and drugs
Suzanne Young does it again, a story embodying The Program. With new characters, situations, and the before.
5 stars
June 22, 2015
An audiobook version of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
So, I've gone through a whole gamut of emotions where this series -- and most especially this book -- is concerned. I loved The Program ...it was so different from anything I'd read before. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the follow-up because The Treatment didn't pack the punch that the first book did, but overall I enjoyed it. And I found myself immensely excited about The Remedy when it was first announced, then apprehensive as release date loomed, and then almost completely apathetic because I was so sure I wouldn't love it as much as the previous books, and nowhere near as much as The Program.
Needless to say, I was wary, though after listening to this prequel to The Program, I can tell you I really had no reason to be. But I kind of feel like these books should incite these types of feelings in readers. After all, they're tackling the subjects of teen death and suicide and the programs the government puts in place to subvert these issues. That aspect alone is reason to tread carefully.
The Remedy brought to mind all of the things that I loved so much about The Program: the secrets and lies, the government involvement, the main character's loss of self, and the emotional manipulation that comes with the territory. But it also gave me a new character to completely agonize over. Where Sloane had her memories taken away from her in The Program, this prequel gives us a protagonist who has too many memories swirling away in her head -- a lot of them not her own -- to the point that she sometimes can't separate her reality from those of the deceased people she's portrayed.
I really enjoyed the pacing and characterization in this novel, especially Quinn's interactions with those she knows from work and with those of her host families. It's creepy in its own right, what she does for a living, but I can also see the value in it. Though I hope our society never resorts to this method of coping because I can also see why outsiders had a hard time with Quinn's presence when she was on assignment.
I'll be honest, I loved this book, but I'm a tad worried about the "sequel" since it'll be an "on-the-run" type book, much like The Treatment was. I think I prefer the "edging closer to the cliff" setup of Young's first books when it comes to her duologies, over the chase-and-answer sequels. But I could be completely wrong on that front, especially considering what happened in that epilogue. (!)
At any rate, this was another fabulous audiobook from Rebekkah Ross, aka Elizabeth Louise. I listened to this last week and then picked up Confess almost immediately after, and I couldn't help but notice that the narrators sounded the same. Ya know, I'm not complaining, but I really wish there was a list of narrator pseudonyms somewhere so I knew who I was really getting. Actually, I'd probably listen to even more audiobooks if I knew this info. But I digress. :)
This was a great prequel. I can't usually say that, especially because I don't usually like to read prequels. It was also very creepy. Even more so than The Program. And I can't wait to find out how Quinn's story ties into that one, though I have my theories already. Mostly concerning a certain someone's daughter. Really hope the next book delivers the same oomph.
GIF it to me straight:
So, I've gone through a whole gamut of emotions where this series -- and most especially this book -- is concerned. I loved The Program ...it was so different from anything I'd read before. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the follow-up because The Treatment didn't pack the punch that the first book did, but overall I enjoyed it. And I found myself immensely excited about The Remedy when it was first announced, then apprehensive as release date loomed, and then almost completely apathetic because I was so sure I wouldn't love it as much as the previous books, and nowhere near as much as The Program.
Needless to say, I was wary, though after listening to this prequel to The Program, I can tell you I really had no reason to be. But I kind of feel like these books should incite these types of feelings in readers. After all, they're tackling the subjects of teen death and suicide and the programs the government puts in place to subvert these issues. That aspect alone is reason to tread carefully.
The Remedy brought to mind all of the things that I loved so much about The Program: the secrets and lies, the government involvement, the main character's loss of self, and the emotional manipulation that comes with the territory. But it also gave me a new character to completely agonize over. Where Sloane had her memories taken away from her in The Program, this prequel gives us a protagonist who has too many memories swirling away in her head -- a lot of them not her own -- to the point that she sometimes can't separate her reality from those of the deceased people she's portrayed.
I really enjoyed the pacing and characterization in this novel, especially Quinn's interactions with those she knows from work and with those of her host families. It's creepy in its own right, what she does for a living, but I can also see the value in it. Though I hope our society never resorts to this method of coping because I can also see why outsiders had a hard time with Quinn's presence when she was on assignment.
I'll be honest, I loved this book, but I'm a tad worried about the "sequel" since it'll be an "on-the-run" type book, much like The Treatment was. I think I prefer the "edging closer to the cliff" setup of Young's first books when it comes to her duologies, over the chase-and-answer sequels. But I could be completely wrong on that front, especially considering what happened in that epilogue. (!)
At any rate, this was another fabulous audiobook from Rebekkah Ross, aka Elizabeth Louise. I listened to this last week and then picked up Confess almost immediately after, and I couldn't help but notice that the narrators sounded the same. Ya know, I'm not complaining, but I really wish there was a list of narrator pseudonyms somewhere so I knew who I was really getting. Actually, I'd probably listen to even more audiobooks if I knew this info. But I digress. :)
This was a great prequel. I can't usually say that, especially because I don't usually like to read prequels. It was also very creepy. Even more so than The Program. And I can't wait to find out how Quinn's story ties into that one, though I have my theories already. Mostly concerning a certain someone's daughter. Really hope the next book delivers the same oomph.
GIF it to me straight:
April 13, 2015
My mind is blown.
This entire series has been one of my favorites and I was so excited when I found out Suzanne was going to write more. As always, Suzanne didn't disappoint with this story
I loved Quinn and her emotions are palpable throughout the entire story. And oh, what a roller coaster. This book had me giggling, swooning, and there was some definite heartfail.
The ending had a huge twist that I never saw coming and I don't even know what to say. If you liked the other books in this series, you'll like this one too.
**Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
This entire series has been one of my favorites and I was so excited when I found out Suzanne was going to write more. As always, Suzanne didn't disappoint with this story
I loved Quinn and her emotions are palpable throughout the entire story. And oh, what a roller coaster. This book had me giggling, swooning, and there was some definite heartfail.
The ending had a huge twist that I never saw coming and I don't even know what to say. If you liked the other books in this series, you'll like this one too.
**Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
August 28, 2017
Whoa. I don't even know what to say. The Remedy was disturbing. It unnerved me. The entire story's context just made me cringe it was so creepy. My obvious discomfort aside it was well written and interesting. Oh and that freaking twist!!!???? I can't even try to talk about that! Seriously what the hell?????
Grief counseling goes a step further in The Remedy by introducing us to closers. A closer is someone who is hired on a short-term basis to role play as your dearly deceased and give you the opportunity to express the things that you weren't able to when that person was still alive. In other words provide closure. They intensively study everything about a person's life and adjust themselves into that person. Mimicking their mannerisms, their speech, their style, even altering their appearance so for all intents and purposes they are truly the deceased. Creepy right?
Quinlan is such a person. She is what you would consider a pro. She has been actively impersonating other people since she was 7. Freaking 7!!! How insane is that??? When she's called for an unheard of back to back mission she's a tad hesitant but accepts it regardless. Her new persona Catalina comes with an interesting set of complications. A boyfriend for one, a sister who no longer lives with the parents, a death certificate in file that claims "Cause unknown" and a slew of secrets that weren't disclosed during briefing. Is Catalina err Quinlan over her head on this mission? Or can she bring the healing that the family needs without leaving character?
Grief counseling goes a step further in The Remedy by introducing us to closers. A closer is someone who is hired on a short-term basis to role play as your dearly deceased and give you the opportunity to express the things that you weren't able to when that person was still alive. In other words provide closure. They intensively study everything about a person's life and adjust themselves into that person. Mimicking their mannerisms, their speech, their style, even altering their appearance so for all intents and purposes they are truly the deceased. Creepy right?
Quinlan is such a person. She is what you would consider a pro. She has been actively impersonating other people since she was 7. Freaking 7!!! How insane is that??? When she's called for an unheard of back to back mission she's a tad hesitant but accepts it regardless. Her new persona Catalina comes with an interesting set of complications. A boyfriend for one, a sister who no longer lives with the parents, a death certificate in file that claims "Cause unknown" and a slew of secrets that weren't disclosed during briefing. Is Catalina err Quinlan over her head on this mission? Or can she bring the healing that the family needs without leaving character?
Read
July 23, 2018I'm embarrassed about how long it took me to figure out this was a prequel. Then, when I did, everything slid into its proper place. Really interesting to read about how everything went down. My favorite scene was at the end when we find out all the secrets!
February 10, 2017
This is more of a 3.5ish stars. The story as a whole was a little slow, and entirely creepy. BUT THAT EPILOGUE THOUGH. That's what got me. Hook, line & sinker!
November 5, 2019
Yazar sen ne yaptın ya? Program serisinin üçüncü kitabındayız. İlk iki kitapta yer alan Sloane burada yok. Burada yasbitirenlik yapan Quinlan var. Yasbitirenlik tam olarak şu: bir şekilde çocuğunu kaybetmiş ve bu kaybı kabullenemeyen ailelere verilen bir hizmet. Temelde; ölen kızlarla aynı görünüşe sahip olup aileleriyle bir süre birlikte yaşıyor ve ailelerin kızlarına veda etmelerini sağlıyor. Aileler kızlarına söylemek istediklerini söylüyor, yaslarını yaşayıp acılarını azaltıyorlar.
Diğer iki kitapta olanlarla bunun tamamen farklı olması kafamı karıştırdı. Herhalde bir sonraki kitapta olayları bağlayacak. Zaten serinin ilk dört kitabı çevrilmiş. Sanırım iki kitap daha var. Yazmış da yazmış yazar. Hızını alamamış. Umarım 6 kitapta kalır. Çünkü konu uzadıkça biraz yavanlaşıyor. Ortalamanın biraz üstündeydi. Okurken hafif sıkıldım.
Diğer iki kitapta olanlarla bunun tamamen farklı olması kafamı karıştırdı. Herhalde bir sonraki kitapta olayları bağlayacak. Zaten serinin ilk dört kitabı çevrilmiş. Sanırım iki kitap daha var. Yazmış da yazmış yazar. Hızını alamamış. Umarım 6 kitapta kalır. Çünkü konu uzadıkça biraz yavanlaşıyor. Ortalamanın biraz üstündeydi. Okurken hafif sıkıldım.
March 27, 2017
This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
To say I loved Suzanne Young's The Program and The Treatment is an understatement. Those books messed with my head in the best of ways. I had a strong 'what came first the chicken or the egg' feel the whole time I was reading. It was the best of both worlds as it was real world with just a tiny twist to make it not 100% reality. It was flawless and perfect and amazing and I didn't think I could love the story any more than I did. And then The Remedy happened to me. I knew where it was going pretty early on. I could feel it as I was reading, wasn't surprised by the end, or the direction it took. Yet I was blown away anyway. Suzanne Young took a story I loved and made it into more.
The Remedy is a prequel to The Program. Honestly I don't know the time frame but it has to be a while between books. The story is about Quinlan (love this name by the way) a 17 year old girl that is what is known as a Closer. Quinn has the job of mimicking a person after they have died to help give the grieving family closure. She's been doing it for as long as she can remember and she good at it. When she is given an assignment that is against the typical one she must figure out a way to integrate herself in these people's lives while not losing herself forever. And as she starts to bond with the clients things start to unravel in a way no one saw coming.
It's hard to explain how hardcore I loved this book. There is something about the way Suzanne Young gives power to her words and characters that I fall head over heels in love with. I mean as soon as I was introduced to Quinlan, Aaron and Deacon I was in and I was in deep. Quinn and Deacon reminded me of James and Sloane from The Program. They had this thing about theme that just made them relatable, like you wanted to be part of their group, be the one that had their backs. The story was...just wow. It's a heavy subject matter, grief, and Young dealt with it in a way that once again had me thinking. It broke my heart to see these families grieving enough to hire someone to play the part of a loved one. But I also understood that every case was one that needed some kind of closure. Just fantastic.
The short of it...read this book. Read this series. Like I said, I had a feeling how things were going to go down and I was still in love. I ached for these characters. I was completely immersed in their lives and their story. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it.
To say I loved Suzanne Young's The Program and The Treatment is an understatement. Those books messed with my head in the best of ways. I had a strong 'what came first the chicken or the egg' feel the whole time I was reading. It was the best of both worlds as it was real world with just a tiny twist to make it not 100% reality. It was flawless and perfect and amazing and I didn't think I could love the story any more than I did. And then The Remedy happened to me. I knew where it was going pretty early on. I could feel it as I was reading, wasn't surprised by the end, or the direction it took. Yet I was blown away anyway. Suzanne Young took a story I loved and made it into more.
The Remedy is a prequel to The Program. Honestly I don't know the time frame but it has to be a while between books. The story is about Quinlan (love this name by the way) a 17 year old girl that is what is known as a Closer. Quinn has the job of mimicking a person after they have died to help give the grieving family closure. She's been doing it for as long as she can remember and she good at it. When she is given an assignment that is against the typical one she must figure out a way to integrate herself in these people's lives while not losing herself forever. And as she starts to bond with the clients things start to unravel in a way no one saw coming.
It's hard to explain how hardcore I loved this book. There is something about the way Suzanne Young gives power to her words and characters that I fall head over heels in love with. I mean as soon as I was introduced to Quinlan, Aaron and Deacon I was in and I was in deep. Quinn and Deacon reminded me of James and Sloane from The Program. They had this thing about theme that just made them relatable, like you wanted to be part of their group, be the one that had their backs. The story was...just wow. It's a heavy subject matter, grief, and Young dealt with it in a way that once again had me thinking. It broke my heart to see these families grieving enough to hire someone to play the part of a loved one. But I also understood that every case was one that needed some kind of closure. Just fantastic.
The short of it...read this book. Read this series. Like I said, I had a feeling how things were going to go down and I was still in love. I ached for these characters. I was completely immersed in their lives and their story. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it.
January 3, 2016
WHAT THE FUCK?
WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT?
ARE YOU SERIOUS OH MY GOD.
I was so set on writing arant review because I thought I'd be able to comprehend the book. I had it planned out.
AND NOW.
THAT ENDING.
W T F. (Honestly that looks like the days on a calendar. huh)
Anyway I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS THIS ANYMORE.
--------
Can someone just give me this book pls bc edelweiss hates me and I just rly want it ok :(
--------
I read the first seven chapters, which is probably around the first 82 pages of the book, and I was really impressed! I'm really liking Quinn so far and her easy camaraderie with Aaron and Myra. And I also understand her conflicting emotions with Deacon, who's a bit confusing, but seemingly sweet-ish.
And the writing! It's amazing—I feel invested in the character's life and nothing's glossed over or understated.
I was hoping to read the full book, but alas. I must wait. So far, so good, though!
WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT?
ARE YOU SERIOUS OH MY GOD.
I was so set on writing a
AND NOW.
THAT ENDING.
W T F. (Honestly that looks like the days on a calendar. huh)
Anyway I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS THIS ANYMORE.
--------
Can someone just give me this book pls bc edelweiss hates me and I just rly want it ok :(
--------
I read the first seven chapters, which is probably around the first 82 pages of the book, and I was really impressed! I'm really liking Quinn so far and her easy camaraderie with Aaron and Myra. And I also understand her conflicting emotions with Deacon, who's a bit confusing, but seemingly sweet-ish.
And the writing! It's amazing—I feel invested in the character's life and nothing's glossed over or understated.
I was hoping to read the full book, but alas. I must wait. So far, so good, though!
June 9, 2017
Ik denk dat ik deze zelfs beter vond dan die andere twee delen.. though deel 1 was ook goed, maar 2? Blergh.
July 9, 2019
Hi! It's another 2015 review for a review copy finally being posted in 2019. Enjoy.
While I may not recall the details, it’s not hard to forget the rocky relationship I had with The Treatment. The series, on a whole, had something going for it. It was back when everyone was trying to make their dystopian mark (something that still, much to my dismay, hasn’t passed) and The Program snagged one of the most realistic dystopian story lines from right under our noses. Let’s be real, sooner or later someone was going to touch suicides (although, this seems to be everyone’s contemporary cup of tea as of current). I’m glad Young brought forth her story. It was engaging, it played well with realism, it had interesting characters with equally explorable interests and hell, it was a duology, saving our brains from coinking out by book three (we’re all thinking it, get real here, three is not a magic number dammit). The Treatment, in my opinion, did not sustain the momentum. But given it had some hiccups (it was the romantic storyline, as always) it was still a really solid read and the knot tied neat and nicely. When the news for The Remedy surfaced, I was not impressed. In fact, after having a go at the genre itself, I didn’t think twice about giving The Remedy a miss. And then the cover came out, my shallowness kicked in and The Remedy bought itself a slot of my time.
It’s not a world class cover, by any means. But it does black and red and dammit, those colours reel me in like nothing else. The thing is, I was actually pleasantly surprised by The Remedy. Overall, it was one heck of an interesting read. It played well with its elements—it had a good unreliable narrator, persistent cast (as in no one was left behind) and solid world building and explanations. The thing is, it was those impressive elements which left me quite confused and disappointed.
The story is fine, I won’t touch that. My biggest qualm lies with how The Remedy is being sold. Basically as an extension of a series which I thought ended well enough. The thing is, I live by this code that says if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Y’all know the one. I remember praising The Program for the very fact that it knew when to stop pushing the invisible boundaries and leave things will it still had flavour. Upon entering The Remedy I was so terribly confused. Because, for a prequel, it didn’t even feel like it belonged to the same series. It had heft and two feet to stand on its own. I feel like that’s what impressed me the most, it’s individuality. It was, surprisingly, brining this touch of originality to dystopias (apparently that’s still possible). That being said, it does, throughout the duration, finally lead into The Program, although barely. Be warned, it does through a couple of curveballs and ends with a pretty harsh cliffhanger, an obvious ploy for a second, potentially third book. Which was not what I signed up for. I wasn’t aware we were doing prequel series nowadays. Because dammit, you could prequel every damn dystopia out there and let’s not trigger a second wave of desolate futures and heroines who always find the hot guys.
The Remedy plays around with a very interesting plot which, dare I say, was even better than the original series. We have Quinn, a closer. She’s just a little piece of a puzzle called the Remedy. It’s a system developed to capitalise on pain (if you’re thinking as a cynical consumerist), but what they’ll tell you is it’s a system to provide closure, a remedy, to the broken hearts of love ones who experience a loss—the people who just can’t move on. Closers take on the the dead’s persona, they submerge themselves into an intense form of role-play, from physical appearance to demeanour and they provide an outlet for release, a second chance.
“We’re everything they want and everything they hate to be reminded of. We’re a paradox.”
In theory, it sounds great, but as a closer, there are consequences—innate human traits such as the desire to form connections, to love, to be loved. And getting attached is a tragic downfall, for both sides. Quinn has been a closer since she was six, a hell of a lot longer than anyone else. And, to be honest, it’s messing with her mind—blurring the lines between the truth and lies. As she embarks on pretty much her last case, a case “sensitive” to the cause, these lines meld into one another. In that sense, we get a great unreliable narrator. It’s a one POV situation we have, and as Quinn loses herself in the persona of her subject, we start to lose that sense of surety.
Throughout the book, we embark on a mystery hidden between layers and layers of denial and happy facades. As Quinn attempts to take on the persona of Catalina, providing closure for not only her parents, but Catalina’s tragic boyfriend, she unearths the shocking spiral of deceit and unhappiness. We get good use out of flashbacks (something I thought I’d never say). They were few and fair, evenly scattered about and interweaved succinctly with the present tense. Back story and world building was done without complaint. As always, there’s a bit of the mini info dump, as you must with dystopias, but, considering it’s prequel nature, this was limited (so hey, I guess one good thing came out of being attached to an established series).
On a whole, The Remedy provides action, mystery and enough intensity to lose yourself for the afternoon. If you’re looking for a dystopia that can provide you with a philosophical challenge then this won’t be your cup of tea. Fan’s of West’s dystopias would thoroughly enjoy this one. The writing, dystopian wise, is very similar—light, succinct, unembellished. In fact, this makes me wonder how Young does contemporary.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All quotes used were obtained from uncorrected proof that is subject to change in the final publication.
---the original from 2015----
Surprise, I didn't hate it. In fact, if we're talking about the plot served, I'd say I was rather engaged the entire time (which is saying something what with all the bores I've given up on lately). Before I come back and break it down, here are some things to consider:
1. Not a fan of the whole prequel thing.
2. Linked to number one, I guess a pro is you save time with world building.
3. Unique topic to tackle for a DYSTOPIA and very well explored--more so in the actual series though (certainly not a unique issue on its own after Green kicked off this new wave of contemporary)
4. Jumped around a lot, as in I had no idea what it wanted to focus on--leading into the actual series, hence prequel status, or its own mystery, hence my belief that it should of fucking just been its own book but heh, you don't have an established audience for that and its all about the $$$$ nowadays (say what)
5. Romance didn't get all mushy and overbearing--I'm looking at you, The Treatment.
6. DAMMIT, WHY YOU GOTTA END WITH A CLIFFHANGER HUH???
7. That last one. Why cliffhanger your prequel? Especially when it literally makes no sense leading into the actual series.
I’d take it as an individual series. Not feeling the prequel selling point but hey, spinoffs are the new epidemic so if you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em.
While I may not recall the details, it’s not hard to forget the rocky relationship I had with The Treatment. The series, on a whole, had something going for it. It was back when everyone was trying to make their dystopian mark (something that still, much to my dismay, hasn’t passed) and The Program snagged one of the most realistic dystopian story lines from right under our noses. Let’s be real, sooner or later someone was going to touch suicides (although, this seems to be everyone’s contemporary cup of tea as of current). I’m glad Young brought forth her story. It was engaging, it played well with realism, it had interesting characters with equally explorable interests and hell, it was a duology, saving our brains from coinking out by book three (we’re all thinking it, get real here, three is not a magic number dammit). The Treatment, in my opinion, did not sustain the momentum. But given it had some hiccups (it was the romantic storyline, as always) it was still a really solid read and the knot tied neat and nicely. When the news for The Remedy surfaced, I was not impressed. In fact, after having a go at the genre itself, I didn’t think twice about giving The Remedy a miss. And then the cover came out, my shallowness kicked in and The Remedy bought itself a slot of my time.
It’s not a world class cover, by any means. But it does black and red and dammit, those colours reel me in like nothing else. The thing is, I was actually pleasantly surprised by The Remedy. Overall, it was one heck of an interesting read. It played well with its elements—it had a good unreliable narrator, persistent cast (as in no one was left behind) and solid world building and explanations. The thing is, it was those impressive elements which left me quite confused and disappointed.
The story is fine, I won’t touch that. My biggest qualm lies with how The Remedy is being sold. Basically as an extension of a series which I thought ended well enough. The thing is, I live by this code that says if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Y’all know the one. I remember praising The Program for the very fact that it knew when to stop pushing the invisible boundaries and leave things will it still had flavour. Upon entering The Remedy I was so terribly confused. Because, for a prequel, it didn’t even feel like it belonged to the same series. It had heft and two feet to stand on its own. I feel like that’s what impressed me the most, it’s individuality. It was, surprisingly, brining this touch of originality to dystopias (apparently that’s still possible). That being said, it does, throughout the duration, finally lead into The Program, although barely. Be warned, it does through a couple of curveballs and ends with a pretty harsh cliffhanger, an obvious ploy for a second, potentially third book. Which was not what I signed up for. I wasn’t aware we were doing prequel series nowadays. Because dammit, you could prequel every damn dystopia out there and let’s not trigger a second wave of desolate futures and heroines who always find the hot guys.
The Remedy plays around with a very interesting plot which, dare I say, was even better than the original series. We have Quinn, a closer. She’s just a little piece of a puzzle called the Remedy. It’s a system developed to capitalise on pain (if you’re thinking as a cynical consumerist), but what they’ll tell you is it’s a system to provide closure, a remedy, to the broken hearts of love ones who experience a loss—the people who just can’t move on. Closers take on the the dead’s persona, they submerge themselves into an intense form of role-play, from physical appearance to demeanour and they provide an outlet for release, a second chance.
“We’re everything they want and everything they hate to be reminded of. We’re a paradox.”
In theory, it sounds great, but as a closer, there are consequences—innate human traits such as the desire to form connections, to love, to be loved. And getting attached is a tragic downfall, for both sides. Quinn has been a closer since she was six, a hell of a lot longer than anyone else. And, to be honest, it’s messing with her mind—blurring the lines between the truth and lies. As she embarks on pretty much her last case, a case “sensitive” to the cause, these lines meld into one another. In that sense, we get a great unreliable narrator. It’s a one POV situation we have, and as Quinn loses herself in the persona of her subject, we start to lose that sense of surety.
Throughout the book, we embark on a mystery hidden between layers and layers of denial and happy facades. As Quinn attempts to take on the persona of Catalina, providing closure for not only her parents, but Catalina’s tragic boyfriend, she unearths the shocking spiral of deceit and unhappiness. We get good use out of flashbacks (something I thought I’d never say). They were few and fair, evenly scattered about and interweaved succinctly with the present tense. Back story and world building was done without complaint. As always, there’s a bit of the mini info dump, as you must with dystopias, but, considering it’s prequel nature, this was limited (so hey, I guess one good thing came out of being attached to an established series).
On a whole, The Remedy provides action, mystery and enough intensity to lose yourself for the afternoon. If you’re looking for a dystopia that can provide you with a philosophical challenge then this won’t be your cup of tea. Fan’s of West’s dystopias would thoroughly enjoy this one. The writing, dystopian wise, is very similar—light, succinct, unembellished. In fact, this makes me wonder how Young does contemporary.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All quotes used were obtained from uncorrected proof that is subject to change in the final publication.
---the original from 2015----
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5. How many times do you think you can "spin off" a series? And why do prequels exist again? REVIEW TO COME.
Surprise, I didn't hate it. In fact, if we're talking about the plot served, I'd say I was rather engaged the entire time (which is saying something what with all the bores I've given up on lately). Before I come back and break it down, here are some things to consider:
1. Not a fan of the whole prequel thing.
2. Linked to number one, I guess a pro is you save time with world building.
3. Unique topic to tackle for a DYSTOPIA and very well explored--more so in the actual series though (certainly not a unique issue on its own after Green kicked off this new wave of contemporary)
4. Jumped around a lot, as in I had no idea what it wanted to focus on--leading into the actual series, hence prequel status, or its own mystery, hence my belief that it should of fucking just been its own book but heh, you don't have an established audience for that and its all about the $$$$ nowadays (say what)
5. Romance didn't get all mushy and overbearing--I'm looking at you, The Treatment.
6. DAMMIT, WHY YOU GOTTA END WITH A CLIFFHANGER HUH???
7. That last one. Why cliffhanger your prequel? Especially when it literally makes no sense leading into the actual series.
July 15, 2023
Trochę wahałam się, jak zacząć tą serię - czy od faktycznego tomu pierwszego, czy od tych połówkowych, bo bałam się, że połówkowe to taki pic na wodę, ale nie. Faktycznie stanowią one zamkniętą całość i przedstawiają, jak wyglądał świat, zanim wprowadzono tytułowy program. I to jest jedna z tych serii, które mam na liście od lat, milion razy mi się przewijała, ale nie zaczęłam jej... bo tak.
Nie wiem, czy żałuję, że nie sięgnęłam po nią wcześniej, bo mogłabym jej nie docenić, a ostatnio coraz częściej sięgam po dystopię i okazuje się, że ja z tym gatunkiem bardzo się lubimy. Pomysł na sobowtóry pomagające rodzinom przejść przez żałobę jest dziwny, niepokojący, trochę trąci horrorem, ale dla mnie genialny. Podeszłam trochę z dystansem, a wciągnęłam się strasznie i w ogóle nie miałam ochoty odkładać tej przygody. Działo się mnóstwo, ciągle chciałam więcej i nie mogłam się doczekać, aż dowiem się, o co w tym wszystkim chodzi.
Podoba mi się strasznie, z jak wielu stron jest to ujęte - mamy podgląd na to, co myślą ludzie stojący za tym pomysłem - i ci, którzy są zachwyceni, i ci, którym nie do końca to pasuje. Widzimy sytuację oczami samych sobowtórów, ale też osób, którym pomagają. Nie przez wszystkich są postrzegani jako coś dobrego, wielu ludzi się ich boi, pogardza nimi, mimo, że tak naprawdę nie znają innego życia. I ten wydźwięk przez całą książkę, że przecież tak łatwo jest kogoś zastąpić, aż ciarki przechodziły. Dla mnie zdecydowanie jedna z lepszych, jakie pochłonęłam w ostatnim czasie!
Nie wiem, czy żałuję, że nie sięgnęłam po nią wcześniej, bo mogłabym jej nie docenić, a ostatnio coraz częściej sięgam po dystopię i okazuje się, że ja z tym gatunkiem bardzo się lubimy. Pomysł na sobowtóry pomagające rodzinom przejść przez żałobę jest dziwny, niepokojący, trochę trąci horrorem, ale dla mnie genialny. Podeszłam trochę z dystansem, a wciągnęłam się strasznie i w ogóle nie miałam ochoty odkładać tej przygody. Działo się mnóstwo, ciągle chciałam więcej i nie mogłam się doczekać, aż dowiem się, o co w tym wszystkim chodzi.
Podoba mi się strasznie, z jak wielu stron jest to ujęte - mamy podgląd na to, co myślą ludzie stojący za tym pomysłem - i ci, którzy są zachwyceni, i ci, którym nie do końca to pasuje. Widzimy sytuację oczami samych sobowtórów, ale też osób, którym pomagają. Nie przez wszystkich są postrzegani jako coś dobrego, wielu ludzi się ich boi, pogardza nimi, mimo, że tak naprawdę nie znają innego życia. I ten wydźwięk przez całą książkę, że przecież tak łatwo jest kogoś zastąpić, aż ciarki przechodziły. Dla mnie zdecydowanie jedna z lepszych, jakie pochłonęłam w ostatnim czasie!
July 28, 2025
I’m really disappointed how this book was compared to the first 2 which I really enjoyed. I was expecting this to be a big series and to find out it’s just three duologues really put me off reading this book and definitely made it harder to get into and less enjoyable.
January 30, 2017
A copy of this novel was provided by Simon & Schuster Australia for review.
OKAY, I was all ready to cry and wail and flail and hiss and kind of boo before doing some research.
WHY was I all ready to cry etc etc etc? Because this book ended SO openly and there were NO answers to any of the MANY questions that The Remedy raised. Seriously. When I finished it at 11pm after pretty much devouring it in one day, I actually just lay there in my bed, mouth open and “WTF” on my tongue. Because I freaking loved The Remedy, and I couldn’t believe that I had fallen in love with these characters and invested so much in their future only to be left completely hanging. But, thankfully, there is another book being released called The Epidemic which I pretty much need as much as I need air right now.
So. I’m 99% sure that I liked The Remedy more than The Program, which is saying a lot because I really liked The Program. But The Remedy just had characters and a storyline that just completely grabbed me from the get go. Our narrator is Quinn, who pretty much acts as dead people to help their family to get over the loss of the dead person. Creepy? Hells to the yeah. This was creepy in the best way possible, and I loved it.
This acting as dead people thing (which includes more than Quinn – they’re called closers, I guess because they close the grief experienced by the family hiring them? I’m not entirely sure) is really getting to Quinn, and she starts to forget who she really is, and where she should be, and who she should trust. But Deacon is there for her. Deacon who loves her but won’t be with her because ~reasons. Deacon who is gorgeous, and who I ship Quinn with 100%. I was constantly wondering WHY Deacon was pushing and pulling Quinn at the same time. Why wouldn’t he just be with her when it’s so clear he loves her? WELL. We find out, and boy is it an interesting scenario.
A lot of the book takes place where Quinn is on assignment to be girl called Catalina, whose death is “undetermined”. This was so painful, because Quinn was subject to a mother and father who adored her, and a boyfriend who loved her, and she wanted it so badly. But she was also subject to a lot of hate and cruelty, which tore her to pieces (and me, too). I just kept on feeling so much for Quinn because she just wants a normal life surrounded by people who love her, and she doesn’t have it (well she has Deacon but they’re a bit screwed up). She starts toeing the line between being a closer and actually becoming Catalina, and that was all kinds of sad.
As I said at the beginning of this review, there are a HELL of a lot of questions raised in The Remedy regarding Quinn, Deacon, and how their story leads into that of The Program and The Treatment. I am so, so, SO glad there is another book because I need to know how everything ties together, and if Quinn finally gets to live the life she’s always wanted.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
OKAY, I was all ready to cry and wail and flail and hiss and kind of boo before doing some research.
WHY was I all ready to cry etc etc etc? Because this book ended SO openly and there were NO answers to any of the MANY questions that The Remedy raised. Seriously. When I finished it at 11pm after pretty much devouring it in one day, I actually just lay there in my bed, mouth open and “WTF” on my tongue. Because I freaking loved The Remedy, and I couldn’t believe that I had fallen in love with these characters and invested so much in their future only to be left completely hanging. But, thankfully, there is another book being released called The Epidemic which I pretty much need as much as I need air right now.
So. I’m 99% sure that I liked The Remedy more than The Program, which is saying a lot because I really liked The Program. But The Remedy just had characters and a storyline that just completely grabbed me from the get go. Our narrator is Quinn, who pretty much acts as dead people to help their family to get over the loss of the dead person. Creepy? Hells to the yeah. This was creepy in the best way possible, and I loved it.
This acting as dead people thing (which includes more than Quinn – they’re called closers, I guess because they close the grief experienced by the family hiring them? I’m not entirely sure) is really getting to Quinn, and she starts to forget who she really is, and where she should be, and who she should trust. But Deacon is there for her. Deacon who loves her but won’t be with her because ~reasons. Deacon who is gorgeous, and who I ship Quinn with 100%. I was constantly wondering WHY Deacon was pushing and pulling Quinn at the same time. Why wouldn’t he just be with her when it’s so clear he loves her? WELL. We find out, and boy is it an interesting scenario.
A lot of the book takes place where Quinn is on assignment to be girl called Catalina, whose death is “undetermined”. This was so painful, because Quinn was subject to a mother and father who adored her, and a boyfriend who loved her, and she wanted it so badly. But she was also subject to a lot of hate and cruelty, which tore her to pieces (and me, too). I just kept on feeling so much for Quinn because she just wants a normal life surrounded by people who love her, and she doesn’t have it (well she has Deacon but they’re a bit screwed up). She starts toeing the line between being a closer and actually becoming Catalina, and that was all kinds of sad.
As I said at the beginning of this review, there are a HELL of a lot of questions raised in The Remedy regarding Quinn, Deacon, and how their story leads into that of The Program and The Treatment. I am so, so, SO glad there is another book because I need to know how everything ties together, and if Quinn finally gets to live the life she’s always wanted.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
August 15, 2018
DNF @ 67%
I don't think this warrants even 1 star. That phrase that I'll give negative stars if i could totally fits here. Program #2 was bad, definitely, but there were good parts. This book though kept getting from bad to worse to worst. I still thought i could complete it, never mind its 3 in the morning, but no, you can't take bullshit over a point. Quinlan is one of the most dumbest irritating characters i have come across. Sloane Barstow was at least 10x better. This girl keeps claiming she is the best closer but she's so dumb, my eyeballs will fall out of their sockets just out of frustration.
None of the characters were likeable either. Deacon a.k.a douche and your relationship is like no other? And you're impersonating a dead girl and you have feelings for her boyfriend who likes to pretend you're the deceased? And you don't think that's sick and you would give anything to live this 'NORMAL' life. If you're really that smart, won't you know they're only treating you that good and letting you have your wishes without objections cos you are there for just 2 weeks and they'll never get their daughter back? If you were staying permanently, there is going to be rules. Welcome to real life dumbhead!!
Don't we already know the ending? Cat suffered from depression and died by suicide. It infuriated me everytime even an average not so smart knows that a plan sucks big time but this Quinn never learns and rushes headlong into it and then when the inevitable happens, whine about it saying i have feelings, you know? I don't know who i really am and all those stupid flashbacks we're supposed to actually read and feel sympathy for her. I don't know how good the grief department trained her but just reading about her and this whole book just made me numb and a machine and that'd probably make me better at the job than she was and considering how she keeps telling that she's the best in the industry, that's the only time my face betrays any emotion, 'I just want to gag'.
Every character is shitty, the whole therapy system is pointless, role-playing therapy? Seriously? The first book in program was good and I now think it should just have been a standalone with no past or future to it. And sometimes less is more and a better closure than more could give. And I think that applies for books too and sometimes even to the stories inside them. What's better, getting a closure that destroys you completely or accept that this is the way it is and move on? I choose the latter! And oh, I'm just talking about my choices between sitting through a book i fear will completely destroy my interest or love for books OR just stop the story then & there, knowing in my heart there are better books around worth my time and this is not it.
I made peace with that fact and I'm moving on to let a book that loves me, find me. And clearly, I don't need a closure or a closer for that.
I don't think this warrants even 1 star. That phrase that I'll give negative stars if i could totally fits here. Program #2 was bad, definitely, but there were good parts. This book though kept getting from bad to worse to worst. I still thought i could complete it, never mind its 3 in the morning, but no, you can't take bullshit over a point. Quinlan is one of the most dumbest irritating characters i have come across. Sloane Barstow was at least 10x better. This girl keeps claiming she is the best closer but she's so dumb, my eyeballs will fall out of their sockets just out of frustration.
None of the characters were likeable either. Deacon a.k.a douche and your relationship is like no other? And you're impersonating a dead girl and you have feelings for her boyfriend who likes to pretend you're the deceased? And you don't think that's sick and you would give anything to live this 'NORMAL' life. If you're really that smart, won't you know they're only treating you that good and letting you have your wishes without objections cos you are there for just 2 weeks and they'll never get their daughter back? If you were staying permanently, there is going to be rules. Welcome to real life dumbhead!!
Don't we already know the ending? Cat suffered from depression and died by suicide. It infuriated me everytime even an average not so smart knows that a plan sucks big time but this Quinn never learns and rushes headlong into it and then when the inevitable happens, whine about it saying i have feelings, you know? I don't know who i really am and all those stupid flashbacks we're supposed to actually read and feel sympathy for her. I don't know how good the grief department trained her but just reading about her and this whole book just made me numb and a machine and that'd probably make me better at the job than she was and considering how she keeps telling that she's the best in the industry, that's the only time my face betrays any emotion, 'I just want to gag'.
Every character is shitty, the whole therapy system is pointless, role-playing therapy? Seriously? The first book in program was good and I now think it should just have been a standalone with no past or future to it. And sometimes less is more and a better closure than more could give. And I think that applies for books too and sometimes even to the stories inside them. What's better, getting a closure that destroys you completely or accept that this is the way it is and move on? I choose the latter! And oh, I'm just talking about my choices between sitting through a book i fear will completely destroy my interest or love for books OR just stop the story then & there, knowing in my heart there are better books around worth my time and this is not it.
I made peace with that fact and I'm moving on to let a book that loves me, find me. And clearly, I don't need a closure or a closer for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2015
In a world before the program....
Quinn temporarily plays the role of a loved one that has died. She can literally become anyone. By changing clothes, hair, her voice, the way she acts and etc. She is called a closer. A remedy for grief stricken families to get over/or have closure of their loved ones death. As long as u got some major cash u can hire a closer.
A family has hired Quinn. Their daughter Catalina has died. Her parents are beyond grief stricken as well as her boyfriend Isaac.
Quinn loses herself in this new identity and things take a dramatic turn and twist.
4 stars. Really have enjoyed this series and this author.
Quinn temporarily plays the role of a loved one that has died. She can literally become anyone. By changing clothes, hair, her voice, the way she acts and etc. She is called a closer. A remedy for grief stricken families to get over/or have closure of their loved ones death. As long as u got some major cash u can hire a closer.
A family has hired Quinn. Their daughter Catalina has died. Her parents are beyond grief stricken as well as her boyfriend Isaac.
Quinn loses herself in this new identity and things take a dramatic turn and twist.
4 stars. Really have enjoyed this series and this author.
August 7, 2018
I’m shocked I’ve never written a review for this book. I read it for the first time almost 2 1/2 years ago and I’m still amazed by this story. This book and the next one (so far) are my favorites in the series. There is just something to Suzanne Young’s writing that gets to me. Whether I’m listening or physically reading this book, I become overwhelmed with emotions. The characters are so good and I never know what I’d do if I were in Quinn’s place. The ending, per usual, was fabulous and even though I knew what to expect, I still feel anxious as if reading it for the first time. Brava. Brava. I’m so glad I decided to reread this serious. Now, on to book four.
October 31, 2017
O MIJN GOD. Wát een boek! Beste uit de serie tot nu toe. Dit verhaal zit zó knap in elkaar en zeker op het eind is het gewoon compleet mindblowing! Het geeft een geweldig beeld van hoe het hele Programma begonnen is en de worldbuilding daarvan is zo huiveringwekkend sterk, mede door het perspectief. Echt zo goed. Heb nu spontaan The Epidemic en The Adjustment in het Engels gekocht en The Complication vooruitbesteld want dit is zo’n waanzinnige serie dat ik absoluut verder wil lezen! Uitgebreide recensie: http://thebookreview.nl/recensies/dys...
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