I bought this book on a whim and I kind of regret the read. I didn't realize what it was about before I began. I lost a friend to suicide, so I can understand some of the experiences of the protagonist and supporting characters. However, I couldn't stand this book. The book made a huge joke out of the seriousness of depression and self-harm and eating disorders and suicide, as if they were infections to be caught (although the book never made it clear about what that actually meant). I felt like the protagonist was extremely angsty and self-pitying. While she had been through several traumatic events, her depression didn't usually linger on, "I miss my brother and friends," but instead on, "Wow, adults expect so much from me and I just can't feel happy in this awful high school."

Sloane's romantic relationships with the boys in her life were each so incredibly unhealthy and co-dependent. "You are the only reason I can make it through life" and "I absolutely need you to tell me I'm okay because I can't be okay on my own" are frightening messages to give young girls. In order to survive life without self-destruction, Sloane needs James. In order to survive The Program without self-destruction, she needs Realm. She cannot function or survive on her own in life without a man to protect her and provide her with emotional security. So unhealthy.

While erasing the memories of minors is certainly not okay (and how could this possibly cure the chemical imbalance or infections in their brains? What? Or keep them from catching the experiential "infection" again when their friends continued to die), I still found myself relating to Sloane's parents more than I did to Sloane. When their daughter is sinking into depression and suicidal thoughts, of course they're going to be worried. Of course they're going to want to get her help. The books driving hatred for the Program makes sense; the driving hatred for Sloane's parents does not at all. They simply don't want their daughter to commit suicide.

Overall, I felt like "The Program" was meant to make teenagers identify with the "we're alone against the world and grown-ups will never understand" mentality, as well as this sick belief that relationships, sex, and friends are the only things that can prevent someone from inevitable teenage depression and self-harm/suicide. Not a healthy, remarkable, or enjoyable read for anyone.