The Program by Suzanne Young, this book is 80% romance + 20% sci-fi. I love the premise and the real-life issues that The Program builds upon, but the pacing was a bit too slow for my liking (because of all the romance). But this series is begging me to finish it, and I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS UGH. I’m still trying to educate myself on trigger warnings, but I think it’s good to mention that they seem applicable to this review, as I will touch on depression and suicide in the context of this book. In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program. Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone — but so are their memories. Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them. Very important, and I like how The Program highlights youth suicidality as a major theme. When we think of “epidemics”, most people might think about infectious diseases like smallpox or Ebola. However, this term has also been used to address teen suicides in recent years. In the US, suicide is the third leading cause of death among people between 10-14 years of age, compared to the seventeenth among people over the age of 65 (CDC, 2015). Risk factors for attempting suicide include suicidal behavior of a friend or family member, previous suicide attempts, same-sex attraction, school problems, and drug abuse. I think Young chose a very important theme to base a science fiction work upon, as the issue (although not the solution) is a realistic/feasible one. It’s interesting to note that despite this unique theme, the portrayal of teen suicide in the book is very similar to how zombie apocalypses are portrayed, and I can almost feel the panic in the air just from reading certain scenes.