The Remedy (Program, #3)

by Suzanne Young

[Angie]

The Remedy is like a kind of prequel, but also companion. Either way you look at it, it's quite awesome. It does take place before The Program and The Treatment, so you can absolutely read it first even though it was published last. To me, I don't think it really matters, since it doesn't spoil anything for the main two books, and the main two books don't spoil anything for this one. It's just preference, but this is an absolute must read whether you want to read the actual duology or not.

In The Remedy, we learn about yet another change in the mental health care system before the suicide epidemic. Quinn works as a closer, someone who stands in for a dead person so that their family can say goodbye or whatever it is that they didn't get to say. She helps them with their grief at the expense of herself. Quinn spends a lot of time pretending to be other people. But it's not like acting. She actually has to almost become these people. She wears their clothes, does her hair and makeup like them. She studies photos and videos of them to mimic their facial expressions, voice, and mannerisms. For all intents and purposes, she is them for the few days she's with the family. She's done this for eleven years, and she can never tell what memories are really hers or what's an assignment.

I was completely hooked from the beginning, because this whole process is fascinating. In a way, I do think this is a helpful grief tactic, even if it is a bit creepy. But most of all, I was interested in what this does to the closers. Quinn has been at it longer than any other, and she's really good at it. But maybe not as good as she thinks, when she gets her latest assignment which is a long term one. She get's completely tangled into Catalina's life! It's so crazy! I can't say too much, but really, she just is completely immersed that she feels like this is her life! I spent a lot of time mentally yelling at her to not do certain things because she's compromising her own mental health!

Then there's a twist. The end of The Remedy kind of blew my mind. I wasn't even thinking of this thing to be a possibility, but holy crap! What in the world is happening?! How can anybody do that to someone?! I was shocked and appalled. Then I saw there were only a few pages left, and I was like NOOO! I need more after that reveal! Plus, one of the biggest mysteries of the book isn't solved! Who in the hell is Virginia?! Well, we know technically who she is, but what did she do?!!? Why is this happening! Tell me! Leaving this completely unresolved is what kept my rating down. How can you introduce something that interesting and not follow through?

Obviously I thought The Remedy was pretty freaking fantastic. It's an interesting and different look at grief. People process it in different ways, and this is just one method, even if it's dangerous to those doing the helping. It was just completely insane.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.