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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
“Remembering is not always a light shone into darkness. Sometimes it’s a claw reaching out and dragging you back”
Play Nice scared the crap out of me, because familial trauma and skewed memories can do that to you. Clio is an influencer/ stylist living in NYC living quite a life. No significant others, just hook ups which is just fine with her. After a night of partying her sisters Leda and Daphne (which side note, how does Rachel always nail something that’s so my life in every book? The relationship is frighteningly similar to my own with my sisters!) call her to let her know their mother has passed. The house they grew up in (according to their mother) is possessed, so Clio decides to take on the renovations herself! What happens after is nothing short of nightmare fuel.
Rachel Harrison is so good at the feminine psyche and pointing out how men often will make women think they’re crazy, the easier to manipulate them and the situation to the man’s betterment. And I will always be here for that. But she also touches on toxic mothers and how they can also change memories. Let’s not forget though how absolutely frightening this book was! I was scared to turn off my lights the whole time when I was reading this!! Once again Rachel has nailed female relationships and the hold and power men have to ruin our lives and our memories. Of course, I was in tears at the end and throughout because it’s not a Rachel Harrison book without a therapeutic cry by the end! She is a force to reckon with and damnit gets better with every book! I love being here for her progression and look forward to whatever comes next! Thank you to Berkley for the earc on Edelweiss!
Play Nice scared the crap out of me, because familial trauma and skewed memories can do that to you. Clio is an influencer/ stylist living in NYC living quite a life. No significant others, just hook ups which is just fine with her. After a night of partying her sisters Leda and Daphne (which side note, how does Rachel always nail something that’s so my life in every book? The relationship is frighteningly similar to my own with my sisters!) call her to let her know their mother has passed. The house they grew up in (according to their mother) is possessed, so Clio decides to take on the renovations herself! What happens after is nothing short of nightmare fuel.
Rachel Harrison is so good at the feminine psyche and pointing out how men often will make women think they’re crazy, the easier to manipulate them and the situation to the man’s betterment. And I will always be here for that. But she also touches on toxic mothers and how they can also change memories. Let’s not forget though how absolutely frightening this book was! I was scared to turn off my lights the whole time when I was reading this!! Once again Rachel has nailed female relationships and the hold and power men have to ruin our lives and our memories. Of course, I was in tears at the end and throughout because it’s not a Rachel Harrison book without a therapeutic cry by the end! She is a force to reckon with and damnit gets better with every book! I love being here for her progression and look forward to whatever comes next! Thank you to Berkley for the earc on Edelweiss!
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the best haunted house/ demon possession book I’ve ever read. I was immediately sucked in to Clio’s family’s dynamics & twisted history and I stayed gripped through to the end. Everyone in Clio’s family is a different flavor of messy (except sweet, innocent, perfect Tommy, of course) and I could not get enough of them.
Harrison is so skilled at creating tension and building anxiety in her writing. My heart rate actually went up the more time Clio spent in her mother’s home. I do not get really, truly scared by horror, ever; but this one is the closest I’ve come. I say it over and over again, but horror having some logic and understanding the “why?” is what makes it scary. Harrison not only understood that, but she made the “why?” quite possibly the scariest thing it could be - “Why not?”
I loved every page of this and I look forward to reading more from Harrison!
Harrison is so skilled at creating tension and building anxiety in her writing. My heart rate actually went up the more time Clio spent in her mother’s home. I do not get really, truly scared by horror, ever; but this one is the closest I’ve come. I say it over and over again, but horror having some logic and understanding the “why?” is what makes it scary. Harrison not only understood that, but she made the “why?” quite possibly the scariest thing it could be - “Why not?”
I loved every page of this and I look forward to reading more from Harrison!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley & Titan Books for the advanced copy of this book to read and review.
This book was so good!!!! I enjoyed reading it so much, it was one of those ones where you wanted to finish reading to see how it ended but I didn't want it to end.
The premise of a haunted house, being left to a trio of girls who seemingly have picture perfect lives grabbed my attention from the start.
The whole book was brilliant, but the writing was top notch, I felt genuine fear and anxiety while I was reading. I was on edge for the entire time.
Coupled with the book being written from Clio's POV, with the added snippets for Alex's book, it set the tone and atmosphere perfectly.
And the story itself???? EXCELLENT. I don't want to give anything away but it was so well done.
My only minor issue (and why I rated 4 stars) was that the ending felt kind of rushed, I felt like the rest of the book was so tense and drawn out (in a good way!!!!) and then the ending felt too quick, which was a shame.
On the whole though this was such a good book!
This book was so good!!!! I enjoyed reading it so much, it was one of those ones where you wanted to finish reading to see how it ended but I didn't want it to end.
The premise of a haunted house, being left to a trio of girls who seemingly have picture perfect lives grabbed my attention from the start.
The whole book was brilliant, but the writing was top notch, I felt genuine fear and anxiety while I was reading. I was on edge for the entire time.
Coupled with the book being written from Clio's POV, with the added snippets for Alex's book, it set the tone and atmosphere perfectly.
And the story itself???? EXCELLENT. I don't want to give anything away but it was so well done.
My only minor issue (and why I rated 4 stars) was that the ending felt kind of rushed, I felt like the rest of the book was so tense and drawn out (in a good way!!!!) and then the ending felt too quick, which was a shame.
On the whole though this was such a good book!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a fun read! Clio inherits her mother's house and decides to flip it, haunted house stories be damned. After all, her mother was a little kooky...and definitely drank too much. Besides, it'd show her older sisters that yes, she contributes, and yes, she's reliable. But the more time she spends in the house and reading her mother's self-published haunted house family history, the more she comes to realize that she's not alone. There's something taunting her.
Of course, we have family drama, a cute boy next door, and strange happenings all as she tries to manage her online influencer persona. I both loved and hated her family, in all the ways that make you love and hate your own. They all have their secrets, all trying to hold everything together--especially when Clio looks like she's going down a paranoid path...
This was just so good and entertaining, and I loved how meta it was with a book within a book. Definitely a fun read, especially as we creep up onto October!
Of course, we have family drama, a cute boy next door, and strange happenings all as she tries to manage her online influencer persona. I both loved and hated her family, in all the ways that make you love and hate your own. They all have their secrets, all trying to hold everything together--especially when Clio looks like she's going down a paranoid path...
This was just so good and entertaining, and I loved how meta it was with a book within a book. Definitely a fun read, especially as we creep up onto October!
Wow I couldn’t put this down when the story really got going! What a gripping and creepy story, it had moments where I was genuinely scared reading it.
I loved Clio, the other two sisters were definitely needed for the story to be as good as it was, but no one could make me like Leda. All the characters were purposeful and interesting, they each added something to the story.
I really enjoyed the ending, I’m glad it went that way, it felt more realistic and believable.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC.
I loved Clio, the other two sisters were definitely needed for the story to be as good as it was, but no one could make me like Leda. All the characters were purposeful and interesting, they each added something to the story.
I really enjoyed the ending, I’m glad it went that way, it felt more realistic and believable.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book grabbed me and did not let go. I quite literally did not stop reading until I finished the book at 5 a.m. I can't think of anything I did not like, so let's talk about what I loved.
-The characters: I wasn't expecting to like the characters because I read So Thirsty earlier in the year and did not like those characters, but these characters were great. There were unlikable characters, but they weren't dumb (like in So Thirsty), so I wasn't constantly getting annoyed with them. I went into this book not knowing much, and I was so excited that the story centers 3 sisters because I have 2 sisters. I related the most to Daphne because she's a fellow middle child who just wants to keep the peace at the expense of feeling her own emotions.
-The plot/structure: The plot of this book was everything I wanted How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix to be (I didn't like that book unfortunately). I like how Harrison explores mommy issues, childhood trauma, mental health, and grief. My favorite thing she did was use the book the mom wrote in the story to turn Play Nice into a story within in a story. It's really interesting seeing the concept of everyone having a different perception of events despite being in the same place experiencing the same events. It makes everyone an unreliable narrator which adds well to the horror elements.
-The setting/atmosphere: The setting was immaculate. There were multiple times where I was really scared because I decided reading this book in the dark was a good idea. I like that Harrison made the demon elusive until closer to the end of the book. The more Clio started to remember about the demon and saw of the demon correlated with her facing her past and her own inner demons.
I highly recommend this book if you like reading stories about family trauma, grief, and haunted houses. I also overall just really enjoy Harrison's writing style.
-The characters: I wasn't expecting to like the characters because I read So Thirsty earlier in the year and did not like those characters, but these characters were great. There were unlikable characters, but they weren't dumb (like in So Thirsty), so I wasn't constantly getting annoyed with them. I went into this book not knowing much, and I was so excited that the story centers 3 sisters because I have 2 sisters. I related the most to Daphne because she's a fellow middle child who just wants to keep the peace at the expense of feeling her own emotions.
-The plot/structure: The plot of this book was everything I wanted How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix to be (I didn't like that book unfortunately). I like how Harrison explores mommy issues, childhood trauma, mental health, and grief. My favorite thing she did was use the book the mom wrote in the story to turn Play Nice into a story within in a story. It's really interesting seeing the concept of everyone having a different perception of events despite being in the same place experiencing the same events. It makes everyone an unreliable narrator which adds well to the horror elements.
-The setting/atmosphere: The setting was immaculate. There were multiple times where I was really scared because I decided reading this book in the dark was a good idea. I like that Harrison made the demon elusive until closer to the end of the book. The more Clio started to remember about the demon and saw of the demon correlated with her facing her past and her own inner demons.
I highly recommend this book if you like reading stories about family trauma, grief, and haunted houses. I also overall just really enjoy Harrison's writing style.
Just a solid horror! Can’t wait for this to release and start to recommend
Clio is working hard to make this haunted house a home... while also combatting major mommy (and daddy) issues and making the home makeover instagram worthy to maintain her influencer status. If you ever wondered what it would be like if a "Succession" level dysfunctional family was also fighting a "Paranormal Activity" level possession, look no further!
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick very high level summary.
Clio’s mother claimed her childhood home was possessed by a demon and the idea consumed her so much that it lead to a messy divorce. Now as an adult, Clio has inherited the house. Over the years Clio and her sisters have always dismissed her mothers claims as mental illness but as she begins renovations she the sinister and disturbing events begin.
My Take.
At first the MC Clio, seemed like someone I would dislike completely in person. Which worried me because once a character is not likable to me I really do not feel and kind of connection so I never feel an emotional attachment. Without that emotional attachment the rest of the story does not seem to have the impact it should. With that being said, I eventually came around to Clio. What I truly enjoyed were the portions of the story where Clio is reading her mom’s memories. For me it made the story darker, more tragic and so much more interesting. For me Rachel Harrison books are fast entertaining reads. Not overly scary, nothing too complex just pure fun.
Clio’s mother claimed her childhood home was possessed by a demon and the idea consumed her so much that it lead to a messy divorce. Now as an adult, Clio has inherited the house. Over the years Clio and her sisters have always dismissed her mothers claims as mental illness but as she begins renovations she the sinister and disturbing events begin.
My Take.
At first the MC Clio, seemed like someone I would dislike completely in person. Which worried me because once a character is not likable to me I really do not feel and kind of connection so I never feel an emotional attachment. Without that emotional attachment the rest of the story does not seem to have the impact it should. With that being said, I eventually came around to Clio. What I truly enjoyed were the portions of the story where Clio is reading her mom’s memories. For me it made the story darker, more tragic and so much more interesting. For me Rachel Harrison books are fast entertaining reads. Not overly scary, nothing too complex just pure fun.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First, can I just say how much I love this cover??? A haunted house story plus dysfunctional family drama sign me up! Clio returns to her hometown after the death of her mom, who she hasn’t had contact with since she was young, to find she has inherited a house her mom claimed was possessed by a demon. Her family called her crazy. Clio’s memories from that time are hazy. So what else can she do but fix the house up and sell it. Then she can get back to her life. But being back in her mom’s home is stirring up memories and just maybe her mom was telling the truth.
First, can I just say how much I love this cover??? A haunted house story plus dysfunctional family drama sign me up! Clio returns to her hometown after the death of her mom, who she hasn’t had contact with since she was young, to find she has inherited a house her mom claimed was possessed by a demon. Her family called her crazy. Clio’s memories from that time are hazy. So what else can she do but fix the house up and sell it. Then she can get back to her life. But being back in her mom’s home is stirring up memories and just maybe her mom was telling the truth.