
Member Reviews

This is a compulsive read that tackles difficult issues faced by the characters.
The situation so unusual and I loved reading about the characters and the relationships between them. The characters are well written and diverse which makes for an interesting read.

Absolutely brilliant! Heartbreaking and I really didn’t know how this was going to end. Characters that you really feel for and a situation that could really happen. 5 stars. Highly recommended. Read it right now!!
Thank you for the ARC!

What a thrilling ride this was!
This was quite the unputdownable book with intriguing characters and a gripping plot.
I kind of expected a bit more from the ending but all in all, I enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend it.
I would like to thank the Publishers, NetGalley, and the Author for sending me a copy of this book.

It was just an ordinary day.
Until it wasn't.
What would you do if someone showed up at your door and told you that the child you've been raising for the past two years isn't biologically yours? That there was a mix up in the hospital at birth, and your 'real' child went home with another couple?
This is what happens to Pete and his partner Maddie.
At first, their son Theo's 'real' parents Miles and Lucy Lambert seem to have good intentions. But how much can they really trust each other? And what secrets are hiding behind the Lamberts' glossy front door?
This book started off strong and continued that way, with plenty of drama to keep me engaged right until the end. I couldn't put it down!
I'd describe it as a 'suspenseful' thriller, rather than a thriller with lots of surprising twists.
The story alternatives between Pete and Maddie's POVs and is interspersed with letters, emails, and court documents to add more context.
I liked how it explores nature vs. nurture and whether genetics or environmental factors have a bigger impact on a child's development.
Unfortunately, I did feel that the ending was a little rushed, but I'd still recommend this to anyone who enjoys domestic thrillers.
TW: post-natal depression

Imagine waking up and going about your day as normal. You have your breakfast and drop your kid(s) to nursery or school. Then you come home and there’s a knock on the door.
You’re confronted with the evidence that the child you’ve raised for the last 2 years, isn’t actually yours.
What do you do with that information? This is a child you love, YOUR child. Does the biology matter?
Well that’s exactly what happened to Pete Riley and his partner Maddie, when a man called Miles comes to the door and says that the child they’ve raised is actually his biological son, while he’s been raising their biological son. The two were swapped at birth.
Things begin amicably between the two sets of parents, almost in a way that is too good to be true. They love the son they’ve raised but are also drawn to the son that’s genetically theirs. The story develops as they muddle their way through what is the best course of action for their sons, leading to disagreement and conflict between the parents.
Delaney entices the reader from the beginning with a fast paced, easy read from the POV of Pete and Maddie. Covering their complex range of emotions for each other and the situation they’ve found themselves in. They watch their worlds turn upside-down, as they try to figure out how it all could possibly have happened.
A thoroughly enjoyable book which I read in a single sitting.
Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus books for the advanced review copy of Playing Nice by JP Delaney. Having already read The Perfect Wife, I was excited to read another book by this author and Playing Nice did not disappoint one bit. I was drawn into the story of two families who were thrown into an impossible situation. At every turn I wanted to shout don’t fall for it in frustration at how nice Peter Riley was. I absolutely loved this book and read it far too fast so my only disappointment is that it has ended too soon. I look forward And am eager to read the next book by JP Delaney.

This started a bit slow and I thought, am I going to like this book. Before I knew it I was engrossed by the story and the different characters. I like the way it’s told from the viewpoints of both main characters as the style works very well for this book. Very well written, I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what happens, yet at the same time just wanted the story to keep on going. A definite 5 stars.

Playing Nice is a domestic thriller following couple Pete and Maddie as they find out that their son, Theo, is not biologically their son and was in fact swapped at birth with another child, David. Pete and Maddie get to know the other couple involved, Miles and Lucy, but all is not quite as it seems and soon their amicable agreement about sharing the children goes awry.
At points, I found this book dragged slightly towards the start as the anticipation built and I waited for something dramatic to occur, but once this book got going it didn't stop. This book really built the tension so that I was sitting on the edge of my seat, desperate to know what was going to happen next, and how Pete and Maddie were going to figure their way out of this situation. I think she short chapters and the dual perspective worked really well for this as I was always desperate to keep reading.
I also found the storyline quite unique and very interesting. The question of whether the babies had been swapped by accident or whether it was done on purpose followed me throughout the book, and while I called it quite early on I spent the majority of the book second-guessing myself and whether I had really got it right. The author also weaved in so many other storylines and I felt the use of flashbacks was useful and contributed well to the plot but wasn't overdone as can sometimes be the case.
My main issue with this book is that I wasn't 100% a fan of the ending. The resolution of the course case was somewhat unexpected and felt wrapped up almost too perfectly, I almost wish we had spent more time on the trial even if that would have meant the book was 100 pages longer. I also found the aftermath of the trial somewhat surprising and that there wasn't enough build-up to the final climax to make me enjoy it.
Overall though I found myself unable to put this book down. It kept me hooked and delivered a pretty much perfect story.

The Review
This book follows the lives of Pete, Maddie and their son, two-year old Theo after they find out he is not their biological child. A terrible mix-up at the hospital, where two premature baby boys arrive at the same time, has led to a parents’ worst nightmare.
Alternating between Pete and Maddie’s perspectives, we go from the initial discovery, to meeting the other family, trying to find a resolution and then all manner of crazy being unleashed on this unsuspecting and naïve couple.
It would be too easy to give everything away on this particular read, so I will limit my comments to simply saying this was brilliant. Totally the type of book I could have read in one sitting – if it wasn’t for life conspiring against me at every darn turn! With short chapters, this is a very pacey read – with no opportunity to get bored or want to skip read parts.
Frankly, it’s exceptionally well put together, the storyline is gripping, the characters are charming, or despicable depending on who you’re dealing with. You pick a side, you want a resolution and … well, you’re just going to have to read it.
The Stars
Having previously read The Girl Before and found it to be over-hyped (in fact, I gave it 1 star it annoyed me so much), I was looking forward to seeing how this book compared. It is a massive testament to the quality of writing, the storyline and the way the author brings everything together to say that this is a very worthy 5 stars for me!
Absolutely ruddy brilliant.

My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus fir a copy of “ Playing Nice” for an honest review.
After being a little disappointed with the last novel “The Perfect Wife” by J P Delaney , being more sci-fi based, I was pleased to find Playing Nice “ was a return to the high standard of Delaney’s previous books.
I found this to be a tense, fast paced novel that had me gasping at times with the injustice of the situation Maddie and Pete are in.
An excellent psychological thriller, with the perfect ending.
I thoroughly recommend 5 stars !

I received this as an ARC copy through Netgalley and it was amazing.
After a traumatic birth Pete and Maddie have spent 2 eventful years raising their son Theo. One day there world comes crashing down when Miles Lambert comes knocking on their door. Apparantly there was a mix up at the hospital and Theo is really the son of Miles and Lucy while they are raising David, the son of Pete and Maddie. What ensues is a rollercoaster of emotion (for you and the families) along with some sneaky twists and turns. How did the swap happen? And for what reason? Or was it a simple, tragic mistake? With so many secrets and lies who can be trusted?
This was such a great read on such an unusual subject matter but, as always, JP Delaney smashed it. I constantly found myself asking, what would I do?
Highly recommended 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the arc of Playing Nice by JP Delaney,
Thank you to JP Delaney for writing another great book, i have previously read The Girl Before, Believe Me and The Perfect Wife, so this is my fourth JP Delaney book.
I was very excited when I got approved for the arc of this book.
Imagine there was a knock at your door during the day to open it to find out it is a grown man who looks exactly like your son... 😱😱😱
This follows Pete and his wife Maddie, Maddie is within the advertising sector and Pete is a stay at home dad to their two year old son Theo. It is was just a normal day, when Theo gets ready to go to nursery he is a biostorus boy. He has difficulty playing nice, if he don't get get what he wants in reality.
Their worlds gets tipped right over when there is a knock at the door, and there is an arrogant man named Miles at the door, who looks exactly like their son Theo. He is claiming that their babies who were premature were swapped at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and that Theo is actually his....😱😱😱😱😱😱 and that Miles and his wife is raising their baby.
This starts out as a friendly conversation and ends in a nasty court battle as Miles don't want to play nice.
I love this book so much, I loved all the thrilling elements, gripping and how it engulfed you in and I couldn't put it down I read this so quick within 1 day. It is told between 2 different perspectives of Pete and his wife Maddie. I love all the twists and turns and i love the bombshells within this book.
Definitiely recommend- Well done a very well done JP Delaney
5 Stars!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh my word once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. Was a perfect read for in the garden at the weekend. Such a gripping read. The story was compelling and had my attention all the way through and I was riveted to my chair as I turned each page as right up until the end I didn't know how this story was going to end. I have read other books by this author and this one certainly disappoint such a brilliant domestic psychological thriller.

I'm a big fan of this author, and Playing Nice is another brilliant and gripping book. The characters were full of depth and, while some were quite unlikeable, they were engaging and in some way relatable. An insightful, sensitive portrayal of such a shocking topic.

I was so excited to get a copy of this book, as this is one of my favourite authors. This did not disappoint and I could not put this down, devouring every word until I could barely see them!!
It started off like any normal day, Pete is a stay at home dad looking after his two year old son Theo, whilst his wife Maddie is at work. There is a knock at the door and two men Miles and Dan want to talk to him, they have shocking news off evidence that their babies were swapped at birth!!
Without giving anything away, it starts off with both families being very amicable, trying to reach a decision that is best for both of the children but it turns into a blinking nightmare!!
This is such an addictive book with twists that will keep you well and truly hooked. I loved the way the suspension builds right up to the surprising ending.
A must read thriller that will make you stop and ponder what would you do in these extreme but believable circumstance?
An author that could rewrite the telephone directory and still make it into a number one book!!
A 10/10 from me.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Pete and Maddie . One day they answer a knock at the door to find Miles standing there who tells them that their sons were accidentally swapped in the hospital when they were in the NICU 2 years ago. He reveals that they had already done a DNA test without their knowledge by taking a cup from nursery. Both sets of parents come to an agreement to take things slowly With their sons. They also agree to sue the hospital but in doing so things are revealed in the official investigation and that is when the trust is broken and everything becomes a lot more complicated.
I have loved every other book that this author has written but this one just didn’t grab me. I didn’t like any of the characters in the book. At least the first half of this book read like a contemporary book and not a thriller. I found my attention drifting and I kept having to reread bits. Although I didn’t enjoy this one I will continue to read this authors work.

JP Delaney is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. There’s something darkly compelling about their work.
Playing Nice is the latest offering of Delaney’s and while the majority of the book has the same gripping intensity of its predecessors, there’s a part of this one that I couldn’t connect with.
I’m not a parent, and I don’t want to be. Don’t get me wrong, I like children, have even dedicated the majority of my adult life to educating them, I just don’t care to have my own. So I find it difficult to gel with stories that focus on parenting, parents to be, or issues with babies/children.
Having thoroughly enjoyed all of Delaney’s previous books, I was willing to overlook the content for this latest story, but the first 30-40% of set up, of taking about the day to day of parenting, of traumatic births and NICU. It’s just...not for me.
That being said, once I got around 45-50% in and the crux of the story really took off, I found the familiar rhythm of Delaney’s thrilling twists and captivating plot lines. And I found it difficult to put down.
It’s shocking really, the lengths people will go to to protect the ones they love; equally shocking are the lengths people will go to for some perceived win. Some victory, where really, there’s no winner.
I’m going with 3 stars for this one, I liked it, but didn’t love it.
Many thanks to JP Delaney, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a premise for a story, Pete and Maddie are a happy couple with a boisterous two year old boy, Theo.
Pete is a full time carer for his son and is engaged in all aspects of his life. Then, some people turn up with evidence that Theo is not their biological son. What follows is a heart rending story of how each of the people involved react. Miles and Lucy are the couple behind hiring a private detective in order to find their biological son and initially they appear balanced and supportive of finding an amicable solution to this heartbreaking scenario. However, things aren’t as they first appear and the author weaves a tale of suspicion, fear and high tension as this family drama / thriller races along.
It’s both an interesting and gripping read from this excellent author. The subject matter is not one I thought would captivate me like it did and I found myself completely immersed and finished the book in one sitting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

Review Brilliantly awful! This book starts with a highly unusual and difficult situation and goes downhill from there! I do actually know someone who had a custody case that some of the elements portrayed here so I know how possible it is to lose children through the legal system. For most of the book, I believed this a 5 star read, however I found the end a bit too much. I loved the agitation it caused me reading this story though! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Many Thanks to the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book before being published in exchange for an honest review.
I have enjoyed all books I´ve read from Delaney. So I was very happy when I saw the next one in Netgalley. And, as always, it hasn´t disappointed me at all.
Two “happy” marriages, two babies changed on the day they were born. Who´s fault was it, doctors, nurses, or was it on purpose? Where were the parents where they babies were moved into the neonatal room?
After 2 years of leaving with who they thought it was their children, Miles knocks at their door to let them know that the baby is not their son but Miles one.
After all being nice with both couples, having met both children and what you can feel a nice easy going friendship so both children and parents can share their lives becomes a nasty business when Miles asks a jury to give him, not only his own son, but the other couple´s too as they wouldn’t have the resources to take care of a sick baby.
And from there the whole process of a jury and who will get to keep one or both children.
It is a psychological thriller, hard to put it down. I enjoyed the quick pace of the book and I had to finish it in 2 sit downs. It is also an intense read that makes you think through the jury process what home should the boys go to. The humble and less resourceful family or the richest family with all the possible resources for both children, swap the children to the correct family or what the best solution should be.
Overall I did enjoy the book and I will be waiting for the next one by JP Delaney.