I appear to be in the minority with this book but I have to admit I struggled through it. The only reason I finished it was because I was reading it for a book club reading challenge. The story just didn’t excite me and I was expecting it to be a lot more dramatic. I didn’t like any of the characters and I found it a very slow burn of a read. 2.5⭐️

I have loved the author';s previous books and thankfully this one did not disappoint! It was a great read that kept me engaged throughout!

I absolutely loved this book! The exact type of thriller that kept me guessing the whole way through. The suspense was amazing and all the characters so well written. Love this authors work and will be reading more

This was well written and such an interesting topic a psychologist thriller regarding two premature babies switched at birth. It’s told from the POV of Maddie and Pete as they traverse the many hurdles resulting from the bombshell that two-year-old Theo is not their biological son but instead David who has severe special needs is.

At first, Maddie and Pete are thrilled that Miles and Lucy seem to be so agreeable and accommodating but it’s not long before Miles is crossing boundaries and it becomes apparent that Miles is not quite the charming nice guy he at first appears. Peter and Maddie now find themselves in the fight of their lives. Trying to retaining custody of Theo as Miles throws every dirty trick in the book their way.

So I did enjoy this but it did seem to move quite slowly I also thought that David their biological son very much took a back seat in this story and I would have thought he’d be more central to the narrative. I also thought the wrap up was rushed and I definitely found this anticlimactic especially considering all the build-up things just then fizzled out and that disappointed me slightly.

Still, this was such an intriguing subject and It did manage to keep my interest. I found the second half of this much more gripping than the first which did take a while to build momentum. Overall this was a decent read but it contained few surprises and was fairly predictable. I voluntary reviewed a copy of Playing Nice.

Such a great thriller! It kept me hooked right up until the end. If you have read any of Delaney's previous works you'll love this!

This book had me totally gripped from the start. Although its apparent from early on where the story is going, there's enough tension to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The characterisation is perfect in that you both empathise and get irritated by both of those narrating the story. Both are flawed but you still feel their despair as emotions build while the situation progresses. The character of Miles is very true to life and chilling for anyone with personal experience of psychopathic personalities.

I've enjoyed all of this author's books and look forward to future publications.

I knew this would be amazing as JP Delaney is a master writer but this is officially the best book I have ever read.

I can't really describe how this story will make you feel... but niave is definitely up there... you think you've caught on to something but you're wrong all the way to the end with all the twists and turns

Regardless of what type of novel you like, you must read this.

This book started off slow and I wasn't sure about continuing, but I stuck with it. I'm glad I did, because after the 30-40% mark it really picked up and I ended up enjoying it.

The story was well written, as were the characters, who were very realistically written.

I did think it was more a family drama rather than a psychological thriller. I do admit to despising Miles from the off, especially when he pretty much sounded overbearing and controlling from the moment him and Lucy are introduced to us.

Thank you to NetGalley and PJ Delaney for the chance to read this book.

What happens if two babies are switched at birth? The premise for the story is not unique, but it's how the author handles the fall out that makes this a gripping read and a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing to the end.

Playing Nice by J P Delaney is suspenseful tale about two sets of parents with different lifestyles and parenting techniques. It doesn't take long for me, as a reader, to decide who the good guys are. Expectedly, I end up rooting for them as the plot turns from a domestic thriller into a courtroom drama.

I really enjoyed the way the content was presented. There are alternate short chapters detailing the court case as the plot progresses, which gets concluded as the book itself wraps up. The major revelations are perfectly timed to keep me hooked up.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: Recommended.

I could not put this down!
What do you do when the child you believe is yours isn't?
I will definitely be looking forward to more from JP Delaney

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the ARC of this book.

This is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. It is both absolutely compelling and excruciatingly painful to read. It is brilliantly written and deftly covers so many sensitive issues. I’m absolutely in awe at the author’s skill in writing something so fast-paced and thought-provoking.

It is the story of Pete and Maddie who discover the two year son they have been raising was swapped in the hospital and their biological son is being raised by another family. The book follows their attempts to have a civil relationship with the other couple and find an arrangement which is best for both children. However, it is not long before things start to go horribly wrong.

I could not put this book down! It was uncomfortably fascinating to imagine yourself in their position and what you would do if you had to choose between the child you have loved for 2 years and your biological child.

Delaney descriptions of the difficult situations which parents find themselves in including emergency C-sections, neo-natal care, postpartum psychosis and dealing with violent children and brilliantly drawn and very realistic. I found so much of the book fascinating and moving.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Go and read it!

This was my first book by J.P. Delaney, and I will definitely look at his backlist. This is the story of a parent's worst nightmare. Your child is two years old and someone shows up at your door and tells you that your child and theirs were switched at birth and the one you are raising is not yours. Pete Riley is a devoted dad, who works from home so he can spend time with his son while his partner works. They love Theo, even though he has some issues. When they find out that he is not their biological son, they plan to work with the other couple to spend time together, but not switch the boys back. One of the issues is that David, has a lot of medical issues due to his premature birth, in face, he was not expected to survive. Well, the best intentions do not always work out.

This story grabbed me right from the beginning and did not let up. It is a dark and suspenseful psychological/domestic thriller that has so many ups and downs. The twists surprised me, but made me keep reading and listening well after I should have gone to bed. I liked that the story was told in short chapters, which is probably another reason that I kept reading, just one more chapter. The characters were well developed and I loved how the author doled out information about them as the story progressed. As the secrets were revealed and Pete found out things about Miles, I was praying that both Theo and David would be safe, remember the story of King Solomon? I do not want to give away any more of the story, but I definitely recommend this on to those who love psychological thrillers that have some family drama as well.

Playing Nice by J P Delaney is a rollercoaster of a book. The story grips from the beginning and the author, step by step, leads the reader through the horrendous ordeal that Pete and Maddie go through to fight for custody of Theo. It’s also very informative regarding the care of premature babies, mental health issues and psychotic personality traits.

I empathised with the parents and felt their frustration throughout the court case. I recommend it unreservedly.

My thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Editions for the complimentary copy.

This book both excited me and infuriated me in equal measure. Two vastly different families facing the same dilemma, the child they have raised for two years isn’t theirs…..

Let me start this review with what is in my opinion the books strongest and weakest point, the characters. Peter who his own partner nicknames Saint Peter is now both a stay at home dad and freelance journalist. This is where I struggled (you’re a journalist but yet you take people at their word and don’t ask the right questions). Plenty of eye rolling went along with perfect Pete. His partner Maddie suffered with severe post natal depression and went a bit crazy having hallucinations and used the microwave to block out messages that her mind had created. She’s finally in control or is she? They are the parents of Theo, who Maddie still struggles to connect with, they also have financial troubles.

Then there is Miles and Lucy the other couple and parents to David who suffered brain damage at birth and now has physical and learning difficulties. Miles is a controlling, manipulative narcissist with the cash to pay for David’s care so thinks it’s best that the children remain where they are. Lucy does whatever Miles tells her.

But what happens when you clap eyes on your biological child and it looks like you? Would you then want both? Things certainly didn’t go the way I thought they would and some of the revelations left me gobsmacked.

I’ve purposefully avoided too many plot details as this is a book that the less you know the better. It made for a brilliant bookclub read as there was plenty of plot points and ethical decisions that led to great discussion. How far would you go to protect your child? And which child are you choosing to protect, the one you gave birth to or the one you have raised?

a book to keep you guessing! Full of twists and turns and keeping you desperate to find out more.....

This one kept me guessing until the end, so many twists and turns in it. I would recommend this.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to Playing Nice by JP Delaney. It was one of those thrilling, frightening storyline with so many twists and turns you forget which way was up.
An exhilarating read of a book.
Highly recommended.

JP Delaney has become a must-read author for me and this has become my new favourite of his. The book takes you on a rollercoaster of a ride, with plenty of twists and turns, and I was hooked from the beginning, reluctant to put it down as the tension rose.

The book explores every parent's nightmare - what would do if you found out your child was not your child? Pete and Maddie discover that their 2 year old son is not their genetic child, and there has been a mix-up in the hospital shortly after his birth. At first both families seem to have the best intentions, but soon it is clear that not everyone is "playing nice".

The book raises so many interesting questions that can't help but make you think, including the age old question of "nature versus nurture" as well as to how far you would go to protect your child. Whilst there is an obvious villain, all the main characters are flawed which adds to the intrigue and kept me guessing to the end.

Another great book by JP Delaney. I really enjoyed this book. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I highly recommend this book.