compelling and thought provoking

I loved this book and couldn’t stop listening. I would definitely like to hear more of the authors books

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Gripping story with many twists and turns.

Great story. I normally listen to audiobooks just on my home commute but with this one , I was so gripped, I was soon listening in the morning as well.
only thing that annoyed me on the audio book was Suzy's voicing of Gabe. As there was an actor reading Gabe's chapters, why wasn't his voice used when his words are being spoken, and same with all those characters who had their own actors voices?

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Hoped for something much better-just disappointing

I usually love JP Delaney, well having said that I adored "The Perfect Wife" and "The Girl Before" but returned "Playing Nice" and this seems - as far as I can recall to be a little similar in that it is firstly all about children and secondly, more specifically about children and their birth parents v non biological children.

Sigh ... domestic dramas are not my thing and it has to be a really excellent thriller for me to get onboard for endless parenting be it toddlers or teens or anything in between.

Sadly, though it began in an intriguing way - interesting enough for me to mention the premise to my husband who immediately guessed the twist - it soon became far from enjoyable and as predicted by my husband's prediction ... very predictable.

I imagine parenting a teen is very challenging. I read for escape. relaxation and fabulous twisty plots that get my mind whirring and I can really get absorbed by. This was just wearing and seemed endless. I listened but it was more like some poor friend pouring out their woes than a thriller.

Plus hated the way the dog was referred to as a rescue "mutt". Though of course better than the endless books of people wanting a dog and then running out and buying one while so many fabulous dogs in shelters are literally dying for a loving home.

Anyway, I digress, but yes I found myself tuning out and chapters rolling by as I mused on more pleasant and entertaining topics. I also am not keen on men writing endlessly and in details about women's reproductive issues as find it just a bit creepy.

I don't know what happened to author JP but I fear we are just following their life ... first off single girl - then wife - next toddler - now teen - maybe I will wait until the interest in child rearing days and domestic drama is over and tune in again for midlife crisis and perhaps the elder years but this is just a penance to listen to.

I did not hang about to discover what happened in the end, so many pregnancies/miscarriages, drugs, runaways, school stuff, safeguarding and social workers, I tuned out and decided to practice "Safeguarding" myself and return the book as soon as a pet rabbit's hutch was burned presumably with the rabbit in it though that was never mentioned one way or the other which although of course fiction, seemed rather callous - but then what would I expect from an author who refers to dogs as mutts.

Please JP, revisit your earlier work, get your mind off parenting and dishwater dull domestic settings and give us some of the fabulous fire and twisty, dark plotting of yesteryear, "The Girl Before" was a showstopper and one of my top 5 favourite books of all time - "The Perfect Wife" really was an amazing triumph, mind expanding and totally thrilling but this does not even feel like it was written by the same person :-(

Returning.

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23 people found this helpful

A very good book indeed.

I was gripped by the tale & it’s story really made me think a great deal about adoption & everything that goes along side it.

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Disappointing storyline

I have always loved books by JP Delaney before but I was disappointed with this one. I just found myself losing interest in the storyline & in the characters. It’s quite a depressing story and seems to go on forever! I found myself skipping the last few chapters just to get to the end as I was fed up listening to Skye and her crazy antics 🫣

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Not my cup of tea

I wanted to enjoy this, but found it frustrating, slow, and didn't warm to the characters. It's put me off reading more from this author.

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Gripping story and great narration

So gripping I stayed up until 2.30am listening to it - and excellent performances from the whole cast

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Highly recommended

An excellent read with brilliant narration. I did feel irritation towards Suzie and felt she was acting out her guilt on Sky therefore making it all about her feelings and not her daughters. Typical narcissistic behaviour, but that was what the author probably wanted to portray. The author’s research and writing was spot on as I knew someone whose story was very similar. This is another excellent book from Delaney.

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Intriguing storyline

I really enjoyed this book and the subjects it touched upon. The characters were well written and I found myself absorbed by the story.

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Gripping and harrowing in equal measure

A gripping story that seemed to just get darker for all involved. Sadly, working within an environment that can relate to some of the situations and agencies included. I found it all a bit too realistic and thought provoking to be a light bedtime read….But a great story, well told.

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