Book Summary and Reviews of Play Nice by Rachel Harrison

Reader Reviews

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Becky K. (Chicagoland)

Dysfunction and haunting and demons, oh my
Clio Barnes and her sisters Daphne and Leda inherit a haunted house when their mom dies. A demonic house, actually. Or was it? After her parents divorced, the sisters moved in with their mom to a house that her mother eventually claimed was inhabited by a demon. She even wrote a book about it. When the sisters inherit it, Clio decides to fix it up and flip it, against the wishes of her father and sisters. They all claim her mother was lying about the demon. Clio was young and doesn't remember much about it - only what her family has told her and what her mother claimed.

Despite it being about a demon house, the fights and squabbles among the family members feel realistic. Clio, the youngest of the sisters and the most spoiled, is a frustrating character because she seems so real - from the the influencer fakeness and partying lifestyle to her bad choices in dating. Even the house has its own personality, as though it is a character in the book as well.

Frankly, I would read anything Rachel Harrison writes, even if it's about something that sounds ridiculous. But this book was right up my alley. A haunted house, a demon, and a dysfunctional family. What more is there to love?

Bianca N. (Fort Myers, FL)

A fun haunting read!
I really enjoyed this book! I haven't read anything from Rachel Harrison before but have two of hers on my bookshelf so I was curious to see what this was about because haunted house books are one of my favorites! This book didn't disappoint! I was hooked from the beginning and literally couldn't put it down! I loved the deeper meaning to this story and how relatable it is.

JanineS

Cozy, spooky but great fun read
I received this book as an advanced readers copy (ARC). The author is one of my favorites so I was excited and not disappointed in the read. In this book, Harrison tackles the “haunted house” trope and it’s a winner in my estimation. Clio Louise Barnes inherits a haunted house, along with her two other sisters, Leda and Daphne, after the death of their mother, Alexandra. It’s also the house the three grew up in. Told in part through a book Alexandra wrote which Clio obtains at her mother’s funeral and through Clio’s attempts at remodeling the house, the story is spooky, scary and great fun to read - a perfect October read given its publication date in late September!

Jaz (Fredericksburg, VA)

A House That's Haunted
I'm not typically into books (or does or movies) about anything paranormal, lest it's witches, but I thought this sounded interesting. I read Cackle last year, which was a witchy novel, and I liked it, but i surprisingly liked this better.

I always enjoy books with flawed characters, where the house is also a character, and when there is a focus on mental health. Childhood trauma is a real thing, you would be surprised how much it affects you later in life.

The story was creepy without being scary or terrifying. I was really interested in Clio's life, but I do wish there were more details on her sisters'. I appreciate that the story didn't end in some perfect happily ever after, but there was closure in the novel. I didn't feel as though there were a bunch of loose ends not tied up or questions that needed to be answered yet weren't.

I definitely recommend, unless you scare easily!

Dawn Z. (Canton, MI)

Not quite my genre, but the humor delivered
Horror isn't usually my genre, but I picked up Play Nice thinking it was about an influencer—Clio Louise Barnes—flipping a house. Instead, it's a story about a demon-possessed home and the lingering effects on Clio and her family. Unfortunately, I was never able to fully suspend disbelief, so the horror elements didn't quite land for me.

That said, Clio's dry, often biting humor kept me engaged. There are plenty of funny moments, like her deadpan reaction to her brother-in-law's love for his Nespresso machine: she's "tempted to record him so she can watch... whenever she wants to experience joy again."

While digging in the closet in the bedroom she grew up in, Clio finds an old hoodie: "...a band geek with good hair whose name I can't remember. Sean? Scott? Sam? The hoodie is big in just the right way and still smells like Axe. Makes me want to go to second base."

Even the creepy parts come with a wink, like her mom's line: "A demon will move into a split-level on a cul-de-sac. I mean, in this market…"

The ARC had some missing or scrambled text, but it didn't affect the read. Fans of snarky horror may enjoy this one.

Heather M. (Acushnet, MA)

Play Nice - Rachel Harrison
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison is a sharply written and darkly funny novel that blends horror, satire, and feminist themes with effortless style. The story centers on a group of women navigating the treacherous terrain of ambition, friendship, and societal expectations—only with a supernatural twist that adds bite to its commentary.

Harrison's voice is bold and witty, crafting characters that are both relatable and exaggerated in a way that underscores the absurdity of performative niceness and toxic positivity. The horror elements serve as metaphors for the emotional labor women often carry, adding layers of meaning beneath the book's sly humor and razor-sharp dialogue.

What sets Play Nice apart is its unapologetic tone and genre-defying narrative. It's part horror, part satire, and entirely original. With clever social insight wrapped in eerie tension, this novel will appeal to fans of horror with heart and a subversive edge. A wickedly smart read.

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