(5/20/2025)
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.