JP Delaney, as usual, delivers a well written, and well thought out cracker of a read. Cant recommend highly enough.

I've had Playing Nice on my TBR for a while, but with television adaptation now showing, it was time I finally got around to it. I have no idea what took me so long, as it's the best book I've read for some time and it's undoubtedly my favourite novel by this author. It's a really well constructed psychological thriller, with some fascinating characters and an incredibly compelling plot. I wondered how I would react in a similar situation and I love novels that give me food for thought like this.

Playing Nice is narrated by Pete and Maddie, and this obviously gives a bias to this couple, and it's them who I wanted to succeed, even at the beginning. I enjoyed looking back at Maddie and Pete's relationship; how they met and the circumstances around Theo's birth, as this give me a lot of insight into the characters. Although we don't hear directly from Miles and Lucy, their characters are also really well constructed and I loved how they were also able to get under my skin.

Throughout Playing Nice, I often had no idea where the story was going but I really wanted to know! There are some really sinister elements to the story and I loved the way that these crept up on me slowly, and once they had got me in their grip, wouldn't let me go!

I can't wait to watch the adaptation now!

An enjoyable and stressful read in equal measure. I love a story that grips like this one but did have to take a break in the middle as I was getting so frustrated with the main protagonists! Thankfully I went back to it as needed to know how it ended and reading got easier again once they stopped being quite so stupid. The ending was fairly satisfying and overall I liked it and the thoughtful discussion it provoked.

Stay at home dad Pete Riley is happy caring for two year old son Theo while Maddie returns to work, Theo is a handful, typical at that age but Pete is trying his best to teach him to be nice to other children and share his toys. After dropping Theo at nursery one day there is a knock at the door and Miles Lambert, a man claiming to be Theo's biological dad is stood there with a private investigator stating that, in a mix up at the hospital, their premature babies were swapped at birth and he and his wife Lucy were sent home with David who is really Pete and Maddie's son. The two sets of parents get together and agree to deal with this amicably but this is just the start of their nightmare. What are the intentions of Miles and Lucy and how far will they go to get what they want?

Playing Nice is a domestic thriller that depicts every parent's worst nightmare, imagine being told that the child you believed you'd given birth to and had been the most important part of your lives since that day, who you loved and cherished was not actually yours! I don't think I'd have been as calm as the Riley's were. Told from the perspectives of both Pete and Maddie, this story takes us on a journey full of twists and turns and, in true Delaney style, keeps you guessing throughout, and had me questioning how I would have dealt with this situation if it had been me. This is a complex tale covering delicate subjects such as abuse, mental health, alcoholism and psychopathic tendencies, about parents that will stop at nothing to fight for what they believe is right, even when the justice system is against them. I've had this book on my tbr list for quite a while now, so when I saw that it was being adapted for tv I knew I had to bump it up that list and I'm looking forward now to seeing how it compares to the book. Another great read by this author.

I'd like to thank Quercus Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It drew me in from the beginning and although not all of the characters were likeable it kept me gripped to the end. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you so much to the publisher, the author, and netgalley for sending me an e-ARC to read. I gave this book four stars.

I received a free copy of Playing Nice by JP Delaney in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fabulous, thought-provoking read that had me hooked from the very first page. The premise is unlike anything I’ve encountered in recent thrillers, and it truly grabbed my attention: what would you do if the child you had raised for the past two years wasn’t your biological son, and the child you gave birth to was being raised by strangers? The emotional complexity of this situation is explored in such depth that it feels both unsettling and fascinating.

The characters, Pete and Maddie, are expertly written, and I found myself deeply invested in their journey. The tension and suspense build with every chapter, leading to a psychological nightmare where the stakes could not be higher. I loved how the story alternates between Pete and Maddie’s perspectives, allowing the reader to experience the emotional turmoil from both sides as they navigate the impossible decision of whether to swap children or continue raising the ones they've bonded with. The stakes feel real and raw, and the moral dilemmas are incredibly challenging.

What really made this book stand out was how relatable the characters felt, and how the author managed to explore a complex ethical dilemma with such empathy and nuance. I couldn’t put the book down and found myself constantly thinking about it—discussing the what-ifs with friends and wondering what I would do in their place.

Playing Nice is a psychological rollercoaster that will have you turning pages well into the night. At over 400 pages, it’s a surprisingly quick read that had me hooked from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a thrilling and thought-provoking story that really makes you question what it means to be a parent, and how far we’d go for the people we love.

JP Delaney's latest novel is a gripping mix of family drama and psychological suspense. In London, Pete and Maddie, parents to two-year-old Theo, are shocked to learn their child was swapped at birth in the hospital. When Miles Lambert arrives claiming Theo is his biological son, DNA tests confirm the mix-up, leading to legal action against the hospital.

Initially, the two families try to handle the situation amicably, getting to know each other's children. However, as tensions rise, it becomes clear that the manipulative and dangerous Miles has no intention of sharing Theo. What begins as a civil arrangement spirals into a nightmare for Pete and Maddie.

This tense, character-driven novel explores themes of nature versus nurture, parenthood, and the complexities of identity. With twists and dark revelations, Delaney delivers a compelling and thought-provoking read.

This book annoyed me. I felt so much anger on behalf of Pete and Maddie. I just kept thinking what else can possibly be added to this ever growing list of things going wrong, and what else can possibly be thrown at them! I imagine that was probably the point though! Interesting story, kept me hooked, but I found there was a lot of story telling within the story, and it was a bit tedious at times.

I found this book really hard to put down. It wasn't what I expected at all. A great read, that keeps you captivated to the end. Lots of twists that leave you not wanting to put the book down. Can’t wait to start the next one!

This is a great thriller. It is gripping family drama
The ending of the book was very well done.
Another excellent book by this author

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A very gripping book with a completely different premise to most out there, but not quite as shocking and twisty as some of JP Delaney’s other work.

Whilst the book is fast paced and engaging, I felt some of the legal parts were long and drawn out and affected the overall pace of the book. Others may enjoy these parts but I felt they slowed things down.

Still a very enjoyable book but not quite as good as previous ones.

When a couple find out that their 2 year old boy was swapped at birth they try to navigate what's best for all parties.
This started out well but the couple descend into a nightmare as the other couple aren't who they appear to be.
I really enjoyed this story and didn't want to put it down.

I love JP Delaney books and this did not disappoint!
What a absolute dilemma the main characters find themselves in.
A knock at the door one day to be told that their son was involved in a switched baby scenario when born, and both couples have been raising the wrong child for two years.
What would you do?
I loved this book and will certainly read more by this author, I like her take on psychological thrillers.

Thank you for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, would recommend....

3.5 stars

This was an interesting thriller with a subject matter I've not read before.

It did take a while to get going, and it lacked the suspense and thrills, which I normally look for in thrillers.

However, as a domestic thriller goes, it was a pretty enjoyable read with an interesting plot. It probably could have been a little bit shorter, but overall, it was worth a read.

This is one of my go to authors and so I expected that I would love this book - and I wasn't disappointed. this is a gripping twisty thriller and i would definitely recommend to fellow book lovers.

Always love a great thriller by Jp Delaney and this one was particularly good. It draws you in to the characters and I enjoyed the story line

A very good read. I really felt for Pete and Maddie - what an awful situation to find yourselves in! Enjoyed the twists towards the end.