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.

Playing Nice

How would you deal with finding out your son was switched at birth? A nightmare situation!

Well drawn characters, and interesting factors such as legal use of information shared in parenting forums, mental health & the NHS had me gripped. I hesitated to read this as difficult themes are explored, but it was so worth it! I will definitely be reading more by the author & recommend this book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free advance copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow-what a great read, JP Delaney doesn't disappoint with this one full of twists and turns, tense and twisty I was on the edge of my seat with this one. Recommended.

Jp Delaney is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, if you have not read any of the books then you are missing out!

This book was amazing. I literally could not put it down...it was such a page turner from the very start.

Pete was such an interesting character and I loved the fact he was a stay at home Dad and thought the forum and his outlook were really interesting.

Maddie was a difficult character but she was nuanced and interesting. Both the reasons this isn't a 5 star review is related to Maddie though...a part of her personality which I won't expand on else will become a spoiler...which I thought was wholly unnecessary and marred the ending for me and also bashing the NHS which at the moment is obviously very delicate but something I can never get on board with.
We are extremely lucky to have the NHS and I was disappointed that in an otherwise amazing book...that this seemed to be a factor.

Miles was a great character....he was a very well drawn villain and I loved all scenes with him...I actually hated him...which just shows how well written he was.

I appreciated how mental health and child care was delved into and highlighted in a very sympathetic and empathetic manner. There was no judgement there and I thought that was brilliant. The stigma of mental health is prevalent, now more than ever and I loved this was challenged and very well. The thought of a child being removed from someone because of previous mental health issues is unbelievable and sickening in modern society...

I was also enthralled how every day things such as asking for help and honesty and children being children can be twisted in certain situations....and how something mundane such as porn can really be used against someone...which is wrong and hard to imagine in todays society but was presented in such a realistic way that I had no trouble believing anything written and I could totally see everything happening playing out in real life.

I was also surprised ... frequently...I had literally no idea where each chapter was taking me and I really enjoyed that. I had read many thrillers and loved how often this one shocked me and how invested I felt. I was genuinely worried for Pete throughout and I loved the ending (apart from one small factor mentioned above), which is rare for me and I was delighted.

This is a real page turner and highly recommended.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the girl before and this one was bound to be just as good!!

It didn't disappoint, so many twists and turns. You feel like your going mad, when you think you've got it you most certainly dont.

Oh Jesus wept, seriously now I have no words!

I seriously devoured this in one go, was impossible to put it down and even begrudged feeding the kids because I couldn’t do it with one hand, OMGF the characters were brilliant, hated most of them though which makes it all the better, just when you think you coding hate them anyone wham there you go they do something even more hateful 😂

Bloody brilliant and honestly one of the BEST books I’ve ever read, I haven’t read anything from JP before (I know where have I been 😂) but I’m off to find something sharpish to get my teeth into again!

Brilliant 10 stars!!!!

Utterly terrifying, a parents worse nightmare, absolutely edge of your seat fantastic.
I’ve read a few JP Delaney books now and each one seems better than the last!

Riveting, haunting and every parents nightmare. I don’t like to give any plot details away but I highly recommend this book, especially if you have children or grandchildren. You may get a little frustrated at our protagonist but I guess it’s hard to know what you’d do unless it happens to you. It also gives you a great villain to boo and hiss at. I think this is the 3rd book I’ve read by this author and have thoroughly enjoyed them all,
My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for my ARC in return for an honest review.

I was gripped from start to finish and very impressed that I didn't manage to predict any of the twists, while also not having to suspend my disbelief at the intriguing plot. Characterisation, pacing, tension, prose... all were excellent.
Highly recommended.

I have read and loved all of J P Delaney's books and this was does not disappoint. This had me hooked from the first page. A very thought provoking read that was hard to put down. A brilliant book!

This book was incredible and I found myself finishing it within a day as it was impossible to tear myself away from the story.
The characters were believable, which certainly helped me feel more for them as the story progressed,
The twists and turns that this story takes us through had me on the edge of my seat, and i found myself second guessing everything as it went along, and I - along with the characters, begin to piece together what lead to these events.
The writing style was brilliant, the story itself was perfectly paced, with the suspense building throughout and fully captivates you. An absolute page turner, and a definite must read.

When Pete and Maddie discover that the baby they brought home from the hospital just two years ago is not the one as Maddie gave birth to, all kinds of emotions and scenarios come into play. For Pete and Maddie and Miles a Lucy a decision to amicably switch the children back should go smoothly, everyone is in agreement it’s the right thing to do, but... Playing Nice really isn’t!

This book gives an insight and quite the education with regards to social services, custody, courts proceedings and the legal process. But it’s a whole lot more too - think betrayal, lies, manipulative behaviour, marriage, depression, terror, naivety and more.

Bingeworthy, addictive and if you’re a parent, full of terror!