Recently single Beth is glad to be rid of her cheating husband Rory. She is suffering with stress and off work, trying to deal with her issues and raise her children Ethan & Daisy. A chance encounter at a playground Beth is scared of going on (due to reasons in her past) brings Billy into her life and they are soon establishing a firm friendship. But is Billy the man he says he is?

Told on now and then timelines, this is a domestic thriller that I found quite slow at times with a somewhat unrealistic storyline and ending. Although the writing was good I just don’t think this book was for me. The suspense of waiting for Billy to reveal his secret was probably the only thing I found suspenseful.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author.

I thought this book was really well written, and I really enjoyed reading “the playground”. It was a first read from S.D Robertson and I would definitely read another by this author.

I was hooked from the beginning of this book, and as a mother some parts of this book gave me a gut wrenching fear. I highly enjoyed the change from past and present views, I find this style keeps the reader wanting more.

There were multiple twists and a creepy eeriness throughout the story.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book

No good deed goes unpunished, and gratitude only leads to creepy situations. Thank you for the edge-of-my-seat thriller, S. D. Robertson!

The book opens with Beth out with her young daughter Daisy. Daisy runs into a playground and is suddenly confronted by two teenage boys and their aggressive dog. Daisy is rooted to the spot and even though she is desperate to rescue her Daisy is so petrified and cannot enter the playground. We learn that the reason for this is that she witnessed a traumatic tragedy in a playground as a child which has left her with this phobia. Luckily Billy, a stranger, is on hand to help her. It turns out that he has moved into a house around the corner to Beth. Beth is having a tough time as she has found herself a single parent to Daisy and her teenage son when her husband Rory left after she discovered that he had been having an affair. She soon finds herself becoming attached to Billy as he seems easy to talk to but is a Billy all that he seems? Rory seems very suspicious of him and does not trust him, who is right? This was a very gripping read and one that I could not put down. Lots of surprises and twists and turns. A very enjoyable book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book kept me hooked the whole time, and I have to say, I had no idea what was coming! Very twisty, and very intriguing!

Incredibly gripping, fantastic read! Will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole story!!!

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ drama
✨ suspense
✨ childhood trauma



✨A story of grief and childhood trauma.
This to show how Beth the love for her kid, Daisy.
✨ First chapter is already intense , looking for daisy and Beth having a panic attack .
Up until a guy name Billy comes to the rescue to calm her down and they got close together. But would she regret this after?


✨ Lovely story. It was very deep and full of emotional phrases . I could feel the author passion on reading this and left me speechless at the end. That’s why I’m shutting down a book for the day just to contemplate 😁


✨ Thankyou bookouture for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.


🫶🏼shaye.reads

"The Playground" by S.D. Robertson is a poignant and gripping novel that delves into the intricacies of friendship, grief, and the enduring impact of childhood trauma. With its compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, Robertson crafts a story that is both emotionally resonant and thought-provoking.

At the heart of the novel is the bond between the two main characters, Tom and Jake, whose friendship is tested by the events of one fateful summer. As the story unfolds, Robertson skillfully weaves together past and present, revealing the secrets and betrayals that have haunted them for decades. The depth of their relationship is palpable, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing that will resonate with readers.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its exploration of the long-term effects of childhood trauma. Robertson tackles sensitive themes with sensitivity and nuance, offering insight into the lasting impact of bullying, loss, and unresolved grief. Through Tom and Jake's experiences, readers are invited to reflect on their own childhoods and the ways in which past traumas continue to shape their lives.

The pacing of "The Playground" is expertly handled, with each chapter building suspense and tension as the story unfolds. Robertson keeps readers guessing until the very end, skillfully navigating twists and turns that keep the narrative engaging and unpredictable. The result is a gripping page-turner that will leave readers eager to uncover the truth behind the secrets of the past.

The emotional depth of the novel is further enhanced by Robertson's evocative prose and vivid descriptions. From the sun-drenched days of childhood to the shadowy corners of adulthood, the setting is brought to life with rich detail and atmospheric imagery. Robertson's writing is both lyrical and immersive, drawing readers into the world of the story and inviting them to experience its highs and lows alongside the characters.

In conclusion, "The Playground" by S.D. Robertson is a compelling and emotionally resonant novel that explores the enduring bonds of friendship and the lingering scars of childhood trauma. With its gripping plot, well-drawn characters, and evocative prose, it is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end. Robertson's powerful storytelling offers a poignant reminder of the importance of empathy, forgiveness, and the healing power of human connection.

Omg this book is utterly mind blowing. I was so hooked on the thrills that just keep coming. It was a page turning physcological thriller!

A haunting and atmospheric read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. This domestic thriller is a must-read

#ThePlayground #NetGalley
Beth is walking her 8-year-old daughter, Daisy, to school. Passing the playground, Daisy runs to the swings. Beth panics because she hates the playground and has told Daisy to never go there. Something bad happened to Beth there many years ago and she just cannot handle it. When Daisy is confronted by some bullies with a mean dog, Beth nearly faints. But a nice man steps up and offers to get Daisy for her. He runs the bullies off and brings Daisy to Beth. He introduces himself as Billy saying he has just moved into the neighborhood. Grateful to him, Beth invites him to dinner. Beth also has a 14-year-old son, Ethan. She is currently separated from her husband, Rory. While Daisy is handling the separation well, Ethan is angry about Beth kicking Rory out. He’s become the typical sullen teenager carrying his own secrets. As Beth and Billy become friends, they see one another from time to time usually for dinner. Beth wonders if the relationship could turn into something intimate until Billy makes a confession to her. What happened to Beth all those years ago that has had such an impact on her life leaving her scarred and always antsy?
It was a fantastic book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.

I loved this book from the start. It really pulled me in and the description of the characters was amazing- I could really get a good picture in my head.
I worked out the first plot twist pretty much straight away but the next plot twist came as a surprise. I initially thought he was her brother but out for revenge and blamed her in some way for the dad’s death.
I am surprised her guard wasn’t up more considering how mac was as a teenager and her knowing he would have been released.
Really enjoyed this book.

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. This was a combination of both a thriller and an emotional read. Great ending and very well written.

This book had me gripped from the start the author has done a fantastic job of drawing you in keeping you hooked keeping you guessing and then wow a massive twist and your gasping like a fish on a hook amazing loved

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

This psychological thriller follows Beth and her family several years after experience a huge trama! Beth is having a hard time getting past that experience and live with out her constant nightmare! Her life comes with many twists and turns to deal with while trying to keep her family safe, process everything an move on.

I did enjoy the book overall, there were a few big twists I didn't see coming but the book overall was a tad slow and repetitive. The words "um' and "er" were overused in the dialog and that did get a little annoying. Overall, I didn't love or hate the book and look forward to reading more from S.D. Robertson!

Reading Between the Wines book review #136/115(met goal in Sept!) for 2023:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Playground
Author: S.D. Robertson
Available Now!!

Sipping thoughts: Fears, some think they are irrational, but to the person it feels very rational. I have regular fears- spiders, bugs, scary movies- but I cannot imagine being afraid of a playground. Being afraid of a place that I want to be able to share with my kids. Beth’s horrific childhood trauma has developed into a fear of playgrounds. What I love about this book is you don’t know in the beginning what created this fear but once you find out it makes the most sense. Twist is relatively easy to figure out but there were layers to it so there were parts that surprised me. I will read another book from this author as this was my first.

Cheers and thank you to @Bookouture, and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @ThePlayground.

#ThePlayground #SDRobertson #Bookouture #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Special thanks to NetGalley for this speedy thriller. The main character Beth has endured a horrific childhood trauma at a local playground. This trauma follows her in her adult life and cycles back in a way one would never wish for.

I want to preface this review and say I do recommend this book, it just wasn’t my all time favorite. I absolutely loved the short chapters, and found myself reading more than I usually would in one sitting because of them. This book was a little slow at the beginning because of the buildup, but sped up midway through. Unfortunately, I guessed the twist and felt like it wasn’t the biggest one which is why I didn’t rate it higher. It’s super easy to follow and just a smoothly written book. Most of the reviews for this book are 4⭐️ and up so check it out and let me know what you think!

**A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and S.D. Robertson for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book**

This was an easy, fast paced read!

I was hooked from the first page! There were plenty of twists that kept me guessing and the story line was easy to follow even with the moving time line.

Robertson will be one of my new fave authors!

4 stars!

This was a slightly forced read for me in the sense that I forced myself to finish it.

Overall the plot wasn’t very deep and the characters felt very one dimensional and lacked drive.

Nice twist at the end but didn’t make up for the lack of character depth

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and free review. While this book was sometimes a bit far fetched, it was a decent read with several twists and turns.