The story is told by four women who work in a nursery called The Nest. Each of them has their own secrets that they are trying to protect after an accident occurs at the nursery. I enjoyed reading from the different perspectives, the cliffhangers and plot kept me guessing until the reveal. All in all, I give it 4 stars and look forward to reading more books by the author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The Playgroup is a fast paced psychological thriller that has you gripped into the book from the beginning. The multiple POVs and the way they go into the next chapter was done really well making you want to keep turning the pages until the end.

A couple things I didn’t like were the characters and how selfish and unlikeable they are. I was really put off by a lot of their actions and insufferable personalities.

I loved the writing style Leah Mercer uses and I can’t wait to read more from her.

3.75⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Leah Mercer for allowing me to read the ARC of The Playgroup

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for a copy of this ebook!

This book had multiple points of view which got to be confusing at times just because I had a hard time keeping track of each person in ebook format but once you got into the heart of the story it seemed to be easier to follow. No spoilers but the twists throughout and intense storylines were something I did not expect throughout the story and made it hard to put down.

My first Leah Mercer book and I was not disappointed. This book is full of gaslighting, secrets, and craziness. Every page I was gasping, rolling my eyes, or screaming at my kindle. Lol. The ending was deff a shocker, though. Perfect book for any thriller lover.

Thriller told by the pov of all 4 nursery workers. Thus deals with difficult issues such as addiction,postnatal depression and crime. Every character is well written and complex. The story gets going after an accident leaves a little girl in hospital and secrets are revealed for all the characters . The final twist made it a 5 star read for me.
Throughly enjoyable highky recommended. Thanks netgallery and publisher and author

This was my first Leah Mercer book, and I really enjoyed it!
There was excellent tension throughout, the stress and trauma on the characters was written with some serious emotion!
Any book centred around an accident involving a child has to be dealt with using empathy and powerful writing, and Mercer did a fantastic job of maintaining that. The plot is well paced, and the twists are so unpredictable!
There are characters you feel for, and ones you love to hate! Gosspi and drama in the educational settings fascinate me, and this definitely met those cravings!

On the edge of my seat until the last page. Every parent's nightmare. I enjoyed this very relatable psychological thriller/suspense.

Thrilling. Suspenseful. Addictive. Fast paced and just wow! Gripped me from the first page and did not let go until the last. Loved this one!

The Playgroup is so much more than you expect from the description. It sounds like a fairly simple story but once you scratch the surface there are so many twists and turns, secrets and lies that as a reader I just did not know where the story would take me. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, I did find it infuriating at times, which isn’t a negative it’s like when you’re watching TV and you want to scream at the characters. Some great characters and a brilliant story!

I really enjoyed this book and felt badly for the mother. She made (what I thought) were some different choices than most would make but was finding her way and connecting with her daughter. I did not solve any of they mysteries until near the end of the book. Well-done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Sadly this has to be added to my DNF list. It is my type of book, crime with a good interesting drama.
But after reading 25% I really disliked the way the plot was going. This poor woman Lenore has suffered Post Natal Depression after her daughter was born to the point it got very bad and as supportive as her husband has been, he’s also overbearing and very critical of her and her parenting skills.
Lenore decides she needs a break with her daughter, which finds her living in a small village and working in the nursery her daughter goes to.

When an accident happens at the nursery which is 100% their fault as the child runs out into the road, instead of this nursery talking responsibility, the manager decides to blame the mother. Making her and everyone else believe she is the guilty one. It’s a horrible cruel thing to do and I just don’t want to read that.

I feel so dizzy with glee at how good it is!! Wow!! I initially thought it was a simple story of a child sneaking off when you take your eyes away from them for a second but it turned out to be so much more! Secrets,lies and danger made me flip through the pages so fast my head is spinning.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In "The Playgroup" , Leah Mercer masterfully weaves a tale that ensnares the heart and ensnares the mind.

This gripping psychological suspense is not merely a book; it's a journey into the labyrinth of the human psyche, where mental health lurks like the minotaur in the dark corners of societal stigma.

The story unfolds around a bright and welcoming haven—the playgroup—nestled within a red-brick building at the heart of the town.

Here, mothers entrust their children to the care of newfound friends: Alice, Beth, and Georgie. But when tragedy strikes, the safety of this sanctuary shatters, leaving lives forever altered.

Leah Mercer explores the complexities of family bonds, secrets, and the lengths we go to protect our loved ones. The other mothers harbor their own dangerous truths, and as the layers peel away, more secrets are discovered.

A compelling mystery for fans of psychological thrillers.

The Playgroup

Book Review 📚

🩷🩷🩷💞(3.5)

This is an arc book Thank you to @netgalley for allowing me to read and do a review. I am very honored.

This is the first book I have ever read from this author.

This book is as a psychological thriller.
There were some twists and turns; my brain felt like a Rubiks cube half the time I was reading. At some point I did like the storyline… it’s just there weren’t that many thrills in this book for me to love it.
I just felt like I was on a mini roller coaster ride.

🚩No Spoliers🚩

The Playground

This novel is about a woman that wanted to move away from her old village and start a fresh new look for her life with her and her child away from the past to start with a clean slate.

Starting at a new job at a nursery, she had her child with her every time she worked to keep her safe and protected.

Feeling like an outcast at work, trying to make new friends, and having new boss, she kept to herself most of the time. One day, a coworker opened up to her about her life and work.

While feeling the same connection with her coworker, she had shared something about her past. She told her, “I feel safe and my child safety is the most important thing for me,” Did she make a new friend?

Before she took this job, her boss told her that this nursery is a safe Haven. It is safe place for children and they wouldn’t hurt her here.

Was she lying to her?

Was this nursery really a safe place? Did any kids get hurt here before? And what kind of past and secrets does this place have?

Must read to find out!!

I do recommend this book; I say give it a try. It’s a very fast read.

I Let Her In follows Cassie and her husband Jon return to his childhood home after the death of his mother. Cassie hopes to find both solace and a fresh start. But not everything is as it seems, and she has a journey finding the truth lurking behind the shadows of her life.

This thriller is told by different points of views, and I felt hooked me since the very start. The characters are well written, and the plot is quite interesting. This is a suspenseful thriller full of twists and turns that will not allow you to see the end coming. I felt like I was being pull down a rabbit hole without predict the ending.

I really enjoyed this story; it has the right pace and has so many secrets and suspense. The storyline was well developed, and I was so engaging in the story that I could not stop until the end.

Thank you, Bookouture & NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

The story starts by introducing us to Florence, a mom looking for a fresh start, and the three coworkers and friends she meets in a new town. Beneath the “warm and fuzzy” surface, each woman juggles her needs and ambitions. When a tragedy happens, will friendship prevail?

Florence: A mom and former teacher that has recently overcome post partum depression. She is taking her toddler on a vacation of sorts, house sitting in the country and proving to herself that she is a capable mother without the help of her husband.

Alice: launched the Nest, a nursery everyone loves, and struggles with the stress of knowing she could lose it. She also feels excluded by her family, even as she prioritizes work.

Georgie: A Nest employee who wants some time off to focus on her teenage children, one of whom has been diagnosed with MS. Is she strong enough to express her needs?

Beth: a Nest employee who has struggled with infertility and is finally pregnant! But some past mistakes haunt her.

The Playgroup tells a story about the secrets we keep and our willingness to let others suffer unmerited consequences in order to keep our own skeletons firmly locked in the closet.

Quick enjoyable read. Characters felt a little underdeveloped for me. I loved the secret trope. It felt rushed at the end.

In the poignant narrative by Mercer, a mother navigates the tumultuous waters of postpartum depression, a storm threatening to consume her very essence. The story begins with a tragic car accident involving Florence, the mother's daughter, fighting for her life, while the mother wrestles with guilt and uncertainty, facing potential blame for the crisis. The tale unfolds, exposing the harsh truth that individuals grappling with mental health struggles are often unfairly targeted, their pain intensified by a society that turns a blind eye, leaving them isolated. Through the protagonist's struggle, a stark reminder emerges of the crucial need for empathy and comprehension towards those confronting mental health challenges. "The Playgroup" stands as an irresistible force, urging the dismantling of biases that restrict conversations surrounding mental health.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Lenore, the mother, and the three daycare workers, offering a deeper insight into each character through their individual chapters. Surprising revelations in the prologue caught me off guard, adding an element of astonishment to the plot. The book delves into challenging themes such as postnatal depression and substance abuse, with Lenore's and Beth's viewpoints standing out as the most developed. The story excels at maintaining intrigue and a fast-paced plot. An engaging aspect of the book is its exploration of gaslighting within the context of hidden truths and shifting blame among the characters. This adds a layer of complexity to the interpersonal dynamics, enhancing the overall narrative tension.

The novel concludes satisfactorily with unexpected character resolutions. Mercer retains her skill in concealing characters' secrets, building tension until the climactic reveal. Fans of the author are likely to find enjoyment in this gripping tale and eagerly await her future works. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Told from the perspective of each of the lead characters, Mercer weaves a twisted tale by revealing the secrets each character holds throughout the book. They’re full of flaws & realistic problems in this gripping psychological suspense about how far one may go to protect their secrets even if it means ruining someone else.

Thank you, Leah Mercer, Bookouture, & @
netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.