This was another new author to me and I will definitely read more of her books.

Dani meets Adele at a playgroup one morning, Adele is new to the area and Layla, Dani's two year old daughter, gets on very well with Ivy, Adeles daughter, so Dani is happy to make a new friend especially considering a lot of the other mums at the playgroup look down their noses at such a young mother. But is Adele all she seems? And can she be trusted?

I really enjoyed this book. I would say it was quite slow to get into but I'm really glad I persevered as by 33% in I was hooked and was thinking about the story when I wasn't reading it (for me that's a sign of a good book). I admit some bits felt a bit dark to me, mainly Dylan (but I wont say anymore because I don't want to spoil the story). However I did really enjoy this book, I loved all the twists and there were definitely a few times I was sitting with my mouth gaping in shock as to what I had just read.

I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Victoria Jenkins for my advanced reading copy. Due out 21st May 2021.

A dark twisty domestic thriller !!

Dani and Adele meet at a community playgroup. Two very different women but they end up becoming friends. Both women are keeping secrets but what are those secrets ?

The story is told from the point of view of both women in alternating chapters. This one had me fooled as I thought I had it all worked out but I was very wrong !! This is a great domestic thriller that really will keep you on your toes as the secrets and truth is gradually revealed.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I really enjoyed The playdate. I was hooked from the start. The characters are great. I recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a bit of a slow burner but the second half of the book really picks up the pace.
Dani meets Adele at a playgroup and they become friends and meet up for coffee.
Dani is growing more and more worried as she is receiving threatening mail and people she knows have been sent emails about her past.
Adele has her own troubles, not least her controlling husband. We learn more about Adele as the story progresses.
I can’t say too much more without spoiling it, so will leave it there.
A great read with some twists to keep you on your toes.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

What will happen when a playdate turns into a nightmare? Well this is such story. Dani joins in a playdate and meets Adele who also has a daughter named Ivy. Ever since she joined the playdate, Dani has been getting threatening messages from an anonymous and escalated to a point where she was physically harmed. Adele meanwhile is facing abuse from her husband.

The story started a bit slow and was a bit boring. However, towards the end, unexpected twists and turns came into the picture that left me hooked at the end. Though not fast paced in the beginning, the story picked up the momentum in the end. The story is told from the perspectives of Adele and Dani and and the writing was good.

Overall, I give this book as four stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Always enjoy this authors books, I was up until about 50% through kinda blasé about this one and thought had worked it all out and was just a case of enjoying the read and the culprits being brought to justice when suddenly and without warning it all changed and the book took an unexpected turn and the whole thing was ‘on its head’
It’s good when you read so many books in this genre to be caught out and surprised and taken down a peg or three 😁
A book based on revenge, the characters scheming and in the case of Dani’s Mum nonchalant even slobbish but she was my favourite character ( not sure what that says! )
There are quite a few layers to the story and as say once had passed the 50% it was edge of your seat ( bed ) stuff, well written, crafty even and enjoyable and a good psychological thriller that caught me out

8/10
4 Stars

I was pretty reluctant about picking u this book because children-related thrillers are not exactly my cup of tea. So if, you're like me rest assured - even though children are a big part of this book, they're not the main plot line.
Also, beware - the blurb is a direct quote from the book but, imo, it's not a great one to describe that book.

The writing is good, you can easily differentiate the two POVs, which I always appreciate. It's a page-turner and it was amazing for me as my last book really dragged on.
I enjoyed the twists and even though I sort of guessed the final twist the book still kept me entertained.
The ending is good and I also enjoyed it as I'm so sick and tired of the fake happy endings with that one final twist that shows you that protagonists's life is still in danger of that the main villain is still alive to torment other people. Like jesus, give your poor protagonist a break!

It's my first Victoria Jenkins' book and I'll gladly pick some of her other works!

The first part of this book was slow, but once it picked up, it really picked up. I really enjoyed the character development of the moms. They felt very real, like they could be your neighbor. The twist was great and I did not fully see that coming. It was not a typical psychological thriller, but was very good.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of The Playdate in exchange for my honest opinion.

This one was a little too predictable for me. It was a very fast-paced, quick read, but at the same time, I felt like I had it completely figured out at at least the halfway mark and it was obvious that I was correct by about the third quarter mark.

📚 BOOK REVIEW - The Playdate. publication Date - 21st May 2021 📚

Dani & Adele meet at playgroup with their children and become firm friends. Dani is a young mum and Adele is a bit older. They both have stuff from their past, that still concerns them now. During this book, things start to unravel and we begin to see, what secrets Dani & Adele have.
I’m trying not to give too much away, so kept it short!

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author. I felt the 2nd half of the book gripped me more and I felt first couple of pages of the book..... there were so many characters names all at once,‘I got a bit confused at first. But once I was into the book that wasn’t an issue. The twists in this book are a great read and said “wait....what?!” A few times. Very clever and I questioned myself, “how did I not realise that?!”. Definitely worth a read.

#theplaydate #bookouture #victoriajenkins #netgalley #arcbook #psychological #thriller #bookstagramshaz

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

Dani meets Adele at playgroup and they become fast friends. Dani confides in Adele and tells her about her past and about the father of her daughter, Layla. She soon receives all kinds of threatening messages that she assumes are from her ex's wife. But as the story progresses, we learn things about Adele and that she is not who she appears to be.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book. It was filled with twists and a great ending. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, definitely check this one out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mothers keep all sorts of secrets... and it takes one to know one. The middle class dream turns into a nightmare in this great novel, focusing on motherhood and its trials and tribulations.

Domestic drama I would call this. Playground seemed always safe. But not in this story. It all starts really slow and it all finish reall quick. I loved the second part of the book more. I felt conected to the younger Dani all the time eventhough I am not so young anymore. I feel her anger and her worries and all that happened to her in her till then. The most important secret is revealed after when we knew more about Adele. It is an easy read but with lots of feelings. In the end, not all secrets are secrets anymore, but I would love to keep reading to know what happened after it.


Special thanks to Netgalley.com and Bookouture that gave me a copy in exhange of an honest review.

This book started off very slowly but by midway the pace picked up and a twist I didnt see coming. Well worth a read.

First of all let me start by saying that this book is a complete work of domestic fiction, it emphasizes a lot on the same characters and the story more or less revolves around the same plot.
However, it does confuse the readers. There are plenty of twists in the story that will keep you glued to the pages. The starting was a bit slow but it was okay for me.
The characters were so suspicious and doubtful that I was on edge the whole time-- figuring out their moves or what they would do next. But ohh-- the ending was sooo unpredictable!!!
Now the ending- it was really good and unforeseen but I thought that it was a bit absurd, I mean it came all of a sudden, and was a bit "out of the plot", if that even has a meaning 🤷‍♀️ But it was quite satisfying and there were no plot holes.

Anyway, if you're looking for a light twisty read with a totally confusing ending, grab this one!! 🖤

Summing up the points:
Slow burner+ doubtful characters+ suspense+ twisty + a "holy cow" ending! 🔎

TW⚠️ suicide, child abduction, violence

I was looking forward to read The Playdate by Victoria Jenkins but it took me ages to get in to it. This book is the definition of a slow burn. The second half of the book was better than the first but, for me, it felt like a hard slog to get through.
Thank you the author, NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Victoria Jenkins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finding out she was pregnant not long after uncovering that the guy she was dating is married, Dani has spent motherhood caring for her young daughter alone. Now, she's receiving annonymous threats, and speculation on her past is rife; why is the wife of her ex only just making her life a misery now? Meeting Adele, who is an older lady, at playgroup gives Dani some distraction and the pair soon become friends... but Adele has secrets, a life that is as up and down as Dani's and someone is out for revenge.

A slow burner but one that didn't lose my interest whilst reading; the second half of the book was fab and the twist I was not expecting AT ALL. However, I dont feel we were told enough about the backstory to either character therefore the impact of the twist didn't hit me as hard as I'd have liked.

I would definitely be open to reading more from this author though!

Great psychological Drama 🤓

Told from Dani and Adele's perspective, two different ladies who meet at a playgroup who become friends, but as time goes on and things come to light, Dani realizes she doesn't really know Adele at all.

A great read , truths gradually unraveling you'll not want to put it down.

Published: May 21, 2021
Bookouture
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Victoria Jenkins lives with her husband in South Wales, where she writes crime fiction and teaches English. The Girls in the Water is her debut novel, the first featuring Detective Inspector Alex King and Detective Constable Chloe Lane.

“But hindsight had never been of help to anyone.”

Dani is a young, single mom simply trying to survive. Living at home had its challenges, but for the most part it’s alright. Working at the salon is a tad stressful, but it’s a job Dani is grateful to have. When a new woman and child show up at the playgroup one week, Dani has no expectations. But when the woman turns out to be rather lovely, Dani thinks she might be making a new friend. The fact that the woman, Adele, is older doesn’t bother Dani. But then the flyers arrive. And the cat disappears. And the past slowly starts to creep back from the darkness. Now Dani is left wondering if she will survive long enough to see her daughter's future.

I enjoyed this book. The build-up was excellent, and the anticipation was well executed. The way things unraveled was rather clever. In a dangerous game of cat and mouse, you learn that sometimes the person in front of you is not what they seem.

I enjoyed the characters in this novel. Dani, a young mom who has some darkness in her past. All she wants is to be a good mom and a good daughter and perhaps find true love someday. Adele, an older woman who has an air of mystery and sadness around her but who always seems to know what to say and when to say it. Layla, Dani’s stubborn and charming toddler.

The twists are subtle, and the truth is slowly being revealed as you read, leaving you completely floored in the end when the final scenes take place. It’s impossible to guess how this sordid dance will end, and you find yourself racing to finish the next chapter.

As pieces start falling into place and the truth slowly starts to form, I found myself reeling from the way the story played out. In a clever power dynamic and a well-crafted lesson that goes awry, I could not put this book down.

In darkness and light, the truth will be revealed. The question that remains is- who will be around to see it?

Although this book started off slow for me, once it picked up it was wild!! With turns I never saw coming, I finished the second half within a few hours. Would read another by this author!