i need to stop getting excited for specific types of horror/ thrillers.
this was a long awaited read and i was disappointed in the characters and the 1st half of the book being repetitive on the MCs background without adding legitimate detail
one year after jakes life is ruined by her ex bsf and husband adam
jake has lost her job, house and friends after shelby( ex bsf) released a private message jake had sent degrading children with disabilities
just before this jake experiences a miscarriage affecting her relationship with her husband, who has been cheating on her with shelby and planning on leaving jake for shelby
this story is told so many times i forgot the main plot:
shelby meets mabel a neighbour on an app recommended by the landlords or another tenant?
they become revenge friends as we learn mabel has been through something similar
theres hints other neighbours are doing sketchy things and theres some kids in the neighbourhood also involved, it gets to confusing because the MC will not stop being self centered
its a weird. morally grey story of scorned people and doesnt really tackle right vs wrong, good vs evil and kinda flat lines

Jake’s life has fallen apart. As she juggles the emotions of loss and betrayal she finds herself connecting to a ragtag of characters in her new neighbourhood.
Alliances form and plans for payback start to develop, and secrets are revealed.

I enjoyed this story - the characters and story development were entertaining. There were enough twists and turns to keep me interested and I truly fell in love with the neighborhood kids and was rooting for Jake and Mable.

The story is fun and drama filled - if you’re looking for an easy beach read, check this one out!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for early access to this book.

PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS is a suspenseful story that explores social media-driven revenge and fractured relationships. Jake lost her job, house, and husband after Shelby's betrayal. After moving to Sweetwater Lane, Jake befriends Mabel; both seek revenge, and they are not alone.

This clever, insightful, and slightly unhinged story has multiple plotlines. The drama-filled Sweetwater Lane neighborhood features thoroughly broken, morally complex characters and dysfunctional families, resulting in a story that lingers long after you finish reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader's copy. My thanks also go to Lauren Myracle for this thought-provoking read. I'm excited to read more from Lauren Myracle!

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up

"As for me, I'm no longer a little girl, and I've given up on being good. I gave it my best shot, but it got me nowhere. So I've set my sights on something new: revenge."

After the loss of her son, husband, and best friend, Jake is only after one thing: revenge.

You know, I don't normally think revenge is the answer, but.... *Siri, play "Cell Block Tango" from the musical Chicago*. Jakes backstory warranted the feminine rage this story oozed, I would have probably gone crazy if I were in her shoes.

I love when stories incorporate blogs/webpage forums throughout like this book did, it adds a fun little detail to the story.

If you like unhinged FMCs, this should be your next read!

Unfortunately this title was archived before I could finish reading it. I have added it to my TBR to finish reading. Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC of Plays Well With Others.

Let’s just say.. NOBODY is playing well with each other! 😂 Holy drama!! This neighborhood is seriously unhinged. Although I must admit.. it seems pretty typical.😂 🤷‍♀️Neighbors hiding behind online identities… behaving VERY badly?? Well yes please. 😂

This made for a very entertaining read. I jumped back and forth between the book and the audio and enjoyed both.

Be warned there are some heavy topics but overall it was an entertaining read! Thanks @blackstonepublishing for the audio and the physical copy!!🫶🫶

Such a good read!! It kept me wanting to read more. Definitely recommend this book too all readers !!! Five stars!!!

I really liked this book. I haven't ready anything by this author in years so it was nice to get back to and old favorite. I was very pleasantly surprised.

This was really good. Definitely an easy and great read for young adults. I really enjoyed the ending as well. It’s not often you get a genuine happy ending in a mystery/suspense book.

This was a fun and twisty concept—revenge buddies turned amateur mischief-makers on a picturesque lane full of petty grudges. The pacing kept things moving, and the setup had definite promise. But the tonal shifts between lighthearted hijinks and darker plot points didn’t always land, and the characters sometimes felt more like caricatures than real people. Entertaining, just not quite as sharp as it could’ve been.

After getting cancelled on social media, Jake is putting the pieces of her life back together a year later. Reeling from a messy divorce, getting fired from her job, losing her best friend, and dealing with lots of grief, she moves into her new home looking for a fresh start. But she still has vengeance on her mind. In her new place, she meets a new friend, Mabel, and they decide to concoct a scheme to not just get mad but to get even. However, things are not quite what they seem and innocent lives are put in harm’s way because of all the scheming.

I’m not quite sure where I land with this one. I loved the author’s voice throughout the book, and the pace was spot on. I finished this in a sitting, because I had to know how it ended. I also quite liked Jake’s character - while flawed, she felt very relatable and kept the story interesting. However, I did not love most of the other characters throughout and felt like Shelby was honestly just a caricature. I also wasn’t a fan of the mixed POV perspective - it really didn’t add a whole lot to the book and its storytelling. But my biggest gripe is that the plot felt a bit muddied and confusing, especially for the first half. While it all comes together at the end, I felt a little let down by the ending.

If you’re looking for a quick, character-driven read, this one may be for you! Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!

This started off so strong. I was hooked. Then once it started introducing the kids POV, it fell off immensely. Almost felt like reading two different stories and trying to keep track of the characters was a lot.
I finished the book and found that it was a bit juvenile and the “twists” were way too coincidental that it took away from it being shocking at all.

Lauren Myracle, once the “most banned author in America,” is drawn to writing about darkness.

She has written more than 30 young adult novels, including several bestsellers. But it wasn’t until her forthcoming novel for adults, “Plays Well with Others,” that she let the darkness take center stage.

The novel follows Jake Nolan, a woman reeling from the fallout of a viral betrayal that cost her job, her marriage and her reputation, and left her grieving the loss of a stillborn son. A year later, Nolan is living alone in a new neighborhood, trying to rebuild, when a casual friendship turns into a scheme for revenge. She finds herself pulled into the tensions of a community where everyone seems to be nursing a grudge.

Myracle’s YA roots show in the novel’s brisk pacing and emotional honesty, especially in her sharp, layered portrayals of the neighborhood’s children, whose perspectives add depth and poignancy to the adults’ unraveling lives.

Ahead of a June 10 talk about “Plays Well with Others” at Mystery to Me, the Cap Times spoke with Myracle about exploring revenge in her writing and the moral weight of dark fiction.

Read the interview: https://captimes.com/entertainment/books/ahead-of-book-talk-lauren-myracle-explains-love-for-full-creepy/article_84d4701f-40ed-4a4c-a896-5aa6e3adb9f2.html

Hold. Up.

I just crawled out from under a rock (a very comfortable one, mind you, with this book in hand) after devouring Plays Well with Others by Lauren Myracle, and let me tell you, my soul is still doing somersaults.

You know me, I like my thrillers like I like my coffee: dark, strong, and with enough twists to make my head spin. This, my friends, delivers.

Jake, has had her entire life tanked because her 'best friend' decided to air all her dirty laundry on social media.

Job? Gone.
House? Adios.
Husband? Poof.

She moves to this idyllic Sweetwater Lane, probably thinking she'll find peace, maybe a nice shrubbery. NOPE. Instead, she finds Mabel, a new neighbor who also has an axe to grind. And because misery loves company (and a little bit of petty revenge), they decide to team up.
Here’s where it gets juicy. What starts as what sounds like a delightfully mischievous plan of pranks and retribution quickly spirals into something much darker.

This book isn't just about revenge; it's about the terrifying domino effect of it. It’s about how those seemingly 'trivial' grievances can fester into something truly monstrous. Myracle has crafted a web of secrets so tangled, so deliciously sinister, that I found myself whispering 'NO!' to the pages more times than I care to admit.

If you're into domestic thrillers that peel back the perfectly manicured lawn of suburbia to reveal the truly unsettling things buried beneath, then you NEED Plays Well with Others. It’s tense, it’s twisty, and it will make you eye your neighbors with a newfound, delightful paranoia. Seriously, my jaw hit the floor. Multiple times. Go read it. Now.

This book is the definition of a binge worthy domestic thriller. A somewhat short, entertaining and thought provoking read, I literally cancelled all of my plans because I could not put it down and needed to know how it was all going to play out. I don’t want to go too into detail because of spoilers but Sweetwater Lane isn’t as amazing and one would think, and I will now forever be wondering about who my neighbors really are. I will immediately be recommending this to all who are looking for a domestic thriller!

Plays Well With Others had some moments that offered comic relief & some moments that were pretty emotional that touched on heavier topics.

When Jacquelyn “Jake” Nolan moves for a fresh start after enduring life changes that would break most people, she begins to uncover secrets from some of the new neighbors in the surrounding area. Some of these secrets were definitely jaw dropping.

I was wondering the purpose of Jake befriending some of the children in the area, but it all unfolded nicely & made sense as to why she was drawn to them.

The emotional journey of hearing Jake’s story throughout her healing journey from having a stillborn son was heart wrenching & if it’s not triggering for some, readers will enjoy.

There were some lovable & some dislikable characters, I’m unsure of who I despised more Vanessa, the neighbor that is despicable to her son or Shelby the ex best friend that betrayed Jake in the worst way. Although it took her a while to get there, I enjoyed Jake’s character development! When the opportunity presented itself to “get her lick back” she chose to use that opportunity to help others.

Favorite Quote
“She does not deserve an inch of your mental real estate, nor mine.”

Overall worth the read, 3.5 ⭐️ and I will be reading more from this author. Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS by Lauren Myracle @myraclegirl

Genre: Domestic Suspense
Format: 🎧
🌶️: N/A
⚠️: Light themes of child neglect / abuse (not graphic)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

If domestic drama is your jam this book should offer enough to satisfy your cravings 😂

If you love a good petty revenge oriented queen then this one is for you! The fake poops where my fave m, iykyk.. however i did feel for Billy receiving all the wrath 😪

We all agree that anonymous online keyboard warriors are absolutely the worst kinds of human beings in real life, but in book and fiction format it is pretty fun to watch unfold!

You can choose for yourself which character it root for and which to defend their bad behaviour, I personally rooted for the main character and was glad she made a supportive friend with her wacky neighbour 😆

Not my typical genre but l enjoyed this book and would recommend the read! Light themes of grief, loss, found family, friendships, betrayal and divorce with a heavy side of dramaaa 🍿

Thank you @blackstonepublishing for the gifted copy!

Ugh such a great book. I literally could not put it down. For two days straight I was INVESTED. I loved the characters so much. Except Shelby. 👎 She deserves the fire.

This book was a hot mess. Let me clarify what I mean by that. If you picture a row of brand new houses and insert families, each with their own brand of drama and trauma that oozes out of their pores, you have this book. You have adult women acting like children. Taunting and bullying, grown up version. You have children that come from abusive houses and don't know how to act properly around others.

I found myself crying several times during this book because of how horrible some situations were. Broke my heart! Quite a few characters are introduced, but we get to see a first person view from most of them, including children, throughout the book. The intertwining of their lives definitely is interesting.

A dark, twisty haunting tale of fractured families and the fragile threads that bind neighbors together. Jake’s friend Shelby sleeps with her husband, upending her life and prompting a move. In her new neighborhood, she forms unlikely connections: kind-hearted Mabel, troubled Vanessa’s son Billy, and siblings Wendell and Delilah, whom live with their aunt. But beneath the surface, every household carries its own heartache, and with burdens that weigh just as heavily on the children as they do on the adults.