3.5 stars — I have mixed feelings about this one. Overall, I enjoyed the read — the pacing was strong, the story kept me engaged, and it was easy to get through. The writing style leans a bit YA, but it flowed well and was easy to settle into.

That said, I struggled with some of the characters. Wendell was easily my favorite and truly the heart of the book. I went back and forth on Jake and Mabel (it did take me a minute to adjust to Jake being female). While I ended up liking them by the end, they made a lot of frustrating and questionable choices, and their thoughts often felt immature or petty. Billy was more complicated — I felt for him at times, but his behavior occasionally crossed into cartoonish villainy, as did Shelby’s.

The alternating POV structure didn’t quite work for me. Having Jake’s chapters in first-person and everyone else in third-person didn’t add much, especially since all POVs explored the characters’ thoughts equally. At times, it pulled me out of the story.

Still, this was a fun, fast-paced read that held my attention throughout.

Jake Nolan has lost everything, except a bungalow across an elementary school. She lost her son, her husband and her best friend. She moves into her bungalow in a cute neighborhood and becomes friends with one of her neighbors thinking life is starting over but it turns out this neighborhood is full of secrets.

I got this as an audiobook and an ebook and I must say I really liked the audiobook! It has the perfect mix of suspense, humor and deep. I recommend this book!!!

I rated it 3.5 stars

Thank you partner @blackstonepublishing for the gifted arc! #blackstoneinsiders

This was an intense neighborhood drama that did not shy away from difficult topics. I was shocked at the despicable behavior of the adults. There were moments that really got my blood boiling. I really felt for the kids and how the adults’ behavior ultimately affected them. Overall, it was a dark and entertaining read! Please check trigger warnings.

Rating 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. I have never read this author but I really enjoyed this book. The cover is amazing. I love different povs

From the first page I was gripped by Plays Well with Others and read through the night till the end.
The novel is thrilling beyond belief, with suspense and twists ratcheting up on each page.
An intriguing domestic thriller that I devoured in one day.

Editor's note: This roundup is scheduled to publish in Georgia June 11 online and June 14 print in several newspapers. Will also publish in Mississippi and Alabama during the month in newspapers and magazines, timing up to local editors. Link below will be active June 11.

From new series starters (Michael Connelly’s “Nightshade”) to the tried-and-true (Kendra Elliot’s “Her First Mistake”) our beach bag is already overflowing, and what we offer here are just a few — OK, actually 25 — of the best beach reads published through the end of June. Later this season we’ll round out the list, but for now, find an old favorite, a debut thriller or just about anything in between — including a North Alabama favorite who you just might see dining at a Cullman restaurant.

“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man” (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A lovable Chinese tea shop owner stumbles upon a distressed, young woman — and a murder, the investigation of which she decides to serve up herself. With lots of tea and nosy charm, Vera tackles the project unasked as a “favor” to her (hoped for) future daughter-in-law. Sutanto mixes cozy mystery with smart humor and heartfelt moments.

“When She Was Gone” (Blackstone Publishing) by Sara Foster: When a young nanny working for one of Perth’s wealthiest families disappears, a tense investigation unravels the secrets of a seemingly perfect family, forcing everyone to confront the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. Foster delivers a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that lingers. And as expected from Blackstone Publishing, the story itself is packaged beautifully with subtle and tactile cover art: Buy the hardcover of this one.

“Follow Me” (Thomas & Mercer) by Elizabeth Rose Quinn: An eerie digital breadcrumb trail leads a tech-savvy woman into a web of deception and danger. Quinn crafts a smart, suspenseful mystery that taps into our modern fears of surveillance and online identity. “Heathers” meets “The Stepford Wives” in this tale of twin sisters.

“The Book That Held Her Heart” (Ace) by Mark Lawrence: In this final chapter of The Library Trilogy, a mysterious book bridges love, loss and literary magic in a haunting story that defies time and tests the bond between Livira and Evar — one that has never been more taut. Lawrence blends fantasy and emotion in this lyrical, genre-bending tale.

“The Great Pyramids: Collected Stories” (Arcade Publishing) by Frederick Barthelme: This sharp, wry collection captures small-town oddities, human longing and ironic twists with Barthelme’s signature minimalist flair. A masterclass in short fiction that’s both grounded and subtly surreal.

“The Boomerang” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Bailey: Big Pharma is on trial as Eli James, chief of staff to the president, attempts to rescue his daughter from a cancer diagnosis while simultaneously stumbling upon a cover up that could affect millions of lives — and more importantly to the bad guys, billions of dollars. Bailey keeps the thrills high and the emotional stakes higher. He also lives with his family in Huntsville — and has been know to visit Cullman County now and then. Let him know what you think of his latest if you see him around town.

“A Thousand Natural Shocks” (Blackstone Publishing) by Omar Hussain: A reporter fleeing his past while investigating a serial killer becomes entangled in a cult that promises a pill to erase his memory. The story turns to a test of time as dark secrets about the cult and the serial killer surface in an attempt to reconcile everything he’s learned with his past — before his memories evaporate.

“My Friends” (Atria Books) by Fredrik Backman: Backman returns with a moving meditation on friendship, aging, the quiet heroism of everyday people and a famous painting picturing an isolated moment of time of three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier. Tender, funny and unmistakably human, this is Backman’s most eloquent and lyrical story to date about how lives intersect in unknowable and unpredictable ways. An engaging read from the author of “A Man Called Ove.”

“The Language of the Birds” (Ballantine) by K.A. Merson: Arizona is no average teenager and when she finds a cryptic ransom note, she sets out to solve the riddles — and save her mother. Unwittingly, she becomes entangled in a worldwide treasure hunt that involves a centuries-old secret her father took to his grave. A quirky, surprising story soars in an introspective mystery.

“The Eternal Warrior” (Blackstone Publishing) by Ari Marmell: An immortal fighter who defies even death — an Eternal Warrior — is caught in a conflict that spans centuries, grappling with his past sins and the future of humanity in an attempt to reclaim everything that has slipped from his personal history. Marmell delivers epic fantasy with grit, heart and unrelenting pace.

“Nightshade” (Little, Brown and Company) by Michael Connelly: Done with Bosch and Ballard, at least for now, Connelly’s new series starter centers on another one-name detective, Stilwell. Due to department politics, the Los Angeles County sheriff detective has been exiled to a low-level post on Catalina Island, where he promptly begins to ruffle local feathers as he unearths secrets the natives would rather keep to themselves. Hopefully Connelly’s flair for backstory and depth will surface in future offerings, but for now, our first meeting with Stilwell offers a familiar, fun summer read.

“Kaua’i Storm” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tori Eldridge: In the lush Hawaiian landscape, a repatriated national park ranger uncovers a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her two cousins. Unfortunately for her, it’s a mystery and investigation that neither the family, the locals nor the police truly want exposed. Eldridge blends action and cultural depth in a uniquely tropical thriller.

“Rockets’ Red Glare” (Blackstone Publishing) by William Webster and Dick Lochte: A high-octane political thriller unfolds against the backdrop of a potentially explosive Fourth of July. Lochte’s sharp storytelling and fast pacing make for a perfect July 4 holiday page-turner. The book is the first in a series with Tribal Police Deputy Sage Mendiluze. Reacher and Pickett fans will find common ground here.

“Written on the Dark” (Ace) by Guy Gavriel Kay: Kay returns with an evocative, elegant historical fantasy set in a world where poetry, memory and fate collide. Centering on a tavern poet who must cater to both rogues and courtiers, Thierry Villar must also navigate churning political waters in a game of assassins and armies. Richly imagined and beautifully told storytelling.

“A Dead Draw” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni: In book 11 of the Tracy Crosswhite series, a pair of cold cases stir ties to the murder of Tracy’s sister in the form of suspect Erik Schmidt. When Schmidt is freed due to an investigative error, the lives of her friends and family are under direct threat. Schmidt is a master of taunt and tease as he draws Tracy deeper into his dark world. Wonderful character building in this story and the sensitive drawing of Lydia, a young woman on the spectrum whose mannerisms echo those of Tracy’s murdered sister, is exceptionally done. One of Dugoni’s best works, the author brings in just enough backstory to both start the series here, and reward long-time readers with vintage Crosswhite.

“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club” (Ballantine Books) by Martha Hall Kelly: In a story told through dual timelines, Kelly’s narrative is a personal ode to her mother’s heritage. Involving a contemporary mystery, set at Martha’s Vineyard, whose only answers will come from the past, the story taps a wartime romance set in 1942 — and a beach read written for today. Kelly is touring extensively for this book through the end of July. Meet up with her at marthahallkelly.com/events/.

“The Turn” (Blackstone Publishing) by Christopher Ransom: An heirloom, of sorts, following his father’s death sends Casey Sweet into his dad’s past — and a current country club where Casey might just have met the long-lost son he never knew he had. Written in the tradition of “Caddyshack,” Ransom’s new novel is an engaging summer break.

“The Afterlife Project” (Podium Publishing) by Tim Weed: Humanity is facing extinction. A group of scientists with the capability to send a test subject 10,000 years into the future. One of the last women on Earth capable of getting pregnant. All of this portends that the survival of humankind is at stake in a futuristic setting evoking the ills of today.

“It Takes a Psychic” (Berkley) by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle: A psychic investigator — actually, a para-archeologist — with a flair for romance and the paranormal dives into a case filled with danger and sizzling chemistry. Castle delivers her signature mix of mystery charm in a story centering on a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. “It Takes a Psychic” is No. 18 in Castle’s A Harmony Novel series.

“The Ghostwriter” (Sourcebooks Landmark) by Julie Clark: An author’s past returns to haunt her in the form of a ghostwriting project undertaken for her estranged father. When the project turns out to be just another one of dad’s lies, writer Olivia Dumont is forced to confront her relationship with her father … and a web of family secrets.

“Stop All the Clocks” (Arcade) by Noah Kumin: Kumin’s debut is a meditative, poetic novel about time, grief and the modern-life moments that define us … in ones and zeroes. The death of a colleague and the collapse of her AI company send Mona Veigh’s life in directions not determined by any algorithm.

“Plays Well with Others” (Blackstone Publishing) by Lauren Myracle: A bout of social media betrayal forces Jake Nolan from her job, house and husband and into a receptive bungalow on Sweetwater Lane. There, she befriends those just like herself — people itching to act on entrenched thoughts of retaliation.

“Her First Mistake” (Montlake) by Kendra Elliot: Elliot has written nearly two dozen thrillers set in her home state of Oregon and this latest offering features a minor character from the Columbia River novels: Here, Deschutes County sheriff’s detective Noelle Marshall gets her own origin story. A cold case murder mystery, this is the tale that explains what happened to Marshall to make her the detective she is today, or at least what she becomes in later storylines. A fulfilling storyline delivers much more than backstory in a captivating summer read.

“Jill Is Not Happy” (Scarlet) by Kaira Rouda: In this darkly comic tale, Jill and Jack live an enviable life in South California and, as recent empty-nesters, an unbearable marriage. A road trip “to reconnect” is really a cat-and-mouse game unknown to each other as they unwittingly match their cunning to pull one in … and push the other over, the more-than-metaphorical ledge.

“The Farm House” (Poisoned Pen Press) by Chelsea Conradt: Looking for a fresh start after her mother dies, Emily Hauk and her husband depart for a farm in rural Nebraska. Learning nothing from centuries of thrillers (“The Amityville Horror,” anyone?), they should have asked why the asking price was so low. Unknown to them, everyone who has ever lived on this farm has died. The lure of the soil is compelling, though, as Emily digs into the mystery enveloping her new home.

Reach book reviewer Tom Mayer at tmayer@rn-t.com or tmayer132435@gmail.com.

https://admin-newyork1.bloxcms.com/northwestgeorgianews.com/tncms/admin/action/main/preview/site/packing-summer-reads-for-the-beach-you-ll-need-a-bigger-bag/article_4cad66f8-8a12-4be2-b2d6-f42bdf4039c0.html

This book had so much going on that it was a bit difficult at times to stay focused. I did enjoy the premise and felt that the neighborhood drama was well-written, but the characters felt very one-dimensional and YAish. I wish I’d enjoyed this one more.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It is crazy to think what different lives everyone can live behind closed doors in such a small area. This book is stunning at character development and having so many voices really works in the books favor as people’s tone and stories change throughout this novel. Readers will be swept away, and I think they will enjoy this intimate look behind closed doors and how small the universe can really be.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Jake moves into a new neighborhood after being canceled, getting a divorce, and losing her baby as well as her best friend. She soon meets her neighbors and becomes entwined in the hilarious drama and comes to terms with her not so hilarious past. This story had it all, and fans of Big Little Lies will devour this one.

The majority of this was domestic drama with a very small portion of mystery/thriller towards the end. However, the drama was extremely entertaining and fun. There was a lot of humor, especially with Jake and Mabel and their endearing yet sarcastic personalities. This is one of the few books that have actually made me laugh out loud with some of their antics. I would love for this to turn into an on-screen series. While there was plenty of humor and laughs involved, it also explored more serious, tragic topics that will pull on your heartstrings. It takes several dark turns throughout, taking me by surprise. This was such an enjoyable, memorable read, and I can't wait to see what's next for this author. Four solid stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing, for this ARC.

Jake has moved to Sweetwater Lane after a betrayal from her husband and best friend. She meets her new neighbor, Mabel, who also has an enemy so they decide to join forces.

This one had a lot of very heavy and serious topics but also had a lightness about it. I loved all the neighborhood drama on the community page because it was a refresher during some of the heavier topics. Billy’s character was very well done. His internal struggle and the forces affecting it really showed well and gave the reader a lot to think about.

“One day maybe I’ll wise up, but you will forever be ugly to the bone.”

Plays Well With Others comes out 6/10.

I was super excited about this book based on the cover & the premise! Who DOESNT love a good domestic drama?? Throw in a little revenge plot and *chef’s kiss* However, the middle of the book was just … okay. A little tough to get to the part where it picks up at, but a GOOOODT read nonetheless.

This book is perfect to add to your Summer Reading List or take on a road trip!

I really enjoyed this book and it had me hooked from the very start. I loved Jake’s character throughout the story. This was the perfect mix of mystery, disturbing and had me laughing at some points. I recommend giving this one a read.

This is a fabulous novel that had my heart racing! Jake's husband Adam is now married to her once-best friend, Shelby--something she tries hard to get over but it's still worrisome. Jake is active on website GoodNeighbors and many of the moms have cute screen names that they hide behind so no one will know their true identities. But you can't always continue to hide behind a screen name, and Jake is determined to get the truth behind some of the actions of this community that pretends to be above-board about everything. It may make you rethink what you say online!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Plays Well With Others by Lauren myracle is a funny book about a girl whose real name is Jacqueline that goes by Jake which I just found so odd. Usually nicknames or abbreviated versions of your actual name and Jake just does not correlate to Jacqueline at all. Moving on after being canceled for sending an email to her best friend about the best friend sleeping with her husband behind her back and then her husband leaving her on the one year anniversary of the death of their son Liam. Her best friend then puts her comments misconstrued and out of context completely on X a.k.a. Twitter and she got drugged through the mud big time she lost her job her husband her best friend but she did get a brand new pretty little cottage where she’s living now. This is where she meets quirky redheaded Mabel who is a great baker and just as childish as Jake. There was a lot I loved about this book found family literally and figuratively a great heartwarming story lol moments but I do want to say there is a lot and I do mean a lot of childish potty mouth and bathroom humor not to mention the antics of Jake herself who I won’t give anything away but OMG I really wanted to tell her to get over it. I also do not want to end this review without saying how sweet was little Wendall and also was Billy good or bad or just abused? There’s a lot of horrible things that happen in this book not so much it’s unreadable because it is far from that I just wish they would’ve had more intelligent retribution tactics besides ceramic poop and snarky comments on the neighborhood app. I still absolutely recommend this book if you love women behaving badly then you will definitely enjoy it and if you love party humor then you will probably love it. I enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #LaurenMyracle, #PlaysWellWithOthers,

Plays Well with Others could not be a more apt title for this twisty thriller which is set in Colorado. Personal tragedy, family and neighborhood drama, obsession with social media, bullying and revenge are rife and the claws are out. Layers of tragedy follow Jake as she loses her cherished baby, adulterous husband and job in short order. She has a back story as well. Her new neighbor and friend Mabel isn't without secrets, either. Shelby, the other woman, has skeletons in her closet. Who doesn't in this book? Women use the GoodNeighbor app to track each other's lives and likes. They team up against each other and resort to nasty posts and pranks. Comments are snide and hurtful yet there is also true friendship hidden amongst the thorns.

I like that the story is told in multiple perspectives, including those of two children which are crucial to the story. An interesting addition. Sad events such as a terrible accident, heartbreaking miscarriage and a mother/son relationship add reality and deep emotions.

There is so much to like about this novel such as the clever plot, unusual character depth and inclusion of children as major characters. The twists and tension are marvellous. What didn't work as well for me is the maddening immaturity level of many of the adult characters, though that is probably indicative of today's increasingly shallow society. The adult language did not endear me.

All in all, well worth jumping into, especially if you crave something a bit different.

Plays Well with Others by Lauren Myracle is a very highly recommended character based domestic thriller/suburban noir. The whole is much more than the parts when everything comes together for an engaging, compelling thriller. This debut adult fiction novel is a success.

Jake (Jacquelyn) Nolan lost her husband, baby, and best friend in one fell swoop. She was pregnant, gave birth early, lost her son, and then discovered her husband, Adam, was having an affair with her best friend, Shelby, and he was leaving her. She wrote an angry comment on social media and then wrote an angry private response to Shelby, who immediately edited Jake's comments to make her look bad and posted their private correspondence on social media. It exploded online and made Jake a social pariah.

Now Jake has moved to a bungalow on Sweetwater Lane in Fort Collins, Colorado. She keeps to herself as she is still recognized after the social media scandal, but her neighbor Mabel welcomes her to the neighborhood and the two become best friends. Mabel has her own issues, past and present, bothering her. There are also some children in the neighborhood who have their stories told. including Bethany, Mabel's 10-year old stepdaughter, Billy, with an abusive mother, and siblings Delilah and Wendell, who are living with their aunt.

This is well-written, fast-paced novel is really a character study with a plot that explores betrayal, deceit, friendship, toxic social media, and revenge. The narrative is an engrossing page-turner that is full of twists and secrets along with some humor. It is a novel that will hold your complete attention and just becomes more compelling with each chapter. It was surprising how much I enjoyed this novel.

The chapters all are from either Jake, Mabel, Billy, and Wendell's point-of-view, with Jake's story the initial main focus. At first readers may wonder why the children's viewpoints, but it all comes together at the end. The characters, including the children, are all fully realized individuals and realistically developed with strengths and weaknesses.

Plays Well with Others is a great choice for those who like a character based thriller set in the age of social media. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

It's been about a week since I finished this one, and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. I was hooked from the first chapter...for starters, Myracle has a snappy writing style that really helped keep things interesting! We dive right into the messiness of Jake and the social media feud with her ex-BFF, which we quickly learn is much more complex and deeper than we originally see. I thought all of the characters were fun to read about, and I especially LOVED Jake's petty revenge...I found myself laughing out loud at some parts! I also enjoyed the dynamic of the neighborhood kids and
how everything intertwined.

While everything was well developed with a strong voice, it was a slow burn that kind of fell apart at the end. It went from 0-60 in a chapter or two, making it feel a little disjointed and hard to believe. While the characters had depth, it was hard to buy some of their relationships that just kind of popped up in the last few chapters...I would have preferred something a little bit smoother and more even. Because of all this, it felt more like a drama than a thriller, as nothing was overly mysterious or suspenseful until the very end.

While not my favorite read, it's not bad for an adult fiction debut. As a long-time lover of her stories back in the "ttyl" era, I'd be more than happy to pick up anything from Myracle in the future. Thanks for the ARC!

I went into this book pretty blind, the summary didn’t really tell you much. I was a bit confused about the different POVs and how they would all connect together but wow this book was so good, the twist was insane. 4 stars bc I wish the ending gave a little more but overall I really liked it!

I couldn’t get into this book. I felt like the writing style was different, odd, and even confusing. Tried to get a grasp on it but nothing interesting to grab me. Tried skimming few different parts and just nothing worthwhile to me.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this eARC.

I quite enjoyed this book. I have never read anything written by Lauren Myracle and that is on me. I’m so glad that I read this and will read more from Lauren. She has included several things that I enjoy most in psychological thrillers. Twists & Turns! I love a good plot twist. Though at about 80% in I figured out the big twist, it was still great to read. I absolutely do not give out spoilers in my reviews nor do I paste and copy the book description. If you’re reading my review you already know what it’s about you’re just looking to see if it’s worth a read. To that I say ABSOLUTELY!!