Girls Who Played Dead is a chilling, eye-opening thriller that dives deep into the world of human trafficking, survival, and resilience. Tikiri Herath doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities her characters face instead, she gives voice to the girls who are too often silenced.

The story follows Asha, a strong, resourceful protagonist who refuses to be a victim. Her journey is terrifying, powerful, and full of moments that made me hold my breath. This isn’t just a thriller, it’s a powerful call to awareness and action.

Thank you Simon Teen for this eARC.

I do think this was a fun read. I'm still getting into the thriller genre. This story follows a sibling duo trying to solve the mystery behind the murder of one of their childhood friends. I really love the influencer and beauty elements as those are things I take interested in so tying the mystery element to that was unique. I thought this was entertaining and engaging enough to read along, but I did find it to be slow at times. I did enjoy the portrayal of grief in this story especially in YA book. While I know this isn't something new to YA stories, I feel that I haven't read many that deal with the topic. I like the way Wellington handled it when it came to Kyla and how Mikky try to be their to support her through it since she was so close to Erin. With that being said, I felt a little indifferent toward the characters in general, but they were still likable enough. I think Wellington is a great writer overall. This is my second read from her and I think I would read more in the future.

I think Joelle Wellington might be my favorite YA thriller/horror author! Her books always keep me entertained and are down right fun. I like in this one that we get both siblings perspectives and how different they are from each other. It’s also an interesting take to give us such an unlikeable FMC and make her part of a “mean girl” posse but at the same time making her likable enough that you can root for her. I liked how we saw Mikkey try to grapple with who his sister is and how to navigate messy friendships and relationships. High school is such a difficult time and it was fun being back in this space again. The mystery was good, albeit a little far fetched but I didn’t really see that ending coming!

I received this as a physical arc and I’m so glad bc that cover is to die for!

Out November 4, 2025
Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington is like if Pretty Little Liars got locked in a funeral home with a murder mystery and a beauty empire built on secrets. Mikky Graves thought he’d escaped his creepy hometown of Prophets Lake, but when his sister’s best friend Erin turns up murdered, he’s dragged back into a world of grief, rage, and suspiciously perfect eyebrows. The town’s main industry? A beauty brand with more skeletons than the Graves family’s actual funeral home. As Mikky tries to help his sister Kyla, he realizes she’s not just grieving—she’s unraveling. And maybe, just maybe, she knows more than she’s letting on.

Why read it? Because Wellington writes with the kind of sharp wit and emotional depth that makes you laugh nervously while checking your locks twice. This YA thriller is packed with messy sibling dynamics, twisted small-town politics, and a murder mystery that refuses to stay buried. It’s a story about image, identity, and the terrifying cost of perfection—served with a side of lipstick-stained lies and ghostly whispers.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this fun ARC!

I really enjoyed this family drama. The storyline was great & engaging. It was a very slow paced but I appreciated the character development

Thank you Simon Teen for the ARC! #SimonTeenInfluencer

This one was a solid read! I was hooked from the very first page and thought I knew what would happen, but I was definitely wrong every time! This small town murder mystery follows two siblings, Kyla and Mikky, who reunite after the death of Kyla’s best friend, Erin. Kyla was a layered character who dealt with the difficult navigation of grief and identity by harboring secrets about her life/best friend’s murder. Mikky was an emotional character who deeply loved his sister, was openly queer, and remained determined to helping uncover Erin’s murder. I really enjoyed both POVs and getting to explore the internal conflicts they each faced because it added an extra layer to how the murder mystery unfolded.

This was def a slow burn mystery story, which might not work for everyone. It wasn’t until about 60-70% in that I found myself not wanting to put the book down. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the book up until that point (the writing was 10/10 as always!), but the murder mystery portion didn’t pick up until nearly the end. But that twist at the end was wildly unexpected!

I recommend this read if you like a slow burn murder mystery that explores themes of identity, grief, the beauty/influencer community, and belonging.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the copy of Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington. This was a slow-starter, but it ended up being good. The book walked a fine line between dialogue and plot advancement, or maybe I wasn’t clever enough to pick up on hidden clues in the conversations. Needless to say, I was surprised at the big reveal, and I loved how it played out. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

Girls Who Play Dead has been an extremely anticipated read after I finished Vicious Games -- a book I LOVED. This book follows the aftermath of a murder in a very classic stereotypical small town as two siblings deal with the trauma.

Unfortunately, this just didn't live up to the hype that Their Vicious Games set. (Not to say that it was bad, by any means of course)

One of my favorite parts was the sibling relationship. I'm always so locked in for sibling relationships in books and it's always been a favorite part. Mikky is such a compelling character, both as a brother and a person. I LOVED his whole punk goth look, and it very much gave me Roderick Heffley vibes. <spoiler>Him and his sister also had this whole "Hold my hand, don't let go." which were both iconic moments when it showed up</spoiler>.

However, I also really wished we got to see more of him as a character because it felt more of him being a brother + having his own side romance then also being his own character. I wanted to learn more about his experience when he was a freshman and the trauma and the therapy and everything.

I also felt like there were some "fuck capitalism" moments that just. weren't needed? It didn't contribute to the actual message of the story, and it just felt off to me.

The romance he had was extremely cute. I fear I may have done a little kick and giggle at some of the scenes they had together. guys..they liked each other so much ugh.

The romance with the sister was..not it. (WHEN I SAY THIS I DO NOT MEAN INCEST) It just felt like there was romance for the sake of romance? Kyla deserves to grieve and getting it on with him was. weird. i wanted toxic yuri okay 💔 and it was SO implied in this book u cannot convince me im wrong.

Mystery also felt just a little lacking? I can't quite place my finger on it, but it could have been better.

The other pov we follow was Kyla who's literally an icon tbh. she's mean, petty, and grieving and she's out to get you <3. classic mean girl LMAO and very unlikable but I love to see it.

Overall, loved the characters but eh for everything else.

A tense, nail-biting murder mystery that dives into the depths of grief and how it can look on anyone. It was thoroughly engaging and quite entertaining from beginning to end. I loved the hint of romance and the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation. An amazing piece of work! Joelle has done another phenomenal job!

Joelle Wellington has such a distinct tone in her writing, and it really carries through here. There’s definitely a sense of familiarity if you’ve read her other work, with some similar themes popping up again, but I didn’t mind it too much. I’ve enjoyed her previous books, and I can say the same for this one.

What stood out most for me were the characters—they had a maturity and depth that helped the story feel like more than just a typical YA. It gave the whole book a slightly older, more grounded edge, which I really appreciated. And of course, I love a bit of mystery, and this had just enough to keep me intrigued without tipping into overly dramatic territory

Joelle does it again, serving up a gripping, twisty story that had me hooked from page one. The character development is chef’s kiss....each personality felt so real and layered, I was fully invested. I spent most of the book feeling so sure I had everything figured out... and then BAM, the ending completely blindsided me in the best way. If you're looking for a clean, edge-of-your-seat YA thriller that actually delivers on the suspense? This is the one.

Mikky Graves swore he was done with Prophets Lake but when his sister’s best friend Erin turns up dead, that one-way exit suddenly becomes a roundtrip. Kyla always had Erin. That was the deal. Mikky could breathe somewhere else as long as his little sister had someone to lean on back home. But Prophets Lake? She’s got claws. Mikky digs into Erin’s murder and the town’s pretty, poisonous secrets especially the beauty empire that props it all up but he realizes.....this place doesn’t just bury the dead. It buries the truth. And Kyla? She might be hiding the biggest secret of all.

There are a lot of intriguing elements to this book, but I found it just wasn't for me. It's not a negative reflection of the book, but just about my personal tastes.

3.5–This one was pretty up and down for me. I loooved Wellington’s Their Vicious Games but neither of her subsequent books have reached that level. I was immediately pulled into this by the first chapter but thought the pacing stalled until about halfway. I also found that I definitely preferred Kyla’s chapters to Mikky’s, maybe because I liked her interactions with Jason and did not like Nasim or Rowan very much.

Once the plot picks up after halfway though, I couldn’t stop reading! There are quite a few unlikable side characters in this but I did like both Kyla and Mikky and really enjoyed the story once they started working together. I was actually surprised by the ending but don’t feel completely satisfied. Perhaps leaving room for a sequel?

4.25/5 Stars

When I requested this ARC on NetGalley I was a tad nervous due to the story's funeral home aspect. That's a personal thing, but I found that it didn't take away from the story for me.

This story is Mikky and Kyla trying to navigate the world in a time where they've been apart for years. Though they maintained contact, it's different when you're calling and texting versus being their in the flesh and that is the main point of contention in this book. Both are doing what they think they need to, but butting heads at every turn.

But as time goes on, they're both learning and growing. Mikky finding his people and footing in a school he had to leave years before is great to see. As is Kyla slowly (so slowly) coming to terms with how much of herself was tied up in Erin and how much she was keeping to herself.

I enjoyed every bit of this story, even if I wanted to shake Kyla a little so she'd let her brother in.

I won't say I didn't guess the killer, because I did, but watching how they came to the conclusion was interesting to see. And my sole complaints are that I wish there had been time for Mikky and Kyla to have a real heart to heart and the same for both of them with their mother. Though I'm sure that does happen for them.

First Line: If you think your love life is a disaster, I’m here to make you feel a whole lot better about yourself.

Reasons to Read:
Sibling Loyalty
Mikky returns to Prophets Lake not just to mourn Erin, but to save the sister who’s unraveling before his eyes—no matter what dark truths he has to uncover.


Small Town Secrets
Prophets Lake may look peaceful, but underneath the surface is a twisted beauty empire, long-held grudges, and a history no one wants Mikky to expose.


Emotional Mystery
Grief, guilt, and buried betrayal drive Mikky’s quest for answers—because to protect Kyla, he might have to confront who she’s become.




Good For People Who: like a slow burn mystery, unlikeable characters

Rating: 3 lipsticks

Thoughts: This book was on my most anticipated reads this month despite coming out in November. Maybe it was the cover that drew me in. This is definitely a slow burn and takes awhile for anything to happen related to the death of Erin. A lot of it is Mikky trying to figure out why his sister is the way she is. When you finally figure out what is happening, it makes sense. However, there is a certain aspect that left me wanting for this ending. Definitely pick this up if you like characters who are all morally grey.

This is a murder mystery about a brother and sister who try to solve the murder of their childhoods friend. It’s set in a small town and one of the siblings is an influencer. While I appreciated the queer representation and the positive mental health coping skills, I found this to be significantly slower than Wellington’s previous two books. I was also hoping for a stronger spooky-weird Twin Peaks vibe but I did enjoy the reveal of the cosmetics cover up and I can’t wait to read what Wellington writes next!

I have loved all of wellingtons writing and this book is no exception to that. Gripping and exhilarating this book takes you on a journey like no other. I was gasping at every turn and grasping tight to my seat at each discovery. Absolutely a new favorite that I can't wait to tell everyone about.

Genuinely, this was Joelle Wellington's strongest book yet! It's so exciting to see an author growing in strength in terms of characterization, plot, pacing, style, and even sentence-level craft. VERY honored to be giving this book a 4.5/5 stars.

Plot:
A engaging small-town mystery following the death of a young beauty influencer. The plot follows Kyla, deceased Erin Vaughn's best friend, and Kyla's older brother, Mikky, who's come home for the funeral and ends up staying to try and help his sister through her grief. What follows are twists and turns of lies, secrets, and small town corruption.

I was a little let down by the reveal of PFAS being the enemy (realistic, of course, but with Wellington's other books under my belt, I was hoping for something a little more dramatic!!), but was brought back around by the reveal of Erin's murderer. THAT was something that felt both real and horrifying in way that stuck with me.

(Also, this is super subjective, but I always am a little disappointed when a book becomes immediately dated by specific social media references! But, it's the times we're in and I'm sure teens reading this won't even blink about it)

Characters:
Kyla is a MEAN GIRL, and I LOVED IT. Wellington stuck to her guns and showed that even mean girls have inner lives that are messy, complicated, and often sympathetic, while having Mikky as the outlier to really show the damage that Kyla's grief is causing everyone around her. And Mikky was also such a fun point of view character to be in!! LOVE Black representation for punk kids. And of course, Erin haunts the narrative from beginning to end, and the reader is left to pick apart all the destruction she caused while she was alive.

Overall:
I think one of Wellington's strongest books. Kept me engaged from start to finish!! What slight disappointments I did have were easily dismissed by how strong everything else in this book was.

thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley

Wellington writes Ya with a vicious fast paced style that pulls no emotional punches. While I generally do not particularly seek out either YA or Thrillers as a genre Wellington has made me a believer.

Mikky exudes lone wolf, cool alt guy in a way that is often attempted but rarely achieved. He is highly relatable and highly likable. He becomes entangled in the central mystery as easy as falling asleep.

Kyla is a delightful collection of opposing ideals. A mean girl who clearly cares deeply for the people in her circle. Smart and driven and the quintessential cheerleader. Cool girl driving a hearse because she thinks it’s cool.

I normally cant stand a highschool plot. I graduated and never want to go back and yet this book had me enthralled with both the greater mystery of a dead best friend and the day to day dredge of homework and school life.

At times the characters do feel a little older than high school, especially Mikky, with how simply responsible they are and how few straight up stupid choices they make but to be honest I liked that aspect and maybe the characters are just smarter then I was and have a greater pressure to preform.

I will be shocked if this doesn’t get picked up as a tv series not that it needs it by any means but i certainly would be trying to adapt if i was in the feild

The conclusion to the central mystery is so satisfying. It feels both plausible and like the reader can actually solve it.

I really enjoyed this book and am going to pick up more by this author ASAP

Plot: I’m very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I want to say first off the authors very beginning chapter was phenomenal. What a great start to showing off Kyla’s character from the get go. What a way to capture the attention of the reader. As for the rest of the story I found myself wanting to read more and learn about the dynamics of the school and the students in it. I will say that I thought there would be more trying to figure out what happened with Erin but with how the author laid out the story I found myself okay with it. As for the ending, oof. I’m pretty satisfied with it. I can say I wasn’t expecting it so that was a nice shocker.

Characters:

Kyla was a character who had such a strong first impression and I was so excited to like her. However I have a lot of mixed feelings about her. She really annoyed me for a good portion of this book because I didn’t like her overall attitude towards other people. If it wasn’t for Mikky I don’t think I would have left this story liking her very much. Towards the end she did have great character development and it’s who I wished I got to see more of. Again I don’t think Kyla is a bad character, not one bit just not my type of person to want to know.

Mikky, oh man I’m a big fan. What an amazing brother to have at your side always wanting to be there for you no matter what. You really can’t go wrong with him. I will say that Mikky always kept me from disliking Kyla fully. He was a character that was there to remind me that hey she’s going through some shit.

Side characters: Liked them all. The author did really well with diversity and giving you a variety of characters that aren’t just our two mains.

How the story made me feel: The story definitely made me feel how it was like to be a teenager again. The story was heavy more than a few times and I could just feel the grief and definitely the anger that seeped from these characters.


Overall I think this was a very well written story. So thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the free digital e-book for my honest review.