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.

After his sister's best friend, Erin, is murdered, Mikky Graves finds himself back in Prophets Lake, the hometown he thought he had left behind for good. His intention is to help his sister, Kyla, grieve. He never planned to be caught up in solving Erin's murder- and in a town as small as Prophets Lake, everyone is a suspect, including Kyla.

Girls Who Play Dead is filled with secrets, scandal, and a love story that I found myself fully invested in. The characters have incredible diversity and never feel like a stereotype of themselves.

Wellington has done a fantastic job of creating a rich world with characters who stick with you long after the story ends.

The cover to this was truly stunning, it fit perfectly with the mystery vibe of the book all the whiling showing a few plot points like the makeup.

Investigating a murder of Erin, the siblings Mikky and Kyla fall down a rabbit hole of hidden truths and ugly secrets. There is a small town vibe to this which I think worked well for the mystery aspects. I was entertained while reading this but some areas did fall a bit flat. Some of Kyla’s point of view just felt dragged out at times and what actually happened felt anticlimactic. I did enjoy other parts though and I think the author did a good job of having a backstory for the characters.

Plot: 7/10
Pace: 5/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 6/10
Enjoyability: 6/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Would I Recommend? Maybe
Favorite Character: Mikky

Favorite Quote: ❝Prophets Lake, even-that loved her when their mother wasn't enough.❞

I’ve read everything Joelle Wellington has written and this is a worthy third novel. Twin Peaks for Gen Z, Girls Who Play Dead wonderfully ties together the rot of surburbia with the ever evolving standards of beauty.

Joelle is one of my absolute favorite YA thriller authors- I eat her books up every single time!

Girls Who Play Dead focuses of the beauty industry and influencer culture. It touches on themes of identity, familial relationships, mental health, race, queerness, and so much more with the backdrop of high school life.

This was done so well, had such loveable character and was honestly a great read.

thank you to joelle wellington & netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: im sorry this cover is so stunning i would absolutely buy it purely for it alone!! but i am so excited to dive in to this thriller/mystery <3

Firstly I would like to say thank you to the publisher for allowing me to preview this book early. I have only read one other book by this author and I would say I somewhat enjoyed that book which is why I went into this new release with high hopes. Normally an authors debut shows you what the author is capable of and their talents only expand from there. This book fell short for me however. I was not a fan of the pacing; the beginning of the book started off extremely slow and fumbling. I did not get a sense of what the author was trying to accomplish with the introduction. Random things about the main characters were revealed sporadically when there was no reason for certain things to be kept secret. The book dragged on for way too many pages and then ended without a bang. It was obvious who the murderer was from the beginning, not sure if that was the intention but there was no thrill or horror at any point in this story. It also reminded me of a book by another author where the focus was on a predominantly white community and how race came into play with black characters. In this book however, it wasn’t addressed properly. Race came into play at the most random point in the book and it was minority versus minority. I feel like the author needs to focus one or two major themes and leave the other storylines for another book. Romance came into play at one point and began to overshadow the mystery, random characters were being blamed for the death with no actual reasoning behind it while the most obvious character didn’t come into view until the last 30 pages or so. I think this book requires much more development and can be rewritten to be something great but right now this is not it.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3rd person pov/3 stars out of 5

Erin, a rising influencer ends up dead, leaving her best friend, Kyla, all alone. Kyla’s brother, Mikky, moves back to help Kyla grieve and so she won’t have to be at their high school all alone. Instead of grieving, Kyla throws herself into looking perfect and leading the dance team.
Kyla and Erin used to do some influencer posts for a makeup company called Cooks Cosmetics.
Secret IG accounts, test kitchens, and secrets?
Mikky realizes the other thing that will help Kyla is solving Erin's murder.

I enjoyed the first couple chapters of this book and the ending was written so well. But the middle of the book is where i felt the pacing was way too slow for a murder mystery book. I have read Jonelle Wellington other's books and I think I expected a quickly pacing that would keep me turning the page and unfortunately I didn't connect with any of the characters so I found it harder to read.

Even though this one book wasn't a homerun for me. I can't wait to see what comes next for this author. I'm still a fan of her work.

Ever since Their Vicious Games, Joelle Wellington has a fan in me for life, no matter what she writes next. That was one of the best YA books ever written, dare I say. Because of that, I had certain expectations going into this, and a strong bias towards giving this a high review, so it really pains me to say that this was honestly pretty average in comparison 😭 I wanted to like this more than I did SO BAD.

Not that it’s a competition, but Their Vicious Games was REALLY hard to beat. When your debut novel is THAT strong, it’s super hard to continue to measure up to. That book was a solid 5/5, blending violence, insanely high stakes, and plenty of shock value. Think Hunger Games and Squid Games level shock value. Absolutely addictive, brutal, and PERFECTLY written.

Vibes are different in this one, which isn’t bad. Joelle Wellington switches gears from a high stakes fight to the death competition to a small town murder mystery. Is this as compulsively readable? No. But solving a murder is a lower stakes concept than competing in a life or death competition, so that’s to be expected. However, small town YA murder mysteries are done quite frequently and I wouldn’t consider this an above average one compared to the other ones I’ve read.

The biggest drawback is that nothing really happens. I could sum up the first 70% in a couple paragraphs. It’s just not gripping or as action packed as I was expecting, especially not after what I got with Their Vicious Games. I kept waiting for something to happen and it just didn’t? It does go by pretty fast which is nice, but I was a bit disappointed when I had gotten to the 70% mark and not much had really happened.

For the positives, Kyla, one of the narrators is unreliable, unlikeable, and a total beyotch. And lowkey scary. Which, made this a much more interesting read.

At the end of the day though, this wasn’t as gripping, scary, or intense as I was hoping. It was sort of boring and it pains me to say that 😭 I had decided early on I was going to give this a 4 star anyways out of loyalty to Joelle but after finishing this, I gotta be real. It’s a 3 star.

I am still a Joelle Wellington loyalist and am still extremely biased towards her writing. I will continue to read any book she writes in the future with said biased mindset. But, this one wasn’t as great as I was hoping.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC! I have been a fan of Joelle Wellingtons since These Vicious Games. Girls Who Play Dead wasn’t a 5/5 for me; however, it still did not disappoint!

Throughout the story, I found myself not being able to put the book down. There was always another plot twist just when I thought I had it figured it out. Additionally, the small town vibe really played well into the mystery of it all.

My only critic would be that sometimes I felt that things were dragging. In the middle of the sorry, there is drama surrounding several of the characters, which continues for several chapters. It all comes down to miscommunication and lack of information being shared. I just feel that this could have been limited and/or shortened.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this new novel from Joelle Wellington. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Wellington keeps on writing hit after hit. Each book is a completely unique literary young adult experience. I dived in having medium-high expectations and by the end they were absolutely met if not exceeded.

Unfortunately I decided to DNF at 16%.

I was not a fan of the writing style of this book and it felt a little too middle grade/childish for a YA book. Which, I would be fine with, except it was obviously supposed to be more “grown” sounding given that there was cussing and murder themes. So the meshing of the attempted YA vibe with the actual younger vibe didn’t work for me.

I think a lot of people will probably love this book and I really wish I was one of those people, but unfortunately I am not. It’s possible I might pick this book up again after it is released, but at this time it is not holding my attention.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted ARC! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.

Girls Who Play Dead was everything I hoped it would be and more! Although I wasn't in love with her sophomore novel, I just had a feeling that Joelle Wellington's third book would be amazing because of how good Their Vicious Games was. She's quickly become the reason I’ve started venturing more into thrillers.

From start to finish, the story had me absolutely hooked. Nothing about it was predictable and I was genuinely shocked by the ending. The plot twists kept me on edge, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Every character was compelling and layered, drawing me deeper into the story with each chapter.

What really stood out to me, beyond the suspense, was how Wellington wove in themes of mental health. She portrayed it with sensitivity and honesty, showing that it’s okay to not be okay—something I truly appreciated.

This book delivered everything: suspense, depth, emotion, and unforgettable characters. Five stars, without question.

10000/10000 Joelle can’t miss! i really liked this storyline, and it was so interesting to follow along all the twists and turns of the plot. the book starts right in the action and just keeps the ball rolling. so many big topics were hit— mental health, racial micro aggressions, various ways of handling grief, and just your basic highschool popularity drama. even tho it’s written in 3rd person, the subtle switches between Mikky & Kyla’s POVs, especially with their dynamic as the story unfolded, added another level to the drama. and im sorry @ Florence Cook…. ricky when i catch you ricky, when i catch you…. 👊🏽

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

GIRLS WHO PLAY DEAD by Joelle Wellington (Out Nov 4)

Thank you Netgalley and Simon Teen for the earc


When Erin is m*rdered, Mikky returns to his hometown to be there for his sister Kyla who has spiraled. As Mikky tries to help her, he realizes the only thing that will help her if he finds Erin's k*ller. In a town like Prophets Lake, everyone has something to hide.
GIRLS WHO PLAY DEAD is a wicked, YA thriller from the author of THEIR VICIOUS GAMES (one of my top reads of the past few years). Like I mentioned, this book is wicked with its mean girls, over the top drama, and a d*ad body where everyone seems suspect of being the whodunit. I love Joelle's thrillers, the captivating, shocking, and slightly goriness whether it's literal bl*od or, in this case, characters who are snakes. Speaking of characters, I wasn't a fan of these since they all had faults. They were shady and mean---but as I grew to know these characters, I understood why they were the way they were. Especially Kyla---the snake I was referring to above. She's downright rude, but she has to fight to be heard, everything isn't handed to her, and her best friend was m*rdered.
As I was reading GIRLS WHO PLAY DEAD, I was filled with a multitude of questions. Who did it? And honestly, I didn't have any suspects. Because of the title, I couldn't help but wonder if Kyla's friend was actually d*ad. I mean with a title like GIRLS WHO PLAY DEAD, I couldn't help but think that.
Now, when the whodunit was revealed, I was shocked, not because of who did it, but because I never really had a suspect---and after the reveal, I still didn't know how Kyla and Mikky managed to put two and two together.
GIRLS WHO PLAY DEAD weaves together secrets and lies, m*rder, and a bit of romance in this thrilling novel where everyone seems suspect(not by me), at least suspected by the other characters in this book. It's well written, and the pink cover with the makeup adds to the story.
I would recommend this to those who are a fan of Joelle's work, but also to those looking to dive into something that doesn't have the goriness of Joelle's previous work.

After being absolutely obsessed with Their Vicious Games, I was beyond excited to get my hands on Joelle Wellington’s newest novel, Girls Who Play Dead. While it didn’t quite reach the razor-sharp brilliance of her debut for me, it still delivered a gripping, thought-provoking, and twist-filled read that I couldn’t put down.

One of the standout elements for me was Mikky — such a compelling character. As the brother of Kyla, best friend of the murdered girl, his presence brought so much depth and emotional nuance to the story. I found myself constantly intrigued by him and his role in the unraveling mystery. And his character lived authentically, as a queer Black man, and was just one of the great representations of queer people in this book.

Wellington does a phenomenal job weaving in commentary on class, beauty standards, and influencer culture, giving the novel a sharp, relevant edge. Despite being categorized as YA, this book reads far darker and more mature — much like Their Vicious Games — and I mean that in the best way. It doesn’t shy away from the messy, brutal realities beneath the surface of glamor and privilege.

The mystery itself kept me guessing the whole way through, and the final twist genuinely caught me off guard. I can’t wait to see what Joelle writes next — her voice is one of the most exciting in YA thrillers right now.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Joelle Wellington’s “Girls Who Play Dead: is a dark, emotionally layered YA thriller that explores the tangled depths of grief, identity, and secrets in a small town where nothing stays buried for long, not even the truth.

Set in the small town of Prophets Lake, the story follows siblings Mikky and Kyla Graves after the shocking murder of Kyla’s best friend, Erin. Mikky, who had previously fled town to escape its suffocating weight and their fractured family, returns home when tragedy strikes. What he finds is a sister he barely recognizes—cold, withdrawn, and seemingly wrapped up in secrets of her own. Determined to help her and find Erin’s killer, Mikky stays, only to uncover a tangled web involving a local cosmetics empire, shady dealings, and a community built on lies.

Wellington masterfully alternates perspectives between Mikky and Kyla, giving you a well-rounded view of both the mystery and the emotional undercurrents. Mikky, with his goth aesthetic, open queerness, and candid discussions about mental health, is a standout YA protagonist. His vulnerability and persistent desire to reconnect with his sister make him an emotional anchor in a story filled with misdirection and drama. His romance subplot, which is sweet, subtle, and never overpowering, adds just enough warmth to balance the darkness.

Kyla, meanwhile, is a study in repression and unraveling. Reeling from the loss of her best friend, she adopts Erin’s queen-bee attitude as a shield and throws herself into preserving the secrets they shared—including a clandestine, illegal operation involving Cooks Cosmetics. Her descent into secrecy and desperation is painful to watch, but Wellington treats her with empathy, showing how grief can twist judgment and push people toward destructive choices. While some of Kyla’s chapters drag slightly or lean too heavily into high school drama, they ultimately serve a purpose, peeling back layers of guilt, fear, and misplaced loyalty.

The mystery at the heart of “Girls Who Play Dead” is compelling, even if some of the clues are on-the-nose. Still, the slow-burn tension and subtle reveals are what make this book hard to put down. The small-town setting enhances the creepiness, and Wellington uses the seemingly glamorous Cooks Cosmetics company to symbolize the town’s glossy exterior—and the rot beneath. The beauty industry conspiracy may feel a bit over-the-top at times, but it works thematically, reinforcing how far people will go to protect appearances.

What elevates this thriller above many others is its emotional core: the relationship between Mikky and Kyla. Their sibling dynamic is complex, messy, and beautifully rendered. They bicker, hurt each other, and keep secrets, but also show unwavering love, even when they don’t know how to express it. The ending delivers satisfying closure to both the murder mystery and their emotional journey, tying up loose ends while leaving just enough for you to reflect on.

Overall, “Girls Who Play Dead” isn’t just a murder mystery—it’s a raw, tender story about loss, identity, and how grief can both divide and heal. With sharp commentary on beauty culture, a unique cast of characters, and a heartfelt sibling bond at its core, Joelle Wellington has crafted a haunting and resonant thriller. Perfect for fans of YA with emotional depth and a splash of danger.

Joelle knows how to write a good thriller. I was gripping my seat and dying to know what happens next every step of the way.

This book was AMAZING I loved and hated Kayla all the way through and Mikey was frustratingly blinded by his love for his sister. I will be doing an in depth review of this in my TikTok and I can’t wait