Play Nice

De: Rachel Harrison

Narrado por: Alex Finke, Natasha Soudek

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A woman must confront the demons of her past when she attempts to fix up her childhood home in this devilishly clever take on the haunted house novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Black Sheep and So Thirsty.

Clio Louise Barnes leads a picture-perfect life as a stylist and influencer, but beneath the glossy veneer she harbors a not-so glamorous secret: she grew up in a haunted house. Well, not haunted. Possessed. After Clio’s parents' messy divorce, her mother, Alex, moved Clio and her sisters into a house occupied by a demon. Or so Alex claimed. That’s not what Clio’s sisters remember or what the courts determined when they stripped her of custody after she went off the deep end. But Alex was insistent; she even wrote a book about her experience in the house.

After Alex’s sudden death, the supposedly possessed house passes to Clio and her sisters. Where her sisters see childhood trauma, Clio sees an opportunity for house flipping content. Only, as the home makeover process begins, Clio discovers there might be some truth to her mother’s claims. As memories resurface and Clio finally reads her mother’s book, a sinister presence in the house manifests, revealing ugly truths that threaten to shake Clio’s beautiful life to its very foundation.

©2025 Rachel Harrison (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Play Nice packs a prickly punch by cleverly nesting its possession story within another kind of familial and familiar possession. While the demon at the center of it all terrorizes the women in Clio's family when they are most vulnerable, the book is scary because there's more than one kind of demon."—Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie and The Cabin at the End of the World

"I raced through Rachel Harrison's Play Nice, drawn in by the relatable protagonist and the irresistible blend of horror, mystery and family drama. Play Nice is a great fit for anyone who enjoyed The Good House or Grady Hendrix's How to Sell a Haunted House, taking the reader on a spooky journey through the haunted spaces from the past that plague us all."—Tananarive Due, Bram Stoker Award winner, The Reformatory

"This refreshing haunted-house novel has chills, thrills, and twists that will linger with readers long after it’s over.”—Library Journal (starred review)

I’m STILL thinking about it, and TBH, it WRECKED me. In... THE. BEST. POSSIBLE. WAY.

Alright, let's cut to the chase. Rachel Harrison's Play Nice is the kind of book that grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. I’m still thinking about it, and frankly, it wrecked me—in the best possible way.

​JUST A HEADS-UP BEFORE YOU DIVE IN:

​⚠️ Trigger Warning ⚠️
There are mentions of suicide, heavy family issues, and a bit of gore. Don't worry, it's not over-the-top, and I truly believe that's one of her secret weapons, really. She writes so beautifully about these ugly topics, which somehow makes it all the more gripping.
​Harrison digs into the messy, complicated, sometimes downright terrifying stuff that comes with family—especially between mothers, daughters, and sisters. She has this insane ability to make you jump out of your skin one minute and then cry into your tea the next. The horror here isn't just about things that go bump in the night; it's that creeping dread of, "Wow, this feels a little too familiar."
​I tore through the 10.5-hour audiobook in two days. Couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. It just hits that close to home, especially if you're navigating the beautiful, chaotic minefield of mother-daughter relationships, whether you're the mom or the daughter (or both). It validates all the complicated feelings—the good, the bad, and the stuff we’re not supposed to say out loud.
​Bottom line: If you want something complex and heartwarming that will also make you check over your shoulder, this is it. It’s a gut punch and a warm hug, all at once.
​HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
❤️❤️❤️

First Rachel Harrison book

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn’t read one of her books and went in completely blind- it was a little confusing at times but overall a really fun spooky read!

Great Book, Excellent Voice

The voice performer was great! I really felt like I was a part of the story. The author is great at using the paranormal as a metaphor for real life familial and self love issues. The suspense is excellent and I was definetly on the edge of my seat. The character development is realistic and satisfying. My only gripe is that the book does disparage the idea that a woman can be happy outside of a relationship.

another great one from Rachel

my thing is why would they even sale the house to anyone . they know the truth. board it up

Great surprise

This was unlike anything I’ve ever read! I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book has so many different flavors. It’s witty, scary and has family drama, and triumph! I love the writing. It flowed so well and was easy to listen to. I was hooked start to finish!

Horrifically satisfying

When I say I read this book in less than 24 hours I mean gobbled it down. I was on the edge of my seat, chewing my lip, dying to know what happens next. If you are in the mood for some fine storytelling and supernatural spooks along with a side of family trauma, then this is the book for you!

A New Favorite

I loved how even though this is a horror story, it's also a story about family and finding oneself. the scary bits were great too.

Loved it!

This is my first Rachel Harrison and I must say, I’m charmed. Loved the narration, it really made the whole thing for me. The story was fun. I didn’t find it scary or creepy at all, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good or enjoyable! I would definitely recommend it.

Kept me on the edge of my seat!

Loved this book! It kept my attention and I couldn’t stop listening! I’m not big on jump scares, so I was thankful it was scary. It not jump scare scary, since I listen to audiobooks at work.

overall enjoyable listen!

would definitely recommend the audio version of this book, the narrator is an amazing job. The story was good, only critique was i just wish is was a little more spooky, but still a good listen for the October month.