This was a great story. What would you do if you found out the child you've loved and raised for 2 years is not yours? This is what Maddie and Pete have to deal with when they find out their biological Son was switched at birth. I couldn't put this book down and I followed closely through all the twists and turns until the shocking ending! JP has done it again! I highly recommend this book. Thank you to #Netgally for giving me an opportunity to read this before its released. #PlayingNice

Terrific page turner about two premature baby boys who were switched at birth. I binge read this in one day and loved every minute of it! Highly recommend!

Thank you for the chance to review this galley prior to publication. Please refer to my goodreads profile for a full review.

I can’t say that I liked it; but I can’t say I didn’t like it either. It was interesting. For me, the beginning was very slow (Maddie remembering the birth and some other things).

The story is told from the pov of Maddie and husband Pete. Miles was portrayed as a complete asshole so I couldn’t help to dislike him; and Pete was almost a saint.

I found some of the dialogue... unrealistic; are people really that naive, innocent, good? Do some people really show/react with so little emotion?

I formulated my own idea of how the babies were swapped but I was wrong!

Just when I thought that Maddie and Pete were some losers, they stepped up.

I liked the end because I like stories where bad guys get what they deserve.

As I said before, I found the story slow and even dragging but Delaney has a way of writing that just pulled me in.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.

First of all, the idea of what would you do if you find out that your child was mistakenly switched at the hospital is already controversial. Then, on top of that, a ton of plot twists and surprises and you have a heck of a novel. I LOVED the ending! I have read all four of JP Delaney novels and he's becoming a must-read-author for me. Whatever he publishes, I'll read. Once again, he delivered! This is a definitely a must read.

Thanks NetGalley, JP Delaney and RandomHouse for a great ARC!

Ooooh I just finish this, and what a crazy situation for normal people to be caught up in.! Couldn’t wait to get to the ending and it didn’t disappoint. Highly recommend.

WOW. This book terrified the crap out of me from beginning to end. Five shivering stars for another great thriller by JP Delaney - this is by far my favorite Delaney book yet.

I went into this book knowing very little about the plot. I just knew I wanted to read it because I like JP Delaney. And now that I have finished, I think it's better not to tell you too much about the plot itself also. The shock is part of the fun. Also, the conceit of the book on its face maybe doesn't sound too exciting -- it is a subject that has been done before. But the difference here is the WAY it is done, with so many more layers. This author is masterful at building suspense and fear. And better still, while it is terrifying you, this book is SO clever. It asks all kinds of philosophical questions about children and parenting that are hard to confront. (Full disclosure - I don't have any kids, and was still terrified by this book, so I can't imagine reading it as the mom or dad of a small kid.) The book questions a lot of our assumptions about what makes a good parent, and about nature vs. nurture --- and it does it in such a clever and interesting way. I also really love the way this book has a stay at home dad in what is usually the "'dutiful wife" role in a thriller, and a more harried, somewhat out of touch working mom in what is usually the "distant father" role. This also cleverly makes the reader examine our own assumptions about gender roles in parenting.

This is a book in which some of the narrators will infuriate you (why did you do something so dumb? why are you so bad at parenting?) and yet, while you are mentally screaming at them, you still totally identify with them and want them to succeed. There is also one truly evil character in this book who you will love to root against. You may not like all the characters in the book but they will definitely fascinate you.

The whole plot is laid out so well and you will see the terrible things coming long before the characters do, which is really one of the most fun parts of these types of thrillers. The book has just the right amount of twists and a great ending. I would love to give you my full analysis of just why this book is so uniquely great at tackling a number of social and philosophical issues but I really don't want to give away the fun you will discover for yourself as you go along. I will say that I read tons of thrillers (as you may gather from my reviews) and this one really stands out as totally unique and exceptionally scary. JP Delaney again proves that he is an exceptionally gifted thriller writer, and has a little something extra to say in this book in terms of social commentary as well. A truly fun and scary book.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, JP Delaney and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This is one of my favorite thrillers I have read this year.

JP Delaney does it again! This is a story about what happens when a case of child swapping, social media, and the law collide to create your worst nightmare. I loved how Delaney wove in all the worst case scenarios in a believable fashion. Playing Nice also raises the question of how much nature vs. nurture plays a role in our children's development and the bonds we develop with them. The whole time I read, I was thinking "What would I do?" This was such a satisfying read!

Another great book by JP Delaney! I didn't want to put it down! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. This by far is my favorite JP Delaney book. Peter, a stay at home dad, has his world turned upside down when a stranger comes knocking on his door looking for his birth son. Maddie, Peter's partner, is more skeptical of this stranger and what he is claiming. Together they have to decide who to put first, their family or themselves.

Some things I really liked about this story: the story line was unique, the story caught your attention right away, I felt like the characters all had a purpose.

Some things I did not like: I felt like the ending was not that climatic and felt rushed.


Overall this book was very good and I would recommend for a thriller beach read.

This domestic thriller about swapped babies at birth and just how far parents will go to protect the child they love was just what I didn’t know I needed! At first, everyone plays “nice” but soon the drama ensues.

While this topic has certainly been covered before, I was impressed to find the number of issues and topics author JP Delaney was able to interweave into this compulsive plotline. I had a hard time putting this one down and am definitely adding it to my summer thriller’s recommendation list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. My full review will be posted on genthebookworm.com closer to the publication date.

I find that JP Delaney's books are really hit or miss. For me, this one started out really good but I felt the ending was really rushed. What would happen if someone knocked on your door and told you that they did a DNA test on your son and that he was switched at birth and was really theirs? This is what happens to Pete and Maddie whose son Theo turns out to not be genetically theirs. Of course, the real father, Miles, ends up being a complete psychopath which makes the title of this book so ironic. The storyline was great but I felt like Pete and Maddie were a bit weak and really had some flaws. Pete was just too nice and gullible of a guy and Maddie was a bit of a nutcase herself. And let's face it. She was definitely not a good mom. I felt like none of the characters were really relatable. They all either did stupid things or were crazy. Everyone except maybe Lucy, Miles's wife, who was just trapped in a marriage to a psycho. The story was relatable, the characters, not so much. A good read with a decent ending. I just felt something was missing in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, JP Delaney, and Random House/Ballantine Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maddie and Peter’s world is shattered when they find out their two-year-old son Theo isn’t biologically theirs. Their baby has been living with Miles and Lucy, as the babies were somehow switched in the NICU of their local hospital. All four adults agree to a plan where they’d all be involved in both babies’ lives, but the agreement is short lived and lies that have been hidden are unearthed as the battle begins for custody of the boys. Another great family thriller by JP Delaney.

A true page-turner that you won't be able to put down until you're finished. If you're looking for a book to immerse in that will take you away from your troubles, this would be a good fit. It's hard to resist any kind of story about being switched at birth, but this one is unique in the character exploration and the other themes it addresses. Nicely done with a killer ending!

Another good one from JP Delaney. Finding out your child is not your child would be a horrifying experience. But when the birth parents might be crazy...what do you do? Quick, suspenseful read.

Fantastic page turner! I hated to put it down. Two premature babies switched at birth and the discovery made when the babies are 2 years old. Two very different sets of parents, financially and emotionally. But someone will do anything to "win". Good discussion questions regarding nature vs. nurture, not to mention good vs. evil. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy.

JP Delaney continues to be at the top of my list for authors able to write engaging and creative psychological thrillers. I enjoyed "The Perfect Wife" and "The Girl Before" but think this new novel "Playing Nice" is even better due to the intense character development and family drama aspects. The premise is two families deliver premature babies and they are switched at birth in the NICU. One has severe disabilities and the other develops normally. When the babies are two years old, the family with the disabled child finds the other family and tells them the babies were switched. The real drama begins with how both families handle the news and how they start being part of each other's lives. The psychological manipulation is perfectly done, not too overt and yet lingering in the background. The narrative is interspersed with court documents that help the plot move forward without begin over come by the character's emotions. What really drives this novel is the character development and relationship between the two main characters and not only who they are but who they pretend to be to each other. The emotional strain of the characters drives the plot forward to an action packed sequence at the end of the novel. This is book is highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers that are tired of the "usual" plot lines of many other novels.

A gripping nightmare ... one cannot read this gem without bouncing between dread and outrage! There's a knock on the door ... you open the door and find a man on your porch who claims that the son you've nurtured and loved for the last two years is his! Miles Lambert insists that your son Theo is actually his ... and he can prove it with DNA. What ensues is an epic dilemma and the struggle between two sets of parents to reach a solution ... although initially amicable it quickly devolves into confrontation and slander. After all... in this age of social media ... an accusation is tantamount to guilt ... especially aided by the blood thirsty media... ever looking for more clicks. Allegations are easily made .. and twisted facts become bombshells.
J P Delaney weaves a twisted narrative with an inexorable pace leading to an edge-of-your-seat and unexpected conclusion. An important sub-plot involves personality. ... specifically the spectrum of the psychopathic personality. Who doesn't know a friend or family member that actually fits part of the profile: charming, yet extremely vindictive ... thinks life is a game and nothing is off limits in the quest to win ....fearless and relentless in getting their way ... and worst of all ... lack of remorse
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine - Random House publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. As expected .. another Delaney tour de force.
( at readersremains.com )

A parents love is an unrivaled force and JP Delaney does a masterful job at showing how powerful that love can be in his latest novel, Playing Nice. The premise revolves around two couples who find out their preemies were switched at birth two years after the fact.

I am fascinated by switched at birth stories, and this alone had me captivated from page one. Many switched at birth stories play out similarly, so I must admit I was expecting some predictability in this plot. I should have known better. JP Delaney is skilled at engineering plot twists, and the storyline of Playing Nice was completely unpredictable. The unexpected complications to the plot that propelled the story included: mental illlness, addiction, marital struggles, and legal drama.

The plot is narrated from the viewpoints of both a husband and wife. The husband is more emotional; whereas, the wife is more levelheaded. This switch in narration makes Playing Nice move quickly without feeling overly dramatic. At times I felt a bit agitated that this couple had yet another obstacle thrown in their way. That said, I easily forgot my agitation, because I was so engrossed in seeing their struggles end. Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Playing Nice is set to release on July 28, 2020.

The scariest part of the book Playing Nice by J.P. Delaney is that it could actually happen. It has happened in my lifetime. Even with all the safety precautions, training and diligent staff it is still possible. The story starts with the birth of two babies, boys, born in a swanky private hospital months early. Transferred to the NICU by ambulance to another hospital. What happens next is a fear of every mother I have ever known. They say you would know your own child but when they are whisked away to give them a chance at life without you having seen them and they are attached to and covered in wires and monitors when you finally do see them, would you? I just don't know. You're going to find out what happened to one couple who had to face this ordeal. Read and see! Scare!