Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Couldn’t put it down, but had to put it down several times to process. Very quick read.
Maybe I was just in the mood of something a little twisty, but this hit nearly all the right buttons for me. I couldn't wait to see what happened next
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This book was dreadfully slow starting. I mean it took a bit over halfway to get me wanting more. I see where a lot of the first part was necessary but good grief. It just dragged on and on for too long. I also did not like the parts where the emails, letters from lawyers, and I think it was a facebook page for the one dad, were told. It was dribble for me. I just don't like that in books that I read. Make it part of the story between the people not in tiny print and supposed text between them. It is just boring to me.
That being said this book was a good story. Once it picks up it is great. The story is one that will keep you wanting to know what is happening and why. Who switched these babies and why. Was one of the parents responsible or was it truly an accident that just happened during the ride from the private hospital to the NICU. What these parents went through was horrible for sure. One set of parents were more likable than the other. Or maybe it was one dad was more likable as I didn't truly care for his mate. Pete was a good man. He loved Theo and did everything for him. His mate, Maddie, while she did love Theo, was hard to like. She seemed to be repulsed by their son from the start. Once he was born and was not carried to term and looked odd because of how early he was it seems he made her sick. She was also way to jealous of the other women around Pete. Nurses and all. They thought Pete was a great dad, as did I, yet she was very nitpicky about it. She seemed to find fault is so many things concerning Pete. Considering some things she did behind Pete's back she should count her lucky stars that she had a mate that loved her and the boy that much.
Then we have Miles and Lucy, who were a bit unlikable all the way around. Mainly it was Miles. He started being a jerk way before we even found out what was going on. He comes across as a very arrogant person who can't stand it if things don't go his way. No matter what happened or was said it was his way or he pouted like a jerk. He did not seem to care at all about David, the boy who they are raising as their own child. It seems like Lucy may be a bit human but is under Miles's thumb and does what he says when he says.
This book is good in the sense that it is a story that will keep you turning pages and wanting to know what happens and why. But I didn't like the parts between when as I already explained where email, letters from lawyers, etc. It just didn't do it for me. This book had great promise though and is a good story for the most part. I'm sure most will love it. It was just not one of my favorites.
Thank you #NetGalley, #JPDelaney, #RandomHouse,Ballantine for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.
I give it only 3/5 stars and do recommend you read it for yourself. We each tend to like different things.
That being said this book was a good story. Once it picks up it is great. The story is one that will keep you wanting to know what is happening and why. Who switched these babies and why. Was one of the parents responsible or was it truly an accident that just happened during the ride from the private hospital to the NICU. What these parents went through was horrible for sure. One set of parents were more likable than the other. Or maybe it was one dad was more likable as I didn't truly care for his mate. Pete was a good man. He loved Theo and did everything for him. His mate, Maddie, while she did love Theo, was hard to like. She seemed to be repulsed by their son from the start. Once he was born and was not carried to term and looked odd because of how early he was it seems he made her sick. She was also way to jealous of the other women around Pete. Nurses and all. They thought Pete was a great dad, as did I, yet she was very nitpicky about it. She seemed to find fault is so many things concerning Pete. Considering some things she did behind Pete's back she should count her lucky stars that she had a mate that loved her and the boy that much.
Then we have Miles and Lucy, who were a bit unlikable all the way around. Mainly it was Miles. He started being a jerk way before we even found out what was going on. He comes across as a very arrogant person who can't stand it if things don't go his way. No matter what happened or was said it was his way or he pouted like a jerk. He did not seem to care at all about David, the boy who they are raising as their own child. It seems like Lucy may be a bit human but is under Miles's thumb and does what he says when he says.
This book is good in the sense that it is a story that will keep you turning pages and wanting to know what happens and why. But I didn't like the parts between when as I already explained where email, letters from lawyers, etc. It just didn't do it for me. This book had great promise though and is a good story for the most part. I'm sure most will love it. It was just not one of my favorites.
Thank you #NetGalley, #JPDelaney, #RandomHouse,Ballantine for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.
I give it only 3/5 stars and do recommend you read it for yourself. We each tend to like different things.
Review of Playing Nice by J.P. Delaney:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maddie and Pete are finally starting to get into a routine after two years of struggles that started with their baby being born premature and the uncertainty of what his future would look like. What followed over the next two years included a bout of postpartum psychosis, developmental challenges, unemployment, and a lull in their relationship. It’s at the two year mark that Miles enters their lives and drops a bomb: Theo isn’t their biological child, rather he is Miles and Lucy’s. And Miles and Lucy have been raising their biological son, David, for the last two years. How could this have happened and what do they do now? Could you just swap children after two years of unconditionally loving them; share custody of both children; or would you fight for your child whether or not they were biologically yours? And who is to blame for this devastating mixup?
If you’re a parent who birthed in a hospital, you can’t even tell me that the idea of your baby being switched at birth never crossed your mind. It certainly did for me. All babies look like these tiny alien-like creatures and would I even be able to tell if the baby they brought to me was actually mine? (Of course now there is no arguing that my children are from me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maddie and Pete are finally starting to get into a routine after two years of struggles that started with their baby being born premature and the uncertainty of what his future would look like. What followed over the next two years included a bout of postpartum psychosis, developmental challenges, unemployment, and a lull in their relationship. It’s at the two year mark that Miles enters their lives and drops a bomb: Theo isn’t their biological child, rather he is Miles and Lucy’s. And Miles and Lucy have been raising their biological son, David, for the last two years. How could this have happened and what do they do now? Could you just swap children after two years of unconditionally loving them; share custody of both children; or would you fight for your child whether or not they were biologically yours? And who is to blame for this devastating mixup?
If you’re a parent who birthed in a hospital, you can’t even tell me that the idea of your baby being switched at birth never crossed your mind. It certainly did for me. All babies look like these tiny alien-like creatures and would I even be able to tell if the baby they brought to me was actually mine? (Of course now there is no arguing that my children are from me
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pete and Maddie were expecting a baby boy. They had been to a wedding reception and when she didn’t feel the baby move she went for a check up and got admitted immediately. Their baby, Theo, was born. He was premature when born in a private hospital then transferred to NICU at St Alexanders to help him survive or otherwise he could die. Little did they know the heartache that was in store for them
Two years later there was a knock at the door. Pete Riley answers to find Miles Lambert and Don Maguire on his doorstep. Two strangers that he has never met before but he had spotted lurking near Theo’s nursery that morning with a woman. Miles advises, ‘there was no easy way for him to do this so he’s just going to just say it. Prepare yourself for a shock. Theo is not your son. He’s mine!’
Pete can’t take it in. This can’t be right. He’s devastated. Pete mentions that Theo got a bit physical at nursery sometimes but they were working on it. Miles said, ‘he was the same at that age.’ Miles was asking a lot of questions about Theo.
I broke the news to Maddie over the phone by letting her know, ‘Theo was ok but there was a man and a private detective that had just called round. He reckons Theo is not our son, somehow the babies were switched at birth. In the NICU at St Alexanders. I researched Miles Lambert. Also, swapped babies on google. We were in a grey area due to the babies age, perhaps that was why they were doing it now. When Maddie got home we discussed it. Maddie wanted to know how he found out that Theo wasn’t his son but Miles hadn’t said. Theo did look like Miles whereas David looked like Maddie and she liked the picture when I showed her.
We had to get together with the other couple and sort something out but we didn’t want to give up Theo. He was our son, regardless of what Miles Lambert said! It seemed like they had obviously had a head start and consulted some lawyers, got a DNA test done as well. Some ground rules had to be sorted out.
Pete, Maddie and Theo went to meet the Lamberts at their house. They hadn’t been forewarned about David’s health conditions so it came as a bit of a shock to them. The house was massive and they had a nanny to look after David. Both families agree they are happy with the status quo and wouldn’t want to swap them back. They want them to become part of each other’s lives.
Unfortunately, with the families beginning a lawsuit against the hospital, it opens a whole can of worms for Pete and Maddie as their entire life is turned upside down and their relationship is tested to the limit. It appears Miles Lambert is being quite underhand and feels sure he will get Theo back, possibly leaving Pete and Maddie with no child. They have to learn to up their game but play inside the rules.
This was a brilliant psychological thriller which I read through the night in one sitting, I had to know how it ended! The plot was great, well thought out and excellently written. It was written in diary style and each entry said whose it was. I was hooked from the start and didn’t see the ending coming.
Two years later there was a knock at the door. Pete Riley answers to find Miles Lambert and Don Maguire on his doorstep. Two strangers that he has never met before but he had spotted lurking near Theo’s nursery that morning with a woman. Miles advises, ‘there was no easy way for him to do this so he’s just going to just say it. Prepare yourself for a shock. Theo is not your son. He’s mine!’
Pete can’t take it in. This can’t be right. He’s devastated. Pete mentions that Theo got a bit physical at nursery sometimes but they were working on it. Miles said, ‘he was the same at that age.’ Miles was asking a lot of questions about Theo.
I broke the news to Maddie over the phone by letting her know, ‘Theo was ok but there was a man and a private detective that had just called round. He reckons Theo is not our son, somehow the babies were switched at birth. In the NICU at St Alexanders. I researched Miles Lambert. Also, swapped babies on google. We were in a grey area due to the babies age, perhaps that was why they were doing it now. When Maddie got home we discussed it. Maddie wanted to know how he found out that Theo wasn’t his son but Miles hadn’t said. Theo did look like Miles whereas David looked like Maddie and she liked the picture when I showed her.
We had to get together with the other couple and sort something out but we didn’t want to give up Theo. He was our son, regardless of what Miles Lambert said! It seemed like they had obviously had a head start and consulted some lawyers, got a DNA test done as well. Some ground rules had to be sorted out.
Pete, Maddie and Theo went to meet the Lamberts at their house. They hadn’t been forewarned about David’s health conditions so it came as a bit of a shock to them. The house was massive and they had a nanny to look after David. Both families agree they are happy with the status quo and wouldn’t want to swap them back. They want them to become part of each other’s lives.
Unfortunately, with the families beginning a lawsuit against the hospital, it opens a whole can of worms for Pete and Maddie as their entire life is turned upside down and their relationship is tested to the limit. It appears Miles Lambert is being quite underhand and feels sure he will get Theo back, possibly leaving Pete and Maddie with no child. They have to learn to up their game but play inside the rules.
This was a brilliant psychological thriller which I read through the night in one sitting, I had to know how it ended! The plot was great, well thought out and excellently written. It was written in diary style and each entry said whose it was. I was hooked from the start and didn’t see the ending coming.
A stranger comes to your house and tells you that the child you are bringing up is not yours and was exchanged in NICU.
For Pete and Maddy, this is their reality, and they are shocked and disturbed by this revelation. They agree to meet with Miles and Lucy, the parents of 'their' child to try and work out what would be best for both children. The parents try to come to an amicable agreement, but as time passes, it seems that someone might be applying undue influence on associated parties to assist their plan.
Miles' smooth exterior hides a psychopathic nature, he gets what he wants, and that is to have his biological son at home with him at any cost.
Marvellous read, with great characters. Difficult subjects are addressed encompassing a heart-wrenching story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and author JP Delaney for a pre-publication copy to review.
For Pete and Maddy, this is their reality, and they are shocked and disturbed by this revelation. They agree to meet with Miles and Lucy, the parents of 'their' child to try and work out what would be best for both children. The parents try to come to an amicable agreement, but as time passes, it seems that someone might be applying undue influence on associated parties to assist their plan.
Miles' smooth exterior hides a psychopathic nature, he gets what he wants, and that is to have his biological son at home with him at any cost.
Marvellous read, with great characters. Difficult subjects are addressed encompassing a heart-wrenching story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and author JP Delaney for a pre-publication copy to review.
I was hooked since the first pages and couldn't put it down.
I rooted for Peter and Maddie, was kept on the by the growing tension and loved every moment of the story.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I loved.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I rooted for Peter and Maddie, was kept on the by the growing tension and loved every moment of the story.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I loved.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.