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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
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
Thank you to the publisher for both the physical and earc of this book.
I love Joelle Wellington’s books. I started this as a buddy read and had to stop halfway through. I am unsure why but I hit a slump. I will say that is probably more on my than the book. Once I got back in, I finished the second half in one day. That second half was so good. I didn’t see the twist coming. I also feel like Joelle did a great job of making me hate the main FMc. But I love love loved her brother.
I love Joelle Wellington’s books. I started this as a buddy read and had to stop halfway through. I am unsure why but I hit a slump. I will say that is probably more on my than the book. Once I got back in, I finished the second half in one day. That second half was so good. I didn’t see the twist coming. I also feel like Joelle did a great job of making me hate the main FMc. But I love love loved her brother.
I’m giving this one 5 stars, though I do think it could have benefited from a slightly heavier edit—there were a few scenes that didn’t move the story forward.
That said, I absolutely loved it. Joelle Wellington has such a knack for writing YA characters who live outside the typical mold, and her storytelling is both engaging and layered. I especially appreciate how she weaves in social commentary—thought-provoking without ever feeling forced or preachy.
This one is quite different from A Vicious Game. While it still touches on themes of classism and wealth disparity, the tone shifts toward a small-town murder mystery. And let’s be honest—small towns gripped by the influence of a glossy lifestyle brand are having a moment right now, and Wellington executes it brilliantly.
Mark your calendars—this releases November 4, 2025. Preorder it now so you can dive in the moment it lands.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Simon and Schuster Children’s through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
That said, I absolutely loved it. Joelle Wellington has such a knack for writing YA characters who live outside the typical mold, and her storytelling is both engaging and layered. I especially appreciate how she weaves in social commentary—thought-provoking without ever feeling forced or preachy.
This one is quite different from A Vicious Game. While it still touches on themes of classism and wealth disparity, the tone shifts toward a small-town murder mystery. And let’s be honest—small towns gripped by the influence of a glossy lifestyle brand are having a moment right now, and Wellington executes it brilliantly.
Mark your calendars—this releases November 4, 2025. Preorder it now so you can dive in the moment it lands.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Simon and Schuster Children’s through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Girls Who Play Dead is Joelle Wellington's take on the suburban gothic (Ex. Stepford Wives) with this story of Kyla and Mikky. After Kyla's best friend is murdered, Mikky comes back to his hometown to help Kyla grieve and solve the mystery of her killer.
First and foremost, I LOVE Joelle Wellington and she plays with genres masterfully. What can't she do?! This take on the suburban gothic is fantastic. The atmosphere is so eerie and Cook Cosmetics being apart of everyone's lives feels so cultish. The way they drop product placement from the cosmetics lines so smoothly in the writing is so cool. I usually am not a gothic reader, but this was such an interesting read (and I'll read whatever Joelle Wellington writes because I think she always has such unique takes and is so profound in her writing)
I loved the two budding relationships and the way they really seemed to get each other. It feels like so much of this story is really about Kyla finding out who she is and wanting to feel seen even though she is guarded, and Mikky trying to guide her in that after he went through similar discovery post move.
While Wellington always has some anti-capitalist messaging in her stories, to which this is no exception, I thought what she had to say about mothers in this one was very interesting.Kyla dnd Mikky's mom not wanting to be a mom and bucking against the idea that women have to be maternal was very interesting. And Erin and Jason's mom turning out to be the ultimate "boy mom" in a sense was unexpected. I had absolutely no idea that she would be the killer and the reveal was very well done.
5 Stars! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC! Cannot wait to buy the book!
First and foremost, I LOVE Joelle Wellington and she plays with genres masterfully. What can't she do?! This take on the suburban gothic is fantastic. The atmosphere is so eerie and Cook Cosmetics being apart of everyone's lives feels so cultish. The way they drop product placement from the cosmetics lines so smoothly in the writing is so cool. I usually am not a gothic reader, but this was such an interesting read (and I'll read whatever Joelle Wellington writes because I think she always has such unique takes and is so profound in her writing)
I loved the two budding relationships and the way they really seemed to get each other. It feels like so much of this story is really about Kyla finding out who she is and wanting to feel seen even though she is guarded, and Mikky trying to guide her in that after he went through similar discovery post move.
While Wellington always has some anti-capitalist messaging in her stories, to which this is no exception, I thought what she had to say about mothers in this one was very interesting.
5 Stars! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC! Cannot wait to buy the book!
Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. The pacing was very very slow meaning I couldn’t get into the story and didn’t find myself reaching for this one
Joelle has a way of making you think one thing, and then completely dragging the rug out from under you. Books like this are exhausting in a sense that all these lies and secrets they have to keep. I was tired for them. And Jason had the biggest lie/secret to keep. There are people who should just never be parents, ever. Peter didn’t deserve the treatment he got, and Rowan was a terrible person for what he did to Lydia. Erin wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t deserve to die. Kyla had to be on a whole other level of EXHAUSTED! Having to keep up a front with everyone and not be able to properly grieve, oh but when she did, I wanted to cry with her. I bet she slept good that night. And Jason??? I hope he gets the licensed help that he needs. I can’t imagine what his father is going through.
SN: Cook Cosmetics better had been cooked! lol!
SN: Cook Cosmetics better had been cooked! lol!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
This book was really surprising for me because I ended up liking it for a completely different reason than I initially thought. Though it is a thriller, I thought that the mystery was set up quite poorly- it was never really obvious how Erin had died and I wasn’t ever convinced it was murder, though all the characters treated it like it had to be. And yet! The book was fun. It had the high- school- gossipy aspect that made me want to read on, but the real draw were the characters. I liked Kyla as a character though her personality would be pretty unbearable in real life, but I LOVED Mikkey so much. His perspective was so heartfelt and honest, and I loved the portrayal of his relationship with his sister, his friends and his love interest. His presence in the narrative was the reason why I’ll give this book a four stars instead of three. Overall i definitely enjoyed this and I would recommend!
Thank you to NetGally for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes