Clio Barnes has built a picture-perfect life as an influencer, but when her estranged mother dies, she and her sisters inherit their childhood home, the same house their mother claimed was possessed by a demon. Clio sees an opportunity to turn the house into content gold with a home renovation, but as memories resurface and her mother’s writings resurface, the sinister presence in the house feels more real than ever. What begins as a flip quickly unravels into a confrontation with family secrets, grief, and something far darker than Clio ever imagined.
I love a good, haunted house story, and I also love Rachel Harrison’s books. Play Nice is very unique and it’s definitely not your traditional haunting story. It leans more toward light horror with a sharp, witty edge; as many of her books do. Harrison delivers a humorous and creepy tale centered around a dysfunctional family, with a mix of unlikable characters, a touch of romance, and even a creepy kid thrown in. The family mystery at the heart of the story kept me engaged, and I liked how it tied into bigger themes of influencer culture, grief, and addiction.
Character wise they’re all terrible, but in true Harrison fashion she was able to evoke all the emotions with her writing. The sisterly bond and banter were fun, and I felt all the emotions they were all feeling, though I was firmly on Clio’s side because she’s the narrator why else.
Half haunted house story and half dysfunctional family drama, this one was entertaining and had plenty of those eerie moments I look for. On the horror scale though, it’s horror-lite so perfect for anyone who doesn’t want something to scary this spooky season. For now Cackle still takes the crown for cozy-spooky and The Return is my favorite creepy horror of hers. Harrison always delivers something compelling and unique, though, and I had a great time with this read.
Other Rachel Harrison reviews
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★
Play Nice comes out September 9, 2025. Huge thanks to Berkley for my copy in return for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books
