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The Game She Plays: A Novel
From the author of Tell Us No Secrets comes a twisty new novel. A young American woman is thrust into the closed social circle of English aristocrats, but beneath their charm and glamor lay secrets and dark betrayals that follow them--and her--around every corner. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Sherry Lapena, Ruth Ware, and Gilly MacMillan. To everyone else it was "just" a weekend house party--complete with a pheasant shoot, inside jokes, and after-dinner games. But for American Nicola Harris, swept off her feet by aristocratic Englishman James Shuttleworth, the weekend is her first chance to penetrate his close-knit circle of posh friends--people with names like Badger and Trez, people who will soon have the titles of Earl and Countess. Nicola is eager to fit in, but she can't seem to navigate this insular world, where everyone speaks a private language and secrets are hinted at behind the jolly jokes and witty barbs. Just as Nicola begins to feel welcome, Juliet arrives. Mysterious, stunning, charismatic Juliet is also James' first love--the one who left him heartbroken ten years before. Juliet holds the men in thrall and the women under her spell. And although it seems she can do no wrong, outsider Nicola senses something poisonous in her presence, something that sparks insecurity, jealousy, betrayal, and violence. Because Juliet is a champion game-player, able to lure you into her circle by finding your most vulnerable spot....and when the game she plays turns deadly, everyone is a suspect.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published June 6, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
June 8, 2023
2.5 stars
This is a very, very slow burn. In all honesty, I got quite bored through the first 60% because it was just a slow, deliberate setup. In the end, I got what the author was going for and why it happened that way, but overall I think it's going to be forgettable.
Nicola is at a crossroads in life and decides to take a vacation to Paris. She ends up seated next to James, and the two hit it off so completely that within a few weeks they are in love and spending every moment together. Their worlds are totally different, these are all wealthy, titled (or soon to be) people with mansions and summer homes. The two of them join some of James's other friends for a pheasant hunting weekend, and his ex-girlfriend Juliet shows up after many years living in Hong Kong. The entire group fawns over her and adores her, but Nicola quickly starts to believe that there is something a bit more sinister going on with Juliet.
There are a couple of decent twists toward the end which made me like the book a bit better, but faster pacing and more intrigue could have really improved thins. With as quickly as Nicola and James fell into insta-love, you'd think the rest of the book could match that pace.
I do enjoy books about the ultra-wealthy who seem to live on a completely different planet than the rest of us, but this one just falls short. One other part that bugged me was that they treated Nicola like she was a total idiot American who didn't even understand the most basic of British phrasing (like who doesn't know what a wanker is?)
And I could never figure out why this book was set in 1980. It didn't really play into the story at all except that maybe the author didn't want to deal with modern technology so set it so far back that it wouldn't be an issue.
There are some good moments with the twists, but the slow meandering setup isn't going to help people get there.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a very, very slow burn. In all honesty, I got quite bored through the first 60% because it was just a slow, deliberate setup. In the end, I got what the author was going for and why it happened that way, but overall I think it's going to be forgettable.
Nicola is at a crossroads in life and decides to take a vacation to Paris. She ends up seated next to James, and the two hit it off so completely that within a few weeks they are in love and spending every moment together. Their worlds are totally different, these are all wealthy, titled (or soon to be) people with mansions and summer homes. The two of them join some of James's other friends for a pheasant hunting weekend, and his ex-girlfriend Juliet shows up after many years living in Hong Kong. The entire group fawns over her and adores her, but Nicola quickly starts to believe that there is something a bit more sinister going on with Juliet.
There are a couple of decent twists toward the end which made me like the book a bit better, but faster pacing and more intrigue could have really improved thins. With as quickly as Nicola and James fell into insta-love, you'd think the rest of the book could match that pace.
I do enjoy books about the ultra-wealthy who seem to live on a completely different planet than the rest of us, but this one just falls short. One other part that bugged me was that they treated Nicola like she was a total idiot American who didn't even understand the most basic of British phrasing (like who doesn't know what a wanker is?)
And I could never figure out why this book was set in 1980. It didn't really play into the story at all except that maybe the author didn't want to deal with modern technology so set it so far back that it wouldn't be an issue.
There are some good moments with the twists, but the slow meandering setup isn't going to help people get there.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 20, 2023
Have you ever boarded an airplane and been excited that the seat next to you was empty - until the last passenger comes and takes up your precious space? Nicola has been having a rough time, so she decides to take a break from life and head to Europe for a little adventure. As she’s flying from New York to London, she meets her annoying seat mate, James. Only, after a little talking, James didn’t seem so annoying. He turned out to be funny, well-educated, handsome and quite a catch.
Nicola wasn’t looking for a relationship, but she immediately fell into one with James. They travel to Paris, then back to England, where she is invited to meet James’ group of friends. There we are introduced to the gang from his university days at Cambridge: Trez and Hugo, a couple who will soon have royal titles, Nigel and his “commoner” girlfriend Bella, and a random guy they just call Badger. As an American, these people overwhelm Nicola…but not as much as Juliet.
Juliet was James’ first love, but one day she left for Hong Kong and left him behind. She shows up unexpectedly at the hunting weekend the gang has planned, giving people in the group mixed feelings. Overall though, they welcome her back into the circle. Juliet is fashionable, beautiful, charismatic … many of the things Nicola feels she is unfortunately lacking.
As the weekend rolls on, the drama does too - this group has quite a past, and there is also a lot going on in the present. Juliet likes to play games, but Nicola doesn’t find them fun at all. After learning more about this woman, Nicola finds herself getting angry - and this anger leads to an argument. When tragedy strikes, that argument will haunt one of them.
I thought this was very engaging and entertaining; the characters were written very well, and the book had a nice flow that made it hard to put down. I was totally invested through the whole thing, and I’m giving it a solid four stars for being a fun, thrilling read.
(Thank you to William Morrow Books, Siena Sterling and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 6, 2023.)
Nicola wasn’t looking for a relationship, but she immediately fell into one with James. They travel to Paris, then back to England, where she is invited to meet James’ group of friends. There we are introduced to the gang from his university days at Cambridge: Trez and Hugo, a couple who will soon have royal titles, Nigel and his “commoner” girlfriend Bella, and a random guy they just call Badger. As an American, these people overwhelm Nicola…but not as much as Juliet.
Juliet was James’ first love, but one day she left for Hong Kong and left him behind. She shows up unexpectedly at the hunting weekend the gang has planned, giving people in the group mixed feelings. Overall though, they welcome her back into the circle. Juliet is fashionable, beautiful, charismatic … many of the things Nicola feels she is unfortunately lacking.
As the weekend rolls on, the drama does too - this group has quite a past, and there is also a lot going on in the present. Juliet likes to play games, but Nicola doesn’t find them fun at all. After learning more about this woman, Nicola finds herself getting angry - and this anger leads to an argument. When tragedy strikes, that argument will haunt one of them.
I thought this was very engaging and entertaining; the characters were written very well, and the book had a nice flow that made it hard to put down. I was totally invested through the whole thing, and I’m giving it a solid four stars for being a fun, thrilling read.
(Thank you to William Morrow Books, Siena Sterling and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 6, 2023.)
February 17, 2024
4.5/5
Well, it looks like I just found me a new favorite author guys! The Game She Plays by Siena Sterling was a TRIP, and I always love the rich people behaving badly trope. This is the author's sophomore novel, so I'm a little disappointed I don't have more of a backlist to read, but I will definitely be making sure I go back to her debut Tell Us No Secrets and watching for future books. This did leave me with a couple of questions which made it not quite a 5 ⭐ read for me, but besides that, I loved everything else about it including the open-endedness of the conclusion.
The pacing was a touch on the slower side but still moved quickly enough, and I didn't really notice anyway since I was listening to the audio. I think Caitlin Kelly did an excellent job narrating, especially considering there is more than one viewpoint. The end itself might have been my favorite twist of the entire book and it left me with my jaw on the floor and chills! I didn't really like any of the characters in the book, and Juliet was definitely the worst of them all. She's such a little b*tch and I felt bad for Trez who was supposed to be her best friend. If you enjoy devious characters, mean girls, and psychological suspense I would highly recommend reading (or listening!) to The Game She Plays.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Well, it looks like I just found me a new favorite author guys! The Game She Plays by Siena Sterling was a TRIP, and I always love the rich people behaving badly trope. This is the author's sophomore novel, so I'm a little disappointed I don't have more of a backlist to read, but I will definitely be making sure I go back to her debut Tell Us No Secrets and watching for future books. This did leave me with a couple of questions which made it not quite a 5 ⭐ read for me, but besides that, I loved everything else about it including the open-endedness of the conclusion.
The pacing was a touch on the slower side but still moved quickly enough, and I didn't really notice anyway since I was listening to the audio. I think Caitlin Kelly did an excellent job narrating, especially considering there is more than one viewpoint. The end itself might have been my favorite twist of the entire book and it left me with my jaw on the floor and chills! I didn't really like any of the characters in the book, and Juliet was definitely the worst of them all. She's such a little b*tch and I felt bad for Trez who was supposed to be her best friend. If you enjoy devious characters, mean girls, and psychological suspense I would highly recommend reading (or listening!) to The Game She Plays.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 18, 2023
3.5 stars #buzzwordchallenge2023-game words-game, play
Slooooooow burn, and I mean slow. 87% before the murder.
An American woman in 1980 meets a rich, wealthy English man on a plane to Paris. They fall for each other but are having problems melding their lives. James' wealthy privileged friends are caricatures of the upper class. One woman is determined to break Nicola and James up.(And the men are all dumb to her scheming. 🙄) It was okay, a middle of the road thriller.
Slooooooow burn, and I mean slow. 87% before the murder.
An American woman in 1980 meets a rich, wealthy English man on a plane to Paris. They fall for each other but are having problems melding their lives. James' wealthy privileged friends are caricatures of the upper class. One woman is determined to break Nicola and James up.(And the men are all dumb to her scheming. 🙄) It was okay, a middle of the road thriller.
December 29, 2022
This was a fun “locked room” type thriller. Nicola meets the rich and dashing James on a cross country flight and finds herself thrown into his orbit where he and his group of friends stay at fancy mansions with servants and go pheasant hunting. This is all very new to her but she likes him enough to try to fit in, until his ex-girlfriend Juliet shows up- everyone seems to love her and only Nicola can see that there is something dangerous under the surface.
Most of the book is a slow burn, where not much happens but the stage gets set for things that will happen later. I was never bored. When it all comes together, it’s very satisfying, though there were times when I wanted to smack Nicola for acting like such a big baby instead of taking a step back and better planning her next move. The ending had a twist that I didn’t see coming, though it actually made me kind of sad. Loose ends were deliberately not tied up so I can only hope it all turned out ok.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I’d recommend to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the book is a slow burn, where not much happens but the stage gets set for things that will happen later. I was never bored. When it all comes together, it’s very satisfying, though there were times when I wanted to smack Nicola for acting like such a big baby instead of taking a step back and better planning her next move. The ending had a twist that I didn’t see coming, though it actually made me kind of sad. Loose ends were deliberately not tied up so I can only hope it all turned out ok.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I’d recommend to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2023
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle & @williammorrowbooks
Okay, let me tell you, I adore a mean girl/rich people problems trope. 🤣 Listen, we all have our flaws and I like being "nosey", even if it's fake people. So this book definitely scratched that itch.
The author does a great job of building the setting, I felt like I could picture the scene and the characters very easily.
This was a super quick and easy read, I think I read it over a 24 hour period!
The big event doesn't happen until the very end. So don't go in expecting a bunch of murder. Lol
Okay, let me tell you, I adore a mean girl/rich people problems trope. 🤣 Listen, we all have our flaws and I like being "nosey", even if it's fake people. So this book definitely scratched that itch.
The author does a great job of building the setting, I felt like I could picture the scene and the characters very easily.
This was a super quick and easy read, I think I read it over a 24 hour period!
The big event doesn't happen until the very end. So don't go in expecting a bunch of murder. Lol
July 29, 2023
We’ve all known her at one point in our lives: the sickeningly sweet one that you see right through. This book was unusual because I kept waiting for a crime but suddenly found myself intrigued by the suspense and characters enough that the crime no longer even seemed relevant. Trust me, once you read it, you’ll understand!
March 12, 2023
The Games She Plays captures you from the start and doesn’t let up till the very end. I really enjoyed Siena Sterling’s writing and was pleasantly surprised by this engaging thriller. Twist after twist after twist. It kept you on your toes and surprised you until the last page. I would definitely recommend this to all my thriller loving friends.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed it!
March 12, 2023
“The Game She Plays” is a great story concept that many women can relate to. Dating a man with a perfect ex-girlfriend who broke his heart and is still loved by everyone. She comes off as nice and supportive, but there’s something about her that feels sneaky. You do not have firm evidence, only your personal feelings, so you keep them to yourself to avoid looking like the jealous insecure girlfriend.
Prepare to be taken on a roller coaster with a twist you won’t see coming! I found this book to be an interesting psychological thriller because we do not know what is real and what isn’t. Is Juliet truly evil, or does Nicola want this to be true to justify her insecurities? Are the jokes made about Nicola friendly, or is there underlying malice? I would also encourage readers to put themselves in Nicola’s shoes before judging her feelings and frustrations.
My issue with this book, however, is the writing. I felt the dialogue was too quick and awkward. I did not get much imagery to understand the setting or the character’s tone or expressions. There were also times when it wasn’t clear who was speaking. Eventually, it became difficult to follow along and remain interested.
I also found the American jokes very redundant. Maybe the characters were intentionally made to be stereotypical Brits that think Americans live under a rock, but it became exhausting after a point.
Overall, I think this story has great potential but needs writing improvements.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing this book for an
honest review!
Prepare to be taken on a roller coaster with a twist you won’t see coming! I found this book to be an interesting psychological thriller because we do not know what is real and what isn’t. Is Juliet truly evil, or does Nicola want this to be true to justify her insecurities? Are the jokes made about Nicola friendly, or is there underlying malice? I would also encourage readers to put themselves in Nicola’s shoes before judging her feelings and frustrations.
My issue with this book, however, is the writing. I felt the dialogue was too quick and awkward. I did not get much imagery to understand the setting or the character’s tone or expressions. There were also times when it wasn’t clear who was speaking. Eventually, it became difficult to follow along and remain interested.
I also found the American jokes very redundant. Maybe the characters were intentionally made to be stereotypical Brits that think Americans live under a rock, but it became exhausting after a point.
Overall, I think this story has great potential but needs writing improvements.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing this book for an
honest review!
June 30, 2023
This book is very incorrectly billed as a thriller/mystery. In fact, it is a romance novel full of unpleasant people. The cast is a group of entitled and manipulative Brits, with one American thrown into the fray. Some are more manipulative than others, some are more entitled, and all are unpleasant in one way or another. The American woman is so insecure that she allows herself to be drawn into the games played by the most manipulative British woman. Each of the characters is a "type" of one sort or another, rather than a fully developed character. Even the "hero" manages to, by the end, engage in the same nastiness as the others. There was no one to like in this book.
It was not a mystery nor a thriller but rather filled with relationship issues and the characters' bad behavior. There is a murder, yes, but it's only at the very end of the book and the reader knows the details within the next few pages.
I really disliked this book and wondered why I stuck with it to the end. Part of that is wanting to know where the supposed thriller aspect that was touted by the marketers was. And part of it was for the location. A private sort of British castle, where one of the couples lives while waiting to inherit (did I say "entitled" yet?) and a Scottish lodge provide most of the background. Sterling does a good job of placing the reader into the setting.
I have no doubt that many will love this book but it was not my cup of tea and, for me at least, the publicity did it a disservice through misrepresentation.
It was not a mystery nor a thriller but rather filled with relationship issues and the characters' bad behavior. There is a murder, yes, but it's only at the very end of the book and the reader knows the details within the next few pages.
I really disliked this book and wondered why I stuck with it to the end. Part of that is wanting to know where the supposed thriller aspect that was touted by the marketers was. And part of it was for the location. A private sort of British castle, where one of the couples lives while waiting to inherit (did I say "entitled" yet?) and a Scottish lodge provide most of the background. Sterling does a good job of placing the reader into the setting.
I have no doubt that many will love this book but it was not my cup of tea and, for me at least, the publicity did it a disservice through misrepresentation.
June 22, 2023
This was too slow for me. I get that there has to be a bunch of character work done first but I’ve seen it done better and more effectively in other books. The premise is interesting but nothing actually happens for the first 75% and then there’s an interesting reveal/twist.
The story follows an American, Nicola, who has been in a whirlwind romance with Englishman, James. She’s invited to his friend’s country house and feels entirely out of her element. An old ex of James’ arrives unannounced and soon the two women find themselves pit against each other in a battle of wills.
The murder hinted doesn’t happen until nearly the end of the book so until then it’s just constant carry remarks among everyone. It barely held my attention but I will admit I didn’t see the final twist coming so three stars for that.
The story follows an American, Nicola, who has been in a whirlwind romance with Englishman, James. She’s invited to his friend’s country house and feels entirely out of her element. An old ex of James’ arrives unannounced and soon the two women find themselves pit against each other in a battle of wills.
The murder hinted doesn’t happen until nearly the end of the book so until then it’s just constant carry remarks among everyone. It barely held my attention but I will admit I didn’t see the final twist coming so three stars for that.
April 10, 2024
Predictable thriller/ mystery about a group of english friends that are well off. Between the groups they all have different relations. The top dog in the group wants everything that she can't have including her fiance.
February 24, 2023
Nicola (Nic) is from Maine, now living in Buffalo NY.
She meets James who’s from London on a plane while traveling to Paris.
They hit it off and fall in love.
Juliet is James's ex girlfriend who has been in Hong Kong for the past several years, she makes Nic a bit jealous.
Trez is married to Hugo, he’s next in line to become an Earl, they live in a mansion in London’s countryside. They’re trying to get pregnant. They have all their friends for the weekend shoot adventure that goes suspiciously wrong.
Much thanks to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review, it was so hard to put this book down.
The ending will have you both pondering and for me I’m hoping for a sequel.
#pregnancy #affairs #romance #suspense #mystery
She meets James who’s from London on a plane while traveling to Paris.
They hit it off and fall in love.
Juliet is James's ex girlfriend who has been in Hong Kong for the past several years, she makes Nic a bit jealous.
Trez is married to Hugo, he’s next in line to become an Earl, they live in a mansion in London’s countryside. They’re trying to get pregnant. They have all their friends for the weekend shoot adventure that goes suspiciously wrong.
Much thanks to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review, it was so hard to put this book down.
The ending will have you both pondering and for me I’m hoping for a sequel.
#pregnancy #affairs #romance #suspense #mystery
September 19, 2023
The Game She Plays…
We’ll that one just sit with you for a bit…
I instantly gravitated toward this title. I was curious for sure and the cover didn’t give anything away.
I just could never have anticipated all this book was going to be.
This was my second book by Sterling and quite frankly I have become a fan. Sterling has easily turned into an auto buy author for me.
You will catch yourself “thinking” you have this book all figured out but I promise you, you’re DEAD wrong. Jam packed with twists and turns, there’s no way you’ll be able to anticipate what’s next.
Don’t believe me, check out this teaser:
To everyone else it was “just” a weekend house party—complete with a pheasant shoot, inside jokes, and after-dinner games. But for American Nicola Harris, swept off her feet by aristocratic Englishman James Shuttleworth, the weekend is her first chance to penetrate his close-knit circle of posh friends—people with names like Badger and Trez, people who will soon have the titles of Earl and Countess. Nicola is eager to fit in, but she can’t seem to navigate this insular world, where everyone speaks a private language and secrets are hinted at behind the jolly jokes and witty barbs.
Just as Nicola begins to feel welcome, Juliet arrives. Mysterious, stunning, charismatic Juliet is also James’ first love—the one who left him heartbroken ten years before. Juliet holds the men in thrall and the women under her spell. And although it seems she can do no wrong, outsider Nicola senses something poisonous in her presence, something that sparks insecurity, jealousy, betrayal, and violence. Because Juliet is a champion game-player, able to lure you into her circle by finding your most vulnerable spot....and when the game she plays turns deadly, everyone is a suspect.
We’ll that one just sit with you for a bit…
I instantly gravitated toward this title. I was curious for sure and the cover didn’t give anything away.
I just could never have anticipated all this book was going to be.
This was my second book by Sterling and quite frankly I have become a fan. Sterling has easily turned into an auto buy author for me.
You will catch yourself “thinking” you have this book all figured out but I promise you, you’re DEAD wrong. Jam packed with twists and turns, there’s no way you’ll be able to anticipate what’s next.
Don’t believe me, check out this teaser:
To everyone else it was “just” a weekend house party—complete with a pheasant shoot, inside jokes, and after-dinner games. But for American Nicola Harris, swept off her feet by aristocratic Englishman James Shuttleworth, the weekend is her first chance to penetrate his close-knit circle of posh friends—people with names like Badger and Trez, people who will soon have the titles of Earl and Countess. Nicola is eager to fit in, but she can’t seem to navigate this insular world, where everyone speaks a private language and secrets are hinted at behind the jolly jokes and witty barbs.
Just as Nicola begins to feel welcome, Juliet arrives. Mysterious, stunning, charismatic Juliet is also James’ first love—the one who left him heartbroken ten years before. Juliet holds the men in thrall and the women under her spell. And although it seems she can do no wrong, outsider Nicola senses something poisonous in her presence, something that sparks insecurity, jealousy, betrayal, and violence. Because Juliet is a champion game-player, able to lure you into her circle by finding your most vulnerable spot....and when the game she plays turns deadly, everyone is a suspect.
June 5, 2023
This book takes place in England in 1980. Nicola Harris is an American who meets the wealthy Englishman James Shuttleworth on a plane, which is the beginning of a whirlwind romance. Things go downhill, however, when Juliet, an old girlfriend of James, makes a surprise appearance at a hunting weekend Nicola is attending with James and his friends.
In addition to being a twisty thriller with a final plot turn I never saw coming, the book also gives a glimpse into class differences in England at the time the story takes place. It also has a "fish out of water" element with Nicola feeling confused and left out by some of the British customs, slang, and the fact that she doesn't have a shared history with James the way his old friends do. She bonds with fellow "outsider" Bella, who comes from Northern England and also feels she doesn't fit in with the others because of their upper class background.
I like both Nicola and Bella, and I go back and forth with most of the other characters, with the exception of Juliet, who I disliked throughout the book. The book has a sense of foreboding that tells you something bad is going to happen. However, I was surprised by all of the various twists and turns that occur at the end of the book. It seems like there are a couple of loose ends when the story concludes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
Thank you to William Morrow Books and the Scene of the Crime Book Club for the advance copy of this ebook, I received the book at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
In addition to being a twisty thriller with a final plot turn I never saw coming, the book also gives a glimpse into class differences in England at the time the story takes place. It also has a "fish out of water" element with Nicola feeling confused and left out by some of the British customs, slang, and the fact that she doesn't have a shared history with James the way his old friends do. She bonds with fellow "outsider" Bella, who comes from Northern England and also feels she doesn't fit in with the others because of their upper class background.
I like both Nicola and Bella, and I go back and forth with most of the other characters, with the exception of Juliet, who I disliked throughout the book. The book has a sense of foreboding that tells you something bad is going to happen. However, I was surprised by all of the various twists and turns that occur at the end of the book. It seems like there are a couple of loose ends when the story concludes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
Thank you to William Morrow Books and the Scene of the Crime Book Club for the advance copy of this ebook, I received the book at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
March 16, 2023
I received this book from William Morrow and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.
What a ride this book was. Definitely very intriguing plot twists and turns. This book was hard to put down. Exciting, suspenseful, thrilling, and captivating.
Nicola is an American who had just lost her boyfriend and job. In her misery, she decides to take off on a 2 week holiday. On the plane, she is seated next to James, a charismatic, handsome man who happens to be rich. Immediately, they hit it off and sparks fly.
James invites her into his world of posh friends and money, Trez, Hugo, Badger, and Nigel, but unexpectedly, James' ex-girlfriend shows up and centers the attention on herself. No one can see Juliet as doing any harm to anyone. She is outgoing, funny, the life of the party, and everyone just absolutely adores her.
This book is filled with secrets and plot twists from every angle. Greed and jealousy hit the 5 friends who have been friends for as long as they can remember. Nicola seems lost in this world. would she be able to keep James' heart or will he fall in love again with Juliet, his first love and leave Nicola hurt in a strange country with no way out?
This story is riveting. There is no detail left out, everything about this book is flawless, the characters, the games that are played, the distinctive scenery, everything in this book is in proper order.
What a ride this book was. Definitely very intriguing plot twists and turns. This book was hard to put down. Exciting, suspenseful, thrilling, and captivating.
Nicola is an American who had just lost her boyfriend and job. In her misery, she decides to take off on a 2 week holiday. On the plane, she is seated next to James, a charismatic, handsome man who happens to be rich. Immediately, they hit it off and sparks fly.
James invites her into his world of posh friends and money, Trez, Hugo, Badger, and Nigel, but unexpectedly, James' ex-girlfriend shows up and centers the attention on herself. No one can see Juliet as doing any harm to anyone. She is outgoing, funny, the life of the party, and everyone just absolutely adores her.
This book is filled with secrets and plot twists from every angle. Greed and jealousy hit the 5 friends who have been friends for as long as they can remember. Nicola seems lost in this world. would she be able to keep James' heart or will he fall in love again with Juliet, his first love and leave Nicola hurt in a strange country with no way out?
This story is riveting. There is no detail left out, everything about this book is flawless, the characters, the games that are played, the distinctive scenery, everything in this book is in proper order.
nope
May 31, 2023DNF at page 16.
Was really excited to read this as I loved both Downton Abbey and Rebecca. However, not even 20 pages in there was a slur used regarding Indigenous people that wasn’t even really challenged, so I will not be finishing.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for review.
Was really excited to read this as I loved both Downton Abbey and Rebecca. However, not even 20 pages in there was a slur used regarding Indigenous people that wasn’t even really challenged, so I will not be finishing.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for review.
July 4, 2023
3.5 Stars Rounded up
This was slow, a very slow burn.
I'd say this was more of a sinister class study than a thriller.
Not really any surprises and the twist is medium OK.
This felt atmospheric and pretentious🤷🏾♀️
Reminded me of the 4th season of You on Netflix.
Only much slower and with less humor.
This was slow, a very slow burn.
I'd say this was more of a sinister class study than a thriller.
Not really any surprises and the twist is medium OK.
This felt atmospheric and pretentious🤷🏾♀️
Reminded me of the 4th season of You on Netflix.
Only much slower and with less humor.
June 29, 2023
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Game She Plays by Siena Sterling.
Do you have a group of high school or college friends that you still get together with? It definitely gets harder as the years go by!
In The Game She Plays by Siena Sterling, American Nicola has just had a whirlwind romance with Englishman James. They are both invited for a weekend of shooting at the fabulous estate of James friends from Cambridge. Nicola is starting to get to know everyone and finally feel welcomed when the mysterious Juliet arrives from Hong Kong. Juliet was James college girlfriend. She is beautiful, witty, and the life of the party. She acts like she cares about everyone and just wants to help them out. Nicola struggles to feel a part of the crowd with Juliet around. She starts to suspect that Juliet may not be all that she seems to be. Is Nicola imagining things or is there a devious plot at play?
I enjoyed this character drive novel, and it was the perfect read for a weekend away. I would call this a slow-burn suspense novel. It hooked me right away and I kept making theories about what I thought would happen. There was a lot of action at the end of the book. I thought I had this figured out, but I was a bit surprised by the ending overall and it definitely made me want to read a second book.
I kept feeling Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier type vibes as I read this novel. I was excited when Rebecca was referenced with Juliet as the Rebecca type person. I loved it!
I thought it was interesting that this book was set in 1980. I liked that is was in the not so distant past and I liked the look at the English upper crust of that era. It was hard to fit in when you didn’t know the rules. I liked how while Nicola was from America, another girlfriend of a friend, Bella, was from the north and also didn’t understand the unwritten rules.
This book was published on June 6, 2023.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2023...
April 27, 2023
It’s probably a good idea to have *that* conversation about ex-lovers before meeting all the close friends who knew and adored them. Too bad Nicola was ambushed by party-crashing Juliet before James found the time to explain their relationship history. And since everyone is acting incredibly thankful for Juliet’s sudden return, Nic has a reasonable case of jealousy, although James pleads “ancient history.” Nicola and James have just met the long absent Juliet at a house in the country, complete with shooting party, the home of Hugo and Trez, future earl and countess of the manor.
The story, set in 1980 (no cell phones or Googling, but they have a mate named Badger full of useless trivia, and all The Beatles are still alive), is told with the alternating viewpoints of Nicola and Trez, although this felt at first like primarily Nicola’s story.
Trez had been friends for years with Juliet while at Cambridge and then Juliet dumped a heartbroken James, took off for Hong Kong and ghosted Trez and Hugo. Nic just can’t get over how perfect Juliet seems to be or how many times Juliet reminisces about the old days with “Jimmy.” And both Nic and Trez are constantly being subtly undermined by Juliet even though neither quite initially believes it. Juliet insinuates herself into both women’s most personal moments. Is it a game? What’s Juliet’s goal? To break apart both Nic and Trez’s relationships and lay claim to their partners?
We never really get to understand Juliet’s motives, except to constantly be validated that she’s an awful person. As the tension builds, the book becomes unputdownable. 5 stars!
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Nicola has greenish/hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES Where did the florist find spring tulips in winter?
The story, set in 1980 (no cell phones or Googling, but they have a mate named Badger full of useless trivia, and all The Beatles are still alive), is told with the alternating viewpoints of Nicola and Trez, although this felt at first like primarily Nicola’s story.
Trez had been friends for years with Juliet while at Cambridge and then Juliet dumped a heartbroken James, took off for Hong Kong and ghosted Trez and Hugo. Nic just can’t get over how perfect Juliet seems to be or how many times Juliet reminisces about the old days with “Jimmy.” And both Nic and Trez are constantly being subtly undermined by Juliet even though neither quite initially believes it. Juliet insinuates herself into both women’s most personal moments. Is it a game? What’s Juliet’s goal? To break apart both Nic and Trez’s relationships and lay claim to their partners?
We never really get to understand Juliet’s motives, except to constantly be validated that she’s an awful person. As the tension builds, the book becomes unputdownable. 5 stars!
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Nicola has greenish/hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES Where did the florist find spring tulips in winter?
May 20, 2024
I put this book down for another one, and when I returned to it I realized I was less than halfway through (so slow-moving!) and I really did not care about spending more time with any of these characters. I realize it’s a book where you’re not actually supposed to like anyone except Nicola and maybe a couple of side characters. But I don’t feel like hanging around for another few hundred pages as Juliet gaslights the rest of her irritating friends. Some books make you want to stick around to watch everything get set alight; this one did not do that for me. As some other readers noted, at some times it was confusing to figure out who was speaking or thinking something because of how it was written.
I ended up skimming the second half and wow, that was stupid and frustrating. The “game turns deadly” that was promised in the synopsis doesn’t even occur until like 85%. It’s not a murder mystery, it’s not a romance (as another reviewer said), it’s just a mean girls/gaslighting, snobby rich jerks book. That obviously worked for some other readers, but it wasn’t my thing.
I ended up skimming the second half and wow, that was stupid and frustrating. The “game turns deadly” that was promised in the synopsis doesn’t even occur until like 85%. It’s not a murder mystery, it’s not a romance (as another reviewer said), it’s just a mean girls/gaslighting, snobby rich jerks book. That obviously worked for some other readers, but it wasn’t my thing.
December 13, 2022
This twisty little story will suck you right in! Nicola meets the very wealthy James Shuttleworth on a flight to Europe. She has planned to fly to Paris solo to nurse her broken heart and take stock of her life after a recent job loss. Thus starts a fabulous love affair. The only problem is Nicola wants to fit in with James' wealthy snobbish friend. As she tries to acclimate to the British humor and culture shock a death occurs at their weekend getaway - is Nicola next? If you love vacation gone wrong, and love stories with twist, you have to get The Game She Plays
#WilliamMorrow
#WilliamMorrow
March 18, 2023
I received a free copy of, The Game She Plays, by Siena Sterling,from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Nicola's new love James, live a whole different lifestyle then her. Rich people live different lives then everyone else. Nicola and James are doing well until his ex Juliet comes back to town, and then Juliet is found dead. Such a good read, i enjoyed it.
May 1, 2023
This book spent about 80% of it waiting for something to happen. Then when it finally did the book was over and you knew exactly who had committed the crime. I only kept reading because I was sure something was bound to happen any moment.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2024
(Had to pick this up cuz I was at my dad’s and forgot my other book!) good book, I enjoyed. Nothing crazy, author did a really good job at making Juliet just unbelievably painful to read about, which was definitely the goal!
dnf
July 19, 2023I can’t do it… it’s sooooo boring and then I read reviews that said nothing happens until 75% in?! Not wasting my time
January 23, 2024
Mostly forgettable
February 11, 2024
A decent slow burn.
March 3, 2023
I am not sure why people feel they need to repeat the book description in their reviews. I figure you have read that and find it interesting, so go onto reviews. Sorry for the rant.
This is the first book I have read by the author, and I have enjoyed it. It is a quick read and keeps you interested. I enjoy reading about people with different lives, and I thought most of the characters were well developed.
I want to thank the Author, Publisher, and Goodreads for the chance to read this proof copy.
This is the first book I have read by the author, and I have enjoyed it. It is a quick read and keeps you interested. I enjoy reading about people with different lives, and I thought most of the characters were well developed.
I want to thank the Author, Publisher, and Goodreads for the chance to read this proof copy.
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