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Our Kind of Game
A gifted new suspense writer makes her sizzling debut with this serpentine tale exploring all the ways in which men enact violence on women, how women try to reclaim their own sense of self, and the lingering effects on their children’s lives.
2019. Stella Parker has the life she’s always wanted: a loving husband, two happy children that she gave up her thriving law career to raise, and a beautiful house in the tony suburbs of Washington, D.C. But when her neighbor Gwen shows up at her door, claiming to know things about her, Stella’s life is thrown into turmoil and she’s forced to reckon with the dark secret upon which she’s built her life.
1987. Julie Waits yearns to be a cheerleader—a gateway to a world of normalcy with best friends and sleepovers, and an escape hatch from life with her widowed mother, the terrible men she attracts, and the upheaval caused by their abrupt and constant moves. But when her mother decides those relationships are over, the past becomes a forbidden subject that Julie can never revisit.
As Stella probes deeper into what brought Gwen to her door, the answer—and who Julie is to her—become increasingly, terrifyingly, clear.
Filled with shocking twists and turns, this is a book that both asks what it means for a woman to be in control of her life while also highlighting the impact of small daily violences upon women, and the connection between physical and psychological harm.
2019. Stella Parker has the life she’s always wanted: a loving husband, two happy children that she gave up her thriving law career to raise, and a beautiful house in the tony suburbs of Washington, D.C. But when her neighbor Gwen shows up at her door, claiming to know things about her, Stella’s life is thrown into turmoil and she’s forced to reckon with the dark secret upon which she’s built her life.
1987. Julie Waits yearns to be a cheerleader—a gateway to a world of normalcy with best friends and sleepovers, and an escape hatch from life with her widowed mother, the terrible men she attracts, and the upheaval caused by their abrupt and constant moves. But when her mother decides those relationships are over, the past becomes a forbidden subject that Julie can never revisit.
As Stella probes deeper into what brought Gwen to her door, the answer—and who Julie is to her—become increasingly, terrifyingly, clear.
Filled with shocking twists and turns, this is a book that both asks what it means for a woman to be in control of her life while also highlighting the impact of small daily violences upon women, and the connection between physical and psychological harm.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2024
145 people are currently reading
14447 people want to read
About the author
Johanna Copeland
4 books149 followersJohanna Copeland is a novelist, essayist and author of Our Kind of Game, HarperCollins, July 2024. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post, Soapbox Literary Review and The Stonecoast Review.
You can also find her on Instagram and TikTok @johannacopelandwrites
You can also find her on Instagram and TikTok @johannacopelandwrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
September 28, 2024
READ THIS REVIEW CAREFULLY. DO NOT JUST PICK IT UP BECAUSE OF THE FOUR STARS.
Logic has never been a friend of mine because 'thrillers' featuring postpartum moms going through it? Next. But 'thrillers' with SAHM of grown children? Inject it into my veins. I think many people will be annoyed reading about a rich, educated woman bemoaning her role as SAHM because awww your husband is so rich you can afford not to work *sad face* isn't the most relatable problem to have. BUT as a child of a well-off, educated SAHM, I related to this because I felt like I was seeing the world through my mom's eyes, and not my super spoiled brat ones. However, idc how many degrees I have, if I don't need to work, I would be happily unemployed.
Anyways, I liked the flashbacks. I thought they added some depth to Stella and, no spoilies, but... ok go off??? The book did kinda spin its tires for a bit in the middle there; very repetitive. But then the action kicks back up and leads to a satisfying ending. I almost always hate the endings of thrillers, so for me to enjoy one really says a lot.
I buddy read this with the lovely Karly, and we were both confused with how Stella handled the whole stolen/missing phone thing? Seemed like she challenged herself to make things as difficult as possible, because there were about 10 other options that made more sense and didn't make you look hella suspicious. Also, we both agreed that the social justice warrior (SJW) moments were ill-timed. If you're committing a crime, maybe now isn't the best time to lament on how men suck big hairy balls. Pot, meet kettle. I actually bark-laughed aloud when Stella puts back a book on her husband's bedside table after doing a lil recon and randomly thinks [the book is] irrelevant to Tom's life because why would he be interested in the inner lives of a bunch of women Brother WHAT?? LMAOO?? Did you find a burner phone yes or no??
Despite the slow middle and ill-timed SJW moments, I did enjoy this book. Also, the cover is, as the cringey millennials once said, FIRE. Ok bye!
Logic has never been a friend of mine because 'thrillers' featuring postpartum moms going through it? Next. But 'thrillers' with SAHM of grown children? Inject it into my veins. I think many people will be annoyed reading about a rich, educated woman bemoaning her role as SAHM because awww your husband is so rich you can afford not to work *sad face* isn't the most relatable problem to have. BUT as a child of a well-off, educated SAHM, I related to this because I felt like I was seeing the world through my mom's eyes, and not my super spoiled brat ones. However, idc how many degrees I have, if I don't need to work, I would be happily unemployed.
Anyways, I liked the flashbacks. I thought they added some depth to Stella and, no spoilies, but... ok go off??? The book did kinda spin its tires for a bit in the middle there; very repetitive. But then the action kicks back up and leads to a satisfying ending. I almost always hate the endings of thrillers, so for me to enjoy one really says a lot.
I buddy read this with the lovely Karly, and we were both confused with how Stella handled the whole stolen/missing phone thing? Seemed like she challenged herself to make things as difficult as possible, because there were about 10 other options that made more sense and didn't make you look hella suspicious. Also, we both agreed that the social justice warrior (SJW) moments were ill-timed. If you're committing a crime, maybe now isn't the best time to lament on how men suck big hairy balls. Pot, meet kettle. I actually bark-laughed aloud when Stella puts back a book on her husband's bedside table after doing a lil recon and randomly thinks [the book is] irrelevant to Tom's life because why would he be interested in the inner lives of a bunch of women Brother WHAT?? LMAOO?? Did you find a burner phone yes or no??
Despite the slow middle and ill-timed SJW moments, I did enjoy this book. Also, the cover is, as the cringey millennials once said, FIRE. Ok bye!
January 22, 2025
What would a mother do to protect her daughters?
Become a serial killer, of course!
This book DID NOT work for me for so many reasons!
1.Not ALL men are evil. Why does this mother find the most awful men possible? Her motivation is preposterous.
2.The rape of a 13 year-old and the way it was nonchalantly handled.
3.My daughter was an all-star cheerleader for 13 years. Never have I ever heard stunting referred to as “lifts.” This term is used repeatedly. Do your research!
4.It seems like the author felt like she had to over-explain things in order for her readers to buy into the plot. Nope, still don’t buy it.
5.You really need to suspend your belief on so many elements for this book to make sense.
6.The ending felt gratuitous and like an afterthought. Almost as if the author was trying to disguise her own plot holes.
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla read by Megan Turing, Leslie Howard, and Nicol Zanzarella. I did enjoy this format, but feel that Paula’s voice sounded much older than she was supposed to be.
This is an intriguing debut, but it definitely didn’t win me over.
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, child rape, suicide
2.5/5 stars rounded down
Become a serial killer, of course!
This book DID NOT work for me for so many reasons!
1.Not ALL men are evil. Why does this mother find the most awful men possible? Her motivation is preposterous.
2.The rape of a 13 year-old and the way it was nonchalantly handled.
3.My daughter was an all-star cheerleader for 13 years. Never have I ever heard stunting referred to as “lifts.” This term is used repeatedly. Do your research!
4.It seems like the author felt like she had to over-explain things in order for her readers to buy into the plot. Nope, still don’t buy it.
5.You really need to suspend your belief on so many elements for this book to make sense.
6.The ending felt gratuitous and like an afterthought. Almost as if the author was trying to disguise her own plot holes.
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla read by Megan Turing, Leslie Howard, and Nicol Zanzarella. I did enjoy this format, but feel that Paula’s voice sounded much older than she was supposed to be.
This is an intriguing debut, but it definitely didn’t win me over.
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, child rape, suicide
2.5/5 stars rounded down
July 15, 2024
TW: Domestic violence, child rape
OUR KIND OF GAME was not my kind of book.
WHY?
I am not a fan of books showcasing domestic violence and/or child rape.
On the positive side, this debut author's characterizations were strong and the book's pacing was on-point.
The book's "shock factor twists", however, felt contrived.
Also, the book unfolded from multiple POVs going back/forth in different periods, which was dizzying.
I listened to the multi-cast audiobook read by Megan Tusing, Leslie Howard, and Nicol Zanzarella.
Multi-cast audiobooks are always a treat and, as usual, Megan Tusing gave an Oscar-worthy performance.
Leslie Howard and Zicol Zanzarella had similar voices and, therefore, it was frequently difficult to discern who was saying what.
2.5 stars.
October 12, 2024
✨ Resenha disponível no youtube: https://youtu.be/uJG11V9O7yE
O livro tem um dos temas que eu mais gosto: suspense de maternidade. Com discussões sobre violência de gênero, a desvantagem que o casamento e a maternidade podem ser para a mulher e a busca por justiça com as próprias mãos. Essa história tem tudo que me interessa e eu estava empolgada. Porém, conforme eu avançava na leitura, só conseguia pensar que a autora não teria como concluir com algo verossímil. Cada nova informação ficava cada vez mais absurda.
Uma pena.
É uma história com potencial, mas que faltou alguém para editar e avisar que muitas coisas não faziam sentido e na vida real não teriam como dar certo.
O livro tem um dos temas que eu mais gosto: suspense de maternidade. Com discussões sobre violência de gênero, a desvantagem que o casamento e a maternidade podem ser para a mulher e a busca por justiça com as próprias mãos. Essa história tem tudo que me interessa e eu estava empolgada. Porém, conforme eu avançava na leitura, só conseguia pensar que a autora não teria como concluir com algo verossímil. Cada nova informação ficava cada vez mais absurda.
Uma pena.
É uma história com potencial, mas que faltou alguém para editar e avisar que muitas coisas não faziam sentido e na vida real não teriam como dar certo.
July 10, 2024
ARC for review. To be published July 9, 2024.
Funny thing about women and thrillers…I mean, these books are geared toward and marketed to women, right? Yet sometimes some seem almost ANTI-woman - women are portrayed as always being acted upon by men, or are making poor decision because of their adoration of men, or the like. And often the women in the books are women who have chosen to leave the work force to raise children, then they suffer because of that. Here’s a book that finally acknowledges, at least, the way things are for women, STILL are for women, and this in an upper class white woman, in this, the year of our Lord, 2024, and she doesn’t even mention the fact that we have had our bodily autonomy stripped from us by a Supreme Court which is mostly male.
In this dual time line book in 2019 Stella Parker has everything (uh-oh) - a great husband, two wonderful kids and she’s a stay at home mom after an early career as a lawyer, with a beautiful house outside of D.C. But something is off. She receives an odd visit from a neighbor that starts her down a strange path. Is her husband having an affair? Or does someone know her secret?
In 1987 Julie Waits wants to be a cheerleader, to have a normal life, with regular friends. But her widowed mother and her boyfriends makes that impossible. Then something happens and things will never be the same again.
What is connection between these two women?
As to life for Stella, she notes there are “things so small she never considered them violent until she stopped to consider what they steal. The interrupting while she’s speaking, the assumptions about her intelligence, the shrinking options to make choices about her body (OK, maybe Roe comes up a little), the underrepresentation in every decision making sphere, the free-for-all on guns that has given her a constant grade of low grade anxiety and the consistent commoditization of the female body to name name the first things that came to mind.” Sing it, sister!
As the work, Stella also determines that “violence is telling women the path is clear when, in fact, it’s filled with land mines in the shape of no children and unequal pay.”
And, “I’ve investigated my fair share of murders. They fall into two categories. Men who get murdered taking risks. And women and children who are murdered trying to survive.” And if you are female you probably nodded your head, even if you just did it in the inside, at that one.
I would love to see more thrillers with at least a bit of this feminist bent. Really elevated this for me.
Funny thing about women and thrillers…I mean, these books are geared toward and marketed to women, right? Yet sometimes some seem almost ANTI-woman - women are portrayed as always being acted upon by men, or are making poor decision because of their adoration of men, or the like. And often the women in the books are women who have chosen to leave the work force to raise children, then they suffer because of that. Here’s a book that finally acknowledges, at least, the way things are for women, STILL are for women, and this in an upper class white woman, in this, the year of our Lord, 2024, and she doesn’t even mention the fact that we have had our bodily autonomy stripped from us by a Supreme Court which is mostly male.
In this dual time line book in 2019 Stella Parker has everything (uh-oh) - a great husband, two wonderful kids and she’s a stay at home mom after an early career as a lawyer, with a beautiful house outside of D.C. But something is off. She receives an odd visit from a neighbor that starts her down a strange path. Is her husband having an affair? Or does someone know her secret?
In 1987 Julie Waits wants to be a cheerleader, to have a normal life, with regular friends. But her widowed mother and her boyfriends makes that impossible. Then something happens and things will never be the same again.
What is connection between these two women?
As to life for Stella, she notes there are “things so small she never considered them violent until she stopped to consider what they steal. The interrupting while she’s speaking, the assumptions about her intelligence, the shrinking options to make choices about her body (OK, maybe Roe comes up a little), the underrepresentation in every decision making sphere, the free-for-all on guns that has given her a constant grade of low grade anxiety and the consistent commoditization of the female body to name name the first things that came to mind.” Sing it, sister!
As the work, Stella also determines that “violence is telling women the path is clear when, in fact, it’s filled with land mines in the shape of no children and unequal pay.”
And, “I’ve investigated my fair share of murders. They fall into two categories. Men who get murdered taking risks. And women and children who are murdered trying to survive.” And if you are female you probably nodded your head, even if you just did it in the inside, at that one.
I would love to see more thrillers with at least a bit of this feminist bent. Really elevated this for me.
July 24, 2024
My Rating: 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ this is a good 3 stars that I still recommend!!
I won’t do a recap of the synopsis for this one the GoodReads write up does a good job. I want to thank LitWithLeigh for the buddy read, even though this time I totally let you down and was WAAAAY behind… I still had a blast and love the buddy read function on StoryGraph.
So the best part about this book for me was the multi-timeline and duel POV - anyone who knows me knows I love the jumping around. I know lots of people don’t like that but I if done right it can be really good.
I love how the author unfolded this story with the current day POV and then the flashbacks and we had various other POVs and timelines I really enjoyed that it was done super well. I preferred the flashback scenes from Julie and Paula they were my favourite and the MUM omg!!! I could have had a whole story just dedicated to her.
There were some weak points in this for me, which I guess is why its a 3 and not a 4 but I think that most people will like this one. I do really recommend it. But I didn’t like the Gwen link, I thought it as weak, but I did think the Mum and the Cop relationship was wild AF!!! So points for that.
I liked the secret room although it kind of felt pointless but I still really liked the idea of it being in the house and having a secret room has always been a dream of mine so YES to that as well. I really really hated that Stella was a super dumbass with the phone in the beginning and that she was supposedly this “badass” but really she was a dumbass for most of the book and that pissed me off… cause she never really got there as a character for me. She had so much potential to really wild out but never did… not even in a controlled way. I thought great we have this double life thing going on … but none of her “old” self came out to play… I dunno that was flat.
I really liked Paula and I really “liked” the mum… but she was scary 🤣
Some of the scenes in this book are really hard to read, some of the abuse that takes place is… really difficult to get through. And I will tell you one thing… I am side eyeing jars of Jam for the foreseeable future.
Overall though I think most people will enjoy this, I think if you can suspend your disbelief mostly all the way and over look some of the dumbassery then you will really enjoy it. I was mostly full on into it until we had no more flashbacks and then I was a little, come on lets go!!! It never really reached the right crescendo for me… but having said all that I would recommend for sure.
I won’t do a recap of the synopsis for this one the GoodReads write up does a good job. I want to thank LitWithLeigh for the buddy read, even though this time I totally let you down and was WAAAAY behind… I still had a blast and love the buddy read function on StoryGraph.
So the best part about this book for me was the multi-timeline and duel POV - anyone who knows me knows I love the jumping around. I know lots of people don’t like that but I if done right it can be really good.
I love how the author unfolded this story with the current day POV and then the flashbacks and we had various other POVs and timelines I really enjoyed that it was done super well. I preferred the flashback scenes from Julie and Paula they were my favourite and the MUM omg!!! I could have had a whole story just dedicated to her.
There were some weak points in this for me, which I guess is why its a 3 and not a 4 but I think that most people will like this one. I do really recommend it. But I didn’t like the Gwen link, I thought it as weak, but I did think the Mum and the Cop relationship was wild AF!!! So points for that.
I liked the secret room although it kind of felt pointless but I still really liked the idea of it being in the house and having a secret room has always been a dream of mine so YES to that as well. I really really hated that Stella was a super dumbass with the phone in the beginning and that she was supposedly this “badass” but really she was a dumbass for most of the book and that pissed me off… cause she never really got there as a character for me. She had so much potential to really wild out but never did… not even in a controlled way. I thought great we have this double life thing going on … but none of her “old” self came out to play… I dunno that was flat.
I really liked Paula and I really “liked” the mum… but she was scary 🤣
Some of the scenes in this book are really hard to read, some of the abuse that takes place is… really difficult to get through. And I will tell you one thing… I am side eyeing jars of Jam for the foreseeable future.
Overall though I think most people will enjoy this, I think if you can suspend your disbelief mostly all the way and over look some of the dumbassery then you will really enjoy it. I was mostly full on into it until we had no more flashbacks and then I was a little, come on lets go!!! It never really reached the right crescendo for me… but having said all that I would recommend for sure.
November 1, 2025
Un libro fascinante, me gustó la forma en que la autora explora temas de trauma y recuperación en estas historias, que se van entrelazando entre el pasado y presente.
Además crea un ambiente tenso y suspense impresionante.
Los personajes, en la mayoría mujeres con muchos secretos enterrados, son creíbles y complejas, son sobrevivientes del pasado siguiendo sus propias reglas, cambio de identidades para preservar la salud mental.
Todo un rompecabezas narrativo.
La trama es emocionante y tiene muchos giros inesperados. Me encantó el estilo de escritura de la autora. Lo recomiendo mucho.
Además crea un ambiente tenso y suspense impresionante.
Los personajes, en la mayoría mujeres con muchos secretos enterrados, son creíbles y complejas, son sobrevivientes del pasado siguiendo sus propias reglas, cambio de identidades para preservar la salud mental.
Todo un rompecabezas narrativo.
La trama es emocionante y tiene muchos giros inesperados. Me encantó el estilo de escritura de la autora. Lo recomiendo mucho.
March 19, 2025
Creemos que conocemos a la gente que nos rodea, pero ¿qué pasaría si descubriéramos que la vida que construimos está hecha de secretos cuidadosamente escondidos bajo la superficie?
Creemos que las amistades, las familias y los vecindarios son exactamente como aparentan. Hasta que llega una novela como «No juegues con ellas», de Johanna Copeland, y hace tambalear todas nuestras certezas. Porque en esta historia, la confianza es apenas una ilusión peligrosa, y los secretos que nadie quiere sacar a la luz son precisamente los que acaban revelando quiénes somos en realidad.
Dos tiempos, dos mujeres y un solo juego. En 1987 conocemos a Julie, una adolescente atrapada entre el anhelo de pertenecer y una vida familiar que parece derrumbarse. En 2019 está Stella, una mujer que aparentemente ha logrado esa vida perfecta con la que muchos sueñan: una casa tranquila, una familia amorosa, una rutina cómoda y estable. Pero la estabilidad de Stella empieza a romperse cuando su vecina, Gwen, comienza a hacer preguntas incómodas. Preguntas que llevaban demasiado tiempo enterradas, esperando silenciosamente el momento para estallar.
Johanna Copeland juega con la estructura del thriller psicológico de forma magistral, atrapándote desde la primera página con un ritmo que no deja espacio para respirar y giros que llegan cuando menos lo esperas. Y no solo eso, también plantea preguntas incómodas sobre la violencia, la lealtad y los límites de nuestra propia moralidad. ¿Cuánto de nuestra vida está edificado sobre mentiras cómodas? ¿Hasta dónde seríamos capaces de llegar para proteger lo que hemos construido? ¿Y qué sucede cuando las reglas del juego cambian y ya no podemos escapar?
Lo que más me ha fascinado de «No juegues con ellas» es su capacidad para explorar con inteligencia el poder, la manipulación y la fragilidad de aquello que consideramos seguro. Aquí no existen víctimas sumisas ni villanos predecibles; cada personaje guarda algo oscuro, algo que prefiere olvidar. Y al unir las piezas del puzzle, la imagen final no es nunca lo que esperabas. Copeland maneja la tensión con precisión quirúrgica: te entrega lo justo para hacerte sentir que controlas la situación, hasta que te das cuenta de que estabas exactamente donde ella quería desde el principio.
Lo mejor de «No juegues con ellas» es cómo Copeland consigue implicarte en su juego desde la primera página, haciéndote sentir parte de cada secreto, mentira y revelación. Al cerrar el libro, sabes que tú también has participado en la partida. Ahora solo queda descubrir si acertaste o no con tus apuestas.
Creemos que las amistades, las familias y los vecindarios son exactamente como aparentan. Hasta que llega una novela como «No juegues con ellas», de Johanna Copeland, y hace tambalear todas nuestras certezas. Porque en esta historia, la confianza es apenas una ilusión peligrosa, y los secretos que nadie quiere sacar a la luz son precisamente los que acaban revelando quiénes somos en realidad.
Dos tiempos, dos mujeres y un solo juego. En 1987 conocemos a Julie, una adolescente atrapada entre el anhelo de pertenecer y una vida familiar que parece derrumbarse. En 2019 está Stella, una mujer que aparentemente ha logrado esa vida perfecta con la que muchos sueñan: una casa tranquila, una familia amorosa, una rutina cómoda y estable. Pero la estabilidad de Stella empieza a romperse cuando su vecina, Gwen, comienza a hacer preguntas incómodas. Preguntas que llevaban demasiado tiempo enterradas, esperando silenciosamente el momento para estallar.
Johanna Copeland juega con la estructura del thriller psicológico de forma magistral, atrapándote desde la primera página con un ritmo que no deja espacio para respirar y giros que llegan cuando menos lo esperas. Y no solo eso, también plantea preguntas incómodas sobre la violencia, la lealtad y los límites de nuestra propia moralidad. ¿Cuánto de nuestra vida está edificado sobre mentiras cómodas? ¿Hasta dónde seríamos capaces de llegar para proteger lo que hemos construido? ¿Y qué sucede cuando las reglas del juego cambian y ya no podemos escapar?
Lo que más me ha fascinado de «No juegues con ellas» es su capacidad para explorar con inteligencia el poder, la manipulación y la fragilidad de aquello que consideramos seguro. Aquí no existen víctimas sumisas ni villanos predecibles; cada personaje guarda algo oscuro, algo que prefiere olvidar. Y al unir las piezas del puzzle, la imagen final no es nunca lo que esperabas. Copeland maneja la tensión con precisión quirúrgica: te entrega lo justo para hacerte sentir que controlas la situación, hasta que te das cuenta de que estabas exactamente donde ella quería desde el principio.
Lo mejor de «No juegues con ellas» es cómo Copeland consigue implicarte en su juego desde la primera página, haciéndote sentir parte de cada secreto, mentira y revelación. Al cerrar el libro, sabes que tú también has participado en la partida. Ahora solo queda descubrir si acertaste o no con tus apuestas.
February 29, 2024
I read this book in a single weekend and relished every page! The twists and turns of the story made it a delicious treat that felt both satisfyingly cathartic and downright disturbing - almost like a guilty pleasure - because of what happens in the book but also how much I found myself rooting for our heroines. The affluent American suburb ecosystem that Ms. Copeland crisply details - the unrelenting gender and socioeconomic hierarchies & toxic achievement pressure, all glossed over with the all-too-familiar "everything is fine and fun!" veneer, is something I think a lot of readers will resonate with. Anyone who has ever been in a romantic relationship with a bully will be rooting for the women in this book...well, most of them anyway...
February 6, 2025
Too many trigger warnings that hit hard. Life right now is awful - I’m walking away from books that make the world feel even darker.
July 23, 2024
A pretty good read, but ludicrously implausible, like something written by a very bright high school girl with “issues.” Also, could profitably have been cut by about 25%. Too much sermonizing about the plight of stay-at-home moms.
July 29, 2024
This one also falls into the category of "great premise, poor execution." We have multiple timelines, sister relationships, mother/daughter dynamics, and, of course, secrets.
There is a lot of exploration of what a mother would do to protect her children when traditional means of providing for them are absent. There is heavy commentary on stay-at-home mothers, especially those who choose to be parents who stay home, and how that creates different partner dynamics. While the initial concept grabbed me, the execution really fell short. The ending had too many loose story lines wrapped into one and had a lot of telling vs. showing.
There is a lot of exploration of what a mother would do to protect her children when traditional means of providing for them are absent. There is heavy commentary on stay-at-home mothers, especially those who choose to be parents who stay home, and how that creates different partner dynamics. While the initial concept grabbed me, the execution really fell short. The ending had too many loose story lines wrapped into one and had a lot of telling vs. showing.
May 21, 2025
5 🌟. Este libro no es un thriller como pueden ser otros llenos de giros trepidantes. Aquí como dicen otras críticas puedes ir viendo venir por dónde irá la trama, pero creo que así lo busca la autora. Lo importante no es tanto el qué si no el cómo, la forma en que cada personaje ha evolucionado y el motivo de las decisiones que toman. Muchas de ellas cuestionables.
Julie ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 siempre en mi corazón. Y Sharon…. Un personaje muy gris, a veces la odias y a veces se hace admirar.
Es cierto que hay un pequeño detalle que se me queda colgando, pero aún así me ha encantado conocer la historia de estas mujeres.
Julie ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 siempre en mi corazón. Y Sharon…. Un personaje muy gris, a veces la odias y a veces se hace admirar.
Es cierto que hay un pequeño detalle que se me queda colgando, pero aún así me ha encantado conocer la historia de estas mujeres.
December 13, 2024
Despite a bit of a stall halfway through, this ended up being a great read full of relatable characters with a normal setting, but one not often seen. The perspective of SAHM is often represented, but not quite like this. A thriller for sure, but deeper than that, a thrilling look at the experiences of women.
November 28, 2024
When you’re waiting for a twist… any kind of twist… and it never comes…
June 10, 2025
A twisted suspenseful read, told through multiple perspectives. Featuring a tangled web of deceit, fractured realities and imbalanced power.
March 25, 2025
A dysfunctional family exemplified in this crazy story of a psycho mother and her daughters. I’m sad to say that this goes into my huge vault of forgettable reads. It is mildly entertaining and certainly not terrible but there’s nothing remarkable or outstanding.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper and Johanna Copeland for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper and Johanna Copeland for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
I’ve had this one on my radar after a couple of solid reviews and I am so glad I finally read it, it was SO good! And wild! And kind of satisfying! This one hooked me from the start and held my attention all the way until the end. Was it a bit out there? Yes. Did I mind? Nope! I was vested and loved how it all came together and could not believe it was a debut. I loved it and cannot wait to see what Copeland writes next.
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for having me on this tour. Paperback pub date was July 1, 2025.
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for having me on this tour. Paperback pub date was July 1, 2025.
July 24, 2024
I'm tired of reading books where every man is awful.
July 29, 2024
I liked the beginning, but then the story sagged in the middle, and never really popped off again unfortunately.
February 3, 2025
Some books make you laugh, some make you cry, and some like ‘Our Kind of Game’ make you question everything. Johanna Copeland’s debut thriller is dark, twisted, and packed with toxic characters, gut-wrenching moments, and a dual-timeline that unravels in an interesting way.
Weaving between 1987 and 2019, the story follows Julie, a teenage girl navigating a world of violence and manipulation, and Stella, a suburban mom whose seemingly perfect life may not be so perfect after all. The 1987 timeline? Absolutely riveting. The audiobook? Fantastic. I felt the multiple narrators absolutely nail the tone. If you listen, pay attention to the timeline shifts at the beginning of each chapter—it makes following the story with the multiple POVs much easier. Once you get in the rhythm, the pacing flies.
I love a thriller that doesn’t shy away from the messy and uncomfortable plots, and this one delivers. Karin Slaughter called it “riveting and suspenseful,” and if she recommends a book, I’m in. Yes, it tackles dark unsettling themes, ones that might be off-putting for some, but that’s what makes it so compelling.
Speaking of unsettling, this book has some of the most pathetic men I’ve ever read, and that’s not a complaint. It highlights the power struggles between men and women (adults and children) in ways that feel disturbingly real. But the real show-stealers are the women: survivors, manipulators, and sometimes outright dangerous forces of nature. The mother, in particular, had me flipping between wanting to root for her and wanting to strangle her. (Okay, mostly strangle her.) She’s dark, sadistic, and impossible to ignore, but a tiny (very tiny) part of me understood her, which made her all the more fascinating.
Johanna Copeland kicks off her thriller career with a bang, and I hope she doesn’t let a few of the reviews deter her. Some might struggle with the darker content, but for those who love an unsettling domestic thriller, Our Kind of Game is worth the read.
It’s a yes for me! 🖤
DeAnn
@deannsreadingriot
Weaving between 1987 and 2019, the story follows Julie, a teenage girl navigating a world of violence and manipulation, and Stella, a suburban mom whose seemingly perfect life may not be so perfect after all. The 1987 timeline? Absolutely riveting. The audiobook? Fantastic. I felt the multiple narrators absolutely nail the tone. If you listen, pay attention to the timeline shifts at the beginning of each chapter—it makes following the story with the multiple POVs much easier. Once you get in the rhythm, the pacing flies.
I love a thriller that doesn’t shy away from the messy and uncomfortable plots, and this one delivers. Karin Slaughter called it “riveting and suspenseful,” and if she recommends a book, I’m in. Yes, it tackles dark unsettling themes, ones that might be off-putting for some, but that’s what makes it so compelling.
Speaking of unsettling, this book has some of the most pathetic men I’ve ever read, and that’s not a complaint. It highlights the power struggles between men and women (adults and children) in ways that feel disturbingly real. But the real show-stealers are the women: survivors, manipulators, and sometimes outright dangerous forces of nature. The mother, in particular, had me flipping between wanting to root for her and wanting to strangle her. (Okay, mostly strangle her.) She’s dark, sadistic, and impossible to ignore, but a tiny (very tiny) part of me understood her, which made her all the more fascinating.
Johanna Copeland kicks off her thriller career with a bang, and I hope she doesn’t let a few of the reviews deter her. Some might struggle with the darker content, but for those who love an unsettling domestic thriller, Our Kind of Game is worth the read.
It’s a yes for me! 🖤
DeAnn
@deannsreadingriot
August 25, 2025
Okay, am I entering my thriller era? Because this one was captivating!!!
I really enjoyed the story here - Stella's life was interesting to follow because she truly worked to improve her situation only for it to come crashing down. One thing I love (and also hate) about thrillers is that we get to see the gross, uncomfortable parts of people - Julie's childhood was difficult to read about (check trigger warnings!) and Stella's resentment at her current situation is relatable and frustrating. I enjoyed the resolution though! The second half was action-packed and I was obsessed.
Thank you to Johanna Copeland & Harper for this review copy. What a debut!
I really enjoyed the story here - Stella's life was interesting to follow because she truly worked to improve her situation only for it to come crashing down. One thing I love (and also hate) about thrillers is that we get to see the gross, uncomfortable parts of people - Julie's childhood was difficult to read about (check trigger warnings!) and Stella's resentment at her current situation is relatable and frustrating. I enjoyed the resolution though! The second half was action-packed and I was obsessed.
Thank you to Johanna Copeland & Harper for this review copy. What a debut!
August 25, 2024
3.5. This was a book that got better and better for me. Not to say it was an absolute 10 out of 10, but it had a great pace and kept me intrigued throughout. I’d be lying if I said this book wasn’t predictable—there were things I put together in the first few chapters that ended up unfolding at the very end. But I also loved that we got to hear so many different voices and perspectives. In this case, the dual timeline and multiple POVs helped transport the story to a complete and fulfilling resolution.
Our Kind of Game is a story about mothers and daughters, sacrifices, survival, and the lessons we learn when we’re young that shape us as we get older. It also touches on the impact of things passed down through generations. When we meet our main character, Stella, she seems to be living in a masquerade of herself—a life created out of necessity. She doesn’t really see herself in her neighborhood, in her community, and in some ways, not even in her own home.
As we learn more about Stella’s present life, we see how the past catches up to her. After a random encounter with a neighbor, she begins to spiral, worrying about the secrets of her past and who might be threatening the disguise she’s built. The book is told in both the past and the present, allowing us to see the tortured past of a young mother and her two daughters trying to get by—but at what expense?
It’s easy for any reader to piece together that Stella is the girl from the past, who was once named Julie. So it makes perfect sense why Stella wanted to get away and create this new identity. In the past, we see Julie trying to make the most of her situation while watching her mother bring destructive men into their home—men who Julie helps “move on.” Julie is the only child left to navigate their mother’s schemes now that her sister has left town after becoming pregnant.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the depth of the characters and the exploration of the relationship between a mother and her daughters. Even more compelling was the way the daughters mirrored their mother, who is written with such a strong voice. It’s a profound look at what it means to be prey, predator, or predator masking as prey. By the end, I felt the control the mother had over her daughters, much like the control men assumed they had over the mother. While I may not agree with the methods the mother took or the risks she put her children through, her strength and defiance will captivate any reader.
If you’re someone who enjoys generational or familial stories, I’d definitely recommend this one—especially because it has that twinge of mystery.
Our Kind of Game is a story about mothers and daughters, sacrifices, survival, and the lessons we learn when we’re young that shape us as we get older. It also touches on the impact of things passed down through generations. When we meet our main character, Stella, she seems to be living in a masquerade of herself—a life created out of necessity. She doesn’t really see herself in her neighborhood, in her community, and in some ways, not even in her own home.
As we learn more about Stella’s present life, we see how the past catches up to her. After a random encounter with a neighbor, she begins to spiral, worrying about the secrets of her past and who might be threatening the disguise she’s built. The book is told in both the past and the present, allowing us to see the tortured past of a young mother and her two daughters trying to get by—but at what expense?
It’s easy for any reader to piece together that Stella is the girl from the past, who was once named Julie. So it makes perfect sense why Stella wanted to get away and create this new identity. In the past, we see Julie trying to make the most of her situation while watching her mother bring destructive men into their home—men who Julie helps “move on.” Julie is the only child left to navigate their mother’s schemes now that her sister has left town after becoming pregnant.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the depth of the characters and the exploration of the relationship between a mother and her daughters. Even more compelling was the way the daughters mirrored their mother, who is written with such a strong voice. It’s a profound look at what it means to be prey, predator, or predator masking as prey. By the end, I felt the control the mother had over her daughters, much like the control men assumed they had over the mother. While I may not agree with the methods the mother took or the risks she put her children through, her strength and defiance will captivate any reader.
If you’re someone who enjoys generational or familial stories, I’d definitely recommend this one—especially because it has that twinge of mystery.
January 8, 2025
Suspense bem construído, intrigante, mas com falhas na veracidade da história. O melhor que li em bastante tempo (talvez esteja precisando ler bons suspenses). O final decepcionou um pouco, mas não comprometeu a experiência de leitura.
December 13, 2024
Not everyone can be Gillian Flynn and hey you know what, that’s okay.
This book was repetitive to the point of vexation. It felt like the author had a short story worth of words to say and just stretched it to fit a novel. The main character is painfully oblivious and makes baffling decisions that’s only apparent logic is furthering the plot for the author. I get what the author was trying to do, and I think there was something there in her narrative on modern feminism and the prison of domesticity, but it was muddied and clouded by the parallel narrative of the MC’s mother who is depicted as some kind of counter culture feminist icon for murdering abusive men when she was the one who allowed those men into her life in the first place. I don’t give a bulls ass she murdered them, but allowing men she knew were violent and abusive, around her children and alone with children?? I’m sorry when you make a character like the center of your feminist narrative you lose credibility. She didn’t do “what she needed to survive” and do it “all for her children” she was trapped in a cycle of abuse and allowed her children to be assaulted as collateral damage.
okay phew rant rant sorry that was a lot.
I actually liked a lot of Stella’s modern story. Again, very very repetitive in her narration, but she had a unique voice and I think a lot of interesting observations. Cool character. Felt fresh. But tragically the flashback plot line killed it for me.
This book was repetitive to the point of vexation. It felt like the author had a short story worth of words to say and just stretched it to fit a novel. The main character is painfully oblivious and makes baffling decisions that’s only apparent logic is furthering the plot for the author. I get what the author was trying to do, and I think there was something there in her narrative on modern feminism and the prison of domesticity, but it was muddied and clouded by the parallel narrative of the MC’s mother who is depicted as some kind of counter culture feminist icon for murdering abusive men when she was the one who allowed those men into her life in the first place. I don’t give a bulls ass she murdered them, but allowing men she knew were violent and abusive, around her children and alone with children?? I’m sorry when you make a character like the center of your feminist narrative you lose credibility. She didn’t do “what she needed to survive” and do it “all for her children” she was trapped in a cycle of abuse and allowed her children to be assaulted as collateral damage.
okay phew rant rant sorry that was a lot.
I actually liked a lot of Stella’s modern story. Again, very very repetitive in her narration, but she had a unique voice and I think a lot of interesting observations. Cool character. Felt fresh. But tragically the flashback plot line killed it for me.
August 12, 2024
Our Kind of Game is a twisty thriller about the price of women’s domestic and emotional labour in heterosexual relationships and the strong ties between mothers, daughters, and sisters. This was a compelling read but I think that anyone triggered by domestic violence and child sexual assault should definitely stay away from this book.
July 17, 2024
3.5 rounded down. This was a suspenseful and well written debut novel. I rounded down because I thought the book preached the same theme repeatedly until I was tired of reading those sections. The book preached about how men didn’t assign a woman any worth. How their roles in life made the men superior. How many men were misogynistic. It also dealt with abuse, strong women, families and much more. Told in the voices of Julie, Paula and Stella, there were definitely a few twists. I figured out the main one fairly quickly but maybe the reader was meant to do that. Julie’s story was the most riveting for me. I would definitely read this author again. I just wish she didn’t feel as if she had to hit the reader over the head with her preaching.
March 31, 2024
I received an advance readers copy and I read the book in one day - I couldn’t put it down! The story is riveting! I am a successful professional woman who made the choice to stay home with my kids in Northern Virginia, and there is so much I can relate to in this book. Johanna describes the life, relationships, and frustrations of NoVA stay at home mom life perfectly, down to the minor details. The twists and turns are captivating and even though I tried to guess what was coming, I was always wrong! I can’t wait to see what Johanna Copeland writes next!
August 2, 2024
Ugh. Ick. I felt compelled to finish it because I couldn’t quite believe the implausible arc, the supposed “feminist” themes, the cookie-cutter characters. It was so pedantic, overly simplistic, and try-hard. A stunningly bald and mistaken stab at “exposing” misogyny in the home and in society through the lens of sexually- and physically-abused girls and women. An obscene lack of insight, experience, or research. Beaten-woman porn. This book is oddly defanged yet immensely dangerous. I need a Silkwood shower.
September 1, 2024
A solid debut character-driven revenge thriller! Our Kind of Game is unexpectedly dark (check cw), but it was oooh so fun that it was set in my area. Johanna Copeland got all the details of living in Northern VA just right. I loved the dual timelines and multiple POVs and how they all connected in some way.
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