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Girls Who Play Dead
Two siblings investigate the murder of a friend only to unearth even more deadly mysteries in their small town in this page-turning young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games.
When Mikky Graves left his small, stifling hometown of Prophets Lake to live with his estranged mother, he thought nothing could ever make him return for good.
Until his sister Kyla’s best friend, Erin, is murdered.
Mikky never worried about leaving Kyla behind at their family-owned funeral home so long as she had Erin. But when Mikky heads home, determined to help Kyla grieve, the sister he encounters barely resembles the one he remembers. Mikky decides, then and there, to do the one thing that seems even more impossible than stay.
As Kyla spirals further into her rage and secrets, Mikky realizes the only thing that can help his sister is finding the truth about who killed Erin. But the more he investigates, the further he’s pulled into other ugly mysteries of Prophets Lake and the beauty brand that is its lifeblood. The town’s rot runs deep, and everyone has something to hide. Perhaps no one more than Kyla herself.
When Mikky Graves left his small, stifling hometown of Prophets Lake to live with his estranged mother, he thought nothing could ever make him return for good.
Until his sister Kyla’s best friend, Erin, is murdered.
Mikky never worried about leaving Kyla behind at their family-owned funeral home so long as she had Erin. But when Mikky heads home, determined to help Kyla grieve, the sister he encounters barely resembles the one he remembers. Mikky decides, then and there, to do the one thing that seems even more impossible than stay.
As Kyla spirals further into her rage and secrets, Mikky realizes the only thing that can help his sister is finding the truth about who killed Erin. But the more he investigates, the further he’s pulled into other ugly mysteries of Prophets Lake and the beauty brand that is its lifeblood. The town’s rot runs deep, and everyone has something to hide. Perhaps no one more than Kyla herself.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2025
86 people are currently reading
6720 people want to read
About the author
Joelle Wellington
6 books923 followersJoelle Wellington is the author of Their Vicious Games. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where her childhood was spent wandering the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading and when she’s not doing that, she’s attempting to bake bread with varying degrees of success or strengthening her encyclopedia-like pop culture knowledge. She can be found on Twitter under @joelle_welling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
November 9, 2025
THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IS SO UGLY
Erin has been murdered. Siblings Mikky and Kyla who were friends with Erin decide to investigate in their small town the truth behind her death. This town has a lot of ugly secrets, and everyone has something to hide.
Hmmm I wish I had enjoyed this so much more. The story is told in a dual POV of the siblings Mikky and Kyla. I really enjoyed Mikky as a character and loved reading his interactions with his love interest Nassim. Kyla on the other hand was a nuisance to follow, and she was truly so unlikeable, and I could not connect with her.
The pacing of the book was slightly unbearable. We have plenty of characters and they are all full of drama and clique-y but it would have flowed so much better if it had been more fast paced and intense. The beginning of the book started off so strong then it pretty much snail paced to the big reveal at the end.
The big reveal/ twist. WOW! I LOVED IT! I truly did not see it coming and my Flabbers were Ghasted .
Had the rest of the book been more exciting and exhilarating this would no doubt be a five-star read.
This is not a typical thriller. It read more like a small-town mystery surrounding social influences, manipulation and the behind the scenes of the beauty industry.
We have themes of sexuality, race, mental health, family and so much more which I particularly think was done so well.
The cover I must say is the best book cover of 2025 hands down!
Not a total win for me, but I excited to see what the author comes out with next.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Waited sooo long for release day!
The cover is so aesthetically pleasing I cant stop drooling🤤
I love me a juicy blurb and this book sounds so promising😍
Lets gooooo🎉🎉🎉
Erin has been murdered. Siblings Mikky and Kyla who were friends with Erin decide to investigate in their small town the truth behind her death. This town has a lot of ugly secrets, and everyone has something to hide.
Hmmm I wish I had enjoyed this so much more. The story is told in a dual POV of the siblings Mikky and Kyla. I really enjoyed Mikky as a character and loved reading his interactions with his love interest Nassim. Kyla on the other hand was a nuisance to follow, and she was truly so unlikeable, and I could not connect with her.
The pacing of the book was slightly unbearable. We have plenty of characters and they are all full of drama and clique-y but it would have flowed so much better if it had been more fast paced and intense. The beginning of the book started off so strong then it pretty much snail paced to the big reveal at the end.
The big reveal/ twist. WOW! I LOVED IT! I truly did not see it coming and my Flabbers were Ghasted .
Had the rest of the book been more exciting and exhilarating this would no doubt be a five-star read.
This is not a typical thriller. It read more like a small-town mystery surrounding social influences, manipulation and the behind the scenes of the beauty industry.
We have themes of sexuality, race, mental health, family and so much more which I particularly think was done so well.
The cover I must say is the best book cover of 2025 hands down!
Not a total win for me, but I excited to see what the author comes out with next.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Waited sooo long for release day!
The cover is so aesthetically pleasing I cant stop drooling🤤
I love me a juicy blurb and this book sounds so promising😍
Lets gooooo🎉🎉🎉
January 1, 2026
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Girls Who Play Dead is the 3rd-full length novel from one of my new go-to authors, Joelle Wellington. Wellington's debut, Their Vicious Games, which published in 2023, was one of my top reads of that year.
I absolutely loved it and have anxiously anticipated her next 2-books, and while this isn't my favorite from her, I still really enjoyed it.
This story follows siblings, Mikky and Kyla, who live in the small town of Prophets Lake, Massachusetts. Kyla is a dancer, popular and connected at the hip to her BFF, Erin.
Mikky, on the other hand, felt suffocated by their hometown, and ended up leaving to go live with his estranged mother closer to the city of Boston.
When Kyla's best friend Erin is murdered though, Mikky returns in a desperate effort to be their for his sister during what's sure to be the most difficult time of her life.
After he arrives home though, Mikky is confused by the Kyla he encounters. She hardly resembles the sister he remembers. She's hard-edged, angry and demanding, a mean girl at school, and seems barely affected by Erin's death. It's hard to get close to her, but Mikky won't give up.
Everyone grieves differently it's true, but Kyla seems to be into something. She's keeping dangerous secrets, Mikky can tell. He decides if he's going to help Kyla, he needs to figure out who killed Erin and why.
Teaming up with a cute boy at school, Nasim, Mikky begins digging into Kyla and Erin's relationship and the secrets they held together.
I didn't have any trouble getting into this story. Wellington has the ability to pull you completely in. I find her stories fluid, engaging and easy to completely immerse yourself in.
I thought the characters were great and I loved the exploration of the different relationship dynamics, especially Kyla and Mikky, but also even learning about Kyla and Erin's relationship was interesting.
As the Reader, we never meet Erin while she's alive, but through the other characters it does feel like you can get a real sense of who she was. As best friends go, Kyla and Erin were as close as you can get, and I couldn't imagine everything Kyla was going through after losing her, which made her anger understandable.
I loved Mikky's investigation. Amateur sleuthing is one of my favorite things in a novel like this, especially with teens, and I like how Wellington incorporated it here.
In addition to the mystery though, there are some well done IRL issues being explored as well. Kyla and Mikky's Dad is struggling with some financial hardship, trying to keep their family-run funeral home open, and we also get to see the impact of grief on Erin's loved ones.
Mikky and Nasim's budding relationship was another one of my favorite aspects. I liked them working together and getting to know one another, even though I may have done without some of the 3rd-act drama between them at the end.
I also always appreciate how bold Wellington's story concepts are. This one is no exception. It does involve beauty influencing, so if that is something that interests you, this is definitely worth picking up. In general though, this is a strong YA Thriller and I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of that genre.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm excited to see what Wellington comes up with next. Regardless of what it is, I'll definitely be reading it!!
Girls Who Play Dead is the 3rd-full length novel from one of my new go-to authors, Joelle Wellington. Wellington's debut, Their Vicious Games, which published in 2023, was one of my top reads of that year.
I absolutely loved it and have anxiously anticipated her next 2-books, and while this isn't my favorite from her, I still really enjoyed it.
This story follows siblings, Mikky and Kyla, who live in the small town of Prophets Lake, Massachusetts. Kyla is a dancer, popular and connected at the hip to her BFF, Erin.
Mikky, on the other hand, felt suffocated by their hometown, and ended up leaving to go live with his estranged mother closer to the city of Boston.
When Kyla's best friend Erin is murdered though, Mikky returns in a desperate effort to be their for his sister during what's sure to be the most difficult time of her life.
After he arrives home though, Mikky is confused by the Kyla he encounters. She hardly resembles the sister he remembers. She's hard-edged, angry and demanding, a mean girl at school, and seems barely affected by Erin's death. It's hard to get close to her, but Mikky won't give up.
Everyone grieves differently it's true, but Kyla seems to be into something. She's keeping dangerous secrets, Mikky can tell. He decides if he's going to help Kyla, he needs to figure out who killed Erin and why.
Teaming up with a cute boy at school, Nasim, Mikky begins digging into Kyla and Erin's relationship and the secrets they held together.
I didn't have any trouble getting into this story. Wellington has the ability to pull you completely in. I find her stories fluid, engaging and easy to completely immerse yourself in.
I thought the characters were great and I loved the exploration of the different relationship dynamics, especially Kyla and Mikky, but also even learning about Kyla and Erin's relationship was interesting.
As the Reader, we never meet Erin while she's alive, but through the other characters it does feel like you can get a real sense of who she was. As best friends go, Kyla and Erin were as close as you can get, and I couldn't imagine everything Kyla was going through after losing her, which made her anger understandable.
I loved Mikky's investigation. Amateur sleuthing is one of my favorite things in a novel like this, especially with teens, and I like how Wellington incorporated it here.
In addition to the mystery though, there are some well done IRL issues being explored as well. Kyla and Mikky's Dad is struggling with some financial hardship, trying to keep their family-run funeral home open, and we also get to see the impact of grief on Erin's loved ones.
Mikky and Nasim's budding relationship was another one of my favorite aspects. I liked them working together and getting to know one another, even though I may have done without some of the 3rd-act drama between them at the end.
I also always appreciate how bold Wellington's story concepts are. This one is no exception. It does involve beauty influencing, so if that is something that interests you, this is definitely worth picking up. In general though, this is a strong YA Thriller and I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of that genre.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm excited to see what Wellington comes up with next. Regardless of what it is, I'll definitely be reading it!!
June 30, 2025
Ever since Their Vicious Games, Joelle Wellington has a fan in me for life, no matter what she writes next. That was one of the best YA books ever written, dare I say. Because of that, I had certain expectations going into this, and a strong bias towards giving this a high review, so it really pains me to say that this was honestly pretty average in comparison 😭 I wanted to like this more than I did SO BAD.
Not that it’s a competition, but Their Vicious Games was REALLY hard to beat. When your debut novel is THAT strong, it’s super hard to continue to measure up to. That book was a solid 5/5, blending violence, insanely high stakes, and plenty of shock value. Think Hunger Games and Squid Games level shock value. Absolutely addictive, brutal, and PERFECTLY written.
Vibes are different in this one, which isn’t bad. Joelle Wellington switches gears from a high stakes fight to the death competition to a small town murder mystery. Is this as compulsively readable? No. But solving a murder is a lower stakes concept than competing in a life or death competition, so that’s to be expected. However, small town YA murder mysteries are done quite frequently and I wouldn’t consider this an above average one compared to the other ones I’ve read.
The biggest drawback is that nothing really happens. I could sum up the first 70% in a couple paragraphs. It’s just not gripping or as action packed as I was expecting, especially not after what I got with Their Vicious Games. I kept waiting for something to happen and it just didn’t? It does go by pretty fast which is nice, but I was a bit disappointed when I had gotten to the 70% mark and not much had really happened.
For the positives, Kyla, one of the narrators is unreliable, unlikeable, and a total beyotch. And lowkey scary. Which, made this a much more interesting read.
At the end of the day though, this wasn’t as gripping, scary, or intense as I was hoping. It was sort of boring and it pains me to say that 😭 I had decided early on I was going to give this a 4 star anyways out of loyalty to Joelle but after finishing this, I gotta be real. It’s a 3 star.
I am still a Joelle Wellington loyalist and am still extremely biased towards her writing. I will continue to read any book she writes in the future with said biased mindset. But, this one wasn’t as great as I was hoping.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Not that it’s a competition, but Their Vicious Games was REALLY hard to beat. When your debut novel is THAT strong, it’s super hard to continue to measure up to. That book was a solid 5/5, blending violence, insanely high stakes, and plenty of shock value. Think Hunger Games and Squid Games level shock value. Absolutely addictive, brutal, and PERFECTLY written.
Vibes are different in this one, which isn’t bad. Joelle Wellington switches gears from a high stakes fight to the death competition to a small town murder mystery. Is this as compulsively readable? No. But solving a murder is a lower stakes concept than competing in a life or death competition, so that’s to be expected. However, small town YA murder mysteries are done quite frequently and I wouldn’t consider this an above average one compared to the other ones I’ve read.
The biggest drawback is that nothing really happens. I could sum up the first 70% in a couple paragraphs. It’s just not gripping or as action packed as I was expecting, especially not after what I got with Their Vicious Games. I kept waiting for something to happen and it just didn’t? It does go by pretty fast which is nice, but I was a bit disappointed when I had gotten to the 70% mark and not much had really happened.
For the positives, Kyla, one of the narrators is unreliable, unlikeable, and a total beyotch. And lowkey scary. Which, made this a much more interesting read.
At the end of the day though, this wasn’t as gripping, scary, or intense as I was hoping. It was sort of boring and it pains me to say that 😭 I had decided early on I was going to give this a 4 star anyways out of loyalty to Joelle but after finishing this, I gotta be real. It’s a 3 star.
I am still a Joelle Wellington loyalist and am still extremely biased towards her writing. I will continue to read any book she writes in the future with said biased mindset. But, this one wasn’t as great as I was hoping.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
October 25, 2025
Girls who play dead by Joelle Wellington
audiobook Arc from libro FM
Release: Nov 4th 2025
This was a very interesting and intriguing thriller, love the school drama and cliques.
-I loved the different voices and accents for the different students truly made me feel as if in class / lunch break with them trying to figure things out
-the dreams, the makeup the gossiping 👀
-this was fun wasn’t wowza but wasn’t bad either
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
audiobook Arc from libro FM
Release: Nov 4th 2025
This was a very interesting and intriguing thriller, love the school drama and cliques.
-I loved the different voices and accents for the different students truly made me feel as if in class / lunch break with them trying to figure things out
-the dreams, the makeup the gossiping 👀
-this was fun wasn’t wowza but wasn’t bad either
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 15, 2025
Slow-burn YA murder mystery meets Mean Girls in this novel chock full of small town secrets, teen drama, toxic relationships, and the unsolved murder of a teen girl.
Kyla's best friend Erin has been murdered and her brother Mikky returns to live with their dad and support her. But Kyla isn't the sister he remembers and it seems like Erin was the resident mean girl who scared people. Mikky begins investigating what really happened to Erin, while also catching feelings for a boy in his new high school friend group. It's a twisty, satisfying mystery that is also about grief, complicated sibling dynamics, and having parents with problems of their own.
The characters are well-developed and messy but human, and a lot of them are queer! My one quibble is I think this book could have been shorter. at 400 pages it feels rather lengthy for a mystery and takes its time unraveling what happened. But otherwise it was very good. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Kyla's best friend Erin has been murdered and her brother Mikky returns to live with their dad and support her. But Kyla isn't the sister he remembers and it seems like Erin was the resident mean girl who scared people. Mikky begins investigating what really happened to Erin, while also catching feelings for a boy in his new high school friend group. It's a twisty, satisfying mystery that is also about grief, complicated sibling dynamics, and having parents with problems of their own.
The characters are well-developed and messy but human, and a lot of them are queer! My one quibble is I think this book could have been shorter. at 400 pages it feels rather lengthy for a mystery and takes its time unraveling what happened. But otherwise it was very good. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
November 7, 2025
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed this one! It’s a YA mystery with a sprinkle of romance and I thought it was well thought out. By the end I still had no idea who did it, really good twist. There was a lot of miscommunication and frustration but they’re teens so it’s understandable
October 31, 2025
E-ARC generously provided by S&S Children's Books in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much!
5 stars. Reminiscent of teen murder mystery classics with a glamorous and small town gothic edge, Girls Who Play Dead is the exact kind of narrative I love: glittering in its aesthetic and all gore and guts on its inside.
5 stars. Reminiscent of teen murder mystery classics with a glamorous and small town gothic edge, Girls Who Play Dead is the exact kind of narrative I love: glittering in its aesthetic and all gore and guts on its inside.
January 1, 2026
2025 reads: 358/300
i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
when mikky graves left his small, stifling hometown to live with his mom, he thought that nothing could bring him back. then, his sister kyla’s best friend, erin, is murdered. mikky never worried about kyla as long as she had erin, and now he’s hoping to help her through the grieving process. the kyla he reunites with, though, is almost unrecognizable. as she continues on her downward spiral toward rage and secrecy, mikky realizes the only thing that could help her is to uncover the truth behind who killed erin.
this was such a great book, from the depictions of tense familial relationships to the strange hold one makeup company had on this small town. we get viewpoints from both mikky and kyla, which really made things interesting since they were on such opposite sides, while still kind of being on the same side? we even got a bit of romance, which further added to the plot. overall, this was an engrossing YA mystery. i need more from joelle wellington asap!!
i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
when mikky graves left his small, stifling hometown to live with his mom, he thought that nothing could bring him back. then, his sister kyla’s best friend, erin, is murdered. mikky never worried about kyla as long as she had erin, and now he’s hoping to help her through the grieving process. the kyla he reunites with, though, is almost unrecognizable. as she continues on her downward spiral toward rage and secrecy, mikky realizes the only thing that could help her is to uncover the truth behind who killed erin.
this was such a great book, from the depictions of tense familial relationships to the strange hold one makeup company had on this small town. we get viewpoints from both mikky and kyla, which really made things interesting since they were on such opposite sides, while still kind of being on the same side? we even got a bit of romance, which further added to the plot. overall, this was an engrossing YA mystery. i need more from joelle wellington asap!!
November 23, 2025
i’m extremely loyal to Joelle Wellington and will read everything she publishes. her debut novel Their Vicious Game made me a forever fan.
so i’m a bit sad that her last novel and this one were so average. nothing much happens until the 80% mark.
i think the dual pov of the two siblings was not a good call because Kayla knows so much and Mikky is the one in the dark investigating. it can get a bit frustrating like having a word at the tip of your tongue when mikky gets so close to answers without grasping the full picture.
i think the oppressive atmosphere was so well done. feeling like everyone knows each other but not really, with all the american small town cliché. i love all the rep in this book: mental health, sexuality, race, grief, family… etc
thank you to HarperCollins UK for sending me a digital arc in exchange for my honest review
so i’m a bit sad that her last novel and this one were so average. nothing much happens until the 80% mark.
i think the dual pov of the two siblings was not a good call because Kayla knows so much and Mikky is the one in the dark investigating. it can get a bit frustrating like having a word at the tip of your tongue when mikky gets so close to answers without grasping the full picture.
i think the oppressive atmosphere was so well done. feeling like everyone knows each other but not really, with all the american small town cliché. i love all the rep in this book: mental health, sexuality, race, grief, family… etc
thank you to HarperCollins UK for sending me a digital arc in exchange for my honest review
November 6, 2025
Mini blurb: Two Black siblings who separated after their parents' divorce slowly reconnect in the aftermath of the sister's best friend's murder, getting entangled in a web of conspiracies and lies that hits too close to home - and in more than one way - for one of them.
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Children's/Harper Fire for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
This was an intense, character-driven mystery with lots of teen appeal, but - despite the amount of high-school drama - I found it to be extremely palatable for senior readers as well (it didn't hurt that it reminded me of classic Christopher Pike thrillers like the Final Friends series, only with a ton more diversity). Mostly, I have the main characters, with their emotionally charged inner monologue and their strong (if messy) dynamics, to thank for it. Of course, Mikky is much easier to love, with his open queerness, his honesty about his mental health issues (depression and anxiety), and his effort to help/reconnect with a sister he left behind in order to prioritise his emotional well-being. But under her mean girl facade (borrowed from her dead friend Erin), mired-in-grief yet angry Kyla turns out to be a much more vulnerable character than one would think, and Wellington does a great job having the reader empathise with her and root for her during her self-awareness journey. As for the murder mystery, it needs some suspension of disbelief, but it's well thought-out and compelling enough to have you compulsively turning pages until the (appalling) reveal. Laced with romance, wrapped in secrets and coated in make-up, Girls Who Play Dead is a lot of things - a portrait of grief and guilt, a coming-of-age narrative, a commentary on the beauty/influencer culture, and a small-town mystery with a very dark edge of course - but its heart lies in the problematic, yet powerful and ultimately endearing sibling relationship. Not to be missed if you're a fan of thrillers with a soft core under the gritty exterior.
Note: as a rule, I review every book that I rate 4 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But I didn't want to go in too deep about this one to avoid spoilers, and it felt easy to summarise its contents (and my opinions) in a few sentences, so I took the mini-review route.
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Children's/Harper Fire for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
This was an intense, character-driven mystery with lots of teen appeal, but - despite the amount of high-school drama - I found it to be extremely palatable for senior readers as well (it didn't hurt that it reminded me of classic Christopher Pike thrillers like the Final Friends series, only with a ton more diversity). Mostly, I have the main characters, with their emotionally charged inner monologue and their strong (if messy) dynamics, to thank for it. Of course, Mikky is much easier to love, with his open queerness, his honesty about his mental health issues (depression and anxiety), and his effort to help/reconnect with a sister he left behind in order to prioritise his emotional well-being. But under her mean girl facade (borrowed from her dead friend Erin), mired-in-grief yet angry Kyla turns out to be a much more vulnerable character than one would think, and Wellington does a great job having the reader empathise with her and root for her during her self-awareness journey. As for the murder mystery, it needs some suspension of disbelief, but it's well thought-out and compelling enough to have you compulsively turning pages until the (appalling) reveal. Laced with romance, wrapped in secrets and coated in make-up, Girls Who Play Dead is a lot of things - a portrait of grief and guilt, a coming-of-age narrative, a commentary on the beauty/influencer culture, and a small-town mystery with a very dark edge of course - but its heart lies in the problematic, yet powerful and ultimately endearing sibling relationship. Not to be missed if you're a fan of thrillers with a soft core under the gritty exterior.
Note: as a rule, I review every book that I rate 4 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But I didn't want to go in too deep about this one to avoid spoilers, and it felt easy to summarise its contents (and my opinions) in a few sentences, so I took the mini-review route.
October 24, 2025
I received a free copy of, Girls Who Played Dead, by Joelle Wellington, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mikky never thought he had to return to Prophets Lake, and he would not of if his sisters best friend did not pass away. I thought this was a good read, but I did not like the swearing in the book at all.
October 14, 2025
3.5⭐️ cool premise but the pacing of it made it hard to stay interested
November 4, 2025
I enjoyed this YA, small town murder mystery. I listened to the audiobook. it was an entertaining, quick read! if you like ya thrillers, I'd recommend this one.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎧Song Pairing: Pretty Hurts - Beyoncé
💭What I thought would happen:
Let’s get serious, this is the prettiest Kellyest cover there ever was! Beauty is pain don’t ya know? Fake dead girl? Fyi she was very much dead.
📖What actually happens:
⚰️Dead teenage girl
💄Make up influencer
🩷Friends forever
🏳️🌈Gay rep
🩵Black rep
🌚Whodunnit
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
I will be chasing the high from Their Vicious games forever and always. Making me a consistent early reader of anything Joelle throws down.
That being said, she was fiiiiiine.
Twists threw down, mean girls gave Regina George a run for her money, and family drama was boiling on high like a forgotten pot of pasta
I loved the relationship between the deceased, a blonde white girl, and the living black MC’s friendship/platonic soulmate. It was so pure 🩷. Including the way people saw dead girl as fierce and Kyla as feral…infuriating yet believable🤬
🎧Song Pairing: Pretty Hurts - Beyoncé
💭What I thought would happen:
Let’s get serious, this is the prettiest Kellyest cover there ever was! Beauty is pain don’t ya know? Fake dead girl? Fyi she was very much dead.
📖What actually happens:
⚰️Dead teenage girl
💄Make up influencer
🩷Friends forever
🏳️🌈Gay rep
🩵Black rep
🌚Whodunnit
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
I will be chasing the high from Their Vicious games forever and always. Making me a consistent early reader of anything Joelle throws down.
That being said, she was fiiiiiine.
Twists threw down, mean girls gave Regina George a run for her money, and family drama was boiling on high like a forgotten pot of pasta
I loved the relationship between the deceased, a blonde white girl, and the living black MC’s friendship/platonic soulmate. It was so pure 🩷. Including the way people saw dead girl as fierce and Kyla as feral…infuriating yet believable🤬
June 29, 2025
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC! I have been a fan of Joelle Wellingtons since These Vicious Games. Girls Who Play Dead wasn’t a 5/5 for me; however, it still did not disappoint!
Throughout the story, I found myself not being able to put the book down. There was always another plot twist just when I thought I had it figured it out. Additionally, the small town vibe really played well into the mystery of it all.
My only critic would be that sometimes I felt that things were dragging. In the middle of the sorry, there is drama surrounding several of the characters, which continues for several chapters. It all comes down to miscommunication and lack of information being shared. I just feel that this could have been limited and/or shortened.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this new novel from Joelle Wellington. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
Throughout the story, I found myself not being able to put the book down. There was always another plot twist just when I thought I had it figured it out. Additionally, the small town vibe really played well into the mystery of it all.
My only critic would be that sometimes I felt that things were dragging. In the middle of the sorry, there is drama surrounding several of the characters, which continues for several chapters. It all comes down to miscommunication and lack of information being shared. I just feel that this could have been limited and/or shortened.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this new novel from Joelle Wellington. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
September 4, 2025
A small town murder mystery? Sign me up! I enjoyed Wellington’s writing in Their Vicious Games and she continues to surprise me! This story switches gears from a fight to the death to “who dunnit?” While this story did have pacing issues for me, I was still invested in the characters journeys. Part of this story was predictable and repetitive but it’s an easy to follow story with multiple twists.
December 5, 2025
I was so excited to get another thriller from Joelle Wellington this year considering The Blonde Dies First was one of my favorite reads of 2024. Unfortunately, this one really did not work for me.
What I loved about The Blonde Dies First was how fun it was! I had a total blast and I fell in love with how realistic and amusing the friend group was. However, Girls Who Play Dead displayed a major tonal switch. This was a much slower paced book laced with grief as we see our characters reeling from the murder of a classmate. When I realized this was going to have a darker tone, I settled in for a tense and twisty tale. And I think that’s where things went wrong. At no point was I piecing together clues to solve the mystery, or sitting on the edge of my seat in shock. Half the time, I even forgot that Erin was murder and it was a mystery as to why it happened. I kept waiting for the story to finally kick into gear, and it never did.
At its center, this story is about Mikky returning home to a sister who has been changed by the death of her best friend, and trying to fill the void she left behind. And it’s also about the far reaching grip a growing beauty brand has on this small town. There was so much promise with the Test Kitchens. At first I was intrigued by their secret, but the longer it went on the less I cared. I just needed more crumbs to stay interested. I honestly think the story would have benefited with the removal of Kyla’s POV. So much of the mystery is ruined because of her knowledge of and direct involvement in the secrecy. If we stuck to Mikky’s POV, there would be more impactful revelations.
I so badly wish I liked this more. After the 60% mark I ended up skimming the rest to find out all the reveals. I’m hoping I love her next project!
What I loved about The Blonde Dies First was how fun it was! I had a total blast and I fell in love with how realistic and amusing the friend group was. However, Girls Who Play Dead displayed a major tonal switch. This was a much slower paced book laced with grief as we see our characters reeling from the murder of a classmate. When I realized this was going to have a darker tone, I settled in for a tense and twisty tale. And I think that’s where things went wrong. At no point was I piecing together clues to solve the mystery, or sitting on the edge of my seat in shock. Half the time, I even forgot that Erin was murder and it was a mystery as to why it happened. I kept waiting for the story to finally kick into gear, and it never did.
At its center, this story is about Mikky returning home to a sister who has been changed by the death of her best friend, and trying to fill the void she left behind. And it’s also about the far reaching grip a growing beauty brand has on this small town. There was so much promise with the Test Kitchens. At first I was intrigued by their secret, but the longer it went on the less I cared. I just needed more crumbs to stay interested. I honestly think the story would have benefited with the removal of Kyla’s POV. So much of the mystery is ruined because of her knowledge of and direct involvement in the secrecy. If we stuck to Mikky’s POV, there would be more impactful revelations.
I so badly wish I liked this more. After the 60% mark I ended up skimming the rest to find out all the reveals. I’m hoping I love her next project!
December 6, 2025
cute, it read easily and I felt a lot of emotions.
There is a slight touch of romance enough to be cute but not enough to lead the whole storyline.
It reads easily but slowly, the first part of the book could be easily summed up with less then a chapter if needed. It does a good job and normalizing certain topics such as queerness and psychological issues.
All in all I found myself smiling throughout it and being shocked by the end. Just wish it would have been a faster paced book
There is a slight touch of romance enough to be cute but not enough to lead the whole storyline.
It reads easily but slowly, the first part of the book could be easily summed up with less then a chapter if needed. It does a good job and normalizing certain topics such as queerness and psychological issues.
All in all I found myself smiling throughout it and being shocked by the end. Just wish it would have been a faster paced book
November 25, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e- ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Giving this book 4 stars, it was very engaging and the third person narration gave more insight into the story. I liked following multiple characters with multiple POVs without it being in first person. All the characters were very realistic and the way they were portrayed was very easy to picture. The writing gave me a very high school feel which made reading and listening to the audio even more fun and engaging. Interesting and original plot, very entertaining and a quick thriller read. Would 100% recommend!
Giving this book 4 stars, it was very engaging and the third person narration gave more insight into the story. I liked following multiple characters with multiple POVs without it being in first person. All the characters were very realistic and the way they were portrayed was very easy to picture. The writing gave me a very high school feel which made reading and listening to the audio even more fun and engaging. Interesting and original plot, very entertaining and a quick thriller read. Would 100% recommend!
August 14, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it just didn’t do it for me. The last 30% really picked up and drew me in, but the beginning was too slow.
I will say, I did not figure out the killer until the end but I don’t think that was enough to bring up the rating.
I will say, I did not figure out the killer until the end but I don’t think that was enough to bring up the rating.
August 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Joelle Wellington does it again. She has such a talent for creating YA characters who feel authentic and distinct, never boxed into the usual tropes. Her storytelling is layered and addictive, and the way she weaves in social commentary feels sharp and relevant without ever being preachy. It’s the kind of writing that pulls you in and lingers long after you finish.
What really stood out to me here is how different this book feels from A Vicious Game. While that one thrived on psychological tension and biting class critique, this novel leans into a small-town murder mystery. And honestly? It works. You still get those themes of wealth, privilege, and influence, but this time filtered through a community bound—and quietly controlled—by a glossy lifestyle brand. Stories about picture-perfect towns hiding dark secrets are definitely having a moment, and Wellington executes the trope with precision and flair.
If I had one small note, it’s that a slightly tighter edit might have made the pacing even sharper. A few scenes felt like they didn’t quite move the story forward. But that’s a very minor quibble in an otherwise engrossing and incredibly satisfying read.
Overall, this is a novel that hooks you with its mystery and atmosphere, while also making you think.
📅 Mark your calendars: it releases on November 4, 2025. Preorder it now so you’re ready to dive in the second it lands.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Simon and Schuster Children’s through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
Joelle Wellington does it again. She has such a talent for creating YA characters who feel authentic and distinct, never boxed into the usual tropes. Her storytelling is layered and addictive, and the way she weaves in social commentary feels sharp and relevant without ever being preachy. It’s the kind of writing that pulls you in and lingers long after you finish.
What really stood out to me here is how different this book feels from A Vicious Game. While that one thrived on psychological tension and biting class critique, this novel leans into a small-town murder mystery. And honestly? It works. You still get those themes of wealth, privilege, and influence, but this time filtered through a community bound—and quietly controlled—by a glossy lifestyle brand. Stories about picture-perfect towns hiding dark secrets are definitely having a moment, and Wellington executes the trope with precision and flair.
If I had one small note, it’s that a slightly tighter edit might have made the pacing even sharper. A few scenes felt like they didn’t quite move the story forward. But that’s a very minor quibble in an otherwise engrossing and incredibly satisfying read.
Overall, this is a novel that hooks you with its mystery and atmosphere, while also making you think.
📅 Mark your calendars: it releases on November 4, 2025. Preorder it now so you’re ready to dive in the second it lands.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Simon and Schuster Children’s through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
November 4, 2025
ARC review
This is a young adult thriller about two siblings that investigate the murder of a friend.
I received an advance reader copy from Harper Fire (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
The description of the book sounded very good and I was expecting more investigating.
Even if this was a quick read, there were some moments when I wanted to skip ahead to find out what happened.
There is a bit too much highschool drama and not enough comunication.
The story is told from Mikky and Kyla's POVs.
The pace is slower in the begining, but there are some interesting revelations towards the end.
I had some suspicions, but I did not expect the ending.
This is a young adult thriller about two siblings that investigate the murder of a friend.
I received an advance reader copy from Harper Fire (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
The description of the book sounded very good and I was expecting more investigating.
Even if this was a quick read, there were some moments when I wanted to skip ahead to find out what happened.
There is a bit too much highschool drama and not enough comunication.
The story is told from Mikky and Kyla's POVs.
The pace is slower in the begining, but there are some interesting revelations towards the end.
I had some suspicions, but I did not expect the ending.
January 4, 2026
When Kyla's best friend dies, or more accurately, is killed... her brother Mikky comes back to town to help her get through things.
What he could have anticipated was getting drawn into a game of whodunit where his new friend thinks that one of the suspects should be his sister...
Kyla and Erin had their secrets but were these worth dying for, and if so, who would take it that far....
Nice wee twisty whodunit that unravels nicely while we also explore the family and friend dynamics old and new.
Really enjoyed this one, third book I've read by this author now and not disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the review copy. All opinions my own.
What he could have anticipated was getting drawn into a game of whodunit where his new friend thinks that one of the suspects should be his sister...
Kyla and Erin had their secrets but were these worth dying for, and if so, who would take it that far....
Nice wee twisty whodunit that unravels nicely while we also explore the family and friend dynamics old and new.
Really enjoyed this one, third book I've read by this author now and not disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the review copy. All opinions my own.
December 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
August 30, 2025
Girls Who Play Dead was an intense look at how beauty standards, social media, and capitalism affect young people. Wellington crafted fierce, memorable characters that really stood out from each other. For a young adult book, the content felt appropriate, and I appreciated the digestible commentary on gender and race. I look forward to reading more from Wellington!
Read
November 10, 2025I didn’t get this arc finished before it properly released but hot damn does Wellington know how to write an engaging thriller
July 2, 2025
Joelle is one of my absolute favorite YA thriller authors- I eat her books up every single time!
Girls Who Play Dead focuses of the beauty industry and influencer culture. It touches on themes of identity, familial relationships, mental health, race, queerness, and so much more with the backdrop of high school life.
This was done so well, had such loveable character and was honestly a great read.
Girls Who Play Dead focuses of the beauty industry and influencer culture. It touches on themes of identity, familial relationships, mental health, race, queerness, and so much more with the backdrop of high school life.
This was done so well, had such loveable character and was honestly a great read.
October 19, 2025
4/5 ✨ this book was a slow burn but once you get going after a few chapters, you cannot put it down. It is young adult thriller. I really enjoyed the different main characters and their bond as siblings the ending as well I did not predict which was a really good plot twist would recommend if that is the type of book you like and I did not guess who I thought the killer would be a brilliant read!!
July 7, 2025
thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley
Wellington writes Ya with a vicious fast paced style that pulls no emotional punches. While I generally do not particularly seek out either YA or Thrillers as a genre Wellington has made me a believer.
Mikky exudes lone wolf, cool alt guy in a way that is often attempted but rarely achieved. He is highly relatable and highly likable. He becomes entangled in the central mystery as easy as falling asleep.
Kyla is a delightful collection of opposing ideals. A mean girl who clearly cares deeply for the people in her circle. Smart and driven and the quintessential cheerleader. Cool girl driving a hearse because she thinks it’s cool.
I normally cant stand a highschool plot. I graduated and never want to go back and yet this book had me enthralled with both the greater mystery of a dead best friend and the day to day dredge of homework and school life.
At times the characters do feel a little older than high school, especially Mikky, with how simply responsible they are and how few straight up stupid choices they make but to be honest I liked that aspect and maybe the characters are just smarter then I was and have a greater pressure to preform.
I will be shocked if this doesn’t get picked up as a tv series not that it needs it by any means but i certainly would be trying to adapt if i was in the feild
The conclusion to the central mystery is so satisfying. It feels both plausible and like the reader can actually solve it.
I really enjoyed this book and am going to pick up more by this author ASAP
Wellington writes Ya with a vicious fast paced style that pulls no emotional punches. While I generally do not particularly seek out either YA or Thrillers as a genre Wellington has made me a believer.
Mikky exudes lone wolf, cool alt guy in a way that is often attempted but rarely achieved. He is highly relatable and highly likable. He becomes entangled in the central mystery as easy as falling asleep.
Kyla is a delightful collection of opposing ideals. A mean girl who clearly cares deeply for the people in her circle. Smart and driven and the quintessential cheerleader. Cool girl driving a hearse because she thinks it’s cool.
I normally cant stand a highschool plot. I graduated and never want to go back and yet this book had me enthralled with both the greater mystery of a dead best friend and the day to day dredge of homework and school life.
At times the characters do feel a little older than high school, especially Mikky, with how simply responsible they are and how few straight up stupid choices they make but to be honest I liked that aspect and maybe the characters are just smarter then I was and have a greater pressure to preform.
I will be shocked if this doesn’t get picked up as a tv series not that it needs it by any means but i certainly would be trying to adapt if i was in the feild
The conclusion to the central mystery is so satisfying. It feels both plausible and like the reader can actually solve it.
I really enjoyed this book and am going to pick up more by this author ASAP
August 10, 2025
First off, I have to say I absolutely adore this cover. It’s bold, eye catching, and instantly made me want to dive into the story.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me. I’ve realized I struggle with books written in third person because it makes it harder for me to connect with the characters on a deeper level. While the premise was intriguing and I loved the idea behind the storyline, the pacing felt slow for me, and I found myself losing interest as it went on.
That being said, I did enjoy the ending, and my favorite part of the book was definitely Mikky, he is such a great character! While it didn’t fully work for me, I think readers who enjoy third person thrillers with a unique concept might still find this one worth picking up.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t the right fit for me. I’ve realized I struggle with books written in third person because it makes it harder for me to connect with the characters on a deeper level. While the premise was intriguing and I loved the idea behind the storyline, the pacing felt slow for me, and I found myself losing interest as it went on.
That being said, I did enjoy the ending, and my favorite part of the book was definitely Mikky, he is such a great character! While it didn’t fully work for me, I think readers who enjoy third person thrillers with a unique concept might still find this one worth picking up.
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