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The Games We Play: The new and addictive debut psychological thriller, brimming with suspense for 2026
3 Best Friends. 1 Deadly Secret.
With Ali's wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie threatens to implode with deathly consequences when a twisted teenage game comes back to haunt them.
As teenagers, Ali, Erin and Sophie are bonded by a secret, and a promise to protect each other. Years later, Ali’s wedding is looming when the three women set off for their annual couples’ trip, unaware that one final drunken game and a weekend of secrets and revelations will bring their teenage promise back to haunt them.
As the truth begins to creep out, making headlines that threaten to pull their lives apart, it puts their friendship to the ultimate test – has it been love or fear holding them together, and if one of them cracks, will any of them survive?
With Ali's wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie threatens to implode with deathly consequences when a twisted teenage game comes back to haunt them.
As teenagers, Ali, Erin and Sophie are bonded by a secret, and a promise to protect each other. Years later, Ali’s wedding is looming when the three women set off for their annual couples’ trip, unaware that one final drunken game and a weekend of secrets and revelations will bring their teenage promise back to haunt them.
As the truth begins to creep out, making headlines that threaten to pull their lives apart, it puts their friendship to the ultimate test – has it been love or fear holding them together, and if one of them cracks, will any of them survive?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2026
About the author
Claire Quinn
1 book4 followersAfter studying Law at King’s College London, Claire returned home to the North West. She worked in Manchester for an international law firm for over fifteen years before making a switch to writing and country life in the Cotswolds with her husband. Claire’s work has been longlisted for both the Cheshire Novel Prize and the Exeter Novel Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 23, 2026
Thank you Net Galley for this advance copy.
Unputdownable!!!!!
Three best friends bonded by a terrible secret. Would they still be friends without it?
Ali’s wedding is in a few weeks, secrets that have been buried for 15 years are threatening to ruin things.
This is excellent! Sophie & Erin along with their partners are hurtling into a crash course with Ali, Dan and hidden secrets. Does someone know something?
I couldn’t put this down. It’s bloody brilliant!!!
Unputdownable!!!!!
Three best friends bonded by a terrible secret. Would they still be friends without it?
Ali’s wedding is in a few weeks, secrets that have been buried for 15 years are threatening to ruin things.
This is excellent! Sophie & Erin along with their partners are hurtling into a crash course with Ali, Dan and hidden secrets. Does someone know something?
I couldn’t put this down. It’s bloody brilliant!!!
July 28, 2026
This book was very easy to read! We start with Ali, Sophie and Erin, alongside their partners on a weekend away where we quickly learn the girls share a big secret.
I found each of the main characters were frustrating at times, they all had their flaws, but it was clear to see the true love they did have for each other.
Parts of this book were quite predictable however there were a couple of things I hadn’t seen coming. I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I found each of the main characters were frustrating at times, they all had their flaws, but it was clear to see the true love they did have for each other.
Parts of this book were quite predictable however there were a couple of things I hadn’t seen coming. I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 15, 2026
Secret after secret after secret this was a brilliant read that drew me in immediately. It was unputdownable!
It was an excellent read and written in such an engaging way. The secrets and lies pulled me in. I didn’t see the ending coming at all. The characters were written so well it was a love hate relationship.
An absolutely brilliant read I would recommend a thousand times over!
Thank you Harper north for sending me this I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It was an excellent read and written in such an engaging way. The secrets and lies pulled me in. I didn’t see the ending coming at all. The characters were written so well it was a love hate relationship.
An absolutely brilliant read I would recommend a thousand times over!
Thank you Harper north for sending me this I thoroughly enjoyed it!
July 2, 2026
Great story line did not see that end coming I was so sure I had worked it out.
August 2, 2026
I like the idea of this novel more than the execution. Though, the problem is that not even that original idea. A dark secret coming back to haunt you is like 60% of thrillers since the dawn of thrillers/mystery novels.
The characters were annoying as hell. They are meant to be flawed but they are meant to be in the 30s. I did the math and they are meant to be my age (33 years of age) which they are not. They say they just missed the camera phones, and we very much did have camera phones when I was 16. This plot related tangent. I guess this meant to be set 10 years ago for some reason because Justin Timberlake was crush my decade older siblings might have had. Even then, a strange comparison for Dan to have. I just have no memory of anyone caring about him. Though, I was not the pop side of things in my teen years. He's not the Justin that people cared about. This book does seem to be set now and the idea that these privileged kids not having a camera phone or digital camera is laughable. Basically, it's badly researched. This is completely a post reading realisation but we were the myspace generation (actually on the young side of that too). This should have came up.
I get the choice of why this timeframe was picked because of the life stages at play. You wanted people who were getting married, having kids but could be established in careers. It got the ages wrong in a big way. This all happening pre-covid probably makes the most sense and we will leave it at that.
I was talking about the characters before I got distracted. Erin is probably the most likable and Ali is the worse. She incredibly unlikable and immature. The whole novel doesn't exist without her games that always backfired which then makes the other characters unlikable because why are you letting her away with this? There was brief moment of sapphic tension but that is me reading into things. But I do make things gay when I get bored and there's no queer characters in this book. Not judgement, just a fact. There's attempts to make Ali redeemable but never goes to a deeper level.
I do like the idea of three friends analysing their relationships with each other and how much is is genuine and how much of it is trauma bonding. We love to see it. I just don't think there's a enough depth to that. The characters feel the same at 18 as they do at 33 years old and generally are so very, very shit to each other. That never get addressed. This book is told in three POV and I could tell who I was reading from their attitude towards things so that was done well.
Also I did not enjoy the magic fix-it-all-ending.
The mystery side of things, I was somewhat invested, even if very obvious. The twists and turns are mostly nothing that doesn't add much to the story.
I wanted to DNF if this book but I felt bad that it was a NetGalley. I should have followed my gut and did it. Could have just review the why I gave up and left it at that. You want to DNF this book, do it. It's not worse book I've read. Post-reading, my feelings are bland towards it. Someone might love this book's location and I might read another work by this author if I was intrigued by the plot.
The characters were annoying as hell. They are meant to be flawed but they are meant to be in the 30s. I did the math and they are meant to be my age (33 years of age) which they are not. They say they just missed the camera phones, and we very much did have camera phones when I was 16. This plot related tangent. I guess this meant to be set 10 years ago for some reason because Justin Timberlake was crush my decade older siblings might have had. Even then, a strange comparison for Dan to have. I just have no memory of anyone caring about him. Though, I was not the pop side of things in my teen years. He's not the Justin that people cared about. This book does seem to be set now and the idea that these privileged kids not having a camera phone or digital camera is laughable. Basically, it's badly researched. This is completely a post reading realisation but we were the myspace generation (actually on the young side of that too). This should have came up.
I get the choice of why this timeframe was picked because of the life stages at play. You wanted people who were getting married, having kids but could be established in careers. It got the ages wrong in a big way. This all happening pre-covid probably makes the most sense and we will leave it at that.
I was talking about the characters before I got distracted. Erin is probably the most likable and Ali is the worse. She incredibly unlikable and immature. The whole novel doesn't exist without her games that always backfired which then makes the other characters unlikable because why are you letting her away with this? There was brief moment of sapphic tension but that is me reading into things. But I do make things gay when I get bored and there's no queer characters in this book. Not judgement, just a fact. There's attempts to make Ali redeemable but never goes to a deeper level.
I do like the idea of three friends analysing their relationships with each other and how much is is genuine and how much of it is trauma bonding. We love to see it. I just don't think there's a enough depth to that. The characters feel the same at 18 as they do at 33 years old and generally are so very, very shit to each other. That never get addressed. This book is told in three POV and I could tell who I was reading from their attitude towards things so that was done well.
Also I did not enjoy the magic fix-it-all-ending.
The mystery side of things, I was somewhat invested, even if very obvious. The twists and turns are mostly nothing that doesn't add much to the story.
I wanted to DNF if this book but I felt bad that it was a NetGalley. I should have followed my gut and did it. Could have just review the why I gave up and left it at that. You want to DNF this book, do it. It's not worse book I've read. Post-reading, my feelings are bland towards it. Someone might love this book's location and I might read another work by this author if I was intrigued by the plot.
August 1, 2026
“We promise to always protect each other.”
The Games We Play was such a twisty, addictive read, and one that kept me constantly questioning where it was heading.
The story follows three best friends, Ali, Sophie and Erin, who have known each other since they were teenagers. Now adults, they are all in relationships: Ali and Dan are engaged, Sophie and Thomas are married, and Erin and Joe are dating. What initially seems like a couples’ getaway soon starts to reveal cracks, tension and long-buried secrets, especially as Ali and Dan’s wedding day gets closer.
I really enjoyed the way the book was structured. It moves through the countdown to the wedding, starting a month before, then three and a half weeks, two weeks, one week, the wedding day itself, and finally an epilogue three months later. Woven throughout is a dual timeline, shifting between the present and the girls’ teenage years, when they were sixteen and eighteen. I love this kind of structure, especially in thrillers, because it gives you just enough information to keep guessing without ever fully trusting what you know.
The friendship between Ali, Sophie and Erin was such an interesting part of the story. At first, it seems like a strong bond built on years of loyalty, but the more the book develops, the more you realise how complicated that loyalty has become. They protect each other, but they also hide things from one another. They love each other, but there is resentment, insecurity and old damage underneath it all.
Ali’s character arc was one of the most interesting for me. She came across as deeply insecure, but also fiercely loyal and protective. Each of the women brought something different to the friendship, and I liked how the book explored how secrets can both hold people together and slowly destroy them.
This was very engrossing and fast paced. The prologue starts with a death, and I spent so much of the book trying to work out how everything connected. I was questioning everyone. Every character felt unreliable in some way, and the amount of secrets, lies and half-truths made the whole thing feel dark, tense, uneasy and twisty.
The final chapters were especially fast paced, with some genuinely shocking twists around the identity of the deceased character, the way they died, and the events that led up to it. I did actually go back and reread the prologue afterwards, and that helped everything click into place.
I will say, a couple of reveals didn’t hit quite as hard as I expected. Joe’s secret felt very built up, and when it finally came out, it landed a little flatter than I hoped. I also felt the epilogue wrapped things up quite quickly and neatly, especially when I would have liked a little more for Ali and Sophie.
That said, this was still a really gripping read. It had friendship drama, secrets, betrayal, unreliable characters, a dual timeline, and a wedding countdown full of tension. I’m also curious whether there could be more to come, because it definitely feels like this group could still have a few secrets left.
The Games We Play was such a twisty, addictive read, and one that kept me constantly questioning where it was heading.
The story follows three best friends, Ali, Sophie and Erin, who have known each other since they were teenagers. Now adults, they are all in relationships: Ali and Dan are engaged, Sophie and Thomas are married, and Erin and Joe are dating. What initially seems like a couples’ getaway soon starts to reveal cracks, tension and long-buried secrets, especially as Ali and Dan’s wedding day gets closer.
I really enjoyed the way the book was structured. It moves through the countdown to the wedding, starting a month before, then three and a half weeks, two weeks, one week, the wedding day itself, and finally an epilogue three months later. Woven throughout is a dual timeline, shifting between the present and the girls’ teenage years, when they were sixteen and eighteen. I love this kind of structure, especially in thrillers, because it gives you just enough information to keep guessing without ever fully trusting what you know.
The friendship between Ali, Sophie and Erin was such an interesting part of the story. At first, it seems like a strong bond built on years of loyalty, but the more the book develops, the more you realise how complicated that loyalty has become. They protect each other, but they also hide things from one another. They love each other, but there is resentment, insecurity and old damage underneath it all.
Ali’s character arc was one of the most interesting for me. She came across as deeply insecure, but also fiercely loyal and protective. Each of the women brought something different to the friendship, and I liked how the book explored how secrets can both hold people together and slowly destroy them.
This was very engrossing and fast paced. The prologue starts with a death, and I spent so much of the book trying to work out how everything connected. I was questioning everyone. Every character felt unreliable in some way, and the amount of secrets, lies and half-truths made the whole thing feel dark, tense, uneasy and twisty.
The final chapters were especially fast paced, with some genuinely shocking twists around the identity of the deceased character, the way they died, and the events that led up to it. I did actually go back and reread the prologue afterwards, and that helped everything click into place.
I will say, a couple of reveals didn’t hit quite as hard as I expected. Joe’s secret felt very built up, and when it finally came out, it landed a little flatter than I hoped. I also felt the epilogue wrapped things up quite quickly and neatly, especially when I would have liked a little more for Ali and Sophie.
That said, this was still a really gripping read. It had friendship drama, secrets, betrayal, unreliable characters, a dual timeline, and a wedding countdown full of tension. I’m also curious whether there could be more to come, because it definitely feels like this group could still have a few secrets left.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An okay read. Don't expect much from this one.
With Ali's wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie threatens to implode with deathly consequences when a twisted teenage game comes back to haunt them. As teenagers, Ali, Erin and Sophie are bonded by a secret, and a promise to protect each other. Years later, Ali’s wedding is looming when the three women set off for their annual couples’ trip, unaware that one final drunken game and a weekend of secrets and revelations will bring their teenage promise back to haunt them. As the truth begins to creep out, making headlines that threaten to pull their lives apart, it puts their friendship to the ultimate test – has it been love or fear holding them together, and if one of them cracks, will any of them survive?
What i disliked about this book :-
1 Joe's secret was highly built up from a long time but when it came, it landed flat. Was it even a secret? If you're promising us something big then please at least deliver it or don't promise anything at all.
2 The characters were really irritating. I don't know how i endured this book. Somehow i finished it. These characters don't look like adults. First death was their fault and when someone blackmailed them, they killed again to prove that so-called "women empowerment" which is trending nowadays and you'll feel that the author deliberately did this.
3 I don't love Joe at all. He agreed to live with a murderer just because he loved her? Nah! Didn't go down my throat. I would've left him.
4 The author didn't show any police interviews. Joe guessed it but the police didn't. Wow!!! What an absolute masterpiece. 👏
5 Sometimes i felt like I should slap these girls again and again. They were that much irritating.
With Ali's wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie threatens to implode with deathly consequences when a twisted teenage game comes back to haunt them. As teenagers, Ali, Erin and Sophie are bonded by a secret, and a promise to protect each other. Years later, Ali’s wedding is looming when the three women set off for their annual couples’ trip, unaware that one final drunken game and a weekend of secrets and revelations will bring their teenage promise back to haunt them. As the truth begins to creep out, making headlines that threaten to pull their lives apart, it puts their friendship to the ultimate test – has it been love or fear holding them together, and if one of them cracks, will any of them survive?
What i disliked about this book :-
1 Joe's secret was highly built up from a long time but when it came, it landed flat. Was it even a secret? If you're promising us something big then please at least deliver it or don't promise anything at all.
2 The characters were really irritating. I don't know how i endured this book. Somehow i finished it. These characters don't look like adults. First death was their fault and when someone blackmailed them, they killed again to prove that so-called "women empowerment" which is trending nowadays and you'll feel that the author deliberately did this.
3 I don't love Joe at all. He agreed to live with a murderer just because he loved her? Nah! Didn't go down my throat. I would've left him.
4 The author didn't show any police interviews. Joe guessed it but the police didn't. Wow!!! What an absolute masterpiece. 👏
5 Sometimes i felt like I should slap these girls again and again. They were that much irritating.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow! What an addictive debut! Full of twists and turns and never knowing who you can trust!
AD/PR
As well as secrets, friendship is at the heart of this story, with Ali, Erin and Sophie having a bond so strong nothing could break it. Or could it? As the girls prepare to celebrate Ali's wedding, a long buried secret threatens to change their lives forever. But is it just the girls with secrets...? Are the men in their lives exactly who they seem?
This is a rollercoaster of a read, with past events being dripped in throughout, taking you between the past and present, giving you the best insight into the lives of this formidable trio.
I really enjoyed the way the author gives each of the girls their own chapters, alternating between their stories and their shared histories. It keeps you in the moment and moves you along with them and what they're going through. It also gives you a great sense of how each of the girls feel about their place in the friendship group, how they view each other and most interestingly, how they think they are perceived by eachother.
What stays with you as you read is how much they wonder whether they are friends because of past events or if their bond really is that strong. You'll have to read it to find out!
And it isn't just about the girls. Sophie's husband Thomas, Ali's fiancé Dan and Erin's new friend Joe, all have their parts to play too.
Claire Quinn has written a fast-paced, addictive read and I can highly recommend it. If you like suspense, drama, family values and strong friendships all wrapped up in a book you can't put down, this could be the book for you.
Always grateful for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC.
Out 30th July.
AD/PR
As well as secrets, friendship is at the heart of this story, with Ali, Erin and Sophie having a bond so strong nothing could break it. Or could it? As the girls prepare to celebrate Ali's wedding, a long buried secret threatens to change their lives forever. But is it just the girls with secrets...? Are the men in their lives exactly who they seem?
This is a rollercoaster of a read, with past events being dripped in throughout, taking you between the past and present, giving you the best insight into the lives of this formidable trio.
I really enjoyed the way the author gives each of the girls their own chapters, alternating between their stories and their shared histories. It keeps you in the moment and moves you along with them and what they're going through. It also gives you a great sense of how each of the girls feel about their place in the friendship group, how they view each other and most interestingly, how they think they are perceived by eachother.
What stays with you as you read is how much they wonder whether they are friends because of past events or if their bond really is that strong. You'll have to read it to find out!
And it isn't just about the girls. Sophie's husband Thomas, Ali's fiancé Dan and Erin's new friend Joe, all have their parts to play too.
Claire Quinn has written a fast-paced, addictive read and I can highly recommend it. If you like suspense, drama, family values and strong friendships all wrapped up in a book you can't put down, this could be the book for you.
Always grateful for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC.
Out 30th July.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to @netgalley and @harpernorthuk for this summer thrill from @clairebethquinn - out July 30
Spoiler free
3 Best Friends. 1 Deadly Secret.
“With Ali’s wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie threatens to implode with deathly consequences when a twisted teenage game comes back to haunt them.
As teenagers, Ali, Erin and Sophie are bonded by a secret, and a promise to protect each other. Years later, Ali’s wedding is looming when the three women set off for their annual couples’ trip, unaware that one final drunken game and a weekend of secrets and revelations will bring their teenage promise back to haunt them.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Secrets, loyalty and the dark side of lifelong friendship... The Games We Play is one of those thrillers that keeps you questioning who you can trust until the very end.
Brilliant exploration of female friendships, the simmering tension and the gradual unravelling of long-buried secrets. The multiple perspectives kept the pace moving, and just when I thought I’d worked it out, the story shifted again.
If you enjoy character-driven psychological suspense with plenty of twists and emotional depth, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
#BookReview #NetGalley #ARCReview #TheGamesWePlay #PsychologicalThriller
Spoiler free
3 Best Friends. 1 Deadly Secret.
“With Ali’s wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie threatens to implode with deathly consequences when a twisted teenage game comes back to haunt them.
As teenagers, Ali, Erin and Sophie are bonded by a secret, and a promise to protect each other. Years later, Ali’s wedding is looming when the three women set off for their annual couples’ trip, unaware that one final drunken game and a weekend of secrets and revelations will bring their teenage promise back to haunt them.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Secrets, loyalty and the dark side of lifelong friendship... The Games We Play is one of those thrillers that keeps you questioning who you can trust until the very end.
Brilliant exploration of female friendships, the simmering tension and the gradual unravelling of long-buried secrets. The multiple perspectives kept the pace moving, and just when I thought I’d worked it out, the story shifted again.
If you enjoy character-driven psychological suspense with plenty of twists and emotional depth, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
#BookReview #NetGalley #ARCReview #TheGamesWePlay #PsychologicalThriller
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Games We Play follows Ali, Erin, and Sophie—three women bound together since their teenage years by a secret they swore they’d protect. Now, with Ali’s wedding on the horizon, their annual couples’ trip should be a celebration. Instead, it becomes the spark that reignites everything they’ve tried to forget. One drunken game, one careless moment, and the past begins to seep through the cracks, threatening to pull their carefully curated adult lives apart.
The novel moves with a delicious sense of unease. The dynamic between the three friends is layered with affection, resentment, and the quiet terror of knowing someone else holds the worst version of you in their hands. As the truth edges closer to the surface—and into the headlines—the question becomes whether their bond was ever built on love at all, or simply on fear. And if one of them breaks, what happens to the others?
It’s a compulsive, emotionally charged thriller about loyalty, guilt, and the dangerous games we play to protect ourselves. A perfect pick for readers who love friendship dramas with a sharp, suspenseful bite.
With thanks to Claire Quinn, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The novel moves with a delicious sense of unease. The dynamic between the three friends is layered with affection, resentment, and the quiet terror of knowing someone else holds the worst version of you in their hands. As the truth edges closer to the surface—and into the headlines—the question becomes whether their bond was ever built on love at all, or simply on fear. And if one of them breaks, what happens to the others?
It’s a compulsive, emotionally charged thriller about loyalty, guilt, and the dangerous games we play to protect ourselves. A perfect pick for readers who love friendship dramas with a sharp, suspenseful bite.
With thanks to Claire Quinn, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
August 10, 2026
This a fantastic debut, I was extremely impressed! The novel follows three women, Ali, Sophie and Erin, who are bonded by more than just friendship - their shared past is dark and secretive. In the lead up to Ali's wedding, as the women and their respective partners are in closer quarters than usual, their old secrets, including the mysterious games they played as young women, start to unravel and become unearthed, leading to potentially deadly consequences.
Full of twists and turns that took me entirely by surprise, Claire Quinn's The Games We Play was an extremely satisfying read. The characters jump off the page, particularly the women, who are so full-bodied and fleshed out, you can't help but feel like you know them after only a few chapters. The suspense was brilliant, this novel kept me on my toes the whole way through and I never knew which direction the plot would turn next. Accompanied by lovely world-building, short and snappy chapters that kept me hooked, and a fresh, apt perspective on female friendships, the novel blew me away. If you're a fan of mystery and friendship dynamics, this is the book for you!
Full of twists and turns that took me entirely by surprise, Claire Quinn's The Games We Play was an extremely satisfying read. The characters jump off the page, particularly the women, who are so full-bodied and fleshed out, you can't help but feel like you know them after only a few chapters. The suspense was brilliant, this novel kept me on my toes the whole way through and I never knew which direction the plot would turn next. Accompanied by lovely world-building, short and snappy chapters that kept me hooked, and a fresh, apt perspective on female friendships, the novel blew me away. If you're a fan of mystery and friendship dynamics, this is the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fantastic exploration of trust, friendship and long-buried secrets, The Games We Play by Claire Quinn is a compelling suspense novel.
The friendship between Erin, Sophie and Ali is the hinge of the novel. There is a clear sense of manipulation within their dynamic, something that has developed since childhood. Bound together by a traumatic secret from their past, the women find old tensions resurfacing as Ali’s wedding draws near.
The novel unfolds beautifully, brimming with suspense throughout. Quinn handles the shifting perceptions of each character with real skill, constantly encouraging the reader to reassess where their loyalties lie. The story also examines the intensity of teenage friendships and the lengths women will go to in order to protect one another. The quiet acceptance of each other’s flaws feels especially thoughtful and perceptive.
Overall, this is a gripping and constantly evolving novel. Like standing on shifting sand, the reader is never fully steady, and that lingering sense of uncertainty makes for an absorbing read.
The friendship between Erin, Sophie and Ali is the hinge of the novel. There is a clear sense of manipulation within their dynamic, something that has developed since childhood. Bound together by a traumatic secret from their past, the women find old tensions resurfacing as Ali’s wedding draws near.
The novel unfolds beautifully, brimming with suspense throughout. Quinn handles the shifting perceptions of each character with real skill, constantly encouraging the reader to reassess where their loyalties lie. The story also examines the intensity of teenage friendships and the lengths women will go to in order to protect one another. The quiet acceptance of each other’s flaws feels especially thoughtful and perceptive.
Overall, this is a gripping and constantly evolving novel. Like standing on shifting sand, the reader is never fully steady, and that lingering sense of uncertainty makes for an absorbing read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There's a reason why the actions of teenagers are given something of a free pass - since we all know that their immature nervous systems are capable of making some seriously bad decisions. Decisions that are better not revisited in adult life.
But that is exactly what happens when three friends who share a toxic secret from their teenage years gather for a get together to celebrate the wedding of one of the trio. Along with the expected heavy drinking, there are some unexpected risks taken, resulting in the kind of consequences that adults must face up to - even if their teenage selves were able to escape them years ago...
Entertaining, eventful, and with plenty to say about female friendship and shared secrets, this is an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But that is exactly what happens when three friends who share a toxic secret from their teenage years gather for a get together to celebrate the wedding of one of the trio. Along with the expected heavy drinking, there are some unexpected risks taken, resulting in the kind of consequences that adults must face up to - even if their teenage selves were able to escape them years ago...
Entertaining, eventful, and with plenty to say about female friendship and shared secrets, this is an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited to receive this proof, it's absolutely stunning! The Games We Play is an emotionally-charged thriller about Erin, Ali, and Sophie, three women whose close-knit childhood friendship has grown into a loyal but toxic adulthood. As Ali’s wedding to her teenage crush draws near, old grudges and long buried secrets begin to surface and the three find themselves fighting for – and with - each other. As their loyalties are tested, survival mode kicks in and the tension is stretched to breaking point. What secrets have they been keeping from each other? And will the truth destroy them or set them free?
This sharp and suspenseful thriller had me hooked from start to finish. It was a classy and compelling read, superbly written and terrifyingly relatabe. Hard to believe it's a debut. Claire Quinn is one to watch.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperNorth for the ARC.
This sharp and suspenseful thriller had me hooked from start to finish. It was a classy and compelling read, superbly written and terrifyingly relatabe. Hard to believe it's a debut. Claire Quinn is one to watch.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperNorth for the ARC.
June 29, 2026
✨4 stars✨
This was a twisty thriller following three friends in the present as they find out that the secrets they have been keeping since they were teenagers threaten to come to light. All three of the women felt distinct and real in the was they dealt with things in their pasts and their present.
This was the first book that I’ve read by this author and I found it incredibly engaging. I honestly didn’t know where this was going and I really liked that aspect.
There were a few parts that either made me cringe or like pause and think was that necessary to include and I think that the end wrapped up a bit abruptly for my liking, but overall I really liked this and would be interested in reading more by this author in the future!
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This was a twisty thriller following three friends in the present as they find out that the secrets they have been keeping since they were teenagers threaten to come to light. All three of the women felt distinct and real in the was they dealt with things in their pasts and their present.
This was the first book that I’ve read by this author and I found it incredibly engaging. I honestly didn’t know where this was going and I really liked that aspect.
There were a few parts that either made me cringe or like pause and think was that necessary to include and I think that the end wrapped up a bit abruptly for my liking, but overall I really liked this and would be interested in reading more by this author in the future!
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 4, 2026
The Games We Play
Claire Quinn
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Best friends Ali, Erin and Sophie have been friends since childhood. They know each other inside out, they also share a secret of an incident that happened fifteen years ago on their last night in Magaluf.
Ali and Dan are getting married and on a couples weekend away with Erin, Sophie and their partners, one last game results in a spanner thrown and someone knows the secret the girls have been hiding for so long.
This was fantastic!
Theres just enough background information to get a true feel of the bond and friendships the girls have. A dual timeline of then and now which I personally love.
I had no idea where this was going (in a good way) and the last one hundred pages were unputdownable, with twists and turns throughout the book that all tie in seamlessly.
Claire Quinn
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Best friends Ali, Erin and Sophie have been friends since childhood. They know each other inside out, they also share a secret of an incident that happened fifteen years ago on their last night in Magaluf.
Ali and Dan are getting married and on a couples weekend away with Erin, Sophie and their partners, one last game results in a spanner thrown and someone knows the secret the girls have been hiding for so long.
This was fantastic!
Theres just enough background information to get a true feel of the bond and friendships the girls have. A dual timeline of then and now which I personally love.
I had no idea where this was going (in a good way) and the last one hundred pages were unputdownable, with twists and turns throughout the book that all tie in seamlessly.
August 2, 2026
With Ali's wedding fast approaching, her friendship with Erin and Sophie is put under pressure when a twisted game from their past returns to haunt them. They have been bound together by a deadly secret and a vow to always protect each other, whatever the costs. During a weekend away, truths and secrets are revealed that could impact their lives and friendship for good.
Really enjoyed this debut novel. This twisty suspense novel is so fast paced you will struggle to put it down. Totally addictive and engaging from the first page. I loved the dual timelines and multiple POVs. With characters that you will love and hate at the same time. The story highlights the complexity of female friendship, the loyalty, trust, and the toxic elements too. Lots of plot twists to keep you on your toes. When you think you have it all figured out, you really haven't. Definitely add this to your TBR.
Really enjoyed this debut novel. This twisty suspense novel is so fast paced you will struggle to put it down. Totally addictive and engaging from the first page. I loved the dual timelines and multiple POVs. With characters that you will love and hate at the same time. The story highlights the complexity of female friendship, the loyalty, trust, and the toxic elements too. Lots of plot twists to keep you on your toes. When you think you have it all figured out, you really haven't. Definitely add this to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now that was a good book!! 4.5 ⭐️’s
Claire Quinn did not disappoint with this one, it well written and easy to read, and a great storyline!
3 best friends bound by a deadly secret and a wedding fast approaching what could possibly go wrong?
When the 3 friends meet up for a catch up weeks before the wedding, and with friendships strained Ali once again suggests one of her games to lighten the mood.
One of Ali’s games that 15 years earlier had ultimately lead to that fateful night in Magaluf.
Only this time it’s a game of truths. But what secrets will be shared? Will they still have each others backs??
I absolutely could not put this book down, it kept me hooked right until the very end! The very end I did not see coming!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
Claire Quinn did not disappoint with this one, it well written and easy to read, and a great storyline!
3 best friends bound by a deadly secret and a wedding fast approaching what could possibly go wrong?
When the 3 friends meet up for a catch up weeks before the wedding, and with friendships strained Ali once again suggests one of her games to lighten the mood.
One of Ali’s games that 15 years earlier had ultimately lead to that fateful night in Magaluf.
Only this time it’s a game of truths. But what secrets will be shared? Will they still have each others backs??
I absolutely could not put this book down, it kept me hooked right until the very end! The very end I did not see coming!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
July 23, 2026
What a gripping and addictive read! I was hooked from the start and found myself completely drawn into the story. Full of twists, secrets, and unexpected turns, this book kept me guessing throughout and had me constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
Claire Quinn has created a brilliantly twisty thriller with a great pace and plenty of suspense. The tension builds perfectly, making it one of those books you just have to keep reading because you need to know the truth.
A clever, captivating and unputdownable read that kept me hooked right until the final page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a page-turning thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Claire Quinn has created a brilliantly twisty thriller with a great pace and plenty of suspense. The tension builds perfectly, making it one of those books you just have to keep reading because you need to know the truth.
A clever, captivating and unputdownable read that kept me hooked right until the final page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a page-turning thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How far would you go to protect your friends?
The Games We Play follows Ali, Erin, and Sophie in both the present day and through flashbacks to their teenage years. Their friendship has been shaped by a secret they've kept hidden for years, but with Ali's wedding fast approaching, that secret is suddenly at risk of being exposed.
What follows is a gripping, suspenseful story about friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of the past. The dual timeline kept me invested, and the suspense had me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. This was a great thriller that I didn't want to put down.
The Games We Play follows Ali, Erin, and Sophie in both the present day and through flashbacks to their teenage years. Their friendship has been shaped by a secret they've kept hidden for years, but with Ali's wedding fast approaching, that secret is suddenly at risk of being exposed.
What follows is a gripping, suspenseful story about friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of the past. The dual timeline kept me invested, and the suspense had me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. This was a great thriller that I didn't want to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Character driven and thought provoking. One secret keeping you chained to old friendships. I enjoyed reading this book. The main FMC’s. Their personalities each being different but formed together via trauma. It makes me question. How friendships can be formed this way? How trauma can shape a person? I liked the edginess to the plot. An innocent getaway from the outside. But as we dived deep into the story, a can of worms eager waiting to be set free. Toxic friendships, childish behaviours and that feeling of always having to look over your shoulder. I did feel somewhere in the middle. There was a dip in the flow of the book. Felt rushed in some places to tie up character plots.
August 4, 2026
I'm a tough critic of this genre, with more books than ever being thick with predictability, thin in true suspense. Well, not this time. I had to force myself to stop reading and get some sleep. The characters are fully realized, the plot is paced perfectly, and the story line may go deeper in meaning for some readers who may have had certain experiences in their formative younger years. Above all, these three best friends are believable. They are flawed and complicated, and their friendship is pure at heart. I found myself genuinely caring about their lives as the story unfolded. What a treat!
August 5, 2026
Claire Quinn has crafted an intricate web of individuals, friendships, relationships, plots, lies, and truths.
The characters Claire has created have an incredible balance of depth, strength, and fragility - it is a fine art to have created characters who have the full range of human characteristics - they are superb and yet flawed in their own unique ways and their relationships with each other are an honest reflection of the realities of friendship.
The imagery is vivid and enticing and the story is full of twists and turns which will leave you desperate to know how the lives of these characters will unfold - I couldn’t put this book down!
The characters Claire has created have an incredible balance of depth, strength, and fragility - it is a fine art to have created characters who have the full range of human characteristics - they are superb and yet flawed in their own unique ways and their relationships with each other are an honest reflection of the realities of friendship.
The imagery is vivid and enticing and the story is full of twists and turns which will leave you desperate to know how the lives of these characters will unfold - I couldn’t put this book down!
August 9, 2026
I really enjoyed The Games We Play. I loved the different points of view and the way the story moved between different time periods and ages, gradually revealing what had happened. The twists and turns kept me guessing and made it a really compelling read.
I particularly enjoyed the focus on female friendship and how the relationships evolved over the years. There was also a lovely sense of nostalgia running throughout the book, which added another dimension to the story.
A clever, engaging story with great characters, plenty of surprises and a brilliant exploration of friendship. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
August 8, 2026
This book is described as addictive, and boy it really is! I've been carrying the paperback around with everywhere I go just to be able to read another chapter. It follows three friends who carry a deadly secret. The characters are so relatable and well drawn out; I was fully invested in all their stories. I also loved the jump back in time to when the three girls were growing up together so we could discover their backstories. I didn't see the ending coming and I was 100% gripped all the way through. I can't believe this is Quinn's debut and I'm so excited for what's to come next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely FLEW through this and wow, I loved every second. Fierce female characters, loyal friendships, buried secrets and plenty of twists and turns.
I really loved the dual timelines, it really helped shape the characters for me and build the tension for the twists. I would 100% read more from this author and I feel very privaleged to have been accepted to read this. If you enjoy fast paced, twist, muder mustery-type thrillers, you are going to want this on your TBR!
I really loved the dual timelines, it really helped shape the characters for me and build the tension for the twists. I would 100% read more from this author and I feel very privaleged to have been accepted to read this. If you enjoy fast paced, twist, muder mustery-type thrillers, you are going to want this on your TBR!
July 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Absolutely incredible read written brilliantly, I struggled to put it down. The plot was enticing and each character was memorable with such depth. The multiple timelines and each of the girls POV was really easy to follow along with and kept the story interesting as well as a few twists and lots of suspense!
Really easy enjoyable read! 5⭐️
Absolutely incredible read written brilliantly, I struggled to put it down. The plot was enticing and each character was memorable with such depth. The multiple timelines and each of the girls POV was really easy to follow along with and kept the story interesting as well as a few twists and lots of suspense!
Really easy enjoyable read! 5⭐️
August 1, 2026
A superb read which kept me gripped throughout. It is an extremely well written, emotionally charged and compelling thriller.
The Games We Play explores the complexities, power and loyalties of friendship and the dangerous consequences of long buried secrets and games from the past.
It is fast paced, suspenseful and totally addictive and it kept me guessing until the very end. A thoroughly engaging novel and outstanding read. I can’t recommend it enough.
The Games We Play explores the complexities, power and loyalties of friendship and the dangerous consequences of long buried secrets and games from the past.
It is fast paced, suspenseful and totally addictive and it kept me guessing until the very end. A thoroughly engaging novel and outstanding read. I can’t recommend it enough.
August 5, 2026
I was gripped from the very first page. This is a genuine page-turner - the kind of book where you keep telling yourself "just one more chapter" and then suddenly it's 1am!
You quickly find yourself completely invested in the three friends, their choices, their secrets, and how their stories weave together. I didn't want the book to end, but at the same time I couldn't stop turning pages because I had to find out how it all resolved.
A brilliant, addictive read - highly recommended.
You quickly find yourself completely invested in the three friends, their choices, their secrets, and how their stories weave together. I didn't want the book to end, but at the same time I couldn't stop turning pages because I had to find out how it all resolved.
A brilliant, addictive read - highly recommended.
August 9, 2026
A truly fantastic read, packed with emotion and suspense from start to finish. Claire has created a unique blend of wonderfully relatable, authentic characters and brought them together in a storyline that is pacy, gripping and thrilling. Full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I cannot recommend this fantastic debut novel enough and can’t wait to see what Claire writes next!
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