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You Girls Play Nice
A chilling "Good for Her" revenge thriller that paints a searing picture of friendship, justice, and vengeance, and will leave you how far would you go to avenge your friend? Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and The Butcher Game.
Four friends. Four plans for revenge. One secret killer.
When Helen Wyatt is brutally murdered, her four best friends anxiously wait in the courtroom to ensure justice is served. But when her attacker is acquitted of all charges, the women plot revenge.
Hypothetically, of course.
The friends host a girl’s night, each presenting a different way they would kill the culprit to avenge Helen. It's nothing more than a cathartic exercise—or so they think.
A week later, a murder is discovered that mirrors one of their imagined killings. Then another. What started as a way to ease their grief soon ends in carnage, with suspicion quickly falling on the four friends.
Someone knows their secrets. And now, the women will have to hunt down who is framing them for murder. Or, even more chillingly, question who among them may be capable of being a killer themselves…
Four friends. Four plans for revenge. One secret killer.
When Helen Wyatt is brutally murdered, her four best friends anxiously wait in the courtroom to ensure justice is served. But when her attacker is acquitted of all charges, the women plot revenge.
Hypothetically, of course.
The friends host a girl’s night, each presenting a different way they would kill the culprit to avenge Helen. It's nothing more than a cathartic exercise—or so they think.
A week later, a murder is discovered that mirrors one of their imagined killings. Then another. What started as a way to ease their grief soon ends in carnage, with suspicion quickly falling on the four friends.
Someone knows their secrets. And now, the women will have to hunt down who is framing them for murder. Or, even more chillingly, question who among them may be capable of being a killer themselves…
Audible Audio
First published June 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
August 6, 2026
I really enjoyed this novel! You Girls Play Nice by K.D Aldyn is a revenge type thriller with a very creative storyline. With multiple POVs, this story reveals a great mystery and I loved it!
With strong characters and sharp writing, this slow burn thriller hits the sweet spot when four best friends gather to share different ways they might carry out a revenge killing on the man who brutally killed their fifth best friend, Helen.
Fast forward, just weeks after the first fantasy killing is revealed, they find out that their fantasies are actually being carried out and people are being murdered. Questions flood their minds…. Who is doing this? How could they know? A bittersweet novel with twists you didn’t see coming.😳
👉Of all the point of views, which was my favorite? Well Helen’s, of course. Yes! Helen, the dead best friend! I love how she shares all her feelings and emotions about her death and about her friends. She was my favorite! ❤️
This was a very fun and suspenseful read, one with likable characters and a twisty plot. I would definitely recommend this novel! A 3.5 star book.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC kindle version, in exchange for my candid thoughts and honest review.
With strong characters and sharp writing, this slow burn thriller hits the sweet spot when four best friends gather to share different ways they might carry out a revenge killing on the man who brutally killed their fifth best friend, Helen.
Fast forward, just weeks after the first fantasy killing is revealed, they find out that their fantasies are actually being carried out and people are being murdered. Questions flood their minds…. Who is doing this? How could they know? A bittersweet novel with twists you didn’t see coming.😳
👉Of all the point of views, which was my favorite? Well Helen’s, of course. Yes! Helen, the dead best friend! I love how she shares all her feelings and emotions about her death and about her friends. She was my favorite! ❤️
This was a very fun and suspenseful read, one with likable characters and a twisty plot. I would definitely recommend this novel! A 3.5 star book.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC kindle version, in exchange for my candid thoughts and honest review.
March 29, 2026
3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Listen. 🗣️ I am a simple girl. You show me a cover with a bloody Barbie doll 👱♀️🩸 and ransom-style letters, and I am going to aggressively smash that request button. 💥👆
The premise sounded like an absolute top-tier, unhinged thriller. 🔪 Four friends get together 👯♀️👯♀️ and plot hypothetical revenge against the guy who murdered their best friend and walked free... only for those exact murders to actually start happening. 😳 It gave me major Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart vibes (which was a 5-star masterpiece for me last year 🏆), so my hopes were SKY HIGH. ☁️✨But the execution? 📉 It just didn't get there. 🫠
Here is where I struggled:
🎭 POV Roulette: Every. Single. Chapter. was a game of "Guess Who." 🕵️♀️ You had to read the first few sentences just to figure out whose head you were in. As a reader? Absolutely not. 🚫 Just give me a name at the top of the chapter! 📖😤
👵 The Voices: These girls are supposed to be 30 (like me! 🙋♀️), but the verbiage had them sounding like they were in their 50s. The disconnect was so real, and I found myself genuinely struggling to stay immersed. 🥱
🔀 The Plot: It just felt so random in places, and that "shadow man" ending? 👤 Completely out of left field. ⚾️🤨
Was it the worst thriller I've ever read? No. 🤷♀️
Was it the best? Also no. 🙅♀️
Final verdict: It’s a solid, middle-of-the-road 3 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Come for the bloody Barbie vibes 🩸🎀, but keep your expectations in check. 📉
Huge thank you to KD Aldyn, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for sending this eARC to my Kindle in exchange for my honest review! 🫶💖📚
Listen. 🗣️ I am a simple girl. You show me a cover with a bloody Barbie doll 👱♀️🩸 and ransom-style letters, and I am going to aggressively smash that request button. 💥👆
The premise sounded like an absolute top-tier, unhinged thriller. 🔪 Four friends get together 👯♀️👯♀️ and plot hypothetical revenge against the guy who murdered their best friend and walked free... only for those exact murders to actually start happening. 😳 It gave me major Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart vibes (which was a 5-star masterpiece for me last year 🏆), so my hopes were SKY HIGH. ☁️✨But the execution? 📉 It just didn't get there. 🫠
Here is where I struggled:
🎭 POV Roulette: Every. Single. Chapter. was a game of "Guess Who." 🕵️♀️ You had to read the first few sentences just to figure out whose head you were in. As a reader? Absolutely not. 🚫 Just give me a name at the top of the chapter! 📖😤
👵 The Voices: These girls are supposed to be 30 (like me! 🙋♀️), but the verbiage had them sounding like they were in their 50s. The disconnect was so real, and I found myself genuinely struggling to stay immersed. 🥱
🔀 The Plot: It just felt so random in places, and that "shadow man" ending? 👤 Completely out of left field. ⚾️🤨
Was it the worst thriller I've ever read? No. 🤷♀️
Was it the best? Also no. 🙅♀️
Final verdict: It’s a solid, middle-of-the-road 3 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Come for the bloody Barbie vibes 🩸🎀, but keep your expectations in check. 📉
Huge thank you to KD Aldyn, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for sending this eARC to my Kindle in exchange for my honest review! 🫶💖📚
July 15, 2026
《3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️》
After their best friend Helen Wyatt is murdered and her killer walks free, four women gather for a wine-soaked girls night to vent their rage the only way grief knows how. By imagining revenge. Each comes up with a different way they'd kill the man who escaped justice. It's only fantasy... until those exact murders start happening. As bodies pile up and their what-if plans become chilling reality, paranoia slithers into their friendship. Someone knows what they said. Someone is acting on it. And the deeper they dig, the more they realize grief, loyalty and vengeance can be just as deadly as the killer in the shadows.
This one had me locked in with the premise alone! Four women drunkenly plotting how they'd kill Helen's killer, and then those exact murderers start happening? That's the kind of setup that screams my name. And honestly, it was a pretty good time for the most part. Messy women, bad decisions, paranoia cranked up to 11. But for me it never fully hit the level of chaos I wanted. The tension was there, but some parts either felt too thin or too predictable. Still, it's bingeable and full of feminine rage and toxic friendship drama. Not a new favorite but definitely a thriller worth looking into!
Thank you to NetGalley, KD Aldyn, and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC!
After their best friend Helen Wyatt is murdered and her killer walks free, four women gather for a wine-soaked girls night to vent their rage the only way grief knows how. By imagining revenge. Each comes up with a different way they'd kill the man who escaped justice. It's only fantasy... until those exact murders start happening. As bodies pile up and their what-if plans become chilling reality, paranoia slithers into their friendship. Someone knows what they said. Someone is acting on it. And the deeper they dig, the more they realize grief, loyalty and vengeance can be just as deadly as the killer in the shadows.
This one had me locked in with the premise alone! Four women drunkenly plotting how they'd kill Helen's killer, and then those exact murderers start happening? That's the kind of setup that screams my name. And honestly, it was a pretty good time for the most part. Messy women, bad decisions, paranoia cranked up to 11. But for me it never fully hit the level of chaos I wanted. The tension was there, but some parts either felt too thin or too predictable. Still, it's bingeable and full of feminine rage and toxic friendship drama. Not a new favorite but definitely a thriller worth looking into!
Thank you to NetGalley, KD Aldyn, and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC!
August 18, 2026
Here's the deal, I love a "good for her" moment. Any time a woman seeks out revenge for a wrong doing, I'm there. I'm on the sidelines with my pom-poms cheering them on.
In theory, this idea should have been really exciting and my exact cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, some parts were but the full execution was just not quite there.
Grateful for the ARC and the opportunity to review.
In theory, this idea should have been really exciting and my exact cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, some parts were but the full execution was just not quite there.
Grateful for the ARC and the opportunity to review.
Did Not Finish
July 20, 2026No rating for this one on account of having to DNF this one...just could not get into the characters and the execution of/and the plot just isn't capturing my attention, after 125 pages.
June 17, 2026
This one ended up being a total miss for me. The premise sounded really great and the cover and title drew me in but as I kept reading I quickly lost interest. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and I was just bored throughout the whole thing.
Just because this was a miss for me doesn’t mean it will be a miss for you! It just was not for me.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Just because this was a miss for me doesn’t mean it will be a miss for you! It just was not for me.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 20, 2026
3.5 🌟
“Yeah, but in real life, a story like that ends with the woman dead.” (Ch 26)
Psychological Thriller | Friendship | Hypothetical Revenge | Murder Mystery | Killer Among Them
The four (er five...) main characters all seemed to have somewhat distinctive personalities.
The book is mostly written in third-person POV, which I have no problems with, but then it would switch to first-person POV. The dead friend's POV, so then it was like, ok, the ghost is a part of this? I've read stories and seen movies where the ghost has a POV, but it's usually worked in from the beginning or seamlessly. It was hard to tell from the beginning what angle that interjection would play.
'Death affords us an esteem that living most often fails to deliver.' (Ch 14)
Her friends, on the other hand, aren't just throwing out bs ways to murder the murderer while getting drunk off their butts... no, they cook up well-thought-out presentations. Which is cool, albiet a bit macabre.
“Behold the beautiful black rose, in this case symbolizing death.” (Ch 41)
For an event that should have brought the friends closer together, secrets — old and new — seemed to stand between them.
'The unease settled between them like a hive of hibernating bees.' (Ch 48)
Unfortunately, this one didn't capture my undivided attention, push my mental boundaries, or blow my mind like other psychological thrillers I've read. I did like the premise of the book, which prompted me to read it, and the twist was good, but I just felt there was something missing in the writing. Maybe it needed more indepth descriptions. It was a little flat. There were also parts where it was just so confusing. Discombobulated.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks
“Yeah, but in real life, a story like that ends with the woman dead.” (Ch 26)
Psychological Thriller | Friendship | Hypothetical Revenge | Murder Mystery | Killer Among Them
The four (er five...) main characters all seemed to have somewhat distinctive personalities.
The book is mostly written in third-person POV, which I have no problems with, but then it would switch to first-person POV. The dead friend's POV, so then it was like, ok, the ghost is a part of this? I've read stories and seen movies where the ghost has a POV, but it's usually worked in from the beginning or seamlessly. It was hard to tell from the beginning what angle that interjection would play.
'Death affords us an esteem that living most often fails to deliver.' (Ch 14)
Her friends, on the other hand, aren't just throwing out bs ways to murder the murderer while getting drunk off their butts... no, they cook up well-thought-out presentations. Which is cool, albiet a bit macabre.
“Behold the beautiful black rose, in this case symbolizing death.” (Ch 41)
For an event that should have brought the friends closer together, secrets — old and new — seemed to stand between them.
'The unease settled between them like a hive of hibernating bees.' (Ch 48)
Unfortunately, this one didn't capture my undivided attention, push my mental boundaries, or blow my mind like other psychological thrillers I've read. I did like the premise of the book, which prompted me to read it, and the twist was good, but I just felt there was something missing in the writing. Maybe it needed more indepth descriptions. It was a little flat. There were also parts where it was just so confusing. Discombobulated.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks
August 30, 2026
3.5 Stars
It was good in a "girls getting together and kicking ass in the name of revenge" kind of way but a bit of a stretch to be sure.
There was a satisfaction in women planning the worst way they would take someone out and then seeing it come to fruition. However, I wished the girls were a little more likable because I wasn't rooting for them as much as I wanted to.
I was kind of expecting the twist at the end to some extent.
Fun read.
It was good in a "girls getting together and kicking ass in the name of revenge" kind of way but a bit of a stretch to be sure.
There was a satisfaction in women planning the worst way they would take someone out and then seeing it come to fruition. However, I wished the girls were a little more likable because I wasn't rooting for them as much as I wanted to.
I was kind of expecting the twist at the end to some extent.
Fun read.
July 13, 2026
4⭐️ - This was a really fun read!
It starts with a brutal injustice. Helen Wyatt has been murdered and the man everyone believes did it, Damien, walks free. He’s rich, well-connected and very obviously protected by a system that was never going to hold him accountable. Helen’s four best friends are left furious, heartbroken and completely drowning in rage.
During their wine-fuelled girl’s nights, they cope the only way they can: by joking about how they’d get revenge. Hypothetical murder plots, dramatic and ridiculously specific, just something to say out loud so they can feel better for five minutes. And then men start turning up dead in the exact ways they described.
Everyone is suspicious, everyone is hiding something and friendships start to crack under the pressure of grief, guilt, jealousy, fear and years of resentment that were clearly waiting for the right moment to explode. These women love each other deeply, but they also judge each other, compete with each other, resent each other and keep secrets like it’s a full-time job. It has that addictive toxic female friendship energy where everyone is smiling while secretly ruining each other's lives.
The pacing absolutely flies once the bodies start piling up. Short chapters, multiple POVs, constant suspicion and just enough little reveals to keep you second-guessing everyone. I changed my mind every few chapters about who I trusted, which is exactly what I want from a thriller like this. The murder methods were also so creative and unusual that it gave the whole book a thriller-meets-slasher feel.
This is a story about grief and what happens when justice fails. It asks some uncomfortable questions about revenge, loyalty and how far you’d go for the people you love. Is it still revenge if it feels like justice?
If you love feminine rage, toxic friendships and books where everyone needs therapy, this one is such a fun time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
It starts with a brutal injustice. Helen Wyatt has been murdered and the man everyone believes did it, Damien, walks free. He’s rich, well-connected and very obviously protected by a system that was never going to hold him accountable. Helen’s four best friends are left furious, heartbroken and completely drowning in rage.
During their wine-fuelled girl’s nights, they cope the only way they can: by joking about how they’d get revenge. Hypothetical murder plots, dramatic and ridiculously specific, just something to say out loud so they can feel better for five minutes. And then men start turning up dead in the exact ways they described.
Everyone is suspicious, everyone is hiding something and friendships start to crack under the pressure of grief, guilt, jealousy, fear and years of resentment that were clearly waiting for the right moment to explode. These women love each other deeply, but they also judge each other, compete with each other, resent each other and keep secrets like it’s a full-time job. It has that addictive toxic female friendship energy where everyone is smiling while secretly ruining each other's lives.
The pacing absolutely flies once the bodies start piling up. Short chapters, multiple POVs, constant suspicion and just enough little reveals to keep you second-guessing everyone. I changed my mind every few chapters about who I trusted, which is exactly what I want from a thriller like this. The murder methods were also so creative and unusual that it gave the whole book a thriller-meets-slasher feel.
This is a story about grief and what happens when justice fails. It asks some uncomfortable questions about revenge, loyalty and how far you’d go for the people you love. Is it still revenge if it feels like justice?
If you love feminine rage, toxic friendships and books where everyone needs therapy, this one is such a fun time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
June 6, 2026
I was definitely super excited by the description of this book and sadly, it just fell flat for me. I enjoyed the concept of the book and the mystery of unraveling everything. I think the main problem I had with this book is the execution of it. It felt clunky at times and I do love multiple POVs but this just felt like a lot and it was confusing at times who it was. Even though the chapters were short, I still felt like it dragged on. I also just didn’t connect with any of the characters nor really liked them, which made it harder to like the book. I do love a good for her story but I don’t know, there was just something with this one that didn’t work for me.
Overall, even though this book didn’t work for me, I would still give it a shot if you enjoy revenge stories, multiple POVs, and mysteries with multiple layers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Overall, even though this book didn’t work for me, I would still give it a shot if you enjoy revenge stories, multiple POVs, and mysteries with multiple layers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
June 28, 2026
1st off, I would like to thank you to @poisonedpenpress and the author for mailing me a ARC of this book. This was such a fun, suspenseful read! The story kept me guessing, and I loved that I never knew who I could trust. The tension built at just the right pace, and there were several twists that caught me off guard. The characters all had their own secrets, which made them interesting and kept me invested in finding out what would happen next. While there were a couple of moments where I wanted a little more depth, I still really enjoyed the overall story and had a hard time putting it down. If you’re a fan of fast-paced thrillers with plenty of suspense and unexpected twists, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try! Happy reading, friends.
July 17, 2026
Bored throughout the middle, ending made it a 3 star read.
February 26, 2026
3.75 🌟 The premise for this book really hooked me. Four friends who are out to avenge the death of their friend. It started off a bit slow for me. It took time to figure out who was who, and then later who did what. It did come together in enjoyable way. I was proud of the women. This is a revenge served up nice and hot.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.
June 13, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY:
I have three major issues with this book:
- the plot & writing were executed poorly
- racism and the lack of cultural awareness & tokenistic sprinkles of representation
- I didn’t care for the characters
The good things:
- an interesting premise
- there was some level of intrigue towards the end of the book leading up to a couple of major reveals.
Plot issues:
The premise of this book was very interesting (which was why I requested it) but the execution fell flat. I was bored for most of the book. I felt like the plot was predictable and for a large chunk of the book, the reader knows more than each of the characters because there were way too many POVs. I really thought having the Detective’s POV was unnecessary. It felt like she knew the least out of all the characters (aside from her knowledge of the crime scenes, but even that was narrated to us when the crimes actually occurred from other POVs). Due to this, I wasn’t super hooked and it was obvious who was behind each of the various murders. The reveal of The Shadow at the end was surprising, but not Earth-shattering. The reveal of The Prince was super obvious.
Characterisation:
These characters were awful. They were awful to each other (especially Sue and Jackie) and not likeable as people in general. I could provide a laundry list of things I didn’t like about them (from the way the friends speak to each other to the way they keep major secrets from one another) but I think the main issue was the reader isn’t made to care for the characters. The constantly shifting POVs and feeble attempts at building backstories didn’t do it for me. The only one I really liked was Willow (and Helen, who’s dead). From fat-shaming one another to sleeping with each other’s boyfriends, I don’t see these four friends as tight knit at all which is sort of meant to be the foundation for the story. They turn on each other as quick as lightning, suspecting one another of murder so swiftly.
Racism and Cultural insensitivity:
I cannot believe this description of a notably Arab man passed the editorial teams at Penguin and Poisoned Pen Press:
“Detective Abbas was a reasonably good-looking man, albeit one whose nose dominated his whole face, diminishing the other features, so it was difficult to get a true sense of him.”
Then there’s some vague reference to an “Asian festival” where there was “lion dancing” and “Thai food” - discounting the fact that Asia is a HUGE continent with many cultures and traditions. Some specificity wouldn’t have killed the author. Or she could have just left it out if she couldn’t be bothered doing her research.
Then a minor error that I initially let slide was the fact that there’s a side character, Ravi who works as a translator for a Bollywood celebrity even though Bollywood celebrities don’t need English translators and English is one of India’s main national languages that is learnt in schools. I chalked this one up to ignorance but the three examples added up to sloppy work at best and racism at worst (the Detective Abbas example is such an unnecessary and demeaning jab).
I have three major issues with this book:
- the plot & writing were executed poorly
- racism and the lack of cultural awareness & tokenistic sprinkles of representation
- I didn’t care for the characters
The good things:
- an interesting premise
- there was some level of intrigue towards the end of the book leading up to a couple of major reveals.
Plot issues:
The premise of this book was very interesting (which was why I requested it) but the execution fell flat. I was bored for most of the book. I felt like the plot was predictable and for a large chunk of the book, the reader knows more than each of the characters because there were way too many POVs. I really thought having the Detective’s POV was unnecessary. It felt like she knew the least out of all the characters (aside from her knowledge of the crime scenes, but even that was narrated to us when the crimes actually occurred from other POVs). Due to this, I wasn’t super hooked and it was obvious who was behind each of the various murders. The reveal of The Shadow at the end was surprising, but not Earth-shattering. The reveal of The Prince was super obvious.
Characterisation:
These characters were awful. They were awful to each other (especially Sue and Jackie) and not likeable as people in general. I could provide a laundry list of things I didn’t like about them (from the way the friends speak to each other to the way they keep major secrets from one another) but I think the main issue was the reader isn’t made to care for the characters. The constantly shifting POVs and feeble attempts at building backstories didn’t do it for me. The only one I really liked was Willow (and Helen, who’s dead). From fat-shaming one another to sleeping with each other’s boyfriends, I don’t see these four friends as tight knit at all which is sort of meant to be the foundation for the story. They turn on each other as quick as lightning, suspecting one another of murder so swiftly.
Racism and Cultural insensitivity:
I cannot believe this description of a notably Arab man passed the editorial teams at Penguin and Poisoned Pen Press:
“Detective Abbas was a reasonably good-looking man, albeit one whose nose dominated his whole face, diminishing the other features, so it was difficult to get a true sense of him.”
Then there’s some vague reference to an “Asian festival” where there was “lion dancing” and “Thai food” - discounting the fact that Asia is a HUGE continent with many cultures and traditions. Some specificity wouldn’t have killed the author. Or she could have just left it out if she couldn’t be bothered doing her research.
Then a minor error that I initially let slide was the fact that there’s a side character, Ravi who works as a translator for a Bollywood celebrity even though Bollywood celebrities don’t need English translators and English is one of India’s main national languages that is learnt in schools. I chalked this one up to ignorance but the three examples added up to sloppy work at best and racism at worst (the Detective Abbas example is such an unnecessary and demeaning jab).
June 19, 2026
tt: @theaarontodd | ig: @aarontoddreads
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
You Girls Play Nice x K.D. Aldyn
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Do I Recommend?: Yes, if you like dark revenge thrillers, complex friend groups, and “good for her” stories with a murder investigation.
Format: ARC, thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press!
📄 Page #: 368
⭐️ Star Rating: 3.25
🔪 AT Intensity Rating: 3
Quick Plot Points:
• Four friends grieving the murder of their best friend
• An acquittal that pushes them toward revenge
• A girls’ night where hypothetical murder plans are shared
• Real murders that start mirroring those imagined plans
• A dark investigation full of suspicion, secrets, and blame
One-Sentence Take:
A dark revenge thriller with a great premise, a strong opening, a slower early stretch, and a much better final 50–60% once the investigation kicked in.
Review:
This had a really strong opening and a premise that immediately pulled me in. Four friends, one BRUTAL loss, and a revenge game that stops feeling hypothetical very quickly? Absolutely.
That said, the 30% or so after the opening didn’t feel as well-plotted as I wanted it to. I liked the setup, but the story lost momentum (for me) before it really found its footing.
Once the investigation kicked in, though, the final 50–60% was much stronger. The pacing picked up, the suspicion between the women became more interesting, and the revenge thriller elements started working a lot better for me. I came to like the characters and found the complexities of their friendships to be really compelling.
Overall, this was dramatic, dark, and violent enough to earn a 3 on my intensity scale. Definitely entertaining once it got moving. You will absolutely be shouting “good for her!”
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
You Girls Play Nice x K.D. Aldyn
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Do I Recommend?: Yes, if you like dark revenge thrillers, complex friend groups, and “good for her” stories with a murder investigation.
Format: ARC, thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press!
📄 Page #: 368
⭐️ Star Rating: 3.25
🔪 AT Intensity Rating: 3
Quick Plot Points:
• Four friends grieving the murder of their best friend
• An acquittal that pushes them toward revenge
• A girls’ night where hypothetical murder plans are shared
• Real murders that start mirroring those imagined plans
• A dark investigation full of suspicion, secrets, and blame
One-Sentence Take:
A dark revenge thriller with a great premise, a strong opening, a slower early stretch, and a much better final 50–60% once the investigation kicked in.
Review:
This had a really strong opening and a premise that immediately pulled me in. Four friends, one BRUTAL loss, and a revenge game that stops feeling hypothetical very quickly? Absolutely.
That said, the 30% or so after the opening didn’t feel as well-plotted as I wanted it to. I liked the setup, but the story lost momentum (for me) before it really found its footing.
Once the investigation kicked in, though, the final 50–60% was much stronger. The pacing picked up, the suspicion between the women became more interesting, and the revenge thriller elements started working a lot better for me. I came to like the characters and found the complexities of their friendships to be really compelling.
Overall, this was dramatic, dark, and violent enough to earn a 3 on my intensity scale. Definitely entertaining once it got moving. You will absolutely be shouting “good for her!”
June 6, 2026
⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars (ARC via NetGalley)
You Girls Play Nice had a great premise and a solid ending, but getting there took longer than I would have liked.
The story centers around four women seeking justice after their friend Helen Wyatt's murderer is acquitted. What begins as a hypothetical girls' night conversation about revenge quickly spirals into something far more dangerous when murders begin occurring that mirror their imagined scenarios. It's a setup that immediately caught my attention and promised a twisty, suspenseful ride.
Unfortunately, the pacing was a challenge for me.
For a thriller, the story starts out very slowly, and I struggled to stay fully invested through the first half. There’s a lot of setup, character background, and moving pieces to establish before the plot really begins to gain momentum. Around the midpoint, things finally start clicking into place and the tension increases significantly.
Once the story picked up, I found myself much more engaged. The mystery surrounding who was orchestrating the murders and whether one of the women could actually be involved, kept me turning the pages.
That said, the plot occasionally felt overly convoluted. Some of the reveals and explanations required a bit more suspension of disbelief than I prefer in a thriller, and there were moments where the logistics of certain events felt like a stretch.
Still, I appreciated the unique concept, the female friendships at the center of the story, and the way everything ultimately came together. The ending was satisfying and did a good job wrapping up the mystery.
Overall, this was an entertaining thriller with an intriguing premise, even if the pacing and complexity kept it from being a standout read for me.
Tropes & Themes:
• Female friendship group
• Revenge plot
• Murder mystery
• Framed for murder
• Multiple suspects
• Secrets & lies
• Vigilante justice
• Slow-burn thriller
• "One of us is the killer" tension
• Twisty ending
You Girls Play Nice had a great premise and a solid ending, but getting there took longer than I would have liked.
The story centers around four women seeking justice after their friend Helen Wyatt's murderer is acquitted. What begins as a hypothetical girls' night conversation about revenge quickly spirals into something far more dangerous when murders begin occurring that mirror their imagined scenarios. It's a setup that immediately caught my attention and promised a twisty, suspenseful ride.
Unfortunately, the pacing was a challenge for me.
For a thriller, the story starts out very slowly, and I struggled to stay fully invested through the first half. There’s a lot of setup, character background, and moving pieces to establish before the plot really begins to gain momentum. Around the midpoint, things finally start clicking into place and the tension increases significantly.
Once the story picked up, I found myself much more engaged. The mystery surrounding who was orchestrating the murders and whether one of the women could actually be involved, kept me turning the pages.
That said, the plot occasionally felt overly convoluted. Some of the reveals and explanations required a bit more suspension of disbelief than I prefer in a thriller, and there were moments where the logistics of certain events felt like a stretch.
Still, I appreciated the unique concept, the female friendships at the center of the story, and the way everything ultimately came together. The ending was satisfying and did a good job wrapping up the mystery.
Overall, this was an entertaining thriller with an intriguing premise, even if the pacing and complexity kept it from being a standout read for me.
Tropes & Themes:
• Female friendship group
• Revenge plot
• Murder mystery
• Framed for murder
• Multiple suspects
• Secrets & lies
• Vigilante justice
• Slow-burn thriller
• "One of us is the killer" tension
• Twisty ending
August 27, 2026
Thank you Sourcebooks Audio for the advanced listener copy of this new "Good for Her" thriller. I definitely recommend doing the audio for this one. From reading other reviews it sounds like the physical book jumps pov's without distinguishing which character you are following, but in the audio version this was not an issue because the characters have distinct voices.
I also recommend going into this blind. The description gives away a major plot point for the first half of the book. I can see this causing the first half to seem boring if you already know where it is leading. I did go in blind and found the entire book compelling and highly entertaining. There are many twists and turns in this book, some were predictable, but some were absolutely shocking.
This book does cover some difficult and darker topics so if you are the type of reader who needs trigger warnings please look into those prior to starting.
I also recommend going into this blind. The description gives away a major plot point for the first half of the book. I can see this causing the first half to seem boring if you already know where it is leading. I did go in blind and found the entire book compelling and highly entertaining. There are many twists and turns in this book, some were predictable, but some were absolutely shocking.
This book does cover some difficult and darker topics so if you are the type of reader who needs trigger warnings please look into those prior to starting.
May 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
You Girls Play Nice by K.D. Aldyn
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one… I just found hard to want to pick up. Maybe I’m in a reading slump, or maybe I just never felt fully pulled in by the characters. It had the tension, drama, and messiness that should have created the perfect storm for me, but I kept finding myself reading a couple pages and then putting it back down again. I just couldn’t stay fully engaged. 😑
The story is there though, and honestly I think a lot of people are going to eat this one up, so definitely don’t count it out because of my experience. When I step back and think about the book as a whole, I almost can’t pinpoint what was missing for me 🤷♀️because it is entertaining and packed with toxic dynamics that normally hook me right in.
You Girls Play Nice by K.D. Aldyn
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one… I just found hard to want to pick up. Maybe I’m in a reading slump, or maybe I just never felt fully pulled in by the characters. It had the tension, drama, and messiness that should have created the perfect storm for me, but I kept finding myself reading a couple pages and then putting it back down again. I just couldn’t stay fully engaged. 😑
The story is there though, and honestly I think a lot of people are going to eat this one up, so definitely don’t count it out because of my experience. When I step back and think about the book as a whole, I almost can’t pinpoint what was missing for me 🤷♀️because it is entertaining and packed with toxic dynamics that normally hook me right in.
July 31, 2026
This was a solid 3.5 for me. I loved the blurb Revenge, Friendships, Injustice so I was so excited to listen to this one. And I indeed did love all them aspects.
I will say this one isn’t your typical thriller it is very layered and has different POVs but honestly there were times I had to stop and rewind because I didn’t know whose POV it was. And that became a little bit of a struggle for me in this one. The premise was solid and I think if the switching POVs didn’t hang me up I probably would have been able to follow along better with this audiobook. I just wish the chapters had the persons name or something to let the listener or reader know whose pov that is. The twist and turns in this one was done well. The tension and pacing held pretty good most of the time but there were sometimes that I felt like the pacing slowed way down but did pick back up.
I will say this one isn’t your typical thriller it is very layered and has different POVs but honestly there were times I had to stop and rewind because I didn’t know whose POV it was. And that became a little bit of a struggle for me in this one. The premise was solid and I think if the switching POVs didn’t hang me up I probably would have been able to follow along better with this audiobook. I just wish the chapters had the persons name or something to let the listener or reader know whose pov that is. The twist and turns in this one was done well. The tension and pacing held pretty good most of the time but there were sometimes that I felt like the pacing slowed way down but did pick back up.
June 24, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
When revenge turns inward
Four friends bound by loss, loyalty, and an unspoken hunger for justice find themselves trapped in a psychological spiral that never loosens its grip. In 'You Girls Play Nice', K.D. Aldyn builds a tense atmosphere where grief slowly mutates into something far more volatile.
What begins as a private act of catharsis during a girls night quickly evolves into a chilling chain of events that blurs imagination and reality. The strength of the story lies in its shifting suspicion. Every friend becomes both victim and possible culprit, and the emotional pressure inside the group tightens with every new murder that mirrors their shared fantasies.
The courtroom aftermath sets the tone for a story driven by injustice and moral unraveling, where the need for control replaces reason. As secrets surface and trust fractures, the narrative leans heavily into psychological tension, asking not only who is responsible, but what grief is capable of creating when it is left to ferment unchecked.
The pacing steadily escalates, drawing the reader deeper into paranoia and doubt until the final pages refuse to offer easy certainty.
female friendship under pressure | revenge gone wrong | copycat killings | framed for murder | psychological thriller | friend group under suspicion | paranoia | grief driven actions
When revenge turns inward
Four friends bound by loss, loyalty, and an unspoken hunger for justice find themselves trapped in a psychological spiral that never loosens its grip. In 'You Girls Play Nice', K.D. Aldyn builds a tense atmosphere where grief slowly mutates into something far more volatile.
What begins as a private act of catharsis during a girls night quickly evolves into a chilling chain of events that blurs imagination and reality. The strength of the story lies in its shifting suspicion. Every friend becomes both victim and possible culprit, and the emotional pressure inside the group tightens with every new murder that mirrors their shared fantasies.
The courtroom aftermath sets the tone for a story driven by injustice and moral unraveling, where the need for control replaces reason. As secrets surface and trust fractures, the narrative leans heavily into psychological tension, asking not only who is responsible, but what grief is capable of creating when it is left to ferment unchecked.
The pacing steadily escalates, drawing the reader deeper into paranoia and doubt until the final pages refuse to offer easy certainty.
female friendship under pressure | revenge gone wrong | copycat killings | framed for murder | psychological thriller | friend group under suspicion | paranoia | grief driven actions
August 8, 2026
Who hasn’t fantasied about offing someone and getting away with it?
I liked the premise of the plot but the narrative dragged for me.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
Thanks Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.
I liked the premise of the plot but the narrative dragged for me.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters.
Thanks Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.
August 27, 2026
ALC from sourcebooks audio
This one kept me guessing the ENTIRE time! Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was soooo wrong.
It was messy, twisty, full of feminine rage, toxic friendships, and drama—and I loved every minute of it!
And hats off to narrator Kathryn Clark. You absolutely KILLED it!
This one kept me guessing the ENTIRE time! Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was soooo wrong.
It was messy, twisty, full of feminine rage, toxic friendships, and drama—and I loved every minute of it!
And hats off to narrator Kathryn Clark. You absolutely KILLED it!
August 8, 2026
Thank you, Sourcebook Audio for the ALC access!
The story revolves around female revenge, four friends fighting for proof in the torture and murder of their best friend. The plot is interesting but the execution was lacking.
I wasn't able to feel connected to any of the characters. I also did not love the chapters told by Helen's ghost.
The narrator did a great job.
3.5 stars.
The story revolves around female revenge, four friends fighting for proof in the torture and murder of their best friend. The plot is interesting but the execution was lacking.
I wasn't able to feel connected to any of the characters. I also did not love the chapters told by Helen's ghost.
The narrator did a great job.
3.5 stars.
March 12, 2026
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and netgalley for the e-arc!
I enjoyed this one immensely, but I almost wish the girls were a bit more sinister and that the Barbie doll on the cover played a bigger role.
Things I loved: a close group of girlfriends that have supported each other for decades. I appreciate the down to earth nature of their relationships. They all experience pettiness, jealousy, even rudeness/cruelty; but they work through it and maintain those deep friendships. This adds a level of reality to the characters that some gal pal thillers lack. The plot is original and creative: starting off with the friends designing and then presenting their own killings of a man they believe to have murdered their best friend. This sounds like constructive therapy to me!
Tensions start to rise when these precise hypothetical killings turn into real life murders. The similar details are uncanny and have all four women anxious. Something isn’t adding up though and the friends are tired of letting the law handle things.
This books was enjoyable, while a bit predictable for me I still had a great time. The plot was executed well and the little twists at the end just had me asking for one more chapter.
I enjoyed this one immensely, but I almost wish the girls were a bit more sinister and that the Barbie doll on the cover played a bigger role.
Things I loved: a close group of girlfriends that have supported each other for decades. I appreciate the down to earth nature of their relationships. They all experience pettiness, jealousy, even rudeness/cruelty; but they work through it and maintain those deep friendships. This adds a level of reality to the characters that some gal pal thillers lack. The plot is original and creative: starting off with the friends designing and then presenting their own killings of a man they believe to have murdered their best friend. This sounds like constructive therapy to me!
Tensions start to rise when these precise hypothetical killings turn into real life murders. The similar details are uncanny and have all four women anxious. Something isn’t adding up though and the friends are tired of letting the law handle things.
This books was enjoyable, while a bit predictable for me I still had a great time. The plot was executed well and the little twists at the end just had me asking for one more chapter.
May 11, 2026
You Girls Play Nice, a story of revenge
First, I really enjoyed the multiple POVs in this book, while it takes a few to grasp each character, I felt I was able to differentiate them pretty quickly. And I love that we even get a POV from a rather unexpected character. Each of the 4 best friends really does their homework on their own "faux" revenge murder plot. They are researched well, and all unique. Unique enough that it is very odd to see one of their murder plans enacted in real life on the news. But when the other 3 plans are also carried out in real life, it becomes very obvious someone is setting them up. The question is, how did anyone learn about their plans, and who is doing it?
With every chapter that we learn more about each of the characters, I felt more and more unsure of each of their motives. I enjoyed the slow-reveal into each woman's "true" character, especially Jackie and Sue, who seem "innocent" but we slowly learn the truth of their childhood secrets. Of course the person enacting the revenge murder plots attempts to frame one of the friends, but it is so obvious, even I knew it wouldn't work. Murderers just don't leave their name laying around a murder site. The police do have to investigate and do their due diligence, but even they are pretty sure this is a set-up.
I liked that we also got to read the POV of the lead investigator, Det. Sam Spade, as she too tries to wade through the crazy mess of all these killings and who may have done them.
The revenge murder's are not the only ones in this story. The carnage continues, only enacted by different parties. When the man who got away with Helen's murder comes back into town, the plot thickens for the Detective, because he has been mostly in hiding for years. Everything we think we know about these 4 friends, seems to change with every new event. I loved that the friends all think they are able to hide what they are doing from the others! But Rebel is onto Jackie and Sue, and Willow is not as fragile as she appears.
In the end, each of the friends gets their own revenge, and it is glorious. This story may be fictional, but it touches on a real-world truth that happens far too often, when the perpetrator gets away with SA and murder, and goes about their life like nothing happened. I loved this story, and I loved how unexpectedly not sweet and innocent the 4 FMCs all are.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Let's make this asshole suffer." Rebel's teeth began their customary grind against an unfair world ruled by the patriarchy, and a rabid injustice. "Metaphorically.""
"The four friends stared at each other slack-jawed, each feeling a hint of catharsis that revenge-no matter how hypothetical-might bring."
"Sasha started googling fancy recipes for eggs and mushrooms, and Rebel went back to working on her plan to torture and kill a man."
"I'll tell you who I did know, though, who I knew a little better than I have let on to date...I'm sorry if I've shown myself to be something of an unreliable narrator."
"Ah, secrets. There are so many I'm taking with me now."
"I wish only but the best for all the kind-hearted souls, and I have no thoughts to spare for the others."
First, I really enjoyed the multiple POVs in this book, while it takes a few to grasp each character, I felt I was able to differentiate them pretty quickly. And I love that we even get a POV from a rather unexpected character. Each of the 4 best friends really does their homework on their own "faux" revenge murder plot. They are researched well, and all unique. Unique enough that it is very odd to see one of their murder plans enacted in real life on the news. But when the other 3 plans are also carried out in real life, it becomes very obvious someone is setting them up. The question is, how did anyone learn about their plans, and who is doing it?
With every chapter that we learn more about each of the characters, I felt more and more unsure of each of their motives. I enjoyed the slow-reveal into each woman's "true" character, especially Jackie and Sue, who seem "innocent" but we slowly learn the truth of their childhood secrets. Of course the person enacting the revenge murder plots attempts to frame one of the friends, but it is so obvious, even I knew it wouldn't work. Murderers just don't leave their name laying around a murder site. The police do have to investigate and do their due diligence, but even they are pretty sure this is a set-up.
I liked that we also got to read the POV of the lead investigator, Det. Sam Spade, as she too tries to wade through the crazy mess of all these killings and who may have done them.
The revenge murder's are not the only ones in this story. The carnage continues, only enacted by different parties. When the man who got away with Helen's murder comes back into town, the plot thickens for the Detective, because he has been mostly in hiding for years. Everything we think we know about these 4 friends, seems to change with every new event. I loved that the friends all think they are able to hide what they are doing from the others! But Rebel is onto Jackie and Sue, and Willow is not as fragile as she appears.
In the end, each of the friends gets their own revenge, and it is glorious. This story may be fictional, but it touches on a real-world truth that happens far too often, when the perpetrator gets away with SA and murder, and goes about their life like nothing happened. I loved this story, and I loved how unexpectedly not sweet and innocent the 4 FMCs all are.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Let's make this asshole suffer." Rebel's teeth began their customary grind against an unfair world ruled by the patriarchy, and a rabid injustice. "Metaphorically.""
"The four friends stared at each other slack-jawed, each feeling a hint of catharsis that revenge-no matter how hypothetical-might bring."
"Sasha started googling fancy recipes for eggs and mushrooms, and Rebel went back to working on her plan to torture and kill a man."
"I'll tell you who I did know, though, who I knew a little better than I have let on to date...I'm sorry if I've shown myself to be something of an unreliable narrator."
"Ah, secrets. There are so many I'm taking with me now."
"I wish only but the best for all the kind-hearted souls, and I have no thoughts to spare for the others."
August 1, 2026
3.5
#ad much love for my finished copy @poisonedpenpress #partner
& @sourcebooksaudio #partner for the ALC
🆈🅾🆄 🅶🅸🆁🅻🆂 🅿🅻🅰🆈 🅽🅸🅲🅴
< @
Available Now
TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
Helen Louise Wyatt is dead. Damien Grant Gatner has just been found not guilty of her murder. Cleared on all charges. The family members of Helen are gutted and so are her friends. Her friends, Rebel, Willow, Jackie, and Sue known as The Four - who are her friends really? We will get to that later, because for now all that matters is the revenge they’re about to dish out. Because justice has not been served here today.
You Girls Play Nice by KD Aldyn is a populous thriller about a group of tight-nit friends who plan to get revenge on the man who ended their friend’s life. It’s a delicious little book with a feminist plot that I enjoyed greatly. It’s also got a twist that you either will or won’t see coming.
🎧: Also followed along to the audio and highly recommend this audio. Kathryn Clark did a phenomenal job narrating this book. With a group of girls, she does a great job handling each individual and the story as a whole. Fabulous job. Excellent listen. Now I had to listen at 3x speed soooooo not sure if it was the BookFunnel app or if the normal narration is just that slow but be prepared to have to speed it up a bit.
I liked how the story picks up a few years down the road, aging the characters with all the wisdom and such. Having the characters be in their 30’s was just so perfect to me.
This book covers important topics about what it’s like to be a woman in this world. How we are treated when it comes to assault and the bullshit that goes down inside the courtroom. This book needed to be written and it spoke to me in so many ways. I mean, who wouldn’t want to take revenge on some predatory men?? If not in real life then let us read about it haha.
I also enjoyed the surprise we got in chapter six. This added another layer of intrigue to the book as we get to see what she thinks and wants for her friends.
But if watching true crime teaches us anything - it’s always been - to me - that you cannot get away with it (most of the time). There’s no such thing as a perfect crime - just crappy investigators. They say the devil is in the details, but I say God is in them.
Not perfect, but pretty close!
#ad much love for my finished copy @poisonedpenpress #partner
& @sourcebooksaudio #partner for the ALC
🆈🅾🆄 🅶🅸🆁🅻🆂 🅿🅻🅰🆈 🅽🅸🅲🅴
< @
Available Now
TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
Helen Louise Wyatt is dead. Damien Grant Gatner has just been found not guilty of her murder. Cleared on all charges. The family members of Helen are gutted and so are her friends. Her friends, Rebel, Willow, Jackie, and Sue known as The Four - who are her friends really? We will get to that later, because for now all that matters is the revenge they’re about to dish out. Because justice has not been served here today.
You Girls Play Nice by KD Aldyn is a populous thriller about a group of tight-nit friends who plan to get revenge on the man who ended their friend’s life. It’s a delicious little book with a feminist plot that I enjoyed greatly. It’s also got a twist that you either will or won’t see coming.
🎧: Also followed along to the audio and highly recommend this audio. Kathryn Clark did a phenomenal job narrating this book. With a group of girls, she does a great job handling each individual and the story as a whole. Fabulous job. Excellent listen. Now I had to listen at 3x speed soooooo not sure if it was the BookFunnel app or if the normal narration is just that slow but be prepared to have to speed it up a bit.
I liked how the story picks up a few years down the road, aging the characters with all the wisdom and such. Having the characters be in their 30’s was just so perfect to me.
This book covers important topics about what it’s like to be a woman in this world. How we are treated when it comes to assault and the bullshit that goes down inside the courtroom. This book needed to be written and it spoke to me in so many ways. I mean, who wouldn’t want to take revenge on some predatory men?? If not in real life then let us read about it haha.
I also enjoyed the surprise we got in chapter six. This added another layer of intrigue to the book as we get to see what she thinks and wants for her friends.
But if watching true crime teaches us anything - it’s always been - to me - that you cannot get away with it (most of the time). There’s no such thing as a perfect crime - just crappy investigators. They say the devil is in the details, but I say God is in them.
Not perfect, but pretty close!
May 22, 2026
✨ ARC Review ✨
Title: You Girls Play Noce
Author: KD Aldyn
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishing date: 16/June/2026
Review:
You Girls Play Nice by K.D. Aldyn was an enjoyable revenge thriller with a very intriguing premise that immediately pulled me in. After Helen Wyatt is brutally murdered and her killer walks free, her four best friends gather for a girls’ night and jokingly discuss the different ways they would take revenge on him. What starts as a way to cope with grief quickly turns dark when those “hypothetical” murders begin happening in real life.
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and how each woman brought a different perspective to the story. The mystery kept me curious, especially trying to figure out who was behind everything and whether one of the friends could actually be capable of murder. The friendships, secrets, and growing suspicion between the characters made the story entertaining and suspenseful.
The book did start a little slow for me, especially at the beginning while I was trying to keep track of the characters and their connections, but once the plot picked up, it became much more engaging. I also enjoyed the revenge theme and the twisty direction the story took.
Overall, this was a fun and solid thriller with strong female friendships, revenge, secrets, and plenty of tension. While it did not completely blow me away, I still had a good time reading it and would recommend it to readers who enjoy slow burn revenge thrillers with multiple POVs.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @poisonedpen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#yougirlsplaynice
#NetGalley
#thriller
#ThrillerReads
#BookReview
Title: You Girls Play Noce
Author: KD Aldyn
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishing date: 16/June/2026
Review:
You Girls Play Nice by K.D. Aldyn was an enjoyable revenge thriller with a very intriguing premise that immediately pulled me in. After Helen Wyatt is brutally murdered and her killer walks free, her four best friends gather for a girls’ night and jokingly discuss the different ways they would take revenge on him. What starts as a way to cope with grief quickly turns dark when those “hypothetical” murders begin happening in real life.
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and how each woman brought a different perspective to the story. The mystery kept me curious, especially trying to figure out who was behind everything and whether one of the friends could actually be capable of murder. The friendships, secrets, and growing suspicion between the characters made the story entertaining and suspenseful.
The book did start a little slow for me, especially at the beginning while I was trying to keep track of the characters and their connections, but once the plot picked up, it became much more engaging. I also enjoyed the revenge theme and the twisty direction the story took.
Overall, this was a fun and solid thriller with strong female friendships, revenge, secrets, and plenty of tension. While it did not completely blow me away, I still had a good time reading it and would recommend it to readers who enjoy slow burn revenge thrillers with multiple POVs.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @poisonedpen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#yougirlsplaynice
#NetGalley
#thriller
#ThrillerReads
#BookReview
February 25, 2026
Thank you to net galley, the author and poison pen for the ARC of this book, always thrilled to receive one!
Okay so overall I think this book would be a 3.5 stars, but wanted to round up.
This book follows 4 friends following the gruesome death of their other friend and their path: for justice? I liked the dual perspectives and the switches from 3rd person to 1st person. I think this added to the development of the characters. I also like how this is very woman-revenge and 'go women', however some readers may disagree with the morals at some points. I guess others would question how normal suburban people would be driven to do what they do, but guess revenge gets the best of you. The ending was well developed and I felt that everything had been resolved and I was definitely surprised by the final twist!
Few things I didnt like as much
- minor/ personal preference: some of the names in this book were so odd - I get that the children's names were based on authors and other character names were nicknames but still
- I do think in some places the prose was slightly flowery and verbose I think this sometimes meant the flow was interrupted when a less familiar word was injected. Could just be that I'm used to reading simple language and I need to branch out!
- Tying into the flowery language I think sometimes parts of the plot were repeated I think this is because of the number of characters and everyone learning things at different times but I felt some of the repeats just weren't necessarily needed.
Okay so overall I think this book would be a 3.5 stars, but wanted to round up.
This book follows 4 friends following the gruesome death of their other friend and their path: for justice? I liked the dual perspectives and the switches from 3rd person to 1st person. I think this added to the development of the characters. I also like how this is very woman-revenge and 'go women', however some readers may disagree with the morals at some points. I guess others would question how normal suburban people would be driven to do what they do, but guess revenge gets the best of you. The ending was well developed and I felt that everything had been resolved and I was definitely surprised by the final twist!
Few things I didnt like as much
- minor/ personal preference: some of the names in this book were so odd - I get that the children's names were based on authors and other character names were nicknames but still
- I do think in some places the prose was slightly flowery and verbose I think this sometimes meant the flow was interrupted when a less familiar word was injected. Could just be that I'm used to reading simple language and I need to branch out!
- Tying into the flowery language I think sometimes parts of the plot were repeated I think this is because of the number of characters and everyone learning things at different times but I felt some of the repeats just weren't necessarily needed.
June 18, 2026
Big thanks to Penguin and Poisoned Pen Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
You Girls Play Nice is the second release from thriller author KD Aldyn.
A slow burn bingeable read with a strongish plot and a good finale.
What happens when four friends decide to do a speculative revenge murder situation after their best friend is murdered…….
Jackie, Sue, Willow and Rebel are still in shock from the murder of their BFF Helen Wyatt and when the court lets the murderer free they establish their own vengeance.
Each of them comes up with their own idea of how he should die.
But soon it slowly becomes real and dead bodies appear with the same death.
The suspicion lies with them however could it be someone else…..
As secrets arise soon the truth is revealed.
It’s dark, perplexing, suspicious, consuming and intense.
A great premise but it does take a little to rev up and to get to the action.
I did find the last 100 or so pages were quite interesting and suspenseful and I did want to know how it was all going to wrap up.
The character dynamic is really good and their banter and actions together felt realistic and authentic.
A book worth a read, just be prepared to wait for the drama.
You Girls Play Nice is the second release from thriller author KD Aldyn.
A slow burn bingeable read with a strongish plot and a good finale.
What happens when four friends decide to do a speculative revenge murder situation after their best friend is murdered…….
Jackie, Sue, Willow and Rebel are still in shock from the murder of their BFF Helen Wyatt and when the court lets the murderer free they establish their own vengeance.
Each of them comes up with their own idea of how he should die.
But soon it slowly becomes real and dead bodies appear with the same death.
The suspicion lies with them however could it be someone else…..
As secrets arise soon the truth is revealed.
It’s dark, perplexing, suspicious, consuming and intense.
A great premise but it does take a little to rev up and to get to the action.
I did find the last 100 or so pages were quite interesting and suspenseful and I did want to know how it was all going to wrap up.
The character dynamic is really good and their banter and actions together felt realistic and authentic.
A book worth a read, just be prepared to wait for the drama.
April 30, 2026
ARC review
This story line of revenge and a group of friends doing their best “ride or die” for one that didn’t make it has great bones. The story and plot itself is easy to follow, with the exception of each chapter not openly telling you who is speaking. It makes you get to know them quickly and trust yourself to pick the right narrator as the story unfolds. I found it slight tedious and annoying that I didn’t know immediately who’s point of view one’s getting and had to deduce it.
I guess I like my stories easy that way-just put the characters name on the chapter. That way I don’t spend an entire two paragraphs trying to figure it out
Aside from that the story was pretty strong. These grinds were not going to let their friends killer get away with anything, and it was good fun to watch them create a plan and execute it. Overall decent story, with just a couple small issues
This story line of revenge and a group of friends doing their best “ride or die” for one that didn’t make it has great bones. The story and plot itself is easy to follow, with the exception of each chapter not openly telling you who is speaking. It makes you get to know them quickly and trust yourself to pick the right narrator as the story unfolds. I found it slight tedious and annoying that I didn’t know immediately who’s point of view one’s getting and had to deduce it.
I guess I like my stories easy that way-just put the characters name on the chapter. That way I don’t spend an entire two paragraphs trying to figure it out
Aside from that the story was pretty strong. These grinds were not going to let their friends killer get away with anything, and it was good fun to watch them create a plan and execute it. Overall decent story, with just a couple small issues
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