1. About the Author: Rachel Harrison
Rachel Harrison is a rising star in contemporary horror fiction. Known for blending supernatural themes with biting humor and a feminist lens, Harrison has captivated readers through works like Cackle, The Return, and Such Sharp Teeth. Her style uniquely transforms mundane life moments—mother-daughter dynamics, loneliness, societal pressures—into eerie, thought-provoking narratives. Critics praise her for tight storytelling, psychologically complex characters, and a darkly humorous voice that lingers long after the final page.
2. About the Narrators: Alex Finke & Natasha Soudek
The Play Nice audiobook is voiced by two distinct talents: Alex Finke and Natasha Soudek.
Alex Finke leads the narration, embodying the voice of Clio, a sharp, stylish influencer unraveling in real time. Finke’s delivery balances sarcasm with vulnerability, capturing the conflicting emotions of a woman caught between public perfection and private chaos.
Natasha Soudek, in contrast, narrates the sections written by Clio’s late mother, Alex. Her tone is more mature and subdued—tinged with fear and sorrow—as she recounts memories in the haunting manuscript she left behind.
Together, their voices create a textured, layered audiobook that enhances the dual timelines and deepens the emotional impact.
3. About the Book: Play Nice
Play Nice is a psychological horror novel with supernatural elements, centering around Clio Louise Barnes, a fashion-forward influencer who inherits her childhood home after her mother’s death. But this is no ordinary house—it’s one her mother believed was possessed, and it now holds eerie clues to Clio’s past and her family’s unraveling secrets.
The story unfolds through Clio’s present-day struggles and the ghostly memoir left by her mother. As Clio delves deeper into the home’s sinister energy and her own fading memories, she finds herself questioning what’s real, what’s imagined—and whether she can trust her own mind.
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Genre: Horror – Supernatural – Domestic Drama
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Average Rating: 4.17/5 on StoryGraph
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Audiobook Duration: ~10 hours, 17 minutes
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Narrators: Alex Finke & Natasha Soudek
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Awards/Sales: No major awards listed (as of now), but critically acclaimed.
What makes Play Nice stand out is its unique twist on haunted house tropes. Rather than relying on overt scares, it delves into memory manipulation, mother-daughter trauma, and the performative pressure of social media—creating an atmosphere that’s as emotionally haunting as it is ghostly.
4. Book Review – Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
Play Nice is a haunting, slow-burning thriller that blurs the line between memory and madness. Harrison crafts an intricate story using dual timelines and fragmented truths, all anchored by Clio’s sharp, flawed, deeply human voice.
Strengths:
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A clever, modern twist on haunted house narratives.
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Deep psychological insight into familial trauma and identity.
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Witty yet eerie prose that keeps readers on edge.
Weaknesses:
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Some scenes, particularly those dealing with emotional introspection, may feel overly drawn out.
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Clio, as a narrator, can be frustrating at times—but that’s part of her realism.
Critical Praise:
“Play Nice packs a prickly punch with bite, insight, and supernatural terror.” – Publishers Weekly
“A haunting exploration of memory, trauma, and the ghosts that aren’t always dead.” – Capes & Tights
Personal Thoughts:
What makes Play Nice stand out isn’t its horror—but its humanity. It’s unsettling not because of jump scares, but because it reminds us how much of our lives are shaped by fractured memories and things left unsaid. I found it both eerie and emotionally piercing—a story that lingers not in your ears, but in your gut.
5. Audiobook Review – Play Nice (Narrated by Alex Finke & Natasha Soudek)
The audiobook of Play Nice is a phenomenal adaptation that elevates the source material. Alex Finke’s narration perfectly captures Clio’s layered personality—bold, sarcastic, yet emotionally fragile. Meanwhile, Natasha Soudek brings a grounded, ghostly melancholy to the passages written by Clio’s mother.
Highlights:
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Clear separation of timelines through two distinct voices.
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Gradual, atmospheric pacing that mirrors the growing suspense.
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Emotionally rich delivery that enhances character depth.
Minor Drawbacks:
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Some listeners unfamiliar with dual narration or time-jumps might need a moment to adjust.
Audiobook Critic Praise:
“Finke and Soudek carefully pace their performances as the tension builds and the presence grows more bold.” – AudioFile Magazine
“They captured the vulnerability, the bite, and the exhaustion in ways that made the story even more alive.” – Just Read It Already
Personal Thoughts:
The Play Nice audiobook isn’t just a listening experience—it’s an emotional journey. Finke’s tone carries Clio’s unraveling perfectly, while Soudek delivers a quiet dread that seeps into your bones. It’s one of those rare audiobooks that doesn’t just narrate the story—it lives it. A must-listen for psychological horror fans.
6. Who Should Read or Listen to This Book?
Play Nice is ideal for:
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Fans of horror with depth, who enjoy stories about trauma, memory, and identity rather than traditional gore.
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Readers of domestic drama, especially those exploring complex mother-daughter or sibling relationships.
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Newcomers to audiobooks, seeking a professionally narrated, emotionally immersive experience.
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Feminist horror readers, looking for stories that critique societal expectations of likability, femininity, and online performance.
If you’re looking for a book that unsettles the soul rather than the senses, this is for you.
7. Conclusion
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison is a beautifully twisted story of haunted memories, fragile identities, and the sinister weight of family legacy. It’s unsettling, smart, and refreshingly layered. Whether you read it on paper or listen to the haunting voices of Alex Finke and Natasha Soudek, this story will stay with you long after it ends.
If you crave a ghost story where the real horror might just be inside your own mind—this is the audiobook for you.
8. Where to Listen to the Audiobook
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