Play Nice Horror Novel Review: An original story for the haunted house subgenre

Throughout 2025, the horror literature has produced some great stories. In September, best-selling American author Rachel Harrison published a new horror novel that is captivating readers everywhere. Play Nice is a work that combines horror with a profound exploration of identity and family, offering a reading experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Play Nice is a horror novel that plays with the conventions of the genre, combining elements of supernatural horror with a deep exploration of family dynamics and emotional trauma.

This horror story follows Clio Barnes, an influencer who returns to her childhood home after the death of her mother, who had claimed that the house was possessed by a demon. As Clio attempts to renovate the house, she is confronted with repressed memories and the possibility that her mother's claims of possession might have some basis in truth.

One of the strengths of Play Nice is its ability to intertwine horror with social commentary about the pressure women face in contemporary society. The novel not only focuses on physical terror, but also addresses the psychological terror that comes from dysfunctional family relationships and social expectations. Harrison's writing is incisive, where the politically correct and the toxicity of positivity are criticized.

Harrison's storytelling style is agile and imbued with dark humor, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the complexity of Clio's life. Although she is a difficult protagonist to like, her challenging character and internal struggles make her understandable. The author uses her voice to explore themes of gaslighting, emotional abuse, and the search for truth amid confusing memories.

The haunted house

In Play Nice, the house is not just a physical setting, but a character in itself that plays a crucial role in the narrative. The property, located on Edgewood Drive, becomes a symbol of family traumas and the secrets that the characters try to confront.

The house represents the past of Clio and her sisters, a place where memories of her childhood and the traumatic experiences lived with her mother, Alexandra, are intertwined. As Clio tries to remodel the house, she faces echoes of her family history, which causes old wounds and unresolved conflicts to resurface. The house, with its alleged demonic possession, acts as a catalyst that reveals the hidden truths about the Barnes family, challenging the narratives they have built about their past.

As Clio delves into the renovation of the house, she is forced to confront not only the structural problems of the place, but also her own inner demons. The house becomes a psychological battlefield where tensions flare up between the sisters, and where Clio must deal with her mother's influence and the stories she left behind. The presence of the devil, which can be interpreted as a manifestation of family traumas, intensifies this internal struggle.

The house also reflects Clio's identity as an influencer and her obsession with public image. Her desire to transform the house into a "house flipping" project is intertwined with her need for social validation, which adds a layer of criticism to the culture of social networks. The house symbolizes not only the physical home, but also the facade that Clio tries to maintain before the world, while the most terrible truths of her family life threaten to reveal themselves.

Final thoughts

As a novel Play Nice manifests a psychological horror where the boundaries between physical reality and individual perception are blurred. As Clio reads her mother's book and confronts her own memories, the story becomes increasingly disturbing. The house seems to come to life, feeding on their fears and anxieties, which creates an atmosphere of constant tension that keeps the reader on edge.

The house in Play Nice is a fundamental component that not only sets the tone of the story, but also delves into the themes of trauma, identity and the struggle for truth in the midst of family turmoil. Through his interaction with the house, Clio embarks on a journey of self-discovery that is both terrifying and eye-opening.