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melreb8's review against another edition
3.0
Warning: contains spoilers!
This is a well written domestic thriller, and I would have enjoyed it a lot more if most of the main characters were not completely loathsome. Especially Callie. We are supposed to consider Callie the heroine, and the woman is a narcissistic sociopath. She cheats on her boyfriend, gets pregnant, doesn’t tell him the child isn’t his, and marries him. YEARS later, he finds out, but she lies about it until the bitter end. What kind of monster would do that to a man? Later, she accidentally meets back up with the guy who is her child’s father. Only now, he is married to her new good friend in the neighborhood. What does she do? She proceeds to have an affair with him. AGAIN, she lies about it and minimizes her actions with everybody who finds out. She is also apparently a terrible housekeeper (descriptions of her apartment are disgusting and she lets milk go bad until there are clumps in it—with a small child to care for), full up to her eyebrows in self-pity for her circumstances which she created for herself, and just breathtakingly self-centered. Even her love for her child seems to be centered around her, and how it all makes her feel. She’s just a trashy person. Honestly, I was rooting for the villain at times…
This is a well written domestic thriller, and I would have enjoyed it a lot more if most of the main characters were not completely loathsome. Especially Callie. We are supposed to consider Callie the heroine, and the woman is a narcissistic sociopath. She cheats on her boyfriend, gets pregnant, doesn’t tell him the child isn’t his, and marries him. YEARS later, he finds out, but she lies about it until the bitter end. What kind of monster would do that to a man? Later, she accidentally meets back up with the guy who is her child’s father. Only now, he is married to her new good friend in the neighborhood. What does she do? She proceeds to have an affair with him. AGAIN, she lies about it and minimizes her actions with everybody who finds out. She is also apparently a terrible housekeeper (descriptions of her apartment are disgusting and she lets milk go bad until there are clumps in it—with a small child to care for), full up to her eyebrows in self-pity for her circumstances which she created for herself, and just breathtakingly self-centered. Even her love for her child seems to be centered around her, and how it all makes her feel. She’s just a trashy person. Honestly, I was rooting for the villain at times…
chloerebecca974's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
purplesky02's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book overall, until the last 100 pages or so!
I thought it was just wrapped up way too quickly. I loved that Suzy turned out to be the crazy one at the end. I just found it frustrating that everything was explained so quickly. I would've liked to have learned more about Suzy and her past and what made her into what she was. We learned snippets, but never the whole story. Also, I felt Debs' plot line was wrapped up too fast.
I will read more from this author though. It was a page turner and I finished it quickly.
Spoiler
I thought it was just wrapped up way too quickly. I loved that Suzy turned out to be the crazy one at the end. I just found it frustrating that everything was explained so quickly. I would've liked to have learned more about Suzy and her past and what made her into what she was. We learned snippets, but never the whole story. Also, I felt Debs' plot line was wrapped up too fast.
I will read more from this author though. It was a page turner and I finished it quickly.
sare1125's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual assault
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
2.0
This is a fair novel that takes a long time to get going and then proceeds in a pretty predictable manner. What got me to finish is that the characters are interesting enough and that Louise Millar is a smooth writer. I'm sure her next novel will show more complexity and subtlety.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
Thought-provoking debut novel, The Playdate by Louise Millar, offers an inside view of friendships, and neighbors; every parent’s nightmare, where things are not as they seem, for a suspenseful, yet realistic drama.
A story of three women in a north London suburban neighborhood with school aged children. Suzy and Callie appear to be best friends and share child care duties with obsessive Suzy controlling and paying for the outings.
Some of the other neighborhood women have ignored Callie, a poor single mom who barely gets by, with a five year old daughter, Rae with a heart condition. Their lifestyles are very different as Suzy has money and Callie does not, so lots of pressure here.
American Suzy has a son, Henry, who is friends with Rae, and also she has twin sons. New neighbor Deb and her husband Allen move into the street, next door to Suzy. Callie is separated from husband Tom, and Suzy's husband Jez seems to spend every hour of the day working, with little time for her or the children.
Callie a little lonely, decides to return to work as she needs the money and desires to get her life back, and hesitant to tell Suzy about her new job. A new neighbor Debs, a teacher’s assistant with a dark history and a not so stable mentally, further jeopardizes their friendship. She is a nervous type, middle-aged newlywed whose husband, Allan, is trying to keep her on an even keel; she is rattled by loud noises and, it seems, a bit paranoid.
Told from different POV from the three women revealing their secrets, behind their façade. The story is told from the point of view of each woman in alternate chapters while Callie narrates her own story and the other two are told in the third person.
Thought provoking questions: Do these women really know one another? Do you actually know who you can trust, and the people who care for your children, neighbors, and friends? As the layers are peeled back to reveal the real person behind the mask with a scary look into the suburban life, and struggles with human perspectives. A realistic fear of all parents, trusting their children to strangers, and even if they feel they know them, do you really know them?
The author takes readers down a path, providing a few clues; however, you know there more coming; however, when the ball is dropped you may be surprised. An interesting story, demonstrating you cannot always judge people by appearances.
While I think the novel had a good set up, I became a little bored with the women, the gossip, and their backbiting, silly behavior. The men in the novel were definitely behind the scene, secondary characters. The book has a realistic element, as every parent’s worst nightmare, as my grandchildren are always wanting to have a playdate with their kindergarten and school friends. However, of course have not been allowed, as you never know the entire story of both of the parents, the relatives, or siblings of the children.
I think the book would appeal to young mothers; however, would not classify as a psychological thriller, but more of a suspense drama or chicklit. Would need to step it up a few notches and a level of intensity and complexity to qualify.
Even though I was not blown away, the audiobook was entertaining while working, traveling, and working out and currently reading her next book, Accidents Happen and plan to read The Hidden Girl. Not as exciting as a series of (Desperate Housewives/Wisteria Lane); however, enjoyed Clare Corbett’s charming and engaging British accent.
A story of three women in a north London suburban neighborhood with school aged children. Suzy and Callie appear to be best friends and share child care duties with obsessive Suzy controlling and paying for the outings.
Some of the other neighborhood women have ignored Callie, a poor single mom who barely gets by, with a five year old daughter, Rae with a heart condition. Their lifestyles are very different as Suzy has money and Callie does not, so lots of pressure here.
American Suzy has a son, Henry, who is friends with Rae, and also she has twin sons. New neighbor Deb and her husband Allen move into the street, next door to Suzy. Callie is separated from husband Tom, and Suzy's husband Jez seems to spend every hour of the day working, with little time for her or the children.
Callie a little lonely, decides to return to work as she needs the money and desires to get her life back, and hesitant to tell Suzy about her new job. A new neighbor Debs, a teacher’s assistant with a dark history and a not so stable mentally, further jeopardizes their friendship. She is a nervous type, middle-aged newlywed whose husband, Allan, is trying to keep her on an even keel; she is rattled by loud noises and, it seems, a bit paranoid.
Told from different POV from the three women revealing their secrets, behind their façade. The story is told from the point of view of each woman in alternate chapters while Callie narrates her own story and the other two are told in the third person.
Thought provoking questions: Do these women really know one another? Do you actually know who you can trust, and the people who care for your children, neighbors, and friends? As the layers are peeled back to reveal the real person behind the mask with a scary look into the suburban life, and struggles with human perspectives. A realistic fear of all parents, trusting their children to strangers, and even if they feel they know them, do you really know them?
The author takes readers down a path, providing a few clues; however, you know there more coming; however, when the ball is dropped you may be surprised. An interesting story, demonstrating you cannot always judge people by appearances.
While I think the novel had a good set up, I became a little bored with the women, the gossip, and their backbiting, silly behavior. The men in the novel were definitely behind the scene, secondary characters. The book has a realistic element, as every parent’s worst nightmare, as my grandchildren are always wanting to have a playdate with their kindergarten and school friends. However, of course have not been allowed, as you never know the entire story of both of the parents, the relatives, or siblings of the children.
I think the book would appeal to young mothers; however, would not classify as a psychological thriller, but more of a suspense drama or chicklit. Would need to step it up a few notches and a level of intensity and complexity to qualify.
Even though I was not blown away, the audiobook was entertaining while working, traveling, and working out and currently reading her next book, Accidents Happen and plan to read The Hidden Girl. Not as exciting as a series of (Desperate Housewives/Wisteria Lane); however, enjoyed Clare Corbett’s charming and engaging British accent.
machadofam8's review against another edition
2.0
I had this on my to-read list for a while, and finally found a copy at the library. It didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't nearly as scary or suspensful as I expected it to be.
eleiser's review against another edition
2.0
This book had great potential, but it fizzled in the end.
always_need_more_books's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it - not what i thought it would be about but was thrilling and made me think twice about who I would trust to look after my children!