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Our Kind of Game
Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 02:55:56
25 copies available
U.S. only
A serpentine tale exploring all the ways in which men enact violence on women, how women try to reclaim their own sense of self, and the lingering effects on their children’s lives
2019. Stella Parker has the life she’s always wanted: a loving husband, two happy children that she gave up her thriving law career to raise, and a beautiful house in the tony suburbs of Washington, D.C. But when her neighbor Gwen shows up at her door claiming to know things about her, Stella’s life is thrown into turmoil, and she’s forced to reckon with the dark secret she’s built her life on.
1987. Julie Waits yearns to be a cheerleader—a gateway to a world of normalcy and an escape hatch from life with her widowed mother, the terrible men she attracts, and the upheaval caused by their abrupt and constant moves. But when her mother decides those relationships are over, the past becomes a forbidden subject that Julie can never revisit.
As Stella probes deeper into what brought Gwen to her door, the answer—and who Julie is to her—becomes increasingly, terrifyingly, clear. Filled with shocking twists and turns, this is a book that both asks what it means for a woman to be in control of her life while also highlighting the impact of small daily violences upon women and the connection between physical and psychological harm.
2019. Stella Parker has the life she’s always wanted: a loving husband, two happy children that she gave up her thriving law career to raise, and a beautiful house in the tony suburbs of Washington, D.C. But when her neighbor Gwen shows up at her door claiming to know things about her, Stella’s life is thrown into turmoil, and she’s forced to reckon with the dark secret she’s built her life on.
1987. Julie Waits yearns to be a cheerleader—a gateway to a world of normalcy and an escape hatch from life with her widowed mother, the terrible men she attracts, and the upheaval caused by their abrupt and constant moves. But when her mother decides those relationships are over, the past becomes a forbidden subject that Julie can never revisit.
As Stella probes deeper into what brought Gwen to her door, the answer—and who Julie is to her—becomes increasingly, terrifyingly, clear. Filled with shocking twists and turns, this is a book that both asks what it means for a woman to be in control of her life while also highlighting the impact of small daily violences upon women and the connection between physical and psychological harm.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2024
About the author
Johanna Copeland
2 books94 followersJohanna Copeland is a novelist, essayist and author of Our Kind of Game, HarperCollins, July 2024. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post, Soapbox Literary Review and The Stonecoast Review.
You can also find her on Instagram and TikTok @johannacopelandwrites
You can also find her on Instagram and TikTok @johannacopelandwrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 29, 2024
I read this book in a single weekend and relished every page! The twists and turns of the story made it a delicious treat that felt both satisfyingly cathartic and downright disturbing - almost like a guilty pleasure - because of what happens in the book but also how much I found myself rooting for our heroines. The affluent American suburb ecosystem that Ms. Copeland crisply details - the unrelenting gender and socioeconomic hierarchies & toxic achievement pressure, all glossed over with the all-too-familiar "everything is fine and fun!" veneer, is something I think a lot of readers will resonate with. Anyone who has ever been in a romantic relationship with a bully will be rooting for the women in this book...well, most of them anyway...
March 31, 2024
I received an advance readers copy and I read the book in one day - I couldn’t put it down! The story is riveting! I am a successful professional woman who made the choice to stay home with my kids in Northern Virginia, and there is so much I can relate to in this book. Johanna describes the life, relationships, and frustrations of NoVA stay at home mom life perfectly, down to the minor details. The twists and turns are captivating and even though I tried to guess what was coming, I was always wrong! I can’t wait to see what Johanna Copeland writes next!
April 28, 2024
Thank you to Goodreads for this ARC. This story was great and the plot was something else! It starts off with a bang and just keeps getting better. I don’t know how to describe this story without giving away the good parts. It was different than anything I have read. Read it!
April 9, 2024
I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. I think I am in the minority when I say I didn't love this book. I thought the going back and forth between characters at times were confusing. I had to go back to the beginning of the chapter to remember who the chapter was about. I guess this genre was just not for me. Thank you Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book.
June 28, 2024
A debut novel of suspense and intrigue from Johanna Copeland, Our Kind of Game keeps you suspicious and ready to stay up all night to find out what happens next. Stella Parker is a wealthy suburban woman with secrets to hide and a past to keep buried. When Gwen, another mom from the neighborhood, stumbles drunk into Stellas yard and drops her phone, Stella's first instinct is to do the neighborly thing and return it. But something doesn't seem right and so she starts suspecting something might be up with Gwen. Her hunch proves right and soon Stella finds herself unable to keep her well buried past from colliding with her perfectly curated present.
Johanna did really well with this topic and I especially like the villain getting a dexter-esque persona, making her the hero. The twist at the end was well done. I especially like how even after everything, mom was calling the shots and making sure her girls were taken care of. The thing with Gwen felt rushed and unfinished. The ending was meh, and I'm still not sure why Stella stayed with Tom.
Overall it’s a great story touching on topics such as abuse (in many forms), murder, rage, privilege, motherhood, marriage, and the need to do anything and everything to protect yourself and your offspring. Recommended for readers who enjoy Lisa Jewell, and Karin Slaughter.
An enormous Thank You to Johanna Copeland, Harper Books, and Goodreads for allowing me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest review.
Johanna did really well with this topic and I especially like the villain getting a dexter-esque persona, making her the hero. The twist at the end was well done. I especially like how even after everything, mom was calling the shots and making sure her girls were taken care of. The thing with Gwen felt rushed and unfinished. The ending was meh, and I'm still not sure why Stella stayed with Tom.
Overall it’s a great story touching on topics such as abuse (in many forms), murder, rage, privilege, motherhood, marriage, and the need to do anything and everything to protect yourself and your offspring. Recommended for readers who enjoy Lisa Jewell, and Karin Slaughter.
An enormous Thank You to Johanna Copeland, Harper Books, and Goodreads for allowing me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2024
4.5 stars.
Our Kind of Game by Johanna Copeland is a very clever debut mystery.
It is 2019 and Stella Parker and her husband Tom live in an affluent neighborhood with their two kids, Colin and Daisy. Stella gave up her legal career to stay at home and take care of raising their children and managing the household. Stella feels underappreciated by Tom and taken for granted by their teenagers. Her resentment grows amid her quest to uncover what is behind a strange encounter with her neighbor, Gwen.
In 1987, Julie Waits’ quest to become a varsity cheerleader sets off an unexpected chain of events that alters the course of her life. She lives with her mom and her mother’s sleazy boyfriend. Julie loves her mom but family secrets and her mother’s swath of loser boyfriends are becoming untenable. Events culminate in a stunning betrayal that leaves Julie with few options.
Our Kind of Game is a captivating mystery that keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace. Both story arcs are well-written and incredibly compelling. The characters are realistically developed and relatable. Johanna Copeland brings the novel to a unanticipated conclusion that is quite satisfying.
Our Kind of Game by Johanna Copeland is a very clever debut mystery.
It is 2019 and Stella Parker and her husband Tom live in an affluent neighborhood with their two kids, Colin and Daisy. Stella gave up her legal career to stay at home and take care of raising their children and managing the household. Stella feels underappreciated by Tom and taken for granted by their teenagers. Her resentment grows amid her quest to uncover what is behind a strange encounter with her neighbor, Gwen.
In 1987, Julie Waits’ quest to become a varsity cheerleader sets off an unexpected chain of events that alters the course of her life. She lives with her mom and her mother’s sleazy boyfriend. Julie loves her mom but family secrets and her mother’s swath of loser boyfriends are becoming untenable. Events culminate in a stunning betrayal that leaves Julie with few options.
Our Kind of Game is a captivating mystery that keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace. Both story arcs are well-written and incredibly compelling. The characters are realistically developed and relatable. Johanna Copeland brings the novel to a unanticipated conclusion that is quite satisfying.
July 2, 2024
A zippy and nicely twisty thriller. Stella has everything-in other people's eyes. A husband, two kids, a big house but something always keeps her on alert. She is beginning to resent being the manager of her families lives and missing her legal career. And then her neighbor Gwen drives into her driveway one night, mutters at her, and leaves her phone behind, a phone Stella keeps rather than returns. Her story flips back and forth with the stories of teen sisters Julie and Paula, who live with their mother who has a series of, well, dangerous relationships. Julie wants nothing more as a teen than to be a cheerleader but she's got a darkness to cope with. No spoilers (although you might also guess) on how these stories merge but that doesn't matter because the characters are compelling, the tension maintained, and the plot pushes you to turn the page. Copeland does a nice job of incorporating her McLean setting (Langley HS, Westover Library in Arlington and so on). Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Excellent debut and a very good read.
July 7, 2024
Out this Tues, #OurKindofGame, just knocked my socks off!!! This is a Must Read! I literally devoured it in two days. It has so many important implications about the cost of motherhood, privilege, and women devoting their lives to benefit their families with little recognition of their value, goals, or accomplishments. Stella seems to have it all. Accomplished former lawyer, UCLA Summa Cum Laude graduate, mother of two beautiful and blessed children that she would do anything for, and dedicated wife to her handsome husband Tom, but is anything ever truly as it seems? Stella has a past that she's been running from since she was 13 years old, but it's one step behind her and she can feel it closing in around her.The truth about Stella could ruin her picture perfect life, but she is in charge of her story until the very end! This is not your typical domestic thriller! While some parts are predictable and easy to figure out, this book has so many layers and I found myself rooting for Stella and her family throughout. MUST READ!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 #GoodreadsARC
March 1, 2024
From the moment I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down. This book is a thrilling page-turner, weaving together suspense and a seething feminist commentary on the roles women are forced to play in society, whether in tony suburbs or poor rural communities. What captivated me most were the fierce and smart heroines driving the narrative forward. It's exhilarating to watch them outwit, outlast, and outplay their male counterparts at every turn. Copeland's characters are brilliantly crafted, drawing you into their world with every twist and turn. The writing style is sharp and creative, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout. "Our Kind of Game" challenges conventions and empowers readers to question societal norms while delivering an enthralling story. I highly recommend it to anyone craving a gripping read that both entertains and enlightens.
June 30, 2024
4 🌟 This book was equal parts disturbing and engrossing (please check trigger warnings before reading!!!). I think books like this that are focused on the female experience are hard to read but also extremely important. The conversations I had with my husband based off of the acts of violence (small and large) in this book are truly eye opening. The author does such a good job of creating this atmosphere where you know legally how things should be handled but are rooting for the opposite anyways. Our FMCs are iconic and resilient and I’d hate to be on their bad side. This type of story reminds me so much of Ashley Audrain (who I also love) and how far a mother would go for their children. I can’t believe this is a debut novel and cannot wait for what Copeland has in store for us next!
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
July 5, 2024
A tough subject broached in this debut, but handled so well.
Violence against women and all the ways men try to wedge control with their sharp tongues or wielding fists.
The women left in the wake of their survived abuse, is another matter entirely. Some cower and sink into themselves, others become fighters themselves and rally for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Then, there are those whose damage control reaches a whole other level of endangered survivor.
In this Tory, narrator and main character tells us her story of abuse and the way she survived-or has she?
It is heart breaking in places, shocking and devious/underhanded all at the same time and it alters who she becomes.
Absolutely loved this debut and look forward to more from this exciting new voice for thrillers.
Thanks to Harper Collins for this arc, all opinions are my own.
Violence against women and all the ways men try to wedge control with their sharp tongues or wielding fists.
The women left in the wake of their survived abuse, is another matter entirely. Some cower and sink into themselves, others become fighters themselves and rally for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Then, there are those whose damage control reaches a whole other level of endangered survivor.
In this Tory, narrator and main character tells us her story of abuse and the way she survived-or has she?
It is heart breaking in places, shocking and devious/underhanded all at the same time and it alters who she becomes.
Absolutely loved this debut and look forward to more from this exciting new voice for thrillers.
Thanks to Harper Collins for this arc, all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for free from Harper publishing via Goodreads Giveaways. Thanks to whoever is involved in that!
Forty pages in, I knew this would be a five-star read for me. There is so much I could say about this book-- the way that female rage is front and center, the complicated characters that I couldn't help but empathize with, and the violence at the root of it all. I'm always one to enjoy stories about complicated mother-daughter relationships, and complicated is really an understatement for the women in this story. That's all I'm willing to say. The less you know, the better.
I recommend this book to people who love struggling with morality when they read, to women who are just so tired of it all, and to those of you who know what I mean when I say that the story of your past is entirely up to you.
Forty pages in, I knew this would be a five-star read for me. There is so much I could say about this book-- the way that female rage is front and center, the complicated characters that I couldn't help but empathize with, and the violence at the root of it all. I'm always one to enjoy stories about complicated mother-daughter relationships, and complicated is really an understatement for the women in this story. That's all I'm willing to say. The less you know, the better.
I recommend this book to people who love struggling with morality when they read, to women who are just so tired of it all, and to those of you who know what I mean when I say that the story of your past is entirely up to you.
June 1, 2024
I got sent this ARC from Killer Crime Club and I have to say I was blown away. This might be my favourite book of the year so far. It was so intriguing, mysterious and made me have so many feelings. I flew through this and was so invested in the sisters before lives. The mom of Paula and Stella was seriously messed up but you can see the rationale of how women are treated and the lengths some go to protect the ones they love. Needless to say sometimes I wanted to shake Stella and be like what are you doing, but it was refreshing to see a flawed character. The ending was completely shocking and I was so wrapped up in it I stayed up too late. I finished it up in two days. I would love to read more books by this author.
June 17, 2024
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This is a fun, suspenseful, twisty and binge worthy read that I absolutely devoured. It is a page-turner which is full of suspense, but also it has a lot of depth to it as well. The plot focuses on the roles that society has placed on women, and I found it completely relatable. Female rage, complex characters, alternating POVs and timelines, roles of women in society, and plenty of violence make this book a deliciously entertaining read.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A book that makes you think
✦A binge-worthy read
✦A book that dives into the roles that society has placed on women, and female rage
✦Complex characters
✦Alternating POVs and timelines
✦Suspense, thrills, twists, and turns
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
This is a fun, suspenseful, twisty and binge worthy read that I absolutely devoured. It is a page-turner which is full of suspense, but also it has a lot of depth to it as well. The plot focuses on the roles that society has placed on women, and I found it completely relatable. Female rage, complex characters, alternating POVs and timelines, roles of women in society, and plenty of violence make this book a deliciously entertaining read.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A book that makes you think
✦A binge-worthy read
✦A book that dives into the roles that society has placed on women, and female rage
✦Complex characters
✦Alternating POVs and timelines
✦Suspense, thrills, twists, and turns
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
April 23, 2024
Stella is a lawyer who gave up her career to be at stay at home mom in a rich suburb if DC when she gets a cryptic message that someone know what she did. What is in her past that scares her so? Go back some thirty years and 13-year old Julie wants nothing more than to be popular and a cheerleader. But her mother’s abusive boyfriend turns her world around. And there is Paula, Julie’s older sister how left home to never come back. What do these three stories have in common? We don’t find out until the second half of the novel, which does make this suspenseful and mysterious. At first, I didn’t care for it, but as the story unfolded, he gave me chills. Very exhilarating indeed.
June 29, 2024
From the start we are pulled in by strong female characters. Copeland provides the reader with little hints that everything may not be as it seems for Stella.
Told by multiple captivating women, you will be rushing to finish one section just to dive into the next storyline.
I enjoyed the unique plot with resilient leads you can’t help but root for. I especially loved the wrap up/ ending that answered all my questions. This is a must read for this summer!
Content warning for sexual assault.
Thank you to Killer Crime Club, Net Galley, Publisher Harper and the author for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Told by multiple captivating women, you will be rushing to finish one section just to dive into the next storyline.
I enjoyed the unique plot with resilient leads you can’t help but root for. I especially loved the wrap up/ ending that answered all my questions. This is a must read for this summer!
Content warning for sexual assault.
Thank you to Killer Crime Club, Net Galley, Publisher Harper and the author for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2024
I don’t know why this isn’t all over bookstagram. This is book is everything –feminist rage, revenge, sex, socioeconomic tiers and the desire to be the best all wrapped up in a mystery. The way Copeland writes is addicting and so damn smart. To top it all off-this is a debut people!? My mind is blown.
I tried guessing the twists but I was so wrong. It’s told in 6 parts and from multiple POVs so it really helps to keep you guessing. I also loved the strong bonds of sisterhood. Clever word play on the title too! This was fabulous and it needs to be everywhere!!!!!
I tried guessing the twists but I was so wrong. It’s told in 6 parts and from multiple POVs so it really helps to keep you guessing. I also loved the strong bonds of sisterhood. Clever word play on the title too! This was fabulous and it needs to be everywhere!!!!!
February 28, 2024
Stella lives what we might consider a "normal" life. Some women become housewives after their education years just like the characters in the book. Stella gives up on her dreams for the joys and hardships of marriage, home, and children. Undervalued and ignored for her intelligence and hard work her long-suffering resentment reveals an underlying and surprising thriller that will be hard to put down.
May 1, 2024
This book was full of twists and turns!
The suspense simmering in every chapter.
The views from multiple perspectives is always a favorite of mine and this book hit that on the head!
I recommend reading this if you're a thriller fan.
I did give it four stars however, due to some transitions in the book being completely non existent and needing to reread to understand we were in a different "scene" essentially.
The suspense simmering in every chapter.
The views from multiple perspectives is always a favorite of mine and this book hit that on the head!
I recommend reading this if you're a thriller fan.
I did give it four stars however, due to some transitions in the book being completely non existent and needing to reread to understand we were in a different "scene" essentially.
May 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This book began with two narrators, Julie and Stella, who seem to have nothing in common. Julie is a teen with a traumatic upbringing, and Stella is a successful mother with a beautiful home and loving husband. But not all is what it seems! A feminist suspense novel, though sometimes predictable, had some interesting twists and turns.
This book began with two narrators, Julie and Stella, who seem to have nothing in common. Julie is a teen with a traumatic upbringing, and Stella is a successful mother with a beautiful home and loving husband. But not all is what it seems! A feminist suspense novel, though sometimes predictable, had some interesting twists and turns.
May 27, 2024
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, Killer Crime Club and HarperCollins Publishing.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
A riveting read if a lawyer who decides to be a stay at home mom giving up her successful career to live in a rural area. Things are not all it seems simple as unforeseen twists will have you wondering if there is more to the story. It ia a story that will keep you turning the pages till the end.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
A riveting read if a lawyer who decides to be a stay at home mom giving up her successful career to live in a rural area. Things are not all it seems simple as unforeseen twists will have you wondering if there is more to the story. It ia a story that will keep you turning the pages till the end.
June 10, 2024
In ‘Our Kind of Game,’ Stella Parker’s life may look perfect from the outside, but the hollowness of suburban privilege masks secrets that compel Stella neighbor Gwen, to try to ferret out and use Stella’s past against her. Filled with twists and turns that few readers will ever see coming, this is a daring and introspective look at motherhood and caregiving—its’ strengths, loneliness, anxiety, and savage protectiveness.
March 11, 2024
If the brains behind Ginny & Georgia and The Feminine Mystique had a baby, she would look a whole lot like Johanna Copeland's Our Kind of Game. Copeland explores the many ways marriage, motherhood, and generational trauma shape women via a wild vigilante fantasy that will keep readers guessing until the incredible, jaw-dropping end.
March 26, 2024
A clever and beautifully written thriller about the lives of 3 females in a family exacting revenge for the sins put on them by the various menfolks in their lives. It starts as 2 seemingly separate stories but you quickly understand how they might be related and the plot unfurls as the story progresses linking past and present. Very enjoyable. I will never look at canned fruit the same way!
April 28, 2024
I won this as a Good Reads giveaway. This book has strong feminist themes that I felt were well written. As a crime thriller, I was invested in finding out what would happen next which made it difficult to put the book down. Some mystery elements were a bit predictable for me. I appreciated how everything tied in with a fully developed story and no loose ends.
April 29, 2024
This story was amazing! It will keep you on the edge of your seat to find out what happens next. Literally couldn’t put it down. The things a stay at home mother goes through and challenges of daily survival as a woman.. it contains twists and turns you can’t see what’s coming. Go read amazing book!
June 14, 2024
I loved the premise. From themes of men’s power and control over women, to being a stay at home mother in the suburbs, to seeking safety, mentally or physically, this story resonated with me. Stella and Julie are compelling characters and I enjoyed seeing how they viewed and processed their life experiences. It was hard to put down - the suspense was fun
February 25, 2024
I enjoyed the characters as well as the plot twists. I stayed up late wanting to know what happened. I appreciated that it explored how women taking on traditional roles of raising children, making a household run smoothly, etc can be undervalued and dismissed.
March 25, 2024
I received an ARC from Harper Collins through Goodreads Giveaways.
Enjoyed every little secret revealed, and the three stories/timelines slowly converging together. Sucked me in and I finished the book in just a few days.
Enjoyed every little secret revealed, and the three stories/timelines slowly converging together. Sucked me in and I finished the book in just a few days.
May 29, 2024
I liked this one, but didn’t love it. A lot of the twists were obvious, and the one I didn’t expect had a lousy motive attached to it. The writing is excellent, and I found the chapters in the past to be super compelling. I would still recommend this overall. 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews