Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your impressions of the book? What did you like? What did you dislike?

2. Compare and contrast Play Nice to any of Rachel Harrison’s other books, including Cackle, which also focuses on relationships among women as well as between “difficult” women and the society in which they live. What similarities or differences do you note between the two texts?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you or someone you know ever experienced something paranormal? What were the circumstances of the event? Did you share what you experienced with others? Did they believe you?

2. Recall an experience that you remember differently from someone else who was there. Do your different memories of the event cause any tension in the relationship? If so, why? If not, can you identify the reason the “contested memory” doesn’t bother you?

3. Have you ever modified your behavior so as to be more “likable”? If so, what motivated you to do this?

4. To which sister could you most relate: Clio, Daphne, or Leda? In what ways?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Harrison implicitly criticizes men who cannot tolerate women who question their authority, and she suggests—via Alex’s and Clio’s characters—that this intolerance is the status quo in society. How does the novel reflect, or contribute to, current debates around gender roles and gendered expectations?

2. The book’s contemporary setting highlights the era of social media influencers and highly curated content meant to persuade. How does the novel provide critique or commentary on the potential benefits and drawbacks of the influencer industry?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Analyze the novel’s narrative style and pacing. What literary and narrative techniques does Harrison use to create tension, narrative momentum, and/or to build mystery around the house?

2. Consider the novel’s title and how “play nice” becomes a motif in the text. How does Clio’s understanding of this phrase change over time? How does the phrase illuminate some of the text’s key themes and ideas?

3. How would you characterize the demon? What is its wider role and significance in the text?

4. Examine how the novel explores the nature of mother-daughter bonds. How does the novel portray these relationships, in terms of both how they can help and harm those involved in them?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie, who would you cast as Clio, Daphne, Leda, Alex, James, and Amy? Discuss your choices.

2. If each main character were an animal, say, or a color, which animal or color would you ascribe to them? Why? You might consider creating a colorful collage to depict your favorite character’s qualities and traits in the story.