SO THIRSTY is the perfect book if you're in the mood for a spooky read! I liked that it also incorporated true friendship and a touch of romance as well. The overall story was very engaging and unforgettable. I've never read anything with vampires and I really can say I actually enjoyed it. Rachel Harrison is a talented writer and I will be reading her back catalog now.

Many thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared closer to publication day on my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews).

3.5 rounded up - I enjoyed this enough but definitely not my fav of Harrison’s. I liked themes of female friendship and choosing how you live your life. But I found Sloane and Naomi a bit grating, in opposite ways, which I think is partially the point but there were times where I was rolling my eyes at them. There’s a little bit of romance, which was fun and I wanted more from. I think my biggest issue is that even though this delves into big topics, it all felt fairly surface level. But if you look at this more of just a fun ride and don’t think too hard, it is a good time that obviously gave some Twilight vibes!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for my e-ARC of So Thirsty!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🩸 love a good vampire story
👯‍♀️ would do anything for your bestie
🫥 have ever felt invisible
🎂 dread your birthday

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn’t need a reminder she’s getting older, or that she’s feeling indifferent about her own life. Her husband surprises her with a birthday-weekend getaway—not with him, but with Sloane’s longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi. Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she’d rather not confront, like her husband’s repeated infidelity.  

But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane’s and Naomi’s lives literally forever. The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it’s never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Another amazing one from Harrison! I loved Black Sheep last year, so I was really excited to see what she came up with next. This twist on vampires was a lot of fun. I loved that she got to experience it all with her best friend, Naomi. The story is a lot deeper than becoming a vampire though - Sloane is dealing with deeply rooted trauma and trying to finally let go of it all, not just to save her relationship with her best friend, but to accept her new life as a vampire. The story is a bit on the long side, but the action and thrills of it all really ramped it up at times. Overall, a fun one, especially if you’re into vampires!

This was fine. It’s like if the writing in Twilight was good in a lit fic way. I liked the characters but have beef with the plot. It was a bit boring. I kept waiting for something big to happen and it felt very pedestrian. The ending should have made me emotional but it didn’t. It felt rushed and muddled and their decisions didn’t make sense to me. I could tell that it was meant to feel special but it fell flat for me.

Harrison does not disappoint. This book is the perfect spooky season - vampire romp you've been waiting for. Loved it! Dang. I'm so thirsty. Please excuse me...

I just adore Rachel Harrison and So Thirsty was fabulous. I will forever read anything she writes! Will purchase for my libraries.

I’m a sucker (😏) for a good vampire story, and this one delivered!

The vibes in this alone were fantastic: a little bit creepy, surprisingly funny, and slightly seductive. I really loved the way the vampires were portrayed in this book, as well as the physical rules around being a vampire (i.e. sunlight exposure, eating/drinking, how death works, etc.). It felt like a more modern take on the trope, and I was here for it.

The relationship between Sloane and Naomi felt a little tumultuous at times, but it also felt pretty real for people who had been friends since they were young teenagers. Their loyalty to one another was nice to see, especially given some of the situations they get into. I also really liked how Harrison wove in the feminist messages throughout Sloane and Naomi’s experiences, and the parallels that were drawn- definitely gives you some things to think about and makes excellent points.

The short chapters made this one super easy to binge, as well as the propulsive story. I was absolutely flying through the last 40 pages of this book, on the edge of my seat, tense about what was going to happen next. This will definitely be one of my favorites this spooky season.

"A woman must learn to take life by the throat after a night out leads to irrevocable changes in this juicy, thrilling novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep.

Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn't need a reminder she's getting older, or that she's feeling indifferent about her own life. Her husband surprises her with a birthday-weekend getaway - not with him, but with Sloane's longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi. Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she'd rather not confront, like her husband's repeated infidelity.

But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane's and Naomi's lives literally forever. The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it's never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected."

Obviously, always here for the vampires, but really here for just the stunning cover illustration. That is just, perfection.

"It seems the cruelest fate, to die scared."

"Though, just because you have all the time in the world doesn't mean you can't still waste it."

This was my first book by Harrison, and I was entertained! I'll definitely be checking out her other books, specifically Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep. As far as this book goes, though, it felt 'safe' in its vampiric journey. For some reason, the stakes never felt high for me. This could easily have been an expectation situation but it did have some highlights that I enjoyed, including some great quotes like the ones above! I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a quick read as the chapters fly by and to anyone that loves vampire stories.

Thank you to Berkeley Pub and NetGalley for this ARC copy!

Unfortunately Rachel Harrison’s books are starting to sour for me a tiny bit. This was still entertaining in a superficial way, if all you want is a book that will keep you entertained and turning pages without needing much depth or meat to the story, this is perfect. It’s a great airport book, the sort of book that is easy to tune in and out of without the sort of complexities that make that difficult, this is the perfect book for you.

I have loved her books, but she’s falling prey to the Ryan Reynolds problem, what we call a shtick, one trick pony, & these things are usually great in the beginning but then after awhile you get sick of it and want something else. That’s def what’s happening here. If this were the first book of hers I’d read I’d probably have rated it a 4 just based on readability and enjoyment, but bc I’m getting sick of reading the same book, it’s gotta be a 3. Not bad but just repetitive at this point, some people love this, when they read an author they just want more of their shtick. For those this would be perfect, but for me this is a 2.75.

I would also title this one Vampiric Thelma and Louise. ;) The main character/narrator Sloane is unhappy with her marriage/life choices and goes on this retreat with her lifelong best friend, Naomi, who lives her life more independently and unhinged. The two women struggle to make sense of each other as they navigate traveling and making decisions--it seems like the gap between them is wider than it has been before so it's causing tension. To complicate things further, Naomi insists on going to a house party with some strangers--eager to step out of her comfort zone, Sloane acquiesces. This leads to a pretty significant, life-altering event.
Thankful for the epilogue but I was wanting more from this for some reason. It just seemed like Sloane and Naomi were both pretty confused and having trouble sorting themselves out. It does end beautifully which I think is what everyone wants from a Rachel Harrison novel. She can write the heck out of female friendships for sure!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc.*

This was a super-fun, wild ride. I enjoyed the author's irreverent humor and the strong character development. The ending was a bit too rushed for me, but I still had a great time reading this book.

So Thirsty
by Rachel Harrison
Narrated by Brittany Pressley

Thank you partner @berkleypub @prhaudio for the free ebook & audiobook. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram #prhaudio

About the book 👇🏽

Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn’t need a reminder she’s getting older, or that she’s feeling indifferent about her own life. Her husband surprises her with a birthday-weekend getaway—not with him, but with Sloane’s longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi. Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she’d rather not confront, like her husband’s repeated infidelity.

But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane’s and Naomi’s lives literally forever. The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it’s never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected.

🩸 My thoughts:

Geezus! This is exactly the vampire book I needed and wanted. It was impossible not to devour this book… I tried to savor it but I did not succeed. If I wasn’t reading it on my kindle, then I was listening to the audiobook and now I need a physical copy stat! It’s dark and witty with a dash of spice making this story perfect for me. The narrator, Brittany Pressley, was phenomenal and really brought this story to life. I’d recommend both versions of this book! Everyone that reads or listened to this book is going to completely lap it up and if they don’t… they read it wrong. Honestly though, it’s perfect for spooky season and it’s just what I was looking for as my mood shifts from summer to fall. Are you looking for a story to satisfy? A story to… quench your thirst? Get ready because So Thirsty hirs shelves September 10th!!

Happy reading 📖 🩸🎧

Read if you like books with:
🧛‍♀️ Vampires
🩸 Bloodlust
💍 Crappy partners
👯‍♀️ Messt Female Friendships
😘 A bit of romance

This book was so much fun! If you are wanting just vampire vibes and wanted to see more of bloodlust from Bella and what it would have been like in Twilight if they didn’t drink animal blood cause it was nasty to the vampires, this book will be for you!

Also, if you wished that Bella had closer female friends and turned with one of them, was older, and jaded in a non-teenager way, I think you will also really enjoy this.

The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Presley and once again she knocked it out of the park as one of my fave narrators!

I also loved that with the characters being older than those we typically see getting turned into vampires that they had more messy backstories that led to some interesting plot points and a satisfying found family vibe by the end!

Thank you so much to Berkley and PRHA for my ARC and gifted audiobook copies of this one in exchange for my honest review!

Rachel Harrison is by far my favorite horror author. Her writing is crisp and to the point. So Thirsty is an incredible take on vampires and female friendship. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the rage. This one felt like if Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle meshed together in terms of vibes. Highly recommend!

Move over Pedro Pascal-I have a new Daddy and his name is Henry! Hot damn is he sexy as hell. Whew! The spice and his prose is just *chefs kiss*

Spooky Season must read! I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this. It is totally my favorite of Harrisons (so far) I just absolutely love the way she writes. Her wit and razor sharp commentary always gets me. This book though, I felt seen within these characters and it touched on lots of personal things for me. I also love a friendship and this one is forever. It felt real and the way they spoke to each other was how my sister and I interact. I loved the message and “choosing yourself over everything else” shined through. I think we forget that sometimes, especially as females. Definitely run and get this, it’s a must! Thank you @berkleypub, @netgalley @rachelharrisonsghost for my beautiful copy!

This author slays me every time! Each book is different, while still having the same unsettling vibes. What I love most about this one, it’s a friendship story!!!!

Two besties, completely different in every way, but who love one another so completely!! Gah, I LOVEDDDD IT!

One night changes Sloane’s life so irrevocably that nothing will ever be the same. Dreading her birthday, her husband surprises her with a birthday getaway… with her bestie, not him. Equally anticipating and dreading this getaway, she hopes to make the most of it. She doesn’t get to spend much time with Naomi so she hopes for a weekend of luxury and relaxation.

She should have expected her wild child best friend to make so plans, she wasn’t expecting her to make plans with a strange group of people neither of them know.

The night goes from bad to worse and Sloane and Naomi race away having been forever changed. This books tests their friendship in multiple ways, bringing old fights to the surface, making them fully face things they never wanted to face.

And it was SO GOOD.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison asks the question, “How do we know the difference between a curse and a cure?”

Stuck in a rut and sent away for her birthday by her philandering partner, Sloane reconnects with an old friend. A private party goes awry, and the friends are saddled for all eternity with a powerful thirst.

After a lifetime of safe, responsible choices, will the new perspective allow Sloane to throw caution to the wind? Will she ever dare to truly live her life?

So Thirsty is a bloody, delightful jaunt into the possibilities provided by vampirism for escaping the gravity of personal inertia.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for access to the digital ARC.

Harrison’s next novel fits seamlessly with her other work. This book made me think, girlhood, but make it spooky! Main characters Naomi and Sloane had a very authentic and relatable relationships. I was able to see myself in both characters. They made some seriously questionable yet satisfying choices. Almost like a modern day, horror theme, Thelma and Louise. The horror level is not unmanageable for someone like me who is a bit squeamish. I love the bit of romance in the story, the play on the importance of found family, and the overall modernization of vampires. My biggest wish is that the story was longer. It felt a bit unresolved in the end, or too quickly wrapped up without complete resolution. I am happy with the ending but wished there was more leading up to it, to tie it in a nice bow. Overall Harrison stays one of the most unique authors of the current time and I this book adds nicely to any Harrison fans library.

So Thirsty is a modern vampire story that had me laughing and feeling unsettled within the same paragraph. In true Harrison fashion, the author is able to bring wit and humor into a horror story as well as infuse the writing with sentiment and deeper meaning.

I don't really consider this a true horror story as much as literary fiction with some horror elements. It's not scary and would be good for someone looking for a satirical read with some spooky moments and some romance portions thrown in among reflections on female friendships and aging with an examination on life choices and past regrets.

I wish the ending hadn't been so abrupt and I felt like there was more story to tell so I was a bit disappointed when I got to the final page. I wanted more! I also felt that it became a bit too redundant at some points. That's what keeps this from being a five star for me. But it is still a fun ride that had me thirsty for more with every turn of the page. I will read anything this author writes. 🖤✨

Anyway, I will now be addressing people as "hoss" and no one can stop me. If you like your spooky with a side of silly and sentimental moments then get this.