It’s Sloane Parker’s birthday and she’s not looking forward to it. However her husband has surprised her with a weekend getaway with her wild friend Naomi and, while they are away, Naomi convinces Sloane to throw off her usual caution and have a crazy night out with a mysterious stranger. That night takes a turn which changes Sloane and Naomi forever.

See, this is why we can’t do fun things. Not that it actually sounded like fun. But you know what I mean. Poor Sloane. The book was pretty much what I expected….it’s not impossible to do new stuff with vampires, but it’s not easy, either.

I am so grateful to Berkley Pub & NetGalley for the this ARC. I finished it in one day because I could not put it down. Another banger from Rachel Harrison. I don’t often have strong reactions to books. In fact it’s downright rare. This book was great: pacing, story development, themes, humor, everything just fit together so well. Pub date is September 10, 2024 so mark your calendar now!

So Thirsty tells the story of Sloane Parker who is NOT looking forward to her birthday or aging. She feels uncertain. Uncertain in life uncertain in love. Sloane’s husband surprises her with a birthday weekend getaway, not with him, but with her best friend, the electric, Naomi. The two have been best friends for over 20 years. They’ve seen each other at every stage of life.

When the two arrive at the getaway cottage, it’s obvious they both have different ideas of what the weekend has in store for them. Naomi just wants Sloane to cut loose and live a little, so she sets up a night out with an eclectic group she just met. The night takes a horrific turn that changes them forever…

Wow I could not have devoured this faster! This has got to be by far my favorite book Harrison has written thus far. The dynamic between Sloane and Naomi is the epitome of girlhood, first love, and family. No one writes female connection and friendship quite like Harrison. I guarantee if you’ve read one of her books you’ve seen your own friendships reflected back to you.

In addition to the picture perfect view of female solidarity, Harrison also gives us a view of the unfair beauty standards set against aging women. The cosmetics and measures we take to feel value, and still feel incredibly negative about our outward appearance. Her commentary on women being their own worst enemy is painted beautifully. It is an exploration into autonomy, what it means to have it or not have it. I could not recommend this book more!

So Thirsty is out September 9th 2024! Preorder your copy today (I’ve had mine preordered since December of last year)

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🤍

The book kicks off with a captivating premise: two best friends experience an unforgettable night that turns them into vampires—a classic fantasy that’s intriguing right off the bat. However, despite the promising start, the narrative struggles with uneven pacing and a crowded field of similar vampire tales, which dilutes its impact. As the story progresses towards its conclusion, it feels as if it loses direction, culminating in a hurried and somewhat disjointed final chapter. Character development seems incomplete, and key themes like the importance of chosen family are not resolved in a gratifying way. Overall, this book garners a three-star rating from me, primarily for its initial allure but also as a reflection of its struggles to stand out in a genre that feels increasingly crowded.

Rachel Harrison has done it again with this one. So Thirsty is her best yet. Harrison’s releases are always my most-anticipated.

Rachel Harrison has such a special way of writing strong female friendship narratives in her books and this might just take the cake for me.
‘So Thirsty’ is everything I never knew I needed in a campy, modern day, fantastical and grotesque vampire story. We follow best friends Sloan and Naomi (who are giving MAJOR ‘Jennifer’s Body’ friendship vibes) as they embark on a girls trip away for Sloans 30-something birthday. With Naomi questioning her long term relationship and Sloan tired of her cheating husband, they’re optimistic for a weekend of excitement. And excitement do they get… when a mysterious dark broody man invites them to his home for an evening soirée.
The night quickly escalates to weird and horrific events. I won’t say more because letting this story unravel was beyond fun in the moment!
To be so for real I never left my twilight era, and reading this more grown up and spooky vampire book brought back so many nostalgic feelings for me and more.
* Thank you Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of this delicious novel. Below is my honest review.

I discovered Rachel Harrison last year, thanks to getting an early copy of Black Sheep from Berkley, and am really glad I did. Her horror novels are a LOT of fun, finding a perfect balance of gruesome and comedic, dark and snark, human and monstrous.

So Thirsty was a rollicking good time, and honestly, a lot deeper than you'd think when you picked up a horror novel. This isn't just your average vampire novel. This one delves into the themes of relationships... love, friendship, family, and most importantly, the relationship you have with yourself.

One thing I really love is that it does have some setup at the beginning, but it's sprinkled in as Sloane and Naomi hit the road on a friend-trip for Sloane's birthday, and the whole atmosphere just screams "this won't end well." Once they hit the resort, the gas pedal is pushed all the way down and doesn't let up. From creepy shadowy figures at their second floor windows at night to rattling chains in the basement to an unquenchable thirst for blood, this one will grab you by the neck and hold you while it drains you until late into the night.

Absolute gem of a novel. Highly recommended. I can't wait to catch up on Harrison's catalogue. I already have my copy of Such Sharp Teeth and will be taking a bite out of it soon.

I really enjoyed this one. Rachel Harrison never fails to knock it out of the park! I did feel that Sloane's constant cynicism and negativity throughout the whole book made the story drag a bit. I'm not usually a fan a characters that are a debbie-downers, but since the story was so compelling I was able to look past it. Aside from that little nit-pick, this was a very fast and addicting read! If you're a fan of gory thrillers I highly recommend So Thirsty!

First off, the premise of this book had me hype. Two bffs have a wild night and end up immortal vampires. What's not to love? It's a dream come true, right? Well, in a way, that is what we get. I think a lot of people will love this book. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit for me. It had some pacing issues throughout and the ending left me feeling like Harrison just got tired of the story. The chapter before the epilogue is choppy and rushed. I didn't feel as though either characters' arcs had been fully fulfilled, that the interpersonal conflicts had been resolved, or that there was any satisfying wrap up to the found-family elements. Overall, it was underwhelming. 2.5 stars.

Rachel Harrison never misses. Not even once. So Thirsty is so good. It hit me right in the nostalgia for all those vampire books I read growing up that were so formative for me. This is my new Companions of the Night, my new Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. As much about friendship and learning how to finally live (your unlife, in this case) as it is about blood drinking creatures who stalk the night, So Thirsty is everything I could want from a vampire book. Bloody, scary, heartfelt, a bit of romance just for fun - perfection.

Oh my god! How I loved this book! "So Thirsty" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a vampire tale with a side of portraying well executed friendship that really touched my heart! Rachel Harrison has truly nailed it, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more of her works!

Rachel Harrison's writing had me completely captivated from the moment I opened this book. As I immersed myself in the world she created, I was instantly drawn in by her storytelling skills, her vibrant characters, and her ability to craft intricate plots that kept me hooked late into the night.

Firstly, let's talk about Sloane Parker, your typical girl feeling stuck in life. She's dreading her birthday and her husband's surprise getaway seems like the perfect way to shake things up. Little does she know, this weekend is about to become way more exciting than she ever imagined, all thanks to her best friend Naomi.

Naomi is trouble with a capital T, and I absolutely love it! She embraces life to the fullest and is determined to take Sloane along for the ride. From wild nights out to encounters with mysterious strangers, this getaway takes a supernatural turn, and I am here for every spine-tingling moment!

But this book isn't just about the thrills – it has a lot of heart too. And that's what I loved so much about this book! It was a blend of everything that really captured my heart. Sloane and Naomi's friendship is truly inspiring! They support each other through thick and thin, and witnessing their journey through the chaos is like receiving a warm hug for the soul.
And they have so many hilarious moments together that add an extra layer of enjoyment to the story.

Now, let's discuss Rachel Harrison's unique take on vampires. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before – both chilling and captivating. The way she seamlessly incorporates supernatural elements into the story is truly impressive, and I couldn't get enough of it! Overall, I recommend this book a lot!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

"So Thirsty" is a thrilling feminist horror that will keep you hooked with its fast pace and unexpected twists.

While the romance is well-handled, the heart of the story lies in the strong friendship between Sloane and Naomi, exploring themes of female friendship amid all the supernatural chaos. Rachel Harrison's talent for blending horror with profound themes makes 'So Thirsty' an engaging read.

As a big fan of her work, I can't wait to see what she does next!

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, and Rachel Harrison for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I love this author’s books and was so excited to read this one because I’m also a vampire fan! However, I sadly didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped…

This book follows Sloane Parker and her best friend Naomi as they go to a rental cottage for a vacation. Sloane’s life is complicated, so Naomi decides for them to go out and they meet a strange group of people.

I wasn’t really interested in their friendship and I’m not too sure why. The vampires were very fun to read about though and I loved the scenes with them. The book seemed pretty slow-paced to me though and the ending wasn’t really satisfying. I’m sure some others would enjoy it more though! And I'm still really interested in seeing what Harrison comes up with next.

One thing about me, I will absolutely devour a Rachel Harrison book! Her books are always so intriguing and fast paced that it’s so easy to sit down and end up finishing the book in one sitting. So Thirsty was no different. I had so much fun with this one! Can’t wait to see what she does next.

Sharp, witty, yet still horror. I read this book in one day. You need to go in blind, only knowing that it’s about vampires.

This book takes place in a little under a week, specifically covering the period of time when someone first becomes a vampire. The character development was perfection. Of course I would love to read a whole book on each character’s background, we had just the right amount of information about everyone for the length of time the book covers.

It was fun and fast paced, and had me laughing while equally horrified. I highly recommend this one.

This was fun! I was in the mood for a vampire book and this sounded interesting, definitely took some turns I wasn’t expecting! I got a little bored towards the end but overall a pretty good time.

Another fantastic, spooky, feministic novel by Rachel. It gave me Such Sharp Teeth vibes and I mean that as a compliment! I love everything and anything Rachel writes and this is just another one.

I'm so excited to have finally read my first Rachel Harrison book! Overall, this was a fun read (I love anything about vampires) but I think I just needed a little more.

Sloane is a thirty-something woman who is dreading her upcoming birthday. She takes a birthday-weekend getaway trip with her best friend and troublemaker, Naomi. What starts as a relaxing weekend at a cozy cottage quickly turns to something different because of Sloane's wild antics and ideas. Sloane and Naomi find themselves intertwined with a mysterious and odd group of strangers who turn out to be—you guessed it—vampires.

The thing I really enjoyed about this novel is that it is almost more about friendship than it is about vampires. Sloane and Naomi have been friends for ages, and this story really touches on the trials and tribulations friendships may have (especially when you have a run in with a group of attractive vampires). I found this aspect of the book really heartwarming, and I liked learning more about their friendship. What I didn't love about this novel was how the vampire lore was portrayed. I don't want to say too much because of spoilers, but it wasn't my favorite group of vampires that I've read about. I think I had a disconnect somewhere because usually I love vampire characters from the first page that they appear, but this didn't happen for me at all this time. So that was disappointing. This was a fun, quick read, but I needed a little more oomph.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was raised in the era of Twilight so I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for a good vamp novel. This one was INCREDIBLE. I started reading it at 12:30am and finally had to force myself to put it down at 3:30, only to wake up and immediately dive right back in again. I think the problem a lot of vampire novels have is that the vampires take themselves too seriously which can come across cringey but the thing I loved the most about this one is that they were playful. Ilie was truly the star of the show, I think I highlighted every line of his dialogue. He was funny, honest, and sweet—a rarity for a vampire but it was such a breath of fresh air.

My only two critiques is that I wish there had’ve been a tad more smut (I know, I know. Not everything needs smut and too much is a bad thing, but I think this one could’ve used one really good scene where they just go to pound town) and I wish there was more of it. I’m a bonafide sequel hater but if she wanted to make this into a series, I am fully on board. Got my life jacket, junior sailor’s hat, and cooler full of snacks ready to go, captain!

TLDR: Sexy adult Twilight, please make a sequel.

Rachel Harrison's writing had me absolutely hooked from the moment I cracked open this book. As I delved into the world she crafted, I found myself instantly drawn in by her storytelling prowess, her vibrant characters, and her ability to weave intricate plots that kept me turning pages late into the night.

First up, we've got Sloane Parker, your typical gal feeling stuck with her life. She's dreading her birthday like nobody's business, and her hubby's surprise getaway seems like just the ticket to shake things up. But little does she know, this weekend is about to get way more lit than she ever imagined, thanks to her BFF Naomi.

Naomi is the definition of trouble with a capital T, and I am living for it! She's all about living life to the max, and she's determined to drag Sloane along for the ride. From wild nights out to run-ins with mysterious strangers, this getaway takes a turn for the supernatural, and I am here for every spooky moment!

But it's not just about the thrills—this book has major heart too. Sloane and Naomi's friendship? Total goals! They've got each other's backs through thick and thin, and watching them navigate the craziness together is like a warm hug for the soul. And don't even get me started on the hilarious moments, like trying to do makeup without a mirror.

And let's talk about Rachel Harrison's take on vampires. It's like nothing I've ever seen before—equal parts chilling and captivating. The way she weaves the supernatural elements into the story is seriously impressive, and I couldn't get enough of it!

"So Thirsty" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good vampire tale with a side of friendship goals. Rachel Harrison totally nails it, and I can't wait to read more of her works!