<i>First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

I honestly don't know what to say, y'all. This was my first Harrison book, even though I have been wanting to read [book:Cackle|61058915] & [book:Black Sheep|69704909] for ages. I was really excited for this book, but mostly I found it to be boring.

It was like 40% of the way through before we got to vampires!

Sloane is insufferable, to me. She doesn't know what she wants, she's constantly waffling, and I wish she would just make up her goddamn mind.

Overall, this was very meh for me. Plenty of other vampire books out there I wish I had read instead of this one.

So Thirsty,is a vampire book where it feels like everything goes wrong. The characters are “unlikeable” and frustrating. I read two vampire books over the summer of 2024 and So Thirst especially got me itching to rewatch True Blood. Thank you Berkeley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

Rachel Harrison is definitely a new auto-buy author for me!
So Thirsty gave me the perfect vampire vibes that I was looking for during spooky season. It has a bit of a different take on vampires than I’ve previously read and I really enjoyed that!

i got 30% of the way through this one and literally NOTHING had happened except two friends met up for a girls trip... and then all of a sudden they were at a weird orgy? and that is when i DNFed this one, no regrets!!!

turns out rachel harrison books really aren't for me, i'm 0 for 3 at this point and should have learned my lesson

Rachel Harrison is becoming known for her unique brand of cozy horror and So Thirsty is no exception. So thirsty is Harrison's take on vampires just as Cackle was her take on Witches and Such Sharp Teeth was her take on werewolves. Sloane is the part of us that would rather play it safe than risk heartbreak and disappointment, but when playing it safe is no longer an option she is faced with all the choices of an immortal life. Hit close to home, but in the best way possible.

his book had an intriguing concept—thirty-something vampires with complicated, long-term friendships—but ultimately fell short for me with its lack of depth. The relationship between the characters felt shallow, and their friendship lacked more genuine development. Sloane’s character leans toward self-righteousness, which may resonate with readers who enjoy more flawed, introspective protagonists, while Naomi’s bold, risk-taking nature provides a strong contrast. The romance incorporates a fated mates element, though it unfolds quickly, leaving room for interpretation. Despite some pacing issues, this story presents thought-provoking themes about friendship, identity, and the search for meaning—elements that readers who appreciate character-driven, reflective narratives might enjoy.

I may be in the minority in saying this but I absolutely loved this!

In this book we are following Sloane, a woman conflicted about her aging self and obsessed with always making the best and safest decisions, even if that means sacrificing her happiness. We are also following Naomi, Sloane's best friend and resident party girl. The women are brought together after some time apart to celebrate Sloane's birthday - a girls trip weekend - where things get a little more bloody and adventurous than either woman anticipated.

First off, I loved the writing in this. I feel like with each new book Rachel Harrison is getting more confident in her writing style and it just so happens to be one that I adore. I will admit that Sloane and Naomi were a bit insufferable as characters but I truly feel like that is one of the author's strongest suits when it comes to the stories that she tells - none of her characters tend to be particularly likable or easy to root for and they receive no stand out redemption arc over the course of the story. Instead, the characters are flawed from the beginning and remain flawed until the end and I think that goes a long way in making the characters feel more realistic and relatable.

This is also a book that is packed with social commentary. Sloane, as a character, is faced with the realities of aging as her birthday arrives and it is not something that she is happy about. There are no punches held when it comes to talking about how society treats aging women and the ways that you are perceived (or rather not) as you become an older woman. The author also uses Sloane to comment on codependency and the ways in which we will sacrifice ourselves and what we want and what may actually be best for us in order to maintain those relationships. There is this allure of the status quo but that same status quo can also lead to us being overcome with longing for anything new that can make us grow. It is showcased with both women in this story how we can thirst and desire wanting to feel wanted, wanting to be successful and wanting to have a good time and not focus on just our responsibilities.

It also goes without saying that this book is a hell of a good time. Things are bloody and gory - as one would expect with a vampire novel - but there is so much more. There are orgies, car chases, explosions, and plenty of comic relief. I also picked up on some of the more subtle nods to iconic friendships like Thelma and Louise, especially in the end, and I also thought the vampire characters and their relationships with one another were so hilarious and kinda wholesome. I know that there could be some issue taken with Naomi as a character and how toxic she seems but, in my opinion, both women were toxic to one another and every unhinged thing that Naomi does in the course of the book totally tracks with her as a person. I think that since we see Naomi primarily through Sloane's eyes we see her as worse than she really is. I think that is a commentary on how we can get so wrapped up in the mundane aspects of our lives and think so poorly of those in our lives who are trying to pull us out of that comfort zone and grow as people, for better or for worse.

The epilogue was another great aspect of this book. I feel like, oftentimes, epilogues can be pretty hit or miss but I loved seeing how it wrapped up the story and that we got to know for sure where all of our characters ended up. Ultimately, I had a fucking blast while reading this on the surface level and also loved all the social commentary and metaphors that were lying deeper in the narrative. It wasn't anything new or groundbreaking in terms of the genre or with vampire stories but it was well done.

I'm conflicted about this one because part of me loved it but part of me also really didn't. My main issue is with the characters and feeling annoyed by them for most of the story. I think the vampire aspect was done really well and that's what I loved most about this book. I think I'll continue reading anything Rachel Harrison publishes but Cackle is still my favorite by far!

3.5*

If you enjoy Thelma and Louise, but wish it had more vampires, this is the book for you.

Funny, gritty, and with heart and depth, Harrison weaves a perfect tale of spooky and silly.

Though I found the book to be sluggish in places and hard to power through, I enjoyed it overall.

I absolutely adore Rachel Harrison's work and I really enjoyed this one. This particular book isn't my favorite of hers but I still very much enjoyed it. This was definitely her most gruesome and gory book to date which perfectly fits with the theme. I also found these monsters to be the most unnerving of all her monsters. Overall the horror aspect of this was amazing.
I also found the relationships in this book to be really realistic. The female friendships especially felt very genuine in how complex they were. I also really liked one of the male vampires. I found his easy and funny personality to be very refreshing.
The only thing that brought this down was the romance. It felt very Twilight to me and I feel like we've moved past that as a community. The stalking and meant to be thing just felt creepy to me. It also felt like Henry was taking advantage of the situation to get what he wanted. Henry was really what brought this down for me.
Overall this was a solid book. It was perfect for the spooky season and a great addition to Harrison's catalog. I definitely can't wait to see what she writes next.

Genre: Horror

Format: Audio

4.5🌟 - I really liked it!

Thanks @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted physical and audio copies!

Summoning all Twilight girlies with this one! Hello vampires! I love the way Rachel Harrison writes so much. Her humor is EVERYTHING! She truly has become an auto-buy author for me.

This is very much a Thelma and Louise vibe, and I was here for it! Her books read like a movie, and I would love to see this adapted one day to screen! This one was amazing on audio 🎧! Feminist themes woven with female friendship, this is one to add to your fall list.

Now time to read her whole backlist!

So Thirsty was absolutely wild!! Like what did I just read?!!? This book kept my attention the entire time and I was dying to sit down and read every night. Rachel Harrison never disappoints.

Sloane is a woman that is living a very routine life, has a cheating husband, & feels very indifferent to the life she's living. Her best friend, Naomi, is the complete opposite & wants Sloane to live it all. When a weekend birthday retreat that was meant for wine tasting takes a darker turn, both woman's lives are changed for eternity.

I had such a good time reading this book. I loved all the chaos the women put themselves in & how they faced their situation. I love stories that show strong female friendships, Sloane & Naomi were a great pair. I enjoyed all the horror & creepy vibes it offered. It was so fast paced & i could not put it down. I highly recommend if your in the mood for an action packed paranormal thriller!

Incredibly enjoyable (maybe a little bit less so right before your birthday like I did)! I never expected a vampire mid-life crisis novel but this was well executed and I loved and hated both Sloane and Naomi.

“Aging isn’t just about our bodies decaying while we’re still inside them. It’s about living with the accumulation of experiences. The heavy burden of the ugly ones, the longing for the beautiful.”

Sloane and Naomi are best friends, even though they are complete opposites. For Sloane’s birthday, they go away on a little trip. They decide to meet up with some beautiful, mysterious strangers. What could go wrong?

I fully expected this to be a 5 ⭐️ read. While I loved some of Harrison’s other books, it pains me to say this one wasn’t for me. Reading this was an odd experience because I felt no connection with any of the characters. Something felt missing. There were parts I did like. Harrison always does a phenomenal job at mixing cozy, witty, and dark. I enjoyed the theme of self discovery. I really loved the vampires and kind of wish we got more background and lore.

This book was about vampires, yes, but it was also about friendship. I think what turned me off was how insufferable I found Naomi to be. Maybe I’m being a tad harsh, but it’s been a while since a character made me feel like I’ve had enough 😭 It made it difficult for me to root for the friendship when I didn’t like their relationship.

I really wanted to love this and am sad I didn’t. I’ve seen so many amazing reviews so I’m glad others had a much better reading experience!

This has been the first book I have binged since giving birth & I’m ecstatic about it! So Thirsty was such a treat and I’m glad I saved it for spooky season!

More than a story about vampires, it’s a story about getting older, feeling stuck but being too scared to do anything about it, found families and fierce friendships.

Sloane is stuck living a complacent life, she’s not necessarily happy but she doesn’t want to rock the boat and have to start over. That is until she’s forced to… after a girls weekend with her best friend, Naomi, goes left. 🩸🩸🩸

I loved Sloane & Naomi’s friendship, how it was messy but also full of love.

Read if you like:
🩸 Moderate Gore
🩸 Female Friendships & Found Family
🩸 Toxic Relationships
🩸 Identity Questions

Twilight for adults: an older Bella, less romance, more gore 🫣

Thank you @berkleypub for my #gifted copy!

If you’re looking for a Halloween read that you can binge in the next 24 hours, this is the book for you!

Sloane is dreading her birthday, but her husband has surprised her with a trip with her best friend, Naomi, to celebrate. On their girl’s weekend, Naomi takes the pair out for a wild night that ends with some pretty big consequences.

I highly recommend going into this book blind. It’s a wild ride that will sink its teeth into you.

So Thirsty is a perfect Halloween read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#litbylillireviews

Who doesn't love a vampire story around Halloween? This was definitely a fun read, although I wasn't crazy about the ending. It was kind of like, ok they're vampires now, so now what? Let's cause some havoc, but then....what?? What really comes next? I know that's something they need to figure out but I feel like there was a lot of unanswered plot points.

This is the third book I've read from this author, and it did not disappoint! I love how she writes, and it's always the perfect blend of horror and humor. I really loved her spin on vampire lore and absolutely loved all the vampires in this! I loved every scene with Henry and co and craved more! I did struggle with some of the pacing of this book and felt a little disconnected with Sloan, the main character,but overall, I really had a lot of fun reading this

I'm just going to hop off the Rachel Harrison train. ALL her dang books sound so good then I read them and Meh?

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.