I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 3*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 3*
Characters: 3*

I was getting serious true blood vibes from both the plot and the characters. Henry and Eric are bascially the same (this is no bad image *heart eyes*), but i just wanted a bit more from the story. I felt like a lot of scenarios were a bit far fetched (yes, I know this is a vampire story) and Naomi grated on me no end.
I much prefered other books by this author, but she is still an auto go-to for me, this one just wasnt my favourite.

A mix of women’s fiction and paranormal, with a pinch of horror. I’m not sure uf I feltnold at 30s but I appreciated the unusual birthday weekend and the consequences.
The author plays with tropes and genres in an interesting way. Well done

A great horror read! Fun enough to appeal to less serious horror readers with enough darkness to keep horror fans onboard.

Creepy, dark, thriller with a humorous twist.

I love Rachel Harrison’s writing but this story just wasn’t for me. I couldn't bring myself to care for Naomi and Sloane, while relatable to me, was a drag.

I liked the vampire angle but the action wasn’t for me. There was no sense of urgency.

Thank you to the punisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rachel Harrison has become a 'must buy' author for me. Even though I was kindly sent an ARC, I love to collect her books for my shelf, as I know they'll always be excellent reads and re-reads. Plus I can recommend them to visiting friends!

I was REALLY excited for 'So Thirsty', as vampires have been my go-to favourite monster since I first read 'Dracula' years ago. Of course, Rachel handles them in her own unique manner, and this was a vampire novel like no other - which is a rare thing these days.

I admit, I actually had some trouble reading this in places, and had to put the book aside to catch myself and take a moment. Not because of the horror at all, though; because as a middle-aged woman myself, a LOT of the social commentary and narrative hit home hard. Rachel nailed some of the feelings I've experienced, both as I've aged and prior to my divorce. This woman speaks for many of us, and I do appreciate that, but the truth can be tough to take in when presented so well!

My favourite Harrison remains 'Black Sheep', I think, because the humour just gave it that extra edge for me. But the power of this book cannot be denied. She's going from strength to strength and I will absolutely be there for her work moving forward.

4.5 stars rounded up.

So Thirsty follows two best friends, Sloane and Naomi, sent on a surprise birthday trip by Sloane’s husband. Instead of cake and candles, they leave with unexpected, irrevocable changes, feeding on their true desires and leaving behind those that stifle them.

Sloane is masochistically paying for the sins of her youth by living a prescribed, perfunctory life - existing alongside a cheating husband and desperately trying to cling to the mediocre life she thinks she should have. Naomi, a wild, vivacious hedonist who can’t sit still and thrives on spontaneity, encourages Sloane towards adventure and new experiences; to utilise the trip to lean into her desire, her rebellion, her craving for more; to confront her reality. The pair join a group of enigmatic European’s at a grand mansion, with Naomi quickly joining in on the fun. Sloane refuses their invitation of shared pleasure before delving into deep, intimate conversation with a charismatic stranger. The evening progresses positively but unease nibbles and gnashes at Sloane. When she can bear the mystery no longer, she inadvertently releases an inexplicable danger, changing the course of their lives forever.

“To exist is to participate in destruction”.

Ultimately, this is a story about friends who will give everything to each other and everything for each other. Developing from childhood idolisation and quickly becoming best friends, they’re firmly rooted as each other’s person. Though they may fight, they’re entwined, enmeshed, and enamoured with each other. There may be romantic and sexual relationships, but they’re the true love story. They would kill and die for each other, only for each other, and share an integral bond.

Throughout the book, Sloan and Naomi could have easily been partners. I hoped ending their respective romantic relationships may draw them closer, particularly with how Naomi ended hers. Though there are some queer moments with various characters, this isn’t outright nor acknowledged between the friends. Maybe as their lives continue, this could be explored in the future, but I’m doubtful as each seemed to be paired with a new man. I enjoyed the found family, and that these strangers care so much about them so quickly, willingly doing whatever is needed. I would’ve liked to explore the group dynamics further and see how they continue to interact past this initial period. Things have changed for all of them, and they all need time to adapt to their new reality.

This change is mostly positive. For Sloan, becoming a vampire gave her freedom. Freedom from the sunk cost fallacy and trying to like the prescribed life she thought she should, despite nefarious, rebellious urges. Freedom from suffering her husband’s infidelity, from shying away from what she wants, from denying her needs and desires. She no longer has to long to live freely, unbound from self imposed limitations. She’s yearned for more for far too long. Finally, Sloan can be free - just like Naomi, who seemingly adapts easily, leaning into her cravings and her instincts, though she can be too reckless. This shared change pulls them closer together, and their devotion becomes increasingly obvious (and increasingly dangerous), culminating in a raw, desperate act of love. Did they need this change? Yes. Did they deserve it? Well, deserves got nothing to do with it. The vampires recognised something within them, making an exception for them, granting them this ‘gift’ and helping them transition. It’s a fairytale, full of death and destruction and desire and discovery. Sloan just has to give in.

I had a great time reading this. It’s a whole lot of fun and I was itching for more. As the remaining pages dwindled, I found myself not wanting it to end. I could’ve read so much more (and if Rachel Harrison fancies writing a sequel, I’ll be waiting). It did end too suddenly, though poetically. I wanted more of their vampire adventures, more of their growth, and more of their love. As much as I want Sloan and Naomi together, or the group in some kind of poly relationship, and to avoid automatically allocating the only men in the group to them, they are both understood and encouraged by their respective new love interests.

I could analyse this book over and over, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it, I just needed more. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Rachel Harrison has become one of my favorite female writers. When I saw the option to request this book I jumped on it. I have to say it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. I love how she writes female characters and their struggles. I loved how this book had a few different takes on being a vampire. I loved the relationship between the characters. It had a nice balance of horror and drama / character development.

I continue to love Rachel and look forward to anything she writes next

need a reminder she is getting older. Her husband surprises her with a birthday weekend getaway - not with him her long time best friend, trouble maker extraordairne Naomi. Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings, cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she would rather not confront, like her husband's repeated infidelity. But when they arrive jr becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers which doesn't end well.

Ever since I discovered Rachel Harrison through reading Cackle I always look forward to a new release. I was lucky enough to be sent a proof of So Thirsty by Titan Books and I purposely kept it for my October tbr. Harrison's books vary in the level of horror and gore but one thing that remains in all of them is the distraction of the human condition. In each of her books her female protagonist is wrestling with the ordinary every day just as much if not more than the strange and unusual. In So Thirsty Sloane has a strong sense of loyalty which has a huge effect on both her love life and friendships. She is not living the life she wants and that's doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon, in fact it may get even worse. From the cover you can't help but tell what kind of book this is going to be but the way the vampires were brought into the story shocked me and from that moment on I devoured the visceral events the that followed. The first half of the book gives you a false sense of security with it's slow burn as the second half is no holds barred and is not for the weak of stomach! So Thirsty is a gutsy horror read with real heart pumping inside.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC!!

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was like Eat Pray Love but with vampires, which it turns out, is fun in a comforting way.

My only real critique is that the ending felt cut off - I wanted more!

This was... fine? I got the ARC but didn't read it in time for release and ended up buying the audiobook instead to get through the book as I went about my day. It's a quick listen (around 4 hours) if you do it at 2x. The narration was great. I was familiar with the narrator's work; her performance is always stellar. The story itself is good but not exactly what I expected of a horror novel about novels. Maybe I went into this with the wrong expectations, but this is more of a story of a woman discovering herself than it is about vampirism, with some gore and body horror sprinkled here and there.
Overall it's a good book, but if you're looking for something super dark and gory it may not be the book for you.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC.

Who doesn’t love a vampire novel? 🧛🏻

This book is filled with bloodthirsty cravings and sensual desires, as well as the horrors and realities of becoming a vampire. I thought the plot was really fun and engaging, and I found myself fully immersed in the story and wanting to know what happened next.

I didn’t love the two main characters, however I think that worked quite well considering the situations they ended up in. I don’t think you’re meant to hugely sympathise with them, and I enjoyed reading their interactions with these mysterious strangers, and watching them come to terms with their new reality.

It definitely isn’t the most amazing book you’ll ever read, but it certainly is enjoyable and dripping with sapphic sexy vampire goodness, and it’s dropped in stores just in time for spooky season!

This book was so promising, but things took a turn around the midway point and became really confused. I’m not sure what the end goal of this was. It feels like so much happened in the middle that didn’t really mean a great deal, and the ending was open, ambiguous and not satisfying at all.

To summarise: it was a quick and enjoyable read, but fell short of my expectations.

Sloane Parker is not looking forward to her birthday but then her husband surprises her with a weekend getaway, not with him but with her lifetime best friend Naomi. Sloane anticipates a relaxing weekend with wine tastings and avoiding the topics she'd rather not discuss. But Naomi has other ideas and orchestrates a wild night out with strangers which has disastrous consequences.

This was a fast paced, engaging, enjoyable read and I highly recommend.

I love Rachel Harrison's writing style - it really draws you in - and she has a real talent for writing the horrific, frightening and supernatural, while keeping you utterly grounded in a world that feels chillingly real. Plus, she writes female friendship so well.

This is only my second experience with a Rachel Harrison novel. I delighted in Black Sheep, finding the storyline intriguing and loving the twists Harrison so artfully spun into the tale. Other readers I trust have recommended her novels Bad Dolls, The Return, and Such Sharp Teeth. That being said, I felt confident that, even though I am not typically a fan of vampires, she would pull me into this one. Sadly, that is not the case.

Sloane is a thirty-something who finds her marriage and her life in general somewhat of a disappointment. Her best friend, Naomi, lives life with a sort of recklessness that Sloane admires from afar. The two meet up at a resort to celebrate Sloane’s birthday. While having drinks at a bar Naomi strikes up a conversation with an attractive male, and not long after she and Sloane are invited to move the festivities to a high-end estate. Sloane is apprehensive about taking off with strangers, but Naomi convinces her to loosen up and embrace a night of spontaneity. And that’s when things start to get interesting….

Overall, I found this book rather boring and the majority of its characters, most notably Sloane and Naomi, quite annoying. If their ages had not been mentioned early on in the book, I would have thought that they were spoiled young adults by their general attitudes and characteristics. Having listened to this in audiobook format, I found the narrator’s voice for Naomi grating, enhancing my annoyance for her character. The strength of their friendship is continually tested and starts to get old quickly. The most enjoyable aspect of this novel is a secondary character that lightened up the story a bit here and there. This just didn’t seem original; a tale regurgitated with no real unexpected twists other than maybe a character named Alice who appears for a fraction of the story.

I should have DNF’d this book, but I was just hopeful that Harrison was going to blow my mind with some crazy twist that I didn’t see coming. Everything here was rather predictable, resulting in disappointment on my end. However, they can’t all be winners, and I am excited to eventually get to her backlist titles that have been sitting on my TBR.

The 2nd time or the 2nd paranormal/ horror-ish novel I read from the author. The first one was Such a Sharp Teeth– a Werewolf concept novel, and I think that was half-ish okay and underwhelming.

So Thirsty, on the other hand, underwhelming and soulless? I felt bored reading this– what I felt upon reading this. I get that it should have this eerie– mysterious– to horror-ish and sometimes a kind of detachment sort of feeling for this novel, but the execution felt really wrong for me.

I really wanted to like this, but I just couldn't because it just made me feel nothing in some type of way? Like I could see the potential of a good storyline, but the execution or the way the plot was designed to flow didn't really match or played in the right direction.

The same goes with the characters? They're just not interesting for me, I couldn't connect to them, especially the MC, but like the potential of these characters are there but not just executed well. It left me really underwhelmed, bored, frustrated, and empty.

Overall, this could have been really good.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the e-arc via Netgalley.

-—

Date Published: September 10, 2024
Date Read: September 14- September 18, 2024
Ratings: 2⭐️

**Book Review: *So Thirsty* by Rachel Harrison**

Rachel Harrison’s *So Thirsty* delivers a gripping, bloody, and darkly seductive tale about transformation, empowerment, and the messy realities of friendship. Known for her sharp and incisive writing, Harrison, author of *Such Sharp Teeth* and *Black Sheep*, once again taps into the supernatural to explore deep emotional truths.

Sloane Parker, the protagonist, is a woman stuck in a rut. As she approaches her birthday, she’s indifferent to her life—trapped in a marriage marred by infidelity and haunted by a lack of direction. The surprise birthday-weekend getaway planned by her husband, not for them but for her and her best friend Naomi, sets the stage for a journey of self-discovery. However, instead of the expected wine-tasting and low-key escape, Naomi has something far more radical in mind for Sloane. A wild night out with a mysterious group of strangers leads to a shocking, life-altering event that forces Sloane to confront who she is and what she wants from her life.

What sets *So Thirsty* apart is Harrison’s ability to blend visceral horror with emotional depth. The novel tackles issues of aging, dissatisfaction, and the slow erosion of identity, all through the lens of a fantastical and horrifying transformation. Sloane’s reluctant passivity and her struggle to reclaim her agency resonate on a personal level, even as the supernatural elements ramp up. The metaphor of “taking life by the throat” is literalized in a way that only Harrison can deliver—bloody, violent, and strangely liberating.

Naomi, as the wild and fearless counterpart to Sloane, pushes her friend to break free from her stagnant existence. Their friendship, which is tested and transformed by the novel’s terrifying events, is a central theme that keeps the story grounded. Harrison excels at depicting the complexities of long-term friendships—the loyalty, the resentment, the ways people push each other to grow or stay the same. Their dynamic drives much of the novel’s emotional tension, especially as they face the eternal consequences of their reckless night out.

*So Thirsty* is not just a story about a supernatural transformation—it’s about personal metamorphosis, about embracing change even when it’s terrifying. Harrison injects a sense of urgency and danger into Sloane’s journey of self-realization, making it both thrilling and emotionally resonant. The pacing is tight, the prose is sharp, and the horror is both visceral and metaphorical, tapping into deeper themes of desire, control, and the cost of liberation.

For readers who enjoy horror with heart and bite, *So Thirsty* is a compelling, juicy novel that shows it’s never too late to find satisfaction—even when it comes at a bloody price. Harrison’s mix of supernatural thrills and real-world struggles makes this book a darkly satisfying read that lingers long after the final page.I

4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/09/12/review-so-thirsty-by-rachel-harrison/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Two Friends, One Wild Party

Rachel Harrison is a great storyteller and I love her supernatural stories which usually involve strong female friendships (well, the books I’ve read so far at least).

So Thirsty is her latest creation and in her usual style she brings the supernatural to life once again, this time in the form of vampires. Vampires are definitely the new ‘black’ at the moment. It seems we went through a very dry spot for a while and I confess I was happy for some vampires to show their fangs once again. The creatures in between these pages are the bored and beautiful type. They’ve embraced their monstrous natures but at the same time live a life that causes the least possible problems (and there are far worse predators out there).

As the story begins we quickly meet our leading ladies. Sloane, our MC and her bestie Naomi. The two are chalk and cheese but their friendship has stood the test of time, even if they don’t see each other for months at a time they speak often and when they get back together it’s usually intense. Sloane is about to have a birthday, she’s not feeling upbeat about another year in fact she’s reached the age where she’s beginning to not only notice fine lines but also to reflect where she is. With that in mind she’s not really in the party mood but it seems her husband has organised a get together break for Sloane and Naomi at a luxury retreat. Personally, I smelled a rat – would he not want to spend time with his wife on her birthday – but what do I know, he’s perhaps being incredibly selfless and trying to cheer his wife up by reuniting her with her BFF. Mmm, we’ll see. Or more to the point – he’s a so-and-so. Anyway, moving on.

So, our two ladies. Sloane wants security. She’s chosen stability, a home, a 9 to 5 job, a husband and the picket fence. Is she happy, not really. Naomi on the other hand is something of a wild child, travelling the planet, enjoying each day as though it’s her last, well, until she found herself working for her rock star boyfriend in a role that is becoming more intense as his star rises. As you see, both our women are not totally happy.

Now, the setting. The two are sharing a luxury cottage in a resort type setting with a small town nestled close by. The cottage is a little unwelcoming and the weather is harsh but the two decide to make the best of it. They pay a visit to the small town where Naomi promptly ditches Sloane for most of the night to talk to a handsome stranger. The next night, Sloane’s birthday, Naomi has arranged for them both to attend a party. Sloane has mixed feelings about the whole thing which are only intensified when the gates to the house clang shut behind them. From there, well, find out for yourself. In a nutshell though, the two women find themselves transformed.

What I really enjoyed about this.

Harrison is a gifted storyteller, I love the way she writes and she can really build atmosphere. The chapters where Sloane and Naomi go to the party, for example, you just know that something is going to go wrong and boy does it go wrong. From this point forward the women panic, they leave the house, determined to be alone and frankly to put as much space between them and the party scene as possible. Of course, they have terrible thirst, they’re young vampires and they have little control. The ensuing chaos is very dramatic.

The vampires here almost take a backseat to the transformation of these two friends as they feel their way into this new life. It’s like they’re the parents (which I suppose they are) cleaning up the messes. Of course, vampires can’t recklessly move through society killing and destroying at will, they’ll be discovered and eliminated. They need secrecy and security. Bolt holes to escape to. They don’t need newbies running amok, leaving destruction in their wake.

I enjoyed this. Never a dull moment. I was happy to return to a world of predators with a lot of the lore that I’m already familiar with, if switched up a little. I did have a few little issues that kept this from being as good a read as Cackle or Black Sheep. I didn’t totally buy into the friendship between Sloane and Naomi. Sometimes they just didn’t fit as well as I was being led to believe, there was resentment and anger brewing. Also, there is quite a feeling of slow(ish) build up earlier in the novel before we really get to the meat of the story. To be fair this isn’t something that really bothers me, I appreciate backstories and setting the scene, but, I felt like the ending was quite rushed by comparison.

Overall, I enjoyed this, I had some issues, I think I would have liked a little more from the vampires (just to be clear, I mentioned that they fall into the bored, beautiful variety, – this isn’t because being ‘turned’ creates some strange sort of beauty, yes, they are immortal and seem to remain ageless at the point they were turned, but they’re beautiful because they choose other attractive people to hang with and, in some respects, they’re bored because – ‘seen it, done it, been there’ is real for them. The lore follows some already fairly established lines. Thankfully, the author doesn’t try to elaborate on certain things – such as why vampires have no reflection – although this did give me a moment of pause, if they can’t cast a reflection, can they be caught on camera – please, somebody tell me the answer because I am literally not smart enough to figure this out.

Anyway, apart from a slightly peeved feeling about the rushed nature of the ending this was an entertaining read and one that I enjoyed.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

The second I saw the cover of Rachel Harrison’s ‘So Thirsty’, I knew I needed to read it and that it would be for me. Feeling rather smug about it because I was 100% correct - I loved it.

I am still on the vampire hype train, I never left it, and I’m so glad they’re coming back into vogue with a more traditional darker, more sinister edge and with a whole lot of social and feminist commentary. I love me a vampire romance, but vampires can represent and interrogate so many big ideas and constructs that I’m glad that the potential is really being dug into in this new wave of vampires.

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.

Female friendship? Check. Vampires? Check.


This novel is a love letter to female friendship, but not just the rose-tinted Instagram version of female friendship - the real stuff. Sloane and Naomi have been friends since they were teenagers - over 20 years ago - and they have changed, and so has their relationship, but they love each other unconditionally. Even when they sometimes hate each other, sometimes resent each other, and don’t agree with the other’s choices.

The tension between Sloane and Naomi throughout the entire novel feels so tangible and the tension carries across. With Naomi being so unpredictable and Sloane being so repressed there was no way to see where the next chapter would take them, both before and after their turn.

Both women are unhappy with their lives - Naomi following her musician boyfriend around the world, abandoning her dreams to support his; and Sloane is married to a man who keeps cheating on her, but she stays because it’s comfortable and predictable - and unwilling to do anything about it until they are forced to when a party turns deadly. The way they grapple with their dissatisfaction with their lives and themselves is really raw and messy and honest, ‘So Thirsty’ isn’t a romanticised look at female friendship and modern life in your mid-30s.

“I don’t really desire my life, but I’m reluctant to leave it. There’s comfort in the mundane, safety in the routine. In waking up and knowing exactly what my day will look like.”
There’s a lot of quotes like this that were a real gut punch and I related to Sloane a lot, which is probably not something that I should admit.

Along with the exploration of female friendship, there’s also a criticism of female experience in our society.

“My worldview, my rules, my morality were all constructed as a cage for my shame, shame forged by forces outside of myself.”
There’s the obvious ways that Sloane and Naomi come face to face with predators, abusers and violence against women, but there’s also the more subtle violences of being called ‘crazy’ when expressing emotions or raising issues with someone meant to be a partner, the world being built for couples in every way, and the preconception that you should be happy with what you’ve been given. It’s subtle and thought-provoking, but to everyone who’s lived in our society as female-presenting then they’ll be very familiar.

‘So Thirsty’ is a dark, thought-provoking, and thrilling read that’s perfect for spooky season. It delivered everything I wanted from a vampire book and I’m glad that Harrison has a backlist for me to dive into.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for the review copy.

‘So Thirsty’ by Rachel Harrison is released in paperback and e-book in the UK by Titan Books on 10 September 2024.

Written by Sophie

4.5 stars rounded up.

This book was everything I wanted a vampire novel to be and more. Rachel Harrison just writes women and friendships in a way that is so relatable.

My only criticism is the ending felt rushed and would of benefited from a few extra chapters in my opinion.