This was my first novel by Harrison and I think it may be my last. While technically the writing was great for a novel, I just ultimately think I am not the demographic for this book. I took a chance on it because I love vampire stories and this came across as a unique entry in the world of vampire writing. But to me the premise was lost somewhere. This is a very feminist book, which I love, but there was something where it just didn't mesh well. I think this was trying to be two things and it never fully leaned into either, resulting in a mixed back. I think if this had had zero vampires and been a book about women and their friendships, I would have enjoyed it more. It almost comes across as the vampire horror is an afterthought.

𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
Genre: Horror Fiction
Pub Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

I read Black Sheep last year and it was such an entertaining horror book!
And that made me super excited to read So Thirsty - this year’s new release by Rachel Harrison! Thank you so much to @berkleypub for the e-ARC copy!!

This story is centered around Sloanne and Naomi, two opposites, and their strong female friendship despite all the differences. SO THIRSTY is a paranormal horror story with vampires. I liked the focus of the story being on accepting unexpected changes in our lives and embracing ourselves.

This read is fast-paced and I flew through this book. I’m excited to dive into backlist by Rachel Harrison !!

I was intrigued by the premise of this - our main character has been dealing with marital problems (i.e. a cheating spouse) and her friend takes her out on vacation where they meet a group of strangers and begin partying with them. As the cover and title suggests, there are vampires involved.

This is my first Rachel Harrison book, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I've heard her previous novels described as "cozy horror." I would say this book has moments of horror (body horror, blood, gore), but it's not necessarily horror in tone. It's really a story about these two friends and their dynamics, with the trope of one being more reserved and cautious and the other being more wild and freewheeling.

This felt tonally all over the place - a "women's fic" story about marriage and finding your self-worth / life purpose, a story about vampires and satisfying needs/desires/thirst, a tiny bit of romance, and a story about lifelong friends. This leaned much more heavily on the women's fic side of things versus horror. Unfortunately, I also found the two characters to be painful to follow in their decision-making. I was more interested in a tertiary character, Alice, and wish we could've gotten more of her story.

Unfortunately, this wasn't for me, but you may enjoy it if you like a lighter horror read / friendship stories / stories about reigniting your passion for your life. 2.5

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

My most anticipated release of the year did not disappoint! Rachel Harrison proves, yet again, why she is an auto-buy author for me; she consistently delivers excellently crafted (gothic) settings, relatable characters and satisfying endings. The female friendship central to the story is beautiful and tragic, raw and honest. When reading Harrison's books, I often feel like she must've been a fly on the wall during some of my conversations with childhood friends, or we've lived the same lives. Her books are always full of painfully cozy nostalgia, and this one is no different.
If you like spice, you're in luck- I wouldn't call this smut territory, but it's definitely RH's spiciest book yet! Unfortunately for me, I do not like spice lol... that is most of the reason for the 4 star rating rather than the 5 stars I typically give to RH. It's almost certainly a personal thing, but the inclusion of sex made the story feel a little more shallow than what we usually get in the relationship subplot, or maybe I just didn't connect as much to this particular love interest because vampires aren't really my "thing." However, the main character's relationship with their love interest is really the least interesting dynamic we have going on in this story, being overshadowed by their relationships with other side characters that range from endearing to traumatic in nature.
Emotional abuse and dependency are strong themes throughout the book, so be aware if you find those topics triggering.
Highly recommend reading if you want to chant "Girl Power!" through your tears. <3

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I love Rachel Harrison's books so much and when I heard about her latest novel, SO THIRSTY, I knew that I wanted to prioritize it as soon as possible. Rachel Harrison creates the perfect cocktail of horror, contemporary fiction, feminist-empowering stories I've read in recent years, and and SO THIRSTY is no exception!

The story is centered around Sloane Parker and her friend Naomi. Sloane is about to celebrate her birthday and when her husband Joel surprises her with a weekend getaway with her friend Naomi, Sloane feels a bit concerned that he didn't want to spend it with her. Regardless, Sloane is excited to catch up with her chaos addicted friend and the two spend a weekend away at a nice bed and breakfast while enjoying wine tastings and relaxation. When Naomi plans a night out with Sloane, the two meet a group of people at the bar and are invited to their house for a party, but it quickly takes an unexpected turn. Sloane and Naomi must come to terms with what their new normal will be whether they like it or not.

SO THIRSTY is unique because it's a story about people turning into vampires and coming to accept it. There's so many metaphorical messages within this center of conflict that ring true for different types of things going on within peoples' lives. I found the journey of these new vampires utterly intriguing and also very satirical that I couldn't put it down and finished within two sittings. The is the ultimate testament to a good novel! I did not looooove the ending, as I felt like it ended a bit too early, but overall this book is an amazing installment in Rachel Harrison's rolodex of supernatural modern-day horror reads. If you've read and enjoyed any of this author's previous works, you will hands-down love this one. Rachel Harrison has become an auto-read author for me, so make sure you put this one on your TBR!

I didn’t like this novel by Harrison as much as I have liked her others. Sloane and Naomi don’t have a good relationship/friendship, so I didn’t feel anything for them as they went through their problems here. I’d have to say their friendship was toxic, and I would have cut out any ‘friend’ who treated me like Naomi did Sloane. There was so much petty bickering..! There was no love, or support shown by either of them. These women also seemed like caricatures to me. There was nothing new added to the “besties retreat” trope, or the ‘newly turned vampire’ trope. Also the romance was too insta-love to me. I seriously hate that.
This whole novel was slow, and somewhat fragmented. I was able to finish it quickly because it was short. I would have loved to have learned more about Henry and his friends, and how they came together, and their backgrounds. That would have been fascinating. There was no resolution to any of the conflicts these characters had, either. And why were these vampires all homeless? Why weren’t they rich as can be..? It’s so weird.
I cannot recommend this novel as much as I would other novels by this author, because of all of these issues. But also because it was missing the snark that I loved so much in other Harrison novels, and just felt kind of meh.

When I review a book, I ask myself two different questions: Did I like it? Will YOU like it? And the answers to those might be very different.
I read Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison and thought it had some appeal, so when I saw this, I was intrigued. Sloane is a woman dealing with an unfaithful husband and the prospect of a discontented life. She meets up with her best friend, wild child Naomi, for a spa weekend. When they meet some strangers, things go sideways.

It sounded like an interesting woman-comes-into-her-power story, but it didn’t deliver for me. For one, the main crux of the story sounds like a strong female friendship. We’re TOLD that these girls have been tight friends forever, but I see no reason why. In fact they seem toxic together. They’re mean and catty to each other at times, and there was no support or love shown. They seemed more like reluctant acquaintances than best friends. Don’t tell me, show me.

I am personally not a fan of romances that don’t feel earned. You saw someone in a bar, didn’t speak to them, but decided within 5 minutes that they were your soulmate, whom you’d love forever? Then you creepy stalk them? There are a lot of readers that like that dynamic, and if you do, then this won’t bother you. For me, it’s a hard no.

Perhaps the biggest problem was there was no payoff. Sloane had a lot of issues, but did she make progress on any of them? Was there any resolution to the conflicts? Not that I saw. Also, and this is a nitpick, but that’s just me – vampires that can walk in the sun? NO. NO. Creatures that powerful and deadly MUST have some kind of weakness to counterbalance their power! And not being able to see yourself in a mirror just isn’t enough. Letting them walk around in the sun if they want just makes them too overpowered, and that turns me off.

This book didn’t appeal to me. But will it appeal to you? It’s fast paced and a quick read, it has broody vampires, it has sex. If you’ve liked Harrison’s other books and that sounds like what you want, then take a look. But for me, the characters were too immature and shallow to hold my attention for long.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion, and I’m sorry it wasn’t a better one.

This was my first book by Rachel Harrison and I'm now a screaming fangirl. I don't know how I've managed to make it this long without reading any of her work, but clearly I've been missing out because YES YES YES.

So Thirsty is an unbelievably fun time. The moment I picked it up, I was sucked in and captivated by the story, I read it in less than a day. Sloane and Naomi are two of my favorite characters that I've read this year. They are polar opposite besties, pulling both the best and the worst out of one another. When Naomi drags Sloane on a birthday trip that she has no interest in going on, things get a little....toothy. What follows is a path of destruction as they attempt to figure out their new bodies and cravings.

There's some romance, a lil spice, a healthy dose of friendship and a whole lot of bloodshed. AND it's funny! This book made me laugh out loud so many times! Honestly, I just loved every single page!

If you're looking for a fun, sexy, cozy vampire book - LOOK NO FURTHER. So Thirsty is your girl and I promise you there's no way you won't enjoy yourself!

Now, onto the rest of the Harrison backlog!

"But I’m not horror-struck. Not sickened or afraid. I’m not at all upset. I’m thirsty."

Sloane is dreading her upcoming birthday. Birthdays only serve as another reminder that she's getting older and that her mundane, suburban life is passing her by. Her husband, Joel, plans a getaway for her and her bff since childhood, Naomi, at a swanky hotel. Sloane isn't sure whether she should thank or suspect him. Reluctantly, she goes and meets up with Naomi. Nay, ever the reckless, free-spirited troublemaker, is determined to use the getaway to force Sloane in to living her life once and for all. But when a wild night with mysterious strangers goes completely, bloodily awry, they're lives are changed forever. This could be their chance at a new life... but at what cost?

I've been wanting to read some Rachel Harrison for awhile and despite the fact that vampires aren't my favorite creature of the night, So Thirsty was a genuinely fun read! Sloane is a relatable protagonist, made all the more real by how much she could frustrate me. She's insecure and punishing herself for her past. As a reader, distance gives you clarity. But as a fellow messy human being (not human turned vamp, in my case), I really felt for her struggles to trust others and allow herself to feel again. To feel worthy of love between friends, trust between lovers, and joy amongst a found family.

Part of me expected something more to happen, like some mystical, magical twist about her fate that would explain her almost magnetic pull toward the vamps. But honestly, I'm glad it didn't. I like a kind of simple, yet unconventional vampire story where these normally irresistible, selfish creatures care about consent and responsibility. A story about how even when you've given up, you can find yourself again (even if is through buckets and buckets of blood 🤷‍♀️🩸).

Thanks to @netgalley and @berkleypub for the chance to read this one early! So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison will be in bookstores everywhere September 10th!

#sothirsty #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagramreview #vampires

I'm torn about my opinions after reading this book. On one hand I loved the vampire characters, especially Henry. On the other hand I severely disliked our main protagonists Sloane and Naomi.

For a book that's supposed to be about vampires it seemed to focus more on the petty bickering friendship between the two main characters than the more interesting backstory of the vampires around them.

I wanted to spend more time learning everyone's histories, the lives they'd lived surviving as vampires for centuries, how they get blood and travel in a modern world where everything is being recorded and uploaded at light speed, and delve more about the mysterious Feeders.

Instead, the majority of the book feels like a disjointed road trip focusing on a pointless argument between two women who say they're best friends but act more like jealous rivals.

I really wanted to like this book but in the end it felt too slow and fragmented for me to fully enjoy.

So Thirsty is SO GOOD. First off, endless thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC copy, I was thrilled when I was approved for this book because I’ve been craving it. So thanks! Now for the review: if there’s two things I love about about Rachel Harrison’s books, it’s her ability to encapsulate all aspects of womanhood into horror aspects, as well as her strengths in breaking tropes, or freshening up the lore we’ve known for centuries. So Thirsty does just that and more. Never a dull moment, never a “we’ve seen this before” take on vampires, all while getting you to care so deeply for these characters, you’ll ride through everything with them to the last page. If you’re looking for a book blessed with dream malls, best friends, Jersey girls, Wegmans (my second home), and disaster obsessions, this one is so for you! Cheers to the upcoming release day!

I love Rachel Harrison’s books and am fairly rabid about reading them as soon as I can get my hands on them, but this was not my fave by her.

It had some elements of my actual fave (Such Sharp Teeth), with a somewhat aimless young-ish woman who encounters a supernatural being and has her entire life changed — but it was missing the snap and snark that I loved so much in SST (and Cackle and Black Sheep for that matter) and left me feeling kind of meh.

I think my main issue was not particularly liking Sloan
— Rory in SST was righteously furious about everything, which made her relatable and fun to root for — but Sloan just kind of muddles along, unhappy in her marriage, bored at her job, and bulldozed by her (obnoxious AF) bff, but then an ancient vampire is transfixed by her (?) It felt off.

There were parts of this that I really liked, and I'll be a Harrison fan for life, but overall this fell kind of flat. Oh well. Onward and upward.

Rachel Harrison does it again! She’s always supplying us with a fast paced, page turning, hold your breath reading experience and I can’t get enough!! I can’t pick a favorite of her books, she is my new favorite genre.

This book is a great option for anyone who is wanting to read something perfect for spooky season, especially if you are a fan of vampires. Rachel Harrison is an amazing author for this type of book and I have loved her books for a while now. In terms of the books she has written, I will say that this wasn’t necessarily my favorite. However, it brings back some of the major themes exploring some spooky and horrific elements without being fully in the horror realm.

I really loved this. I was so sad when it was over, I wanted it to last forever. Blood, friendship, new beginnings, remembering who you are while becoming something new, it was wonderful. It sparked a longing in me to live, and an appreciation for my lifelong best friend. I love the banter between Sloane and Naomi, their friendship felt so familiar. Everyone deserves a friendship like theirs. I also loved the romance aspect of this. This book did something for me that I didn’t know I needed.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

It was a fun read but left me wanting. I wanted to see much more from Henry and more of his backstory. Wanted more details on the rest of the crew. I feel the time spent Sloane and Naomi arguing could have been used to get us more deeper into the vampires.

This book is consistent with Rachel Harrison's other works and is a nice addition to her series of monster books. It was a little too similar to Such Sharp Teeth, but with vampires instead. I find her plots to be a little rambling but she has very good characters and a writing style that is very easy to get through. Overall a good read but not a new favorite.

Delightful twist on a vampire tale. While the horror elements are what I expected (plenty of gore and sexual situations but not really scary, per se), what elevated this for me was the voice of the main character and how strongly the plot is driven by the choices the characters make. I've heard Harrison interviewed on a number of Horror-related podcasts, but this was my first time reading her work Hope to explore more down the road.

Sloane and her longtime best friend Naomi are on a birthday weekend gifted by Sloane’s unfaithful husband. Naomi is impulsive and she accepts an invitation to a strangers party that changes them into vampires.
This plot has been done before and Harrison brings nothing new to the table. Both Sloane and Naomi are annoying by themselves, but their passive aggressive relationship is too over the top. Slow to build plot line with a tepid finish.

Unhappily married and extremely lonely Sloane, finds herself in the presence of unlikely company when a surprise birthday weekend getaway turns into something more than she may have bargained for. A whole world of vampires and an insatiable thirst for blood are now the ways of Sloane’s new life. What seemed consequential of unwanted risks, turns out to be newfound freedom and happiness. Sloane discovers family, friends, and her own happiness in the most unexpected ways.
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Rachel Harrison paints a gorgeous portrait of a lonely woman stuck in the only way of life she knows. This is the first ultra-sexy vampire novel I have read that is so feminist forward, and not for a male gaze, I’M OBSESSED. Miss Harrison, you have me looking at these undead, blood-dependent creatures in a WHOLE new light!