*Thank you Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s Camp Netgalley summer time again! 😀 I am super happy to participate in the camp for the 2nd year in a row. This year for camp, Netgalley has a specific selection of books to pick from 😮 Breathe In, Bleed Out was the only horror title I saw. I had not heard of the author before, but you know me…. DUH! I’m gonna pick horror! 😀

I really enjoyed this book. It felt like such a nostalgic, campy blast of 1990s slasher horror! It is a clear love letter to the genre. ❤ There is so much homage. If you are a fan of slasher movies, especially 1990s goodies like Scream, and (the remake of) My Bloody Valentine, you will probably enjoy this as well. I was definitely not disappointed. 😀

I enjoyed the plot. I loved the idea of a killer at a sketchy meditation retreat. Oh man, I want this as a movie, stat. 😀 I’d totally watch it. I saw one review talk about how this feels like a movie you’d find on a free streaming app like Tubi or Pluto Tv…. uh, YES PLEASE! 😀 That is totally the amazing vibe this book has (and a movie on Tubi or Pluto Tv app would be amazing. ❤ ). I don’t feel that is a negative at all!

There was one part of the plot I would have liked a little bit more enlightenment on though. The sketch guru Pax had some sneaky plans going on that were pretty interesting. I would have loved to have just a little bit more info on that. It was a very interesting idea and we only see a small amount of it explained. But really, that’s my only complaint though, and that is a pretty small complaint!

I think the characters are also fun. You are “rooting for” some of them to get killed. Some are annoying, and some are fine! I think I personally thought it was a good mix of personalities.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is just straight up nostalgia fun! I had such a good time reading this book. A clear love letter to the 90s slasher horror. I had not heard of this author before, but I can’t wait to read something else by him. 😀

I loved this! This is a book for true horror lovers (slasher movies, in particular). You can tell the author is a huge fan of the genre even before reading his fun afterward. The twists and turns keep coming, keeping you guessing til the very end. Obviously, I think a movie version of this book would be so fun and translate very well to film. 4.5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this book. This review is my own and unbiased.

This was a solidly fun, campy slasher with lots of gore and fun deaths. Hannah felt like a classic horror movie heroine, wrestling with her own survivor's guilt and the perfect combination of apprehensive but hopeful that the retreat will save her. the ending was fun and twisty. I will definitely read more books by this author.

Brain has written the perfect horror book in where it makes you laugh and go, "ugh- so gross" in the same sentence. I literally gasped at certain parts and shouted, "Get 'em!" at others. This was a 5 star read for me. I loved every character (although I must say I loved Hannah more and not because we share the same name....). This book mixed horror and comedy and mystery all in one amazing read. (Something about ye olde Miners really gives me goosebumps). This was amazing and Brian will a repeat buy author for me.

I did have a good time reading this and it kept me turning the pages

But I wish we had a bit more shocking moments and the reveal fell a little flat for me

I would definitely read more horror stories from this author though

Rounded up from 2.5 stars.

I was so excited for a summer slasher! Unfortunately, Breathe In, Bleed Out didn't quite meet those expectations. The story starts fairly strong, but it loses momentum around the halfway mark.

You know those indie slasher films that are always free to stream, featuring a gorgeous cast of horrendous actors, riddled with plot holes, and cringey dialogue? This is that, but in book form.

The slasher scenes were decently written, but the inner monologues were questionable. It doesn't reflect realistic thoughts or conversations. There were also some eyeroll moments, especially pertaining to Hannah's character [insert man tries to write a female perspective rant].

In my opinion, this should have been a novella or short story. The author is clearly passionate and inspired by slasher films (as evidenced by the excessively long afterword). Still, he fails to bring a fresh perspective or originality to the genre with this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Let’s get one thing straight: Breathe In, Bleed Out isn’t just a slasher. It’s a spiritual awakening with a body count.
Set under the unforgiving blaze of the California desert, Brian McAuley invites us on a trip to wellness hell with five friends, one very haunted woman, and a retreat that’s about as relaxing as a knife to the back. Literally.
Hannah is our reluctant heroine, still reeling from a traumatic trip that left her fiancé dead and her psyche fractured. Her coping mechanisms? Anxiety meds, avoidance, and "surprise" a tech-free, soul-cleansing retreat called Avidya that promises inner peace. Instead, she finds herself waist-deep in yoga, kale juice, and murder.
The genius of McAuley is that he knows exactly what slasher fans want, and then gives it to them in ways they didn’t see coming. Yes, there is a masked killer and juicy red herrings. Yes, the kills are creative, brutal, and weirdly satisfying. But what elevates this novel is how grounded it feels. The characters don’t just scream and run. They feel real, messy, and often heartbreakingly human. These aren’t just lambs to the slaughter. They’re people you root for, even when you know they might not make it past chapter twenty.
What makes Breathe In, Bleed Out such a standout is its tone, equal parts dread-soaked horror and razor-sharp commentary on grief, guilt, and performative healing culture. McAuley skewers New Age trends with the precision of a scalpel. Guru Pax, the retreat’s mysterious leader, is half spiritual messiah, half walking red flag, and watching the group slowly unravel under his watch is as gripping as the slasher plot itself.
And let’s talk atmosphere. The desert setting isn’t just a backdrop. It’s a character. The isolation, the heat, the no-cell-service doom of it all. It amplifies the tension until you’re sweating along with the characters, unsure whether you’re about to have a breakthrough or be buried in the sand.
Final verdict? Breathe In, Bleed Out is a masterclass in modern slasher fiction. It's fun, freaky, and layered with more emotional depth than you'd expect from a book with this much blood spatter. Think Scream meets Midsommar, but with better dialogue and no floral cult dresses.
Brian McAuley isn’t just playing with tropes. He’s redefining them. And if you haven’t pre-ordered this one yet, you might want to breathe in… and click that button before you bleed out from FOMO.

This was my introduction to Brian McAuley’s work, and what a bloody brilliant first impression. If he keeps delivering like this, it’s only a matter of time before he’s wearing the slasher crown.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 Poisoned Pen Press 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙫𝙞𝙖 #netgalley 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.

#PoisonedPenPress #NetGalley #CampNetGalley

4.5 stars

I requested this because I saw a review that said it feels like an A24 film and I can confirm IT DOES!!! Breathe In, Bleed Out follows Hannah who is trying to carry on with life after her fiance disappeared on a wilderness trip the couple took, and no one else knows what happened to him. So Hannah welcomes an invitation to an exclusuve spiritual retreat in the hopes it will be cathartic. Things start strong, but Hannah is confronted with everything she is running from when guests start being killed one by one.

I actually don't know if I've read a book that could be considered a slasher before, but I've certainly watched enough of them, and this book gives me everything I seek them out for!! Deaths you can't look away from (I love the way the author's mind works but I wouldn't want to be inside it), heart-pounding suspense and a twist that made me audibly gasp and even got a 'NO WAY'. I was most pleasantly surprised by what this book delivered that a lot of classic slashers fall short in, and that's multi-dimensional characters that go beyond archetypes. Hannah was an engaging protagonist, and most of the supporting characters feel really fleshed out (pun not intended) and compelling. The cast just felt like a breath of fresh air when you're holding it up against a niche consisting of: the hot one, the dumb one, the weird one, etc. etc. and I would recommend it for that reason especially.

The pacing overall was really good, althought I feel like it could've been a smidge longer - there were a few scenes that I wish were explored more and there was some room for more exciting prose at a couple points. Obviously in saying that, perfect if you want a quick 300 page horror!

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧, 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐀𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝐧𝐝
My first McAuley book and it will not be my last. Thanks so much to @netgalley for the Arc.

If you’re after a super fast paced, slasher and twisty read then preorder this one now!

𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤é, 𝘉𝘦𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘨𝘢, 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦.

I won’t go into details as I don’t want to ruin anything but you should read if you love
- Slashers
- Camping
- Survival Horror
- Psychological thrillers

𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑴𝒚 𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆

This one kept me guessing towards the end and I loved the red herrings weaved in between. I enjoyed the similar vibes to Scream! I mean, who wouldn’t?!

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒 ⭐️

Would you go on a ‘tech free’ retreat?

#bookstagram #bookish #brianmcauley #breatheinbleedout #horror #slasher #slasherbooks #netgalley #netgalleyarc #horrorbooks #netgalleyuk #netgalleyreview #booktok

A slasher is somewhat out of my comfort reading zone, but I can very much enjoy it as a movie and when I saw this title I felt this was a perfect try-out to see if the genre would be as addictive on pages as it is on screen. And I must say that it was addictive and it had all the tropes the big screen also brings: the disposable characters, the usual suspect who turns out to be just an unlikeable guy, the unusual suspect who turns out to be the killer and the heroine who solves the whole puzzle. All neatly wrapped with a bow at the end.

I did like the writing style of the author and the setting of the retreat, which was very reminiscent of Nine Perfect Strangers. The pace was at a perfect setting for this kind of story and I liked the back story of Ben. What I didn't like was the identity of the killer, which seemed way too farfetched and very unlikely. It just felt like an easy way out for the author to wrap it all up, hence the three stars.

All in all, it was a nice change from my usual reading, but not a genre I'll take on further.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisened Pen Press, and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

This horror novel had me guessing until the end who the real villain was and what was truth from hallucinations. It tells the story of Hannah, a survivor of a tragic accident involving her fiancé, in which she struggles with grief, guilt, and hallucinations. Time has passed, but her psche is not getting better, and it is affecting her work and personal relationships.

She agrees to go on a healing retreat in the desert with her friends, but things take a dark turn quickly, lines get blurred, and she can't tell if what she is experiencing is reality or a nightmare when the retreat's shady guru is suspicious, people start to disappear, and she thinks she's being haunted by a murderous miner's ghost.

The plot is thick with tension, paranoia, and mystery. We get tidbits throughout the story from flashbacks about the mystery surrounding Hannah's tragic accident and the death of her fiancé. The story was well written, with mystery, indistinct reality, and the plot twist at the end was a surprise.

Book Review: Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley

I received this eBook from NetGalley and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley is a dark, gritty, and unique psychological thriller that really leans into the horror elements of addiction, mental health, and self-discovery. It’s not your typical thriller, it has a raw edge that’s both unsettling and immersive, especially as it follows the story of Case, a struggling screenwriter fresh out of rehab who finds himself haunted, literally and metaphorically, by past choices.

McAuley, who has worked in the film industry himself, does a great job portraying the cutthroat and performative nature of Hollywood while layering it with eerie supernatural elements. The book explores addiction and recovery through a horror lens, making it a standout in the genre. You’re constantly questioning what’s real and what’s hallucination, which adds to the suspense.

It’s a bold and brutal read at times, with plenty of commentary on the exploitative nature of show business and the inner demons that can follow us long after the credits roll. It might not be for the faint of heart due to its intensity and graphic nature, but if you’re into psychological horror with a twist of Hollywood noir, this book delivers.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Breathe In, Bleed Out. Brian McAuley is definitely an author to watch for fans of unsettling, thought-provoking thrillers.

Oh my gosh this book was so much fun! It was a story straight out of an 80s slasher with a modern take. I loved the Joshua Tree, yoga retreat setting that the majority of the story takes place at. Each character was so vivid and had their distinct personality. Glad I got to read this one early, perfect slasher summer vibes but it’ll be a great transition book for the start of spooky season.

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley is eerie, gripping, and filled with escalating tension that will keep you questioning everything until the final page. At the center of the story is Hannah, an unreliable narrator grappling with profound loss and unresolved trauma. As she checks into a tech-free wellness retreat in search of healing, what unfolds is a chilling descent into paranoia, uncertainty, and something much more sinister.

McAuley cleverly uses Hannah’s fractured perspective to hold up a mirror to the world of wellness culture, particularly its appropriation of spiritual and healing practices from the global majority. As guests at the resort begin to vanish and Hannah’s grasp on reality falters, the reader is left to untangle what’s real, what’s imagined, and who, if anyone, can be trusted.

This novel delivers classic summer slasher vibes with a smart, socially conscious twist. I especially appreciated the final reveal, which ties the tension together in a satisfying, unsettling way.

If you enjoy psychological horror, unreliable narrators, and horror that digs into cultural critique, Breathe In, Bleed Out should be on your reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing access to this eARC.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this novel. I was purely drawn to the style of the cover, and I am so glad I did.

Brian's writing is so easy to read and immersive. As I've been reading it's like a movie is playing out in my head. The characters feel so oddly detailed, when really there's only a brief description of them as they're first introduced. They're intricate and funny, and their banter is perfectly written to give the impression they have genuinely known each other for years.

I'm obsessed with the creepy vibes through the novel. It starts off with a banger of a chapter, and has a tendency to throw in horrific scenes at random. I never truly know when something will happen, and it's always executed in a seamless way. Poor Hannah having already dealt with the death of her fiancé, is now experiencing the random trauma of hallucinating his restless corpse and being haunted by him. As scary and traumatic that would be for her, for me it's a damn good time 😂

The true unsettling nature was knowing this is supposed to be a horror/thriller, but there's absolutely no indication where this will trigger.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and netgalley for providing me with this arc!

Breathe In, Bleed Out was a fun slasher with the interesting backdrop of a wellness retreat. While I enjoyed the pacing of the book, the flawed character of Hannah, and the gory kills, some parts of the book left me a little wanting.

*** Spoilers ahead***

The story centers on Hannah, who is processing the tragic death of her fiancee. However, it's hard to care about her fiancee's death when we never actually get scenes of them in a happy relationship. Most of Hannah's "friends" are very unlikeable, especially Luna and Jared, so it's hard for the reader to feel anything when they are mercilessly picked off by the killer. I would have liked the characters of Tess and Kimi to be a bit more fleshed out. The killer reveal was a bit disappointing as well, and I felt like the motivation didn't make much sense. It was just a way to have a "twist" ending because you never would have expected that person to be the killer. But that's just because it doesn't really make sense for that person to be the killer.

Overall, it was an engaging read and a fun slasher, and would be a great book to settle in with during spooky season (or while at a wellness retreat), despite having a somewhat disappointing ending.

ARC Review of Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley 🩸🏜️🧘🏻‍♀️🏔️⛺️🪏
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

What do the Marines, yoga mats, cowboy wardrobes, sound baths, and amethyst crystals have in common? This crazy psychological horror.

This is one of the best ARCs I have ever received. It was such a fun summer slasher and when you get to the amethyst part - please let me know.

Hannah has been stuck in the past while grieving her ex-fiancé, Ben, so her friends drag her to an undiscovered wellness retreat in Joshua Tree. There is an unreliable narrator, gruesome murder, and the exploration of grief and female friendship (and rage) in this story.

I stayed up way too late reading this but devoured it in two days and will absolutely be ordering a copy. If you’re in the mood for a summer slasher, with unpredictable plot twists please grab this when it comes out on September 2nd.

Thank you so much to @netgalley, @poisonedpenpress and @brianmcwriter for the chance to read and review this one!

"Breathe In, Bleed Out" absolutely delivers a slasher novel that fits the setting (an exclusive woo-woo desert retreat) perfectly. Well paced, lots of different dynamics with the characters, and honestly my only complaint is that I feel there's just a bit too much misdirection as the story approaches the climax... the main suspect bounces around rapidly in the end after the red herring is slowly built up over the course of the novel, which is fun but a bit distracting in the midst of all the action. But I had a blast reading it, and I'm very grateful this was offered as a Camp NetGalley option this summer!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advanced reader's copy of "Breathe In, Bleed Out"!

I liked it but I wish there was more. I liked that I felt like I was watching a movie when reading. It was definitely written more into a movie like format. I did think some of it was set up weird, there were moments when I couldn’t tell when it was a flashback. I wish there was an epilogue, the last chapter felt like one but I wish there was just more to it

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC of BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT by Brian McAuley via NetGalley! This releases on September 2!

I’ve come to the conclusion that whenever I need a slasher to read, Brian McAuley is the author to go to. He slays in this sub-genre & I will 100% keep reading his books.

This one very much gives SCREAM vibes, in which throughout the story you’re trying to pinpoint whodunnit? You’ll go through a majority of the characters with side eye until either A) someone ends up a bit more sus or B) they die.

There are also fun little moments when you start to wonder if what’s happening is more supernatural. Love a story that keeps your brain thinking.

This one was definitely a fun one — it does slasher things while also giving us insight into wellness culture (ie Wellness Retreats, which you won’t catch me going to any time soon 😅). There’s also a dive into grief & being haunted by your past.

I love love love our main character, Hannah, & her development, especially when it comes to the aforementioned haunting of the past. We love women in this house ✨✨✨✨.

Definitely recommend this fun little slasher!