Breathe In, Bleed Out kept popping up on my feed, and it looked exactly like something I'd enjoy with that awesome cover. The author's name looked familiar, and later I realized he wrote Curse of the Reaper. That was a fun and unique book, so I knew I needed to read this one asap.

This book feels like a classic 80's/90's slasher film. As I was reading, I could see the scenes playing out in my head. As an avid horror movie viewer, it practically had a cozy feel with so many of the same tropes and pacing as the movies I love. The author's note is also basically a love letter to horror, enhances several of his plot choices, and I enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed the novel.

It's brilliantly put together and so much fun. My only gripe is that the ending didn't quite hit for me, but overall it still had the feeling of a movie I've lovingly rewatched dozens of times even if some scenes are a little zany. Brian McAuley is definitely a must read author for me after this.

Overall I liked this book! At times it did get a little repetitive, but it did keep me engaged. I liked the inspiration the author took from 80s/90s horror flicks. I am interested in reading more from this author.

If you love your horror bloody, fast-paced, and a little tongue-in-cheek, this slasher gem is for you. Set at a remote spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree, Bleed In, Bleed Out blends Midsommar-style wellness weirdness with classic Final Girl energy but with a sharper, darker edge.

Hannah is a protagonist you can root for: haunted (literally) by her past, trying to heal, and soon forced into survival mode when retreat guests start dying in gruesome, crystal-infused ways. The kills are creative, the tension is high, and McAuley keeps the twists coming until the very last page.

The satire on wellness culture is hilarious and biting, from sound baths to essential oil-related deaths, no trope is safe. But underneath the camp and carnage is a genuinely gripping story about trauma, guilt, and reclaiming power.

If you enjoy clever slashers with a modern twist and just enough heart to make you care, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

I mean, it's become a cliché to say, 'I couldn't put this book down', but I was literally walking down the corridor toward the dentist's chair, and I was still reading.
Breathe In, Bleed Out is the slasher, body horror comfort read that every A24 fan will love. Every character is morally ambiguous, the lead character has a mysterious past that gets revealed piece by agonising piece, and there are red herrings at every turn.
Brian McAuley made me physically close my eyes and turn away a few times (I'm never closing my eyes while doing yoga again), but only for a moment, because I needed to know what happened next.
You'll find Breathe In, Bleed Out at the top of my July reading round-up on The Ink-Stained Desk substack.

Hannah is still struggling with the death of her fiancé while they were on a mountain hike, popping Xanax so much so that she' has a major screw up treating a patient at the hospital. Forced to take a leave of absence, her best friend Tess, who she's been avoiding, tells he she has the solution - a holistic getaway she's arranged with three more of their college friends at a new desert retreat. Reluctantly, Hannah goes along, though she's not really buying all the healing Guru Pax is promising. As she tries to find some peace through the yoga, vision quests and tech-free weekend, Hannah continues to be haunted by visions of her late fiancé. But soon she starts seeing the ghost from a local miner legend, making her wonder if she's actually crazy. But when her friends start to go missing, Hannah realizes there's something sinister going on.
This was a classic slasher horror trope updated to the times, with a killer going after a group of friends at an exclusive meditative spa. Having a final girl who isn't just someone broken, but prone to hallucinations which make her question her own reliability was just brilliant, especially within the parameters of a retreat where psychotropic drugs are used and the goal is to release "all" the toxins are involved. I wasn't sure if this book would be for me because of my personal disdain for all things guru and yoga, etc., but with snappy writing and lots of red herrings and surprises, this proved to be a thoroughly entertaining story. 4.5/5*

⛏️ARC REVIEW⛏️

Pub Date Sept 2nd

I loved absolutely EVERYTHING about this. Slasher vibes at a hippie retreat in Joshua Tree with a sus “guru”?? Say less. Character development was clear and so relatable. I felt as if I know someone like each of them. This is my first book by this author and I’m now adding his entire catalog to my TBR. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend🧘🏼‍♀️

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you @netgalley @poisonedpenpress

#gifted #campnetgalley #netgalley #breatheinbleedout #horrorbookstagram #horrorbooks #slasherbooks

5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

What a story!! I've not read a book like this in ages. I was reading it to and from work and during lunch as I had to know who the killer was.....and it didn't disappoint.

Who would've thought a retreat would be so gruesome and guests getting picked off one by one. Its the story of the summer, just remember to keep looking over your shoulder as you read or you won't see them coming!!! ⛏️⛏️⛑️

This was a fun read with characters I enjoyed spending time with. It kept me guessing right until the end. I would recommend this to other horror fans who enjoy laughs along with their blood and guts and a bucket of popcorn. I look forward to reading more Brian McA.

I liked the gore. The way Ben died was interesting. The setting was interesting. I didn't know who the killer was.

Really enjoyed this book. Gory yet fun for fans of horror. Loved the juxtaposition of a wellness retreat going wrong!

One of my favourite books i have read this year, i sat and read this book front to back! i could not put it down, it had me hooked from the first page. The writing style, the short chapters, the twists & turns!!! sooooooo fckn goood.
I loved Hannah and her character, being in her mind was so fun, it genuinely had me second guessing and making sure i wasn’t crazy! And the chapters where we were in the friend’s minds made this book so much more!!! Loved every second, definitely off to read Brian McAuley’s first book. 4.5 stars!

This is a great slasher novel. Fast paced with a lot of twists and turns in regard to the killer's identity. It reminded me of the style of the movie Scream, and in the Author's Notes McAuley makes that comparison himself and notes Scream as an inspiration. The characters are interesting and have a history and background that adds to the story, If you enjoy Scream and slasher stories, you will enjoy this book.

I absolutely adored this! It brought back those classic 80s slasher and campy vibes that I love. Having previously enjoyed "Candy Cain Kills," I found this read to be just as slasher-y. The main character's and her unreliability, captivated me from the start. The action kicks off right away, and while the slasher elements don’t emerge until later, the buildup is an exhilarating ride. The story begins with the protagonist grappling with the loss of her boyfriend, and her friends suggest a wellness retreat in the middle of the desert, what could go wrong? Well they do quickly take a turn to the bizarre, scary and bloody. Where no one is what they seem and everyone has secrets.

I did not expect anything from this book. Wow! I’m a sucker for a good thriller but this was a thriller/horror all in one. I love fast paced stories and I swear I read this at lightening speed. Hannah is dealing with the after math of a traumatic passing of her fiance. To help she goes to a retreat with her friends and that when things took a turn. You know, nothing good ever happens at retreats in a horror story. Just absolutely gruesome, gory, and perfect! Can’t wait for more from this author.

I received this book as an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a big horror and psychological thriller fan, and this book mixed the best of both worlds. It had just the right amount of horror but kept me guessing till the very end.

Hannah and four friends join a private retreat to relax and regroup after some big life incidents and time apart. One by one, they start disappearing, and it's up to Hannah to figure out where her friends are going and the cause of their disappearance. You'll have to read to the very end to figure out the twist you never saw coming!

ARC Review

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for the free eARC!

When I saw all my horror besties handing out 5-star reviews, I knew it was time to bump this ARC to the top of my TBR. If you've noticed, my reading energy has been down in the dumps with a slump, but this was the just the jolt I needed. BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT by Brian McAuley did not disappoint. This one is pure slasher entertainment that didn't hold back on blood, suspense or fun twists. It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite slashers from last year, Heads Will Roll by Joshua Winning. Both are fast-paced, self-aware and super campy.

The story centers on Hannah, who’s been spiraling ever since returning alone from a traumatic wilderness trip that left her fiancé dead under mysterious circumstances. Hoping for a fresh start and a little peace of mind, she joins her friends at an exclusive, tech-free spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree. But what starts as yoga, sound baths, and forced zen quickly becomes a blood-soaked nightmare when a killer begins picking off the retreat guests one by one. As the bodies pile up and Hannah’s grip on reality loosens, she’s forced to confront both the killer and the inner demons she’s been trying to outrun.

McAuley keeps you guessing from beginning to end, and if you’re a fan of Scream, you’ll definitely pick up on the vibe (the author directly acknowledges the influence at the end, which made my horror-loving heart happy.) I loved the mix of wellness culture satire, survival horror, and psychological twists that struck the perfect chord of gleeful horror and genuine tension.

If you’re looking for something fun, gory, and full of slasher thrills, I will join the campy crowd and say Breathe In, Bleed Out is 100% worth the hype. BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT comes out September 2.

Rating: I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

Is it bad to say I had a blast reading this book? Is it wrong of me? Maybe a blast isn't the correct term, but I was so deeply invested in everything going on. I never knew what was going to happen next. I have seen quite a few people call it a slasher book, reminiscent of the horror genre but I wouldn't exactly put it in that category. It had all the elements of a psychological horror and the killer vibes of a traditional horror, but it also had such a big aspect of mystery to it. Was Hannah going crazy, or was there something else at play? All the twists and turns had me consistently on my toes throughout the entire narrative!

⭐4.5/5⭐

Talk about a great time!If you're a lover of all things found in the best slasher & horror films, this book is absolutely for you. 👏🏼🎬

I loved the characters and their absolute messy friendships with each other 🙃

The isolated desert setting was so so perfect. 🏜️

The little bits of snarky humor throughout had me cackling 😂

The storyline kept me guessing until the very end. 🧐

I absolutely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a bloody, funny, perfectly summerween time! You can grab your copy September 2nd, 2025!🩸🔪🤣

Thank you to @netgalley and @brianmcwriter for letting me review this digital ARC

I love Brian McAuley’s books. He can do no wrong. This book is bloody, with supernatural elements and perfect for summer.. Thanks for another nostalgic, satisfying slasher!

What a fun, wild ride. There was tension, there was mystery, and there was gore! Breathe In, Bleed Out is a slasher horror book following Hannah after the death of her fiancé. Hannah is suspended from work and has been isolating herself since his passing. For her birthday, her best friend convinces her to go on a retreat with their friend group to try and get over the grief that is crippling her.

This book was fast paced and had lots of twists to keep you guessing. The writing was well done and I highly recommend this book if you don’t mind some graphic gore.

4.5⭐️

Thank you to Camp NetGalley, the author, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ebook in exchange for an honest review