This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by Xe Sands.

The concept of this very familiar to people who love horror stories.
Remote research team finds a strange biological specimen, massive amounts of body horror and doppelgangers happen.

This was well written. Even the flashbacks (which I'm normally not a big fan of) were done so that they flowed within the context of what was happening in the "present".

The biggest issue I had was the "erotic" part of the horror. It was more than graphic and really excessive (for me. If you loved it, more power to you! It's just not my jam).

Like I said, well written take on a familiar story, just way too graphic for my tastes. If that's something you'd enjoy, you should read this.

I usually steer clear of body horror, but Spread Me might be the perfect (if accidental) entry point for me. I picked it up without reading too deeply into the description — turns out, yes, the title is just as sexual and unsettling as it sounds. And yes, this is absolutely a horror novel.

It made me feel sick. It was awful. I hated the main character. And yet... it was really well written.

Horror has a way of staying with me that is unique to that genre because it often incites such a visceral reaction that I cannot soon forget it. Sometimes it is because I'm scared, sometimes it is because I'm grossed out. This one mostly made me recoil. Still, it did exactly what body horror is supposed to do: it got under my skin (much like the virus in the tale). So while I can't say I enjoyed it, I’m still giving it five stars. Because being grossed out might just mean the book did its job.

Impossible not to think of The Thing while reading this one but this one had a vibe all it's own. Very well written and executed in a pretty short format.

My Goodreads review:
It’s like the The Thing but with vagpits and I’m here for it.

I really enjoyed the scientific aspect of this book, a lonely research outpost, a mysterious virus that is allowed inside the scientists habitat; it gave Alien vibes. But the very unusual erotic aspect of this book will give readers the creeps, some will enjoy it, but I think more will find it off putting

ARC/ALC 🎧 Review: Spread Me by Sarah Gailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: September 23, 2025.

I feel like I should have known from the title that this was going to be sexually explicit, but going in blind, I had no clue 🤣. That being said, it was so weird yet so good at the same time. I loved this book so much!

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

🧫🦠🌡️

Kinsey has the perfect job as the team lead in a remote research outpost. She loves the solitude, and the way the desert keeps her far away from the temptations teeming out in the civilian world.

When her crew discovers a mysterious specimen buried deep in the sand, Kinsey breaks quarantine and brings it into the lab. But the longer it’s inside, the more her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. Temptation has found her after all, and it can’t be ignored any longer.

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2.75/5 rounded up. I have no idea what I just read but I know it made me feel weird. (And it was supposed to.)

This was a super short book (the audiobook was only about 5 hours believe) about researchers who find a fungus-type thing (I don't know and clearly neither do they) but it gets freaky. Yes, freaky in a sexual way. And that was weird, man, real weird.

I was definitely entertained by this. And concerned.

I did find this to be a bit predictable and a bit flat at the end of the day. Nothing really happened besides the freaky stuff, but I kind of think that was the point.

There is definitely body horror to this, so if you do not like that, you're gonna want to skip this one. It was icky. But also kind of funny given the situation, weirdly.

I also found the FMC to be almost a pick-me, a not-like-other-girls girl, and it felt really weird in this environment. So, I did not like her that much.

This was definitely unique and I have never read anything like it. I think the horror freaks and fans will have fun with this.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Kinsey and her science team discover a questionable specimen while conducting research in a remote desert outpost. Oddities and horror commence!

There is just something about Sarah Gailey's brand of horror, isn't there? The ability to push the envelope in horror without swimming too far into "camp" territory. Although the science is admittedly a bit murky here, the horror is on point; and undoubtedly, you will be left with that delicious feeling of unease that only a good horror novel can supply. The body horror was uniquely presented in this one -- I don’t want to spoil anything, but this is definitely unlike the traditional body horror presentations you are used to in your vintage horror books.

Speaking of body horror… In this book there are horror elements of body horror, possession, and contagion. There is also a lusty/hypersexual theme that to be honest initially hit me the wrong way -- admittedly I am kind of uptight, but these parts for me are on the sexual cringe level of Star Trek's Naked Now episode (which we all love of course, but if you know you know). In the end, it all came together, but if you don't want to read graphic sexual content in the midst of your horror-fest, here is your trigger warning. Incidentally, is it intentional that our main character is (Dr.?) Kinsey? Hmmm…

I was sent the audiobook to review. The narrator overall does a good job of differentiating characters and has impressive acting skills. That said, there are a few chapters toward the start that she sort of seems to be mumbling under her voice, and I was not a huge fan of that particular affectation. Overall a positive listening experience, though.

If you have enjoyed Gailey's previous novels, this will be a good read for you. The Echo Wife is probably my favorite Gailey book, but this did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Gailey and Macmillan Audio for sending me this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I am not really sure what I read here. I have loved Gailey in the past, so when I saw a sci-fi horror book by them, I was instantly intrigued. This was not quite what I expected, though. This was definitely more erotica and less horror, which is fine - I am a supporter of everyone writing and reading what they want - it's just not what I thought I was getting into. If you are going into this wanting a spicy book about a team of scientists in a secluded desert who come across a weird SOMETHING in said desert, then this is definitely for you. If you are looking for a "The Thing" style horror book about a team of scientists in a secluded desert who come across a weird SOMETHING in said desert, then this one might take you on a different journey than you expected. Two stars from me because I was in the latter group, and I REALLY wanted this to be more horror and less erotica. It will absolutely be a perfect book for someone - Gailey's writing is great, and their characters never disappoint. It just wasn't for me.

I am not the audience for this book. I just really didn’t enjoy it and the audio honestly made me really tired. Just not for me.

Spread me by Sarah Gailey is a horror novella following a team of scientists at a remote desert research station as they deal with a virus that is seemingly replacing members of their team.

This is a weird one, I saw someone described this as horny horror and I have to agree. Most of the plot revolves around that fact that the lead character is sexual attracted to viruses and that’s the major reason she’s chosen to work in a remote base highly isolated from society. I was intrigued and I kept listening but at the same time I wouldn’t say I found the book particularly enjoyable. The narrator does a fantastic job and I really like the work they did.

3/5 stars because I’m really not sure what to rate this.

Kinsey and her team are working on a remote desert research post when they discover a specimen in the sand. Kinsey becomes enthralled by it, breaking protocol to bring it back to the lab. Soon the team becomes sick with a virus—a virus obsessed with pleasing Kinsey. Disturbing and engrossing, the science fiction horror read is well-characterized by the narrator and sure to chill the reader.

This is one of the weirdest books I've read lately, yet I really enjoyed it. I was on edge to find out what would happen next, and I enjoyed the isolated research station setting. The characters were lovable and fun to get to know. I was not expecting it to be so erotic, but it worked within the storyline. Sands's narration brought a rough and strong leader in Kinsey to life. Highly recommend if you're looking for your horror on the sci-fi and erotic side.

Yoooo the research scientists in this were disturbingly horny. I never imagined reading a book where a character got off to thinking about a virus...yet, here I am. Definitely unique.

I have liked this author's previous book, Just Like Home, but this story wasn't what I was expecting and was a miss for me. The narrator did a good job, though.

I love books where a group of people are stuck in an isolated research station when things go wrong. Most of these novels are usually set either in space or in Antarctica. Spread Me is the opposite because it happens in the desert and it’s all sandy and suffocating. Kinsey, the team leader, has a thing for viruses. And when I say “a thing,” I don’t mean that she’s interested in studying them. Nope, girlfriend is really, really, REALLY into them. Xe Sands, one of my favorite narrators, creates top-notch voices for each member of the cast. Especially impressive is (mild spoiler) how she changes each character’s voice as they are influenced by the events. They are still recognizable, but Sands gives them an edge that makes it easy to figure out what’s happening. The story uses body horror from the best Lovecraftian tradition, and at the same time is totally original. Now, for what I disliked: the pronouns. I know it’s hip but the singular “they” is confusing and distracting. TWO characters use it here, and I had no idea who was doing what with whom and why? It is also hard to picture someone in your head if you don’t know what they look like (being blunt: do they have breasts? This is important in this novel when it features so much body horror). So entertaining, horrifying and really, really weird.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Macmillan Audio.

4.5 rounded up.

This was a horror mixed with dark romance.

Baby, this book scary, spooky & freak nasty. I def didn’t read the blurb I saw the cover & semi read the title and said HORROR - SIGN ME UP.

Now, I knew this was kind of different when everyone got sick & Kinsey you know. Well..

I’ll say this; this was a different type of freaky scary story. I have no idea how Gailey came up with a story like this, but my goodness.

This is definitely for the nasties! The ending!? Had my eyes WIDE!


I got an ARC audio copy of this book through NetGalley. Zero complaints about the narrator.

I would give the choice of narrator 5 stars. They performed this work. This entire novel is a desperate situation and they sold it. The book wasn’t really for me but the actor was perfect.

Just finished Spread Me by Sarah Gailey and… y’all… this might be one of the strangest books I’ve ever read 😳 I literally sat there staring at the wall for a good minute like… what did I just listen to?! My fiancée even looked at me and said, “You read something weird, didn’t you?” 😂

📖 What it’s about: Set in a remote research station, a mysterious specimen is brought inside after a routine mission. What should’ve been harmless quickly turns into something… alive. Infectious. Dangerous. It’s a mix of survival horror, paranoia, and unsettling obsession that blurs the line between fear and desire.

💭 My thoughts: It started off interesting, but I almost DNF’d because I couldn’t tell where it was going. Then, right when I was about to stop—BAM—it got even weirder and I couldn’t look away 🙃 Honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Most of the time I wasn’t super invested, but the unique, bizarre concept kept me curious. Maybe I’d have enjoyed it more in print—sometimes audiobooks can totally make or break the vibe 🎧

⭐ 2.75/5 stars — not my favorite, but if you love weird body horror that makes you blush and say “WTF did I just read?”… this might be your jam.

What a deeply unsettling horror novel.

This one is strange, unsettling, cringy, and well haunting. In a twist of science, a strange virus finds its way into a laboratory. After infecting the scientists around her, our main character finds herself strangely attracted to those who are infected.

This was expertly written and narrated even better. The voice actor was brilliant.

Spread Me follows a group of researchers trapped in a desolate desert research station with a mysterious and horrifying specimen. It’s a sci-fi horror book but with an erotic twist (yes, you read that right!). Think The Thing, but horny. I went in blind, so I wasn’t really expecting the horniness that’s included in this book and was pretty shocked when the main character started sexually fantasizing about viruses (once again, yes, you read that right!). Honestly, erotic or “spicy” books aren’t really my thing, but in this case I kind of liked it. The horniness of these characters was absurd and the way this contrasted with the horror of the situation was weird but in a fun way. It’s definitely a bizarre premise and a weird reading experience. Overall, I had a fun time with this book even if it’s not going to be a new favorite of mine.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator, but otherwise I have no strong thoughts on the audiobook. It was good, but not anything special.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I was so excited to be diving into a sci-fi horror narrated by Xe Sands that it took me a little too long to realize just how “nope” this subject matter was for me. A researcher being sexually aroused by viruses?? And then a virus mutating to try to seduce her? At first I thought the virus was messing with brain chemistry to try to snag a host to spread via sex but then I remembered that Kinsey was sexually aroused by viruses before this and for that reason I was out.