Book Review: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Berkley (September 10, 2024)

Length: 304 pages

Author Information: Website

From the queen of chick-lit horror, So Thirsty was one of my most anticipated releases this fall, but compared to her previous novels, it didn’t quite reach the heights of, say, Black Sheep or Such Sharp Teeth. Still, I’m firmly of the mind that it’s impossible for an author like Rachel Harrison to write a bad book. While this one was not her strongest, it nonetheless delivered an enjoyable read.

The story follows Sloane Parker, a thirty-something food industry manager who is facing the dreaded prospect of another birthday feeling lost, sad, and unfulfilled. Her husband Joel’s idea of a celebration is to send her off with her best friend Naomi to a posh resort in the Finger Lakes, ostensibly for a girls’ weekend of wine tasting and spa treatments. But Sloane knows the truth. She suspects that Joel is having an affair, and that the trip was his way to get her out of the picture. After all, she’s caught him cheating before.

Perhaps sensing Sloane’s distress, Naomi attempts to play the part of supportive BFF, though the two women are polar opposites, and have been since they first met in junior high. Sloane, having had a negative experience in college, prefers to play it safe, choosing stability and caution over risk and uncertainty. Meanwhile, Naomi has always been the wild one, the social butterfly, world traveler, and party girl. Her idea of a good time is to be as unpredictable as possible, and she’s determined to bring Sloane out of her funk.

Despite Sloane’s protestations, Naomi accepts an invitation from a handsome stranger she met at the bar to attend a posh shindig at a glitzy mansion with a group of his friends. However, their hosts turn out to be vampires, and when a fatal mishap occurs, Sloane and Naomi must agree to become vampires themselves. Sloane gradually finds herself drawn to Henry, the enigmatic leader of the group, who, despite being an undead immortal, introduces her to a whole new perspective on living.

Rachel Harrison is no stranger to writing about the paranormal and her stories often feature supernatural creatures, so it’s no surprise that she has chosen to explore the world of vampires in her latest novel. But given her track record of taking familiar ideas and doing fresh new things with them, I was a little disappointed with how frequently So Thirsty seemed to fall back on well-trodden territory when it comes to vampires, such as the moody, broody love interest or the fact that the lore surrounding them doesn’t quite break new ground. The romance aspect also leans heavily on established tropes, which, while enjoyable, feels somewhat predictable for the author.

One of the key themes of the book, like in so many of Harrison’s novels, is also the idea of female friendship. However, Sloane and Naomi’s relationship sometimes rubbed me the wrong way, with an undercurrent of toxicity that made it less appealing. As a result, the bond between them didn’t feel as authentic as the emotionally rewarding friendships featured in the author’s previous works, lacking the sympathetic, meaningful, and touching qualities I’ve come to expect, nor did it give off the same warmth.

That said, what really resonated with me was Sloane’s character, even though many of her internal struggles were heavily overplayed to the point of feeling corny or clichéd. Still, there’s no denying that many of her worries and insecurities reflect some of the quiet battles that average people face daily. It made her a relatable and endearing protagonist, and so it was also incredibly easy to fall right into the story.

At the end of the day, while So Thirsty isn’t making it onto my list of favorite Rachel Harrison novels, that doesn’t make it a bad book or unworthy of picking up. It’s still a great read if you’re a fan of the author’s work, especially if you’re in the mood for a vampire story that offers a solid dose of her signature style.