We Love the Nightlife

by Rachel Koller Croft

Locked in a toxic female friendship, two vampires careen toward catastrophe in this dark and dazzling page-turner, set amidst London's glittering disco scene.

London 1979. Two women with a deep love for disco meet one fateful night on the dance floor, changing the course of both their lives forever. Nicola, a beautiful and brooding vampire for nearly two centuries, can’t resist fun-loving and feisty Amber from America, ultimately offering an eternity together where the glamour of nightlife always takes center stage.

But not all is what it seems.

Nearly fifty years later, after an unexpected betrayal, Amber wants out from under Nicola’s thumb, but it won’t be so simple to break up this festering friendship when she learns others have done the same—and wound up dead. 

Sensing Amber’s restlessness and in one last play to keep her close, Nicola proposes they open a nightclub of their very own, hearkening back to their best days as dancing queens. Amber agrees but she’s secretly hatching a dangerous escape plan. And if she fails…the party is over for good.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Vampires, Thriller, Audiobook, Paranormal, Fiction

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Rachel Koller Croft is the USA TODAY bestselling author of WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE and STONE COLD FOX. She’s also a WGA award-nominated screenwriter. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Charles, and their rescue pitbull, Juniper.

Reviews

[Meagan✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I should have known the party was over when she casually suggested killing my husband back in 1981”

🧛‍♀️ARC REVIEW 3.85 Stars 🧛‍♀️
Publishing Date- August 20,2024

What To Expect-
🪩Vampires
🪩Disco
🪩Toxic Friendships
🪩Dual POV
🪩Dual Timeline
🪩Character Driven Plot


My Thoughts-
This was a fun book. 
Imagine being stuck with some friend you don’t even like anymore?? Well Amber feels trapped in a friendship with Nicola, so she is plotting and scheming a way to get out.

This book is basically about female friendships and control but vampire style. I mean I feel like we've all been in a toxic friendship in one point of our lives?? So it was certainly, an interesting read. This story was one part horror, one part women’s fiction, one part thriller. I kept asking myself, “wtf am I reading?” In a good way.

The two FMC were well liked. I was rooting for Amber and Nicola, separately. I was hoping that they would mend their friendship, talk it out maybe?? But in the same token I was like, “wow what a b****” 😂😅 The side characters definitely added to the drama that was seeped into this book.

The pacing dragged a little in the beginning, didn’t stop me from continuing, I didn't lose interest at all. Once the plot picked up I was completely immersed in the storyline, I ended up binging to the end.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes, vampires and reading about toxic friendships. It was a fun drama filled book to read.

Playlist-
🪩Hot Stuff- Donna Summer
🪩Dancing Queen- Abba
🪩More Than A Woman- Bee Gees
🪩Bad Girls- Donna Summer
🪩Maneater- Darly Halls & John Atoes
🪩Night Fever Bee Gees
🪩I'm Coming Out-Diana Ross
🪩Sweet Dreams- Eurythmics
🪩The Sign- Ace Of Base
🪩Stayin Alive- Bee Gees
🪩I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor


✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨

[emilybookedup · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! this book was suuuuuch a vibe 🇬🇧🧛🏻‍♀️🖤🩸📖

for fans of:
🇬🇧 good settings (London in the 80s)
🧛🏻‍♀️ vampires (where are my fellow VAMPIRE DIARIES fans at???)
🔪 cat-and-mouse suspense
📖 MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR (esp if you wanted more vampirism in that one like me)
🖤 unique storylines / thrillers
👏🏼 character driven plots
👯‍♀️ double POVs / female MCs

this book was so creative you guys! you know i’ve read 3 million thrillers so i’m always looking for unique plots and content and this hit the mark. Rachel went out of her comfort zone for this one and created something so unique. i think if you can give it a chance (if you don’t love vamps), then you’ll really enjoy it. it has all the vibes!!

WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE has very similar cat-and-mouse, witty and suspenseful themes and dual POVs surrounding two females like her debut STONE COLD FOX, but a totally different spin. she has easily become an auto-buy author for me and i can’t wait to see what she puts out for her third book!

Rachel writes in a way that you love and root for the bad characters and that’s one of my favorite things about her stories. i found myself loving Nicola (no judgement thanks!!!) even though she was so awful at times. i couldn’t get enough of these damn vampires! those storylines are my weakness and it was so fun to see that come through in a thriller.

thank you to Rachel for gifting me an early copy and slipping my name in the acknowledgements. what a surprise 🥹😭🫶🏼 you are just the best. can’t wait for more readers to go along for this FUN ride 🧛🏻‍♀️🧛🏻‍♀️🧛🏻‍♀️

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - still catching up! · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Many thanks to Rachel Koller Croft and Berkley for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 8.20!**

"I want to go where the people dance
I want some action, I want to live
I love the nightlife
I've got to boogie on the disco 'round, oh yeah!" - "I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round)", Alicia Bridges

Flashing lights, glittering sequins, and cocktails always at the ready - swinging London in the seventies was nothing short of a Disco Inferno. For disco fanatics Nicola and Amber, it might have been just another night of partying 'til dawn...until their paths crossed, their eyes locked, and a fast friendship was born. But what seemed like a simple soul-sister meet cute quickly becomes something far more sinister...and even deadly. You see, Nicola is a vampire, fresh on the hunt for a new companion...and Amber looks like she might just fit the bill. Never mind that Amber has a beau waiting for her back at home...Nicola really GETS her. And when she reveals her salacious secret to Amber and offers her the chance to party - well, FOREVER - Amber thinks all of her dreams are coming true. But has she instead opened the door to a nightmare that simply won't end?

Years later, Amber has settled into life as Nicola's vamp companion...but she's growing restless. Nicola has very specific rules about who they can hunt, WHEN they can hunt, and where their paths will take them next...and needless to say, Amber's had about enough of her controlling ways. After all, SHE is a full-blown, full-bred vampire now, with her own strength, smarts, and desires...why should her companion hold her back? When the two hatch a plan to create their own nightclub, Amber thinks this is FINALLY her chance to pawn off Nicola on a newer unsuspecting vampire...and perhaps forge a new path with hunky would-be beau Roddy. But with a group of other unpredictable vampires tangled up in their plans, and Nicola's frightening past still a mystery to Amber, can she execute her plan while keeping Nicola in the proverbial dark? Or will Nicola's prescience (oh, and extra HUNDREDS of years of experience) clue her in to Amber's true intentions...and turn the tables at the WORST possible moment?

Three things completely SOLD me on this book before I read a single word:

1) That PERFECT cover. 10/10.
2) Vampires. Need I say more?
3) DISCO. (Don't knock it till you've tried it....Or at least if you do, you'd better 'knock, knock, knock on wood...')🕺💃💿

😁

ANYWAY...as much as I was fairly certain this was going to be the sort of smash sleeper hit that I'd tear through eagerly in a day or two, with the adrenaline rush that only incredible music AND a thrilling read combined could possibly provide...I felt more like I'd stumbled INTO the bar at last call, to be met by that horribly sickly smell of spilled beer and the sort of disorienting light that reminds you just how grimy a club ACTUALLY is when you can SEE it...and I could not WAIT to go home!

For a book about vampires...this one definitely lacked some bite. 😏 So many of the interactions, from selecting victims to even the turning of humans to vampires were just sort of...boring. In so many other vampire stories I've read, there's a crescendo of tension, passages exploring the intense thirst the vampires experience before their next meal, etc., but that was hardly present here. While there may have been a bloodbath at the END of the book...keep in mind it takes the ENTIRE book to get there. This story certainly didn't NEED to be gory or blood-soaked...but at the same time, having this aspect of the vampires essentially removed made the tension far less palpable. While the notion of mind control (or 'glamour', as they called it on True Blood) was here occasionally, it was never played to full effect. Essentially, even Nicola, the arch villain of the story, never truly seemed as evil as she was supposed to be...or frankly, as enticing either. (Pretty sure Amber could have found another dance partner pretty easily...if she had EVER taken more than 10 minutes on one of her many nights alone at the club to look for one!)

Which brings me to the next glaring issue I had with this book: this story plays as a 'toxic female frenemy' story....rather than what I felt should have OBVIOUSLY played as a toxic romance. I mean, I can't say that I've read a successful vampire story yet where some form of romantic love is NOT present...but this is not really even a consideration for either party (or so it seems) and I just felt like this was a missed opportunity. I get that some friendships can keep bringing you back for more, but adding in a hint of romance (on either side! OR BOTH!) could have made the stakes THAT much higher...and this book needed that sort of tension to keep it driving. Maybe this isn't the author's cup of tea, and that's perfectly okay...but I just kept imagining the sort of inner torment Amber REALLY would have had if she'd on some level believed that she was in love with Nicola or even if she felt confused about the nature of her relationship, if she was having her thoughts manipulated by Nicola, etc. Instead, she essentially likes her for about 15 minutes, gets turned, and seemingly spends the rest of the book (slowly) plotting her revenge.

Yawn.

And then there's the timeline, and the backstory...which once again, are aspects I normally LOVE in vampire stories...but were just sort of messy here. I'll be honest, the back and forth between the 1800s and now seemed ENTIRELY unnecessary. Since I had such a hard time caring about Nicola in any way as a character, it didn't really MATTER how or why or when she became a vampire or what she had done to anyone else prior to meeting Amber... I just did not care. The present day plot revolving around the nightclub also felt dragged out, where I kept wanting Amber to just put her plan in motion already and get on with it. I didn't care about any of the side characters, Nicola's family, or basically ANYTHING that was going on with anyone else, and I wish the author had spent more time really developing FEELINGS of some sort (other than petty ones) between her two MCs - THAT is the book I was dying to read. (And don't get me started on their ridiculous call and response with one another - "Toot toot. Beep Beep." Yes, I know it's in the song "Bad Girls"...but thinking about two characters saying this sincerely to one another ALWAYS elicited an eye roll...or more accurately, an upchuck reflex. ) 😫

And at the end of the day, as much as I personally adore it and will gladly put on the BeeGees, ABBA, and Donna Summer at a moment's notice, especially on a bad day...

There's a reason that disco died.

3 stars


Now available in paperback!

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Koller Croft is one of my favorite authors and people ever. I became a stalker, I mean a fan of hers after reading and loving her debut novel, Stone Cold Fox, so when I was given the opportunity to show the cover reveal and read her new 2024 novel, WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE early, I knew I had to jump at the chance. Thank you @berkleypub for the gifted copy. If you're a fan of Stone Cold Fox, WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE will be the book for you.

Rachel Koller Croft excels at telling bitchy thrillers with camp, drama, and social dynamics between women and WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is no different. In a voice you've come to love, Rachel's new novel focuses on two women, specifically Nicola and Amber. Nicola and Amber meet in 1979 and the bond they create becomes too magnetic to ignore. So much in fact that Nicola turns Amber into a vampire. Yes, Nicola is a vampire and now is Amber's maker. Hear me out thriller fans, the vampire story is a big theme throughout the book, but isn't the central one. While Amber and Nicola navigate throughout the years, they continue to bond over their love of disco and the nightlife. Nearly 50 years later, Amber is ready to break out of Nicola's shell. However, Nicola is a very powerful and influential vampire in the world that is thought to be make-believe. As Amber tries to hatch a plan for her freedom from Nicola, she has to watch closely, because Nicola has been around the block much longer than Amber and is prepared for anything.

WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE could be a cousin to Stone Cold Fox in voice and toxic female dynamics, but it's a very different type of story than the author's predecessor. WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is a genre-mashup and hard to pinpoint down specifically where it gravitates to. I'm thinking a light thriller, women's fiction, drama, character-driven, vampire story. See! I had such a freaking blast reading this and my heart went out to one specific character so much. There's a bit of steam in this book, and a few hotties that I think I have a crush on! WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is a the perfect combination of True Blood meets Studio 54 meets Thirteen (remember that movie?!). Rachel Koller Croft has quickly become my favorite author and I can't wait to see what's next for her. If WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is any indication, I'm sure she will continue to keep readers guessing.

[Rachel Koller Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book about London disco vampires!

I love it!

I hope you love it, too!

If you don't...well, looks like you're not on the list -- bye!

xx RKC

[Clarissa Labue-Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love the night life is everything you could want in a vampire story. It’s decadent, glamorous, alluring, dazzling, seductive and flashy – with bite. It’s a booming tale of dysfunctional friendship and codependency that reverberates long after you’ve finished it.

Amid the sizzling and scintillating magical ambiance of the Disco scene in the late 1970’s, alluring and captivating Amber with her gorgeous, good looks enchants the stunning vampire Nicola. Instantly they have chemistry on and off the dance floor becoming fast friends. Flickering between the past and present we see friendship in retrograde. What was once a fun and effervescent relationship has turned into a virulent bond where Nicola desperately hangs on to control over her prepossessing partying paramour. Amber, our sensational stunner is betrayed by Nicola, a fashionable femme fatale. While reeling from the betrayal Amber takes a deeper look at her concord with Nicola and wonders if maybe it’s time she strike out on her own.

This book had me completely enraptured. I was engrossed from the first page. We Love the Night Life is everything I ever wanted in a vampire novel: Bombshell beauties, violence, trauma, and drama.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cover drew me in instantly, but I didn’t feel like the book followed up on the promises the cover and description made. I didn’t find this book to be as exciting as I hoped. It was still an interesting book and I enjoyed the multiple narrators and dual timelines, I honestly was more interested in the past and would have liked more stories from that. The characters were interesting, but didn’t compel me the way I hoped they would. Amber and her best friend Nicola have a secret, they are vampires. Nicola turned Amber and while she agreed she’s not sure it’s the life she thought it would be. But Nicola doesn’t let anyone go. They share a love of dancing and through the book work on starting up a nightclub. I didn’t find the big twist to be super twisty but it did make sense and felt satisfying. I also enjoyed the ending. This one was 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars because it was a different take on vampires.

[Jillian B · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1979, Amber meets fellow party girl Nicola on a London dance floor and it’s platonic love at first sight. Nicola has an intoxicating energy that makes her feel almost superhuman…and it turns out she kind of is. Nicola is an immortal vampire, and she offers to turn Amber into one too. Amber eagerly accepts, looking forward to an eternity of wild nights out.

Almost 50 years later, Amber is both sick of Nicola’s shit and terrified of her controlling nature. Over the decades, Nicola’s grasp on Amber has tightened, and she’s gone from intoxicating to straight up toxic. Amber’s determined to escape, but she knows it won’t be easy. The first step is finding someone to replace her as Nicola’s BFF…and she’s just spotted the perfect target.

Was this a bit of a guilty pleasure read? Absolutely. It is frothy and silly but I had such a blast reading it that I think it absolutely merits five stars. Anyone who can get me, someone who is decidedly not a fantasy girlie, to be invested in the lives of vampires deserves all the awards. The disco-era London setting was vibrant and fun, and the plot was delightfully twisty. I devoured this book while lying on a lounge chair at the beach, and I think that’s exactly how it was meant to be enjoyed! This was the second book I’ve read and loved by this writer, and I’m officially putting her in the “I will read anything she writes” category.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Love the Nightlife begins with two women forming a friendship in the disco-filled nights of 1979. Nicola is a vampire and ultimately turns Amber too.

Fifty years later, their friendship has become toxic and Amber is ready for change, away from Nicola’s controlling behavior. Leaving Nicola won’t be easy though and Amber has to carefully craft a plan, with no missteps.

I enjoyed parts of this story but it definitely grew long as it continued. It’s a slow burn and I think the ultimate outcome could’ve been achieved quicker with less detailed nights out and a tighter past timeline.

I preferred Stone Cold Fox by Croft more than We Love the Nightlife. That said, WLTN was entertaining, especially for this time of year, but best to know it’s not a page turning thriller.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Love The Nightlife proved Rachel Koller Croft is a creative genius when it comes to writing.

I was captivated by her writing and loved the multiple POVs and multiple timelines. She truly brought the 1970s to life.

We Love The Nightlife is full of high drama, lies and revenge, sprinkled with a couple surprises.

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

i actually enjoyed this, the story of their toxic friendship was interesting to read about. it was just a bit to struggle through, i read other books while reading this and i flew through them but this one felt like a drag at times.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
I really enjoyed this sharp centric vampire novel dealing with a whole other level of toxic female friendship. The story reminded me a bit of First Light by Liz Kerin, but with more narrative drive. I loved both but I would recommend this one to readers who found First Light too slow.

I would recommend this one to readers looking for a modern vampire story with some bite.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
The only thing inventive in this book was the name of the night club.

[Kelly • Kell of a Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE was an absolute masterpiece and to me, it was perfect. The glitz and glamour! The London club scene! The disco! The hilarious banter, snark, and sass! I already can’t wait to reread it.

In my new favorite book we meet Amber, a plucky midwestern girl living in London, who just so happens to be a vampire. If you’re anything like me the brakes might be screeching right about now. I didn’t even finish the first Twilight book. What business do I have reading a grown up vampire book?

All the business in the world, apparently! After loving STONE COLD FOX, I knew Rachel Koller Croft would not lead me astray. This book is perfect for readers that don’t love paranormal elements. The vampire bits are cheeky and fun and you don’t have to learn any crazy rules or spend time messing with silly little things like world building. This one felt like a bit of a genre mashup - a lighter thriller + dramatic women’s fiction with a healthy dose of toxic female friendships and well… vampires.

I loved being in Amber’s head. I want to be her best friend. I want to be her in my next life (if I come back as a party girl). I am just fully obsessed with the woman.

I’m also obsessed with the side characters. Roddy is a doll who I happen to have a major crush. And then there’s Courtenay Cooper. I finished this book over a week ago and I still find myself thinking about Court on a daily basis. Her song choice towards the end made me cackle.

Croft’s writing is whip smart and fresh and she has officially earned herself a spot on my top ten favorite authors list. I will be shocked if this book isn’t my favorite read of 2024! Toot toot!

A million thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! I am so incredibly grateful! All opinions are my own.

[Nina Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's face it: we've seen enough broody dude vampire novels. Rachel Koller Croft reclaims the fangs for the ladies in her terrific new book about a pair of London party girls who want to dance forever or die trying. I loved Rachel Koller Craft's 2023 debut, STONE COLD FOX, and WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is just as fresh, sexy, and wicked, with a brilliant, bloody twist. It's about toxic friendships that last forever and the lengths women will go to escape them. This book is an infernal disco of insatiable appetites and eternal youth. I didn't want the party to stop.

p.s. there are a few broody dude vampires in the mix. But they're the side snack, not the main course.

[Kelly • Kell of a Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE was an absolute masterpiece and to me, it was perfect. The glitz and glamour! The London club scene! The disco! The hilarious banter, snark, and sass! I already can’t wait to reread it.

In my new favorite book we meet Amber, a plucky midwestern girl living in London, who just so happens to be a vampire. If you’re anything like me the brakes might be screeching right about now. I didn’t even finish the first Twilight book. What business do I have reading a grown up vampire book?

All the business in the world, apparently! After loving STONE COLD FOX, I knew Rachel Koller Croft would not lead me astray. This book is perfect for readers that don’t love paranormal elements. The vampire bits are cheeky and fun and you don’t have to learn a bunch of rules or spend time with silly little things like world building. This one felt like a bit of a genre mashup - a lighter thriller + dramatic women’s fiction with a healthy dose of toxic female friendships and well, vampires.

I loved being in Amber’s head. I want to be her best friend. I want to be her in my next life (if I come back as a party girl). I am just fully obsessed with the woman.

I’m also obsessed with the side characters. Roddy is a doll who I happen to have a major crush. And then there’s Courtenay Cooper. I finished this book over a week ago and I still find myself thinking about Court on a daily basis. Her song choice towards the end made me cackle.

Croft’s writing is whip smart and fresh and she has officially earned herself a spot on my top ten favorite authors list. I will be shocked if this book isn’t my favorite read of 2024! Toot toot!

A million thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! I am so incredibly grateful! All opinions are my own.

[hollyreadit · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO FUN!!!! I’ve come to the conclusion that @rachkollercroft is the queen of writing toxic females and I am so here for it! I absolutely loved the flashbacks and getting to hear both Nicola’s and Amber’s side of the story. AND THAT TWIST?! I gasped! Yall are going to want to add this one to your tbr immediately!

🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩/5

Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 8/20

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like this one. It feels impossible that a premise this amazing could be BORING. And yet. Honestly if you want to see vampires start a nightclub, just watch What We Do in the Shadows

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the the vampire book I have been WAITING FOR. Obsessed!!!!!!!!!! Thank you @rachkollercroft for this gift! As a vampire girly I think a lot about how we don’t get many great vampire books. My woes have been solved. This is vampires in London with disco and flashbacks and glamour and music and toxic female friendships. I loved this so much. I wanted to crawl into this world and become one of the girls! Obsessed. And it is SO London, it felt like a trip to the city. Especially loved when my favorite pub The Holly Bush made an appearance. Just obsessed. Obsessed with Rachel’s writing and how it felt dishy and gossipy while still so compelling and such a wild story. I want to read it again. More coherent review when I collect my thoughts but it’s out 8/20 get ready !!!!! 🧛🏻‍♀️

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bitchy thriller with a lot of bite 👀 GOSSIP GIRL meets THE VAMPIRE DIARIES in this super fun genre mashup, it's hard to put my fang on what category this falls into but I'd say womens fiction, horror and thriller are the most present, ultimately this is about female friendships/dynamics and toxicity but with a vampiric edge, Rachel excells at writing snarky witty prose that makes highly addictive and entertaining reading,
the backdrop of 80s London and the disco scene made this feel glamorous and I felt cocooned in a kaleidoscope of falling tinsel and tunes, highly recommend this to my girly pops who enjoy dry wit and drinking blood, you will love it 🤩

[Jessica Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is so unique and suspenseful! Vampires. Disco. London. Toxic female relationships…I was fully captivated by the storyline and characters.

In 1979, two women meet on the dance floor at a disco in London. Nicola, a fiesty vampire for over a century meets Amber, a lost girl from America and offers her an eternity of adventures and the glamorous life but the price she must pay is eternal.

With dual POVs and timelines, we’re thrust onto the vampire scene and it’s a wild ride! Sure, they’re vampires and have to kill to live🩸but I dare you not to root for Nicola and Amber (yes, Nicola too!)

The TWIST got me when I was predicting something totally different. The writing is creative, witty and entertaining and I wanted the party to keep on going!

After loving Croft’s debut, FIRST LIE WINS, it’s no surprise that I ATE UP THIS STORY! The dual audiobook narrators gave stellar performances.

Fans of Vampire Diaries and True Blood - you’ll want to SINK YOUR TEETH into this one!

[kimberly]

second book by croft that i cannot finish. note to self: don't read this author again :')

[readwithmichele · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK: We Love the Nightlife
AUTHOR: Rachel Koller Croft
PUB DATE: 8/20/2024 by Berkley
PAGES: 400
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
GENRE: Thriller/Fantasy

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: [CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW & SONG CHOICE ON IG!] First thing’s first! This song choice was a MUST for me with all the references to it in the book (i.e., “Toot. Toot!..ahhhh, BEEP BEEP!,” as well as naming their club, “Hey Mister!” Two FMCs. One very jealous and the other a little selfish – out for her own best interests with good reason. There is great character and world building. I enjoyed the thrilling tale of these two fierce women, and I couldn’t help but get swept away in this vampire world they live in. The story and writing were so clever! It was such a fun audiobook, and I appreciated references to other disco songs I heard growing up! You, too, are sure to be compelled to see how this story ends! A must read for sure!

[Cortney - Bookworm & Vine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointingly boring

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure how I felt about this one. I think 3 stars is too low.. 4 stars not quite right either.

This is a character driven story set in both 1970s/80s London as well as present day London. Nicola is a 100+ year old vampire and she’s on the prowl for a new companion. When she spots Amber dancing in a club one night Nicola knows she’ll do anything to keep her.

How are these two making out 50 years in the future? Not great really. Haha.

Nicola is that female villain you don’t want to root for but you kinda do anyways? Super manipulative. Toxic to be around. If you enjoy supporting women’s wrongs this could be a book for you. I certainly enjoyed those parts of it.

I think what held me back was the writing in places. It’s dual first person perspective which I found sort of odd. And the voice was strange in places. I don’t remember having this issue with Croft’s first book Stone Cold Fox, but I listened to that one on audio and I’m wondering if that made it less noticeable. It’s not egregious anywhere it just felt off.

Part of this was also the language. Some of the slang was weird and it felt noticeable to me that Croft is not from London. Like I’ve read plenty of authors/books from the UK and none of them ever talked the way these characters do. I don’t know if it was supposed to be young people slang or 80s slang. It was just weird and broke the immersion for me. (examples include: drinkies? Lippy for lipstick? If anyone can shed light I’d love to know just out of morbid curiosity. **ETA: I’m officially old. I heard my 11 year old daughter’s friends using the word lippy the other day. It’s young people slang. Not sure if it’s in the UK or just US. I’m sure drinkies is the same. I stand by the comment this is bizarre. Next year I’ll be telling people to get off my porch. I don’t have a porch.)

But the vibes were glamorous and glitzy. Basically everything the cover and title promise. I wish it had been a little faster paced. I wish some of the back story chapters had been cut.

I also think there were a few loose ends that needed tidying (like is the split between Nicola and Pierce ever really explained? It seemed like he did something extra horrible to her (like more than just leaving her) but it’s never said what?

So not perfect but not bad. Good if this is what you’re in the mood for. And the cover is absolutely stunning. (10 bajillion stars for the cover.)

[BernLuvsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires, toxic female friendship and disco

This cat and mouse plot between female vampires that have the most TOXIC of friendships was both creative and entertaining. Set in London I loved the setting and the disco/nightclub vibe. The two female MCs were both strong characters and I enjoyed all of their women behaving badly vibes. This was definitely the type of book where you root for bad characters (there were no true good ones!) and enjoy it every step of the way.

I enjoyed getting both Nicola and Amber’s POVs. It definitely made me feel invested in their game of cat and mouse. Plus, ALL the vampire vibes. I couldn’t get enough of the storyline surrounding all the vampires, their history and their current interactions. There was so much backstabbing, resentment and scheming!

[Angyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahh this was such a fun read! messy, toxic, and full of drama, We Love the Nightlife follows two female vampires in a dual timeline story.

One perspective follows Nicola, the older vampire, and takes place during the disco era of 1979, and the other timeline gives us a present day perspective from Amber, the woman Nicola takes as a companion. We get to see the relationship begin as Nicola draws Amber into the dark side, eventually turning her. The disco/nightclub/party aesthetic makes for the perfect backdrop and is so vivid throughout the story. I would mainly describe this as low plot, high vibes, though there is a bit of mystery and high stakes laced throughout the book. Amber is getting tired of being with Nicola, yet it isn't so easy for her to leave. As we see her work to craft the perfect escape plan, we also dig deeper into Nicola's past and the depth of her manipulation becomes more evident, escalating to a crazy ending full of suspense.

It's hard to place this one into a genre - more than anything I think it is "women's fiction", but with a vampiric twist 🤔 also a little bit mystery/thriller and a few murderous horror scenes!

My only complaint is that I wish this was gay (lol). But if you like the late 70s/early 80s vibes, love a toxic relationship, and enjoy blood and vampires, I recommend putting on your favorite disco playlist and giving this book a try.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 stars rounded up

I really enjoyed Croft's debut novel, Stone Cold Fox so l was very interested in reading her sophomore novel. I always look for a unique plot when it comes to thrillers and so a book about two disco loving vampires really stood out to me.

At its core, We Love the Nightlife is centered around toxic female friendships. I enjoyed the alternating timelines and perspectives between Nicola and Amber. I also really liked several of the sub characters. But unfortunately I did feel as if the story dragged on a bit and I found myself becoming disinterested. Readers who enjoy books about backstabbing friends with plenty of drama will enjoy this one.

I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan and Suzanne Elise Freeman who both did a fantastic job!

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft will be available on August 20. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy and Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!

[Carissa | the.grim.readers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down!

I was immediately sucked into this one with the killer cover and having a history of loving toxic female friendship stories, but definitely found it feeling a bit too long towards the middle as the pacing is overall pretty slow-burn.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed my time with this as I love vampire fiction and the nods to disco and the disco era had me immediately wanting to play my ABBA record asap. If you enjoy stories about toxic female relationships, vampires, and revenge I think you’ll enjoy your time with this one!

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

"We Love the Nightlife" by Rachel Koller Croft is the perfect book for you if you love toxic and complicated female friendships, power plays and betrayals, jealousy, disco, dancing, and vampires. It has all of those things in spades. This book is a lot more glitz and glamor and a lot less bloodsucking (though there is *some* bloodsucking). While this story is frequently fun, it feels like it goes on a little long. I enjoyed Nicola and Amber as characters. Nicola is a great, conniving villain. She manipulates everyone around here to keep herself on top and to keep people relying on her for friendship and stability. Amber is naive when Nicola first meets her in 1979. She is a young, married woman who is lost and doesn't know what she wants, but quickly discovers that she wants to be a vampire. Nicola believes she has given Amber everything, that she has done her a favor by turning her into her mini-me, but Amber wants out the more she realizes she is being manipulated. I feel like the ultimate payoff could have come several dozen pages sooner, but when it gets there, it is quite satisfying. I think my ultimate gripe with this book is that there are these frequent bursts of intense and violent exposition, but what is in between these moments can get pretty boring, so you're left waiting for a long time for very little in return. The nightclub scenes are fun, though! I still recommend this book for its flash and pomp and circumstance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Koller Croft, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.