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Kiss Slay Replay
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Every wedding guest’s worst nightmare is on repeat in this wild and twisty new horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of So Thirsty and Play Nice.
It’s the picture-perfect wedding The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
It’s the picture-perfect wedding The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
28 people are currently reading
25693 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Harrison
12 books6,705 followersRachel Harrison is the author of The Return, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica and Electric Lit. She lives in New York with her husband and their cat/overlord.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Want to Read
March 25, 2026Pre-read: Stop because why is this cover so freaking prettyyyy 😭🩵 I need this book already, but I have to wait 195 days 🥹
Update: Book already pre-ordered. Now the wait begins 🤭
Update: Book already pre-ordered. Now the wait begins 🤭
they-told-me-to-read-it
February 23, 2026
Want to Read
November 19, 2025For this author - I need NO Cover, and NO synopsis - I'm just 100% in! Can't wait for it!
Want to Read
February 23, 2026Original 7/2/25 (no cover, no synopsis)
I hate the groundhog day trope but it's Rachel Harrison so I'm reading it!
Edit 2/23/26 (now that we have a synopsis and cover)
And I also hate wedding settings...
I hate the groundhog day trope but it's Rachel Harrison so I'm reading it!
Edit 2/23/26 (now that we have a synopsis and cover)
And I also hate wedding settings...
May 5, 2026
I’m not usually a huge fan of time-loop stories, but I knew I had to make an exception for Rachel Harrison. I can safely say that I have no regrets.
Kiss, Slay, Replay follows Willa- who is going through the worst breakup of her life. To top it all off, her ex-fiancee is going to be at the wedding she has to attend. Willa doom-spirals her way to the wedding only to arrive and feel that things are off. Which makes sense as the wedding ends with a massacre. But despite dying, Willa wakes up the next morning, the day of the wedding and has to relive it all again and again.
Groundhog Day but make it terrifying. Rachel Harrison really gave us all the possible scenario’s for Willa and her friends to live out. It kept the time-loop aspect of the story really engaging- where often I can find the repetitiveness of it annoying. Each time the day replayed, Willa tried something new.
While this was a horror, I also feel like it had an emotional aspect as well. Willa is obviously going through a lot and so are her friends. I felt her emotions and her frustrations with each interaction she had- especially with Cassie. I was so invested in her story, I literally could not put the book down and needed to know how it was going to end. To anyone who enjoys horror- I would recommend this book. It was funny, emotional and honestly unsettling. All of the best things!
Kiss, Slay, Replay follows Willa- who is going through the worst breakup of her life. To top it all off, her ex-fiancee is going to be at the wedding she has to attend. Willa doom-spirals her way to the wedding only to arrive and feel that things are off. Which makes sense as the wedding ends with a massacre. But despite dying, Willa wakes up the next morning, the day of the wedding and has to relive it all again and again.
Groundhog Day but make it terrifying. Rachel Harrison really gave us all the possible scenario’s for Willa and her friends to live out. It kept the time-loop aspect of the story really engaging- where often I can find the repetitiveness of it annoying. Each time the day replayed, Willa tried something new.
While this was a horror, I also feel like it had an emotional aspect as well. Willa is obviously going through a lot and so are her friends. I felt her emotions and her frustrations with each interaction she had- especially with Cassie. I was so invested in her story, I literally could not put the book down and needed to know how it was going to end. To anyone who enjoys horror- I would recommend this book. It was funny, emotional and honestly unsettling. All of the best things!
Want to Read
September 11, 2025okay i know her last book came out ~2 days ago at the time of writing this
but can this be out already?
but can this be out already?
March 30, 2026
***Shared on CapesandTights.com***
Hearing wedding bells chime can usher a sentimental feeling of love, optimism of a blossoming future, and the promise of a union that reminds us all of the shiny, happy aspects of devotion to another. An intertwining fate that is forever sealed (allegedly) on this most special day. Release the doves, throw the rice, check any doubts at the door. There is a singularity to matrimony that seems to eclipse so much. This is it. This is the day. But what if that day repeated? And the promises made to yourself, not to others, took center-stage? What if death, rather than a new life, was waiting at the end of that long aisle? And what if there was seemingly no way out?
A wedding-horror story, a time-loop novel, and dare I say, a punchy study in philosophy and self-regard, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay contains multitudes, wrapped very neatly in a something-blue bow. Willa has ended her engagement to her long-term fiance, Ravi, a choice that felt right in the moment, but has frequently reverberated with “what ifs.” While Willa tries to begin her new life while struggling with massive doubts, anxiety, and let’s label it, depression, time marches on meaning that her attendance at her college friends’ wedding arrives with loads of dread rather than hope. The company of her friends certainly makes things (somewhat) palletable, but Willa cannot outrun herself. The emotions she experiences come in tidal waves after seeing Ravi again and contemplating her identity in this reality. But something strange happens, beyond the questioning Willa experiences. A strange figure lurks in the woods. A day that should have ended in only dead flowers results in dead people. But Willa wakes up. It’s wedding day, again. What a weird, horrifying dream. Or was it? The day begins, again. And again. And again. Is there a way out, or is this Willa’s fate, looped forever?
Multiple layers of brilliance cohabitate within Kiss Slay Replay from nuanced explorations of adored time-related conflicts, thematic examinations of weddings, and chiefly, character studies that contemplate what the hell we’re doing here on this big rock floating through space. Zoomed out, we see a wedding day that seemingly exists in a vacuum; but, so aptly, Harrison flips such an idea on its head to become a day that never truly ends with unfathomable ramifications. This is what makes time loops fascinating lenses to study why we must endure, what lesson we’re supposed to learn, or what wrong we are supposed to right. A loop strategically placed on a wedding day loaded with so many implications, societal expectations, and raw feelings harvests a landscape rife for introspection through Willa, a woman whose timeline is less than certain. And what has this world taught us about uncertainty? To fear it.
What Kiss Slay Replay does best is that it throws all the fear in the world at us (in so many creative ways), hurtling through time and space to bring us to the instances that we often question: words said in a different tone, an event that should have taken place a day later, picking a different person, or thoughts that should have remained unspoken. Rachel Harrison brings an enigmatic concept that has long preferred to thrive in the dark, doubt, and hoists it onto a platform. Doubt, especially in the context of weddings, anxiety, and depression, is something that is condemned; why do anything if you aren’t sure?
And where does this fear and doubt land us: paralysis. Is that really the answer? Hell no, as Harrison screams through her deeply moving prose.
Willa’s journey through this repeated day, the cycles she endures, are met with death (again, so creatively) time after time. Yet, she is able to change, to examine, to wrestle, to give up, to try again, and to fight for a return to the timeline she belongs. Harrison proves that doubt doesn’t go away with a simple attitude change, a checked “no” instead of “yes.” Doubt is a constant despite how little or how often we repeat ourselves; it is a companion we can learn to shake hands with, to maybe figure out how to make peace with, to live with. And what is living? Trying. Doing. Loving (ourselves, most importantly), in spite of it all.
The only way out may be through, and the through is hard. It’s messy, it’s complicated. It will kick your teeth in, never apologize. But the out always exists, ready for us to find it. We will screw up. We will say the wrong things, spend time with the wrong people, and place goals on undeserving pedestals. Time, despite our unwieldy protestations, marches on anyway. And in an act of defiance to time’s inevitability, maybe we should kiss the wrong person, take a wrong turn, or be vulnerable anyway. Maybe we should make mistakes more than once, try new things, change ourselves, lose ourselves, and find ourselves all over again. Maybe we should live.
Written with her signature wit, charm, and brilliant horrific nuance, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay transcends any genre of fiction to remind us all that life is bigger than the singularities we are conditioned to mentally frequent. As we hold Willa’s hand through every different, hellish iteration of a day expected to sing a singular note of very specific joy, reminders of a life worth living are brought to the forefront, messiness and all. Willa’s story, entwined with death and hurt and joy, is one that instills hope amidst a backdrop of increased stakes, intense suspense, and lightning-fast pacing. This hope is not the kind of hope that calls for a miraculous “happy” outcome, but the kind that gives us the resolve to dig down, to find the grit, and to see another tomorrow. Resilience in written form, Kiss Slay Replay is a gift, and Rachel Harrison’s unique, essential voice has never been more timely.
Hearing wedding bells chime can usher a sentimental feeling of love, optimism of a blossoming future, and the promise of a union that reminds us all of the shiny, happy aspects of devotion to another. An intertwining fate that is forever sealed (allegedly) on this most special day. Release the doves, throw the rice, check any doubts at the door. There is a singularity to matrimony that seems to eclipse so much. This is it. This is the day. But what if that day repeated? And the promises made to yourself, not to others, took center-stage? What if death, rather than a new life, was waiting at the end of that long aisle? And what if there was seemingly no way out?
A wedding-horror story, a time-loop novel, and dare I say, a punchy study in philosophy and self-regard, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay contains multitudes, wrapped very neatly in a something-blue bow. Willa has ended her engagement to her long-term fiance, Ravi, a choice that felt right in the moment, but has frequently reverberated with “what ifs.” While Willa tries to begin her new life while struggling with massive doubts, anxiety, and let’s label it, depression, time marches on meaning that her attendance at her college friends’ wedding arrives with loads of dread rather than hope. The company of her friends certainly makes things (somewhat) palletable, but Willa cannot outrun herself. The emotions she experiences come in tidal waves after seeing Ravi again and contemplating her identity in this reality. But something strange happens, beyond the questioning Willa experiences. A strange figure lurks in the woods. A day that should have ended in only dead flowers results in dead people. But Willa wakes up. It’s wedding day, again. What a weird, horrifying dream. Or was it? The day begins, again. And again. And again. Is there a way out, or is this Willa’s fate, looped forever?
Multiple layers of brilliance cohabitate within Kiss Slay Replay from nuanced explorations of adored time-related conflicts, thematic examinations of weddings, and chiefly, character studies that contemplate what the hell we’re doing here on this big rock floating through space. Zoomed out, we see a wedding day that seemingly exists in a vacuum; but, so aptly, Harrison flips such an idea on its head to become a day that never truly ends with unfathomable ramifications. This is what makes time loops fascinating lenses to study why we must endure, what lesson we’re supposed to learn, or what wrong we are supposed to right. A loop strategically placed on a wedding day loaded with so many implications, societal expectations, and raw feelings harvests a landscape rife for introspection through Willa, a woman whose timeline is less than certain. And what has this world taught us about uncertainty? To fear it.
What Kiss Slay Replay does best is that it throws all the fear in the world at us (in so many creative ways), hurtling through time and space to bring us to the instances that we often question: words said in a different tone, an event that should have taken place a day later, picking a different person, or thoughts that should have remained unspoken. Rachel Harrison brings an enigmatic concept that has long preferred to thrive in the dark, doubt, and hoists it onto a platform. Doubt, especially in the context of weddings, anxiety, and depression, is something that is condemned; why do anything if you aren’t sure?
And where does this fear and doubt land us: paralysis. Is that really the answer? Hell no, as Harrison screams through her deeply moving prose.
Willa’s journey through this repeated day, the cycles she endures, are met with death (again, so creatively) time after time. Yet, she is able to change, to examine, to wrestle, to give up, to try again, and to fight for a return to the timeline she belongs. Harrison proves that doubt doesn’t go away with a simple attitude change, a checked “no” instead of “yes.” Doubt is a constant despite how little or how often we repeat ourselves; it is a companion we can learn to shake hands with, to maybe figure out how to make peace with, to live with. And what is living? Trying. Doing. Loving (ourselves, most importantly), in spite of it all.
The only way out may be through, and the through is hard. It’s messy, it’s complicated. It will kick your teeth in, never apologize. But the out always exists, ready for us to find it. We will screw up. We will say the wrong things, spend time with the wrong people, and place goals on undeserving pedestals. Time, despite our unwieldy protestations, marches on anyway. And in an act of defiance to time’s inevitability, maybe we should kiss the wrong person, take a wrong turn, or be vulnerable anyway. Maybe we should make mistakes more than once, try new things, change ourselves, lose ourselves, and find ourselves all over again. Maybe we should live.
Written with her signature wit, charm, and brilliant horrific nuance, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay transcends any genre of fiction to remind us all that life is bigger than the singularities we are conditioned to mentally frequent. As we hold Willa’s hand through every different, hellish iteration of a day expected to sing a singular note of very specific joy, reminders of a life worth living are brought to the forefront, messiness and all. Willa’s story, entwined with death and hurt and joy, is one that instills hope amidst a backdrop of increased stakes, intense suspense, and lightning-fast pacing. This hope is not the kind of hope that calls for a miraculous “happy” outcome, but the kind that gives us the resolve to dig down, to find the grit, and to see another tomorrow. Resilience in written form, Kiss Slay Replay is a gift, and Rachel Harrison’s unique, essential voice has never been more timely.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Berkley for my free ARC of Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison — available Sep 8!
» READ IF YOU «
💍 have ever dreeeaaaadddedddd going to a wedding
🔪 crave a time loop where the villains just get weirder
🪞 want horror that reflects actual lived experiences
» SYNOPSIS «
Willa is absolutely, unequivocally dreading her best friends' wedding. It’ll be the first time she's seen her ex-fiancé since she ended things, and she’s still agonizing about it daily. Plus, her cat hates her. But she drags herself to the venue, only to be pleasantly surprised by a rich, handsome stranger. And then…a few more strangers, except these ones are trying to kill her, over and over again, as she relives this day from hell.
» REVIEW «
Rachel has what we should all probably consider a superpower, and it’s in the way she takes all the little experiences much of the world would write off as minor and uninteresting (anxiety! overthinking! feeling stuck!) and turns them into knock-down, drag-out, whole-ass cinematic NOVELS that make the rest of us feel seen. At least, that’s how her books feel for me.
And in this one, Willa is truly just going through it. We’ve all been there. It’s not really a loud, dramatic “through it,” it’s just that very specific, exhausting feeling where you're smiling for photos but trying not to crumble inside, because you know everyone around you is just so sick of your shit, but you still feel like shit and you’re trying not to show it, and can they tell? because if so, now you’re anxious about that too. Rachel just has a knack for pinpointing these understated but universal lived experiences, and turning them into gloriously fun and heart-wrenching stories with blood and guts and gore.
The horrors in this particular Rachel book are hilariously inventive; I had a great time just watching her have a blast (I presume) writing these insane time loop worlds. I truly hope your enjoyment of this glorious little book matches mine.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
» READ IF YOU «
💍 have ever dreeeaaaadddedddd going to a wedding
🔪 crave a time loop where the villains just get weirder
🪞 want horror that reflects actual lived experiences
» SYNOPSIS «
Willa is absolutely, unequivocally dreading her best friends' wedding. It’ll be the first time she's seen her ex-fiancé since she ended things, and she’s still agonizing about it daily. Plus, her cat hates her. But she drags herself to the venue, only to be pleasantly surprised by a rich, handsome stranger. And then…a few more strangers, except these ones are trying to kill her, over and over again, as she relives this day from hell.
» REVIEW «
Rachel has what we should all probably consider a superpower, and it’s in the way she takes all the little experiences much of the world would write off as minor and uninteresting (anxiety! overthinking! feeling stuck!) and turns them into knock-down, drag-out, whole-ass cinematic NOVELS that make the rest of us feel seen. At least, that’s how her books feel for me.
And in this one, Willa is truly just going through it. We’ve all been there. It’s not really a loud, dramatic “through it,” it’s just that very specific, exhausting feeling where you're smiling for photos but trying not to crumble inside, because you know everyone around you is just so sick of your shit, but you still feel like shit and you’re trying not to show it, and can they tell? because if so, now you’re anxious about that too. Rachel just has a knack for pinpointing these understated but universal lived experiences, and turning them into gloriously fun and heart-wrenching stories with blood and guts and gore.
The horrors in this particular Rachel book are hilariously inventive; I had a great time just watching her have a blast (I presume) writing these insane time loop worlds. I truly hope your enjoyment of this glorious little book matches mine.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was perfect. RTC :')
Want to Read
April 9, 2026So excited for another book from one of my favorite authors!
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison comes out on September 8, 2026.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison comes out on September 8, 2026.
April 2, 2026
Thanks to Berkley for the ARC.
She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks… Willa really loves whiskey sours. Me too, but luckily I’m not stuck in a time loop. Willa, still dealing with the emotional fallout of breaking up with her (ex) fiancé two weeks before their wedding, is stuck in a time loop reliving the wedding of two of her friends over and over and over again. But, this is a Rachel Harrison novel, so there’s so much more going on. No spoilers though. Read the book when it’s out.
Rachel Harrison is one of the premier horror authors of our generation. Each novel she releases is the best book of the year and is somehow better than her last. Besides crafting interesting and terrifying stories, her characters and settings have a familiarity and realness that other authors just can’t accomplish. We all know a Willa and a Danny and a Ravi and so on.
One thing that stuck out to me and made me enjoy Kiss Slay Replay even more was how Harrison subtly weaves in references throughout the story. Camp Serling was brilliant. And while Willa was having Hudson Valley Nights, not Keasbey Nights, I’m assuming “…giving up, giving in…” was intentional. Granted, if you’ve ever read any of her books, you know she does an incredible job of this in them all.
This is, unsurprisingly, going to be my favorite book of the year. Kiss Slay Replay is a book about friendship, whiskey sours, time loops, and a whole lot of (redacted).
She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks… Willa really loves whiskey sours. Me too, but luckily I’m not stuck in a time loop. Willa, still dealing with the emotional fallout of breaking up with her (ex) fiancé two weeks before their wedding, is stuck in a time loop reliving the wedding of two of her friends over and over and over again. But, this is a Rachel Harrison novel, so there’s so much more going on. No spoilers though. Read the book when it’s out.
Rachel Harrison is one of the premier horror authors of our generation. Each novel she releases is the best book of the year and is somehow better than her last. Besides crafting interesting and terrifying stories, her characters and settings have a familiarity and realness that other authors just can’t accomplish. We all know a Willa and a Danny and a Ravi and so on.
One thing that stuck out to me and made me enjoy Kiss Slay Replay even more was how Harrison subtly weaves in references throughout the story. Camp Serling was brilliant. And while Willa was having Hudson Valley Nights, not Keasbey Nights, I’m assuming “…giving up, giving in…” was intentional. Granted, if you’ve ever read any of her books, you know she does an incredible job of this in them all.
This is, unsurprisingly, going to be my favorite book of the year. Kiss Slay Replay is a book about friendship, whiskey sours, time loops, and a whole lot of (redacted).
April 13, 2026
First the standard big thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. This was high on my “I need it!” list.
I loved this. I think overall a 4.5 rounded up just because I honestly wish it were longer. But it was wonderful and so fast paced and I just loved it to pieces. It was not entirely what I was expecting and that made it so much better. I love me a time loop and this delivered!
I really don’t want to give much away and after reading Harrison’s acknowledgments, I realized why I loved it so much.
I highly recommend this! It’s weird and bananas in the best of ways. It’s a fun ride!
I loved this. I think overall a 4.5 rounded up just because I honestly wish it were longer. But it was wonderful and so fast paced and I just loved it to pieces. It was not entirely what I was expecting and that made it so much better. I love me a time loop and this delivered!
I really don’t want to give much away and after reading Harrison’s acknowledgments, I realized why I loved it so much.
I highly recommend this! It’s weird and bananas in the best of ways. It’s a fun ride!
Want to Read
April 9, 2026pre-read notes:
Thank you so much Berkley for the ARC of this!! It sounds absolutely unhinged and I can't wait to read it. 🤭✨
🗓️Expected publication: September 8, 2026
Thank you so much Berkley for the ARC of this!! It sounds absolutely unhinged and I can't wait to read it. 🤭✨
🗓️Expected publication: September 8, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kiss Slay Replay Rachel Harrison
Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Rachel Harrison for the ARC
★★★★½ A sharp and emotionally charged horror time loop that blends slasher-movie chaos with heartbreak and self-discovery, delivering a wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt ride.
Rachel Harrison has done it again with Kiss, Slay, Replay—a horror novel that’s equal parts slasher, emotional spiral, and existential crisis wrapped up in a blood-soaked time loop. It’s funny, unsettling, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once, and I ended up absolutely hooked by Willa’s journey.
The story follows Willa, who is already struggling long before the horror even begins. Fresh off a devastating breakup and questioning pretty much every aspect of her life, she arrives at a wedding already emotionally exhausted and unsure of who she is anymore. The wedding itself takes place at this grand summer camp turned lakeside wedding venue, complete with cabins, woods, and the exact kind of atmosphere you’d expect from a classic Friday the 13th-style horror movie. It instantly sets the tone perfectly.
Then she starts to feel things are off, then people start dying.
What follows is essentially a horror version of Groundhog Day, with Willa trapped reliving the wedding over and over again. But what I really loved was how each loop feels different, not just in outcome but in tone and theme as well. Every reset reveals something new, whether it’s about the mystery itself, the people around her, or Willa’s own emotional state. It keeps the time-loop concept feeling fresh instead of repetitive, which can be difficult to pull off.
One of the most creative aspects of the book for me was the decision to restart from Chapter One with every new loop. It sounds like a small thing, but it genuinely worked so well and really reinforced the cyclical nature of the story. It made each new timeline feel like its own version of events while still maintaining the growing tension underneath everything.
The supporting cast also felt intentionally familiar in the best way possible. You’ve got the stereotypical horror movie archetypes—the jock, the stoner, the effortlessly pretty one—but Harrison gives them enough personality and emotional depth that they never feel one-dimensional. The group dynamics feel believable, messy, and often painfully relatable, you end up connected to the characters in ways other authors simply miss the mark on.
At its core though, this story is really about reconciliation, grief, and moving forward. Beneath all the murder, looping timelines, and horror elements, there’s a deeply emotional story about learning how to let go of the past, face your problems head on, and figure out how to keep living when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Willa’s internal struggles felt incredibly human, and I found myself really rooting for her by the climax of the story.
I did have one small issue with the pacing during certain action-heavy scenes. Occasionally it felt like a moment or transition was missing, and I had to go back and reread parts to make sure I hadn’t skipped something accidentally. It slightly disrupted the flow at times, but honestly not enough to pull me out of the story overall.
Rachel Harrison continues to be one of the stand out voices in horror because she understands that the emotional core of a story is just as important as the scares. Kiss, Slay, Replay balances both beautifully, delivering a story that is creepy, funny, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful underneath all the bloodshed.
Overall, Kiss, Slay, Replay is a clever and emotionally layered horror novel that combines the chaos of a slasher movie with the introspection of a time-loop story. Rachel Harrison takes a familiar concept and keeps it feeling fresh by making each loop distinct, both in tone and outcome, while grounding everything in Willa’s deeply relatable emotional struggles. The summer-camp wedding setting gives the book a classic horror-movie atmosphere, complete with archetypal characters and mounting tension, but beneath the bloodshed and dark humour is a story about grief, heartbreak, self-worth, and learning how to move forward. While a few action sequences occasionally felt slightly abrupt, the strong character work, creative structure, and emotional core more than made up for it. Funny, unsettling, heartfelt, and surprisingly hopeful, this is one of Harrison’s most entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novels yet. A wildly entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novel that I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Rachel Harrison for the ARC
★★★★½ A sharp and emotionally charged horror time loop that blends slasher-movie chaos with heartbreak and self-discovery, delivering a wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt ride.
Rachel Harrison has done it again with Kiss, Slay, Replay—a horror novel that’s equal parts slasher, emotional spiral, and existential crisis wrapped up in a blood-soaked time loop. It’s funny, unsettling, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once, and I ended up absolutely hooked by Willa’s journey.
The story follows Willa, who is already struggling long before the horror even begins. Fresh off a devastating breakup and questioning pretty much every aspect of her life, she arrives at a wedding already emotionally exhausted and unsure of who she is anymore. The wedding itself takes place at this grand summer camp turned lakeside wedding venue, complete with cabins, woods, and the exact kind of atmosphere you’d expect from a classic Friday the 13th-style horror movie. It instantly sets the tone perfectly.
Then she starts to feel things are off, then people start dying.
What follows is essentially a horror version of Groundhog Day, with Willa trapped reliving the wedding over and over again. But what I really loved was how each loop feels different, not just in outcome but in tone and theme as well. Every reset reveals something new, whether it’s about the mystery itself, the people around her, or Willa’s own emotional state. It keeps the time-loop concept feeling fresh instead of repetitive, which can be difficult to pull off.
One of the most creative aspects of the book for me was the decision to restart from Chapter One with every new loop. It sounds like a small thing, but it genuinely worked so well and really reinforced the cyclical nature of the story. It made each new timeline feel like its own version of events while still maintaining the growing tension underneath everything.
The supporting cast also felt intentionally familiar in the best way possible. You’ve got the stereotypical horror movie archetypes—the jock, the stoner, the effortlessly pretty one—but Harrison gives them enough personality and emotional depth that they never feel one-dimensional. The group dynamics feel believable, messy, and often painfully relatable, you end up connected to the characters in ways other authors simply miss the mark on.
At its core though, this story is really about reconciliation, grief, and moving forward. Beneath all the murder, looping timelines, and horror elements, there’s a deeply emotional story about learning how to let go of the past, face your problems head on, and figure out how to keep living when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Willa’s internal struggles felt incredibly human, and I found myself really rooting for her by the climax of the story.
I did have one small issue with the pacing during certain action-heavy scenes. Occasionally it felt like a moment or transition was missing, and I had to go back and reread parts to make sure I hadn’t skipped something accidentally. It slightly disrupted the flow at times, but honestly not enough to pull me out of the story overall.
Rachel Harrison continues to be one of the stand out voices in horror because she understands that the emotional core of a story is just as important as the scares. Kiss, Slay, Replay balances both beautifully, delivering a story that is creepy, funny, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful underneath all the bloodshed.
Overall, Kiss, Slay, Replay is a clever and emotionally layered horror novel that combines the chaos of a slasher movie with the introspection of a time-loop story. Rachel Harrison takes a familiar concept and keeps it feeling fresh by making each loop distinct, both in tone and outcome, while grounding everything in Willa’s deeply relatable emotional struggles. The summer-camp wedding setting gives the book a classic horror-movie atmosphere, complete with archetypal characters and mounting tension, but beneath the bloodshed and dark humour is a story about grief, heartbreak, self-worth, and learning how to move forward. While a few action sequences occasionally felt slightly abrupt, the strong character work, creative structure, and emotional core more than made up for it. Funny, unsettling, heartfelt, and surprisingly hopeful, this is one of Harrison’s most entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novels yet. A wildly entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novel that I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’re addicted to Rachel Harrison’s slasher-horror thrillers with dark comedy vibes, this book will feel like a dream come true. Especially if you love time loops—but not the light, comedic kind like Groundhog Day. Think more along the lines of Happy Death Day—a brutal, high-stakes loop where our heroine finds herself cast as the “final girl”… except her survival rate is far from guaranteed.
Every time she dies, she wakes up back in her bedroom, just before the wedding day, greeted by her house cat’s worried stare and her own rising panic. And each time, the challenge escalates—more bizarre, bloodier, more terrifying, packed with genuine jump-scare moments. Did I sell the concept? Because honestly, you should absolutely go for it. Harrison delivers a wildly entertaining ride.
Now imagine a time loop colliding with a full-on slasher movie. We follow Willa Sullivan, a depressed heroine who recently ended her engagement with her long-time boyfriend Ravi. She attends her best friend’s wedding, already on edge—only to spiral further when she sees Ravi there with his new girlfriend, Tanya. But that emotional chaos quickly becomes the least of her problems.
The celebration turns into a nightmare when masked strangers in balaclavas storm the venue, armed with sharp weapons and unleashing a gruesome massacre—carving out eyes, attacking guests, and turning the wedding into pure horror. In the midst of it all, Willa meets Danny, a charming and seemingly perfect stranger who promises to stay by her side. But when the killing begins and there’s nowhere to escape, Willa realizes she’s trapped in a deadly loop—one that keeps ending in her own death.
Why is this happening? Is it psychological? Is she losing her grip on reality? Or is something far more sinister at play? And most importantly—can she break the cycle, or is she doomed to die over and over again?
The book delivers a fast-paced, chaotic, and addictive experience—packed with action, dark humor, escalating tension, and a surprisingly engaging chemistry between Willa and Danny.
The only aspect that slightly held me back was the explanation behind the time loop—it didn’t fully land for me. That said, the execution, pacing, and sheer entertainment value more than made up for it. The final act gets a bit far-fetched, but it’s still incredibly fun. I’m rounding my rating up from 4.5 to a solid 5 stars because I genuinely enjoyed the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Every time she dies, she wakes up back in her bedroom, just before the wedding day, greeted by her house cat’s worried stare and her own rising panic. And each time, the challenge escalates—more bizarre, bloodier, more terrifying, packed with genuine jump-scare moments. Did I sell the concept? Because honestly, you should absolutely go for it. Harrison delivers a wildly entertaining ride.
Now imagine a time loop colliding with a full-on slasher movie. We follow Willa Sullivan, a depressed heroine who recently ended her engagement with her long-time boyfriend Ravi. She attends her best friend’s wedding, already on edge—only to spiral further when she sees Ravi there with his new girlfriend, Tanya. But that emotional chaos quickly becomes the least of her problems.
The celebration turns into a nightmare when masked strangers in balaclavas storm the venue, armed with sharp weapons and unleashing a gruesome massacre—carving out eyes, attacking guests, and turning the wedding into pure horror. In the midst of it all, Willa meets Danny, a charming and seemingly perfect stranger who promises to stay by her side. But when the killing begins and there’s nowhere to escape, Willa realizes she’s trapped in a deadly loop—one that keeps ending in her own death.
Why is this happening? Is it psychological? Is she losing her grip on reality? Or is something far more sinister at play? And most importantly—can she break the cycle, or is she doomed to die over and over again?
The book delivers a fast-paced, chaotic, and addictive experience—packed with action, dark humor, escalating tension, and a surprisingly engaging chemistry between Willa and Danny.
The only aspect that slightly held me back was the explanation behind the time loop—it didn’t fully land for me. That said, the execution, pacing, and sheer entertainment value more than made up for it. The final act gets a bit far-fetched, but it’s still incredibly fun. I’m rounding my rating up from 4.5 to a solid 5 stars because I genuinely enjoyed the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kiss Slay Replay is a time loop horror novel about a woman who goes to her friend's wedding, only to find herself replaying the day over and over, with a new nightmare each time. Willa is struggling, having recently broken up with her ex-fiancé, but when her best friends are getting married, she needs to put that behind her for the day, even though said ex will be at the wedding. When she gets there, she finds out he brought a date, but then Willa meets a charming friend of the groom, and maybe she'll have a good time after all. That is, until a masked slasher appears and starts killing the wedding guests. Despite Willa's best efforts, things don't go well, but then she wakes up in her bed on the morning of the wedding, and it becomes apparent things aren't going as expected.
Having read quite a few of Rachel Harrison's other books, I was expecting light high concept horror, and that's very much what this is. The concept is a great crossover between a time-loop story and a range of classic horror tropes, bringing something a bit different to a story that might initially seem like a time-loop romcom. I liked how each loop had a different 'bad guy', so it wasn't about learning how to be good at the loop and had a lot more space for ridiculous scary things. There could have maybe been a few more loops just to play around with the potential for dark comedy, but I did like how the narrative wasn't focused on her having to keep making the same mistakes to learn from. Nevertheless, due to the concept, there is some nice character development for Willa amongst all the silliness.
This is very much a book that does what it says on the tin, offering a fun time that still centres around a character with some depth as she attempts to imagine herself having a future after a break up. It isn't full of explanations for why things are happening, but instead you just have to go along for the (repeating) ride.
Having read quite a few of Rachel Harrison's other books, I was expecting light high concept horror, and that's very much what this is. The concept is a great crossover between a time-loop story and a range of classic horror tropes, bringing something a bit different to a story that might initially seem like a time-loop romcom. I liked how each loop had a different 'bad guy', so it wasn't about learning how to be good at the loop and had a lot more space for ridiculous scary things. There could have maybe been a few more loops just to play around with the potential for dark comedy, but I did like how the narrative wasn't focused on her having to keep making the same mistakes to learn from. Nevertheless, due to the concept, there is some nice character development for Willa amongst all the silliness.
This is very much a book that does what it says on the tin, offering a fun time that still centres around a character with some depth as she attempts to imagine herself having a future after a break up. It isn't full of explanations for why things are happening, but instead you just have to go along for the (repeating) ride.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75 stars
After adoring Play Nice last year, I knew that whatever Rachel Harrison wrote next I would 100% be on board. So, to hear that she was taking on a time loop story absolutely made my day.
Let's just say, Happy Death Day is one of my favourite campy, fun horror movies, and I was hoping for similar vibes with this. And I’ve got to say, it met my expectations while giving me a few things that I didn’t expect.
Once the first day played out, I had a feeling I knew how it would go. Yet, I really appreciated that the monster or murderer changed drastically each time and that it leaned into some of the slightly more obscure horror movie tropes and villains.
I will say, my least favourite iteration of the day was probably the woodland sprites massacre, but I enjoyed the rest and that I had no idea where the next day would take Willa and our characters.
I also appreciated Willa’s character development as it got towards the end, as well as the way that it highlighted her struggle with anxiety and moving into a new chapter in her life.
The realistic relationships between her and her friends, as well as her run ins with Ravi, were done well. And I’ve got to say, I was rooting for her and Danny ever since that first day.
The reimagined summer camp wedding setting was brilliant, too.
I’ll definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After adoring Play Nice last year, I knew that whatever Rachel Harrison wrote next I would 100% be on board. So, to hear that she was taking on a time loop story absolutely made my day.
Let's just say, Happy Death Day is one of my favourite campy, fun horror movies, and I was hoping for similar vibes with this. And I’ve got to say, it met my expectations while giving me a few things that I didn’t expect.
Once the first day played out, I had a feeling I knew how it would go. Yet, I really appreciated that the monster or murderer changed drastically each time and that it leaned into some of the slightly more obscure horror movie tropes and villains.
I will say, my least favourite iteration of the day was probably the woodland sprites massacre, but I enjoyed the rest and that I had no idea where the next day would take Willa and our characters.
I also appreciated Willa’s character development as it got towards the end, as well as the way that it highlighted her struggle with anxiety and moving into a new chapter in her life.
The realistic relationships between her and her friends, as well as her run ins with Ravi, were done well. And I’ve got to say, I was rooting for her and Danny ever since that first day.
The reimagined summer camp wedding setting was brilliant, too.
I’ll definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rachel Harrison has once again used her magic to create a book with terror and humor while also being very rooted in the human experience, particularly that of young women. Willa has broken up with her long-term fiancé, Ravi. She is questioning herself about whether or not she did the right thing while bracing herself for seeing him again at their college friends' wedding. She makes it upstate to the wedding only to have it end in death and misery when a slasher crashes the wedding. Willa wakes up and repeats the day, over and over, with different but still horrifying endings.
What could be a wedding horror story with the clever twist of a time loop becomes an examination of uncertainty, anxiety, and the need to replay the past in our heads, wondering if we could have changed it. Doubting ourselves and taking the easiest path can lead to as much disaster as taking a risk and maybe making a mistake. In the midst of all of the emotion and horror, is a reminder that life is worth living.
The book is fast paced and suspenseful as Willa and her friends face increasingly high stakes. The characters are well-developed and bring their own joy, love, insecurities, and fears to what should be the happiest day in a young couple's life. As with all of Rachel Harrison's books, you will miss them when the book ends.
What could be a wedding horror story with the clever twist of a time loop becomes an examination of uncertainty, anxiety, and the need to replay the past in our heads, wondering if we could have changed it. Doubting ourselves and taking the easiest path can lead to as much disaster as taking a risk and maybe making a mistake. In the midst of all of the emotion and horror, is a reminder that life is worth living.
The book is fast paced and suspenseful as Willa and her friends face increasingly high stakes. The characters are well-developed and bring their own joy, love, insecurities, and fears to what should be the happiest day in a young couple's life. As with all of Rachel Harrison's books, you will miss them when the book ends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Harrison does it again. Representing Rachel's from Jersey, I am proud to be part of her pack. Everyone of Rachel Harrison's books is so unique and yet exactly her voice. And it becomes (better) and more pronounced in each book as she puts them out into the world. From possessions to witches to werewolves, vampires, haunted houses and now, time loops. I always worry with time loops that I am going to get annoyed by the repetition, but Harrison gives you just enough to remind you that it's the same day. She takes a situation we have all dealt with, feelings and anxieties we have all felt and asks... how can we escalate this... I don't want to give anything away because you need to go out and pre-order this little beasty. It's the horror of not only surviving through a huge social event with your ex but then add in murder and mayhem. Then do it again. and again. and again.
I could hear Rachel's voice through it all, she always has an independent kick ass amazing FMC who doesn't know what they are capable of until they are PUT THROUGH IT and as Harrison points out... "the only way out, is through."
Cheers to one of my favorite Rachel's, and also, are you okay? This book was filled with raw emotion that felt like it had to come from somewhere real.
I could hear Rachel's voice through it all, she always has an independent kick ass amazing FMC who doesn't know what they are capable of until they are PUT THROUGH IT and as Harrison points out... "the only way out, is through."
Cheers to one of my favorite Rachel's, and also, are you okay? This book was filled with raw emotion that felt like it had to come from somewhere real.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy from Netgalley
What's worse than going to a wedding single?
A. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at?
B. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend?
C. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend and you're having a wardrobe malfunction?
Or D. All of the above plus a killer is after you and you're repeating the same day over and over?
Find out the answer in Kiss Slay Replay! Rachel Harrison's new novel is a tongue-in-cheek, gory exploration of modern relationships (romantic and otherwise), and what effect your decisions have on the life you're destined to lead. I loved this one because it had both horrifying and hilarious moments, but real heart and emotions. Willa is a brilliant flawed narrator as she learns her Groundhog Day lessons about herself whilst saving the lives of those around her.
I really love when an author explores different sub genres in each of their stories, and for me this one absolutely worked. I'd definitely recommend to any existing fans of Rachel's work, anyone going through a period of transition, and anyone who enjoys their horror just a little bit funny.
Thanks again to Titan and Netgalley for this ARC.
What's worse than going to a wedding single?
A. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at?
B. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend?
C. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend and you're having a wardrobe malfunction?
Or D. All of the above plus a killer is after you and you're repeating the same day over and over?
Find out the answer in Kiss Slay Replay! Rachel Harrison's new novel is a tongue-in-cheek, gory exploration of modern relationships (romantic and otherwise), and what effect your decisions have on the life you're destined to lead. I loved this one because it had both horrifying and hilarious moments, but real heart and emotions. Willa is a brilliant flawed narrator as she learns her Groundhog Day lessons about herself whilst saving the lives of those around her.
I really love when an author explores different sub genres in each of their stories, and for me this one absolutely worked. I'd definitely recommend to any existing fans of Rachel's work, anyone going through a period of transition, and anyone who enjoys their horror just a little bit funny.
Thanks again to Titan and Netgalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My dream came true and I was finally approved for a Rachel Harrison ARC…3rd times the charm! Usually, I kinda sit on my ARCs until it’s closer to the pub date, but I couldn’t wait to read Kiss Slay Replay, one of my most anticipated books of the year (out 9/8/26)!
I don’t know if my reviews of Rachel’s books can be considered biased at this point, cause I love everything she writes, but this was another banger!
This is a time loop novel with unique twists, awesome gore, humor, likable characters, and a lot of heart.
I fell in love with this cast of college friends! I love how real adult relationships were represented, it’s hard to balance life and friendships sometimes.
Willa, our main character, has a lot to figure out while recovering from her heart break, and I loved sharing that journey with her.
Rachel is able to balance gore, horror, and personal growth so seamlessly. I have been “going through it” lately and I found myself highlighting a lot because so much resonated with me, I felt like I was right there with Willa🖤
I cannot wait for everyone to read this one, because I need to talk about it!
💋 🔪 🔁
Easy 5 ⭐️!!
((MASSIVE thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Book Publishing for granting me early access to this masterpiece!))
I don’t know if my reviews of Rachel’s books can be considered biased at this point, cause I love everything she writes, but this was another banger!
This is a time loop novel with unique twists, awesome gore, humor, likable characters, and a lot of heart.
I fell in love with this cast of college friends! I love how real adult relationships were represented, it’s hard to balance life and friendships sometimes.
Willa, our main character, has a lot to figure out while recovering from her heart break, and I loved sharing that journey with her.
Rachel is able to balance gore, horror, and personal growth so seamlessly. I have been “going through it” lately and I found myself highlighting a lot because so much resonated with me, I felt like I was right there with Willa🖤
I cannot wait for everyone to read this one, because I need to talk about it!
💋 🔪 🔁
Easy 5 ⭐️!!
((MASSIVE thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Book Publishing for granting me early access to this masterpiece!))
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Rachel Harrison’s books! They’ve all been brilliant and this was no exception! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
We have a woman, grieving the end of her relationship and struggling. She goes to her friend’s wedding, which her ex-fiancée is also attending… only to find that he’s brought his new girlfriend. Couldn’t get worse right? Except then a terrifying killer starts taking out people at the wedding and she finds herself in a time loop reliving this day over and over again. What an incredibly cool and creative concept. I loved the way the details changed each time, with the main characters actions changing the horrors she sees in each loop.
We see Harrison’s signature blend of wit and horror. We have strong and messy female characters, with a healthy dose of sarcasm and lasting and meaningful friendships.
I loved how this explored the aftermath of a relationship and how unmooring it could be. It did it really cleverly juxtaposed with the background of the killer at the wedding.
This was a fantastic final girl novel, mixing in summer horror staples like a camp and killer in the woods! It’s so entertaining, I read the whole thing in one sitting!
I am such a huge fan of this author, she never lets me down!
We have a woman, grieving the end of her relationship and struggling. She goes to her friend’s wedding, which her ex-fiancée is also attending… only to find that he’s brought his new girlfriend. Couldn’t get worse right? Except then a terrifying killer starts taking out people at the wedding and she finds herself in a time loop reliving this day over and over again. What an incredibly cool and creative concept. I loved the way the details changed each time, with the main characters actions changing the horrors she sees in each loop.
We see Harrison’s signature blend of wit and horror. We have strong and messy female characters, with a healthy dose of sarcasm and lasting and meaningful friendships.
I loved how this explored the aftermath of a relationship and how unmooring it could be. It did it really cleverly juxtaposed with the background of the killer at the wedding.
This was a fantastic final girl novel, mixing in summer horror staples like a camp and killer in the woods! It’s so entertaining, I read the whole thing in one sitting!
I am such a huge fan of this author, she never lets me down!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Titan Books for the e-ARC!
This was my most highly anticipated read of the year, so to receive it almost 5 months early is something I will never get over. For anyone who didn't know, Rachel Harrison is my favourite author, and I genuinely didn't expect anything less than a 5 star read - this did not disappoint.
Kiss Slay Replay is a timeloop horror story set at a wedding, exploring themes of love and loss, while not shying away from the gore and comedy we have come to expect from Rachel. I honestly could not put this book down, I was awake until 2am reading it and then I (as usual) creeped myself out.
You can tell how much thought and effort went into this story to bring it all together through the use of the time loop, it worked brilliantly. Each replay of the day felt so different that I didn't find the story repetitive at all, I loved all of the characters, and I loved all of the horror tropes that were used throughout.
Thank you so much to Rachel for yet another amazing read - as someone who also struggles with depression, I appreciated this book more than you know. The only way out is through 🖤
This was my most highly anticipated read of the year, so to receive it almost 5 months early is something I will never get over. For anyone who didn't know, Rachel Harrison is my favourite author, and I genuinely didn't expect anything less than a 5 star read - this did not disappoint.
Kiss Slay Replay is a timeloop horror story set at a wedding, exploring themes of love and loss, while not shying away from the gore and comedy we have come to expect from Rachel. I honestly could not put this book down, I was awake until 2am reading it and then I (as usual) creeped myself out.
You can tell how much thought and effort went into this story to bring it all together through the use of the time loop, it worked brilliantly. Each replay of the day felt so different that I didn't find the story repetitive at all, I loved all of the characters, and I loved all of the horror tropes that were used throughout.
Thank you so much to Rachel for yet another amazing read - as someone who also struggles with depression, I appreciated this book more than you know. The only way out is through 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 rounding to 5 stars!
This book doesn’t come out till September yet I am reviewing it in April after devouring it in one afternoon…. So I guess you can say this was an highly anticipated read for me. Rachel Harrison is an auto-buy author and Kiss, Slay, Replay is another great edition to her collection! Time loop stories are actually really fun to me and I enjoyed the creative turns Rachel took with a well loved trope. The main character Willa is going through a very transitional period of time and questioning if she made the right choice of breaking up her fiancé a few weeks before her wedding. Her feelings are real, raw and something we’ve all questioned and agonized over if we were making the right decisions. It was very easy to sympathize and relate to her character. The story was also laugh out loud funny. It felt silly and campy at times but in the best way possible. But my favorite thing about the story is actually the ending. Not giving anything away, but I love the message it sent and just made me love this story even more!
This book doesn’t come out till September yet I am reviewing it in April after devouring it in one afternoon…. So I guess you can say this was an highly anticipated read for me. Rachel Harrison is an auto-buy author and Kiss, Slay, Replay is another great edition to her collection! Time loop stories are actually really fun to me and I enjoyed the creative turns Rachel took with a well loved trope. The main character Willa is going through a very transitional period of time and questioning if she made the right choice of breaking up her fiancé a few weeks before her wedding. Her feelings are real, raw and something we’ve all questioned and agonized over if we were making the right decisions. It was very easy to sympathize and relate to her character. The story was also laugh out loud funny. It felt silly and campy at times but in the best way possible. But my favorite thing about the story is actually the ending. Not giving anything away, but I love the message it sent and just made me love this story even more!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"My story is mine, and it can be whatever I make it."
I’ve always been fascinated by the time-loop concept and love movies with this premise, but this was my first time reading a book that uses it and I really enjoyed it. I ended up finishing it in just a few hours, I had a fantastic time!
I liked how real the characters and setting felt. The story follows a group of college friends reuniting for a wedding at a former summer camp, which was a fun backdrop and classic horror movie setting.
This was my first Rachel Harrison book, so I didn’t know what to expect, but the writing style was easy to follow. The author also managed to make the time loop interesting, while really capturing the main character’s panic and dread about reliving the same day and outcome over and over.
I don’t usually read horror, so I can’t compare it to the genre overall, but it definitely kept me feeling unsettled and turning the pages on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next.
I’ve always been fascinated by the time-loop concept and love movies with this premise, but this was my first time reading a book that uses it and I really enjoyed it. I ended up finishing it in just a few hours, I had a fantastic time!
I liked how real the characters and setting felt. The story follows a group of college friends reuniting for a wedding at a former summer camp, which was a fun backdrop and classic horror movie setting.
This was my first Rachel Harrison book, so I didn’t know what to expect, but the writing style was easy to follow. The author also managed to make the time loop interesting, while really capturing the main character’s panic and dread about reliving the same day and outcome over and over.
I don’t usually read horror, so I can’t compare it to the genre overall, but it definitely kept me feeling unsettled and turning the pages on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rachel Harrison continues to maintain her title as one of my favorite authors. Her premises, themes she chooses to explore, and the way she pays with tropes/devices to do so just really work for me. She writes great women who am are messy, charming, complex, frustrating. I love reading her characters because their experiences and emotions and choices feel so real, like people I know. And she builds in humor and charm in balance with the horror elements, which makes her books so bingeable and fun to read.
I was waiting on pins and needles for this book and it was so worth it. It might be recency bias, but this is currently my #1 favorite of her books. I want to be mindful of Harrison's ask to not spoil anything and I think it's best to go in with little knowledge on this one, so I won't say much. But this was a campy, fun, emotional ride. I related to this book a lot and I'm grateful she wrote it. Thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC!
I was waiting on pins and needles for this book and it was so worth it. It might be recency bias, but this is currently my #1 favorite of her books. I want to be mindful of Harrison's ask to not spoil anything and I think it's best to go in with little knowledge on this one, so I won't say much. But this was a campy, fun, emotional ride. I related to this book a lot and I'm grateful she wrote it. Thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC!
May 5, 2026
I was really excited to pick up an advance reading copy of Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison after hearing so many good things about her previous books—and I’m glad I did.
Harrison’s writing style is such a standout. It flows effortlessly and feels incredibly natural, like chatting with a friend. It’s engaging, funny, and very easy to get pulled into—I kept telling myself “just one more chapter.”
That said, I did find parts of the book a little tiresome and caught myself wanting it to end. But honestly, that feels intentional given the Groundhog Day–style repetition at the heart of the story—it puts you right into the same loop as the protagonist, which I can appreciate even if it tested my patience at times.
Overall, I’m really glad I read it. It’s opened me up to a new author, and I’m definitely interested in checking out more of Rachel Harrison’s work.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC
Harrison’s writing style is such a standout. It flows effortlessly and feels incredibly natural, like chatting with a friend. It’s engaging, funny, and very easy to get pulled into—I kept telling myself “just one more chapter.”
That said, I did find parts of the book a little tiresome and caught myself wanting it to end. But honestly, that feels intentional given the Groundhog Day–style repetition at the heart of the story—it puts you right into the same loop as the protagonist, which I can appreciate even if it tested my patience at times.
Overall, I’m really glad I read it. It’s opened me up to a new author, and I’m definitely interested in checking out more of Rachel Harrison’s work.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is one of Harrison's best. She is so good at tying the protagonist's journey with the horror aspects of her books, and Willa here has much to learn from her Groundhog Day-style existence. Willa is going to the wedding of one of her college best friends, and all the others in the group are there. Of course, her ex, Ravi, will also be there with a new girlfriend. Willa is unhappy but trying to do her best--until the wedding is beset by an awful horror. Everyone dies, including her, and she thinks she's done for good until she wakes up back in her bed the following morning. Willa hopes it was just a nightmare, but a different horror chases her on the second replay. To say much more would be a spoiler--you'll have to read to find out Willa's emotional connection to what's happening. I'm happy I got an early copy but so sad it's already over!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Do you love gorey horror? All the tropes? This is for you! I read this as an ebook and enjoyed it but I kind of have a thing for horror on audio and I bet this is super entertaining on audio.
Willa's best friend is getting married and all her friends from college will be there. Including her ex. Who she broke up with before their wedding, but has been moping about ever since. The wedding turns into the worst possible day of her life, including a horror villain with a mask and a tool belt full of weapons. Blood, guts, and plucked eyeballs kick off night one of this horror groundhog day.
When Willa wakes up in her own bed, she doesn't know what to think. Did she not just watch all her friends die? What is happening?? Night after night Willa faces horrors and a painful gruesome death. Can she figure out what is happening before it's too late?
Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.
Willa's best friend is getting married and all her friends from college will be there. Including her ex. Who she broke up with before their wedding, but has been moping about ever since. The wedding turns into the worst possible day of her life, including a horror villain with a mask and a tool belt full of weapons. Blood, guts, and plucked eyeballs kick off night one of this horror groundhog day.
When Willa wakes up in her own bed, she doesn't know what to think. Did she not just watch all her friends die? What is happening?? Night after night Willa faces horrors and a painful gruesome death. Can she figure out what is happening before it's too late?
Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Groundhog Day meets a classic slasher in this wildly campy, twisty new horror by Rachel Harrison. A dreamy wedding turns into a chaotic nightmare when a killer crashes the celebration. But then it happens again, and again, and again. The time loop and slasher elements keep readers’ blood pressure pumping, while Willa’s character development adds the emotional depth we’ve come to expect from this author. Harrison’s signature witty banter within the friend group had my whole heart, and the delightfully campy horror throughout made this an absolute blast to read. This is both a nod to the relentless cycle of anxiety/depression as well as an homage to so many fun horror tropes! I’ve yet to rate any of Harrison’s books less than five stars, and this one is certainly no exception.
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