Aubrey Wants to Die

by Pip Knight

"Sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, full of delicious drama and surprisingly moving – Aubrey’s chaotic undead rollercoaster of a journey had me cackling, yearning and questioning my entire existence." —Anna Downes, bestselling author of Red River Road

Love is hard. Being undead is harder ... Dolly Alderton meets True Blood in this dark, funny hell of a story

Aubrey is not what she seems. She's young, beautiful, romantic, obsessive and ... a vampire. All she wants is to be human again, and failing that, she wants to die. But the problem is, she can't. Not by stake through the heart or holy water or crucifix or garlic or fire. And she'd know, she's tried every method ... Twice.

So she's stuck here on this earth, all alone. Even the vampire who made her this way - an aristocratic douchebag called Oscar - has abandoned her.

But everything changes when one fateful night, she meets Jonathan. He's everything Aubrey's ever dreamed of, and what's more, he's her soulmate. Her Bella-Edward story. For the first time in 150 years, she has a reason to hope - eternal life might be bearable after all. So when Jonathan unexpectedly breaks up with her, she'll do anything to get him back.

But that's the exact moment Oscar swoops back into her life. And he has other plans for her. Soon, she's thrown into a world of glamour, glitter, blood and hedonism, a world that has her questioning everything she knows to be true-about life, but also about herself. A world where nothing is simple ... And no-one is safe, either.

Genres: Vampires, Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Supernatural

Audible Audio

First published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This book was so amazing, and I can't recommend it enough. Aubrey is a 150-year depressed vampire who has tried everything she think of to kill herself over the last century and a half, but to no avail. Then, she finally found a man who started to make life seem a bit worth living, and he gave her the 'I think we need space' line. To top it all off, her sire appears and wants to be involved in her life, after turning her and not even staying waiting around for her to wake up.

I really hope this becomes a series, but no matter what, I will be looking for more books by this author. Loved this so much!

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop. I was actually obsessed with this from the first page to the last.

Highlights:
- vampire romance
- Fated mates
- Sire bonds

Aubrey is probably one of the most likable main characters I have ever experienced.
She’s sweet, self-doubting, and a little bit obsessive. (But like, in a cute way).
It’s rare to say that I would not have changed anything about the way she was written.

Aubrey’s niceness, in combination with our morally gray/perhaps morally corrupt leaning mmc Oscar.
My only complaint might be that they had so so much back and forth. I guess it’s necessary to the plot but please. I’m dying. Just adore each other already and put me out of my misery.

The plot? Vampire perfection.
I was way too invested in this entire situation?! And it just kept getting BETTER? Every new detail, every new twist brought it to a new level? Eeeeek.

I must have been starved the way I ate this up.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and author Pip Knight, for providing me with the eARC of “Aubrey Wants to Die” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: march 03, 2026

[Toya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars I had mixed feelings about this one. Aubrey is 150 years old but often acts much younger, making choices in her search for love that got on my nerves. However, I liked the mystery about her past and the vampire-hunting subplot, and I’m interested to see where book two goes.

[Sophie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I DEVOURED THIS BOOK! Started and finished in the same day, I could hardly put this down!
This is a fever dream alternative twilight for all us who are now adults, amazing really.

Aubrey is completely unashamed to admit she’d prefer to be dead, but does so in a way that isn’t super dark. I don’t believe she made the concept of suicide a joke, but Knight did find a balance of lightheartedness to make Aubrey’s many failed attempts humorous. This story felt like or easing a transcript of my own brain, with inner dialogue that’s accurate to my experience with depression and anxiety (excluding the fear of being found out as a vampire, I am definitely human).
The characters were intriguing, with mystery surrounding not only Aubrey’s past, but in the persona of her sire and his unpredictability.

The twist regarding Jonathan’s past life history with Aubrey was unexpected, but at the same time not surprising. It is a great example of how partners can portray themselves to be harmless and loving when glimpsed at from the outside, when in reality or an extended glance/memory, they are the opposite. His extravagant plan revealed at the end is also a fine example of how well some people can manipulate and burrow into their targets life.

It is hard not to compare every modern vampire plot to twilight (in this case character wise), Aubrey is Bella if she were a vamp from the get go, had been alone for 150 yrs, and has zero memories of life before being changed. Then imagine being hunted by humans instead of that scary tracker vamp; get framed for murder by a scarier Edward but still fall in love with him despite thinking he killed her when actually he just has a saviour complex vibe going on like a non vegetarian version of sire Carlisle. I picture that scene of Bella in the spinning chair and changing seasons when Edward abandons her, except it’s a 150yr long scene and she doesn’t even know the guy

[Julia Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! I devoured this book while on a night shift, and as I sit here with tears streaming, trying to hide that I'm crying over a book, I'd definitely say it's worth the read. Aubrey is a vampire, and in this version of vamps, they don't remember their past lives or should I say their human lives. Aubrey lives of bagged blood and doesn't want to hurt anyone. She's tried to kill herself many many times over the years, but she can't die. Aubrey's world really starts to crumble when her soulmate breaks up with her. Then the book really gets good. I don't want to spoil the plot, but you really start to feel for Aubrey. She is so lonely, and even though she's a vampire, she just wants love, and that's anyone who really wants, right? The worldbuilding is good, I can almost picture her little apartment and her keeping company with cat. When everything starts to come together, I freaked! I did not see that twist coming at all. But it was oh-so-good!! I think this author just made my auto-read list!

5 stars.
I received this ARC from netgalley, and all opinions are my own.

[readsbyanaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was such a fun read! Vampires? Check. Laugh out loud funny moments? Check. Vibes? Immaculate. This was a super quick and easy read and a great book to pick up if you want something to just make you laugh. I love a good vampire story and this was a great modern take on it. The characters were very intriguing and you become invested from the very first page.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

[Alyssa Blackwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC of Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight, via Netgalley 🫶

Aubrey wants to die.
This might be easier, if she wasn’t already dead.. or really, undead.
Aubrey was turned into a vampire 150 years ago and her entire vampire existence has been lonely. She’s tried to die numerous times, but it never seems to take.
She’s given up on love and life, that is until she meets Jonathan, her soulmate, and now Aubrey is ready to live.. but it’s hard when she’s living a lie and can’t tell Jonathan the truth.
When he breaks up with her out of the blue, her life begins to spiral, and it gets even more out of control when her maker, Oscar, re-enters the scene.
Can she win Jonathan back, and what on earth does Oscar want?

Okay first things first, this was an easy read and was reasonably entertaining on my flight - the perfect kind of book for a quick palate cleanser / beach read / holiday read for sure.
The story and writing are simple and easy to follow, the plot has a few turns but nothing too surprising.

Overall though I was a bit letdown. It’s marketed as “True Blood meets Dolly Alderton.”
I can see the True Blood inspiration for sure, but nothing about the story or writing evoked Dolly Alderton for me.
Because the story is in first person from Aubrey’s perspective, her internal monologue gets a bit repetitive and I found it a bit tiresome at times.
The highlight scenes for me were any with other vampires + any with Oscar. He was probably the most interesting character.

It’s set up with a cliffhanger for a sequel and I’m intrigued to see where it goes next 🧛

Aubrey Wants to Die ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Abigail Hatter]

DNFing. Not a fan of the voice, where the plot is moving, or the main character.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is giving massive vibes of the Sookie Stackhouse book series while still being quite different. I hope Aubrey Wants to Die is the requisite back story introduction book before we get to the real stuff in book 2. Please let there be a book 2!!!! And I need more Cat, Aubrey, Oscar, Es, Daphne, Rupert, and Tina. Seriously, we need more fun books in the world!! Thoroughly enjoyed😺🐯❤

I also read 2 other of her books, published under the name of Pip Drysdale, The Next Girl and The Paris Affair, both 5 star reads for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

[Ashley ✶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I wanted in a modern vampire book, I so badly want Aubrey’s story to continue. And thanks for giving Cat a happy ending too 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Tiarne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book (pun fully intended). Seriously — I picked it up and didn’t want to put it down.

Aubrey is the kind of character who makes you laugh and make questionable life choices. A vampire who just wants to die? Darkly hilarious and weirdly relatable.

The writing is sharp, the pacing is fast, and the drama is delicious. There’s love, betrayal, blood, and a whole lot of attitude. If you like your stories a little gothic, a little messy, and totally addictive, this is it.

Highly recommend 🖤🧛‍♀️

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight is a darkly funny, emotionally sharp novel that made me laugh, wince, and quietly question my entire emotional support system.
Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

I also had the chance to experience the audiobook edition of Aubrey Wants to Die, narrated by Karen Cass, and it added a whole extra layer of bite to an already sharp story. More on that in a minute, because this book deserves its moment first.

This story shows up wearing the disguise of a witty vampire romp and then calmly sits you down to unpack loneliness, obsession, toxic love, and the exhausting burden of existing when you never asked to be here in the first place. Aubrey has been undead for 150 years and has tried, very creatively, to end it more than once. The fact that this premise manages to be both hilarious and deeply sad tells you everything about the tone. It’s dark humor done right. Sharp, self-aware, and just uncomfortable enough to hit.

Aubrey’s voice is what makes this book sing. She’s sarcastic, dramatic, romantic, obsessive, and painfully honest. Her longing to be human again isn’t just about mortality. It’s about wanting to belong, to be chosen, to be loved in a way that feels permanent and safe. When Jonathan enters her life, he becomes that hope. That fantasy. That Bella-Edward, soulmate, eternal-love story she’s convinced will fix everything. And when it falls apart, the spiral feels real.

Then there’s Oscar. The aristocratic, manipulative vampire who made her this way and reappears with glitter, chaos, and very questionable intentions. Their dynamic is layered with power imbalance, resentment, attraction, and history. It’s messy in a way that feels intentional. Nothing here is clean. Love doesn’t magically redeem anyone. Immortality doesn’t make anyone wiser. It just gives you more time to make mistakes.

What surprised me most is how emotionally grounded this feels despite the blood and glamour. This is a story about self-worth. About recognizing when you’re accepting crumbs and calling it a feast. About realizing that maybe the person you need to choose you is yourself. Yes, it’s sexy. Yes, it’s dramatic. But it’s also thoughtful and unexpectedly moving.

“Love didn’t save me. But it did remind me why I wanted to keep trying.”

Now, the audiobook. Karen Cass absolutely nails Aubrey’s voice. She leans into the dry wit and emotional fragility in a way that makes the sarcasm land even harder. Her pacing during the darker, quieter moments adds weight without overdoing it, and the more chaotic scenes sparkle with just enough theatrical flair. Listening to Aubrey unravel in real time makes the experience even more intimate. I found myself lingering in the car just to hear one more chapter.

By the end, I felt wrung out in the best way. This book is funny, sad, sexy, dramatic, and strangely hopeful. It lingers. It pokes at your soft spots. It makes you laugh when you probably shouldn’t. And the audio version makes it even sharper.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

#AubreyWantsToDie #PipKnight #KarenCass #AudiobookReview #BookReview #NetGalley #ARCReview #VampireFiction #DarkHumor #WomensFiction #MysteryAndThriller #Bookstagram #BookTok #2026Releases

[Penelope Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a deeply enjoyable contemporary Jane Eyre, with vampires, a dry sense of humor, and an exploration of feminine rage, identity, mental health, and, not to be dramatic, but that which gives life meaning. Aubrey is a vampire floating through life with some interesting ideas about romance and purpose, including a real sense that her life lacks real meaning or joy. She’s trying, but I get it. It’s hard, and she’s tired, and she’s been doing this for over a hundred years. A lot of us mortals feel the same way, sometimes. But she can’t end her life, because she’s a vampire. Ugh. (But don’t worry – hopefully it’s not a spoiler to reveal that she does, in fact, figure some things out and feel better in a very satisfying way).

This book walks many lines perfectly. This is one of those books you read and then you realize – oh, this is what it means for a book to have actual substance and depth. No shame to some more surface level books which, for the record, also have their place. had enough depth and seriousness to feel like you were consuming something substantial, but enough levity to go down easily. The pacing was also great, although please note it does seem like this is part 1 of a series (if this was shared with me, I didn’t realize it) which affects how I feel about the pacing i.e. I know I’ll get some more answers some point in the future but there were enough plot points explained to keep me satisfied enough throughout the book. (Although… if you have an ARC of future book(s) in the series lying around – can I have it? I can’t wait over a year. Or longer. I live in the age of streaming service binges, so I have no patience. I also want to see what happens!)

So in summary – this book was a delightful dark comedy, with our hero Aubrey, who is simultaneously naïve and burnt out, but doing as well as any of us probably would be doing given the circumstances. We’ve got a love triangle done well (btw – I typically hate dislike love triangles and did not hate this one). We’ve got revenge via incontinence (and other outcomes), which is always a treat. And apparently we’ve got more books to come (I assume?) which I will happily read. (but seriously I can't wait that long, I have no frustration tolerance please tell me they're written).

(I am no Brontë historian, and our main character mentions Wuthering Heights a few times, which I would be willing to bet is important, but unfortunately, like Aubree, I only kind of read that book once, maybe).

[Dany's Reading Pile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I DID NOT see that plot twist coming. 🤡🤡
The story follows Aubrey, a 150 year old vampire who’s completely exhausted by her immortality. She’s so tired of existing that she’s tried to unalive herself multiple times...unsuccessfully, of course.
Just when she’s given up on finding any meaning in her endless life, she meets a man who sparks something in her. For the first time in a long time, she actually wants to live. But then this freaking man hits her with the “We need a break.” And just like that, everything comes crashing down.
As Aubrey struggles to recover what she’s lost and tries not to spiral back into centuries of hopelessness, her sire suddenly reappears after years of absence. The same sire who abandoned her is now back🫠🫠🫠, ready to step in and reinsert himself into her life, and possibly teach her what it truly means to be a vampire.
My thoughts:
For most of the book, I was sitting at a solid 3.5 ⭐️. I was enjoying it, but nothing had fully wowed me at the moment. Then that ending was happening and then, that plot twist? 🤯 I was NOT prepared. It completely caught me off guard and bumped my rating up to a strong 4 ⭐️.
That twist alone made it worth it. 👏🏽👏🏽

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.❤️‍🩹





Okok, ese lot twist... no lo vi venir 🤡🤡
La historia sigue a Aubrey, una vampira de 150 años que está completamente agotada de su inmortalidad. Está tan cansada de existir que ha intentado hacer la moricion varias veces… sin éxito, claro.
Justo cuando ya había renunciado a encontrarle algún sentido a su vida, conoce a un hombre que vuelve a encender algo en ella. Por primera vez en mucho tiempo, realmente quiere vivir. Pero entonces este tipo tonto sale con “Necesitamos un tiempo.” Y así, sin más, todo se le viene abajo.
Mientras Aubrey intenta recuperar lo que perdió y lucha por no volver a caer en siglos de desesperanza, su sire reaparece de la nada después de años de ausencia. El mismo que la abandonó ahora está de vuelta 🫠🫠🫠, listo enseñarle lo que realmente significa ser vampira.
Mi opinión:
Durante la mayor parte del libro lo tenía en un 3.5 ⭐️. Lo estaba disfrutando, pero nada me había sorprendido del todo hasta ese momento. Llegando al final… con ese plot twist 🤯 NO estaba preparada. Me tomó completamente por sorpresa y subió mi calificación a un fuerte 4 ⭐️.
Solo ese giro hizo que valiera totalmente la pena. 👏🏽👏🏽
Gracias a NetGalley y Harlequin Trade Publishing por proporcionarme este eARC a cambio de mi reseña honesta. ❤️‍🩹

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biting Wit and Millennial Malaise

Pip Knight’s Aubrey Wants to Die isn’t your typical vampire romance; it’s sharp, darkly funny, and just a little bit heartbreaking. Aubrey, the protagonist, has slogged through 150 years of immortality she never wanted. She’s tired of being undead, desperate for either a cure or a clean exit, but stuck in a kind of eternal dead-end job. Things get interesting when Jonathan shows up, and for the first time in decades, she starts to hope that maybe this endless existence isn’t as unbearable as it seems.

Aubrey’s voice jumps off the page; she’s smart, self-deprecating, and a far cry from your standard brooding vampire. Her existential dread comes with a dose of dry, modern humour that keeps things moving and stops the book from bogging down in angst. Sure, there’s romance and drama, but the real star is the way Aubrey deals with the absurdity of immortality and a world that left her behind.

Knight, best known for twisty psychological thrillers under her real name, Pip Drysdale, mixes brisk plotting with snappy dialogue that’s as fun as it is biting. The result lands somewhere between a midnight comedy and a millennial coming-of-age crisis, albeit with a lot more blood and sharper teeth.

Readers will love how the novel blends laughs with real emotional heft. Some will likely find the plot lean and the surprises mild, but even skeptical readers can admit it’s Aubrey’s messy, honest voice that hooks you. If you want dense lore or classic horror, you might be left wanting. For everyone else, the book balances satire with sincerity, poking fun at vampire tropes while unearthing plenty of big feelings.

Aubrey Wants to Die delivers big on character, attitude, and heart, perfect for anyone craving a shot of existential humour alongside their supernatural drama. Pip Knight has carved out something fang-sharp, fresh, and thoroughly entertaining.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey isn't like other vampires. Over the course of 150 lonely years since her turning it is maintaining her humanity that drives her. She does not want to be a monster nor did she choose to become one. She NEVER drinks from the vein. She only procures blood through blood banks.

She is also terribly lonely.

Sure, she has a few girlfriends but you can't forge those friendships for more than a few years or it will become obvious to them that she never ages.

But what Audrey wants more than anything at all is to be in love. So when she meets handsome Jonathan she believes that he is her soul mate. At some point she'll need to explain to him what she is but until then she plans to just enjoy the moment.

Imagine her surprise, when one evening, Jonathan tells her they should take a break. I guess the 100+ text messages she sent him over the course of a week spooked him a little but have no fear as she plans to win him back one way or another.

Then the worst thing in the world happens. Oscar, her sire whom she has never met, has returned claiming she is putting the entire vampire community at risk and that it is imperative for him to teach her to be a "real" vampire. How is that going to help her win back Jonathan?

What ensues from there is a bloody good time.

I thought this book was loads of fun. It's more dark comedy than horror so adjust your expectations accordingly. Aubrey was a vampire with a heart of gold or at least she tries to be which makes her easy to root for. Oscar was a little bit sexy, a little bit menacing, and completely infuriating if you listen to Aubrey. And breathtaking Jonathan is he as perfect as Audrey thinks he is? You'll need to read this to find out!

The ending was a complete surprise! 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my complimentary copy.

[Davena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey Wants To Die by Pip Knight

I requested Aubrey Wants To Die for two reasons, first and foremost (and most importantly), @akalagianblunt gave it a thumbs up, and if Ashley says it's OK, I'm not going to argue with her. And secondly, the blurb says it's "Dolly Alderton meets True Blood in this dark, funny hell of a story", and while I haven't read any Dolly Alderton, I'm a huge True Blood fan.

Aside: Lafayette was my favourite character, and I was very sad when Nelsan Ellis passed away.

Aubrey wants to die, mostly because Aubrey is a 150-year-old vampire who lives on bagged blood, well, that and the fact she's just broken up with her soulmate, Jonathan. But she can't. She's tried all the traditional vampire killers: stake through the heart, holy water, garlic and sunlight. But she's stuck here watching vampire movies on repeat.

Aubrey Wants To Die is darkly funny and somehow full of sexy-vampire tropes, but still 100% fresh. It's fast-paced and twisty, and Aubrey is quirky and obsessive, and this book is very much in the same vein as True Blood (see what I did there? *wiggles eyebrows*)

Pip Knight is a pen name of Pip Drysdale, a best-selling author of psychological thrillers. I don't know if that's meant to be a secret, but if I know... It's not a well-kept one.

Thumbs up. 👍

Bodycount = 5 for sure. But it was hard to keep track because of the whole vampire thing.

Aubrey Wants To Die by Pip Knight was released on February 24, so if you are after a fun read with a sprinkling of neurotic vampire romance, you can grab your copy now.

#designnerd #booksdeevaareads #2025bookshelf
@pipdrysdale @harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #AubreyWantsToDie @NetGalley #NetGalley

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

☠️
⚜️ Book Title - Aubrey Wants to Die
⚜️ Author - Pip Knight
⚜️ Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚜️ Some Genre/Themes/Tropes: Adult Fiction, Romance and Vampires

I received a published advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book via HarperCollins. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is my honest review.

I read the premise of this one and saw the pop culture heavy vampire references, and I was immediately sold. Did it hit? Yus. This was a fun, fast paced read that I smashed out in a single sitting.

That said, it wasn’t without its flaws. I wasn’t a huge fan of the relationship dynamics, and Aubrey’s personality… along with her consistently questionable choices. It tested my patience more than once. Buuuut the plot more than made up for it. The story itself was engaging and had me invested enough that I was happy to overlook those frustrations and just enjoy the ride.

Don’t go into this one expecting romance…. Just don’t because you will be sorely disappointed. 🤣

Overall, it delivered exactly what I was hoping and hit the mood read fairly well. It was an entertaining, bingeable vamp read that didn’t take itself too seriously and was a fun level of chaos.

I would recommend this book to others who enjoy paranormal vampire books.

I want to say thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.

Note (How I rate): One is DNF. Two is got there but struggled. Three stars is a good, enjoyable read. Four is an excellent read and five is a comfort read that lingers with me for life. My five stars can be imperfect but to me they hit right.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This is one you can really sink your fangs into, obviously.

Aubrey is not your average vampire, and she's here to let us know that you can be well into the triple digits and still be acting like a basic b around some men. Eternal life sounds terrible to me, as does interacting with blood in any way/for any reason, but the most depressing part of this situation by far is that we might all be doomed to an eternity of bad romantic choices. Yikes.

What makes Aubrey enjoyable as a character is her long list of flaws. She's giving coming-of-age more than wizened, world weary vampire, so readers who are expecting the latter should mitigate and refocus. These flaws can also make her frustrating. I'm okay with her continuous cycle of vampiric improvement and learning, but I had a hard time understanding the depths of her naivete in certain instances.

There are some challenging inclusions of sexual assault in this book; read with care.

While I was engaged throughout, I found the ending particularly noteworthy.

This is fun and a little campy and it features a modern vampire with a love of other modern vampires, so arrive and stay for a bloody good time.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[brook.talks.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished ARC reading Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight a few days ago, and while it started off super promising, unfortunately, it lost steam about halfway through. I got less interested in Aubrey's story, and it fell to the wayside. I kept trying to pick it back up, would read a chapter or two, and set it aside again. Rinse and repeat.

Aubrey is a vampire that can't remember who she was before she got turned, and only remembers her evil sire who turned her. She continually tries to off herself, but she cannot seem to die. When she meets the very human Jonathan, she starts to remember that he was her soulmate from her former life, and desperately tries to connect with him.

I finally finished it, but the middle and most of the ending felt like it took forever. Then, the very end was actually an interesting twist that got wrapped up way too quickly.

I was so excited about this one, but it just missed the mark for me. Also, I love a good reference to Twilight and TVD in a vampire story, but there were way too many in this. As are the incessant mentions of her earplugs and eye mask. I could literally scream. I will say, however, because of how great the beginning was, I'm giving it 3 stars.

Aubrey Wants to Die gets released on March 3rd, and is available to pre-order now.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Lizzie Hammang · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩸Aubrey Wants To Die by Pip Knight🩸

Aubrey is dramatic, obsessive, lonely, and absolutely losing the plot (relatable), and I was soaking up every second of her journey 😌🍿

Is she messy? Yes.
Did I judge her? Sometimes.
Did I still root for her? Absolutely 😭🖤

This book played brilliantly with the idea that eternal life doesn’t fix your problems, it just gives you more time to spiral 🙈😂 Aubrey is an intentionally chaotic character who is funny one moment, only to be deeply unhinged the next. Watching her navigate immortality, abandonment, and romantic obsession was both uncomfortable and compelling. I could not look away!

The vibes:
💄 vampire glamour
🚩 bad decisions in the name of love
🩸 existential spirals with jokes

I have been a huge fan of Pip’s alter-ego even before I joined bookstagram, and I absolutely love that her signature style and addictive writing is still very much a part of this story. This book is witty, self-aware, and painfully honest about how far someone might go to feel loved. We’ve all been there right? 

Such a fun one but still full of so much heart. I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP! 

QOTD: If you could live forever, would you?

Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia @pipdrysdale and @netgalley for the ebook copy. I obviously had to buy the physical hehe 😜

[Aura C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and unexpectedly addictive read. It leans into the drama and romance in a way that feels entertaining without taking itself too seriously, and I genuinely flew through it. Aubrey is chaotic, emotional, and a little self destructive, but that is exactly what makes her compelling. Underneath the fangs and immortality, she just wants connection and meaning, which made her surprisingly easy to root for.

I loved the mix of vampire lore with modern dating energy. The soulmate element, the messy ex situation, and the tension with her maker added layers that kept the story moving. There are twists that shift the direction of the plot just when you think you have it figured out, and I appreciated that it never felt stagnant.

I listened to the audiobook while also reading the ebook, and that combination made it such an immersive experience. Being able to switch between formats kept me fully locked in and made some of the emotional moments hit even harder.

It is not reinventing the vampire genre, but it absolutely delivers on entertainment, romance, and drama. A solid four stars from me and definitely one I would recommend if you are in the mood for something quick, dramatic, and super readable.

[Hannah Kenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for my ARC!

Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight is a fun, easy-to-read vampire romance with some solid twists. Aubrey has been a vampire for 150 years and thinks she’s finally met her soulmate, Jonathan. But things get chaotic fast when a vampire-hunting club comes after her. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it flips the script—Aubrey is saved by her real soulmate, Oscar, the vampire who originally turned her. The ending honestly surprised me, and I loved it. I did not see it coming at all.

The plot itself is entertaining and kept me interested, but I wouldn’t say the book really stands out from other vampire stories. Lately, a lot of vampire books lean heavily on references to popular franchises like Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this one definitely does that too. For me, those references were used a bit too often and sometimes took away from the story instead of adding to it.

That said, I still enjoyed reading it. If you like romance, vampires, and dramatic twists, this book is worth checking out

[Valarie - WoodsyBookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of Aubrey Wants To Die - a vampire who decides they really don't want to deal with the whole living forever thing but it turns out immortality also seems to come with invincibility and they really CAN'T die.

I almost expected a Undead Unluck kind of quirky romp with an embittered and cynical Aubrey and a golden retriever human trying to show her the joys of life but that's so far from what I got.

Aubrey was fairly obnoxious and naive. I don't know if it was the narration or just the character, maybe even a mix of both, but I really disliked Aubrey as a character.

Another aspect, which is just one of my pet peeves and I'm sure isn't really that big of a deal, was the unending pop culture references. Yes, this book is compared to Buffy and The Vampire Diaries, but the constant references within the novel were driving me crazy. I don't necessarily mind when a book makes pop culture references, but sometimes it works and other times it just completely takes me out of the story.

Overall, I just didn't mesh with this story like I'd hoped but I'm sure it'll find its audience.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey just wants to be loved, but when another relationship ends up in a break, she is desolate and wants to die. Only problem? She can't die. She is a vampire that just wants to be human. After her breakup, her co-worker convinces her to go out where she ends up entangled with another vampire, Oscar. He threatens to pin a murder of her boss on her unless she comes with him to the countryside to learn to be a better vampire. She begins to question everything she knows about herself and enters a world where possibly no one is safe.

This book was fun! It is the perfect read for a palate cleanser - something fun and not too serious. I liked seeing a different aspect of vampires - Aubrey is just a girl that wants to be in a relationship while working away at Selfridges. She doesn't feed on humans - getting her blood from a blood bank through a friend she gives free weed to. Definitely don't go into this thinking it's a horror book - it's more of a dark comedy mixed with a little romance. The ending makes it seem like there is going to be another book, which I hope there is. Overall 3.75-4 stars for me!

Also I like the cartoon cover better than this one :)

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Why did I read? Love vampire stories. Would I read again? For sure its quick and easy!

[Torikinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of Aubrey Wants to Die from NetGalley. The premise of this book was really interesting to me. Aubrey has been a vampire for over a 100 years. Abandoned by her sire at her conception, she has struggled to make connections during her life. Aubrey battles her own internal hatred for her very nature, desperately searching for the love she has always wanted, and wondering why even her sire has abandoned her.
I am an avid reader of fantasy books, and have read many other Vamp books. This was such a unique take, as Aubrey lives in the modern world and is constantly fighting against her own revulsion for taking advantage of others and feeding. Her internal thoughts were my favorite part of this book. It really made me think about the themes of loneliness, inner loathing, and human connection. However, even with these themes, the book is fun and light hearted.
This was a quick read and I finished it only two days. I will seek out this authors other books as I really enjoyed this one!

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey is a 150 year old vampire who is just exhausted with life. She's tired of the endless grind, tired of keeping her secret, tired of trying to be "good", and tired of not having any lasting relationships. When she meets Jonathan and realizes she knew a past incarnation of him as a human she thinks it is meant to be. But things get complicated with him and next thing she knows her long lost sire Oscar shows up. She's just trying to live her life, but keeps getting thrown curve balls.

This was a fairly fun easy read. Aubrey was a likeable character for the most part, although flawed. I did find some of the scenes where Aubrey is reflecting drug a bit, but particularly enjoyed the scenes with other vampires. The ending was unexpected and a good twist. Some of the world building seemed a bit messy and rushed, but I did like the fact the vampires can't remember their human lives and how that added to the story. Overall, I'd recommend to folks who enjoy a good vampire read.

Tropes
* Vampires
* Memory Loss
* Messy friendships/ relationships

3.5 stars

[Horror Nerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the book blurb, it felt like I was in for a fun, comedically tinged read. A romance mixed in with some fun vampire shenanigans, sign me up! Up until a certain point (probably when Oscar was first introduced), I was really enjoying this book. Aubrey was a flawed mess, but her story was compelling and I wanted to see if her whole 'soulmate' dream would be realized (or if she would choose to move on and live her vampire life on her own terms).
Once she meets her vampire maker though, is when I started having problems with the story. The narrative shifted to something darker, and I just never bought her infatuation and romantic link to Oscar. Aubrey kept making extremely frustrating mistakes, and didn't seem to be learning. The main character escaped one bad abusive relationship and jumped straight into another. The concept for a great book is here somewhere, it just didn't turn out that way.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey is a 150 year old vampire, forever frozen as a teenage girl from before Dracula was written. Without her memories of her human life, she lacks purpose and consumes every kind of vampire media available to find out if she can end this existence

When her human boyfriend of 5 weeks breaks up with her. she goes off the deep end but maybe out of all this she will find a reason to live after all?

Pip Drysdale writes as Pip Knight here and her writing is better than I remembered. Aubrey is the most annoying character ever, she really embodies the stereotypical 19 year old Selfridges shop girl with a crush. This story would absolutely not pass the Bechdel test. I spent the first third being annoyed at Aubrey for being a whiny teen, not really realising where the plot was going and then the rest of the plot clicked into place. I was still absolutely annoyed at her for the rest of the book, but it's a plot device from that moment on

Goofy, teen vampire novel. unexpected.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aubrey is a 150 year old vampire living a semi-normal life in London. She has a boyfriend, an apartment and a job, things are going well until her boyfriend breaks up with her and she spirals. She is still grappling with her human side, she believes her boyfriend is her soulmate and they were together 100 years ago so she takes the breakup hard. Along with that her maker or sire named Oscar comes into the picture and turns her vampire world upside down.
I thought this was a fun vampire book. Aubrey was a little bit annoying at times and the breakup with her boyfriend was getting on my nerves. She was OBSESSED with him. I enjoyed the scenes with Oscar and when she was acting like a vampire. I felt the book was a little slow at times and maybe a bit too long. The ending wrapped up very quickly.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.