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Slash or Pass
It's about to be one bloody valentine...
Watching your best friend run away after kissing him? Mortifying. Finding a dead body on campus with him days later? Even worse.
That was the last time Mabel saw Danny, which didn't really set the stage for an epic love story.
With her job at a dream horror studio, romance is the last thing on Mabel's mind... Until an anonymous Valentine's Day card arrives. Someone knows what really happened at Westbrook College, and they're ready to kill again.
Mabel has no choice but to return if she wants to protect the people she loves, including Danny; now a promising, hot law student. It's been a year since they talked, and their chemistry is as thick as their distance.
But when trapped together and facing a killer in a Cupid mask, Mabel must stop running. As the heat of attraction with Danny cranks up, and the body count rises, Mabel can't forget one of the biggest rules in a slasher; it's always the boyfriend.
Oh, and don't have sex.
Watching your best friend run away after kissing him? Mortifying. Finding a dead body on campus with him days later? Even worse.
That was the last time Mabel saw Danny, which didn't really set the stage for an epic love story.
With her job at a dream horror studio, romance is the last thing on Mabel's mind... Until an anonymous Valentine's Day card arrives. Someone knows what really happened at Westbrook College, and they're ready to kill again.
Mabel has no choice but to return if she wants to protect the people she loves, including Danny; now a promising, hot law student. It's been a year since they talked, and their chemistry is as thick as their distance.
But when trapped together and facing a killer in a Cupid mask, Mabel must stop running. As the heat of attraction with Danny cranks up, and the body count rises, Mabel can't forget one of the biggest rules in a slasher; it's always the boyfriend.
Oh, and don't have sex.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2026
28 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Thalia Sanchez
5 books408 followersThalia is a new author born and raised in Puerto Rico, the same place where she lives, and constantly complains about the heat. She started writing at a very young age and soon discovered that craziness was what she wanted to do in life.
When she's not writing you can find her procrastinating on Instagram, pinning things on Pinterest, and laughing at memes. She has an endless love for dogs (and animals in general).
When she's not writing you can find her procrastinating on Instagram, pinning things on Pinterest, and laughing at memes. She has an endless love for dogs (and animals in general).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 29, 2025
A super fun slasher romcom 🔪🩸
If you loved Scary Movie or Scream, you’ll enjoy this.
I’m not a huge fan of a golden retriever MMC and the FMC had way too many spiralling thoughts, so I struggled to get into the romance of this one but I enjoyed the plot and mystery nonetheless.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette AU/NZ and Thalia Sanchez for the ARC 🫶🏼💌
If you loved Scary Movie or Scream, you’ll enjoy this.
I’m not a huge fan of a golden retriever MMC and the FMC had way too many spiralling thoughts, so I struggled to get into the romance of this one but I enjoyed the plot and mystery nonetheless.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette AU/NZ and Thalia Sanchez for the ARC 🫶🏼💌
March 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC.
This book felt like getting dropped straight into a chaotic Valentine’s Day slasher movie — masked killer, college campus, bad decisions, and a main character who knows exactly how horror movies work… yet is still stuck inside one.
The vibe is very Scream-coded in the best way. Mabel is a horror fan who keeps mentally running through the “rules” of slashers while everything around her slowly turns into one. It adds a fun meta layer to the story and makes the tension feel like watching a horror film where you’re yelling at the characters — except she’s yelling at herself.
The slasher plot was the strongest part for me. Bloody, fast-paced, and full of red herrings. I did suspect the killer at one point, but the book still managed to throw in a reveal that made me pause for a second.
The romance is there but definitely not the main event. Danny has very golden-retriever energy and the second-chance dynamic adds tension, but this story is much more about surviving a slasher than about the relationship.
Overall this was a really fun horror read — messy, a little cheesy, very self-aware, and perfect if you enjoy classic slasher movie vibes in book form.
This book felt like getting dropped straight into a chaotic Valentine’s Day slasher movie — masked killer, college campus, bad decisions, and a main character who knows exactly how horror movies work… yet is still stuck inside one.
The vibe is very Scream-coded in the best way. Mabel is a horror fan who keeps mentally running through the “rules” of slashers while everything around her slowly turns into one. It adds a fun meta layer to the story and makes the tension feel like watching a horror film where you’re yelling at the characters — except she’s yelling at herself.
The slasher plot was the strongest part for me. Bloody, fast-paced, and full of red herrings. I did suspect the killer at one point, but the book still managed to throw in a reveal that made me pause for a second.
The romance is there but definitely not the main event. Danny has very golden-retriever energy and the second-chance dynamic adds tension, but this story is much more about surviving a slasher than about the relationship.
Overall this was a really fun horror read — messy, a little cheesy, very self-aware, and perfect if you enjoy classic slasher movie vibes in book form.
January 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for approving me for the ARC of Slash Or Pass by Thalia Sanchez.
3.5/5⭐️
3/5 🌶️
“I might be a hardcore fan, but this entire scenario is one step away from becoming a slasher film”
This book was so good! If you’re a fan of Scream, The Strangers, Friday the 13th or any masked slasher horror movies, this book is for you!
It is filled with blood, gore and so much more that every slasher film gives you but in book form! I did guess who the killer was but there was still a plot twist towards the end that I did not guess at all that had my jaw dropping.
And not only was this a slasher/horror, it was also a romance. I loved Danny and Mabel’s relationship. Danny is so Golden Retriever energy (unless it’s in bed😉IYKYK)
I now want to see this book come to life and watch it in movie form. This needs to be on the BIG SCREENS!
3.5/5⭐️
3/5 🌶️
“I might be a hardcore fan, but this entire scenario is one step away from becoming a slasher film”
This book was so good! If you’re a fan of Scream, The Strangers, Friday the 13th or any masked slasher horror movies, this book is for you!
It is filled with blood, gore and so much more that every slasher film gives you but in book form! I did guess who the killer was but there was still a plot twist towards the end that I did not guess at all that had my jaw dropping.
And not only was this a slasher/horror, it was also a romance. I loved Danny and Mabel’s relationship. Danny is so Golden Retriever energy (unless it’s in bed😉IYKYK)
I now want to see this book come to life and watch it in movie form. This needs to be on the BIG SCREENS!
December 6, 2025
THIS WAS AMAZING. Perfect for fans of Scream, it reeally brought on all the vibes!! One year ago on Westbrook College campus, Brian Manders was murdered and hung from a statue, very similar to how Casey Beckers body was found in the beginning of Scream. Our FMC Mabel's bestfriend Cerys had recentlt came forward with sexual assult charges against him, and people are fast to point the finger at her. Fast forward a year later Mabel, has moved to LA to work at a movie studio writing slasher movies, she recieves a threatening letter with a photo of her sister Carmen, and immediately heads back to Westbrook, where her sister is. But Mabel isn't the only one with a letter, Danny, Mabels bestfriend before The Incident happened, Cerys, Carmen, and some of the other sorority sisters. Kappa, Mabels old sorority is hosting a Smash or Pass event for valentines day, where she and Danny realize that no matter how hard they tried to move on they still have feelings for each other. But as we know in every slasher, things will reach there climax. Text messages sent around.the group of sorority sisters and frat brothers and lead them into one of the houses, and that is when the killer strikes. Trapped in a house with the killer, no body is safe. And there can only be one final girl, or can there? The whole entire book I was so confident I knew who the killer was, and then the plot twists after plot twists were insane!! Definitely pick up this book if you are a fan of Scream and slashers!!
February 6, 2026
One of the worst, if not the worst, books I’ve ever read. Atrocious. It makes me sad for the publishing industry that this somehow got past rounds of editing to become a mass market paperback.
Yes, incredibly, this was not self published. I found it in a real bookshop with a real publisher.
It’s honestly hard to describe the writing. It was a bit like a mesh of teenager writing their first story and AI learning a language for the first time. I’m not entirely convinced AI wasn’t used for at least some of this, because it was hard to fathom an actual human being could write this badly.
Compared to truly awful books like The Edge of Never and that other one I’ve repressed so much I can’t remember the title, this lacked even the hint of passion behind it those managed to scrape. Those, at least, you could tell were written by a human, if not a talented one. This was utter trash.
It’s not a romance. It’s not a horror. We’re constantly told Danny is an amazing golden boy and whatever the protagonist’s name was is a horror expert, but both of them have no personality whatsoever and might as well be named Boy and Girl. The writing is the worst example of telling not showing I’ve ever read and every single paragraph includes an aside of the narrator’s utterly boring, repetitive thoughts that are obvious to begin with. It’s like suffering through the worst of an Anita Blake book.
Some - okay, most - of the sentence structure was bizarre. Complete overuse of words like whom, merely and simply in casual conversations. Everyone spoke like robots.
People were dying everywhere and Girl’s every thought is ‘well I didn’t like them anyway so I’m glad they’re dead’. Well why the hell should I care?!
I wanted Girl and Boy to be slaughtered so badly and I’m devastated I didn’t even get that catharsis.
Do yourself a favour and don’t read this.
Yes, incredibly, this was not self published. I found it in a real bookshop with a real publisher.
It’s honestly hard to describe the writing. It was a bit like a mesh of teenager writing their first story and AI learning a language for the first time. I’m not entirely convinced AI wasn’t used for at least some of this, because it was hard to fathom an actual human being could write this badly.
Compared to truly awful books like The Edge of Never and that other one I’ve repressed so much I can’t remember the title, this lacked even the hint of passion behind it those managed to scrape. Those, at least, you could tell were written by a human, if not a talented one. This was utter trash.
It’s not a romance. It’s not a horror. We’re constantly told Danny is an amazing golden boy and whatever the protagonist’s name was is a horror expert, but both of them have no personality whatsoever and might as well be named Boy and Girl. The writing is the worst example of telling not showing I’ve ever read and every single paragraph includes an aside of the narrator’s utterly boring, repetitive thoughts that are obvious to begin with. It’s like suffering through the worst of an Anita Blake book.
Some - okay, most - of the sentence structure was bizarre. Complete overuse of words like whom, merely and simply in casual conversations. Everyone spoke like robots.
People were dying everywhere and Girl’s every thought is ‘well I didn’t like them anyway so I’m glad they’re dead’. Well why the hell should I care?!
I wanted Girl and Boy to be slaughtered so badly and I’m devastated I didn’t even get that catharsis.
Do yourself a favour and don’t read this.
January 23, 2026
Thank you netgally for the arc in exchange for a spoiler free review!
4.5 stars for Slash or Pass.
Besides the fact that this took me an embarrassingly long time to read, I adored every second.
I waited for Thals to write & publish something for over two and a half years and boy was I absolutely thrilled when I saw she was publishing this beauty.
This is my 1st read & 1st arc of the year and I couldn’t be happier. The cover alone had me hooked from the start. And Getting back into Thals writing was so fun.
Everyone who knows me, knows I love horror/slasher films. Scream is one of my favorite movie franchises. And this book felt just like one. So many twists and the plot kept you going from the get go. Though I wish we had more than one pov, I loved Mabel. She reminded me so much of my favorite final girls, Sam Carpenter & Sydney Prescott being the obvious ones.
Also THAT SCENE?? Finding out who killed that person. I literally gasped omg!
Anyway, thank you Thals. I always adore your characters and I’m so happy I was picked to be an arc reader💕!
4.5 stars for Slash or Pass.
Besides the fact that this took me an embarrassingly long time to read, I adored every second.
I waited for Thals to write & publish something for over two and a half years and boy was I absolutely thrilled when I saw she was publishing this beauty.
This is my 1st read & 1st arc of the year and I couldn’t be happier. The cover alone had me hooked from the start. And Getting back into Thals writing was so fun.
Everyone who knows me, knows I love horror/slasher films. Scream is one of my favorite movie franchises. And this book felt just like one. So many twists and the plot kept you going from the get go. Though I wish we had more than one pov, I loved Mabel. She reminded me so much of my favorite final girls, Sam Carpenter & Sydney Prescott being the obvious ones.
Also THAT SCENE?? Finding out who killed that person. I literally gasped omg!
Anyway, thank you Thals. I always adore your characters and I’m so happy I was picked to be an arc reader💕!
January 24, 2026
Yes!
Okay listen-if you like college sorority/frat house slashers with a straight-up horror movie vibe and minimal spice (we're talking like... two taps, blink-and-you-miss-it), this one might hit for you.
Very Scream-coded. Like, I caught references, quotes, the whole meta wink-wink thing early. FMC is a film student, so she's fully aware of horror rules, clichés, final girl logic, all of it. She's basically narrating her own possible death like, "am I about to be the final girl or am I fucked?"
Is it a little annoying at times? Yeah.
Did I still get it? Also yeah.
This is a dark slasher romance, second-chance vibes, but let's be clear: plot comes first. The spice is sparse and honestly... perfect for the story. Any more would've felt forced and weird. If you're here for smut, keep it moving. That's not the assignment.
Masked killer. Valentine's Day theme. Red herrings everywhere. Could be one killer, could be three, could be chaos. If you're an avid horror fan, you'll probably clock some shit early-l did-but it was still entertaining as hell. And I'll admit, a couple reveals genuinely caught me off guard
Character depth? Minimal. (Exception FMC)
Mystery? Solid.
Pacing? Addictive AF-I read 384 pages in under two days, so yeah, it does its job.
A bit cheesy? Mild cheddar but on brand for frat/sorority setting
Bottom line: this is a meta, self-aware, sorority slasher about a film student actively questioning whether she has what it takes to survive the movie she's trapped in.
If you want gore, tension, and a clever horror setup without drowning in spice, this is a good time.
Just don't walk in expecting a dark romance smut fest.
That's not what this is-and it's better for it.
Okay listen-if you like college sorority/frat house slashers with a straight-up horror movie vibe and minimal spice (we're talking like... two taps, blink-and-you-miss-it), this one might hit for you.
Very Scream-coded. Like, I caught references, quotes, the whole meta wink-wink thing early. FMC is a film student, so she's fully aware of horror rules, clichés, final girl logic, all of it. She's basically narrating her own possible death like, "am I about to be the final girl or am I fucked?"
Is it a little annoying at times? Yeah.
Did I still get it? Also yeah.
This is a dark slasher romance, second-chance vibes, but let's be clear: plot comes first. The spice is sparse and honestly... perfect for the story. Any more would've felt forced and weird. If you're here for smut, keep it moving. That's not the assignment.
Masked killer. Valentine's Day theme. Red herrings everywhere. Could be one killer, could be three, could be chaos. If you're an avid horror fan, you'll probably clock some shit early-l did-but it was still entertaining as hell. And I'll admit, a couple reveals genuinely caught me off guard
Character depth? Minimal. (Exception FMC)
Mystery? Solid.
Pacing? Addictive AF-I read 384 pages in under two days, so yeah, it does its job.
A bit cheesy? Mild cheddar but on brand for frat/sorority setting
Bottom line: this is a meta, self-aware, sorority slasher about a film student actively questioning whether she has what it takes to survive the movie she's trapped in.
If you want gore, tension, and a clever horror setup without drowning in spice, this is a good time.
Just don't walk in expecting a dark romance smut fest.
That's not what this is-and it's better for it.
February 4, 2026
First off I need Blumhouse to contact Thalia Sanchez ASAP cause I need to see Mabel and Danny come to life omg. This was 90s and early 2000s horror movies realness. I enjoyed everything about reading this and it makes me excited to read more from this author. My favorite genres are romance and horror so this was up my alley. I loved the sisterly interaction with Mabel and Carmen.. I’m a big sister so I totally get it and it was touching. I love that the prediction I had of who the killer could be was wrong lol like what a twist. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time reading this.
February 3, 2026
Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
Tropes:
🏷️Slasher
🏷️Dark Rom Com
🏷️Second Chance Romance
🏷️Forced Proximity
🏷️Pining
My Review:
I thought this was a fun book. I love the horror genre, and this book scratched that itch with some romance involved. Mabel and Danny had a miscommunication and a falling out but a year later they are brought back together and Danny was not going to let there be any more confusion, but there is a k!ll3r on the loose and after them. I like a good slasher flick so the fact that there is romance but there is also suspense and horror in it made this book interesting to read for me. If you’re looking for a dark Rom com Valentine’s Day book I would recommend this one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
Tropes:
🏷️Slasher
🏷️Dark Rom Com
🏷️Second Chance Romance
🏷️Forced Proximity
🏷️Pining
My Review:
I thought this was a fun book. I love the horror genre, and this book scratched that itch with some romance involved. Mabel and Danny had a miscommunication and a falling out but a year later they are brought back together and Danny was not going to let there be any more confusion, but there is a k!ll3r on the loose and after them. I like a good slasher flick so the fact that there is romance but there is also suspense and horror in it made this book interesting to read for me. If you’re looking for a dark Rom com Valentine’s Day book I would recommend this one!
Want to read
December 3, 2025Yeah, so I'm in love with this title.
February 10, 2026
Rating 4 ⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶
Single POV
Dark slasher romance
College setting
Second chance romance
Scream- coded
Masked Killer
Forced Proximity
Golden retriever x black cat
Virgin FMC
Mutual pining
⚠️ Gore/ extreme violence
HEA
Slash or Pass is a dark, nostalgic slasher romance that feels like stepping straight into a late-90s horror movie, as it's very Scream-coded, but wrapped in a Valentine’s Day setting with romantic tension layered into the chaos. The entire story plays out like a self-aware horror film brought to life, and that meta vibe ended up being one of my favorite parts of the reading experience.
The story follows Mabel, a recent film graduate whose specialty is horror and thriller script writing, which means when she finds herself trapped in a real-life slasher scenario, she’s constantly analyzing the “rules” of the genre. Watching her question whether she’s the final girl or just another casualty added humor and clever callbacks to classic horror tropes. At times, those references felt a little repetitive, but they also reinforced the book’s love letter to slasher fans.
I’ll admit the beginning felt a bit slow for me, and Mabel herself took some getting used to. Because the book is told entirely from her perspective, we spend a lot of time inside her head, which was sometimes more than I personally needed. Her internal spirals and rapid shifts in thinking occasionally pulled me out of the tension, especially when the external stakes were already so high. With a literal killer on the loose, the heavy focus on her internal conflict felt a bit overexplained at times, and I found myself wishing for even a brief perspective shift just to break up her constant mental back-and-forth.
One of the elements that balanced that intensity, though, was the second-chance romance subplot. Mabel is pulled back to the college campus she graduated from a year prior, where she reconnects with a former love interest who brings major golden-retriever energy to her more anxious, black-cat personality. Their history added emotional grounding to the chaos, and their reconnection offered softer moments that gave readers a break from the nonstop violence of the night. While I sometimes felt like the narration told us how sweet and kind he was a little too often instead of showing it through actions, their dynamic still worked for me overall and provided a nice contrast to the darker elements of the story.
In terms of spice, the book stays very plot-forward. There are only two intimate scenes, spaced pretty far apart, and they feel organic rather than gratuitous. At first I expected more from a holiday themed slasher romance, but by the end I appreciated the restraint as anything extra likely would have felt forced against the high-stakes survival plot. The balance between romance and horror ultimately made sense for the story being told.
Once the plot really kicks in, it becomes a fast, entertaining ride. The Valentine’s Day setting, masked killer energy, and fraternity house lockdown create strong classic horror vibes, complete with red herrings and genre callbacks. I managed to guess one key element of the reveal, but not all of it, and the sheer number of twists, plus how quickly revelations stacked on top of each other toward the end, genuinely surprised me. I always love when a mystery manages to outplay me a little, and this one absolutely did.
I also appreciated the themes of sisterhood woven throughout the story with both the literal bond between Mabel and her younger sister and the broader connections tied to their former sorority. While her protectiveness sometimes felt a bit heightened for the tone, it added emotional stakes that grounded the slasher chaos. The side characters aren’t deeply developed, which honestly fits the classic horror-film energy, but there’s enough personality there to keep the group dynamics engaging.
The pacing ends up feeling quick and cinematic once it finds its rhythm, delivering exactly what you’d want from a Valentine’s-themed slasher story. And while I didn’t necessarily feel the book needed an epilogue because the main plot wrapped up cleanly, I did enjoy getting that glimpse of where the couple landed a year later. It was a sweet bonus for the romantic side of the story.
Overall, Slash or Pass delivers a playful, self-aware slasher romance packed with nostalgia, tension, and just enough heart to balance the gore. Despite my struggles with the heavy internal monologue early on, the twists, atmosphere, and genre love made this a really fun read. I’m torn between a 4 and a 4.5 star rating because while the character voice didn’t always work for me, the story itself absolutely did.
Spice 🌶🌶
Single POV
Dark slasher romance
College setting
Second chance romance
Scream- coded
Masked Killer
Forced Proximity
Golden retriever x black cat
Virgin FMC
Mutual pining
⚠️ Gore/ extreme violence
HEA
Slash or Pass is a dark, nostalgic slasher romance that feels like stepping straight into a late-90s horror movie, as it's very Scream-coded, but wrapped in a Valentine’s Day setting with romantic tension layered into the chaos. The entire story plays out like a self-aware horror film brought to life, and that meta vibe ended up being one of my favorite parts of the reading experience.
The story follows Mabel, a recent film graduate whose specialty is horror and thriller script writing, which means when she finds herself trapped in a real-life slasher scenario, she’s constantly analyzing the “rules” of the genre. Watching her question whether she’s the final girl or just another casualty added humor and clever callbacks to classic horror tropes. At times, those references felt a little repetitive, but they also reinforced the book’s love letter to slasher fans.
I’ll admit the beginning felt a bit slow for me, and Mabel herself took some getting used to. Because the book is told entirely from her perspective, we spend a lot of time inside her head, which was sometimes more than I personally needed. Her internal spirals and rapid shifts in thinking occasionally pulled me out of the tension, especially when the external stakes were already so high. With a literal killer on the loose, the heavy focus on her internal conflict felt a bit overexplained at times, and I found myself wishing for even a brief perspective shift just to break up her constant mental back-and-forth.
One of the elements that balanced that intensity, though, was the second-chance romance subplot. Mabel is pulled back to the college campus she graduated from a year prior, where she reconnects with a former love interest who brings major golden-retriever energy to her more anxious, black-cat personality. Their history added emotional grounding to the chaos, and their reconnection offered softer moments that gave readers a break from the nonstop violence of the night. While I sometimes felt like the narration told us how sweet and kind he was a little too often instead of showing it through actions, their dynamic still worked for me overall and provided a nice contrast to the darker elements of the story.
In terms of spice, the book stays very plot-forward. There are only two intimate scenes, spaced pretty far apart, and they feel organic rather than gratuitous. At first I expected more from a holiday themed slasher romance, but by the end I appreciated the restraint as anything extra likely would have felt forced against the high-stakes survival plot. The balance between romance and horror ultimately made sense for the story being told.
Once the plot really kicks in, it becomes a fast, entertaining ride. The Valentine’s Day setting, masked killer energy, and fraternity house lockdown create strong classic horror vibes, complete with red herrings and genre callbacks. I managed to guess one key element of the reveal, but not all of it, and the sheer number of twists, plus how quickly revelations stacked on top of each other toward the end, genuinely surprised me. I always love when a mystery manages to outplay me a little, and this one absolutely did.
I also appreciated the themes of sisterhood woven throughout the story with both the literal bond between Mabel and her younger sister and the broader connections tied to their former sorority. While her protectiveness sometimes felt a bit heightened for the tone, it added emotional stakes that grounded the slasher chaos. The side characters aren’t deeply developed, which honestly fits the classic horror-film energy, but there’s enough personality there to keep the group dynamics engaging.
The pacing ends up feeling quick and cinematic once it finds its rhythm, delivering exactly what you’d want from a Valentine’s-themed slasher story. And while I didn’t necessarily feel the book needed an epilogue because the main plot wrapped up cleanly, I did enjoy getting that glimpse of where the couple landed a year later. It was a sweet bonus for the romantic side of the story.
Overall, Slash or Pass delivers a playful, self-aware slasher romance packed with nostalgia, tension, and just enough heart to balance the gore. Despite my struggles with the heavy internal monologue early on, the twists, atmosphere, and genre love made this a really fun read. I’m torn between a 4 and a 4.5 star rating because while the character voice didn’t always work for me, the story itself absolutely did.
February 3, 2026
3.5 stars
ever since i watched the movie ‘heart eyes’ last year, i’ve been on the hunt for more slasher rom-coms. so when i discovered slash or pass, i was unbelievably excited to read it. the writing very much feels like a tribute to the genre's classics, and reading it felt like watching a movie unfold on the page.
the pacing moves as fast as a movie, too. however, in the case of a slasher movie, those quick reveals just work because of the limited time that you have on the screen. here, it felt like we were being told so many plot points in the first few chapters that it kind of weakened the story for me. i felt like we didn’t really see enough of mabel dealing with her trauma before moving on to the next big reveal. even though i get what the story was trying to do, mabel’s overanalysis of the situation seemed out-of-place at times. it felt like story was trying to mash in meta-commentary on the slasher genre while the characters were in danger at the same time, and it didn’t work. at least not for me.
another thing that didn’t work for me, is how unbelievably the romance between mabel and danny seem to spark back up again. i get that the romance was trying to emulate slasher movies, but them kissing and almost sleeping together in the first 100 pages, after they hadn’t been in touch for over a year, made no sense to me.
i will say, though, the revelation of the killer was pretty shocking to me. i never would have guessed who it was, and that’s the one thing that the book did really well. it kept us on our toes, and kept us thinking as to who it could be. even danny got, living up to the trope that the love interest is behind it all. the climax of the scene has a very surprising secret revealed, and while it was glossed over in the moment, i felt like we should have gotten a longer discussion about it because it was very serious. using that as a plot device and barely talking about it just felt wrong.
nevertheless, if you’re a fan of slasher films, slash or pass is a fairly good, fast paced read that you can easily finish in a day.
thank you headline eternal for the e-arc!
ever since i watched the movie ‘heart eyes’ last year, i’ve been on the hunt for more slasher rom-coms. so when i discovered slash or pass, i was unbelievably excited to read it. the writing very much feels like a tribute to the genre's classics, and reading it felt like watching a movie unfold on the page.
the pacing moves as fast as a movie, too. however, in the case of a slasher movie, those quick reveals just work because of the limited time that you have on the screen. here, it felt like we were being told so many plot points in the first few chapters that it kind of weakened the story for me. i felt like we didn’t really see enough of mabel dealing with her trauma before moving on to the next big reveal. even though i get what the story was trying to do, mabel’s overanalysis of the situation seemed out-of-place at times. it felt like story was trying to mash in meta-commentary on the slasher genre while the characters were in danger at the same time, and it didn’t work. at least not for me.
another thing that didn’t work for me, is how unbelievably the romance between mabel and danny seem to spark back up again. i get that the romance was trying to emulate slasher movies, but them kissing and almost sleeping together in the first 100 pages, after they hadn’t been in touch for over a year, made no sense to me.
i will say, though, the revelation of the killer was pretty shocking to me. i never would have guessed who it was, and that’s the one thing that the book did really well. it kept us on our toes, and kept us thinking as to who it could be. even danny got, living up to the trope that the love interest is behind it all. the climax of the scene has a very surprising secret revealed, and while it was glossed over in the moment, i felt like we should have gotten a longer discussion about it because it was very serious. using that as a plot device and barely talking about it just felt wrong.
nevertheless, if you’re a fan of slasher films, slash or pass is a fairly good, fast paced read that you can easily finish in a day.
thank you headline eternal for the e-arc!
December 27, 2025
The one rule of slasher movies: it’s always the boyfriend.
…Or is it this time?
Slash or Pass follows Mabel after she receives a creepy letter that drags her back into a traumatic past. What starts as unsettling quickly spirals into full-blown horror when she finds herself trapped in a house on Greek Row with a mix of friends, enemies, and her golden-retriever-of-a-guy bestie who is absolutely down bad for her. Add a masked killer ready to pick them off one by one, and suddenly Mabel is living out a slasher film of her own. But who’s the killer? What’s their motive? And how did Mabel end up in a real-life horror movie just as she starts working for a film company in the horror genre?
This book is the perfect slasher rom-com for fans of Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer. The characters are layered, messy, and motivated in ways that keep the “whodunnit” guessing game intense from start to finish. I loved the balance between slasher chaos and rom-com energy—especially the friends-to-lovers romance woven throughout.
There’s a delicious dose of female rage and plenty of men finally getting what’s coming to them for being truly awful. The tension never lets up, and the comedic relief sprinkled through the more gruesome scenes is perfectly timed, keeping the story engaging without losing its edge.
This is a true one-sitting read—you need to know who the killer is. A perfect pick for readers who want a thriller palate cleanser between fluffy romances… or who simply want both at once.
…Or is it this time?
Slash or Pass follows Mabel after she receives a creepy letter that drags her back into a traumatic past. What starts as unsettling quickly spirals into full-blown horror when she finds herself trapped in a house on Greek Row with a mix of friends, enemies, and her golden-retriever-of-a-guy bestie who is absolutely down bad for her. Add a masked killer ready to pick them off one by one, and suddenly Mabel is living out a slasher film of her own. But who’s the killer? What’s their motive? And how did Mabel end up in a real-life horror movie just as she starts working for a film company in the horror genre?
This book is the perfect slasher rom-com for fans of Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer. The characters are layered, messy, and motivated in ways that keep the “whodunnit” guessing game intense from start to finish. I loved the balance between slasher chaos and rom-com energy—especially the friends-to-lovers romance woven throughout.
There’s a delicious dose of female rage and plenty of men finally getting what’s coming to them for being truly awful. The tension never lets up, and the comedic relief sprinkled through the more gruesome scenes is perfectly timed, keeping the story engaging without losing its edge.
This is a true one-sitting read—you need to know who the killer is. A perfect pick for readers who want a thriller palate cleanser between fluffy romances… or who simply want both at once.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely obsessed with this cover and concept, but I unfortunately found the plot/follow through to be a bit lacking :(
I love horror movies, especially the whole Scream franchise, and you can tell the author does as well. That passion that should have come through in an homage to the classics of the genre got a bit warped by the main character, however, as she had this strange tendency to psychoanalyze everything as it was happening which really took me out of the book. Mabel was insufferable, full stop. At first I thought her sister Carmen was super dickish for no reason, but by the end she was the only character I was rooting for lmao. Calling this book a romcom when the FMC has nary a hint of a sense of humor is a bit of a reach in my opinion!
A lot of Mabel and Danny's history happens off-page, and I really just felt that their connection was lacking. I didn't feel super engaged by their dynamic or really any of the characters. The killer reveal was a shock not due to clever narrative structure but more so because I didn't know enough about ANY of the characters that it would have been a surprise regardless of the identity. I also felt there was a lot of unnecessary exposition—Mabel literally takes THREE PAGES worth of time to decide what color wristband to wear to a frat party 😵💫.
I fear the call is coming from inside the house with this one, unfortunately a big miss for me.
I love horror movies, especially the whole Scream franchise, and you can tell the author does as well. That passion that should have come through in an homage to the classics of the genre got a bit warped by the main character, however, as she had this strange tendency to psychoanalyze everything as it was happening which really took me out of the book. Mabel was insufferable, full stop. At first I thought her sister Carmen was super dickish for no reason, but by the end she was the only character I was rooting for lmao. Calling this book a romcom when the FMC has nary a hint of a sense of humor is a bit of a reach in my opinion!
A lot of Mabel and Danny's history happens off-page, and I really just felt that their connection was lacking. I didn't feel super engaged by their dynamic or really any of the characters. The killer reveal was a shock not due to clever narrative structure but more so because I didn't know enough about ANY of the characters that it would have been a surprise regardless of the identity. I also felt there was a lot of unnecessary exposition—Mabel literally takes THREE PAGES worth of time to decide what color wristband to wear to a frat party 😵💫.
I fear the call is coming from inside the house with this one, unfortunately a big miss for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun journey overall and I do recommend it to anyone who is looking for something fast pace with many shock reveals. The story started with immediate heavy plots introducing in a quickest pace I've imagined. I wish it has a stronger foundation (how Mabel been copping the situation and how she got the idea who sent the picture - she whipped out the conclusion from thin air) instead of whiplash me into the past and yank me back into now.
I never truly know about sorority/frat houses culture but damn they sounded like nightmare in this book. I do like Mabel and her sister though I was rage baiting hard by her at the beginning (girls, always take threat seriously). Everyone else I don't feel so much connection, even with Cerys, she went through so much and I felt so guilty for not be able to like her more. I felt like the killer is too far gone and crazy minded that I couldn't guess who it was and why they did it (still can't grasp why they actually did this) and when the reveal comes, I don't care much about that character to actually be shocked.
Also there is a shock element revealed and if you read this book, you know what it was. And I don't like how it was glossed over/not being discussed/solved/processed more both for not only the person in the question but also people around her. It was a big giant enormous secret and everything happened immediately after just made me feel like I'm being rushed to put a closure on something.
The romance element is nice enough for a quick slasher read but I'm not particularly being drawn in by it. Maybe Mabel was going through so many many many MANY MANY MANY traumas and crazy life events that I can't even imagine how she hold up to even has a hot thought about someone.
I never truly know about sorority/frat houses culture but damn they sounded like nightmare in this book. I do like Mabel and her sister though I was rage baiting hard by her at the beginning (girls, always take threat seriously). Everyone else I don't feel so much connection, even with Cerys, she went through so much and I felt so guilty for not be able to like her more. I felt like the killer is too far gone and crazy minded that I couldn't guess who it was and why they did it (still can't grasp why they actually did this) and when the reveal comes, I don't care much about that character to actually be shocked.
Also there is a shock element revealed and if you read this book, you know what it was. And I don't like how it was glossed over/not being discussed/solved/processed more both for not only the person in the question but also people around her. It was a big giant enormous secret and everything happened immediately after just made me feel like I'm being rushed to put a closure on something.
The romance element is nice enough for a quick slasher read but I'm not particularly being drawn in by it. Maybe Mabel was going through so many many many MANY MANY MANY traumas and crazy life events that I can't even imagine how she hold up to even has a hot thought about someone.
January 16, 2026
One of my favourite films is Scream. When I'm cold and ill that is my film that I will happily re-watch.
Sometimes it is also hard to transfer a slasher massacre onto the page. But Ms Sanchez succeeded.
By subverting the traditional tropes of the slasher/horror genre this book was filled with plot twists galore. The characterisation between the cast was done superbly and with a cutesy little epilogue to suit. TO have the protagonist a horror fan is always fun, adding a post-modernity to her understanding of the horror genre, especially from a screenwriter/director's point of view.
The romance element:
Trope: First love
Miscommunication.
I love Danny's yearning for Gabs even though the reader will doubt him at least once or twice in my case during the plot. The few spicy scenes were hot and I felt I wanted at least one more in the epilogue but I was still satisfied with the ending.
Did I predict the killer? Yes. Well at least partially. I guessed Mabs' secret but not Carmen's. That was a good plot-twist, but one only sibling would understand and almost empathise with.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The few spicy scenes were hot and defied the tropes of the horror genre.
Sometimes it is also hard to transfer a slasher massacre onto the page. But Ms Sanchez succeeded.
By subverting the traditional tropes of the slasher/horror genre this book was filled with plot twists galore. The characterisation between the cast was done superbly and with a cutesy little epilogue to suit. TO have the protagonist a horror fan is always fun, adding a post-modernity to her understanding of the horror genre, especially from a screenwriter/director's point of view.
The romance element:
Trope: First love
Miscommunication.
I love Danny's yearning for Gabs even though the reader will doubt him at least once or twice in my case during the plot. The few spicy scenes were hot and I felt I wanted at least one more in the epilogue but I was still satisfied with the ending.
Did I predict the killer? Yes. Well at least partially. I guessed Mabs' secret but not Carmen's. That was a good plot-twist, but one only sibling would understand and almost empathise with.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The few spicy scenes were hot and defied the tropes of the horror genre.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰
Slasher romance? Say less.
This book is Scream meets second-chance love, and it completely had me hooked from the first dead body. It’s funny, fast-paced, and genuinely suspenseful while still delivering all the messy unresolved feelings between Mabel and Danny.
The tension between them is chef’s kiss. Best friends to almost-lovers to strangers to trapped together again while a masked killer is on the loose? Absolutely elite setup. Their chemistry feels real — awkward, intense, full of “we never talked about what happened but we really should”.
Mabel is such a fun protagonist too. She’s smart, sarcastic, and fully aware of slasher rules… while still making terrible decisions like any good final girl.
The horror elements actually hit:
* creepy campus setting
* escalating body count
* anonymous love notes
* killer in a Cupid mask (iconic)
And the romance adds that extra layer of stress because you’re constantly thinking: is he the killer or is he the love interest???
Tropes: 🔪 slasher romance 💔 second chance 🎭 friends to lovers 🩸 final girl energy 📍 forced proximity 💌 anonymous admirer 😬 “it’s always the boyfriend”
Basically: if you’ve ever wanted your romance with a side of paranoia and a masked killer, this one is such a fun, chaotic ride.
Slasher romance? Say less.
This book is Scream meets second-chance love, and it completely had me hooked from the first dead body. It’s funny, fast-paced, and genuinely suspenseful while still delivering all the messy unresolved feelings between Mabel and Danny.
The tension between them is chef’s kiss. Best friends to almost-lovers to strangers to trapped together again while a masked killer is on the loose? Absolutely elite setup. Their chemistry feels real — awkward, intense, full of “we never talked about what happened but we really should”.
Mabel is such a fun protagonist too. She’s smart, sarcastic, and fully aware of slasher rules… while still making terrible decisions like any good final girl.
The horror elements actually hit:
* creepy campus setting
* escalating body count
* anonymous love notes
* killer in a Cupid mask (iconic)
And the romance adds that extra layer of stress because you’re constantly thinking: is he the killer or is he the love interest???
Tropes: 🔪 slasher romance 💔 second chance 🎭 friends to lovers 🩸 final girl energy 📍 forced proximity 💌 anonymous admirer 😬 “it’s always the boyfriend”
Basically: if you’ve ever wanted your romance with a side of paranoia and a masked killer, this one is such a fun, chaotic ride.
Read
January 26, 2026One year ago, Brian Manders was murdered and branded a rapist: literally. People blamed Mabel's best friend, Cerys, after she came forward with sexual assault charges against him. After leaving the events at her college in the past, Mabel receives a threatening letter with a photo of her sister, Carmen, who is still attending Westbrook College. Can Mabel save her sister before it's too late?
If you love Scream or slashers (with a lighter tone), you'll adore this!
Set at a Valentine's Smash or Pass event, Mabel only wants one thing: to save her sister from whoever is bringing up their bloody past. Not only did Mabel receive a threatening letter though, so did her old friend, Danny, Cerys, Carmen, and a few others from their sorority.
Then ensues the perfect storm: trapped in a sorority house with no power, no reception and no exit, they have to survive the onslaught of a Valentine's Day killer dubbed "Cupid".
Mabel is delightfully self-aware, narrating her own horror movie and working out if she has it in her to become the "Final Girl", but her one goal remains the same: Saving her sister. People are delightfully messy and flawed, men getting what they deserve, some comedic relief and a romance subplot. Definitely put aside an afternoon to reading this, I think it works great in one hit!
Thank you to Hachette for an e-arc, all opinions are my own.
If you love Scream or slashers (with a lighter tone), you'll adore this!
Set at a Valentine's Smash or Pass event, Mabel only wants one thing: to save her sister from whoever is bringing up their bloody past. Not only did Mabel receive a threatening letter though, so did her old friend, Danny, Cerys, Carmen, and a few others from their sorority.
Then ensues the perfect storm: trapped in a sorority house with no power, no reception and no exit, they have to survive the onslaught of a Valentine's Day killer dubbed "Cupid".
Mabel is delightfully self-aware, narrating her own horror movie and working out if she has it in her to become the "Final Girl", but her one goal remains the same: Saving her sister. People are delightfully messy and flawed, men getting what they deserve, some comedic relief and a romance subplot. Definitely put aside an afternoon to reading this, I think it works great in one hit!
Thank you to Hachette for an e-arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.
Slash or Pass is a fast, readable slasher-romance that clearly loves the genre... sometimes a little too much. If you’re new to slashers, you’ll probably have a great time. If, like me, you’re very familiar with slasher tropes and horror movie lore, the story may feel a bit predictable.
The book leans heavily into explaining slasher rules and conventions, which occasionally undercuts the tension instead of building it. I often felt like the reader wasn’t trusted to pick up on genre cues without being told outright. As a result, some twists are easy to anticipate if you already know the playbook.
That said, I really appreciated that the story goes beyond kills and romance to touch on heavier themes, especially sexual assault culture in fraternity/sorority environments, silence, and accountability. The representation of Latinx and Indian main characters also adds depth and perspective that I don’t often see in this subgenre.
The romance is present and steamy, but it didn’t fully work for me: some moments felt more performative than emotionally grounded, and the timeline made it hard to fully buy into the intensity of the connection.
Overall, this is an entertaining, quick slasher read with some meaningful themes, but it doesn’t reinvent the genre. Best suited for readers who enjoy slasher vibes and romance and don’t mind familiar tropes played straight.
Slash or Pass is a fast, readable slasher-romance that clearly loves the genre... sometimes a little too much. If you’re new to slashers, you’ll probably have a great time. If, like me, you’re very familiar with slasher tropes and horror movie lore, the story may feel a bit predictable.
The book leans heavily into explaining slasher rules and conventions, which occasionally undercuts the tension instead of building it. I often felt like the reader wasn’t trusted to pick up on genre cues without being told outright. As a result, some twists are easy to anticipate if you already know the playbook.
That said, I really appreciated that the story goes beyond kills and romance to touch on heavier themes, especially sexual assault culture in fraternity/sorority environments, silence, and accountability. The representation of Latinx and Indian main characters also adds depth and perspective that I don’t often see in this subgenre.
The romance is present and steamy, but it didn’t fully work for me: some moments felt more performative than emotionally grounded, and the timeline made it hard to fully buy into the intensity of the connection.
Overall, this is an entertaining, quick slasher read with some meaningful themes, but it doesn’t reinvent the genre. Best suited for readers who enjoy slasher vibes and romance and don’t mind familiar tropes played straight.
March 6, 2026
Actual rating: 3.5
Thanks to Thalia Sanchez, Netgalley, and Headline for a complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun read, particularly if you're pretty savvy of the common tropes and plots of both horror movies and rom-coms. The writing was easy to read and I liked the main cast a lot, even if I did see the twist reveal of who the real villain was from the beginning. This definitely delivers on both the gory horror aspects, and the romance also, whilst actually dealing with some heavy themes also. Whilst, the tone is more on the light-hearted side, I did like that there was still real threat and issues dealt with here.
Whilst I did like the end twists, I did wish it had been a little less predictable, but I did like what the author did with this. I also liked our main character, Mabel a lot and thought her romance was believable and cute. Many of the other characters weren't explored too much, likely due to the fast pacing of events (the entire book takes place over just one night, like most slasher movies), and it meant the body count didn't really have as much impact as it could have.
Overall, this was a fun read, and I would definitely read more from this author in the future. One I would happily watch a film adaptation of too, if they ever made one!
Thanks to Thalia Sanchez, Netgalley, and Headline for a complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun read, particularly if you're pretty savvy of the common tropes and plots of both horror movies and rom-coms. The writing was easy to read and I liked the main cast a lot, even if I did see the twist reveal of who the real villain was from the beginning. This definitely delivers on both the gory horror aspects, and the romance also, whilst actually dealing with some heavy themes also. Whilst, the tone is more on the light-hearted side, I did like that there was still real threat and issues dealt with here.
Whilst I did like the end twists, I did wish it had been a little less predictable, but I did like what the author did with this. I also liked our main character, Mabel a lot and thought her romance was believable and cute. Many of the other characters weren't explored too much, likely due to the fast pacing of events (the entire book takes place over just one night, like most slasher movies), and it meant the body count didn't really have as much impact as it could have.
Overall, this was a fun read, and I would definitely read more from this author in the future. One I would happily watch a film adaptation of too, if they ever made one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
3.5⭐️ | 2.5🌶
I might have unlocked a new obsession with slasher romances!
Slash or Pass is the second book I've read in this genre and the premise is really intriguing: Mabel receives an anonymous Valentine's Day card threatening to kill her sister unless she returns to her old college; there, along with a group of people, she finds herself being hunted by a serial killer disguised as Cupid seeking revenge. And everything seems to connect to a mysterious murder that took place a year earlier at the same college Mabel attended.
What I appreciated most about this book is that, unlike some horror movies where the protagonists seem to have no survival instinct, here we finally have a protagonist who’s prepared and experience in the matter, as she works in the production of slasher films. And it wasn't just Mabel who pleasantly surprised me, but also her sister who, despite getting on my nerves at first, turned out to be a very sharp and interesting character with a strong personality.
The slasher part was definitely my favorite. I was tense throughout the entire book until the end because I couldn’t figure out who the serial killer was, and when the "killer reveal" finally came, I was left speechless. Like Mabel, I doubted the wrong person the entire time and I would never have figured it out on my own.
The romance part, however, was the one that convinced me the least. I think the reason is that I didn’t get to see the beginning of the relationship between Mabel and Danny and this didn’t allow me to fully connect with them as a couple. But still, I thought they were really cute together.
In conclusion, I recommend this book if you like slasher stories with romcom vibes that keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
🏷 Tropes: latina FMC, friends to lovers, miscommunication, second chance, black cat x golden retriever.
3.5⭐️ | 2.5🌶
I might have unlocked a new obsession with slasher romances!
Slash or Pass is the second book I've read in this genre and the premise is really intriguing: Mabel receives an anonymous Valentine's Day card threatening to kill her sister unless she returns to her old college; there, along with a group of people, she finds herself being hunted by a serial killer disguised as Cupid seeking revenge. And everything seems to connect to a mysterious murder that took place a year earlier at the same college Mabel attended.
What I appreciated most about this book is that, unlike some horror movies where the protagonists seem to have no survival instinct, here we finally have a protagonist who’s prepared and experience in the matter, as she works in the production of slasher films. And it wasn't just Mabel who pleasantly surprised me, but also her sister who, despite getting on my nerves at first, turned out to be a very sharp and interesting character with a strong personality.
The slasher part was definitely my favorite. I was tense throughout the entire book until the end because I couldn’t figure out who the serial killer was, and when the "killer reveal" finally came, I was left speechless. Like Mabel, I doubted the wrong person the entire time and I would never have figured it out on my own.
The romance part, however, was the one that convinced me the least. I think the reason is that I didn’t get to see the beginning of the relationship between Mabel and Danny and this didn’t allow me to fully connect with them as a couple. But still, I thought they were really cute together.
In conclusion, I recommend this book if you like slasher stories with romcom vibes that keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
🏷 Tropes: latina FMC, friends to lovers, miscommunication, second chance, black cat x golden retriever.
January 7, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing a digital copy to review*
Are slasher rom-coms the new thing now? Cause if so, I can’t get enough. It’s just so much fun, even with all the murder.
I read this straight after another slasher rom-com, so I couldn’t help but compare the two. They shared a lot of the same plot points and reveals, and both FMCs were very similar. I enjoyed this one a little bit less because I just felt like the romance and smut should have kicked off later in the book.
I loved how tense it was. It’s first-person POV, so you feel the fear and anxiety as if you’re really there. I liked Mabel, the FMC. She was smart and knew how to avoid all the stupid things people tend to do in horror movies. I loved Carmen, her sister. She takes no shit from anyone, and I couldn't get enough of her quips.
This story deals with the subject of rape and is pretty central to the plot. It gives the story some gravity and just adds to the stakes. While I did guess a couple of things, I was still surprised when everything was revealed, and I just loved all the misdirections.
This is such a fun genre, and I definitely want to read more of it.
Are slasher rom-coms the new thing now? Cause if so, I can’t get enough. It’s just so much fun, even with all the murder.
I read this straight after another slasher rom-com, so I couldn’t help but compare the two. They shared a lot of the same plot points and reveals, and both FMCs were very similar. I enjoyed this one a little bit less because I just felt like the romance and smut should have kicked off later in the book.
I loved how tense it was. It’s first-person POV, so you feel the fear and anxiety as if you’re really there. I liked Mabel, the FMC. She was smart and knew how to avoid all the stupid things people tend to do in horror movies. I loved Carmen, her sister. She takes no shit from anyone, and I couldn't get enough of her quips.
This story deals with the subject of rape and is pretty central to the plot. It gives the story some gravity and just adds to the stakes. While I did guess a couple of things, I was still surprised when everything was revealed, and I just loved all the misdirections.
This is such a fun genre, and I definitely want to read more of it.
January 15, 2026
As many other reviewers have stated, this was very Scream-esque. So if you like a classic slasher movie, you might like this!
I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the idea of a slasher rom-com. While it was action packed and fairly fast paced, it missed the mark a bit for me.
I wanted more from Mabel and Danny. They have a past that we don’t get to see. It’s single POV, so Mabel’s inner monologue gives us some details, but I think the story would have greatly benefitted from some flashback scenes. They reunite and it’s very insta love, and I just wasn’t invested. The romance definitely takes a backseat to the slasher aspect.
As far as the murder mystery goes, I was really trying to figure out who the bad guy was. I was sort of right! There was plenty of bloody action and I enjoyed that part.
Overall, not my favorite romance but I I would recommend if you want a fast paced gory mystery!
I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the idea of a slasher rom-com. While it was action packed and fairly fast paced, it missed the mark a bit for me.
I wanted more from Mabel and Danny. They have a past that we don’t get to see. It’s single POV, so Mabel’s inner monologue gives us some details, but I think the story would have greatly benefitted from some flashback scenes. They reunite and it’s very insta love, and I just wasn’t invested. The romance definitely takes a backseat to the slasher aspect.
As far as the murder mystery goes, I was really trying to figure out who the bad guy was. I was sort of right! There was plenty of bloody action and I enjoyed that part.
Overall, not my favorite romance but I I would recommend if you want a fast paced gory mystery!
Review of advance copy
So I really enjoyed reading this book, I devoured it in 2 days. The main thing i disagree with is that it's "hilarious". I think it had some funny moments for sure and if you're a fan of Scary Movie vibes, you'd for sure enjoy this book!! I just think it has a series element to it as people do die.
That being said, I really enjoyed her inner dialog using her knowledge of slasher films from work. I liked that she went against "everything she learned" at points and did what she needed to keep people alive.
I think the writer did a good job convincing me of who the killer was with the FMC because the whole time I was like "oh 100% it's him" to completely surprise me in the end. I liked how sassy her sister was and I would have loved to learn more about her friend.
I do think though this is a funny book that there are some tough topics for some people. I enjoyed that it had both!
This was my first book by this author and I would for sure read more! ☺️
That being said, I really enjoyed her inner dialog using her knowledge of slasher films from work. I liked that she went against "everything she learned" at points and did what she needed to keep people alive.
I think the writer did a good job convincing me of who the killer was with the FMC because the whole time I was like "oh 100% it's him" to completely surprise me in the end. I liked how sassy her sister was and I would have loved to learn more about her friend.
I do think though this is a funny book that there are some tough topics for some people. I enjoyed that it had both!
This was my first book by this author and I would for sure read more! ☺️
February 18, 2026
Positives: the concept was really cool. Reading a slasher romance in book form, fun idea. Loved that main characters were both minorities and diverse. When the action picks up that got really interesting and I kept trying to guess who the killer was. Kept me on my toes for ya while (but then I did figure half of it out).
Complaints but got over it: The beginning is a bit slow and takes a while before getting into the good bits in my opinion. But it’s fair, it needs to set the scene.
All of it is in just one POV…ugh
Negatives: The most annoying thing that was rather consistent throughout the entire book, was that the narrator kept on explaining that “this isn’t how it is in a horror movie” or “if this was a horror movie that”. Like we get it, the fmc is in film for horror movies. But do I need to be reminded every other moment how it would be if this was a movie? No.
Happy to read this for my Friday the 13th / Valentine’s Day book.
Complaints but got over it: The beginning is a bit slow and takes a while before getting into the good bits in my opinion. But it’s fair, it needs to set the scene.
All of it is in just one POV…ugh
Negatives: The most annoying thing that was rather consistent throughout the entire book, was that the narrator kept on explaining that “this isn’t how it is in a horror movie” or “if this was a horror movie that”. Like we get it, the fmc is in film for horror movies. But do I need to be reminded every other moment how it would be if this was a movie? No.
Happy to read this for my Friday the 13th / Valentine’s Day book.
February 25, 2026
This book was so freaking good. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars because I personally tend to gravitate toward slightly different vibes, but objectively? It was amazing.
It was plot twist after plot twist. Just when I thought I had it figured out—boom. Wrong. The suspense kept building, and I genuinely didn’t know who to trust half the time. If you love slasher or Scream-type energy, this is absolutely for you.
The tension was strong, the pacing moved fast, and it had that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling. I literally recommended it to my twin right away because she’s obsessed with slasher movies, and I knew this would be her thing. And she loved it. That alone says a lot.
It’s dark, twisty, and super entertaining. Even though it’s not exactly my usual go-to genre, I 100% recommend it especially if you’re into horror, secrets, and chaotic reveals.
It was plot twist after plot twist. Just when I thought I had it figured out—boom. Wrong. The suspense kept building, and I genuinely didn’t know who to trust half the time. If you love slasher or Scream-type energy, this is absolutely for you.
The tension was strong, the pacing moved fast, and it had that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling. I literally recommended it to my twin right away because she’s obsessed with slasher movies, and I knew this would be her thing. And she loved it. That alone says a lot.
It’s dark, twisty, and super entertaining. Even though it’s not exactly my usual go-to genre, I 100% recommend it especially if you’re into horror, secrets, and chaotic reveals.
January 25, 2026
Thank you for the arc, this book was the perfect book I needed to not fall in a slump, it was fast paced and fun yet had me on the she of my seat.
This was the perfect blend of all the good late 90's slashers like scream and I know what you did last summer, I was hooked the entire time and even tho I thought I guessed everything, I really didn't and the reveals had me shocked and some of the plot twists were amazing, I just loved it
Couldn't out this book down after I fully got into the story because it was so addictive and I just had to read on and know what was going on next. I also loved the characters and all their story's and especially the romance in this it was very sweet and a nice bit of light to the dark storyline,
This was the perfect blend of all the good late 90's slashers like scream and I know what you did last summer, I was hooked the entire time and even tho I thought I guessed everything, I really didn't and the reveals had me shocked and some of the plot twists were amazing, I just loved it
Couldn't out this book down after I fully got into the story because it was so addictive and I just had to read on and know what was going on next. I also loved the characters and all their story's and especially the romance in this it was very sweet and a nice bit of light to the dark storyline,
February 3, 2026
I had high expectations but they fell short. There were too many issues with pacing and too many characters which gave me massive confusion on who everyone was or the importance of them or who got the letters, that by the finale I was like “oh?”
There were parts that has promise but for me personally it felt like a book I had read time and time again and the second chance romance just didn’t hit well. I think the one scene in the book that actually had me gripped was towards the end in the freezer and its where she finds herself spiralling when information (if it be true or not) came to light.
It was a book I had to push myself to finish unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were parts that has promise but for me personally it felt like a book I had read time and time again and the second chance romance just didn’t hit well. I think the one scene in the book that actually had me gripped was towards the end in the freezer and its where she finds herself spiralling when information (if it be true or not) came to light.
It was a book I had to push myself to finish unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✨ 4.25 stars | 2 🌶️
(Thank you to Thalia Sanchez for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌)
This was a brand-new author for me, and I tore through this book like I was running from Ghostface himself. The blend of Scream-style suspense with Valentine’s Day humor was chefs kiss, and the quick pace kept me hooked from start to finish.
The sister dynamic between Mabel and Carmen was a true highlight. It felt so real and reminded me of my own relationship with my sister, which made their moments even more heartfelt.
And Danny? He brought pure golden-retriever charm with a filthy mouth, and I loved every second of it.
Definitely a must-read!!!
(Thank you to Thalia Sanchez for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌)
This was a brand-new author for me, and I tore through this book like I was running from Ghostface himself. The blend of Scream-style suspense with Valentine’s Day humor was chefs kiss, and the quick pace kept me hooked from start to finish.
The sister dynamic between Mabel and Carmen was a true highlight. It felt so real and reminded me of my own relationship with my sister, which made their moments even more heartfelt.
And Danny? He brought pure golden-retriever charm with a filthy mouth, and I loved every second of it.
Definitely a must-read!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun slasher romance! ❤️🔥 🔪
Mable has always been a horror film guru, even working in the field, when the events from a year ago bring her back to college, where she is reunited with her sister, best friend and the man who got away.
This was full of who done it moments, you were never sure who the bad guy is, and kept you guessing until the end!
I did struggle with the way this was written but I still had a good time reading it! 💕
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the gifted copy 🫶🏼
Mable has always been a horror film guru, even working in the field, when the events from a year ago bring her back to college, where she is reunited with her sister, best friend and the man who got away.
This was full of who done it moments, you were never sure who the bad guy is, and kept you guessing until the end!
I did struggle with the way this was written but I still had a good time reading it! 💕
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the gifted copy 🫶🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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