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Splasher
Drown your ghosts… or die trying?
Autumn 2006. Low-rise jeans are in, grunge is out, and all Spencer Brown should be worrying about is his new job as Assistant Swim Coach at Crestwood University. It’s been 10 years since that fateful night in the university’s wellness centre, but Spencer is determined to sink his skeletons and focus on a winning season for his team.?
Until two swimmers are found dead in the pool the first night of training. While everyone assumes it was an accidentally tragedy, Spencer is overcome with an ominous sense of déjà vu – this isn’t the first-time blood was spilt in the wellness centre. As freak accidents turn into something more sinister, the pool echoes with the ghosts of Spencer’s past, this time demanding to be heard.
Autumn 2006. Low-rise jeans are in, grunge is out, and all Spencer Brown should be worrying about is his new job as Assistant Swim Coach at Crestwood University. It’s been 10 years since that fateful night in the university’s wellness centre, but Spencer is determined to sink his skeletons and focus on a winning season for his team.?
Until two swimmers are found dead in the pool the first night of training. While everyone assumes it was an accidentally tragedy, Spencer is overcome with an ominous sense of déjà vu – this isn’t the first-time blood was spilt in the wellness centre. As freak accidents turn into something more sinister, the pool echoes with the ghosts of Spencer’s past, this time demanding to be heard.
- GenresHorror
325 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 1, 2026
Splasher is a supernatural horror that takes place in 2006, which drew me in immediately. It is reminiscent of Veronica Mars in tone, setting, and era. It also gives off major Final Destination vibes in which a supernatural, unseen force causes gruesome accidents. But how this book stands out from that franchise is that this force is drawn to the pool, taking out its rage on unsuspecting swimmers.
What I think was done well was the overall story arc and creepiness. The story begins with the unfortunate deaths of two college students in the pool right at the start of the swim season. It then continues with more accidents while some of the characters are trying to investigate what happened and why. Others are just trying to have life continue as normal. I kept reading wanting to know more and what would be uncovered. The story was also very eerie with tense moments and dread creeping through each chapter. I also want to applaud the level of detail about competitive swimming - I knew almost nothing about it before, but I feel like I learned quite a lot just from reading this book!
I did really want to love this book, but there were a couple of things that didn't quite sit well with me. First, there is a large number of POVs - I believe I counted 7 in total, some of them being consistent while a few were one-and-done. The latter didn't bother me as much as I feel it did contribute to the story. But there was one, maybe two, POVs that I felt were maybe unnecessary (I won't say who to avoid spoilers). I think these POVs in particular slowed down the pace too much and provided some filler that felt tedious to get through. I also agree with some of the other reviewers that the shifting in POVs got confusing at times, perhaps because it was the digital format.
Overall, I think Splasher is a decent horror novel, perfect for Summerween! If you especially love Final Destination (like me), I think it should be right up your alley!
3/5 Stars
What I think was done well was the overall story arc and creepiness. The story begins with the unfortunate deaths of two college students in the pool right at the start of the swim season. It then continues with more accidents while some of the characters are trying to investigate what happened and why. Others are just trying to have life continue as normal. I kept reading wanting to know more and what would be uncovered. The story was also very eerie with tense moments and dread creeping through each chapter. I also want to applaud the level of detail about competitive swimming - I knew almost nothing about it before, but I feel like I learned quite a lot just from reading this book!
I did really want to love this book, but there were a couple of things that didn't quite sit well with me. First, there is a large number of POVs - I believe I counted 7 in total, some of them being consistent while a few were one-and-done. The latter didn't bother me as much as I feel it did contribute to the story. But there was one, maybe two, POVs that I felt were maybe unnecessary (I won't say who to avoid spoilers). I think these POVs in particular slowed down the pace too much and provided some filler that felt tedious to get through. I also agree with some of the other reviewers that the shifting in POVs got confusing at times, perhaps because it was the digital format.
Overall, I think Splasher is a decent horror novel, perfect for Summerween! If you especially love Final Destination (like me), I think it should be right up your alley!
3/5 Stars
July 16, 2026
3.5⭐️
I haven't read many slasher books, but Splasher felt like a really fun take on the genre and a great summer read.
The story follows Spencer, a college swim coach determined to focus on a winning season a decade after a personal tragedy. However, his plans are upended on the first day of training when two students are found dead in the pool.
The book features a lot of different POVs. Personally, I felt like we could have done without one or two of them, as they didn't feel completely necessary to the plot. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.
As the story progresses and more incidents occur, we get snippets from the past mixed with present-day characters starting to investigate. This structure really helped maintain the suspense and kept the story moving along at a good pace.
There were some genuinely tense, creepy moments that built great atmosphere. I definitely had my suspicions about the killer, and as usual, I didn't get it quite right lol! But still, I had a really fun time reading it!
I haven't read many slasher books, but Splasher felt like a really fun take on the genre and a great summer read.
The story follows Spencer, a college swim coach determined to focus on a winning season a decade after a personal tragedy. However, his plans are upended on the first day of training when two students are found dead in the pool.
The book features a lot of different POVs. Personally, I felt like we could have done without one or two of them, as they didn't feel completely necessary to the plot. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.
As the story progresses and more incidents occur, we get snippets from the past mixed with present-day characters starting to investigate. This structure really helped maintain the suspense and kept the story moving along at a good pace.
There were some genuinely tense, creepy moments that built great atmosphere. I definitely had my suspicions about the killer, and as usual, I didn't get it quite right lol! But still, I had a really fun time reading it!
June 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Firstly, thank you 3am Books, Bantam Books and the Authors for this ARC in exchange for an honest review - I am most grateful.
I really enjoyed this - a lot more than I thought I would, as I am absolutely not a “sports” person, however it gave me a nostalgia for a high school experience I didn’t have and I was hooked throughout.
It was slow paced yet suspenseful, it was eerie and it was unnerving - the perfect book to read for Summerween (and during Pride month: the representation was fantastic).
Some of the time-hops and changing of POV did however get a bit confusing at times, and I would have to take a moment to work out who I was following, but I think the Physical print of the book will no doubt have this clearer for readers.
🏊🏼♀️ 🩸
Firstly, thank you 3am Books, Bantam Books and the Authors for this ARC in exchange for an honest review - I am most grateful.
I really enjoyed this - a lot more than I thought I would, as I am absolutely not a “sports” person, however it gave me a nostalgia for a high school experience I didn’t have and I was hooked throughout.
It was slow paced yet suspenseful, it was eerie and it was unnerving - the perfect book to read for Summerween (and during Pride month: the representation was fantastic).
Some of the time-hops and changing of POV did however get a bit confusing at times, and I would have to take a moment to work out who I was following, but I think the Physical print of the book will no doubt have this clearer for readers.
🏊🏼♀️ 🩸
July 21, 2026
4.5 stars
super campy and fun slasher horror with a lot of heart (and gays)
super campy and fun slasher horror with a lot of heart (and gays)
May 18, 2026
ARC received from publisher, via Netgalley
I went into this book with such high hopes, but ultimately left feeling a little deflated. It had its strong moments, and I particularly enjoyed reading the first 'reveal' scene which came about later on in the book. However, the pacing for me felt a little varied which effected my engagement. I also felt that it came off very YA, and I didn't feel so connected to the characters.
The cover itself is beautiful, and gave off some very nostalgic horror/humour vibes. There where some elements of this within the book, and there where the odd moments of campy humour that reminded me of 90s shows such as Buffy.
However, although this book wasn't my cup of tea, I would recommend it to someone who is possibly new to the horror genre, and wants to start dipping their toes in. This could be a good entry way.
I went into this book with such high hopes, but ultimately left feeling a little deflated. It had its strong moments, and I particularly enjoyed reading the first 'reveal' scene which came about later on in the book. However, the pacing for me felt a little varied which effected my engagement. I also felt that it came off very YA, and I didn't feel so connected to the characters.
The cover itself is beautiful, and gave off some very nostalgic horror/humour vibes. There where some elements of this within the book, and there where the odd moments of campy humour that reminded me of 90s shows such as Buffy.
However, although this book wasn't my cup of tea, I would recommend it to someone who is possibly new to the horror genre, and wants to start dipping their toes in. This could be a good entry way.
June 1, 2026
Unfortunately this wasn’t for me, I should have DNF’d but loved the synopsis so much that I kept trying.
July 6, 2026
No one expects their first day at a new job to go swimmingly, but finding two dead bodies was worse than Spencer expected. Especially when they’re not the first bodies he's ever seen in this pool. As the new assistant coach to the swim team, he tries to keep his team safe and lead them to victory, but freak accidents lead to more blood spilled and more blood than chlorine in the water.
Splasher switches perspectives between Spencer, Jason (the PT), and members of the swim team. It also switches timelines with flashbacks to Spencer's time on the swim team ten years prior, in 1996. This wasn't always clearly demarcated in my ARC copy and could be confusing, but I'm hoping this was just due to it being an ARC. Some perspectives were better than others - Lacey's perspectives added depth to her character, whereas Jason continued to have no positive aspects to his character, and I would've preferred him to be more morally grey and to show more of a descent and desperation. The flashbacks to 1996 were largely filler, with around one paragraph out of them all telling you what actually happened. Whilst it was interesting, it got a bit tiring and dragging out the reveal of how exactly a character died in the past, and didn't add that much to the story or ending.
I did find the book gripping on the whole, though some editing to remove some filler and quicken the pace would've helped, and I would've liked to see more bodies drop. It wasn't clear why those harmed were picked, especially in some scenarios with multiple people present (I'm trying not to give spoilers). I was also frustrated by them continually using only this college's pool, despite multiple meets - I checked, and typically there would be some rotation - and the growing list of accidents or deaths at this pool. It would've been interesting to see a meet at another pool, how it effected the team and their performance, and highlight that things at different at this pool (presumably just this year).
Character wise, no one particularly sticks out. I preferred the team to Spencer and Jason, and I liked that at least someone was concerned and looked for answers. The team's dynamics, college events, and Jaws night were really fun and settled it more in reality. I'm not sure exactly what timeline the story covers, or why it was set in 2006, other than so there was little outside talk, time for investigations, or video footage of the events. More could be done to distinguish both the time period and the fact it's a college not high school setting, as I was questioning these aspects at times and it felt more YA. There was a lot of interpersonal drama which wasn't entirely necessary and some relationships which were interesting, and added more to the characters but didn't add much to the overall story.
There was a good atmosphere, especially in the pool, and some creative deaths for the pool environment. As I mentioned, I would've liked to see more of this or a more final destination style aspect (for both the deaths and the order). My attention waned towards the end but everything got tied up in a nice little bow. I think this would make a good entry horror book and overall was an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Splasher switches perspectives between Spencer, Jason (the PT), and members of the swim team. It also switches timelines with flashbacks to Spencer's time on the swim team ten years prior, in 1996. This wasn't always clearly demarcated in my ARC copy and could be confusing, but I'm hoping this was just due to it being an ARC. Some perspectives were better than others - Lacey's perspectives added depth to her character, whereas Jason continued to have no positive aspects to his character, and I would've preferred him to be more morally grey and to show more of a descent and desperation. The flashbacks to 1996 were largely filler, with around one paragraph out of them all telling you what actually happened. Whilst it was interesting, it got a bit tiring and dragging out the reveal of how exactly a character died in the past, and didn't add that much to the story or ending.
I did find the book gripping on the whole, though some editing to remove some filler and quicken the pace would've helped, and I would've liked to see more bodies drop. It wasn't clear why those harmed were picked, especially in some scenarios with multiple people present (I'm trying not to give spoilers). I was also frustrated by them continually using only this college's pool, despite multiple meets - I checked, and typically there would be some rotation - and the growing list of accidents or deaths at this pool. It would've been interesting to see a meet at another pool, how it effected the team and their performance, and highlight that things at different at this pool (presumably just this year).
Character wise, no one particularly sticks out. I preferred the team to Spencer and Jason, and I liked that at least someone was concerned and looked for answers. The team's dynamics, college events, and Jaws night were really fun and settled it more in reality. I'm not sure exactly what timeline the story covers, or why it was set in 2006, other than so there was little outside talk, time for investigations, or video footage of the events. More could be done to distinguish both the time period and the fact it's a college not high school setting, as I was questioning these aspects at times and it felt more YA. There was a lot of interpersonal drama which wasn't entirely necessary and some relationships which were interesting, and added more to the characters but didn't add much to the overall story.
There was a good atmosphere, especially in the pool, and some creative deaths for the pool environment. As I mentioned, I would've liked to see more of this or a more final destination style aspect (for both the deaths and the order). My attention waned towards the end but everything got tied up in a nice little bow. I think this would make a good entry horror book and overall was an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
July 20, 2026
Splasher is a slasher that, for me, didn’t really make any waves.
The premise and the cover caught my attention the first time I saw it. It sounded like the perfect Summerween read. Instead of the usual camping setting, it follows a swimming team at a pool, with members being picked off one by one.
If you’re into slow burn stories with plenty of character building, you’ll probably enjoy it.
If you’re looking for fast paced slasher vibes, though, it might fall a little flat.
That said, I have a feeling I might have enjoyed it more as an audiobook than as a physical read.
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
The premise and the cover caught my attention the first time I saw it. It sounded like the perfect Summerween read. Instead of the usual camping setting, it follows a swimming team at a pool, with members being picked off one by one.
If you’re into slow burn stories with plenty of character building, you’ll probably enjoy it.
If you’re looking for fast paced slasher vibes, though, it might fall a little flat.
That said, I have a feeling I might have enjoyed it more as an audiobook than as a physical read.
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
July 3, 2026
DNF @ 40%
Just not very good. A boring story and juvenile writing - maybe this should have been pitched as YA? Regardless, I didn’t like it, and setting it in 2006 added nothing to the story either. To be honest, I’m surprised this even got picked up by a trad publisher - I’ve read dozen of self-published books that are much better than this. What a waste of a great cover!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Just not very good. A boring story and juvenile writing - maybe this should have been pitched as YA? Regardless, I didn’t like it, and setting it in 2006 added nothing to the story either. To be honest, I’m surprised this even got picked up by a trad publisher - I’ve read dozen of self-published books that are much better than this. What a waste of a great cover!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Splasher is a horror book set within a university swim team, as people start dying in and out of the pool. Spencer is back at the university where a fellow member of the swim team died ten years ago, now the assistant swim coach for the team. When two students are found dead in the pool on his first day, the whole team are thrown off, but it doesn't stop there.
I loved the concept of this book, combining a slasher with such a specific setting as a university swim team. My sister is into competitive swimming so I appreciated all of the detail behind the swim team, rather than it being a cursory theming, though I can see that some people might find there is a lot of swimming content in the book. The narrative itself is pretty simple, and the reveals are barely reveals, but I still found it pretty fun to come along for the ride. The narrative perspective swaps between a few characters, which doesn't always work—I think it would have been better without one of the perspectives who was antagonistic, as it felt like revealed too much— but I liked how it meant you got some depth to more of the characters through their perspectives.
The book was marketed I believe as adult horror, but I think it is most similar to Point Horror books and fits more into that kind of genre (or at least into Point Horror nostalgia for adults). It reminds me a lot of why I used to love the Nightmare Hall books as a teenager: taking a specific element of university life and doing horror around that. However, despite being set in 2006 (mostly, and for occasional flashbacks in 1996), it is updated from Point Horror as there's actual queer characters, which I appreciated. It's not a particularly tense or scary slasher and it has quite a slow pace, so it is best for something fun and a bit silly with Friday the 13th vibes.
I loved the concept of this book, combining a slasher with such a specific setting as a university swim team. My sister is into competitive swimming so I appreciated all of the detail behind the swim team, rather than it being a cursory theming, though I can see that some people might find there is a lot of swimming content in the book. The narrative itself is pretty simple, and the reveals are barely reveals, but I still found it pretty fun to come along for the ride. The narrative perspective swaps between a few characters, which doesn't always work—I think it would have been better without one of the perspectives who was antagonistic, as it felt like revealed too much— but I liked how it meant you got some depth to more of the characters through their perspectives.
The book was marketed I believe as adult horror, but I think it is most similar to Point Horror books and fits more into that kind of genre (or at least into Point Horror nostalgia for adults). It reminds me a lot of why I used to love the Nightmare Hall books as a teenager: taking a specific element of university life and doing horror around that. However, despite being set in 2006 (mostly, and for occasional flashbacks in 1996), it is updated from Point Horror as there's actual queer characters, which I appreciated. It's not a particularly tense or scary slasher and it has quite a slow pace, so it is best for something fun and a bit silly with Friday the 13th vibes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Advanced Reader Copy
I’ll start off by saying the cover of this book is incredible. So stunning, so nostalgic, and it brought back all those vibes… I absolutely loved it.
But unfortunately, the book just wasn’t for me. I went in expecting a gory slasher, and one set around a pool? Such an unreal setting for horror. But it ended up being nothing like I expected, which was a little disappointing.
I honestly think this would have worked much better as a novella. If you stripped away a lot of the swimming talk and filler, there’s a really eerie story underneath. There would be moments of murder and tension, then long stretches focused on swimming, careers, and people’s personal lives a bit too heavily. The stuff surrounding Danny and that mystery was interesting, but there was too much in between, and it lost momentum because of it.
The pacing felt very uneven throughout. One moment it seemed to be building toward horror, then the next it drifted somewhere completely different. I understood the atmosphere and what the story was trying to do, and honestly, it had so much potential to be a genuinely great horror novel if it had leaned harder into those darker elements.
But overall, it just fell a little flat for me. The prologue was incredible. Gory, eerie, unsettling, graphic, it set the tone perfectly. Unfortunately, the rest of the book never fully lived up to that opening.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. With such a diverse cast, I expected at least one character to really stand out to me emotionally, but none of them fully clicked.
I can absolutely see where the story was trying to go, but for me, it just never quite got there. I kept pushing through in case it picked up toward the end, but sadly it didn’t.
I’d still recommend this to readers who prefer more story and character focus over heavy horror elements.
Just because it wasn’t a 5-star read for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you.
Thanks to 3AM for the early copy. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll start off by saying the cover of this book is incredible. So stunning, so nostalgic, and it brought back all those vibes… I absolutely loved it.
But unfortunately, the book just wasn’t for me. I went in expecting a gory slasher, and one set around a pool? Such an unreal setting for horror. But it ended up being nothing like I expected, which was a little disappointing.
I honestly think this would have worked much better as a novella. If you stripped away a lot of the swimming talk and filler, there’s a really eerie story underneath. There would be moments of murder and tension, then long stretches focused on swimming, careers, and people’s personal lives a bit too heavily. The stuff surrounding Danny and that mystery was interesting, but there was too much in between, and it lost momentum because of it.
The pacing felt very uneven throughout. One moment it seemed to be building toward horror, then the next it drifted somewhere completely different. I understood the atmosphere and what the story was trying to do, and honestly, it had so much potential to be a genuinely great horror novel if it had leaned harder into those darker elements.
But overall, it just fell a little flat for me. The prologue was incredible. Gory, eerie, unsettling, graphic, it set the tone perfectly. Unfortunately, the rest of the book never fully lived up to that opening.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. With such a diverse cast, I expected at least one character to really stand out to me emotionally, but none of them fully clicked.
I can absolutely see where the story was trying to go, but for me, it just never quite got there. I kept pushing through in case it picked up toward the end, but sadly it didn’t.
I’d still recommend this to readers who prefer more story and character focus over heavy horror elements.
Just because it wasn’t a 5-star read for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you.
Thanks to 3AM for the early copy. All thoughts are my own.
July 25, 2026
Although judging a book by its cover is supposed to be frowned on, it’s the cover of this novel that first drew me to it, with expectations of the type of story to expect. It’s bright and gory at the same time, a bit fun and retro. I was drawn to the nostalgia of a story set in the late 1990s/early 2000s, although I didn’t feel that there was a lot of that in the novel, apart from a few music references, however, the horror film elements were all there.
It was an easy, fun read in the vein of a b-movie slasher, nothing to take too seriously or think too deeply about. I was drawn in right from the start, with the authors wasting no time in starting the murder spree. It did take me a while to work out who was who with so many different characters and the narrative skipped around between them quite a lot. There was a mix of likeable and unlikeable characters, and it was clear who you should be rooting for, although it did mean that there were times I wanted to hurry through parts where I was less interested in the characters. For the most part, none of the characters were too much of a horror novel caricature, save perhaps for Jason. I did think the post-climax ending was drawn out too much, I felt it could’ve wrapped up sooner.
Still, I’d recommend it for anyone looking for an unchallenging, summerween read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the eARC.
It was an easy, fun read in the vein of a b-movie slasher, nothing to take too seriously or think too deeply about. I was drawn in right from the start, with the authors wasting no time in starting the murder spree. It did take me a while to work out who was who with so many different characters and the narrative skipped around between them quite a lot. There was a mix of likeable and unlikeable characters, and it was clear who you should be rooting for, although it did mean that there were times I wanted to hurry through parts where I was less interested in the characters. For the most part, none of the characters were too much of a horror novel caricature, save perhaps for Jason. I did think the post-climax ending was drawn out too much, I felt it could’ve wrapped up sooner.
Still, I’d recommend it for anyone looking for an unchallenging, summerween read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Splasher was a fun, campy horror read that felt absolutely perfect for some Summerween vibes. A haunted swimming pool is such a great premise, and there were plenty of creepy moments, a good dose of gore, and an overall sense of fun that made it an entertaining page turner. It's the kind of book that embraces its slasher influences while putting a fresh spin on them, making it an ideal seasonal read if you're looking for horror that doesn't take itself too seriously.
My biggest issue was connecting with the characters. With the story constantly jumping between so many different points of view, I found it difficult to become invested in any one person before moving on to the next. At times it felt like there were simply too many voices competing for attention, and a few of them didn't add enough to the story to justify the extra perspective. The constant switching became a little overwhelming, and I think a tighter cast would have made the emotional stakes land more effectively.
Even so, the inventive haunted pool concept, campy atmosphere, and entertaining horror made Splasher an enjoyable read that I'd happily recommend for anyone putting together a TBR that includes a dose of summer horror.
Splasher was a fun, campy horror read that felt absolutely perfect for some Summerween vibes. A haunted swimming pool is such a great premise, and there were plenty of creepy moments, a good dose of gore, and an overall sense of fun that made it an entertaining page turner. It's the kind of book that embraces its slasher influences while putting a fresh spin on them, making it an ideal seasonal read if you're looking for horror that doesn't take itself too seriously.
My biggest issue was connecting with the characters. With the story constantly jumping between so many different points of view, I found it difficult to become invested in any one person before moving on to the next. At times it felt like there were simply too many voices competing for attention, and a few of them didn't add enough to the story to justify the extra perspective. The constant switching became a little overwhelming, and I think a tighter cast would have made the emotional stakes land more effectively.
Even so, the inventive haunted pool concept, campy atmosphere, and entertaining horror made Splasher an enjoyable read that I'd happily recommend for anyone putting together a TBR that includes a dose of summer horror.
July 21, 2026
4★ read (10/10 Sumerween perfection)
OH MY GOODNESS, wow. I went into Splasher thinking it would be a light, slightly off beat horror pick, definitely outside my usual lane. The opening chapters had me unsure, still hovering in that hmm… okay, let’s see where this goes.
And then it hit.
Suddenly my eyes were burning, the chlorine was at the back of my throat, and I realised I was completely, utterly hooked. Billie Host pulls off that special kind of sensory horror that sneaks up on you,one minute you’re reading casually, the next you’re submerged, breath held, waiting for something to break the surface.
This is perfect Summerween reading, sharp, immersive, unsettling in all the right ways, and so much smarter than it first appears. A perfect balance of camp, tension, and creeping dread with such confidence that by the halfway point I was fully in awe.
A wildly fun, unexpectedly intense “splasher” horror that delivers exactly what the season calls for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguins new horror imprint: 3AM Books for the ARC copy.
OH MY GOODNESS, wow. I went into Splasher thinking it would be a light, slightly off beat horror pick, definitely outside my usual lane. The opening chapters had me unsure, still hovering in that hmm… okay, let’s see where this goes.
And then it hit.
Suddenly my eyes were burning, the chlorine was at the back of my throat, and I realised I was completely, utterly hooked. Billie Host pulls off that special kind of sensory horror that sneaks up on you,one minute you’re reading casually, the next you’re submerged, breath held, waiting for something to break the surface.
This is perfect Summerween reading, sharp, immersive, unsettling in all the right ways, and so much smarter than it first appears. A perfect balance of camp, tension, and creeping dread with such confidence that by the halfway point I was fully in awe.
A wildly fun, unexpectedly intense “splasher” horror that delivers exactly what the season calls for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguins new horror imprint: 3AM Books for the ARC copy.
July 30, 2026
The first sentence hooked me. That's a great prologue. I think I was expecting something different, and my reader expectation plays into my thoughts. I like books that shake up genres. This book did that. It also had a few head-nods to brilliant works, or works that were great for their time: beyond their years. The Henry James reference, the Get Carter reference: love. The blueprint of Jason being so focused on getting the head coach role. That confused me. If he has some sort of physio role, that sort of role requires a person to undertake further education qualifications. That didn't entirely track for me. I know it was a short added moment, and maybe one meant to be edited, but I couldn't discern the reasoning for Jason to have gotten himself into so much debt. It diluted the narrative for me in an otherwise character popping off piece. I am interested in reading their Historical Fiction though. I would read another book like this, but I'd like the blueprint to be tested more, with someone you least suspect. I work out perpetrators pretty quickly, and I like to be surprised.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The year is 2006, flip phones and MP3 players are all the rage, Facebook is slowly killing off MySpace and the Richardson University swim team may or may not be cursed...
The story follows Spencer Ward, a former swim star who's heading into his new role as Assistant Swim Coach when tragedy strikes and two bodies are found in the pool before his first day even starts...
Freak accidents, murder or is the swimming team cursed?
This is quite a slow paced horror which has you questioning what happened in the pool and who's next?
It really amps up in the latter half but I do wish it was a bit shorter in places and less of a slow burn.
The cover is immaculate, I absolutely love the retro vibes and the heading graphics for each chapter was a nice touch
The book feels like a mixture of the films Urban Legend meets Night Swim.
Big thank you to 3am Books, Bantam Books and InstaBook Tours for sending me a gifted copy.
The story follows Spencer Ward, a former swim star who's heading into his new role as Assistant Swim Coach when tragedy strikes and two bodies are found in the pool before his first day even starts...
Freak accidents, murder or is the swimming team cursed?
This is quite a slow paced horror which has you questioning what happened in the pool and who's next?
It really amps up in the latter half but I do wish it was a bit shorter in places and less of a slow burn.
The cover is immaculate, I absolutely love the retro vibes and the heading graphics for each chapter was a nice touch
The book feels like a mixture of the films Urban Legend meets Night Swim.
Big thank you to 3am Books, Bantam Books and InstaBook Tours for sending me a gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sadly I just do not think this was for me. I think the horror is summed up by being able to read a book about deaths in water whilst in the bath...
It was really giving b-list final destination rip off but somehow more supernatural. It defo did have some body horror elements and some good descriptions but i felt a little lost by the POV's overall! 5 POV's is a lot to juggle along with past flashbacks with no clear 'present day' return. I just found myself not really caring about the characters and I wasn't really connected to them.
The whole thing felt a little like it was really trying to up the scare factor and the deaths but it did just fall flat...I'd still wanna read from this author in the future but Splasher was indeed just not for me. I did appreciate the small mixed media elements though with newspapers and articles and stuff! Also points for the idea, in theory this sounds like it'd be epic but unfortunatly it's a 2.5*
It was really giving b-list final destination rip off but somehow more supernatural. It defo did have some body horror elements and some good descriptions but i felt a little lost by the POV's overall! 5 POV's is a lot to juggle along with past flashbacks with no clear 'present day' return. I just found myself not really caring about the characters and I wasn't really connected to them.
The whole thing felt a little like it was really trying to up the scare factor and the deaths but it did just fall flat...I'd still wanna read from this author in the future but Splasher was indeed just not for me. I did appreciate the small mixed media elements though with newspapers and articles and stuff! Also points for the idea, in theory this sounds like it'd be epic but unfortunatly it's a 2.5*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book gave me major Final Destination vibes with its gruesome and unfortunate accidents and deaths. It's slow paced yet creepy and suspenseful, and it's very nostalgic too being set in the year 2006 and in a university.
I didn't have an issue with its overall multiple POVs shifts however there were times where it got a bit confusing at some of the POV changes and time hops, perhaps it may be because of the digital formatting.
Overall, I loved the concept of this story, it definitely gave me a classic slasher feels in the beginning but I was kind of hoping and expecting for more intensity/action in the second half. Yet, it was still an enjoyable plot and a very decent horror novel.
If you're looking for a book to read during Summerween, this should be right up your alley and a perfect novel for a spooky summer! ✨️
Thank you to @netgalley and @3.ambooks for providing the advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review! 🫶
I didn't have an issue with its overall multiple POVs shifts however there were times where it got a bit confusing at some of the POV changes and time hops, perhaps it may be because of the digital formatting.
Overall, I loved the concept of this story, it definitely gave me a classic slasher feels in the beginning but I was kind of hoping and expecting for more intensity/action in the second half. Yet, it was still an enjoyable plot and a very decent horror novel.
If you're looking for a book to read during Summerween, this should be right up your alley and a perfect novel for a spooky summer! ✨️
Thank you to @netgalley and @3.ambooks for providing the advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review! 🫶
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really looking forward to this. The concept is fantastic and I was expecting a campy, traditional slasher. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
The main thing that drew me to this book was seeing how the kills would play out, and I would have liked more of that creativity throughout. I think it would have helped the pacing, which felt a bit off to me. For most of the book it was slower than I would have liked, and because of that I struggled to stay interested and never really became invested in the characters.
I still think this was a worthwhile read, and I would recommend it for the strength of the concept alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The main thing that drew me to this book was seeing how the kills would play out, and I would have liked more of that creativity throughout. I think it would have helped the pacing, which felt a bit off to me. For most of the book it was slower than I would have liked, and because of that I struggled to stay interested and never really became invested in the characters.
I still think this was a worthwhile read, and I would recommend it for the strength of the concept alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2026
3.5⭐️
Splasher was a fun book which very much felt like reading a 90s horror movie.
The story follows Spencer who has returned to his university where he was on the swimming team, as assistant coach. We find out that there was an incident 10 years ago while her was on the team which is still affecting now.
Being at the pool brings back awful memories of what happened and when accidents and deaths start happening in the vicinity of the pool and the team, Spencer has to question who or what is responsible and is it somehow connected to the incident he was involved in?
Overall, I enjoyed the story but there were quite a few characters to keep track of which meant I wasn’t really bothered when certain deaths happened as I wasn’t connected to the characters.
I enjoyed the setting as a hot and humid, echoey, empty swimming pool definitely gives off eerie vibes and adds to the creepiness of the book. I liked that the event from 10 years ago was kept a mystery until later in the book to keep the reader guessing as to what happened.
As a fan of 90s horror films, I liked the vibe of the book but felt that I would have enjoyed it more if the focus had been on fewer characters.
Splasher was a fun book which very much felt like reading a 90s horror movie.
The story follows Spencer who has returned to his university where he was on the swimming team, as assistant coach. We find out that there was an incident 10 years ago while her was on the team which is still affecting now.
Being at the pool brings back awful memories of what happened and when accidents and deaths start happening in the vicinity of the pool and the team, Spencer has to question who or what is responsible and is it somehow connected to the incident he was involved in?
Overall, I enjoyed the story but there were quite a few characters to keep track of which meant I wasn’t really bothered when certain deaths happened as I wasn’t connected to the characters.
I enjoyed the setting as a hot and humid, echoey, empty swimming pool definitely gives off eerie vibes and adds to the creepiness of the book. I liked that the event from 10 years ago was kept a mystery until later in the book to keep the reader guessing as to what happened.
As a fan of 90s horror films, I liked the vibe of the book but felt that I would have enjoyed it more if the focus had been on fewer characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a “mood reader”I found this book wasn’t for me at this time. I found myself taking frequent breaks and had to soft DNF it. The premise of the book and the cover art are what drew me to this book to begin with and I still feel the concept is strong and would be a great poolside read! The writing style feels Young Adult which for me, lends itself further to being an easy summer read.
This is a book I will return to in the future when in the right setting and mood. As the plot is intriguing, I may pick up the audiobook at a later date to engage with this story.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a book I will return to in the future when in the right setting and mood. As the plot is intriguing, I may pick up the audiobook at a later date to engage with this story.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Safe to say I had a blast reading this ! The nostalgia for it being set in the early 2000s was wonderful ! It felt like a proper cult classic slasher movie with the setting and the tone of the book! I would say if you loved the fear street movies then I feel like this book would be right up your street ! There were some pop culture references as well as slasher tropes that worked well and I absolutely loved the mix media elements! Overall this was a blast and I absolutely am in the mood for summerween
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the authors for the ARC.
Actual rating - 3.5
I enjoyed this overall, but it was a bit lackluster in parts for me unfortunately.
It was quite slow paced, and kind of felt like it lacked the punch of horror slightly. This may have just been a "me" thing though, as I can definitely see a lot of people loving it and I agree that it's perfect for summerween!
I did love the era it was set in though, even if a few things made me feel a bit old. (How has it been 20 years since 2006, and where did the time even go?!)
Actual rating - 3.5
I enjoyed this overall, but it was a bit lackluster in parts for me unfortunately.
It was quite slow paced, and kind of felt like it lacked the punch of horror slightly. This may have just been a "me" thing though, as I can definitely see a lot of people loving it and I agree that it's perfect for summerween!
I did love the era it was set in though, even if a few things made me feel a bit old. (How has it been 20 years since 2006, and where did the time even go?!)
May 14, 2026
When the body count and unexplained accidents begin to mount for the Richardson University swim team, more questions than answers seem to reveal themselves in this horror/thriller.
A hint of 00’s nostalgia and camp, Scream-esque shenanigans ensue, but this didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
While I’d say it’s still worth a read, and there will be a definite audience for it, I didn’t feel particularly connected to the characters.
A decent read and I really hope the right people find it. Even though it wasn’t for me, there was still enough to keep me interested.
A hint of 00’s nostalgia and camp, Scream-esque shenanigans ensue, but this didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
While I’d say it’s still worth a read, and there will be a definite audience for it, I didn’t feel particularly connected to the characters.
A decent read and I really hope the right people find it. Even though it wasn’t for me, there was still enough to keep me interested.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to 3.ambooks, Netgalley, and Authors for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed myself when I was reading this book. I was hooked from the beginning!
The start was slow-paced but when things ramped up, boy did they ramp up! The atmosphere was tense and eerie. Definitely more spooky than scary but that just makes it a perfect summer/summerween read.
If you're a fan of the Final Destination franchise and just want to have a good time, then this is the book for you. I can't see myself going swimming anytime soon...
I really enjoyed myself when I was reading this book. I was hooked from the beginning!
The start was slow-paced but when things ramped up, boy did they ramp up! The atmosphere was tense and eerie. Definitely more spooky than scary but that just makes it a perfect summer/summerween read.
If you're a fan of the Final Destination franchise and just want to have a good time, then this is the book for you. I can't see myself going swimming anytime soon...
Review of advance copy
1.5
I really wanted to like this one. It sounded so good and the cover is so perfect. BUT most of this book was boring. I really didn't get much horror from this. I also felt like this book was way too long. I think this would have been a great novella. Most of this book felt super repetitive. I kept reading to see if something wild would happen and nothing really did. I think they gave away the killer too fast. I would be intrested in reading other books by this author. But this was not for me.
Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC of this. This comes out July 16.
I really wanted to like this one. It sounded so good and the cover is so perfect. BUT most of this book was boring. I really didn't get much horror from this. I also felt like this book was way too long. I think this would have been a great novella. Most of this book felt super repetitive. I kept reading to see if something wild would happen and nothing really did. I think they gave away the killer too fast. I would be intrested in reading other books by this author. But this was not for me.
Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC of this. This comes out July 16.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Plays Photograph by nickleback on my iPod and shoved hands deep into the pockets of my low waist bootcut jeans*
Look is this going to be the best book you’ve read in your life? No, but it’s campy and fun and a great summerween slasher to get you out of a reading slump. I think it could be adapted in to a great nostalgic film.
Look is this going to be the best book you’ve read in your life? No, but it’s campy and fun and a great summerween slasher to get you out of a reading slump. I think it could be adapted in to a great nostalgic film.
July 21, 2026
3.25/5
*thank you to netgalley & 3am books for the advanced copy*
splasher is a teen horror set at a college where students & staff alike are in danger at the hands of the school’s swimming pool.
it’s not marketed as such but due to the setting & age of the majority of the characters, it has a YA feel.
it held my attention & was a fairly easy read. a fun, moreish summerween slasher.
*thank you to netgalley & 3am books for the advanced copy*
splasher is a teen horror set at a college where students & staff alike are in danger at the hands of the school’s swimming pool.
it’s not marketed as such but due to the setting & age of the majority of the characters, it has a YA feel.
it held my attention & was a fairly easy read. a fun, moreish summerween slasher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had high hopes for this but feel like the beginning was a bit long? I really enjoyed it from around 70% onwards so could have done with the start being shorter and a longer ending
A quick little splasher/slasher book - I'd love to see this made into a film for Halloween
A quick little splasher/slasher book - I'd love to see this made into a film for Halloween
Read
May 15, 2026Review coming at a later date
Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC.
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