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Kiss Slay Replay
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Every wedding guest’s worst nightmare is on repeat in this wild and twisty new horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of So Thirsty and Play Nice.
It’s the picture-perfect wedding The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
It’s the picture-perfect wedding The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
Rachel Harrison
12 books6,774 followersRachel Harrison is the author of The Return, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica and Electric Lit. She lives in New York with her husband and their cat/overlord.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Want to Read
March 25, 2026Pre-read: Stop because why is this cover so freaking prettyyyy 😭🩵 I need this book already, but I have to wait 195 days 🥹
Update: Book already pre-ordered. Now the wait begins 🤭
Update: Book already pre-ordered. Now the wait begins 🤭
they-told-me-to-read-it
February 23, 2026
May 23, 2026
Well, in the least surprising news of the year, Rachel Harrison does it again… deliver a straight up banger of a novel.
While existing squarely within trope territory, it never once feels trite or contrived. Far from it actually. It takes us on unexpected turn after unexpected turn, with each one bringing with it a new level of absurdity and b-movie bliss.
Our protagonist, Willa, is relatable and sympathetic. She fumbles her way through the story with a charming clumsiness that feels all too familiar. The other characters aren’t drawn nearly as well, but their flatness feels intentional, almost as if they were meant to exist solely as backdrops to Willa’s arc.
The setting is fun, the monsters are even more so. You won’t see what’s coming next, of that much I assure you.
I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to read it. Rachel Harrison is one of the best things going in the business right now, and this book only further solidifies her place in the horror community, cementing herself squarely in its upper echelon.
While existing squarely within trope territory, it never once feels trite or contrived. Far from it actually. It takes us on unexpected turn after unexpected turn, with each one bringing with it a new level of absurdity and b-movie bliss.
Our protagonist, Willa, is relatable and sympathetic. She fumbles her way through the story with a charming clumsiness that feels all too familiar. The other characters aren’t drawn nearly as well, but their flatness feels intentional, almost as if they were meant to exist solely as backdrops to Willa’s arc.
The setting is fun, the monsters are even more so. You won’t see what’s coming next, of that much I assure you.
I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to read it. Rachel Harrison is one of the best things going in the business right now, and this book only further solidifies her place in the horror community, cementing herself squarely in its upper echelon.
Want to Read
November 19, 2025For this author - I need NO Cover, and NO synopsis - I'm just 100% in! Can't wait for it!
May 15, 2026
Let’s be honest: the Groundhog Day mixed with another genre thing has kind of taken off in recent years, specifically in horror. But Rachel Harrison manages to put a fresh spin on it. If you’re worried about things getting too repetitive in this plot, don’t. This book is wild, surprising, and a real treat for all fans of the genre. She remains a must read author for me.
At first I was like: “Girl, ANOTHER breakup story?!” Why is this such a recurring theme in her work? But the insights into relationship dynamics and self doubt in this one are so spot on, and the way they fit in with the trauma of Willa’s horrific situation feels natural. (Even when things get crazy.)
Harrison has a habit of writing protagonists who are primarily either smug and egotistical or broken-hearted and feeling sorry for themselves, or sometimes even an interesting combination of the two. Willa falls more into the broken-hearted category, and I liked her a LOT more than the MC from “Play Nice.” You still get the author’s signature blend of darkness and romantic comedy, and this time the dark stuff is extra dark.
The violence and gore are written so well here. Once things reach that point in the story, it really hits the gas and I found it difficult to put down. The threats were creative and fun to read about, and Harrison didn’t hold back with the blood. You can tell that she had a blast writing the story.
The side effects of being stuck in a time loop include finding out what your friends really think of you, questioning all your decisions, and using alcohol to try to numb your stress (heavily. I think Willa might have a problem.)
Minor nitpicks:
- if Cassie was my best friend, I would be miserable. She was so negative and two-faced!
- As much as I liked the mantra “The only way out is through,” I think it was really over-used.
- Not sure about some of the dialogue. It just felt too quippy.
This book is now up there with my favorites of hers, next to “So Thirsty” and “Black Sheep.” But the only one I didn’t really vibe with was “Play Nice.” They’re all good. (I really appreciated the pep talk in the afterword, too.) 5 stars! Even the ending was satisfying, and I had no idea how this situation was possibly going to be resolved. I’ll definitely get a physical copy to add to my collection.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Suicidal ideation, *Alcohol abuse
At first I was like: “Girl, ANOTHER breakup story?!” Why is this such a recurring theme in her work? But the insights into relationship dynamics and self doubt in this one are so spot on, and the way they fit in with the trauma of Willa’s horrific situation feels natural. (Even when things get crazy.)
Harrison has a habit of writing protagonists who are primarily either smug and egotistical or broken-hearted and feeling sorry for themselves, or sometimes even an interesting combination of the two. Willa falls more into the broken-hearted category, and I liked her a LOT more than the MC from “Play Nice.” You still get the author’s signature blend of darkness and romantic comedy, and this time the dark stuff is extra dark.
The violence and gore are written so well here. Once things reach that point in the story, it really hits the gas and I found it difficult to put down. The threats were creative and fun to read about, and Harrison didn’t hold back with the blood. You can tell that she had a blast writing the story.
The side effects of being stuck in a time loop include finding out what your friends really think of you, questioning all your decisions, and using alcohol to try to numb your stress (heavily. I think Willa might have a problem.)
Minor nitpicks:
- if Cassie was my best friend, I would be miserable. She was so negative and two-faced!
- As much as I liked the mantra “The only way out is through,” I think it was really over-used.
- Not sure about some of the dialogue. It just felt too quippy.
This book is now up there with my favorites of hers, next to “So Thirsty” and “Black Sheep.” But the only one I didn’t really vibe with was “Play Nice.” They’re all good. (I really appreciated the pep talk in the afterword, too.) 5 stars! Even the ending was satisfying, and I had no idea how this situation was possibly going to be resolved. I’ll definitely get a physical copy to add to my collection.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Suicidal ideation, *Alcohol abuse
Want to Read
May 17, 2026ARC received! Thank you so much, Berkley!!
Want to Read
February 23, 2026Original 7/2/25 (no cover, no synopsis)
I hate the groundhog day trope but it's Rachel Harrison so I'm reading it!
Edit 2/23/26 (now that we have a synopsis and cover)
And I also hate wedding settings...
I hate the groundhog day trope but it's Rachel Harrison so I'm reading it!
Edit 2/23/26 (now that we have a synopsis and cover)
And I also hate wedding settings...
May 5, 2026
I’m not usually a huge fan of time-loop stories, but I knew I had to make an exception for Rachel Harrison. I can safely say that I have no regrets.
Kiss, Slay, Replay follows Willa- who is going through the worst breakup of her life. To top it all off, her ex-fiancee is going to be at the wedding she has to attend. Willa doom-spirals her way to the wedding only to arrive and feel that things are off. Which makes sense as the wedding ends with a massacre. But despite dying, Willa wakes up the next morning, the day of the wedding and has to relive it all again and again.
Groundhog Day but make it terrifying. Rachel Harrison really gave us all the possible scenario’s for Willa and her friends to live out. It kept the time-loop aspect of the story really engaging- where often I can find the repetitiveness of it annoying. Each time the day replayed, Willa tried something new.
While this was a horror, I also feel like it had an emotional aspect as well. Willa is obviously going through a lot and so are her friends. I felt her emotions and her frustrations with each interaction she had- especially with Cassie. I was so invested in her story, I literally could not put the book down and needed to know how it was going to end. To anyone who enjoys horror- I would recommend this book. It was funny, emotional and honestly unsettling. All of the best things!
Kiss, Slay, Replay follows Willa- who is going through the worst breakup of her life. To top it all off, her ex-fiancee is going to be at the wedding she has to attend. Willa doom-spirals her way to the wedding only to arrive and feel that things are off. Which makes sense as the wedding ends with a massacre. But despite dying, Willa wakes up the next morning, the day of the wedding and has to relive it all again and again.
Groundhog Day but make it terrifying. Rachel Harrison really gave us all the possible scenario’s for Willa and her friends to live out. It kept the time-loop aspect of the story really engaging- where often I can find the repetitiveness of it annoying. Each time the day replayed, Willa tried something new.
While this was a horror, I also feel like it had an emotional aspect as well. Willa is obviously going through a lot and so are her friends. I felt her emotions and her frustrations with each interaction she had- especially with Cassie. I was so invested in her story, I literally could not put the book down and needed to know how it was going to end. To anyone who enjoys horror- I would recommend this book. It was funny, emotional and honestly unsettling. All of the best things!
Want to Read
September 11, 2025okay i know her last book came out ~2 days ago at the time of writing this
but can this be out already?
but can this be out already?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Berkley for my free ARC of Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison — available Sep 8!
» READ IF YOU «
💍 have ever dreeeaaaadddedddd going to a wedding
🔪 crave a time loop where the villains just get weirder
🪞 want horror that reflects actual lived experiences
» SYNOPSIS «
Willa is absolutely, unequivocally dreading her best friends' wedding. It’ll be the first time she's seen her ex-fiancé since she ended things, and she’s still agonizing about it daily. Plus, her cat hates her. But she drags herself to the venue, only to be pleasantly surprised by a rich, handsome stranger. And then…a few more strangers, except these ones are trying to kill her, over and over again, as she relives this day from hell.
» REVIEW «
Rachel has what we should all probably consider a superpower, and it’s in the way she takes all the little experiences much of the world would write off as minor and uninteresting (anxiety! overthinking! feeling stuck!) and turns them into knock-down, drag-out, whole-ass cinematic NOVELS that make the rest of us feel seen. At least, that’s how her books feel for me.
And in this one, Willa is truly just going through it. We’ve all been there. It’s not really a loud, dramatic “through it,” it’s just that very specific, exhausting feeling where you're smiling for photos but trying not to crumble inside, because you know everyone around you is just so sick of your shit, but you still feel like shit and you’re trying not to show it, and can they tell? because if so, now you’re anxious about that too. Rachel just has a knack for pinpointing these understated but universal lived experiences, and turning them into gloriously fun and heart-wrenching stories with blood and guts and gore.
The horrors in this particular Rachel book are hilariously inventive; I had a great time just watching her have a blast (I presume) writing these insane time loop worlds. I truly hope your enjoyment of this glorious little book matches mine.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
» READ IF YOU «
💍 have ever dreeeaaaadddedddd going to a wedding
🔪 crave a time loop where the villains just get weirder
🪞 want horror that reflects actual lived experiences
» SYNOPSIS «
Willa is absolutely, unequivocally dreading her best friends' wedding. It’ll be the first time she's seen her ex-fiancé since she ended things, and she’s still agonizing about it daily. Plus, her cat hates her. But she drags herself to the venue, only to be pleasantly surprised by a rich, handsome stranger. And then…a few more strangers, except these ones are trying to kill her, over and over again, as she relives this day from hell.
» REVIEW «
Rachel has what we should all probably consider a superpower, and it’s in the way she takes all the little experiences much of the world would write off as minor and uninteresting (anxiety! overthinking! feeling stuck!) and turns them into knock-down, drag-out, whole-ass cinematic NOVELS that make the rest of us feel seen. At least, that’s how her books feel for me.
And in this one, Willa is truly just going through it. We’ve all been there. It’s not really a loud, dramatic “through it,” it’s just that very specific, exhausting feeling where you're smiling for photos but trying not to crumble inside, because you know everyone around you is just so sick of your shit, but you still feel like shit and you’re trying not to show it, and can they tell? because if so, now you’re anxious about that too. Rachel just has a knack for pinpointing these understated but universal lived experiences, and turning them into gloriously fun and heart-wrenching stories with blood and guts and gore.
The horrors in this particular Rachel book are hilariously inventive; I had a great time just watching her have a blast (I presume) writing these insane time loop worlds. I truly hope your enjoyment of this glorious little book matches mine.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
May 9, 2026
RACHEL HARRISON TIME LOOP HORROR RACHEL HARRISON TIME LOOP HORROR
I’m kind of mindblown a little? This is cleverly advertised because it hides MAJOR details. This is not just a time loop slasher so I hope you like surprises. This was entirely unexpected!
I don’t know if it’s because I equate this concept to Happy Death Day, but I expected this to be kind of silly, like horror comedy, even though it isn’t advertised as comedy, but I was absolutely right. It’s silly and ridiculous, more so as it goes on (for example, in loop number one, the killer likes to remove people’s eyeballs, wear them, and skip around, yet that’s one of the least ridiculous parts of this book) but some parts in some of the loops are genuinely gripping. Yes it gets more ridiculous as time goes on but honestly, it’s a ton of fun trying to guess what the next loop has in store.
Because HERE’S THE THING. Halfway through, there’s a plot twist that changes the entire nature of this book! It goes from the expected time loop slasher to a plot even more elaborate than you’re expecting. JUST YOU WAIT. It blew my mind and totally changes the game. All I can say is this is the most creative slasher I ever have (and maybe ever will?) read. This is NOT a generic time loop slasher and you don’t find that out until halfway through, but just hang tight. This book turned out to be completely unexpected in the best way.
Really my only critique is that the whole thing with Willa and Danny is super instalovey, lacks chemistry, and is not convincing at all, but romance is such a minor plot point that it doesn’t even bug me. This book clearly isn’t a romance novel and that isn’t the point. Also, with this book being so tongue in cheek, almost horror comedy adjacent, you kind of don’t expect it to be super serious or realistic. But really it doesn’t even matter because their dynamic is such a small and insignificant part of this book.
The main thing is that THIS BOOK IS NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT IT TO BE and becomes almost an entirely different genre than it advertises. If you are an ADHD reader like me, love plot surprises and shakeups, this is anything but a generic slasher. It’s entirely unexpected, honestly it’s completely ridiculous, and you absolutely will not be bored. And the best part? Unlike most time loop books, in this one, you actually get an explanation for what causes the time loop!
I wasn’t planning on giving this 5 stars, but this was so unexpected that it deserves it. I love a good surprise!
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
I’m kind of mindblown a little? This is cleverly advertised because it hides MAJOR details. This is not just a time loop slasher so I hope you like surprises. This was entirely unexpected!
I don’t know if it’s because I equate this concept to Happy Death Day, but I expected this to be kind of silly, like horror comedy, even though it isn’t advertised as comedy, but I was absolutely right. It’s silly and ridiculous, more so as it goes on (for example, in loop number one, the killer likes to remove people’s eyeballs, wear them, and skip around, yet that’s one of the least ridiculous parts of this book) but some parts in some of the loops are genuinely gripping. Yes it gets more ridiculous as time goes on but honestly, it’s a ton of fun trying to guess what the next loop has in store.
Because HERE’S THE THING. Halfway through, there’s a plot twist that changes the entire nature of this book! It goes from the expected time loop slasher to a plot even more elaborate than you’re expecting. JUST YOU WAIT. It blew my mind and totally changes the game. All I can say is this is the most creative slasher I ever have (and maybe ever will?) read. This is NOT a generic time loop slasher and you don’t find that out until halfway through, but just hang tight. This book turned out to be completely unexpected in the best way.
Really my only critique is that the whole thing with Willa and Danny is super instalovey, lacks chemistry, and is not convincing at all, but romance is such a minor plot point that it doesn’t even bug me. This book clearly isn’t a romance novel and that isn’t the point. Also, with this book being so tongue in cheek, almost horror comedy adjacent, you kind of don’t expect it to be super serious or realistic. But really it doesn’t even matter because their dynamic is such a small and insignificant part of this book.
The main thing is that THIS BOOK IS NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT IT TO BE and becomes almost an entirely different genre than it advertises. If you are an ADHD reader like me, love plot surprises and shakeups, this is anything but a generic slasher. It’s entirely unexpected, honestly it’s completely ridiculous, and you absolutely will not be bored. And the best part? Unlike most time loop books, in this one, you actually get an explanation for what causes the time loop!
I wasn’t planning on giving this 5 stars, but this was so unexpected that it deserves it. I love a good surprise!
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
March 30, 2026
***Shared on CapesandTights.com***
Hearing wedding bells chime can usher a sentimental feeling of love, optimism of a blossoming future, and the promise of a union that reminds us all of the shiny, happy aspects of devotion to another. An intertwining fate that is forever sealed (allegedly) on this most special day. Release the doves, throw the rice, check any doubts at the door. There is a singularity to matrimony that seems to eclipse so much. This is it. This is the day. But what if that day repeated? And the promises made to yourself, not to others, took center-stage? What if death, rather than a new life, was waiting at the end of that long aisle? And what if there was seemingly no way out?
A wedding-horror story, a time-loop novel, and dare I say, a punchy study in philosophy and self-regard, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay contains multitudes, wrapped very neatly in a something-blue bow. Willa has ended her engagement to her long-term fiance, Ravi, a choice that felt right in the moment, but has frequently reverberated with “what ifs.” While Willa tries to begin her new life while struggling with massive doubts, anxiety, and let’s label it, depression, time marches on meaning that her attendance at her college friends’ wedding arrives with loads of dread rather than hope. The company of her friends certainly makes things (somewhat) palletable, but Willa cannot outrun herself. The emotions she experiences come in tidal waves after seeing Ravi again and contemplating her identity in this reality. But something strange happens, beyond the questioning Willa experiences. A strange figure lurks in the woods. A day that should have ended in only dead flowers results in dead people. But Willa wakes up. It’s wedding day, again. What a weird, horrifying dream. Or was it? The day begins, again. And again. And again. Is there a way out, or is this Willa’s fate, looped forever?
Multiple layers of brilliance cohabitate within Kiss Slay Replay from nuanced explorations of adored time-related conflicts, thematic examinations of weddings, and chiefly, character studies that contemplate what the hell we’re doing here on this big rock floating through space. Zoomed out, we see a wedding day that seemingly exists in a vacuum; but, so aptly, Harrison flips such an idea on its head to become a day that never truly ends with unfathomable ramifications. This is what makes time loops fascinating lenses to study why we must endure, what lesson we’re supposed to learn, or what wrong we are supposed to right. A loop strategically placed on a wedding day loaded with so many implications, societal expectations, and raw feelings harvests a landscape rife for introspection through Willa, a woman whose timeline is less than certain. And what has this world taught us about uncertainty? To fear it.
What Kiss Slay Replay does best is that it throws all the fear in the world at us (in so many creative ways), hurtling through time and space to bring us to the instances that we often question: words said in a different tone, an event that should have taken place a day later, picking a different person, or thoughts that should have remained unspoken. Rachel Harrison brings an enigmatic concept that has long preferred to thrive in the dark, doubt, and hoists it onto a platform. Doubt, especially in the context of weddings, anxiety, and depression, is something that is condemned; why do anything if you aren’t sure?
And where does this fear and doubt land us: paralysis. Is that really the answer? Hell no, as Harrison screams through her deeply moving prose.
Willa’s journey through this repeated day, the cycles she endures, are met with death (again, so creatively) time after time. Yet, she is able to change, to examine, to wrestle, to give up, to try again, and to fight for a return to the timeline she belongs. Harrison proves that doubt doesn’t go away with a simple attitude change, a checked “no” instead of “yes.” Doubt is a constant despite how little or how often we repeat ourselves; it is a companion we can learn to shake hands with, to maybe figure out how to make peace with, to live with. And what is living? Trying. Doing. Loving (ourselves, most importantly), in spite of it all.
The only way out may be through, and the through is hard. It’s messy, it’s complicated. It will kick your teeth in, never apologize. But the out always exists, ready for us to find it. We will screw up. We will say the wrong things, spend time with the wrong people, and place goals on undeserving pedestals. Time, despite our unwieldy protestations, marches on anyway. And in an act of defiance to time’s inevitability, maybe we should kiss the wrong person, take a wrong turn, or be vulnerable anyway. Maybe we should make mistakes more than once, try new things, change ourselves, lose ourselves, and find ourselves all over again. Maybe we should live.
Written with her signature wit, charm, and brilliant horrific nuance, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay transcends any genre of fiction to remind us all that life is bigger than the singularities we are conditioned to mentally frequent. As we hold Willa’s hand through every different, hellish iteration of a day expected to sing a singular note of very specific joy, reminders of a life worth living are brought to the forefront, messiness and all. Willa’s story, entwined with death and hurt and joy, is one that instills hope amidst a backdrop of increased stakes, intense suspense, and lightning-fast pacing. This hope is not the kind of hope that calls for a miraculous “happy” outcome, but the kind that gives us the resolve to dig down, to find the grit, and to see another tomorrow. Resilience in written form, Kiss Slay Replay is a gift, and Rachel Harrison’s unique, essential voice has never been more timely.
Hearing wedding bells chime can usher a sentimental feeling of love, optimism of a blossoming future, and the promise of a union that reminds us all of the shiny, happy aspects of devotion to another. An intertwining fate that is forever sealed (allegedly) on this most special day. Release the doves, throw the rice, check any doubts at the door. There is a singularity to matrimony that seems to eclipse so much. This is it. This is the day. But what if that day repeated? And the promises made to yourself, not to others, took center-stage? What if death, rather than a new life, was waiting at the end of that long aisle? And what if there was seemingly no way out?
A wedding-horror story, a time-loop novel, and dare I say, a punchy study in philosophy and self-regard, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay contains multitudes, wrapped very neatly in a something-blue bow. Willa has ended her engagement to her long-term fiance, Ravi, a choice that felt right in the moment, but has frequently reverberated with “what ifs.” While Willa tries to begin her new life while struggling with massive doubts, anxiety, and let’s label it, depression, time marches on meaning that her attendance at her college friends’ wedding arrives with loads of dread rather than hope. The company of her friends certainly makes things (somewhat) palletable, but Willa cannot outrun herself. The emotions she experiences come in tidal waves after seeing Ravi again and contemplating her identity in this reality. But something strange happens, beyond the questioning Willa experiences. A strange figure lurks in the woods. A day that should have ended in only dead flowers results in dead people. But Willa wakes up. It’s wedding day, again. What a weird, horrifying dream. Or was it? The day begins, again. And again. And again. Is there a way out, or is this Willa’s fate, looped forever?
Multiple layers of brilliance cohabitate within Kiss Slay Replay from nuanced explorations of adored time-related conflicts, thematic examinations of weddings, and chiefly, character studies that contemplate what the hell we’re doing here on this big rock floating through space. Zoomed out, we see a wedding day that seemingly exists in a vacuum; but, so aptly, Harrison flips such an idea on its head to become a day that never truly ends with unfathomable ramifications. This is what makes time loops fascinating lenses to study why we must endure, what lesson we’re supposed to learn, or what wrong we are supposed to right. A loop strategically placed on a wedding day loaded with so many implications, societal expectations, and raw feelings harvests a landscape rife for introspection through Willa, a woman whose timeline is less than certain. And what has this world taught us about uncertainty? To fear it.
What Kiss Slay Replay does best is that it throws all the fear in the world at us (in so many creative ways), hurtling through time and space to bring us to the instances that we often question: words said in a different tone, an event that should have taken place a day later, picking a different person, or thoughts that should have remained unspoken. Rachel Harrison brings an enigmatic concept that has long preferred to thrive in the dark, doubt, and hoists it onto a platform. Doubt, especially in the context of weddings, anxiety, and depression, is something that is condemned; why do anything if you aren’t sure?
And where does this fear and doubt land us: paralysis. Is that really the answer? Hell no, as Harrison screams through her deeply moving prose.
Willa’s journey through this repeated day, the cycles she endures, are met with death (again, so creatively) time after time. Yet, she is able to change, to examine, to wrestle, to give up, to try again, and to fight for a return to the timeline she belongs. Harrison proves that doubt doesn’t go away with a simple attitude change, a checked “no” instead of “yes.” Doubt is a constant despite how little or how often we repeat ourselves; it is a companion we can learn to shake hands with, to maybe figure out how to make peace with, to live with. And what is living? Trying. Doing. Loving (ourselves, most importantly), in spite of it all.
The only way out may be through, and the through is hard. It’s messy, it’s complicated. It will kick your teeth in, never apologize. But the out always exists, ready for us to find it. We will screw up. We will say the wrong things, spend time with the wrong people, and place goals on undeserving pedestals. Time, despite our unwieldy protestations, marches on anyway. And in an act of defiance to time’s inevitability, maybe we should kiss the wrong person, take a wrong turn, or be vulnerable anyway. Maybe we should make mistakes more than once, try new things, change ourselves, lose ourselves, and find ourselves all over again. Maybe we should live.
Written with her signature wit, charm, and brilliant horrific nuance, Rachel Harrison’s Kiss Slay Replay transcends any genre of fiction to remind us all that life is bigger than the singularities we are conditioned to mentally frequent. As we hold Willa’s hand through every different, hellish iteration of a day expected to sing a singular note of very specific joy, reminders of a life worth living are brought to the forefront, messiness and all. Willa’s story, entwined with death and hurt and joy, is one that instills hope amidst a backdrop of increased stakes, intense suspense, and lightning-fast pacing. This hope is not the kind of hope that calls for a miraculous “happy” outcome, but the kind that gives us the resolve to dig down, to find the grit, and to see another tomorrow. Resilience in written form, Kiss Slay Replay is a gift, and Rachel Harrison’s unique, essential voice has never been more timely.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was perfect. RTC :')
Want to Read
April 9, 2026So excited for another book from one of my favorite authors!
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison comes out on September 8, 2026.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison comes out on September 8, 2026.
April 2, 2026
Thanks to Berkley for the ARC.
She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks… Willa really loves whiskey sours. Me too, but luckily I’m not stuck in a time loop. Willa, still dealing with the emotional fallout of breaking up with her (ex) fiancé two weeks before their wedding, is stuck in a time loop reliving the wedding of two of her friends over and over and over again. But, this is a Rachel Harrison novel, so there’s so much more going on. No spoilers though. Read the book when it’s out.
Rachel Harrison is one of the premier horror authors of our generation. Each novel she releases is the best book of the year and is somehow better than her last. Besides crafting interesting and terrifying stories, her characters and settings have a familiarity and realness that other authors just can’t accomplish. We all know a Willa and a Danny and a Ravi and so on.
One thing that stuck out to me and made me enjoy Kiss Slay Replay even more was how Harrison subtly weaves in references throughout the story. Camp Serling was brilliant. And while Willa was having Hudson Valley Nights, not Keasbey Nights, I’m assuming “…giving up, giving in…” was intentional. Granted, if you’ve ever read any of her books, you know she does an incredible job of this in them all.
This is, unsurprisingly, going to be my favorite book of the year. Kiss Slay Replay is a book about friendship, whiskey sours, time loops, and a whole lot of (redacted).
She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks a whiskey drink. She drinks… Willa really loves whiskey sours. Me too, but luckily I’m not stuck in a time loop. Willa, still dealing with the emotional fallout of breaking up with her (ex) fiancé two weeks before their wedding, is stuck in a time loop reliving the wedding of two of her friends over and over and over again. But, this is a Rachel Harrison novel, so there’s so much more going on. No spoilers though. Read the book when it’s out.
Rachel Harrison is one of the premier horror authors of our generation. Each novel she releases is the best book of the year and is somehow better than her last. Besides crafting interesting and terrifying stories, her characters and settings have a familiarity and realness that other authors just can’t accomplish. We all know a Willa and a Danny and a Ravi and so on.
One thing that stuck out to me and made me enjoy Kiss Slay Replay even more was how Harrison subtly weaves in references throughout the story. Camp Serling was brilliant. And while Willa was having Hudson Valley Nights, not Keasbey Nights, I’m assuming “…giving up, giving in…” was intentional. Granted, if you’ve ever read any of her books, you know she does an incredible job of this in them all.
This is, unsurprisingly, going to be my favorite book of the year. Kiss Slay Replay is a book about friendship, whiskey sours, time loops, and a whole lot of (redacted).
May 9, 2026
A couple of things you should know about me before reading this review:
1. Rachel Harrison is an auto-read author for me. If she writes it I will read it
2. I hate time loop stuff
1. Rachel Harrison is an auto read author for me. If she writes it I will(a) read it
2. I don’t like time loop stuff
1. Rachel Harrison is an auto-read author for me. If she writes it I will read it.
2. I don’t like most time loop stuff
This book was a lot of fun, also stressful. I was hesitant about the time loop stuff, but she did such a good job of making each loop unique and stressful. Have I mentioned time loops stress me out? I’ve read every Rachel Harrison book, and what I’ve noticed is her strength is truly in the way she writes her characters. She always writes them in a way that makes them seem real, like you actually know them. I instantly felt connected to these characters, they felt so real…which ya know… can be a bit gut punching in a horror book. After reading this one it definitely moved its way up to one of my favorites of hers…maybe even taking the first place spot? I’ll have to sit on it awhile. Anyway, 5/5.
1. Rachel Harrison is an auto-read author for me. If she writes it I will read it
2. I hate time loop stuff
1. Rachel Harrison is an auto read author for me. If she writes it I will(a) read it
2. I don’t like time loop stuff
1. Rachel Harrison is an auto-read author for me. If she writes it I will read it.
2. I don’t like most time loop stuff
This book was a lot of fun, also stressful. I was hesitant about the time loop stuff, but she did such a good job of making each loop unique and stressful. Have I mentioned time loops stress me out? I’ve read every Rachel Harrison book, and what I’ve noticed is her strength is truly in the way she writes her characters. She always writes them in a way that makes them seem real, like you actually know them. I instantly felt connected to these characters, they felt so real…which ya know… can be a bit gut punching in a horror book. After reading this one it definitely moved its way up to one of my favorites of hers…maybe even taking the first place spot? I’ll have to sit on it awhile. Anyway, 5/5.
April 13, 2026
First the standard big thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. This was high on my “I need it!” list.
I loved this. I think overall a 4.5 rounded up just because I honestly wish it were longer. But it was wonderful and so fast paced and I just loved it to pieces. It was not entirely what I was expecting and that made it so much better. I love me a time loop and this delivered!
I really don’t want to give much away and after reading Harrison’s acknowledgments, I realized why I loved it so much.
I highly recommend this! It’s weird and bananas in the best of ways. It’s a fun ride!
I loved this. I think overall a 4.5 rounded up just because I honestly wish it were longer. But it was wonderful and so fast paced and I just loved it to pieces. It was not entirely what I was expecting and that made it so much better. I love me a time loop and this delivered!
I really don’t want to give much away and after reading Harrison’s acknowledgments, I realized why I loved it so much.
I highly recommend this! It’s weird and bananas in the best of ways. It’s a fun ride!
Want to Read
April 9, 2026pre-read notes:
Thank you so much Berkley for the ARC of this!! It sounds absolutely unhinged and I can't wait to read it. 🤭✨
🗓️Expected publication: September 8, 2026
Thank you so much Berkley for the ARC of this!! It sounds absolutely unhinged and I can't wait to read it. 🤭✨
🗓️Expected publication: September 8, 2026
Currently Reading
May 18, 2026Reading for review in a future issue of Booklist.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kiss Slay Replay Rachel Harrison
Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Rachel Harrison for the ARC
★★★★½ A sharp and emotionally charged horror time loop that blends slasher-movie chaos with heartbreak and self-discovery, delivering a wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt ride.
Rachel Harrison has done it again with Kiss, Slay, Replay—a horror novel that’s equal parts slasher, emotional spiral, and existential crisis wrapped up in a blood-soaked time loop. It’s funny, unsettling, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once, and I ended up absolutely hooked by Willa’s journey.
The story follows Willa, who is already struggling long before the horror even begins. Fresh off a devastating breakup and questioning pretty much every aspect of her life, she arrives at a wedding already emotionally exhausted and unsure of who she is anymore. The wedding itself takes place at this grand summer camp turned lakeside wedding venue, complete with cabins, woods, and the exact kind of atmosphere you’d expect from a classic Friday the 13th-style horror movie. It instantly sets the tone perfectly.
Then she starts to feel things are off, then people start dying.
What follows is essentially a horror version of Groundhog Day, with Willa trapped reliving the wedding over and over again. But what I really loved was how each loop feels different, not just in outcome but in tone and theme as well. Every reset reveals something new, whether it’s about the mystery itself, the people around her, or Willa’s own emotional state. It keeps the time-loop concept feeling fresh instead of repetitive, which can be difficult to pull off.
One of the most creative aspects of the book for me was the decision to restart from Chapter One with every new loop. It sounds like a small thing, but it genuinely worked so well and really reinforced the cyclical nature of the story. It made each new timeline feel like its own version of events while still maintaining the growing tension underneath everything.
The supporting cast also felt intentionally familiar in the best way possible. You’ve got the stereotypical horror movie archetypes—the jock, the stoner, the effortlessly pretty one—but Harrison gives them enough personality and emotional depth that they never feel one-dimensional. The group dynamics feel believable, messy, and often painfully relatable, you end up connected to the characters in ways other authors simply miss the mark on.
At its core though, this story is really about reconciliation, grief, and moving forward. Beneath all the murder, looping timelines, and horror elements, there’s a deeply emotional story about learning how to let go of the past, face your problems head on, and figure out how to keep living when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Willa’s internal struggles felt incredibly human, and I found myself really rooting for her by the climax of the story.
I did have one small issue with the pacing during certain action-heavy scenes. Occasionally it felt like a moment or transition was missing, and I had to go back and reread parts to make sure I hadn’t skipped something accidentally. It slightly disrupted the flow at times, but honestly not enough to pull me out of the story overall.
Rachel Harrison continues to be one of the stand out voices in horror because she understands that the emotional core of a story is just as important as the scares. Kiss, Slay, Replay balances both beautifully, delivering a story that is creepy, funny, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful underneath all the bloodshed.
Overall, Kiss, Slay, Replay is a clever and emotionally layered horror novel that combines the chaos of a slasher movie with the introspection of a time-loop story. Rachel Harrison takes a familiar concept and keeps it feeling fresh by making each loop distinct, both in tone and outcome, while grounding everything in Willa’s deeply relatable emotional struggles. The summer-camp wedding setting gives the book a classic horror-movie atmosphere, complete with archetypal characters and mounting tension, but beneath the bloodshed and dark humour is a story about grief, heartbreak, self-worth, and learning how to move forward. While a few action sequences occasionally felt slightly abrupt, the strong character work, creative structure, and emotional core more than made up for it. Funny, unsettling, heartfelt, and surprisingly hopeful, this is one of Harrison’s most entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novels yet. A wildly entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novel that I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Thanks to Netgalley, Titan Books and Rachel Harrison for the ARC
★★★★½ A sharp and emotionally charged horror time loop that blends slasher-movie chaos with heartbreak and self-discovery, delivering a wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt ride.
Rachel Harrison has done it again with Kiss, Slay, Replay—a horror novel that’s equal parts slasher, emotional spiral, and existential crisis wrapped up in a blood-soaked time loop. It’s funny, unsettling, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once, and I ended up absolutely hooked by Willa’s journey.
The story follows Willa, who is already struggling long before the horror even begins. Fresh off a devastating breakup and questioning pretty much every aspect of her life, she arrives at a wedding already emotionally exhausted and unsure of who she is anymore. The wedding itself takes place at this grand summer camp turned lakeside wedding venue, complete with cabins, woods, and the exact kind of atmosphere you’d expect from a classic Friday the 13th-style horror movie. It instantly sets the tone perfectly.
Then she starts to feel things are off, then people start dying.
What follows is essentially a horror version of Groundhog Day, with Willa trapped reliving the wedding over and over again. But what I really loved was how each loop feels different, not just in outcome but in tone and theme as well. Every reset reveals something new, whether it’s about the mystery itself, the people around her, or Willa’s own emotional state. It keeps the time-loop concept feeling fresh instead of repetitive, which can be difficult to pull off.
One of the most creative aspects of the book for me was the decision to restart from Chapter One with every new loop. It sounds like a small thing, but it genuinely worked so well and really reinforced the cyclical nature of the story. It made each new timeline feel like its own version of events while still maintaining the growing tension underneath everything.
The supporting cast also felt intentionally familiar in the best way possible. You’ve got the stereotypical horror movie archetypes—the jock, the stoner, the effortlessly pretty one—but Harrison gives them enough personality and emotional depth that they never feel one-dimensional. The group dynamics feel believable, messy, and often painfully relatable, you end up connected to the characters in ways other authors simply miss the mark on.
At its core though, this story is really about reconciliation, grief, and moving forward. Beneath all the murder, looping timelines, and horror elements, there’s a deeply emotional story about learning how to let go of the past, face your problems head on, and figure out how to keep living when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Willa’s internal struggles felt incredibly human, and I found myself really rooting for her by the climax of the story.
I did have one small issue with the pacing during certain action-heavy scenes. Occasionally it felt like a moment or transition was missing, and I had to go back and reread parts to make sure I hadn’t skipped something accidentally. It slightly disrupted the flow at times, but honestly not enough to pull me out of the story overall.
Rachel Harrison continues to be one of the stand out voices in horror because she understands that the emotional core of a story is just as important as the scares. Kiss, Slay, Replay balances both beautifully, delivering a story that is creepy, funny, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful underneath all the bloodshed.
Overall, Kiss, Slay, Replay is a clever and emotionally layered horror novel that combines the chaos of a slasher movie with the introspection of a time-loop story. Rachel Harrison takes a familiar concept and keeps it feeling fresh by making each loop distinct, both in tone and outcome, while grounding everything in Willa’s deeply relatable emotional struggles. The summer-camp wedding setting gives the book a classic horror-movie atmosphere, complete with archetypal characters and mounting tension, but beneath the bloodshed and dark humour is a story about grief, heartbreak, self-worth, and learning how to move forward. While a few action sequences occasionally felt slightly abrupt, the strong character work, creative structure, and emotional core more than made up for it. Funny, unsettling, heartfelt, and surprisingly hopeful, this is one of Harrison’s most entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novels yet. A wildly entertaining and emotionally resonant horror novel that I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’re addicted to Rachel Harrison’s slasher-horror thrillers with dark comedy vibes, this book will feel like a dream come true. Especially if you love time loops—but not the light, comedic kind like Groundhog Day. Think more along the lines of Happy Death Day—a brutal, high-stakes loop where our heroine finds herself cast as the “final girl”… except her survival rate is far from guaranteed.
Every time she dies, she wakes up back in her bedroom, just before the wedding day, greeted by her house cat’s worried stare and her own rising panic. And each time, the challenge escalates—more bizarre, bloodier, more terrifying, packed with genuine jump-scare moments. Did I sell the concept? Because honestly, you should absolutely go for it. Harrison delivers a wildly entertaining ride.
Now imagine a time loop colliding with a full-on slasher movie. We follow Willa Sullivan, a depressed heroine who recently ended her engagement with her long-time boyfriend Ravi. She attends her best friend’s wedding, already on edge—only to spiral further when she sees Ravi there with his new girlfriend, Tanya. But that emotional chaos quickly becomes the least of her problems.
The celebration turns into a nightmare when masked strangers in balaclavas storm the venue, armed with sharp weapons and unleashing a gruesome massacre—carving out eyes, attacking guests, and turning the wedding into pure horror. In the midst of it all, Willa meets Danny, a charming and seemingly perfect stranger who promises to stay by her side. But when the killing begins and there’s nowhere to escape, Willa realizes she’s trapped in a deadly loop—one that keeps ending in her own death.
Why is this happening? Is it psychological? Is she losing her grip on reality? Or is something far more sinister at play? And most importantly—can she break the cycle, or is she doomed to die over and over again?
The book delivers a fast-paced, chaotic, and addictive experience—packed with action, dark humor, escalating tension, and a surprisingly engaging chemistry between Willa and Danny.
The only aspect that slightly held me back was the explanation behind the time loop—it didn’t fully land for me. That said, the execution, pacing, and sheer entertainment value more than made up for it. The final act gets a bit far-fetched, but it’s still incredibly fun. I’m rounding my rating up from 4.5 to a solid 5 stars because I genuinely enjoyed the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Every time she dies, she wakes up back in her bedroom, just before the wedding day, greeted by her house cat’s worried stare and her own rising panic. And each time, the challenge escalates—more bizarre, bloodier, more terrifying, packed with genuine jump-scare moments. Did I sell the concept? Because honestly, you should absolutely go for it. Harrison delivers a wildly entertaining ride.
Now imagine a time loop colliding with a full-on slasher movie. We follow Willa Sullivan, a depressed heroine who recently ended her engagement with her long-time boyfriend Ravi. She attends her best friend’s wedding, already on edge—only to spiral further when she sees Ravi there with his new girlfriend, Tanya. But that emotional chaos quickly becomes the least of her problems.
The celebration turns into a nightmare when masked strangers in balaclavas storm the venue, armed with sharp weapons and unleashing a gruesome massacre—carving out eyes, attacking guests, and turning the wedding into pure horror. In the midst of it all, Willa meets Danny, a charming and seemingly perfect stranger who promises to stay by her side. But when the killing begins and there’s nowhere to escape, Willa realizes she’s trapped in a deadly loop—one that keeps ending in her own death.
Why is this happening? Is it psychological? Is she losing her grip on reality? Or is something far more sinister at play? And most importantly—can she break the cycle, or is she doomed to die over and over again?
The book delivers a fast-paced, chaotic, and addictive experience—packed with action, dark humor, escalating tension, and a surprisingly engaging chemistry between Willa and Danny.
The only aspect that slightly held me back was the explanation behind the time loop—it didn’t fully land for me. That said, the execution, pacing, and sheer entertainment value more than made up for it. The final act gets a bit far-fetched, but it’s still incredibly fun. I’m rounding my rating up from 4.5 to a solid 5 stars because I genuinely enjoyed the ride.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
May 22, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🎥 are obsessed with horror films
😵💫 have ever experienced Déjà vu
🎂 enjoyed the movie Happy Death Day
😰 would hate to run into your ex at a wedding
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
It’s the picture-perfect wedding weekend: The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends’ finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
Rachel Harrison never misses for me, so I knew this was going to be another incredible read! This one gave me Happy Death Day vibes in all the best ways! Willa is a highly relatable character, dealing with the cruel realities of a breakup. Everyone in her life is clearly over it though, especially since she was the one who did the breaking up. When she arrives at her best friend’s wedding, the air is heavy with tension, and then she finds out that her ex is there with a new girlfriend. Completely thrown, Willa escapes to the woods for a breather, and that’s when everything gets thrown into whack. I was fully expecting the killer from her first timeline to appear again and again, but to my surprise, every day was a brand new horror! It honestly made the book more enjoyable because I never knew what might happen. I also enjoyed watching Willa mature and get past her demons (after facing some real ones). Rachel does a fantastic job of mixing horror with comedy and drama!
🎥 are obsessed with horror films
😵💫 have ever experienced Déjà vu
🎂 enjoyed the movie Happy Death Day
😰 would hate to run into your ex at a wedding
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
It’s the picture-perfect wedding weekend: The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends’ finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
Rachel Harrison never misses for me, so I knew this was going to be another incredible read! This one gave me Happy Death Day vibes in all the best ways! Willa is a highly relatable character, dealing with the cruel realities of a breakup. Everyone in her life is clearly over it though, especially since she was the one who did the breaking up. When she arrives at her best friend’s wedding, the air is heavy with tension, and then she finds out that her ex is there with a new girlfriend. Completely thrown, Willa escapes to the woods for a breather, and that’s when everything gets thrown into whack. I was fully expecting the killer from her first timeline to appear again and again, but to my surprise, every day was a brand new horror! It honestly made the book more enjoyable because I never knew what might happen. I also enjoyed watching Willa mature and get past her demons (after facing some real ones). Rachel does a fantastic job of mixing horror with comedy and drama!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kiss Slay Replay is a time loop horror novel about a woman who goes to her friend's wedding, only to find herself replaying the day over and over, with a new nightmare each time. Willa is struggling, having recently broken up with her ex-fiancé, but when her best friends are getting married, she needs to put that behind her for the day, even though said ex will be at the wedding. When she gets there, she finds out he brought a date, but then Willa meets a charming friend of the groom, and maybe she'll have a good time after all. That is, until a masked slasher appears and starts killing the wedding guests. Despite Willa's best efforts, things don't go well, but then she wakes up in her bed on the morning of the wedding, and it becomes apparent things aren't going as expected.
Having read quite a few of Rachel Harrison's other books, I was expecting light high concept horror, and that's very much what this is. The concept is a great crossover between a time-loop story and a range of classic horror tropes, bringing something a bit different to a story that might initially seem like a time-loop romcom. I liked how each loop had a different 'bad guy', so it wasn't about learning how to be good at the loop and had a lot more space for ridiculous scary things. There could have maybe been a few more loops just to play around with the potential for dark comedy, but I did like how the narrative wasn't focused on her having to keep making the same mistakes to learn from. Nevertheless, due to the concept, there is some nice character development for Willa amongst all the silliness.
This is very much a book that does what it says on the tin, offering a fun time that still centres around a character with some depth as she attempts to imagine herself having a future after a break up. It isn't full of explanations for why things are happening, but instead you just have to go along for the (repeating) ride.
Having read quite a few of Rachel Harrison's other books, I was expecting light high concept horror, and that's very much what this is. The concept is a great crossover between a time-loop story and a range of classic horror tropes, bringing something a bit different to a story that might initially seem like a time-loop romcom. I liked how each loop had a different 'bad guy', so it wasn't about learning how to be good at the loop and had a lot more space for ridiculous scary things. There could have maybe been a few more loops just to play around with the potential for dark comedy, but I did like how the narrative wasn't focused on her having to keep making the same mistakes to learn from. Nevertheless, due to the concept, there is some nice character development for Willa amongst all the silliness.
This is very much a book that does what it says on the tin, offering a fun time that still centres around a character with some depth as she attempts to imagine herself having a future after a break up. It isn't full of explanations for why things are happening, but instead you just have to go along for the (repeating) ride.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rachel Harrison does it again! A highly entertaining and bloody story, but with real meaning beneath it all. If you know me, you know I am utterly obsessed with Rachel. Her books always entertain, always have relatable characters with real-feeling dialogue, and always have some deeper meaning beneath an unhinged story. This one, perhaps, hit closest to home out of all of her books, for me. It's also the most unhinged story yet! There was actually a passage (I took a picture for myself but can't share) that made my eyes tear up because I just so related to Willa and how she was feeling in that moment.... a little broken, a little lost, a little "will I ever be happy?" Willa is attending the wedding of her two college friends when a killer terrorizes the reception. When she dies, bang, she wakes up in her bed and starts the day over. Willa is stuck in a time loop, forced to attend the wedding she is dreading over and over again, and forced to die each time to restart the loop. Somewhere in here, there are lessons for Willa to learn if she ever wants to break out of the loop. Friends.... I just loved this so much! Rachel's writing is witty and relatable, entertaining and wild, but poignant and important. There are reminders written into this book that I know I needed to hear. I think this book has the potential to touch a lot of readers on an emotional level. Not to mention the skill in writing a time loop book, attention to detail, and creativity. And of course, we love unhinged bloodbaths as well as grumpy cat characters. Incredible job. Thank you Rachel for writing this one, I needed it.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC! Book releases 9/8/26.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC! Book releases 9/8/26.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75 stars
After adoring Play Nice last year, I knew that whatever Rachel Harrison wrote next I would 100% be on board. So, to hear that she was taking on a time loop story absolutely made my day.
Let's just say, Happy Death Day is one of my favourite campy, fun horror movies, and I was hoping for similar vibes with this. And I’ve got to say, it met my expectations while giving me a few things that I didn’t expect.
Once the first day played out, I had a feeling I knew how it would go. Yet, I really appreciated that the monster or murderer changed drastically each time and that it leaned into some of the slightly more obscure horror movie tropes and villains.
I will say, my least favourite iteration of the day was probably the woodland sprites massacre, but I enjoyed the rest and that I had no idea where the next day would take Willa and our characters.
I also appreciated Willa’s character development as it got towards the end, as well as the way that it highlighted her struggle with anxiety and moving into a new chapter in her life.
The realistic relationships between her and her friends, as well as her run ins with Ravi, were done well. And I’ve got to say, I was rooting for her and Danny ever since that first day.
The reimagined summer camp wedding setting was brilliant, too.
I’ll definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After adoring Play Nice last year, I knew that whatever Rachel Harrison wrote next I would 100% be on board. So, to hear that she was taking on a time loop story absolutely made my day.
Let's just say, Happy Death Day is one of my favourite campy, fun horror movies, and I was hoping for similar vibes with this. And I’ve got to say, it met my expectations while giving me a few things that I didn’t expect.
Once the first day played out, I had a feeling I knew how it would go. Yet, I really appreciated that the monster or murderer changed drastically each time and that it leaned into some of the slightly more obscure horror movie tropes and villains.
I will say, my least favourite iteration of the day was probably the woodland sprites massacre, but I enjoyed the rest and that I had no idea where the next day would take Willa and our characters.
I also appreciated Willa’s character development as it got towards the end, as well as the way that it highlighted her struggle with anxiety and moving into a new chapter in her life.
The realistic relationships between her and her friends, as well as her run ins with Ravi, were done well. And I’ve got to say, I was rooting for her and Danny ever since that first day.
The reimagined summer camp wedding setting was brilliant, too.
I’ll definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rachel Harrison has once again used her magic to create a book with terror and humor while also being very rooted in the human experience, particularly that of young women. Willa has broken up with her long-term fiancé, Ravi. She is questioning herself about whether or not she did the right thing while bracing herself for seeing him again at their college friends' wedding. She makes it upstate to the wedding only to have it end in death and misery when a slasher crashes the wedding. Willa wakes up and repeats the day, over and over, with different but still horrifying endings.
What could be a wedding horror story with the clever twist of a time loop becomes an examination of uncertainty, anxiety, and the need to replay the past in our heads, wondering if we could have changed it. Doubting ourselves and taking the easiest path can lead to as much disaster as taking a risk and maybe making a mistake. In the midst of all of the emotion and horror, is a reminder that life is worth living.
The book is fast paced and suspenseful as Willa and her friends face increasingly high stakes. The characters are well-developed and bring their own joy, love, insecurities, and fears to what should be the happiest day in a young couple's life. As with all of Rachel Harrison's books, you will miss them when the book ends.
What could be a wedding horror story with the clever twist of a time loop becomes an examination of uncertainty, anxiety, and the need to replay the past in our heads, wondering if we could have changed it. Doubting ourselves and taking the easiest path can lead to as much disaster as taking a risk and maybe making a mistake. In the midst of all of the emotion and horror, is a reminder that life is worth living.
The book is fast paced and suspenseful as Willa and her friends face increasingly high stakes. The characters are well-developed and bring their own joy, love, insecurities, and fears to what should be the happiest day in a young couple's life. As with all of Rachel Harrison's books, you will miss them when the book ends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Harrison does it again. Representing Rachel's from Jersey, I am proud to be part of her pack. Everyone of Rachel Harrison's books is so unique and yet exactly her voice. And it becomes (better) and more pronounced in each book as she puts them out into the world. From possessions to witches to werewolves, vampires, haunted houses and now, time loops. I always worry with time loops that I am going to get annoyed by the repetition, but Harrison gives you just enough to remind you that it's the same day. She takes a situation we have all dealt with, feelings and anxieties we have all felt and asks... how can we escalate this... I don't want to give anything away because you need to go out and pre-order this little beasty. It's the horror of not only surviving through a huge social event with your ex but then add in murder and mayhem. Then do it again. and again. and again.
I could hear Rachel's voice through it all, she always has an independent kick ass amazing FMC who doesn't know what they are capable of until they are PUT THROUGH IT and as Harrison points out... "the only way out, is through."
Cheers to one of my favorite Rachel's, and also, are you okay? This book was filled with raw emotion that felt like it had to come from somewhere real.
I could hear Rachel's voice through it all, she always has an independent kick ass amazing FMC who doesn't know what they are capable of until they are PUT THROUGH IT and as Harrison points out... "the only way out, is through."
Cheers to one of my favorite Rachel's, and also, are you okay? This book was filled with raw emotion that felt like it had to come from somewhere real.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy from Netgalley
What's worse than going to a wedding single?
A. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at?
B. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend?
C. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend and you're having a wardrobe malfunction?
Or D. All of the above plus a killer is after you and you're repeating the same day over and over?
Find out the answer in Kiss Slay Replay! Rachel Harrison's new novel is a tongue-in-cheek, gory exploration of modern relationships (romantic and otherwise), and what effect your decisions have on the life you're destined to lead. I loved this one because it had both horrifying and hilarious moments, but real heart and emotions. Willa is a brilliant flawed narrator as she learns her Groundhog Day lessons about herself whilst saving the lives of those around her.
I really love when an author explores different sub genres in each of their stories, and for me this one absolutely worked. I'd definitely recommend to any existing fans of Rachel's work, anyone going through a period of transition, and anyone who enjoys their horror just a little bit funny.
Thanks again to Titan and Netgalley for this ARC.
What's worse than going to a wedding single?
A. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at?
B. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend?
C. Going to a wedding single that your ex-fiancé will be at with his new girlfriend and you're having a wardrobe malfunction?
Or D. All of the above plus a killer is after you and you're repeating the same day over and over?
Find out the answer in Kiss Slay Replay! Rachel Harrison's new novel is a tongue-in-cheek, gory exploration of modern relationships (romantic and otherwise), and what effect your decisions have on the life you're destined to lead. I loved this one because it had both horrifying and hilarious moments, but real heart and emotions. Willa is a brilliant flawed narrator as she learns her Groundhog Day lessons about herself whilst saving the lives of those around her.
I really love when an author explores different sub genres in each of their stories, and for me this one absolutely worked. I'd definitely recommend to any existing fans of Rachel's work, anyone going through a period of transition, and anyone who enjoys their horror just a little bit funny.
Thanks again to Titan and Netgalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My dream came true and I was finally approved for a Rachel Harrison ARC…3rd times the charm! Usually, I kinda sit on my ARCs until it’s closer to the pub date, but I couldn’t wait to read Kiss Slay Replay, one of my most anticipated books of the year (out 9/8/26)!
I don’t know if my reviews of Rachel’s books can be considered biased at this point, cause I love everything she writes, but this was another banger!
This is a time loop novel with unique twists, awesome gore, humor, likable characters, and a lot of heart.
I fell in love with this cast of college friends! I love how real adult relationships were represented, it’s hard to balance life and friendships sometimes.
Willa, our main character, has a lot to figure out while recovering from her heart break, and I loved sharing that journey with her.
Rachel is able to balance gore, horror, and personal growth so seamlessly. I have been “going through it” lately and I found myself highlighting a lot because so much resonated with me, I felt like I was right there with Willa🖤
I cannot wait for everyone to read this one, because I need to talk about it!
💋 🔪 🔁
Easy 5 ⭐️!!
((MASSIVE thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Book Publishing for granting me early access to this masterpiece!))
I don’t know if my reviews of Rachel’s books can be considered biased at this point, cause I love everything she writes, but this was another banger!
This is a time loop novel with unique twists, awesome gore, humor, likable characters, and a lot of heart.
I fell in love with this cast of college friends! I love how real adult relationships were represented, it’s hard to balance life and friendships sometimes.
Willa, our main character, has a lot to figure out while recovering from her heart break, and I loved sharing that journey with her.
Rachel is able to balance gore, horror, and personal growth so seamlessly. I have been “going through it” lately and I found myself highlighting a lot because so much resonated with me, I felt like I was right there with Willa🖤
I cannot wait for everyone to read this one, because I need to talk about it!
💋 🔪 🔁
Easy 5 ⭐️!!
((MASSIVE thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Book Publishing for granting me early access to this masterpiece!))
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