Book Review: Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Fiction/Horror

Pub. Date: September 1, 2026

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Play Nice

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "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.

 

 

Willa lives alone in her apartment in Jersey City. Since she broke up with her fiancé, Ravi, things have been kind of depressing. She has a wedding to go to this weekend in the Hudson Valley along with all of her college friends. This should be a fun time to reconnect, but she is dreading it because Ravi will be there. Once she gets to this remote wedding venue that used to be a summer camp, things are a little strange. One awful thing happens after another, and she and her friends die a horrible death. This is the time loop that Willa finds herself in, and after each death, she wakes up back in her bed in Jersey City. Each new scenario brings a different perspective on her breakup, her friendships, and even herself. Readers will be desperate to know whether Willa will ever escape this time loop and what fresh hell awaits her the next day. Rachel Harrison's Kiss Slay Replay isn't as scary as her haunted house story in Play Nice, but it is a fun take on a time loop novel and spooky enough to keep readers flipping the pages. 

 

Many readers will relate to Willa's anxiety about seeing her ex at the wedding and the tension that comes with managing old friendships on such an emotionally charged occasion. Layer on the suspense of the gruesome fate that repeatedly befalls her and her friends, and the stakes feel even higher. Willa’s desperate attempts to escape the time loop raise urgent questions: Why is this happening? What if she refuses to attend the wedding? Can she change the outcome? Is anyone else trapped with her? These mysteries kept me eagerly turning the pages of Kiss Slay Replay.

 

After a while, due to the repetitive nature, some of the horror hijinks became less scary and a little bit silly. Nonetheless, if you like a spooky read in the fall season, Kiss Slay Replay is a good choice if you want something entertaining without scaring you to the point that you can't sleep! Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of Rachel Harrison and if you have read Kiss Slay Replay or plan to this fall.

  

10 Books to Read in October

 

Is it me, or did September just fly by? I blinked, and suddenly it’s spooky season! Time to break out the thrillers, scary reads, and maybe even a few early holiday novels. This month brings a wonderful variety of books—there’s something here for everyone.

 

1. What Happens at Nightfall by Lauren Willig (10/6)

 "A delightfully Gothic romantic adventure, complete with a little bit of demon-hunting."

 

 

2. Counting Down to You by Emily Stone (10/6)

"A bittersweet Christmas countdown opens the door to healing, hope . . . and maybe even love."

 

 

3. Eight Ways to Say I Love You by Amanda Elliot (10/27)

"A spark of attraction burns brighter each year between childhood friends in this sweeping Hanukkah romance."

 

 

4. Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory (10/20)

This novel tells the historical story of Eleanor Cobham, a modest woman who rises to become a powerful duchess.  "Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?"

 

 

5. Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey (10/6)

"A gripping, heated romance about a girl trapped in a new reality, forced to make a choice between two brothers—one who is the high school golden boy, the other sworn to hunt down her kind—time travelers."

 

 

6. The Witch by Freida McFadden (10/6)

"A chilling, twist-filled thriller about secrets--those we inherit, those we bury, and those people will burn to keep silent."

 

 

7. Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus (10/13)

"An irresistible, delightful, and tender literary novel set in the publishing world of 1980s New York City about a young man whose life turns upside down when he is hired by the most prestigious, secretive, and dysfunctional poetry journal in the world: the renowned Peck & Peck."

 

 

8. Partita by Barbara Kingsolver (10/6)

"A story of a brief, passionate, life-changing love affair, wrapped up in what might be the greatest romance of all: our eternal human longing for art and beauty."

 

 

9. Samantha: The Next Chapter by Fiona Davis (10/13)

"From American Girl and New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis comes the next chapter of Samantha Parkington's story--now an adult searching for justice after her legacy is stolen in New York City in 1920." 

 

 

10. A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas (10/27)

"Romance, danger, and intrigue await you in the breathtaking sixth book in the #1 bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series."

 

Which books are on your October TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.  

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Feels Like Falling

Feels Like Falling by Abby Jimenez

Pub. Date: April 20, 2027

 

 

Goodreads says, "She’s spent her life taking care of everyone else. He’s determined to be the one to take care of her.

Elizabeth is sick of always having to be the reliable one―for her dad, for her disabled sister, for her best friend. Just once, she’d love to be able to lean on someone else, to do something for herself instead of worrying about everyone else.

Mike Maddox has a lot of amends to make. His past has cost him his best friend, and now his job could be on the line. His coworker Elizabeth can't stand him, and he doesn't even blame her. But Mike has always had a thing for Elizabeth. And if he can convince her he’s changed, maybe there’s hope. Showing up for her is easy. Doing things for her sister, remembering the special occasions everyone around her forgets. Gaining Elizabeth's trust heals something in him he didn't think could be fixed.

Bit by bit, day by day, Elizabeth begins to realize that maybe there’s more to Mike than she thought possible. Falling for him is the easy part, but trusting herself when everyone else says she’s wrong might be the hardest thing she's ever done."

 

Did you all see that Abby Jimenez has a new novel coming out this spring? Sounds like another hit from one of my favorite romance authors. And did you get a look at that gorgeous cover?

 

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal

 

Spooky season is almost here! Today, I’m excited to share Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal by Ryan Cowan, a new chapter book that's perfect for this time of the year. With 31 chapters, it's ideal for counting down to Halloween—one chapter each day!

The book also has a companion activity book created by Ryan Cowan, an experienced educator. Designed for students in grades 3–5, it’s a fun way to count down to Halloween while building reading comprehension skills. How fun is that?

 

Learn More About the Book: 

 

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal

Written by Ryan Cowan | Illustrated by Halo Rife

Ages: 8-12 | 252 Pages

Publisher: For the Northern Star Publishing (2019) | ISBN-13: 979-8351181905 (Hardback) and 978-1097952779 (Paperback)

Publisher's Book Summary: "Elliott attends his third-grade class like any other boy, except that Elliott isn't like any other boy. Endowed with magical powers, Elliott belongs to a secret world called Moonstone—and trouble is brewing. When the evil witch Noir steals The Halloween Crystal, it's up to Elliott and his third-grade teacher, Mr. Moonbeam, to stop Noir from invading the non-magical world on Halloween night. But can Elliott learn to master his powers in time? Designed with 31 chapters so that parents, teachers, and students can read one chapter a day throughout the month of October!"

You can purchase your own copy of Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal at Bookshop and Amazon. To learn more about Ryan Cowan, connect with him on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and his Amazon Author page. 

 

 

 

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal: Activity Book/Novel Study – Grades 3-5 

Written by Ryan Cowan | Illustrated by Halo Rife

Ages: 8-12 | 71 Pages

Publisher: For the Northern Star Publishing (2021) | ISBN-13: 979-8761758414

Publisher's Book Summary: "A Novel Study for Improving Reading Comprehension: This activity book includes a series of lessons designed to accompany the award-winning, middle grade book, Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal. The standards-based questions cover all levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and are appropriate for grades 3-5. Complete one lesson a day for 31 days leading up to Halloween!"

You can purchase the Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal Activity Book at Amazon and Teachers Pay Teachers.  

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Ryan Cowan to host an exciting giveaway. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win a signed Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal book set! Click the above graphic to enter the giveaway.

Ten winners will each receive a signed hardcover copy of the novel paired with its companion Activity Book. One grand-prize winner will receive an exclusive Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal T-shirt, plus a signed, out-of-print copy of the original edition featuring its original cover design.  Good luck!

Book Review: The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

Pages: 464

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: September 15, 2026

Publisher: Little, Brown, and Co.

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Authors: The Academy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "It's the start of another school year at Tiffin, with our favorite characters from The Academy returning for senior year - "sixth form" in Tiffin‑speak - a time of college admissions and trying not to crack under pressure, of partying hard and last hurrahs.

In the wake of Honey Vandermeid's exit, will the new college counselor be up to the task? What do the cards hold in store for Tiffin's It couple, Charley and East? What will become of underground speakeasy Priorities? And what was in Cinnamon Peters's final email?

Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham answer these burning questions and more in The Thoroughbreds, a page‑turning story about friendship, treachery, ambition, and sacrifice.

 

 

 

It's senior year at Tiffin Academy, and you know what that means: SATs, college applications, and the last of all the fun parties. Senior year is shaping up to be a fun one, but Tiffin Academy's favorite couple, Charley and East, seem to be disagreeing a lot about things lately. Plus, Dub and Hakeem, the resident football players and best friends, also seem on the outs. Then enter new girl, Pippa Sacks, who is a day student, but is upsetting the apple cart at Tiffin Academy along with Liam, another new student. Audre Robinson is still Head of School, but is dealing with some financial difficulties that are threatening Tiffin's very existence. Then there's also Cinnamon's email to Dub before she died. What did it say, and has Dub opened it yet? Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham's The Thoroughbreds, book two in The Academy series, is a fun and frothy novel that will keep readers flipping the pages; it's perfect for readers who love a boarding school story.

If you read The Academy, you’ll recognize all the familiar characters and the drama each one brings. The Thoroughbreds features many other characters that I didn't even mention, including Olivia H-T, Davi, Cordelia, Taylor, Rhode, and others. With so many characters and plotlines to follow, it can be a lot to keep track of. The authors, Hilderbrand and Cunningham, often break the narrative into short sections. This approach allows readers to quickly move through the story, but it also makes it challenging to explore any one character in depth. Despite this, the format works well in The Thoroughbreds, and each character has a significant journey to navigate during their senior year.

I love a good boarding school story, especially in the fall, and Hilderbrand and Cunningham have captured a New England boarding school with its social hierarchy, its events, traditions, and even spring break at Harbour Island, Bahamas. The Thoroughbreds reminds me of Gossip Girl, in the very best way possible, and if you are looking for a light, soapy read to welcome the fall season, look no further. Pure fun!