🩸 Horror Fiction

Kiss Slay Replay

✍️ Rachel Harrison
Reader Score
4.7
(8 reviews)
$30.00
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A woman trapped in a wedding day time loop must survive a masked killer to escape eternal damnation.

The narrative focuses on Willa Sullivan’s struggle against an unrelenting supernatural threat during her best friends’ wedding. Harrison structures the plot around a temporal recurrence that forces the protagonist to relive a night of terror. The story draws on horror traditions involving masked attackers and cursed locations. Willa must utilize information from previous loops to identify patterns in the killer’s movements. The tension arises from her growing realization that the events are not mere dreams but a sinister trap. Danny acts as a key ally in her fight for survival. The novel examines themes of romantic betrayal and the psychological toll of repeated violence. Harrison uses the wedding setting to contrast domestic bliss with extreme gore. The resolution depends on Willa’s ability to decipher the rules of the loop.

Key Themes
time loop horror wedding nightmare masked killer survival
Literary Context

This novel fits within contemporary American horror fiction, published by Berkley Books in 2026. It draws on the tradition of slasher films and supernatural thrillers popular in recent decades. The setting of a dreamy wedding venue contrasts with the genre’s typical dark aesthetics.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Poppy Z' Brite · R.L. Stine · Kendare Blake · The 'Happy Death Day' franchise
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Berkley Books 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9798217188574

📝 Description: Kiss Slay Replay

Rachel Harrison, known for her New York Times bestselling titles So Thirsty and Play Nice, presents a twisty horror novel centered on Willa Sullivan. The narrative unfolds during a wedding weekend where Willa confronts the presence of her ex-fiancé and his new partner. This initial discomfort shifts when she connects with Danny, the groom’s childhood friend. Their private moment is shattered by a masked killer who attacks the reception guests. Willa and Danny attempt to protect their loved ones, but the violence proves relentless. The story employs a time loop structure, as Willa awakens to find herself back at the start of the wedding day. She must determine if her previous experience was a dream or a premonition. As uncanny coincidences accumulate, she realizes she is trapped in a cycle of carnage. Harrison organizes the plot around this recurring terror, forcing Willa to break the loop or remain an eternal guest. This book suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic tropes involving repeated timelines and survival horror. It may not appeal to those seeking straightforward romance or non-fiction narratives.

💎 Our verdict on Kiss Slay Replay

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Harrison delivers a tense, gore-soaked thriller that effectively utilizes the time-loop mechanic to heighten suspense rather than confuse. The juxtaposition of marital bliss with brutal murder creates a potent atmosphere of dread. However, this book is not for those seeking nuanced character development or subtle horror; it prioritizes plot mechanics and visceral thrills over deep emotional exploration. Readers expecting a traditional romance will be disappointed by the dominant horror elements. It is best suited for audiences who enjoy fast-paced, repetitive survival scenarios where the focus is on breaking the cycle through wit and observation rather than complex thematic depth.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave high-octane survival horror with a clever structural twist will find this title compelling. The appeal lies in the puzzle-box narrative, where the protagonist must use foreknowledge to outmaneuver an unrelenting masked killer. Fans of psychological tension and gothic tropes will appreciate the stark contrast between the celebratory wedding setting and the ensuing carnage. It offers a satisfying blend of supernatural mystery and visceral action, perfect for those who enjoy watching characters dissect the rules of their nightmare to survive. The dynamic between Willa and Danny adds necessary emotional stakes to the relentless violence, making the escape from eternal damnation feel earned rather than arbitrary.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —
⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Readers craving high-stakes survival horror and time-loop mysteries will find much to love here. If you prefer cozy romances, gentle slice-of-life tales, or straightforward non-fiction guides, this relentless cycle of violence and supernatural dread is likely not for you.

Reader rating

4.7
Based on 8 reviews
5
6
4
2
3
0
2
0
1
0
K
Karen B.
June 27, 2026

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. The cover feels thinner than expected. Still worth having on the shelf.

L
Linda N.
May 2, 2026

Grabbed it for a long flight. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Definitely recommend.

P
Paul S.
September 3, 2025
Worth every penny

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. If you like this kind of cooking, don't hesitate.

C
Caleb R.
August 9, 2025
A new favorite

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. The prose is clean and the scares land because the characters feel real. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. Glad I finally picked this up.

B
Brian W.
July 6, 2025
Dread done right

Got it as a gift for a friend who loves the genre. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. Highly recommend.

V
Victor A.
June 7, 2025

Was skeptical at first. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Belongs in any working kitchen.

G
Greg J.
June 21, 2025
Read it in one night

Arrived quickly and well packaged. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. Glad I finally picked this up.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While a budding connection exists, the plot prioritizes survival. The romantic elements are secondary to the terrifying time-loop mystery and the relentless pursuit by the masked killer.
Absolutely not. This is a horror novel where the wedding serves as the backdrop for a deadly, recurring nightmare. Expect gore, suspense, and psychological tension rather than celebratory joy.

📖 Who should read this

Readers craving high-stakes survival horror and time-loop mysteries will find much to love here. If you prefer cozy romances, gentle slice-of-life tales, or straightforward non-fiction guides, this relentless cycle of violence and supernatural dread is likely not for you.

📜 Historical context

Rachel Harrison weaves a modern tapestry that honors classic gothic traditions while innovating with temporal mechanics. By embedding the narrative within a wedding setting, she subverts tropes of union into scenes of carnage, echoing Slasher film roots. The time-loop structure recalls foundational supernatural fiction, where repeated trauma becomes the only path to salvation. This blend of romantic disaster and metaphysical entrapment places it firmly within contemporary horror that challenges the boundary between fate and free will.

✍️ More books by this author Rachel Harrison

All books by this author →
Carnage Unending
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Rachel Harrison
Carnage Unending
$17.99
78
Read →
The Light We Made: What We Gained With Light - And What We Lost with Night -27%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Rachel Harrison
The Light We Made: What We Gained With Light - And What We Lost with Night
$15.99 $22.00
81
Read →
Let's Do It: A Life of Music, Mountains & the Magic of Saying Yes
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.3
Rachel Harrison
Let's Do It: A Life of Music, Mountains & the Magic of Saying Yes
$8.99
69
Read →
Play Nice -39%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Rachel Harrison
Play Nice
$20.00 $33.00
86
Read →
So Thirsty -26%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Rachel Harrison
So Thirsty
$19.00 $26.00
81
Read →
So Thirsty
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Rachel Harrison
So Thirsty
$36.00
81
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Berkley Books

All books from this publisher →
Sucker Punch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Laurell K Hamilton
Sucker Punch
$9.99
81
Read →
Rafael
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Laurell K Hamilton
Rafael
$12.99
78
Read →
Slay
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Laurell K Hamilton
Slay
$28.00
78
Read →
Vampires of El Norte
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Isabel Canas
Vampires of El Norte
$28.00
81
Read →
The Whistler
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nick Medina
The Whistler
$20.00
81
Read →
The Nesting
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
C J Cooke
The Nesting
$16.00
86
Read →

You might also like

See more →
So Thirsty 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
6
Rachel Harrison
So Thirsty
$29.00
86
Read →
The Light We Made: What We Gained With Light - And What We Lost with Night -27%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Rachel Harrison
The Light We Made: What We Gained With Light - And What We Lost with Night
$15.99 $22.00
81
Read →
These Walls Remember ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
del Sandeen
These Walls Remember
$30.00
86
Read →
The Devil Knows Her Name ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
C N Vair
The Devil Knows Her Name
$30.00
86
Read →
A Box Full of Darkness 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.7
7
Simone St. James
A Box Full of Darkness
$30.00
86
Read →
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
2
Grady Hendrix
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
$30.00
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist