Author: Brian McAuley
Format: Digital
Platform: NetGalley
Device: Kobo Libra Color
ISBN: 9781464238208
Pages: 304
Available Formats: Digital, Paperback, Audiobook
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Author Website: https://www.brianmcwriter.com/new-page-1
Holy Flip! I picked up Breathe In, Bleed Out as part of Camp NetGalley, and I was blown away. This novel is a must-read for horror fans and a true love letter to the slasher genre. Brian McAuley absolutely nails the tone, this book is gory, smart, and incredibly fun. Think Scream meets wellness retreat nightmare.
The story centers around Hannah, a final girl grappling with the grief of losing her fiancé. As part of her healing journey, her therapist recommends she focus on herself, which leads her to reconnect with her friend Tess. Tess invites her to a mysterious no-tech resort so exclusive it has zero online presence—no website, no Instagram. Creepy, right?
What starts as a serene getaway quickly devolves into a tense, bloody spiral. Hannah’s reality becomes increasingly fractured, and readers are left constantly questioning: is this all in her head, or is something sinister truly happening? McAuley masterfully keeps you guessing and the payoff is worth every page.
McAuley fills the cast with slasher staples the douchey jock, his bitchy girlfriend turned to a modern yogi, the offbeat witchy friend, the boy that got away, and of course, the haunted final girl. But he writes them with surprising nuance, making you care who lives and dies. You’ll find yourself rooting for some and begging for the brutal end of others.
He even introduces some fresh archetypes, like Guru Pax and his mysterious native assistant, that add another layer of tension and satire. The red herrings are perfectly placed, and the inner group conflict keeps you on your toes about who the killer could be.
While McAuley pokes fun at wellness culture in a way that’s topical without being heavy-handed. It adds humor and commentary, but the focus stays tight on the mystery and mounting dread. Without spoiling anything, the killer fit perfectly within the world McAuley builds, and is kind of comical how it came to be. It’s both a homage and an evolution of the slasher formula.
And don’t skip the author’s note at the end. It’s a heartfelt touch that reveals how personal this project was for McAuley, and it made me appreciate the story even more.
Should You Read This?
Absolutely. If you love slasher horror, psychological thrillers, or suspenseful reads that don’t take themselves too seriously while still delivering high stakes and bloody tension, this one’s for you. Easily one of my top slasher books of 2025 so far, and it’ll likely stay in my top 10 by the end of the year.
Movie Pairing
This one’s a no-brainer: Scream. McAuley even cites it in his author’s note as a key inspiration, and it shows. Breathe In, Bleed Out is meta, clever, and thrilling in the same vein. Pair the book with a Scream rewatch for the ultimate horror weekend.
Final Thoughts
Did you grab any books for Camp NetGalley? I’d love to hear what you’re reading and what you thought of it in the comments. Got horror or thriller book recommendations? Drop them below—I’m always looking for more to add to my TBR pile.
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