Hey book friends! Halloween is just around the corner and all I want to do is curl up and read spooky books. There’s one author in particular whose books have earned auto-buy status: Rachel Harrison.

I discovered Harrison last year, and her spooky femnist horror books quickly made her a favorite author of mine. Her books feel like hanging out with a clever, witty friend—if that friend also told stories about spooky monsters, friends, relationship drama and navigating womanhood. She has a unique talent for blending horror with sharp humor, biting social commentary, and deeply relatable feminist themes and personal growth.

Having binge-read most of her entire bibliography already, I’ve ranked all of Rachel Harrison’s novels based on current Goodreads ratings. Let’s dive in, starting with her newest book, Play Nice. You can also watch this as a video on my BookTube channel.

---

1. Play Nice (2025)

Goodreads Rating: 4.0 stars

The Synopsis: Influencer Clio Barnes’s perfect life hides a dark secret: she grew up in a house her mother claimed was possessed. After her mother’s death, Clio sees the “possessed” house as a content goldmine for a house flip. But as renovations begin, Clio discovers there might be truth to her mother’s claims. A sinister presence emerges, unearthing ugly family truths that threaten to destroy the beautiful life Clio has built.

My Take: The queen has done it again! It’s a haunted house horror novel that I actually thought was pretty scary compared to some of her other ones. It follows a snarky, successful influencer dealing with family trauma, and it really nails that creepy atmosphere. I’ve got some notes on the Play Nice ending that I discuss in my full video review, but overall, it’s a strong, gripping book and currently sits at a 4-star rating from me.

---

2. Such Sharp Teeth (2023)

Goodreads Rating: 3.84 stars

The Synopsis: After moving back to her hometown to help her pregnant twin sister, Rory Morris is attacked by a large animal one night. She survives, but life begins to feel different: she’s unnaturally strong, averse to silver, and enthralled by the moon. As she transforms, Rory must confront whether she’s becoming a monster or if embracing her wild new self is the key to acceptance.

My Take: While I haven’t read this one yet, it sounds similar to Nightbitch–which I loved! It sounds like there will be body horror elements and an exploration of female rage in this cool werewolf story. This is my next Harrison read.

---

3. Cackle (2022)

Goodreads Rating: 3.74 stars

The Synopsis: After a brutal breakup, Annie moves to a small, picture-perfect town. There, she meets the magnetic and charming Sophie, who helps Annie gain confidence and live for herself. But as they grow closer, Annie notices the townsfolk seem afraid of Sophie, and she begins to wonder about her new friend’s uncanny, ageless presence and her mysterious mansion in the woods.

My Take: This was my second Rachel Harrison read, cementing my love for this author! It’s not necessarily extremely scary, but it’s full of magic and friendship in a setting that feels like Stars Hollow. The real story is about learning to be confidently alone, and it just feels like a warm, cozy, and delightful read. It’s a perfect autumn comfort book.

---

4. Bad Dolls (2022)

Goodreads Rating: 3.69 stars

The Synopsis: If you want a perfect sampler of everything Rachel Harrison does best, look no further than her short story collection, also titled Bad Dolls. In this stunning collection of four horror stories, Harrison explores her signature themes of body image, complicated female friendship, heartbreak, and hauntings, all delivered with her trademark dark humor.

---

5. Black Sheep (2023)

Goodreads Rating: 3.58 stars

The Synopsis: Cynical twentysomething Vesper Wright left her staunchly religious family years ago. When she’s invited back to the family farm for her cousin’s wedding, she returns despite her fears it’s a trap. Vesper’s homecoming soon exhumes a terrifying secret, forcing her to confront her family’s dark beliefs and her own crisis of faith.

My Take: My Libby loan expired before I could finish this one, but to be honest, it’s not my favorite topic. There’s quite a big reveal around 100 pages in that drops some heavy information on the reader. Let’s just say it’s about a woman returning to her estranged, intensely religious family, and the twists are very dark.

---

6. So Thirsty (2024)

Goodreads Rating: 3.49 stars

The Synopsis: In So Thirsty, a birthday getaway becomes a bloody turning point. Sloane expects a quiet weekend with her best friend, Naomi, but Naomi has other plans—she wants Sloane to finally start living. A wild night out takes a horrifying turn, forcing the friends to confront pretty eternal consequences in this seductive feminsit horror about seizing life, even when satisfaction comes with a terrifying price.

My Take: So Thirsty is my all-time favorite Rachel Harrison book. The themes of female friendship, putting yourself fist and grabbing life by the horns resonated with me. It has banter, suspense and even a bit of romance. I laughed and cried in this book. Check out my full review on BookTube.

---

7. The Return (2020)

Goodreads Rating: 3.40 stars

The Synopsis: Two years after her best friend Julie vanished without a trace, she miraculously reappears. But Julie has no memory of where she has been, and Elise soon realizes the woman who returned is not the friend she once knew.

My Take: This was Harrison’s debut novel and it’s another one that’s still on my personal TBR. It’s a story about a friendship that changes in a terrifying way, and I’ve heard great things about its atmosphere and dread. I’m excited to get to it soon!

---

The Verdict:

From haunted houses and werewolves to witches and sinister families, Rachel Harrison has a spooky story for every mood. What I love is that her books usually focus on a woman who might not be starting out in a good place, but by the end, things just start to get better. I always feel good when I’m reading them. Her unique brand of feminist horror is a breath of fresh air, and she’s an author I’ll always recommend for a fun, thought-provoking read.

Check out my BookTube video to hear more:

***The Traveling Reader participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ***