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We Love the Nightlife
Locked in a toxic female friendship, two vampires careen toward catastrophe in this dark and dazzling page-turner, set amidst London's glittering disco scene.
London 1979. Two women with a deep love for disco meet one fateful night on the dance floor, changing the course of both their lives forever.
Nicola, a beautiful and brooding vampire for nearly two centuries, can’t resist fun-loving and feisty Amber from America, ultimately offering an eternity together where the glamour of nightlife always takes center stage.
But not all is what it seems.
Nearly fifty years later, after an unexpected betrayal, Amber wants out from under Nicola’s thumb, but it won’t be so simple to break up this festering friendship when she learns others have done the same—and wound up dead.
Sensing Amber’s restlessness and in one last play to keep her close, Nicola proposes they open a nightclub of their very own, hearkening back to their best days as dancing queens.
Amber agrees but she’s secretly hatching a dangerous escape plan. And if she fails…the party is over for good.
London 1979. Two women with a deep love for disco meet one fateful night on the dance floor, changing the course of both their lives forever.
Nicola, a beautiful and brooding vampire for nearly two centuries, can’t resist fun-loving and feisty Amber from America, ultimately offering an eternity together where the glamour of nightlife always takes center stage.
But not all is what it seems.
Nearly fifty years later, after an unexpected betrayal, Amber wants out from under Nicola’s thumb, but it won’t be so simple to break up this festering friendship when she learns others have done the same—and wound up dead.
Sensing Amber’s restlessness and in one last play to keep her close, Nicola proposes they open a nightclub of their very own, hearkening back to their best days as dancing queens.
Amber agrees but she’s secretly hatching a dangerous escape plan. And if she fails…the party is over for good.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2024
About the author
Rachel Koller Croft
2 books577 followersRachel Koller Croft is the USA TODAY bestselling author of WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE and STONE COLD FOX. She’s also a WGA award-nominated screenwriter. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Charles, and their rescue pitbull, Juniper.
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April 23, 2024
“I should have known the party was over when she casually suggested killing my husband back in 1981”
🧛♀️ARC REVIEW 3.85 Stars 🧛♀️
Publishing Date- August 20,2024
What To Expect-
🪩Vampires
🪩Disco
🪩Toxic Friendships
🪩Dual POV
🪩Dual Timeline
🪩Character Driven Plot
My Thoughts-
This was a fun book. Imagine being stuck with some friend you don’t even like anymore?? Well Amber feels trapped in a friendship with Nicola, so she is plotting and scheming a way to get out.
This book is basically about female friendships and control but vampire style. I mean I feel like we've all been in a toxic friendship in one point of our lives?? So it was certainly, an interesting read. This story was one part horror, one part women’s fiction, one part thriller. I kept asking myself, “wtf am I reading?” In a good way.
The two FMC were well liked. I was rooting for Amber and Nicola, separately. I was hoping that they would mend their friendship, talk it out maybe?? But in the same token I was like, “wow what a b****” 😂😅 The side characters definitely added to the drama that was seeped into this book.
The pacing dragged a little in the beginning, didn’t stop me from continuing, I didn't lose interest at all. Once the plot picked up I was completely immersed in the storyline, I ended up binging to the end.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes, vampires and reading about toxic friendships. It was a fun drama filled book to read.
Playlist-
🪩Hot Stuff- Donna Summer
🪩Dancing Queen- Abba
🪩More Than A Woman- Bee Gees
🪩Bad Girls- Donna Summer
🪩Maneater- Darly Halls & John Atoes
🪩Night Fever Bee Gees
🪩I'm Coming Out-Diana Ross
🪩Sweet Dreams- Eurythmics
🪩The Sign- Ace Of Base
🪩Stayin Alive- Bee Gees
🪩I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨
🧛♀️ARC REVIEW 3.85 Stars 🧛♀️
Publishing Date- August 20,2024
What To Expect-
🪩Vampires
🪩Disco
🪩Toxic Friendships
🪩Dual POV
🪩Dual Timeline
🪩Character Driven Plot
My Thoughts-
This was a fun book. Imagine being stuck with some friend you don’t even like anymore?? Well Amber feels trapped in a friendship with Nicola, so she is plotting and scheming a way to get out.
This book is basically about female friendships and control but vampire style. I mean I feel like we've all been in a toxic friendship in one point of our lives?? So it was certainly, an interesting read. This story was one part horror, one part women’s fiction, one part thriller. I kept asking myself, “wtf am I reading?” In a good way.
The two FMC were well liked. I was rooting for Amber and Nicola, separately. I was hoping that they would mend their friendship, talk it out maybe?? But in the same token I was like, “wow what a b****” 😂😅 The side characters definitely added to the drama that was seeped into this book.
The pacing dragged a little in the beginning, didn’t stop me from continuing, I didn't lose interest at all. Once the plot picked up I was completely immersed in the storyline, I ended up binging to the end.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes, vampires and reading about toxic friendships. It was a fun drama filled book to read.
Playlist-
🪩Hot Stuff- Donna Summer
🪩Dancing Queen- Abba
🪩More Than A Woman- Bee Gees
🪩Bad Girls- Donna Summer
🪩Maneater- Darly Halls & John Atoes
🪩Night Fever Bee Gees
🪩I'm Coming Out-Diana Ross
🪩Sweet Dreams- Eurythmics
🪩The Sign- Ace Of Base
🪩Stayin Alive- Bee Gees
🪩I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨
April 4, 2024
4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! this book was suuuuuch a vibe 🇬🇧🧛🏻♀️🖤🩸📖
for fans of:
🇬🇧 good settings (London in the 80s)
🧛🏻♀️ vampires (where are my fellow VAMPIRE DIARIES fans at???)
🔪 cat-and-mouse suspense
📖 MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR (esp if you wanted more vampirism in that one like me)
🖤 unique storylines / thrillers
👏🏼 character driven plots
👯♀️ double POVs / female MCs
this book was so creative you guys! you know i’ve read 3 million thrillers so i’m always looking for unique plots and content and this hit the mark. Rachel went out of her comfort zone for this one and created something so unique. i think if you can give it a chance (if you don’t love vamps), then you’ll really enjoy it. it has all the vibes!!
WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE has very similar cat-and-mouse, witty and suspenseful themes and dual POVs surrounding two females like her debut STONE COLD FOX, but a totally different spin. she has easily become an auto-buy author for me and i can’t wait to see what she puts out for her third book!
Rachel writes in a way that you love and root for the bad characters and that’s one of my favorite things about her stories. i found myself loving Nicola (no judgement thanks!!!) even though she was so awful at times. i couldn’t get enough of these damn vampires! those storylines are my weakness and it was so fun to see that come through in a thriller.
thank you to Rachel for gifting me an early copy and slipping my name in the acknowledgements. what a surprise 🥹😭🫶🏼 you are just the best. can’t wait for more readers to go along for this FUN ride 🧛🏻♀️🧛🏻♀️🧛🏻♀️
for fans of:
🇬🇧 good settings (London in the 80s)
🧛🏻♀️ vampires (where are my fellow VAMPIRE DIARIES fans at???)
🔪 cat-and-mouse suspense
📖 MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR (esp if you wanted more vampirism in that one like me)
🖤 unique storylines / thrillers
👏🏼 character driven plots
👯♀️ double POVs / female MCs
this book was so creative you guys! you know i’ve read 3 million thrillers so i’m always looking for unique plots and content and this hit the mark. Rachel went out of her comfort zone for this one and created something so unique. i think if you can give it a chance (if you don’t love vamps), then you’ll really enjoy it. it has all the vibes!!
WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE has very similar cat-and-mouse, witty and suspenseful themes and dual POVs surrounding two females like her debut STONE COLD FOX, but a totally different spin. she has easily become an auto-buy author for me and i can’t wait to see what she puts out for her third book!
Rachel writes in a way that you love and root for the bad characters and that’s one of my favorite things about her stories. i found myself loving Nicola (no judgement thanks!!!) even though she was so awful at times. i couldn’t get enough of these damn vampires! those storylines are my weakness and it was so fun to see that come through in a thriller.
thank you to Rachel for gifting me an early copy and slipping my name in the acknowledgements. what a surprise 🥹😭🫶🏼 you are just the best. can’t wait for more readers to go along for this FUN ride 🧛🏻♀️🧛🏻♀️🧛🏻♀️
February 9, 2024
Rachel Koller Croft is one of my favorite authors and people ever. I became a stalker, I mean a fan of hers after reading and loving her debut novel, Stone Cold Fox, so when I was given the opportunity to show the cover reveal and read her new 2024 novel, WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE early, I knew I had to jump at the chance. Thank you @berkleypub for the gifted copy. If you're a fan of Stone Cold Fox, WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE will be the book for you.
Rachel Koller Croft excels at telling bitchy thrillers with camp, drama, and social dynamics between women and WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is no different. In a voice you've come to love, Rachel's new novel focuses on two women, specifically Nicola and Amber. Nicola and Amber meet in 1979 and the bond they create becomes too magnetic to ignore. So much in fact that Nicola turns Amber into a vampire. Yes, Nicola is a vampire and now is Amber's maker. Hear me out thriller fans, the vampire story is a big theme throughout the book, but isn't the central one. While Amber and Nicola navigate throughout the years, they continue to bond over their love of disco and the nightlife. Nearly 50 years later, Amber is ready to break out of Nicola's shell. However, Nicola is a very powerful and influential vampire in the world that is thought to be make-believe. As Amber tries to hatch a plan for her freedom from Nicola, she has to watch closely, because Nicola has been around the block much longer than Amber and is prepared for anything.
WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE could be a cousin to Stone Cold Fox in voice and toxic female dynamics, but it's a very different type of story than the author's predecessor. WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is a genre-mashup and hard to pinpoint down specifically where it gravitates to. I'm thinking a light thriller, women's fiction, drama, character-driven, vampire story. See! I had such a freaking blast reading this and my heart went out to one specific character so much. There's a bit of steam in this book, and a few hotties that I think I have a crush on! WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is a the perfect combination of True Blood meets Studio 54 meets Thirteen (remember that movie?!). Rachel Koller Croft has quickly become my favorite author and I can't wait to see what's next for her. If WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is any indication, I'm sure she will continue to keep readers guessing.
Rachel Koller Croft excels at telling bitchy thrillers with camp, drama, and social dynamics between women and WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is no different. In a voice you've come to love, Rachel's new novel focuses on two women, specifically Nicola and Amber. Nicola and Amber meet in 1979 and the bond they create becomes too magnetic to ignore. So much in fact that Nicola turns Amber into a vampire. Yes, Nicola is a vampire and now is Amber's maker. Hear me out thriller fans, the vampire story is a big theme throughout the book, but isn't the central one. While Amber and Nicola navigate throughout the years, they continue to bond over their love of disco and the nightlife. Nearly 50 years later, Amber is ready to break out of Nicola's shell. However, Nicola is a very powerful and influential vampire in the world that is thought to be make-believe. As Amber tries to hatch a plan for her freedom from Nicola, she has to watch closely, because Nicola has been around the block much longer than Amber and is prepared for anything.
WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE could be a cousin to Stone Cold Fox in voice and toxic female dynamics, but it's a very different type of story than the author's predecessor. WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is a genre-mashup and hard to pinpoint down specifically where it gravitates to. I'm thinking a light thriller, women's fiction, drama, character-driven, vampire story. See! I had such a freaking blast reading this and my heart went out to one specific character so much. There's a bit of steam in this book, and a few hotties that I think I have a crush on! WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is a the perfect combination of True Blood meets Studio 54 meets Thirteen (remember that movie?!). Rachel Koller Croft has quickly become my favorite author and I can't wait to see what's next for her. If WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is any indication, I'm sure she will continue to keep readers guessing.
September 8, 2024
**Many thanks to Rachel Koller Croft and Berkley for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
"I want to go where the people dance
I want some action, I want to live
I love the nightlife
I've got to boogie on the disco 'round, oh yeah!" - "I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round)", Alicia Bridges
Flashing lights, glittering sequins, and cocktails always at the ready - swinging London in the seventies was nothing short of a Disco Inferno. For disco fanatics Nicola and Amber, it might have been just another night of partying 'til dawn...until their paths crossed, their eyes locked, and a fast friendship was born. But what seemed like a simple soul-sister meet cute quickly becomes something far more sinister...and even deadly. You see, Nicola is a vampire, fresh on the hunt for a new companion...and Amber looks like she might just fit the bill. Never mind that Amber has a beau waiting for her back at home...Nicola really GETS her. And when she reveals her salacious secret to Amber and offers her the chance to party - well, FOREVER - Amber thinks all of her dreams are coming true. But has she instead opened the door to a nightmare that simply won't end?
Years later, Amber has settled into life as Nicola's vamp companion...but she's growing restless. Nicola has very specific rules about who they can hunt, WHEN they can hunt, and where their paths will take them next...and needless to say, Amber's had about enough of her controlling ways. After all, SHE is a full-blown, full-bred vampire now, with her own strength, smarts, and desires...why should her companion hold her back? When the two hatch a plan to create their own nightclub, Amber thinks this is FINALLY her chance to pawn off Nicola on a newer unsuspecting vampire...and perhaps forge a new path with hunky would-be beau Roddy. But with a group of other unpredictable vampires tangled up in their plans, and Nicola's frightening past still a mystery to Amber, can she execute her plan while keeping Nicola in the proverbial dark? Or will Nicola's prescience (oh, and extra HUNDREDS of years of experience) clue her in to Amber's true intentions...and turn the tables at the WORST possible moment?
Three things completely SOLD me on this book before I read a single word:
1) That PERFECT cover. 10/10.
2) Vampires. Need I say more?
3) DISCO. (Don't knock it till you've tried it....Or at least if you do, you'd better 'knock, knock, knock on wood...')🕺💃💿
😁
ANYWAY...as much as I was fairly certain this was going to be the sort of smash sleeper hit that I'd tear through eagerly in a day or two, with the adrenaline rush that only incredible music AND a thrilling read combined could possibly provide...I felt more like I'd stumbled INTO the bar at last call, to be met by that horribly sickly smell of spilled beer and the sort of disorienting light that reminds you just how grimy a club ACTUALLY is when you can SEE it...and I could not WAIT to go home!
For a book about vampires...this one definitely lacked some bite. 😏 So many of the interactions, from selecting victims to even the turning of humans to vampires were just sort of...boring. In so many other vampire stories I've read, there's a crescendo of tension, passages exploring the intense thirst the vampires experience before their next meal, etc., but that was hardly present here. While there may have been a bloodbath at the END of the book...keep in mind it takes the ENTIRE book to get there. This story certainly didn't NEED to be gory or blood-soaked...but at the same time, having this aspect of the vampires essentially removed made the tension far less palpable. While the notion of mind control (or 'glamour', as they called it on True Blood) was here occasionally, it was never played to full effect. Essentially, even Nicola, the arch villain of the story, never truly seemed as evil as she was supposed to be...or frankly, as enticing either. (Pretty sure Amber could have found another dance partner pretty easily...if she had EVER taken more than 10 minutes on one of her many nights alone at the club to look for one!)
Which brings me to the next glaring issue I had with this book: this story plays as a 'toxic female frenemy' story....rather than what I felt should have OBVIOUSLY played as a toxic romance. I mean, I can't say that I've read a successful vampire story yet where some form of romantic love is NOT present...but this is not really even a consideration for either party (or so it seems) and I just felt like this was a missed opportunity. I get that some friendships can keep bringing you back for more, but adding in a hint of romance (on either side! OR BOTH!) could have made the stakes THAT much higher...and this book needed that sort of tension to keep it driving. Maybe this isn't the author's cup of tea, and that's perfectly okay...but I just kept imagining the sort of inner torment Amber REALLY would have had if she'd on some level believed that she was in love with Nicola or even if she felt confused about the nature of her relationship, if she was having her thoughts manipulated by Nicola, etc. Instead, she essentially likes her for about 15 minutes, gets turned, and seemingly spends the rest of the book (slowly) plotting her revenge.
Yawn.
And then there's the timeline, and the backstory...which once again, are aspects I normally LOVE in vampire stories...but were just sort of messy here. I'll be honest, the back and forth between the 1800s and now seemed ENTIRELY unnecessary. Since I had such a hard time caring about Nicola in any way as a character, it didn't really MATTER how or why or when she became a vampire or what she had done to anyone else prior to meeting Amber... I just did not care. The present day plot revolving around the nightclub also felt dragged out, where I kept wanting Amber to just put her plan in motion already and get on with it. I didn't care about any of the side characters, Nicola's family, or basically ANYTHING that was going on with anyone else, and I wish the author had spent more time really developing FEELINGS of some sort (other than petty ones) between her two MCs - THAT is the book I was dying to read. (And don't get me started on their ridiculous call and response with one another - "Toot toot. Beep Beep." Yes, I know it's in the song "Bad Girls"...but thinking about two characters saying this sincerely to one another ALWAYS elicited an eye roll...or more accurately, an upchuck reflex. ) 😫
And at the end of the day, as much as I personally adore it and will gladly put on the BeeGees, ABBA, and Donna Summer at a moment's notice, especially on a bad day...
There's a reason that disco died.
3 stars
"I want to go where the people dance
I want some action, I want to live
I love the nightlife
I've got to boogie on the disco 'round, oh yeah!" - "I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round)", Alicia Bridges
Flashing lights, glittering sequins, and cocktails always at the ready - swinging London in the seventies was nothing short of a Disco Inferno. For disco fanatics Nicola and Amber, it might have been just another night of partying 'til dawn...until their paths crossed, their eyes locked, and a fast friendship was born. But what seemed like a simple soul-sister meet cute quickly becomes something far more sinister...and even deadly. You see, Nicola is a vampire, fresh on the hunt for a new companion...and Amber looks like she might just fit the bill. Never mind that Amber has a beau waiting for her back at home...Nicola really GETS her. And when she reveals her salacious secret to Amber and offers her the chance to party - well, FOREVER - Amber thinks all of her dreams are coming true. But has she instead opened the door to a nightmare that simply won't end?
Years later, Amber has settled into life as Nicola's vamp companion...but she's growing restless. Nicola has very specific rules about who they can hunt, WHEN they can hunt, and where their paths will take them next...and needless to say, Amber's had about enough of her controlling ways. After all, SHE is a full-blown, full-bred vampire now, with her own strength, smarts, and desires...why should her companion hold her back? When the two hatch a plan to create their own nightclub, Amber thinks this is FINALLY her chance to pawn off Nicola on a newer unsuspecting vampire...and perhaps forge a new path with hunky would-be beau Roddy. But with a group of other unpredictable vampires tangled up in their plans, and Nicola's frightening past still a mystery to Amber, can she execute her plan while keeping Nicola in the proverbial dark? Or will Nicola's prescience (oh, and extra HUNDREDS of years of experience) clue her in to Amber's true intentions...and turn the tables at the WORST possible moment?
Three things completely SOLD me on this book before I read a single word:
1) That PERFECT cover. 10/10.
2) Vampires. Need I say more?
3) DISCO. (Don't knock it till you've tried it....Or at least if you do, you'd better 'knock, knock, knock on wood...')🕺💃💿
😁
ANYWAY...as much as I was fairly certain this was going to be the sort of smash sleeper hit that I'd tear through eagerly in a day or two, with the adrenaline rush that only incredible music AND a thrilling read combined could possibly provide...I felt more like I'd stumbled INTO the bar at last call, to be met by that horribly sickly smell of spilled beer and the sort of disorienting light that reminds you just how grimy a club ACTUALLY is when you can SEE it...and I could not WAIT to go home!
For a book about vampires...this one definitely lacked some bite. 😏 So many of the interactions, from selecting victims to even the turning of humans to vampires were just sort of...boring. In so many other vampire stories I've read, there's a crescendo of tension, passages exploring the intense thirst the vampires experience before their next meal, etc., but that was hardly present here. While there may have been a bloodbath at the END of the book...keep in mind it takes the ENTIRE book to get there. This story certainly didn't NEED to be gory or blood-soaked...but at the same time, having this aspect of the vampires essentially removed made the tension far less palpable. While the notion of mind control (or 'glamour', as they called it on True Blood) was here occasionally, it was never played to full effect. Essentially, even Nicola, the arch villain of the story, never truly seemed as evil as she was supposed to be...or frankly, as enticing either. (Pretty sure Amber could have found another dance partner pretty easily...if she had EVER taken more than 10 minutes on one of her many nights alone at the club to look for one!)
Which brings me to the next glaring issue I had with this book: this story plays as a 'toxic female frenemy' story....rather than what I felt should have OBVIOUSLY played as a toxic romance. I mean, I can't say that I've read a successful vampire story yet where some form of romantic love is NOT present...but this is not really even a consideration for either party (or so it seems) and I just felt like this was a missed opportunity. I get that some friendships can keep bringing you back for more, but adding in a hint of romance (on either side! OR BOTH!) could have made the stakes THAT much higher...and this book needed that sort of tension to keep it driving. Maybe this isn't the author's cup of tea, and that's perfectly okay...but I just kept imagining the sort of inner torment Amber REALLY would have had if she'd on some level believed that she was in love with Nicola or even if she felt confused about the nature of her relationship, if she was having her thoughts manipulated by Nicola, etc. Instead, she essentially likes her for about 15 minutes, gets turned, and seemingly spends the rest of the book (slowly) plotting her revenge.
Yawn.
And then there's the timeline, and the backstory...which once again, are aspects I normally LOVE in vampire stories...but were just sort of messy here. I'll be honest, the back and forth between the 1800s and now seemed ENTIRELY unnecessary. Since I had such a hard time caring about Nicola in any way as a character, it didn't really MATTER how or why or when she became a vampire or what she had done to anyone else prior to meeting Amber... I just did not care. The present day plot revolving around the nightclub also felt dragged out, where I kept wanting Amber to just put her plan in motion already and get on with it. I didn't care about any of the side characters, Nicola's family, or basically ANYTHING that was going on with anyone else, and I wish the author had spent more time really developing FEELINGS of some sort (other than petty ones) between her two MCs - THAT is the book I was dying to read. (And don't get me started on their ridiculous call and response with one another - "Toot toot. Beep Beep." Yes, I know it's in the song "Bad Girls"...but thinking about two characters saying this sincerely to one another ALWAYS elicited an eye roll...or more accurately, an upchuck reflex. ) 😫
And at the end of the day, as much as I personally adore it and will gladly put on the BeeGees, ABBA, and Donna Summer at a moment's notice, especially on a bad day...
There's a reason that disco died.
3 stars
July 22, 2024
I wrote this book about London disco vampires!
I love it!
I hope you love it, too!
If you don't...well, looks like you're not on the list -- bye!
xx RKC
I love it!
I hope you love it, too!
If you don't...well, looks like you're not on the list -- bye!
xx RKC
August 27, 2024
We Love The Nightlife proved Rachel Koller Croft is a creative genius when it comes to writing.
I was captivated by her writing and loved the multiple POVs and multiple timelines. She truly brought the 1970s to life.
We Love The Nightlife is full of high drama, lies and revenge, sprinkled with a couple surprises.
I was captivated by her writing and loved the multiple POVs and multiple timelines. She truly brought the 1970s to life.
We Love The Nightlife is full of high drama, lies and revenge, sprinkled with a couple surprises.
August 31, 2024
3.5 stars
i actually enjoyed this, the story of their toxic friendship was interesting to read about. it was just a bit to struggle through, i read other books while reading this and i flew through them but this one felt like a drag at times.
i actually enjoyed this, the story of their toxic friendship was interesting to read about. it was just a bit to struggle through, i read other books while reading this and i flew through them but this one felt like a drag at times.
August 4, 2024
4.0 Stars
I really enjoyed this sharp centric vampire novel dealing with a whole other level of toxic female friendship. The story reminded me a bit of First Light by Liz Kerin, but with more narrative drive. I loved both but I would recommend this one to readers who found First Light too slow.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for a modern vampire story with some bite.
I really enjoyed this sharp centric vampire novel dealing with a whole other level of toxic female friendship. The story reminded me a bit of First Light by Liz Kerin, but with more narrative drive. I loved both but I would recommend this one to readers who found First Light too slow.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for a modern vampire story with some bite.
January 8, 2024
Let's face it: we've seen enough broody dude vampire novels. Rachel Koller Croft reclaims the fangs for the ladies in her terrific new book about a pair of London party girls who want to dance forever or die trying. I loved Rachel Koller Craft's 2023 debut, STONE COLD FOX, and WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is just as fresh, sexy, and wicked, with a brilliant, bloody twist. It's about toxic friendships that last forever and the lengths women will go to escape them. This book is an infernal disco of insatiable appetites and eternal youth. I didn't want the party to stop.
p.s. there are a few broody dude vampires in the mix. But they're the side snack, not the main course.
p.s. there are a few broody dude vampires in the mix. But they're the side snack, not the main course.
July 31, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
The only thing inventive in this book was the name of the night club.
The only thing inventive in this book was the name of the night club.
August 19, 2024
5 ⭐️ WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE was an absolute masterpiece and to me, it was perfect. The glitz and glamour! The London club scene! The disco! The hilarious banter, snark, and sass! I already can’t wait to reread it.
In my new favorite book we meet Amber, a plucky midwestern girl living in London, who just so happens to be a vampire. If you’re anything like me the brakes might be screeching right about now. I didn’t even finish the first Twilight book. What business do I have reading a grown up vampire book?
All the business in the world, apparently! After loving STONE COLD FOX, I knew Rachel Koller Croft would not lead me astray. This book is perfect for readers that don’t love paranormal elements. The vampire bits are cheeky and fun and you don’t have to learn a bunch of rules or spend time with silly little things like world building. This one felt like a bit of a genre mashup - a lighter thriller + dramatic women’s fiction with a healthy dose of toxic female friendships and well, vampires.
I loved being in Amber’s head. I want to be her best friend. I want to be her in my next life (if I come back as a party girl). I am just fully obsessed with the woman.
I’m also obsessed with the side characters. Roddy is a doll who I happen to have a major crush. And then there’s Courtenay Cooper. I finished this book over a week ago and I still find myself thinking about Court on a daily basis. Her song choice towards the end made me cackle.
Croft’s writing is whip smart and fresh and she has officially earned herself a spot on my top ten favorite authors list. I will be shocked if this book isn’t my favorite read of 2024! Toot toot!
A million thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! I am so incredibly grateful! All opinions are my own.
In my new favorite book we meet Amber, a plucky midwestern girl living in London, who just so happens to be a vampire. If you’re anything like me the brakes might be screeching right about now. I didn’t even finish the first Twilight book. What business do I have reading a grown up vampire book?
All the business in the world, apparently! After loving STONE COLD FOX, I knew Rachel Koller Croft would not lead me astray. This book is perfect for readers that don’t love paranormal elements. The vampire bits are cheeky and fun and you don’t have to learn a bunch of rules or spend time with silly little things like world building. This one felt like a bit of a genre mashup - a lighter thriller + dramatic women’s fiction with a healthy dose of toxic female friendships and well, vampires.
I loved being in Amber’s head. I want to be her best friend. I want to be her in my next life (if I come back as a party girl). I am just fully obsessed with the woman.
I’m also obsessed with the side characters. Roddy is a doll who I happen to have a major crush. And then there’s Courtenay Cooper. I finished this book over a week ago and I still find myself thinking about Court on a daily basis. Her song choice towards the end made me cackle.
Croft’s writing is whip smart and fresh and she has officially earned herself a spot on my top ten favorite authors list. I will be shocked if this book isn’t my favorite read of 2024! Toot toot!
A million thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! I am so incredibly grateful! All opinions are my own.
June 18, 2024
THIS WAS SO FUN!!!! I’ve come to the conclusion that @rachkollercroft is the queen of writing toxic females and I am so here for it! I absolutely loved the flashbacks and getting to hear both Nicola’s and Amber’s side of the story. AND THAT TWIST?! I gasped! Yall are going to want to add this one to your tbr immediately!
🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩/5
Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 8/20
🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩/5
Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 8/20
September 21, 2024
In 1979, Amber meets fellow party girl Nicola on a London dance floor and it’s platonic love at first sight. Nicola has an intoxicating energy that makes her feel almost superhuman…and it turns out she kind of is. Nicola is an immortal vampire, and she offers to turn Amber into one too. Amber eagerly accepts, looking forward to an eternity of wild nights out.
Almost 50 years later, Amber is both sick of Nicola’s shit and terrified of her controlling nature. Over the decades, Nicola’s grasp on Amber has tightened, and she’s gone from intoxicating to straight up toxic. Amber’s determined to escape, but she knows it won’t be easy. The first step is finding someone to replace her as Nicola’s BFF…and she’s just spotted the perfect target.
Was this a bit of a guilty pleasure read? Absolutely. It is frothy and silly but I had such a blast reading it that I think it absolutely merits five stars. Anyone who can get me, someone who is decidedly not a fantasy girlie, to be invested in the lives of vampires deserves all the awards. The disco-era London setting was vibrant and fun, and the plot was delightfully twisty. I devoured this book while lying on a lounge chair at the beach, and I think that’s exactly how it was meant to be enjoyed! This was the second book I’ve read and loved by this writer, and I’m officially putting her in the “I will read anything she writes” category.
Almost 50 years later, Amber is both sick of Nicola’s shit and terrified of her controlling nature. Over the decades, Nicola’s grasp on Amber has tightened, and she’s gone from intoxicating to straight up toxic. Amber’s determined to escape, but she knows it won’t be easy. The first step is finding someone to replace her as Nicola’s BFF…and she’s just spotted the perfect target.
Was this a bit of a guilty pleasure read? Absolutely. It is frothy and silly but I had such a blast reading it that I think it absolutely merits five stars. Anyone who can get me, someone who is decidedly not a fantasy girlie, to be invested in the lives of vampires deserves all the awards. The disco-era London setting was vibrant and fun, and the plot was delightfully twisty. I devoured this book while lying on a lounge chair at the beach, and I think that’s exactly how it was meant to be enjoyed! This was the second book I’ve read and loved by this writer, and I’m officially putting her in the “I will read anything she writes” category.
May 27, 2024
This is the the vampire book I have been WAITING FOR. Obsessed!!!!!!!!!! Thank you @rachkollercroft for this gift! As a vampire girly I think a lot about how we don’t get many great vampire books. My woes have been solved. This is vampires in London with disco and flashbacks and glamour and music and toxic female friendships. I loved this so much. I wanted to crawl into this world and become one of the girls! Obsessed. And it is SO London, it felt like a trip to the city. Especially loved when my favorite pub The Holly Bush made an appearance. Just obsessed. Obsessed with Rachel’s writing and how it felt dishy and gossipy while still so compelling and such a wild story. I want to read it again. More coherent review when I collect my thoughts but it’s out 8/20 get ready !!!!! 🧛🏻♀️
August 24, 2024
I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like this one. It feels impossible that a premise this amazing could be BORING. And yet. Honestly if you want to see vampires start a nightclub, just watch What We Do in the Shadows
July 16, 2024
5🌟 WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE was an absolute masterpiece and to me, it was perfect. The glitz and glamour! The London club scene! The disco! The hilarious banter, snark, and sass! I already can’t wait to reread it.
In my new favorite book we meet Amber, a plucky midwestern girl living in London, who just so happens to be a vampire. If you’re anything like me the brakes might be screeching right about now. I didn’t even finish the first Twilight book. What business do I have reading a grown up vampire book?
All the business in the world, apparently! After loving STONE COLD FOX, I knew Rachel Koller Croft would not lead me astray. This book is perfect for readers that don’t love paranormal elements. The vampire bits are cheeky and fun and you don’t have to learn any crazy rules or spend time messing with silly little things like world building. This one felt like a bit of a genre mashup - a lighter thriller + dramatic women’s fiction with a healthy dose of toxic female friendships and well… vampires.
I loved being in Amber’s head. I want to be her best friend. I want to be her in my next life (if I come back as a party girl). I am just fully obsessed with the woman.
I’m also obsessed with the side characters. Roddy is a doll who I happen to have a major crush. And then there’s Courtenay Cooper. I finished this book over a week ago and I still find myself thinking about Court on a daily basis. Her song choice towards the end made me cackle.
Croft’s writing is whip smart and fresh and she has officially earned herself a spot on my top ten favorite authors list. I will be shocked if this book isn’t my favorite read of 2024! Toot toot!
A million thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! I am so incredibly grateful! All opinions are my own.
In my new favorite book we meet Amber, a plucky midwestern girl living in London, who just so happens to be a vampire. If you’re anything like me the brakes might be screeching right about now. I didn’t even finish the first Twilight book. What business do I have reading a grown up vampire book?
All the business in the world, apparently! After loving STONE COLD FOX, I knew Rachel Koller Croft would not lead me astray. This book is perfect for readers that don’t love paranormal elements. The vampire bits are cheeky and fun and you don’t have to learn any crazy rules or spend time messing with silly little things like world building. This one felt like a bit of a genre mashup - a lighter thriller + dramatic women’s fiction with a healthy dose of toxic female friendships and well… vampires.
I loved being in Amber’s head. I want to be her best friend. I want to be her in my next life (if I come back as a party girl). I am just fully obsessed with the woman.
I’m also obsessed with the side characters. Roddy is a doll who I happen to have a major crush. And then there’s Courtenay Cooper. I finished this book over a week ago and I still find myself thinking about Court on a daily basis. Her song choice towards the end made me cackle.
Croft’s writing is whip smart and fresh and she has officially earned herself a spot on my top ten favorite authors list. I will be shocked if this book isn’t my favorite read of 2024! Toot toot!
A million thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! I am so incredibly grateful! All opinions are my own.
May 21, 2024
A bitchy thriller with a lot of bite 👀 GOSSIP GIRL meets THE VAMPIRE DIARIES in this super fun genre mashup, it's hard to put my fang on what category this falls into but I'd say womens fiction, horror and thriller are the most present, ultimately this is about female friendships/dynamics and toxicity but with a vampiric edge, Rachel excells at writing snarky witty prose that makes highly addictive and entertaining reading,
the backdrop of 80s London and the disco scene made this feel glamorous and I felt cocooned in a kaleidoscope of falling tinsel and tunes, highly recommend this to my girly pops who enjoy dry wit and drinking blood, you will love it 🤩
the backdrop of 80s London and the disco scene made this feel glamorous and I felt cocooned in a kaleidoscope of falling tinsel and tunes, highly recommend this to my girly pops who enjoy dry wit and drinking blood, you will love it 🤩
Read
August 20, 2024second book by croft that i cannot finish. note to self: don't read this author again :')
August 24, 2024
Vampires, toxic female friendship and disco
This cat and mouse plot between female vampires that have the most TOXIC of friendships was both creative and entertaining. Set in London I loved the setting and the disco/nightclub vibe. The two female MCs were both strong characters and I enjoyed all of their women behaving badly vibes. This was definitely the type of book where you root for bad characters (there were no true good ones!) and enjoy it every step of the way.
I enjoyed getting both Nicola and Amber’s POVs. It definitely made me feel invested in their game of cat and mouse. Plus, ALL the vampire vibes. I couldn’t get enough of the storyline surrounding all the vampires, their history and their current interactions. There was so much backstabbing, resentment and scheming!
This cat and mouse plot between female vampires that have the most TOXIC of friendships was both creative and entertaining. Set in London I loved the setting and the disco/nightclub vibe. The two female MCs were both strong characters and I enjoyed all of their women behaving badly vibes. This was definitely the type of book where you root for bad characters (there were no true good ones!) and enjoy it every step of the way.
I enjoyed getting both Nicola and Amber’s POVs. It definitely made me feel invested in their game of cat and mouse. Plus, ALL the vampire vibes. I couldn’t get enough of the storyline surrounding all the vampires, their history and their current interactions. There was so much backstabbing, resentment and scheming!
August 24, 2024
*2.5 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed Croft's debut novel, Stone Cold Fox so l was very interested in reading her sophomore novel. I always look for a unique plot when it comes to thrillers and so a book about two disco loving vampires really stood out to me.
At its core, We Love the Nightlife is centered around toxic female friendships. I enjoyed the alternating timelines and perspectives between Nicola and Amber. I also really liked several of the sub characters. But unfortunately I did feel as if the story dragged on a bit and I found myself becoming disinterested. Readers who enjoy books about backstabbing friends with plenty of drama will enjoy this one.
I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan and Suzanne Elise Freeman who both did a fantastic job!
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft will be available on August 20. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy and Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
I really enjoyed Croft's debut novel, Stone Cold Fox so l was very interested in reading her sophomore novel. I always look for a unique plot when it comes to thrillers and so a book about two disco loving vampires really stood out to me.
At its core, We Love the Nightlife is centered around toxic female friendships. I enjoyed the alternating timelines and perspectives between Nicola and Amber. I also really liked several of the sub characters. But unfortunately I did feel as if the story dragged on a bit and I found myself becoming disinterested. Readers who enjoy books about backstabbing friends with plenty of drama will enjoy this one.
I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan and Suzanne Elise Freeman who both did a fantastic job!
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft will be available on August 20. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy and Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
August 28, 2024
I am not sure how I felt about this one. I think 3 stars is too low.. 4 stars not quite right either.
This is a character driven story set in both 1970s/80s London as well as present day London. Nicola is a 100+ year old vampire and she’s on the prowl for a new companion. When she spots Amber dancing in a club one night Nicola knows she’ll do anything to keep her.
How are these two making out 50 years in the future? Not great really. Haha.
Nicola is that female villain you don’t want to root for but you kinda do anyways? Super manipulative. Toxic to be around. If you enjoy supporting women’s wrongs this could be a book for you. I certainly enjoyed those parts of it.
I think what held me back was the writing in places. It’s dual first person perspective which I found sort of odd. And the voice was strange in places. I don’t remember having this issue with Croft’s first book Stone Cold Fox, but I listened to that one on audio and I’m wondering if that made it less noticeable. It’s not egregious anywhere it just felt off.
Part of this was also the language. Some of the slang was weird and it felt noticeable to me that Croft is not from London. Like I’ve read plenty of authors/books from the UK and none of them ever talked the way these characters do. I don’t know if it was supposed to be young people slang or 80s slang. It was just weird and broke the immersion for me. (examples include: drinkies? Lippy for lipstick? If anyone can shed light I’d love to know just out of morbid curiosity. **ETA: I’m officially old. I heard my 11 year old daughter’s friends using the word lippy the other day. It’s young people slang. Not sure if it’s in the UK or just US. I’m sure drinkies is the same. I stand by the comment this is bizarre. Next year I’ll be telling people to get off my porch. I don’t have a porch.)
But the vibes were glamorous and glitzy. Basically everything the cover and title promise. I wish it had been a little faster paced. I wish some of the back story chapters had been cut.
I also think there were a few loose ends that needed tidying (like is
So not perfect but not bad. Good if this is what you’re in the mood for. And the cover is absolutely stunning. (10 bajillion stars for the cover.)
This is a character driven story set in both 1970s/80s London as well as present day London. Nicola is a 100+ year old vampire and she’s on the prowl for a new companion. When she spots Amber dancing in a club one night Nicola knows she’ll do anything to keep her.
How are these two making out 50 years in the future? Not great really. Haha.
Nicola is that female villain you don’t want to root for but you kinda do anyways? Super manipulative. Toxic to be around. If you enjoy supporting women’s wrongs this could be a book for you. I certainly enjoyed those parts of it.
I think what held me back was the writing in places. It’s dual first person perspective which I found sort of odd. And the voice was strange in places. I don’t remember having this issue with Croft’s first book Stone Cold Fox, but I listened to that one on audio and I’m wondering if that made it less noticeable. It’s not egregious anywhere it just felt off.
Part of this was also the language. Some of the slang was weird and it felt noticeable to me that Croft is not from London. Like I’ve read plenty of authors/books from the UK and none of them ever talked the way these characters do. I don’t know if it was supposed to be young people slang or 80s slang. It was just weird and broke the immersion for me. (examples include: drinkies? Lippy for lipstick? If anyone can shed light I’d love to know just out of morbid curiosity. **ETA: I’m officially old. I heard my 11 year old daughter’s friends using the word lippy the other day. It’s young people slang. Not sure if it’s in the UK or just US. I’m sure drinkies is the same. I stand by the comment this is bizarre. Next year I’ll be telling people to get off my porch. I don’t have a porch.)
But the vibes were glamorous and glitzy. Basically everything the cover and title promise. I wish it had been a little faster paced. I wish some of the back story chapters had been cut.
I also think there were a few loose ends that needed tidying (like is
So not perfect but not bad. Good if this is what you’re in the mood for. And the cover is absolutely stunning. (10 bajillion stars for the cover.)
September 22, 2024
We love the night life is everything you could want in a vampire story. It’s decadent, glamorous, alluring, dazzling, seductive and flashy – with bite. It’s a booming tale of dysfunctional friendship and codependency that reverberates long after you’ve finished it.
Amid the sizzling and scintillating magical ambiance of the Disco scene in the late 1970’s, alluring and captivating Amber with her gorgeous, good looks enchants the stunning vampire Nicola. Instantly they have chemistry on and off the dance floor becoming fast friends. Flickering between the past and present we see friendship in retrograde. What was once a fun and effervescent relationship has turned into a virulent bond where Nicola desperately hangs on to control over her prepossessing partying paramour. Amber, our sensational stunner is betrayed by Nicola, a fashionable femme fatale. While reeling from the betrayal Amber takes a deeper look at her concord with Nicola and wonders if maybe it’s time she strike out on her own.
This book had me completely enraptured. I was engrossed from the first page. We Love the Night Life is everything I ever wanted in a vampire novel: Bombshell beauties, violence, trauma, and drama.
Amid the sizzling and scintillating magical ambiance of the Disco scene in the late 1970’s, alluring and captivating Amber with her gorgeous, good looks enchants the stunning vampire Nicola. Instantly they have chemistry on and off the dance floor becoming fast friends. Flickering between the past and present we see friendship in retrograde. What was once a fun and effervescent relationship has turned into a virulent bond where Nicola desperately hangs on to control over her prepossessing partying paramour. Amber, our sensational stunner is betrayed by Nicola, a fashionable femme fatale. While reeling from the betrayal Amber takes a deeper look at her concord with Nicola and wonders if maybe it’s time she strike out on her own.
This book had me completely enraptured. I was engrossed from the first page. We Love the Night Life is everything I ever wanted in a vampire novel: Bombshell beauties, violence, trauma, and drama.
September 20, 2024
BOOK: We Love the Nightlife
AUTHOR: Rachel Koller Croft
PUB DATE: 8/20/2024 by Berkley
PAGES: 400
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
GENRE: Thriller/Fantasy
QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: [CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW & SONG CHOICE ON IG!] First thing’s first! This song choice was a MUST for me with all the references to it in the book (i.e., “Toot. Toot!..ahhhh, BEEP BEEP!,” as well as naming their club, “Hey Mister!” Two FMCs. One very jealous and the other a little selfish – out for her own best interests with good reason. There is great character and world building. I enjoyed the thrilling tale of these two fierce women, and I couldn’t help but get swept away in this vampire world they live in. The story and writing were so clever! It was such a fun audiobook, and I appreciated references to other disco songs I heard growing up! You, too, are sure to be compelled to see how this story ends! A must read for sure!
AUTHOR: Rachel Koller Croft
PUB DATE: 8/20/2024 by Berkley
PAGES: 400
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
GENRE: Thriller/Fantasy
QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: [CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW & SONG CHOICE ON IG!] First thing’s first! This song choice was a MUST for me with all the references to it in the book (i.e., “Toot. Toot!..ahhhh, BEEP BEEP!,” as well as naming their club, “Hey Mister!” Two FMCs. One very jealous and the other a little selfish – out for her own best interests with good reason. There is great character and world building. I enjoyed the thrilling tale of these two fierce women, and I couldn’t help but get swept away in this vampire world they live in. The story and writing were so clever! It was such a fun audiobook, and I appreciated references to other disco songs I heard growing up! You, too, are sure to be compelled to see how this story ends! A must read for sure!
September 9, 2024
WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE is so unique and suspenseful! Vampires. Disco. London. Toxic female relationships…I was fully captivated by the storyline and characters.
In 1979, two women meet on the dance floor at a disco in London. Nicola, a fiesty vampire for over a century meets Amber, a lost girl from America and offers her an eternity of adventures and the glamorous life but the price she must pay is eternal.
With dual POVs and timelines, we’re thrust onto the vampire scene and it’s a wild ride! Sure, they’re vampires and have to kill to live🩸but I dare you not to root for Nicola and Amber (yes, Nicola too!)
The TWIST got me when I was predicting something totally different. The writing is creative, witty and entertaining and I wanted the party to keep on going!
After loving Croft’s debut, FIRST LIE WINS, it’s no surprise that I ATE UP THIS STORY! The dual audiobook narrators gave stellar performances.
Fans of Vampire Diaries and True Blood - you’ll want to SINK YOUR TEETH into this one!
In 1979, two women meet on the dance floor at a disco in London. Nicola, a fiesty vampire for over a century meets Amber, a lost girl from America and offers her an eternity of adventures and the glamorous life but the price she must pay is eternal.
With dual POVs and timelines, we’re thrust onto the vampire scene and it’s a wild ride! Sure, they’re vampires and have to kill to live🩸but I dare you not to root for Nicola and Amber (yes, Nicola too!)
The TWIST got me when I was predicting something totally different. The writing is creative, witty and entertaining and I wanted the party to keep on going!
After loving Croft’s debut, FIRST LIE WINS, it’s no surprise that I ATE UP THIS STORY! The dual audiobook narrators gave stellar performances.
Fans of Vampire Diaries and True Blood - you’ll want to SINK YOUR TEETH into this one!
August 20, 2024
Anne Rice fans don't want to miss this latest dual timeline, dual POV, contemporary vampire story. Part cat and mouse game, part female friendship saga, this book features Vampire Nicola and the young American woman she turns after becoming obsessed. Full of secrets, bad ass women and a moving thriller aspect. This was tons of fun and great on audio! HIGHLY recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! Rachel Koller Croft is quickly becoming a fav author - last year's Stone cold fox was also excellent!
August 14, 2024
If you’re in the mood for a unique read this one has such a cool vibe and is definitely different than anything else I’ve read lately. I was a little hesitant when I saw it was about vampires but that aspect was actually fun and interesting for me. Part of what I really loved about the authors last book was the toxic female relationships and that’s a theme here too, and one I’ll never get tired of reading about. The London setting was also fun, especially the chapters set in the past and getting to see both Nicola and Amber’s POVs made their dangerous game of cat and mouse that much more fun for me. I loved the snarky humor and overall bitchy vibes here too, everything about it felt glamorous, catty and totally addictive
September 29, 2024
3.75⭐️
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft offers a seductive glimpse into London’s disco scene, mixing the glitter of nightlife with the dark undercurrent of a toxic, centuries-old vampire friendship.
The relationship between Nicola and Amber is the crux of the novel, and it's both fascinating and frustrating to watch. Nicola, the brooding, controlling vampire who’s lived for nearly two centuries, is a compelling character—her desire to keep Amber under her thumb stems from a blend of obsession, loneliness, and love. Amber, on the other hand, is vivacious and rebellious, craving freedom from Nicola’s suffocating hold. The contrast between their personalities creates a dynamic tension that fuels the story, particularly as Amber plots her dangerous escape.
The disco setting is one of the novel’s highlights. The glittering nightclubs, pulsating music, and wild party scenes are vividly described, immersing the reader in the heady, hedonistic world that Nicola and Amber inhabit. The atmosphere feels electric, and the nostalgic 1970s vibes are a fun backdrop for the unfolding drama. Croft does a great job capturing the mood of the era, where nightlife is not just a pastime, but a way of life—especially for two vampires who have thrived on the excess for decades.
I had a bit of a hard time understanding the motivations of the characters at some points. This was a dual-POV and alternating timeline story so it seems like we should have gotten to know the characters really well, but some of the decisions they made just didn’t add up to me.
I think this book was maybe trying to tackle a bit too much and ended up falling flat in some areas. The writing and setting are really strong but the overall message got lost for me.
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft offers a seductive glimpse into London’s disco scene, mixing the glitter of nightlife with the dark undercurrent of a toxic, centuries-old vampire friendship.
The relationship between Nicola and Amber is the crux of the novel, and it's both fascinating and frustrating to watch. Nicola, the brooding, controlling vampire who’s lived for nearly two centuries, is a compelling character—her desire to keep Amber under her thumb stems from a blend of obsession, loneliness, and love. Amber, on the other hand, is vivacious and rebellious, craving freedom from Nicola’s suffocating hold. The contrast between their personalities creates a dynamic tension that fuels the story, particularly as Amber plots her dangerous escape.
The disco setting is one of the novel’s highlights. The glittering nightclubs, pulsating music, and wild party scenes are vividly described, immersing the reader in the heady, hedonistic world that Nicola and Amber inhabit. The atmosphere feels electric, and the nostalgic 1970s vibes are a fun backdrop for the unfolding drama. Croft does a great job capturing the mood of the era, where nightlife is not just a pastime, but a way of life—especially for two vampires who have thrived on the excess for decades.
I had a bit of a hard time understanding the motivations of the characters at some points. This was a dual-POV and alternating timeline story so it seems like we should have gotten to know the characters really well, but some of the decisions they made just didn’t add up to me.
I think this book was maybe trying to tackle a bit too much and ended up falling flat in some areas. The writing and setting are really strong but the overall message got lost for me.
August 18, 2024
Thank you to #berkleypartner @berkleypub for my early galley access, and to#prhaudiopartner @prhaudio for my gifted audiobook!
3.5⭐️ Who doesn’t love a good vampire story? I know I do! We Love the Nightlife is a fun female vampire story. In the past we follow Nicola and the story of how she changed Amber and how their friendship/maker journey began. In the present we see how Amber regrets her decisions years ago.
This one was fun and filled with glitzy glam, drama, frenemies, revenge, and small twists. Our female vamps gave just what I would expect out of vampires with an added twist which I enjoyed. A twist was that they weren’t just scoping out the nightlife to find their next meal. They were also planning to spice the night life up with their own night club. This was a great idea of a story and I had fun with the audiobook. The beginning was quite interesting getting to know our main characters and how vampires are made and how they live it up at night. There was some points within the story where the pacing slowed for me, but it didn’t take away from my interest. Towards the end there is a bit of a plot twist that snatched me right back into it and had me excited to see how this friendship/maker relationship would pan out!
One thing is for certain, I would have loved to party with these gals, aside from the whole vampire feeding/blood thing. 😂
3.5⭐️ Who doesn’t love a good vampire story? I know I do! We Love the Nightlife is a fun female vampire story. In the past we follow Nicola and the story of how she changed Amber and how their friendship/maker journey began. In the present we see how Amber regrets her decisions years ago.
This one was fun and filled with glitzy glam, drama, frenemies, revenge, and small twists. Our female vamps gave just what I would expect out of vampires with an added twist which I enjoyed. A twist was that they weren’t just scoping out the nightlife to find their next meal. They were also planning to spice the night life up with their own night club. This was a great idea of a story and I had fun with the audiobook. The beginning was quite interesting getting to know our main characters and how vampires are made and how they live it up at night. There was some points within the story where the pacing slowed for me, but it didn’t take away from my interest. Towards the end there is a bit of a plot twist that snatched me right back into it and had me excited to see how this friendship/maker relationship would pan out!
One thing is for certain, I would have loved to party with these gals, aside from the whole vampire feeding/blood thing. 😂
August 22, 2024
In 1979, Amber just wants to go to clubs and dance to disco music. When she meets Nicola, she promises Amber an all-night party, for the rest of her life. The only catch, she’d have to become a vampire.
I fell in love with the cover of this book, so when Berkley asked if I wanted to join this blog tour, I signed right up. I’m so glad I did because this was such a well written vampire story that I totally sunk my teeth into. I’m not a big reader of vampire books, but Rachel Koller Croft might have changed me.
The toxic friendship between Amber and Nicola really made this so much more than just a story about vampires. Told in dual perspectives and timelines, everything just worked so well, and I felt transported to the past while loving the present storyline just as much. The setting of London was perfect, and I loved how descriptive yet not too gory it was. The author’s witty yet seductive writing will make everyone want to take a big bite out of this one!
I started off reading the physical copy then switched to the audiobook which was amazing! Katherine Lee McEwan and Suzanne Elise Freeman were the perfect narrators for this story. They both did multiple accents, and they did them so well. I honestly thought there were more than two narrators while listening. I highly recommend listening to this juicy story if you can.
Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review!
I fell in love with the cover of this book, so when Berkley asked if I wanted to join this blog tour, I signed right up. I’m so glad I did because this was such a well written vampire story that I totally sunk my teeth into. I’m not a big reader of vampire books, but Rachel Koller Croft might have changed me.
The toxic friendship between Amber and Nicola really made this so much more than just a story about vampires. Told in dual perspectives and timelines, everything just worked so well, and I felt transported to the past while loving the present storyline just as much. The setting of London was perfect, and I loved how descriptive yet not too gory it was. The author’s witty yet seductive writing will make everyone want to take a big bite out of this one!
I started off reading the physical copy then switched to the audiobook which was amazing! Katherine Lee McEwan and Suzanne Elise Freeman were the perfect narrators for this story. They both did multiple accents, and they did them so well. I honestly thought there were more than two narrators while listening. I highly recommend listening to this juicy story if you can.
Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review!
August 26, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ Rounded up for GR. I really didn’t know what to expect since I went into this one pretty blind. I mean that beautiful cover and another book by Rachel Koller Croft is all I really needed to pick this one up. This book ended up feeling like a modern version of Interview with the vampire, that’s how I kept describing it to friends. It is a book about toxic female friendships in the form of vampires between a century old vampire and the new vampire she has made as her companion and the lengths one is willing to go to escape from one another. It takes place over many decades, including London in the 80s through present day. The nightclubs and music depicted in this book is a vibe of its own and I loved it. I am not sure how I’d classify this book, I went into it expecting a thriller but it is definitely not that… it is more women’s contemporary but make it vampires. So there is some gore and death but nothing too crazy or scary.
I very much enjoyed the story telling of this book, the dual POV and the dual narrators of the audiobook did a great job. I think my reason for not giving this all the stars is that it is a very character driven plot that doesn’t have too many thrills, a lot of introspection and felt like it was dragging at times. Overall, really happy I read it but not sure the story will stick with me for long.
I very much enjoyed the story telling of this book, the dual POV and the dual narrators of the audiobook did a great job. I think my reason for not giving this all the stars is that it is a very character driven plot that doesn’t have too many thrills, a lot of introspection and felt like it was dragging at times. Overall, really happy I read it but not sure the story will stick with me for long.
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