diff --git a/.github/.release-please-manifest.json b/.github/.release-please-manifest.json
index 2e308677..fa4291eb 100644
--- a/.github/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.github/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-    ".": "3.7.0"
+    ".": "3.8.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0ea6c297..e9d95f26 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [3.8.0](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/compare/v3.7.0...v3.8.0) (2024-09-20)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* allow custom dynamic variables without `$` prefix ([359d089](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/commit/359d089e822c553312d634d1572b2225b800e4a8))
+* expand variables inside external body (fix [#455](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/issues/455)) ([97cc922](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/commit/97cc9224993387510e7b4a9cfff2b6b9bfb54bd6))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* remove unrecognized option check (close [#461](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/issues/461)) ([6a7c193](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/commit/6a7c193c2b5f030d085544e58b36f2e7413e1728))
+
 ## [3.7.0](https://github.com/rest-nvim/rest.nvim/compare/v3.6.2...v3.7.0) (2024-09-14)
 
 
diff --git a/lua/rest-nvim/api.lua b/lua/rest-nvim/api.lua
index a8d6464a..8b80da2a 100644
--- a/lua/rest-nvim/api.lua
+++ b/lua/rest-nvim/api.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ local client = function() return require("rest-nvim.client") end
 ---rest.nvim API version, equals to the current rest.nvim version. Meant to be used by modules later
 ---@type string
 ---@see vim.version
-api.VERSION = "3.7.0" -- x-release-please-version
+api.VERSION = "3.8.0" -- x-release-please-version
 
 ---rest.nvim namespace used for buffer highlights
 ---@type number