One Sentence Summary: Louise has been a vampire for decades and has settled into her new existence, but everything is upended when some relatives show up on her doorstep.

I like Mike Chen’s books. He’s managed to make me enjoy reading about superheroes and aliens, so I had hoped to enjoy reading about vampires for the first time ever, because vampires are so far away from what I like reading. Vampire Weekend kind of felt like a love letter to vampires and music, and, reading his author’s note, I completely got it. But…vampires are still not for me. Sadly, this book was missing a lot of the heart I’ve come to expect from his books, but I still did find it fun and amusing. The predictability made this a little boring, though it did take some interesting turns towards the end, so here are three reasons to read this book.

Vampires
Vampire Weekend is all about vampires. Many of the chapters even started with different vampire myths that we’re all probably aware of by this point. It was interesting to see Chen’s particular take on vampires as Louise commented on what was true and what wasn’t. I did like how some of the myths were true in this book, which directly led to some interesting precautions Louise had to take. It also contributed to the larger vampire story, which the reader isn’t privy to until it’s actually going down because other vampire characters were organizing it and Louise and a teen relative were pulled into it. I do wish the vampire revolution had been a bigger part of the story because I found it and the ideas behind it fascinating and perhaps even a bit applicable to life today.

What I wasn’t so keen on in Vampire Weekend was that it felt like it was trying to either debunk vampire myths or create its own mythology and history. Now, I don’t have a problem with that and even found it fascinating, but I felt like the story was sacrificed a bit for the sake of really going into what vampires were actually like. To me, it read like a book about vampires rather than a fictional story. It was fun, though, to see what these vampires decided to do with their long lives and everything they’ve had to go through. It definitely didn’t make becoming a vampire particularly appealing, but it plays a role in another story line that showed how it could actually do some good.

Music
Music is just as big a part of Vampire Weekend as the vampire part. I mean, it’s all about a punk rocker vampire who’s just trying to find a band she can jam with. Even though Louise is a vampire, it’s just a part of her, even if she spends most of the book believing it’s the bigger part of her that she can’r quite access because, you know, she’s a vampire and vampires have very specific parameters they need to live within. She’s had to sacrifice her love of music a bit for her vampire lifestyle, but I liked how the book shows her how she can have both worlds. It was great to see her teach, and just hang out with Ian, a relative who drops unexpectedly on her doorstep. They’re connected by music just as much by blood, and it was fun to see them introduce music groups to each other. The family part wasn’t as big of a part of this book as I had expected, but I really loved how Louise and Ian connected through music and came to understand each other despite the years between them.

Vampire Weekend felt like it dropped in band names, musicians, and different types of music as much as it did vampire myths. I’ll be honest and say I recognized almost none of it, so I felt like I missed out on a layer in this story. Or maybe not. The music part was a key part in the second half, but I don’t think what kind of music was particularly important. Maybe there was something it added, but, for me, it was just kind of a decoration on a cake. My favorite thing about this part was just how it helped tie a family back together.

Dysfunctional Asian American Family
This is where the heart came in. Chen’s books tend to have a family component, and this one didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately, this felt like the smallest part of the story, but I latched onto it and loved every bit of it. I liked that it features Louise as a first generation Chinese American, so it goes into her childhood and adolescence several decades ago with very Chinese parents. There’s not a lot of acceptance or forgiveness; just a lot of expectations and disappointment at any kind of failure. Fortunately, Louise isn’t the only outcast in the family, so she manages to find a home. My favorite part was when Louise would remember her youth, putting herself and her found relatives in context. There’s definitely some dysfunction from the very beginning, and I really felt for her, wanting something different from what her parents expected. It’s complicated and messy, but, unlike in previous books, Vampire Weekend didn’t spend a lot of time picking apart the threads. Instead, it seemed to resolve itself fairly quickly when it did manage to become the focus, which was disappointing because this is usually where the heart comes in and I was just disappointed it was largely missing and shoved to the end after the big vampire events.

The best part of this family component was definitely the relationship between Louise and Ian. There’s a vast difference in their ages, but she becomes something of an anchor to him, especially as his mother lies dying and his grandfather seems absolutely lost, and she seems to need their new relationship just as much as he does. Their relationship goes a long way in helping their family heal and find solutions. It was cute, and I especially enjoyed Louise’s dog, Lola. Ian and Lola were cute together and I definitely smiled at those parts.

In Sum
Vampire Weekend is an interesting book that takes vampires, music, and an Asian American family and whirls it all together. It did feel like some pieces were flown out of that whirlwind, but it did come together and the components did rely on each other, so I liked the cohesion, even if the music references flew over my head. I do wish it had been a little less focused on the vampires, but I did appreciate Chen’s hand at developing his own vampire mythology. While this wasn’t what I was expecting and it wasn’t for me, it does have some really good parts, especially towards the end, and there are great strides made in the vampire community, which was really a lot of fun to get to see.

Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with vampires and I wanted to love this book so bad but it fell short for me. Although I appreciated the family aspect of the book, I wanted more from the vampires. These vampires were boring and it just wasn’t what I expected. Three stars!

Louise is used to being alone. As a vampire, she isn't allowed to share her story, which necessitates keeping people at a distance. For a while she made some great memories with her Aunt (whose house she then inherited), and then spent some good time with a new best friend who finally learned her secret. But when her best friend dies prematurely and she isn't sure if it's because he knew her secret, she decides not to let anyone else get that close again.

She works her midnights job, and laments the fact that real vampires don't have nearly as many fantastic powers as the legends promise. As a blood shortage sweeps the area (yes, the blood-drinking thing is real), she struggles with what may be a necessary evil - staying connected with the rest of the vampire community.

And because one major change isn't enough to deal with after a few quiet decades, a few distant family members end up on her doorstep. Of course, since Louise has stopped aging, they don't really recognize her, but she has to decide whether her solitude or her actual family is a greater priority.

Overall, I enjoyed the presentation of a new kind of vampire lore. Louise, her dog Lola, the local vampire community leader Eric, and Louise's distant nephew Ian must slowly learn where they stand with each other, and what that might mean for each of them. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars as a fun, quirky fantasy-ish story in a contemporary and realistic setting.

thanks to net galley and the publisher for the ARC!
3 stars for personal taste with the book, if i enjoyed some of the themes more it'd be 4.5...
this book at points really vibed with me and others didnt. at times too close to home with the themes and character struggles (which is on me not the book). funny for the most part. vampire stuff is fun as is the music.
much more for music lovers as the vampirism is just background for the characters to grow and evolve. very well written as usual from Chen.

I got to the 50% mark and had to quit. I have heard a lot of people raving about this book, but it just wasn't for me. At the halfway mark, I didn't really like any of the characters. It wasn't funny enough to make up for the depressing themes, but I felt like it was supposed to be madcap.

I’ve read a few of Chen’s other books, so I assumed this would be similar. Vampirism is only the backdrop for what the story is truly about.

Meet Louise Chao – hardcore punk rock fan, guitarist, night shift hospital janitor, vampire. Since the deaths of her aunt and best friend, she’s led a pretty secluded life. The exception is her french fry-loving corgi, Lola (she’s named after The Kinks song that kept playing in my head while reading). Louise wants to be part of a band and has auditioned for some, but when you can only perform at night – because vampirism – options are limited.

Enter Ian – thirteen-year-old music fan, aspiring musician, tech genius, and long-lost relative. He learns what Louise is, but is pretty disappointed to learn being a real life vamp doesn’t align with movie/TV vamps. No biting humans (it’s actually pretty gross), no superhuman speed/powers, no special permission required to enter homes, no turning humans, and romantic relationships are a thing of the past. The equipment no longers works in that capacity. Nothing at all like the Anne Rice books. Louise’s life is focused on secrecy and knowing where her next meal is coming from – primarily the nearly expired blood bags she takes from the hospital. But Ian still asks her for a life-changing favor.

If you’re looking for the more typical vampire tales,you won’t find them here. This story is mainly about family – the good, bad, and the ugly – and paying it forward. About listening objectively to observations about your life – especially if they come from very insightful teenagers. About making connections and finding a community. And about music. Music fans will adore all the references, and I love that characters are named after musical influences in the author’s life. He also leaves vampire-related Easter eggs for vamp fans. A slow burn, enjoyable read from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A love-of-music story about a vampire, alone and adrift in the world, who really prefers her separation from any vampire or familial community but really, really wants to join a band. I was hoping for a bit more humor and action, and while both are definitely there, they're all within a kind of layer of philosophical introspection—highly appropriate for a vampire story so focused on alienation, connection, and memory. I think it's perfect for the kind of vampire fans who loved <em>Only Lovers Left Alive</em>.

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen was one of my most anticipated releases of January and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it so soon. Mike Chen has quickly become one of my favorite must read authors. It's so cool that he's jumping into fantasy horror with this rather than sci-fi and he does a great job with it. I like that the book takes a bit of a different track for the vampire story and roots it in family, music, and navigating the modern world. Plus, I enjoyed the "vampire power myth" that each chapter kicks off with and breaks down and the fact there is no romance storyline at all. Louise's has a unique voice and the world-building of this standalone novel are both great. My only issue is that the novel doesn't need to be quite as long as it is. There are a few moments where the story kind gets a bit bogged down. Otherwise, I highly recommend Mike Chen's Vampire Weekend. I couldn't resist his take on vampires and I enjoyed getting to know Louise, who in an unexpected way made me think of Drew Hayes', Fred, the Vampire Accountant (who is one of my all time favorite vampires, by the way). I can't wait to read whatever Mike Chen decides to write in the future. I hope he'll decide to write more fantasy and horror in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

This week’s headline? Don’t sneeze. Don’t ever sneeze.

Why this book? I admit the title and cover got me

Which book format? ARC

Primary reading environment? Sitting pretty with my kitty

Any preconceived notions? I'll be surprised if I don’t like this

Identify most with? Louise

Three little words? “real world’s troubles”

Goes well with? Corgis, Poly Styrene, Joan Baez

Recommend this to? Anyone looking for a fun read about vampires

Other cultural accompaniments: https://shop.gimmemetal.com/products/the-ramones-ramones-remastered

Grade: 3.5/5

I leave you with this: “Not quite as glamorous. But way more punk rock.”
“I needed a warm hug in the form of dance beats contradicting dark emotions.”

📚📚📚

Well, this was a fun read. Louise is just looking to join a band and gather her blood supply but being a vampire keeps getting in the way. I liked the main character’s tone, very matter of fact but amusing. I loved all the music references and that Louise is just a punk rock kid at heart.

There’s a lot of good character development, particularly with Louise, but the plot was a little lacking. There’s a murderous vampire on the loose but I found myself not wondering too much about that when I preferred reading about Louise and her long lost family.

Vampire Weekend will be released on January 31, 2023.

I will post this review in its entirety after Harper Collins reaches an agreement with the union. You can (and should, because it is an awesome book!) support this author with a purchase. And if you are able, be sure to donate to the workers who have been without pay for far too long:


Bottom Line: Pay people livable wages. Commit to hiring diversely. Support unions.

A different sort of vampire story- this one's all about family and music. Louise is a vampire who works at a hospital for easy access to blood but she really wants to be in a band. When Ian turns up, she finds there's more to life (vampire life) than she knew, This moves back and forth in time to tell her story, which is, oddly distracting at times. This isn't my usual genre and it took a bit of patience. And to be honest, it's also so different from the usual vampire tales (there's no romance for one thing) that fans of the subgenre might be disappointed, That said, it's good to see representation in the vampire world. Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

These days it's hard to get something fresh on the topic of vampires, but I loved this book's take on them. Not too edgy or bloody, but not very sweet either, just perfect. The writing and the characters were pretty good, too. I'll be recommending it to those who are looking for new, gripping stories about vampires.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for providing a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Mike Chen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always been more into the dark, evil side of vampire stories (Lost Boys, Blade, Near Dark) than the shiny, happy romantic ones (Twilight) and this book was fresh take on that. Louise was a fun character to follow through her musical and medical history and, as her story rolled out and we learned more details, I liked her rebellious punk side more and more.

Family and relationships are a fundamental part of this story, but that wasnt apparent from the start. It played out with a great pace and kept my interest from beginning to end.

Highly recommended for fans of original stories about vampires.

Vampire Weekend is equal parts hilarious situations, emotional found family themes, and charm. There are so many musical references you are going to want to make a playlist! It's a story which dives into the nitty gritty behind being a vampire. The ups and many downs all with a comical tone. Plus there's a corgi! At the beginning, Vampire Weekend becomes a story about family trauma (and forgiveness) with a theme of (re)found family.

In Vampire Weekend, a music love it vampire reconnects with family and deals with a blood shortage. I don’t see Mike Chen recommended as “cozy” but his works should be, no matter what’s happening the focus is on family and how those connections can do so much. This book is fun and full of music. I would absolutely recommend it!

Note: arc provided in exchange for honest review

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen is a captivating read into vampire mythos and human connection while surrounded by the enduring power of punk rock. Vampires and punk rock make for an exciting combination. A hooded figure, wearing a band t-shirt, on the stage with an electric guitar with sharp angles and aggressive lines, befitting a vampire with teeth bared and ready to strike. Vampire Weekend is an intriguing love song to punk, guitars, and vampires that shines with hope and humor.

This just straight up ruled, I have nothing deep to say I just loved it and think everyone should read it.

As a long time fan of vampire fiction, I was super excited when I found out that Mike Chen was coming out with his own addition to the genre. While I wouldn’t classify this as primarily a “vampire” novel in the traditional sense—Louise is a vampire, but this sort of plays second fiddle to the surrounding family drama and odes to 70s, 80s, and 90s punk rock—I will give credit where credit is due and say that this is a very unique and intriguing story unto itself.
If you go into this book expecting the conventional sexual tension, gore, and neck biting found in most vampire fiction, you will be disappointed. Instead, Vampire Weekend is a more mundane reimagining of vampire lore on a far smaller, more personal, scale.
Louise is your everyday struggling musician. She loves punk rock and wants to find a band to play with, but she also happens to drink blood and be carrying around several decades worth of familial trauma that she hasn’t dealt with despite the fact most of her immediate family are dead. I like how this novel plays with perception. Like there are flashbacks to Louise’s human life, but there’s no direct immediacy to any of it, so you tend to forget how old she actually is and how long she has been holding onto her own personal grudges and biases.
While I did like the limited narrative focus for emotional affectation, I was a little disappointed that so much of the world building fell to the wayside. Speaking specifically, I like what Chen did with the vampire community, and I wanted to see more of that, but it was given so little on-page focus that I felt a little cheated.
In terms of recommendation, I would probably still recommend this, but more-so to someone who likes contemporary family dramas and character focused slice-of-life as an urban fantasy alternative if they’re looking to branch out.

Mike Chen plus vampires? Yes, please! I’m a big fan a Mike Chen’s books, so I was overjoyed to receive an advanced copy from Net Galley. And this newest book did not disappoint.

Vampire Weekend follows Louise, a punk rock, corgi loving vampire, who is just trying to make sure she has enough blood to survive and maybe play in a band again - if, you know, the whole vampire thing would stop getting in the way. Two unexpected visitors upend Louise’s humble existence and she must decide if she wants to risk her way of life to let herself grow attached to people again.

Chen does a great job of finding Louise’s voice and keeping her tone through the narrative. He also develops relationships between the characters with the grace I have come to expect from his work. While vampire stories can sometimes come off as cliche, Vampire Weekend puts a modern twist on the mythology in a very fun way. And, of course, if you love punk music, there are song references galore, and if you’re not familiar with the genre (like me), there are tons of new songs and bands to explore!

As someone that reads a lot of books with vampire characters this one was a little different. I loved the breaking down of vampire tropes like flying, transforming, and the like to myth. The intertwining of music especially older music was nostalgic punk rock and seemed fitting. While most vampires want to stay away from family and loved one this one seeks them out to reconnect and share her love of music with them. This is a very much an environment story not so much character driven in terms of it’s about the music and the connections to that. A quick read but slower paced. Great for a music lover wanting a vampire book.