I really really really wanted to love this one. I love zombie movies, shows, etc. I love romance novels. A romance novel set during a zombie apocalypse?? Yes, please. Unfortunately I just did not enjoy the writing style on this one. I genuinely found it hard to follow what was happening, and the writing felt silly and and the heroine felt childish (defending yourself with a burrito?? really?)

Hopefully this book finds it's audience but unfortunately it's not me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book for a few reasons. I've read Olivia Dade in the past and had mixed impressions on her writing and stories. So I wanted to try again. Also the title and neon cover art intrigued me. and then the premise of a fat FMC and her nextdoor neighbor (who turns out to be a vampire) teaming up to survive a zombie apocalypse seemed fun.

This book is chaotic. Total chaos. And kind of messy? There were times I struggled to picture the setting and that's probably because there is no real world building. We start being thrust into the action with Edie trying to kill a zombie with a burrito, and it goes from there. A world where zombies were engineered to kill werewolves, yet it feels like "our" world with internet influencers and lots of current "human" trends, yet the world has vampires, witches, fae, trolls, and other supernatural beings. If you like Instalove, this is about as instant as you can get. And if you like banter, Edie and Gaston/Max/Chad have it. The sex scenes are explicit and spicy, if you like that. But honestly at 55% of the book I was ready for it to be done, and by 80% I kinda of speed read the rest.

Also, I think this is supposed to actually take place during winter holidays, but it didn't feel like it at all, until a throw away line about sending holiday orders would get mentioned. This is probably a 2.5 for me overall, but rounding up to a 3.

Best part, as other reviews state, is all the versions of the Gaston-song. Those were worth rounding up to a 3 star review.

So Much Fun! Who knew I could laugh and swoon through a zombie apocalypse book!!
Edie was so snarky. She had me snort/laughing while poor grumpy vampire Max just tried to keep her alive.

“Where are you going, human?”
Human. Which confirmed he . . . wasn’t.
Funny, he didn’t sound like he planned to murder her with his bare hands. More patronize her to death, with suffocating condescension his unknown species’ weapon of choice.”

ZomRomCom was my first book by this author and I’m definitely hooked! I can’t wait to discover more of her stories!
-5 Stars!-

This book was so gloriously strange and I absolutely loved it!

Part contemporary romcom, part paranormal romance and part dystopian fantasy, (with fae, witches, oracles, trolls and vampires),I can honestly say I've never read anything like this one, and I'm already counting the days until the second one comes out!

It's been two decades since the last zombie breach, but when Edie sees her clueless neighbor about to be attacked by one, she jumps in to save him. But the switch is flipped and he saves her instead. It turns out he's a centuries old vampire named Max who has built an elaborate zombie-proof lair underneath his house. As the two of them discover the conspiracy that led to the breach, they find themselves falling for each other while fighting for their lives.

This book was pure fun, a cozy fantasy-ish story set in modern day Virginia, but in a compound where zombies are contained in the very center. Edie is the perfect heroine, a cheerful and loving human who is determined that nobody will ever give their life to save her again. Max is a classic Grumpy vampire who happens to be wildly obsessed with Edie and will do everything in his vast power to keep her safe. I was absolutely enamored with both of these characters, as well as the rag-tag team of zombie fighters they manage to pull together.

The author did such an excellent job with this book. The elements she brought together created a story like no other. She managed to include plus-size rep, mental health rep, found family, survivalist skills, battles, and plenty of spice!! I read this one so fast and found myself smiling the entire time.

If you are looking for a fun, exciting and unique book, I highly recommend this one!

(Actual Rating 4.75)
Edie is sunshine in human form—a bubbly, plus-size soap maker who wields a cleaver like it’s an extension of her arm.

Her neighbor, Chad/Gaston/Max (yes, he answers to all three, or just “Vampire Boy”), is her complete opposite: a solitary French vampire with a limited social battery and a past he keeps carefully hidden.

When a zombie breach tears through their quiet town, Edie sets out to “save” him… only for the rescue to go the other way around. From there, they become unlikely partners—dodging the undead, trading barbed banter, and occasionally bursting into Gaston-inspired songs that are equal parts absurd and delightful.

The mix of humor, gore, and genuine tenderness between them made this an absolute treat to read. Edie’s wholehearted care is the perfect counterbalance to Chad/Gaston/Max’s reserved charm, creating a dynamic that feels both hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt.

Some parts, like the fae and soulmark subplot, could’ve used more page time, and the ending left me convinced there might be another book on the way (or at least hoping there is). Either way, this was pure entertainment.

ZomRomCom is exactly what it sounds like, a zombie apocalypse meets romantic comedy, and somehow it works. Olivia Dade gives us undead chaos, witty banter, and a romance that’s both sweet and a little spicy… all while the main characters are running for their lives.

I love the representation. The fact that we have an FMC who isn’t 19 with the perfect athletic body type, is awesome. She feels in her late 30s, real, funny, and relatable. Yes, to more FMCs like Edie! The humor is very self-aware, poking fun at both zombie horror and rom-com clichés, and the chemistry between the leads is easy to root for.

I do wish there had been a bit more time spent on the world-building because this post-apocalyptic setting was a bit overwhelming. But overall, this was a quick, clever read that blends two genres you wouldn’t think go together. It’s not the first of its kind, certainly hope it won’t be the last.

Tropes:
🧟 Paranormal romance - zombie apocalypse
🧛 Vampire MMC 💖💖
💖 Plus-size FMC
💬 Banter that could kill faster than the undead
👩‍❤️‍👨 Grumpy x sunshine

I made it about 50% into this book before I had to DNF, not because anything was like overtly wrong with it I was just honestly bored, which seems like a wild thing to be during a romance set during a zombie apocalypse? I found I was not invested in any of the characters and it just felt disjointed and slow. Was hoping for better but alas.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I loved the premise of this, but the execution wasn't great. It was too chaotic for me, as much as I do love an absolutely bonkers book. I thought the end was going to make up for a lot of the issues I had with the book overall, but then it veered away from the path it was on and unfortunately ended with an unsatisfying fizzle.

3.5 Stars
I don't usually read contemporary romances but the addition of zombies and other supernatural characters piqued my interest! I enjoyed the concept of "the Zone" that the main characters lived in and how that would affect going about daily lives. I also enjoyed how the zombies and other supernatural/enhanced people were fit in and a natural part of the story.
Edie has chosen to stay within the Zone in her childhood home after her parents were killed 20 years prior in the "first breach" of zombies. It seems like she lives a fairly solitary life, with a few friends outside the Zone and a successful soap making business. She has one neighbor who she doesn't really interact with until one night she saves him from a rogue zombie and discovers that he is a centuries old, super hot vampire! The banter between Edie and Max was my favorite part and had me giggling and kicking my feet! A fun, quick read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Big thanks to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for providing an ARC of Zom Romcom for my review.

I really enjoyed Edie, the gutsy and warm hearted heroine of Zom Romcom. The banter, warm characterizations and the sex scenes were exactly what I expect from Olivia Dade. I would have appreciated more robust world building and the plotting felt a bit off. There were events in the book that would have seemingly been cataclysmic but the government just put up a couple of walls and dug some moats and that was that? And people - civilians - were still allowed to live nearby? If ever there was a case for eminent domain! I was curious about how day-to-day life really worked for our characters but there wasn't much there. In the last quarter of the book a bunch of new characters are introduced and it felt like they were shoehorned in. It was really creative - Humans! Trolls! Witches! Oracles! All working together! - but felt rushed and a bit like there was a checklist the author was working off of. I don't think I'll be reading more in the series, but I did love revisiting Dade's sexy writing when it came to characters finding a way to be together despite their differences.

Thank-you to the team at Berkley and author Olivia Dade for an ARC of this book. This is different than other Olivia Dade books in my opinion. This book features a bunch of different supernatural creatures with zombies being the main creature. This book is different than other books by this author. I enjoyed this book overall and there are some great funny scenes. If you are looking for a book that's not to serious for your spooky season -add this book to your TBR.

Unlike typical zombie books, Zomromcom by Olivia Dade takes a hilarious turn right from the start. Instead of the usual apocalyptic scene, the story kicks off with a burrito being used to save the day. The question is, does it work? 

When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she's stunned to be saved by him—and his giant sword—instead. As it turns out, he's actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor's newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston "Max" Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can't risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won't let her save them alone.

As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they're not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who's helping her save the world... but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you'd die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that's a risk she's willing to take.

Let's just take a second to enjoy the name of this book. The name perfectly describes the book and is so fitting. I had never picked up an Olivia Dade novel, and I regret not having done so. Her writing is so fun and witty that she makes the characters feel like they are your friends. Edie is so funny, and seriously, I want to live out a zombie apocalypse with her! She's so genuine and caring. She brings brownies to her neighbors. In the beginning, when she attempts to save Chad with a burrito, I laughed so hard. The pop culture referenced throughout the book was spot on, and again I found myself laughing. Gaston's character was so deep. At first he seemed like a mystery, but as he falls for Edie, he slowly brings his walls down, and man, he is so funny. This book is the perfect fall read or just if you need a light and amusing read. Seriously, go pick this one up!

Life in the containment zone is low-cost but bleak. When artisanal soap maker Edie comes home to zombies attacking her sweet dude-bro neighbor Chad, she barely thinks before jumping in with only a burrito as a weapon. After escaping to safety, Chad turns out to be a really old (like, super duper old) French vampire whose name is actually Gaston "Max" Boucher. Together they travel through the containment zones, saving neighbors and making friends along the way.

Olivia Dade balances the action, humor, heartfelt moments, steamy scenes, and suspense over how these zombies broke out beautifully. I could barely put this book down, and flew through it. I absolutely adored Edie's body neutrality, and her mood lightening quips about everyone's favorite egg-guzzling Disney villain.

Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good contemporary action paranormal romance! It's a blast.

Olivia Dade is back with her newest and it is unlike anything we have seen from her before.

There are zombies, conspiracies, taco in a can- wait what?

Zomromcom is zany, chaotic and bonkers but laced with tenderness and heart that I’ve come to expect from Dade. Edie and Max were so sweet together 🫠 Max has been irrevocably changed by Edie’s outward kindness and friendliness. They have both been so lonely until they have each other. The romance moves faster than I’m used to with Olivia’s books (I’ve read them all), but it’s the zombie apocalypse, so I think it’s fair game. Plus, he needs to eat 🤤

Lately more than ever I have needed a true escape and Zomromcom gave that to me. Thank you, Olivia Dade 👏

Will I read the next book? 100% yes. That ending?!!

Tropes & Things
☝️Single POV
🧛She’s a human just trying to survive the zombie apocalypse; he is her stoner neighbor who turns out to be an immortal vampire
😍He falls first and harder
🙌Her fatness isn’t a plot point
🌮Taco in a can (lots of strange canned concoctions)
🔥Spice at 32% !!!! this shocked me for an Olivia Dade
📰Pop culture references
🇫🇷French pet names, he calls her “ma puce”
🎒A nod to Dora the explorer
💜Age gap (exact amount uncertain, centuries maybe)
🥹Soft only for her, moral only for her
❓Died over the discussion questions
📗Perfect set up for next book

This book might not be for everyone (but luckily, it was for me!) If you enjoy books by Jenna Levine, Kimberly Lemming and India Holton, give this a try!

Thank you to @berkleyromance for a free copy of this title; all thoughts are my own. #berkleypartner #berkleybookstagram #berkleyromance

This whole book was an absolute trip and I don't know how to feel about it. It felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. Separately, those things were good. The zombie history/mechanics/scare factor was interesting, easy to understand. The characters were funny and there was lots of banter. The romance and spice were definitely on the Dade level that I expected from previous books. But trying to bring all that romance and horror and comedy together just felt disjointed.

Super cute and funny. A little cringy and cheesy at times but I overall had a blast. I really loved the characters and can’t wait for book 2 to keep reading about them!


Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the gifted copy.

📚 ARC via NetGalley
Zom RomCom is a quirky, genre-blending adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies… and so much more. Our FMC, Edie, is confident, witty, and refreshingly self-assured. One night, cutting it close to curfew, she saves her eccentric next-door neighbor Max from a zombie attack—with nothing but a burrito as a weapon. That hilarious meet-cute quickly spirals into a wild ride as Edie discovers Max isn’t just a quirky neighbor—he’s a vampire.
When they realize the city’s zombie alarm system isn’t working, Edie and Max team up to uncover the truth. Their investigation pulls them into a dangerous web of government secrets, and introduces them to a world where zombies, vampires, fae, enhanced humans, witches, and more coexist in chaos. Between gory zombie attacks, snarky banter, and even some cheeky Disney-inspired parody moments, the book offers an unpredictable mix of action and humor.
What I enjoyed:
* Edie: A standout FMC—confident, funny, and determined.
* Max: The grumpy-yet-protective MMC who is clearly obsessed with Edie while pretending not to be.
* The worldbuilding: I loved the expanded lore beyond zombies, with a variety of supernatural beings woven in.
* Side characters and small comedic beats (yes, the burrito scene lives rent-free in my head).
Where it fell short for me:
* While the concept was clever, I struggled to stay fully engaged at times. The pacing dragged in spots, and I found myself zoning out.
* I was expecting stronger rom-com vibes based on the title, but the romance/comedy balance leaned much more toward the “zom” and less toward the “rom.”
* The tone was inconsistent—jumping between whimsical fantasy moments and intense zombie gore—which sometimes pulled me out of the story.
Overall, this is a fun, imaginative twist on the zombie apocalypse genre with hints of romance, clever humor, and a dash of horror. For me, it might have been a case of “right book, wrong time”—I’m even considering a reread later to see if it clicks more. And if there are more books in this series, I’d be curious to follow where Edie and Max go next.

If you’re looking for:
🧟‍♀️ Zombies with a supernatural twist
💉 Vampires & other magical beings
🌮 A meet-cute involving a burrito
💬 Snarky banter and quirky humor
🔪 Cozy horror with splashes of gore
…then Zom RomCom may be worth adding to your list! 

Thankful to be getting this ARC through NetGalley and Berkley publishing

A fun, funny, and occasionally tense zombie-vampire-fae-witch adventure, where an adorable human and her sexy vampire neighbor join forces to stop a zombie horde from escaping their containment zone and killing the rest of the world. Edie and Max have an almost instant connection, always trying to save one another, even though one of them was a soft, easily breakable human and one was a self-healing, super strong vampire. But it turns out, even immortal vampires can die if their neck gets gnawed on a little too much by a zombie.

Much of this book is dedicated to Edie and Max’s relationship, full of bantering, sexy times, and real emotional moments. When we find out that Max has been covertly protecting Edie for the last 3 years, his feelings for her make complete sense, but I had a hard time believing Edie fell in love with Max in less than a week. Of course, he is a super hot and rich immortal being who saves her life on multiple occasions and also makes her feel loved and important, so I get the appeal. Oh and he’s a viral content creator lol. Based on everything they’d been through together, I was a believer by the end of the book. But those first few chapters, when we’re thrown directly into the action and it’s clear Edie doesn’t know anything about who Max actually is, the instant connection she has felt very sudden.

I have to also mention the body positivity in this book - Edie is depicted and described as short and fat, but never in a negative way. She is comfortable in her body, and Max clearly loves all of her the way she is and wouldn’t change a thing. It’s wonderful to see that kind of representation in the world of romance, where not only is there a fat main character, but her size isn’t a negative part of her story.

Outside of Edie and Max’s relationship, the book is set in a big universe of supernatural beings with complex histories and relationships with one another. We get hints of those stories throughout this book, and a look at how their governing bodies are organized, but based on how this book ends, I can tell there is more to come. I’m guessing book two will feature our favorite oracle Gwen and someone from her past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book for review purposes. It just came out this week, and I’d recommend it to all my friends who enjoy supernatural romances with plenty of spice and a side of humor.

It's been a while since I've read a book with zombies and I really enjoyed it. I was fluctuating between wanting to read a fantasy book and wanting to read a romcom, so this was a nice balance of the two.

Max really tried to be a grumpy, cares only about himself kind of guy, but struggled with keeping up that charade around Edie. Their banter was awesome and I seriously found myself laughing out loud. I enjoyed the side characters and hope to see more of them in the next book. Overall, the story was interesting and fun, but I do wish we got a bit more worldbuilding because we were kind of thrown right into the story without a lot of background info. It wasn't overly complicated though, so it was still relatively easy to put things together, but it would have definitely saved me a few questions.

I will definitely be reading the second book once it's out because that ending has me curious to find out what's next.

Olivia Dade can do no wrong to me!!!! This book was nothing short of hilarious and incredibly sweet😭 I had so much fun while reading this book! If you’re a fan of Kimberly Lemming then you’ll love this book. It’s filled with hilarious MCs and side characters per usual with a pretty good plot. While I could’ve done without the Gaston singing😅 I really have no complaints. I think this book was really fun for what it was and the cliffhanger it left on has me ready for book two!