I'm kind of on the fence with this one. It was fine but I don't think I would read it again.

It was funny I'll definitely give it that. There were parts that were just so silly, but you can tell it was meant to be, that you couldn't help but laugh along. The banter was pretty funny too and I definitely wanted more of it.

I didn't like how quickly they fell in love. It felt unrealistic and pulled me out of the story because it was just so fast. It unfortunately didn't enhance the story. I wanted it to be more drawn out, have more tension, all the good stuff it was set up to have. I also felt like there were a fair amount of things that were rushed. Certain things were focused on that in my opinion really didn't need to be and that left less time for the more important bits.

The beginning of the story can feel a bit overwhelming, with a lot of information shared without proper world-building. For example, we're suddenly in the middle of zombie attacks and a world with supernatural creatures, and at times, it's easy to feel lost or like you're missing information.

However, the relationship between Edie and Max was everything; the banter was amazingly done. I mean, it reminded me of those 90s romance movies that made no sense but were absolutely amazing. The fact that Edie fights zombies with a burrito should tell you everything you need to know!

I also felt a strong connection with Edie. Having a plus-size character I can relate to and feel seen and understood means the world to me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing, for the chance to review this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, paranormal romance is one of my favorite genres and it’s harder to come by nowadays. Unfortunately, I think this was just trying to do too much, it was messy and clunky. The modern tropes did not work for me. Personally I don’t think anyone enjoys the insta-love trope and this book goes there immediately. The paranormal romances of old played the long slow burn pining game and in my opinion, Zomromcom would have benefited from this idea.

Since the book practically begins with the characters coming together, it took me out of the plot and I just didn’t care for what was happening. The world building and introduction of other paranormal beings felt very rushed and info dumpy. Less is more, as they say.

I liked some of the jokes and silly shenanigans, the banter at the beginning was good but again, went way too fast into love territory without the proper build up. DNF ~60%

There are reality cooking shows were contestants are given a set of random, unusual ingredients that do not go together. Some competitors create a masterpiece of delicately blended flavors, others only manage disaster on a plate. Unfortunately, while I appreciate that Olivia Dade went out of her comfort zone to write in a new genre, this book combines disparate elements that fall into the disaster on a plate category, or in this case on page.

The book starts out in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies have breached their containment area and Edie, a human soap maker, and her influencer vampire neighbor must do what they can to save the world or at least inform the authorities that something has gone horribly wrong.

The world building was not only threadbare but clunky in a way that quickly made me not care about the Zones or what the two MCs were trying to achieve and how they should best go about it. I was perplexed by and couldn't buy into instalove romance. There were too many odd, quirky characters that added little to the story. Also, the most of the humor fell flat or me with the exception of the FMC constantly making up new lyrics to Gaston's song and singing them to the MMC. If you are a fan of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, hopefully you'll get a chuckle as well.


Thank you to NeGalley for the advanced digital copy.

Theoretically, Edie has been ready for another zombie breach. She survived the outbreak two decades ago, and her house sits dangerously close to the compound where the last of the undead are held. Her attic is stocked with perishables. She carries a knife on neighborhood patrols. She wields a cleaver in her soap-making business.

But when a zombie lunges at her sweet, stoner neighbor, Edie’s only weapon is… a burrito.

Undeterred, she prepares to save the hapless, dim Chad — and is understandably stunned when he tears the zombie in two. Turns out “Chad” is actually Max: a centuries-old vampire with a big sword, a bigger bunker, and a massive chip on his shoulder.

Together, Edie and Max team up to fight off the undead, warn their neighbors, and accidentally unravel a conspiracy that might put the entire containment system at risk. What starts as a survival mission quickly becomes something more in this new paranormal romance from Olivia Dade.

I went into Zomromcom expecting a paranormal romance with some undead flair. What I didn’t expect? Full-on zombie outbreak chaos in the opening chapters, complete with sword-swinging, bunker-dwelling, conspiracy-unraveling stakes (and yes, I do mean actual stakes — the vampire kind).

Olivia Dade leans into the horror-fantasy side of this story with surprising gusto, laying out her world quickly and letting the action breathe before the romance kicks in. And while I’ll admit I was more drawn to the zombie-slaying than the sexing, the genre balance here is honestly pretty solid. The romance hits a lot of classic beats — broody immortal, sunshiney human, reluctant allies to passionate partners — and while that’s catnip for some readers, I personally could’ve done without the “fated mates” mention and the cringey nickname territory. Every time Max referred to her as my Edie, a little part of me withered and died — so I'll let you imagine my reactions to the more (ahem) intimate nicknames.

Still, there’s a lot to admire here. Edie is a delightfully competent, no-nonsense heroine who gets to be sexy, curvy, and unbothered — something Dade does better than most. The MMC has way too many names (if you're not the Khaleesi, you don't need three), but their banter and chemistry keep things moving. And Edie roasting Max with spontaneous Disney tunes was very funny — though I remained deeply annoyed by the excessive names attached to one man.

Is this book for everyone? Probably not — but that’s not a bad thing. If you’re craving a cozy smalltown romcom with apple-picking where the worst thing that happens is a third-act breakup, keep walking. But if you’re a horror/fantasy fan who doesn’t mind some spice and sentiment between action scenes — or if you’ve loved Dade’s previous work and want to see her swing big — Zomromcom might just surprise you. Horror girlies, pack this one in your beach tote!

2.5 stars
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Edie lives in a world where zombies were created by a government experiment gone wrong. Now there is a zombie outbreak and Edie is ready to protect others at any cost. Even her bro-dude neighbor Chad, who is actually a vampire named Max who doesn't need her help. They team up to try to warn others of the outbreak.
Ok, so this wasn't for me. The humor isn't my kind of humor and the insta love was just too much for me. I also didn't quite understand why they felt the need to warn people of a zombie outbreak when the people live in a zone where outbreaks are possible and if they just looked outside they'd notice it. I know the government didn’t sound the alarms, but still, people can figure it out on their own. I was so let down. I really like paranormal romances and the cover was so cute. I can see other people liking the book if Dade's humor is something they like.

3.5/5 Stars

I love a rom-com with a twist, in this case a vampire. Some of the progression of the story lost me, but overall I can truly say I had no idea what was going to come next.

Olivia Dade never disappoints when it comes to making readers feel seen in books.

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing for the Arc!

This book was fun. Edie and Max's banter was funny, and their spicy moments were steamy. Dade hits all the expected elements of a classic zombie story, and she does it well. However, for me, something was missing. I will happily read the sequel, but I wasn't quite satisfied by this one.

I'm not usually a zombie girlie but I SLURPED this one right up! I laughed, I cried, I laughed again. Just absolutely obsessed with Max and Edie. I mean who doesn't want a ancient boyfriend with an underground lair and a soft only for her attitude. (Tho we all know that thats a front....)
Oliva Dade hits again, she hasn't missed yet!

The cover alone sold me on this one andddd to top it off with zombies ?! Count me in !! I had a really good time reading this book , it made me feel like I was in a quest myself. Definitely going to recommend this book to my friends !

This was such a fun read for me, I've been in a slump and this def helped me get out of it. There is a sweet spot when the humor and romance collide. I was kicking my feet in the air giggling.The banter between Edie and Max continuously had me cackling out loud. This really was just a perfect blend between paranormal, romcom.

Unfortunately, this was hard for me to finish. There where points in the book that would pick up, but then just absolutely dragged for a while, then would pick up again.

A zombie breach brings neighbors Edie and Max together when she tries to save him, but he ends up saving her life instead. They embark on a mission to help neighbors, however, they find out there was sabotaging of the Zones. There are some funny moments and high stakes action.

The grumpy/sunshine dynamic was good. They were really cute together. I liked how Edie always poked fun at Max and he tried so hard to not laugh. They had some cute tender moments.

I was overwhelmed with the amount of non-human species introduced and all the worldbuilding was skipped. I think there was too many characters and too many non-human species to keep track of that I lost the plot. It's like the world was already made and the author threw us in it to figure it out ourselves.

Unfortunately, I don't see myself continuing the series.

If you saw this book cover and title and were expecting a serious story, get ready to be disappointed because this is such a wacky and wild ride.

The puns, the humor, the commitment to a bit- unmatched. At times this story can be a little long winded and I think the beginning took awhile to get into (25%). But I also appreciate that we have a well rounded group of supernatural beings.

Edie and Max were snarky, sarcastic, sweet, and sexy- if not sometimes snotty (iykyk).

I'm... not sure where I land with this one.

The opening line/scene really hooked me in.

The pacing felt a little all over the place - I think when I got near the end, I was like, there's no way they can wrap this up this fast.

The characters were really sweet! I liked them a lot - both the main and the side characters. I've read Olivia Dade's other books and I think her characters are always a strong suit.

A lot of people have said the world building felt incomplete and i think that wouldn't be a problem if there wasn't truly so much happening. think every time I got my brain wrapped around a premise, another thing popped up. Also, I should've realized it with a vampire as the co-lead, but my word, were there a lot of supernatural creatures running around. And I wish there had been just a bit more information about them, the walls, the world... anything.

Overall, a fairly quick read. But left me a little more mind boggled than I anticipated!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

I was really looking forward to reading this after the synopsis but found that I just could not get though it. I DNFed around chapter 5. The world building aspect of the novel felt so like a mind numbing info dump and I just could not find myself enjoying the set up and feeling any connection to either character.

Berkley eARC
What a fun and wholly original romcom. I've never read Dade before, and I'm so glad I got to start here. The banter between Edie and Max was so good. I found myself laughing multiple times. I also really loved the zombie apocalypse setting. It added such fun tension to the plot. This is the perfect summer book for when you want something not too serious and want to have fun reading. I liked the element of additional supernatural creatures. It was just so fun to read, and I look forward to what comes next.

Plain and simple: I loved this book.

Edie, the FMC, represents ME! She is late 30s, plus-size, and funny as hell. She has been living independently in a zombie-infested area for 20 years! She is capable in a modern, relatable way - not in your typical sword- or knife-wielding FMC way.

One of my favorite things about Zomromcom is that, while Edie’s size is mentioned a few times throughout the book, it is never used as a joke and it never holds her back from the fight. Cardio or flexibility is never an issue - yes, Edie is fat, but she is not dead weight.

Another amazing aspect of this book: the BANTER. The quick-paced and witty back-and-forth between Edie and Max had me kicking my feet and smiling, even during the high-stakes moments.

Zomromcom has a colorful cast of supporting characters that add so much to the story and bring so much out of our MCs. The whole book felt masterfully crafted. High-stakes situations shakes hands with a very precious love story. The pacing, humor, and interpersonal relationships are so well done.

I highly recommend this book for contemporary romance lovers, especially anyone who is looking for something unique! It isn’t your cookie-cutter love story. Zomromcom is the most fun the zombie apocalypse has ever been.

"The only living being who truly interested me anymore was my human neighbor. The only duty I still cared about was keeping her safe, even as I kept her at a distance. The only bright moments in my endless days were my encounters with her."

゜゜・。。・⋄✧⋄ ・。。・゜゜
- features -
🧟‍♂️Third-person pov
🔪Zombieland Vibes
💚He falls first
🧛‍♂️Supernatural Romcom
💜 Spice Level 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3)
゜゜・。。・⋄✧⋄ ・。。・゜゜

- my thoughts -
The opening line, "armed with a burrito, Edie rounded her car and sprinted to intercept the zombie," pretty much sets up the tone of the book, an unserious supernatural adventure story.

Zomromcom felt very comparable to the movie, Zombieland, with similarish vibes and tones. I can see the humor either falling flat on its face for some or being funny for others with its quippy nature.

Despite its amusing moments Zomromcom didn't land for me, it just didn't have me overly invested. It felt like a slog to get through at times, possibly due to the lack of action happening.

The ending felt a tad bit too convenient. It could have been a different twist on solving the conundrum of a mortal and immortal relationship if it just committed with the sacrifice, instead of trying to go down the typical path. The novel doesn't end on a huge cliffhanger, but it's clearly setups for the story will continue in the next book in the series.

- pacing -
The pacing in Zomromcom feels all over the place, like things happen and there are stakes with them trying to prevent an apocalypse, yet it feels slow. One moment they're fending off a zombie attack, then they're cuddling in an abandoned mall. There’s just not really a strong sense of urgency. Similarly, the funny moments such as the oracle reading are entertaining, but on the flipside it throws off the momentum of the direness of the situation.

- worldbuilding -
The worldbuilding is one of the weaker points of the book, it's very bare bones and felt a tad bit too contemporary at times despite its paranormal elements.

Plus, there's a lot of telling rather than showing. It feels a bit like, info dump, such as when Edie straight up explains about the vampire in this world. It also seems like society functions for the most part the same despite the whole zombie aspect. For example, Edie causally selling on Etsy isn't something I expected in a zombie apocalyptic world or how influencers have a strong presence in the world still. I guess I expected more from the world-building something like The Last of Us. It's a zombie-afflicted world that also has supernatural beings, the potential is there.

- the characters -
⟢ Edie
Is a soft-hearted soap maker that won't hesitate to charge into action to save her neighbor from zombies, despite her only "weapon" being a burrito. While she can't control what others do, her actions and decisions are something she should be able to live with when she has to look at herself in the mirror each day. A part of this has to do with how her parents died for her safety and Edie wanting to make up for this by protecting others when they need help. This mentality is prevalent in her action to choose to warn others of the latest breach by leaving the safety of Max's house. Her actions can even inspire a cynic jaded Max despite not being able to trust as easily after suffering from a betrayal in his past.

⟢ Gaston "Max"
If Edie is all sunshine and optimism, then Max is her opposite as a reclusive grumpy vampire. He has a bored tone in the way he speaks and it's reflected in his deadpan humor. Max is also secretly a fashion influencer/youtuber. He can unexpectedly be sweet like keeping her safe, of course his actions does come with a slight side of grumpiness.

- romance -
The romance itself is very insta-love like the pair get emotionally attached rather quickly when given the timeline of the book. Everything just feels sudden and doesn’t feel earned. In less than a day, they're already sharing a passionate kiss after surviving a zombie attack and soon after there's a spice scene. The build-up in their relationship doesn't get the much needed time to grow first. Max went from calling Edie, human, to endearingly calling her "my Edie." The same thing with Edie, with her being slightly hurt that Max assumed she wouldn't care if he lived or died, "after everything they'd already shared." That line could work except they only spent a day in forced proximity with each other.

There's also an emotional moment where the two open up about their trauma involving their parents' death, which is then undercut by a quip. This honestly takes away from the more emotional depth of their relationship by shifting the focus on the vulnerability that was just revealed. This does improve as the novel progresses but I feel like the romance never reaches its full potential despite it being a poignant love story about being loved after all the grief and trauma one faces.

- thanks to Berkley for the arc. -

Edie lives in a world where zombies were created to get rid of other supernatural creatures. They of course went rogue and caused many deaths of both supernaturals and humans. They were then contained in special zones. Edie discovers that the Zombies have once again escaped. She is determined to save as many people as she can and warn others that the zombies are out again. Her neighbor Max becomes her unlikely partner and Edie finds herself falling for him despite the fact that he is a vampire. I really liked how the story started with action immediately. The book is quirky and nostalgic for the 90s. The romance scenes were pretty spicy so beware if you don’t like open door scenes. I also enjoyed the authors take on myths about supernatural creatures and their weakness and powers. This was a fun book that didn’t take itself too seriously and it leaves itself open for a sequel. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade was a fun quirky mix of romance and humor, The premise of a zombie-themed rom-com is interesting, and I loved the chemistry and humorous banter between the leads. The pacing felt a bit messy at times and I felt like a lot of things were thrown together all it once. I think at points the world building got a litty messy as well adding more and more characters or supernatural beings.

Overall, it fell a little flat for me, but it you're in the mood for a silly and fun read with two spunky leads, I say go for it!