A campy series starter from Olivia Dade, Zomromcom has lots of humor and banter between characters as well as some spice. A full cast of diverse characters with personalities in a paranormal setting and lots of action make it a non-stop story. It was a fun, lighthearted read which suited me fine at the time. It was also my first Olivia Dade book and I will seek out some of her others to add to my TBR list.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

The good: fast paced plot with lots of supernatural fun, loved the heavy girl rep (as one), loved Chad/Max the character

The bad: the romance did not connect for me and the dialogue sometimes was cringy (but not always)

It feels like the author had such a good time writing this!!! The big issue is the romance part doesn’t quite work with these two characters for me

Thank you NetGalley for providing an arc 😻

Do I read every book by OliviaDade? HELL YES!

This is my emotional support author and I will continue reading everything she writes✨

Was I reading the whole month? HELL YES! I cannot read Dade's books fast because I almost never want them to end.

This book was something, to be honest. The entire time I was like “WHAT'S HAPPENING?!” in a good way though. It was funny, screamed with laughter, emotional, strange as no one's business🤣

I really loved the FMC is incredible! She knows what she wants and asks for it, so strong, unapologetically herself. YEEEEAS, SLAY QUEEN❤️‍🔥More badass girlies, please🙏🏼
I guess she is the first one in Dade's world to be like that right from the start, correct me if I am wrong.

The MMC..... BOOOOOI he was a strange vampire. At some point I understood him, at other I was like "what?!" together with the FMC😅

However, it was a bit difficult to go through the arc, I felt like only 80% of editing was done. Some vocabulary was an odd choice, some situations were described in a strange and not clear way which left me puzzled.

Still recommend reading and having a fun evening with EXTREME fashion choices from some characters😁

I have already pre-ordered an audiobook! I will definitely reread (as I do multiple times with each Olivia Dade's book). Want to see if anything has been changed. Will add UPDs after it.

I'm a big fan of Olivia Dade's writing and the main character, Edie, was great. I don't really love vampires, but Max grew on me. As I'm sure you've gleaned, this zombie world is less The Last of Us and more Hocus Pocus (is Billy Butcherson a zombie?). It felt a little weird to read it in summer - this would be a fantastic Halloween read.

Zomromcom has such an intriguing premise, but it was just not quite my style of story in structure or execution.

Structure-wise: In pacing and development, I would have loved to have seen a little bit of a before image of our MC (ie one normal day in the life of Edie - a brief glimpse of the before). Instead, we the reader are thrown into the dramatic fray instantly and slowly we are allowed to fill in the blanks. I feel like this personally delayed my attachment to Edie, as well as understanding of the world we were in.

Execution-wise: There was just lot going on. The world was so robust with zombies and other supernatural beings, but the world-building itself, and the bringing of the reader into it, was oddly paced, and largely left behind for spicy content. Nothing against that at all, I just personally would have liked a bit more balance in a paranormal-based story.

Overall: I think if you enjoy the paranormal, as well as Tessa-Bailey-style-romance scenes, this will be more up your alley (very vocal, slightly more graphic in description styled spice).

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. Zomromcom comes out on August 5th.

This was my first read by Olivia Dade, and it will not be my last! I enjoyed this, despite some minor quibbles. The pacing of the book was fast - there was always something going on, and the threat of fast, brain-eating zombies kept the tension high throughout. The characters were unique and multi-faceted, with interests and hobbies that were unconventional. I definitely had to suspend some systems of belief here, as Max's underground bunker seemed extreme and impossible. I do wish there had been a bit more background overall, as it felt like the various supernatural creatures (with the exception of the zombies) were just tossed in with little explanation as to their existence. The dialogue also felt a little overly-cheesy and stale after awhile.

I did love how much Max cared for Edie and how prevalent it was from the start. I also loved seeing an older, confident, plus size FMC! There is not enough representation of that in books today and it was a nice change. I don't know that I would exactly describe this novel as a "cozy" read, but it was definitely a good palette-cleanser and a lot of fun!

If you like forced proximity, supernatural beings, and a badass FMC, you'll like this book!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

While I enjoy the premise of Zomromcon, I just could not get past the zombie aspect. I don't know why, but romance and zombies do not belong together. I don't want to read about it because none of it makes sense at all. Like, how can you fall in love when your life is in constant risk? It just doesn't make sense. Sorry, this book isn't for me.

I love a good paranormal romance and I love a good Olivia Dade book! This book was fun, quirky, and overall just a delight to read. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc

3 stars

This was a very cute and fast-paced read, perfect for fans of paranormal romance.

Zomromcom is set in a world ravaged by zombies. When Edie comes home, she finds zombies lurking near her house. As she's ready to flee, she realizes she can't leave her neighbor, Chad, who calls her <i>dude</i> behind. As soon as they're both safe, she realizes three more things: Chad's real name is actually Gaston, although he goes by his second name, Max; he's not a human like her, but a vampire; something weird is at play, and she must uncover it.

I had a great time reading it. It was very much zom, there was also a lot of com, and a bit of rom. Unfortunately, I couldn't care less about the zombies part, the humor got boring pretty fast, and the romance was very insta-lovey. The steamy scenes were amazingly done!

All in all, it's a nice, cute read!

Thank you to Netgally and Berkley for the advanced copy.

[Thank you, @berkleyromance, for the free copy #BerkleyRomance #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram & Netgalley for the free ARC.]

📖 what’s your current read?

If you thought you knew where ZomRomCom was going, no you didn’t. I can imagine that a book like this must be so fun to write—like being let loose in a candy store with unlimited store credit.

Edie jumps in to save her himbo neighbor Max, soon realizing that he’s been pretending & he’s actually quite smart—as well as snobby, arrogant etc. They join together to foil zombies who have escaped their designated zone, all the while experiencing a series of adventures, meeting new threats/potential friends, ruining Max’s luxury goods, etc.

& oh yeah, Max is a vampire.

My biggest quibble with this book is that the himbo act Max put on is played up a lot but doesn’t really do anything for the characters or plot. It just didn’t make sense to me.

But if you want a soft-ish romance with heat & zombies, you should check this one out. Even from the outset, you can sense Max’s soft feelings for Edie. Their feelings come fast & furious, like the zombies, & there’s no third-act break-up. The couple that slays zombies together stays together?

In the end, this is a hopeful book about what brave acts of resistance can accomplish & what people deserve, even in zombie-ridden times.

4.25 ⭐️, out 08/05.

CWs: murder, past betrayal, grief

[ID: Jess holds the book, decorated with purple flowers coming out of the pages, in front of a shake wall.]

Zomromcom is an action-packed, quick paced, unputdownable read. It's the most fun you can have this year reading about zombies, vampires, werewolves, and witches.

Olivia Dade's newest book completely won me over! This was my very first read from her, and I was immediately hooked. Her writing pulled me in from page one, and by the end, I added every single one of her other books to my TBR (as if that sucker isn't already drowning -- ha, get it? Sucker = vampire. Drowning = this will make more sense when you read the book.) But the addition of all her books to my TBR? I'm sure she'll make it worth it.

What stood out most was how Dade masterfully used subtle facial descriptions to reveal Max’s feelings early on in the book -- especially the ones he was desperately trying to hide from Edie. It was such a clever, emotionally rich way to show his vulnerability without ever getting overly saccharine. I also LOVED how physically tender Max was with Edie - he would gently grip the nape of her neck, put his hand on her lower back, etc. It was some sign-worthy stuff.

Also, the book was so freaking funny. I laughed out loud more than once. When I really love a book, I find myself rereading passages before I move on. It has been awhile since I have a read a book like that. TOO LONG. Until I read this one. The banter? Chef’s kiss. The awkward, raw, very human moments? Perfection.

Now let’s talk spice -- WOW. The steamy scenes were written with such care and heat. They were tender, passionate, and downright HOT. And Max’s protectiveness toward Edie? Swoon. Seriously, I adored their dynamic and how much respect and affection pulsed through every interaction, spicy or not.

If I had to nitpick, I could’ve done with fewer snot-wiping scenes. It was funny and sorta cute the first time Edie wiped her snot on Max, but after a while, there is no way I could continue to find that endearing, even if it was Henry Cavill wiping his snot on me. I also loved the repeated callback to Beauty and the Beast. (LOLOL) You will know what I mean when you read this book.

I can’t wait to read more from Olivia Dade - what a fabulous introduction to her work! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for permitting my eyeballs the chance to read this book prior to its publication.

“Maybe if I had a new family. New memories. Someone who loves me as much as they did.”

I really wanted to love this. It sounded so fun and I have always enjoyed Olivia Dade’s books. And while I did like the romance, it felt like the world-building was a bit lacking and kept me from being fully engaged in the story.

The romance between Edie and Max is excellent and it’s the part of the story I enjoyed the most. He’s incredibly protective of her, but also encouraging. As they navigate a new zombie outbreak, they start to connect deeper and Edie’s shares her grief over the loss of her parents. As a vampire, Max has his own grief and finds this joy in Edie. Both main characters are so great and I think that’s why the other aspects of the story bummed me out.

I found this world a little confusing because other supernatural creatures pop up later in the book, and it feels like they’re just supposed to be a part of the story. But it almost feels out of place. It’s part dystopian and part romcom and part supernatural, but they don’t feel cohesive. There are also some cringey moments where it’s just trying too hard to be funny, and it got old in a book that’s a bit long.

It feels a bit like this book is trying to do so much when the circumstances and the romance were plenty to keep my interest. There are too many side characters and aspects that aren’t explained. Since this is a dystopian future and supernatural creature play a part, the lack of world-building was obvious. It seems like it’s an extension of the current world but there’s no explanation of the supernatural aspects. It’s not my favorite of Dade’s books, but I do think people will love this.

Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Dade, and Berkley for the eARC!

I love Olivia Dade, and this book was no exception. It's charming, hilarious, and so much fun! I adore Edie, and Chad/Gaston/Max is adorable to watch as he falls for her. I loved the community they were able to build, and I think this book would be absolutely delightful to listen to as an audiobook - Edie is so funny, and I think some of that would be enhanced by hearing it. Edie's obsession with annoying Max is so fun to watch, and Max's video secret is hilarious to think about.
I've seen some people say there wasn't enough world-building, but I honestly don't know how much more world-building would be needed.
Zomromcom could not be a more accurate title - this book is full of zombies, romance, and comedy. It was absolutely delightful, and I hope we see Edie/Max in the future at some point.

I wanted to love this a lot more than I did. The premise was fun and I enjoyed the characters but it was missing the charm Dade's books usually have. I applaud Olivia for trying something different and it's not a bad book. It just didn't land for me like her stories usually do.

This is my first Olivia Dade book but definitely not my last. Was it over the top? Yes. But I think it was meant to be and I loved it. I laughed. I think the characters were great. It was just perfect. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Zomromcom is an absolute delight of a book! We get to meet Edie, her vampire neighbor Max, and a whole cast of fun, lovable characters as they take on a horde of zombies and attempt to stop a possible apocalypse.

The zombies are different than any other depiction I’ve seen, and I loved the way the world-building was done. The knowledge we get, and where we receive it, makes sense. Getting the background of the world was never off-putting or boring.

The way Olivia Dade writes plus-sized characters will always be my favorite. Edie is written as a character who happens to be plus-sized, and lives her life in a bigger body. She’s not a caricature or a stereotype. She doesn’t spend all her time putting herself down or convincing herself that her love interest couldn’t possibly be into her. She has a full life and problems that go beyond her body.

Because of this, reading Olivia Dade’s writing hasn’t just changed the way I see depictions of plus-sized characters, but it has positively impacted the way I see myself.

I didn't think I'd ever read a romcom with zombies, but Olivia Dade's worldbuilding and humor (and the sexy vampire love interest) had me on board from the first chapter. Such a fun read!

I'd like to first thank Berkley for an eARC of this book, for review!

Giving this one 3.5/5 stars, rounding up to 4


This one was such a fun paranormal romance! We get ALL sorts of things happening in this book: zombies, vampires, regular people, and many more (not going to spoil this one for y'all!). I was lucky to have another friend (who also has got the ARC) buddy read this one with me, and our conversations about it was a blast. I haven't read a book that infused humor during a potential apocalypse, but Oliva Dade did a fantastic job with this one.

If you enjoy these tropes, you may like this one:
- Forced Proximity
- Vampires & Zombies
- Older FMC (she's 38!)
- Witty banter!!!
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Plus Size FMC

Review

This was a cute concept but it just wasn’t executed as well as I had hoped. I’ve loved Olivia Dade’s previous work and was so excited for her paranormal romance debut, but there was just a few things missing in this one.

I liked the characters on their own, but the romance just didn’t feel like it was built on much of a foundation and went from neighbors who only saw each other in passing, to him barely speaking to her, to suddenly in love. It just didn’t feel like there was more than physical attraction and I never could get on board with their romance. I also felt like the world building left me lost as I never could quite grasp what the state of the world was and how all the pieces fit together. Having both a zombie apocalypse and supernatural beings in one world made for convoluted details that didn’t create a solid picture for me. I think more background info and so more world building would’ve done a lot for this book.

The characters themselves were fun and despite me not being sold on the romance I thought a lot of Edie and Max’s moments were cute. Them being influencers in an apocalyptic world kinda threw me off, but it made for some entertaining banter here and there, especially on Max’s behalf. It was also nice to see some sense of camaraderie between the different groups and how Edie was able to bring a lot of characters together for that battle at the end (which was a little anticlimactic but still kinda fun nonetheless).

Overall this is a cute concept that just needed a little more reworking and world building and it think it would’ve been solid. It’s not exactly “cozy” like I’ve seen mentioned online, but it’s a fun take on an apocalypse even if you’re lost for some of it. You can’t help but enjoy the characters and their antics and I think this series has some promise for future books as it looks like there’s plans to continue it.