I read this because Olivia Dade is quite popular, and I had always been curious about her books. As a result, this review is with the caveat that this is my first book from her, and I recognize that this may not be representative of her work.

As other reviewers have noted, the beginning of this book is very jumbled and difficult to follow. You are thrown into the action, which is totally fine, but the author is trying to cue you in to so many things at one time, which makes it hard to keep track of everything going on. Something that certainly complicates this is the main characters' banter and descriptions. I literally couldn't figure out if there was one neighbor or multiple because Edie keeps calling Chad different nicknames, and he isn't even truly Chad! Aside from this, I found the side hustles of both characters distracting and kind of unnecessary, if not to solicit a laugh from the reader. Lastly, the author recognizes that world-building needs to occur in any fantasy/paranormal themed story, but she seems to interject large chunks of political and historical explanations as to how the world in this book got to this point in between chunks of banter. It did not flow well.

Once you get past the beginning and into the main plot, the writing does flow smoother, and I found the book more enjoyable overall. However, I still had a hard time enjoying the banter. I thought it was too much in an effort to get the reader to laugh and to remind the reader that this is a grumpy x sunshine with A LOT of quirks. Too many quirks, probably, to the point where I again found myself distracted from the plot.

Ultimately, I don't know if I would recommend this to someone looking for a paranormal romance, as it just didn't hit the mark for me. It seems to rely too much on being a "zomromcom" trying to get you to laugh rather than the stuff that makes the paranormal aspects of a romance truly fun to read. I would read more from this author, but I might not revisit her series -- if this book is the start of interconnected fantasy/paranormal romances.

Thanks to Berkeley for letting me read the book early.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* Forced proximity and only one bed
* Zombie apocalypse
* Supernatural beings coexisting with humans
* Vampire and human romance

Just the summary of this book had me immediately interested, as well as the author! I own and have read almost all of her books, and this sounded like something new and different for her. The intro notice and map was very helpful to set up the additional exposition provided by Edie and Max within the first 5 or so chapters. It all explains what has been happening in this zombie apocalypse world…and I really liked the twist about these types of zombies and the world in this book overall! 🤫

I liked how very supernatural this book is! So many beings are in this, and towards the end I really enjoyed getting a glimpse at many of them as they work together.

Max is such a bougie vampire, and it’s funny how he’s so opposite of Edie’s no frills, simple way of life. I also loved every time she sang the Gaston song to him. I cracked up at every iteration-bravo to the author for those! Despite him being a vampire, she quickly feels at ease with him, so her wit and banter, and his annoyed responses to that, were always so funny!

I really liked that they quickly went from minor flirting to him pleasuring her with the additional purpose of warming her up to ease the tension between them and also to show how much he cares for her. His eloquence and old fashioned demeanor to be polite and careful with her is so kind and gave me butterflies every time he said something sweet or did something to take care of her. He’s very sentimental and every time he said “My Edie” or some other adorable thing to her, I swooned. He clearly has cared for her from afar. But I also really, really enjoy his confident dirty talk when the heat and passion rises between them, and makes their detailed steamy scenes extremely enjoyable to read 🤭

This book is so quirky and different! Even though it’s an apocalypse, the author still keeps the overall plot feeling modern and relevant with nods to influencers and other everyday things we enjoy in our world now, and it often has a lighthearted tone despite what’s happening in their world. They have such good banter and teasing that is sweet and silly, and their personalities are like yin and yang. She brings out his softness that he tries to deny. I also like there is suspense and action, mystery, and romance all within this one book.

I have 2 only recommendation/:
1. Instead of 3rd person omniscient, this could be even better with a dual POV. But I think the way this is told allows us readers to still understand their thoughts, feelings, and actions without being from first person.
2. While I felt gutted and tearful, then relieved and so happy with how things ended for Max and Edie, I didn’t really get why she put herself in front of Max and sacrificed herself. I get he was unarmed, but it seemed be could survive a bite. She couldn’t! I guess it was her reflex-always wanting to protect others?

Olivia Dade is such a quirky and fun writer, and I enjoy her wit and how she can make her stories fun, engaging, humorous, and emotional. Her characters (no matter their species) are relatable and interesting, especially in this book. I couldn’t put this one down and read it within a day! I really hope she continues this story in a new book soon 💜

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
Supernatural Entanglements Series Book 1
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was nothing short of amazing. It has two of my favourite things…..zombies and vampires. I loved all of the characters in this book but the MFC was by far my favourite. She’s funny, sarcastic, plump and unapologetic. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book. The banter and sarcasm between the MFC & MMC was consistent throughout and was funny as hell. There was the perfect amount sex in this book which did not overpower the story. I can not wait to read the rest of this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this Advanced Reader Copy.

A fabulous romance from Olivia Dade that manages to be both absolutely delightful and incredibly gross! Readers contain multitudes, and if your interests include sexy romance, cheeky banter, AND nail-biting horror, you will love every page of Zomromcom. Many titles that try to blend genres, especially romance, tend to come down more heavily on the suspense, historical, or other genre; Zomromcom balances the romantic storyline between the main characters with the overall horror setting in a way that feels natural. And the setting is wonderfully imagined, with the "zombie apocalypse" backstory deftly introduced as relevant to the action; it's also a fairly unique take on zombies. I can't review an Olivia Dade romance without mentioning her inclusiveness of body types, genders, lifestyles, etc., done as always in a natural way.

Highly recommend this for horror readers who like humor and witty dialogue with their scares. Would appeal to readers of Kira Buxton's Hollow Kingdom or T. Kingfisher's What Moves the Dead.

Definitely a different kind of Olivia Dade story. This was an entertaining paranormal fantasy romance. There were several funny moments due to the supernatural aspect of the MMC. If you like light-hearted paranormals but also like The Last of Us, this book is for you.

I have loved every Olivia Dade book I've read but this one just didnt' work for me. I felt like there was too much going on and I kept losing track of characters. I had high hopes but this one just didn't land for me.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a fun read. Edie and Max are flawed, believable, and well written characters. I loved Edie’s singing, their quirky entrepreneurial endeavors, and the Pottery Barn couch. I appreciate the nod to team Edward and Sabrina, the original teenage witch! The oracle scene had me literally laughing out loud and needing to read it aloud to my husband.

It is always refreshing for me to read something totally different from anything I’ve read before, and this is it! I appreciated that the main characters are in their 30’s and have regular issues, all while running online businesses and fighting a zombie apocalypse, of course. Truly a crazy, funny, spicy, good time.

I couldn’t put this book down and I feel a sequel coming, which I cannot wait for!
5- Stars

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 35%. It just wasn’t for me.

There was a lot going on right from the start. Way too many elements introduced all at once.
I also found the romance way too instalove, which is really not my thing. So far, there was no chemistry between the characters for me, and I just couldn’t get into their connection. The spice also came in way too early, which made it feel rushed and didn’t help build any tension.
I didn’t enjoy the whole influencer/YouTuber thing with Max/Chad either.

This one just wasn’t a good fit for me, but I’m sure it’ll work better for other people.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Just. So. Much. Happening.

But I’m here for it. This cluster of every type of fantasy Character was very much not unfortunate and was an absolute delight- well as delightful as zombie apocalypse can be. The clever ways Dade introduced her characters in the most grand-entrance way possible made every new turn or problem fun. I’ll read anything from her anyway, and enjoyed following her into this fantasy era I may not have entered otherwise.

This was a fun wacky little book. It makes a nice addition to the zombie universe and a great alternative romance when you're tired of hockey, mafia bosses, billionaires, and single dads with cowboy hats. I appreciated all the worldbuilding and I can see there's lots for the author to do in the future with more books. I'm not sure I 100% felt the connection between the couple as strongly as in other romances I've read recently. And there are so many side characters in the second half of the book it feels less like a romance and more of an adventure story. But hey, some people might like that more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC of Zomromcom by Olivia Dade.

Where to begin? I’ll be honest I fought with myself a lot over liking this book at first! It was fun, but I also felt like a lot of the humor was a little immature for a 38 year old woman and an immortal Vampire! In the end I still enjoyed the ride, and the direction the book took definitely hit me by surprise! The last 10% was intense and yes, I cried. The spice was probably the best part of this book, it was fun and I loved the intimacy in the book. Max didn’t quite feel like an immortal being to me - too modern and “hip” at times, but I still enjoyed him as a character. I loved Edie though, I thought she was very relatable and honestly well adapted for living in the middle of a zombie apocalypse! I feel like this book set up for a sequel, and if that’s the case I’ll definitely read it!

I would kill for a movie of this

I had good hopes for this book when I saw romcom with vampires and zombies but I ended up liking even more than I thought it would.

Ms Olivia, Ma’am. This is everything i want in a supernatural romcom. The spicy was great, humor had me cackling, sometimes so hard I couldn’t breathe for a sec.
The last 10% hit extra hard.

Gaston songs.. I almost died of lack of oxygen over those.

“No . . . one . . .” She drew out the words to build anticipation.
He turned his head and whipped off his sunglasses to glare at her. “No.”
“.. . struts like Gaston,” she sang out, with enthusiasm and joy in her heart, “injures nuts like Gaston—”
“No.” His brows had formed a thick, menacing line. “Human—”
“—puts sheepskin up his butt like Gaston!”
“—don’t make me turn this car around.”
“His macramé briefs are so strang-u-la-ting . . .”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe I just said that. This is a travesty.”

Zom-Romcom? Why not.

This was my first Olivia Dade novel, and I’m really thankful to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I’m not typically a romance reader, but the apocalyptic zombie setting pulled me in—I’m a sucker for hidden bunkers, survivors, and end-of-the-world vibes. Overall, I thought this was cute with some fun ideas and a truly unique setting.

I really liked the female main character, Edie. She’s 38, plus-size, resourceful, and running a soap business in a world full of zombies and containment zones. Loved that for her. She stood out to me as a survivor, and I appreciated the depth given to her.

The world-building is a lot. Zombies, magical creatures, walls, containment zones, mysterious powers—it’s ambitious, and I’ll admit not all of it totally made sense. As more characters were introduced, I found myself wishing we were back in Chad’s bunker with just Edie and Max. The intimacy and banter worked best in those quieter, smaller moments.

That said, I’m not a fan of super cheesy dialogue, and I did end up skimming the sex scenes. The banter didn’t quite land for me—especially when Max started using French in bed. “La puce” and “your chatte”? 😬 Definitely pulled me out of the moment.

I also didn’t fully feel the spark between Edie and Max, which might just be a personal preference. I tend to need a little more emotional tension or build-up.

But let’s be clear—I liked the weird. I saw a lot of reviews that struggled with the mix of romcom and zombie apocalypse, but I thought that blend was the most interesting part. If anything, I wanted more apocalypse, more zombies, and maybe fewer French pet names during sex.

Tropes/elements I enjoyed:

Plus-size FMC in her late 30s
End-of-the-world/dystopian setting
Human x not-quite-human romance
(Sub)Urban fantasy chaos

If you like your romance with undead weirdness and a side hustle in handmade soap, this might be your jam.

dnf'ed at 25%
tbh, i just don't think romcoms are for me...... nothing against the author and the story - it was fun so far! but didn't capture my attention at all, and that's on me for requesting random books willy-nilly when i don't actually want to read them lol.

I really wanted to love this book, it has such a fun premise mixing zombies with a romcom. But unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the writing style and some of the repetitive jokes like how she kept singing the Gaston song but changing the lyrics as it was the MMC’s name. There were also so many references to YouTube, social media in general and pop culture. And I say this as a millennial who usually enjoys those things but here it was way overdone. Also I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that it was an almost dystopian setting but things like Etsy still worked. I get what the author was trying to do but the execution wasn’t there for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Olivia Dade's books are always entertaining, she's a must-read for me, love the fat rep--but this one was a bit too heavy on the exposition to start, it felt really bogged down before I got into any info about the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I wanted to love this, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I love Olivia Dade’s books normally, but I found the plot a little lacking and the dialogue really cheesy. However, as per usual, she nailed diverse representation. As it left off very open ended, I’d be interested to read what happens next.

Ahhh this was SO fun! This was everything I could have hoped for - sweet, spicy, funny!!! The banter here was incredible, The bodytype inclusiveness was especially great, as that can be so rare to find.
This is not a genre I have read before, but I will definitely be looking for more paranormal romances!

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I was really excited to read this book because it am writing my own zombie story, so i thought it would be fun to live in another zombie realm for a bit! also, the MFC is a bigger girl, and we certainly don't get enough of that rep. For being a romance novel, I didn't expect there to be such in depth world building, but it was a really incredible thought out world. And the characters were to die for. I also want to really stress that this was probably the funniest laugh out loud novel I've ever read. I couldn't stop laughing. There was quite a bit of spice, which really isn't my thing, but if you like that, then you'd love this novel. All in all, very enjoyable.

This is pretty much everything that I would want for a first paranormal romance from Olivia Dade. I'm a pretty firm believe that Dade is one of the best romcom authors currently writing, and this book has me standing by that statement. I laughed out loud so often and the banter between these two characters?? AMAZING. There was a campy component to this book (and I mean that in the BEST WAY) that made it fun in a different way from Dade's other books. I was curious to see how Olivia Dade's storytelling would work through a paranormal lens and spoiler alert (IYKYK), IT"S GREAT. Dade's writing is truly so funny and tender, and I truly always love her FMCs. I personally just feel like Gaston didn't shine in the same way that Edie did - in most of Dade's books I find that both MCs are great and compliment one another well, and I did not feel that as much within this one. All in all, it was funny, interesting, definitely had a few spooky moments, and I absolutely had a blast. I'm so excited to see more from this series!!