2.5/5 stars

ZomRomCom is a sexy paranormal romance. This is the first book in a new series.

This is an instalove grumpy/sunshine romance between a human and a vampire.

This book features a world with zombie attacks, but also has other supernatural characters (vampires, witches, fae…).

Zombies are not really my thing. But I have enjoyed paranormal romances in the past. So I was excited to try this book (gorgeous cover + Berkley Romance ).

This book is Edie’s story. It starts with her trying to save her neighbor from a zombie attack.

Edie was a fun heroine. I see from the cover that she is plus-sized. But I wish that had been more a part of the story. She is a soap maker whose parents died in a zombie attack.

Max was super protective. The vampire part was so fun. And Edie always teasing him by chanting about Gaston was hilarious.

I did enjoy the romance between Edie and Max. It was much steamier than I was expecting. But they were a formidable duo.

I didn’t love the zombie aspect of this story. I wish that part of the book had excited me more. But I just didn’t enjoy anything to do with the zombies. And even the battle at the end unfortunately did not interest me.

The end of the book does set this up to be a series. I think that readers who are more into zombie books might enjoy this more.

I love the way Olivia Dade does romcoms! She has a way of making the comedy just as entertaining as the romance. I’ve been eyeing this one for quite a while, not only because I enjoy the author’s book, but the cover is perfection.

The way we just right into a zombie apocalypse and meet the characters immediately in action had me gripped. The banter was done so well, and realistic, even though the story isn’t (haha). Edie and Max had me kicking my feet giggling. Who knew vampires were so humorous?

I can’t wait to continue on with this series! Olivia Dade has officially made my auto buy list with this one.

Zomromcom is a funny, fast-paced paranormal romance where a zombie outbreak, a grumpy vampire, and a determined heroine collide in a story that’s as heartwarming as it is undead-slaying. I was in from the moment I heard the description and the author name, and it didn't disappoint.

Zomromcom was such a fun horror read. And I know that those things shouldn’t go together, but I really found this book so cute. The execution of an ancient vampire falling in love with his soapmaking next-door neighbor, amidst a zombie apocalypse was flawless.

I had so much fun with this book and I really loved the vampire having an online persona that was totally opposite of who he actually was. Topping that off the fact that his online persona is “Chad”, these jokes just write themselves. I also thought Edie was a great character, and I loved that she had proven she could take care of herself even though clearly the vampire is going to do a better job because supernatural healing.

Definitely recommending this one for fans of humorous horror, paranormal romance and vampires!

This was such a fun read and one that I read in one sitting. I love Olivia Dade and how she represents plus-size characters in her books espeically in this one as we don't see this represenation in other supernatural romance books. The ending was cute and now I need a part 2.

This book had a really fun cast of characters! You've got a human and her neighbor — who, surprise, is not a total himbo but is actually a centuries-old vampire — trying to survive a zombie outbreak. Along the way, we meet a cast of characters including counterfeiters, a witch, trolls, half-fae kids, and other miscellaneous folks all trying to work together to defeat the zombies — and to figure out who freed to zombies from their containment in the first place.

The romance in this one was cute, but I had a hard time buying into it for the longest time — their initial connection just didn't feel genuine (deep) to me and I just didn't care what happened to them for so long. The side characters coming in I think really helped — both for me to feel more entertained and to see another side of the MMC, who claims to not care about anyone outside of our FMC, but who takes time and energy caring for other members of the group when they need help.

Overall, I enjoyed this, once I got fully invested. I just wish I had been able to get fully invested a little sooner!

Ok so, in this world where the government created zombies to “help” them fight back against newly discovered supernatural forces (werewolves, vampires, goblins, witches, etc.), our MC Edie is just your normal girl trying to make a living by selling her made-to-order fancy soaps on Etsy. But she is forced into teaming up with her insufferable neighbor, who turns out to be an ancient vampire, to defeat a zombie horde that has escaped in their neighborhood. It is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. And it works, because Dade leans hard into that vibe. There is a perfect balance of plot and drama, wrapped up in interactions and dialogue that are just straight up hilarious. It all was exactlyyyyy what I wanted.

A few specifics. For this Disney-loving (and especially Beauty and the Beast loving) reader, the entire running Gaston song gag was top notch. As we know, I am also a sucker for any paranormal/supernatural stuff – any iteration, any interpretation, any level of intensity or seriousness. And this new trend of irreverent paranormal romances (see also: My Roommate is a Vampire and My Vampire Plus One), is my absolute escapist perfection. Also, y’all, did anyone else grow up watching The Swiss Family Robinson and Home Alone (the third one, specifically…don’t @ me)? Because I did, and it has made me a sucker for a good booby trap ending. And this one was varied and creative and, in some cases, even funny.

As far as Edie and Max (or Gaston, or his many humorous nicknames throughout), I loved their relationship. Their connection build feels authentic and believable and I kinda like this bubble situation they are in, where the real world does exist around them but there are no side characters to get in the way of their growth together. Again, Dade makes it work. And just when it might seem like too much, or not realistic, we do get a very fun cast of side characters that join for the “big fight finale.” Re: the titular zombies. They add a little intensity and spice to the story without it being too much (though content warning for violence and blood and injury, for sure). Speaking of spice, we get some of that too. And it’s well written. The dialogue from our MCs is great – snarky and endearing – my favorite. All in all, they are a fantastic grumpyXsunshine, which is a trope I do really enjoy. Final note, and major bonus for me, Edie’s internal monologue (which we get a lot of, because she’s our narrator) is non-repetitive, super cogent, and self-aware. I’m here for that level of knowing oneself and refusing to settle for denial and miscommunication and really thinking things through as far as both actions and words from Max/Gaston (I love a good mid-30s romance heroine for that).

Dade’s “Acknowledgments” start with “drafting this book was absurdly fun” and I can only concur that reading it was the same. This had everything I love and so, unsurprisingly, I loved it.

DNF, it just got too slow and stalled in the middle. It might work very well for somebody else, because I really liked the FMC.

Rating: 4.5⭐️ | Spice: 3🌶️ | Audio: 5🎙️
What to Expect:
Paranormal Romance
Neighbors to Lovers
Hidden Identity
Zombie Apocalypse
Vampire MMC
Plus-sized FMC
He Falls First

Thanks so much @berkleyromance for the gifted paperback and @prhaudio for this gifted audiobook!

“…like Gaston”

Review Title & Vibes:   
{FOUND MY ZOMBIE TEAM} *Finally* discovered my favorite zombie romance… when I wasn’t even looking. This was so fun/funny/freaky.

Edie, a plus-sized soap maker with impeccable sense of humor and optimism, risks her life and burrito dinner to save her neighbor Chad from a rogue zombie. But in reality, Chad is Gaston “Max” Maxime Boucher, a powerful vampire living in Zone A to escape the wounds of his past. Together they work to uncover the mysterious compound breach allowing zombies loose on the unsuspecting masses in their zone.

Things I Loved:
-this was my kind of dry/witty humor - especially Edie’s penchant to breakout into song to annoy Max.
-Max is obsessed!!! “Ma Puce” “My Edie” - she brought her light into his dark world!
-the spice/attraction was toe curling - paranormal romance readers are gonna be excited about this one.
-the plot was unique, backstories intriguing, and perfectly quirky cast of paranormal and enhanced humans .
-the epilogue and prophesy - let’s find out who was behind this “cluster of unfortunatensss”

Audio Notes:
Joy had flawless comedic timing. I was giggling constantly. The accents were perfect and character voices distinct. I definitely believe this book is meant to be enjoyed as an audio (unless you can read in a French accent). I highly recommend this audiobook.

Recommended to...  
Paranormal zombie hunters - this book is for you.

ZomRomCom, by Olivia Dade
Pub day Aug 5, 2025
@berkley #berkleypartner

Ready for a quirky zombie apocalyptic romance?
Who isn’t?!

ZomRomCom features a full figured body positive burrito wielding sassy lead, Edie. And, a Euro-cowboy influencer neighbour who she referred to as “Chad” - until she learned his real name and after fighting off zombies. Turns out - he’s a vampire with a huge sword, thus making her bean filled tortilla was not over effective.

The banter, tension, and funny gaston-infused lyrics were charming and had me engaged from cover to cover. I liked the concept and feel like this would be really fun to bring to life. It might need to be “R rated” because there are some spicy bits.

This was a fun and quick read that I felt I could just go along with despite no world building - which I wasn’t expecting anyway. I was here for a good time and that’s what I go and recommend if you are looking for a light zombie filled rom-com as a pre-halloween read.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted book!

It is with a heavy heart that I give this a low rating. I want to love contemporary paranormal romances so badly, but this felt like a mess to me.

The general feeling I got from beginning to end was that the author has a really good idea of who these characters are in their head, but it doesn’t come across on page. Like it felt like they were assuming we already knew the characters too?

It also just got so silly so quickly and it didn’t make SENSE for the characters, in my opinion. I wanted to like Edie but I felt like her quirkiness was so over the top. Also the world building felt like a mess!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the copy of this title.

I love everything I've read from Olivia Dade so far, so when I saw this title pop up I knew I had to try it. This is a paranormal/urban fantasy romance. It's a post-apocalyptic DMV area where the government was making zombies but then the plan went wrong and they broke out and despite some containment efforts, they still breach the zone and can attack, hence why our MMC and FMC have weapons on the cover.

Edie is a 30-something soap maker who lives in her family home years after her parents died protecting her. She thinks that her zone is pretty deserted minus her neighbor "Chad" a dudebro who moved in a couple years ago. After a breach, she finds out who Chad really is... I don't want to give too much away because this is a steamy, sexy, tender and WILD ride. However, let's just say that the zombies are not the only supernatural/non-human entities in this world. Olivia Dade can write action just as well as she can write romantic and funny moments. There is a running gag for all you "Beauty and the Beast" fans that is so charming and funny. If you love action and comedy as well as a steamy good time, you need to read this! I hope she gets to continue in this world (although I have no idea who will be the next couple) because this book ends on a lil tease for what challenges could come next.

Reading this was a no-brainer for so many reasons!

Olivia Dade is an auto-buy author for me, I love vampires, and Zombieland is one of my favorite movies!

Which makes this just about perfect.

Edie is a badass (with a slight hero complex) who wants to help her neighbor Max during a zombie breach, only to discover he’s a vampire!

And a particularly protective one, too.

Edie’s goal is to help others, and of course Max comes along, too- she shouldn’t do it alone.

This starts a found-family cast of lovable characters who are trying to survive a zombie apocalypse that may be a conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Edie and Max are falling for each other… but they’ll have to survive to be together.

This is so good! The humor gives such amazing levity for a terrifying situation, and both Edie and Max provide it in spades.

The world-building is fun without being overwhelming, creating a perfect zombie rom-com backdrop.

The romance really was the star here, and putting a badass human with an adorably full-of-himself French vampire was just so much fun!

Spice with a vampire involved? Always sign me up! Especially from this author.

I also love how crazy suspenseful situations spark romance, and this worked so well for me.

I will be happily picking up Gwen’s book the moment it’s out, too!

Highly recommend this to get you into spooky season! It’s just about here, friends.

A vampire, a zombie outbreak, and one very unlucky meet-cute—this paranormal romance has bite, brains, and a whole lot of heart.

In a genre overflowing with vampire tales, this book feels like a breath of undead air. When Edie Brandstrup sets out to save her mild-mannered neighbor during a sudden zombie breach, she doesn’t expect him to pull out a massive sword—or reveal that he’s actually a centuries-old vampire with a bunker full of secrets. What starts as a thrilling survival team-up quickly morphs into a high-stakes investigation, with sparks flying as fast as the undead.

Edie is a strong, stubborn heroine you’ll root for immediately—driven by compassion and a fierce sense of justice. Max (yes, Gaston) is her perfect foil: gruff, immortal, and dryly hilarious in the way only a vampire tired of humanity can be. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and the slow-burn romance is built with care, trust, and tension that pays off beautifully.

What elevates this story beyond just another zombie romp is its clever blend of action, mystery, and emotional stakes. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the cast of side characters—from scrappy survivors to surprising allies—adds heart and humor. The plot delivers both thrills and genuine surprises, keeping you hooked until the very end.

If you love paranormal romance with guts (literally and figuratively), this is the perfect mix of post-apocalyptic danger and swoon-worthy slow-burn love. It’s a story about choosing hope when the world is falling apart—and finding a reason to fight not just for survival, but for something more.

The plot felt clunky in some parts to me, but other than that, this was so fun! The banter was too notch, the grump/sunshine trope was done so well and gore was so over the top and campy. This was such a fun read!!!

This is a forgettable paranormal romance between a woman that can't move past a very traumatic experience and her vampire neighbor as they struggle to survive a government made zombie outbreak. It wasn't nearly as funny as I had hoped, I never became invested in the romance, and the I have no interest in the paranormal politics. This is my second Olivia Dade book... I don't anticipate picking up any more.

The audio book narrator was pretty convincing, although some the the character voices used were strange. There were a couple of strange production editing choices though.

What a fun, unique premise for a book. This was my first by Olivia Dade but I look forward to reading some of her other work in the future.

Zomromcom perfectly blended a lighthearted yet heartfelt romance with some laugh out loud moments, supernatural chaos, excellent plus sized representation, found family, and spice.

What to expect:
- grumpy x sunshine
- plus-sized representation
- vampires, zombies, fae, witches, trolls
- an FMC in her late 30s
- a silly goofy fun time

Set in a world that was overrun by zombies after a government experiment gone wrong, Evie lives a very solitary life as a self employed luxury soap maker. She lives next to “Chad”, a man who she thought was a dull frat-boy-esque man with less than average intelligence.

When previously contained zombies (who speak french, obviously) suddenly appear in their yards, she attempts to save Chad, only to find out that Chad is actually Max, an intelligent, secretive, vampire who is a skilled zombie fighter and is upset that she would put herself in danger to help him. He is as grumpy as they come but has a huge soft spot for Edie.

They both soon find out that a group of other supernatural beings have sabotaged their world - purposefully letting the previous contained zombies out into the rest of the world. What ensues afterwards is a delightful romp through the containment zone as Edie and Max become intent on getting answers and finding a way to contain the zombies again for everyone’s safety.

As time goes on, a romance develops between them. Admittedly, I felt like the romance develops extremely fast, to the point where I would call it insta-love. This will always be one of my least favorite tropes. With that being said, the general timeline of the book happened in a short period of time so I understand that this also requires a romance that develops quickly as well. I did feel that some of the dialogue was cringe, but not enough to make me dislike it. I still had a great time overall! Would be a great read for spooky season.


Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley, and the author for the ARC of Zomromcom!

Sorry, but this is charmless. The premise could be good in other hands, but the execution is so weak that I just couldn't care about the characters. One can write epic silliness well (Adams and Pratchett made careers of it), but one needs to have something in mind other than cringy, instantly dated dialogue and boring sex. If you are going to throw in a rogues' gallery of fantasy creatures, do something with them and justify why they exist. The world has little logic and raises only questions that are not suitably answered.

Give this one a pass.

It was entertaining but a little confusing. World building is not strong. I’ve loved all of Olivia’s contemporary works but this one missed the mark for me. There were several typos. The only thing I could think of was his POV should’ve been through the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc. I had such a great time with this. It's really fun and won't be for everyone. It's wacky and silly and you can tell how much fun Olivia Dade was having writing it. There were moments where I laughed aloud which is pretty unusual for me. While the premise didn't particularly interest me I love Dade's work and I'm so glad I read it. I understand why it's divisive, but for me the joy in writing it really made this. I'm looking forward to seeing what the series brings.