The summer I ate the rich was a fun and different take on the classic “zombie” with folk lore woven throughout the story! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was such a unique story! Brielle’s not your average teen, she’s half Haitian American, half zombie (yup, you read that right, lol) and growing up with her hardworking immigrant mom. Her mom’s been dealing with chronic pain and the insurance drama around her pain pump is crazy, especially since she was injured at work and her boss is literally a millionaire. The constant beeping of her pain pump adds another layer to everything they’re dealing with.

Over the summer, we follow Brielle as she starts to tap into her zombie side, not in a horror way, but in a “how can I use this to change things for the better” kind of way. And while no, she didn’t literally eat the rich (I was hoping for it 😂), she does shake up some systems and find creative ways to stand up for herself and her family.

Along the way, there’s some cute young romance, a lot of heart, and honestly, I loved watching her relationship with her mom deepen throughout the story. Also, shoutout to Marcelo, Brielle’s best friend, because his energy was everything. He brought some much needed light to make sure our girl Brielle feel confident. He was definitely one of my favs in the story. His side romance was cute too!

I kinda wished there was more zombie action, but I get what the authors were doing here. It’s not really about the supernatural, it’s about survival, love, and fighting for what’s right when the odds are stacked against you.

Don’t go into this expecting the rich to literally get devoured. Even if the FMC is a zombie. That’s not quite how it works in this world. While this route of literally eating the rich and devouring them would have been fun, I still really enjoyed what the Moulite’s did with this story, writing from their own experiences and infusing the story with Haitian zombie lore. I love how Brielle went about trying to dismantle the rich and was willing to do pretty much anything to accomplish her goals and help her family.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

I received a gifted audiobook copy of THE SUMMER I ATE THE RICH by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite from Macmillan Audio!

Rating: 3.5 / 5

THE SUMMER I ATE THE RICH follows Brielle, a young woman with a passion for cooking and a craving for human flesh. She and her mother live in Florida where her mother works as a home health aid and Brielle works at a restaurant while planning culinary ambitions of her own. When she suddenly gets access to the wealth of the family that has employed her mother and treated her poorly, Brielle makes big moves.

This was a very unique take on a zombie story. Brielle is a zombie, but not in the typical ‘as seen on tv’ sense. She has control over her hungers, even though they still cause concern for her mother. Brielle has big plans, both for her future and for her sense of revenge.

This book lost be a bit as it went further on. I was expecting the zombie theme to ramp up as we got further in, but it stayed a relatively background part of the book. I did appreciate learning more about Brielle’s Haitian roots and the lore of zombies that originates there.

The authors have a lot of strong social commentary in the book, and that was all well done, though I did feel that it sometimes was tackling too much. Brielle and her mother have dealt with racism as immigrants to the US, medical issues and insurance shortfalls, and a lot of class differences between where they live and the wealthy patrons Brielle is working for. From the author’s notes at the end, I can see why they wanted to address the issues and I did think the conversations were well done.

I picked this up partly because I wanted to try something a bit different. At first I was nervous it was going to be a horror read. I was actually surprised in a good way, and enjoyed this examination of classism in Miami through a unique protagonist and her intriguing arc, along with grey and gray morality, a great cast of characters, some magic, and fast paced storyline.

Based on the cover (which does look like a Black Power fist) and title, I thought this was going to be a high level horror book. But the elements were rather limited to some implied cannibalism in a few chapters, but Brielle does have some intense reactions to seeing human flesh. It's much closer to a contemporary novel with some fantasy and horror elements with Brielle being a zombie, which is more of the traditional Haitian lore of "undead slaves forced to toil forever" than the ones Americans are used to. For me, that was a plus, because I didn't have to deal with too much squick, but some horror readers might be disappointed. There's also some swearing and some messed up deaths, but not overly graphic.

Brielle herself is very much a gray morality type of young woman, doing the right thing, but breaking a lot of rules to get it done. She's seen her mother, Valentin, toil for chump change for the Banks family, one of the richest families in the world, and she's had enough of the rich overindulgence of the ultra rich partly because of it. Her character arc is intriguing with cooking for the ultra rich and trying to take them down a peg, as well as figuring out her Haitian origins. I like where she ends up. The rest of the cast was interesting and each had their quirks and memorable character moments. I really enjoyed Valentin for her determination and still being a good mother despite the circumstances. I also like that the rich aren't all 100% evil, even though it does feel like it's going that way in the early chapters.

I do enjoy that the setting was in Miami, which as someone who lives not too far away, was rather vivid. I felt the areas of the city and how each of them are assembled. I also like the other areas that we get to see. The magical lore was fleshed out well, and while not taking center stage for the most part, is an important part of Brielle's background, as well as the many Haitian elements. I did enjoy the whole "power of suggestion with food", which reminded me of With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. I wished a little bit more was explained, but it was enough to grasp the story.

The main theme was examining the mindset and lifestyles of the ultra rich and deconstructing them, though it's not in a way where it feels like all rich people were evil. It shows how their mentality leaves the rest of us to deal with less. The plot was fast paced with the shorter chapters and it just had me continue reading another chapter, sneaking them whenever I could. The twists made sense and the ending was unique, but fitting considering the morality that the story is working with.

The audiobook has multiple narrators, all of them doing a great job with pronouncing everything and the vocal range was excellent. While one narrator handles Brielle, the others are involved in some type of audio drama that pops up on occasion.

If you like reading an examination of the rich and what it takes to keep up, as well as following a compelling protagonist, this book is a must read!

The first scene hit me hard and I thought this was going to be a five star book. However, I think the rest of the book didn't live up to the first scene. I may have expected too many horror elements and, while I like the overall message of the book, I left off feeling like it had barely scratched the surface.

A fun and informative young adult novel. I enjoyed learning about Haiti and its culture as the author weaves it throughout the story. Taking up many topics (e.g. including, but not limited, to coming of age, classism, ethnocentrism and gender) this book allows for the reader (or a teacher) to put it in conversation with current and historical events.

I was able to read this book by listening to the audiobook and the cast of narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. I especially enjoyed the chorus of sisters (reminded me of Shakespeare). Readers looking for something innovative and those who want to dip a toe into horror will find this to their liking (the vampire trope was a light touch).

It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice. It was nice.

The Haitian culture and folklore was interesting and I like it a lot.

I wish the authors had explain what a Haitian zombie was within the text and not in the author's note. The book would have had a good discussion element and it would have made the book more of a critical read. The zombie element did nothing for the plot; it could have been taken out of the story and it wouldn't have made a difference.

The tone was off. If this is supposed to be horror, it wasn't dark or atmospheric or scary or suspenseful. The ending seemed like it should have had a dark tone when she basically blackmailed the love interest but it wasn't. It read more contemporary.

The FMC constantly asked why the rich were so selfish but she never figured it out on her own thru her experiences, encounters, and conversations. She was told why. Once again, this was a missed opportunity for a good discussion.

Brielle Petitfour wants to be a chef, but her Haitian mother will not hear of it. Drowning in medical bills and with her mother freshly unemployed, Brielle hopes to launch her catering business to solidify her future and help her mother and maybe take down some billionaires in the process.

Honestly, I almost gave this book up within the first minute because talk about cow brains is very yuck, and Brielle, our narrator, promises it will get worse. Only, it doesn't. I liked Brielle as a character, but some of the decisions she makes are not great. I think my biggest problem with this book was the message it sends to immigrant girls. All you have to do is marry rich and all your problems will be solved. The other problem I had is that there's a lot of talk of Brielle being a zombi and having powers, but not much of her doing anything with that. It was kind of a let down. In the end, I didn't enjoy the message here, and I wouldn't recommend this book, especially to immigrant girls.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. I enjoyed the narration by Ashley De La Rosa, Fedna Jacquet, Khaya Fraites, Melinda Sewak, Mieko Gavia, and Zuri Washington.

The premise of this book felt so promising and exciting to me, but I felt that the writing and storytelling didn't exactly stack up to really deliver for me. I think I was expecting some kind of darker horror, and this was much lighter in reality.

The portrayal of Miami and the different socioeconomic groups made me feel like I was right beside Brielle experiencing the jobs and slights and travel and stress. Those parts really made me feel like I was living all this with her. So the commentary on power and how we see that manifested in her mother's life before felt very near and very dangerous. The way that Brielle fought that power did not have as much of an impact, but I appreciated the role it played in the story. The ending wasn't really what I expected, but it fit with the story being told.
And possibly my favorite part was the Haitian chorus of her sisters. I loved what they had to say and the way they framed the story.
This sister duo tells stories I like reading!

Thank you to Macmillan audio & NetGalley for this arc!

I love being in this character head, the small things when Brielle describes the food & people around her. She doesn’t overly describe but you can tell miss does live in her own world & hardly pays attention to the people around her. Currently 16 weeks pregnant she makes me hungry every time I pick up this book!😂📚


I don’t feel like this is horror, how it is marketed it didn’t really dive into zombism how I thought it would. I wanted more. There is little to no blood thirsting how many zombie books are.

Let me tell you sometimes I’m so upset with Brielle like why does she choose chaos. Like is it because she is a zonbi (zombie) or a teenager.

With this audiobook there are many chapters with many woman talking in third person omniscient which was really confusing. They were telling us things about her parents that I don’t even believe Brielle knowing & when don’t know who these women are until 32% in.

Honestly it’s a good book but its marketing was wrong, there wasn’t any horror. Mainly coming of age, fantasy & hints of romance. I just expected more.

The Summer I Ate the Rich was the one book I really wanted to like. The premise and plot was soooo promising and the narrator in the audiobook promised a witty, strong lead who had some tricks up her sleeve.

But unfortunately, the switch up between iZombie meets 90210 that somehow ends up getting a mix of diversity, political and romantic conflict all in once. Are we listening about the billionaires getting a taste of human flesh while Brielle works on strengthening her powers? Well… sure but we also get office drama, the most boring murder investigations, and fight for diversity. While also her being 17? How was that missed until she actually says it?

I’m confused, maybe the author was confused and Brielle is definitely confused. It’s like the idea was so big that they had to cram it all into a book and see what sticks. So 1.5 stars because I actually finished it but mostly because of spite by the time it was over.

While the premise had me hooked, I found that the writing style itself didn't intrigue me as much as the ideas. While this is a personal preference, I have to admit I felt the writing didn't quite live up to the potential within the pitch? I felt the same thing while watching the Truman Show though so maybe I'm just overly picky.
I enjoyed the story of the child of a Haitian immigrant striking back at the elite, but I wish there was more horrific descriptions within this horror. I understand this is a restriction of the YA genre, so I might like to read this book as a full adult graphically descriptive properly traumatizing read.

⭐ Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

This book is heartfelt, and full of flavor—literally.


**CONTAINS SPOILER IN REVIEW**

The story follows 17-year-old Brielle, who’s spending her summer working two jobs in Miami: one as an intern at a prestigious company owned by the wealthy family her mother works for, and the other running a secret dinner club for the rich—something she keeps hidden from her mom. But Brielle isn’t your average teen—she’s a zombie. Not the horror movie kind, but one rooted in Haitian folklore. Her secret ingredient? Human flesh. Her magic? An exceptional ability to enchant those who eat her food.

What unfolds is a coming-of-age story that blends cultural identity, ambition, family loyalty, and teen chaos. Brielle is trying to take care of her chronically ill mother, maintain her internship, juggle romance, and explore her passions—all while dealing with the reality of being a first-gen Haitian-American girl with a very unusual legacy.

The novel is original, smart, and full of standout side characters. The way Haitian zombie mythology is used to highlight real-world themes—like healthcare inequities, the immigrant experience, and navigating multiple worlds—is powerful.
The Muses add a fun, theatrical dimension to the audiobook and give the story even more heart.

A few plot points did push believability (spoiler alert: her mom letting her fly off to Europe or get married at 17? Yeah, no. Haitian moms do not play like that). But it’s fiction—and it works for the story.

This is a solid YA pick for middle schoolers, teens, and adults alike. It’s thought-provoking, funny, full of heart, and unlike anything else out right now.


**Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.**

⭐3.5
Wow—this book took me by surprise in the best way. I went in with no expectations and walked away with a story that’s still echoing in my chest. One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

“Why do we have to fight so hard to be treated like a human being?”

That line alone captures the heart of this novel. Beneath the surface of its plot, this is a story about power—who has it, who doesn’t, and how the elite often strip others of their humanity in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. It’s a searing look at the social divide: the way the wealthy view and devalue those without status, how they see “normal” people not as equals, but as disposable.

It also unflinchingly takes on Big Pharma and the cold truth that, in many cases, profit is prioritized over people. The book doesn’t shy away from the reality that—in the U.S., especially—our systems are structured to serve the rich, even at the cost of the public’s health and well-being. It’s the kind of story that makes you angry in all the right ways, but more than that, it makes you think.

And perhaps what struck me the most is how the story lays bare—cracks wide open—the feeling of being an outsider. Of existing in spaces that weren’t built for you. As someone who’s part of a minority community, I felt this deeply. That quiet pressure of having to work twice as hard just to be seen, just to be let into the room, let alone have a voice once inside—it was portrayed in a way that felt honest and raw.

And yet, despite the weight of these themes, the book is anything but heavy or hard to follow. It's told through the perspective of Brielle, whose personal journey pulls you in from the very beginning. Through her eyes, we experience what it means to collide with wealth, influence, and a world that was never meant for her. Watching how her connection with a billionaire family changes everything—and how she handles it—was gripping and surprisingly uplifting.

This book is thoughtful, unflinching, and quietly powerful. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, questioned the systems we live in, or just want a socially aware story told through a compelling voice, this is absolutely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audio arc. this is my honest review. I am giving this 2.5 stars because the ending really ruined it for me sure this book contained zombies, but really next to none of this was horror. This had so much potential and honestly just fell flat in every way this girl is evidently a junior in high school and somehow gets married at the end??? like that made no sense in the story honestly, the way, this ended really ruined the book for me. This girl was a zombie and somehow instead of using that at the end of the book they decided the big bad was gonna get taken down by pretty much the FBI and IRS like what was the point in making her a zombie? I really loved the beginning and the middle portion of this book but the last 3/4 of it made me extremely disappointed.

Brielle and her ailing mother are Haitian immigrants working hard to get by in the US. Their very wealthy and all white clients are absurd and do nothing to help anyone but themselves. Brielle, being an actual zombie, decides to use her zombie powers to get back at them. This is what is promised in the blurb of the book. We are delivered an excellent exploration of socioeconomic and racial inequity in society! The book does a great job with that. Where it falls very flat for me was the whole zombie aspect and you know, eating the rich…as the title proclaims. I really wanted more from this, it barely felt like a zombie book at all. If not paying close attention, you can actually miss in entirety the whole eating human flesh part. I was entertained by Brielle and she is a wonderful protagonist and I was interested in the story, but the horror and zombie part was barely in existence. And that was why I felt disappointed. It is definitely YA, which is exactly what it says it is. I have read some YA horror that completely encompasses the horror aspects still. Maybe this one is aimed more towards the Y than the A in YA, which is why the horror lacked? Not sure. It was a solid ok from me, no more no less. I would recommend it to younger readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC! The audio narration was done very well. Book releases 4/22/25.

The best way to describe this book is as readable. The Moulite's are great storytellers who can develop a plot with likable characters that move quickly. Brielle's has big dreams with family drama that makes her relatable. The romance, while brief, was fun, with Preston being a good romantic lead. However, to me, the best part of the book was the integration of Haitian tradition into the story. It made an already fresh book feel even more original.