This was pitched as YA horror, but it’s more of a coming-of-age thriller with some magical realism. Brielle was such a fun, bold lead! I loved her voice and her mission to take down the 1%. The themes were powerful, even if they sometimes felt a little simplified.

The zombie element was cool but barely there. It felt more like a side note than a key part of the plot, which was a bit of a letdown.

The audiobook had a full cast, which was super engaging, especially with the ancestor voices woven in, but at times the switches between narrators made things a little hard to follow.

Still a good and unique listen if you go in with the right expectations!

In many ways, Brielle is like many contemporary teens. She works hard at her summer internship, hangs out with friends, has a unadvisable crush, and worries about the health her Haitian immigrant mother. Oh, and she's a zombie. Not the groaning, brain-eating type from Hollywood but the older, spookier Haitian type. This makes things interesting and smart and slightly gory and sharply funny when she interns with an evil billionaire

I took this book via audio with a multicast of women narrating, including Ashley De La Rosa, Fedna Jacquet, Khaya Fraites, Melinda Sewak, Mieko Gavia, and Zuri Washington. It took 9 hours and 53 minutes to listen. I loved these voices, though I'm unsure why so many people spoke in this story. Two would have sufficed, but I understood the purpose of each narrator's being there solely to represent. De La Rosa was the star of this narrative, while the others served as the Haitian Hercules version of the singing muses.

The Summer I Ate the Rich is about Brielle, an aspiring, poverty-stricken young chef who hates the inequality between the rich and the poor. In a wave of defiance, she steals money from her mother's employer and donates it to inner-city organizations, triggering her involuntary recruitment into the world of the wealthy. Oh, and let's not forget that she's a Zombie. All of this sounds great except for the fact of SHE. DID. NOT. EAT. THE. RICH. As a matter of fact, there was no horror asphyxiation in the story whatsoever!

My biggest problem with the story was that I thought I was getting a Zombie horror novel. Nothing was horrifying about it, and Brielle being a zombie is an afterthought. There was a lot of information and moving pieces that really had nothing to do with the story or the progression of it. What I liked about the book was the conversations about the disparities between rich and poor, the entitlement of having money, how the healthcare systems and insurance companies work, family separation due to immigration, etc. If we could have stuck tot he script with any of these topics, I'd have a better reaction to things.

It was an okay book, that felt a bit catfishing. I was once again Shamalyan-ed towards the end.

This book is difficult to categorize! Not quite horror, although the way the book opens, it seems we will be reading of gore and fear. Instead, the book follows Brielle, a Haitian-American zonbi teenager who sheds light on the broken system that her medically-fragile mother has to rely on. The book does a consistent and great job of highlighting class disparity, the immigrant experience, and family dynamics.

What was unexpected was how the horror was more of a magical realism that weaves in and out of the story. The book is broken up by an interlude from "The Muses", Brielle's half-sisters in Haiti. There are definitely as many quirky and humorous references to horror that it makes me think a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer might be into this. It also would be a good pick for fans of With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acavedo.

This was a fun ride, and I enjoyed listening on audiobook. The narrators (both the author and her real sister) were perfect for narrating Brielle and her sisters!

3.75

Devours big ideas, but goes light on the flesh.

This one had a killer hook: Haitian zombie lore + class revenge + culinary horror?? YES PLEASE. I was ready to watch Brielle Petitfour tear down the rich, one ethically questionable course at a time.

And the opening? Chef’s kiss. There’s a moment with a cow brain and an internal hunger that had me clutching the book and whispering, “yaaasss” But after that? The spice level dropped. I kept waiting for the book to lean into its promise, to go full "if you can't beat them, eat them," but instead, it felt more like, "if you can't beat them, intern for them."

The zombie ("zonbi") element was almost decorative until the final chapters, and while I loved the themes of economic injustice and generational struggle, they sometimes felt like bullet points from into tosociology.

That said, I did enjoy the read! It’s sharp in moments, and I appreciated the immigrant family dynamics and cultural specificity. But if you’re here for full-blown horror or gory class warfare… temper your expectations.

🍽️ I came for vengeance and marrow bones; I got more metaphor than meat.

However, I did really enjoy the narration. It brought Brielle’s voice to life with just the right balance of edge and vulnerability. The performance captured the cultural rhythms and emotional stakes in a way that made some of the slower moments better. The audio might be the move if you’re curious but on the fence.

Thanks to the publisher for gifted Audiobook

Genre: ??? Horror? Magical realism? Satirical social commentary buffet?

Okay, so apparently this was horror, but I honestly spent more time confused than creeped out. There’s a zombie girl (not your average brain-muncher—she’s Haitian and it's rooted in folklore), a billionaire internship, and a supper club for the 1%. Think The Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out with a sprinkle of Iron Chef: Afterlife Edition.

It had potential, but it felt like the book was trying to do too much at once—like juggling social justice, satire, magical realism, capitalism critique, and culinary gore… all while blindfolded. It shouted about the immigrant experience and wealth inequality, but then kind of tripped over its own message. Nuance? Somewhere in the pantry, I guess.

Not terrible. Just a little chaotic. Like if a TikTok thinkpiece became a novel.

Brielle is a first-generation American dealing with a lot. Her mom is sick, bills need to be paid, and everyone’s depending on her to hold it all together. That pressure to succeed, to make everything better for your family, and to undo years of struggle really came through in this story.

I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. Each one added a new layer and helped build a fuller picture of what was at stake. I also listened to the audiobook, and the narration was perfect. The pronunciation of the Haitian Creole was absolutely beautiful.

What I appreciated most was the use of real Haitian zombie lore. Haitian zombies aren’t the brain-eating kind you see in movies. They come from Vodou tradition and are rooted in the history of slavery and control. That cultural depth added so much to the story and made Brielle’s actions feel even more powerful.

There’s no gore here, and it’s not a horror story. It’s a smart, layered fable about food, family, and revenge. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this ARC Audio Copy! 3.5 Stars

This was such an interesting story, and I really appreciate how it was written, and how it shows the impact of how the predatory health industry and the wealth disparity is in America. Watching the mother/daughter struggle through, pain, shame, and desire for something more out of the world was so intriguing. It was much different than it expected, because who really knows what to expect about a book about zombies, but it was actually really enlightening to learn about the true meaning/realization of zombies from the Hattie culture.

I unfortunately DNFed this at 70% and that actually made me really sad. I was very much looking forward to this book as a huge YA horror fan (I frankly think YA horror is often more well done than adult horror but I digress) and this premise had me frothing at the mouth. Like what do you mean this young Haitian zombie-girl is going to make the rich eat the rich??? Like that sound bomb - but unfortunately this is not what the story delivered.

This was not horror. This was not tense. The cannibalism was nearly nonexistent; frankly the plot in general was nonexistent. And I was bored. And that all kills me because I wanted to like this so much.

I saw similar reviews with similar thoughts to mine so I hope with a rewrite this story can blossom into what I think could be a very very good story.

What I expected from The Summer I Ate the Rich and what I got were two very different things. Going in, I was hoping for a bloody, biting takedown of the elite—a cathartic tale of the rich finally getting what they deserve for their privilege, racism, microaggressions, and complete disregard for anyone outside their gated world. And while the book hints at that vengeance-fueled premise, it never quite delivers in the way I’d hoped.

Our main character, Brielle, is navigating a toxic, elitist environment where she constantly has to bite her tongue just to survive. She gets in a few small wins—some quiet moments of resistance—but the promised reckoning? It never fully lands. And while the zonbi element adds a layer of intrigue, it’s not the traditional American horror trope. Rooted in Haitian lore, the zonbi mythology here is different—more spiritual, more subtle—and while I appreciated the cultural specificity, the execution felt more underwhelming than thrilling when it came to how Brielle uses her power.

That said, where this book truly shines is in its themes and relationships. The bond between Brielle and her mother is absolutely the heart of this story. The strength of her mother’s love is felt in every chapter—it bleeds through the pages with a tenderness and ferocity that’s hard to ignore. The author also does an exceptional job highlighting real-world issues: the opioid epidemic, systemic inequality, immigration struggles, and the brutal cost of poverty, especially when it comes to healthcare access and the price of survival.

The audiobook narration was a major highlight. The voice actor brought Brielle’s inner monologue to life with honesty, edge, and emotion, making it easy to connect with her pain, exhaustion, and quiet strength. What really stood out, though, were the chapters from Brielle’s mother and sisters—each with their own voice and perspective, adding so much depth and richness to the family dynamic. These sections made the story feel more intimate and grounded, giving listeners a layered view of the love, grief, and generational strength running through this family.

In the end, The Summer I Ate the Rich wasn’t the razor-sharp revenge tale I expected—but it’s not without its power. It's more introspective than explosive, and while that may disappoint some readers, others will find something quietly compelling in its message and voice.

This book follows Brielle Petitfour, who loves to cook, but her family doesn't want her to pursue that career because they don't think she will be successful enough. When her chronically ill mother us unable to continue working, she has to pay the bills some how. While her family doesn't want her to use her culinary skills to help pay the bills, this is what she is good at and people will pay for it.

The rich families who love her cooking and continue to praise her for the use of her unique flavors, keeps them guessing what's in each dish. The secret ingredient??? Human flesh.

This book sounded really interesting and I was interested in learning more about the Haitian zombie lore, but I felt that after the opening seen, the book kind of fell flat for me. Maybe this is because I listened to it on audio, but it was just okay for me. I felt that it was slow at times and had a hard time holding my attention. Just because I didn't necessarily love the book though, doesn't mean you shouldn't check it out.


Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the #gifted copy.

I thought this would contain more horror elements than what it did, I'm not complaining because I don't particularly like horror. I found it quite interesting how the author intertwined American socio-economics & politics with Haitian zombies. I really enjoyed the audiobook and would recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC for exchange for my honest opinion.

If you are looking for traditional zombie horror, this book probably isn't for you. In my opinion, this book would have been better classified as magical realism.

I really love how this book was written, especially the Greek chorus reminiscent of the Muses in Disney's Hercules interspersed throughout the novel. The flesh-eating aspect is very understated. Based on the Haitian zombie myth, Brielle (who is a zombie) and her mother live a life of servitude to wealthy elites. After witnessing a horrific accident, Brielle realizes that she holds a position of power and uses it for good while also pursuing her dreams. With the "Eat the Rich" movement trending in popular media, Maika and Maritza Moulite's main character is in a position to not only eat the rich, but also feed the rich to each other.

The one aspect that I didn't enjoy was the romance; it felt like Brielle's relationship was used as an easy fix to prevent her from facing legal consequences. Other than that, I felt the characters were well developed and the narrative was engaging. The audiobook was narrated well, and again, I enjoyed the Greek chorus immensely.

I have been looking forward to this book since I first saw the cover and title more than 6 months ago. I didn't even know what it was about but loved the title and cover enough to add this to my to be read list. I was unbelievably excited when I was approved through NetGalley for an advance copy on audio. This did not disappoint at all.

This is horror, as the main character, Brielle, is a zombie, Haitian mythology, not Hollywood horror movie style. In many ways this feels almost like a cozy horror. I'm totally not sure if that's a thing or not but it should be. The characters are mostly likable and the setting is often lush. Brielle lives with her mother who is a home health aide for the elder patriarch of an extremely wealthy family. Brielle has sisters living back in Haiti with other family while she and her mother live in Miami, Florida. Brielle is a talented amateur chef and for a variety of reasons begins to give in to her zombie instincts.

This audiobook is narrated by Ashley De La Rosa, Fedna Jacquet, Khaya Fraites, Melinda Sewak, Mieko Gavia, and Zuri Washington. Brielle is voiced by one narrator and the other narrators cover other characters in the story. The narration was top tier. I don't want to give spoilers but the reason this has so many narrators is handled in a very unique way, which kinda reminded me of BBC Radio Plays.

In addition to the obvious horror elements, this has gothic elements added to the mix for a more seasoned story line. In many ways, Brielle's need to hide her zombie instincts mirrored elements of the pressure on Black folks in Western societies who work or attend school in primarily white spaces. The story does highlight the Black woman immigrant experience in the US with a morally gray tone and a pinch of romance. Overall this was fun and engaging. I was unsure where the story would end up but like how the author finished this tale. This had shades of the British TV shows In The Flesh & Being Human combined with minor elements in tone of the movie The Skeleton Key. I rather enjoyed this and look forward to more novels from these authors.

Thank you to authors Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this listen, I just wish there was more actual eating of the rich lol I went into this with hopes of a zombie novel and while it was still enjoyable and the narration was great, I want hoping for more gore and zombie aspects. All that aside, the story itself was still good and I would still definitely recommend this to others!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audio copy in return for my honest review, as always all opinions are my own.

I hope you’re hungry…for nothing 👹 thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy! I went into this expecting a YA Haitian anti capitalist Hannibal and unfortch it didn’t deliver. IMHO, it struggled from tonal inconsistency and often felt more like surface-level commentary with no clear plot structure. Out 4/22!

The Summer I Ate the Rich is about the legacy of slavery in Haiti, Haitian mythology, mind control, dreams of culturally showcased culinary excellence, the exclusivity of moderm medical devices, Miami uber-rich big pharma with hot sons, and the dangers of not knowing what's in your food. I think. It seemed to suffer from an identity crisis, jumping around between these themes, trying to be too much. The majority of this book is an unlikely YA romance that is not helped by the 17 year old first-person narrator. This is very far from horror, and the revenge plot feels like a subplot. This seems much more like a Cinderella retelling if Cinderella was actually a sociopath instead of anything aligning with the Eat the Rich movement.
I really like the cover. The audiobook narrators did a great job, though the Greek Chorus of sisters was a bit confusing via audio.
Thanks to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, and Macmillan Young Listeners for the ARC to review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for early copy*

4.5 Rounded up

I really loved the production of this audiobook. Having different voices for The Muses really added to the story. I also really enjoyed the way the story was told in acts with intermissions. I'm really glad I was able to listen to the audio version because I think it elevated the story.

The introduction to a new type of Zombie was great! I really loved the added fact that zombies originally came from Haitian folklore (something I did not know about). Having the Haitian culture and food in the book also was nice to learn about.

[Having the drug epidemic being a motivation for this story makes so much sense. I personally had someone in my life who had chronic pain/cancer and they were given so many terrible drugs that did not really help the pain. Having this being the ultimate villain and the rich guy supplying it getting in trouble made me so glad! (hide spoiler)]

I loved the combination of real life experiences and twisted to be this fun book. I go the chance to listen to the audio version of this book and thought was well done. I liked the usage of different actresses to play the three sisters and mother. I loved the concept I did think it was leaning to a horror book but it’s a modern gothic, the word “ate” can be interpreted in many ways. I had a good time listening to this twisted tale.

I want to thank @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for allowing me to listen to this delicious tale.

This book was not unliked, it was just ok. The dark themes were portrayed almost like supernatural, which I found weird and made the story a little confusing. I see the attempt, and I appreciate it, but I feel like it didn't quite deliver. The romance could of been heavier, or maybe just the supernatural elements should of been more.