Reviews

My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland, Daniel Dos Santos

bellsthekitten's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

5.0

relin's review against another edition

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I realized we had gotten this far in the book and hadn't met another woman or non-man person of importance. The world building was super cool though.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

brendalovesbooks's review against another edition

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I'm about 75 pages in, and I'm giving up on this one. I just don't really care enough about the story to continue. I don't think I like having a zombie as the main character. It didn't work for me, and besides that, Angel isn't even likable. There's nothing interesting here.

pause_theframe's review against another edition

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5.0

The Story

Angel is a self-proclaimed loser and white trash. Living at home with her dad is only the beginning of her woes, as she's in her mid twenties, can't hold a job and has a problem with pills. She not bothered though. She used to want ,ore out of life, but came to the conclusion that some people just aren't that lucky. After dropping out of high school and going to jail for a car deal that was too sweet to be real, she knows she's one of those unlucky people. Then she wakes up in a hospital, an apparent drug overdose, following a night out drinking. She was found naked on the side of the road and barely escaped death.

Yeah, Angel was a loser. She was white trash.

Now Angel has a new chance at life. Maybe she can keep a job, get straight and have the house she always dreamed of. Okay, maybe it involves working at a morgue, but she seems to have a knack for the job. There's only one catch…

Angel has a huge craving for brains…good thing her patients don't seem to need them anymore.



Angel Crawford’s life is about to change in more ways than one. She struggles to take on a new perspective and come to terms with her past and future, most importantly her lack of pulse and the strange notes she keeps receiving. Can she live the life of a brain-craving zombie and not turn into a monster.





My Thoughts


I enjoyed every moment of this book. The first thing I noticed was that this was not your average zombie story. Instead of the typical ' ah, zombies are taking over and eating us, we have to survive' we are given a story where zombies are a minority. They have been changed, and now they are trying to remain as hidden as possible. As long as they have their fill of brains every couple of days, they remain as warm and lively as you or me. Most of them find jobs where they brains are easy to come by, such as Angel's new job at the morgue. This means they have no need to hurt anyone to stay whole and healthy, they just use the brains from those who won't need them anymore. There's even a market for them, where one of the local zombies sells those he doesn't keep for himself.

I love that the story has a completely different perspective from the typical zombie read. I love zombie stories, and this one has really got me hooked. I like reading about Angel's life and her struggles to try and remain 'normal.' She has to go through life finding out who she is, just like we humans do. She needs to learn to understand herself, her limits and what she needs to survive.

I also like that the story isn't just about that. It also has lessons about finding yourself in general, it tells you about Angel's discovery that she can make more of herself (and that lack of money isn't the only reason to turn to drugs, drink and give up on life.). Finally, you learn about Angel's love life, or lack there of, and how she comes to terms with the fact that she deserves someone good for herself as well.

The story does have a great tale of rags to riches, though Angel doesn't get rich in money, she does learn that there are other forms of rich. She starts to stand up for herself, becomes strong and gets herself out of her self-proclaimed state of white-trash.

I love the characters in the book, as each has a deep, meaningful personality. Each character sticks to the personality they have been given, and they really do feel real, not all alive, but real.

The details, both of characters and in the storyline, are brilliant. There are enough details that you know and trust everything is happening, but to enough are given to actually ruin any of the surprises that are to come.

The pace of the story is perfection. It moves swiftly, keeping your attention held, and gives you snippets of details about the brain-eating issue throughout. However, it doesn't move so fast that you aren't able to get into the story. It is just right.

OVERALL: I really enjoyed every second of this book. It was engaging, interesting and had great side lessons/stories. I know there are two more books at the moment, in the series, and I cannot wait to have a go at them. I want to know what happens to Angel and her friends next. She has so much more to learn, do, achieve and I cannot wait to see what happens. After the ending, I was left on the edge of my seat, excited and happy for Angel, but also worried and wondering where they will go from here. I would highly recommend this books to anyone age 14 and above. It does have gory details, but nothing that couldn't be handled or expected in those ages. It really is a read that you shouldn't pass up, especially if you are a zombie fan. I've never read a book like it.

marieintheraw's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm not typically a zombie kinda person, but this book came recommended so I figured I'd give it a shot. Well worth it. The ending was a little rushed, but I didn't see a lot of things coming and it overall was a fun ride. Angel is a believable character who seems to want to be turning her life around...post-death. I'm excited to see where the story heads.

badseedgirl's review against another edition

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4.0

I added this book to my TBR list in 2015, and then did not read it. I LOVE a zombie book, but I was not sure about this one. I'm sorry I hesitated. This was a fun and interesting read. There is not much action in this first book in the series, this entire book is more of a set up for the other six (?) books in the series. This is a unique take on zombies and for someone who has read as much zombie fiction I have, that goes a long way in keeping me entertained.

The next book in the series [b:Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues|12766833|Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues (White Trash Zombie, #2)|Diana Rowland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328080041l/12766833._SY75_.jpg|17910832] is not available in my Libby, but I will read the next boo in the series later this year.

dajoyofit's review against another edition

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4.0

If I had to sum up my reading experience in one word it would be Fun. I really enjoyed this one for several reasons. For one it made me smile, laugh, and feel all giddy despite the eating brains and dead bodies stuff.

The tone/voice of the story was snappy (and modern), which I found super appealing. The zombie concept was refreshingly different. Not the typical rabies-crazy induced mindless zombie I've been accustomed to. The anti-heroine, Angel, was a nice change of pace. She's faulty and imperfect, and I couldn't help fall in love with her despite her faults. The "who done it" kept me guessing till the very end. All-in-all the writing and storytelling felt and read seamlessly.

However, about half into the book the pace gets a little sluggish. It starts to sorta feel after about two or three chapters that you're reading a "day and life of a mortuary worker". The details about her job seem to go on and on, (but I personally really enjoyed it, so I didn't mind it this time around with this particular book, cause I'm one of those weirdos who likes to know about weird stuff like what's it like working in a mortuary/coroner's office).

I really liked Book 1. It was a little bit chick lit and cozy mystery with a major preternatural ingredient. I've a copy of Book 2 and I can't wait to read it next.

macr0nnie's review against another edition

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3.0

It’s okay. It’s a cool concept but the story is slow and boring.

How do you make a story about zombies boring I don’t know?

mehsi's review against another edition

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5.0

I recently read Married with Zombies, and was in for another zombie book like that. So naturally I went to my recommendations page and kindly asked for some more. And behold, some kind soul recommended me this one.

At first I was a bit sceptic, the cover turned me off a bit, and the whole White Trash, no. But I am happy I pushed through. It was a really riveting story. And so creative too.

Our main girl wakes up in the hospital, from apparent overdose. She gets a strange package with strange foods and various other things. Also a note about things and about a new job. And that is how Angel gets a job at the coroner office, she will be driving (and later dissecting) dead bodies to the morgue.

And from that point on things take a roller-coaster ride. She finds out she is a zombie. She meets all kinds of new people and much much more. It was all quite realistic, and I liked that while it was about zombies, it wasn't only about her being a zombie. No, it also featured a serial killer, her relationship with her boyfriend, her drugs use, and her often drunk and abusive father.

There is enough gore in this book, so be warned. Brains will really fly around, and the murders are quite gruesome. But all in all, you might dislike Angel at first, but believe me you will love her soon, you will be rooting for her and cheering for her.

And me? I will soon be reading book 2! Hoping and praying it will be just as good and won't suffer from second-book-in-series-syndrome. :)

Thanks my dear recommender for this awesome book!

rachelellyn's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator was delightful (I "read" the Audible version) and helped me instantly fall in love with the main character. Really, all the characters are nicely fleshed (tee hee) out and the story moves along at a steady pace with lots of humor along the way.

I might not read the rest of the series. Too many books, too little time. But, I really enjoyed this one.