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c_dmckinney's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I initially started reading this under the impression there would be actual, not just metaphorical zombies.
That said once I adjusted my expectations and approached it as a st ry about grief and loss and love I appreciated it considerably more. The emotions are raw and the poetry is very evocative. I expect it would have resonated with me much more strongly had I read it when I was a teenage girl going through my own angst and losses.
That said once I adjusted my expectations and approached it as a st ry about grief and loss and love I appreciated it considerably more. The emotions are raw and the poetry is very evocative. I expect it would have resonated with me much more strongly had I read it when I was a teenage girl going through my own angst and losses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Abandonment, Body horror, and Death of parent
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Blood
amandalorianxo's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I meant to read this on NetGalley when it was a read now arc that was made available but never got around it to it. Instead, I waited until the audiobook was available and listened to it instead. I low key was a little disappointed when I realized that Z wasn’t actually seeing zombies, this was just a metaphor for how she was noticing people were behaving / acting due to their grief. I do think that this way of writing the plot and having the MC come to terms with it was unique but some of the pacing lost me. I feel like the climax happened a little too late in the book. I also wasn’t 100% understanding what Bo & Z had when it involved chemistry because I wasn’t seeing it. I do want to read Britney’s newest book though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
lasafica_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
2treads's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Lewis' story of love, loss and the undead had me riveted. I was gripped by Zhari's poignant grief, her isolation from an aunt who seems to have detached and moved on from their loss to her instant connection to new neighbour Bo.
The narrator's voice is mellow and transmits the tale with a gentle flow that I appreciated. As we get to know Zhari, we also begin to question if what she sees is real or a manifestation of her inability to move through how her mother died.
I love the use of zombies, how Lewis uses them as the medium through which Zhari confronts and accepts her grief, anger, hurt, and her awareness of how they exist in Haitian culture.
The decision to link unrequited love and emotional hurt to zombie transformation speaks to the ways in which we change in reaction to devastating losses. It was uniquely brilliant for Lewis to use a pop/horror icon to convey such a meaningful story.
The narrator's voice is mellow and transmits the tale with a gentle flow that I appreciated. As we get to know Zhari, we also begin to question if what she sees is real or a manifestation of her inability to move through how her mother died.
I love the use of zombies, how Lewis uses them as the medium through which Zhari confronts and accepts her grief, anger, hurt, and her awareness of how they exist in Haitian culture.
The decision to link unrequited love and emotional hurt to zombie transformation speaks to the ways in which we change in reaction to devastating losses. It was uniquely brilliant for Lewis to use a pop/horror icon to convey such a meaningful story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Gore
Minor: Infidelity
melaniereadsbooks's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Audiobooks for an ALC of this book.
Zharie is seeing zombies. Ever since a few weeks before her mom died, when her mother turned into a zombie herself. But now they are everywhere, but they aren't attacking anyone, just going about their (un)lives with bodies falling apart. Until Zharie meets a neighbor, Bo, who is sometimes a zombie and sometimes human. She decided to befriend Bo in order to find out what is wrong with her brain.
This is so raw and emotional. I think the zombie allegory is a little on the nose but in general this was a really good book raw with grief and heartache. Zharie is a great character to follow and I enjoyed watching her transformation as she learned more about her mother, birth-father, and herself. I also really liked Bo and the way he was portrayed as so sunshiney, but also hurt on the inside. I think Bo's character really showed the duality of people. Really good book!
Zharie is seeing zombies. Ever since a few weeks before her mom died, when her mother turned into a zombie herself. But now they are everywhere, but they aren't attacking anyone, just going about their (un)lives with bodies falling apart. Until Zharie meets a neighbor, Bo, who is sometimes a zombie and sometimes human. She decided to befriend Bo in order to find out what is wrong with her brain.
This is so raw and emotional. I think the zombie allegory is a little on the nose but in general this was a really good book raw with grief and heartache. Zharie is a great character to follow and I enjoyed watching her transformation as she learned more about her mother, birth-father, and herself. I also really liked Bo and the way he was portrayed as so sunshiney, but also hurt on the inside. I think Bo's character really showed the duality of people. Really good book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Infidelity
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Zharie loves to dance—West Coast Swing, specifically, which she used to dance with her mom before she inexplicably turns into a zombie a few days before her untimely death. Nearly a year later, Zharie just wants to hide away, but she needs to find out the truth about what happened to her mom, and her skater boy neighbor is determined to get her out of her shell (and also, he might be a zombie?). Set in Kansas City, this sweet and surprising slow burn love story and exploration of grief reads like a Vincent van Gogh painting with a twist of horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, and Body horror
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
booksbyabbi's review
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Mark your calendars people. August 9th. You need to get your hands on this book. It is claiming one of the spots for top books this year because it was STUNNING. I actually love fantasy or contemporary books with horror aspects and Lewis does it brilliantly with this one! Her take on zombies is heartbreaking, unique, and beautifully written and her command of prose is just gorgeous. She can be pulling you from a sweeping description of what it means to be human straight into the horrifying face of the undead.
The premise intrigued me because of this aspect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the romance between the main character Zharie and the boy who moves in downstairs, Bo. Their dynamic is hilarious and adorable and everything I’m sure we all dream about. One of my favourite little things about Zharie's character were all of her well-rounded interests. From West Coast Swing dancing to a fascination with Vincent van Gogh, she felt like a real person on the page (and someone I would totally be friends with). I really did appreciate the references to van Gogh through the book because he and his story are an inspiration to me personally and it was refreshing to see him represented by more than just a few cliche remarks about The Starry Night. All of her interests were so well researched and developed that it really just added to the depth of her character. In fact, all of Lewis’s characters are rich and make me want nothing more than to be sucked into the pages to join their friend group. Honestly, the characters are what make this such an addicting read as you can't help but be pulled in by their humour, compassion, and humanity.
No review would be complete without commenting on the ending. I had to read it six times just to make sure I was reading it right. It gives you this lovely bit of closure and peace and then completely flips everything around and you are left reeling. However, it still functions well as a standalone and I think it is just such a perfectly crafted ending. (but please britney do not take that as me saying i don’t need a sequel to move on. i’m begging you to write one)
Everything about this book is so captivatingly human. It is a tale of grief and uncertainty, love and loss. There are times when you don’t know what is going on, but that’s because Zharie doesn’t either. This book is her journey and we are forced to take it with her in all of its ups and downs, triumphs and losses, until the very end.
The premise intrigued me because of this aspect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the romance between the main character Zharie and the boy who moves in downstairs, Bo. Their dynamic is hilarious and adorable and everything I’m sure we all dream about. One of my favourite little things about Zharie's character were all of her well-rounded interests. From West Coast Swing dancing to a fascination with Vincent van Gogh, she felt like a real person on the page (and someone I would totally be friends with). I really did appreciate the references to van Gogh through the book because he and his story are an inspiration to me personally and it was refreshing to see him represented by more than just a few cliche remarks about The Starry Night. All of her interests were so well researched and developed that it really just added to the depth of her character. In fact, all of Lewis’s characters are rich and make me want nothing more than to be sucked into the pages to join their friend group. Honestly, the characters are what make this such an addicting read as you can't help but be pulled in by their humour, compassion, and humanity.
No review would be complete without commenting on the ending. I had to read it six times just to make sure I was reading it right. It gives you this lovely bit of closure and peace and then completely flips everything around and you are left reeling. However, it still functions well as a standalone and I think it is just such a perfectly crafted ending. (but please britney do not take that as me saying i don’t need a sequel to move on. i’m begging you to write one)
Everything about this book is so captivatingly human. It is a tale of grief and uncertainty, love and loss. There are times when you don’t know what is going on, but that’s because Zharie doesn’t either. This book is her journey and we are forced to take it with her in all of its ups and downs, triumphs and losses, until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
debussy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful debut. The zombie magical realism pairs well with the themes of grief and love. Sketchy in places, but overall very well done and will look for this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Grief, Alcohol, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
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