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applejacksbooks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
I really enjoy the way the author takes grief and turns it into a metaphor of how every human is a zombie. Dealing with grief and loss is not an easy task for anyone and the way the author take Zharie and Bo's grief and allows them to see the healing process through the zombification of their sadness is beautifully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
haylzno's review
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
Shortly after losing her mom, Zharie starts
seeing……zombies? everywhere.
While Zharie is trying to work through her grief
and figure out why the heck she's seeing
zombies, when she meets Bo.
Bo seems normal at first.. until Z discovers he
also suffers from spontaneous-zombie-itis and
she decided enough is enough and befriends
him to figure out why he keeps fluctuating
between living and living dead.
This was one of the best YA novels I've read in
awhile. Britney Lewis did such a devastatingly,
beautiful job writing about Zharie's grief. I
found myself tearing up on more than one
occasion (I lost my dad in 2020 and could FEEL
Zharie's grief seeping off the pages).
The last 10-15ish percent felt a tad rushed
maybe I was just expecting more page time
with Zharie and her "father"
I also found myself wanting more information
about Z's mom, but that felt purposeful (I'm
sure Zharie felt the same way).
All in all - I think this was a fantastic debut
novel and I can't wait to see what Lewis writes
next
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
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
bookdragon217's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
"...and that was the thing about love. It wasn't a printed piece of the same thing. It was crooked and unfocused sometimes. It depleted us, consumed our brains, ripped our hearts from our chests, turned us into the undead."
The recurring theme of grief and love has been appearing in all my recent reads and I have loved the unique ways that authors have presented the interconnectedness of the two. The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis was my mist recent read. In this one, Lewis uses surrealism and the metaphor of zombies and the state of being undead to take our protagonist Zharie through the process of grief and love after losing her mother. Zharie has stopped living her life and has closed herself off to the idea of love due to the sudden death of her mother which left her with more questions than answers.
The writing style and prose was the star of the show. It was poetic, beautiful, reflective, and powerful. I have some many passages highlighted because they either made me pause to take a breath or forced me to ponder more deeply. This story is slow paced yet intentional in the ways that Lewis evokes certain emotions. I was sad throughout most of it because the writing thrusts you into Zharie's grief on a personal level. Her pain was so hard to read at times. The elements of surrealism were the perfect touches that blended the process of grief and love together. As a reader, you are challenged and prodded to question reality.
Even though plotwise, not a lot happens until almost the end, the dissection of grief and love by the main character keep you engaged. The tone is soft and quiet, just like Zharie but as she finds her voice, the tone of the writing becomes louder and more powerful. Even though this was a debut novel, I can already tell that Lewis has so much to say especially about the arts and healing. My biggest takeaway is that grief and love can both feel like death and make the world feel like limbo, an in between state that leaves you stuck. Thank you @disneybooks for the gifted copy.
The recurring theme of grief and love has been appearing in all my recent reads and I have loved the unique ways that authors have presented the interconnectedness of the two. The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis was my mist recent read. In this one, Lewis uses surrealism and the metaphor of zombies and the state of being undead to take our protagonist Zharie through the process of grief and love after losing her mother. Zharie has stopped living her life and has closed herself off to the idea of love due to the sudden death of her mother which left her with more questions than answers.
The writing style and prose was the star of the show. It was poetic, beautiful, reflective, and powerful. I have some many passages highlighted because they either made me pause to take a breath or forced me to ponder more deeply. This story is slow paced yet intentional in the ways that Lewis evokes certain emotions. I was sad throughout most of it because the writing thrusts you into Zharie's grief on a personal level. Her pain was so hard to read at times. The elements of surrealism were the perfect touches that blended the process of grief and love together. As a reader, you are challenged and prodded to question reality.
Even though plotwise, not a lot happens until almost the end, the dissection of grief and love by the main character keep you engaged. The tone is soft and quiet, just like Zharie but as she finds her voice, the tone of the writing becomes louder and more powerful. Even though this was a debut novel, I can already tell that Lewis has so much to say especially about the arts and healing. My biggest takeaway is that grief and love can both feel like death and make the world feel like limbo, an in between state that leaves you stuck. Thank you @disneybooks for the gifted copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
lovelynovellas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Grief
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
britt_writerly's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
Lyrical. Beautiful. True.
I so love this book. From page one it grips you with the premise and opening scenario: Zharie watching her mother become a zombie and then die. The Undead Truth of Us (TUTOU) is not guns blazing action but the emotional impact is a gut-punch that keeps hitting WITHOUT exhausting you, which is a feat. Zharie is really learning/trying/failing/resisting/fumbling to process her grief from losing her mother and we don't have enough SFF/speculative books showing that work. We see loss, but really sitting with life absent that person? We don't have enough and TUTOU gives us love, loss, and life with an honesty that makes you cheer Zharie on the whole time.
Okay. So the zombies.
Y'all, when you see Lewis's take on zombies, you are going to stand up, sit down, scratch your head, and maybe even shed a tear. It's deep. It's emotional. It's psychological. It's grotesque. It's the truth. The fact that we get to feel all of that through this half-zombie (sometimes) skaterboy Bo is the gift we didn't know we needed. He is a TREASURE. I love how much of Zharie's lesson is tied up not in Bo as a love interest but in Bo as a person, in his life and capacity to love. A truly resonant and significant relationship from the first meeting.
As for how this book left me...
The ending of a book can make us cheer or send us searching for tomatoes to throw but this one made me sit, caressing that final page and holding it close. It's a quiet ending and one that leaves certain aspects of the story open. Not out of laziness or forgetfulness but as an invitation for the reader to continue the story as they wish and as an acknowledgement that Bo and Zharie are young and have a lot of life left to live. The book isn't claiming to speak for them in a "and they lived happily ever after" contrivance and I appreciate that storytelling integrity.
Overall, 10/10 recommend to the reader who appreciates a slice of life with some speculative horror mixed in. Zharie won't leave you empty and Lewis will tell you no lies.
I so love this book. From page one it grips you with the premise and opening scenario: Zharie watching her mother become a zombie and then die. The Undead Truth of Us (TUTOU) is not guns blazing action but the emotional impact is a gut-punch that keeps hitting WITHOUT exhausting you, which is a feat. Zharie is really learning/trying/failing/resisting/fumbling to process her grief from losing her mother and we don't have enough SFF/speculative books showing that work. We see loss, but really sitting with life absent that person? We don't have enough and TUTOU gives us love, loss, and life with an honesty that makes you cheer Zharie on the whole time.
Okay. So the zombies.
Y'all, when you see Lewis's take on zombies, you are going to stand up, sit down, scratch your head, and maybe even shed a tear. It's deep. It's emotional. It's psychological. It's grotesque. It's the truth. The fact that we get to feel all of that through this half-zombie (sometimes) skaterboy Bo is the gift we didn't know we needed. He is a TREASURE. I love how much of Zharie's lesson is tied up not in Bo as a love interest but in Bo as a person, in his life and capacity to love. A truly resonant and significant relationship from the first meeting.
As for how this book left me...
The ending of a book can make us cheer or send us searching for tomatoes to throw but this one made me sit, caressing that final page and holding it close. It's a quiet ending and one that leaves certain aspects of the story open. Not out of laziness or forgetfulness but as an invitation for the reader to continue the story as they wish and as an acknowledgement that Bo and Zharie are young and have a lot of life left to live. The book isn't claiming to speak for them in a "and they lived happily ever after" contrivance and I appreciate that storytelling integrity.
Overall, 10/10 recommend to the reader who appreciates a slice of life with some speculative horror mixed in. Zharie won't leave you empty and Lewis will tell you no lies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
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