Once Upon an Apocalypse: A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story

by Caitriona Drexler

As quickly as her dreams come true, the world around Lori turns into a desolate, post-apocalyptic nightmare. And it’s not just the undead she fights against to survive. Subjected to cruel experiments and inhumane treatments as a prisoner in a secret underground facility has turned her into a weapon fueled by enmity.
Escape finally comes at the moment she embraces death. A stranger named Amos takes her to a survivor camp known as The Valley. Surrounded by hills and the farmlands of Central Pennsylvania, this community has remained hidden away from the hordes of zombies decimating the world. The Valley offers a glimmer of hope and a chance at a new beginning for Lori.
As she settles into her new surroundings, Lori finally feels a sense of security that has eluded her for so long. This tight-knit community, filled with people who believe in the values of maintaining their humanity, history, and culture becomes a place where Lori can dream again. And maybe find love again.
However, Lori quickly realizes that sitting around playing house is not for her. Knowing she possesses special abilities from her time as an experiment, abilities that could be invaluable in the fight against the undead, she must prove herself to her new friends. To Amos.
Danger lurks in the world beyond, but she will risk it all. Risk her safety, risk her humanity, in order to save those she loves. With her unique powers and her unwavering spirit, Lori becomes a force to be reckoned with, a beacon of hope in a world consumed by flesh-eating monsters.

419 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2025

About the author

Caitriona Drexler weaves passionate and unforgettable stories, igniting the spark of romance in every reader. By day, she applies her analytical mind as a data-driven art historian. This keen eye for detail and narrative translates seamlessly into her writing, where she crafts epic love stories brimming with spice and emotional depth. A lifelong reader and dreamer, Caitriona found her true calling in the wake of a traumatic breakup, embracing the power of storytelling to create worlds that resonate with the heart. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, son, and two feline companions.

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝐕I𝐁R𝐀T𝐎R G𝐈R𝐋 𝐒T𝐀R𝐒
📚 𝙾𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚄𝙿𝙾𝙽 𝙰𝙽 𝙰𝙿𝙾𝙲𝙰𝙻𝚈𝙿𝚂𝙴 📚 Is a full length zombie apocalypse love story by new to me author 'Caitriona Dexler' This story focuses on our heroine Lori..

📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

Tropes:
Dystopian/Zombie
Friends to lovers
Trauma/healing
Forced proximity
Found family
Touch Her and die
Slow burn

(Her first Love) Lori has lived next door to her bestie and brother her whole life, she'd always had a crush on Jonah but it wasn't until much later that they declared their feelings for each other. Prom night as a couple was mean't to be magical but it turned into anything but. that's when the world they knew ceased to exist. Staying safe from the zombie outbreak they holed at Lori's, raiding surrounding neighbours houses, reaching the six month mark they have to make a supply run to the local grocers.

Both are kidnapped and taken hostage. Neither will be the same again.

For years Lori is put through the most harrowing torture, modified into a fast killing machine at the hands of a sadistic scientist. Made to kill time and time again.

Fight. Survive. Live... A daily mantra which ran rampant through Lori's mind.

(Her second love) she's rescued by Amos and taken to a safe haven. where a beautiful slow burn friendship ensnares itself around our hearts as it slowly morphs into love.

I really enjoyed this one, a unique zombie apocalypse book I’ve ever read, this took me a while to get into, but once I settled into the storyline I found myself hooked, this got my blood pumping, my heart rate increased as I felt utter despair for our heroine and all she had endured at the hands of a scientist.

You can’t help but feel connected to these characters, it wasn’t all about zombies it was more about strength, friendship and survival.

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[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story focuses on Lori. Although, it includes a great cast of other characters like Jonah, Lori's former flame and Amos, her new flame. Alto there is the evil Dr. Gabriel Tuwile aka Doctore. All of the characters had a purpose in the story and none felt like sidekicks.

The romantic relationships that Lori had in this story are nice. They do show her progression of growth. Yet, what I liked is that the romantic relationships did not overpower the storyline.

"I found a love that I never want to let go of"

This book is so different from Caitriona's Arthurian retelling trilogy. Yet, the element that stayed the same is Caitriona's strong storytelling.

As soon as I started reading this book, I was instantly hooked and transported within the pages of this story. The pacing was really good. There was no downtime. In fact, this was a fast read for me. Once, I started reading, I could not stop. This book was giving me The 100, tv show, Maze Runner, and Walking Dead vibes.

Fight. Survive. Live

[Fizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬

𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙐𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙥𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙭𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡-𝙬𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 — 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.

𝙎𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙯𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙥𝙨𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙤𝙨. 𝘼𝙩 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬-𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨-𝙩𝙤-𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝? 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙄 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡, 𝙪𝙜𝙡𝙮, 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡-𝙞𝙩-𝙞𝙣-𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧-𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙈𝘾 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜, 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 — 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙈𝘾? 𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 “𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙚,” 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚, 𝙧𝙖𝙬, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩.

𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚:

* 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
* 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮
* “𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙚” 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮
* 𝘽𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨
* 𝙕𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙥𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩
* 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩…

…𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 💔💘

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙭𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩😌❤🔥

[Natalie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. it is so unlikely any of Caitrionas other books and I loved every second of it.

Lori is such an amazing character. she is strong willed and so determined to survive when the world grinds to a halt despite all of the things that stand in her way. Jonah is a character that had the ability to make me love him in the beginning but despise him later on in the book! but I suppose that is a true testament the Caitrionas writing!

I was hooked on this story. it is fast paced with so many things happening and so many characters but despite this it is an easy story to follow and is so ridiculously enjoyable. It has the action, heartbreak and all the spice that will leave you wanting more.

This is an absolute must read even if this isn't really a genre you have read before I can guarantee you will enjoy this story.

[Tiffani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Caitriona Drexler for this ARC.

I’m really choosy with my dystopian romance books after The Nevermore Trilogy let me down.

Let me tell you, that isn't the case with this book! I truly enjoyed every minute of it. I love it even more because it’s like the movie Gladiator and The Verity Duology had a baby.

Caitriona does such a good job that I could viscerally feel everything Laurel (Lori) was feeling and going through. There were parts that broke me, made me jump for joy and made me absolutely abhor the antagonist. This is probably one of the only books in this genre where one of the characters is a psychiatrist.

this book has the perfect mix of romance and plot; it was easily a no-brainer 5 stars for me.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Dystopian/Zombie
Friends to lovers
Trauma/healing
Forced proximity
Found family
Feminine rage
Touch Her and die
Slow burn
Single POV

This book takes you on an emotional whirlwind from the start. I loved the character development and how we see the many ways this new world affects each person in mental and physical ways. It's gut-wrenching at times, maybe even psychologically disturbing, but also inspiring that in the face of evil good can still persevere. I was really impressed by how the author handled each situation and was very realistic about all the horrors that could occur if this ever came about. But I greatly appreciated the moments of love and laughter... because we need that in order to survive the apocalypse.

Overall, this book packs an emotional punch but also includes action, perseverance, love, found family, and hope. I highly recommend this book for fans of dystopian settings, slow burn romance, and feminine rage.

Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC (and allowing me to beta read). All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

[CMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love apocalypse romances and this is such an excellent addition to the genre!

"Fight. Survive. Live." These are the words the protagonist lives by in the new world until she gives up hope. It was such an emotional journey from her old world to the new - and how she found her place in the new - filled with heartache, trauma, and a story of survival. It definitely gave Gladiator vibes but is set in a unique future; the author did such a good job with world building.

Would highly recommend if you enjoy the apocalypse/dystopian romance genre and a good dose of emotional punch. Loved that it had a strong female character too.

[Katie Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best writing from this author YET!


This one is definitely going to be one you put on your list to read. It follows the story of a young girl who loses her whole entire family when the zombie apocalypse starts, leaving her and her boyfriend to fend for themselves. But they get captured and she is forced to fight when they find out she cannot be killed. This leads to issues between her and her boyfriend. Until one day she is able to get away.

Seriously so good

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary world but wonderful love story!

This is my first book by Ms Drexler. I was not disappointed - the world building was great though I'd have liked a bit more of the zombie element. The love story was perfect and heart wrenching. I really liked how the MFC grew and understood her own feelings as well as how there was counseling for all the trauma everyone went through. Great read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you like;
-Touch her & Die
-Friends to lovers
-Slow burn
-Post apocalyptic
-graphic

This book is different to the authors Arthurian trilogy. The vibe of this book kinda reminded me a little of the host which I was absolutely here for!!

We focus mainly on Lori as she forms a relationship with her close friend Jonah - to her dealing with an apocalypse and everything that cakes after. The sides characters all had their own role in the story and I loved them all. Well all except dr doom!

As soon as I started this book I was hooked, I stayed up way too late trying to finish and find out what happened! It’s fast paced with so much happening! We have action, heartbreak, spice and romance.

Highly recommend if you enjoy apocalypse, dystopian thrillers that remind you of the walking dead, the 100 and the host!

[Shannon Wurster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This book was very Walking Dead/Divergent coded. I love the characters. It definitely read more like a YA novel but with more spice. Lori is FIERCE and gives me major Natasha Romanov vibes (IYKYK). I really loved her character. And Doctore as the villain was so so good. This was different from what I normally read but I really enjoyed it.

[Delaine (NovelReadingNanny) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. I'm not sure how to express my feelings. And I mean that in the best possible way!

I laughed, I cried, I SOBBED! All the freaking emotions. Caitriona knows how to write stories that will pull at your heart strings and make you think.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It's graphic, in gore and violence. But the author did an amazing job. The details are perfect.

I devoured this book. DEVOURED. If you're a fan of The Walking Dead and Hunger Games, then go read the dang thing!

[Erika Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is completely different than any of the books I've read by Caitriona Drexler & it was fantastic. A mix of The Gladiator, The Terminator, and Resident Evil it was a well executed plot & storyline. The characters are relatable, and their emotions & responses to experiences are not only believable but also realistic.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

zombie books will always have a place in my heart!

love story and so much more!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw a post for Once Upon an Apocalypse I knew I needed to read it. A steamy zombie apocalypse book, count me in. This book brought all the emotions! You get zombies, an evil Dr obsessed with Rome, and a young woman who won't - or can't - die. Oh, and don't forget the romance, because is it really an apocalypse without a little spice? I certainly don't think so.

Book releases June 5th