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Dating After the End of the World
10 hours, 45 minutes
There’s nothing like the undead to bring the living together in an action-packed and apocalyptically romantic genre-shattering novel by a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Casey Pearson grew up with a doomsday-prepping father. At eighteen, tired of living an unconventional life, she left home, vowing never to return.
More than a decade later, a mysterious viral outbreak changes everything, including the people it infects, turning them into zombielike creatures. It’s the end of the world, and no one saw it coming—well, except for Casey’s father. With no place left to run and danger lurking around every corner, Casey is forced to return home.
Upon arrival, she’s surprised to find that her dad has hunkered down with a group of survivors, including her archnemesis, Blake Morrison, the high school bully who made Casey’s teenage years a living hell.
While struggling to live on the compound, face outside threats, and survive alongside her handsome enemy, Casey will learn that although the world has ended, hers is just beginning.
There’s nothing like the undead to bring the living together in an action-packed and apocalyptically romantic genre-shattering novel by a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Casey Pearson grew up with a doomsday-prepping father. At eighteen, tired of living an unconventional life, she left home, vowing never to return.
More than a decade later, a mysterious viral outbreak changes everything, including the people it infects, turning them into zombielike creatures. It’s the end of the world, and no one saw it coming—well, except for Casey’s father. With no place left to run and danger lurking around every corner, Casey is forced to return home.
Upon arrival, she’s surprised to find that her dad has hunkered down with a group of survivors, including her archnemesis, Blake Morrison, the high school bully who made Casey’s teenage years a living hell.
While struggling to live on the compound, face outside threats, and survive alongside her handsome enemy, Casey will learn that although the world has ended, hers is just beginning.
Audible Audio
First published September 30, 2025
7903 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jeneva Rose
17 books39.9k followersJeneva Rose is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Perfect Marriage and The Perfect Divorce. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages and optioned for film/tv. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Drew, and her stubborn English bulldogs, Winston and Phyllis Vance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,759 reviews
September 11, 2025
This is my favorite book I’ve written. The genre is unhinged like me 😌
And for those wondering...there will be a book two.
And for those wondering...there will be a book two.
April 26, 2025
A Hallmark movie, with zombies!
I'm usually not into romance but I love post apocalyptic stories, so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised.
It's an easy read, and pretty entertaining.
The structure of the story is a bit predictable and the characters lack some depth, but with the action, the gore, and the will-they-won't-they, it still works.
Thank you Montlake for this ARC!
I'm usually not into romance but I love post apocalyptic stories, so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised.
It's an easy read, and pretty entertaining.
The structure of the story is a bit predictable and the characters lack some depth, but with the action, the gore, and the will-they-won't-they, it still works.
Thank you Montlake for this ARC!
August 30, 2025
Unlike the author, I do not think the idea of a post-apocalyptic romantic comedy is bizarre beyond imagining. It seems like two great tastes that could complement each other well, if a skilled chef were to combine them.
It might be easier to state what didn't work:
* "Enemies-to-lovers" is a trope because the passion is already there and gets redirected. "Psychological-abuser-to-lover" is more something we discuss in domestic violence situations.
* Clearly emotional intelligence and therapy play no part in becoming a doctor because Casey is a thirteen-year-old in mentality through most of the book.
* Likewise, Blake, who has a better reason to bury the hatchet, but still behaves as a pigtail-pulling bully whenever the plot demands, even though it makes no sense that he would. They are both twenty-nine or thirty, and they've been out of high school for quite some time. And yet.
* I am loath to pull an "Um, actually," especially when it comes to weapons. However, Rose has at best an overly optimistic idea of what throwing stars are and can do. (One to the eye would not kill a zombie, since zombies are crawling around that lack bottom halves.) Also, if you hold a sword the way you hold a gun, you will drop it from exhaustion almost immediately. A sword and a gun are meant for different purposes. It isn't that I care about the weapons themselves, but it takes me out of the action when the zombies-- I mean "biters" are the least unbelievable thing on the page.
* Some of the dialogue needed a few more drafts or to be cut entirely.
* Rose overwrites endlessly. One never just smiles. Each side of one's lips quirk up slowly, tentatively, flickers spreading to an upturning of the lips on one's mouth below the nose of one's face on the head of one's body. If she did this occasionally, fine, but there is never a simple action. Also, I am serious about the redundancy. One does not need to clarify that one has blisters on the palm of one's hand. One can just say "palm" unless there is a tree about. Likewise, one does not need to be stabbed by the blade of the knife. Either "blade" or "knife" suffices, unless the wielder is grasping the blade to stab with the pommel for some reason.
* Every character is paper-thin. There are no nuances. There is nothing beneath the surface or any way for them to grow that would be surprising or interesting.
* This does mean that the reader knows exactly what will happen to each character the moment they introduce themselves. The rest is waiting for Rose to wake us when they die or marry.
* This also means that the heel turn is so telegraphed that the only surprise is why the other characters would be surprised.
* Characters do things that do not make sense in order to move the plot along. or , for instance.
* That epilogue.
Things that were good:
* Most of the secondary characters, if cliches, were at least cute ones. Unless a character was undead or a murderous rapist, there is a good chance I liked them more than I did Blake and Casey. I probably couldn't describe them as anything more than Best Friend, Love-Obsessed Girl, or Maternal Figure, but they embodied these roles well.
* The premise could have been executed well.
* Rose can be vividly gross in her killing scenes, which is a hilarious contrast for the romance, especially when she opts for prim euphemisms in the sex scene. I would love to think this was intentional, but I suspect it was not.
* Owing to her overly descriptive narration, I had a clear idea of what the compound looks like.
* The parallel of the opening chapter and the last proper chapter was well-crafted.
Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a copy.
It might be easier to state what didn't work:
* "Enemies-to-lovers" is a trope because the passion is already there and gets redirected. "Psychological-abuser-to-lover" is more something we discuss in domestic violence situations.
* Clearly emotional intelligence and therapy play no part in becoming a doctor because Casey is a thirteen-year-old in mentality through most of the book.
* Likewise, Blake, who has a better reason to bury the hatchet, but still behaves as a pigtail-pulling bully whenever the plot demands, even though it makes no sense that he would. They are both twenty-nine or thirty, and they've been out of high school for quite some time. And yet.
* I am loath to pull an "Um, actually," especially when it comes to weapons. However, Rose has at best an overly optimistic idea of what throwing stars are and can do. (One to the eye would not kill a zombie, since zombies are crawling around that lack bottom halves.) Also, if you hold a sword the way you hold a gun, you will drop it from exhaustion almost immediately. A sword and a gun are meant for different purposes. It isn't that I care about the weapons themselves, but it takes me out of the action when the zombies-- I mean "biters" are the least unbelievable thing on the page.
* Some of the dialogue needed a few more drafts or to be cut entirely.
* Rose overwrites endlessly. One never just smiles. Each side of one's lips quirk up slowly, tentatively, flickers spreading to an upturning of the lips on one's mouth below the nose of one's face on the head of one's body. If she did this occasionally, fine, but there is never a simple action. Also, I am serious about the redundancy. One does not need to clarify that one has blisters on the palm of one's hand. One can just say "palm" unless there is a tree about. Likewise, one does not need to be stabbed by the blade of the knife. Either "blade" or "knife" suffices, unless the wielder is grasping the blade to stab with the pommel for some reason.
* Every character is paper-thin. There are no nuances. There is nothing beneath the surface or any way for them to grow that would be surprising or interesting.
* This does mean that the reader knows exactly what will happen to each character the moment they introduce themselves. The rest is waiting for Rose to wake us when they die or marry.
* This also means that the heel turn is so telegraphed that the only surprise is why the other characters would be surprised.
* Characters do things that do not make sense in order to move the plot along. or , for instance.
* That epilogue.
Things that were good:
* Most of the secondary characters, if cliches, were at least cute ones. Unless a character was undead or a murderous rapist, there is a good chance I liked them more than I did Blake and Casey. I probably couldn't describe them as anything more than Best Friend, Love-Obsessed Girl, or Maternal Figure, but they embodied these roles well.
* The premise could have been executed well.
* Rose can be vividly gross in her killing scenes, which is a hilarious contrast for the romance, especially when she opts for prim euphemisms in the sex scene. I would love to think this was intentional, but I suspect it was not.
* Owing to her overly descriptive narration, I had a clear idea of what the compound looks like.
* The parallel of the opening chapter and the last proper chapter was well-crafted.
Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a copy.
September 25, 2025
“Are you still my monster?” Yes, Jeneva, you are.
Truly, this is one of the worst written books I have ever read in my entire life, and I have read some pretty shitty books. The plot died when the world ended. The structure was nonexistent. None of the conversations or characters felt real. I should have DNFed this, but I love to torture myself, so here we are. What follows this is just me furiously typing in my notes app every time something in this book pissed me off. Enjoy.
The entire plot line about Casey’s mom came out of literally nowhere. What does it matter if it’s going to affect her personality and decisions if we don’t fucking hear about it (literally not once!) until almost halfway into the book?
And then they just kissed literally out of fucking nowhere!! Like there was no buildup. There was no tension. It was like the author got to a certain point in the story and said, yeah, too long without smut, gotta add that in there. Like don’t piss me off. And the lust was consistently so misplaced. In the middle of being chased by a horde? After trying to kill yourself? What the fuck is going on.
And GOD when they start getting hot and heavy as he is sweating out a zombie virus ????? What is wrong with you all?
“I asked him who called. He said no one. I asked if he was okay. He said he was fine. I didn’t believe him.” This is deadass a line from the book. There are more like it, but this was the most egregious example. I actually feel insulted that an author would think their readers to be so stupid that they have to write this simple for their work to be understandable.
And to then try to use words like “permutations” to sound intelligent. Tell me you Googled “synonyms for possibilities” without telling me.
“That’s cuz we are.” Who in the fuck uses “permutations” and “cuz” in the same book? Fuck off.
“My jocular attitude and attempts to keep the situation light are waning in their efficacy as the nearness of his fate is beginning.”
Like this would be good writing if I couldn’t tell you were just googling synonyms for simpler words and stringing together whatever sentences you think sound mildly intelligent.
“The water from the shower pulses against the back of my head, massaging my thoughts . . .” What even is this description?
There were so many more specific instances of horrific descriptions and dialogue, but for my sanity and yours, I will not be including them.
That whole chapter intro that was like:
“My teeth clamp down, ripping through the perfectly crisp yet tender flesh. Golden liquid trapped in the embryonic dome erupts in my mouth, dribbling down my chin.” Yeah, don’t try to pull that faux intellectual bullshit when you literally have one of your characters get hard after being bit by a zombie while they are actively running from a horde.
And I swear to god. If I see “tightened my eyes” one more time, I’m going to lose it. I get what it means, but just say she “squinted” or she “slitted her eyes.” Anything would be better than “tightened.”
Greg’s personification pissed me OFF. There’s a line between being oblivious and plain stupid, and this author did not know how to draw that line. Greg just felt like an actual idiot with no common sense. It wasn’t funny. It wasn’t cute. Learn how to flesh out your characters.
You’re telling me that you, as a doctor, see a person in a trance you can’t snap them out of with loud sounds, and you choose to kiss them? Not dig your fingers into their active wound? Not give them like a fuckin sternum rub, or something? Come on.
“What?” He slowly looks to me with narrowed eyes. “You want me dead anyway.” GOD SHUT UP. This is the whiniest, most petulant, piece of shit, gaslighting bullshit EVER.
Blake was INSUFFERABLE. Nothing about his character was likable.
I had to give this line its own paragraph, because what in the fuck lol. “Say hi to your dead dad for me, you fucking biiiitch!” What grown person says that?
And also “It’s Dr. Warner, ya cunt.” Alright.
If you made it this far, please take this advice, which I give from the bottom of my heart and the pit of my bowels: do not read this fucking book.
Truly, this is one of the worst written books I have ever read in my entire life, and I have read some pretty shitty books. The plot died when the world ended. The structure was nonexistent. None of the conversations or characters felt real. I should have DNFed this, but I love to torture myself, so here we are. What follows this is just me furiously typing in my notes app every time something in this book pissed me off. Enjoy.
The entire plot line about Casey’s mom came out of literally nowhere. What does it matter if it’s going to affect her personality and decisions if we don’t fucking hear about it (literally not once!) until almost halfway into the book?
And then they just kissed literally out of fucking nowhere!! Like there was no buildup. There was no tension. It was like the author got to a certain point in the story and said, yeah, too long without smut, gotta add that in there. Like don’t piss me off. And the lust was consistently so misplaced. In the middle of being chased by a horde? After trying to kill yourself? What the fuck is going on.
And GOD when they start getting hot and heavy as he is sweating out a zombie virus ????? What is wrong with you all?
“I asked him who called. He said no one. I asked if he was okay. He said he was fine. I didn’t believe him.” This is deadass a line from the book. There are more like it, but this was the most egregious example. I actually feel insulted that an author would think their readers to be so stupid that they have to write this simple for their work to be understandable.
And to then try to use words like “permutations” to sound intelligent. Tell me you Googled “synonyms for possibilities” without telling me.
“That’s cuz we are.” Who in the fuck uses “permutations” and “cuz” in the same book? Fuck off.
“My jocular attitude and attempts to keep the situation light are waning in their efficacy as the nearness of his fate is beginning.”
Like this would be good writing if I couldn’t tell you were just googling synonyms for simpler words and stringing together whatever sentences you think sound mildly intelligent.
“The water from the shower pulses against the back of my head, massaging my thoughts . . .” What even is this description?
There were so many more specific instances of horrific descriptions and dialogue, but for my sanity and yours, I will not be including them.
That whole chapter intro that was like:
“My teeth clamp down, ripping through the perfectly crisp yet tender flesh. Golden liquid trapped in the embryonic dome erupts in my mouth, dribbling down my chin.” Yeah, don’t try to pull that faux intellectual bullshit when you literally have one of your characters get hard after being bit by a zombie while they are actively running from a horde.
And I swear to god. If I see “tightened my eyes” one more time, I’m going to lose it. I get what it means, but just say she “squinted” or she “slitted her eyes.” Anything would be better than “tightened.”
Greg’s personification pissed me OFF. There’s a line between being oblivious and plain stupid, and this author did not know how to draw that line. Greg just felt like an actual idiot with no common sense. It wasn’t funny. It wasn’t cute. Learn how to flesh out your characters.
You’re telling me that you, as a doctor, see a person in a trance you can’t snap them out of with loud sounds, and you choose to kiss them? Not dig your fingers into their active wound? Not give them like a fuckin sternum rub, or something? Come on.
“What?” He slowly looks to me with narrowed eyes. “You want me dead anyway.” GOD SHUT UP. This is the whiniest, most petulant, piece of shit, gaslighting bullshit EVER.
Blake was INSUFFERABLE. Nothing about his character was likable.
I had to give this line its own paragraph, because what in the fuck lol. “Say hi to your dead dad for me, you fucking biiiitch!” What grown person says that?
And also “It’s Dr. Warner, ya cunt.” Alright.
If you made it this far, please take this advice, which I give from the bottom of my heart and the pit of my bowels: do not read this fucking book.
November 2, 2025
3.5 rounded up
October 3, 2025
Thoughts
Leave it Jenna to make me fall in love with apocalyptic romance genre one more time but on a whole other level of emotions! Before I mention anything rating wise, let me start off by saying I wasn't expecting this read to make me emotional as much as it did 🥹 which is why in the beginning I was all set on a solid four. I've read near enough everything for Jenna and I've enjoyed everything she's written, being used to one genre from Jeneva it'll always make me love her even more as an author when she explores genres and manages to hit even harder!! This was such a beautiful read that took my by surprise, made me laugh and tear up a couple of times and I'm so glad we have a second book coming and its confirmed because that ending???? Ugh I can't wait! I do think the romance feels in this book will vary from reader to another, as it is the really mean type of enemies to lovers which I personally enjoyed, it adds more layers to the story and character growth in my opinion. The action scene was literally fun-perfection! The scenes between Casey and her dad really hit me in the feels! If you love wild, unhinged, bizarre yet emotional and fun this book if for you!
What to expect
▪︎ Dystopian survival romance
▪︎ Zombie apocalypse
▪︎ Banter
▪︎ Slow burn
▪︎ Forced proximity
▪︎ Enemies to lovers
▪︎ Complicated father daughter relationship
▪︎ Love triangle
Plot Summary
Casey Pearson escaped her father’s doomsday-prepping lifestyle at eighteen and never planned to return. But when a deadly virus turns people into violent, zombie-like creatures, she has no choice but to seek refuge at his compound. There, she finds him leading a group of survivors—including Blake Morrison, the high school bully she never forgave. Now, surrounded by danger both inside and outside the walls, Casey must confront old grudges, adapt to her father’s world, and discover that even at the end of everything, her story is only beginning
My Bookstagram
Leave it Jenna to make me fall in love with apocalyptic romance genre one more time but on a whole other level of emotions! Before I mention anything rating wise, let me start off by saying I wasn't expecting this read to make me emotional as much as it did 🥹 which is why in the beginning I was all set on a solid four. I've read near enough everything for Jenna and I've enjoyed everything she's written, being used to one genre from Jeneva it'll always make me love her even more as an author when she explores genres and manages to hit even harder!! This was such a beautiful read that took my by surprise, made me laugh and tear up a couple of times and I'm so glad we have a second book coming and its confirmed because that ending???? Ugh I can't wait! I do think the romance feels in this book will vary from reader to another, as it is the really mean type of enemies to lovers which I personally enjoyed, it adds more layers to the story and character growth in my opinion. The action scene was literally fun-perfection! The scenes between Casey and her dad really hit me in the feels! If you love wild, unhinged, bizarre yet emotional and fun this book if for you!
What to expect
▪︎ Dystopian survival romance
▪︎ Zombie apocalypse
▪︎ Banter
▪︎ Slow burn
▪︎ Forced proximity
▪︎ Enemies to lovers
▪︎ Complicated father daughter relationship
▪︎ Love triangle
Plot Summary
Casey Pearson escaped her father’s doomsday-prepping lifestyle at eighteen and never planned to return. But when a deadly virus turns people into violent, zombie-like creatures, she has no choice but to seek refuge at his compound. There, she finds him leading a group of survivors—including Blake Morrison, the high school bully she never forgave. Now, surrounded by danger both inside and outside the walls, Casey must confront old grudges, adapt to her father’s world, and discover that even at the end of everything, her story is only beginning
My Bookstagram
May 1, 2025
I was so honored to read a beta copy of this book and absolutely loved it. Soooo excited for the final story!! This one will not disappoint!
Did Jeneva Rose just make apocalyptic romance the next IT genre? I think so!
This book is a phenomenally original and captivating read. From the start I was completely hooked and could not put it down. It was tense, yet funny, but also eerie, and believable. Basically, it was everything you could possibly want in this unique genre.
Jeneva Rose proves she is a master at her craft, regardless of the genre. Pick this one up asap!!!
Thank you to Jeneva for allowing me to beta read this story & to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Did Jeneva Rose just make apocalyptic romance the next IT genre? I think so!
This book is a phenomenally original and captivating read. From the start I was completely hooked and could not put it down. It was tense, yet funny, but also eerie, and believable. Basically, it was everything you could possibly want in this unique genre.
Jeneva Rose proves she is a master at her craft, regardless of the genre. Pick this one up asap!!!
Thank you to Jeneva for allowing me to beta read this story & to the publisher for the gifted ARC
October 31, 2025
This was very different from her usual books, but I liked this one as well. There is just something about her writing style and way to captivate the reader that always draws me in. Hope there will be a sequel, because I need more!
September 9, 2025
I was so excited for this book. And it was great at first. Super entertaining.
But then unprotected sex in an apocalypse? Ok I moved past that.
Then of course the villain shows up and the FMC suddenly loses all her brain cells because of course he wouldn’t lie to her.
And after all that, losing her dad and swearing they will never be caught unaware again and there will always be patrols etc they stop using the sniper tower and hold a wedding so NO ONE IS ON PATROL and we are left with them under serious attack.
No. Just no. I cannot deal with TSTL characters especially since one is supposed to be a freaking Navy Seal.
But then unprotected sex in an apocalypse? Ok I moved past that.
Then of course the villain shows up and the FMC suddenly loses all her brain cells because of course he wouldn’t lie to her.
And after all that, losing her dad and swearing they will never be caught unaware again and there will always be patrols etc they stop using the sniper tower and hold a wedding so NO ONE IS ON PATROL and we are left with them under serious attack.
No. Just no. I cannot deal with TSTL characters especially since one is supposed to be a freaking Navy Seal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
DNF at 28%. The FMC behaved and talked like she was 13.
November 12, 2025
Nothing like the undead to bring the living together
Casey Pearson didn’t have a ‘normal’ childhood. She grew up with her dad prepping for ‘Doomsday’. At 18 she left home and didn’t look back. But now a decade later a viral outbreaks changes everything and its turning human beings into Zombies. Casey dad was right and she has no choice but to return home. There she finds her dad with a bunch of survivors included her arch nemesis Blake Morrison. As if the end of the world wasn’t bad enough she needs to find a way to survive this new beginning and her very handsome enemy.
I can’t say I have ever read an apocalyptically romantic novel before but if they are as entertaining as this one was, I am not opposed.
Ms. Rose dare I say I think you have found a new genre and babes this is your forté!
This was a fast paced gruesome and squeamish entertaining book and I had a good time!
Our main character Casey was so likeable and such a badass even through she was coated in sensitivity, and it was funny watching the obvious soon to be romance with her nemesis.
Blake was so cocky and very sure of himself, but you can see through the façade and really root for the two knuckleheads to put their childhood drama aside and just ‘GET IT ON ALREADY!’
This is not one of those books to take seriously. Its very unserious, silly and just a fun read.
I listened to the audio of this book, and the narrator did a great job. I was working, cleaning, running errands, while giggling along to the nonsense.
This is one of those books you pick up after you have read something very hard hitting and you just need a nice light-hearted popcorn horror palette cleanser.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
The blurb... wayyy different from what Jeneva usually writes
She is such a hit or miss author for me
but i am somewhat intrigued... lets see 👀👀
🤍🧡🤍🧡🤍
Casey Pearson didn’t have a ‘normal’ childhood. She grew up with her dad prepping for ‘Doomsday’. At 18 she left home and didn’t look back. But now a decade later a viral outbreaks changes everything and its turning human beings into Zombies. Casey dad was right and she has no choice but to return home. There she finds her dad with a bunch of survivors included her arch nemesis Blake Morrison. As if the end of the world wasn’t bad enough she needs to find a way to survive this new beginning and her very handsome enemy.
I can’t say I have ever read an apocalyptically romantic novel before but if they are as entertaining as this one was, I am not opposed.
Ms. Rose dare I say I think you have found a new genre and babes this is your forté!
This was a fast paced gruesome and squeamish entertaining book and I had a good time!
Our main character Casey was so likeable and such a badass even through she was coated in sensitivity, and it was funny watching the obvious soon to be romance with her nemesis.
Blake was so cocky and very sure of himself, but you can see through the façade and really root for the two knuckleheads to put their childhood drama aside and just ‘GET IT ON ALREADY!’
This is not one of those books to take seriously. Its very unserious, silly and just a fun read.
I listened to the audio of this book, and the narrator did a great job. I was working, cleaning, running errands, while giggling along to the nonsense.
This is one of those books you pick up after you have read something very hard hitting and you just need a nice light-hearted popcorn horror palette cleanser.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
The blurb... wayyy different from what Jeneva usually writes
She is such a hit or miss author for me
but i am somewhat intrigued... lets see 👀👀
🤍🧡🤍🧡🤍
September 3, 2025
3.25 / 5 Stars
The zombie fighting gets an A+ from me but the romance in this book was just on the okay side. In “Dating After the End of the World,” Casey’s dad is a doomsday prepper, which is usually the premise of a Netflix documentary, but unfortunately for Casey, it’s her whole childhood. She leaves when she turns 18 years old, goes to medical school, and is now engaged to her fellow doctor. Until all zombie hell breaks loose, people start acting like it's the Purge and killing other nonzombies, and Casey’s fiancee ditches her (the trifecta of tough times). Casey goes back to the one place that feels safe, her childhood home, to find that her dad has taken in some other survivors including her high school nemesis, Blake. Blake used to relentlessly make fun of Casey but now he is friends with her dad and helps run the home. While fighting off zombies, evil humans, and complicated feelings for Blake, Casey figures out what happens at the end of the world.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🧟♀️ Zombies mixed with romance
🧟♀️ Enemies to lovers
🧟♀️ Love triangle
🧟♀️ Complicated father-daughter relationship
🧟♀️ Badass women fighting with throwing stars
The action scenes were truly very fun. We get a Mulane-esque “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” fighting montage. Casey is a badass who has throwing stars. Blake is a former Navy Seal. There is a lot of running around and fighting bad guys. It was both very gory and very rad. If you have to watch “The Last of Us” through your fingers, this might not be for you, but I ate it up.
The romance, though, kind of gave me whiplash at times. If you like enemies where they are super mean to each other, then you will love this. They harbor big, negative feelings for each other that cover up quieter, more complicated feelings underneath so be prepared for lots of insults that cut deeeeeep. At one point, Casey’s dad says that Casey should give Blake a chance to show her that he has changed, meanwhile Blake has been calling her by the horrible names he used in high school, “Doomsday” and “Head Case Casey,” since she’s arrived which make me laugh a little. Of course the bullying had a little more backstory to it but it took a little while to get there. At some points, it felt like the story was just hitting certain milestones because that is where they should be in the book, not because they were earned. Kiss at 50%. I love you at 75%. It felt jarring to me. But I highly recommend reading some other reviews because other folks really love the romance part.
While I didn’t really connect with the other side characters, I did cry when it came to Casey and her dad’s relationship. It was tough and tender and complicated and straightforward in ways that parental relationships can be.
Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: October 1, 2025
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Pre-Read Thoughts: When I tell you I'm in my spooky season, I mean it. A doomsday, zombie romance where she has to hunker down with her high school archnemesis? I'm down 🧟🧟🧟
The zombie fighting gets an A+ from me but the romance in this book was just on the okay side. In “Dating After the End of the World,” Casey’s dad is a doomsday prepper, which is usually the premise of a Netflix documentary, but unfortunately for Casey, it’s her whole childhood. She leaves when she turns 18 years old, goes to medical school, and is now engaged to her fellow doctor. Until all zombie hell breaks loose, people start acting like it's the Purge and killing other nonzombies, and Casey’s fiancee ditches her (the trifecta of tough times). Casey goes back to the one place that feels safe, her childhood home, to find that her dad has taken in some other survivors including her high school nemesis, Blake. Blake used to relentlessly make fun of Casey but now he is friends with her dad and helps run the home. While fighting off zombies, evil humans, and complicated feelings for Blake, Casey figures out what happens at the end of the world.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🧟♀️ Zombies mixed with romance
🧟♀️ Enemies to lovers
🧟♀️ Love triangle
🧟♀️ Complicated father-daughter relationship
🧟♀️ Badass women fighting with throwing stars
The action scenes were truly very fun. We get a Mulane-esque “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” fighting montage. Casey is a badass who has throwing stars. Blake is a former Navy Seal. There is a lot of running around and fighting bad guys. It was both very gory and very rad. If you have to watch “The Last of Us” through your fingers, this might not be for you, but I ate it up.
The romance, though, kind of gave me whiplash at times. If you like enemies where they are super mean to each other, then you will love this. They harbor big, negative feelings for each other that cover up quieter, more complicated feelings underneath so be prepared for lots of insults that cut deeeeeep. At one point, Casey’s dad says that Casey should give Blake a chance to show her that he has changed, meanwhile Blake has been calling her by the horrible names he used in high school, “Doomsday” and “Head Case Casey,” since she’s arrived which make me laugh a little. Of course the bullying had a little more backstory to it but it took a little while to get there. At some points, it felt like the story was just hitting certain milestones because that is where they should be in the book, not because they were earned. Kiss at 50%. I love you at 75%. It felt jarring to me. But I highly recommend reading some other reviews because other folks really love the romance part.
While I didn’t really connect with the other side characters, I did cry when it came to Casey and her dad’s relationship. It was tough and tender and complicated and straightforward in ways that parental relationships can be.
Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: October 1, 2025
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Pre-Read Thoughts: When I tell you I'm in my spooky season, I mean it. A doomsday, zombie romance where she has to hunker down with her high school archnemesis? I'm down 🧟🧟🧟
October 12, 2025
I have mixed feelings on this one! I typically love this author and her books, and I could tell she was trying to do something a little different here—and in some areas, she totally pulled it off. In others… it just felt a bit ridiculous.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters since they didn’t feel fully fleshed out (especially Blake’s character and his volatile personality), and the flashbacks didn’t add much depth or strong character development for me. The story leaned cheesy at times (intentionally, I think?), but I did appreciate the balance of horror and humor—it kept things from feeling too heavy.
While there wasn’t anything overly unique or standout about the plot itself, it was still a really entertaining read! I actually listened to the audiobook while following along in print, which made for a fun experience—and the narrator did a great job bringing the chaos to life. Definitely a fun, less-spooky read for the Halloween/Fall season! 🎃 🧟♀️
I had a hard time connecting with the characters since they didn’t feel fully fleshed out (especially Blake’s character and his volatile personality), and the flashbacks didn’t add much depth or strong character development for me. The story leaned cheesy at times (intentionally, I think?), but I did appreciate the balance of horror and humor—it kept things from feeling too heavy.
While there wasn’t anything overly unique or standout about the plot itself, it was still a really entertaining read! I actually listened to the audiobook while following along in print, which made for a fun experience—and the narrator did a great job bringing the chaos to life. Definitely a fun, less-spooky read for the Halloween/Fall season! 🎃 🧟♀️
September 22, 2025
Oh I ATE THIS UP. I need the second book rn.
October 10, 2025
I went into this with really high hopes because I love post-apocalyptic romance, and after slogging through so many duds, I thought this one might finally be it.
The first 25% actually had me hooked. The setup worked, the atmosphere was solid, and it felt like the story was finally going somewhere… but then it just went downhill.
The MCs are almost 30, yet the way they act, argue, and handle situations makes them feel more like hormonal teenagers. There was no real tension, no spark, no chemistry to carry the romance.
Instead of getting invested, I spent most of the time rolling my eyes. Honestly, it was exhausting to read.
The first 25% actually had me hooked. The setup worked, the atmosphere was solid, and it felt like the story was finally going somewhere… but then it just went downhill.
The MCs are almost 30, yet the way they act, argue, and handle situations makes them feel more like hormonal teenagers. There was no real tension, no spark, no chemistry to carry the romance.
Instead of getting invested, I spent most of the time rolling my eyes. Honestly, it was exhausting to read.
September 21, 2025
This was an Amazon first read book and unless it is free, I would not recommend it. I like the idea of the book, although I think the title doesn’t make sense. Just because there was a zombie apocalypse does not mean the world ended and the book isn’t about dating. I couldn’t make myself like Blake. After the history between him and Casey, I don’t see how she could ever like him either even during a zombie apocalypse. It bothered me how easily the camp was caught off guard with Blake’s military background, her dad being who he is, and her experience with the zombies, they should have been better prepared.
The epilogue ruined any parts of the book I liked. I wish I could un-read it.
The epilogue ruined any parts of the book I liked. I wish I could un-read it.
April 29, 2025
Genre-shattering is certainly one way to put it.
September 2, 2025
How the heck did this book get so many 5 star reviews? The main character was annoying asf and it was the worst ending to a book that I’ve read for a long time.
November 19, 2025
I really hope we get a second book!
October 5, 2025
the maggots crawling inside the stomachs of the decaying zombies held my interest longer than the romance between the two main characters in this book
September 22, 2025
“I just wanted you to realize that even when it feels like the world has ended, yours doesn’t have to.”
Oh, how I loathe thee. Let me count the ways...
Actually there is really only one thing that completely ruined DATING AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD for me and his name was Blake. I hated this man with a fiery passion that I haven't felt about a character in a long time. I started writing out all the reason why he is one of the worst heroes in romance history but honestly I wasted enough time on this book so if you loved Blake, you are welcome to him and Godspeed. I don't think this author's romances are for me & don't even get me started on that CLIFFHANGER ending that we were given no warning about because this is a standalone (as of now). I don't like feeling tricked & maybe if I liked this book it wouldn't irk me so much but here we are. 1.5 Stars
Oh, how I loathe thee. Let me count the ways...
Actually there is really only one thing that completely ruined DATING AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD for me and his name was Blake. I hated this man with a fiery passion that I haven't felt about a character in a long time. I started writing out all the reason why he is one of the worst heroes in romance history but honestly I wasted enough time on this book so if you loved Blake, you are welcome to him and Godspeed. I don't think this author's romances are for me & don't even get me started on that CLIFFHANGER ending that we were given no warning about because this is a standalone (as of now). I don't like feeling tricked & maybe if I liked this book it wouldn't irk me so much but here we are. 1.5 Stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
This book is pretty fun. It’s ambitious and it pulls off a romantapocalypse genre. Casey grew up with a doomsday prepper dad and was always preparing for the end of the world. When she turned 18 she left town and became a doctor in Chicago. Then the zombie apocalypse actually does happen. So where does she escape to? Her dad’s! Her old high school enemy/bully is there and is now her dad’s best friend.
This is exciting and fun. Easy to read and a good story. The ending is not what you’d expect. There was good character development for Casey. I also liked the differences in how the zombification worked in this universe - it was creative and different from zombie movies and shows you’ve seen.
This is exciting and fun. Easy to read and a good story. The ending is not what you’d expect. There was good character development for Casey. I also liked the differences in how the zombification worked in this universe - it was creative and different from zombie movies and shows you’ve seen.
September 5, 2025
He takes a step toward me, grazing a finger across my cheek. “Without you, my world ends.”
“The world already ended, Blake.”
“Only for a little bit, until you came back into it.”
its like the author knew we all needed a “the last of us”type book, but make it romantic <3
“The world already ended, Blake.”
“Only for a little bit, until you came back into it.”
its like the author knew we all needed a “the last of us”type book, but make it romantic <3
October 16, 2025
I feel like this book will just haunt me until I write a review so here we go. This is definitely the worst book I've read this year and may be one of the worst books I have ever read. This feels like an outline for a novel rather than a publishable finished product.
The skills of the main character in terms of combat and apocalypse readiness varied from page to page depending on what would serve the plot more and whether or not the main love interest was there to see her fail and subsequently humiliate her. In her two fight scenes before she sees the main love interest she handles the MULTIPLE grown men attacking her no problem. She survives travel to her dad's compound no problem, and disarms the person on patrol when she arrives. Then, once she gets there and we meet "Blake," suddenly she's rusty and can't even throw a punch without embarrassing herself. I hate hate scenes where the FMC has been handling her shit and then once she's in front of the man she makes and utter fool out of herself, which is exactly what happens here.
Things happen and the justification is literally just for the plot but the characters can't say that because they don't know they're in a book so there's a lot of them just going "hmm, huh, I mean, That's just how it is," etc. Like when she's forced to share a room with Blake despite her dad knowing about their rocky history and that she is uncomfortable with him being there at all. He's just like, "well, sweetheart, there's no where else for him to go." YES THE FUCK THERE IS?? YOU'RE ON A WHOLE COMPOUND?? I'd rather sleep in a room with an actual zombie than a fucking man who has wronged me.
Also, while we're talking about the word "zombie," I need to mention the dumbass words the MC comes up with and expects everyone to know like someone sent out a worldwide PSA. She calls the various iterations of apocalypse monsters "biters," "burners," and "nomes." She acts so put out when no one understands her made up words. "Nomes" stands for "no memories," obviously!! Shut the fuck up, Casey. This isn't Harry Potter.
Finally, all the characters feel as developed as stick figure drawings. None of them act like real people. People are dying and they are acting like this is just a Community paintball episode and the deaths aren't real so keep the jokes coming. Keep up the watered down cliched banter that makes my eye twitch. And they treat the guns way too casually as well, pranking each other while they are handling firearms. I did not care about a single character because they all had the depth of a wading pool.
ALSO, you do not *pass* the MCAT. You get a score between 472 and 528 and the higher your score the better your medical school admissions prospects are. Overall Casey was not believable as a doctor.
The skills of the main character in terms of combat and apocalypse readiness varied from page to page depending on what would serve the plot more and whether or not the main love interest was there to see her fail and subsequently humiliate her. In her two fight scenes before she sees the main love interest she handles the MULTIPLE grown men attacking her no problem. She survives travel to her dad's compound no problem, and disarms the person on patrol when she arrives. Then, once she gets there and we meet "Blake," suddenly she's rusty and can't even throw a punch without embarrassing herself. I hate hate scenes where the FMC has been handling her shit and then once she's in front of the man she makes and utter fool out of herself, which is exactly what happens here.
Things happen and the justification is literally just for the plot but the characters can't say that because they don't know they're in a book so there's a lot of them just going "hmm, huh, I mean, That's just how it is," etc. Like when she's forced to share a room with Blake despite her dad knowing about their rocky history and that she is uncomfortable with him being there at all. He's just like, "well, sweetheart, there's no where else for him to go." YES THE FUCK THERE IS?? YOU'RE ON A WHOLE COMPOUND?? I'd rather sleep in a room with an actual zombie than a fucking man who has wronged me.
Also, while we're talking about the word "zombie," I need to mention the dumbass words the MC comes up with and expects everyone to know like someone sent out a worldwide PSA. She calls the various iterations of apocalypse monsters "biters," "burners," and "nomes." She acts so put out when no one understands her made up words. "Nomes" stands for "no memories," obviously!! Shut the fuck up, Casey. This isn't Harry Potter.
Finally, all the characters feel as developed as stick figure drawings. None of them act like real people. People are dying and they are acting like this is just a Community paintball episode and the deaths aren't real so keep the jokes coming. Keep up the watered down cliched banter that makes my eye twitch. And they treat the guns way too casually as well, pranking each other while they are handling firearms. I did not care about a single character because they all had the depth of a wading pool.
ALSO, you do not *pass* the MCAT. You get a score between 472 and 528 and the higher your score the better your medical school admissions prospects are. Overall Casey was not believable as a doctor.
October 3, 2025
Im not sure how to rate this one 😅
What I enjoyed: The zombie elements.. this book was actually kind of graphic and gory in a non serious way? I personally didn’t mind it, I love a zombie trope.
The found family and friendship themes.
The funny side characters (Gregg and Molly).
The adventure .. the FMCs escape out of Chicago city and their visit to the hospital for supplies.
What I wasnt such a fan of:
The love interest.. I found Blake’s character to be annoying and kind of whiny most of the time? To start with the FMC is determined to out match him in combat at the beginning and then by the end that story line dropped and she never actually succeeded? So that was kind of annoying to not get the satisfaction of witnessing that happen.
He is also really wishy washy, he’s rude and controlling and then he is trying to kiss her out of no where? And on top of that the second he doesn’t get his way he decides to go away.. leaving everyone he “cares about” vulnerable. like what? That also annoyed me
I also wasn’t convinced by the “I hate you but also instantly am in love with you after 1 day” trope.
And the epilogue, that could have been really sweet but we had random new characters thrown at us that added zero value to the over all plot, and then the very last scene just seemed to be a bit of a joke 😂😂😂
I have mixed feelings on this one.. I love the author, I love her books.. she tried to do something new and in some areas she succeeded but in others this just felt really unrealistic for me giving me a hard time connecting to the characters. I will say I did like the FMC although I wasn’t convinced by the “background stories” of both “love interests” and their comparable “grief and loss” stories just felt a little too conveniently thrown in.
I will continue to read everything This author publishes but this for me could have been a lot better.
What I enjoyed: The zombie elements.. this book was actually kind of graphic and gory in a non serious way? I personally didn’t mind it, I love a zombie trope.
The found family and friendship themes.
The funny side characters (Gregg and Molly).
The adventure .. the FMCs escape out of Chicago city and their visit to the hospital for supplies.
What I wasnt such a fan of:
The love interest.. I found Blake’s character to be annoying and kind of whiny most of the time? To start with the FMC is determined to out match him in combat at the beginning and then by the end that story line dropped and she never actually succeeded? So that was kind of annoying to not get the satisfaction of witnessing that happen.
He is also really wishy washy, he’s rude and controlling and then he is trying to kiss her out of no where? And on top of that the second he doesn’t get his way he decides to go away.. leaving everyone he “cares about” vulnerable. like what? That also annoyed me
I also wasn’t convinced by the “I hate you but also instantly am in love with you after 1 day” trope.
And the epilogue, that could have been really sweet but we had random new characters thrown at us that added zero value to the over all plot, and then the very last scene just seemed to be a bit of a joke 😂😂😂
I have mixed feelings on this one.. I love the author, I love her books.. she tried to do something new and in some areas she succeeded but in others this just felt really unrealistic for me giving me a hard time connecting to the characters. I will say I did like the FMC although I wasn’t convinced by the “background stories” of both “love interests” and their comparable “grief and loss” stories just felt a little too conveniently thrown in.
I will continue to read everything This author publishes but this for me could have been a lot better.
November 21, 2025
“Because a day like this offers all of us hope that we can love and be loved even in the darkest times.”
Another book read on a whim that happened to be great, I have never read anything from this author. The book ended on a cliff hanger and now I have to wait for the sequel.
Another book read on a whim that happened to be great, I have never read anything from this author. The book ended on a cliff hanger and now I have to wait for the sequel.
December 21, 2025
4⭐️
2🌶️
It was a really interesting premise. Dating during the apocalypse. I really enjoyed it. Honestly I wish it would’ve been a little longer. Also that slimeball! If you know you know. Saw that coming a mile away, but I was still mad.
Also the ending? So open ended! I need to know what happened now, but I guess I’ll have to make up my own in ending.
2🌶️
It was a really interesting premise. Dating during the apocalypse. I really enjoyed it. Honestly I wish it would’ve been a little longer. Also that slimeball! If you know you know. Saw that coming a mile away, but I was still mad.
Also the ending? So open ended! I need to know what happened now, but I guess I’ll have to make up my own in ending.
September 21, 2025
There’s enemies-to-lovers, and then there’s enemies-to-idiots-with-no-impulse-control-and-raging-hormones. This book is the latter.
Clearly, this book was not for me. Judging by other reviews, it may be for plenty of other people who perhaps enjoy a bizarre combination of genres mashed together in a way that really doesn't make sense but also has no stakes. I picked this up because, although I don't like zombie stories, I do often like post-apocalyptic stories, and the blurb made it sound like maybe this one would be funny and not take itself seriously. I could get behind a silly romance in an absurd end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it situation - or so I thought.
The problem was that, with the exception of the 1 comic relief character, the book *does* take itself seriously. And oddly enough, that comic relief character is the only one that really behaves remotely consistently (air-headed, and prone to grand gestures). The rest of the characters, including the narrator/our heroine, just... don't behave rationally or consistently at all.
Casey and Blake, our main pair, were especially unlikeable in my opinion, and their romance was incredibly unbelievable. They are horrible to each other, bickering like children but with adult venom. The author repeatedly throws them into literal wrestling matches and physical fights so that they can get plenty of physical contact while they're still enemies - and the weird horny fighting scenes that are thrown in as convenient excuses were just cringey. Blake has made this bizarre friendship/surrogate father/son relationship with Casey's father while she's been estranged from him - which is supposed to explain his presence in her bedroom and his leadership position in the compound, but the whole thing feels flimsy and kind of icky/stalker-y.
Blake has a bizarre freeze-up moment of weakness while they're in a dangerous situation, and then inexplicably goes suicidal afterwards, forcing Casey to straddle his lap to keep him from killing himself. WTF? This weird PTSD-like moment is explained as survivor's guilt on seeing a zombie thing that might have been Blake's friend - but then I guess he just gets over it? It's never mentioned again, and Casey lets him completely fabricate a story about what really happened that makes her look like the weak one. When all along she's been pissed that he's not respecting her abilities. What?? If you have PTSD that causes you to completely freeze up, I'm pretty sure that's a bigger handicap in a fight-for-your-life situation than not being in endurance running shape.
About 2/3rds of the way through the book (or maybe more?) the villain shows up. I think it's fairly obvious what's going on, but for some reason no one, least of all our heroine Casey, questions it. She just suddenly becomes an emotional wreck because she's worried about having competing love interests. The author also has Casey explain, often multiple times, her inner reactions to people's actions and statements... and that got pretty old. It was fairly obvious that when Blake said something insulting and then her father agreed, that she'd be angry at Blake and confused at her father's apparent misplaced loyalty. We really would have only needed an extra explanation if she had a surprising reaction - e.g. if Blake's words caused some inner reflection that wasn't a logical conclusion of the dialog.
And as for the actual zombie apocalypse thing... well, I guess this is why I don't usually like zombie stories. They just aren't remotely scientifically believable. That might just be my own issue - some people don't like space sci-fi because it's a bit too "gee-whiz". The hand-wavy explanation that there's a never-identified virus that turns people into blood-thirsty cannibal thralls that survive way past the normal limits of human biology, with no explanation of the possible biological pathway that the virus takes to accomplish this, just really doesn't work for me. It's just an excuse for people to run around toting guns and knives and learning pugilism. Why you'd be worried about who your boyfriend is in all that... I just can't figure it out.
Clearly, this book was not for me. Judging by other reviews, it may be for plenty of other people who perhaps enjoy a bizarre combination of genres mashed together in a way that really doesn't make sense but also has no stakes. I picked this up because, although I don't like zombie stories, I do often like post-apocalyptic stories, and the blurb made it sound like maybe this one would be funny and not take itself seriously. I could get behind a silly romance in an absurd end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it situation - or so I thought.
The problem was that, with the exception of the 1 comic relief character, the book *does* take itself seriously. And oddly enough, that comic relief character is the only one that really behaves remotely consistently (air-headed, and prone to grand gestures). The rest of the characters, including the narrator/our heroine, just... don't behave rationally or consistently at all.
Casey and Blake, our main pair, were especially unlikeable in my opinion, and their romance was incredibly unbelievable. They are horrible to each other, bickering like children but with adult venom. The author repeatedly throws them into literal wrestling matches and physical fights so that they can get plenty of physical contact while they're still enemies - and the weird horny fighting scenes that are thrown in as convenient excuses were just cringey. Blake has made this bizarre friendship/surrogate father/son relationship with Casey's father while she's been estranged from him - which is supposed to explain his presence in her bedroom and his leadership position in the compound, but the whole thing feels flimsy and kind of icky/stalker-y.
Blake has a bizarre freeze-up moment of weakness while they're in a dangerous situation, and then inexplicably goes suicidal afterwards, forcing Casey to straddle his lap to keep him from killing himself. WTF? This weird PTSD-like moment is explained as survivor's guilt on seeing a zombie thing that might have been Blake's friend - but then I guess he just gets over it? It's never mentioned again, and Casey lets him completely fabricate a story about what really happened that makes her look like the weak one. When all along she's been pissed that he's not respecting her abilities. What?? If you have PTSD that causes you to completely freeze up, I'm pretty sure that's a bigger handicap in a fight-for-your-life situation than not being in endurance running shape.
About 2/3rds of the way through the book (or maybe more?) the villain shows up. I think it's fairly obvious what's going on, but for some reason no one, least of all our heroine Casey, questions it. She just suddenly becomes an emotional wreck because she's worried about having competing love interests. The author also has Casey explain, often multiple times, her inner reactions to people's actions and statements... and that got pretty old. It was fairly obvious that when Blake said something insulting and then her father agreed, that she'd be angry at Blake and confused at her father's apparent misplaced loyalty. We really would have only needed an extra explanation if she had a surprising reaction - e.g. if Blake's words caused some inner reflection that wasn't a logical conclusion of the dialog.
And as for the actual zombie apocalypse thing... well, I guess this is why I don't usually like zombie stories. They just aren't remotely scientifically believable. That might just be my own issue - some people don't like space sci-fi because it's a bit too "gee-whiz". The hand-wavy explanation that there's a never-identified virus that turns people into blood-thirsty cannibal thralls that survive way past the normal limits of human biology, with no explanation of the possible biological pathway that the virus takes to accomplish this, just really doesn't work for me. It's just an excuse for people to run around toting guns and knives and learning pugilism. Why you'd be worried about who your boyfriend is in all that... I just can't figure it out.
November 6, 2025
SO MUCH FUN and extremely unique!!
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