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Something's Wrong With Maddie: A Sapphic Horror Novel
Maddie died. Piper refused to accept it.One blood ritual later and Maddie is back—undead, starving and nothing close to resembling human. Despite her deceased girlfriend reeking of rotting flesh, Piper decides she’ll do anything to keep her zombie lie to suspicious neighbors, outwit a nosy cop, and make sure the apartment complex’s missing-person flyers don’t point to their kitchen.
As scraps of the old Maddie surface, so do the hunger pangs. The body count begins to pile up, and Piper has to decide what she's willing to do to keep her girlfriend fed.
Part sapphic dark romance, part black-comedy horror, Something’s Wrong With Maddie is a gore-slick tale of grief, obsession, and devotion with sharp splatterpunk bite, body-horror set pieces, and a love story that refuses to die—even when it really should.
As scraps of the old Maddie surface, so do the hunger pangs. The body count begins to pile up, and Piper has to decide what she's willing to do to keep her girlfriend fed.
Part sapphic dark romance, part black-comedy horror, Something’s Wrong With Maddie is a gore-slick tale of grief, obsession, and devotion with sharp splatterpunk bite, body-horror set pieces, and a love story that refuses to die—even when it really should.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2025
23 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 13, 2026
“What she wants is people,” she continued. “Human flesh. Blood that’s still warm. You’ve made a soul tether—it’s clinging to a corpse that needs more than protein to keep walking.”
This book was exactly what I needed to get me back into the mood for horror. It was hilarious, romantic, queer, gory and written well. Despite its satirical nature, it includes heavy themes that are handled with tact. I devoured this book in less than twenty-four hours, it was that good. I think this is one that you shouldn't go into taking it too seriously. Yes, it's brilliant, but definitely a very unserious novel at times. Wildly entertaining, yet touching and poignant at times. It is the perfect balance of splatter, romance, humour, and grief. I really enjoyed it.
This book was exactly what I needed to get me back into the mood for horror. It was hilarious, romantic, queer, gory and written well. Despite its satirical nature, it includes heavy themes that are handled with tact. I devoured this book in less than twenty-four hours, it was that good. I think this is one that you shouldn't go into taking it too seriously. Yes, it's brilliant, but definitely a very unserious novel at times. Wildly entertaining, yet touching and poignant at times. It is the perfect balance of splatter, romance, humour, and grief. I really enjoyed it.
September 29, 2025
Am I really rooting for a zombie right now?
Yes, actually, I think I am.
Excuse me, BUT THIS WAS SO ENDEARING???
Never in my life did I expect to be awing and giggling at something of the sort. But, there is a first time for everything.
This story was enticing, fun, emotional, darkly humorous and thrilling.
The plot is kind of everything, and these characters are written to freaking perfection.
I always get a little upset when I read about the death of a spouse in books.
I just happen to be a softie sometimes, and that is something that is always really difficult for me.
So this did certainly break my heart periodically. Still so enjoyable though.
Genuinely, I have nothing bad to say about this.
I really wouldn't change anything about it.
Thank you to Booksirens and author Taylor Z. Adams for providing me with the eARC of "Something's Wrong With Maddie"! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Publication date: October 24th, 2025
Yes, actually, I think I am.
Excuse me, BUT THIS WAS SO ENDEARING???
Never in my life did I expect to be awing and giggling at something of the sort. But, there is a first time for everything.
This story was enticing, fun, emotional, darkly humorous and thrilling.
The plot is kind of everything, and these characters are written to freaking perfection.
I always get a little upset when I read about the death of a spouse in books.
I just happen to be a softie sometimes, and that is something that is always really difficult for me.
So this did certainly break my heart periodically. Still so enjoyable though.
Genuinely, I have nothing bad to say about this.
I really wouldn't change anything about it.
Thank you to Booksirens and author Taylor Z. Adams for providing me with the eARC of "Something's Wrong With Maddie"! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Publication date: October 24th, 2025
October 4, 2025
4 stars. This ended up being good. I have to admit, it took a while for me to get into it but around 30% or so it picks up and got interesting. The writing is really good, very descriptive and the plot was fascinating. So while I didn’t end up loving this I would still recommend it if you’re looking for something dark with a lot of heart to it.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 27, 2025
I light a candle and make an offering of a blood ritual and a review as thanks for this free ARC I received 🕯️
It was so funny and yet so sad, so horrible but also so wonderful all at the same time.
Maddie was just a too cute and adorable zombie but still a zombie. Zombies eat people obviously. There's a lot of blood, gore and mutilations, If you can stomach it. 🧟♀️
The ending though....I would've preferred something lighter?
It was so funny and yet so sad, so horrible but also so wonderful all at the same time.
Maddie was just a too cute and adorable zombie but still a zombie. Zombies eat people obviously. There's a lot of blood, gore and mutilations, If you can stomach it. 🧟♀️
The ending though....I would've preferred something lighter?
November 6, 2025
I am not a big zombie reader. Never really got the whole idea of them, to be honest.
However, this book portrayed the concept with heart, dark humour, and grit, and I couldn't put this down.
I think many of us could relate to the main character in this story. If your loved one was torn away from you suddenly and brutally, would you do anything for another chance?
However, this book portrayed the concept with heart, dark humour, and grit, and I couldn't put this down.
I think many of us could relate to the main character in this story. If your loved one was torn away from you suddenly and brutally, would you do anything for another chance?
October 16, 2025
So this wasn’t at all what I was expecting. In the slightest. Yet it was also an incredibly good book. What a delightful spooky time; toxic love for the win. So unexpected, and surprisingly endearing. I think aspects of this novel would be a little (too) relatable for anyone who has loved just a biiiiit too hard.
Rating: A / 5-Stars
I loved all of these characters. Piper, Maddie, witch girl, the best friend; all awesome in their own ways.
In all honesty, zero notes. This was just awesome. No further discussion as I don’t think I can really elaborate without it being straightforward spoilers and I think this one is best enjoyed blind.
Thank you to BookSirens for the free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Rating: A / 5-Stars
I loved all of these characters. Piper, Maddie, witch girl, the best friend; all awesome in their own ways.
In all honesty, zero notes. This was just awesome. No further discussion as I don’t think I can really elaborate without it being straightforward spoilers and I think this one is best enjoyed blind.
Thank you to BookSirens for the free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
October 11, 2025
4.25⭐️ - This book was like if Warm Bodies, Jennifer’s Body, and Pet Sematary had a very gay, very bloody baby. The perfect mix of horror, humour, and heart. One minute I was laughing, the next I was gagging.
We follow Piper, who’s grieving the loss of her girlfriend Maddie. Heartbroken and desperate, she decides to perform a blood ritual to bring Maddie back. You know, totally normal coping strategies. And… it works. Kind of. Maddie returns, but she’s not quite the same. She’s adorable, sure, but she also has a new little craving for human flesh.
Equal parts hilarious, gruesome, and surprisingly emotional, this book had me hooked! Some scenes are very gory (maybe don’t snack while reading), but the horror is balanced beautifully with heart. The characters were all fantastic and well developed, and the LGBTQ+ rep was just 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙛’𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but I absolutely flew through it in one sitting. Beneath all the gore and weirdness, this is a story of love, grief, obsession, and what we’d do to hold onto the ones we love.
Check it out if you’re in the mood for something fun and just the right amount of unhinged! Thank you to BookSirens and Taylor Z. Adams for the eARC. 🫶🏼
We follow Piper, who’s grieving the loss of her girlfriend Maddie. Heartbroken and desperate, she decides to perform a blood ritual to bring Maddie back. You know, totally normal coping strategies. And… it works. Kind of. Maddie returns, but she’s not quite the same. She’s adorable, sure, but she also has a new little craving for human flesh.
Equal parts hilarious, gruesome, and surprisingly emotional, this book had me hooked! Some scenes are very gory (maybe don’t snack while reading), but the horror is balanced beautifully with heart. The characters were all fantastic and well developed, and the LGBTQ+ rep was just 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙛’𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but I absolutely flew through it in one sitting. Beneath all the gore and weirdness, this is a story of love, grief, obsession, and what we’d do to hold onto the ones we love.
Check it out if you’re in the mood for something fun and just the right amount of unhinged! Thank you to BookSirens and Taylor Z. Adams for the eARC. 🫶🏼
October 28, 2025
If I were to recommend this book to myself, I’d tell me it’s the sad horror of Haunting of Hill House, the dark comedy of Santa Clarita Diet, the twisted vigilante murder of Sweetpea and the careful butchering of Yellowjackets.
I was definitely not expecting the amount of emotion from this book, I expected just pure body horror. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely gagged in a few parts but the plot is so much deeper. The description of all consuming grief from the death of a loved one was spot on and the stupid decisions we sometimes make just to keep them with us just a little longer.
I loved Maddie, Piper, Josh, Steph and Barbra, a cutie. I really rooted for them even when I thought it was gross. For me, this book is faultless and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Thank you to Taylor Z. Adams and BookSirens for providing me with an eARC.
I was definitely not expecting the amount of emotion from this book, I expected just pure body horror. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely gagged in a few parts but the plot is so much deeper. The description of all consuming grief from the death of a loved one was spot on and the stupid decisions we sometimes make just to keep them with us just a little longer.
I loved Maddie, Piper, Josh, Steph and Barbra, a cutie. I really rooted for them even when I thought it was gross. For me, this book is faultless and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Thank you to Taylor Z. Adams and BookSirens for providing me with an eARC.
November 6, 2025
I'm not usually one for zombie books, but this was brilliant.
Love, grief, gore. Had my feelings all over the place.
100% recommend
Love, grief, gore. Had my feelings all over the place.
100% recommend
February 27, 2026
Well. That was a fun, gory, crazy adventure. Dark humor, relatable characters, but all laced with the perfect amount of realism. Deep grief, true love and the struggles members of the lgbtq community deal with so frequently. This book really drug me through the depths of grief and then ate someone's heart right out of their chest. I was entertained all the way through this gauntlet of emotions.
January 14, 2026
the dialogue feels unnatural and awkward and the overall language is pretty stiff and repetitive and while it's a great premise and storyline, i just couldn't get into it.
i received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.
2 ⭐️⭐️✖️✖️✖️
i received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.
2 ⭐️⭐️✖️✖️✖️
November 6, 2025
Taylor Z. Adams’s Something's Wrong with Maddie is a raw and uncompromising plunge into rotting love, terminal grief, and devotion that blasts past the point of no return.
The story centers on Piper, who simply cannot accept the death of her girlfriend, Maddie. In an act of profound and horrific desperation, Piper performs a blood ritual to bring her back. Maddie returns undead, starving, and literally falling apart—reeking of decaying flesh and barely resembling the person Piper loved. Yet, Piper is unflinching. She vows to do anything to keep her zombie girlfriend, which quickly spirals into a dark, frantic effort to lie to suspicious neighbors, evade a nosy cop, and make sure the apartment complex's missing-person flyers don't point directly to their kitchen.
The emotional core of the novel lies in Piper's deeply flawed, yet tragically relatable, obsession. At times, the reader will be fully invested in her desperate, heartbroken plight; at others, they’ll want to shake her out of her horrifying denial. This very internal conflict is what keeps the narrative so compelling—haven't we all, at a moment of absolute heartbreak, felt like we could do anything to bring back the one we love?
Something's Wrong with Maddie masterfully blends sapphic dark romance and black-comedy horror. It’s a gore-slick tale of obsession and devotion, featuring a sharp splatterpunk bite and unsettling body-horror set pieces. It is equal parts dark comedy and genuine heartbreak, full of blood, bad decisions, and that kind of all-consuming love that starts to decay the longer you hold onto it. Gory but profoundly heartfelt, this is a sad horror story with a streak of the grotesque that won’t stop haunting you.
📝 Review Disclaimer
Thank you Book Sirens and Taylor for this free digital copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review, and all thoughts expressed are my own.
The story centers on Piper, who simply cannot accept the death of her girlfriend, Maddie. In an act of profound and horrific desperation, Piper performs a blood ritual to bring her back. Maddie returns undead, starving, and literally falling apart—reeking of decaying flesh and barely resembling the person Piper loved. Yet, Piper is unflinching. She vows to do anything to keep her zombie girlfriend, which quickly spirals into a dark, frantic effort to lie to suspicious neighbors, evade a nosy cop, and make sure the apartment complex's missing-person flyers don't point directly to their kitchen.
The emotional core of the novel lies in Piper's deeply flawed, yet tragically relatable, obsession. At times, the reader will be fully invested in her desperate, heartbroken plight; at others, they’ll want to shake her out of her horrifying denial. This very internal conflict is what keeps the narrative so compelling—haven't we all, at a moment of absolute heartbreak, felt like we could do anything to bring back the one we love?
Something's Wrong with Maddie masterfully blends sapphic dark romance and black-comedy horror. It’s a gore-slick tale of obsession and devotion, featuring a sharp splatterpunk bite and unsettling body-horror set pieces. It is equal parts dark comedy and genuine heartbreak, full of blood, bad decisions, and that kind of all-consuming love that starts to decay the longer you hold onto it. Gory but profoundly heartfelt, this is a sad horror story with a streak of the grotesque that won’t stop haunting you.
📝 Review Disclaimer
Thank you Book Sirens and Taylor for this free digital copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review, and all thoughts expressed are my own.
October 16, 2025
I received the ARC of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review
This book was a rollercoaster. The gore was amazing and it made me gag multiple times /pos. The structure of the book alternated between memories of them together and moments in the present tying and connecting them together.
One negative thing for me was the prose, very strong and pertinent in the more horror gorey bits, but a bit lacking in my opinion when tackling other genres. I also thought that in several moments in the book the author was leaning rather heavily on telling rather than showing every little detail and reason and theme of the story. It worked in some moments by providing a rather intimate point of view of the thoughts and reactions of the protagonist, but in others it made the prose more rambly than introspective. This book would generally benefit from a couple more rounds of editing. Nonetheless, the story was compelling and the characters were fleshed out nicely. I think it’s a nice read for Halloween if you’re into blood rituals and absolutely insane lesbians!!
This book was a rollercoaster. The gore was amazing and it made me gag multiple times /pos. The structure of the book alternated between memories of them together and moments in the present tying and connecting them together.
One negative thing for me was the prose, very strong and pertinent in the more horror gorey bits, but a bit lacking in my opinion when tackling other genres. I also thought that in several moments in the book the author was leaning rather heavily on telling rather than showing every little detail and reason and theme of the story. It worked in some moments by providing a rather intimate point of view of the thoughts and reactions of the protagonist, but in others it made the prose more rambly than introspective. This book would generally benefit from a couple more rounds of editing. Nonetheless, the story was compelling and the characters were fleshed out nicely. I think it’s a nice read for Halloween if you’re into blood rituals and absolutely insane lesbians!!
February 16, 2026
““God, I love this for you. You’re not just some sloppy grave-robbing witch. You are a romantic idiot on the bleeding edge of forbidden magic, and I want you to know I support you.””
Holy shit, what an amazing book that somehow ended up being every category of book I love to read in horror, queer, and just a dash of romance. Yes, this book was romantic I will not hear another word about it.
My only real critique is that it was a little repetitive at points but not so bad that it put me off from the book or story.
I fucking loved the characters, Steph was fucking hilarious, and god this might have been one of the best queer books I’ve had the pleasure of consuming, and I definitely consumed it the way Maddie was consuming bodies. 🫀
Holy shit, what an amazing book that somehow ended up being every category of book I love to read in horror, queer, and just a dash of romance. Yes, this book was romantic I will not hear another word about it.
My only real critique is that it was a little repetitive at points but not so bad that it put me off from the book or story.
I fucking loved the characters, Steph was fucking hilarious, and god this might have been one of the best queer books I’ve had the pleasure of consuming, and I definitely consumed it the way Maddie was consuming bodies. 🫀
October 21, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is what you get when you mix a little bit of my best friends exorcism humour, santa clarita diet and burying the ex all in one delightfully funny yet disgusting package.
I cannot tell you the amount of "ew" moments or the amount of "I'm cackling" moments that came out of this book - the love and grief and possibilities were so real and character growth - superb - even almost has one of my favourite endings ever .. almost
This book is what you get when you mix a little bit of my best friends exorcism humour, santa clarita diet and burying the ex all in one delightfully funny yet disgusting package.
I cannot tell you the amount of "ew" moments or the amount of "I'm cackling" moments that came out of this book - the love and grief and possibilities were so real and character growth - superb - even almost has one of my favourite endings ever .. almost
February 5, 2026
I finally read SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH MADDIE by Taylor Z Adams, and it was pretty great. It made me extremely nostalgic for a movie that I must have watched a hundred times on VHS as a kid: Brian Yuzna’s Return of the Living Dead 3.
We’ve got that same doomed romance dynamic that transcends life and death, but this time contrasted against modern queer relationships. It’s a really cute book that doesn’t linger on the misery; it spends a lot of time celebrating what the characters had, but it also isn’t lacking in the gore department.
We’ve got that same doomed romance dynamic that transcends life and death, but this time contrasted against modern queer relationships. It’s a really cute book that doesn’t linger on the misery; it spends a lot of time celebrating what the characters had, but it also isn’t lacking in the gore department.
November 8, 2025
Okay, so were the funny and gory rolled into one with this book lol. I laughed and I’d say I cringed, but I love gore. I truly felt for both these women. I wouldn’t want to lose my SO either, but not sure I’d go to this level to keep them lol. I entered reading this and it even evokes some emotions. There was some seriously sad moments. But overall I really enjoyed reading this. Hi zombie girl!
January 15, 2026
Not great at writing reviews but for this gem I have to give it a shot.
I absolutely DEVOURED this book (pun intended). My first read of 2026 and what a way to start off the year. For me, the writing style was perfect. It read so naturally and truly gave a vivid image. Idk how this book hasn’t been talked about more but 100% my favorite book of 2026 so far and definitely top 10 overall favorite books.
I absolutely DEVOURED this book (pun intended). My first read of 2026 and what a way to start off the year. For me, the writing style was perfect. It read so naturally and truly gave a vivid image. Idk how this book hasn’t been talked about more but 100% my favorite book of 2026 so far and definitely top 10 overall favorite books.
February 18, 2026
Not for me. Some of the dialogue was quite cringey in a put-on Buffy-esque babbling style that made the characters sound cartooney and frankly pretty stupid. The writing was clunky, repeptitive in some places. It got the job done but no more than that. And then the whole thing ends with them on the run and nothing really resolved. The author gave us escalation and then left us just sitting there with the big can of worms the characters opened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2025
Okay. I finished “Something’s Wrong With Maddie” yesterday and I LOVED IT! Taylor Z. Adams struck the perfect balance between making me cry my eyes out and laugh my ass off at this tragic lesbian love story. Piper uses blood magic to resurrect her dearly departed gf Maddie with success. Except… Maddie craves human flesh. Oops.
Seriously. Top 10 novel of the year for me. Grab it when it’s out!
Seriously. Top 10 novel of the year for me. Grab it when it’s out!
October 9, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some of the humor was hit or miss for me personally--just a little too on the 'zany-quirky' side-- but Something's Wrong With Maddie is an entertaining read that brings gore and queer romance together beautifully. What would you do for those you love? What would you sacrifice?
My other little criticism would be that some areas seem a bit overwritten or repetitive but not enough to ruin the pacing. Overall still would recommend!
3.5 stars
Some of the humor was hit or miss for me personally--just a little too on the 'zany-quirky' side-- but Something's Wrong With Maddie is an entertaining read that brings gore and queer romance together beautifully. What would you do for those you love? What would you sacrifice?
My other little criticism would be that some areas seem a bit overwritten or repetitive but not enough to ruin the pacing. Overall still would recommend!
3.5 stars
December 7, 2025
Finding that special person who completes our lives is a life-changing moment. Someone who sees all our faults and imperfections and looks past them. That partner who indulges our quirks and odd habits and still accepts us. If lost, what would you do to get that person back? Something’s Wrong With Maddie by Taylor Z. Adams shows how far one would go to get their special person back.
Piper Quin, the lead protagonist, is a transitioning woman who is dealing with the falling out of her family and friends. The only person who stuck with her is Josh, her gay friend and coworker. Maddie was the shining light in Piper’s life, someone who loved her for her. Her pain and heartache are well portrayed as she suffers through the loss of her soulmate. Piper is an exceptionally crafted character—her quirky nature and sense of being overwhelmed feel authentic, just as one might expect from someone encountering their first zombie.
When Piper brings Maddie back from the dead, she must deal with feeding her zombie girlfriend. Her exchange with the butcher adds levity to the novel as she fumbles through explaining her need for very fresh meat. An interaction with a potential victim is cringy and awkward, adding another relatable level to the story.
Conversations between Josh and Piper run the gambit of emotions. Josh is a great friend to Piper, having known her pre-transition. Their conversations about coffee and the baristas are hilarious. The later touching conversations offer insight as to just how much the two mean to each other. Their final conversation is heartbreaking as Piper decides how best to protect Maddie.
Steph, the local witch who runs the town’s apothecary, aides Piper in the world of zombies and the occult. When the ritual works, Steph becomes obsessed with meeting Maddie. Piper experiences personal growth during the visit. She comes to terms with what she’ll need to do to keep Maddie safe and fed.
The portrayal and understanding of zombies feels unique and fresh. Steph explains the concepts of tethers and how they connect the zombie and the person who summoned them. Maddie also begins to take on more humanity with the more human flesh she eats. This concept alone makes the choice harder for Piper. She doesn’t want to kill but killing brings Maddie back.
Adams skillfully encourages readers to become emotionally invested in the relationship between Piper and Maddie. The novel revisits Piper’s key memories to delve and expand upon their love. Memories also highlight how others have hurt Piper in the past. These emphasize why Maddie’s acceptance means so much to her.
Something’s Wrong With Maddie by Taylor Z. Adams is an emotional roller-coaster of just how far we’ll go for the ones we love. An amazing example of grief horror and LGBTQ representation in the genre, I highly recommend this novel.
Piper Quin, the lead protagonist, is a transitioning woman who is dealing with the falling out of her family and friends. The only person who stuck with her is Josh, her gay friend and coworker. Maddie was the shining light in Piper’s life, someone who loved her for her. Her pain and heartache are well portrayed as she suffers through the loss of her soulmate. Piper is an exceptionally crafted character—her quirky nature and sense of being overwhelmed feel authentic, just as one might expect from someone encountering their first zombie.
When Piper brings Maddie back from the dead, she must deal with feeding her zombie girlfriend. Her exchange with the butcher adds levity to the novel as she fumbles through explaining her need for very fresh meat. An interaction with a potential victim is cringy and awkward, adding another relatable level to the story.
Conversations between Josh and Piper run the gambit of emotions. Josh is a great friend to Piper, having known her pre-transition. Their conversations about coffee and the baristas are hilarious. The later touching conversations offer insight as to just how much the two mean to each other. Their final conversation is heartbreaking as Piper decides how best to protect Maddie.
Steph, the local witch who runs the town’s apothecary, aides Piper in the world of zombies and the occult. When the ritual works, Steph becomes obsessed with meeting Maddie. Piper experiences personal growth during the visit. She comes to terms with what she’ll need to do to keep Maddie safe and fed.
The portrayal and understanding of zombies feels unique and fresh. Steph explains the concepts of tethers and how they connect the zombie and the person who summoned them. Maddie also begins to take on more humanity with the more human flesh she eats. This concept alone makes the choice harder for Piper. She doesn’t want to kill but killing brings Maddie back.
Adams skillfully encourages readers to become emotionally invested in the relationship between Piper and Maddie. The novel revisits Piper’s key memories to delve and expand upon their love. Memories also highlight how others have hurt Piper in the past. These emphasize why Maddie’s acceptance means so much to her.
Something’s Wrong With Maddie by Taylor Z. Adams is an emotional roller-coaster of just how far we’ll go for the ones we love. An amazing example of grief horror and LGBTQ representation in the genre, I highly recommend this novel.
November 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Piper & Maddie
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
𝓯/𝓯 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬/𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓬𝓻𝓪𝓯𝓽
𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓱-𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓬𝓬𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓫𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓶
𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓸𝓻 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This is a cute little sapphic paranormal romance about a female’s loss of partner and her willingness to do anything to bring her back. The plot is thicker than oil as it unravels why Piper is persistent on bringing her back, even though her mind is clogged with bad decisions. The tension from Maddie’s return almost makes you want to scream at the pages for her mistake of bringing the dead back to life, knowing the consequences could become deadly. I loved the chemistry we see shared from our two mains, but the climax…
Piper works a regular job behind a desk, dealing with upset customers and their obscene remarks. But even through the horrid customers, her focus becomes stronger when it’s about Maddie. After she gets a call from a woman cancelling her subscription after the passing of her husband, things hit too close to home and she walks out. Upon getting home, she rinses her face and pulls out the book next to her altar, thinking about using a necromantic spell. Her depressions sinks low the more she remembers the horrific accident that took Maddie’s life. But then the book calls out to her. Pleading for her to do a blood ritual. And she succumbs to its calls, even after being warned at the magic shop. But what she brings back doesn't look or move exactly like Maddie had.
Through her careless behavior, she does end up bringing Maddie back from the dead. But she's not fully there. Not unless she feeds and Piper soon realizes that she is going to have to become her source for getting food for her. Even if it means meeting men casually and bringing them over to her place. But when Maddie escapes after a final chat with a close friend, carnage erupts in town and the only option Piper will have left is to leave before it's too late. Now that she has gotten Maddie back, she will make sure nobody can take her away again.
This is one hell of a undead romance where you are just hoping for a HEA but have it in your head that this is a zombie romance and the chances of that are slim. Thankfully, you do get that satisfying ending but in a way that lets the reader know there could potentially be more for Piper and Maddie’s story, alongside Steph who now has the spellbook in her possession. A cute and creepy love story that will pull you into its plot until the end.
🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Piper & Maddie
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
𝓯/𝓯 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬/𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓬𝓻𝓪𝓯𝓽
𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓱-𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓬𝓬𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓫𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓶
𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓸𝓻 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This is a cute little sapphic paranormal romance about a female’s loss of partner and her willingness to do anything to bring her back. The plot is thicker than oil as it unravels why Piper is persistent on bringing her back, even though her mind is clogged with bad decisions. The tension from Maddie’s return almost makes you want to scream at the pages for her mistake of bringing the dead back to life, knowing the consequences could become deadly. I loved the chemistry we see shared from our two mains, but the climax…
Piper works a regular job behind a desk, dealing with upset customers and their obscene remarks. But even through the horrid customers, her focus becomes stronger when it’s about Maddie. After she gets a call from a woman cancelling her subscription after the passing of her husband, things hit too close to home and she walks out. Upon getting home, she rinses her face and pulls out the book next to her altar, thinking about using a necromantic spell. Her depressions sinks low the more she remembers the horrific accident that took Maddie’s life. But then the book calls out to her. Pleading for her to do a blood ritual. And she succumbs to its calls, even after being warned at the magic shop. But what she brings back doesn't look or move exactly like Maddie had.
Through her careless behavior, she does end up bringing Maddie back from the dead. But she's not fully there. Not unless she feeds and Piper soon realizes that she is going to have to become her source for getting food for her. Even if it means meeting men casually and bringing them over to her place. But when Maddie escapes after a final chat with a close friend, carnage erupts in town and the only option Piper will have left is to leave before it's too late. Now that she has gotten Maddie back, she will make sure nobody can take her away again.
This is one hell of a undead romance where you are just hoping for a HEA but have it in your head that this is a zombie romance and the chances of that are slim. Thankfully, you do get that satisfying ending but in a way that lets the reader know there could potentially be more for Piper and Maddie’s story, alongside Steph who now has the spellbook in her possession. A cute and creepy love story that will pull you into its plot until the end.
October 27, 2025
All of the things I love most about this book are spoilers, so my spoiler-free review is going to lack some examples, but you'll have to trust me: this book rules.
Anyway, spoiler-free review:
For me, horror is most effective when it creates cognitive dissonance. When the reader is forced to hold two emotions that seem to conflict, it creates a feeling of dysregulation that enhances the experience by making you feel physically engaged in the discomfort of the characters and situations. "Something's Wrong with Maddie" does this exceptionally, in the same paragraph making you think "omg I love Piper" and "Piper I swear to God if you don't figure out your shit" basically every page. I found myself simultaneously rooting for Piper and Maddie while also thinking "this is unsustainable, you have to stop," and I think that's the real beauty of this work. Taylor Z. Adams explores these broad themes of codependency and losing yourself in a relationship--themes that feel all too familiar as a queer reader--with a subtlety that belies the in-your-face gore and "hey quick question, what the fuck Taylor?" scenes.
Adams' prose is sincere and direct, but when the occasion calls for flowery, she can hang with the best of them. It's a wild experience as a reader to go from Austenesque romance to Lansdale splatterpunk in the same paragraph, but it's a very fun ride.
If you want the queer new relationship energy of being a teenager and seeing Marco on Degrassi for the first time mixed with Chuck Palahniuk gore and a splash of toxic yuri, you've come to the right place. And surely that's what you were shopping for, right?
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I also know the author personally, but I promise I would tell her if it sucked, and it does not suck.
Anyway, spoiler-free review:
For me, horror is most effective when it creates cognitive dissonance. When the reader is forced to hold two emotions that seem to conflict, it creates a feeling of dysregulation that enhances the experience by making you feel physically engaged in the discomfort of the characters and situations. "Something's Wrong with Maddie" does this exceptionally, in the same paragraph making you think "omg I love Piper" and "Piper I swear to God if you don't figure out your shit" basically every page. I found myself simultaneously rooting for Piper and Maddie while also thinking "this is unsustainable, you have to stop," and I think that's the real beauty of this work. Taylor Z. Adams explores these broad themes of codependency and losing yourself in a relationship--themes that feel all too familiar as a queer reader--with a subtlety that belies the in-your-face gore and "hey quick question, what the fuck Taylor?" scenes.
Adams' prose is sincere and direct, but when the occasion calls for flowery, she can hang with the best of them. It's a wild experience as a reader to go from Austenesque romance to Lansdale splatterpunk in the same paragraph, but it's a very fun ride.
If you want the queer new relationship energy of being a teenager and seeing Marco on Degrassi for the first time mixed with Chuck Palahniuk gore and a splash of toxic yuri, you've come to the right place. And surely that's what you were shopping for, right?
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I also know the author personally, but I promise I would tell her if it sucked, and it does not suck.
February 22, 2026
This book drew me in by the cover, that is for sure! And I really hate to say it, but this one was kind of… disappointing overall.
The story felt very… sloppy. Poorly put together. The writing came across as very amateurish - the tone felt immature and the flow? Not at all cohesive. The story never really “came together” for me, and I felt like it was just so many things thrown together at once with not a whole lot of substance. Plot holes, underdeveloped characters, and the dialogue of the FMC? My god… it was often painful at times. And the ending? Yikes. What WAS that?
While I can understand how this may have worked for other readers, it just did not do it for me at all. Which sucks, because I had high hopes and this novel was recommended so highly to me by someone else! However, I feel like I read a completely different book than what she read. I can understand the elements of grief and passionate, “undying” love at play; it simply is not enough to make up for everything else this book lacks.
Also editing to agree with another reviewer who mentioned this book would heavily benefit from more rounds of editing. There were some very evident things that were missed in editing, like using the phrase “on accident”.
The story felt very… sloppy. Poorly put together. The writing came across as very amateurish - the tone felt immature and the flow? Not at all cohesive. The story never really “came together” for me, and I felt like it was just so many things thrown together at once with not a whole lot of substance. Plot holes, underdeveloped characters, and the dialogue of the FMC? My god… it was often painful at times. And the ending? Yikes. What WAS that?
While I can understand how this may have worked for other readers, it just did not do it for me at all. Which sucks, because I had high hopes and this novel was recommended so highly to me by someone else! However, I feel like I read a completely different book than what she read. I can understand the elements of grief and passionate, “undying” love at play; it simply is not enough to make up for everything else this book lacks.
Also editing to agree with another reviewer who mentioned this book would heavily benefit from more rounds of editing. There were some very evident things that were missed in editing, like using the phrase “on accident”.
November 6, 2025
I really liked this! It kept me interested the whole time. The book has Izombie vibes. The plot though once it got going was predictable i loved the characters so much that i really didn't mind at all. Also i would like to take a moment and applaud the representation in this book. I am someone that, though i fully believe in representation being needed, I rarely find it done well in my opinion.
Piper is a trans lesbian. She has good quality's and flaws as a person which creates a fully 3D character. As well as you fully believe in the love between her and Maddie. You also totally forget that Piper is trans ( which also speaks to how well her personality is written ) until some outside force reminds you. And even that it's rare...maybe 3ish times the whole book.
My main thing i wrestled with in this book which may be a personal ICK is in the beginning i really enjoyed the dialogue however halfway through it went a little too have on the quirky/zainey type humor but once the plot started moving more it fixed itself. Which is just a personal pet peeve.
Overall this is fun and i absolutely recommend it
Piper is a trans lesbian. She has good quality's and flaws as a person which creates a fully 3D character. As well as you fully believe in the love between her and Maddie. You also totally forget that Piper is trans ( which also speaks to how well her personality is written ) until some outside force reminds you. And even that it's rare...maybe 3ish times the whole book.
My main thing i wrestled with in this book which may be a personal ICK is in the beginning i really enjoyed the dialogue however halfway through it went a little too have on the quirky/zainey type humor but once the plot started moving more it fixed itself. Which is just a personal pet peeve.
Overall this is fun and i absolutely recommend it
October 19, 2025
Normally I am lamenting the lack of back story in some of the books I’ve reviewed, but this book is almost the opposite. The first 4 chapters are a bit slow going and almost saturated with back story, but persevere and you will be rewarded. It’s probably about half way through the book that it really starts to get ‘un-putdownable’ and just builds in a crescendo of gore, with a big old helping of love.
The characters are thoroughly likeable, even though the things they are doing are terrible. There as some chuckles in there too, again odd due to the subject matter, but it totally fits.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in reading a horror story, with a side of romance and giggles.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters are thoroughly likeable, even though the things they are doing are terrible. There as some chuckles in there too, again odd due to the subject matter, but it totally fits.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in reading a horror story, with a side of romance and giggles.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 25, 2025
Oh my god this book was definitely something! I didn’t expect to binge it in a day and be so hooked on it, but I was, and now it’s way past my bedtime but I don’t regret it😂
I loved how the writing flowed so that I couldn’t put it down, it had quite an urgency to it that just kept me reading! The characters were awesome, and the story itself… just wow. Weird, insane, and wow. It was creepy and gory (so maybe don’t read it if you can’t handle gory descriptions) but it was a ride!!
The epilogue was actually adorable omg 🫶🏼 loved Steph so much and just overall, a really great book, I really loved this crazy horror concept.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC, honoured to have read and reviewed this 🫶🏼
I loved how the writing flowed so that I couldn’t put it down, it had quite an urgency to it that just kept me reading! The characters were awesome, and the story itself… just wow. Weird, insane, and wow. It was creepy and gory (so maybe don’t read it if you can’t handle gory descriptions) but it was a ride!!
The epilogue was actually adorable omg 🫶🏼 loved Steph so much and just overall, a really great book, I really loved this crazy horror concept.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC, honoured to have read and reviewed this 🫶🏼
October 7, 2025
When Piper’s girlfriend dies, she refuses to let go, and a little blood magic brings Maddie back. Problem is, Maddie’s starving, rotting, and definitely not human anymore. Now Piper’s juggling missing-person flyers, suspicious neighbors, and a zombie girlfriend with a growing taste for flesh.
Think Jennifer’s Body meets Warm Bodies, if both were a lot gayer and bloodier. It’s darkly funny, gory, and surprisingly heartfelt. One minute I was laughing, the next I was gagging (don’t eat while reading). The horror hits hard, but the emotion hits harder.
I devoured this book in one sitting, equal parts splatter, sapphic love story, and grief-soaked chaos. A deliciously twisted tale of how far we’ll go for love… even after death.
Think Jennifer’s Body meets Warm Bodies, if both were a lot gayer and bloodier. It’s darkly funny, gory, and surprisingly heartfelt. One minute I was laughing, the next I was gagging (don’t eat while reading). The horror hits hard, but the emotion hits harder.
I devoured this book in one sitting, equal parts splatter, sapphic love story, and grief-soaked chaos. A deliciously twisted tale of how far we’ll go for love… even after death.
October 17, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you Taylor for letting me read the ARC copy of Something’s Wrong With Maddie.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gruesome little sapphic romance.
The contrasting scenes where Piper and Maddie shared gentle moments surrounded by the gore of Maddie’s hunger were well written and somewhat charming (in a dark-hallmark movie kind of way) and definitely showcased the strength of their relationship.
I enjoyed the different take on zombies and the themes of grief and found family (a fav trope of mine!) and even though the story was gory it was also humorous at times making it a lighter read.
Would highly recommend!
Thank you Taylor for letting me read the ARC copy of Something’s Wrong With Maddie.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gruesome little sapphic romance.
The contrasting scenes where Piper and Maddie shared gentle moments surrounded by the gore of Maddie’s hunger were well written and somewhat charming (in a dark-hallmark movie kind of way) and definitely showcased the strength of their relationship.
I enjoyed the different take on zombies and the themes of grief and found family (a fav trope of mine!) and even though the story was gory it was also humorous at times making it a lighter read.
Would highly recommend!
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