World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon

Supernatural Entanglements #2

by Olivia Dade

An oracle who can see the future teams up with the far-too-hot demon from her past to avert catastrophe, in this steamy paranormal romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Zomromcom.

Gwen Wexloff might be able to see the future, but not when it matters. Her visions invariably involve piddling issues, which means—unlike most oracles—she’s spent her life predicting for everyday humans instead of international power brokers. After a clutch of brain-slurping zombies escapes from their walled-off compound, though, Gwen experiences the first genuinely world-altering vision of her life . . . and now she needs help.

Unfortunately, that help comes from Hugh Blacke, the same starchy (but annoyingly cute) demon who watched her bomb her oracle verification test years ago. To Gwen's dismay, the two of them will need to work together to unravel the deadly conspiracy behind the zombie breach, despite their complicated past and the secrets they’re keeping.

Even with her newfound power, she couldn't have foreseen how quickly they'd both want more than a simple partnership. But the clock is ticking—and with the fate of humanity at stake, Gwen and Hugh will have to decide how much they’re willing to risk for an unexpected, passionate love...and a future together that might prove very short indeed.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of an illustration of The Containment Zone from the book.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

Audible Audio

First published August 11, 2026

About the author

Olivia Dade grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an M.A. in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.

*******

If you want to find me online, here’s where to go!

Website: https://oliviadade.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OliviaWrites
Newsletter: https://go.oliviadade.com/Newsletter

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am beyond intrigue by the demon peen.

I love a buttoned up rule follower willing to break the rules to protect the ones he loves!

Absurd (complementary), wild, swoony, and an overall great time!

Whats to love...
- demon peen (trust me)
- not his baby
- world ending prophecy
- fat FMC x slender MMC
- found family
- cheese as a side character
- fake dating
- second chance romance (single timeline, missed opportunity first encounter)

I really loved how Gwen (and Hugh) felt about Gwen’s body. Her body is celebrated and the focus is on the positive relationship she has with her body. This is my first book by Olivia Dade but I think she did a fabulous job showing a strong confident fat woman who loves her body, without completely ignoring the real world biases towards fat women.

What might not work for some…
- This book has wildly robust world-building and details, this might work well for some, but for me it was a bit too much detail for a fun romcom style fantasy. I found myself zoning out a bit when the book started to go into heavy detail on the politics and world.
- This is a SILLY GOOFY PUNNY RIDICULOUS time, if you’re not into that kind of humor this might not work for you!

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🔮 World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon 🔮✨

❤️‍🔥🔥 Happy Release Day 🔥❤️‍🔥

This book was absolutely unhinged and I loved every second of it.

I actually ended up loving this one more than book one. The plot felt more fleshed out while still being completely ridiculous in the best way.

I seriously laughed so much while reading this. I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook!

🖤 What to Expect
• Oracle FMC
• Demon MMC
• Forced partnership
• Zombies
• Paranormal romance
• Second chance romance

_ _ _ _

⭐️ Final Score: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[whatmarissareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪄“His name was Hugh Blacke. He was now her fake demon boyfriend, and she was far too likely to fall for him when she really, really shouldn’t. In short, she was screwed. Not in the fun way either.”

3.75⭐️ 2🌶️

This book was so much fun!!!
Literally had a blast reading it

My only gripe is I really wish I had read book 1 beforehand… I didn’t realize so much of the storyline was interconnected and it took me a minute to fully engage with what was happening but then I WAS IN IT!!!

What I loved so much about this story is that Gwen isn’t your “average hero” that we usually see in romantasy books. Like usually our heroes are out there beating up the bad guys but Gwen is her own kind of hero in a way that matters just as much!!!

She’s kind. She’s caring. She looks out for the people that society has deemed “less than” 🫂

I really appreciated that her powers weren’t so abrasive or destructive. There was something so beautiful about watching her use her kindness and compassion as a strength, and seeing that be JUST as powerful 🔥

I also loved this world!!! Demons and witches and vampires and zombies like this world has it all!!!

Also Hugh (the MMC) is just a giant walking green flag 🥹 I love him so much!!! The way he takes care of Gwen OH MY HEART ❤️ he sees her and loves her exactly as she is. Gwen really doesn’t see the value in herself but Hugh isn’t afraid to step in and show her exactly the kind of person she is and how lucky he is to be with her. ITS THE SWEETEST!!!!

Again, I just really enjoyed this story!
It was LOL funny with the perfect mixture of plot, spice, romance, adventure. I am very much looking forward to the next book and plan on going back to read book 1!

💕You will enjoy this if you are into:
🪄 demon x oracle
🪄 fake dating
🪄 LOL funny moments
🪄 insta love
🪄 apocalyptic events
🪄 oracles and vampires & demons OH MY 🤣
🪄 the biggest green flag MMC 💚💚💚
🪄 a FMC who discovers her kindness is actually her greatest strength

[M. Stevenson]

You can tell Olivia Dade had fun with this--and I had a great time too! There were several scenes that made me snort-laugh. Really fun read all around, without sacrificing emotional depth for kicks.

I'd definitely recommend starting with the first in the series to avoid major spoilers and so the world building makes more sense. I'm looking forward to the next book that the epilogue set up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

[Alecia (aleciareadsitall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Romance for the free book!

An oracle seeks the help of a demon from her past (literally) to help take down a conspiracy that threatens to destroy the world.

This book was a lot of fun! It was lighthearted and silly. There were lots of ridiculous (complimentary) plot points and funny dialogue. It’s an entertaining paranormal romance romp that I went into without really knowing what to expect and came out of highly amused.

Hugh, our demon political leader, is honestly a dream. His caretaker personality and the way he fiercely protected Gwen were so hot and swoony. I loved him as a mmc, and he stepped up alongside Gwen in a way that had me totally rooting for them as a power couple.

My biggest qualm with Gwen was her obsession with cheese that was an entire personality trait. That was a bit much for me, but I did enjoy her fierce need to protect others and do the right thing even when it would put herself in danger.

Overall, it was fun. It was pretty unserious, but I think it doesn’t try to be anything that it’s not and if you go in with that mindset, you’ll have a great time. There’s a lot to love!

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed the previous book in this series and after the set up for gwen’s story, i was eager to get to it.

i loved gwen. she’s soft and friendly without giving up on herself. she sees worth in community and fostering support and it was fantastic to read that at this time in the world. hugh is all crunchy exterior and gooey marshmallow inside and i couldn't’ get enough of his freaking out over gwen’s safety. added bonus: seeing all of the characters from the previous book.

plot wise, it’s good. there are several moving pieces, but still firmly gwen’s story. the conflict is a slow ramping up that has a delightful twist and satisfying conclusion. and i will say the “court” scene with death could be my favorite.

overall, this was a quick read with characters who were so easy to root for. i can’t wait for the next pairing.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Case · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade with pretty high hopes. I previously enjoyed Spoiler Alert, and paranormal romance is a genre I usually have a lot of fun with. The premise here is creative: an underpowered oracle reconnects with a powerful demon from her past while supernatural chaos starts closing in.

I’ll start by acknowledging that the book is very clearly meant to be silly. The tone is chaotic, quirky, and intentionally over-the-top, with eccentric side characters and a lot of absurd humor. I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy that kind of zany fantasy vibe. I haven’t read the first book in the Supernatural Entanglements series, but if that wink-wink, nudge-nudge style worked for fans there, I’m sure it will work again here.

For me, the humor actually overwhelmed the story. Running jokes (especially the constant cheese references) show up so frequently that they started to dominate the page. What might have started as a funny character quirk eventually felt like it was taking up more space than the actual relationship or plot.

I also struggled with the pacing of the exposition. Much of the lore and backstory is delivered through long explanations or characters filling in information for each other, which made the world feel less immersive than it could have been. These choices also made the dialogue and overall pacing feel somewhat clunky. The ideas behind the setting are interesting, but I often found myself wishing they were revealed more organically through the story.

Where the book really lost me, though, was Gwen’s internal narrative. She constantly insists she can’t trust her own judgment and sees herself as incompetent, but her actions throughout the story often show the opposite. She makes difficult decisions, navigates dangerous situations, and even chooses to become a parent knowing she’ll likely be raising her child alone. That’s a huge act of self-reliance. Because of that, the arc about her learning to trust herself never quite landed for me. By the end, the resolution leans heavily on Hugh reassuring her of her worth and I found myself wishing that confidence had come more from Gwen herself.

There’s a lot of creativity in this world and I can see the appeal of the chaotic humor, but for me the tone, exposition, and character arc didn’t quite come together in a satisfying way.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Isabella (Belleand_books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I discuss spoilers for “mysteries” (🙄) in this so please be cautious!

The infantilisation of Gwen should be a character study because what do mean you decided she needed to be cold all the time to juxtapose how hot this demon actually is? Like I (semi) understand that it’s early January in upper Virginia (although nothing besides her telling me that would point to that, no snow on the ground, no comment on how cold and hard the ground is WHEN THEYRE SITTING ON IT, no comment from the neighbors who are outside in the wee morning hours after a fire, nothing. Just her telling me that once) but I got so tired of reading about how cold she was and how she constantly needed him near or a blanket. I was also very annoyed with the idea that she needed a nap after something happened. The story literally progressed like this: event happened, Gwen takes a nap, Gwen wakes up, an event happens, Gwen takes another nap. Girl slept more than my dog does


I don’t know anything about Olivia Dade, but I do know that she’s just writing to write because if she’s so nauseous at 6 weeks pregnant (and assuming she knows she’s pregnant but that’s another story) than she’s definitely not interested in sex. That’s not even “I need an opinion on this” that’s common sense. While I appreciate a pregnant protagonist and someone who loves that baby and mama, I just couldn’t find her character believable in that aspect. I also didn’t find the entire relationship believable because they met one time for like 20 minutes 20 years ago, lived completely separate lives and supposedly still thought of each other but made no contact until it was literally the zombie apocalypse and then boom! they’re having sexy time 24 hours later and trusting each other? I can do a lot of pretending but not on that aspect.

Also, I wish that her new sudden found powers weren’t explained as coming from her. Like I think it would have made the story more intriguing (and explained why she was being hunted!) to say that the fae conspirators were somehow able to send this vision to every oracle so that they could track them (SPOILER: this is literally a thing apparently. The fae said so himself at the 70% mark!! We shoulda just went with it!) and ultimately kill them so they can’t use their powers to warn anyone/ turn the tides of this upcoming war than it was to say “oh actually I’m the most powerful oracle ever and I never knew because I wasn’t taking vitamins before now and no one checked on me because we were poor lol”. Coming from a poor family whose parents also hated the doctors- WE STILL GOT A YEARLY CHECK! Also, the fact that NOT ONE PERSON at that fancy Delphi oracle school noticed that she had a B12 deficiency is wild- she would have been extremely fatigued and had a yellowish skin tone! Like you mean to say that y’all are best private school for oracles but can’t hire a single staff member who recognises that an elementary school student looks like she’s jaundiced? Hello???

I say this a lot in romances but I very desperately needed another POV here. It didn’t have to be Hughe Blacke, Esquire (that’s another thing- he’s referred to like this NUMEROUS times!) but it did need to be someone because Gwen was so dumb and useless.

I also need authors to stop including the Gen Z slang, because it’s very annoying and it dates the story + it takes you out of the book. I cannot, in good faith, believe these people who are running for their lives is saying “no cap” 😂😭

The ending was lacklustre and really goes to show that this book didn’t need 465 pages, and in fact, barely needed 330. There was just stuff that could have been rewritten to not be dragged out as much (HER FUCKING NAPS FOR ONE) and then the book could have been shorter and better paced. I’m not saying these authors are being paid by word count but I’m also not not saying that.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this series well enough that when I saw this one pop up I requested it right away. And once again it was a fun and pretty original romp of a paranormal romance. There were a few moments when I though oh no, how will they get out of this? But as with any romance, there has to be an HEA, so they were able to of course.

As with the first book, the sense of humor in the banter and the way the characters own thoughts appear to us kept me giggling throughout the story. I also have to say as a very big cheese lover myself, that I loved all the cheese parts of the story, I totally got Gwen on that. Although the cheese tv series? That sounded a little bit too weird for me. But it was still funny to hear the recaps of what was happening on the show. I loved how Gwen’s oracle powers seemed to have a reason for being just “okay” up until the events of the story. And Hugh was a total book boyfriend, even if he was a demon. It just sucks how their first meeting went. But hilarious that she chose to make up a prediction based on the plotline to Jurassic Park. I also love that the characters are older.

This whole world is very interesting, and it was fun spending time with Edie and Max from book 1. At the end we get a chapter setting us up for the next book in the series, and I had wondered if these crazy troll creatures might be a part of it, and so I’m thrilled about that!

There were a few points I felt it might be a little slow, but nothing that kept me from going. The steamy bits are very steamy, especially as you consider the differences in anatomy of a demon as created by the author. And of course I wish it wasn’t 3rd person POV as once in a while it does mess with my getting into the story.

If you enjoy fun paranormal rom-coms, with some steam of course, this might be the series for you!

[Casey Pond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had issues with connecting with the characters until about 80% of the book. The last quarter of the book was great!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheese loving trolls! Zombies on the loose! World ending prophesies! A struggling oracle with a big secret! A demon with a heart! Readers will find all of that and more in Olivia Dade’s second installment in the Supernatural Entaglements series and it’s a wild ride.

This paranormal romance reunites a low level oracle with the demon who witnessed the most humiliating moment of her life two decades ago. Gwen Wexloff is not a successful oracle by anyone’s standards, so no one is more surprised than her when she sees a potentially world altering vision featuring zombies intent on wiping out all human life. The only one she can think of to turn to for help is the insanely powerful demon, Hugh Blacke. This unlikely pair will need to work together to prevent the end of humanity as we know it.

I’m not sure I recognize myself because this is the third book I’ve read in the past few weeks featuring paranormal creatures, epic quests, and cross species romance. Dade gives the reader tenderness and spice amid ferocious battles and impending doom. She weaves in suspense and humor, plenty of steam and a big helping of found family. It’s a combination that works.

Joy Nash is the sole narrator and she absolutely nails it with distinct voices for the wide array of characters. I was especially charmed by the sections featuring the voracious trolls. Trust me.

This book can be read as a standalone. Reading the first book will provide some background on the world building, but it’s possible to enjoy the series by jumping right into book two. You can bet I’m looking forward to the next book that was teased at the end.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and PRH Audio for the gifted advance copies. All opinions are my own.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review!

as long as you’ve read the first book in the series, i feel like the story stays pretty much linear and is a continuation of the last story with different people being the main characters.

i also really loved how the fmc was older, as in 38. that is something that is not seen quite a lot in romance novels. it was very refreshing!

i also enjoyed this book more then the first one, although there were some parts where it felt like it was trying to be funny but instead it was cringey and not in the good way.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, funny, and full of heart, World’s Okayest Oracle is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Olivia Dade. And this bonkers rom-com fantasy is a delightful, addicting read. With so much cheese. Thanks to Berkley for the arc.

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, you definitely need to read this series in order so, before this one, start with Zomromcom.

Second, just like the first, it’s quirky, campy, and full of wacky romantic fun. There’s a silly vibe to it that’s complemented, and elevated, by delicious emotions and relatable neuroses and battles with inadequacies. It may be a near future full of demons, vampires, fae, oracles, trolls, and anything else you can think of, but it’s also full of so much heart.

It’s so sweet with a golden retriever lead that’ll make you jealous. Definitely leans on the cozy side for plotting and character arcs but there’s still plenty of steam throughout too. Basically, this book is a little bit of everything and also a whole lot of trolls consuming gourmet food… and cheese. Lots of cheese. Fun and sweet and sexy.

* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

eARC from NetGalley

Now that I was ready for the vibe of the series from the first book, I think I enjoyed this one slightly more as I knew to take it 0% seriously. I still prefer ibis’s contemporary romances, but this was definitely a fun palate cleanser. I too love cheese.

The writing was a bit repetitive in some parts and the side characters were sometimes under developed, but I also liked the more political intrigue focused plot of this one than the first one.

CAWPILE: 6.52
Characters 7
Atmosphere/Setting 7
Writing 6
Plot/Logic 6
Intrigue 6
Relationships 6
Enjoyment 7

[just.one.more.paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all, I absolute loved the first book in this little paranormal romance series, Zomromcom, when I read it last year. So, I was hype to receive an early copy of this next book from NetGalley (thanks to the publisher, Berkley). All the opinions, which are quite positive, are my own!

Dade brings it again, from the start and with aplomb, as far as the lighthearted and irreverent humor. The last one had it in spades (the plays on Beauty and the Beast's Gaston's song lyrics remains a favorite running "joke" of any book I've ever read)...and I'm so here for the cheese-related puns and references that are the running joke in this second book. (Do the cheese-involved sexuals in the in-world tv series Curdled go too far? Perhaps. But I shan’t hold it against the actual world being built on page. Everybody is allowed their kinks. Haha.) Also, the sheer number of snacks/foods name-dropped as they magically appear for the trolls, Lorraine and Kip, to eat is truly my favorite thing. Literally so much fun.

Alright, plot-wise, this takes what we got from the first book and definitely expands the world and the story. There was drama and adventure as this group looks further into the culprits behind the zombie breakout from book one, and attempts to build a team of allies with some actual power, in order to prevent the apocalypse that Gwen's visions of the future keep showing her. It was well-paced and interesting, with some solid twists and plenty of excitement. As per usual with series like this as well, I always enjoy seeing the small roles from characters who were previously the focal ones - that continuity and those cameos are always a very fun piece of these interconnected romances.

And as the plot developed, so did our characters. While Gwen and Hugh were a great pair (more of that later), the individual development for them was definitely focused on Gwen, which makes sense, as she was our narrator. I really liked her arc, a gorgeous coming into one’s own confidence, as she realizes that the difference she makes small scale, helping and improving the lives of the people you love and who surround you as community, is just as great (if not more so) as doing something large and universally world-changing. The small actions and gestures save the world by preserving and enhancing our shared humanity, and learning to understand and *believe* that, against the messages the world gives, is heart-filling. Also, the idea of judging yourself by the standards of your friends and neighbors, not those of the privileged and powerful, is an important one that we should really all work on internalizing. Tangentially related to that, I appreciated the unexpected and fantastically-woven-in commentary on the immeasurable limitations on people’s potential when they lack access to basic healthcare, etc. due to societally inflicted low economics/income. The effects of those limitations are not always obvious, as we see here, but the ramifications of that lack of access can be so huge! Although in this case, that commentary is super well balanced with the way that even with those unintended/unknown limitations, people are still incredibly helpful to and important in their communities. Hat tip to that point, alongside the way it proves yet again that these [class] differences are completely fabricated by those in power attempting to limit anyone else from reaching where they have found themselves.

As promised, Gwen and Hugh. First, a literary romance Hugh? Be still my I-have-a-real-life-romance-Hugh heart. Their super subtle mate thing (from Hugh's side), and slower burn high-yearning vibes, from both sides, is fantastic. Though in the book, since you could perhaps characterize this as a second chance romance, the delivery of the spice comes pretty quickly post-reunion, and it was great. Solid paranormal aspects, as far as Hugh's demon appendages and heat-spreading capacities, and generally lovely (and not at all cringy) traditional spice-scene writing. I thought Gwen and Hugh were a spectacular and well-written match for each other. Absolutely an opposites attract situation, where they both help each other see their own worth/hidden talents, and come out from behind their respective walls (whether emotional or self-doubt), in a way that made me feel all fuzzy and happy inside.

With a title like World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon, a reader expects a certain level of humor and irreverence, which Dade delivers. And we're also given an adventure-filled plot and a cozy and spicy romance. The best of all worlds. Exactly the sequel to Zomromcom that I hoped it would be. I can't wait for (the clearly set up) next book!

“And at his age, he should already know that rules and justice didn’t always demand the same actions or work toward the same outcome.”

“That said, feelings aren’t consent, and not all desire is welcome or voluntary. […] …your emotions cannot and do not offer me any additional physical or emotional rights.”

“I’ll go out with love, in love – and fighting all the way down.”

“She’d made the lives of those in her community a little better every day for decades, exactly as he’d told her. And that wasn’t nothing, was it? Didn’t their live have meaning? If so, didn’t her life have meaning… […] …why was she still judging herself by the standards of the most privileged and powerful rather than her friends and neighbors?”

“She knew how to make genuine friends out of strangers, especially when those strangers were also her neighbors. She knew how people in difficult circumstances could form informal partnerships to stay alive and protect the vulnerable. And she certainly knew how to scrape for survival, powered by determination and community instead of inborn talent.”

“…some people were rule followers, either by nature or by training. Others weren’t. Her main conclusion? One category wasn’t necessarily better than the other, as long as the people in question were following or breaking the right rules for the right reasons…”

“Do you love me, Hugh?” / “Yes.” Immediate. Unequivocal. / “Like darkness loves a spark. In your absence, more than I can bear.”

“Easy-peasy, melted cheesy."

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Olivia Dade’s contemporary romances and was excited to receive this advanced copy of World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon. I didn't realize this was the second in a series so I was confused by the first few chapters. This is primarily because we are dropped into the story immediately after the events of the first book, which, again, would have made much more sense if I had read Zomromcom first. Don’t make my mistake and be a chaos reader; consume them in order.

I found the synopsis of the first book to be a bit hectic. The exposition comes from multiple different points of view, which sometimes made it hard for me to follow and slowed the pace down. I don't feel like the book really hit its stride until about 30% in and the manic humor didn’t really work for me. For instance, Gwen loves cheese. No, more than that, she is obsessed. Cheese features heavily throughout the book to the point that it felt heavy handed. I featured so much that I felt Gwen's simple love of fromage turned into an overdone personality quark (hey, cheese pun!).

Once the story takes off, though, Dade touches on important themes: hiding in plain sight while also denying (or not recognizing) who you really are, self-worth, the importance of consent, and the incredible value of found family. There is trans and queer rep, as well, which I love to see.

I've seen some reviews complaining about the lack of worldbuilding and I can't quite comprehend it when the characters LIVE IN GEORGETOWN. Hugh drives a Prius! There's an entire extant world right there and Dade has cleverly layered magic and mythology over top of it.

Briefly: For reasons yet unknown, someone has released the zombies from a secure facility built decades ago to keep them contained. Gwen and her friends stop the creatures before they escape the walled Containment Zone and wreak havoc in the city, but the mystery of why the creatures were released remains.

Gwen is an oracle, albeit a very weak one. Her love interest is Hugh, a local Councilman and very hot demon. Gwen ekes out a living in The Containment Zone, which was built decades ago to contain a horde of zombies. She survives by making minor predictions for friends and neighbors in exchange for goods and services.

Hugh and Gwen met decades ago when she was about to (barely) graduate from the oracle academy. He is smothered by family obligations and expectations. Gwen spent her childhood and adolescence separated from family and friends during school and remains unsure of her place in the world. She can’t make useful predictions, doesn’t have a regular job, and has little contact with her family of origin even now. What use is an oracle who can only make minor predictions. What is one’s intrinsic worth when their own family barely keeps in contact with them? Is fulfilling familial obligations more important than living the life you want?

I will absolutely continue to devour her contemporary romances, I’m just not sure that this series is for me. If you love hijinks, mystery, and silliness alongside your hot romance, you should absolutely check the series out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middling oracle and cheese lover, Gwendolen “Gwen” Wexloff is preparing for her final evaluation by the oracle verification panel at the Delphi Academy when she meets Hugh Blacke, a demon who she thinks is a representative of the Supernatural & Enhanced Ruling Council (SERC) interviewing students. They chat for a few minutes, and she is incredibly attracted to him and thinks he might be attracted to her as well, but then she learns that he is actually one of the panelists. To say her evaluation went badly would be a massive understatement and her dreams of a better life for herself and her family are crushed. Now twenty years later, Gwen, who has been living in the Containment Zone, is single, pregnant, and has just battled a zombie breach and then had the most powerful vision she has ever had. From her vision she learns that there is a conspiracy to frame demons for the zombie breach and it will trigger a worldwide species war that will leave millions dead. She and her friends need to find someone powerful enough to help them prove the breach was meant to trigger the events that will lead to the war in Gwen’s vision, and she knows that there is only one person she can turn to, the man who witnessed her greatest humiliation and the man she hoped to never see again…Hugh Blacke.

Hugh Blacke is a powerful man, a lawyer and a councilor for SERC, he is known to be fair, law abiding and honest, so when Gwen shows up on his doorstep in the middle of the night, he agrees to hear her out and keep an open mind, despite the fact that her track record with him isn’t stellar. He has never forgotten Gwen and has even wondered about her over the years. He agrees to go to “The Zone” with her to examine the scene for himself, never expecting to get dragged into a fight for the future of the world! He is convinced that something shady is going on, but before he can leave, the authorities show up and he needs a good reason for being in “The Zone” in the middle of the night, so he pretends Gwen is his girlfriend and even fights one of her Troll friends to prove it. Now he and Gwen will have to figure out who is behind the plot and stop them before their evil plan can come to fruition and hopefully live long enough to explore the attraction that is clearly still brewing between them.

I really enjoyed this story, Gwen and Hugh are such likable and relatable characters that it is almost impossible not to root for them. This story is filled with emotion, found family, conspiracies, laugh out loud moments, betrayal, secrets, spicy love scenes, hope and finally an ending with a HEA! I do wish I had read the previous book in the series, but that is just because this one was so good that I feel like I missed out and not because I couldn't follow this story. I have definitely added it to my TBR pile and am already looking forward to the next installment. Highly recommended.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about reading is when you can tell just how much the author enjoyed writing it, and you can tell with absolute certainty that Olivia Dade had SO much fun with this book. And I’m so glad because that translated into a book that was so much fun to read. World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon was such an insane, delightfully weird, chaotic, unhinged and genuinely sweet paranormal romance! I’ve really been loving paranormal/supernatural romances this year, and this is probably one of my favorites so far!

Gwen was such a refreshing FMC. She’s not the kind of character who is going to charge into battle and single-handedly save the world, but that doesn’t make her any less capable or important. Her kindness, compassion, and willingness to help the people around her are some of her greatest strengths, and I loved watching her slowly recognize that in herself. I also adored how her seemingly unimpressive oracle abilities ended up being much more significant than she ever realized. I would love to read more books with FMCs that realize their kindness is their strength, not their weakness. And Hugh!!!!!! 🥹 What a flaming hot, demon-shaped green flag. Their history made their relationship especially fun, and I loved watching all of the awkwardness, tension, and mutual attraction between them turn into something genuinely tender. Hugh completely sees Gwen in a way that she struggles to see herself, and their romance had so many sweet moments mixed in with some 10/10 spice and humor.

The world itself is absolutely bonkers in the best way. Demons, oracles, zombies, vampires, trolls, impending apocalypse… and somehow cheese? manages to become one of the most memorable parts of the entire story. Gwen’s dedication to cheese genuinely made me laugh more than once, but it was also sweet once you read the book’s dedication. I also really enjoyed the balance between the ridiculousness of the supernatural world and the darker, higher-stakes storyline happening underneath it all.

My one hesitation was that the beginning felt a little slow for me. There’s quite a bit of setup and world-building before everything really clicked, and I think having read the first book beforehand would have helped me settle into the interconnected storyline more quickly. Once I was fully invested, though, I flew through it. The humor, romance, suspense, and increasingly chaotic plot kept me entertained all the way through.

Overall, I really really loved this It’s quirky, heartfelt, spicy, and completely unafraid to embrace its own ridiculousness, while still giving Gwen and Hugh a surprisingly touching romance. I’m definitely interested in continuing the series, and now I’m determined to go back and read book one! If you’re looking for a paranormal romance with an unconventional but incredible FMC, a demon MMC who is ridiculously easy to adore, found family, and supernatural chaos, this one is worth reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. My review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.

Olivia Dade’s books are usually solid three star reads for me. Her plus size protagonists are wonderful, and as a fellow squishy girl myself I deeply appreciate that. Her execution is often lacking, but it’s usually at a forgivable level. Zomromcom was not forgivable. In fact, the first book in this series was a complete dud. I was annoyed, frustrated, and very unsatisfied by it. I came into this one hoping it would be a better experience. It wasn’t.

The characters are over the top in almost every possible way, as are the relational interactions. In fact, everything about this book is so ridiculous that it reads like a satire. Gwen did make me laugh though. Her obsession with cheese is both relatable and hilarious. But other than that strangely defining character trait, she is a textbook damsel in distress for the entire book. Disappointing. The story is rushed and the tropes are obvious. That said, it’s occasionally funny. It’s a very specific brand of humor, but it made me smile. The trolls are the exception. Their humor is painfully juvenile and eyeroll inducing.

It’s a very madcap, hand-wavy plot. Don’t expect it to make a ton of sense. There were wild, confusing swings in the story that came out of left field. The world building is inconsistent, contradictory, and often left unexplained. The villain might as well be twirling a mustache. There is also a LOT of miscommunication by assumption, which is a trope I really don’t like. If your characters are adults, let them behave like adults. Relationship plots that exist only because the characters refuse to ask really obvious questions drives me absolutely nuts. The lack of perception implied by Gwen’s inability to understand what is right in front of her makes her look incredibly dimwitted.

I don’t love the physical focus in the writing. The word choices and the emphasis on physical attraction over any other quality is uncomfortable and way too horny for me. I’m interested in romance, not lust. The emotional beats were forced and dramatic. The spice is also not written very well. It’s full of florid language and really over done dialogue, and I ended up skimming most of it. The one positive is that there is a heavy emphasis on informed consent.

The ending is a mess. Nothing about it worked.

Dade’s exploration of being a plus sized woman in a world that is not designed for us is refreshing. I just wish it was done with more finesse, less spice, and more than a basic attempt at coherency.

[Dotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon is a fantasy rom-com combining magic, mystery and more than a little bit of conspiracy. Our story is the second in a series, but I didn’t feel that I missed anything by not reading the first book.

Our story follows Gwen, a human oracle of middling talent who recently discovered her pregnancy. Gwen lives in the Containment Zone, an area in the DC suburbs just outside of a zombie containment unit. After the zombies escaped and were killed (which I assume is the plot of book one), the humans and supernatural people of the Containment Zone realize that a fae conspiracy is trying to pin the blame on demons. After Gwen has a vision of the apocalypse, she seeks help from one of the only trustworthy members of the government, Hugh, who she had encountered decades before at her oracle testing. The two work together to uncover a conspiracy and prevent the apocalypse, while finding love and purpose along the way.

The story is fun, doing a good job of balancing the romance elements with the mystery. The worldbuilding was excellent; despite being the second book in a series, the author did a good job of explaining the most important elements when needed, without being bogged down within the story. The pacing in this book was well done, with the story moving between locations and moments quickly, but also allowing our characters to grow and develop.

I do feel like the male main character was a little too perfect; his instantaneous love and care for her feels a little overwhelming and disingenuous. The couple also doesn’t have a third act conflict, because of the progression of the mystery storyline, and his overwhelming obsession with her feels unsustainable long term. As the story progresses, we can see the things that he sees in her, but we know he couldn’t have seen them in the second chapter and he was still acting overbearing. If instant love bothers you, this story might not be for you.

Altogether, this was a fun fantasy rom-com with real stakes and challenges. The mystery was interesting, with good twists, and the conclusion to the story was satisfying. The book leaves the door open for another book in the series, which I would be happy to read.

This book was explicit, with three scenes involving foreplay and intercourse. Each scene is about a chapter in length and goes into detail. The male main character is a demon and has a forked tongue that comes into play with kissing, but no other non-human elements are present in the explicit scenes.

Thank you to Berkley for providing me with this advanced reader copy.

[Laura Black Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal romance at its most ridiculous – and heartfelt! I adored Zomromcom, one of my favourite reads of 2025 so I’ve been waiting for this and it’s just as fun!

WOO(R)SD has a brief prologue from twenty-odd years ago when Hugh and Gwen first meet. Then the book is off at a gallop, roughly the day after Zomromcom finishes. Gwen and her bunch of misfit friends had succeeded in thwarting a zombie attack, but they need help to find out how it occurred. Gwen and a couple of trolls approach Hugh Blacke, an esteemed member of the Ruling Council who had said all those years ago that she should call him if ever she was in need. Hugh remembers her very well, and off they go, trolls in tow, to find out how the zombies escaped the containment walls, and who was responsible, and what else could be coming.

Gwen Wexloff is a very ordinary oracle. She has visions but they are more likely to be about whether or not a recipe works, than they are about world changing events. She has made herself a life by bartering her visions for the goods and help she needs, and she cares for her neighbours and builds community in the fringes near the containment walls. She is resourceful and kind, and also pregnant.

Hugh Blacke is one of the elites. He is a half demon (complete with horns), lawyer at the family firm, and on the Ruling Council. Apart from that one meeting twenty years ago, Gwen and Hugh have little in common, but they are clearly soulmates.

I won’t detail the plot as it’s such a ride! It feels very complicated to begin with, but Olivia Dade knows her stuff and it all makes sense as events unfold – and it’s breezy and very funny, in between action and danger. Cheese references and jokes are everywhere and I adored them all – especially the very smutty television show set in a world of cheese.

Hugh and Gwen have turbo-charged insta-love, as they are smitten AFTER A DAY, and it’s so natural that I could believe it. Hugh is an absolute honey – honest to a fault, considerate of everything Gwen wants, a consent King 😉, and an increasingly powerful demon. It’s as if he has been waiting years for Gwen and now he has her, he’s all in. Gwen has a few more hangups than he does (and a pregnancy from a one-night stand) so she’s a little more cautious, but just as smitten. Action is split between the post-zombie villainy, Hugh’s family, and their romance. It’s fast paced, action-packed and super-silly, in the very best ways. Perfect for an afternoon’s escape with some very hot and steamy demon action packed in.

Thank you so much Olivia Dade and Little Brown Group UK for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwen Wexloff is an oracle. She's not a good one, but she can make some minor prophetic judgements and takes pride and joy in providing them for her neighbors. But now, suddenly, she's having major visions that spell consequences in the containment zone recently invaded by zombies (in Zomromcom), and she needs someone on the council to listen. Hugh Blacke was on the final examination panel from oracle school 20 years ago that she completely flubbed in one of her most embarrassing moments of her life, but the conversation they had before her exam makes her think that he'll listen. Hugh takes Gwen seriously, but decides he's going hands on as they work to uncover what Gwen thinks may be a major fae conspiracy.

I love Olivia Dade, and I had an absolute blast reading this. The chemistry, like usual in Dade's books, is off the chart. The romance moves *very fast* which is explained well, but interestingly didn't entirely land right for me. Let me be clear about this, because this is the third time I'm writing this in to a review this week, so it may be what I'm currently looking for in my own moods, but I need a slightly less perfect hero. Hugh is attentive, understanding, and thoughtful, and his only flaw is that he's too starchy? (This is not a flaw for me. I like my heroes extra starchy.) Gwen sees herself as deeply flawed, and while I love that Hugh is a caretaker who wants to coax the best out of Gwen, I wish we'd seen more of the things that Gwen is very good at early in the book. This is a challenge of the third person limited perspective. Overall, the biggest factor for me was probably the speed at which their relationship moved with not quite enough romance to back it up for me. All of that said, I had a ton of fun with the romance and storyline, and these things are going to be a hit for others, while they were a little bit off for me.

One thing I can count on is for Olivia Dade to perfectly balance bananas and seriousness. There are a lot of very serious and very tender moments in the book, but the whole concept of the plot is over the top and she keeps much of the plot on the light and bonkers side. There is a running cheese joke the whole book, which I found really amusing.

Gwen is pregnant, which could be turn off for some readers: it's a major part of her character (appropriately), and I think Dade balances that well within the plot. This is a key part of the way Gwen and Hugh's relationship develops, because, to be clear, Hugh is not the father.

This probably reads best if you've read Zomromcom first for the worldbuilding, but the plot also stands alone well.

Thank you to Berkley for an eARC. World's Okayest Oracle is out 8/11/2026.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I received the ARC for World’s Okayest Oracle Reluctantly Seeks Demon, I abandoned my carefully planned TBR. At this point, whenever Olivia Dade releases a new book, all other reading plans simply cease to exist.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

This is the second book in Olivia Dade’s delightfully bonkers supernatural romance series. Gwen Wexler briefly appeared in Zom Rom-Com, and I was so pleased to see her take centre stage here.

Gwen is, by her own estimation, a fairly underwhelming oracle. Her visions tend to be small, practical and decidedly un-apocalyptic, and twenty years ago a disastrous oracle assessment left her convinced she’d missed out on the life she could have had. The assessor? Hugh Blacke, an infuriatingly handsome demon who was simply doing his job, but who has carried the memory of Gwen with him ever since.

Now, with tensions rising between humans and supernaturals and someone seemingly intent on provoking an all-out war, Gwen’s increasingly alarming visions force her to seek Hugh’s help. Their reluctant (on her part) reunion quickly becomes something much more complicated.

I absolutely adored these two together. Hugh is an elite book boyfriend: powerful, patient, endlessly supportive and completely gone for Gwen. Watching him quietly pine while Gwen slowly realises just how deeply he cares was immensely satisfying. Gwen herself is impossible not to love. She may underestimate her own gifts, but she’s generous, compassionate and the sort of person who instinctively puts everyone else first. She feels like the emotional heart of her community.

One of the things I love most about this series is the world-building. It’s imaginative, chaotic and endlessly entertaining, populated by witches, demons, trolls and an unforgettable cast of supporting characters. I was delighted to spend more time with my favourite trolls, while the new additions fit seamlessly into the story.

As always with Olivia Dade, the romance is equal parts heartfelt, hilarious and gloriously steamy. There’s wonderful plus-size representation, laugh-out-loud humour, genuine emotional depth and an overarching intrigue that continues to build in intriguing ways.

I loved every page of this. Five stars, without hesitation, and I already can’t wait for the next instalment.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to be one of Olivia Dade's biggest fans, and while this book wasn't perfect, it was still a very fun read and a great continuation of the series. Zomromcom was a very fun, chaotic ride with a lot of puns, and this book honestly felt like a perfect successor in the series.

Some things I loved:
-HUGH. I love a man who cares, and Hugh is the ultimate caring demon. He is so careful and consistent (without becoming boring), and the way he just cared for and protected Gwen was disgustingly adorable. I feel like Dade also did a great job of showing a MMC who was interested in a FMC for a while without it verging on creepy.
-The weird cast of characters just works for me. Kip and Lorrie and their insatiable need for gourmet food continues to entertain, while Max and Edie are still adorable and I loved catching up with them. I was also intrigued by some of the new characters, but I don't want to mention them too much for fear of spoiling story. I'll just say I'm hoping to see a Kip book in the future with one of them.
-The mystery/action was very fun. Is it groundbreaking? No. But I love a group fighting against the end of the world, and the fantasy elements of the story were simple enough to keep up with while still keeping it interesting.

There were only a few things that really didn't work for me, and they're very minor:
-I do think this book could have benefitted from a little more of a recap. With the humor of the story, I think this could have been done in a way that adds to the overall tone. Have Kip catch us up or do it as a fake installment of the cheese soap opera. Something. I just had a bit of a hard time remembering who everyone was and what happened in the first book.
-It was a touch insta-lovey, and I thought there would be a better explanation for that like fated mates or something.
-The humor could be off-putting for some, although it does seem like Dade dialed it down some for this installment.

Overall, though, it was a fun read, and I loved most of it. I would obviously recommend it for fans of the first of the series, and I hope to see it continue. 4/5 stars.

Thanks to Dade, NetGalley, and Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Olivie Dade's books sicne they were recommended to me a few years ago. She is one of my go to authors for plus size romcoms and romances with FMCs in their 30s, and now cheese loving girls like me, too!

While I've read several of her books, I haven't gotten around to Zom RomCom yet. I'm sure somethings would make more sense in the grand scheme of the story, but you don't need to have read it first, before delving into WOORSD. It does a great job at catching you up to with important bits and still saving some tidbits for their own stories. I plan on reading Zom Romcom soon, and look forward to Thora's story as well!

WOORSD had funny and easy to read writing. Gwen is incredibly blunt, but in an endearing way. How Dade brings up classism and how it may relate to her hindered ability, is rare to see in more comedic stories and romances, at least in my experience.

I'm not entirely sure if there was a point to Gwen being pregnant, besides it being the reason for a small reveal, that could've also been shown otherwise. It plays very little role in the story in general. Single moms absolutely to be deserve love stories too, I was just surprised and thought it'd be more integral. Anyone bothered by the accidental baby trope or pregnant FMCs, would not be bothered by the story in my opinion. If there would be anything to complain about it would be the insta-love aspect, but given the potential world ending and life threatening circumstances, I'd say it's understandable.

The world-building is simple and clear, meeting all needs without getting bogged down by details that would distract from the romance in a book like this. While this is a lot more plot heavy and less character driven than other books I've read by Wilde, it's still just as good, if a bit emotionally lighter.

World's Okayest Oracle Reluctantly Seeks Demon was a fun summer read for me, and I'd recommend it to everyone who loves PlusSize FMCs or wants to dip their toes into supernatural world ending romances.

Thank-you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

⋆₊⊹⁀➴ An oracle who can see the future teams up with the far-too-hot demon from her past to avert catastrophe, in this steamy paranormal romance following hot on the heels of Zomromcom.

✦Series: Supernatural Entanglements, 2
MF interconnected standalone
This was wildly entertaining! Funny, with a healthy dose of mystery, suspense, and a brilliant cast of characters. The overall plot continues to thicken with each instalment; I’m buzzing for the next one but satisfied at how each stands alone. I’m hooked.

✦POV: Single
Gwen is such a fun character to read. She’s humble and completely guided by kindness and compassion in her everyday interactions; she's the glue holding her community together.

Hugh is the stick-up-his-butt demon who bore witness to her greatest failure twenty years ago and he’s never forgotten (or stopped being obsessed with) her. Finding out why had me kicking my feet with glee.

Despite being told only from Gwen’s POV, I love how clearly Hugh’s feelings are shown by his actions, reactions, and words.

✦Spice: Open door
They met briefly once, had an instant connection which ended in a a disaster, and have been secretly pining for each other for TWO DECADES. Their developing romance felt so good to read and their chemistry is blistering hot. Also- demon 🍆 is something I need to read more of! 😮‍💨😂

✩ Zombie apocalypse vibes with trolls, vampires, witches, demons, humans, and fae. Unforgettable villains and Fates👏 Action, conspiracy, humour, and a cheese-obsessed FMC. Inject it into my veins!

♡ Olivia Dade always hits the spot. She had me with her romcoms, but this venture into paranormal is doing it for me. I recommend it if you want a clever mix of both.

✨Thanks to Olivia Dade and Berkley for the ARC to review via NetGalley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ rounded up!

→ Connect with me on Instagram!

[Emmalita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing that struck me pretty early in World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon, was that there was no internal barrier to a relationship between Gwen and Hugh, it was all external. Hugh and Gwen met once just before the most humiliating moment of Gwen’s life. But as soon as Gwen walks back into Hugh’s life 20 years later, it’s very clear that he’s all in. There will be no third act break up, he will make any and all adjustments to keep Gwen in his life. With that tension gone, what else is there? Mmmmmmmm, maybe a great big war and Gwen’s foretold murder?

At the end of Zomromcom, Gwen, for the first time in her oracular career, had a big prophetic vision. Everyone knew that the zombies hadn’t escaped containment on their own, but Gwen’s vision confirmed that something bigger and nastier than anticipated is happening. Bigger problems means they need a bigger ally, so Gwen goes to Hugh, who believes her, for his own reasons.

Gwen is a delightful character. She’s almost 40 and has made a community for herself with her low stakes prophecies. She’s a serious cheese connoisseur and in the early months of pregnancy. Having failed out of Oracle school (see above most humiliating day), she’s outside the highly regulated and isolated oracle structure. Being on the outside turns out to be an advantage.

All of Dade’s books have a mix of silly and serious. She gets cheesy about cheese in World’s Okayest Oracle, and has a nice reward for fans of Edie’s foil wrapped burrito wielding skills. She also dives into our anxieties about the extractive nature of capitalism and the violence of racism. As in Zomromcom, the answer is community and connection. The romance between Hugh and Gwen is sweet and grounds the big emotional swings.

I am intrigued by the setup for book 3 in the epilogue.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Berkley and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

[M. K. French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen Wexloff had never been a successful oracle, so most of her ability is used in trade with ordinary humans in the Containment Zone. She needs help now, and is forced to seek it from Hugh Blacke, the demon that once watched her bomb her oracle exam. He's highly placed politically, and now the two must work closely together to find the source of a conspiracy.

This is a follow-up to Zomromcom, where humans share the world with supernatural creatures and zombies created by the government as weapons against them broke out to trigger a dystopian future.

We briefly met Gwen and the trolls in that novel, but this one is now her story. We get a summary of the ending of the first novel at the beginning, because we're now dealing with the fallout of those events: someone set the zombies loose, and they have a reason to start a war between humans and supernatural or enhanced beings. Gwen, Hugh, and their friends are now fighting to prevent that, and the best way to keep Gwen and her ability to foresee the future safe is to pretend they were together all along.

In addition to the fake dating trope, there are so many cheese-eating puns involved with Gwen's love of cheeses and a series that invokes cheese regularly. That helps to offset the very real danger that she's in; her oracle ability is now in full force, putting her at risk. Hugh is very protective of her; the two had an attraction all the way back at her testing attempt, and the attraction is present now. He's extremely rule-abiding for a demon, in part because he doesn't want to oppress or unduly influence others. Hugh is very motivated to care for Gwen and keep her safe on multiple levels, and they don't fight their attraction for each other very hard. It's fun to see them together and how well they coordinate efforts. There are struggles they go through in the final third of the book, and we earn our happily ever after.

[Dakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sitting somewhere in the realm of 2.5 to 3 stars.

World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon picks up right where Zomromcom left off with Gwen -the pregnant oracle- at the helm this time. Our main character is racing to SEC Councilor Hugh Blacke's abode to convince him to join Edie, Max and the rest in fixing the conspiracy mess that started with the zombie outbreak from book one. And -of course- she must do this dressed as Guy Fieri for some godforsaken reason.

This was just a rough of read as book one was for me, unfortunately. I picked this one up because I was interested to see where the conspiracy plot went and hoped that the cheesiness would lessen with this second book. Alas, this one also suffered from an over-abundance of quirkiness that, once again, overtook any world or character building the story had. Gwen and Hugh had some cute moments and a great set up for a second chance romance but it was replaced with the same kind of insta-love that we saw with Max and Edie in the previous installment. Within the first 24 hours of meeting again, they were basically ready to go full-throttle into marriage.

On top of the insta-love, there was also this weird obsession with cheese that Gwen had going on. All this time we could have spent building the relationship between Hugh and Gwen, getting some much needed world building or furthering the plot was spent with us learning about Gwen loving cheese, or her waxing poetic about this weirdly sexual show about cheese-related things. Her referencing a particular part of her anatomy as a "cheese cave" nearly made me drop the rating a full star.

There was a lot of potential here. I can see the bones of a story that I would really enjoy, but I don't think I will be continuing on with the next book that is set up in the epilogue of this one.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy for review.