Doomsdate

by Laura Piper Lee

When a first date between a doomsday prepper and a nerdy film professor goes horribly, zombie-apocalypse-level wrong, the mismatched pair team up on a road trip to safety in this delightfully feral rom-com.

With a new virus spreading and a lockdown on the horizon, Maisie Bennett is determined to check one item off her bucket list: Get laid. But that’s no easy feat for an anxious doomsday prepper who’s never made it past a first date. So when a handsome, stubbly-jawed professor swipes right and agrees to meet up, Maisie vows to act normal—and to leave her taser at home.

Dr. Everett Greer has lost all lust for life after a personal tragedy, but he doesn’t have the heart to stand up the poor woman his best friend catfished to force him back “out there.” Maisie turns out to be surprisingly lovely, but there's something off about her, too, with her clinking cargo pockets, shy smile, and utility belt full of—are those weapons? Unfortunately, their awkward first date goes from bad to doomed when the GI virus that’s trapped half of America in the bathroom starts claiming its first casualties, then reanimates them into flesh-eating zombies. And this is precisely why Everett doesn't date anymore.

As the country spins out of control, Maisie and Everett find themselves an unlikely team of two—well, three, if you count Everett’s cat, Chicken—as they travel north to hopeful safety. Along the way, Maisie and Everett make a deal: she’ll teach the soft, liberal arts professor how to survive, and he’ll teach her how to live—through movies, travel, and, to Maisie’s delight, sex lessons. But when their growing feelings are put to the test, they’re in danger of losing not only their brains to the zombies, but worse, their hearts to each other.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Horror, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

Laura Piper Lee writes lots of things--desperate pleas to her partner for emergency caffeine, to-do lists that never get done, impassioned texts on her favorite supplements (it's Berberine, look it up)--but she only gets paid to write adult romantic comedies featuring characters as hapless as she is.

Add her newest book, Zoe Brennan, First Crush to your want-to-reads shelf if you love steamy, sapphic romcoms with professorial butch love interests, power play, and lots of wine!

Things you'll find in Zoe Brennan:
*A lot of on-page spice,
*a sexy, bossy butch love interest,
*a LOT of jokes, and
*a perpetually single lesbian in a small queer mountain town who's married to her vineyard because relationships are scary.

Add Laura's debut Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair to your to-reads shelf, or hell, if you want to be a hero, buy it even!

Things you'll find in Hannah Tate:
*on-page spice
*a hot Golden Retriever boyfriend (he even lives in a treehouse y'all)
*a LOT of jokes, and
* a single mom who's trying to build her whole life from the ground up with two leaky breasts and an infant strapped to her front.

Reviews

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

is there anything better than a nerdy completely pathetic, utterly down bad mmc with an absolutely fifthly mouth?!

Pair it with laugh out loud funny adventures during a zombie apocalypse, emotional depth for dayssss, + sex lessons.

I'm so utterly in love with this book.

Doomsdate is impossible to put down.

It is action-packed. Laugh out loud funny. The perfectly pathetic (complimentary) cat dad MMC. The absolute baddie FMC. The way they learn to live & love during a literal zombie apocalypse. The found family. The heart-break. The healing. The absolute bonkers (again, complimentary) concept. The sex lessons!!!!

This is such an unbelievably fun book, with a ton of emotional depth, and if it isn’t on your tbr yet, what tf are you waiting for.

I’m planning to reread the MOMENT I have access to the audiobook, at which point I may come back and add even more praise to this review, but for now this will have to do.

READ THIS BOOK!

While you’re waiting for its release please, please go read Pot Shot, another absolute banger by Laura Piper Lee!

5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

Thank you Dell & the author for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Sophie ❦]

DNF 60% What a strange experience.

This book starts off so strong. We have Piper, a doomsday prepper who really, really wants to get laid, and her target is a sweet guy named Everett. Unfortunately, her only reference material for how to flirt is reality TV. As if that wasn’t awkward enough, a zombie apocalypse kicks off right as they're wrapping up dinner.

As far as first chapters go, this was great. I immediately loved how flawed and relatable these characters were. But they also walked a really fine line between being totally adorable and completely cringe.

For a while, I was 100% team ‘adorable’. But then the romance completely hogged the apocalypse and that’s where it lost me.

It started to feel like they were just going on casual dates while the apocalypse was happening in the background. The sexual tension led to some funny zombie encounters at first, but it also became repetitive and eye roll inducing. I wanted to love the deeper moments where they worked through their insecurities, but there was just so much boring filler and so. much. lust! Ughh

I ended up skimming the romance and getting completely annoyed by the characters, so I thought it was best to DNF.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: an anxious doomsday prepper and a grieving hottie professor VS. a zombie apocalypse. i am sat 👀

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!

[Rebecca]

omg this sounds so good?

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for access to this ARC

[Vmndetta ᛑᛗᛛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

pre-read:

is it just me or the man on the cover look yum?

edit: OMG I GOT THE ARC

review:

I am very, very picky with romance book. Romance even isn't really my genre, feel free to look at my romance reading list! But this book got my attention—and ... do I like or dislike this book? 👀

Not gonna lie, just from seeing the cover of this book, I really wanted to read it. I mean, just look at it! Doesn't the guy on the cover look yum!? Oh, he looks exactly like my type. And after I read the blurb? A professor with stubble and glasses? Damn, I need to read this! *banging my credit card*

Based on my past experience with romance books that always disappointed me, I honestly didn't expect much. Especially with the blurb that looked kinda silly and I seriously thought it would be very cringe. I mean, seriously, apocalypse romance? I thought the characters would just act dumb and horny all the time, and I was ready to hate it. But well, I can say that I'm glad I was wrong.

I only needed a few pages to feel like this book was a comfortable read, and to know that Maisie and Everett might not be like other romances I've read (even if it's not many lol). Their first meeting really hooked me. Since that, I kept thinking, 'omg this book is so good', so I kept reading.

I do love Maisie and Everett. Maisie is a likable and prepared character, meanwhile Everett is a movie nerd and kinda dumb (for zombie survival), but in an endearing way. Here, we also would meet other characters. My personal favorites: Gramps and Chicken. How I wish to see them more.

I didn't feel their romance was cringe. From the first time they met, I was already rooting for them for some reason. They are awkward in a funny way, have different personalities and inner conflicts too. And I really like that this is not insta-lust/love like I expected or often find in romance books.

This book really exceeded my expectations at some points. When I thought the zombie element would be weak, that's exactly when the world actually started to go into an apocalypse. Crazy. I didn't expect the action and survival parts to be this good and enough for romance books.

Maybe, from the middle to the end, the story gets darker, because well … it's zombies everywhere, and guess who will die? So I feel like the giddy moments become less. Some new characters are also introduced toward the end. I wish their journey was longer and had more moments that made me giggle and kick my feet. But everything I read was already good enough and felt just right.

I recommend this book, even if you were first interested just because of the cover like me lol.

Spice: 🌶️/5

[Bonita. E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just so you know, a young nerd hot professor is so underutilized 🤓🥵

It's a zombie apocalypse, She teach him the art of survival and he teach her the art of sex.....

Maisie is almost 30 years old, she's heavy in being a survivalist. A doomsday prepper you might say. She's good at martial arts, in handling weapons and general knowledges on survival. This kind of life isolated her to the real world as of she never had any normal relationship just like any woman of her age, and she want to change her life a bit by losing her virginity before she turns 30.

The professor on the other hand, an emotionally unavailable man who still mourning after his wife died three years ago. His best friend set him up to meet Maisie on dating app so that he can move on. But little did they know they met during the day of the zombie apocalypse.

Anyway this is the kind of book that best experienced when you left a little but of your brains and stop questioning everything. I rolled my eyes so many times while reading it as there are SO MANY things that didn't make sense, plot wise and character wise but whatever.

I could say I'm a fans of zombie stories, im in my Resident Evil run as we speak (currently in RE 4) and had read plenty of zombie books in the past so I kinda had a big expectations toward this one but alas. The book has so much potentials but opted to be a silly out of the world romcom instead with nonsense plot and unreal characters.

The writing is also not really my style as it heavily "telling" instead of "showing" but oh well, it's not really bad tho I still enjoy my time reading it and I love the sexy times in there too it's fun and creative 😘 the hot professor hello? (and no they don't have sex with the zombies if anyone wondering)

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC 🩷

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

6+ stars, besties. This was a deranged, sleep-deprived, emotionally compromised, laughing and crying at the same time kind of reading experience. I loved this book so much I genuinely don’t know how to be normal about it.

Doomsdate completely blindsided me… in the best possible way. It’s a zombie apocalypse romantic comedy with a doomsday prepper FMC, a grieving film professor ANGEL of a MMC, a cat named Chicken, sex lessons, road trip survival chaos, and somehow it is also one of the most heartfelt, emotionally resonant romances I’ve read in a long time. It’s hilarious, tender, weird, hot, devastating, hopeful, and so full of life even while the world is literally ending around them and they’re being chased by zombies with bioluminescent eyeballs. And I had the BEST time reading it.

This is so different from the kinds of books I usually end up giving 6+ stars to, which honestly makes it feel even more special. There was just something magical about the way this book balanced completely unhinged, feral chaos with genuine emotional depth. I was laughing out loud CONSTANTLY. Like, actual cackling in the dead of night because the comedic timing in this book is so sharp and absurd and perfect, but then a few chapters later I’d be tearing up over these characters and how deeply human they felt and how honest and raw they were able to communicate and connect with each other. I stayed up until 5 a.m. to finish it because there was absolutely no way I was sleeping before I knew how this story ended.

Maisie and Everett absolutely owned my heart. Their chemistry is immediate, but not in a shallow, insta-love way (which is CRAZY because they have known each other for less than a day before they’re thrown into this apocalypse as survival partners). It was in an “I see you, and I don’t know what to do with how much I already care, and I’ve never met anyone like you, and how the hell do you see me so clearly already because we only just met” kind of way. Their connection felt so raw and honest from the start, and I loved how vulnerable they both were with each other, even when they didn’t mean to be or want to be. Maisie is anxious, guarded, hyper-prepared, and so used to relying only on herself, and watching her slowly start to trust people, to open up, to believe she deserves softness and safety and love? I was in pieces. There’s so much heart in her character arc, and seeing her grow into herself and her confidence absolutely wrecked me in the best way.

And Everett. Oh my god, Everett. Professor was down so bad. His yearning??? EXQUISITE. No notes. This man is grieving, awkward, gentle, quietly funny, and so deeply gone for Maisie in a way that made me want to scream into a pillow. The tenderness he has for her, the way he sees her, the patience, the vulnerability, the want and desperate need… I was living my best life. I loved him so much. I loved THEM so much. Their romance felt intimate in a way that went beyond the steam (though yes, this book is VERY steamy and I am absolutely not complaining). The sex lessons premise could have been played purely for laughs, but instead it ended up being funny, hot, and surprisingly emotional because of how much trust and affection develops between them.

And then there’s the emotional damage this book inflicted on me. The birthday scene?? I was sobbing. That scene hit me so hard because this book understands that sometimes love isn’t grand gestures in a perfect world, it’s people finding ways to make each other feel seen and celebrated and cared for when everything is literally falling apart. It’s making room for joy and tenderness and connection even in the middle of grief and ruin and fear. This book gets that, and it gets it so, so well.

Also, I need to say this with my full chest: the side characters and found family energy in this book were EVERYTHING to me. Chicken? An zombie-detecting legend. Gemma? Obsessed with her! Badass scientist queen. I need a book for her and Ellie. Every little dynamic, every bit of survivor camaraderie, every ridiculous and heartfelt moment just worked for me. I didn’t want to leave any of them.

What Laura Piper Lee does so well here is make the apocalypse feel genuinely dangerous and emotionally weighty without ever losing the humor, the romance, or the sense of adventure. There’s gore, grief, death, and real horror here, but there’s also warmth and absurdity and hope. The tone should not work as seamlessly as it does, and yet it absolutely does. This book is hilarious one minute and emotionally devastating the next, and somehow it never feels jarring. It just feels alive.

I can’t recommend this one enough. I had so much fun reading it, but more than that, I loved how much heart it had underneath all the zombies and chaos and flirting and survival antics. It’s one of those books that reminds you how special reading can feel when a story just hits exactly right. I’m genuinely so sad it’s over because I want more of Maisie and Everett and Chicken and Gemma and this whole messy, bloody, heartfelt little apocalypse family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this eARC! This will 100% be one of my favorite reads of the year.

✨Here are some quotes that made either (1) laugh, (2) cry, or (3) laugh and cry.✨

“Leave me alone, you creepy bastards!” he sobs. “You don’t want to eat me—I taste like sadness!”

“What was he a professor of, anyway? Something useless, probably. English? Poetry?” “TV,” I mumble into the mic. Gramps roars in outrage. “They let children major in television? No wonder the apocalypse has arrived!”

“Well, I concede in real life he could’ve been a murderer,” he says, wiping at tears. “But this is a romance, Maisie. Romances are safe.” “What do you mean—safe?” “They always have happily ever afters. It’s the rule of the genre.”

“Sadness is such a solitary burden that you notice when anyone cares enough to lift even a finger’s weight of it off your heart. And Maisie saw mine, saw me trapped beneath the wreckage of my hope, and lifted it off me like it was nothing more than a butterfly.”

“Slowly, I lower myself until I’m lying over her, my forearms resting on either side of her pillow. She is all I can see, and I know that if I lived the rest of my life this way, narrowing my vision to just her in my arms, I could be happy no matter what the other circumstances are.”

[Amber (Ambee & Ink) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more can be found on my Bookstagram & Booktok @ Ambeeandink!

Thank you so much to Ballentine, Dell and NetGalley for the review copy of Doomsdate!

Tropes:
❤️Rom-Com
🧟‍♂️Age Gap (7 years)
❤️Road Trip
🧟‍♂️Spicy Lessons
❤️Virgin FMC
🧟‍♂️Grief and Anxiety Rep
❤️College Professor MMC

Was no one going to tell me the Everett has the FILTHIEST mouth? AND when Maisie asks him to explain what he is doing during their "lessons" that he should be writing a filthy zombie rom-com himself? Y'all should have seen me gasping and blushing as I read those scenes. This book had me overheating like I don't read spicy books like its my full time job!

Maisie is nearing her 30th birthday and the one thing she still needs to check off her bucket list is to loose her virginity. Growing up, her mom isolated them on a homestead, fearfully teaching and instilling into Maisie that the world and the people in it were out to hurt them. Now, ten years of living on her own and back in society Maisie is ready to date and cross this massive bucket list item off her list. Only, the start of another pandemic is in the works. What starts out as a seemingly simple stomach flu quickly unravels into quarantine and mask wearing. Maisie isn't ready to give up on her goal and sets up an online date. Because, who wouldn't want to meet the potential love of their life while fearing they are going to shit their pants.

Dr. Everett Greer is no where near ready for a first date, he is still actively mourning the death of his wife from 3 years earlier to colon cancer. But when his best friend shows up on his door, telling him he catfished Maisie into going on a date with Everett he is too nice of a guy to cancel in the last few moments. So he showers, gets dressed and goes on this date. Only, this date goes disastrously bad and Everett runs away, thinking he'll never have to see Maisie again. But the zombie apocalypse has started and she is his only hope at survival.

I think Maisie and Everett balanced each other out perfectly in this book, between the dialogue, their banter, the inner dialogues, their actions and mishaps I don't think they could have been a better fit for each other. Maisie was raised by a dooms day prepper and that is all she knows, when shit quite literally hits the fan she knows what to do and where to go. Everett on the other hand? Maisie is saving HIM! Where she knows what to do and how to survive, Everett is like a newborn lamb who has no survival skills and most likely have gotten his arm gnawed off by a zombie if Maisie didn't save him from that tree.

Of course, during all of this Maisie still hasn't forgotten her goal of loosing her virginity and proposes and idea to Everett to give her sex lessons. Getting to see the hot, older, nerdy professor that can't pitch a tent tell Maisie all the filthy and dirty things he is going to do to her? No one warned me of that! I feel like the spicy scenes and moments in the book were placed and paced really well, I think the open conversation of boundaries and being comfortable with someone was super important and well done too. Side note: I am still thinking about THAT scene on the Empire State Building and I don't think I ever will stop.

The grief of Everett loosing his late wife to cancer and Maisie's anxiety of the world was really well done and balanced in this book. There were so many moments where I was laughing my ass off only to be crying a few minutes later at how deep these characters felt. I don't know if one would categorize this as a second chance kind of romance, but I do think the way it is written we get to see both character have a second chance at life (even if its in the middle of the zombie apocalypse!)

Doomsdate is a laugh your ass off, then cry and then laugh some more novel with a mix of zombies, a pandemic and some crazy adventures that you just have to read to believe they happened. I am so glad that I had an opportunity to read this book because it was truly one of a kind and Laura Piper Lee is now on my list of "auto buy authors."

[Amanda Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. Absolutely add this to your tbr immediately. A hilariously done zombie apocalypse rom-com. It’s giving Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, The Dead Don’t Die… all the hilarious zombie/comedy movies from early 2000s. Packed with cinema references, raucously funny scenes, and an Oval Office scene that could give this book its 5 ⭐️ alone (biggest thanks to the author for giving that scene to us 🙌🏻)

Maisie Bennett is a 29yo doomsday prepper. Her late mom raised her off the grid on a homestead, just the two of them. Teaching her the world around them was full of people that would harm them. It’s been 10 years on her own. She’s slowly ticked a few things off her list of normal life to-do’s. It’s almost her 30th birthday and she was one big item she really wants to tackle. Losing her virginity. No better time to start living and going after her wants than when the nation is suffering from a viral contagion that starts with violent stomach-flu symptoms and sets up an online date, right? Just throw on a mask and they’ll be fine.

They are not fine….

Dr. Everett Greer hasn’t seen color or felt like living since his wife passed 3 years ago. When his close friend catfishes Maisie into a date with him, he knows he can’t leave her hanging. He’s quickly intrigued by her blunt awkwardness and finds himself back at her place, nearly doing just what Maisie was hoping for when it’s comically interrupted and he flees the scene. Unfortunately for him the contagion has went from bad to worse and when he tries to head to his friend’s house the zombie outbreak has already begun.

Doomsdate is non-stop, action packed ride once the outbreak begins. Yet it doesn’t miss on the tender, vulnerable moments of understanding between the MCs. I loved these two blossoming into something more and finding what it means to live together. Hitting the professor x student, forced proximity, and cat sidekick notes I’d definitely recommend this one!

***Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for my honest review***

[Alyx Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Ballantine for the eARC!

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this book.

DOOMSDATE was everything I never knew I needed: zombies, forced proximity, a road trip, an anxious doomsday prepper heroine, a nerdy film professor hero, and a cat named Chicken who honestly deserves a starring role of his own.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. This book somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud funny, wildly chaotic, incredibly sweet, and surprisingly emotional all at the same time. One minute I was cackling over Maisie’s prepper tendencies and Everett’s complete inability to survive literally anything, and the next I was clutching my chest because these two broken, lonely people were slowly finding their way back to life through each other.

Maisie was such a refreshing heroine. She’s anxious, awkward, unapologetically herself, and yet so incredibly capable. And Everett? I adored him. Watching this grieving, movie-loving professor get dragged through the apocalypse while slowly falling for the woman keeping him alive was perfection.

The chemistry between them was off the charts. The banter? Amazing. The tension? Delicious. The romance? Had me kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot. I loved how their relationship developed amid complete zombie-fueled chaos. It felt genuine, heartfelt, and earned.

And can we talk about how FUN this book was? The apocalypse setting never overshadowed the romance, but it also wasn’t just background scenery. The zombie attacks, survival situations, road trip adventures, and constant sense of danger kept the story moving at a breakneck pace. I flew through this book and never wanted to put it down.

This was feral in the best possible way. Hilarious, romantic, chaotic, heartfelt, and endlessly entertaining.

If you told me I’d become emotionally attached to a doomsday prepper, a film professor, and a cat during the zombie apocalypse, I would’ve laughed. Yet here we are.

One of my favorite reads of the year, and I already want to reread it.

[Brianne Klodowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was to die for. As a huge fan of survival/zombie storylines, this was right up my alley. This book had me giggling so hard and it reminded me a lot of Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland, but with more kissing. Doomsdate was so unhinged and hilarious and I was here for the ride. The battle boner was my favorite scene. Chicken was also a fantastic character. Loved it! 🧟‍♂️

Many thanks to Laura Piper Lee and Dell for an advanced copy.

[Brandy Slifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doomsdate by Laura Piper Lee

ARC Review

💀🧟‍♀️ VIBE CHECK: 🧟‍♀️💀

✨ Zombie Apocalypse Romance
✨ Grumpy Sunshine (but make her a prepper)
✨ Soft Nerdy Professor MMC
✨ First Date From Hell
✨ Cat Sidekick Energy
✨ Survival Road Trip
✨ Banter For Days
✨ Emotional Healing Through Chaos
✨ End of the World, Beginning of a Love Story

⸻

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Laura Piper Lee for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Now let me just say…

Whoever looked at a doomsday prepper, a grieving film professor, a blind date, a zombie apocalypse, and a cat named Chicken and thought, “Yeah, let’s throw all that into one book” deserves a raise.

🧟‍♀️ 💥 🧟 💥 🐈

Maisie Bennett is turning thirty and trying desperately to check one thing off her life list before the world ends:

Get laid.

Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

Because her blind date with Dr. Everett Greer goes from awkward small talk to full-blown zombie apocalypse faster than you can say, “Maybe we should’ve just stayed home.”

😂😂😂

These two could not be more different.

Maisie is a walking survival manual with trust issues and enough emergency supplies to outlive civilization.

Everett is a soft, nerdy film professor carrying around grief, movie references, and enough green-flag energy to make a dark romance reader nervous.

The movie references were hilarious, the banter was phenomenal, and watching these two bumble their way through the literal end of the world was ridiculously entertaining.

🎬 🧟‍♀️ 🎬 🧟‍♂️ 🎬

But underneath all the zombies, road trips, and chaos was something surprisingly sweet.

Neither of these characters was really living anymore.

Maisie was surviving.

Everett was grieving.

And somehow, while running from the undead, they helped each other start living again.

Honestly? That hit me harder than some of the zombie attacks.

😭❤️😭

And then we have Chicken.

The cat.

The queen.

The legend.

The true survivor.

Every time Chicken appeared, my investment in this story increased by at least 47%.

Protect Chicken at all costs.

🐈👑🐈

Now let’s discuss the spice.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

No, this isn’t dark-romance-level spice.

But don’t let that fool you.

We’ve got a virgin doomsday prepper and a widowed professor who hasn’t touched another woman in three years.

The tension?

The anticipation?

The emotional connection?

EXCUSE ME, PROFESSOR.

I was over here clutching my pearls.

Sir out here giving educational demonstrations while the world is ending.

📚😳📚

My biggest complaint was the political commentary.

Now don’t get me wrong—some of it absolutely fit the story and made sense within the world. But there were moments where it started getting a little too thick for my taste. I could see where some readers might feel the author was flirting with a line that could pull them out of the story.

For me, it wasn’t enough to put the book down.

But there were definitely moments where I wanted to yell:

🗣️ “LESS POLITICS, MORE ZOMBIES!”

⸻

💀 Final Verdict 💀

If you enjoy:

🧟 Zombie apocalypse survival

😂 Top-tier banter

❤️ Unexpectedly emotional romance

🎬 Endless movie references

🐈 Scene-stealing cats

🌶️ Sweet-but-spicy romance

💥 Grumpy prepper women and soft nerdy men

Then absolutely give this one a shot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5 Stars)

Final Verdict: A blind date so catastrophically bad it triggered the apocalypse… and somehow still turned into one of the sweetest romances I’ve read this year. Come for the zombies. Stay for the banter. Fall in love with the professor. Worship Chicken. 🐈👑🧟‍♀️💀❤️

P.S. If the zombie apocalypse starts tomorrow, I’m finding Maisie. The rest of y’all can figure it out yourselves. 😂🧟‍♀️🏃‍♀️💨🐈

[Stephanie Bleckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars | ARC Review - Thank you NetGalley for this Advanced Copy!

Two unlikely survival partners come together in a post-COVID world as a brand-new virus takes over the nation. One is a sheltered prepper, and the other is a movie professor. Both have past trauma to work through, and together they find healing and trust in each other while fighting to survive during what is quite simply, the zombie apocalypse.

This book sucked me straight in! The characters, the chaos, the trauma bonding - to say I was invested is an understatement. I don't think there was a lull in this entire book. I was on the edge of my seat, turning page after page through zombie attacks, yearning, tension, and the sweetest love story.

I absolutely LOVED Maisie and Everett. They were both so precious in their own distinct ways. I don't want to give away too much information because I want you to read this book and get to know them on your own, but the character growth and development were written so well! Not to mention the familial healing. Ugh, I loved it all so much!!

My only complaint - and the only thing that kept this from being a full 5-star book for me - was that the ending felt rushed. I went into the last 15% of the book convinced we were going to have a duet on our hands, but instead everything wrapped up rather quickly. The ending was satisfying, but it felt like we sprinted through material that could have been explored a little more.

Also, I feel it's important to note that Chicken the cat is an absolute star of a supporting character!

[Heather Saizar · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stories, Doomsdate immediately caught my attention, and I’m so glad it did! This wasn’t your typical zompoc adventure. Laura Piper Lee created a storyline that felt fresh, unique, and completely entertaining from start to finish.

The characters absolutely stole the show for me. They were quirky, lovable, and felt so real, even while navigating the chaos of the apocalypse. I found myself getting attached to them almost immediately and cheering them on through every disaster, close “encounter”, and unexpected twist.

The romance was so fun and the best part of the story! It balanced perfectly with the zombie-filled action, giving plenty of hilarious moments alongside the survival insanity. The whole premise of losing virginity and being taught how to be “normal” was absolute perfection, especially smack dab in the middle of navigating the end of the world.

Between the zombie adventures, the humor, the heart, and the unique take on the apocalypse, I loved every second of this book. If you’re a fan of zombie fiction mixed with romcom, Doomsdate is definitely worth picking up.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. This book is hilarious but also my worst nightmare. You thought the 2020 lockdowns were bad? Well at least no one turned into zombies! Not to mention, going on a first date is stressful enough but add in the start of the zombie apocalypse and talk about a shit show. I could not stop imagining the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.

Maisie is naive when it comes to human interactions and pop culture, but boy is she more than prepared for the end of days. I loved her quirky personality and watching her learn more about herself. Everett is pretty helpless at first when it comes to zombies but alls forgiven because he’s hot and more than helpful in other…areas *winky face* Maisie and Everett’s adventure together was packed with playful moments, stressful situations, and a satisfying amount of spice. Gramps was an adorable addition to the story, he’s so grumpy but he loves his Maisie-girl something fierce! Oh and Chicken? Iconic.

I had so much fun reading this story, it’s fast paced and left me wanting to read everything this author writes.

[Anna]

What to expect: A (literal) shitty virus that results in a zombie apocalypse, mixed with a budding romance between a badass doomsday prepper and a nerdy professor carrying some heavy emotional trauma.

Sure, it's cheesy at times and the romance moves hella quick, but it is such a fun time! It's funny and clever, but the serious moments are just as impactful. I love that it is also a story about Maisie figuring out how she fits into the world pre/post apocalypse, and Everett figuring out the difference between living and surviving. Their relationship has an expected amount of sexual chemistry, paired with a surprising amount of emotional depth. I still can't get over sweet, nerdy Everett with his slutty little glasses and filthy mouth.

I bet the audiobook for this will be a blast. Seems like a good reason for me to add it to my list for a future reread.

Thank you to Ballantine|Dell and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Claire Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doomsdate by Laura Piper Lee was not for me.
 
Although I found the characters quite funny, and the idea of a covid-like GI virus overtaking the globe hilarious, I just could not get into the relationship between Maisie and Everette. I think I personally had a very hard time wrapping my head around Maisie being a virgin at the age of 30. Granted, she did have a rather strange upbringing and background, but it still seemed so strange for the timing of her finally wanting to sleep with someone for the first time to line up with the apocalypse.
 
I thought the writing was very well done, and incredibly funny. I think this book will be perfect for someone else.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun!! I absolutely loved Maisie, she was such a strong FMC! Everett was so much fun and I honestly loved how he has his doctorate in film yet when it came to survival it was like he was absolutely useless, but he was still able to put his knowledge of zombie films to use. The realness of this book was so captivating as well, especially pulling on the themes of social life that took place during Covid. Love love loved this book! 4/5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Dell and NetGalley for the eARC!

OMG YES!!! Absolutely hilarious romcom!! Loved every second of it!!

As a huge The Last of Us fan and a lover of absolutely everything zombie related, this did something to my brain where the two worlds met: zombies and romcoms!!! SO GOOD!!!

Please do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR!!

The writing was amazing. As this was my first Laura's book, I now desperately want to read everything she has ever written.

It had a beautiful balance of LOL moments, zombie chaos, action, spice, and heart, with some deeply vulnerable moments. It was incredible following these two MCs on their journeys of self discovery, healing from grief, finding acceptance, and falling in love.

And Chicken??? The best zombie detector ever!!!

Also, this book was highly quotable. I highlighted so much because it was just SO GOOD!!!

I will maybe come up with better review one day but I just finished it and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEDDDDDD IT!!!

[jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ “love a fake-dating, forced-proximity, high-stakes romance plot. take my money; five stars.” same girl.

in this wildly unhinged rom-com by laura piper lee, a disastrous first date throws doomsday prepper maisie bennett and film-obsessed professor dr. everett greer into a zombie apocalypse, forcing the unlikely duo onto a bizarre road trip to survival.

this was such a fun, spicy, & unexpectedly heartwarming read!! maisie and everett were both incredibly lovable MCs. maisie is a strong, smart, resourceful — albeit slightly awkward (honestly, this only made me love her more) — badass trying to figure out where she belongs in the world. everett is a sweet, nerdy, deeply sad professor struggling with grief after the death of his wife. both of them were incredibly brave and resilient, which i truly admired. watching them grow individually and together throughout the story was really moving and beautiful to witness, leaving me feeling hopeful and inspired.

maisie and everett’s dynamic felt so authentic from the start. the two complemented each other in all the best ways. they had the perfect balance of tenderness and tension, which made all of their quieter emotional moments hit even harder. i was rooting for them almost immediately!

the adventures they go on are absolutely ridiculous (complimentary) and had me genuinely laughing out loud (rare for me)! i also loved how unpredictable the story felt. i truly had no idea how this could possibly end ?! which kept me locked in the entire time! and beneath all the chaos, the vulnerable moments between maisie and everett were just so freakin endearing.

doomsdate is a nonstop, action-packed adventure full of heart, warmth, & absurd zombie mayhem. i highly recommend this one to anyone looking for an entertaining, funny, & surprisingly emotional paranormal romance!!

thank you so much to netgalley and ballantine | dell for providing me with this arc!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly sexy adventure about understanding yourself in the midst of a zombie outbreak.

Looking at the cover art, I was absolutely convinced this was going to be a letdown. Why? Because the art is phenomenal. Oh boy, was I wrong! This book is a wild adventure in sexual tension, zombie mayhem, and jokes that are only cringey in the best way possible, as two strangers are forced to survive together against impossible odds while road-tripping to their respective versions of safety.

Just hours AFTER a spectacular failure of a date.

Fair warning before we go further: this book is spicy. Genuinely, unapologetically, memorably spicy. And yet Laura Piper Lee makes every explicit scene emotionally legible and character-specific rather than decorative.

First, there is Maise, an anxious doomsday prepper attempting to lose her virginity before she turns 30 in the midst of a pandemic. Maisie Bennett is one of the most genuinely original heroines I've encountered in a long time, and I say this as someone who has read enough awkward-quirky-not-like-other-girls protagonists to have developed a tired immunity to them. What makes Maisie different is that her oddness is grounded and earned. Raised in genuine isolation by a prepper mother, her approach to the world she feels locked out of—particularly intimacy—is to treat it like a logistics problem. If she gathers enough information, runs enough scenarios, and prepares enough, she can manage the vulnerability. She thinks she can learn how intimacy works the same way she learned emergency water filtration. (I found this deeply, specifically relatable in a way I was not expecting from a zombie rom-com, and I will leave it at that.) She is also deeply competent and genuinely proud of who she is in ways that feel real rather than aspirational, and she doesn't need a makeover or a personality transplant to get the guy.

Everett Greer is her perfect counterpart and an equally interesting wreck. Nerdy film professor with a dirty mouth (yes, please), father to a cat named Chicken (an absolute MVP. Zero notes, truly perfect casting), and the quiet settled conviction that his life is essentially finished. He lost his wife, and his belief is that happiness isn't renewable. He got his allocation, the ledger is closed, and wanting more would be somehow greedy or cosmically unjust. This is not low self-esteem exactly. It's more devastating than that. It's a moral framework built on grief. He falls for Maisie so completely and so helplessly while simultaneously being certain he doesn't deserve her, which is both deeply heartwarming and genuinely painful in ways that extend far beyond losing a spouse. Anyone who has ever hit a wall after years of trying and quietly decided that failure is just their destiny going forward is going to feel this character in a specific way.

What's structurally clever is the inversion the book builds between them: Maisie hasn't started her life yet, Everett has decided his is over, and the zombie apocalypse forces both of them to reckon with that simultaneously. The end of the world strips away every social framework that Maisie felt locked out of, the rules she never learned stop applying because nobody's playing by them, while removing every credential and context that defined Everett. She finds her footing when the world collapses. He rediscovers himself when his professional identity becomes irrelevant. The apocalypse is oddly generous to both of them, which is a genuinely interesting choice and one that the book earns.

Their dynamic has a modified "black cat x golden retriever" energy. Maisie is the competent, pragmatic one, while Everett faffs his way through the zombie apocalypse while being extremely, helplessly in love with her, and the dual POV serves this beautifully. Their voices are distinct in ways that matter, nowhere more so than in how they each experience desire. His wanting is physical and embodied, consistent with someone who has loved deeply and lost it. Hers is almost clinical at first, idealistic and practical in equal parts, but her voice subtly shifts as the story progresses, which is a small and satisfying delight of the book.

The worldbuilding deserves its own appreciation. I won't spoil the origin of the outbreak, but it is simultaneously absurd, topical, and emotionally coherent with the characters' personal histories in a way that feels intentional rather than coincidental (this is the part that genuinely impressed me). The author trusts the shared cultural memory of COVID-19 to do the heavy lifting, which is smart, and the details she renders are specific and evocative without being laboured. The atmosphere is also doing real work: this is a genuinely sweet love story set against a particularly disgusting zombie outbreak, and the book manages to hold those registers simultaneously without undermining either. (Side Note: If bathroom humour or subjects are not for you, this may be a pass. It is a poop disease initially, and THERE ARE consequences of that.)

If I have notes, they are minor. Some of the sub-plot surrounding the outbreak at the end feels like more explanation or detail than necessary, with the "villains" being rather cartoonish. There are other instances where things work out in ways that are heartwrenchingly sweet, but feel slightly too easy (particularly regarding Everett's family dynamics). Some banter can veer toward try-hard, though it mostly lands because these two are absolute mega-dorks who deserve each other completely. In some cases, I thought there were objectively traumatic elements that didn't hit as hard as I might have expected, but this could be chalked up to my mood or my engagement with other parts of the story.

I still cried. Multiple times. Ugly crying at one point, I will not elaborate on because spoilers.

Doomsdate is funny, spicy, and surprisingly moving, and it does real thematic work beneath a premise that sounds like a comedy bit. It's for anyone who has ever felt like they were still reading the instructions in the parking lot while everyone else was already living their life. It's for anyone who decided their one good chapter was already written and closed. It is also, frankly, for anyone who enjoys a romance where the sexual tension involves genuine emotional stakes and at least one deeply inconvenient physical situation I am still thinking about.

Highly recommend.

I did read this as an ARC, but these are always my honest opinions. ARC reading just helps me stay motivated with crippling ADHD and forces me to broaden my horizons. Even if I always end up with what my husband calls "the weirdest books in the world".

[Shreya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC.

Spoilers have been indicated.

To preface, I am a bit obsessed with the zombie genre and love the survival aspect of the genre. This book is probably the most chaotic thing I've ever read. I mean this in both a good and bad way.

The premise was intriguing. Since I know nothing about medicine, the idea that a GI virus could trigger a zombie apocalypse didn’t fully suspend my disbelief. That would be the main hurdle for overly critical readers, so, don't read this if you want accuracy. The first date was also very awkward but played out as a natural interaction between two people with a lot of emotional baggage meeting for the first time.

That is where my enjoyment of this book ended.

I think Maisie and her character arc were great. She had a very good reason to be distrustful and cautious, even more so when the person she cares about is actively reminding her to not trust anyone. She had clear goals and was very adaptable to any situation they were in through the whole story. She also showed growth when her ideals were challenged and it forced her to open up and be vulnerable. I think her backstory and evolution were constructed with care.

I just could not connect to Everett. The first time we meet him, he is in the depths of grief and he has not attempted to move on with his life until he meets Maisie. I felt like it was just be used as a plot device for there to be push and pull dynamic for the main relationship. It is a tool for Everett's main personality trait to be insecurity. But it's not done very well to me. The first time we meet him, he's literally hallucinating his past wife's voice to guide his decisions. And then all of a sudden it disappears.

We get Everett constantly telling Maisie he didn't think he'd ever open himself up to love again. But as far as I can recollect we just get a few paragraphs sprinkled throughout this story that give us the history between him and Louise. I felt more of an emotional connection to Everett's feeling of inadequacy when he talks about his relationship to his parents. I don't understand the relationship between Everett and Louise and I didn't really feel like there was a connection with how he used that experience of loving someone and losing them to his relationship with Maisie.

Then there's the fact that his POV chapters did not have any semblance of masculinity. The way his thoughts read where identical to Maisie's. The differentiation that comes with writing more than one point of view was not there.

The smut was enjoyable. Everett talks her through it. That was hot.

I think this book suffers from the timeline. It's very odd for two people to fall in love within the span of two weeks when their entire relationship is based on trauma and sex. This is very much an instalust story that turns into instalove. I think that after all the sex lessons, I would have rather the book end with them admitting their feelings for each other with the promise of a relationship going forward, instead of them getting married.

This book treats the entire concept like a comedy and less of a romance. The plot is ridiculous. There's no logic in the fact that America is the only country where the virus exists. Canada is plotting to take over. The fact that Everett's parents are co-Presidents of America and it's so convenient that his sister was the one to create the antidote. For them to end up in Canada for their happily ever after is so unsatisfying. Where is the post apocalyptic world? Where is the hopelessness that you are the last healthy human alive? I get this is a romance but I was expecting more of the themes that come with the end of the world. The concept of life or death would have enhanced the romance in my opinion.

Overall, I went into this hoping to enjoy it but in the end it felt like one really long bad joke.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DNF-ed. But I want to make it really clear that it has NOTHING to do with the book itself, and everything to do with me. In fact, I've really liked this book so far. The writing is fun, and the plot seems interesting. I've found both characters fine too. However, the MMC is a grieving widower. I don't do widow/widower books. Obviously, nothing wrong with it, just not for me. I like to live in a fantasy world where our MCs are each other's first and only loves. If you don't mind/like this, though, absolutely pick it up!!! It's genuinely been pretty great so far.

Also. Chicken❤❤❤

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Edit: Okay, I couldn't stay away... I mean, COME ON. That premise??? I finished it (skimmed some). I just... tried to ignore the widower part (which was pretty damn hard, tbh. He mentioned her a lot. BUT AS HE SHOULD! Honestly, it'd be a red flag if he just completely forgot Louise existed. I would've hated him. But just. not for me.)

The zombie apocalypse, the action part of the plot was everything I wanted. So so so so so fun. I don't know why I haven't tried to look for more books like this. The writing was fun too! It made me really happy haha. Feel like it wrapped up a little clumsily, though? A tad too quick and neat.

The romance... it wasn't bad, but I don't love it??? Some sections gave me the ick. The sex scenes, though? They were pretty bad. No, straight-up bad. They made me cringe so hard, and after the first, 2? I started half-skipping, half-skimming them. Like my reaction was that one gif of Tim Gun (just search up Tim Gun ick gif). There was just so. much. talking.

I liked both MCs overall. They had their moments of annoyance (looking at you, Maisie in the Connor section - that part literally made no sense, and seemed so out of character?), but they were fun mostly. Really liked Maisie, but found Everett cute too.

Gramps. ILY Gramps. Laura though, I hate you. You know what you did.

3.5 rounded up. I just. I can't say how much I love the plot.

Oh actually. My biggest complaint was how with the descriptions of er... the politics in this book... well. No no no no no, you're not putting out into the world an apocalypse happening anytime soon. We have enough going on. TAKE IT BACK!!!

edit 2: you know... the more I think about it, the madder I get. To the point where I lowkey want to dock a star: what the fuck was going on in that ending??? Does the author just not know how to write endings? Did their agent tell them they were about to go over a word count??? Did they decide to suddenly make it a series??? Cause if so... why didn't they say it would be a series? I don't like thinking the worst, but I can't help but feel like the author realized there was potential in a sister/the vegan chick story, so she just. Didn't bother giving this one a satisfactory conclusion. Either way, though, it was so abrupt. It's sort of like. When you're trying to watch a movie illegally on youtube in 57 parts, and you get to the ending just to realize the creator stopped at 56/57.

You know what. I'm docking a star. I'm mad lol. I really went through a whole range with this book...

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the cover is STUNNING! I absolutely loved this book. I already knew I adored her writing (I’m still obsessed with Pot Shot), but this book just proved all over again how insanely talented she is. This story is wildly different from her other books, but in the best possible way because it was unique, bold, and completely unforgettable.

The writing itself is just… gorgeous. Her prose flows so effortlessly, and she has this incredible ability to balance humor, emotion, and chaos all at once. Because this book is WILD (complimentary), but it also hits surprisingly deep. It’s like a rom com smashed together with The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, Paradise, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt... and somehow it WORKS perfectly.

Maisie and Everett were such a fascinating pairing. I loved the contrast between them: Maisie, raised in isolation by a doomsday prepper mother, completely sheltered and inexperienced with the real world, and Everett, a widowed professor who has shut himself off from life. Two completely different people, from completely different worlds, forced together in the middle of a literal zombie apocalypse. And yet… they fit. So well. Watching them teach each other, like her showing him how to survive, him showing her how to live, was honestly beautiful.

And yes, the premise is off its rocker. A virus that basically turns people into zombies sounds insane, but Laura Piper Lee makes it feel believable. The science behind it was so well thought out and explained in a way that actually made sense, which made the whole story even more immersive. It didn’t feel gimmicky, but it felt really clever and almost realistic in a way.

But what really made this book shine was the balance. It’s hilarious (seriously, some scenes had me crying laughing, like the pants down zombie fight situation that was truly iconic), but it’s also emotional and heavy. There’s grief, healing, found family, and this underlying message about choosing to live even when everything feels hopeless. That juxtaposition was done so well!

The side characters were also amazing! Chicken the cat and Gramps absolutely stole my heart. They added so much warmth and personality to an already vibrant story.

And the romance was perfect in my eyes. Maisie and Everett brought something out in each other that neither of them had before. They quite literally breathed life into each other while running from death, and it was so meaningful to watch. My favorite quote: “How can you possibly still think you're useless? I may have taught you how to survive, Everett. But you've taught me how to live.” It perfectly encapsulated their journey and the message it was trying to convey.

Also, on a personal note, I really appreciated the representation around dietary needs because it felt validating in a way I didn’t expect (one might even say lifesaving), and I loved that it was included so naturally.

This was such a fun, emotional, chaotic, and genuinely inspiring read. It’s weird, it’s full of heart, it’s hilarious, it’s hot, and it somehow made me want to live my life more fully, even in the middle of fictional doom. I loved every second of it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Piper Lee, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book.

[buveurdencre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action-packed, humorous, and immensely captivating, Laura Piper Lee wrote another hilarious and charming novel about a doomsday prepper going on a date with a film professor in the midst of an apocalypse. Maisie Bennett is an actuarial analyst who has been sheltered her entire life by her mother. With her thirtieth birthday around the corner and a virus outbreak on the rise, Maisie decides she wants to lose her virginity before an impending lockdown prevents her from accomplishing that goal. She matches with Dr. Everett Greer, a TV show and film studies professor, on a dating app. However, when their first date doesn’t go as planned, and the virus begins turning infected people into zombies, Maisie and Everett must team up to survive the zombie apocalypse and, in doing so, realize that there’s more to life beyond just simply living and being alive. 

I became besotted and smitten with Laura Piper Lee’s writing after reading Pot Shot and fell just as hard after reading Doomsdate as well. Maisie is the epitome of the final girl character in every horror movie. She is a survivalist, capable, and intelligent. However, she is also vulnerable, inexperienced, and uncertain when it comes to relational situations. Everett is just honestly the hot nerd of my dreams. He is understanding, patient, and knowledgeable. Where Maisie’s inexperience falls short, causing her to feel insecure, Everett is there to help reassure and comfort her, all while making her feel normal. Their backstories were so similar yet different in terms of upbringing, yet they closely mirrored each other for the two to be able to relate to one another, forming kinship and understanding. Additionally, their chemistry was palpable upon first meeting and throughout the book. Everett teaching and introducing Maisie to new experiences and places she had missed out on, and Maisie breathing life back into Everett, were endearing and heartwarming. I adore this couple so much; they are so sweet and complement each other so well.

This novel was such an exceptionally entertaining and marvelous read. It read and felt like an action movie, and I was transfixed the entire time. Equally clever, comical, and tender, Lee wrote an emotional story not only about survival, love, and family but also about loss, acceptance, and rediscovering and relearning how to live again after experiencing several setbacks in life. Laura Piper Lee’s words are a breath of fresh air in rom-com, and I’ll never get tired of reading her stories. She has quickly become one of my most anticipated authors. Lee’s witty writing and compelling storytelling get exceedingly better and better with each release, and I seriously can’t wait to read what she has planned next in the future.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tassia da Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay but what if your best friend secretly signed you up for a dating app, shoved you out the door, and the zombie apocalypse started the second your first date ended.

Doomsday is a zombie apocalypse rom-com, and yes, that sentence is everything it sounds like. A 24-hour stomach bug turns people into zombies, and our two leads — who were on a first date when it all went down — now have to survive it together. With a cat.
Romantic? Somehow, yes.

Here’s what got me personally: Maisie is a doomsday prepper because she was raised by a conspiracy theorist prepper mother — and that upbringing made her the most capable person in any room, but also the most socially lost. She knows how to survive the end of the world. She does not know how to read a room. And listen… I grew up with my own woo-woo, conspiracy theorist, hippie parents and spent my whole life trying to just be normal. So her whole deal? I felt it. Deeply. She is the hero. The one keeping them alive — and I absolutely could not be more thrilled about that.

And then there’s Everett. A horror movie professor. Nerdy, soft, considerate, zero survival skills, cannot drive. An absolute damsel in distress. And I loved every second of that dynamic. Because two words: SEX LESSONS 😍❤️‍🔥🌶️🥵

Maisie:
🗡️ Weapon of choice: machete (and her brain)
✅ Skills: jiu-jitsu, prepping, tactical thinking
⚠️ Weakness: trusts the wrong people, was raised in a bunker basically

Everett:
🗡️ Weapon of choice: his extensive zombie movie knowledge
✅ Skills: knowing exactly what NOT to do because he’s seen every horror film
⚠️ Weakness: everything else

What really got me though — and I’m trying not to spoil anything — is the reason behind the zombie outbreak. Without giving it away: it involves the government, a preservative in processed food, and the fact that Maisie and Everett both follow a clean diet… which is why they’re still standing. And listen. The conspiracy theorist in me went absolutely feral. Because that’s not even that far-fetched?? The way our food is processed, the things we’re allowed to eat that haven’t been properly studied — this felt less like fiction and more like a warning. Laura Piper Lee did her research and it shows.

The romance is slow-burn in the best way — forced proximity with actual chemistry, not just circumstance. The spice when it comes? Worth the wait. And the humor throughout kept it from ever feeling heavy, even when the stakes were genuinely high.

Also the cat subplot. I will not elaborate. Just know it matters.

Five stars. Genuinely one of the most fun, unique reads I’ve come across. If you like rom-coms, apocalyptic fiction, or you’ve ever looked at a food label and thought “this can’t be legal” — this book is for you!!


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maisie is just a lonely prepper woman who wants to get intimate with a man before she turns 30, if only this new GI virus wasn’t making that difficult. Everett is a widowed professor of film studies, who just wants to be sad and miserable on his couch with his cat, Chicken; if only his best friend didn’t pretend to be him on a dating app and then guilt him into going out on the date he set up. After an awkward date turned potential hook up ends with Everett finding Maisie’s arsenal (our girl owns a mace!) and fleeing into the night, neither of them expects to see the other again. Cue the zombies, and Maisie rescuing Everett from a tree and our story really takes off.

These two (and Chicken) are fun to ride through an apocalypse with! I was as in awe of Maisie as Everett was, watching her navigate the insanity with calm and precision. At one point we have a scene where Maisie is trying to teach Everett how to defend himself, it did not go well, but it sure was entertaining. It was sweet to watch them overcome their internal conflicts, and spicy once they managed to start trusting themselves and each other.

Despite that, I have somewhat mixed feelings about this one, and I’m sad about it. Until about ¾ of the way in, I was fully engaged and really enjoying it. My only negative at that point was the author seems to have some strong feelings about the American diet slowly killing us all, and that did begin to weigh on me a little (while I don’t disagree per se, the mom guilt is just strong in this area). I found myself taken out of the story at some of the more pointed dialogue. However, that was not enough to make me stop reading, and I was having a good time, so I carried on.

As much as it pains me to say this, I think this book needed to be about 100 pages shorter. While the adventures they had were well written and funny, it just began to drag, and I kept wondering when we were going to get to the resolution. There were several scenes that could have been cut and not taken anything away from the story. The spice was good, probably a high 3 on the spice scale, but I found myself skimming it during the last quarter of the book because I just wanted to get back to the story.

Prior to that point this was easily 4.5 stars, potentially 5, but when I must make myself finish it, it just loses a little of its overall appeal. I truly feel bad saying that, because the parts I loved were so good! The ending was fine, it felt right for the characters, and we did eventually get that resolution, I just wasn’t as invested by that point. I still rate this one 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance with zombies, just with the caution to be prepared for a long ride.

Thank you to Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

[Lisi Bee (Beth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually I wait until much closer to publication date to read and review an ARC, but this one looked like it would be super satisfying (especially with that awesome book cover) and I just couldn't wait that long. I'm so glad I didn't, this was a fun roller coaster of a book that was over-the-top in the best way! I loved Maisie, the socially inept insurance analyst and former prepper trying to overcome the isolation of her childhood and branch out into trying new social things (like, you know, sex). What better person could she have gotten for her pre-zombie apocalypse date than Everett, the kind (but sad) buttoned-down film professor with a cat named Chicken? I really loved the equally awkward energy between the two of them, both of them smart and competent but damaged in their own ways. The author jumps right into the story with just enough exposition to keep things interesting, and while the storyline explains why things are happening it doesn't get too bogged down in the details and keeps a good pace throughout the book. I actually found it hard to put down. As the story progresses and we see them trauma bond and willingly fall victim to the forced proximity trope, it's so sweet to see them both become the people they were meant to be, especially in the midst of the horror that really pervades this book. Even though I knew to expect certain things based on the book description, it was surprisingly gory for a rom-com and a few things startled me so pay attention to content warnings if you are sensitive to certain themes. I really liked the book overall but do I think it was trying to be a lot of things at once, with mixed success. And even though the story itself is a bit of a wild card overall, it definitely made for lively reading. I really loved the author's use of humor throughout, because it lightened up a lot of the heavier themes. It also made both Maisie and Everett infinitely more relatable, and believable as a romantic couple. They both had such "fish out of water" vibes, but it was great to see their strengths take the front seat too. One of my very favorite things about romance books is that they are inherently hopeful, and despite the apocalyptic themes this romance is brimming with hope. If you are looking for an engaging and surprisingly heartfelt book about the art of blossoming in a zombie apocalypse, this open-door opposites-attract road trip romance is definitely for you! I have not read this author before but I loved her voice so much, and I would definitely read her again! 4.5 stars. Publishes September 15, 2026. This review was based on a complimentary copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy Review
Release Date: 9/15/26

“Love a fake-dating, forced-proximity, high-stakes romance plot. Take my money; five stars.” Ellie said it best!

When a blind date turns into a zombie apocalypse and two people become apocalypse partners to stay alive and also they get to fall in love?! Might be my favorite read so far this year!

Throughout this book you are on the edge of your seat! The zombies are creepy, the action packed scenes are so much fun, the love story is STEAMY! SEXUAL TENSION! Amazing spice! Everett & Maisie are the type of couple you really root for. This high stakes road trip rom com is such a fun read I couldn’t put this book down!

Maisie is a total badass doomsday prepper who makes me realize I would NOT survive in an apocalypse. I wish I had the skills she has.

Weapon of choice: Mace or Machete

Skills: jiu-jitsu, survival skills, can drive

Weaknesses: Trust issues, hasn’t seen any movies or tv shows, virgin, lack of social skills

Everett is such a relatable character. I love how much movie knowledge he has and that he’s not your typical guy. He’s nerdy, soft and considerate. He’s such a good person and exactly what Maisie needs in a man 🥹

Weapon of choice: Fun & Stun

Skills: extensive zombie movie knowledge

Weaknesses: cannot drive, no survival skills

Maisie and Everett weren’t really living until they found each other. Their growth and falling in love throughout the book was everything to me. Exactly what I was looking for in a zombie apocalypse romance!

Some side quests I really enjoyed were the movie references (Laura Piper Lee knows her movies!) and it was very obvious that Trump was the president without being named… bravo 👏🏼

The research and knowledge on conspiracies, the government, doomsday prepping, a zombie apocalypse were all so thorough I could not tell if it was true or made up but I bought it. Thank you for writing this book Laura Piper Lee!

Tropes:

🩷 Blind Date that never ends
💚 Zombie Apocalypse
🩷 Doomsday Prepper FMC
💚 Horror movie Professor MMC
🩷 Virgin x Widow
💚 Sex Lessons
🩷 Found Family
💚 Fake marriage
🩷 Forced Proximity
💚 Road Trip

⚠️ Trigger Warnings
* death / reanimation
* Mass Death by virus
* Zombie death by weapons including mace, machete, taser/electricity
* Explicit sex scenes
* Violence

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for letting me read and provide my honest review!

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review :)

once again another zombie apocalypse romance sucked me in, shocker!! Doomsdate was a cute romance set in the (... somewhat uncomfortably...) realistic setting of 2026, where an unknown virus caused a zombie outbreak. it's uncomfortable bc it hits a liiiittle too on the nose for what's happening rn, and it creeped me out, despite this being a silly romance. kudos to you for that, laura piper lee.

despite this romance definitely touching on the insta-love side of things (they only really knew each other, what, less than a week before dropping "I love you"'s? i know trauma bonding is a thing, but man...), i still thought their story was cute and liked seeing the adventures they took together on the way to their various destinations.

the story is campy and a bit ridiculous at times, but it feels self-aware which made it much more. i was also a bit worried about some of the... political rhetoric? that was being discussed at times, but my feelings were assuaged by some particular lines in the book that did make me laugh. the white house scenes were some of my favorites, if anything :^)

but, to be honest, i was indifferent towards our two main characters, Maisie and Everett; especially in the beginning, because wdym Maisie has been living in the 'real world' for almost a decade and is still extremely disconnected to her surroundings? i know she has twenty years of trauma due to her prepper mother, but still - going through college, finding a job, taking mixed martial arts classes, and you still don't know some basic information??? girl ... come on

they did grow on me as we neared the end of the book, but i just wish i could've had... more, i suppose, than the instalust to instalove trope that we've all come to know a bit too commonly these days. also, the smut was good. i will say that in the beginning, it felt forced (why did he randomly talk about her chest in the middle of one paragraph, then completely move on?), but as they got to know each other more, the writing felt much more organic. it just took awhile.

3.75/5 stars, rounded up for GoodReads

[LauraxChristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you NetGalley, Laura Piper Lee and Dell for providing the free ARC**

Expected release date: Sept 15, 2026

A bad ass doomsday prepper.
A golden retriever with a filthy mouth.
And a cat named Chicken.
OH! And a zombie apocalypse.

Maisie grew up preparing for the end of the world. What she lacks in social skills, she kills it with bad-assery. When yet another virus comes to the US, Maisie decides it's time she gains some...experiences...before being locked down again.

Everette, quite the opposite, lost his wife and closed himself off from the world. Thanks to his best friend, that's all about to change.

The meet cute was perfect, until it wasnt. For Maisie at least... Everette was such an unintentional jerk that I wanted to slap him and hug Maisie. Thankfully, he redeems himself and we move on to love him. These characters are polar opposites and totally perfect for each other. Maisie being GI Jane, but completely socially awkward was a perfect balance for her character. She is flat out loveable in so many ways. Everette being patient with Maisie's exploration and wanting to experience things was endearing. I was very excited when he agreed to be her naughty professor 😏

Oh yeah...theres zombies... which was a freakin great plot. Like reading Zombieland but with 2 hotties as the MCs instead of, well, less bangable main characters 🤷‍♀️ It was a wild ride through and through. Totally enjoyed this. Pot Shot is still my favorite! But this book put Laura Piper Lee on my auto-read list. Not just because her name is awesome.

BONUS things:
-Immediately loved the chapter intros. I was indeed curious when the sht would hit the fan and loved the humor in that detail.

-Appreciated every bit of humor. From "Missery"-ing Everette to the 6 fingered man, I was chuckling at every reference.

-While I understand politics and the world ending go together well, Im so sick of the incredibly obvious political remarks in books. I dont care who you voted for or what side youre on. Im so sick of it all lol. Reading is an escape for me. Really could have done without the unnecessary and clear opinions.