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, Fantasy Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Rom Com

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 and sex lessons.

I'm so utterly in love with this book.

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!!!!

Full review to come but this is such an unbelievably fun book, with a ton of emotional depth, and it should absolutely be on your TBR.

5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

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

[V 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 🩷

[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.

[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!

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

Full review to come! That was….ummmm…. Entertaining?

[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.

[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!

[Bethany The Romance Paleontologist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me the chance to read this arc! How can I complain to Laura Piper Lee though because I read Doomsdate in one sitting and my back hurts! Hours curled up on the couch with my kindle going through a delightful emotional rollercoaster!

Imagine if a woman with the vibes of Kimmy Schmidt also had the skills to the live in the woods My Side of the Mountain style. That's our FMC Maisie. She has 0 social skills, but is a delightful ray of sun who can't wait to go to REI to look at the latest survival gear when she's done making homemade mushroom jerky. Send her on a date with tortured soul Adam Driver in think glasses with a silver tongue. That's our MMC Everett the sinfully hot and equally as depressed and unprepared film professor. Add a cat sidekick (not a magic cat, literally just a regular cat), zombies, the healing of two deeply hurt people, and finding love while the entire country is stuck on the toilet.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

It's not my usual style.... but it might be now! I can't wait to read all of the author's other offerings.

ACTUALLY COOL SCIENCE!?

What I wasn't expecting was a really unique biology take on this zombie virus 🦠 As a full time scientist I was kicking my feet at the actual plausibility of this! It was such an interesting zombie infection. Legitimately I'm going to recommend it to my STEMinist book club as an extra treat just because of that world building!

The spice was SPICING! Chefs kiss. No notes there.

There are triggers you should be aware of:
Death of a parent (off page in the past)
Death of a spouse (off page in the past)
Mentions of former child neglect or hyper control

Maisie and Everett found the best parts of each other. They are dorks. They deserve the world 💜

- Romancimals

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early arc for a honest review.

Opposites attract and while the apocalypse zombie world is probably not the best location for a love story, this one will keep you hooked.

Meet Maisie, a doomsday prepper who has escaped a wild childhood to live life to the fullest and then as luck would have it, a virus is unleashed and everything goes absolutely off the rails. Good thing for Maisie, her last date before the apocalypse was a beautiful man named Everett who has an adorable cat named Chicken, a film professor and is a recent widow. Forced together by apocalypse, they must make sense of their new lives and each other.

These two are hilarious on their own but together, they had me in absolute shambles. I loved their adventures through the apocalyptic world, but also how much they communicated with each other. They barely knew each other and had to lean on each other very quickly to survive and it was an adventure to rea

Overall this is a great book with a lot of hilarious moments but also serious ones too. There is a focus on family and trauma that both Maisie and Everett have experienced and the author did such a good job bringing those to light and how each had their own different journey. I could go on and on about the side characters in this story as well, I loved Gramps character the most because he reminded me of some characters I have met in my lifetime. Each character really brought something to the overall story but also to the Maisie and Everetts growth throughout as well.

If you are someone who always wanted a love story in a zombie movie then this story will need to be on your TBR immediately. Absolutely entertaining story of two chaotic, very much opposites characters who didnt go looking for love because of said zombie apocalypse but it just zapped them at the right time.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the eARC!

(3.75 rounded up)

A loud round of applause for Laura Piper Lee. Doomsdate took a bite out of my heart!

This book takes three bookish trends that I despise - frequent pop culture references, insta-lust, and the very reminder that Covid-19 lockdown was a thing - and makes it not only bearable but... charming? Hilarious, even? A 29-year-old virgin raised as an extreme prepper who never learned social skills and is desperate to check sex-before-thrity off her list is quite possibly the only believable excuse for insta-lust. (If you're as worried about that sentence as I was, don't be; somehow, it works. It's funny and sweet.)  Witty, spicy, and heartfelt, Doomsdate is all around an earnest and genuine joy. If I wasn't laughing out loud or actively blushing, I was clutching my cold dead heart and feeling the blood begin to pump once more.

Anything I feel the urge to critique mostly comes from personal preferences. I don't think I will ever find dirty talk anything other than deeply cringeworthy, and unfortunately this wasn't an exception - but if that's your thing, you're certainly in for a treat. I'm also of the opinion that less is more when it comes to smut (is the yearning not the fun part? No? Just me?), so the frequency of sex, as with most modern romances, was a con for me. There's one moment in particular where a conversation and a cuddle simply would have gone a lot farther, emotionally, than a quickie. I recognize that this is a fairly unpopular opinion though, so for the romance fans who enjoy the spice - Doomsdate has you covered.

All in all, this was a wonderfully entertaining and romantic zombie-filled romp! Keep an eye out for this one, releasing September 15th.

P.S. Is Everett Greer single? Asking for a friend.

[R Mmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had such a fun and unique premise. Maisie grew up with a doomsday prepper mom, so even after ten years of living in “normal” society, she still struggles with social cues and trusting other people. On the brink of turning 30, she sets herself a very specific goal: lose her virginity—no matter what.

Then there’s Everett, a widower who’s been more or less just existing since his wife passed three years ago. When he’s reluctantly pushed into a blind date, the awkward meeting between him and Maisie is over almost as soon as it begins. But fate has other plans… because when they cross paths again, it’s in the middle of a full-blown zombie outbreak—and Maisie literally saves Everett’s life.

What follows is a chaotic, emotional road trip with just the two of them (and Everett’s cat, Chicken), as they navigate survival, grief, trust, and unexpected connection. Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts—there’s something really heartfelt about the way they help each other grow and start living again, even as the world is falling apart around them. And yes, when Everett finally agrees to Maisie’s request, let’s just say he takes his “teaching” role seriously.

I was completely hooked for about the first two-thirds. The character dynamics, the humor, and the emotional beats really worked for me. However, as they got closer to their destination, something shifted. The pacing and overall tone felt a bit different, and the ending didn’t quite land the way I hoped.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this one—it’s quirky, heartfelt, and definitely memorable, even if it lost a bit of its magic toward the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little different than what I usually read. It has everything: romance, doomsday preppers, zombie killing. Maisie is a bad-ass zombie-killing FMC who has been sheltered her entire life and raised as a prepper. She is just starting to experience the outside world when a GI virus shuts down the U.S., causing the infected to die and come back as zombies. Everett is a nerdy professor who is still grieving the loss of his wife but is forced to go on a first date with Maisie (black cat/golden retriever pairing). As the zombie apocalypse suddenly happens on their first date, they are forced together to survive.

While I thought the premise of the book was very unique, I just didn't find some of the characters' actions believable. Would I go to a densely populated area like NYC in the middle of a zombie apocalypse just because I haven't been before? Maybe not the right time. The risks that were taken by these characters just didn't seem to fit in with how Maisie was initially presented as a character. The characters were also chronically horny every other page. Sure, it's been a while since either of them have had sex (for Maisie, she's never had sex before), but I found it interesting that they would choose to have sex/be sexually aroused with a horde of zombies surrounding them. A lot of those moments seemed forced and maybe it's just me, but if I was about to get bitten in a zombie apocalypse, my first thought would not be to have sex. The ending and how the plot was wrapped up seemed kind of rushed and abrupt. There was really just a short explanation of what happened and what happened next and the book ended.

Overall, if you're looking for a read with a unique and fun plot, this is the one for you.

Thank to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC 3.5 Stars rounded up

Zombie Apocalypse Romance + Professor & Prepper + Lessons in Intimacy + Road Trip

Seeking apocalypse buddy with benefits? Doomsday prepper Maisie Bennett decided to step out of her little comfort bubble and go on a first date, little did she know just a few hours later the entire would would turn upside down and majority of the US population would become infected with a virus and become people eating zombies. Their initial first date is a train wreck after Dr. Everett Greer finds out that Maisie is trying to "Misery" him. They soon meet back up after Maisie saves Everett from a mob of zombies and begin their adventure. But this isnt just a normal adventure, its more of a transaction, Dr. Everett Greer shares his knowledge about zombies from his time being a film professor and also teaches Maisie about sexual intimacy, while Maisie keeps him save with her big mace and doomsday prepped SUV.

I really enjoyed Maisie's relationship with fellow doomsday prepper, Gramps. He was so sweet and I loved ho they always radio communicated with each other to check in on their wellbeing. Where this book took a left turn for me was the intimacy and inconsistency with Everett's character. Certain phrases during the spicy times were very cringe ("voluptuous knots of breast" and "wet pucker") and it made me want to speed read through them to get the over with. Also I didn't think Everett was a realistic character. His shift from a nerdy clumsy professor who needed to be saved from a tree, to a dirty talking seductor felt odd and inconsistent.

Overall, I liked the premise of this book and it popped my cherry to zombie apocalypse romances.

Spice: 3/5

This book was sent to me from netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the surface this sounded so fun, and I was so excited to receive the ARC approval. I’ve read and really enjoyed some Laura Piper Lee titles. I started reading immediately, and was feeling pretty hopeful through the first few pages.

She’s a prepper that lived off the grid for like half her life and has a plan to have relations with another human for the first time before her 30th birthday. He’s a film professor, a cat dad, and a widower that is actively still grieving when we first meet him.

The book failed to hook me in any real way, and that was surprising since zombie apocalypse should have quite a bit of drama and tension even if the romance isn’t that good. I think I got in my own way a little bit, because when the information about his sister was revealed, I assumed we’d be experiencing a much different book in which the cause of the zombie apocalypse was researched and explored with her.

The romance quickly fell flat after their initial meeting and learning a bit more about his backstory. When he started trying to throw out the sweet talk it just felt hollow and geared towards social media highlight reels more than anything. His dirty talk (and thoughts) gave me the ick. It just wasn’t working.

For her to be an “anxious” doomsday prepper, she made a lot of weird choices that should have put them in quite a bit of danger, but the way the zombies were written it left large swaths of time where they were just killing time and exploring cities she’d never been to before. There was so much telling and repetition in the road trip portion that it was tedious.

The ending felt rushed and the setup for book two was not promising given everything that happened in this book.

Chicken was my favorite part.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for ARC access.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book and I really enjoyed it. Maisie grew up isolated from society because her mother was paranoid and afraid of the world basically. Maisie herself is a doomsday prepper, albeit not one who isolates herself from society anymore. She is determined to lose her virginity before her 30th birthday in less than a week, and goes on a date the very night a zombie apocalypse hits. Everrett is a widower who has been stuck living a semi-life after the passing of his wife. He only agrees to the date at the behest of his friend. Their date ends poorly, but Maisie and Everrett end up fleeing the city together after the zombies rise.

I loved that Maisie was skilled and able to handle herself. Even though the relationship between Everrett and Maisie started out on the wrong foot, they soon found themselves working well together. The humor of the book was so enjoyable as well. Everrett fighting off park ranger zombie’s with his pants down, and a certain appendage hanging out cracked me up.

Seeing the two of them learn about themselves and what they could handle in the face of danger was great, and then seeing them fall in love was even better. Everrett’s dirty talk was so hot! It’s those quiet professor types who’ll surprise you for sure. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but the adventure continues right until the end of the book. I’m definitely glad I read this, and want to thank Ballantine and NetGalley for the copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to leave a review.

No third act breakup

4/5 on the Spicy Scale

M/F

Violence/Gore

Paranormal Romance

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

DOOMSDATE is weird as hell, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Maisie, a lifelong doomsday prepper, is determined to lose her virginity before she turns 30. Everett, a film professor, is languishing on the couch, depressed and unable to move forward after his wife died 3 years ago. Trust does not come naturally for either of them, but they have no choice but to open up when a Cyrano-style orchestrated date turns into a madcap ride of surviving the zombie apocalypse, falling in love, and yes, sex lessons for Maisie. This book really has everything for me: an unhinged premise, horror movie references, a protective cat companion, and a hot professor who is dying to teach Orgasms 101. LPL is truly a master for managing to write a hot, touching love story that takes place amidst bouts of fighting diarrhea zombies. Maisie is tough, sweet, badass and truly courageous in the face of not just butt-COVID-pocalypse, but in opening her heart after a lifetime of isolation. Everett is a dreamboat who willingly lets Maisie take the lead when strategizing their survival, but reclaims the reins when teaching Maisie how to-- *ahem*. Yes, Professor! I love when romance takes a weird-girl angle and incorporates spooky-girl elements; DOOMSDATE really succeeds at this. I definitely recommend this one to all of you lil freaks! The zombies are unleashed on September 15th; don't miss it. Big big thanks to Ballantine and Laura Piper Lee for the e-ARC via NetGalley! (4.5/5 - rounding up to 5)

[UntilGhosts · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing that caught my eye about this book? The cover! It was so comic book vibes! Next, the blurb, because huh? Romance in the midst of a zombie apocalypse? YES PLEASE!

Now what was most refreshing about a fun spicy romance was the fact that our beautifully written MMC was not some dark, rough or controlling main character but rather a nerdy, probably wouldn't survive, professor! But don't let that facade fool you! Everett knows how to talk you through itttt. The spicy moments had me putting my kindle down, doing a lap in my living room before I mentally prepared myself to dive right back in.

Maisie was a refreshing take on an FMC, too! Yes, she's prepared for end-of-the-world scenarios, but navigating real-life romance, relationships, and dating was something she never would have seen coming. I loved the way she'd handle a situation over Everett when you'd think the man would be the protector in these types of situations! And someone give my girl her mace back!!!

Don't even get me started on Chicken? Gramps? Gemma??! (smash btw) All the side characters were just as memorable as our main couple, and the banter was always fresh and funny! I loved this read through and through and never got bored once!

If you want a fun, new, spicy, funny, and witty romance, all while constantly worried about being on the verge of being eaten alive, kidnapped, or pooping your pants... look no further. This is the book for you!!!!!

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Doomsdate expecting chaos—and it absolutely delivered. This is Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt meets Shaun of the Dead in the best, most unhinged way.

Maisie is a doomsday prepper… so naturally, doomsday actually happens. Enter Everett, a grieving widower professor who is wildly unprepared for literally everything—including her. What starts as an awkward first date turns into a zombie apocalypse road trip with forced proximity, fake dating vibes, and a very fun “teach me” dynamic (yes, she’s a virgin and yes, there are lessons 👀).

The tone? Feral. Campy. Surprisingly heartfelt. There’s humor, there’s gore, there’s spice—and the romance builds as they survive together, which I loved.

That said… the romance leaned a little too fast for me. We’ve got a man mourning his dead wife who is basically ready to go all-in after a week. It tipped into insta-love territory, which didn’t fully land emotionally.

Also, this book is LONG. Like… could’ve easily cut 10% long. There were stretches where I started glazing over.

But overall? I had a blast. This is one of those chaotic, doesn’t-take-itself-seriously reads that’s just straight-up fun—with enough heart to keep you invested.

Read if you want:
apocalypse chaos + awkward virgin FMC + grieving soft boy MMC + road trip survival + humor + spice

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll preface, I did DNF at around 60% chapter 17.

In theory this plot was interesting to me, post apocalyptic, zombies, romance. Sounded intriguing. The characters just ruin it for me.

Maisie our FMC is a doomsday prepper who has some major trauma from growing up with a schizophrenic, paranoid mother, off grid until she was around 20.
Everett is our MMC a professor in film studies who is an absolutely useless man with a dirty mouth.

Their attraction seems forced and Maisie is so paranoid and distrusting that it’s hard to believe anything either of them say honestly. One minute she’s scared he’s going to steal her car the next she wants to have sex.

There’s such repetition of a few things: Maisie wants sex before 30. Everett is still mourning his wife who died 3 years prior and every moment possible he mentions it (in his head usually but still).

I dunno this nerdy romance just isn’t for me. Maisie would have been better off ditching Everett and going her own way long ago. Random spurts of story seem kinda useless (one random chapter of them getting kidnapped by a survivalist cult and then escaping all in one chapter is wild).

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I’m sure this book is for some people but sadly not for me.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

To steal a quote from Ellie - “Love a fake-dating, forced-proximity, high-stakes romance plot. Take my money; five stars.” Thank you Laura Piper Lee, Dell Romance, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.

With Doomsdate, Laura Piper Lee has 100% been added to my must read author list. She has the ability to create and write humor in practically any scenario. If you need a book that will make you laugh, cry, and laugh all over again, pick Doomsdate!

Maisie, Everett, & Chicken are easily my new favorite zombie fighting trio. I hope that Doomsdate is picked up and turned into a show or movie because watching these scenes come to life would be the absolute best zombie rom-com. I went to college in DC and having the National Mall, my favorite museums (& some exhibits!), and favorite stomping grounds made me feel nostalgic, yet I hope my next visit back is to DC & not DZ.

Thank you Laura Piper Lee for making me even more weary about the preservatives in some of my favorite junk foods but in honor of Gramps I refuse to turn into an evil vegan. If you ever consider writing a follow up of after times in Canada, Portland, or even Gemma’s story, I will eat that up so fast even if you only stock it in Gatherers.

Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.

This was such a fun read. The cover art is what drew me in right away. Maisie is such a badass of a FMC. It was so refreshing to see the woman being the protector and the man being the one needing protected.

Everett is a hot professor of film that was born into a military family he never really fit into and had spent the last 3 years as a widower just existing in the world and not living in it. His bestie set him up for a date behind his back and forced him to go. On this blind date he met Maisie, a doomsday prepper that spent most of her life in isolation. She is nearing her 30th birthday and all she really wants is to lose her virginity. With a new pandemic pending, she sees Everett as her last chance. After a strange turn of events, they end up help keep each other alive during this zombie takeover.

Maisie and Everett were such a beautiful pairing. One that is dying to live life while the other one wasn't living at all. Maisie's will to experience life brought Everett out of a fog and made him finally feel something. They fall for each other fast in hard and given the setting it just makes sense.

The star of the show for me? Chicken the cat. Truly the zombie apocalypse MVP

[Portia Citlali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had such a strong start! I loved the satire and humor, it was quirky, current, and full of pop culture references. It gave me Zombieland meets Shaun of the Dead with a little extra spice.

Maisie and Everett are both such unique characters. They may not have the best social skills, but they more than make up for it with their expertise. Maisie with her doomsday survival knowledge and Everett with his love of apocalyptic zombie movies. They come together unexpectedly at a time when everything is falling apart around them. A new virus is taking lives, and they must do their best to survive and make it back to their loved ones.

Along the way, with Chicken the cat by their side, there are plenty of funny moments and entertaining conversations.

Around the 60% mark, though, I felt like the story lost some of the momentum and spark that made the beginning so fun. It started to drag a bit, and I found myself drifting in and out of the story instead. It was a good book with a great concept, I just wish it had carried that same energy throughout the entire story.

Dual POV
Apocalyptic
He teaches her

I wanted to thank NetGalley for this ARC.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Doomsdate not knowing what to expect, this was my first book by Laura Piper Lee, and I absolutely loved it.

How do you make a zombie apocalypse story steamy, heartfelt, and laugh out loud funny? Somehow, this book does exactly that. As someone who isn’t a horror fan (and is genuinely freaked out by zombies), I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It had just enough chaos and tension to keep things exciting, but the heart and humor really carried the story.

Maisie’s growth was one of my favorite parts. Watching her come into herself, gaining confidence, taking risks, and learning to truly live—was incredibly satisfying. And Everett? Truly one of the least toxic, most genuinely kind romantic leads I’ve read in a long time. Their relationship felt earned, and I loved seeing both their individual growth and how they evolved together.

Funny, emotional, a little unhinged in the best way, and surprisingly romantic, this book completely won me over. I also desperately want my own cat just like Chicken, the best animal companion/zombie alarm!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Breiann Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maisie, Everett & Chicken (a very intuitive animal companion) road tripping across the country in this post-apocalyptic romance was just as much fun to read about as I'd hoped! The premise hooked me right away, and I feel like this book was a very fun, fast paced, campy rom-com that would actually make a great movie. But you do have to be in the mood for this kind of story and be prepared for a silly goofy read.

I think it was a little too on the nose with some political messaging that felt kind of out of place, and it was hard to relate to the characters... let's just say I would have very different priorities in an apocalypse so their laser focus on sleeping together was a bit unbelievable to me. Usually I really enjoy the intimacy lessons trope, but I felt like this leaned more towards insta-love which I'm not a huge fan of. That being said, I did enjoy this story, especially towards the ending when things were really getting tense, there were just those few ways it kind of missed the mark for me. I can see how it would definitely work for others looking for a bingeable spicy rom-com with a bit of a twist!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!