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, Paranormal Romance, Horror, Rom Com, Fiction

9 pages, Audible Audio

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

[V (working on thesis, still reading) · 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.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I have never been more anxious and scared reading a romance book before this one, but I loved every single second of it. Doomsdate is a clever, funny, emotional, and smart book about what could happen if you met your person right before the world went to absolute hell.
Maisie and Everett are complete opposites in this world, but at the same time, work flawlessly as you can see how similar they really are once they begin to open up. Their first date and meeting is full of chaos that leaves them both wanting for more. But, Maisie, a doomsday prepper, unintentionally scares off Everett, a widowed film professor, when she takes him home and he discovers just how prepared Maisie always is. She is upset, thinking she's about to become a 30 year old virgin, but what’s to come is obviously so much worse. When “Z-Day” hits, she leaves town to embark on her first real journey of her life. But on the way, she has a chance run in with Everett, and so, their apocalyptic road trip begins.
I knew this book was going to be an adventure just from reading the summary, but I loved just how exploratory it felt. The way that the roadtrip is written makes you feel like you're along for the ride. Not only do you get to see the beginning stages of a country completely shut down, but experience so many first with Maisie. She’s lived her whole life fearful of what the real world can do, but seeing her experience all of these new wonders in a setting that, although tragic, is perfect for her introverted self. And on the same hand, Everett, also experiencing these things with her, makes him feel like he’s living for the first time since his loss. As their journey across the US brings on trials and mishaps, Maisie and Everett grow closer, realizing how similar their feelings are towards the world, and create a relationship built off their grief. Not only that, but they balance each other so well in their knowledge of apocalypses and zombies. They are both little freaks in the most positive way, and equally thoughtful and kind. Not to mention, their chemistry is outrageous which made the steamy parts that more delicious.
This book is ultimately about finding your place in the world, apocalyptic or not. Not only is this story hilarious and quirky, but it's devastating, hopeful, and full of angst and raw emotion. When I tell you I cried, I cried hard. However, the author finds a way to seamlessly blend in zombie pop culture, throw shade at our government, and create hilarious scenarios that make for a lighter mood. At no point did I know where the story was going and I loved that about it. The only thing holding me back from a complete 5 stars was because I did feel like it ended pretty abruptly. But, I would not let that deter me from reading it again and highly recommending it to anyone who is looking for a fun, romantic, and unique story.

Thank you Dell and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[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.

[esther ⋆⭒˚.⋆( interactive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was too outlandish even for me, even though I knew I signed up for an apocalyptic romance. While I thought the mix of these genres was very intriguing and could be really fun, this book, quite frankly, let me down.
Maisie is a doomsday prepper who has never been in a relationship, so she decides to go on this blind date with Everett, and shit hits the fan very soon after in the world. Their journey through zombie-infested cities and other dangers is the main plot in the movie.
I was not particularly in love with either character. Maisie was very odd and forward, and she pissed me off; her behavior was not normal or respectable. Everett, on the other hand, was a lot more interesting but bland. I feel like his being a professor didn't add much to the storyline, and he didn't show enough knowledge of zombie movies to actually be helpful.
I did enjoy their connection; it was a very gradual, slow burn until they admitted their feelings and found each other.
The end of the book is where things really fell apart for me. I will not detail any of it, but it was outlandish and weird, even knowing that this is a zombie apocalypse book.
I think this book could have been great, but overall, it fell short for me.

--- pre-read ---
Zombie apocalypse and a romance, sign me up!!!

[kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!!

Doomsdate is a hilarious story about what happens when a doomsday prepper who’s desperate to lose her virginity saves her horny professor blind date from a horde of zombies intent on devouring him and his cat!

I adored this book- it hit the spot humor wise for me! I love how Everett was filled with pop culture references that absolutely flew by Maisie! Likewise, I loved how ineffectual Everett was with any kind of survival instinct despite watching a ton of apocalyptic movies.

Everett was an extremely horny and extremely devoted cat dad who had spent the last few years of his life simply going thru the motions after a personal tragedy. Maisie too had a similar journey and it was wonderful to see these two decide to start living their lives once the world decided to stop due to a diarrhea disaster.

I laughed a lot and I cried a little. Doomsdate has an excellent cover, will make you life and also make you swoon! Maisie and Everett are two weirdos that you can’t help but fall in love with too.

[kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

soooo.. this took me a very long time to read.. not sure if i’m slumping OR it just didn’t hit as much as i needed it to. i did enjoy this book, however, i feel as though it was slow in some parts. the last 25% of the book was the best part, and i can’t even count how many times i cried. i think it was the long chapters that KILLED ME!! i do think this book was very unique, though, and i loved that! i’ve always wanted to read a zombie apocalypse romance.

i loved the opposite roles in this, the woman being the badass and the man being softer, which made it so much better! yall know i LOVE me a good, tall, nerdy man with glasses and this one definitely delivers. bonus points for him being a cat dad. the fmc is SUCH a tough person, physically and mentally, i could only possibly dream of being her. i think her story is so unusual (complimentary) and i also LOVED that.

i have one note: that ending? how dare you. thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

[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.

[Sissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doomsdate

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

A light, fun rom-com featuring a virgin doomsday prepper and a widowed, cat-daddy film studies professor trying to survive the apocalypse together. It was a quirky, entertaining read with plenty of humor, heart, and unexpected chemistry.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. ✨

[Halie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️’s

Turns out love IS at a dead end street. Finding love in a bleak zombie apocalypse? Sign me up! This was honestly so fun. I need authors to keep releasing romance horror because I am obsessed.

Thank you to Eldelweiss+ and my employer, Barnes & Noble, for the DRC.

[Maddi Harwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ I liked it! I do think this book started off so strong and I love this way this author writes soft, lovable men. However, I do feel it took a sharp turn into insta-love territory…which bummed me tf out.
Overall, the concept was fun, and there were definitely a few laugh-out-loud moments.

[rosiebooks10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

RTC

[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.

[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. 😂🧟‍♀️🏃‍♀️💨🐈

[brynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i requested "doomsdate" because i had just finished another book by this author called "potshot." i was OBSESSED with "potshot" so i was excited to read "doomsdate." the premise sounded fun: a gastrointestinal virus causing a zombie outbreak after our mc's go on a failure of a first date. unfortunately, the book fell flat for me and i didn't enjoy it as much as i had hoped.

- i loved maisie and everett. their characters felt fleshed out with intriguing backstories, unique personalities, and motivations. they were loveble and complex. and so were the side characters!
- i enjoyed the idea of a virus causing a pandemic, but it also hit a little too close to home after covid-19 haha. i still loved the process of people turning into zombies and how their attributes compared to other zombie media. especially with the goofy methods of killing zombies.
- i typically love instalove/instalust, but this moved WAY too fast for me. like i know they're alone together in a zombie apocalypse too, but it seemed kind of irrational how quickly their relationship developed.
- without spoilers, there was a betrayal that in my opinion deserved more groveling and resolved too soon.
- the humor felt like the author was trying too hard. "potshot" had me ugly laughing in the middle of the night, but the jokes in "doomsdate" felt forced and didn't hit the same.
- i know this was a zombie apocalypse, but some of the things that happened were a little too far fetched and it took me out of the story. i don't know how to explain this without spoilers, but it got really repetitive having the mc's doing the same things over and over.
- the spice was just okay. again, i felt they moved way too fast so i don't think i enjoyed the sex as much. i think it would have been better if it was spread throughout the book.

overall, "doomsdate" was fine. maybe it's my fault because i had just come off the high (pun intended) of finishing "potshot" and i was expecting this book to be the same. i enjoyed it, but it was just average for me. thank you to netgalley, ballantine/dell, and laura piper lee for this ARC. all opinions are my own.

[Nikki (awallflowerreads)]

Laura has this amazing way of writing characters that feel so genuine and authentic. They’re such lovable messes, and I become so easily invested in their growth. She also does such a great job of balancing the stakes of the plot (zombie-level apocalypse) with the romance (and subsequent sex lessons). It feels believable, if not a little out there, and it’s both keeping my adrenaline high but still satisfying the romance reader in me.

There are definitely moments of real horror here, especially during the first moments of the transition and as Maisie and Everett navigate this new reality (don’t event get me started on that last 10%). But it first and foremost feels like a romance and there’s such great emotional intimacy between our pair. Sex lessons during a zombie apocalypse road trip shouldn’t work, but it works so hard here. These two manage to find a way, and truly I love that for these goofballs. The humor is constantly there, with hilarious internal monologues and cultural references. I was equal parts laughing, anxious, and emotional in the best way.

I found the mystery elements of the zombie virus fairly interesting (which is hard to do with so much zombie lore out there), and the action sequences felt high stakes and sometimes high hijinks. This is perfect for when you’re looking for Zombieland meets Kimmy Schmidt, with a steamy romance and adventure! And a HEA in a zombie apocalypse which I would never expect!

4.5/5

doomsday prepper meets horror movie scholar, diarrhea virus turned zombie virus, she’s a Virgin who can drive (a solar-powered vehicle), cat dad MMC, sex lessons during the apocalypse, “professor”, road trip across zombie America

[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.

[Amber Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley!!
Laura Piper Lee does it again! I didn’t know what to expect going into a zombie love story but it had everything I wanted and more. It was hilarious, spicy, and had me tearing up.
Maisie is a doomsday prepper and it’s her time to shine when a zombie apocalypse breaks out across the US. The timing couldn’t be worse though because she has just a few days left before her 30th birthday which is the deadline she’s given herself to lose her virginity. She crosses paths and ends up rescuing a widowed film professor (turned sex professor😉) that has the survival instincts of a rock. During their time together, Everett helps Maisie come to the realization that she can trust people and that she wants to experience everything life has to offer her. Maisie helps Everett realize his worth and that he is so much stronger than he believed. As the pair navigates through the apocalypse, they have hilarious zombie encounters, many spicy moments together, and moments or growth.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Doomsdate! I always really like the thought of a post-apocalyptic romance, but they never live up to my expectations. To be fair, it is very hard to combine a rom-com with a zombie apocalypse and be balanced. Laura Piper Lee did a great job at blending romance, humor, fear, action and the seriousness of an apocalypse.

The epidemic that started the apocalypse was pretty silly, but honestly not too unbelievable. As someone who grew up watching zombie movies and went to see every new resident evil movie in theaters with my family, I really enjoyed all of the callbacks to different series.

The romance was really good. I had some doubts at the beginning, but I loved seeing how the characters learned to love and find the will to survive with each other. I love a down bad mmc and Maisie is so cool.

The ending was super intense and I did shed a few tears, but I really appreciate that everything wasn’t happy and easy the whole time.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

a romance set during the zombie apocalypse is much different than what i normally read, but i had to give it a shot because it’s laura piper lee!

while i LOVED pot shot (it will most likely make my 2026 favorites list) i wasn’t too crazy about this one. it was a fun concept that unfortunately was a little too out there for me.

i also didn’t feel much connection to the characters which was tough since they are pretty much the only two people we interact with throughout the entire story. actually, that’s not true. i really enjoyed chicken the cat.

still a unique story and i’m glad it brought me out of my comfort zone! thank you dell for the earc via netgalley 💜🧟‍♂️

[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!