10 Things I Hate About Zombies

by Hazel Graves, To Be Announced (Narrator)

‘BRILLIANT. It had me chuckling many, many times.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Light and scary and romantic all at the same time.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of those books I’ll be thinking about for a long time.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Can their love story survive a little bite? Smoothie shop owner Zoey has always had a thing for men with brains. So, when she meets the brilliant and stunningly handsome local mushroom farmer, Nick she’s instantly drawn to him.

Wanting a reason to call her new crush, Zoey enlists Nick help (and his mushrooms) with her latest brain-boosting smoothie recipe. Before long, they have a viral sensation on their hands.

Sparks fly as Zoey and Nick grow closer, but when the locals start behaving weirdly—with strange mumblings and a fondness for biting—they wonder just how viral the side effects might be for their brand-new drink.

Can they find an antidote to the zombie apocalypse they may have unwittingly started before everything falls apart… literally?

PRAISE FOR 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT ZOMBIES:

‘A must read if you like your apocalypse lighthearted, with plenty of cozy romcom chaos amidst the zombie shenanigans.’ Mira González, author of Strange Lights

‘Need more asap!.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was hooked!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Blooming marvellous.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Romance

Audible Audio

Expected publication September 10, 2026

Reviews

[Nico :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley and the author for my e-ARC of this book! 📖

2.5/5 ⭐️

This book is a quirky comedy romance that features our main characters Zoey and Nick. I want to start with the definite positives of the book.

All the characters had defining characteristics and jobs that set them apart from each other, and the friendships seemed so genuine it was refreshing to read.

The plot of the book is definitely unique! I’ve never read a zombie rom-com before, especially not one that has such a unique cause and cure!

It was fun to read and very cutesy for a romance, and I appreciate maybe it was just not my vibe!

In my personal opinion, the amount of references per page was a bit excessive, and they could definitely be trimmed back as they felt a little like ads and stopped the natural flow of the book.

Additionally, the reliance on Portland being so quirky made it a bit too satirical for me - there’s strengths to the book so no need to rely on so much forced comedy!

My last point, for a zombie romcom there was little zombies until after 60% of the book, but it is a romance first, not an apocalypse story.

This is an enjoyable book and a must read for anyone looking for a quick romance, especially if you love an instant romance! 😁

[Katie 📚🩷 · Rating 3 out of 5]

First thing first- I LOVE this cover.

I went into this SUPER excited and immediately had my excitement shattered when I realized it’s written in 3rd POV (I unfortunately have a dreadful relationship with anything other than 1st). Usually I DNF 3rd POVs, however, the first chapter REALLY intrigued me and I decided to keep going.

This book is so fun and quirky, it’s truly a fun time. It leans romcom first (heavy on the com) and zombies second in regard to the plot. There were many moments when I literally LOL’d, even at the cheesiest of jokes. I did feel like the momentum started to decline and I lost a bit of interest halfway through as I was waiting for the zombie aspect to come to life (lol). I do wish we got more of the zombies sooner in the book but I did like that these zombies weren’t straight out of a horror movie.

My bad relationship with 3rd POV did make this somewhat difficult for me to dive deep into the story but I’m chalking that up to a me issue. I think this is partly why I found it hard to figure out the timeline and how long Zoey and Nick had known each other, especially with the whole matching tattoo situation- why are we getting matching tattoos and we’re not even official?? Or did I miss that?
Aside from that, the biggest thing that didn’t work for me were the TikTok, 67, and Skibidi Toilet references. It really took me out of the story and made me cringe a bit. The mentioning of the penny going out of production also took me out of the story. BUT I did LOVE the anti-AI references lol.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this early!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. The story is dual point of view and set in Portland. Zoey runs a smoothie shop that she took over after her friend/boss Maven passed way. She likes it, but is questioning running the shop and her role in it. Zoey has a meet cute with Nick, a mushroom farmer, at the farmer's market. Zoey buys his mushrooms for her smoothies, and they become a big hit. Zoey reaches out to Nick for more mushrooms and they become friends. As the smoothies become a hit, Zoey and Nick starts to notice the people having some strange side effects. Nick and Zoey continue to date and slowly fall in love. When a lot of people they know fall victim to the zombie side effects, Nick rally Zoey's friends to find a cure and get everybody back to normal. They help cure the zombies, commit to their relationship, start to run the farm together, and get their HEA. Overall, this was an amusing and engaging rom com. I liked Nick and Zoey as they had good chemistry and banter. I also liked Zoey's friends and Nick's family as they provided heart and humor to the story. I wish that the zombie storyline had played a bigger role as they don't really show up until about the 75% mark. Additionally, as someone who likes Portland and its quirky atmosphere, I think the hipster vibes were a little overplayed at times. I am rating this 3.5 stars, but I am rounded up to 4 as it was a good time and easy read.

[Bibliomissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Hazel Graves for letting me read this ARC!



Set in quirky Portland, Oregon where Zoey (owner of a smoothie shop) learns to let herself love again when she meets Nick (sexy lumberjack mushroom farmer) and his best girl, Alice (Australian cattle dog). Pretty slow paced but absolutely full of interesting characters, references, puns, and plenty of camp. Enjoyed the alternating PoV between Zoey and Nick, the colorful cast of hipsters, punks, and all varieties of weirdos (complimentary). There were tons of nods to old horror movies, childrens books (Frog and Toad), as well as lots of modern references. There were so many that I think a lot of them were lost on me, but the ones I did get hit gave me nostalgia in the best way. The dialogue between Nick and Zoey was full of sarcasm, wit, and good hearted teasing. 


This is definitely a romance book foremost, and the zombie aspect takes a backseat. The zombie plot doesn't really kick in much at all until the last quarter of the book, but there is a bit foreshadowing here and there throughout. A couple of spicy scenes that aren't very explicit. If you like lots of humor, puns, and lighthearted and quirky reads, then you'll definitely enjoy this.

[Kristine Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Net Galley for this arc!

Zoey, our FMC, runs a smoothie shop in Portland. While working a festival, she meets cute mushroom farmer, Nick, and commissions him to help her create the best smoothie in Portland. When things start to go haywire and Zoey's customers start turning into zombies, can she and Nick save the day?

I gave this story 3.75 stars. The most refreshing part of this book was the minor details for every character Zoey and Nick come in contact with. We as the reader get a fun little tidbit about said character to make them stand out. Such as, there is a point where Zoey passes someone listening to an audiobook and we are even told which audiobook they're listening to. Each character has a lot of thought put into them, regardless of how minor, and that alone was very refreshing for a romcom. The only detail I didn't care for was the insta-love between Zory and Nick. Their story is sweet and funny, but it was very instantaneous. I'm not expecting a slow burn or a ton of back story with a romcom, but I was hoping for just a little bit more build up between them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this! This book was a great start to summer and I will read more from this author.

[Stephanie Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book… if you’re looking for a cozy, zombie Rom-Com, this one is for you!! (I know, pretty niche but it’s such a fun book!!)

We start our story with our FMC, Zoey, who recently became the owner of a smoothie shop. What you need to know about Zoey: Zoey has a handful of roommates and recently got out of a bad relationship.

Cue the meet cute where she meets Nick at the farmers market. Nick is a very good looking, lumber jack type, who happens to own a little mushroom farm. Totally sweet right? Nothing bad could happen with this storyline, right?

WRONG!!

Because the mushrooms? They totally turn people into zombies. And Zoey has been serving them up in her new viral smoothie that the whole town has been drinking!

This book is very lighthearted and just slips the pinky toe into the horror genre. If you typically shy away from that, you might still really enjoy this book. It’s not graphic or gory, just good, clean, zombie fun!

Read this book if you like:
-Dual POV
-Partially stolen flowers for courting
-Excellent banter
-Low stakes, cozy, zombie fun
-Recipes for zombie smoothies
-Frog and Toad book references!!!
-Happily ever afters

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the e-ARC!

[The Tiny Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆

I picked up 10 Things I Hate About Zombies expecting a bit of cheesy undead mayhem, and it certainly delivered on that front. Hazel Graves has clearly had a lot of fun with the premise, and thankfully that enjoyment is infectious.

The story is packed with witty observations, amusing characters, and enough zombie-related chaos to keep things moving at a decent pace. There were several moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud, which is no small achievement when most of the cast are trying not to become lunch.

The reason it’s four stars rather than five is that a few sections felt a little predictable, and some of the jokes landed better than others. That said, it’s a thoroughly entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is all the better for it.

If you enjoy quirky humour, zombies, and the occasional bit of ridiculousness, this is well worth adding to your reading pile. Just don’t read it whilst eating a snack—you may suddenly find yourself questioning whether brains are really on the menu after all.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 3.5-4 star read for me! Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC, it was a fun little read especially as it took a twist on a romance book.

Think zombie apocalypse but make it cutesie. Zoey and Nick meet at the local market, at which Nick is selling his mushrooms specifically the special orange ones that catch Zoey's eye right away. Zoey owns a smoothie shop and creates a new one based on the mushrooms. The smoothie is super popular from the start on but they quickly realize, not everything seems like they think and now they have a bigger issue than Zoey's struggle of accepting help on their hands.

This is a fun read but be aware that the main focus is still the romance plot, not the zombies. The zombies are basically a sidequest.

Besides a beautiful lovestory, we get offered a variety of fun side characters that come with their own personality traits that just make you feel like you're part of a big friendship group.

All in all, i would recommend this 100%!

[Sandra Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smoothie shop owner meets a mushroom farmer at a farmers market. Zoey buys mushrooms from Nick who just recently bought a mushroom farm. Said mushrooms are growing in a certain area if it’s probably that have been struck by lightning not once but twice. These particular mushrooms have certain zombie like side effects and hilarity and Sue. Fun, laugh out loud, romcom with a full cast of characters that I wouldn’t have any trouble picturing in Portland, Oregon. Look should come with a disclaimer that says: No zombies were harmed in the writing of this book.

This is not a dystopian romance. This is a cute take on an impending zombie apocalypse.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoey runs the local smoothie shop in town. A man named Nick moves into town and has an abundant supply of mushrooms. You can throw those into smoothies, right? Except everyone starts acting kind of strange after the menu change.

I don't think I've ever see a book manage to mention somewhat relevant memes from TikTok. It was impressive and cringe at the same time 🤣

This book was insanely fun and I've honestly never read anything like it. I felt like Zoey and Nick had a great connection and I loved watching them try and solve their smoothie problems. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

[Gerika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun and easy to read book. Zoey who runs the smoothie shop in town after inheriting it from a friend who passed away buys some weird mushrooms from Nick, who sells them and the smoothies become a hit when she blends them, but it comes with a catch...turning people into brain-craving zombies. This book was fast-paced, funny, used so many current memes and trends, etc from social media and today's culture...I usually enjoy more serious reads, but I found this to be a great book to relax with, take the edge off of things, and just relax...even found it a bit cozy with the romance and zombies.

[Marcia Arguelles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this over the top cringy.
The jokes were a bit too much and so random. It came to a point where I felt these were just being vomited on me at every page.
In terms of characters, they were a bit one dimensional. The romance just came out of nowhere, I mean I get the love at first sight concept, but I felt there could maybe be more genuine growth? And also, who talks like that? This was a hallmark comedy of sorts. Very, very weird indeed.
I also wished there was more zombie survival than backstory, though looking at it that way, was a bit of fresh air.

[Emily Bellamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise behind this book. The plot didn’t go where I thought it was, and that’s okay! There were times when I laughed out loud!

That being said, I felt like the author was trying a little too hard to throw in every current trend and phrase, almost to the point of being distracting to the book. It sort of freezes this book in this time period we’re currently in, and won’t age well as those trends fall off.

Overall it was an enjoyable read, it was a quick read, but fell a little short overall.

[Drie Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 Things I Hate About Zombies by Hazel Graves is such a fun, fast-paced read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It mixes humor, romance, and a little chaos in a way that kept things entertaining the whole time for me. The characters are easy to like, especially Zoey—her sarcastic personality really makes the story stand out. It was such lighthearted vibe and I loved it. If you’re in the mood for something quirky, a little dramatic, and super easy to binge, this is definitely a good pick!

[Claire Hicks-Roser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, fun read and if you like your books with humour and a little chaos then then this one is for you!

I liked the relationship between Zoe and Nick they had great chemistry and banter, I liked the jokes. This was a good little twist on your normal romance although there wasn’t really much zombie action until the last part of the book really and it was over with quite quickly!

I did enjoy overall, it was fast paced and funny but would have liked more zombies!

[Keely booksandbricksuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romcom set in an accidental zombie apocalypse. Sign me up!!

This books was funny and ott in all the best ways!! I laughed the whole way through this book.

Our FMC who owns a smoothie shop one day meets a mushroom farmer (our MMC) and his dog who supplies her some bright orange mushrooms for her smoothies.

The smoothies go viral and soon after customers start acting in strange ways!! Stumbling through the streets and muttering about brains!!

Cue absolute chaos while the two fall in love!

This is rammed full of pop culture references, crazy antics and a sweet romance.

If you want a palette cleanser that will leave you giggling, this will do it!!

Thanks to AvonBooks UK for the arc to review

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the author for an ARC. This was the quirkiest book I’ve ever had the chance to read, and it is completely full of pop culture references. The idea of a zombie mini-apocalypse in Portland resulting from mushroom smoothies was as hilariously absurd and well executed. Exactly what you’d expect from the title.

[ReadingInPyjamas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fun, quirky rom-com with just the right amount of zombie chaos. I really enjoyed the lighthearted humour, puns, and the unusual premise of smoothies causing a zombie outbreak. Zoey and Nick were sweet together, though I did wish their connection had a little more depth and that I felt more invested in them as a couple. The pacing was a bit slow for me at times, and the plot took a while to really get going, but the humor and absurdity made it a pretty enjoyable read overall. It definitely feels like a light, turn-your-brain-off kind of book, and I mean that in the best way. Still, it was charming, funny, and had a fun premise.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK for the ARC!

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this kooky story, and love this author. I knew immediately that I had to read this one, as I absolutely adored Four weddings and a funeral director as well as The little coffee shop of terrors and I know not everyone will get the humour and find it a little far-fetched, but do you know what that’s one of the reasons I love reading as it’s a way of suspending reality and just getting into a story. I loved how Zoey was so determined to honour the legacy of Maven Maeve and Nick was so determined to share his passion for mushrooms, its not a story you would imagine would be good, but do you know what it was blooming marvellous. I loved the cameo from Reba and Grace, you just know that Reba is someone you love to see pop up in unexpected places.

[Elsie Redducs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

10 Things I Hate About Zombies is about Zoey, a smoothie shop owner who would rather be using her degree in children's literature, and Nick, a new mushroom farm owner. When they meet sparks fly, but as Zoey uses Nick's orange mushrooms in her smoothies strange occurrences start happening.
This is a very cute, light rom-com book! I would have personally liked a little more zombie action and interaction but that might just be me. I absolutely loved Alice the dog! She was my favorite character! Would recommend if you like romantic comedies with just a dash of paranormal.

Thank you AvonBooksUK and NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Faye Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

10 Things I Hate About Zombies is a zany romcom where a new mushroom supplier leads both to a romance for smoothie maker Zoey and a zombie outbreak! It's set in Portland, and the hipster references and humour are extremely strong, which I think it will really work for some readers, but not others. The humour wasn't really for me personally, but this lighthearted and very quirky romcom might be for you!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Eilis Dunne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really fun and easy to read. It's definitely a comedy, so I quickly had to embrace the insanity of it.

I liked Zoey and Nick together, they were both likeable and their instant spark was believable. I did feel that they got together pretty fast and without much tension, but I guess this makes sense once the zombie plot kicks in as that becomes more of a focus.

If viewed as a short fun book - I couldn't see how many pages it is but it has the vibes of a novella - then i think this is an enjoyable read.

[Shayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and adorable book. It's a RomCom with all the quirk and romance. I thought it was chaotic and funny, in the best way! I did think it started a bit slow, but it really picked up halfway through and that's when I couldn't put it down.

I kind of felt like while the romance aspects were cute, the relationship wasn't QUITE what I wanted or needed. I wasn't as invested as I'd like to be in the characters, but overall it was still a great read and extremely enjoyable.

[Noor Syahadah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC
10 Things I Hate About Zombies was a fun and light read with a cute mix of romance, humor, and zombie chaos. The concept itself was really entertaining, and I liked the playful vibe throughout the story. There were definitely some funny moments and character interactions that made me smile.

That being said, the pacing felt pretty slow for a zombie themed book. I expected a bit more tension and excitement, but a lot of the story focused on dialogue and relationship drama rather than actual action. Some parts dragged a little, and it took me longer than expected to fully get invested.

Still, if you enjoy more cozy, character-focused stories with a touch of apocalypse humor, this might work really well for you. It just wasn’t as fast paced or intense as I hoped it would be. Overall, a decent read, just slower than expected.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

This was a cute and quick zombie-filled rom-com.

I did want a bit more oomph to the characters and their relationship. It wasn't as believable as it could've been. I wasn't as invested as I should've been. I just needed a little more characterization, a little more of a reason to root for them.

They were cute and easy to read about, don't get me wrong, but I just wanted a bit more.

Overall, this was a fun read. And it had some funny and chaotic zombie-related moments.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

This was such a quirky, pun filled, sweet and funny romance, filled with irony and so many amusing yet adorable moments!

The story was fairly straightforward, and admittedly the pacing was slower than I would've liked (the plot didn't really roll out until around 60% through), but every page was filled with humour so I didn't entirely mind too much. I liked Zoey and Nick, they made a great couple and their conversations were never dull- though personally I didn't find them very meaningful either- but for a simple and strange rom-com I wasn't expecting too much anyway.

I'd definitely say this is just a fun, turn your brain off (pun kinda intended?) book, which will for sure bring a smile to your face for sure at some point, but isn't very deep or overly detailed. Still, an entertaining read nonetheless which left me with a bad case of craving for a smoothie and new tattoo!!

3/5 🌟

[Ameera khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Okay so when first started reading this I was a bit bored and just wanted to get through it but oh boy did that book get interesting after 50% in the real fun started cause guys we have people of the town become zombies(ahhhhh screaming in the last of us) now I come to think of it I have played with zombies but never read about them??

Anyways

The character of zoey was my favorite her quirky and awkward behavior was so funny lol. I tbh expected more zombie action but seeing this was romcom my gory brain had to calm down. Because as dylan (iykyk) if i am bored i will insert a murder in the plot which i was in the beginning.

This book was a very light and funny read with a bit of mystery in it and i throughly enjoyed it would 100% recommend.

(Ps: shoutout to romero my cat was going through it)

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy from Netgalley

Zoey is the smoothie shop owner in a small Portland village. Nick is the muscled mushroom farmer on the outskirts of town. Together they make a smoothie to die for, but the after-effects are a desire to bite and obsession with brains.

10 Things I Hate About Zombies is a cozy romance set in the same universe as The Little Coffee Shop of Horrors, and is just as whacky. However, where the latter felt a bit all over the place, 10 Things I Hate About Zombies felt like a fun, light read. The super bright girl is running a local establishment but dreaming of more, and the handsome loner is starting to warm up again, what's not to love?

In the words of Nick "this isn't a horror movie. It's a romance" and a lighthearted, silly one at that. Recommended to anyone who likes a cozy, easy read.

Thanks again to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was such a fun read in a world of absolute chaos. I have read alot of zombie romances and this was such an interesting but dare I say, gentle take on a world of zombies. If your new to zombie romance and dont want to go off the deep end into some dark territory, this book really fits in that beginner nook. The overall premise was a very light romcom which I very much enjoyed reading. A perfect book to scratch an itch of wanting a different romcom romance!

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Hazel Graves for the ARC.

I see a book title with zombies in it, I have to read it. It's the law. (...Okay, it's not, but it should!)

I enjoyed this. The characters were all so well written and had so much life to them (or unlife I guess, depending on their zombie status) I loved their humour, and it was definitely the thing I enjoyed most about this.

I will say I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't more zombies, but as this is supposed to be more romcom centered, this wasn't the books fault.

A great read if you fancy a romance with plenty of humour and a side of brains.

Hazel Graves is a new to me author, but after reading this I'll definitely be checking her other books out. I love how she writes her characters.