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Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26CeCe Campbell wakes on the asphalt of a mall parking lot with two missing years and a body that no longer feels like her own. Infected with the Kill Virus on her 18th birthday, she’s among the first to be cured.
Rehabilitation teaches CeCe how to walk, how to speak, how to exist in a world rebuilding itself, but it cannot return what she lost. Her mother is dead. Her brother is missing. And the last memory before the dark is a bite she cannot escape.
When CeCe unexpectedly meets Derrick—the boy who infected her—she’s torn between anger and a strange, undeniable connection. Derrick doesn’t remember what he did. CeCe does, and the truth of that moment is something he’ll never get. Not when he already took everything from her.
But if there's to be life after the cure, CeCe will have to unwind the past, face what happened the night that bound them together, and decide if love and forgiveness can heal wounds deeper than the ones left by the undead.
Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead is a haunting post-apocalyptic love story about guilt, survival, and choosing connection in a world where nothing can be undone.
Rehabilitation teaches CeCe how to walk, how to speak, how to exist in a world rebuilding itself, but it cannot return what she lost. Her mother is dead. Her brother is missing. And the last memory before the dark is a bite she cannot escape.
When CeCe unexpectedly meets Derrick—the boy who infected her—she’s torn between anger and a strange, undeniable connection. Derrick doesn’t remember what he did. CeCe does, and the truth of that moment is something he’ll never get. Not when he already took everything from her.
But if there's to be life after the cure, CeCe will have to unwind the past, face what happened the night that bound them together, and decide if love and forgiveness can heal wounds deeper than the ones left by the undead.
Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead is a haunting post-apocalyptic love story about guilt, survival, and choosing connection in a world where nothing can be undone.
Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
H.J. Ramsay
2 books95 followersHJ Ramsay holds an MFA in Creative Writing and is an award-winning author. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Gold Man Review, a West Coast literary journal, and has a background in Psychology and Criminal Justice with dual bachelor’s degrees. Passionate about storytelling that explores the human experience, she crafts narratives that blend emotion, imagination, and depth. When she’s not writing or editing, she enjoys diving into the worlds of speculative fiction and literary fiction alike.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book really blindsided me with emotions I am not entirely sure I was ready to feel (Which is a compliment!)
Ramsay approached Zombie lore with a unique perspective. Not only does it focus on what happens AFTER the cure, but our narrator, CeCe, is both someone who survived being infected and the daughter of the man who found the cure. She wakes up after losing 2 years of her life and discovering that everything has changed. Her father is a hero (to most), her mother is dead, and her brother and friends are missing.
I cannot stress enough how well Ramsay expressed the experience of life after something traumatic. Alienation from peers, stagnant depression, guilt, etc., are all a part of CeCe's reintroduction to the world. The writing is fairly simplistic, but I actually felt like that was a significant "win". As an adult who has gone through some things, it resonated with me fully and likely helped me fill in gaps in some areas. I think a younger audience would find a kindred spirit in CeCe, and this is fully accessible to them.
Side Note: This book does include sex in some of its scenes. HOWEVER, it is not "sexy" or graphic in any significant way. Personally, it also felt very much like it supported the overall story and was necessary and/or beneficial to CeCe's emotional journey.
Derrick was 100% the gem of this story and is the romantic interest. I don't want to give away too much, but I felt like his connection with CeCe was so strong, and in the author's note at the end, she discusses how zombie stories are partially scary as they represent the idea of a loved one turning on you, and I thought his role in this was such an interesting take on that. He is also just an absolute darling. Go Derrick. (I also liked that he shows a different type of traumatic response, someone who finds closure through positivity and hope.)
There are some criticisms, though these are not extreme. My biggest complaint, without giving too many spoilers, was CeCe's Father's behaviour. At first, I really did like that it showed the disparity between someone working through pain and someone who has dealt with their own life and version of it. I did feel like he sort of pushed it and bordered on a lack of empathy at times, particularly because of how this dynamic completed its arc with relatively neatly tied strings. In general, I have seen comments about pacing, and that really didn't feel odd to me until things started to wrap up to end on a non-bleak note. I think the rapid feeling I got towards the end is fairly common in similar stories, so that was a really minor thing.
Overall, I think this was a beautifully told story with a really unique take on the genre that could very much appeal to a vast audience. It isn't incredibly long, so it doesn't have a major commitment factor (Took me a few hours? Not sure exactly, but with a lot of other stuff going on it took me 2 days in total to read).
This is a 4-star rating on Goodreads, but I did give it 4.5 stars on Storygraph, and it was a tough call to round up or down. Ultimately, I think the Father just bothered me so damn much that I couldn't bring myself to give it 5 stars, BUT that in no way compromises the overall success of this story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions in this review are honest and my own; I'm just really ADHD, and doing these ARCs keeps me engaged in reading even when I really don't want to, haha.
Ramsay approached Zombie lore with a unique perspective. Not only does it focus on what happens AFTER the cure, but our narrator, CeCe, is both someone who survived being infected and the daughter of the man who found the cure. She wakes up after losing 2 years of her life and discovering that everything has changed. Her father is a hero (to most), her mother is dead, and her brother and friends are missing.
I cannot stress enough how well Ramsay expressed the experience of life after something traumatic. Alienation from peers, stagnant depression, guilt, etc., are all a part of CeCe's reintroduction to the world. The writing is fairly simplistic, but I actually felt like that was a significant "win". As an adult who has gone through some things, it resonated with me fully and likely helped me fill in gaps in some areas. I think a younger audience would find a kindred spirit in CeCe, and this is fully accessible to them.
Side Note: This book does include sex in some of its scenes. HOWEVER, it is not "sexy" or graphic in any significant way. Personally, it also felt very much like it supported the overall story and was necessary and/or beneficial to CeCe's emotional journey.
Derrick was 100% the gem of this story and is the romantic interest. I don't want to give away too much, but I felt like his connection with CeCe was so strong, and in the author's note at the end, she discusses how zombie stories are partially scary as they represent the idea of a loved one turning on you, and I thought his role in this was such an interesting take on that. He is also just an absolute darling. Go Derrick. (I also liked that he shows a different type of traumatic response, someone who finds closure through positivity and hope.)
There are some criticisms, though these are not extreme. My biggest complaint, without giving too many spoilers, was CeCe's Father's behaviour. At first, I really did like that it showed the disparity between someone working through pain and someone who has dealt with their own life and version of it. I did feel like he sort of pushed it and bordered on a lack of empathy at times, particularly because of how this dynamic completed its arc with relatively neatly tied strings. In general, I have seen comments about pacing, and that really didn't feel odd to me until things started to wrap up to end on a non-bleak note. I think the rapid feeling I got towards the end is fairly common in similar stories, so that was a really minor thing.
Overall, I think this was a beautifully told story with a really unique take on the genre that could very much appeal to a vast audience. It isn't incredibly long, so it doesn't have a major commitment factor (Took me a few hours? Not sure exactly, but with a lot of other stuff going on it took me 2 days in total to read).
This is a 4-star rating on Goodreads, but I did give it 4.5 stars on Storygraph, and it was a tough call to round up or down. Ultimately, I think the Father just bothered me so damn much that I couldn't bring myself to give it 5 stars, BUT that in no way compromises the overall success of this story.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions in this review are honest and my own; I'm just really ADHD, and doing these ARCs keeps me engaged in reading even when I really don't want to, haha.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
The premise for Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead was instantly so fascinating to me. It sounded SO cool and unlike anything I'd ever read before. I went in so badly wanting to love this book but I struggled. Cece wakes in hospital after being cured from a virus that essentially turned her (and half the world) into a "zombie" for 2years. She wakes at 20 thinking her 18th birthday was yesterday and has to adjust to a completely new world ravaged by a virus that almost destroyed it and humanity. Now that there's a cure, people are slowly being cured and the world is slowly rebuilding. Cece struggles to deal with the trauma of losing 2years of her life as well as everything that happened during those 2years both to the world and to people she loves.
The book honestly felt rushed to me. It went so fast with the story advancing so quickly that I didn't feel I had a chance to take things in as they happened. I did enjoy the story though and found the world-building was good, I just wanted to see more. There were so many interesting and unique things happening all around and I would've loved to see more of them. But it was done well and I felt like I had a good picture of what Cece's world was like.
The way Cece was feeling really made sense just all throughout the book. The way she felt about the losses she experienced, the way she was trying to cope with things happening around her, the way she was trying to process all the trauma. There were elements of some of the characters that didn't feel super genuine for the character though. Some of the decisions her Dad made really didn't feel like they matched the type of person and type of Dad we'd been led to believe he was. Certain choices or the timing of telling Cece certain things just felt really out of character and kind of frustrated me. Derrick was a sweetheart though and I loved all the little things he did to support Cece and make her smile.
I did enjoy the book and it did pull me in to an extent, just not fully because of the writing style. It was a fairly simplistic, tween/younger YA style of writing i felt. But then the story involved some very adult scenes all throughout so it was definitely an adult book. But that's more a me preference, not a failing of the author. The way the author wrote the author's note at the end I thought was such a fantastic writing style and I think I would've enjoyed the book more if it had been written that way. But I'm sure lots of people will love the writing style of the book!
The storyline of the book, the ideas and world and characters were really interesting, I just wish we got to see more of all of it. I wish the book was a bit longer, the pacing slowed down a bit. But I can also for sure see people who would enjoy it the way it is!
It is worth noting that i think maybe the ebook needs to be better formatted or something, just because for me at least, it didn't look amazing. The chapter starts were a bit choppy graphic wise and the first letter of the first words were always above the rest of the text. I don't know if that was the case for everyone though, I was reading on a 3year old base model Kindle.
The premise for Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead was instantly so fascinating to me. It sounded SO cool and unlike anything I'd ever read before. I went in so badly wanting to love this book but I struggled. Cece wakes in hospital after being cured from a virus that essentially turned her (and half the world) into a "zombie" for 2years. She wakes at 20 thinking her 18th birthday was yesterday and has to adjust to a completely new world ravaged by a virus that almost destroyed it and humanity. Now that there's a cure, people are slowly being cured and the world is slowly rebuilding. Cece struggles to deal with the trauma of losing 2years of her life as well as everything that happened during those 2years both to the world and to people she loves.
The book honestly felt rushed to me. It went so fast with the story advancing so quickly that I didn't feel I had a chance to take things in as they happened. I did enjoy the story though and found the world-building was good, I just wanted to see more. There were so many interesting and unique things happening all around and I would've loved to see more of them. But it was done well and I felt like I had a good picture of what Cece's world was like.
The way Cece was feeling really made sense just all throughout the book. The way she felt about the losses she experienced, the way she was trying to cope with things happening around her, the way she was trying to process all the trauma. There were elements of some of the characters that didn't feel super genuine for the character though. Some of the decisions her Dad made really didn't feel like they matched the type of person and type of Dad we'd been led to believe he was. Certain choices or the timing of telling Cece certain things just felt really out of character and kind of frustrated me. Derrick was a sweetheart though and I loved all the little things he did to support Cece and make her smile.
I did enjoy the book and it did pull me in to an extent, just not fully because of the writing style. It was a fairly simplistic, tween/younger YA style of writing i felt. But then the story involved some very adult scenes all throughout so it was definitely an adult book. But that's more a me preference, not a failing of the author. The way the author wrote the author's note at the end I thought was such a fantastic writing style and I think I would've enjoyed the book more if it had been written that way. But I'm sure lots of people will love the writing style of the book!
The storyline of the book, the ideas and world and characters were really interesting, I just wish we got to see more of all of it. I wish the book was a bit longer, the pacing slowed down a bit. But I can also for sure see people who would enjoy it the way it is!
It is worth noting that i think maybe the ebook needs to be better formatted or something, just because for me at least, it didn't look amazing. The chapter starts were a bit choppy graphic wise and the first letter of the first words were always above the rest of the text. I don't know if that was the case for everyone though, I was reading on a 3year old base model Kindle.
June 8, 2026
3.5 stars
If you’re looking for vibes like In the Flesh crossed with the drama and mystery of The 100, then Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead by H.J. Ramsay might be for you.
I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley. It’s set to be published on October 6, 2026.
The story follows CeCe, who was turned into a zombie on her 18th birthday outside a restaurant. She remembers nothing until she wakes up in a parking lot two years later. By then, her father has discovered a cure, her mother is dead, and her brother is missing. As CeCe tries to adjust to this new version of the world, she comes face-to-face with Derrick, the guy who infected her. He has no memory of infecting her, and while CeCe feels immediate anger toward him, she also feels an undeniable connection. Derrick is equally drawn to her, and from there the story unfolds into a horror romance.
I read this one quickly and overall enjoyed it. I’d rate it around 3.5 stars.
The reason it leans closer to 3 than 4 for me is that it felt more YA than I expected. It doesn’t seem to be marketed that way, but I really think it should be. CeCe can come across as bratty and stubborn, though honestly, a lot of her reactions make sense given what she’s been through. She’s grieving her old life, missing her friends, mourning the loss of her tennis scholarship, and being pushed to move on much faster than feels realistic. Her father in particular frustrated me a lot—his expectations for how quickly CeCe should adjust, get her GED, and start rebuilding her life felt incredibly tone-deaf.
One of the strongest parts of the book, though, is how it explores the treatment of zombies, both cured and infected. Some survivors are surprisingly compassionate, treating them with the same care and dignity they’d show someone recovering from trauma or injury. Others are fearful and hostile, which also feels believable. Even the cured themselves have different views on the infected, and I really liked watching CeCe’s perspective evolve over the course of the story.
The climax wasn’t especially surprising, but I still found the world and character dynamics engaging enough to keep reading. And while this is marketed as horror romance, the romance is actually very sweet and pretty innocent. There’s very little spice here, so if you’re expecting a darker or steamier horror romance, this isn’t that. Still, it worked well for me as a palate cleanser: light on the romance heat, but still with enough horror and bloodiness to keep the zombie premise fun.
If you like:
· zombies with a more emotional/human angle
· post-apocalyptic recovery stories
· sweet, innocent romance mixed with horror
· YA-feeling character drama
…then this one is worth checking out.
If you’re looking for vibes like In the Flesh crossed with the drama and mystery of The 100, then Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead by H.J. Ramsay might be for you.
I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley. It’s set to be published on October 6, 2026.
The story follows CeCe, who was turned into a zombie on her 18th birthday outside a restaurant. She remembers nothing until she wakes up in a parking lot two years later. By then, her father has discovered a cure, her mother is dead, and her brother is missing. As CeCe tries to adjust to this new version of the world, she comes face-to-face with Derrick, the guy who infected her. He has no memory of infecting her, and while CeCe feels immediate anger toward him, she also feels an undeniable connection. Derrick is equally drawn to her, and from there the story unfolds into a horror romance.
I read this one quickly and overall enjoyed it. I’d rate it around 3.5 stars.
The reason it leans closer to 3 than 4 for me is that it felt more YA than I expected. It doesn’t seem to be marketed that way, but I really think it should be. CeCe can come across as bratty and stubborn, though honestly, a lot of her reactions make sense given what she’s been through. She’s grieving her old life, missing her friends, mourning the loss of her tennis scholarship, and being pushed to move on much faster than feels realistic. Her father in particular frustrated me a lot—his expectations for how quickly CeCe should adjust, get her GED, and start rebuilding her life felt incredibly tone-deaf.
One of the strongest parts of the book, though, is how it explores the treatment of zombies, both cured and infected. Some survivors are surprisingly compassionate, treating them with the same care and dignity they’d show someone recovering from trauma or injury. Others are fearful and hostile, which also feels believable. Even the cured themselves have different views on the infected, and I really liked watching CeCe’s perspective evolve over the course of the story.
The climax wasn’t especially surprising, but I still found the world and character dynamics engaging enough to keep reading. And while this is marketed as horror romance, the romance is actually very sweet and pretty innocent. There’s very little spice here, so if you’re expecting a darker or steamier horror romance, this isn’t that. Still, it worked well for me as a palate cleanser: light on the romance heat, but still with enough horror and bloodiness to keep the zombie premise fun.
If you like:
· zombies with a more emotional/human angle
· post-apocalyptic recovery stories
· sweet, innocent romance mixed with horror
· YA-feeling character drama
…then this one is worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.
I'm a biiig fan of the zombie genre, so this book immediately caught my eye after seeing its description. A girl who gets cured of her zombie infection, waking up without two years of memories, and then falling for the very guy that bit her??? the drama!!
I did enjoy the worldbuilding here. I think the way the Infected were cured was a fun take on the zombie trope, and I liked how the 'post-Cure' world interacted with one another. There are several key groups, mainly three, which are the Survivors, the formerly Infected, and then the 'Revies'. The interactions between each group made for a reaaally compelling read, and I wish we could have seen more of it. But, besides that...
... I was a bit underwhelmed. While I still liked this book, it was reminiscent of a Wattpad story, being that it was simple and easily digestible (at least to me). The characters, their dialogue, and decisions often fell a bit flat, especially when it came to CeCe and her dad. It made for frustrating interactions that felt forced (because would her dad really do some of those things, especially after the way he's been characterized? idk.) I also thought Derrick, while a genuine, sweet male lead for once, was only there to build CeCe up for her own character arc - he didn't really feel like his own person to me, with no real ambitions or goals.
I think that this book could have been fleshed out a lot more, and I would definitely be interested in reading more stories that expand on this world, even if we follow different characters: i.e., What happened to Riley and Leyton? Will Derrick be reunited with his family?, Like I said, the context and worldbuilding is so fun and has so much potential!! Pls pls pls give me more!!
3/5 stars
I'm a biiig fan of the zombie genre, so this book immediately caught my eye after seeing its description. A girl who gets cured of her zombie infection, waking up without two years of memories, and then falling for the very guy that bit her??? the drama!!
I did enjoy the worldbuilding here. I think the way the Infected were cured was a fun take on the zombie trope, and I liked how the 'post-Cure' world interacted with one another. There are several key groups, mainly three, which are the Survivors, the formerly Infected, and then the 'Revies'. The interactions between each group made for a reaaally compelling read, and I wish we could have seen more of it. But, besides that...
... I was a bit underwhelmed. While I still liked this book, it was reminiscent of a Wattpad story, being that it was simple and easily digestible (at least to me). The characters, their dialogue, and decisions often fell a bit flat, especially when it came to CeCe and her dad. It made for frustrating interactions that felt forced (because would her dad really do some of those things, especially after the way he's been characterized? idk.) I also thought Derrick, while a genuine, sweet male lead for once, was only there to build CeCe up for her own character arc - he didn't really feel like his own person to me, with no real ambitions or goals.
I think that this book could have been fleshed out a lot more, and I would definitely be interested in reading more stories that expand on this world, even if we follow different characters: i.e., What happened to Riley and Leyton? Will Derrick be reunited with his family?, Like I said, the context and worldbuilding is so fun and has so much potential!! Pls pls pls give me more!!
3/5 stars
May 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I am in two minds about this book. There is a part of me that really enjoyed it, but at the same time, I did find that it didn’t quite push things far enough. As a concept, it’s fantastic- we see the idea of zombies being pulled back from being undead, and the impacts of those.
Cece as a main character is really well written and developed. She was relatable and all of her experiences made sense given her circumstances. Her relationship with Derrick was well done, and I was appreciative that we didn’t end up ‘instalove’ as readers.
There could have been a little more of a focus on some of the darker elements, but I understand why it didn’t linger on them too long. I also would have loved a little more description of the mechanics of the zombies and their workings as well- just to give a little bit more flavour to the world.
I did think there were some pacing issues, particularly with the ending, which seemed quite quick compared to the rest of the novel. It’s definitely written in a bit of a young adult way, which I felt was a little to the detriment of the story.
All together though, this was a really fun read, and it had some incredibly poignant moments. I felt it was well worth the read, and it was definitely a new twist on the zombie genre as a whole.
I am in two minds about this book. There is a part of me that really enjoyed it, but at the same time, I did find that it didn’t quite push things far enough. As a concept, it’s fantastic- we see the idea of zombies being pulled back from being undead, and the impacts of those.
Cece as a main character is really well written and developed. She was relatable and all of her experiences made sense given her circumstances. Her relationship with Derrick was well done, and I was appreciative that we didn’t end up ‘instalove’ as readers.
There could have been a little more of a focus on some of the darker elements, but I understand why it didn’t linger on them too long. I also would have loved a little more description of the mechanics of the zombies and their workings as well- just to give a little bit more flavour to the world.
I did think there were some pacing issues, particularly with the ending, which seemed quite quick compared to the rest of the novel. It’s definitely written in a bit of a young adult way, which I felt was a little to the detriment of the story.
All together though, this was a really fun read, and it had some incredibly poignant moments. I felt it was well worth the read, and it was definitely a new twist on the zombie genre as a whole.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! 3 stars.
this is a solid YA horror, and (predictably) leans heavy on the romance aspect--though it is not very explicit. it is a very interesting concept (what happens once zombies are "cured"?) but i felt like CeCe's character ARC was not very satisfying, and most of the characters felt very one-dimensional and unrelated to one another.
i would have really liked to get more flashbacks of cece with her family or friends to make me care for them all more, because they seemed like stock characters that i was just supposed to trust she cared for.
however, i think that despite being medium paced and not very scary, the pacing is really good. even though i wasn't always scared for cece's life, i always wanted to read more; the author does a really great job at making the book move forward in a way that makes sense and is easily digestible for the reader. i think that this book would have really benefited from an extra 50-75 pages of background information, but overall was a fun read that i think younger readers would really enjoy.
this is a solid YA horror, and (predictably) leans heavy on the romance aspect--though it is not very explicit. it is a very interesting concept (what happens once zombies are "cured"?) but i felt like CeCe's character ARC was not very satisfying, and most of the characters felt very one-dimensional and unrelated to one another.
i would have really liked to get more flashbacks of cece with her family or friends to make me care for them all more, because they seemed like stock characters that i was just supposed to trust she cared for.
however, i think that despite being medium paced and not very scary, the pacing is really good. even though i wasn't always scared for cece's life, i always wanted to read more; the author does a really great job at making the book move forward in a way that makes sense and is easily digestible for the reader. i think that this book would have really benefited from an extra 50-75 pages of background information, but overall was a fun read that i think younger readers would really enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this quick, fast paced book. I thought CeCe was a good FMC who, despite not being scrappy as they usually are in these kinds of books, managed to be quick on her feet in the situations. I liked that our protagonist wasn’t a “not like other girls” type. She was just a teenage girl adjusting to a new reality. This book deals with grief, not just of people, but of who she once was. Derrick was a nice, but not overly explored MMC. I wish we could have seen a bit more of who he was before. I loved the idea of the Revies, and being a southerner, I never considered that a large group of people would connect zombie apocalypse to Armageddon. But it makes total sense!
Some things I didn’t love:
I didn’t care for the Lauren plot line. I think it would have been a lot easier to understand if the timeline of CeCe being a zombie had been longer than 2 years.
I wish we got to explore more of the CAVE.
I wish we would have found out what happened to Derricks family.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I think it could have been better with more world building.
Some things I didn’t love:
I didn’t care for the Lauren plot line. I think it would have been a lot easier to understand if the timeline of CeCe being a zombie had been longer than 2 years.
I wish we got to explore more of the CAVE.
I wish we would have found out what happened to Derricks family.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I think it could have been better with more world building.
June 17, 2026
Cece was just a normal girl; going to school, tennis practice, hanging out with her friends and boyfriend. Graduation not far away a scholarship lined up; everything was very simple, until it wasn’t.
She wakes to find that everything has been stripped from her. Her friends, boyfriend, mother are all dead, her brother missing but most likely dead as well. The Kill Virus has swept through and though her father managed to find a cure for the Infected not everyone could be resurrected. Since Cece’s injuries were not severe she was able to make a recovery.
Now stuck in a world that’s trying to build back to normal she’s having to navigate through her feelings of being an ex-Infected,; losing everything she knew, her dad’s new relationship, and her feelings toward the man who bit and turned her.
This was such an emotional roller coaster, mostly a grief heavy book but I think that’s what makes it so good; I’m not a huge fan of zombie stuff but I really connected with this one.
Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead by H.J. Ramsay coming back from the dead October 6, 2026!
She wakes to find that everything has been stripped from her. Her friends, boyfriend, mother are all dead, her brother missing but most likely dead as well. The Kill Virus has swept through and though her father managed to find a cure for the Infected not everyone could be resurrected. Since Cece’s injuries were not severe she was able to make a recovery.
Now stuck in a world that’s trying to build back to normal she’s having to navigate through her feelings of being an ex-Infected,; losing everything she knew, her dad’s new relationship, and her feelings toward the man who bit and turned her.
This was such an emotional roller coaster, mostly a grief heavy book but I think that’s what makes it so good; I’m not a huge fan of zombie stuff but I really connected with this one.
Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead by H.J. Ramsay coming back from the dead October 6, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a great time reading Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead. CeCe was a highly relatable protagonist, and I really enjoyed H.J. Ramsay’s unique take on the zombie apocalypse. The concept felt fresh, and the story hooked me from the very beginning.
That said, I would have loved more world-building, particularly regarding life before the apocalypse. I also found myself wanting deeper insight into some of the supporting characters, especially Dr. Campbell and the others living in CAVE, as well as Derrick. Their stories felt intriguing, and I would have enjoyed spending more time with them.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, engaging, and easy read with an original premise that kept me invested throughout. Fans of zombie fiction looking for something a little different should definitely give this one a try.
Thank you to NetGalley, H.J. Ramsay, and Red Rogue Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I would have loved more world-building, particularly regarding life before the apocalypse. I also found myself wanting deeper insight into some of the supporting characters, especially Dr. Campbell and the others living in CAVE, as well as Derrick. Their stories felt intriguing, and I would have enjoyed spending more time with them.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, engaging, and easy read with an original premise that kept me invested throughout. Fans of zombie fiction looking for something a little different should definitely give this one a try.
Thank you to NetGalley, H.J. Ramsay, and Red Rogue Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I like zombie post-cure stories.
There are some really interesting takes out there, and the author of this book starts with the interesting premise of, how do we live with ourselves coming back from being a monster?
This book is very light on the post-apocalyptic side of things and very much more on the "small" internal story of a cured patient who actually knows very little about what happened and how things run now. It's an everyday story + zombies.
Cece was 18 when she was turned into a zombie and though years have passed, she wakes with that same entitled mentality... and I can't say it didn't grate on me. I understand Cece had to be flawed to grow, but she was extremely frustrating to follow.
On the positive, the story is fast, with a smooth writing style and pace, probably more geared towards new adults who like cosy fantasy with just a touch of dark.
There are some really interesting takes out there, and the author of this book starts with the interesting premise of, how do we live with ourselves coming back from being a monster?
This book is very light on the post-apocalyptic side of things and very much more on the "small" internal story of a cured patient who actually knows very little about what happened and how things run now. It's an everyday story + zombies.
Cece was 18 when she was turned into a zombie and though years have passed, she wakes with that same entitled mentality... and I can't say it didn't grate on me. I understand Cece had to be flawed to grow, but she was extremely frustrating to follow.
On the positive, the story is fast, with a smooth writing style and pace, probably more geared towards new adults who like cosy fantasy with just a touch of dark.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This felt a little rushed and I had a hard time getting into it. The chapters are also really short and probably could have been expanded on to not make everything seem so like "BAM, and this. BAM, and that." It was just information overload. By chapter 6, we're already 122 days past where chapter 1 started. That's what I mean by it feels rushed.
Aside from the rushed feel. I did appreciate the writer going through CeCe's feelings about loss. She woke up, missing two years time, and her dad just keep dropping all these bombs of everyone who has died, including her mom. She has quite a bit of grieving to do.
I think I would have rated it higher if the author had slowed down a bit and spent more time expanding thoughts and world building.
Aside from the rushed feel. I did appreciate the writer going through CeCe's feelings about loss. She woke up, missing two years time, and her dad just keep dropping all these bombs of everyone who has died, including her mom. She has quite a bit of grieving to do.
I think I would have rated it higher if the author had slowed down a bit and spent more time expanding thoughts and world building.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to netgally and the publishers for the ARC
Love & other cures for the recently undead was a solid 4 stars for me.
Personally I found this a refreshing take on zombies & I thought gave a great answer to the question “What would happen if we could cure the zombie apocalypse?”
I wizzed straight through this in an afternoon and for me I felt like this book told the story it needed to without adding unnecessary filler & being too long.
I think it would of been great to have a bit more world building, what’s happening outside of the MCs space? How are the rest of the world coping?
Overall an enjoyable read though I will say the Ebook does need some editing with the formatting issues
Love & other cures for the recently undead was a solid 4 stars for me.
Personally I found this a refreshing take on zombies & I thought gave a great answer to the question “What would happen if we could cure the zombie apocalypse?”
I wizzed straight through this in an afternoon and for me I felt like this book told the story it needed to without adding unnecessary filler & being too long.
I think it would of been great to have a bit more world building, what’s happening outside of the MCs space? How are the rest of the world coping?
Overall an enjoyable read though I will say the Ebook does need some editing with the formatting issues
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and H.J Ramsay for the ARC.
I'm a sucker for an Apocalyptic/zombie book, and I really enjoyed this take on the genre!
I loved how this started, it felt really immersive and hooked me from the first page. It kept my interest throughout, and whilst I did find some parts a bit rushed I enjoyed every minute of it.
I do wish there was an extra chapter or two at the end though. It definitely felt like the most rushed part for me which was a shame as I wanted to see more.
A great read overall, I'm looking forward to reading more by the author in future.
I'm a sucker for an Apocalyptic/zombie book, and I really enjoyed this take on the genre!
I loved how this started, it felt really immersive and hooked me from the first page. It kept my interest throughout, and whilst I did find some parts a bit rushed I enjoyed every minute of it.
I do wish there was an extra chapter or two at the end though. It definitely felt like the most rushed part for me which was a shame as I wanted to see more.
A great read overall, I'm looking forward to reading more by the author in future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m not sure if I have ever loved a zombie related book more than I did this one.
I cried more than once while reading this book! The characters were so relatable, and I REALLY wanted to see good things happen for everyone.
I genuinely loved the main character. She had her moments where she seemed “bratty,” but considering all she went through, I dismissed them without judgement.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. :) if you love Zombies, or books about getting back to normal after an outbreak, or found family books, or just ones that end in a warm and squishy way, this one is for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review!
I cried more than once while reading this book! The characters were so relatable, and I REALLY wanted to see good things happen for everyone.
I genuinely loved the main character. She had her moments where she seemed “bratty,” but considering all she went through, I dismissed them without judgement.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. :) if you love Zombies, or books about getting back to normal after an outbreak, or found family books, or just ones that end in a warm and squishy way, this one is for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review!
June 5, 2026
Review of advance copy from NetGalley.
I chose this ARC based solely on the title. Once I received it and realised it was zombies I panicked a little. I don’t do zombies, they freak me out…..
This isn’t a story about zombies, it’s a story about what comes after. It’s an emotional journey through loss, grief, love, friendship and forgiveness.
Yes, it’s a love story, but it’s also so much more.
In a post-apocalyptic world where memories are gone, loved ones are missing, and no one can be trusted, it dives into reflection, vulnerability and living for the future, not the past.
I chose this ARC based solely on the title. Once I received it and realised it was zombies I panicked a little. I don’t do zombies, they freak me out…..
This isn’t a story about zombies, it’s a story about what comes after. It’s an emotional journey through loss, grief, love, friendship and forgiveness.
Yes, it’s a love story, but it’s also so much more.
In a post-apocalyptic world where memories are gone, loved ones are missing, and no one can be trusted, it dives into reflection, vulnerability and living for the future, not the past.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ARC from Netgalley. This was not a favorite personally. I did like how the author ended the book and the tone it ended on. Not sure I will read this again but I do think the level of realism to what it would be like in a zombie post apocalyptic world would be like was very accurate. I loved that the author also had you thinking about the other side of story with Zombie perspectives after they are healed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to the author and publisher for this arc. I loved this different take on a zombie outbreak....the fact that there's a cure for those that have already been bitten and turned....I've never seen a zombie story go that way before . I was never bored while reading this either, it kept me hooked the whole time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wish it would have gonna more into depth into the process of the Infected being brought back; return to normal life seemed rushed. That aside, I liked the story and characters they just felt flat at time. The "villain" could have been stronger, too. Thank you to Netgalley and Red Rogue Press for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a unique read as I didn't know what to expect with each chapter. The MFC was really relatable, and I felt for her. I got annoyed with a couple of the side characters and their actions which made me want to read more. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. If you are looking for a unique zombie read that isn't too heavy with gore I'd highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a lot of fun reading this book. It was a much needed view on the aftermath of a “zombie” outbreak! And the slow build romance was really cute!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
13th book of 2026
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
I honestly really liked this novel.
Firstly, the premise is SO unique. I don't think I've ever read a post-apocalyptic zombie story from this angle - the protagonist CeCe, is a recovered Infected and the daughter of the man who helped find the cure. Of course, there's resistance, there's inner conflict, and a ton of secrets that propel the story to the high-stakes final act. All with a dash of also high-concept romance.
HOW DID THE AUTHOR EVEN COME UP WITH THIS?? It's such a memorable concept for me.
That's why execution was a bit disappointing.
While I actually enjoyed the fast pacing (chapters are short, choppily so especially for the first act), I have to admit that at some points, it was so jarring and I was left ending the chapter wondering WHY EVERYTHING HAD TO BE SO RUSHED. Especially with the family subplot - it would have made more sense if there was a REASON everything had to be so one-after-the-other, but there wasn't, and because of that I felt that at many points throughout the story, it was so unrealistically paced that it tugged me out of an otherwise immersive novel. Like imagine, CeCe comes back from something and the moment she's home, her dad breaks big news to her. Give my girl a break.
Also, this story felt very YA (although content-wise, it leans more toward adult??) because of the writing style and voice, plus Cece's actions as a protagonist. So I was also left a bit confused about the target audience. Cece is physically 20, but she's actually lived only to 18, and yet, her tone reminded me sometimes of a 16 year old more than an adult. Which makes sense, and honestly? It fits her internal crisis; who are you if you were Infected for two years, cured, and woke up again having lost so much that once mattered to you?
With that said, I LOVED the world. I thought it was so creative and fleshed out so well.
The romance is pretty cute too! I liked it! Though I kind of wish that the male lead had been fleshed out more? Idk.
Although overall, the plot wasn't as realistic or strong (some things happen too conveniently...), the creative concept honestly made up for it, at least for me.
This was overall such an enjoyable read. So fun!! I finished it within a few sittings, once you get started, the fast pacing makes it hard to stop. & once you get used to the writing style, third person/present tense doesn't feel so unsettling after all.
started 5/5/26, finished 5/6/26
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
I honestly really liked this novel.
Firstly, the premise is SO unique. I don't think I've ever read a post-apocalyptic zombie story from this angle - the protagonist CeCe, is a recovered Infected and the daughter of the man who helped find the cure. Of course, there's resistance, there's inner conflict, and a ton of secrets that propel the story to the high-stakes final act. All with a dash of also high-concept romance.
HOW DID THE AUTHOR EVEN COME UP WITH THIS?? It's such a memorable concept for me.
That's why execution was a bit disappointing.
While I actually enjoyed the fast pacing (chapters are short, choppily so especially for the first act), I have to admit that at some points, it was so jarring and I was left ending the chapter wondering WHY EVERYTHING HAD TO BE SO RUSHED. Especially with the family subplot - it would have made more sense if there was a REASON everything had to be so one-after-the-other, but there wasn't, and because of that I felt that at many points throughout the story, it was so unrealistically paced that it tugged me out of an otherwise immersive novel. Like imagine, CeCe comes back from something and the moment she's home, her dad breaks big news to her. Give my girl a break.
Also, this story felt very YA (although content-wise, it leans more toward adult??) because of the writing style and voice, plus Cece's actions as a protagonist. So I was also left a bit confused about the target audience. Cece is physically 20, but she's actually lived only to 18, and yet, her tone reminded me sometimes of a 16 year old more than an adult. Which makes sense, and honestly? It fits her internal crisis; who are you if you were Infected for two years, cured, and woke up again having lost so much that once mattered to you?
With that said, I LOVED the world. I thought it was so creative and fleshed out so well.
The romance is pretty cute too! I liked it! Though I kind of wish that the male lead had been fleshed out more? Idk.
Although overall, the plot wasn't as realistic or strong (some things happen too conveniently...), the creative concept honestly made up for it, at least for me.
This was overall such an enjoyable read. So fun!! I finished it within a few sittings, once you get started, the fast pacing makes it hard to stop. & once you get used to the writing style, third person/present tense doesn't feel so unsettling after all.
started 5/5/26, finished 5/6/26
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