The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives

by Barbara Truelove

The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives is a horror novella that combines the perfect intersection between trad wives on Instagram and #girldinner. Both funny and fleshy, it unravels the layers of domestic perfection demanded of women to get to the rotten heart of societal expectations.

Patricia is a reformed zombie.

She’s also an influencer—the wholesome, homey, traditional values kind—a career built up with the help of her husband, Ralph. Cooking, shopping, and hanging out with her friends; most days, it’s easy to forget she’s even dead, so long as she takes her antifungal medication. But when a zombie horde starts approaching her fenced community, Patricia comes face to face with memories of an era of her life she thought she’d left behind.

Perhaps life with overbearing Ralph isn’t quite as perfect as she’d hoped, and maybe everyone kind of has the wrong idea about the zombie horde—they’re not frightening, they’re beautiful to Patricia, and they prompt her to embrace her true, authentic self.

Unfortunately for Ralph, this involves eating his brain on livestream.

Genres: Horror, Novella, Adult, Science Fiction, Zombies, Horror Thriller, Fantasy

128 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 2, 2027

About the author

I write about werewolves and sometimes other things.

Reviews

[Mikey ಠ◡ಠ]

Barbara, the woman that you are!

I will be so honest, I really forgot this was a novella and not a full length book. One thing about this author is she's going to pack a lot of fun into not a lot of pages, love that for all of us! It's hard to really describe this book but I'm going to try:

In The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives we follow Patricia who is...well she's dead, a zombie, some might say. But she's been resurrected and now she's a star on YouTube who goes by Patty P. And then there's her husband, Mr. P. and not to give anything away but oh brother, this guy STINKS! Patricia grapples with the different stages of her life, before the (very COVID coded, thanks for the trauma, Barbara) zombie outbreak, as a zombie, and as a resurrected person.

I'm really struggling here to give my thoughts without giving the whole book away so maybe I'll keep this review brief and say on the whole I really enjoyed this story. The only two things that kept it from being 5 stars for me personally is as someone who watches massive amounts of YouTube, I'll say it, I wanted more YouTube stuff. Like I'm sorry, a resurrected zombie person on YouTube? I'd be subscribed to her channel, I fear. I'd probably even be a channel member, ngl. And I mostly get the stuff between Patricia and Ralph, I think, but it almost feels like a bigger subplot between them got edited wayyyyy down. Ralph would just say and do stuff constantly that I felt sure was going to go somewhere and then it didn't. Barbara, if you ever wanna send me the FULL manuscript, my DMs are OPEN for you, queen!

On the whole, I can't find much fault with this bite sized novella, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and will follow this author to ends of the zombie apocalypse.

Thanks to NetGalley and BIG THANKS to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance DRC and provide an honest review, all opinions are my own.

[Barbara Truelove]

I wrote this.

[Salomé]

It’s my 1000th book i ever read in my entire life. What a milestone.

This is the kind of gift that just keeps giving. This stunning, original zombie concept immediately reminded me of a blend between Grief Eater and Motherthing.

Patricia is a reformed zombie, but she’s also an influencer—embodying wholesome, traditional values—thanks to her husband, Ralph. Her days are filled with cooking, shopping, and hanging out with friends, making it easy to forget she’s even dead—as long as she remembers her antifungal medication. But everything changes when a zombie horde approaches her fenced community, forcing Patricia to confront memories of a life she believed she had left behind.

I couldn’t put this novella down. So addictive! Patty’s voice is remarkably distinct, and kudos to the artist for the stunning cover.

Pub day: February 2nd 2027

Thank you Tor Publishing Group | Tor Nightfire for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Lorin (paperbackbish)]

Thank you Tor Nightfire for my free ARC of The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives by Barbara Truelove — out Feb 2, 2027!

» READ IF YOU «
🧟 want a trad wife story, but with zombies
🍽️ have ever watched an unhinged livestream
💅 crave feminist rage served up as dark comedy

» SYNOPSIS «
Patricia is a reformed zombie turned tradwife influencer, married to overbearing Ralph, popping her antifungal meds and pretending her life is perfect. But when a zombie horde shows up at her gated community, Patricia starts remembering exactly why undead life used to feel so much more honest.

» REVIEW «
What a clever little concept, executed perfectly! Viewing trad wife culture through a zombie lens is such a smart choice, and I'd expect no less from Truelove. The "keep taking your meds, keep the ugly stuff out of sight, keep pretending this life is a choice you'd make again" of it all maps onto trad wife influencing disturbingly well, and Truelove clearly knows exactly what she's satirizing.

Patricia has my whole heart, though. Watching her come face to face with the parts of herself that Ralph and her manicured life have been quietly starving out of her was more moving than I expected from a book with "eating his brain on livestream" in the synopsis. I'm genuinely hoping she found what she needed once the credits rolled on this one, because she deserved it. A sharp little dark comedy novella that is wholly bingeable!

» RATING «
🧟 I'm Reanimated 🧟

» READ-A-LIKES «
• One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford
• Trad Wife by Sarah Langan
• Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake
• #Alive (2020 film)

[megs_bookrack]

ARC received! Thank you, Tor Nightfire!!!

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks)]

* thanks to Tor Nightfire for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: February 1, 2027)

I’ve been on a Barbara Truelove bender for the past two weeks. I started with an arc of the recently-released SHE’S A DOLL, which I loved so much that I immediately purchased a copy of OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES, which I immediately binge-read and also loved, and then I realized she had this new novella coming out so I hopped on NetGalley to grab a copy, and now I am sad because the only things left are CRYING WOLF and the games BLOOD MOON & THICKER THAN, and I honestly don’t know that reading a werewolf romance or or playing an interactive werewolf vs. vampire + possible love connection video game is in the cards for me, but if anyone can lure me into that world, it’s Barbara Truelove.

Anyway. This was more of a 3.5 rounded up because I wish it was longer because the story didn’t feel fully developed. I especially would have liked more details about Patricia’s pre-zombie life + her early zombie days + more about how she ended up with stupid Ralph + the world they’re inhabiting in general, but I still liked it a whole lot more than a lot of other things I’ve read lately and am already looking forward to reading whatever she writes next because her books are unique and weird and touching and funny and I am obsessed.

[Chevonnika]

After reading 'She's a Doll' earlier this year I was super excited to see another book by this author. I loved the dark humor in the previous book I have read and while this one isn't as humorous it was still a very fun read. But it did have the feminine rage that I very much enjoyed.

Since this is a novella and a rather short one I wont delve much into the plot other than saying it is about a zombie 'trad' wife. Although it is short there is real world themes pertaining to the roles of women in society.

4 Stars because it was shorter than id like it to be, and Patty should've gone off a bit more at the end (personal preference).

[Melody]

Did I drop the 5 September ARCs I have and 4 recent releases of my most anticipated books of the year to read this short horror novella that doesn’t release until Feb 2027???

Yes, yes I did.

It’s Barbara Freaking Truelove- author of one of my favorite books of the year She’s A Doll. And I have zero regrets.

The Secret Lives of Zombie wives is told from the perspective of an undead trad wife who is beginning to piece together how she got here, who she is, and what she really wants out of life (or lack thereof.) A quick, and easy to digest (pun intended) thrilling and gory read. Fans of the show Santa Clarita Diet will love this book.

Thank you Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for this eARC!

[Leisa Back Porch Pages]

✨Excuse me, what the heck did I just read? This book was absolutely bananas, and I mean that in the most complimentary way. A resurrected zombie trad wife influencer, a picture-perfect (right?? It’s picture-perfect, right?) marriage and a zombie horde that’s slowly closing in. I was absolutely here for this weird and bonkers novella. It’s a tiny read, but dang, it packs a punch.

✨You need to know right up front that this one gets gory in places. But it’s also darkly funny, fiendishly clever and has some razor sharp commentary on trad wife culture, social media influencer life and domestic expectations. The author has plenty to say about what happens when a woman decides she’s done with performing the version of herself someone else wants to see. And simmering beneath it all is some fiery female rage that’s about to explode.

✨It’s certainly not your typical zombie fare, but it’s packed with wicked entertainment and totally unhinged in all the right places. What a great read!

🌿Read if you like:
✨Zombie fiction
✨Body horror
✨Dark comedy
✨Female rage
✨Feminist horror
✨Trad wife commentary
✨Influencer culture satire
✨Short fiction

[Britt | Britt Reads A Little]

3.25 rounded down

This was a fun, simple novella about the aftermath of a fungal zombie outbreak, following one resurrected woman, Patricia (or Patty P). Patty P is a trad wife, cooking dinner and filming it with her husband Mr. P (barf)

This book is only 120 pages and I wish it had followed a different path, or at least change the path a little bit. It’s difficult to wrap up everything in such a short number of pages, but there were some things I still wanted answers to, and some things that just weren’t fleshed out enough.

It’s a fun time. It was an okay story.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this book!

[Maddy Michelle]

I read this in one sitting! Trad wife that is actually a zombie? Yes, please. The title is what intrigued me and it did not disappoint. The ending had me giggling a little. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for an easy and entertaining horror novella to read in one sitting.
Thank you to Macmillan and Netgallet for the E-arc!

[Courtney]

I was gifted an e-arc from the publisher but I will absolutely buy a physical copy as soon as it is available. Quick read with a lot to say.

[Karen Bullock]

Once a teenager crushing on first love, then the giant crater and the fungus that changed almost the entire planet.

Patty P. Trad wife and social influencer, all filmed by controlling husband, Ralph-her high school sweetheart.

Patty starts to forget her lines, cannot concentrate because the smell of the meat she is cooking, sets off alarm bells in her head.

Temptations…Choices…choosing to skip the meds and the salt baths, things that will keep her from turning 100% full blown horde zombie-

How cruel is Ralph to make her cook meat? When she’s not allowed to consume any?

Trying to remember any inkling of her past, before her death, is tricky but what’s tantalizing is “that slip” in the garden

Full blown chaos and a side of Patty thats unbelievable on livestream feed!

There’s gore, humor and some pretty grotesque scenery

You’re only as good as your last post!

Thanks to TOR Nightfire for this incredible arc novella! What a blast

[Pamela]

4.5 This is a freakin’ awesome read! The patriarchy is going to have its grips in you even after death? Sign me OUT!

Patricia is basically a hermetically sealed zombie wife, medicated so strongly that she is barely herself, but still able to cook and clean and do the shopping. She’s not allowed to eat meat (for obvious reasons), but I devoured her descriptions of anything pink or red comparing it to skin, viscera, and beautiful rotting muscle.

This is a fem rage, body horror, weird girl, Free Brittany, and good for her read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group- you really did me a solid. Pub date is Feb 2, 2027. Highly enjoyed!!

[Christy]

3.75/5 stars rounded up for Goodreads

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

This author is quickly becoming a go to for fast paced fun horror books. I recently read and loved She's a Doll and this one was also so good! My only complaint is I didn't know it was a novella and I wanted a little more. The ending felt a little rushed and I would've liked for the lead up to have lasted a bit longer. Other than that I had a fantastic time! Would definitely recommend if you liked Yesteryear but wished the FMC was a zombie.

[Lindsay]

The premise was interesting, but it felt pretty surface level, and I kept waiting for the story and characters to be explored more than they were. There were some fun ideas, especially with the zombie/influencer angle. Everything moved so quickly that none of it really had a chance to land. Fine for a quick novella, but ultimately pretty forgettable.

[Sam Scott]

4⭐️ this was the perfect short story to start off the spooky months! first zombie book

[Mellon Colly]

Rating 4.5 stars, clap clap! I could’ve spent 100s of pages with Patricia but a super solid novella

[ScarlettAnomalyReads]

Two for two with Barbara and I, I loved She's A Doll and I had to have this one, so thanks to the publisher for letting me get this one too.

I'm a solid fan now, write whatever and I will follow.

Have you ever wondered about the secret lives of zombie wives? I haven't but I am into like Desperate Housewives and the whole trad wife horror thing going on right now so let me hear about these ladies secrets too.

What does it take to be a zombie wife??

Patricia is a reformed zombie, she's strong she's no longer in that life and she's a influencer.. She has the perfect life now, a husband, house and fun with friends and as long as she takes her meds, she's perfect or that's what the medicine says.

But when a zombie horde gets too close she remembers her old life, the fun the freedom and the beauty. Is Ralph really her loving husband or is he a controlling keeper of her zombie free roaming heart??

Barbra was a different type of Trad Wife, one that remembers her life before she knows something is off and that little part of her, deep inside remembers the real her, maybe it's a zombie, maybe it's a home maker, whose to say you can't bust out a loaf of sour dough and eat some brains in between coils and folds??

I did not expect to come out of this not only having feelings but to feel like I know Patricia, don't we all in some way, forgetting yourself to fit into a mold of what you are told you should be, told how things are?

Patricia might have been a zombie trad wife but she was also my twin a little, that ache as you slowly rember who you are, not the mask you currently wear.

Who really are the brainless zombies in this..

[LateNightDadReads]

3.5/5 Stars (Rounded to a 4)

Trad Wife + Social Media Influencer + Zombie Apocalypse = a surprisingly fun read!

We are officially in our Trad Wife era, with what feels like a never ending stream of recent releases taking on the trope. Honestly, I'm not complaining!

The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives follows a Trad Wife trying to build a successful social media presence while also being, you know… reincarnated. What I really enjoyed about this world is that the concept doesn't feel completely outlandish within the story. The existence of the undead is simply part of this new reality following a zombie apocalypse.

And if you've ever wondered how a world where the living and the dead coexist might actually function, this book offers a really interesting take on that question.

The story is told day by day, which gives it a quick, almost diary-like quality that made this an easy read. I particularly enjoyed the final 20%, where everything really started coming together and the ending felt fitting for the story Truelove had built.

I also thought the way Truelove incorporated real-world global political issues into the story was really effective. They added another layer to what could have otherwise been a straightforward zombie story and gave the world some interesting things to chew on.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read that takes some familiar concepts and puts them together in a way I hadn't seen before. If the premise alone has you curious, I'd say give it a shot!

And one final thing…
That cover? 5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (Tor Nightfire) for the ARC in exchange for this honest review!

[Michael Godwin]

The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives is a wildly inventive horror novella that uses the absurdity of a zombie apocalypse to examine domestic expectations, identity, marriage, and the pressure placed on women to perform a picture-perfect version of their lives. Patricia's situation is immediately intriguing: she is a reformed zombie, an influencer, and the carefully curated face of wholesome traditional living, all while relying on medication to maintain the appearance of being alive.

The story becomes increasingly sharp and darkly funny as Patricia's supposedly perfect existence begins to unravel. Her relationship with Ralph, the expectations surrounding her carefully managed lifestyle, and the arrival of a zombie horde force her to reconsider everything she has been told about who she should be. The contrast between polished online perfection and the grotesque reality underneath creates an entertaining and provocative premise.

Readers who enjoy horror with satire, dark comedy, speculative fiction, zombie stories, feminist horror, social commentary, and unconventional novellas should find The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives particularly memorable. Its blend of the grotesque and the humorous gives the story a distinctive voice, while Patricia's journey toward authenticity provides an unexpectedly thoughtful center. Beneath the outrageous premise is a pointed exploration of what happens when someone finally stops performing the life everyone else expects from them.

[Katie]

When a zombie virus takes over the world and all hope is lost, science saves the day. It turns out the zombie virus is caused by mold spores and all you need to do to become a non zombie again is to take your medicine. And your salt baths. Lots and lots of salt baths.

Influencer life collides with being a zombie wife in this humor filled gory novella that looks at the pressures of being an influencer and a couple in the spotlight. Patricia is just like every other influencer, except she knows what it's like to run wild and free with the zombie horde. She can't remember much of anything about her life before she became a zombie, but she knows her husband saved her. She had no one else when he came looking for her and paid for her treatment of the mold spores that overtook her body. The only thing she really has is a yearbook his friend gave her from their graduating class.

When a horde gets close to the city walls, she starts to remember what it was like when she was a zombie and maybe a little bit about how she was turned. Patricia knows the rules. No meat, take your medicine, and do your salt baths. She isn't supposed to think about what she really wants out of her life (or death), but what if she did?

4 solid stars for Patricia and this short compelling novella.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy to enjoy.

[Anne H]

Thanks to Tor Nightfire for this arc!

This is the FIFTH tradwife book I’ve read this year and by far my favorite. My biggest issue with all of the tradwife novels I’ve read so far is that at its base, the concept of the tradwife is disingenuous, so it’s impossible to write a genuine character unless she’s also wholly in on the scam, which authors seem to shy away from. But what if the tradwife is an amnesiac zombie?? 💯

Barbara Truelove is always an immediate read for me, and I was stoked to read her take on the tradwife phenomenon. Set in a not quite post-zombie apocalypse Australia in which certain zombies have been rehabilitated, Patricia has been given a second chance at life thanks to her not quite benevolent husband Ralph, who manages her social media channels, monetizing her for content to be able to afford to keep them within the walled-in safety zone. But we get the sense as the book goes on that Patricia maybe doesn’t want to be as de-zombified in all of the ways she’s been asked to be in order to live this life.

Because this book is so short, I’m hesitant to say much more, and honestly, my only gripe is that I wish it had been longer and I wanted a few more major gasps, as I usually find myself seriously gasping when I read Truelove. But it was absolutely fun, a perfect bite-sized read for spooky season, and certainly my favorite take on tradwife culture.

[Ibby]

As always, I am obsessed with Barbara Truelove’s funny way of writing horrifying things.
The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives is a classic zombie apocalypse story told from the perspective of a reformed zombie! She’s a tradwife influencer. She’s taking her anti-fungal meds. And she’s happy. Well, she thinks she is anyway. Her husband sucks so bad you are just at the edge of your seat the entire time hoping she’ll tear him to shreds and eat him. Your big spoiler: don’t worry! That time comes at the perfect, most painful moment.
Though disgusting, there’s something so right about the sensuality of this title. Oftentimes Patricia is dreaming of the taste of flesh, and Truelove’s choice to use typically sexual language to describe that desire is executed very well! Extremely disturbing without feeling exploitative. There are some funny, cute moments too, though. I feel quite endeared to Patricia for her love of discounts and slow moving lines.
This was a quick read, and a delight to read early before final edits! I only docked a star because I’m a bit squeamish about cannibalism. There are some very vivid depictions in this book. Still, I can’t wait to see what Truelove cooks up next!

[Priscilla Calvin]

A humorous take on a "what if" style situation. Patricia was a zombie, is a zombie, but not quite a zombie any longer. She lives with her husband Ralph and has an online channel documenting their life post-resurrection under the online name "PattyP". As the story progresses, we see cracks in the perfect facade. Patricia is trying to live her life, but is it really "her" life? Is it the life she wants? Tune in to the next video of PattyP to find out!

In all seriousness, this story was quite good. Putting a reanimated housewife zombie into multiple "normal" scenarios was quite clever, especially as the world devolves around her. I enjoyed the bits and pieces we are given throughout the book that give us a glimpse into the true nature of Patricia, Ralph, and their relationship. I adored that she was written to live a fairly normal life, has friends, and tries so hard to fit in. If anything, I would have loved a bit more of the ending or her backstory, but in all it's a fun, horrific read that has you on the edge of your seat wondering how if will all fall apart.

[Nudibelle]

Women really get no peace, even in death her husband got on her last nerve so much that she ultimately chose her horde over that life! Experiencing the story from this unique perspective, especially the hilariously tradwife zombie dynamic, made romanticizing a zombie strangely endearing and wildly captivating.

My only lingering question centers on Ralph and Cody's conversation, I would have loved to find out if Ralph completely faked their meeting and relationship, as Cody mentioned they had only known each other for a short time. Having her uncover the truth about that would have added an incredible layer to the motivation behind the final act!

Overall, this was an amazing, inventive read that completely subverts expectations. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique spin on Zombie genre.

[Michelle]

This is such a fun, engaging, and quick read! A zombie apocalypse, a reformed zombie turned trad wife and vegetarian with her online show, Cooking with Patty P. It sounds like a perfect undead life.

But lately, Patricia doesn't really want to take her anti-fungal medicine or her salt baths. Her husband Ralph, who paid for her cosmetic surgery and dental work, is kind of a being a jerk. Or maybe he was always a jerk? Patricia can't quite remember.

Plus, the horde of zombies outside the protective fence are bringing back memories for Patricia. Good memories. Maybe being a zombie wasn't so bad,

Loved the ending of this novella. A++++ No notes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Zoe Lipman]

This was so much fun!

And yes, I wanted to read it because of the name.

This is a short story (only about 120 pages) that follows a sort of tradwife influencer...but during a zombie apocalypse...and she happens to be a zombie. And zombies can be basically vaccinated into being like a regular person again.

Our zombie wife has a complicated relationship with her husband and herself and we get to see how that evolves.

This was fast and fun and funny and so entertaining. And it felt like a very different sort of zombie story and world. I would definitely recommend.

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

[Megan Magee]

If you loved Santa Clarita Diet and Dead To Me humor, The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives is for you. Truelove puts her own gorified spin on a trad wife blogger, following Patricia and her husband, Ralph. Her favorite things are cooking, shopping, and recording, but she also happens to be undead. This unassuming novella transports you right into a fun and shocking conclusion, as metaphorical as it is bloody. Bite sized in all forms of the word, this one was a true delight. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the eARc. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Zammy]

Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

I’m not really fan of zombie books or apocalypse books, but I decided to give this book chance. And I’m glad it didn’t let me down. I loved the writing and how fast the story went, most authors do lose the pace in the middle or at the end of the book, but this one kept the pace till the end.

If you don’t read zombie books or looking for a book to start from I’ll highly recommend this one, it’s not complicated and it’s easy to follow with modern day reference that won’t turn you off the book.


#thesecretlivesofzombieswives#netgalley