Grave Neighbors: A Short Story

by Claudia Doucet

She’s got the bad end of undeath, he’s got the five-star package. A woman rises from the dead for a timely, unsolicited graveyard meeting and suffers a newfound craving that won’t stay buried.

I never signed up for a maggot’s house party.

I died. That’s it. That should have been the end of the story. Instead, I wake up in the dirt, scrabbling my way out of the grave. What could possibly be worse than that?

My only neighbor in this graveyard. A snarky and sometimes downright rude vampire, who unfortunately doesn’t need an invitation to my casket every cursed night. Add the bellowing hunger and forget the prospect of resting in peace. From commenting on my admittedly somewhat… crumbling appearance to pestering me with new diet ideas, he’s more than intent on helping me deal with my new state of undeath. Never mind the bug spray incident.

But with time to kill, and an afterlife to live for, maybe having someone to literally stitch me back together might not be such a bad thing?

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2026

About the author

Claudia Doucet lives in the Lower Laurentians with another human and some cute ghosts—though not the literal kind. She can usually be found writing in the nearest trash can or dueling with cards at the psychic shop.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

“Cannibalism does wonders for the skin”

What do you think would happen if a male vampire and a female zombie hooked up? Would they become arch enemies, BFFs, or lovers?

James and Chompy are living their best undead life in the same graveyard. This was laugh-out-loud hilarious with a dash of gore. Fast-paced and well-written, check out this short story.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[jas ♡ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

3.5 ⭐️

This was a quick and fun read. It was well-written and kept me entertained the whole time. My only complaint is that I would have liked some answers. How did Chompy die, how did she and James become what they are, is there an afterlife they will eventually pass on to or will they just continue to live their best undead life for eternity, etc. It kind of felt like the story just stopped rather than actually ended. Some might enjoy that, but I personally wanted more clarity.

It also would have been nice if there was a little more to the romance. But for what it was, it was really good.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

thank you to the publisher for the arc♡

[Keely · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy.

"What's taking death so long? What's wrong with my file? Forget having any last words; I have some last questions."

4.5/5! ⭐

This story made me consider a very important question: Would I rather get attacked by a vampire or zombie?

Grave Neighbours is a short and sweet story of an undead duo's budding relationship, as our main character learns how to live beyond the grave. This is a perfect read for someone wanting a balance of horror, a little grossness and a dash of tenderness.

Claudia Doucet does a fantastic job at keeping the charm of this newfound companionship throughout this short story, without feeling like you're rushing in. Their dry humour and casual banter is so fun to read it made me wish there was more!

---

Thank you to Claudia Doucet and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC. Any quoted material is subject to change in final release.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

ＧＲＡＶＥ ＮＥＩＧＨＢＯＲＳ by 𝖢𝗅𝖺𝗎𝖽𝗂𝖺 𝖣𝗈𝗎c𝖾𝗍
😆 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆 𝖧𝗎𝗆𝗈𝗋 | 🫂 𝖥𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖯𝗋𝗈𝗑𝗂𝗆𝗂𝗍𝗒 | 🧛🏻‍♂️🩵🧟‍♀️ 𝖡𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝖧𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗈𝗋 𝖱𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾

ＯＮＥ－ＬＩＮＥ ＶＥＲＤＩＣＴ
A deliciously grotesque and heartwarming short story that proves true love survives even when your flesh is actively rotting off.

vibes ---×----- plot
tension ---×------

ＹＥＳ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰:
• 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵
• 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬, 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳

ＮＯ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘧:
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺, 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤

ＴＨＥ ＰＬＯＴ:
To survive a chaotic, flesh-rotting afterlife, a newly risen zombie must learn to share a crypt with a mildly infuriating vampire who refuses to leave her casket.

ＴＨＲＩＬＬ－Ｏ－ＭＥＴＥＲ: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🤍

Ugh, my heart!

Reading this short story was a wonderfully fast, bittersweetly sardonic experience that packs a lot of punch into very few pages. Chompy and James are the perfect, distinctly messy outcasts, and their banter over makes you love them instantly. When they first meet, they don't know each other - yet there's a sense of care between them that is lasting and endearing.

The way the author balances grotesque body horror with genuine heartwarming chemistry is an absolute miracle. I was so relieved to avoid the typical, sanitized, and perfectly pretty monster tropes that usually flood paranormal romance.

This will emotionally hit hardest for anyone who knows that finding a kindred spirit makes any curse bearable.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for stories that are both funny and macabre, so adding a bit of forced-proximity love and kindred spirits to the mix was pretty much always going to be a win.

When a woman—adorably known as "Chompy"—rises from a shallow grave after her mysterious death, she finds herself sharing a crypt with an eager yet mildly infuriating vampire. Unsure of what she is or why she's hungry, she discovers that life after death can still hold a bit of whimsy, friendship, and romance for these two cursed souls.

This short story does an exemplary job of showcasing the melancholy of eternal life, the morality of unsavoury nutritional needs, and the logistical nightmare of being composed of rotting flesh. James, who is young for a vampire yet accustomed to his lot in life (and glad to have a friend), has a much brighter and practised outlook on his curse, while Chompy must come to terms with her own situation in real time. Yet the overall tone of the book is funny and fairly hopeful as these unlikely friends face life after death together.

I adored the grim humour, and while absolutely disgusting, the way Doucet managed to take things like the fact that rotting meat (on Chompy or otherwise) draws pests or, at times, breaks off and turns it into something grotesquely funny and sweet is miraculous. There is a scene involving insecticide that had way more tension than I think it had any right to.

The romantic angle is subtle and heartwarming because we see the bond between Chompy and James grow under these unusual circumstances. It is not a spicy story, although I am moderately concerned that a part of me wishes that it hadn't been "closed door". Chompy's zombie state came with some pretty disgusting side effects, and anything spicy must have been a horror show, yet earlier moments of body horror remained funny, charged, etc. in a way that lit my brain up and had me asking, "What would this look like?"

I loved the choice to make them both distinct in appearance and thus unable to interact fully with society, though it seems James has some advantages. The detail in the characters, as well, was incredibly appealing and immersive despite the length. James's coffin, filled with pulp magazines, his gardening habits, and his attire, speaks volumes about his character without taking up much room. Chompy is plagued by bad breath (among other smells), maggots, and a healthy mix of being a slave to her new appetite and the moral implications of what it takes to satisfy it. Not only for the victim, but for James as well.

All in all, this is a delightful story about outcasts finding each other using the fairly common monster metaphor, but there is something unique and fun about it. Because it is a short story, it doesn't take up a ton of time to read, which I have been enjoying more lately and appreciating when it can be done very well.

Easy 5/5 stars for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me the chance to read this! ARCs have been a fun way to keep my ADHD engaged with reading, but all my opinions are absolutely honest and my own.

[Tuesday Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that attracted me to this ARC was the cover – I’m in my summerween element – so I was ready for my horror fill!

What I didn’t expect was a zombie/vampire crossover, and I devoured it. This novella plunges you straight into the plot with plenty of action and characters you will love. The main character, Chompy, is an absolute mystery, but that adds to the charm of the character. Even in this short novella, her character changes as time goes on in a wonderful way. My favourite character was James. I fully envisioned him as the face of Angel but the personality of Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer! The icing on the cake was the duo together, though. The chemistry Douchet created with these two characters was fantastic, and the built friendship added to this wonderful read.

My favourite thing about this read was that it stayed true to the horror genre in terms of its monster building. Nothing was romanticised or made cleaner – the monsters are very morbid and pretty gross, but this added to the charm of this book for me.

Although there are some great body horror scenes in this novella, it focuses on the humour aspect. I found myself having fun the whole way through reading, and it was easy to follow.

I would liken this novella to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and My Roommate is a Vampire.

Overall, I’d recommend this if you enjoy a light, horror read – Even though it is funny, it still has some great morbid and squishy body horror which I absolutely loved!

I received this ARC for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank Netgalley, Claudia Douchet and Victory Editing Co-Op for letting me be a part of the ARC team.

[Barbara Pellichero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to Grave Neighbors because the premise sounded right up my alley: spooky, quirky, and full of potential for funny banter. The book definitely delivers on atmosphere. My biggest disappointment was the humor. The ingredients were all there, eccentric characters, unusual situation, and plenty of opportunities for witty exchanges (even cute nicknames like Chomp) but the banter never quite landed the way I hoped it would. Several scenes felt like they were building toward a payoff that never fully arrived. I kept waiting for the story to lean harder into its potential.

The pacing was also a bit uneven for me. There were stretches where the story slowed down enough that my attention wandered, and I found myself wishing for a little more momentum. That said, I genuinely liked the overall vibe and appreciated the creativity behind the concept.

While it wasn't quite as funny or fast-paced as I had hoped, Grave Neighbors is still a charming paranormal novella with a memorable setting and plenty of heart, with the message that we need each other. Readers looking for cozy supernatural fiction with a quirky cast will likely enjoy spending time with these characters. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

quiet graves. strange neighbours. and the unsettling feeling that something is always listening.

Grave Neighbors is a compact but atmospheric short story that wastes no time pulling you into its eerie, tightly wound world. In a short page count, it manages to build a creeping sense of unease that lingers far longer than expected.

The strength of this story lies in its atmosphere. There’s a constant sense that something is slightly off—just out of sight, just out of reach. The setting feels intimate but claustrophobic, like even the ordinary is hiding something darker beneath its surface.

Despite its brevity, the story still manages to hint at deeper emotional undercurrents. The characters feel like they’re carrying more history than the pages can fully reveal, which adds to the tension rather than taking away from it. There’s a sense that you’re only seeing a fragment of something much larger and more unsettling.

The pacing is sharp and efficient, which works well for the format. It leans into implication rather than explanation, letting the reader sit with uncertainty and fill in the gaps themselves. That ambiguity is part of what makes it effective.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the dark humour of Butcher & Blackbird or the Slaycation series then you will love this ikkle novella.

James (MMC) is a vampire & Chompy (MFC) is a brand new Zombie, & they meet as she nearly trips him trying to scrabble out of her grave. The story follows them as she becomes accustomed to her new outlook in life & how their dynamics develop.

It is full of bizarre conversations, sarcasm/dry sense of humour and some weirdly wholesome actions, I loved the civilised 'picnic' scene. It does have some graphic narrative which just adds depth to the plot line & even those are peppered with humour.

Overall, I found this book a fun, easy read that I will 100% recommend to anyone looking for a quick pallet cleanser or who loves those dark, unhinged paranormal novels that will give you the ick, but also leave you with a smile on your face.

** Thank you to Booksirens for this free e-copy, I leave this review voluntarily **

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this book was a 4.5/5, but since there are no half ratings, I rounded up.

I've never really read much horror before, but this was the perfect first one to try. It was filled with humorous moments as you tried to figure out along with the main character Chompy, what was going on.
It was entertaining and I loved how in such a short book there was tension between the two protagonists. There was irritation as well as feelings of fondness. The best part was the humorous one liners. I highlighted a few on my kindle!
The last chapter made me hungry for more, it was a shame that that's where it ended, but I was also satisfied with the ending at the same time.
Overall, a fun read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chelsea]

For me this book was a 4.5/5, but since there are no half ratings, I rounded up.

I've never really read much horror before, but this was the perfect first one to try. It was filled with humorous moments as you tried to figure out along with the main character Chompy, what was going on.

It was entertaining and I loved how in such a short book there was tension between the two protagonists. There was irritation as well as feelings of fondness. The best part was the humorous one liners. I highlighted a few on my kindle!
The last chapter made me hungry for more, it was a shame that that's where it ended, but I was also satisfied with the ending at the same time.

Overall, a fun read!

[Sadie E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this. A vampire (James) and a newly-risen zombie (Chompy) become neighbours and, against all odds, unwitting friends. But it’s the execution that really makes it work. The author fully leans into the absurdity of their coexistence.

And the banter! Their dynamic's easily the highlight.

Their conversations are dry, chaotic, sarcastic, and oddly wholesome. The contrast between James’s undead sophistication and Chompy’s more… decomposed enthusiasm is a lot of fun without feeling repetitive.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of different things going on, but it was definitely a fun ride. If you're getting ready for spooky season or just want to live there always, grab a copy of this book. It's a short and quick read if you just need a reset from some longer reads as well! The premise is that a woman wakes up dead to a vampire who teaches her the ropes of being dead. Both characters are so interesting even though it's such a short read. If you're looking for a good time, this book is for you!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Murphy Baisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing Co-op and NetGalley for the eARC for Grave Neighbors. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was short and sweet, gruesome and hilarious. I absolutely loved this little, macabre love story to death (no pun intended). I would love to read more about James and Chompy, and what happens after the ending. And what happened before. I really enjoyed Claudia Doucet's humor & I'll definitely be rereading at some point, and imagining a prequel and a sequel. Please give me more. Like Chompy, I am ravenous.

[Read by Fey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claudia Doucet’s Grave Neighbor is a truly absurd horror short story. I thought the story about Zombierella was the weirdest, but it turns out this one is even weirder.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. But because it’s so strange, it didn’t quite feel as enjoyable to me. It’s a bit creepy, too, but maybe because the writing style is quite convoluted and wordy, it made me feel a little uneasy—even though it’s just a short story.

If you like absurd, nonsensical things (in a context other than corpses rising from the grave), you might want to give this story a try. Not bad.

[Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens.

This was delightful, I devoured (pun intended) it in one evening. It was gross in the right ways and somehow made you care about the blood thirsty undead. This is one of those books I read and immediately think to myself....I must know this author, I must know about all the other unhinged things that live in their mind.

[Kayleighreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and bizarre horror-comedy that was very well written. It was easy to read, and I was hooked from the very first chapter. Chompy and James were brilliant together throughout the story.

[BookishKB · Rating 3 out of 5]

🪦🧟‍♀️ Grave Neighbors 🧛‍♂️⚰️

This was a short and sweet undead romance! Not long enough to be much but I did enjoy it!

🖤 What to Expect
• Zombie FMC
• Vampire MMC
• Neighbors to Lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Comedy Horror
• Undead Romance
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: June 26, 2026
📝 Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[jamie d mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagining waking up undead with a vampire as a Crypt mate. With no recollection of who she is. This is going to be a very odd tale. 


This is a good short Novella to sink your teeth in. It can be an introduction to such a bigger story. If Claudia decides to take these two unique characters and expand their universe. 

[Dotty Dot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This was a fun and quick read! FMC wakes up as a zombie & makes a vampire friend. Their sarcastic banter w/ a sprinkle of gore throughout the story made me giggle a ton. If you liked Butcher & Blackbird this is for you.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Netgalley & Victory Editing. All opinions are my own.

[KazReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Grave Neighbours doesn’t romanticise the undead, it explores the gore and loneliness of eternal life, as well as the true nature of its allure. It’s a cute and funny short story, a gradually friendship developing between the two main characters that eventually evolves into a sweet romance.

[Wen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, gore-filled short story about a dead woman who comes back to life and the vampire who helps her discover what kind of monster she is. This definitely has some stomach-churning moments that will linger. My only complaint is the ending. I need more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grave Neighbors was such an entertaining read! I really enjoyed the premise of the story. This was a funny, morbid, and eerie in the best way.

We follow James (a vampire) who helps Chompy (a zombie) adjust to a new life. Over the course of the story they become unlikely friends.

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

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gruesome and romantic short story! I was drawn in from start to finish and adored every bit of the MCs gory existence. This author excels at description and knows how to pack a punch in a short amount of time without overloading the reader with too little or too much information. Such a great read for Halloween!

[Ayana · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪦🖐🏾

A good, short, fun, and easy story that was great to read. Unfortunately, it lost my interest a bit in the second part, so just read it in one fast sitting, and you're good with the loveliest book in your hands.

- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Nena Jo Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had alot of fun reading this novella. It's great for spooky season. If your squmish and don't like the creepy crawly, Im warning you will encounter them lol I wasn't prepared so Im trying to look out for readers lol I really enjoyed the zombie and vampire being friends and working together, I had alot of fun reading this

[Alu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and kind of funny romance(?) between a zombie and a vampire. I felt that there wasn't much happening, and the story ended rather abruptly, almost as though it were part of a bigger story. There were some gory elements, but they didn't bother me. An engaging read.

Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want some spooky season in your summer season, this is definitely a great book to pick up. A quick read with some body horror, friendship in complicated situations, and just something to put between longer reads. The writing is very well done and I enjoyed reading Grave Neighbors. Claudia did such an amazing job with this and I can't wait to read more work by her.

[Elowen Marvayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grave Neighbors was such a fun little read. Weird, funny, a little gross, and honestly very entertaining. I really liked the vibe between the main character and James their banter made the story for me. It had that perfect mix of creepy and ridiculous that kept me hooked.

[Linda Collister · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hoot, she dies and wakes up as a zombie and finds a friend in an ancient vampire. They make a cute pair! You'll enjoy this read. I sure did. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.