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Zombabe
Zombabe is a heartwarming LGBT Horror YA about a group of friends putting down an ancient evil inextricably linked to their sleepy town of Bulldeen, Maine.
Two weeks before graduation, Henry “Babe” Simmons is resurrected by his best friend (and secret crush) Eugene “Dude” Marsh. Consequences include freaking out a town who just buried you, an overwhelming hunger for human flesh, and a monster who will step in if you ignore that hunger too long. Thankfully they have Kate Higgins on their side, a whiskey-drinking police chief who is all too eager to get rid of the town riff-raff. Armed with the power of friendship and a vague yet crucial understanding of Latin, Babe and his friends must uncover Bulldeen’s dark secrets and kill the monster for good.
Perfect for anybody who wanted Jennifer's Body to have a happy ending.
Two weeks before graduation, Henry “Babe” Simmons is resurrected by his best friend (and secret crush) Eugene “Dude” Marsh. Consequences include freaking out a town who just buried you, an overwhelming hunger for human flesh, and a monster who will step in if you ignore that hunger too long. Thankfully they have Kate Higgins on their side, a whiskey-drinking police chief who is all too eager to get rid of the town riff-raff. Armed with the power of friendship and a vague yet crucial understanding of Latin, Babe and his friends must uncover Bulldeen’s dark secrets and kill the monster for good.
Perfect for anybody who wanted Jennifer's Body to have a happy ending.
332 pages, ebook
First published December 3, 2022
107 people are currently reading
1817 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
December 1, 2022
Right off the bat: did I enjoy reading this book? Yeah. Do I also have very complicated feelings about it? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? I’m not sure.
Starting off with the good:
I did enjoy reading this book. It evoked some emotion in me, I liked a lot of the characters, I think the story is really interesting, I think the writing is good. It took me a bit of time to get through it, but only because of my schedule at this moment. Otherwise, I would have finished this within a weekend.
I would have to say that my favourite character in the book is Dude. He was the one that made me feel the most. I got the most attached to him out of all the characters. I think that he’s extremely endearing, and very well written as just a young boy, with a truly kind heart and an unwavering loyalty to his friends. His passages were the ones that resonated with me the most, and he was the star of the story for me.
I also really enjoyed the found family aspect in general. I don’t know if it’s my favourite found family that I’ve come across in books, but I do think it’s well executed, and it fits really well in the small-town environment.
Finally, I do think Belle does a really good job of laying out the complex feelings a person has with regards to living in a small town. There was some great critique in there, some amazing nuance. It’s portrayed under a sort of “toxic relationship” angle where the characters don’t know if they love it or hate it. Maybe it’s a bit of both, but it gets harder and harder to draw the line between the two. The longer you stay, the more unwaveringly loyal you become to staying in it, even if you know deep down it isn’t what you always wanted. I personally never grew up in a small town, so I can’t really speak to the accuracy of it, but it did feel realistic, and I think the book does a good job of addressing a lot of the issues Belle set out to discuss in her story.
Now, onto the critiques.
It’s hard for me to explain myself without spoiling some things, so I will have to tag the rest of my review as spoiler. As a general idea, although I did enjoy the book, I can’t say that I was super into it. I feel like it could have done more, and there were quite a lot of moments that felt like they should be emotionally charged but didn’t evoke much in me—or at least not as much as I was hoping for.
Also, I think some of the story’s message gets kind of lost. Horror is my favourite genre, and I love that you can do so much with it when it comes to the actual substance and depth of your novel. But I think it’s important to make sure that your message is clear to your reader, and I feel like there’s so much nuance and so much grey area here, that it gets kind of lost. I understand wanting to address the certain complexities of bigotry, small town living, human nature… but there needs to eventually be some kind of conclusion, a stance that the book takes on these issues. And I don’t know if this novel really did that clearly enough.
In the end, I still might recommend this book to some people, depending on what kind of reader they are. If you want an easy horror read that isn’t too scary and does feature some endearing main characters, you might enjoy this. You do have to be prepared for a lot of bigotry though: racism, homophobia, fatphobia (just to name a few). I don’t think this was a bad book, per se. I was, however, expecting a lot more from it. I think Belle has a ton of potential to grow as an author, so I am definitely excited to see where her career takes her. But I wouldn’t put this book, in its current state, at the top of my recommendations lists.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Starting off with the good:
I did enjoy reading this book. It evoked some emotion in me, I liked a lot of the characters, I think the story is really interesting, I think the writing is good. It took me a bit of time to get through it, but only because of my schedule at this moment. Otherwise, I would have finished this within a weekend.
I would have to say that my favourite character in the book is Dude. He was the one that made me feel the most. I got the most attached to him out of all the characters. I think that he’s extremely endearing, and very well written as just a young boy, with a truly kind heart and an unwavering loyalty to his friends. His passages were the ones that resonated with me the most, and he was the star of the story for me.
I also really enjoyed the found family aspect in general. I don’t know if it’s my favourite found family that I’ve come across in books, but I do think it’s well executed, and it fits really well in the small-town environment.
Finally, I do think Belle does a really good job of laying out the complex feelings a person has with regards to living in a small town. There was some great critique in there, some amazing nuance. It’s portrayed under a sort of “toxic relationship” angle where the characters don’t know if they love it or hate it. Maybe it’s a bit of both, but it gets harder and harder to draw the line between the two. The longer you stay, the more unwaveringly loyal you become to staying in it, even if you know deep down it isn’t what you always wanted. I personally never grew up in a small town, so I can’t really speak to the accuracy of it, but it did feel realistic, and I think the book does a good job of addressing a lot of the issues Belle set out to discuss in her story.
Now, onto the critiques.
It’s hard for me to explain myself without spoiling some things, so I will have to tag the rest of my review as spoiler. As a general idea, although I did enjoy the book, I can’t say that I was super into it. I feel like it could have done more, and there were quite a lot of moments that felt like they should be emotionally charged but didn’t evoke much in me—or at least not as much as I was hoping for.
Also, I think some of the story’s message gets kind of lost. Horror is my favourite genre, and I love that you can do so much with it when it comes to the actual substance and depth of your novel. But I think it’s important to make sure that your message is clear to your reader, and I feel like there’s so much nuance and so much grey area here, that it gets kind of lost. I understand wanting to address the certain complexities of bigotry, small town living, human nature… but there needs to eventually be some kind of conclusion, a stance that the book takes on these issues. And I don’t know if this novel really did that clearly enough.
In the end, I still might recommend this book to some people, depending on what kind of reader they are. If you want an easy horror read that isn’t too scary and does feature some endearing main characters, you might enjoy this. You do have to be prepared for a lot of bigotry though: racism, homophobia, fatphobia (just to name a few). I don’t think this was a bad book, per se. I was, however, expecting a lot more from it. I think Belle has a ton of potential to grow as an author, so I am definitely excited to see where her career takes her. But I wouldn’t put this book, in its current state, at the top of my recommendations lists.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2024
4⭐️
Okay, this had no right to be as fun as it was!
This book definitely wasn't perfect. There were quite a few things that I'm still super confused about. There was a lot of wasted development and a few plot points that I felt just fell off completely..but I honeslty don't care, the book is called "Zombabe"..it's not that serious.
The characters were everything to me. I loved how fun this was. I loved how horrifying and gross this was. I loved the background plots and how horrific some of the side characters were (Hunter is a very similar character to Henry Bowers, and as an "IT" girl, I loved that similarity).
At one point, I was getting a bit stressed out about how little romance we were getting. Most of it only starting to make its way on page in the last seconds of the book (I don't know if I can call this a slow burn when we really didn't get anything to burn for lol) but the little bit of romance we got was still really cute and very well done.
I'm really happy that I picked this book up!
Okay, this had no right to be as fun as it was!
This book definitely wasn't perfect. There were quite a few things that I'm still super confused about. There was a lot of wasted development and a few plot points that I felt just fell off completely..but I honeslty don't care, the book is called "Zombabe"..it's not that serious.
The characters were everything to me. I loved how fun this was. I loved how horrifying and gross this was. I loved the background plots and how horrific some of the side characters were (Hunter is a very similar character to Henry Bowers, and as an "IT" girl, I loved that similarity).
At one point, I was getting a bit stressed out about how little romance we were getting. Most of it only starting to make its way on page in the last seconds of the book (I don't know if I can call this a slow burn when we really didn't get anything to burn for lol) but the little bit of romance we got was still really cute and very well done.
I'm really happy that I picked this book up!
October 31, 2022
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a queer person who loves horror, reading Zombabe was like a trip through my sixteen year old self's dream book. I.S. Belle paints a haunting picture of small town Maine in a clear homage to Stephen King's works, interwoven seamlessly with a diverse cast of lovable protagonists.
Without delving into spoilers? Belle's writing is charming, their characters are well-written, and Zombabe is the perfect book for anyone first dipping their toes into horror, or who likes horror but gets squeamish about unhappy endings. While the horror is not as evocative as it could have been,Zombabe will make you feel for the citizens of Bulldeen.
In short: I liked Zombabe, and I will gladly read the next installment upon it's release. It wasn't my favorite book I've ever read, but it is exactly what it says on the tin. It makes me hopeful that queer teenagers will get to read this book and feel seen, and it makes me hopeful to see how Belle grows as an author.
As a queer person who loves horror, reading Zombabe was like a trip through my sixteen year old self's dream book. I.S. Belle paints a haunting picture of small town Maine in a clear homage to Stephen King's works, interwoven seamlessly with a diverse cast of lovable protagonists.
Without delving into spoilers? Belle's writing is charming, their characters are well-written, and Zombabe is the perfect book for anyone first dipping their toes into horror, or who likes horror but gets squeamish about unhappy endings. While the horror is not as evocative as it could have been,Zombabe will make you feel for the citizens of Bulldeen.
In short: I liked Zombabe, and I will gladly read the next installment upon it's release. It wasn't my favorite book I've ever read, but it is exactly what it says on the tin. It makes me hopeful that queer teenagers will get to read this book and feel seen, and it makes me hopeful to see how Belle grows as an author.
November 8, 2022
I don't usually like small-town horror, but this was a great read! The plot was easy to keep track of and the characters were well fleshed out.
I also really liked the writing style of the omniscient narrator and that it was concise and not convoluted!
For me personally there was something missing for it to be a true found family, but that's just my personal opinion.
All in all I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to further novels from I.S. Belle!
I also really liked the writing style of the omniscient narrator and that it was concise and not convoluted!
For me personally there was something missing for it to be a true found family, but that's just my personal opinion.
All in all I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to further novels from I.S. Belle!
December 29, 2022
My wife and I were both ARC readers for Zombabe. I'll be honest, campy small-town horror isn't usually my thing - in fact, my wife was pretty sure I wouldn't like Zombabe (though she LOVED it). She was wrong.
For me, Zombabe is an easy 5-star. The writing, the pacing, and the concept are all impeccably solid. If you didn't know, you wouldn't be able to guess that this is a debut novel.
The main four are a perfect, ride-or-die gang of misfits, that, to me at least, are very reminiscent of Team Lighthouse from the Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. Their friendship is utterly unshakeable, in the face of a community where their differences bring them not only social stigma, but real danger.
The way I.S. Belle writes the monster is brilliant, complex, and, at times, downright scary. I loved every minute of it.
It read like a cheesy 80s horror flick in all the best ways, and honestly, I would absolutely love to see a film adaptation. Really, really solid book, and I highly recommend it.
For me, Zombabe is an easy 5-star. The writing, the pacing, and the concept are all impeccably solid. If you didn't know, you wouldn't be able to guess that this is a debut novel.
The main four are a perfect, ride-or-die gang of misfits, that, to me at least, are very reminiscent of Team Lighthouse from the Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. Their friendship is utterly unshakeable, in the face of a community where their differences bring them not only social stigma, but real danger.
The way I.S. Belle writes the monster is brilliant, complex, and, at times, downright scary. I loved every minute of it.
It read like a cheesy 80s horror flick in all the best ways, and honestly, I would absolutely love to see a film adaptation. Really, really solid book, and I highly recommend it.
December 5, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this book and it truly lived up to any expectations I had going into it, and exceeded them.
The book follows two charming best friends, who have fantastic chemistry and a very lived-in relationship. Set against a backdrop of a very unique town with a strange (and very cool) history, Babe and Dude leap off of the page and the plot is constantly pulling you along, keeping you hooked as each part unfolds.
It's a pretty easy read and manages to be a homage to works like Jennifer's Body and Stephen King's small town horror while having its own distinct voice. I had a blast reading this book and look forward to future works by I.S. Belle.
The book follows two charming best friends, who have fantastic chemistry and a very lived-in relationship. Set against a backdrop of a very unique town with a strange (and very cool) history, Babe and Dude leap off of the page and the plot is constantly pulling you along, keeping you hooked as each part unfolds.
It's a pretty easy read and manages to be a homage to works like Jennifer's Body and Stephen King's small town horror while having its own distinct voice. I had a blast reading this book and look forward to future works by I.S. Belle.
December 22, 2022
*Spoiler free*
I finished #zombabe last night! (It was my 99th book of the year) So thank you @isbelleauthor for being kind enough to send me an ARC🙂 (I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner and I'm much later on my review than I wanted to be, but here you go!)
Writing:I loved this book. It was made exactly for me. It's paced perfectly, and the entire time I was reading it felt like I was watching a movie. I like the way it's laid out because it makes the chapters easier to read.You can tell the author knows their craft based on the flow of the story. And the prologue... That's what got me hooked. That is the single best prologue I read this year.
Characters: Dude, Babe, Anna, Jules, (and let's be honest, Kate is a part of the friend group).. each character had a specific personality. Found family. Kate was my favorite- she reminds me of Jodi Mills from Supernatural ❤️ I love how they stick together and are just like "oh we need to kill someone for you? Ok!" Like no questions asked. 10/10 LGBTQ friendship and loyalty.
World building: Bulldeen, in my head, was 1980s Wes Craven movie. It felt very campy, and exaggerated- and that's why I like it. I personally enjoy small town horror, with the town bullies, and the "one day I'm leaving this place" trope. The world building was very specific with the thornfruit- which I loved. Again heavy 80s movies vibes. ❤️
All in all- I loved it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Zombabe made it into my top 10 favorite reads of year, and I will definitely be reading the second installment, if there is one. I absolutely will be reading everything else I.S.Belle writes.
I finished #zombabe last night! (It was my 99th book of the year) So thank you @isbelleauthor for being kind enough to send me an ARC🙂 (I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner and I'm much later on my review than I wanted to be, but here you go!)
Writing:I loved this book. It was made exactly for me. It's paced perfectly, and the entire time I was reading it felt like I was watching a movie. I like the way it's laid out because it makes the chapters easier to read.You can tell the author knows their craft based on the flow of the story. And the prologue... That's what got me hooked. That is the single best prologue I read this year.
Characters: Dude, Babe, Anna, Jules, (and let's be honest, Kate is a part of the friend group).. each character had a specific personality. Found family. Kate was my favorite- she reminds me of Jodi Mills from Supernatural ❤️ I love how they stick together and are just like "oh we need to kill someone for you? Ok!" Like no questions asked. 10/10 LGBTQ friendship and loyalty.
World building: Bulldeen, in my head, was 1980s Wes Craven movie. It felt very campy, and exaggerated- and that's why I like it. I personally enjoy small town horror, with the town bullies, and the "one day I'm leaving this place" trope. The world building was very specific with the thornfruit- which I loved. Again heavy 80s movies vibes. ❤️
All in all- I loved it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Zombabe made it into my top 10 favorite reads of year, and I will definitely be reading the second installment, if there is one. I absolutely will be reading everything else I.S.Belle writes.
February 23, 2024
this is quite literally the best book ive read this entire year and i could write a dissertation on how much i love it
first of all, i s belle is my new auto-buy author. i didnt even UNDERSTAND the whole auto-buy author thing until i started reading i s belle because hot DAMN there is like crack in these
i love horror but the bury your gays trope is a little toooo prevalent in most horror stories. zombabe is literally if queer people existed in horror stories and actually had happy endings (shocking. i know.).
babe simmons and dude marsh mean so freaking much to me and i will not stop thinking about their love story and depth of their affection for one another for at LEAST 4-5 business weeks.
this really does have every major trope i love: slow-burn, "everyone feels this way about their best friend" trope, zombie-ism as a metaphor for not only homosexuality but also generational trauma, best-friends-to-lovers, found family, queer main cast AND queer side characters, horror!
i will not stop thinking about this book. read it. please.
best book of 2024 prediction.
first of all, i s belle is my new auto-buy author. i didnt even UNDERSTAND the whole auto-buy author thing until i started reading i s belle because hot DAMN there is like crack in these
i love horror but the bury your gays trope is a little toooo prevalent in most horror stories. zombabe is literally if queer people existed in horror stories and actually had happy endings (shocking. i know.).
babe simmons and dude marsh mean so freaking much to me and i will not stop thinking about their love story and depth of their affection for one another for at LEAST 4-5 business weeks.
this really does have every major trope i love: slow-burn, "everyone feels this way about their best friend" trope, zombie-ism as a metaphor for not only homosexuality but also generational trauma, best-friends-to-lovers, found family, queer main cast AND queer side characters, horror!
i will not stop thinking about this book. read it. please.
best book of 2024 prediction.
December 4, 2025
SO. FREAKING. GOOD. If you like Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and don't mind some gore, this is for you!!!
The beginning was a bit slow but once it picked up, I did NOT want to stop!! The storyline is something like I've never read before. Maybe predictable to some, but I love a book that I can anticipate a HEA. It's WAAAAAY less stressful for me. 😅😂 But the characters? The story? The elements?? *CHEF'S KISS* 10 OUTTA FUCKING 10. I can see myself reading this again. And I hope you can see yourself reading it for the first time 👀
Also, shout-out to my bestie Daniel for gifting me this AMAZING BOOK 😍😍😍😍 YOU DA BEST 🖤🖤🖤
The beginning was a bit slow but once it picked up, I did NOT want to stop!! The storyline is something like I've never read before. Maybe predictable to some, but I love a book that I can anticipate a HEA. It's WAAAAAY less stressful for me. 😅😂 But the characters? The story? The elements?? *CHEF'S KISS* 10 OUTTA FUCKING 10. I can see myself reading this again. And I hope you can see yourself reading it for the first time 👀
Also, shout-out to my bestie Daniel for gifting me this AMAZING BOOK 😍😍😍😍 YOU DA BEST 🖤🖤🖤
March 7, 2025
While it is marketed as a Queer/Gay Love story, that aspect is very miniscule and the focus of the story is about a "zombie" that comes back from the dead and the town of Bulldeen that´s haunted by a curious monster. The pacing of the story could be considered strange by some people as things suddenly pick up rapidly but once you understand the town and the people around there, it makes sense that things suddenly pick up because something abnormal happens and it´s a town that loves normality and boring.
A bit dark at times too and, obviously, gorey too.
A bit dark at times too and, obviously, gorey too.
August 15, 2023
I loved it.
I dont know what to say about this book. It was really good and i loved all the characters. Worth reading and just enough gore and chills to be super interesting.
I dont know what to say about this book. It was really good and i loved all the characters. Worth reading and just enough gore and chills to be super interesting.
January 3, 2024
SUCH A CUTE BOOK, thrilling but not super horrific, good amount of blood and gore and really interesting characters, a lovely read.
June 16, 2025
When your best friend dies, you have to do whatever you must to resurrect him from the dead. Fun, queer, campy, high school, found family, little town, zombie tale.
December 5, 2023
I love the Dead Freaks. They remind me of my high school friends and I want to be friends with all of them. I love Babe and Dude. I love them SO MUCH. Found family in a small town is everything.
February 6, 2023
This book is equal parts fun, dark, and romantic. Would recommend it for all teens (and teens at heart) who just want a bit of murder and queer love to brighten their day :)
November 14, 2022
(Thanks to the author for the ARC!)
The comparisons to IT may have drawn me in, but Zombabe turned out to be something quite different. The main elements are definitely there - a group of friends and their weird hometown with a dark secret, but the author manages to keep its influence down to the level of homage.
Bulldeen felt real and possible, and the amount of detail and history was just enough to add depth without overloading the reader. The thornfruit was really original, and it was used well as both an anchor and a ball and chain on the town, particularly in the character of Ryan.
Babe and Dude are great protagonists, and their relationship was handled really well. They felt so natural, and I believed in how well they knew each other, how intertwined they were. The anxiety of being separated from your old friends in that strange transition period at the end of high school was very accurate, and the potential for something more than friendship added a sweetness to a dark subject without becoming the only focus. (I will highlight how romantic “I’d take part of you over none” is, though.) Sometimes during the other characters’ chapters I found I just wanted to get back to Babe and Dude, but that could be more of a compliment to those two than a criticism of the rest.
The writing was consistently good, with the dialogue and characterisation particular standouts. I didn’t find the horror/creepy factor that strong, but the gory parts were good, as was the urgent, unsettling hunger. The climax was fast-paced and exciting, I just cared more about Babe being okay than defeating the evil!
I have no doubt I would have loved this even more as a teenager, but as it stands I enjoyed it and wish the author every success in the future :)
The comparisons to IT may have drawn me in, but Zombabe turned out to be something quite different. The main elements are definitely there - a group of friends and their weird hometown with a dark secret, but the author manages to keep its influence down to the level of homage.
Bulldeen felt real and possible, and the amount of detail and history was just enough to add depth without overloading the reader. The thornfruit was really original, and it was used well as both an anchor and a ball and chain on the town, particularly in the character of Ryan.
Babe and Dude are great protagonists, and their relationship was handled really well. They felt so natural, and I believed in how well they knew each other, how intertwined they were. The anxiety of being separated from your old friends in that strange transition period at the end of high school was very accurate, and the potential for something more than friendship added a sweetness to a dark subject without becoming the only focus. (I will highlight how romantic “I’d take part of you over none” is, though.) Sometimes during the other characters’ chapters I found I just wanted to get back to Babe and Dude, but that could be more of a compliment to those two than a criticism of the rest.
The writing was consistently good, with the dialogue and characterisation particular standouts. I didn’t find the horror/creepy factor that strong, but the gory parts were good, as was the urgent, unsettling hunger. The climax was fast-paced and exciting, I just cared more about Babe being okay than defeating the evil!
I have no doubt I would have loved this even more as a teenager, but as it stands I enjoyed it and wish the author every success in the future :)
September 26, 2023
Amazing Last Two-Thirds of the Book. Highly Reccomend Reading BABY LOVE First
I simply devoured the last two-thirds of this book. I will warn that I remember my progress bar being around 34% and thinking if we were going to focus on our titled character, Babe, as much as our side characters were getting. But our author's imagery and prose kept me reading, and I'm so glad I did. I will recommend reading Babylove prior as it gives a few extra pieces of information for the plot and some very small side characters.
All of our main and supporting characters and antagonists, and many smaller side characters, are so fleshed out and feel like everyday-Joe's that you pass in the streets. I'm from a Midwestern smalltown, and Bullden felt as if it could've been placed next door. Our human antagonists were believable, not forgivable, but they felt realistic. I have picked up many YA/highschool-set novels that will make a high school bully or parent who is just mean and hateful because that's what the plot needs. One of my favorite characters, Milly, served a purpose for moving the plot forward and giving would love. Yet I craved more interactions with her character. She was a person in Bulldeen with her own hobbies and friends, not just a narrative tool to be used and then discarded. Jobs or roles our main characters do in the plot make sense. I have read plenty of books where a character is given a role in the story because they're a main character and no other reason. That wasn't an issue with this book. Most actions or things that are characters do is either because it's what a specific character would do or have the tools to do (I'm looking at Jules and her PA system).
I.S. Belle's writing style is lovely. Her world, her characters, her prose. I crave more. Whenever the 2nd book comes out, I will be feral. She gave a great mix of imagery, world building, and character interactions. I felt as if I could reach out and grab the fabric of the world. There was such a perfect blend of atmosphere of sleepy, tired Bulldren and the eeriy, eltritch horror. Her writing is the reason I went from a 3 star rating to 4 star (it would've been a 5 star if not for the rocky start).
I simply devoured the last two-thirds of this book. I will warn that I remember my progress bar being around 34% and thinking if we were going to focus on our titled character, Babe, as much as our side characters were getting. But our author's imagery and prose kept me reading, and I'm so glad I did. I will recommend reading Babylove prior as it gives a few extra pieces of information for the plot and some very small side characters.
All of our main and supporting characters and antagonists, and many smaller side characters, are so fleshed out and feel like everyday-Joe's that you pass in the streets. I'm from a Midwestern smalltown, and Bullden felt as if it could've been placed next door. Our human antagonists were believable, not forgivable, but they felt realistic. I have picked up many YA/highschool-set novels that will make a high school bully or parent who is just mean and hateful because that's what the plot needs. One of my favorite characters, Milly, served a purpose for moving the plot forward and giving would love. Yet I craved more interactions with her character. She was a person in Bulldeen with her own hobbies and friends, not just a narrative tool to be used and then discarded. Jobs or roles our main characters do in the plot make sense. I have read plenty of books where a character is given a role in the story because they're a main character and no other reason. That wasn't an issue with this book. Most actions or things that are characters do is either because it's what a specific character would do or have the tools to do (I'm looking at Jules and her PA system).
I.S. Belle's writing style is lovely. Her world, her characters, her prose. I crave more. Whenever the 2nd book comes out, I will be feral. She gave a great mix of imagery, world building, and character interactions. I felt as if I could reach out and grab the fabric of the world. There was such a perfect blend of atmosphere of sleepy, tired Bulldren and the eeriy, eltritch horror. Her writing is the reason I went from a 3 star rating to 4 star (it would've been a 5 star if not for the rocky start).
November 7, 2022
Zombabe was an absolute treat.
Let’s start with the characters. The core group of friends in this story were so likable, each in their own unique way. They all brought their own level of flair to the story, which was fantastic. I enjoyed getting to know them. What was even more compelling was their love for one another. It truly was heartwarming to see what they would endure for their friends.
Next up, the storyline. The peculiar history of the town was interesting and worked well to set the stage for what was to come. I appreciated that there actually was a storyline and not just gore for the sake of gore.
In equal parts, this book tugged at my heartstrings and grossed me out (in a good way).
If there’s a sequel to this book, I’ll be here for it!
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy of this book!
Let’s start with the characters. The core group of friends in this story were so likable, each in their own unique way. They all brought their own level of flair to the story, which was fantastic. I enjoyed getting to know them. What was even more compelling was their love for one another. It truly was heartwarming to see what they would endure for their friends.
Next up, the storyline. The peculiar history of the town was interesting and worked well to set the stage for what was to come. I appreciated that there actually was a storyline and not just gore for the sake of gore.
In equal parts, this book tugged at my heartstrings and grossed me out (in a good way).
If there’s a sequel to this book, I’ll be here for it!
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy of this book!
January 1, 2023
Do you know who is going to resurrect you when you die? Your closeted best friend you have a homoerotic relationship with that’s who. This book was fun and nerve wracking and nearly Stephen King-eqsue (but YA). Town monster? In Maine!? Killing N@zi’s!? It was a good story 🖤
🧟🍈🔥
“ʙᴀʙᴇ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ, ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ Qᴜɪᴛ ᴅʀᴀɢɢɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ? ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ ɪꜱ ᴋɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ, ᴍᴀɴ.”
𝗜’𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! 𝗡𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗿! 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝘂𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄!
“𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝙳𝚞𝚍𝚎,” 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. “𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎. 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏…𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚖. 𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚔𝚊𝚢.” “𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖?” “𝙽𝚘. 𝙱𝚞𝚝…𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎…” 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚍𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚍. 𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎. 𝙷𝚒𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎, 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐.
🧟🍈🔥
“ʙᴀʙᴇ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ, ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ Qᴜɪᴛ ᴅʀᴀɢɢɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ? ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ ɪꜱ ᴋɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ, ᴍᴀɴ.”
𝗜’𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! 𝗡𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗿! 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝘂𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄!
“𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝙳𝚞𝚍𝚎,” 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. “𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎. 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏…𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚖. 𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚔𝚊𝚢.” “𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖?” “𝙽𝚘. 𝙱𝚞𝚝…𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎…” 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚍𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚍. 𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎. 𝙷𝚒𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎, 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐.
October 2, 2023
A really wholesome story about ride-or-die friendship, literally. I was so excited to receive an e-ARC of this book awhile back after learning about it through the author's tiktok (@i.s.belle_writes, hi!) where she's been lovingly promoting it with all kinds of fun little details. This story's tone is easy to get into, bleak but not overly complicated and full of a lot of heart. Since there was so much emphasis on the town mystery and family/friendship dynamics, I was nearly caught off guard when the "zom" part of "Zombabe" finally came into play. I'm happy to say it was a really fun reading experience, and I'll refrain from spoilers so you can hopefully check it out for yourself upon it's release in January 2023!
September 26, 2023
If you liked IT but wished the characters were openly queer and that it passed the bechdel, this is the book for you. Amazing world building, lore, and story meet a cast of characters you'll want to know more.
July 10, 2023
found family and unbury your gays. what more could a person ever need
October 31, 2022
I was delighted to receive this as an ARC and I have to say, I had an absolute blast with it. The pacing of it was so good, the chapters short and punchy, that I ended up finishing it in one day. Clichéd to say, but I couldn't put it down.
I'm not much of a YA reader but knowing the author's writing style and character work, I knew it was worth giving it a shot and I wasn't disappointed. The plot is very gripping, each chapter sticking you with another little hook to keep pulling you along, wanting answers. The characters are what really make the book so much fun. Every one of them is effortlessly unique and diverse but it never feels like ticking off traits or representation from a checklist. Everyone feels very real and you fully believe that yes, this eclectic group of people would absolutely have found each other and formed a bond. And I love, love, love how the town itself has such a presence throughout the entire book. It's inescapable and suffocating in all the right ways, as much a villain as the monster itself. Lovecraft is mentioned fleetingly at one point and I think it's a good comparison, there is definitely something 'old' feeling about this supernatural entity. It makes everything a lot more sinister and horrifying which I loved.
Most of what I read is third person limited so it took some getting used to to have the narrative jump around so much but I never felt lost or confused about who I was with. In fact, I think it really elevates the story because allowing us to have an omniscient narrator provides fascinating insight into not only our core characters but the wider population of Bulldeen too. It reminded me of one of my favourite films, Amelie, where there would be little tangents about background characters; a little glimpse into their lives. Does it add anything crucial to the plot? Not really, but it does help flesh out how deep the rot goes throughout the town. And it also allows us glimpses into the future, the fates of certain characters and hints at what lies ahead. This is done sparingly but effectively, tittilating rather than spoilering.
The relationship between Babe and Dude was the most compelling aspect for me but even when we weren't following them, I was still invested in the other characters and wasn't just waiting until we got back to them. I liked that the mutual pining was established early on but I liked how it was shown differently between the two characters. For Dude, it came across as something more wistful; you could imagine him daydreaming and doodling their intitials in hearts. Meanwhile for Babe, there's something more illicit about it, dangerous. Which, considering everything else that is going on with him during the course of the book, becomes more and more effective as the chapters go on. I also loved the way Milly's character developed. I loved them all!
I also really liked that a lot of it is morally grey and at no point does the author try and tell you how to feel about certain things. One of the characters in particular I didn't view as your typical hero and they would probably be villified by certain people for their actions but I appreciated that we were left to our own opinions. I like it when things aren't black and white and you have good people doing terrible things and maybe not even showing any remorse for those things either.
Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's definitely one I'd read again, especially as I'm sure there were things that I missed and little hints that were made in earlier chapters that I'd forgotten about by the time they were touched on again. If you like the found family bonding of Stephen King's IT and the gory yet touching dynamic of Santa Clarita Diet then this is absolutely the book for you.
I'm not much of a YA reader but knowing the author's writing style and character work, I knew it was worth giving it a shot and I wasn't disappointed. The plot is very gripping, each chapter sticking you with another little hook to keep pulling you along, wanting answers. The characters are what really make the book so much fun. Every one of them is effortlessly unique and diverse but it never feels like ticking off traits or representation from a checklist. Everyone feels very real and you fully believe that yes, this eclectic group of people would absolutely have found each other and formed a bond. And I love, love, love how the town itself has such a presence throughout the entire book. It's inescapable and suffocating in all the right ways, as much a villain as the monster itself. Lovecraft is mentioned fleetingly at one point and I think it's a good comparison, there is definitely something 'old' feeling about this supernatural entity. It makes everything a lot more sinister and horrifying which I loved.
Most of what I read is third person limited so it took some getting used to to have the narrative jump around so much but I never felt lost or confused about who I was with. In fact, I think it really elevates the story because allowing us to have an omniscient narrator provides fascinating insight into not only our core characters but the wider population of Bulldeen too. It reminded me of one of my favourite films, Amelie, where there would be little tangents about background characters; a little glimpse into their lives. Does it add anything crucial to the plot? Not really, but it does help flesh out how deep the rot goes throughout the town. And it also allows us glimpses into the future, the fates of certain characters and hints at what lies ahead. This is done sparingly but effectively, tittilating rather than spoilering.
The relationship between Babe and Dude was the most compelling aspect for me but even when we weren't following them, I was still invested in the other characters and wasn't just waiting until we got back to them. I liked that the mutual pining was established early on but I liked how it was shown differently between the two characters. For Dude, it came across as something more wistful; you could imagine him daydreaming and doodling their intitials in hearts. Meanwhile for Babe, there's something more illicit about it, dangerous. Which, considering everything else that is going on with him during the course of the book, becomes more and more effective as the chapters go on. I also loved the way Milly's character developed. I loved them all!
I also really liked that a lot of it is morally grey and at no point does the author try and tell you how to feel about certain things. One of the characters in particular I didn't view as your typical hero and they would probably be villified by certain people for their actions but I appreciated that we were left to our own opinions. I like it when things aren't black and white and you have good people doing terrible things and maybe not even showing any remorse for those things either.
Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's definitely one I'd read again, especially as I'm sure there were things that I missed and little hints that were made in earlier chapters that I'd forgotten about by the time they were touched on again. If you like the found family bonding of Stephen King's IT and the gory yet touching dynamic of Santa Clarita Diet then this is absolutely the book for you.
July 31, 2023
This book had a lot of potential but unfortunately it didn't quite tap into it.
The story started pretty strong and drew me in quickly. A town on the brink of collapse already known for some weird, supernatural stuff that existed because a mysterious plant that thrived on poison seemed like the perfect place to set a horror novel. The secrets of the resurrection ritual and what it meant to bring someone back to life were intriguing. The "I'm in love with my best friend" angst was also pretty good, and I love a good found family. Even having them all band together with unlikely allies to solve a mystery before it's too late (and taking out some Nazis in the meantime) was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, beyond that the story felt kind of flat.
I wanted so much more from this book. Kate was interesting but her whole character seemed a bit stagnant, like she was just there to fill a role and not much more. Dude and Babe clearly had chemistry, but their getting together dragged out way too long. And when they did finally get over themselves, it wasn't really satisfying. It just kind of... happened and then the story was over.
Another thing that bugged me was the POV. It was third person, which is fine, but sometimes it took an omniscient tone that kind of messed with the flow. You'd get a chapter from one character's perspective, but you wouldn't just be in their head. You'd also be a little inside another character's head, learning things about them that the supposed POV character had no way of knowing. And even that would have worked if half of the omniscient narrator storytelling hadn't been relatively useless information. Sure, it let you know a little more about the character in question, but most of the time when this happened it was a throwaway side character you wouldn't meet or hear about again. Or if you did meet them again, the information you learned about them did nothing to further or add to the story.
I also feel like the metaphor of being gay and being a zombie didn't quite pan out. If Babe had accepted the zombie part of him and learned to live with it without necessarily killing people and accepted that it would be part of him and that it was okay because that's who he is, sure. But he and his friends worked to drive way that part of him and destroy it forever while he learned to embrace that part of him that was queer. Which is good, don't get me wrong. I'm glad he embraced his "hunger" for Dude, but the parallel there didn't work. (If that was even the author's intent. Maybe it wasn't, but it definitely seemed that way at times. I could be overthinking it.)
Overall, this was a decent story. I liked it well enough I'll probably check out the other books in the series, but it's not exactly a favorite.
3.5 stars rounded down.
The story started pretty strong and drew me in quickly. A town on the brink of collapse already known for some weird, supernatural stuff that existed because a mysterious plant that thrived on poison seemed like the perfect place to set a horror novel. The secrets of the resurrection ritual and what it meant to bring someone back to life were intriguing. The "I'm in love with my best friend" angst was also pretty good, and I love a good found family. Even having them all band together with unlikely allies to solve a mystery before it's too late (and taking out some Nazis in the meantime) was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, beyond that the story felt kind of flat.
I wanted so much more from this book. Kate was interesting but her whole character seemed a bit stagnant, like she was just there to fill a role and not much more. Dude and Babe clearly had chemistry, but their getting together dragged out way too long. And when they did finally get over themselves, it wasn't really satisfying. It just kind of... happened and then the story was over.
Another thing that bugged me was the POV. It was third person, which is fine, but sometimes it took an omniscient tone that kind of messed with the flow. You'd get a chapter from one character's perspective, but you wouldn't just be in their head. You'd also be a little inside another character's head, learning things about them that the supposed POV character had no way of knowing. And even that would have worked if half of the omniscient narrator storytelling hadn't been relatively useless information. Sure, it let you know a little more about the character in question, but most of the time when this happened it was a throwaway side character you wouldn't meet or hear about again. Or if you did meet them again, the information you learned about them did nothing to further or add to the story.
I also feel like the metaphor of being gay and being a zombie didn't quite pan out. If Babe had accepted the zombie part of him and learned to live with it without necessarily killing people and accepted that it would be part of him and that it was okay because that's who he is, sure. But he and his friends worked to drive way that part of him and destroy it forever while he learned to embrace that part of him that was queer. Which is good, don't get me wrong. I'm glad he embraced his "hunger" for Dude, but the parallel there didn't work. (If that was even the author's intent. Maybe it wasn't, but it definitely seemed that way at times. I could be overthinking it.)
Overall, this was a decent story. I liked it well enough I'll probably check out the other books in the series, but it's not exactly a favorite.
3.5 stars rounded down.
May 6, 2025
As someone who is not a huge horror fan (I prefer spooky, horror-adjacent things vs actual scary horror), I really enjoyed Zombabe by I.S. Belle.
Dude resurrects his best friend, Babe, after he accidentally dies from anaphylactic shock, which sets into motion a series of events that will forever change their small town, Bulldeen. The story follows Dude, Babe, and their friends as they look into the mysteries of Bulldeen and try to break the curse that poisons everyone who lives there.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the characters. I loved the found family featured and the main cast of characters was really endearing. You could feel the affection they had for each other and their interactions had me smiling throughout. I also loved that I.S. Belle didn't shy away from writing morally neutral and bad characters in a human way. While it did sometimes veer into stereotypical, tropey territory, it added to the overall characterization instead of taking away from the story. I also loved how she captured the feeling of living in a stifling small town. Bulldeen almost became a character in its own right and I found its history and the effect on its citizens really fascinating.
One thing that some readers might dislike is the narrative style. It features an omniscient narrator that jumps between multiple POVs (some recurring, some featured only once) and offers random tidbits of insight from either the past or the future lives of the characters. I thought that the overall plot leant itself really nicely to this style of narration, but if you prefer single or dual POV, this book might not be for you.
One final thing to note is that readers should definitely check the trigger warnings before picking up this book. It heavily features things like cannibalism, gore, domestic violence, and white supremacy. I don't think that they are used in an over-the-top, shock factor sort of way, but it is still something to be mindful of.
Overall, I think that Zombabe is a worthwhile read and I am happy that I decided to pick it up. I recommend it to readers who are interested in a horror-lite novel featuring an endearing found family, queer love, and a town with a mysterious past to unravel.
Dude resurrects his best friend, Babe, after he accidentally dies from anaphylactic shock, which sets into motion a series of events that will forever change their small town, Bulldeen. The story follows Dude, Babe, and their friends as they look into the mysteries of Bulldeen and try to break the curse that poisons everyone who lives there.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the characters. I loved the found family featured and the main cast of characters was really endearing. You could feel the affection they had for each other and their interactions had me smiling throughout. I also loved that I.S. Belle didn't shy away from writing morally neutral and bad characters in a human way. While it did sometimes veer into stereotypical, tropey territory, it added to the overall characterization instead of taking away from the story. I also loved how she captured the feeling of living in a stifling small town. Bulldeen almost became a character in its own right and I found its history and the effect on its citizens really fascinating.
One thing that some readers might dislike is the narrative style. It features an omniscient narrator that jumps between multiple POVs (some recurring, some featured only once) and offers random tidbits of insight from either the past or the future lives of the characters. I thought that the overall plot leant itself really nicely to this style of narration, but if you prefer single or dual POV, this book might not be for you.
One final thing to note is that readers should definitely check the trigger warnings before picking up this book. It heavily features things like cannibalism, gore, domestic violence, and white supremacy. I don't think that they are used in an over-the-top, shock factor sort of way, but it is still something to be mindful of.
Overall, I think that Zombabe is a worthwhile read and I am happy that I decided to pick it up. I recommend it to readers who are interested in a horror-lite novel featuring an endearing found family, queer love, and a town with a mysterious past to unravel.
June 21, 2023
YA low-key horror, that is also funny, creepy, weird, and surprisingly sweet!
Here are some of the reasons why I LOVE this book:
The tone. I.S. Belle´s prose and tone are everything. It is so casual, so nonchalant that I can´t help but to love it. The tone is perfect. I can´t say that enough.
This small-town horror does not shy away from the creepy vibes. It is CREEPY! and I love it.
The tropes Found Family and Friends-to-Lovers are done beautifully. I fell hard for this amazing group of friends.
Babe and Dude´s relationship is the sweetest I have ever seen (best friends and secret crushes). They will literally die and come back for each other (and hey, they have!).
Jules, Ana, and Milly are wonderful supporting casts, they are colorful and solid --- Jules is just the absolute best!
Kate, the only sensible grown-up in the book, is PERFECT. Not that she is perfect as a person, oh no, she is flawed, which makes her perfect as a character! I love her and her incessant smoking, her whisky and lesbian novels, and her deep understanding of how things work and what you´ve got to do when you are already buried deep in s***t. I really appreciate her.
The overcoming of generational trauma was amazingly done too, like Babe´s relationship with his dad (oh god, that was painful), and also the family dynamics of the supporting cast (Dude and his exhausted mother, Jules and her absent parents, Ana and the secrets her family keep). There are specks of color everywhere, little details that make all the difference!
The different POVs do so much for this book, like when we get the bullies´ POV, omg, that was dark but absolutely needed. SPOILER --- How cute that little bully loves his grandma, oh wait, his grandma is a nazi too, never mind...
I laughed hard, and also felt deeply for the cast and the story.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
Highly recommend this book if you´re into creepy stuff but also have a great sense of humor.
I will definitely be reading more from I.S. Belle, her writing is just that good!
Here are some of the reasons why I LOVE this book:
The tone. I.S. Belle´s prose and tone are everything. It is so casual, so nonchalant that I can´t help but to love it. The tone is perfect. I can´t say that enough.
This small-town horror does not shy away from the creepy vibes. It is CREEPY! and I love it.
The tropes Found Family and Friends-to-Lovers are done beautifully. I fell hard for this amazing group of friends.
Babe and Dude´s relationship is the sweetest I have ever seen (best friends and secret crushes). They will literally die and come back for each other (and hey, they have!).
Jules, Ana, and Milly are wonderful supporting casts, they are colorful and solid --- Jules is just the absolute best!
Kate, the only sensible grown-up in the book, is PERFECT. Not that she is perfect as a person, oh no, she is flawed, which makes her perfect as a character! I love her and her incessant smoking, her whisky and lesbian novels, and her deep understanding of how things work and what you´ve got to do when you are already buried deep in s***t. I really appreciate her.
The overcoming of generational trauma was amazingly done too, like Babe´s relationship with his dad (oh god, that was painful), and also the family dynamics of the supporting cast (Dude and his exhausted mother, Jules and her absent parents, Ana and the secrets her family keep). There are specks of color everywhere, little details that make all the difference!
The different POVs do so much for this book, like when we get the bullies´ POV, omg, that was dark but absolutely needed. SPOILER --- How cute that little bully loves his grandma, oh wait, his grandma is a nazi too, never mind...
I laughed hard, and also felt deeply for the cast and the story.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
Highly recommend this book if you´re into creepy stuff but also have a great sense of humor.
I will definitely be reading more from I.S. Belle, her writing is just that good!
November 9, 2022
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
The vibe leans heavily towards "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" and body horror.
Where we get into the heartwarming portion is the relationships between the four friends, and how it contrasts with the other twisted relationships outside their group, whether it's between for ex. Babe and Ryan, or Hunter and his Dad, or even with Bulldeen in general. Anna, Jules, Babe and Dude are devoted to each other, and they love each other in a way that nourishes. Babe and Dude's relationship is the focus and it's "I'd do anything for you" grown to the best version throughout the book with laser-focus intensity. Also, the pining between these two. I mean, they know, of course they know, they just weren't in a place to acknowledge it.
Overall, this book was an entertaining and enjoyable read.
One aspect that could be improved on is that explanations for actions can be left out so readers can draw their own conclusions. Most of them are pretty obvious. For example, in Ch 1, we can see that Babe and Dude bicker frequently; there is no need for a following paragraph that tells us they argue like a married couple. Likewise, Ch. 9, Dude has alot of love for everyone and everything, the reader can see that happening, there is no need for a whole paragraph explaining it.
The vibe leans heavily towards "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" and body horror.
Where we get into the heartwarming portion is the relationships between the four friends, and how it contrasts with the other twisted relationships outside their group, whether it's between for ex. Babe and Ryan, or Hunter and his Dad, or even with Bulldeen in general. Anna, Jules, Babe and Dude are devoted to each other, and they love each other in a way that nourishes. Babe and Dude's relationship is the focus and it's "I'd do anything for you" grown to the best version throughout the book with laser-focus intensity. Also, the pining between these two. I mean, they know, of course they know, they just weren't in a place to acknowledge it.
Overall, this book was an entertaining and enjoyable read.
One aspect that could be improved on is that explanations for actions can be left out so readers can draw their own conclusions. Most of them are pretty obvious. For example, in Ch 1, we can see that Babe and Dude bicker frequently; there is no need for a following paragraph that tells us they argue like a married couple. Likewise, Ch. 9, Dude has alot of love for everyone and everything, the reader can see that happening, there is no need for a whole paragraph explaining it.
February 1, 2024
I went into this book expecting a light-hearted queer horror romp through a small town, and boy, was I wrong! This book has depth, held together with gorgeous prose that paints a picture of haunting across generations.
I enjoyed the story, the sympathetic nature of the profiles of people while still indulging in their comeuppance and consequence. And I enjoyed the gore.
I'm not convinced this is a found family as the friends were already found, so I feel like we, the reader, weren't brought into and enveloped in the love they had for each other.
Character wise, I can't say I loved any characters. Babe wrestling with the voice inside, and his tension with wanting to consume Dude was great. I think I would have enjoyed more focus on that, Babe's fears about acting like his dad, and the poison of the town. The use of lead was also very interesting, and makes me wonder about the metaphor of the monster, mental health, and queerness.
Also, because it's a land based monster, I was intrigued by the lack of mention of colonialism anywhere in this piece.
The strength of Zombabe is in the prose, tone, and the web of the town itself. Some things happened easily than others, some questions are never answered, and the romance could have happened faster/more climactically. But all around Zombabe is a fun, chilling read.
I enjoyed the story, the sympathetic nature of the profiles of people while still indulging in their comeuppance and consequence. And I enjoyed the gore.
I'm not convinced this is a found family as the friends were already found, so I feel like we, the reader, weren't brought into and enveloped in the love they had for each other.
Character wise, I can't say I loved any characters. Babe wrestling with the voice inside, and his tension with wanting to consume Dude was great. I think I would have enjoyed more focus on that, Babe's fears about acting like his dad, and the poison of the town. The use of lead was also very interesting, and makes me wonder about the metaphor of the monster, mental health, and queerness.
Also, because it's a land based monster, I was intrigued by the lack of mention of colonialism anywhere in this piece.
The strength of Zombabe is in the prose, tone, and the web of the town itself. Some things happened easily than others, some questions are never answered, and the romance could have happened faster/more climactically. But all around Zombabe is a fun, chilling read.
February 13, 2023
Really good read.
The characters were fun and interesting, and the story was fun to follow. The author did this thing where they gave little sentences that hint or state outright about a characters future (such as when a side character was going to die off screen) which really helped with the tone and atmosphere of the setting. They gave just the right amount of information for it to be interesting and help with the tone of the book, without oversharing or overexplaining side characters (and their fate) that are no longer relevant, so it was always fun to read.
I liked the main characters, their relationships and how they interacted with each other. Jules and Babe were definitely my favourites, but Dude and Anna came close and were both a joy to read about.
The romance between Babe and Dude was believable and cute, I liked the in-jokes they had and the fun dynamic between them. It was satisfying for them to realise they liked each other, and I think they’re cute together.
The book had a one on the spine, so I’m guessing there’s going to be some sort of sequel(s), so I’m looking forward to that and will definitely be buying the next instalment to see what happens to the characters I’ve grown fond of.
The characters were fun and interesting, and the story was fun to follow. The author did this thing where they gave little sentences that hint or state outright about a characters future (such as when a side character was going to die off screen) which really helped with the tone and atmosphere of the setting. They gave just the right amount of information for it to be interesting and help with the tone of the book, without oversharing or overexplaining side characters (and their fate) that are no longer relevant, so it was always fun to read.
I liked the main characters, their relationships and how they interacted with each other. Jules and Babe were definitely my favourites, but Dude and Anna came close and were both a joy to read about.
The romance between Babe and Dude was believable and cute, I liked the in-jokes they had and the fun dynamic between them. It was satisfying for them to realise they liked each other, and I think they’re cute together.
The book had a one on the spine, so I’m guessing there’s going to be some sort of sequel(s), so I’m looking forward to that and will definitely be buying the next instalment to see what happens to the characters I’ve grown fond of.
April 22, 2024
𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮:
Horror Fiction & Paranormal Fiction & LGBT aspects included as well
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼:
Freinds x lovers (this is not the main thing about the story though
𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓼:
Babe Simmons died, or well died and then came back. His best friend Dude risks it all to resurrect his best friend but the price is a little steeper than he thought it would be. How many people will have to die this time to pay the debt?
𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓢𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓼:
Low key probs the first scene where Babe eats someone 😂 I like zombies okay?!
𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓑𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰:
World building was a 10/10 for me. The author sets up the world pretty dang nicely and has a lot of backstory but doesn’t tell readers all at one time, so you don’t get overwhelmed.
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓛𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓵:
1/5 I suppose. It’s very closed door spice but you know it’s happening.
𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The world is pretty cool and the thought behind the whole resurrection and debt payment is well thought out. The characters are all very much so likable, well the main ones at least. The story has a clear beginning and end.
I think the zombie aspect was well portrayed in the way Babe struggled not to eat someone but in the end he just really had to.
I also enjoyed how readers can tell that the town is a by product of the resurrections and that citizens are evil because of the darkness that resides there.
Can’t wait to start the rest of the books!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮:
Horror Fiction & Paranormal Fiction & LGBT aspects included as well
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼:
Freinds x lovers (this is not the main thing about the story though
𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓼:
Babe Simmons died, or well died and then came back. His best friend Dude risks it all to resurrect his best friend but the price is a little steeper than he thought it would be. How many people will have to die this time to pay the debt?
𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓢𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓼:
Low key probs the first scene where Babe eats someone 😂 I like zombies okay?!
𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓑𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰:
World building was a 10/10 for me. The author sets up the world pretty dang nicely and has a lot of backstory but doesn’t tell readers all at one time, so you don’t get overwhelmed.
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓛𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓵:
1/5 I suppose. It’s very closed door spice but you know it’s happening.
𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The world is pretty cool and the thought behind the whole resurrection and debt payment is well thought out. The characters are all very much so likable, well the main ones at least. The story has a clear beginning and end.
I think the zombie aspect was well portrayed in the way Babe struggled not to eat someone but in the end he just really had to.
I also enjoyed how readers can tell that the town is a by product of the resurrections and that citizens are evil because of the darkness that resides there.
Can’t wait to start the rest of the books!
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