In a world where zombies lurk behind containment walls and Supernatural beings coexist with humans in an uneasy alliance, Olivia Dade crafts something genuinely unexpected: a paranormal romance that manages to be both heart-stoppingly terrifying and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Zomromcom, the first installment in her Supernatural Entanglements series, throws readers headfirst into a post-apocalyptic Virginia where love blooms in the most unlikely circumstances—specifically, during a zombie outbreak.
The Containment Zone setting feels both familiar and fresh, a clever twist on the classic zombie apocalypse narrative. Rather than a world overrun by the undead, Dade presents us with a carefully controlled environment where zombies are contained behind massive stone walls, and life goes on—albeit with some very specific safety protocols. The world-building is meticulous without being overwhelming, creating a believable near-future where the supernatural has been integrated into society following what’s referred to as the “Battle for Containment.”
Our Unlikely Heroes: Edie and the Vampire Next Door
Edie Brandstrup emerges as the kind of heroine who weaponizes burritos against zombies and eats questionable processed foods with the dedication of a performance artist. She’s refreshingly ordinary in the best possible way—tangled hair, stained coveralls, and a weakness for preservative-laden snacks—yet her courage when faced with the impossible makes her extraordinary. Dade avoids the trap of making her heroine “not like other girls” by making her gloriously, unapologetically herself.
Max, aka Gaston Maxime Boucher (yes, really Gaston), is perhaps one of the most delightfully subversive takes on the brooding vampire archetype in recent memory. Having spent decades hiding as “Chad,” a beer-bro persona complete with sheepskin underwear preferences, he’s a centuries-old vampire with trust issues, a secret YouTube channel, and an underground bunker that would make preppers weep with envy. His character arc from isolated cynic to someone willing to risk everything for love feels earned rather than convenient.
The Art of Balanced Chaos: Plot and Pacing
Dade demonstrates remarkable skill in juggling multiple narrative elements without dropping any. The plot moves from intimate character moments to high-stakes action sequences with fluid precision. The zombie outbreak serves as more than just backdrop—it’s the catalyst that strips away pretenses and forces both characters to confront what they’re willing to fight for.
The supporting cast adds layers of complexity and humor without overwhelming the central romance. From Doug the counterfeiter with his mysterious secrets to Gwen the oracle whose prophecies include warnings about red glitter spills, each character feels purposeful rather than perfunctory. The Girl Explorers (supernatural scouts with decidedly non-traditional badges) provide comic relief while also advancing the plot, a delicate balance that Dade handles expertly.
Humor That Hits Different: The Comedy of Errors and Endearments
Perhaps the book’s greatest strength lies in its fearless embrace of absurdity. Dade doesn’t simply sprinkle jokes throughout; she weaves humor into the very DNA of her narrative. The running gag about Max’s sheepskin thong preferences, Edie’s dedication to eating processed foods that horrify her refined vampire boyfriend, and the constant references to Disney’s Gaston create a comedic through-line that never undermines the genuine emotional stakes.
The humor serves multiple purposes: it provides relief from genuinely tense moments, reveals character through what they find funny, and creates intimacy between Edie and Max through shared absurdity. When Edie hums the Gaston song to deliberately annoy Max, or when she uses his expensive hoodie as a tissue, these moments feel both ridiculous and deeply romantic.
Steamy Encounters and Emotional Depths
The romantic elements in Zomromcom strike an impressive balance between steam and substance. The physical attraction between Edie and Max simmers with genuine chemistry, built on mutual respect and emotional connection rather than mere supernatural allure. Their intimate scenes feel organic to their character development—moments of vulnerability that reveal as much about their fears and hopes as their desires.
Max’s backstory, involving betrayal by a trusted lover and the violent end of his political aspirations, provides weight to his reluctance to trust. His confession about being on the verge of detachment—essentially vampire depression—adds genuine pathos to his character without making him irredeemably brooding. Edie’s own losses, hinted at through references to her parents’ death in the first zombie outbreak, create parallel wounds that healing love can address.
Where the Teeth Show: Minor Criticisms
While Zomromcom succeeds wildly in most areas, a few elements feel slightly underdeveloped. The conspiracy involving the fae and the broader implications of the zombie breach could have used additional exploration. The resolution, while satisfying on an emotional level, leaves some political ramifications hanging that might frustrate readers seeking complete closure.
The book’s commitment to humor occasionally pushes situations toward the cartoonish, though this appears to be an intentional stylistic choice rather than a flaw. Readers expecting gritty realism in their zombie fiction might find the tone jarring, but those willing to embrace the book’s particular brand of chaos will find it utterly charming.
The Dade Difference: Authorial Voice and Series Context
Dade’s previous works, including her acclaimed contemporary romances Spoiler Alert and All the Feels, established her reputation for creating complex characters dealing with real-world issues while maintaining hope and humor. Zomromcom represents a successful genre pivot that retains her signature warmth while embracing the supernatural.
Her writing style adapts beautifully to the paranormal setting—the same attention to emotional nuance that made her contemporary works compelling serves her well when exploring the psychology of a vampire who’s survived centuries of trauma. The dialogue crackles with wit, and her descriptive passages paint vivid pictures without becoming purple prose.
Final Verdict: A Bloody Good Time
Zomromcom succeeds because it never loses sight of its emotional core while delivering on every promise of its cheeky title. This is a book that understands genre conventions well enough to both embrace and subvert them, creating something that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
Dade has created a paranormal romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering genuine emotional stakes. The book works as both a standalone romance and the foundation for a larger series, setting up future installments without sacrificing the satisfaction of this particular love story.
For readers seeking escape into a world where love conquers all—even zombie apocalypses and centuries of emotional baggage—Zomromcom delivers with style, humor, and heart. It’s the rare book that can make you laugh, swoon, and genuinely worry about the fate of humanity all in the span of a few pages.
Similar Reads for Fellow Genre-Benders
For readers who enjoyed the humor and supernatural elements:
- My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine
- I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming
- Hunt On Dark Waters by Katee Robert
- One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
For those seeking more paranormal romance with strong world-building:
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
- Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
- Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
For readers who appreciate Dade’s signature emotional depth in contemporary settings:
- Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
- All the Feels by Olivia Dade
- All By My Elf by Olivia Dade
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
Zomromcom proves that sometimes the best stories emerge from the most unlikely combinations—in this case, undead creatures, underground bunkers, and the kind of love worth fighting an apocalypse for. Dade has crafted something special here: a romance that’s genuinely romantic, a comedy that’s actually funny, and a zombie story that remembers the humanity at its heart.
