ECONOGAL

Jeneva Rose wrote the Zombie filled Dating After the End of the World at the request of a fan-her father. Since this is my first zombie novel, it has no comparisons. And the author suggests it is a mix of genres.

The fast-paced book is both gruesome and entertaining. Her writing is topnotch even though it will be a while before I pick up another zombie story…if ever. But I do look forward to reading more from Rose.

Dating After The End Of The World opens up with a young Casey Pearson struggling with the doomsday prepping task of building a perimeter fence with her off-the-wall prepper dad. She hates the work and harbors bitterness for her dad and more so for the kids that torment her at school over the family lifestyle.

Flash forward sixteen years and Casey is bantering with her fiancé Nate Warner as the pair of doctors begin making rounds at a city hospital during an influenza outbreak. But this is not the regular flu and patients are biting everyone in sight. Zombies are here.

The pair escape the hospital only to be separated weeks later. Casey does the only thing she can and heads home.

Rose’s novel includes a lover’s triangle with Casey at the center. One of the inhabitants of her dad’s compound is Blake Morrison. He was chief tormentor at her high school. There are plenty of bitter memories and perhaps a few that conflict. So, sparks fly between Casey and Blake as they struggle to keep the compound safe from the Zombies.

Things get very complicated when Nate shows up.

Since Dating After the End of The World is an action thriller at heart, the characters face danger on almost every page. Bonds form, and romance is mixed in. The fight scenes are graphic and so are the love scenes. If books had ratings this one would definitely be for over 18.

This is the first Jeneva Rose book I have read, and I could hardly put it down. Despite the gory details of the zombies, the book resonates with those that look at the conflict between good and evil. Forgiveness also plays a small part. And for those crazies out there that fantasize about a reset in the world, Rose has a very realistic ending. Be careful what you wish for!

I bought my copy at Target but maybe you can find a copy at your library.