This was a surprising read for me. When you start to understand, yes it is disturbing. But I think this book is just another level of the horror genre. I really enjoyed the drama and twists. The zombie twist was interesting and original in its own way. Overall, for me it felt quite a bit long. It is possible multiple things will be cut but it was a lot for me. But extra points for originality and for making me forget the zombie twist happening behind the scenes.

This book is chef’s kiss —literally. A Haitian American zombie girl secretly feeding the rich their own kind? Yes, please. Brielle is fierce, flawed, and full of righteous anger, serving revenge (and human flesh) to the elite who’ve ruined her family.

It’s not full-on horror—more a sharp, satirical thriller with Haitian folklore and biting social commentary. The food descriptions will make you hungry (ironically), and the take-downs of wealth inequality are so satisfying.

Wish the zombie element was pushed further and the ending less rushed, but overall? Deliciously dark fun. 4/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Summer I Ate the Rich, but I ended up really enjoying how it blends coming-of-age drama with sharp social critique and just a hint of the supernatural. Brielle is a strong lead—grounded, relatable, and clearly shaped by the pressure of balancing school, her dreams of being a chef, and caring for her sick mom.

The zombie element, drawn from Haitian folklore, is more symbolic than horror-driven, and it works well as a commentary on inequality and exploitation, especially when Brielle gets pulled into the world of the ultra-rich Banks family. The writing is engaging and smart without trying too hard, and while the romance subplot didn’t quite land for me, the cultural depth and originality more than made up for it.

It’s the kind of book that sticks with you for the ideas it raises just as much as the story it tells.

It was interesting to learn about the Haitian Zombie folklore, I enjoyed the story overall and read it quickly.

Was unsure going into this and stayed unsure whilst trying to get into it. I ended up DNF-ing at 35% of the way through. I couldn’t get into the story and was finding more reasons not to read it than to carry on.

The opening was interesting and gave me hope for a really gory , cannibalism plotline. But after that; it seemed to be a bit too lacklustre for me. And also, she doesn’t each the rich, I feel somewhat like the title and the synopsis misleads you quite a bit. I was expecting a different kind of story which also put me off quite a bit.

I wouldn’t ever say don’t read a book, so please don’t take my review as a reason not to read it. Just please be open minded to the fact it’s not necessarily exactly what it reads on the covers.

Sooooo I don't want to give too much away as I truly believe this book will be even more impactful and will catch your attention without knowing too much. What I will say is that there is focus on Haitian "Zonbi" folklore as you follow Brielle who is a Zonbi as she finds her way into the world of the rich and financially wealthy.

Haitian Zonbi's are different to your Americanized zombies that you often see in TV shows and films such as The Walking Dead and Zombieland. The Haitian Zonbi's are seen as symbolism for the horrors of slavery and oppression that extends even beyond the grave. There are elements of Voodoo and Necromancy that control people instead of zombies simply just craving brains. It's really interesting and I will certainly be looking into it more!

From here on there will be spoilers! So click below for a big ramble of my thoughts and feelings.
SPOILERS BELOW
[ One of the most prominent topics is class and the wealth divide. I thought this portrayed brilliantly! And I love how the world of the rich was seen through Brielle's eyes and constantly put into perspective so that the reader didn't forget how miniscule an offering of something means to someone with all that money compared to it being what gives and takes a life to the average person. Because sometimes I found my brain trying to empathise with certain characters like "oh maybe they are trying, but their situation is just different?" but then you are reminded that absolutely NOT, because while many of the rich characters were born with a silver spoon in their mouth they have actively chosen to ignore the needs of other people and keep within their "wealth bubble".

I also think that the representation of racism within these wealthy communities was done really well. In particular the office scene where Ainsley asks Brielle to narrow down candidates and then proceeds to cut anyone who isn't white. Ainsley as a person? ew ew eewwww! And unfortunately I think that there are a lot of Ainsley's in the world and workplace. I truly appreciated Brielle for being forward with her questioning of Ainsley and Ainsley's answer along the lines of "we have you why would we need anyone else?" really says it all. This book explored micro-aggressions as well as full frontal racism that I truly believe so often goes unchecked in such communities that act as "bubbles" which are usually not diverse in nature and so these people who still hold very horrific and extremely "outdated" (for use of a better word I cannot think of) views continue to carry on as they always have because they simply do not care to be challenged. And if they are challenged in ANY situation they can often fall back on their wealth which I also think was depicted well with Silas immediately buying his way out of jail. (hide spoiler)]

For a good chunk of this book I truly thought I was going to give it 5 stars, however the ending felt rushed. I would much rather the book be a bit longer to truly capture and explore the bigger events in the last 40%. I did read this as an arc however and so some of it may be different in the final publication. I would also not really class this as horror but it definitely had horror elements that I would have loved if they were pushed or explored a little further, but I also understand this is for a YA audience.

Overall this was an extremely captivating read with characters that I became deeply invested in and just wanted more of them! The exploration of Haitian Zonbi's is something I've not personally seen explored in YA and I will definitely be recommending this!

The title drew me in. I was a little disappointed that the title didn't accurately describe this book... I had high expectations. Does that mean it's bad? No! But don't expect an unforgettable book.

Full of spooky twists and turns, but not so dark it kept me up at night. The perfect balance! I enjoyed the way the scenery and atmosphere was built up.

This was fun. I do have to admit I wanted more Zombie and less drama, but it felt like an episode of The OC, with a zombie. It was a quick read, with likeable (or love to hate) characters that built out the story well. Also I love The OC so that might have swayed my opinion slightly!

I had a good time with it, and would definitely read more from this author.

✩✩✩

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the morally grey MC and learning more about Haitian culture, but the actual plot let me down - there wasn't so much of 'eat the rich' as I wanted.

The Summer I Ate the Rich is one of those rare books that’s best approached with minimal context the less you know going in, the more powerful and pleasantly surprising the experience becomes. What I can say is that this novel is bold, original, and completely captivating from start to finish.
At the heart of the story is Brielle, a 17-year-old Haitian American living in Miami’s Little Haiti. An aspiring chef with big dreams, she juggles the pressures of high school, a deeply traditional mother suffering from chronic illness, and the challenges of working for the wealthy while struggling to make ends meet. But there’s more to Brielle than meets the eye she’s also a “zonbi,” not in the typical horror-movie sense, but rooted in Haitian folklore. This reimagining of the zombie archetype is one of the book’s most fascinating and inventive elements, offering a fresh cultural lens that feels both grounded and relevant.
Brielle is an unforgettable protagonist she’s smart, sharp-tongued, and fiercely loyal. She’s unafraid to speak out against injustice, whether it affects her or those around her, and she refuses to mould herself to anyone’s expectations. Her voice feels authentic and raw, and her passion makes it impossible not to root for her.
The Moulite sisters skilfully blend myth, identity, and social commentary into a story that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. The writing is rich and evocative, and every character is vividly drawn, each with a story that feels lived-in and real. As secrets from her mother’s past come to light, Brielle is forced to navigate a complex web of history, legacy, and survival—adding emotional depth to an already compelling narrative.
From page one, this book pulls you in and it never lets go. The Summer I Ate the Rich is a vibrant, genre-bending triumph that redefines what a “zombie story” can be. It’s a fierce, culturally rich tale that stays with you long after the final chapter.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While I really appreciated the way this YA tackled the issues of inequality, living in poverty and the diaspora experience in the US (specifically Haitian-Americans), it fell a little flat when it came to what we'd been promised - a young BIPOC FMC with a taste for human flesh and a recipe for vengeance. It opened on a strong note, visceral scenes of blood and gore and plenty of talk of brains and zombies. But then it started to trail off. I was expecting horror. I was expecting a hint of cannibalism a la Hannibal the TV series. And yet... it failed to quite deliver. I think of you go in with different expectations then you'll enjoy it - this is more like contemporary YA with a hint of spookiness about it. Don't go in expecting shock and horror because it ain't happening!

I devoured this book, and was hungry throughout as the descriptions of Brielle's meals were very tempting, pilfered body parts aside. I went in with different expectations given the horror genre, and zombie/zonbi character but i was very pleasantly surprised with what i got, and would strongly recommend as a story for readers beyond the genre aswell.

The sociopolitical questions, stories about Haiti, and the slightly twisted young love all meant that i couldn't put this one down.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

I really love the Haitian representation in this book, it was woven brilliantly with fantasy and a little horror.

Brielle is a fantastic character, I really admire her drive throughout this book even if she is a little reckless. Preston was an unexpected character, but added so much to the story. It may be odd considering Brielle’s scenario and her choices, but I’d love to try her cooking I won’t lie.

This story was really fun and easy to devour, I highly recommend this for a unique read.

Honestly, I saw the cover and the title and I was sold on wanting to read this! Brielle is quite the interesting character, being a zombie who can act mostly normal, enough that most people can't guess what she is. Though it turned out to be less Hannibal or Sweeney Todd with his meat pies and wholesale slaughter as Brielle only gives a light dusting of special ingredients (carefully stolen from a few bodies in a funeral home) on the food she serves to the rich. So, sadly she does not actually eat the rich, she feeds them and gets her revenge and a better life for her and her family that way. It definitely turned out differently than what I expected, a good message about wealth inequality and poverty and some interesting cultural facts about Haiti and their type of zonbi as opposed to the American version of a zombie. It does flow quickly and did keep me interested the whole time cause I had to know what Brielle was capable of. And I liked the twist at the end and how Brielle uses her powers to help her family in Haiti and then what happens back in Miami with her internship.

So though I hoped there would be more brain eating and Brielle getting her revenge with a snack along the way, it was still a good read though not the horror story it seems to be toting in the blurb describing the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

‘The Summer I Ate the Rich’, follows Brielle, a seventeen year old Haitian American who lives in Little Haiti with her mother, Valentine. Valentine struggles with chronic pain and although her boss is part of the company who makes her pain relief, she is currently going without with no end date in sight. Brielle’s job also has her come in contact with the wealthy often and treated poorly.

First of all, and though not the most important, I have to say the cover and title of the book are such an iconic combination that work so well together, I adore them. The little hidden tooth on the cover had me obsessed.

Secondly, I was instantly gripped by this book from the first page, it dragged me in straight away. I could tell that it was going to be a weird book for weird people - perfect! Brielle is an excellent character, she is fully fleshed out, interesting, flawed, compassionate, smart. I just thoroughly enjoyed her.

I loved the Haitian culture throughout the book - I learnt so much about it!

Of course, the general commentary around the wealthy and discrepancies between them and the poor talked about in the book was great and necessary in the current day and age.

My only slight criticism is that I wish that the horror element would have been lent into more - however that’s probably more my own personal preference!

I really enjoyed this book overall, a fun read, lots of secrets to uncover, with great characters and solid writing. 4 stars!

Firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book via netgalley!

This was an odd book, but I enjoyed it! The Summer I ate the Rich follows Brielle and her mum, who are Haitian living in the USA, Brielle’s mum looking after a very rich old man, who dies near the start of the book, followed by plot twists of what happened before and after the death. Brielle had some really odd actions, which really added in the creepy factor to this book.

Brielle and Preston’s relationship was.. intriguing! The way it ended was unexpected, and I am not fully convinced that Brielle really loves him, I think she has more ulterior motives.


The tooth thing..the eye thing… eughgh whyy!? It definitely made me make some faces at my kindle whehn I was reading it - on a relatively crowded ferry crossing jo less! I can see why there are horror elements to this story, but not in the way I was expecting.


Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I am giving it 3.5 stars, it was definitely interesting and kept me engaged the whole time, and had some twists I didn’t see coming!

THE SUMMER I ATE THE RICH BY MAIKA MOULITE; MARITZA MOULITE.
Release date set for the 24th of March 2025.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the authors for allowing me an early ARC.
The cover for this book is captivating and drew me in.
This is a YA horror thriller.
I don't ever read books like this genre but thought i'd try something different.
I didn't really know what it was going to be about but found it enjoyable overall.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Summer I Ate the Rich is a tale of two stories, one exploring the social inequities of the have and have nots and the other about zonbis, revenge and taking back what we deserve. I loved the structure of this novel as it is broken up into sections with intermissions with commentary from (Haitian) muses that added not only a theatrical flare but reminded me of the zombie novel Dézafi by Franketienne which also incorporated verse poetry and Haitian mythology. There are several laugh out loud moments and despite being teenagers their actions, motivations and dialogue fit but aren't tiresome or cringeworthy.

I think ultimately Brielle is a great character but ultimately I wanted to see more of her zombie nature. We get glimpses of it and I wanted a lot more given this book is positioned as a horror. The ending wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Still, the book centred Haitian zombies in an interesting way and I hope to see more of that from the author's certainly but other Haitian writers. If you're newer to reading stories featuring Afro-Caribbean folklore, this book is a fun place to start.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

I've never read a zombie/horror story before and I have to say, I really liked this one.

The humor was just right and the characters were well developed. I also found the basic story really interesting and I've never read anything like it before - but the story was a bit long, which bothered me a bit.

I also think it's great and "refreshing" to read something about Haitian culture!

The twists were okay, but unfortunately the book won't stick in my head. Nevertheless, it was an interesting and unique YA thriller/horror.