While ‘The Summer I Ate the Rich’ has an incredibly promising premise and a rich blend of dark comedy and horror. But it’s let down drastically by some of the choices in terms of writing style.

There is a lot of breaking up sentences with parenthesis in order to have the character relay information directly to the audience about what they’re thinking in a way that pulls you out of the narrative. It’s not necessary to include sentences like “And fresh yogurt topped with topical fruit compote. (This is where you say, thank you chef.).” Especially not as often as it occurred.

The constant use of “Mummy” instead of alternating between “mother”, “she” or “her” also became a source of minor eye rolling.

I’d be curious to see what the authors come up with next and improve upon in their next book. This just was not for me.

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.

I really enjoyed this creative take on a teenaged Haitian American girl/zombie. This book was a fun read, as the MC, Brielle spends majority of the book plotting her revenge against greedy capitalists and harmful big pharma empires. But this book was also laden with adventure, friendship, love, grief, folklore, and more. I love the duality of identities as a Haitian and American, zombie and zonbi, mischievous teenager and responsible daughter of immigrants, and more. So many rich layers in all of the characters, but especially in Brielle. Would highly recommend and would definitely read more from Maika and Maritza Moulite.

I do not typically read YA but I am a huge horror fan. I enjoyed the use of the specific cultural elements. The romance was the least interesting part of the book. Thank you to MetGalley and the publisher for a copy.

A unique perspective on Haitian culture and zonbi(zombi) folklore told in this immersive young adult novel.
You can feel the seething anger and disparity of Brielle while she struggles to deal with being surrounded by the upper-class white elite and her mother's healthcare shortcomings.

A great read! 4 out of 5 🌟

It’s a breath of fresh air to read something so unique and immersive. Unfortunately (no, not actually), The Summer I Ate the Rich also evokes frustration, irritation, anger, and disappointment—feelings I found myself sharing with Brielle and her mother. It makes cheering them on and celebrating their wins that much more powerful.

Brielle and her mother, Valentine, exist in different worlds from each other. Where Valentine divides her heart between the United States and Haiti, Brielle divides hers between pleasing her mom and being true to herself. This duo provides such a dynamic view into power imbalances, healthcare’s shortcomings, and the detached lives of the elite. But the all-powerful, unfeeling rich in this book don’t stand a chance against Brielle’s desire for revenge.

On top of all that intrigue and emotion, we’re also gifted with a glimpse into Haitian culture and zonbi (zombie) lore. Maika and Maritza combine truth with fiction in a way that makes me wonder how many zombies may be walking amongst us…

A fascinating horror story about wealth, generational trauma, and medical disparity. Plus, an ending that I never expected! Haitian American Brielle dreams of being a chef, but her mother stopped believed in dreams long ago. She came to this country hoping for a better life for Brielle, but the death of her second husband, low-paying jobs and debilitating chronic pain mean the family can't make ends meet. Plus, there's the fact that Brielle's a zonbi (zombie) and her mother fears what that means for her future. The Summer I Ate the Rich is a horror story where Brielle's hopes are constantly dashed, but mysteriously replaced with opportunity. As Brielle navigates her summer, she'll lean into her powers to get what she needs and more.