Listed as a YA horror novel, we follow Brielle. Brielle loves to cook ... specific things?

This is a modern-day tale inspired by Haitian zombie lore (zonbi). It also touches on class & wealth disparities with a dash of cannibalism. There are many unsettling moments and bloody scenes while not being insanely scary. The authors tell us, in their note at the end, that the book was inspired, in part, by their own mother's battle with chronic illness & pain. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC. This one publishes April 22, 2025.

I have a lot of mixed thoughts here after reading this novel.

It’s thought-provoking and timely in this current political moment in 2025 — that goes without saying. So much was packed into this story, delving into class warfare, social justice, racism and lack of workplace diversity. But - and it’s a big one - so many times I was left thinking I was missing pages because the plot kept racing forward with little explanation. Characters were introduced to serve no real purpose. The lead character - Brielle - is 17 years old and yet is taking trips with a boyfriend of a few days?

To me, the plot got bogged down in trying to do too much at once. There’s a meaningful statement here, but maybe it got lost in the sauce.

My many thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am not a young adult so please take my review with a grain of salt. Overall, this book really kept my attention, from start to finish. I loved the heavy topics of classism and racism brought into it in an accessible way. I would have loved to see more zombie vibes and a bit more gore/horror for this type of book, but maybe that would have been too much for a young audience. Overall, great read!

The Summer I Ate The Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite is a story of two different worlds: the wealthy and the struggling, the powerful and the powerless.

But what if the powerless had powers?

Brielle Petitfour loves to cook and dreams of becoming a successful chef. But her mother wants her to finish her studies and find a good, stable job that will support her family in Miami and in Haiti. Brielle tries to keep her dream alive by hosting supper clubs and through a stroke of luck, and a little flesh of the rich and famous, she finds herself with more power than she could have ever dreamed of.

The story was very fun and very for our times. It’s a story not only of struggles to survive but a critical look at healthcare, racism, and classism, seen through the eyes of a minority, a young woman of color…who just so happens to be a zombie and have magic powers.

I loved the snippets we got of Little Haiti and the descriptions of the food were heavenly. As if I was right there smelling and tasting each dish. I also loved Brielle’s best friend, Marcello and the confrontation within Brielle’s family toward the end.

Favorite quote: “I’m done with having my every action be influenced by people who believe it is their right to control me. Because of power. Wealth.”

3.5 stars - This book was beautifully written and was so full of soul and purpose. I learned a lot about the Haitain community and thoroughly enjoyed reading about the food that was made. I feel like the underlying themes of socioeconomic and racial inequality were really well dispursed throughout the story.

That being said, I really wish there was more traditional zombie behavior. I wanted to see Brielle eating more humans! Parts of the book were confusing but it could have definintely been my inability to grasp what was going on. This book was more fiction than horror, in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

She did not, in fact, eat the rich.

I really, really wanted to like this. It had an amazing start, with a very visceral, repulsive scene with Brielle cooking cow brain egg scramble for her mother, while resisting the urge to eat the brain raw. If I had to describe this scene in food terms, it was well-seasoned and extremely flavorful. 10/10. Take all my money.

But then everything after that?

Mild, with seasoning that was barely there that you had to pay close attention to actually discern any type of flavor.

Man, what a letdown. The summary and title promised a lot, but it was like I read a different story. I thought that this would be BIPOC female Hannibal; it was anything but. The only people eating the rich were the rich themselves. And even then, it was in a "blink, and you'll miss it" kinda way.

I wouldn't even consider this horror. There are actual YA horror novels that really dive deep into the genre, so I know that this book could've stretched its limits. I couldn't be more disappointed.

I wanted to appreciate the story for its insights into wealth inequity and living in poverty, but even then, it was pretty much just a simplified version of these topics. Every talking point came out of the University of TikTok, Department of Sociology. If you're chronically online, you've seen these breakdowns.

I wish the book talked more about specific situations that only a person living in poverty would've experienced, like how receiving Medicaid involves the government scrutinizing every tiny facet of your financials to determine if you're poor enough. Iykyk (unfortunately).

Brielle's zonbi powers barely factored into the story until the ending, where it felt like a deus ex machina and like the authors remembered that she was actually a zonbi and could do something that wasn't just thirsting for human blood and flesh (and even those scenes were few and far between).

And honestly, the one thing that took me out was when Brielle received health insurance for her summer internship, and that she could add her mother to it. The American in me was so confused and taken aback that I couldn't suspend my disbelief. I wish it worked that way, but this is America.

Overall, this was a decent YA read. I appreciated the Haitian immigrant/child of immigrants angle, but other than that, this novel definitely didn't deliver on the promise of its premise.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) and NetGalley for this arc.

I'm not sure i really cared for this book. I felt like it would have been fine as just a ya thriller but Moulite added the zombie aspect and that just didn't feel necessary. I felt like the random bits of paranormal just muddled the story and made everything confusing for no reason. This either just needed to be a paranormal horror or a political thriller. Overall this one was a flop for me.

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite is a bone-chilling contemporary YA horror about Brielle Petitfour, a Haitian-American girl who uses her hidden zombie abilities to exact revenge on the wealthy elites who've hurt her family. The story blends Haitian zombie lore with sharp social commentary on socioeconomic and racial inequities. It's a gripping and thought-provoking read that will leave you questioning what's for dinner.

I absolutely had to read this book because of this STUNNING COVER. This book has a little bit of something for everyone.
-Zombies
-Haitian culture
-Dark secrets

This book hits on so many topics of racial and economic inequality, wrapped up in a dark and unique twist on Haitian zombie myths. This has elements of young love and family dynamics. This was a refreshing read and I recommend.

This had such a good premise and although the beginning started a little slow, I was along for the ride and things just...unraveled? The MC was a little all over the place and the plot just fell apart. I still kept reading on , eager for a resolution and explanation to the sudden shift in the plot. This novel just wasn't for me, and that's ok.

This book is crazy in the best way possible. The Summer I Ate the Rich blends horror and humor into something completely fresh and unexpected.

What I loved most was how bold and unapologetic it is. The story isn’t just about zombies, it’s about privilege, power, and what it means to survive in a world that’s set up against you. Brielle is such a strong, sharp, and hilarious main character, and I loved being in her head. The writing is vivid and engaging, making even the most gruesome moments weirdly beautiful.

The book also keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you know where it’s going, it throws in a twist that makes it even better. It’s smart, it’s different, and it’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after you finish.

If you want a book that’s fun, fierce, and completely original, this is it.

Despite my efforts, I could not get into the main character here. It’s got a great cover and a super premise, however the voice of our character isn’t one I could sink into. It was nearly impossible to suspend disbelief. Sometimes writing styles just don’t hit for me. This is one of those books. The message is good and the uniqueness of the main character is intriguing. I don’t know why but I couldn’t get into it. I sure others will love it. This book definitely has an audience. .

I really wanted to like this book more than I do; the summary seemed like it was exactly my taste (pun intended) and I thought a blending of American Zombie lore and Haitian Zonbi lore was such an interesting concept. I also loved the idea of a strong Haitian-American protagonist taking on the ultra wealthy and dishing out justice.
Unfortunately, that’s not the book I ended up reading. This book doesn’t deliver on the promise of horror and “eating the rich” ends up being more like playing a prank on them and then marrying one of them (that plot line came out of nowhere).
We also don’t really get to see Brielle, the main character, actually struggle with her Zombie/Zonbi nature nor do we get explanations of her abilities , which is a little confusing in context of the story (aka why is her mother so afraid of her?).
I think the bones of a great story is here, like a first draft, but it just doesn’t match up with the blurb and doesn’t feel “completed”.

Thanks so much to the publisher for allowing me to read an ecopy for an honest book review!

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika and Maritza Moulite is a bold, captivating blend of Haitian folklore and sharp social commentary. Brielle Petitfour, a Haitian-American teen, is honing her hidden zonbi powers and uses them to exact revenge on the wealthy elites who’ve hurt her family. The story dives into timely issues of racial and socioeconomic inequality, wrapped up in a dark and unique twist on Haitian zombie myths.

From the moment I saw the cover, I was drawn in (or was it Brielle’s zonbi powers?) and the story didn’t disappoint. Brielle’s cooking—made with a secret, chilling ingredient—serves as a powerful metaphor for the exploitation of marginalized communities. The addition of the Muses, who narrate Brielle’s journey and are also her sisters, added a cool layer of depth, blending Greek mythology with Haitian culture.

While it’s marketed as a YA horror novel, I didn’t find it overly scary. That said, there are plenty of creepy moments that stick with you after reading. I also really appreciated the authors’ note at the end, where they shared how the book was inspired by their mother’s struggles with chronic pain, navigating the healthcare system and how they utilized the folklore of their country to craft a new perspective.

Overall, The Summer I Ate the Rich is a thought-provoking, genre-bending read. It mixes social issues, horror, and culture in a way that feels fresh and exciting. I definitely think there’s room for more, and would love to see this expanded into a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the advanced copy.

If you, like me, are coming to this book expecting a sick, twisted revenge story about a Haitian girl feeding one-percenters brains… turn around. To be honest, I didn’t know that was something I wanted until I read this book's summary. It wasn't what I got. Good points were made throughout the novel, but I wasn't terrified or disgusted. Which was… disappointing.

Let's be honest! This story is about a Haitian girl getting a summer internship, falling in love, and working to make her dream of becoming a chef come true. Does she feed racist white people other people? Kinda. Does she have zombie powers? Well, yeah. But they are pretty much an underlying story line and aren't explained very well.

What I loved about this book, is how relatable it is. As a black girl working in corporate America - I have experienced this stuff and more. But I didn't need to read about it. Because this book was so much about her work experience, I feel like we didn't truly need her to have zombie powers. Then when the zombie powers were mentioned, it was rushed, confusing, and washed down as she was repetitively focused on hiding her powers. The selling point of this novel was a more so a convenience the FMC used on occasion.

The Summer I Ate the Rich has a great premise, but not so great of an execution.

One recurring thread throughout the book was that the authors seemed to basically forget about seemingly important scenes from before. For instance, the book has its shock opening chapter that discusses brain eating. But then there is no more talk of it at all, and basically all the gore is done too. There’s also the fact that her mom was afraid of her and that she always had flaky skin, yet there’s no real reason given for the fear, nor does anyone seem to care about her skin. This type of thing made the book feel really disjointed, which ultimately weakened the book’s overarching message.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

I really wanted to love this book, and there were definitely a lot of positives to it. It was original, with fresh ideas - I loved the blending of Haitian and American zombie lore - but ultimately it didn’t come together in a cohesive way. The ending, especially, felt rushed and unsatisfying. I also felt like there was so much lore left on the table that I would have loved to have seen fleshed out more, such as the sisters/Muses. I enjoyed the way they served as a Greek chorus of sorts, but then it never really amounted to anything. I’ll be interested to see what comes next for these tauthors, but I hope their next book is more polished.

The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika and Maritza Moulite is deliciously sharp and weird in all the best ways. It’s like Get Out meets MasterChef, with a side of Haitian zombie lore and a dash of social commentary that hits harder than a hot sauce you weren’t prepared for.

Brielle Petitfour is a protagonist you can’t help but root for, even when she’s doing, well... let’s just say morally questionable things. She’s smart, determined, and stuck in a system that’s set up for her to fail. Her love of cooking is palpable—you can almost smell the simmering stews and hear the sizzle of a skillet. But when things take a sharp left turn into cannibalism (yes, really), the story doesn’t just become shocking for shock’s sake. Instead, it becomes an exploration of hunger—literal hunger, sure, but also the kind born from injustice, grief, and exhaustion from always being on the losing side.

The Moulite sisters do an incredible job balancing dark humor, horror, and real emotional depth. Brielle isn’t some deranged villain gleefully chopping up her enemies—she’s a girl trying to survive in a world where wealth insulates the worst kinds of people from consequences. And okay, yeah, she feeds rich people to other rich people in a twisted culinary power play, but it’s hard to feel bad for her oblivious clients, who are the kind of people that tip 5% and think they’re generous.

What elevates this story is its clever commentary. It’s not just about the shock value of a zombie chef—it’s about dissecting privilege, systemic inequality, and the quiet rage that builds when you’re forced to smile through indignity. The Haitian folklore elements are seamlessly woven in, giving the story a cultural richness that makes the whole premise feel grounded and purposeful, even when things get outrageous.

If I had one critique, it’s that some of the side characters felt a little under-seasoned (pun intended). I wanted a bit more depth from a few of the people in Brielle’s world, especially those outside of her clients. But the vibrant prose and razor-sharp storytelling more than made up for that. And the ending? Chef’s kiss—unexpected but earned, leaving you both satisfied and unsettled.

This is a four-star read that leaves you full, but also strangely craving more. Just maybe skip any dinner parties hosted by private chefs for a while. You never know what's really in the stew.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan, Maika and Maritza Moulite for this fun ARC!

Brielle isn’t a regular Haitian-American girl… she’s a zombie. She lives with her mother who struggles with chronic pain but cannot afford treatment despite her boss owning the company which distributes pharmaceuticals. Brielle’s passion is food… but this book isn’t going where you think it is.

This book is so cute! The writing is very clear and concise. Some parts are a little confusing/feel rushed such as the take down of Franki. Not sure how I feel about the surprise marriage but I see it as a symbol of Brielle taking back her life despite her struggles. I was confused by the teeth bit in the end of the book but whatever, this book is fiction and I just rolled with it. I loved the twist on a zombie story tied in with Haitian folklore/the storytelling of the Muses was a fun way to break up the story.

Overall a super fun read. Definitely appropriate for high schoolers and up!

I really love this sister writing duo! What a time to write a book like this. The Moulite sisters are excellent at showing and not telling and this book sticks with that trend! I love the reclamation of the American zombie and tracing that back to where it came from. I also really enjoyed the cultural education about Miami’s neighborhoods! I really loved Brielle. Her passion for food and her family is extremely heart-warming. And although on its surface, this was a story about “eating the rich,” it was also about the love of family and finding your place in the world. Very well-written! I will always auto-buy from the Moulite sisters.