Okay this book was pure chaos but in the best way! The Fmc Joan is absolutely insufferable but I also am cracking up at everything she does and says. If you're looking for a comedy, apocalyptic story THIS IS IT! The twists and turns had me flying through this book, just the actions of our fmc had me shook. Such a fun time and fast paced read. Thank you Net Galley for the arc!

"You can always replace your real life friends with better ones, but social media posts are forever." -Joan

Joan of Apocalypse by Chloe Lukas is a fun blend of horror, romance, and dark comedy. The description compares it to Fleabag, The Last of Us, and Shaun of the Dead, and honestly, they weren’t lying. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but this book was a chaotic and entertaining ride.
The main character is full of herself and, at times, incredibly annoying, but she’s also hilarious, which made her surprisingly likable (sometimes). While some aspects of the book were far fetched, it’s fiction meant for pure entertainment, and it delivers on that front.
This book has a lot going on. It’s fun, fast paced, and filled with apocalyptic chaos, all mixed with a narcissistic wannabe actress who stumbles into some funny and ironic luck. Despite its bizarre storyline, it’s definitely a unique take on the zombie apocalypse, unlike anything I’ve read before.
There were moments that had me laughing out loud, while others made me roll my eyes. But overall, if you’re looking for a fresh and witty twist on the apocalypse with dry humor reminiscent of Fleabag, this one is worth checking out.

3.5 ⭐ rounded up

Joan of Apocalypse is a brilliant parody novel that revitalizes the two-decade-old, stale zombie genre, where every zombie book or series episode feels extremely boring, and repetitive. Hardcore zombie fans may not enjoy it but it’s a very well-written, action-packed, and sometimes totally ridiculous story that cleverly parodies the genre and its usual, generic "good person doing the right thing" main characters.

I adore the morally gray Fleabag character and really liked Shaun of the Dead, so Joan felt like a combination of the best of both worlds. It also felt very much like an Austin Powers type comedy with its goofiness which was really fun.

I love that the author took a big risk by putting us inside the mind of Joan, the FMC, who lacks morals, is a narcissist, lives in her past glory, and will do anything to recapture it and not be a loser. Joan is like Fleabag’s sociopathic little sister, and her “sidekick,” Ryan, provides a delicate balance to Joan’s outrageous character that works perfectly. But even he is not exactly who he seems.

The other characters are great—Joan’s agent, Bernie who comes off like a dysfunctional father figure, Brett the old glam metal rocker, and Eddie, the dumb loser boyfriend.

Joan is packed with witty, and some very dark humor. Like most, I’m not easily offended or turned off by risky content, but given Joan’s abrasive personality and the book’s potentially offensive content, those who are easily offended or sensitive may want to skip this one.

Thank you to Chloe Lukas and NetGalley for this ARC!

I really wanted to love this book. The first half was a campy- Shaun of the dead goof time. The last 100 pages were really difficult to get through. The storyline made no sense. I sincerely thought Joan was going to wake up after getting hit by a bus or something and find out it was all a nightmare. Nope. I understand it's supposed to be tongue in cheek but I just didn't find this as funny as the characters in the book did. I love to hate a good heroine with questionable morals but Joan just got on my nerves. There isn't anything endearing about her. I found myself routing for the Ned's to finish her off. I respect that the author tried really hard to create a story that was similar to 2000's comedy action movies, but it just didn't do it for me. I love Zombie apocalyptic stories and have read many many poorly written books that still held my attention because the storyline grabbed my attention. This just was not it. I may be the wrong target artist and completely off but I don't think so.

A dark, female-led twist on Shaun of the Dead, this novel is hilariously unique—a refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse genre, which often leans heavily on humanity-focused plots. The story moves at a brisk pace, free from unnecessary filler or padding to meet a word count. I can easily imagine this being adapted into a wild, action-packed hit movie.

Joan of Apocalypse by Chloe Lukas is exactly the kind of wild, unexpected ride I needed to finish off 2024 on a high note. Described as Fleabag meets Shaun of the Dead, the comparison couldn’t be more spot-on—it hits the nail on the NED (sorry, zombie joke… you'll get it when you read it).

Joan, the protagonist, is an absolute mess in the best possible way. She’s a narcissistic, self-absorbed, delusional, and extremely horny character, yet somehow, I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The story itself is so outrageous, dark, and, at times, utterly ridiculous, but that's what made it such a blast to read.

One of the highlights for me was Joan’s constant breaking of the fourth wall. Her absurd inner monologue, filled with delusional thoughts while trying to survive a zombie apocalypse, kept me laughing out loud. The humor in this book is dark, but it’s also ridiculously fun. And the side characters? Oh, they add to the chaos—especially Brett, the little pervert I couldn’t help but love.

Joan of Apocalypse is a refreshing and hilarious take on the zombie genre, and I can’t thank NetGalley enough for the early copy. Chloe Lukas crafted a story that kept me laughing from start to finish, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. If you’re looking for something unapologetically absurd, darkly funny, and filled with heart (in its own twisted way), this one’s a must-read.

Easily my favorite novel of the year is by Chloe Lukas, an indie author. If this book gets the attention it deserves by its release on March 25, 2025, I can see this winning many awards.

Joan of the Apocalypse is a wild mix of action, romance, dark comedy, and satire, with a heavy dose of horror and a touch of sci-fi thrown in. It’s packed with characters you’d probably hate in real life, but they’re written so well that you can’t help but like or even love them.
The writing is sharp and clever, and the dynamic between Joan and Ryan is perfect. Most zombie novels drag, but this one is mostly all action while still building Joan and Ryan’s complicated relationship.

As Ryan eventually puts it, Joan is insufferable. She’s so deeply out of touch that you can’t help but feel for her, and she’s totally relatable. The side characters are just as unforgettable and funny.

Thanks to Chloe Lukas for writing the “damn” novel (you’ll get it when you read Joan) and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Everything about this book seemed funny and right up my alley. I love weird reads and especially love exploring different books. This one seemed perfect.

Loved it initially, made it to 20% and then needed to put the book down immediately. Why? I feel this book needs a sensitivity reader to be honest.

When you are creating a complex character and add disabilities to them, you need to be cautious. As a neurodivergent individual that has anxiety disorder and other disorders and appreciates trigger and content warnings, I still am feeling not great about this read. Initially The Trigger Warning band seemed funny but then it was drawn out so much I began to interpret it as a joke. Trigger and content warnings save lives.

Unfortunately I will likely not be recommending this one to my audience as it seems like it could be problematic and offensive and hurtful, and my intent is to help my audience find really wonderful books with representation.

Thank you for the opportunity to try this book out and sample it. I did enjoy the writing style and truly hope a sensitivity reader can help with making this book well-rounded and not poking at things. This is my honest genuine feedback. Thank you for the opportunity to provide it.

I’ve never loved to hate an FMC so much - while also kind of rooting for her?

This book was hilarious and action packed and so delightfully cringe.

I couldn’t put it down and have already started fancasting actors for a potential movie in my head.

Chloe Lukas, the author you are. If you write more books, I will autobuy them. Take all my money.

In the words of April Ludgate, “she’s the worst person I’ve ever met. I want to travel the world with her.”

I also loved how many little things throughout the book were brought full circle/referenced later on. The writing was truly excellent.

Thank you Chloe Lukas and NetGalley for the ARC. I can confidentially say that this is my favorite ARC I’ve read yet (and I don’t know what that says about me)

A wonderful zombie tale of blood and joy

Joan of Apocalypse is what you get when you plop an indomitable Chloe Lukas heroine into a sea of zombies and stir in a double dose of camp and gore. Lukas demonstrates the range of her writing talent by presenting the delightful elements of originality and cheery callousness characteristic of her earlier books, Blinded (Purple Girl) and Twist of Fame, within the comfortably familiar framework of a movie zombie slasher plot. Joan, a time-expired four-time cheerleader and two-time prom queen (more or less) must save the world with a pair of hatchets she views as axes and a mouth-watering, ex-nerd, jedi-trained possible boyfriend; so that there will be a world, and Hollywood, around for her to win an Oscar in. A first-rate book, crying out to be made into an Oscar-winning movie!

If you like the movies Zombieland (and its sequel) and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, I think you should give this book a go. It very much has the same vibe as those movies. This is a funny and unique take on a zombie story.

Our main character, Joan, is an actress who gets cast in what is essentially her dream role...but then a zombie apocalypse breaks out. So, obviously, that's gonna cause some issues. And she is cast alongside the current it-boy actor. So Joan is dealing with a lot at the moment.

This was fun, but not nearly as captivating as I was expecting since it is so unique. But I would still recommend this, I can see a lot of people enjoying this.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Joan of Apocalypse is a refreshingly unique and wickedly clever genre mash-up of humor, romance, thriller, and horror unlike anything else I’ve ever read. Packed with vibrant, colorful characters and razor-sharp dialogue, it introduces readers to Joan, a brilliantly flawed antiheroine who feels like a blend of Fleabag and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Joan is her own worst enemy, navigating chaos with a mix of determination and self-sabotage. Alongside her is Ryan, a well-meaning character whose attempts to do the right thing are repeatedly derailed by Joan’s unpredictable and chaotic influence. The novel unfolds as a dysfunctional romantic action thriller, with a relentless pace that kept me hooked from start to finish.