Review by Bianka Walter -- Undead Redhead by Jen Frankel

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 25 Sep 2018, 01:30

[Following is a volunteer review of "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Sharon Backovic is dead. At least, she died. In a freak accident at a friend’s wedding, she was tackled by a crazed woman after catching the bouquet. Needless to say, Sharon came off second best. But then something weird happens. She wakes up in an enclosed space that she slowly discovers is her coffin. She manages to free herself from her prison, only to find that she is at her own funeral. The guests are few, and she finds herself running from the scene in fear of what is actually unfolding in her life… or death.

As her memory slowly returns, the gravity of the situation begins to sink in. Sharon is a zombie. Equipped with rotting flesh and the odd maggot, she sets off to find any remnant of a friendly face from her old (pre-dead) life. In dying, however, she awakens with a new perspective of her old life. There are battles to face and truths to learn. How much of her old life is actually worth salvaging?

Undead Redhead takes a comical look at Sharon’s life pre- and post-death. It highlights the more humorous aspects of being undead. I honestly couldn’t imagine that there would be anything funny about waking up in a coffin and finding that none of my family had attended my funeral, but Jen Frankel does a great job in lightening the mood. As an author, it’s difficult to toe the line when it comes to how crazy your humour should be. It can also either fall short or be over the top. Frankel manages to find the perfect balance. Her informal tone and conversational narrative help the reader to become invested in Sharon’s story, even though she is technically deceased.

In coming back to life, Sharon is reanimated with a new vitality that never existed in her old self. She faces the truth of who she is, and she comes to terms with the fact that the relationships in her life were slowly draining her. Her family was absent, her friends were toxic, and her boyfriend was in a serious relationship with someone else. All the while, she was gradually expiring anyway. Her death wasn’t a tragic shock to those closest to her, it was an inconvenience. Which is why I loved watching the new Sharon grow as a person (zombie?) and seeing how she dealt with all her old baggage.

She turns out to be an inspiring woman. In her journey to find a sustainable way to live, or exist, as it were, she finds her true self. She has no one to impress. She has no one to look out for. She is truly on her own, and in being on her own, she discovers the things she loves most about herself. It’s encouraging to read a book that has lessons like these, even when they are based on someone who happens to have no pulse.

This was an easy 4 out of 4 stars for me. I found Undead Redhead to be a light-hearted read with a meaningful message at its core. At every turn of the page, I wanted to read on. Frankel moulds some very interesting characters who form part of Sharon’s life, old and new. The editing was great, I found a handful of errors, but nothing detrimental. Anyone who loves an authentic zombie story will really enjoy this book. I would also recommend it to younger girls having trouble with their identities and the way they think they should appear. This story really does go to show that it’s never too late to be yourself.

******
Undead Redhead
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Julie Green · Post by **Julie Green** » 26 Sep 2018, 16:41

Grewt review. I love the idea of a zombie book offering life lessons

"Growing as a person (zombie?)" LOL!

Connie Otwani · Post by **Connie Otwani** » 26 Sep 2018, 23:13

Wow, sounds like an exciting read. The premise is unique. I can't believe her own family missed her funeral! Great review!

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 27 Sep 2018, 03:32

Julie Green wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 16:41 Grewt review. I love the idea of a zombie book offering life lessons

"Growing as a person (zombie?)" LOL!

Exactly! The whole book was really enjoyable

Thanks so much for the comments!

crediblereading2 · Post by **crediblereading2** » 27 Sep 2018, 10:48

I think this book could cheer-up persons who are grieving their loved ones. It is a comical way to look at the lives of persons have passed on. Thank you for a very enlightening review of this book.

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 27 Sep 2018, 17:04

Cotwani wrote: ↑26 Sep 2018, 23:13 Wow, sounds like an exciting read. The premise is unique. I can't believe her own family missed her funeral! Great review!

I know! Can you actually imagine your family missing your funeral?! But apart from that, SUPER fun read

Buddyking77 · Post by **Buddyking77** » 27 Sep 2018, 17:21

The truth is this post sound interesting, I hope it goes viral in the market, I can't imaging myself with the kind of Sharon mystery, how can you sleep just to wake up in a coffin? Oh my gosh!

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 29 Sep 2018, 01:36

crediblereading2 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2018, 10:48 I think this book could cheer-up persons who are grieving their loved ones. It is a comical way to look at the lives of persons have passed on. Thank you for a very enlightening review of this book.

It was definitely comical!
Thanks for commenting

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 30 Sep 2018, 03:20

Buddyking77 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2018, 17:21 The truth is this post sound interesting, I hope it goes viral in the market, I can't imaging myself with the kind of Sharon mystery, how can you sleep just to wake up in a coffin? Oh my gosh!

Oh my gosh indeed! Thanks for the comments

ea_anthony · Post by **ea_anthony** » 01 Oct 2018, 17:51

This is one of the most intriguing reviews I have come across on this platform, you nailed it! This too looks like a most intriguing story-line. I mean a zombie not trying to make other people undead, instead trying to find some kind of meaning/perspective to a pulse-less existence? I really have to get this book.
Also to think there is humour and it comes out balance- that is a big kudos to the author.

Hiruni Bhagya 81 · Post by **Hiruni Bhagya 81** » 02 Oct 2018, 02:23

I was never a fan of zombie books, but this book changed my perspective regarding them completely. The book seems to be unique. I never thought to learn about life lessons from a zombie, but who is more suitable than a person who just died. Also, it's a bit ironical as well. I'm curious about how she woke up a zombie. So I'm impatient to read this book.

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 02 Oct 2018, 03:44

ea_anthony wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 17:51 This is one of the most intriguing reviews I have come across on this platform, you nailed it! This too looks like a most intriguing story-line. I mean a zombie not trying to make other people undead, instead trying to find some kind of meaning/perspective to a pulse-less existence? I really have to get this book.
Also to think there is humour and it comes out balance- that is a big kudos to the author.

That was one of the funniest parts: because she was a vegan when she was alive, she was meat averse when she became undead too. A vegan zombie. Hilarious!

ea_anthony · Post by **ea_anthony** » 02 Oct 2018, 14:39

Bianka Walter wrote: ↑02 Oct 2018, 03:44
ea_anthony wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 17:51 This is one of the most intriguing reviews I have come across on this platform, you nailed it! This too looks like a most intriguing story-line. I mean a zombie not trying to make other people undead, instead trying to find some kind of meaning/perspective to a pulse-less existence? I really have to get this book.
Also to think there is humour and it comes out balance- that is a big kudos to the author.
That was one of the funniest parts: because she was a vegan when she was alive, she was meat averse when she became undead too. A vegan zombie. Hilarious!

No waaay!! A vegan Zombie!!!

I should get the hardcover version then.

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 02 Oct 2018, 14:47

Hiruni Bhagya 81 wrote: ↑02 Oct 2018, 02:23 I was never a fan of zombie books, but this book changed my perspective regarding them completely. The book seems to be unique. I never thought to learn about life lessons from a zombie, but who is more suitable than a person who just died. Also, it's a bit ironical as well. I'm curious about how she woke up a zombie. So I'm impatient to read this book.

It's definitely not your typical brain-eating zombie. Let me know what you think if you do read it! If anything, at least it will put a smile on your face

Post by **Alice Heritage** » 03 Oct 2018, 02:31

That message about learning to be yourself after death sounds like a powerful one! It's amazing how what might be a tragic situation can be transformed with humour. Thanks for the introduction - this book sounds great!