{New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Romance Release} Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead by H.J. Ramsay

Love and Other Cures by H.J. Ramsay
on October 6th, 2026
Genres: Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance, New Adult
Available with KU Subscription
Goodreads

CeCe Campbell wakes on the asphalt of a mall parking lot with two missing years and a body that no longer feels like her own. Infected with the Kill Virus on her 18th birthday, she’s among the first to be cured.

Rehabilitation teaches CeCe how to walk, how to speak, how to exist in a world rebuilding itself, but it cannot return what she lost. Her mother is dead. Her brother is missing. And the last memory before the dark is a bite she cannot escape.

When CeCe unexpectedly meets Derrick—the boy who infected her—she’s torn between anger and a strange, undeniable connection. Derrick doesn’t remember what he did. CeCe does, and the truth of that moment is something he’ll never get. Not when he already took everything from her.

But if there’s to be life after the cure, CeCe will have to unwind the past, face what happened the night that bound them together, and decide if love and forgiveness can heal wounds deeper than the ones left by the undead.

Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead is a haunting post-apocalyptic love story about guilt, survival, and choosing connection in a world where nothing can be undone.

Exclusive excerpt from Love and Other Cures

CeCe opens her mouth to ask for a ride, but by the time she gets the words out, Savannah is already jumping into the van. Her aunt pulls away from the curb.

Derrick looks toward the van and then at CeCe. He smiles. It’s probably meant to be charming, but she finds nothing about him appealing.

He steps toward her.

Why did she insist on walking home? If her dad was here, she’d already be in his car. Now she has to find a way around Derrick. Or maybe she doesn’t. She could wait him out. He’ll have to leave eventually.

CeCe turns back to the school. Just as she’s about to reach for the door, it swings open and Olivia slithers out. They’re so close that CeCe can see every strand of Olivia’s bangs—and something underneath. A scar? Does that mean Olivia isn’t a Survivor? She’ll have to think about that later. Not now.

Olivia inches to the side. The moment she’s out of the way, CeCe lunges for the handle, but it shuts before she can grab it. She yanks. It doesn’t budge. The damn thing’s on auto-lock.

CeCe presses her forehead against the locked door. Did Olivia do that on purpose? Knowing it would leave her trapped out here? She senses Olivia’s stare crawling over her—and Derrick’s.

She can’t deal with this. Can’t deal with them. Her hand clamps around the latch, unable to move. She just wants to go home.

“Hi again,” she hears Derrick say from behind her.

She groans. “Are you going to be here every day?”

“Ah, she speaks. I wasn’t sure if, you know, there was something wrong with your voice.”

“I speak,” she snaps as she turns, half expecting to see Olivia standing beside him, but she’s already down the stairs, heading toward the same rumbling truck. At least that’s one problem solved.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” he says. “You never know though.”

“Why are you here?” Her eyes narrow on him. “I’m pretty sure stalking is still illegal.”

“I’m not a stalker, I promise.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Yeah, okay.” He runs his hand through his shaggy hair. “I guess it could come off that way, but I wasn’t trying to.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I don’t want anything. Just trying to be friendly, I suppose.” He glances behind him. “Is your dad picking you up?”

“That’s not really any of your business.”

“Whoa, I was just asking. Wasn’t trying to make it a big deal or anything.”

CeCe looks down at the pickup, exhaust curling from the back. It’s the only vehicle left on the curb. What are they still doing here? Pinpricks ripple through her numb skin. Something’s up.

Derrick says, “If he’s not here, can I…I don’t know…walk you home? Maybe keep you company? If we’re together, we won’t have to worry about being reported to Rehabilitation. You’ll be doing me a solid too.”

Why, so he could start popping up at her home too?

She almost laughs, but it’s suffocated by the thought of being left alone with Olivia and her friend while she’s on foot. Through the windshield, she sees them watching her—Olivia with her smirk and that guy with his finger tapping against the wheel.

Maybe it’s nothing. But the way Olivia’s eyes pin her, she can’t shake the feeling they’re waiting for her to step off school grounds, where no one would see what they were planning to do. It’s a threat so palpable she tastes it in the back of her throat.

“Okay,” he says. “I can take a hint. Sorry. I’ll just get out of your way.”

Derrick starts to turn.

“Wait.”

He stops and looks up at her.

She doesn’t want this. She doesn’t want to spend another moment near him, but with her dad not coming, Derrick is all she has. At least she knows what he’s capable of. Olivia and her friend are another story.

“Yeah, okay,” she says. “You can walk me. But only part-

way.”

He grins at her with those teeth. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He holds out his hand. “After you.”

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