When Life Gives You Vampires

Written by Gloria Duke

Narrated by Meg Sylvan

After Lily is turned by Tristan, they team up, fending off other vampires while Lily faces living in a diet-obsessed world with a body that will never change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Oct 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781666614176

Gloria Duke

Gloria Duke is the author of When Life Gives You Vampires. She writes contemporary and paranormal romance fiction.

Reviews for When Life Gives You Vampires

[Noemi Torres · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I almost didn't read this because of the reviews. I how ever do not agree with them. Yes the main character has body image issues. However if you've ever been over weight you talk to yourself like that. I found it relatable and I enjoyed the story. I give it 5 stars and spoiler she gets over herself eventually. Very good story I enjoyed it.

[Royetta Jones · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

As a fellow big girl I love a plus size romance. Sadly this one fell into the same angsty trope of dwelling in the past, and it took over the book feeling like the plot beyond her angst about being fat was unsubstantial.

[jazmine.v.watts · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Only made about ten minutes in, feels like plus sized misery porn. I’m fat and it made me feel like crap

[Jay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amen to all the twilight references since I imagine tristin as Edward Cullen lol

[Tonya Barker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book from this author, I loved it. I loved the personality that she gave Lilly, it had me laughing out loud. I look forwarded to other books.

[Sande' · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m sad because this book has so much potential. I wonder if I am irritated with the main character because I see parts of myself in her. I am a plus size woman and I get the image issues, but where her character lacked and ultimately where it fell short is that she does not ever use common sense and fights about anything despite knowing she is over reacting. Just being a brat in a situation that’s already hard. I get feeling overwhelmed and that is why im giving the story 4 stars instead of 5. Everything else was amazing but it was absolutely the most annoying thing to witness her sabotage her relationship with the main male lead because she feels like he has control issues when it’s really her with the control issues.

[Wholeaah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it; kinda hated the “obvi” phrase tho. The self talk was on point and very relatable

[Michelle Dowzer · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I've mixed feelings about this book. I don't like the MMC Tristan, I think he's a fuckface. I also got real sick and tired of the "oh he always gets great parking in NYC" thing they had going.

Lily and Cat were great, I also liked the vampire slayer. I did like how Lily grew to love herself as the book progressed and was more aware of the harm she was causing herself and others.

Definitely not a fave, but like some good highlights.

[Linda Ivey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This body conscious 25 year old plus sized redhead is under the misconception that she has to lose weight to be swept away by the manning here dreams. Her mother and past boyfriends wanted her to lose weight so she is insecure. When Lily meets Tristan a 400 year old vampire he accidentally turns her and now they have to face the music.

[Cora Oxford · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book had everything it needed to be a great book. And it was ruined by the absolute on slot of body positivity. I am a bigger girl myself, I am all for body positivity, but this book took it to an obnoxious level. It had a full storyline and everything, yet the whole point of the book was forced body positivity. It could have been a fantasy book. It could have been a romance book. It was simply a narrative on body positivity, with a story in the background.

[Shannon Strunk · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

There are not enough words to describe the disdain I have for this book. I don't know if it was the person reading the book or the author's blatant attempt to capture the Gen Z attention. Obvi...ously a waste of time.

[Jessika Reed · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My thoughts echo the other reviews. There was more potential that wasn’t explored because it was so much about her body. I get the obsessive feeling and thoughts as a person who has had insecurities, been self conscious and fluctuated weight (much fuller person here) but it kind of felt like it was trying too hard on the body positivity. I did appreciate that she becomes a bit self aware that her own thoughts of herself and body are actually hurting others but really I was expecting a vampire romance and that story was a bit in the background with the weight obsession. I really wanted to love this one.

[Chrissy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a hard review! It was a good book I enjoyed the storyline but the extreme fat shaming the main character does to herself gets old quick. I’m a full bodied person and I get it the need to bring her insecurities to the front so people can grasp what she’s feeling. However it was just a lot and constantly. There was no pay off in the end either to make it worth it. Where was the sex scene ? This book could be YA seriously. I feel I know more about her BIG thighs then I do about anything of Tristan. I needed more!

This story is about a girl who wakes up a vamp and she doesn’t remember. She has some serious body confidence issues and this book is really about her finding acceptance. She has a lot of learn in life but will she make up the time in the ever after or will it take an eternity?

In short :
Did I like it? Parts of it I loved but the body issues made it cringe.
Would I recommend it? No.
Would I read more by this author ? I am not sure.

[Nidia Medina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a decent read. I finished it. But wow was the heroine super self derogatory, and confrontational with hero. I didn’t really feel like there was ever any great connection between them. As a plus size woman myself I know that the thoughts the heroine had are real, and it was kinda therapeutic to read this because I kept thinking that if I have let thoughts of my weight, and body shape overtake my thoughts and life like this before I won’t let it now because it’s too tedious and annoying.