Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 352
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Aliens
Source: Gifted ARC
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series. Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket. Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking. But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Cara Sweeney has been picked to take an exchange student from another planet. L'eihr wants to make an alliance with Earth and exchanging students is a great way for everyone to get to know each other and become more comfortable. Aelyx, pronounced A-licks, arrives but his differences make the transition difficult. He hates the food, all the colors and practically everything else. Cara makes an effort to help him fit in and eventually she starts to see more to him.

An alien exchange program isn't supported by all. Protesters begin staking out their school and life for Cara becomes more and more difficult. Her ex-best friend, her ex-boyfriend and the rest of the school have ostracized her for supporting the program. There are the few L'annabe's as they call themselves that support the program. Aelyx and the other two exchanges students aren't as supportive as they seem. They have a plan to stop this alliance but as Aelyx and one other exchange student start to enjoy life on earth everything will soon blow up in their faces.

Aaelyx was quite a character. When he first arrives it is hard to like him because he seems really pretentious, snooty, distant, and kind of robotic. Things on his planet are more advanced so he talks down to everyone on Earth. His behavior gave me a few chuckles though. His perspective was interesting. They have different social rules and don't date for fun. They are paired up. Cara slowly brings him out of his shell and I began to really like him.

Cara was hesitant to accept the program but she never goes back on her word. Even when everyone is against her she stays strong and tries her very best to make Aeylex comfortable and to treat him well. She even gets him to want to try kissing. It was an unbelievably hot kissing scene. Cara and Aeylex do get rather serious quickly but they face a lot of problems. It ends a bit open with Earth and L'eihr still far from an alliance. I was really sucked into the story and had a really good time reading it. Very excited to see where it goes next. As a big alien and Roswell fan I found the book perfect for me.



Aelyx shrugged. "To be honest, I don't know what qualities you ever saw in him. I can tell why he chose you, but-"
"Oh yeah?" Cara's spirits lifted as she sensed a compliment coming on. "Why do you think he chose me?"
"It's obvious." He swept a hand to indicate her loose curls. "Your long, shiny hair, healthy skin, and bright eyes show that you're well-nourished."
"Uh, thank you?"

"Does the Outer Space Creep probe you in your sleep?"

"I wanna talk to the A-Licker."

"I studied your history while I was still on L'eihr." And with a smirk that had become his own personal signature, he added, "It didn't take long." He returned his attention to the copy of Advanced Binuclear Theories the science teacher had lent him. Maybe he should read How to Avoid Acting Like a Pretentious Ass instead.

Rating: 5/5