ARC Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Published February 4, 2014 by Disney Hyperion

Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review. In now way did this influence or sway my opinion.

Goodreads

Summary

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.

I’d previously been denied an advanced copy for review so when an email appeared in my inbox saying that I could now access this all too beautiful book on Netgalley, there may have been some screaming and jumping and leaping and soaring and a whole lot of psychotic laughter. But that’s just an average day for me…sort of. Anyways, I wanted this book before that gorgeous cover appeared on it. And I’m serious when I say gorgeous, don’t y’all agree? The guy. The girl. Two different worlds. And all of it colliding in the middle around the title. Mmm. Yup. Cover lust.

Cara was chosen to house one of the three aliens that came to earth in order to study it. They studied the environment, pollution, the water. It was rather amazing. 

I absolutely loved the character development in ALIENATED. In the beginning Aelyx was cold, hard and unfeeling. He didn’t want to feel: his society saw it as a weakness. The longer that he stayed on earth with the humans, Cara to be specific, the more his cold exterior melted as did the one inside. As a character, he seems so real and relatable.

As for Cara, she is mega kick butt and all kinds of awesome. She is such a strong female main character that I couldn’t help but to root her on the entire way. I love how Landers portrayed the struggles that Cara- and Aelyx- faced for being there. Not many people wanted to have Aelyx on earth, or at least the ones who didn’t were rather loud and violent and persistent about it. 

The plot has all sorts of amazing twists and turns and everything was just so addicting. I couldn’t stop reading the book!! I love how we got to see how the world reacted to having aliens on earth. It was really interesting the whole political aspect to this book. I found myself very intrigued. 

Also I love how we got to hear both Cara and Aelyx’s thoughts throughout the book. I always love hearing both sides of thing and in this… *squeals*

Now let’s talk about the part that is always my favorite in the book: ROMANCE!! I know. I know. I have issues. Leave me be. I love non insta love. And this was totally that. The love came softly after a lot of burnt food, sticking up for the other and one all-too-perfect kiss. The romance in this book was subtle but played a MAJOR role in the novel- you know what I mean? The romance helps the characters become more themselves, and that’s my favorite kind of love. My favorite. *sigh* *pouts*

The ending. SWEETBABYJESUS I NEED THE NEXT BOOK WHY IS THIS ONE NOT EVEN FREAKING PUBLISHED YET? WHY. *groans then proceeds to crawl into bed and SOB*

 What I did not like. Okay, in the beginning when all the alien friends were talking to each other I WAS SO CONFUZZLED. So. Confuzzled. 

Read it people. You won’t regret it. Plus, that cover is gorgeous. 

Who's read this? Who can't wait to read this? Okay people. Simmer down. Leave your thought in the comments!!