Alienated

Alienated 

by Melissa Landers

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.

Can I just point out that this book is about aliens and the authors last name is Landers... 

It's horrible I know, but I thought it was pretty great and a little bit funny when I saw that. 

Anyways, I'm going to shake things up and kick this review off with the characters and their relationship. I am in a highly organized mood (I know, I think I must have hit my head or something. That's the only realistic explanation for this stroke of insanity.), so I am going to do this bit list style! 

What was awesome about Cara:

1. She was passionate and feisty!

2. She was really kind and sweet (unless you were messing with her or her loved ones.)

3. She wasn't perfect and GREAT at everything, also this doesn't stop her from trying things (her cooking may kill you) 

4. She was strong but not too strong (translation: she wasn't a fainting damsel but she wasn't a cyborg either)

5. She was very realistic

What I hated about Cara:

1. ...I can't think of anything...there had to be something I disliked about her...hmmm...

What I loved about Aelyx:

1. He acted on things! He was doing stuff to make what he wanted to happen, happen! Way to take charge and make changes, rather than sitting there ranting about what needs to happen without lifting a finger!

2. He admitted when he messed up that he was wrong and made a mistake!

3. He was polite and sweet

4. He was protective, but not in a stifling or obnoxious way. He was protective when it made sense and was necessary/welcomed. 

5. He was compassionate (eventually)

What I didn't like about Aelyx:

1. ... Oh my goodness! I'm sure there is something! Why can't I think of anything?

Wait, ok I have it! He was a bit arrogant at the beginning, but it didn't really bother me, because I felt like it was a product of where and how he was raised and he got over it. 

Ah, love! Aelyx and Cara's relationship was one of the best relationships I've read. It was SO realistic, and they really did love each other, for realizies. I LOVED how their realization they loved each other came up, and just how their whole thing kicked off as a couple. Their relationship, wasn't smooth sailing, or perfect, even in the end, and they are thoroughly adorable!

Side note: I've decided I need an Aelyx to make me "a bowl of diabetes" when I'm sad. 

My one problem with their relationship was that they went from new found "ohgoodLordIthinkIloveyou" love, to where they were in the end. -->SPOILER: She left her entire planet, and life for this kid that she hasn't even been with for that long so that they can be together forever!

I'm going to talk real quick about the other characters. I felt like Cara's brother was just kind of thrown into the book because he had to be there for logical reasons. He wasn't really there for any other reason and he wasn't really developed. He was never really mentioned unless he was needed for logic and plot reasons. Their parents were awesomesauce! I loved them so much and they were so realistic. Their whole family loved each other so much! It was beautiful. 

Cara's "friends" were awful. I hated them. They waffled when it came to their opinions of her and were just horrible all around. I loved Tori until she turned into a complete...beach. Eric seemed to go the opposite direction and seem to be on Cara's side, just a bit, at the end. I couldn't figure out how they felt about Cara they went back and forth and back and forth. They made me angry! I was kind of annoyed that their opinions of Cara and how they treated her changed so drastically to begin with. Here is why, humans can be prejudice, racist, cruel, and judgmental, I get it, but it was WAY too extreme in this book. There were literally only 4 good humans left on Earth. At least this is how it came across, Cara, her family and Ashley. The book never mentioned anyone other than the four of them on earth that weren't rioting in the streets and freaked out about aliens overthrowing Earth. I find that a little hard to believe. I was a little offended that human kind was displayed so poorly. I mean really, not any other people that spoke out against this cruelty?

Moving right along, the writing was pretty good and so was the plot. The whole book was just cute. It was fun and adorable and all around a good read. I give it a solid three and a half stars out of five and I recommend it!

Add it on Goodreads and buy it from Liberty Bay Books here.

General Consensus: