Scan barcode
babudarabu's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death, Blood, Drug use, and Gore
caseymac's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping
wad3mil3sgarru2's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
puddicure's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TL;DR: This is, quite honestly, one of my favorite comedic romance books I have ever read. This book has everything: fake dating, politics, drama, death games, a talking dog, tenderly-blossoming affections, and most importantly, steamy mutual exploration of alien bodies.the highlight? M/F scissoring. This boy’s got HOLES! Queer reader approved, highly recommended. Audio narration is good. Check your local library apps.
Anyway. As a preface to my full review: I’m a lesbian who withers at awkward comedy, and ‘miscommunication as a plot device,’ at least in a romanic context, usually gives me hives. As a result, I can only stomach romance in small doses, usually in dramatic contexts, and preferably, slathered in the more palatable sauce of genre fiction.
So when I checked out this audiobook from Hoopla, I expected very little, especially with the way the summary describes her love interest as “awkward, adorable, and alien as hell.”
What I found here was a veritable delight of shockingly good scifi. Like, I cannot emphasize enough how skillfully Aguirre fleshes out this little corner of the galaxy, the aliens that live there, and the tech at their disposal, all without dropping a ton of technical terms on you at once. Both Beryl and the reader are reminded time and time again, and to comedic effect, that this is an alien planet and an alien culture; and to the credit of the log line, that DOES make her new alien beau come across as quite awkward, mostly because he genuinely doesn’t understand and/or misunderstands a lot of the intent in her behaviors and turns of phrase. (While I’m on the subject: in the first few chapters, where the language barrier is dealt with via alien tech, was the moment I sat up and said out loud: “oh. This is good.” And it sets up SO many good jokes.)
Now onto the part of the story the summary doesn’t really touch on: the ceremony for being able to become mates is, basically, the fucking hunger games. And Beryl is a tiny human competing against other aliens who all have natural weapons to deter giant predators. It absolutely rules.
I won’t go too much into it, because I don’t want to spoil the delightful experience, but hive intrigue and politics also start to come into play, and it really cranks up the stakes.
Lastly, I have an audiobook specific compliment for the voice the narrator does for Snaps- their delivery really punches up his limited dialogue, and made me even more endeared to him than I would normally be. He’s a very good boy.
As far as if I’ll read the sequel…eh. The character they introduced who is the main character of the sequel didn’t get enough screentime for me to really care much about him. I might listen someday in hopes of these characters showing up, though.
Anyway. As a preface to my full review: I’m a lesbian who withers at awkward comedy, and ‘miscommunication as a plot device,’ at least in a romanic context, usually gives me hives. As a result, I can only stomach romance in small doses, usually in dramatic contexts, and preferably, slathered in the more palatable sauce of genre fiction.
So when I checked out this audiobook from Hoopla, I expected very little, especially with the way the summary describes her love interest as “awkward, adorable, and alien as hell.”
What I found here was a veritable delight of shockingly good scifi. Like, I cannot emphasize enough how skillfully Aguirre fleshes out this little corner of the galaxy, the aliens that live there, and the tech at their disposal, all without dropping a ton of technical terms on you at once. Both Beryl and the reader are reminded time and time again, and to comedic effect, that this is an alien planet and an alien culture; and to the credit of the log line, that DOES make her new alien beau come across as quite awkward, mostly because he genuinely doesn’t understand and/or misunderstands a lot of the intent in her behaviors and turns of phrase. (While I’m on the subject: in the first few chapters, where the language barrier is dealt with via alien tech, was the moment I sat up and said out loud: “oh. This is good.” And it sets up SO many good jokes.)
Now onto the part of the story the summary doesn’t really touch on: the ceremony for being able to become mates is, basically, the fucking hunger games. And Beryl is a tiny human competing against other aliens who all have natural weapons to deter giant predators. It absolutely rules.
I won’t go too much into it, because I don’t want to spoil the delightful experience, but hive intrigue and politics also start to come into play, and it really cranks up the stakes.
Lastly, I have an audiobook specific compliment for the voice the narrator does for Snaps- their delivery really punches up his limited dialogue, and made me even more endeared to him than I would normally be. He’s a very good boy.
As far as if I’ll read the sequel…eh. The character they introduced who is the main character of the sequel didn’t get enough screentime for me to really care much about him. I might listen someday in hopes of these characters showing up, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Drug use
To start: this is erotica. Hot, graphic alien/human sex is had multiple times in the book. Kidnapping: Beryl is mistaken for someone else, and that accidental kidnapping is the backbone of this story premise. Violence: I mentioned the hunger games aspect of the Choosing. People die in this competition. Only one or two are lingered upon, to my memory. Several are injured. Drugs: There is a party late in the book where alien party drugs are being used.sunnysky's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping and Murder
ednam0dewannabe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent, Gore, Drug use, Animal cruelty, and Child death
xta_07's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Classism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
Zylar is just the most adorable cinnamon roll of a hero. He made this book for me. Beryl is also a great heroine: brave, but also a little bit of a hot mess. He accidentally kidnaps her (we all make mistakes, right?) and they decide to make a go of it because he can't exactly get her back to Earth, even though they find each other's appearance a little (or a lot) scary. Together, they made a really great couple who complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses.
The plot is a bit wacky and the alien culture more or less practices eugenics, with some harrowing tests involved in the process. The relationship remains sweet and understanding and low-angst all while they face these trials together, which is one of my favourite things to read.
I loved how alien Zylar was. He's not at all humanoid — closer to a giant bipedal insect. He doesn't have anything like human genitalia (which makes the sex scenes interesting, and perhaps not for everyone). He's adorably formal and awkward. The alien culture is suitably strange and a little bit terrifying.
Oh, and there's a talking dog who gets some of the funniest lines. I adored every page of this.
The plot is a bit wacky and the alien culture more or less practices eugenics, with some harrowing tests involved in the process. The relationship remains sweet and understanding and low-angst all while they face these trials together, which is one of my favourite things to read.
I loved how alien Zylar was. He's not at all humanoid — closer to a giant bipedal insect. He doesn't have anything like human genitalia (which makes the sex scenes interesting, and perhaps not for everyone). He's adorably formal and awkward. The alien culture is suitably strange and a little bit terrifying.
Oh, and there's a talking dog who gets some of the funniest lines. I adored every page of this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Death, Classism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Gore, Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
martamae77's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This was a pretty good read. I loved to see Beryl make the best of her situation. The complexity of the alien culture and learning that culture was the absolute highlight of this book for me.
I just don’t think that Beryl ever acted the way any human woman ever actually would in this situation. Her fear lasted for such a short period that it makes no sense, even if she was paralyzed by confusion she should have been showing much more fear. The loyalty that Beryl develops towards Zylar does make sense given how loyal people are, but it never seemed like he did anything to earn that loyalty.
Ultimately interested read. Very unique sexual component. Not for me.
I just don’t think that Beryl ever acted the way any human woman ever actually would in this situation. Her fear lasted for such a short period that it makes no sense, even if she was paralyzed by confusion she should have been showing much more fear. The loyalty that Beryl develops towards Zylar does make sense given how loyal people are, but it never seemed like he did anything to earn that loyalty.
Ultimately interested read. Very unique sexual component. Not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence