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A review by queer_bookwyrm
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 ⭐ CW: death, sexual assault
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson is a YA scifi romance that was recommended to me by an irl friend. This was a wild read, but I felt there were some things left unresolved. This may be because I tend to be more invested in the plot and world-building than on romance.
We follow Noa North, who wakes up in space outside of a ship. He doesn't remember how he got there, but suddenly he has to figure out how to repair a spaceship with the help of a voice that belongs to a boy named DJ. Noa and DJ have no idea what is happening or how they got aboard the ship Qriosity, and they find a girl Jenny who is also inexplicably trapped there. The three of them must keep the ship from blowing up all while figuring out what is going on and how to get back home.
The relationship between Noa and DJ is definitely the focal point of the story. I love a good gays in space story, but I felt I needed a little bit more from it. I found Noa incredibly annoying, and I wanted way more development from Jenny who was actually a bisexual badass. I truly didn't expect the twist that came, but it mostly felt incomplete when we don't get an explanation or follow up on the universe that was created. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about it, but I thought the ending was unsatisfactory.
We do get some interesting themes on exploitation of child actors, bury your gays and fridging tropes. It almost feels like this book needs a sequel to flesh out what has been teased to give the story more depth. If you enjoy a good gays in space romp that isn't too heavy hitting, this is good for that. Minus the discussions of sexual assault, I would be wary of that if that's something you are sensitive about.
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson is a YA scifi romance that was recommended to me by an irl friend. This was a wild read, but I felt there were some things left unresolved. This may be because I tend to be more invested in the plot and world-building than on romance.
We follow Noa North, who wakes up in space outside of a ship. He doesn't remember how he got there, but suddenly he has to figure out how to repair a spaceship with the help of a voice that belongs to a boy named DJ. Noa and DJ have no idea what is happening or how they got aboard the ship Qriosity, and they find a girl Jenny who is also inexplicably trapped there. The three of them must keep the ship from blowing up all while figuring out what is going on and how to get back home.
The relationship between Noa and DJ is definitely the focal point of the story. I love a good gays in space story, but I felt I needed a little bit more from it. I found Noa incredibly annoying, and I wanted way more development from Jenny who was actually a bisexual badass. I truly didn't expect the twist that came, but it mostly felt incomplete when we don't get an explanation or follow up on the universe that was created. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about it, but I thought the ending was unsatisfactory.
We do get some interesting themes on exploitation of child actors, bury your gays and fridging tropes. It almost feels like this book needs a sequel to flesh out what has been teased to give the story more depth. If you enjoy a good gays in space romp that isn't too heavy hitting, this is good for that. Minus the discussions of sexual assault, I would be wary of that if that's something you are sensitive about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death