ARC Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

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Book 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 can freely say that 2014 is a year of great expectations when it comes to YA lit. So many new authors and not to mention the sequels that we're waiting for. Alienated was one on my list and I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book.

         Because as usual I don't read blurbs I expected this book to be about parallel universes or better said I had movie titled Upside Down in my head, but as soon as I cracked open this book I knew that we'd go the different way and we did. Surprisingly I haven't read that many books about aliens considering how mainstream they are, but I can tell you that this one promises a lot.

        So as usual we have a girl, Cara who is from Earth. She is highly intelligent and outgoing girl. Then there is a boy, Aelyx. He is alien, inhumanly intelligent but cold, because of DNA modifications. Basically on L'eihr the planted he is coming from the normal reproduction is banished and they all get genetically superior features, in almost all sectors, but one - emotional. For them intelligence is main aspect of their society where emotions are leveled to minimum. Once the whole exchange program starts the two of them have to find a way around each other, because they both have greater goals. Cara has to get the money because of their financial  situation and Aelyx must go on with the plan he is sent to do.

      But fear not my friends, this book is much more than girl meats boy and she falls for the boy and after quite some time boy also falls for her. The great thing about this book is the whole world building. The author nicely created the L'eihr and not giving all information at once but piece by piece she manages to keep your attention and makes you turn pages as fast as you can. One thing that surprised me a lot in this book is humor. I laughed a lot and honestly I didn't expect that.

      Only aspect of the story that I was missing, was the whole situation that happened when the first interaction with Earth and L'eihr occurred. Not only out of curiosity but also because it'd help us understand the whole human despise towards the other planted. I do get the reasons, but not the reason they started the exchange program if people were so against it.

      Anyhow I cannot wait for the next book and our trip to L'eihr.

Rating: 4 stars. 

Until the next time,

***NOTE: Copy of this book is kindly provided by the publisher, Disney Hyperion, via NetGalley. Thank you! 
I'm not paid for writing this review - I do it as a love of written word. All opinions are personal.