This is my first read by Al Hess and I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it! I am looking forward to reading more book by this author. Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is absolutely phenomenal. The sci-fi plot is interesting and well-paced. It mixes traditional alien invasion tropes in a really neat way. The characters really elevate this book to another level. The representation in this book is both accurate and kind, without being cheesy or cliche. I was gripped throughout the book and really satisfied with the ending. This book also uses technology in a cool way, creating a modernistic setting without really exceeding current conventions.

Ahhhh this was so much fun! Denver (nicknamed Professor Pie and who uses any pronouns) pays the bills by travelling to diners and reviewing pies on their blog. On the way home from reviewing a particularly disappointing cherry pie at Lynn’s Diner, Denver witnesses a strange flash of light in the sky. Initially unsure what they have seen, Denver goes home to discover that the people of their adopted home town, Muddy Gap, are acting strangely - lashing out, confused and volatile to any mention of aliens.

Unsure of what to do to rectify the strange malaise that has settled over the town, Denver enlists the help of Ezra, a bartender and fellow UFO witness who is also unaffected by the town’s strangeness. Working together, they try to piece together the mystery of the orange sand and strange pebbles that coat the town.

Reading this book was like watching an episode of Stranger Things or The Twlight Zone! Nothing was what it seemed and everything was a twisty mystery… I enjoyed the relationship that developed between Denver and Ezra, they were a perfect match for each other. Both have come from difficult backgrounds and it’s interesting to watch them stumble over each other until they manage to get on the same page, but once they do they’re so sweet together!

Read Key Lime Sky for:
✨ Non-binary, autistic MC
✨ Plus size, Latino MC
✨ Trans, POC side character
✨ Fratboy golden retriever side character
✨ Horror lite, Stranger Things vibes
✨ A small town under alien invasion
✨ A viral pie reviewing blog
✨ The government are hiding things
✨ Trapped in a psychic vortex

I really loved this book and I totally recommend for anyone who is a fan of twisty sci-fi and apocalyptic plots with a side of humour 💕 Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot Books and the author for an ARC! It is available 13th August 2024!

I’m so disappointed and I’m not ashamed to say why.

Look, I tend to overlook stupid racial remarks, especially against white people, because it’s not as bad as some people think. That’s the truth. And I tend to find this more common in LGBTQ reads.

But when I’m 3% into a book and I can just feel the disdain for white people, I’m friggin pissed.

“He had one of those generic white frat boy faces that I couldn’t pick out of a lineup if I tried.” Like, wtf? No, it’s not HORRIBLE, but……

Imagine if I said, “He had one of those generic black ghetto boy faces that I couldn’t pick out of a lineup if I tried.”

Now, how would THAT relay to readers? I would’ve been absolutely blasted for that “racist” statement. So if what I said is labeled as racist, WHY ISN’T THE ACTUAL STATEMENT from the book labeled as one???

This ruined this book for me. And yea, I finished it because I needed to see how far it went. I grew to despise the MMC because of his highly judgmental views disguised as humor. Oh, he’s neurodivergent? SO AM I. And yet I have respect for ALL ethnicities. And his love interest? A plus size Latino. Like, of course that’s who he is. Ugh, I was looking forward to this one. Angry Robot, science-fiction, and a non-binary/male romance. Yes, please. But what we got? No.

And don’t come at me. I’m NOT racist. I LOVE everyone. And I’m NOT ashamed to be white. And I’m tired of it being okay to talk shit about white people. It’s NOT okay. The end.

4.5 STARS!!

This was such a cute and cozy sci-fi adventure, filled with pie, romance, acceptance, found family, and unique representation. The MC is non-binary, who has Autism. The representation here was beautifully crafted and the visible stims and sensory conflicts hit very close to home. It was great to read a unique story that was filled with acceptance, not only of who you are but also finding someone who accepts you completely, was fun and inspiring.  All the food imagery and food descriptions were delicious and I enjoyed reading each and every one.
All of the sensory "icks" that Denver experiences were well done as well as the descriptions and dialogues of representation and being true to oneself. Especially between Denver and Ezra, I'm glad it went in the direction it did! *no spoilers!!*
Mini-Synopsis: In a small town in Wyoming, Denver has an otherworldly experience while critiquing…PIE. After witnessing a UFO explode, Denver tries to get to the bottom of it, but everyone in the town writes off the event as another one of “Professor Pie’s quirks.” As things continue to change in strange ways, Denver meets Ezra, a bartender who accepts Denver and a very sweet romance blossoms. Between discussing government coverups over pies and looking at distorted photographs, who knows what these two unique individuals will uncover.

Thank you very much to Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the eARC and early copy of this magically cozy sci-fi story!!
*review posted to Instagram and goodreads*

I’d describe a love of Science Fiction and pies to be some of my key character traits, so I was really eager to try out the new Al Hess novel as soon as possible! This was a smart and inventive UFO conspiracy story that excels in its characterization and heart.

My main fear going into this book was that the love of pies might be a gimmicky way of standing out, without bearing a lot of relation to the UFO plotline. I admittedly wasn’t sold in the first 20 pages or so for this exact reason, and the initial setup of sighting a UFO without anyone believing the main character felt a little generic. However, when the book started looking into Denver’s character in earnest, my fears were quickly put to rest. Far from being gimmicky, the pie fixation is used as a lens through which we learn more about Denver, particularly their childhood connections to family, and the desire for things that are familiar and safe.

It’s great to see neurodiversity play such a pivotal and positive role in Key Lime Sky - Denver’s feelings and quirks were handled with real care and sensitivity, and these character traits were never viewed as something that needed to be ‘overcome’ by the novel’s end. I’d say that acceptance is a key theme of the story, and being ok with the way you are despite what others think of you, or what other people’s conceptions of ‘normal’ are. There were many moments where I found Denver to be incredibly relatable and well portrayed, particularly their different view and focus on what is important at each given moment in the plot.

The storyline grew on me as the book went along, and while I quite enjoyed this new take on an alien invasion scenario, the characters are the true strength of this novel for me. This is the second Al Hess novel I’ve read after the wonderful World Running Down, and both books have star characters who are wonderful and complex, and deserve all the happiness in the world. The feelings of love and acceptance in Al’s books are going to keep me coming back for any future titles he writes!

3.5 stars.

This was a cute story and definitely not like anything I've ever read.

I liked Denver and Ezra but thought the love story was a bit rushed. The smut also felt a little out of place in this story and I dont think it added much.

The ending was good and it would've been a really nice touch if a pie recipe was added.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

ARC Review: Key Lime Sky by Al Hess
⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a science fiction story with queer romance, pie, and plenty of alien life.

Review (and some spoilers) below and on the last slide!

-

This book has a lot of representation packed into its pages. The MC, Denver, is a non-binary, autistic person known to xis neighbors as “Profressor Pie”. Xe love interest is a pan, plus-sized Latino man. Hess handles the diversity of gender and sexual preferences well. Where I think the rep falls a little short is Denver’s autism. I’ve thought about how to delicately approach this and what I’ve come up with is: it leans into the stereotype that autistic people are rude & disrespectful because of their autism. Denver regularly says things to Muddy Gap residents that are personal attacks against their looks or actions they take, and either in the narrative or out loud, xe tacks on a variation of “it’s my autism” as the reason xe said it. It makes xim an unlikable character. I also struggled to like other characters because of their inconsistent or volatile nature.

The plot was definitely unique and memorable. It felt very much like a longer X-Files episode, which I appreciated. Some people are billing this as a cozy romance, which I disagree with, but there is a few steamy scenes to be aware of. Overall, I think this was a decent story, but I struggled to like the characters and that’s where it fell the flatest for me.

Look for this book on August 13, 2024!

Having been fortunate enough to be part of the cover reveal team for Key Lime Sky by Al Hess with Angry Robot Books, I was given an arc that I was delighted to finally get the opportunity to read in holiday.

Key Lime Sky is a cosy sci fi mystery that is told from the perspective of small-town autistic, non-binary, queer person, Denver, whose life is pretty much limited to blogging about Diner Pie and testing samples and providing reviews. Xe’s world feels pretty limited and quite negative as they struggle to cope with the alien-ness of neuro-typical society and they see life as being this way always, until one day whilst having been out to review pie in a neighbouring town they witness a UFO crashing into their town but, no one believes xem.

Then Denver meets Ezra and they begin investigating the strange shells and weird orange sand that has started appearing across town. It all sounds very Famous Five but, instead of villains, cue an alien invasion that seems to be controlling the townsfolk’s minds and both Ezra and Denver need to solve this puzzle before the world is taken over.

One real stand out of this book is just how much it draws you into Denver’s experience of being neurodivergent, from xe’s feelings of being rejected and isolated from relationships and society, to the sensory impacts of noise and bright lights, and the feelings of materials and taste - Denver’s diet is very much an excellent example of this, and the impact of being overwhelmed and meltdown, plus so much more. As a parent of a neurodiverse individual, I truly recognised a lot of this and was really impressed by Hess’ portrayal of Denver. There was nothing to pity or feel sorry about, this is who Denver is and I was truly happy for Denver as xe found their people.

There’s a lot more to this story than UFOs, aliens and I was totally here for it. I loved the romance between Denver and Ezra, the dude characters including Taisha and Auntie and I totally fell for the unconventional ending, not a Prince Charming in sight!

Thank you Angry Robot Books, Bookbreak UK, Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the arc of Key Lime Sky by Al Hess in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This is good! A weird/unique alien invasion story and cute romance.

The cast of characters are interesting, and I enjoyed the portrayal of the autistic MC. I liked xyr journey of realising that xe’s not as ostracised as xe thought, it’s more just miscommunications and people not being sure how to interact with xem.

Similar to other books by the author that I’ve read, it’s set in a future that’s similar to ours, but with more advanced day-to-day technology, which I think can feel a bit uncanny worldbuilding-wise at times, and might not work for everyone, but I sort of knew to expect it.

I like how weird the alien invasion stuff was! As a sci-fi reader I think I would have preferred a different direction for the ending, but I know this is a romance so a tidy happy ending makes sense.

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC.

This book is a cozy sci-fi mystery from an autistic perspective, not just for an autistic audience!

The story follows a small-town autistic queer person who discovers an ongoing alien invasion. First, xe tries to convince the townsfolk about it, but when that fails, xe tries to find and destroy the alien entity. Throughout this journey, xe discovers that even though xe feels isolated and rejected by most people, many of them find xem likeable. On this quest, xe is helped by Ezra, who fell for Denver on the first day of the invasion, and various neighbors who each cope with this trauma in their own way.

The characters all seem archetypal, and though they do not further the plot, they help Denver's character development. Their boxed-in personalities help make the reading experience comfortable. This feeling is further enhanced by the plot never hastening the characters. They always have time to cope with the changing environment or to have a little breathing session.

The writing style throughout feels authentic from an autistic person's point of view. The environment is often described by characteristics picked up by senses other than just the eyes, which gives a more three-dimensional experience.

Another thing I loved is the realistic way the group resolved the mystery. It was easy to follow their thought process, which kept me interested in the investigation.

Bonus points for the unconventional happy ending! Not everyone has to settle down in a white-picket-fence house in suburbia with three children.

This book was an absolute joy to read! The story engaged me from beginning to end, and I was at the edge of my seat for most of it, ngl.
The romance was adorable and so easy to root for! I also really loved the journey each character went trough, the pay off was really satisfying.
The only thing I can complain about was the scifi element: in this world the technology is pretty advanced, but the rest felt the same. I don't think it was a necessary element to add, and it was confusing at times.
Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Denver and Ezra just can't catch a break. But I tell you what, they are adorable and persistent. It ain't easy saving the planet.

What I loved about this book:
- our tag team dynamic duo supporting each other every step of the way, aww
- neurodivergent and queer representation
- aliens!
- the banter and quips
- no high falutin careers, we got ourselves a bartender and a pie reviewer here
- a proper epilogue

What made me give it a 4 vs a 5:

The book suffers a bit from not knowing what genre it wants to be. Is it cozy? Is it action? Is it serious? There's humor but quite enough to call it a comedy scifi. There's some real life issues and an antagonist (not the aliens) you love to hate, but the tone of the book besides those parts is more light hearted (maybe heart warming is the better term) so it's a little jarring to go from alphabet pie to the danger zone and back.

This book is perfect for fans of lighter (aka not dark scary) scifi. You may like this if you like Becky Chambers or John Scalzi.

First of all, the cover of this book is amazing and sucked me in. Second, I absolutely loved the relationship between Denver and Ezra- it was my favorite part of the book! Third, this book got REAL WEIRD in the middle, which I guess I should have expected from a book based around aliens and UFOs. Fourth, I’m not sure how to feel about this book but I’m also not mad that I read it. 3.5 ⭐️s rounded down!

An alien vessel crash-landed but only Denver saw it. This novel is a fun mystery SF with a lovable cast of characters attempting to save the world.
This romp through rural America was loads of fun and made me want to try all kinds of pie. I'll have to attempt cooking a few combos found in this book - definitely not the alphabet one, though :)
The pace was excellent, layering the investigation of what is going on, with character growth, and knitting of new relationships. This work was a joy to read.
Really looking forward to see more of Hess' writing.

Such a fun and unique twist on the classic alien invasion trope, with great character development, a lovely romance and just the right amount of sci-fi intrigue. I loved it!

It’s cute. I mean, I know there’s the whole alien invasion thing going on, but I found it quite cute and funny. The author really draws you in with their characters, and there were so many funny little quips that I had highlighted. This book was just so dang charming.

I saw some people mention that this portrayal was ‘checklisty’ and full of ‘buzzwords’ when it came to diverse representation, and I’m inclined to agree. However, that is not my area of expertise, nor am I going to sit here and scrutinize how the author chose to address certain situations. Instead, I’ll tell you that the story was original, maintained great pacing, and was overall well-written.

This is going on my ‘want to buy physical copy’ list not only because I enjoyed the book, but also because the cover is absolutely stunning. This is also the kind of book that I would actually recommend reading on paper just because for me when I’m reading something ‘cozy’ it’s best enjoyed in paperback with a cup of tea.

3.625 on the rubric, rounding up

I really enjoyed Hess' World Running Down a few years ago, and was already going to grab this ARC bc of the gloriously pastel cover, but then I saw his name, which sealed the deal.

Key Lime Sky is a lot of fun, cozy-adjacent, and has some wonderful representation that doesn't feel forced (although there are a few bits that felt v explainy about the 'tism and gender identity [but that could also come from me being immersed in my own neurospicy and genderqueer bubble]).

Some aspects of the explanation for the events didn't entirely make sense to me, but I did still have a great time with it, and will still be checking out Hess' future work.

...I desperately wish they'd included that Alphabet Pie recipe, tho. You call this a cozy without a recipe at the end?!

I was interested in the book based on the cover and the promise of aliens. What I found was a tale of an autistic queer person who scrapes by by reviewing pies online who is trying to track down and destroy the alien that is screwing up his town, his new love interest, and his new friends. I'm not sure how to describe the writing, but it might be an 'easy read' or more 'YA like, except for the sex scenes'. It also seems to be written as if it were some sort of LGBTQ+ utopia where everyone is knowledgeable and respectful and accepting of the spectrum of queer people. Not a bad thing, but also not reality at the moment in America. So everyone is living in a safe and accepting space - so a touch utopian, but in a nice, wouldn't that be great way. I enjoyed the parts of the book that were about tracking down the alien and figuring out how to deal with it. I didn't love the romance bits. I did like the exploration into Denver's autism and how his new love accepted and helped him. Overall, the representation is nice, the alien story was interesting, the writing was an easy read.

I loved the concept for this; the plot and characters were incredible and I feel like something like this is missing from the book world. I wish that structurally it was stitched together a tinsy bit better but that would be all