I found Key Lime Sky to be utterly charming, a little strange, and such a unique and fun read. The plot is wild and a little mind-blowing. I'd describe the book as more adventurous and fast-paced over "cozy" but I do see some elements of "cozy sci-fi." There are high stakes in this plot though! Denver and friends are working to save themselves, their town, and the world.

The romance between Denver and Ezra is incredibly sweet and well-paced. There's a little spice but the novel spends more time on the emotional aspects of their relationship. The two work well together and I enjoyed seeing them learn to understand each other. Their "meet-cute" is one of the funniest and most charming that I've read in a romance novel in a long time!

The plot and romance are both great but it's the characters that really make this story so enjoyable. First, they are incredibly diverse! Denver is non-binary, queer, and autistic. Ezra is pansexual, Latino, and plus-sized. Taisha, one of their friends and allies in saving the town, is a black transwoman. There is also a host of other supporting characters and quirky townspeople who add a lot of depth to the town of Muddy Gap and to the story as a whole.

I think Denver, who is okay with any pronouns but prefers xe/xem, will be incredibly relatable to many neurodivergent people. At the start of the story, Denver is struggling to connect with people and is often misunderstood or ignored. My heart broke for how isolated xe was feeling. That's not to say that the book is sad or depressing though! Denver is the hero of this story and seeing the people around xem start to appreciate and understand xem felt triumphant to read. Denver is genuinely a fantastic character and is one of my favorite new characters that I've read all year.

I've never read any of this author's other works, but I'm putting them all on my TBR after finishing Key Lime Sky. I was utterly enamored by this story, the characters, and this romance and I can't wait to read everything else by Al Hess!

This book requires a serious suspension of belief in just about every field, I believe. However this pretty much matches up to the feeling the description gave me so it was not a surprise.

I am not typically an alien invasion person, but there are not nearly as many trans books or main autistic characters as I would like, and this one fulfilled both concepts. While it is not my favorite book, I think it was an enjoyable experience outside my normal reading preferences.

As an autistic person myself, I mostly understood how Denver (any, prefers xe/xem/xyr) was feeling in regard to xyr social interactions and sensory issues. This made it very frustrating when reading how other people reacted to xem, especially Ezra (he/him). I personally often had to work really hard to understand why Ezra especially was upset by something Denver said. Maybe a neurotypical person would understand more, or if I read it from Ezra's pov, but personally a lot of the misunderstanding was more unbelievable to me than an alien landing in a small town.

However, I was happy with how it ended and the way things come together and grow. The pacing was occasionally a bit off and it was a tad confusing, but I think this is a good edition to sci-fi books.

Side note, I included character pronouns to make it easier for understanding, as well as to reflect neopronouns are used in this book, as it is especially hard to find main characters using neopronouns.

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“I don’t want to die when I’ve only just started to live.”

Denver Bryant loves pie - xe lives and breathes it - a Pie Professor - an aficionado of a critic who dutifully updates a blog that tells of xe's many delectable delights. But, when xe witnesses a strange phenomenon in Muddy Gap, Wyoming - one that very much resembles an alien invasion, xe's life is suddenly thrown into a whirlwind - a spiral of toppling events, in which xe is the only one who believes something is amiss - and someone others are very determined to keep silent from revealing what it was that xe saw. With only a handful of people on xe's side, it becomes a dangerous race against the clock for xe to fight for another day to live - and eat pie again. 😟

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don't read much sci-fi either, but Key Lime Sky had a lot of heart to it - one where we get to see Denver trying to prove that xe wasn't imagining things, while also fighting to keep xir own sanity and blog up and running. It was kinda charming, when I think about it - a bit quirky and weird, but still engaging enough for me to be intrigued by it. 😊 I liked how the writing created this allure of uneasiness - one where Denver starts sensing the changes in the surroundings, that leads to xem trying to figure out what is going on and enlisting the assistance of handsome plus-sized bartender, Ezra, who serves not only has his romantic crush, but also the voice of calm and reason - a partner who willingly steps into the fire for him or offers himself as a test subject for tasting suspicious whipped cream. Their banter was fun and light-hearted, and was enjoyable to see steadily grow. Denver was shy at times, but Ezra showed xem how much he appreciated him as xe was. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 Their romance was rather cute and endearing, how Ezra made Denver feel comfortable about himself and appreciate his skill sets. There was a nice flavor of sweet and spicy moments that showed how their trust steadily evolved over the course of strange predicaments they found themselves in.

“I had the chance to save people’s lives. To not be a burden. To subvert people’s expectations of me.”

And while I never really felt that the threat was all that alarming, it was a fun adventure to follow them on - one which involved crazed fanatics or warped time-holes or even a slight reprieve where they could just contemplate if the end of the world might not be such a bad thing. We get to see outside forces who would do anything to prevent the news from spreading - one where we get a whole lot of action and threats that is usually privy when it comes to doomsday scenarios, but still had this humane side to it. And though the danger was imminent, it still had a light-hearted appeal that made it not delve into too much of the scientific approach to it. 👽 Denver's reasoning in those moments was really insightful and fun to watch; xe was a dynamic character, not at all the resident weirdo, as others refer to him as. Incredibly perceptive, witty... and pretty, very observant, very out-spoken - who doesn't hesitate to tell it like it is and very willing to give it xir all. 👍🏻 Denver was a resilient and engaging protagonist. Xe had always felt like an outsider - 'for the desire to be whisked away to a place I would better fit in' - but, facing this dire threat taught xem The apocalypse may be coming, but xe will stand by with who they are; and that is something else I noticed and feared.

“Or maybe my awareness of my life only became noticeable by virtue of everything I lost.”

There was an instance where I was worried that the tone of the narrative would shift in another direction; fortunately, the crisis was averted, but then I realized what the underlying meaning of the events transpiring was. 🥺 How representation is something others have to fight to be respected in how they identify - how Denver and the diverse cast of characters who joined forces with him were feeling like aliens, for who they were. 'My town. My neighbors. Friends.' Denver realized how important it was to live life in the now, rather than hiding behind likes and fans - when xe's home had always been a part of xem. A band of misfits who worked together against all odds to fight off an alien invasion that taught him that the relationships forged in a life-threatening instance may be the ones to treasure forever. 🫂

The writing style was also satisfying; while some loose ends seemed rather errant, the overall feeling at the end was a rewarding one, that gave me the assurance that Denver was in safe and welcoming hands. One where xe learned to appreciate all that he was given and make the most of what was to come - be it pie or travels or Ezra. It also definitely does leave you hungry for pie, though! 🥧 😋 Lots of mouth-watering recipes that left me dying to grab one as soon as possible, so there is that one appealing aspect of the story, as well! All in all, it was a decent read; it had an adventurous streak to it that managed to keep the action entertaining, while also building upon Denver's confidence and his realization that perhaps, the life he had been living was worth protecting. It leaves you with a hopeful and optimistic look at life and taking pride in the person that you are. 🤍🤍

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I keep searching through so many anticipated releases, waiting for something that will break the reading slump. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't the one to do it. I just felt bored.

Wow.

Truly, what do I even say after reading this book? I'm not a big science fiction person and so I went into this thinking I wouldn't like it but boy oh boy was I wrong. Al Hess has truly outdone himself in writing a book that not only encompasses aliens and pie but also the insanely difficult and traumatic process that is life as a queer person on the spectrum. I felt connected to this book and subsequently Denver, the entire time I was reading this book. All of the moments where they were simply trying to exist felt like windows into my own life and left me feeling seen and heard for the first time.

And if you set all that aside for a moment, you also have a touching (and spicy) love story set in a dystopian world where the characters have to fight to survive and save the world. I wish that I could forget having read this book just so I could read it again with fresh eyes because I enjoyed it that much. I found the characters to be well thought out with reactions that would be normal in the real world if you had to deal with a possible alien invasion and your impending doom.

I don't care if you think you're not a sci-fi person, you need to read this book. I promise it won't disappoint!

Blog Post goes live July 30th
No Instagram review due to low rating - was featured on stories as reading
Will be discussed on Youtube wrapup in the future

TL;DR: The structure of an interesting novel bogged down by a very stereotyped, unlikable character and a lot of politics.
Source: Netgalley, many thanks to the publisher!

Plot: Denver is a food critic chasing viral fame and witnesses a UFO explosion. No one believes the sighting as Denver attempts to find the truth.
Characters: I genuinely wasn't a big fan of many of them to be honest
Setting: I feel like some attempt to draw the town out was made, but it was lost in the aggressive stereotyping of the townsfolk to shore up the identity of the main character
Science Fiction: This is probably more Fantasy. The alien in question is discovered by and uses seemingly fantastical things.

Thoughts:

You know, not everything works for everyone and this just didn’t work for me. Key Lime Sky probably aims for cozy but for me fell very flat on all counts. This follows Denver, who witnesses a UFO explosion over town. Unfortunately no one believes Denver, also known as Professor Pie, and the story unravels as things get progressively weirder and weirder in the town.

My biggest issues was the characters I think. I love an autistic main character. I’m surrounded with folks on the spectrum, in my close immediate family and further out, and I’ve worked with them in the past in a school and professional setting. Unfortunately the character of Denver in this felt so much like a checklist of ‘Autistic’ that I struggled reading it. While people who struggle with a lot of the same traits that Denver had exist, this character felt as if xe were nothing except those characteristics. It ended up feeling very flat, and uninteresting. Unfortunately I can say the same for the rest of the characters, who also seemed to be added by a checklist. A queer man with body issues, a queer woman with control problems, a bunch of VERY rude and add your-phobic old people who in the end are actually just sweet old folks, and one dumb but well meaning jock. These characters all existed per their attributes and identities, with little personality outside that.

There were also other small issues, ones I could have looked over but stood out starkly against characters who didn’t really hide them. The ‘reveal’ of how the alien is doing what their doing was just Denver having an idea and everyone just deciding that it was correct, and it was. Where? What? How? Also, I have questions on why anyone would believe a food reviewer of any type who only eats bologna and pie, just throwing it out there.

The idea behind this idea was fun! I was really expecting a fun time with a rich diverse cast but the story had little to it besides the politics of gender and flat characters. This is one of those cases were I genuinely feel bad for a bad rating/review. I agree with everything the author has to say. But if someone reads the description on this book there is a 90% chance they don’t need to be preached at. We’re already on the train with you, and we likely identify with people or parts of this. We came for a good time, not a sermon. That’s ultimately what this felt like. I wanted a lot more than this offered, but I’m likely the outlier.

2 out of 5 very squishy aliens

Content Warnings: Mild Gore (Alien); Mild fatphobia

For the sex averse, there are two semi-graphic sex scenes that are easily telegraphed and stoppable.

This book is a fun, easy read that relies more on soft sci-fi, but in the best way possible. I always prefer a character driven narrative, and Hess’s novel delivers. I fell in love immediately with Denver (xe/xer preferred but any pronouns acceptable), a non-binary, autistic, pie review blogger known as “Professor Pie.” While I wasn’t initially expecting a romantic subplot when I picked up the book, I quickly came to adore Ezra, a pan bartender, and how he and Denver’s relationship developed throughout the story. Both are allowed to make mistakes while also staying true to their psychological and emotional selves.

I also appreciated how Hess built the plot around Denver’s neurodiversity. It is neither a constant curse nor a savant blessing – it is presented as simply a part of Denver and his lived experience. At the same time, the novel gives readers a chance to see the varied ways it does influence Denver and those around him.

For me, some of the action in the novel got repetitive, and some side characters I wish had been fleshed out as much as Denver and Ezra were. However, the journey was enjoyable, and I liked how everything was resolved at the end. I had a lot of fun with this novel and would recommend it.

Do you ever read a book by an author and wish you could read it for the first time again? That’s the feeling this gave me. I have read all of Al’s books and enjoyed all of them. This book is on a whole different level. It’s so good it makes me feel like I’m reading the first book by him again.
Denver and Ezra are the best main characters I’ve had the honor of getting to know. Both are so well thought out it’s like I’m getting to know them in real life instead of reading through their eyes.
The whole town of Muddy Gap and its residents are so charming. You want to jump into the pages and experience what’s happening with them. I felt the frustration Denver was experiencing after seeing something and no one else in town believing him. You can see Denver getting stronger and more confident as the story progresses and xe really gets to a point where xe is the person xe always was going to be.

Key Lime Sky has been on my 2024 most anticipated releases since I first saw a synposis on instagram last year - it instantly captured my attention and I could not wait for the release, so you can imagine my joy when not only did I see it on netgalley, I was approved for it!

This book is everything I wanted and more. An instant favourite of 2024, I fell completely in love and I will absolutely be returning for a reread.

The diversity in this book is incredible, and never feels forced. All of these characters feel so utterly authentic, and I love the lessons that Denver (the MC) learned throughout the book. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible, I have a huge soft spot for small town americana and Key Lime Sky delivers this in spades. The story is fresh and cosy and interesting, without becoming bogged down in the science of the alien - a fact which I really liked because having an info dump on the science wouldn't have felt true to this book.

The writing itself is witty and fun and captivating - and so full of emotion. It truly feels human.

I cannot recommend this book enough - though be warned you will end up desperately craving pie.

Loved to read this one. Totally different. I totally got off of my comfort zone but this book really surprised me for the best. Super amazing read.

Key Lime Sky is a cozy sci-fi romp featuring a neurodivergent, non-binary protagonist and xyr band of misfits in small town Muddy Gap, Wyoming.

My impression of this novel is that it's a modern interpretation of the classic fantasy tale, Wizard of Oz. It features a levelheaded, assertive hero and a group of quirky sidekicks, set in a world that could symbolize inner turmoil. The story also includes a quest that leads to confidence and to a new understanding of their peers and surroundings.

Al Hess’ tale of a UFO invasion and a disgruntled pie aficionado, Denver, could be an allegory for the queer experience: questioning the status quo, having to parse out identity, and finding a chosen family. And while that topic could be heavy, Hess created this fun and decadent fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC.

This book was so much more than I expected! I really enjoyed it so much! The atmosphere was fantastic—I loved the small town vibes. As someone who has been to Roswell many times, I had no idea where this would go, but I loved the plot and the characters so much. I was a big fan of the neurodivergent rep and thought it was done well. Overall, a really fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robots for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

My rating: 3.75 Stars

I recently saw people discuss if prologues do a book any good and quite some people saying no, they just skip them and like?? I don't get it. I love prologues. Especially this one. It immediately got me hyped for the rest of the book.
I adore Denver who uses(prefers) xe/xem pronouns and is autistic. And xe loves pie. Xe is sweet and kind and cares so much! And Ezra too, he‘s a big chubby guy who‘s trying his best.
This book felt like a lighter read and the actual theory behind the alien invasion was kept very brief/abstract, no need to think too much about it.

Now the books main message is that people love you however you are, you‘re autism is not a reason to treat you badly and that‘s nice. But especially towards the end it felt a bit too much: Denvers constant inner monologue of „Everyone hates me“ to no, actually no one really does, you just made that up in your head, just made me feel a bit weird.

For the first half of the book that also leads to some miscommunication, which I get + there‘s an alien invasion, that‘s a bit stressful. But I just don‘t like miscommunication.

This book had some really fun things about it, namely the diverse range of characters (trans/non-binary/neurodivergent etc) and the SF undertones of aliens mixed with a reviewer of pies as the unlikely hero. Denver is our main character and xe is quite the unassuming one as xe are a lonely non-binary person living in a small town in the middle of nowhere and travelling about to review pies for xyr blog. Xe doesn’t have many friends or much family but there’s a small following on xyr blog of pie-passionate people.

When the sky in Denver’s town is lit up green one night and xe starts to notice some unlikely and downright unexplainable things happening Denver tries to document the happenings on xyr blog. Denver meets a host of characters (some good and some not so) who xe tries to work with to figure out what’s truly happening, and alongside the main alien/UFO plot there’s also a romance happening for Denver in the background.

What I liked about this was largely the character rep and the fact that this felt like a fresh story and at times a cosy one. The characters we focus most on are good people and seeing them deal with a wild situation was a cool idea.

Personally, I think this is quite a light book and doesn’t dive deep into science or the ‘how’ of anything (not a bad thing for me) and it’s just mainly about how we would cope in such situations as these. Whilst I never truly connected or felt true impending doom from the story, it was an enjoyable read and it was the first by this author for me so I am intrigued about other works. 3*s from me for this one.

Al Hess blends neurodivergent passion with eerie suburban secrets in Key Lime Sky as a group of queer, quirky misfits uncover a supernatural phenomenon after a UFO explodes over a small Wyoming town. Within the pages of this delightfully cozy adventure, Hess creates a slow burn of supernatural proportions, the tone shifting imperceptibly into hazy, creeping horror, blanketing the mundane in the surreal as reality rips itself apart around a pie-loving food blogger and xir budding romantic partner, a plus-sized Latino bartender. As secrets are unveiled, conspiracies crushed, and preparations for the end of the world are made, Denver Bryant finds a family – and place – to call home.

Denver PIES. A lot. Xe loves pie. Xe knows pie. Xe reviews pie. It’s an everyday part of xir life: eating pie, critiquing pie, talking about pie, and offering unabashed and unasked for opinions of pie. Xir safe space is xir blog, where, you guessed it, xe writes about pie. And also, maybe talks about aliens, a long-lost childhood fascination of xir, when a UFO explodes over town as xe’s heading back home from a particularly bad pie tasting.

The weird thing? No one in town seems to remember the explosion of neon green and magenta light. They don’t notice the static of the radio, an all-encompassing buzz. They don’t notice that the internet has gone out, or that the TVs have lost their signal, words ping-ponging across screens in blank despair. It’s eerie and deeply unsettling, Denver a phantom ghost floating through an unaware town, xir questions dismissed, unheard, and only reaffirming xir sense of loneliness and isolation. They all write the event – and Denver’s questions – off as another one of Professor Pie’s strange quirks. The continued dismissal is grating on xir already frayed, overstimulated nerves, and Denver turns to the only real safe space xe has to document the strange event: xir blog. Just an addendum to a blunt review of an unsatisfactory cherry pie to vent and document the strange experience.

Instead of falling into obscurity, mention of the UFO encounter rockets xir ailing blog back into viral territory, generating much needed revenue. It’s reinvigorating and overwhelming to be seen, to be accepted, to be heard, and that sense of belonging urges Denver into an all-out investigation. What starts as an impromptu Q&A as Denver wanders around town, thrown off by the presence of strange hail-pebbles that xe was convinced xe dreamed overnight, turns into the start of a romantic relationship when Ezra Gómez Miramontes, a new-to-town bartender, invites Denver over to look at the alien hailstones under a microscope while they eat xir favorite pie and talk about aliens and conspiracy theories.

What unfolds thereafter is wholesome and charged with tension – surreal, sexual, and suspenseful – as the duo navigate highs and lows, with incredible attention to detail. Charming, witty banter goes hand-in-hand with acceptance, with Hess highlighting the reality of neurodivergence for many. Denver experiences intense sensory overload and on-the-page autistic meltdowns but is written with an incredible sense of compassion and care. As a fellow neurodivergent, it was so nice to feel seen on the page – in the harsh clatter of dishes in a diner; in the never-ending, incessant thoughts that just won’t stop; in feeling too much, thinking too much, hearing too much – aided by the fact Hess writes with incredible attention to detail, bringing the visual and sensory to life. Sights, sounds, smells, textures – all are laid bare on the page with open honesty and impeccable detail, and the result is an amalgamation of Denver’s life. From delicious, unheard of pies that made me question if, perhaps, I dislike pie not because of textual issues, but simply because I haven’t found the right one yet, to viscous body horror, there’s never any doubt about what Denver is experiencing as reality slowly falls apart in the wake of the UFO sighting.

Denver is observant, blunt, opinionated, and incredibly determined, which makes xem the perfect candidate for a surreal exploration of the unknown, but xe’s also deeply insecure and lonely and sincere. Xe wants, desperately, to belong, but is often plagued by feelings of frustration and self-doubt, filled with the need to explain, to apologize, to reign in xir questions and answers and everything that makes xem unique. Slowly but surely, Ezra’s patience and acceptance help Denver to realize that xe does belong. As the two joke over government coverups and space hermit crabs over bourbon pecan pie topped with whipped cream, a sense of calm temporarily blots out the anxious unease and fear building just below the surface, ebbing and flowing as the novel progresses into a surreal landscape of looping highway markers, orange sandstorms, distorted photographs, and buildings turned inside out as the quest to discover what is happening in Muddy Gap, Wyoming unfolds.

Through it all, Ezra, gentle, patient, and understanding, becomes a safe space. His charming gestures and hopelessly romantic tendencies add an element of sweet acceptance to the narrative, which is littered with small love letters to Denver: in hand-picked flowers and tentative apologies, sharpied tattoos and rumpled sheets, comfort movies and colorful cat bandaids. As the world falls apart around them, Ezra and Denver embark on a passionate journey of comfort and acceptance. It’s subtle, tender, and impossibly wholesome, with Ezra being the first of many to outwardly express support in Denver’s ability to solve the puzzle that is the invasion of Muddy Gap.

What unfolds is a cozy sci-fi adventure, wherein a band of unlikely misfits conquer the alien apocalypse, all while finding acceptance and embracing their own identity amidst a backdrop of speculation that builds until it bursts in an eerie, unsettling wave of vibrant color, bringing with it a new beginning. Unabashed in its exploration of neurodiversity and tender in its exploration of romance and found family, Key Lime Sky is nothing short of delightful, combining surrealism with wit, and adding in a dash of eldritch horror in an unforgettable adventure fueled by tangerine nightmares, key lime skies, and hazy, iridescent photographs.

Al Hess has whipped up a deliciously unique out of this world adventure! Key Lime Sky is the epitome of cozy sci-fi with a side of eerie suspense and I loved every single second of it! Filled with mystery, romance, and of course, lots of pie - this otherworldly tale is a beautiful ode to found family, finding yourself, falling in love…and fighting aliens.💚

🥧 Pie
🛸 UFOs
🔍 Mystery
💻 Blogger
🕵️‍♂️ Investigation
🧠 Neurodivergent
🫖 Cozy
🏳️‍🌈 Queer
🥧 More Pie
🏡 Small Town
🗺️ Adventure

Key Lime Sky is one of my favorite reads of the year and I’m so excited to see what Al Hess comes up with next!

Thank you so much Angry Robot for the advanced copy!

“Hi, I’m Denver. Any pronouns.” Thank you Angry Robot Books and Al Hess for this free early book.
“Key Lime Sky” by Al Hess ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: SciFi. Location: Muddy Gap, Wyoming, USA. Time: Spring, near future. Note: LGBTQ+ and Disability inclusive.

Denver Bryant is 34, autistic, non-binary, and comfortable with any pronouns. (I’m using ‘he’ based on Denver’s comments on conjugating ‘xe’) Denver loves pie so much locals call him Professor Pie. He posts passionate pie reviews from across Wyoming. Driving home from a diner (nasty cherry pie!), he sees a UFO flash and burst over Muddy Gap. When he talks to locals, they’re angry-and no one saw anything. Not the hail storm of brain-weakening seashells (hailshells). Not the orange sand, or the disappearing residents. Denver’s convinced folks won’t talk to him because he’s different, so he documents it on his pie blog. The only one who takes him seriously is handsome bartender Ezra.. They must destroy the alien source before it crumples reality.

I love author Hess’ use of description: (“The scent of faded rain” “The insect whine of gossiping neighbors”.) He’s written a quirky scifi story that’s much more than just its genre. Hess gives us unbiased, kind, gentle relationships-with someone who is safe, who doesn’t judge you for your differences-who reassures you it’s ok to feel upset, that you don’t need to apologize for being yourself. You’ll feel the heat in a new relationship. If you love TJ Klune, this is your new book! It’s ‘local misfit fights alien invaders’ and ‘secretive government coverups’, it’s also disability awareness and loving relationships, and it’s 5 stars from me!🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️

It's no surprise at all to me that I loved Key Lime Sky - I've been a huge fan of Al Hess since reading Mazarin Blues, and every one of his books has been a winner for me since.

In Key Lime Sky, we get the fantastic rep that I've come to know and love from Hess, this time with non-binary, autistic, Cherokee, plus-size, pansexual, Latino, Black, trans-femme, and more. The main characters are also stunningly illustrated by Hess, another of my favourite features of his books.

Plot-wise, this was a great ride. A twist on the classic pop-culture, remote-town USA, alien invasion story, Key Lime Sky combines weird and wonderful happenings in a mystery plot that keeps you guessing, filled with almost psychedelic imagery, and a heck of a lot of delicious pie. Like seriously, I'm craving some so much!

The writing was witty, introspective, exciting, moving, and filled with relatable emotion especially for those who see themselves in Hess's characters, like I do. Within a wild sci-fi plot sits the real focal point of the story - human relationships, overcoming past trauma, trust, and accepting & defending one's own experience.

As always, I highly recommend Al Hess's work (all of it!) and hope that you'll also give Key Lime Sky a go when it's released in August this year. I've already pre-ordered it! I received this ARC from Angryrobotbooks directly and on Netgalley but as always these opinions are my own, honest, and freely given. Thank you to Al Hess for another wonderful book, and for access to this ARC!

In typical Al Hess fashion, Key Lime Sky is an enjoyable, heart-warming delight, with an added sprinkling of SFF wonder. However, in some ways, I did find this slightly weaker than his previous novels. Although it was still an utter joy to read, and I found Denver's POV to be really engaging, I would have liked more exploration of the side characters and the world itself. Outside of Denver's interiority, and some glimpses of Ezra's background, there were a few underdeveloped aspects of the tale. That said, I had a wonderful time reading this - and it made me want to procure and eat some pie (though I'm slightly in awe of the Alphabet Pie - I can't believe that, upon Googling, it turns out to be real).
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Utterly charming and delightful. A story of kind yet socially excluded people learning their true courage in the face of a UFO invasion.

From the blurb, the cover and the fun pun title I felt I had a good chance of really liking this book. And I really did! But it was so much more than I expected. This book delivered all the cheesy sci-fi I was hoping for alongside the small town American diner vibes, and I discovered so many flavours of pie I want to try (pistachio pie! Why have I never had this before?). It absolutely nails the nostalgic feeling from sci-fi b-movie, UFO invasion, area 51 that I wanted from this book. The atmosphere is perfect!

However, alongside this core narrative of the alien invasion of the small town of Muddy Gap, we also have so much more. We have a beautiful love story of two people who are kind, curious, passionate and socially excluded in their town. We have a found family where people support each other and see the good in each other in a time of great peril. We have heroes who challenge the stereotypes of people you’d typically see in alien invasion stories and show how valuable and strong people are.

It was fascinating seeing Denver’s perspective as the peril increases. Denver gets overwhelmed but sees patterns and details that others miss. Xe is frequently treated as odd by some of the townsfolk and when xe tries to help and warn others of the UFO invasion xe is ignored. Xe is continually called ‘Professor Pie’ by the townsfolk and is frustrated when people won’t call xem Denver (a name that is special to xem for a really personal and meaningful reason). Denver’s character growth is just phenomenal throughout this story as xe reacts to the challenge of the alien and also learns to open up and trust others.

Ezra is such a wonderful romantic interest, so kind and supportive. It was such a sweet romance where two people just find such joy and support in each other.

How has this book managed to pack so much into not a huge amount of pages? I loved this and I’m already thinking about friends I want to get this book for who I think will find it really meaningful.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to Al Hess, Angry Robot books and Net Galley.