A comedic and lighthearted paranormal novel/romance. Made me wish more in the genre had a sense of humor! A little Douglas Adams-esque.

Part road trip saga, part love story, part alien abduction story. Truly everything I could want. This was a very light, fun, but sometimes slow read. It kind of felt like the kind of writing you would find in a cozy mystery, but with aliens. Cozy mysteries aren’t for me but if you like them, you’ll likely like the writing in this one.

I got about 15% of the way through this, but I think I'm calling it. Reading First State of Being made me nostalgic for some Connie Willis, but I think I just need to reread one of the Oxford Time Travel series instead. This one just isn't for me.

(And also - where, oh where is the editor who's finally going to tell her that characters don't need to spend 95% of their time trying to make phone calls? I will never understand her obsession with characters trying to reach one another by phone. It eats up a substantial portion of The Doomsday Book too!)

Aliens are in Roswell! For real this time! And the consequences are dire—they may even make the main character miss the wedding of her best friend! That’s the premise of Connie Willis’ latest novel, The Road to Roswell.


The book—a love letter to the Southwest according to the author—is also a romantic comedy wrapped up in an alien invasion tale, with more than a few nods to Western cinema. The story follows Francie, a woman heading to Roswell, New Mexico for her college roommate’s wedding with hopes of convincing her to call it off. Her friend has terrible taste in men, and the latest is deeply into UFO sightings (hence the Roswell location) and raising all the usual red flags. Francie doesn’t believe in aliens, of course—she just wants to be there for her friend, even if the wedding is taking place in the town’s UFO museum and her silver shimmery bridesmaid dress makes her look like a downed satellite.

[rest of review at link below]

My review of this highly entertaining SF rom-com appears on Blogging the Mesozoic:

rcwordsmith.com/2024/01/01/my-review-of-the-road-to-roswell-by-connie-willis-plus-more-novels-coming-out-in-2024/

Francie never thought she would end up in Roswell, New Mexico, during the UFO convention week. But her college roommate is about to make a grievous mistake and marry a true UFO believer and Francie has agreed to be the maid of honor although she really means to go and talk her friend out of getting married.
Francie doesn't believe anything about aliens and spaceships and invasions. That is, until she is abducted by an alien who looks like a tumbleweed and made to drive him somewhere. Where is unclear as they can't communicate but he has one tentacle around her wrist and another pointing which way to go.

Before it all ends, Francie has picked up a haphazard crew to help. That includes Wade, a hitchhiker who is a conman, off to the convention to sell antiabduction insurance policies, Lyle a rabid believer, Joseph who gave up his job and bought the biggest RV he could find to fulfill his dream of visiting the West and all the locations in the hundreds of Western movies he owns and Eula Mae who is a card counter and slot machine expert while looking like a little old lady.

Francie and Wade figure out how to communicate with Indy, which is their name for the alien. He needs to go help a friend of his and they are willing to take him. But the FBI, the sheriff and all the state police are soon looking for them as they careen around the West, visit Las Vegas and finally find Indy's friend. Where will it all end?

Connie Willis is a celebrated science fiction writer. She has won ten Hugo awards and six Nebula awards and is a grand master of science fiction writing. This book combines adventure, romance and a peek into the world of alien believers and the reader will be entertained as well as educated. It is recommended for science fiction readers.

I'd never read the prolific Connie Willis before picking up The Road to Roswell, and science fiction isn't normally one of my go-to genres, but I couldn't resist the promise of a screwball alien road trip featuring Elvis impersonators, conspiracy theorists, a ragtag posse straight out of an old Western movie, and one glowing alien-green maid of honor dress. And that barely scratches the surface, because this is one of those books that has a little something for everyone: humor, hijinks, adventure, romance, found family, and even a couple of thrills.

The Road to Roswell, ultimately, was a book that charmed me and irritated me in equal parts. The charm came from the supporting cast of characters, who were quirky and fun, but mostly from the alien at the center of the story, Indy, who is described as a sentient tumbleweed with tentacles and has the sweetest, most adorable personality. In my head he looked like the Pokemon Tangela, but make it dust-colored.

The irritation came from the fact that these characters talked way, way too much. My introverted self was absolutely exhausted by all of the dialogue, much of which was talking in circles, rehashing things that had already happened, and attempting to communicate with Indy. I also found the central characters of Francie and Wade to be bland and uninteresting -- particularly Francie, who barely had a personality.

If there's such a thing as "cozy sci-fi," I think The Road to Roswell would fit that genre perfectly. I'm not sure it's a genre I, personally, really want to explore further, but with the way Willis ended this book, I guess I'll be doing just that. She really left us hanging!

This book is a fun enough read but there really is not more to it than that. About midway through, I got a little tired with the endless dialogue and had to struggle to finish it. Perhaps, this is just not my cup of tea.

Francie is going to Roswell, New Mexica to be the maid of honor in her old college roommate’s wedding. In Roswell. When she arrives, she looks for a person who is suppose to pick her up and take her to Serena. She calls Serena after waiting for her ride and ends up getting a Jeep to get to Serena. Serena asks Francie to wait for a flight coming in so she can take him with her. Finally the person calls and tells Serena that he will be coming on the red eye flight. Serena tells Francie that she is at the UFO museum. When she finally gets to the museum, she sees Serena talking to a man. He has been telling Serena that she can’t decorate the museum for her wedding. Serena has Francie try on her dress and shoes which fits her perfectly. Serena says what about lights on the ceiling, the museum guy isn’t sure about that. Francie volunteers to get the lights (Christmas lights?) that are in her car. When Francie doesn’t find them, she thinks she sees them on the floor of the front passenger. She opens the door and finds herself pulled into the car. The lights are an tumbleweed-like alien with extremely fast tentacles. The tentacles wraps around her legs and hands. Francie is upset but not for long. She keeps trying to figure out a way to escape the alien but finds it difficult to even have the alien let her drive. Will Francie do what the alien wants? Will Francie ever see Serena again and/or be in her wedding?

The author has written a sci-fi cozy. It’s like a mystery cozy only science fiction. There are characters who look human but are not.. There are touches of western, science fiction and romantic comedy in the novel. It is a fast paced and funny novel. I loved how Francie decided that there are aliens. It’s a great light-hearted novel!

If you love alien conspiracies and you love Connie Willis, then this novel will knock it out of the park. Based in reality but so very weird and just a rip roaring ride. Recommended!

I became a fan of Connie Willis's writing through her time travel books - specifically, To Say Nothing of the Dog and Blackout/All Clear. I love the humanity, gentle humor, period detail, and characterization she brings to her work. The Road to Roswell is definitely in a different vein, but it brings many of Willis's strengths, including humor, to a new venue. Willis's fans will be pleased with this latest story!

This is a light book to while away a few hours- maybe while you're on an RV road trip.

Connie Willis is incredibly well-known. At this point in her long and illustrious career, she's enjoying writing books that read like her much-loved classic screwball romances. And that's what this book essentially is. There's a nice guy and a plucky woman and they obviously are going to have to get together because what other choice do they have really?

But there's a lot of fun in addition. There's a very interesting alien who has communication issues (another of Willis's favorite plot devices) a road trip through the southwestern deserts of the USA from Roswell to Las Vegas and beyond, colorful and amusing characters picked up along said road trip.

Although it would be terrifying to be kidnapped by an alien and Willis plays that relatively straight, the story she's really interested in telling is a sort of found family puzzle solving journey. She aggressively references old westerns like Paint Your Wagon, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Stagecoach to telegraph even more clearly what's happening here, in case you were ever in doubt.

The road trip itself is rather long. I wasn't totally convinced by the Wade and Francie romance although of course they were going to get together- it's a screwball comedy and there was even a sort of shotgun wedding. The end comes at you fast. I wouldn't call this one of Willis's most cerebral works but it's fun and she's earned it.

Very frenetic as usual! Always racing everywhere. It is a very fun ride! Connie Willis is a wonderful, engaging writer. I love to read her stuff. It isn't relaxing, but always a fun adventure!

Yes, there are aliens. Yes, they come to Roswell, No, they look nothing like you expect. Connie Willis created an utterly delightful and madcap alien road trip adventure. This is a book that makes you laugh, zigs when you expect it to zag and very much makes you realize that when the aliens arrive you should probably prepare yourself. Find your people, pack plenty of snacks, and if you've got an RV make sure it's gassed up and ready to go.

A fun wacky adventure ride but in book form! When a montley crew of characters get kidnapped together by an alien! Delightful!

3.5 stars

At its best, "The Road to Roswell" is a fun, madcap alien road trip. But at its worst, its page after page of endless dialogue.

I’m serious. That’s pretty much all the book is. And even though the dialogue is entertaining – Connie Willis is a clever and witty lady – there’s not much else sandwiched between it to give the story substance.

But "Roswell" does have its moments. As the adorable alien, Indy, snatches up one innocent bystander after another, forcing them to join his road-trip quest, you can’t help but smile in amusement. It’s a ragtag group he gathers, and Francie and Wade and all the other sidekicks are just as charming as Indy. The story itself is appealing, too, because it has something for everyone: adventure, romance, humor, and heart.

I only wish Willis had put more into the narrative to occupy my mind. Dialogue is important, sure, but when it’s the only thing an author gives me, the book feels long and I tire of the nonstop talking in my head.

I’ll be back for Book #2, though, since Willis does a good job of NOT wrapping things up. No way will I miss out on more Indy and the gang.


My sincerest appreciation to Connie Willis, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

Man, I really wanted to love this book. I thought the concept was super entertaining. I was ready for a funny rom com with aliens and quirky characters.. but sadly, it fell flat for me.

There was almost NO romance for the first 50% of the book and when the romance showed up, it felt rushed. I didn't feel like there was any chemistry between Francie and Wade. I just needed more.

There was also so much talking and not enough doing. I understand communicating with an alien has to be confusing but as the reader I was getting annoyed at all of the repeated conversations that didn't seem to get anywhere.

I will say, I did like the cast of characters. I thought they were interesting and it was fun to see how they all interacted and came together. I also loved Indy so much!

Overall, I just don't think this book was for me. But I think if someone is looking for something with more low stake sci-fi adventure and less romance this might work for them!

*Thank you Netgalley and Del Ray for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This was a crazy, crazy book but oh so fun to read!
Francie arrives in Roswell, New Mexico to fulfill her duties as Maid of Honor at her former roommates wedding.
As a level headed woman she is taken aback of the fuss made of this weekend's extraterrestrial festivities which just so happen to co-inside with the wedding and the bridegrooms passion for all things related to aliens.
She just may change her mind once she is held hostage by an alien who has a problem of his own.
Sometimes, the story seems repetitive but all in all, a good time and a good way to escape from earthly problems and worries.

Rounding up to four stars. Willis crafts a cheeky and fun take on extra terrestrials visitors and fanatics. Many fun characters, but the actions of the humans late in the book may require more suspension of belief than any aliens do. I would rate higher, but the book could have used more editing to tighten up the pace and shorten the story, which dragged at times. Please note I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley.

At first I was really enjoying this and thought it was super cute, light-hearted and unique. I will preface my review by saying I ended up listening to the audiobook on my library app. I never want to hear the words NONONO or GOGOGO again. The reader used such a whiney toddler voice for Indy that it made me tense up and was a very unenjoyable experience. I also found Wade's character to be an ass and very insufferable. But this would be a good book to reccommend to someone just looking for a nice read without death or violence.