This was charming. I was enjoying the view of southern life from a slightly alien perspective. The pronunciation of Southern slang was spot on in the audiobook version which I was listening to. The setting was quaint, and the paternal figures and even minor characters were memorable and likable. I was having a good time as the story began.

Then it ended. What? I checked and double checked. There were the credits right there after these 4 chapters. No story had happened yet. I would really describe these first four chapters as a backstory that covers the early years of the main character’s life before getting to the main actual story, where Stuff Happens. But no.

This audiobook is 1 hr long, so maybe 8,000 words or so. It would have felt more accurate to call it a short story.

More to the point there needed to be more of a clear rising and falling action with resolution (plot) in order to feel like a cohesive complete story. I guess this could be called a coming of age story. There is one transformative event that happens toward the end. But there just isn’t enough conflict or rising tension.

But here’s the thing: I was thoroughly enjoying myself before it ended. Maybe the author just needs to keep writing?

One more thing: there needs to be more alien-ness in something called My Alien Life.

Audio version of this book 📕- A lovely short novella , detailing the life of Lynette who is sent to live with her old Aunt Mags who has a rather different way to parenting than her Dad ! A lovely story

"My Alien Life" by J. Martain is a delightful and heartwarming coming-of-age story that seamlessly blends humor, tenderness, and the extraordinary.

Narrated by Lynette, a child with an unconventional beginning – born from her mother's alien abduction – the story unravels in a small North Carolina town. Lynette's unique circumstances lead her to find solace and affection in her spirited Great-great-aunt Magnolia Rose McClellan.

Martain's storytelling effortlessly captures the essence of Southern life, infusing the narrative with warmth and charm. Despite its brevity, the novelette immerses readers in Lynette's world, inviting laughter and tears as the young protagonist navigates life's peculiarities and finds a sense of belonging in the loving embrace of her unconventional family.

Through Lynette's perspective, Martain skillfully explores themes of family, identity, and acceptance. The story's endearing blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary creates a touching narrative that resonates long after the final page.

"My Alien Life" is a gem of a read, perfect for a quick break, yet it leaves a lasting impact. Martain's storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a touching and whimsical tale that tugs at the heartstrings and reminds us of the power of love and resilience, even in the face of the most unconventional circumstances.

I just reviewed My Alien Life by J. Martain. #MyAlienLife #NetGalley
https://www.netgalley.com/book/297717/review/764328

This was a great short story.
I would have loved to spend more time with the characters, but I think the length of the story was good.
The narration was very well done.

I want to thank NetGalley for this audible in exchange for my honest review as well as the author.

Initially, I was uncertain about what I was immersing myself in when I started listening to this novelette. However, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I wish the story could be extended, allowing me to spend more time with the characters. I also really enjoyed April Doty narrating her voice was a fantastic choice.

I did not want this story to end! I want more.
Perfectly paced and multidimensional characters that seem so real you find yourself thinking about them days after finishing this story. Perfectly bittersweet.

A wonderfully heartwarming novella. The narrator was on point and really brought the southern atmosphere and characters to life. Left me wishing it was a little longer. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy

‘My Alien Life’, a novella by author J. Martain, was a bittersweet (more sweet than bitter), heartfelt coming-of-age story told in first person POV by MC, Lynette, who goes to live with her great aunt Magnolia at the age of 9 after her father passes away.

I really loved this story as a whole—for such a short story there is so much to it—but watching Lynette’s relationship with her Aunt Mags grow was definitely my favorite part.

Narrator April Doty did an exceptional job bringing the story and characters to life. She captured Lynette’s voice perfectly.

Highly recommend! I promise you’ll love every minute you spend with ‘My Alien Life.’

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬-𝘺𝘰𝘶!). 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

What drew me to this book was the cover, and then the title.
Then when I jumped into the narration, it just picked me up and carried me with it because I became IMMEDIATELY invested in the story of sweet and innocent little Lynette and her bittersweet journey till the age of 16.

The character of Lynette is a sweet and naive little thing, but not in a bad way. She's just a good little girl who was raised by her Daddy after her Mom took off somewhere.

Then when her Daddy dies, her Great-great-aunt Magnolia Rose McClellan decides to take her in and raise her on her farm. Though she's very old already, she makes a pct to stick around till the girl is at least 16 years old, after which she will be able to take care of herself, and the Aunt can be off on her way to the Great Beyond.

This was a very sweet little story, tinged with a little bit of sadness, but the kind you just suck up and accept as a part of life, instead of wallowing in.

For such a small book, the characters are very well-developed, and in a few words, a lot is said. The language is used artfully to create vivid images and is surprisingly descriptive for such a compact little novella.

The relationship between the old woman and the little girl is just so precious and heartwarming, and you just know that there's nothing that they wouldn't do for each other.

The only thing I wished could have been better was the ending. It felt a bit abrupt and incomplete. Like, don't bring me this far just to abandon me here!

Another thing was the 'alien' aspect that only gets a sentence or passing reference in the book. and is never elaborated upon. Was the entire purpose of it just to give the novel a click-bait title (I know that's for videos, but what's the equivalent for books)?

A well-written and impactful little book, with a stellar performance by the audiobook reader, April Doty.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial Audio and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

a very quick short story, i read it in one sitting. very moving story of a little girl who is taken in my her aunt when she becomes an orphan. The aunt is an elderly woman who struggles to look after herself never mind another person so friends and neighbours help out when needed.. A story of kindness, proper kindness, generous actions with no thought of paying it back. Lovely little story. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

The story wasn’t what I expected from the title of the book but it was an enjoyable listen.

I found myself drawn in to following the story of Lynette going to live with her Great-great-aunt Magnolia after the death of Lynette’s father. I thought Aunt Magnolia was a great character and seeing the relationship develop between the characters and others in the rural North Carolina community was portrayed well considering the short length of this novelette. I would have actually liked to have a longer version of the story and spend more time with the characters as there did end up being a big jump in time.

I listened to the audiobook and did not have any issues with the narration.

Thank you to the publisher, BooksGoSocial audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Novellas and short stories are not my usual go to. This sweet lil’ story with memorable characters has the ingredients to sway me. However it did leave me wanting more. Truth be told, I didn’t understand the title but loved the cover. Thank you to NetGalley and J. Martian for an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review!

Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: April Doty
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars

A 9-year-old Lynette lived only with her father. When he dies, great aunt Magnolia takes care of her. Aunt Mag is quite old (older than someone who would usually take care of a child), but she says she plans to live another seven years. By then, Lynette will be sixteen. Life changes for Lynette with aunt Mag. She teaches her how to sew and garden.

For such a short story, it is surprisingly good, and characters are well-developed. I wouldn’t say the genre is speculative fiction, as there are only two details to indicate that. It is more general fiction, a bitter-sweet story (but mostly sweet) set in the American South. I must admit that this is not something I usually choose to read. But I liked it anyway.

I read this novelette a while ago. I decided to try also the audio format because I was curious about the narration. April Doty did great, narrating this bitter-sweet story about Lynette.

My Alien Life is a novelette in 4 chapters on just 38 pages, or 1 hour in audio format.

Thanks for the advanced copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

My alien life is a touching story about an orphaned young girl. This story pulls you in and tugs at your heart strings. The Author stresses the importance of family, keeping your word and life skills. I would have loved to hear more from this story. A full novel or a follow up novel.

Lynette did love her Daddy — if not his cooking — so when he suddenly died when she was nine (her mother having abandoned her as a baby), she had no idea what would become of her. Enter Great-great-aunt Magnolia, “Aunt Mags”, six foot tall if she can straighten herself to full height; a straight-talking, “greens” growing, noted seamstress, and the only relative stepping forward to take in little Lynette. The audiobook is only about an hour long, so while there are a couple of setbacks and dramatic obstacles, this is mostly a feel good story about these two characters getting to know and love one another as they garden their patch, collect stray cats, and always keep their promises to one another. And that was more than worth an hour of my time.

"My Alien Life" by J. Martain is a heartwarming novelette about a young girl who becomes an orphan and is taken in by her very elderly and sassy Great Great Aunt Mag. They live off the land and sew their own clothing. Told in first person. This felt authentic, and the narration by April Doty was excellent. Only a one hour listen and well worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for giving me this audio in exchange for my honest review.

EN
"My Alien Life" is a story that captivated me from the very beginning. The narrative revolves around a child who goes through several traumatic family situations. As the protagonist grows, the story takes us on an emotional journey filled with small details that enrich the experience.

I immensely enjoyed this book. It was a charming novella that skillfully presented the story in an engaging and emotional way. The narrative managed to convey a range of emotions that held me captive from the beginning to the end. I was particularly captivated by the protagonist's development and the affectionate relationship she developed with her aunt. It's admirable how the author created such authentic and captivating characters.

However, I would have liked to have known more about what happened after the story's conclusion. I was curious about what awaits the protagonist. Does the author plan a continuation? That's something I would certainly love to read (or in this case, listen to, as it was an audiobook).

I want to express my gratitude to the book's publisher and the NetGalley website for making this audiobook available. The opportunity to engage with this story was truly appreciated.

In summary, "My Alien Life" is an engaging and emotional read that I would recommend to all lovers of captivating and well-written stories.

PT
"My Alien Life" é uma história que me cativou desde o início. A narrativa gira em torno de uma criança que passa por várias situações traumáticas na sua família. À medida que a protagonista cresce, a história leva-nos numa jornada emocional, repleta de pequenos detalhes que enriquecem a experiência.

Gostei imenso deste livro. Foi uma novela encantadora que soube apresentar a história de forma envolvente e emocionante. A narrativa conseguiu transmitir uma gama de emoções que me prendeu desde o início até o fim. Fiquei particularmente cativada pela evolução da protagonista e pelo relacionamento afetuoso que ela desenvolve com a sua tia. É admirável como a autora conseguiu criar personagens tão autênticas e cativantes.

No entanto, gostaria de ter conhecido mais sobre o que aconteceu após o desfecho da história. Fiquei com curiosidade sobre o que aguarda a protagonista. Será que a autora planeia uma continuação? Isso seria algo que certamente adoraria ler (ouvir, neste caso, pois foi um audiolivro).

Quero expressar a minha gratidão à editora do livro e ao site NetGalley por disponibilizarem este audiolivro. A oportunidade de me envolver com esta história foi verdadeiramente apreciada.

Em resumo, "My Alien Life" é uma leitura envolvente e emotiva que recomendaria a todos os amantes de histórias cativantes e bem escritas.

I love the Characters especially Lynette. It was a sad read for me, due to no one wanted to take her in until Aunt Meg came along. I really enjoyed listening 🎧 to it. A new to me author and will be checking out more books.

Beautifully written and beautifully narrated. A lot less aliens then I expected. It ended abruptly for me, I was fully involved with Lynette and wanted to go forward with her, wherever she went next.

I was not expecting this story at all. Definitely wasn't expecting a story about a mom who believed her child was conceived by alien abduction to hit me in all the feels. It was sweet and sad and everything you want from a coming of age story. I enjoyed it.

4 stars.