This book follows two characters, Jen and Tam, who met in forums about aliens and took their interactions into a group chat with four other members. They've never met in person until now, where they've all decided to attend a Roswell-esque alien-related convention together. The obvious catch is that Tam is an alien who's gotten stuck on Earth and none of his friends know about it, not even his human crush, Jen.

The first ~50% of the book was decent, if a bit saccharine in its internal effusions of interest between the main pair. Getting to know the friend group was interesting, and I liked the interspersed group chat sections in idea, if not necessarily in practice. I've been in a lot of online chats with a wide variety of geeky people, and they just didn't feel like real people talking. "Stilted" is the best word I've got for it, though that's not quite it. The little peeks of convention culture were fairly surface level, but fun. I enjoyed seeing Tam navigate life on Earth and interactions with humans.

Things started to fall apart for me once the action moved away from the convention. The only things happening were entirely mundane and largely uninteresting. The parts I enjoyed most were insights into alien culture, planets, Tam's travels, that sort of thing. If the book had been more about that and less about the lackluster romance, I could probably have added a star.

But let's talk about the romance. I appreciate the ace rep here and that, while they existed in a fashion, sex scenes weren't the focus of this book. However. I didn't even believe their chemistry as friends, much less as people in love. Every conversation felt like they were tiptoeing around one another, having first date get-to-know you sessions (months into knowing one another), or being infuriatingly sappy and understanding. Like, sign me up for reasonable adults who have adult conversations and work things out rather than have misunderstandings, but it all felt so juvenile, like life problems can be solved every time by a, "They don't deserve you. You're wonderful."

The worst offender, by far, was the filler conflict that started at the convention and ended in the most anticlimactic way in the final chapters. No spoilers here, but I genuinely don't understand the point other than to pad out the story.

I'm really sad I didn't like this one more, because I had high hopes.

A pretty atypical story of finding love on the internet. Cute, although it was clear the romance was the focus, to the point where several other threads seemed under-developed. The sex scenes were for the monster lovers, and the romance itself was a pretty extreme wish fulfillment example—a partner who might literally drop the rest of the universe for you!—but that's just what this book's ideal audience is looking for.

This Space Con just got a whole lot hotter because the last thing alien loving SETI-Program girl Jennette ever thought would happen to her would be that her online best friend/crush is an actual alien and that he just might be in love with her too. Tamzier Jaarn aka Seeker is an alien who got stuck on Earth and has been stranded for nearly a year, his only comfort is the online group of humans he's befriended. Seeker hasn't told anyone who he really is but he finds himself dawn to Jenn. Jenn loves aliens and space, she even is part of an online group of friends who talk about aliens... and she just happens to have a crush on Seeker. So when the group agrees to meet iRL at Space Con Jenn can't wait to meet her online crush! Yet the closer they become Seeker is realizing that he'll have to reveal the truth... and ask himself if given the chance would he leave Earth or has he finally found a reason to stay by choice. This was a really fun Bi x Aro rep with a dash of paranormal quirky rom com. It was sweet, it was fun, the characters were all delightful. I had a fun time reading this and think it makes a great read for anyone looking for a fun cute time!

Release Date: June 17, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I got deceived by the cover. I was expecting something along Ice Planet Barbarians and I got something really adorable and cute. Jennette is a Sci fi/ alien enthusiastic and her ultimate dream is meeting an alien. What she didn't know that the guy from her chat attending Space Con along with some other friends she made in the forum..is also an alien, stranded in the Earth.

Tamzir aka Seeker has come a long way from his home planet for exploring earth and he was abandoned here
by the tour company. He has advanced techs those help him to blend here. Somehow. He hasn't stopped searching for ways to go back. He was very lonely and that's why the forum of alien lovers was a help. He is a bit awkward, in alien way. He is actually very nice. A perfect gentleman. He liked Jennette a lot through the chat and she developed a crush too. The space con was more that just a group of friends meeting. I loved the vivid descriptions of the con with the interesting people and the anecdotes and the history. I also liked how Tam confided in Jennette. And how they wanted to give it a chance.

The issue is calling it a romance. I didn't feel the actual spark between Jennette and Tam. I loved the group of friends and their chemistry. But I don't think there was a lot of romance between Tam and Jennette. If you take out that part of equation and let yourself enjoy the Sci fi parts, you will enjoy it.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

This wasn't a typical read for me wanted to try something a little different I enjoyed it like the concept found it very interesting to read

My Thoughts
I am always on board for reading this author so when the book came to my attention of course it went on my review request list and my library wish list as a backup plan.

Science fiction romance is always an interesting trope and especially when paired with an event where humans dressing up as Aliens means a real Alien can go unnoticed because their natural form would not stick out.

Tam and Jennette built a rapport online long before they and their chat Group from Aliens Among Us met at Space Con for a week of Sci-Fi fun together.

These 6 characters from different backgrounds were so much fun to follow on their journey from strangers to friends to "Family of the Heart".

The fact is that labeling this book as a sci-fi rom-com was not quite accurate as that is not all its story encompasses.

There is also a sense of connection that carries over to the reader as this group find themselves enjoying not only Space Con itself but each others company as well.

For our two main characters their relationship leaned heavily on friendship first while learning to trust each other, you will find out more about that as you read.

Not cringe-worthy at all as the romance side was not focused on at length and all in all an enjoyable foray into what may turn out to be a new series.

[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

DNF at 50%

“I Think I'm in Love with an Alien” is the first alien romance by Ann Aguirre and tells the story of Jannette and Tamzir.

I'm a sucker for a good alien romance like “Ice Planet Barbarians” and Ann piqued my curiosity with her story. She opted for a completely new concept (for me).

In “I Think I'm in Love with an Alien” we accompanied Jannette, who was already an outsider, on her way to an alien convention where she meets her online friends and Tamzir, who is a real alien and stranded on Earth.

What really got me was the cringe dialog. None of the characters seem to communicate with humans very often. I just found most of the situations uncomfortable to read and it just wasn't my cup of tea. I found many scenes super stiff and the writing style here was often a bit “edgy” too.

Unfortunately, most of the story consisted of exactly this kind of dialog, which is why I decided to abandon the book.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

this was a really fun read. I love unique romance books and alien/monster romance always delivers on that front. This book also had the added bonus of having con culture and Fandom which is another thing love. I just really enjoyed this book as a whole.

Well this was a charming contemporary romcom version of an alien romance!

You know how on the internet, nobody knows you're a dog? (Am I dating myself?) Turns out that on the internet, nobody knows you're an alien, either. Jennette and Seeker/Tamzir meet on the Aliens Among Us forum and start flirting through DMs. They meet up with their AAU group chat at Space Con, where Jen is hoping she and her internet crush can maybe move their relationship to RL. But Seeker has two issues: he's, y'know, an alien; and he still wants to get off-planet. That second one doesn't seem like a huge hurdle for a con fling, but Seeker's species mates for life, meaning he literally can't take things to the next level unless he decides to stay on Earth permanently. (Yes, this means Tamzir is a virgin hero. No, I didn't know this before I started the book, but now YOU DO. You're welcome.)

I have read my fair share of alien and monster romances, and TBQH I'm often uncomfortable with how the non-human bodies are eroticized for the reader. (No judgement if you love them, this is just my own personal discomfort!) This book sidesteps that issue a bit: while it's not closed door, there's not a focus on how Tamzir and Jen fit physically. Instead it's about navigating consent (Tamzir is very hesitant to do much, physically, since it could change his body chemistry or whatever), personal attraction, and how they can make it work emotionally and for the long term. I thought Aguirre made this aspect feel authentic: both Jen and Tamzir feel like loners in their own cultures, so finding a mate outside of those structures makes sense. On the physical end, Jen is gray ace, so she's used to feeling attracted to other people for their personalities and less for their bodies, anyway.

Definitely pick this up if you're a contemporary romance reader looking to dip your toe into alien romance. It's also a great choice if - like me! - you're both burned out on a typical contemporary romance while also being a little too chicken for the full alien romance experience.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This was a great dual POV sci-fi romance with some light comedy. Our MMC is an alien who is stranded on Earth. Our MFC is a human who loves theoretical aliens with strong suspicions they are real. They initially meet in a group chat for “fellow” SciFi nerds, and then later meet up at Space Con! Secrets are uncovered, family is found in friends, and romance happens with later hijinks ensuing.

This was a nice medium-paced read for me. Our main couple has softer feelings for each other that deepen as they get to know one another. I loved their relationship. I did find our MFC to be a tad selfish, but given her background, I accepted it since it made sense with her character. The relationships were wonderful. I loved how the friends came together to be their own support system and escape from reality. This is often seen in real life, and I felt the author really showed this so well. Family can be something you choose. The writing is great, and the premise really flows well. The emotions you feel as you read have a real impact; I really enjoyed being taken along for the journey.

My one complaint? I felt like there was a slight overuse of miscommunication when it came to some conflicts. I did yell at my poor Kobo when it happened. So, I did dock 1 star for that. You can understand why there is miscommunication, but it is not something I enjoyed as a way to further the story along.

Overall, I had fun reading this eARC. I give it 4/5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley; I appreciate that I was able to get an eARC to share my opinions.

I haven’t read many romances in this style/theme but I do usually enjoy them when I do, so I went into this with high hopes.

I did enjoy the book overall, I felt the characters were well written. The little knowledge seeker had of human ways was done very well but I felt his personality and growth didn’t really develop at all throughout the book. I really liked the side characters and wasn’t expecting some of the things that were revealed about them.

The plot was interesting but felt repetitive for a part of it in the middle. I did enjoy watching seekers and Ken’s relationship develop and how they handles living as a human/alien couple. However I did struggle with the fact that the first half of the book was just her constantly thinking something was off about him and him not telling her, that’s where I felt the repetition became a bit irritating.

I really enjoyed the conclusion even after predicting what would happen as it was all wrapped up so well and just felt sweet and cute.

Overall it was a good read but more for the vibes than the writing. I did have a really good time and would read something by this author again.

This was cute!

Admittedly, this was a little too slow for me. Even as a demisexual and seeing a lot of myself in Jen, there was still too much filler in setting up the world.

I understand that this was also setting up the potential for more novels in the same universe (especially with some of the reveals in that same friend group) but I feel like it would've benefitted from a faster pace. Especially with the group text chapters also breaking up the pacing even more. I can understand that it's part of setting the stage for Jen and Tam but, they dragged a little bit too long.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a very romcomy scifi romance, which was a surprise after the other scifi books I have read by Ann Aguirre. The story is cute though and set at a Space Con. It is dual POV, told from the point of view of both a human and her alien love interest. Jen is our human FMC who is obsessed with meeting an alien, but also lonely in her real life. She meets some like minded people online and then sets up a get together for all of them at Space Con. One of her online friends is Seeker, who unbeknownst to her is an alien! Seeker is stranded on Earth and trying to find a way home. While stranded he has experienced deep loneliness and the group chat Jen creates really helps him. This is a sweet story as they both bumble around each other trying to decide if they can truly trust the other. If you are looking for a unique romcom, this is the one to check out!

I really really wanted to love this, but I found it extremely slow and boring. It felt like the plot was so minimal, and it dragged on with nothing happening the majority of the time. The romance is giving more found family and great friendship than actual romance. There was no tension or angst or want in the sense of romance, more just companionship and friendship.

The writing is done well, and I really liked the premise or plot. It was just very, bland.

Thank you very much for the arc opportunity!

I Think I'm In Love With An Alien by Ann Aguirre offers a delightful blend of sci-fi and romance, with a premise that's both quirky and endearing. The characters are likeable, and their interactions bring a unique charm to the narrative.

I'm avoiding spoilers so excuse the vagueness.

However, a significant time jump near the story's climax felt abrupt, disrupting the narrative. Additionally, the protagonist's 'pivotal decision' seemed rushed, lacking the depth and deliberation you might expect. Despite these pacing issues, the novel showcases Aguirre's talent for creating engaging worlds and characters, hinting at even greater potential in future works.

dnf

Oh man, I really did not vibe with this one. I was just so bored and none of the characters really stood out to me. Most of them were two dimensional. I love me a good monster romance but this just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. I was expecting something kind of like Ice Planet Barbarians but with more quirkiness, but I think the setting doesn't really allow for the kind of wonder and novelty that comes with monster romances. You're not really seeing the other world, you are seeing the human world. Unlike monster romances that take place on another planet or a more historical world. I think that's what I find good about them, and that just wasn't present here.

After reading and loving Ann Aguirre's Strange Love and the rest of that series, I had a feeling I was going to love this book also and I was not disappointed. SF romances in which the alien male is basically just a a human guy who is huge, blue, has a tail, horns, and large sized all over are a dime a dozen. It's much rarer to find an alien/human romance in which the author takes the time to create main characters that really are alien. Ann Aguirre excels in this and that's why I love her SF romances.

This book was like a warm, cozy hug, filled with found family themes and characters I'd love to spend time with. Tam and Jen were both lost, Tam literally stranded on Earth with no way to get home, and Jen because no one in her life took the time to understand her and love her for who she was, not who they wanted her to be. They first connect online, and when they finally meet in person, it's as if they've always known each other and have found their other half, even if they are two different species.

Readers who go into this book expecting the usual alien romance, complete with oversize parts or double appendages are not going to find what they are looking for here. Tam and Jen are strongly attracted to each other but there's very little conventional touching. This is partly due to Tam being truly alien and therefore experiencing pleasure differently than a human would, but also because Jen categorizes herself as gray ace on the sexuality scale, meaning she is fine with sex, but she doesn't think about it that often, and doesn't tend to feel sexual attraction to anyone. For her, it's all about the emotional connection. This of course, makes Tam the perfect partner for her.

I hope the author continues to write more of her brand of SF romance as I'll be happy to read it every time. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Give me an alien romance and I eat it up every time! I really loved the premise of this book! An alien trapped on earth, I mean what’s not to love. Unfortunately I didn’t love the characters and I felt that there was a lot of unnecessary fluff.

Will definitely be stoking in my store for all of the sci-fi cosplay nerds!

'I Think I’m in Love with an Alien' is silly and fun. It’s a book for nerds, and it could have come from the AO3 fan fiction universe (maybe it did?). The premise is delightful – and potentially hilarious but somehow not all the jokes land for me. It’s a tender romance set in the present (post-pandemic) in ordinary America with a friendship group of misfits who meet on an Aliens Among Us website.

Jen, our heroine has set up a group chat, a breakaway from the main website. The group agree to meet up in Rellows, to attend Outer Space Con. Rellows in Utah seems to be a thinly disguised Roswell, New Mexico as it’s a sleepy town that comes to life for all things alien-themed.

Jen has been talking online privately with Tam (full name Tamzir Jaarn) and is keen to meet him in real life. She is a loner, she’s always been considered weird and is bullied for her interest in the extra-terrestrial and the way that she hyperfocuses on things that interest her. She’s bi- and doesn’t experience visual attraction, and through their chats, she’s already half in love with Tam before they meet, so his ‘difference’ isn’t an issue for her at all.

Meantime Tam has been stranded on Earth for a year, after a holiday adventure went wrong when he travelled from his own universe and his pickup didn’t collect him. Tam’s observations about humans are very funny – his language is old-school and awkward (and a little clinical) – he describes humans as Terran mammals who have cranial fur :) The downside is that his speech patterns are a bit stilted and it is not easy to believe in his growing attachment to Jen.

Group and private chat texts thread through the novel and this was the most fun for me – there’s rhythm and banter in the texts that is absent in their real-life interactions.

There’s satire (‘Owen Lusk has designed a spaceship’), environmentalism (‘they should focus on fixing the planet they’ve poisoned instead of squandering resources to steal another’), human foibles (‘humans are impulsive and difficult to govern. I collect that’s why their society has so many laws’) – and plenty of internal dialogue from both Tam and Jen but none of these things have any real bite.

This has potential for romantic suspense, with an on-the-run plot, or even a thriller. There are identified baddies, a ticking clock, hostile relationships, plenty of scope for drama and intrigue, and yet, none of this happens. There’s not even a climactic moment at the end! I love the idea of it, and Ann tells a good story, but this could be so much more.

Full review coming soon on All About Romance.

Thank you Ann Aguirre, Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

3 stars - I liked it

Tamzir Jaarn, aka Seeker, has been paying the price for risking an illicit holiday on an forbidden planet. His ride off world never showed up and now he has been stranded on Earth for a year. But when he meets some cool humans online and is invited to the biggest space-themed convention, he decides to take the chance and go, especially since Jennette will be there.

This was a bit of a cozy, cute, and nerdy sci-fi romance. We have a group of online friends who are obsessed with aliens finally getting to meet for the first time at a convention. This was very relatable as a cosplayer myself who has met many online friends at conventions. I really enjoyed the friendship between these six friends and how supportive they were, especially after finding out aliens exist.

Tam was an alien who sought adventure to get away from disappointed parents and ended up on Earth. He is struggling but finds solace in the group chat, specifically with Jeneticist, aka Jennette. I really liked Tam. He was sweet, kind, and lonely. He really just wanted to be accepted for enjoying mechanical things, and he found that on Earth. His culture and alien differences were fascinating and I loved the brief glimpses we got of what an alien world looked like.

Jennette is a woman who dreamed of being an astronomer but settled for teaching it instead. She has really been accepted by friends or family until she finds this group of friends. I really liked that she didn’t really panic about finding out about aliens, and quickly jumped in to help Tam survive better. While I liked Jennette, I did think she gave her family way too much leeway in her life but was glad to see that she cut them out after their toxic words.

The romance between these two is very slow building. Its friends to lovers but with Jennette being grayace, it makes it a bit slower. I was glad to see grayace representation that actually focused more on the emotional side of the relationship instead of the physical. I enjoyed their relationship but it did make the story a bit slow, especially with everything else going on in this story.

White I enjoyed this story, the pacing is slow because it spends a lot of time on non-relationship things like getting to know all the friends, the convention, and on the daily life of the main characters. I enjoyed getting to know the other characters, but I could have done with less of the filler scenes that didn’t really add much to the story or romance.

Overall, while the pacing is slow I still enjoyed this. I would be interested in reading more if she writes about their friends.

TW: toxic family; sexual harassment; death of a parent from cancer mentioned; death of friend in car crash mentioned;