Beam me up Scotty because this book really surprised me. This was a great start to a new series, and I can tell it'll just get better in the next book. When I originally read the description of this book, I thought it was going to be sci-fi all the way, not much emphasis on the romance. However, I got quite the opposite. The romance is balanced very nicely with the sci-fi element of this book, and works extremely well, as it is easily one of the best and most loveable parts of the novel. At first I was a little worried that I wouldn't understand what was going on because the novel basically just drops you right into the story. However, as the story progresses (and with the 3rd person POV), you quickly get the whole picture, and understand pretty much everything. 
 The plot to this novel is relatively simple, and while in most books this wouldn't work very well, in Alienated, it works perfectly. Because of the simplicity of the plot, the reader is never extremely lost or confused. It's all pretty much straightforward, and the element of aliens never overshadows the characters or the romance that blossoms throughout the story. One of the things that aided in helping the reader understand everything that was going on was the 3rd person POV. We are treated to both Cara's and Aelyx's perspective. I honestly think that this book would have been nowhere near as good if there wasn't alternating perspectives. The story would have been extremely confusing if the story would have just been told from Cara's POV. The dual POV is extremely well done, and both characters have their own unique voice. 
 I really enjoyed reading both Cara's and Aelyx's (said like A-licks) perspective. Cara's character progressed over the course of the story, and it was interesting to watch her transformation. She quickly becomes a very strong, independent, and fiercely noble person. She stands by her beliefs and doesn't back down when everyone is against her. She was also hilarious and spunky, which is always a winning combination. Aelyx was amazing. I absolutely loved him. Yes, he's extremely arrogant and standoffish in the beginning, but as he spends time on Earth and with Cara, he loosens up, and we see a brand new side of him that is simply swoonworthy. He constantly had me laughing when he tried to "fit in" with American customs or wording. I loved his explanations of things, and I especially loved watching his transformation into a caring, loving guy. 
 While it's no secret that love blossoms between Cara and Aelyx, it's not an insta-love thing, which is something I greatly appreciated. They took the time to get to know each other, and they had a friendship first. They didn't just fall head over heels in love with each other at first site. However, once their love blooms, it's a hold-on-tight roller coaster of feels! You'll be rooting for them every single step of the way!! 
 This was an exciting, original, and heartwarming start to a brand new series. The writing was fabulous, and Ms. Landers has a great talent for weaving an extraordinary tale. She has the flare of a seasoned author, which is very rare in a first-time author these days. I am eagerly anticipating the next in the series, and I'm sure it'll be a hit! I definitely recommend checking this book out if you're looking for a quick read that will instantly sweep you off your feet. It has humor, action, romance, and a hot alien. What's not to love? Check this out now. Happy reading :)