Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Series: Unearthed #1
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Pub Date: January 9, 2018
Pages: 336
Format: hardcover | Source: library
Genres: young adult, science fiction
Rating:

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying’s advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study… as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don’t loot everything first. Mia and Jules’ different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race’s secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race…

EXCUSE YOU WITH THAT ENDING (which I kind sorta had in mind BUT STILL). This was exactly like every sci-fi movie I love to watch! It was such a fun, tense book and I loved Jules and Mia as characters, their vastly different experiences on both Earth and on Gaia, and I loved the xenoarchaelogy. I also have so many questions! I liked that they were clearly attracted to each other (hello, teenage hormones) but it was far from instalove. It’s hard to ignore hot people even when your life is in peril, obviously. The puzzles sometimes seemed simplistic and I was confused at parts but overall I wish this was a movie because it would be awesome. I definitely need the sequel!

Down By Contact by Santino Hassell
Series: The Barons #2
Published by: InterMix
Pub Date: January 16, 2018
Pages: 220
Format: ebook | Source: purchased
Genres: adult, contemporary romance, sports romance, m/m
Rating:

Two rival football players begin a game with higher stakes than the Super Bowl in this steamy romance from the author ofIllegal Contact.

Simeon Boudreaux, the New York Barons’ golden-armed quarterback, is blessed with irresistible New Orleans charm and a face to melt your mama’s heart. He’s universally adored by fans and the media. Coming out as gay in solidarity with his teammate hasn’t harmed his reputation in the least—except for some social media taunting from rival linebacker Adrián Bravo.

Though they were once teammates, Adrián views Simeon as a traitor and the number-one name on the New Jersey Predators’ shit list. When animosity between the two NFL players reaches a boiling point on the field, culminating in a dirty fist fight, they’re both benched for six games and sentenced to joint community service teaching sullen, Brooklyn teens how to play ball.

At first, they can barely stand to be in the same room, but running the camp forces them to shape up. With no choice but to work together, Simeon realizes Adrián is more than his alpha-jerk persona, and Adrián begins to question why he’s always had such strong feelings for the gorgeous QB…

I really loved Illegal Contact, the first book in this companion series, so I’m sad I didn’t enjoy this one as much. I think it’s because I wasn’t a Simeon fan in the first book so it took awhile for me to warm up to his character. And there was a lot more homophobia, both outright and internalized which gave the story a different feeling. But the characters felt SO real and I think that’s the most important thing. Lots of truth. Plus once they get together they were actually a great couple! And towards the end might be my favorite part. While it’s not a new favorite, it’s a great #ownvoices romance that is worth reading. I hope there are more books forthcoming!

Have you read anything great lately? What did you think of these books if you’ve read them? Let me know!