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Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life
Chuck and her friends lost a good one last summer, but none of them are convinced that Ghost is truly gone. Once she recovers from her accident, she's ready to find the truth behind where he went.
With the help of her friends, Bailey, Corrin, and Pacey, Chuck will do what she can to track down Ghost, even if it means she maybe kinda gets abducted. It's complicated.
Will Chuck be able to reunite her crew, and, more importantly, will she do it without embarrassing herself? Probably not, but she's gotta try.
With the help of her friends, Bailey, Corrin, and Pacey, Chuck will do what she can to track down Ghost, even if it means she maybe kinda gets abducted. It's complicated.
Will Chuck be able to reunite her crew, and, more importantly, will she do it without embarrassing herself? Probably not, but she's gotta try.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2022
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 31, 2022
I AM IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!!
Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life follows Chuck who is recovering from an accident that’s given her permanent nerve damage and her friend Ghost has disappeared. Chuck knows he’s not dead, and with the help of her friends she might be able to track him down. Will she still embarrass herself in the process? Absolutely.
If you want something fun with a little bit of space adventure, this is the book for you! Chronicles is a short fast paced story of found family and alien shenanigans. I loved this book a lot, especially Chuck. She’s certainly a disaster, but I saw this as a fellow ADHD disaster and I love it. Chuck is a walking talking clumsy nerd and I love her to pieces. Besides being super relatable, she also is extremely funny. I dare you to read this book without laughing, I’ll wait!
This is a great book for someone who would like to read more sci-fi but is not ready for something like Gideon the Ninth or The First Sister. But like in general highly recommend those two along with this book!
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I had the pleasure of reading a VERY early copy and I cannot wait for you all to meet Chuck and her friends!! This story is loving. Full rating and review to come.
Rep: white disabled bisexual cis female MC with anxiety, ADHD, permanent nerve damage and uses a mobility aid, Black lesbian cis female side character, asexual nonbinary side character, white cishet fat male side character, genderfluid alien side character.
Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life follows Chuck who is recovering from an accident that’s given her permanent nerve damage and her friend Ghost has disappeared. Chuck knows he’s not dead, and with the help of her friends she might be able to track him down. Will she still embarrass herself in the process? Absolutely.
If you want something fun with a little bit of space adventure, this is the book for you! Chronicles is a short fast paced story of found family and alien shenanigans. I loved this book a lot, especially Chuck. She’s certainly a disaster, but I saw this as a fellow ADHD disaster and I love it. Chuck is a walking talking clumsy nerd and I love her to pieces. Besides being super relatable, she also is extremely funny. I dare you to read this book without laughing, I’ll wait!
This is a great book for someone who would like to read more sci-fi but is not ready for something like Gideon the Ninth or The First Sister. But like in general highly recommend those two along with this book!
_____________________________________________________________
I had the pleasure of reading a VERY early copy and I cannot wait for you all to meet Chuck and her friends!! This story is loving. Full rating and review to come.
Rep: white disabled bisexual cis female MC with anxiety, ADHD, permanent nerve damage and uses a mobility aid, Black lesbian cis female side character, asexual nonbinary side character, white cishet fat male side character, genderfluid alien side character.
July 27, 2022
4.5 Stars
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book!
When Chuck and her friends find a quarry to swim in, they never expect to also find an alien portal inside. And when Ghost goes through and Chuck is left to pick up the pieces, she has to not only find her friend and save the world from an alien invasion, but also convince her friends and family that Ghost is still alive while learning to live with her new disability.
This book was so cute! Chuck is a great MC and I identified with her ADHD and anxiety spells throughout. The friendships in this book are absolutely everything and the found family is *chef's kiss*! If you love Found Family, Space Gays, Mysteries, Dungeons and Dragons, and Quippy Humor, this book is for you!
This book has a lot of similar vibes to Cute Mutants by SJ Whitby and The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune and Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders. The writing style is very similar with irreverent humor, quips, and an MC that gets inside their own head a lot. Chuck is such an interesting character. I really enjoyed that this book was more focused on someone who was left behind from the life-changing adventure in the first act, and the way she dealt with the repercussions of that. But don't worry, she gets more in on the action later on!
Jes McCutchen's writing is hilarious, Found Family is to die for, and adventurous plot will have you hooked! This is a great book and I can't wait to get my copy and hold it in my little hands.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book!
When Chuck and her friends find a quarry to swim in, they never expect to also find an alien portal inside. And when Ghost goes through and Chuck is left to pick up the pieces, she has to not only find her friend and save the world from an alien invasion, but also convince her friends and family that Ghost is still alive while learning to live with her new disability.
This book was so cute! Chuck is a great MC and I identified with her ADHD and anxiety spells throughout. The friendships in this book are absolutely everything and the found family is *chef's kiss*! If you love Found Family, Space Gays, Mysteries, Dungeons and Dragons, and Quippy Humor, this book is for you!
This book has a lot of similar vibes to Cute Mutants by SJ Whitby and The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune and Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders. The writing style is very similar with irreverent humor, quips, and an MC that gets inside their own head a lot. Chuck is such an interesting character. I really enjoyed that this book was more focused on someone who was left behind from the life-changing adventure in the first act, and the way she dealt with the repercussions of that. But don't worry, she gets more in on the action later on!
Jes McCutchen's writing is hilarious, Found Family is to die for, and adventurous plot will have you hooked! This is a great book and I can't wait to get my copy and hold it in my little hands.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
December 5, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult, science fiction novel. The author’s writing is captivating and I loved how she wrote the characters, their relationships, and their interactions.
As someone who struggles with mental health issues, I really appreciate the mental health representation and how relatable these characters were. The adventure, humor, and inspirational quality of this book made this a fantastic read!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who struggles with mental health issues, I really appreciate the mental health representation and how relatable these characters were. The adventure, humor, and inspirational quality of this book made this a fantastic read!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 31, 2023
The town believes that Ghost drowned in the lake over the summer, but Chuck knows that Ghost jumped through an intergalactic teleporter in their hometown quarry. Chuck will stop at nothing to find her friend, even if that means going to war against shapeshifting aliens and getting abducted into outer space.
Stranger Things meets Guardians of the Galaxy, Jes McCutchen weaves a fun YA science fiction adventure about friendship and acceptance.
What I liked
Chuck was such an endearing protagonist! Armed with anxiety, ADHD, and a badass cane, Chuck is fiercely loyal and a fearless defender of her friends. Set during the senior year of high school, I really loved the diverse and accepting friend group represented in the book. Jes has such a gift at writing charming characters that you want to protect at all costs.
What I didn’t like as much
I thought the pacing of the first half was a little bit slow and would have liked the alien abduction to occur closer to the halfway point of the book, but that’s my only criticism, which could definitely be more of a preference on my part. I really enjoyed when the narrative switched from the invasion of the body snatchers to adventures in outer space.
Overall, this was a charming science fiction adventure about acceptance, belonging, and change. A perfect book to give to a teenager who is a Strangers Things fan. This is my second book by Jes McCutchen and she is a perfect go to for diverse light adventure reads where everyone gets the chance to be the hero.
Personal Rating: 4.25 stars
Indie Rating: 5 stars
Stranger Things meets Guardians of the Galaxy, Jes McCutchen weaves a fun YA science fiction adventure about friendship and acceptance.
What I liked
Chuck was such an endearing protagonist! Armed with anxiety, ADHD, and a badass cane, Chuck is fiercely loyal and a fearless defender of her friends. Set during the senior year of high school, I really loved the diverse and accepting friend group represented in the book. Jes has such a gift at writing charming characters that you want to protect at all costs.
What I didn’t like as much
I thought the pacing of the first half was a little bit slow and would have liked the alien abduction to occur closer to the halfway point of the book, but that’s my only criticism, which could definitely be more of a preference on my part. I really enjoyed when the narrative switched from the invasion of the body snatchers to adventures in outer space.
Overall, this was a charming science fiction adventure about acceptance, belonging, and change. A perfect book to give to a teenager who is a Strangers Things fan. This is my second book by Jes McCutchen and she is a perfect go to for diverse light adventure reads where everyone gets the chance to be the hero.
Personal Rating: 4.25 stars
Indie Rating: 5 stars
February 26, 2023
I read this in one day in one sitting and I was definitely a more unique read. I have not seen a more healthy family and friend dynamic in a long time. There is a lot of moments where people are accepting and accommodating of gender identity, disabilities and sexual orientation which I loved to see!
It reads more like a D&D campaign than anything else - while the stakes are "high", never once did I feel like there was any real danger going on! truly in the cozy category. There was a KEY focus on found family in this book and I loved to see it. While the MC is going though it in terms of physical therapy, high school and alien invasion - you never see her get too down about it, there's always a sense of joy throughout the book.
This book is a great debut and I hope to read more by the author!
rep // white disabled bisexual cis female MC with anxiety, ADHD, permanent nerve damage and uses a mobility aid, Black lesbian cis female side character, asexual nonbinary side character, white cishet fat male side character, genderfluid alien side character
cw// Injury/injury detail, Jail, Panic attacks, Kidnapping, Car accident
Find me on: instagram | tiktok
Thank you for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
It reads more like a D&D campaign than anything else - while the stakes are "high", never once did I feel like there was any real danger going on! truly in the cozy category. There was a KEY focus on found family in this book and I loved to see it. While the MC is going though it in terms of physical therapy, high school and alien invasion - you never see her get too down about it, there's always a sense of joy throughout the book.
This book is a great debut and I hope to read more by the author!
rep // white disabled bisexual cis female MC with anxiety, ADHD, permanent nerve damage and uses a mobility aid, Black lesbian cis female side character, asexual nonbinary side character, white cishet fat male side character, genderfluid alien side character
cw// Injury/injury detail, Jail, Panic attacks, Kidnapping, Car accident
Find me on: instagram | tiktok
Thank you for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2024
I gave this 4.5 stars- rounded up to five.
I absolutely loved this adventure.
Admittedly, the opening chapters were hard for me to read- not because Jes wrote a bad story or I was bored, but simply because the voice is EXACTLY how I sounded when I was in high school. It was cringe-city for me to accept that. A lot of YA is written to appeal to grown ups with some slight peter pan syndrome though, so from an objective perspective, this is awesome. The text is incredibly accessible for the target audience.
What finally shook my cringe was what happened at Alien Con. I scared my partner half to death when I hollered in shock. From there I could focus on the story.
I won't spoil it- this book is super good and you deserve to go in with no other details about the actual story except what Jes said to me when I bought her books: there are queer kids in this book, but the climax, trauma and action involved have nothing to do with their identity. It's all external and unrelated. It's beautiful and refreshing to see queer individuals treated like everyone else - HUMAN. I hope more authors follow suit. My next read is another Jes McCutchen - I'm so glad I didn't choose between her offerings. Yours should be, too!
I absolutely loved this adventure.
Admittedly, the opening chapters were hard for me to read- not because Jes wrote a bad story or I was bored, but simply because the voice is EXACTLY how I sounded when I was in high school. It was cringe-city for me to accept that. A lot of YA is written to appeal to grown ups with some slight peter pan syndrome though, so from an objective perspective, this is awesome. The text is incredibly accessible for the target audience.
What finally shook my cringe was what happened at Alien Con. I scared my partner half to death when I hollered in shock. From there I could focus on the story.
I won't spoil it- this book is super good and you deserve to go in with no other details about the actual story except what Jes said to me when I bought her books: there are queer kids in this book, but the climax, trauma and action involved have nothing to do with their identity. It's all external and unrelated. It's beautiful and refreshing to see queer individuals treated like everyone else - HUMAN. I hope more authors follow suit. My next read is another Jes McCutchen - I'm so glad I didn't choose between her offerings. Yours should be, too!
January 26, 2023
This short and fun read really soothed my inner teen. The entire cast is filled with diverse and queer representation and is executed so well. And the main character Chuck is one of the funniest MCs I have ever read! I’m not always the biggest fan of first person, but Chuck has me thinking otherwise. I couldn’t imagine this book without her inner monologue and observations and notable ADHD rants!!
Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life reads like a campaign, but…not D&D? More like, Portals & Phuphrath. Each chapter leads you deeper and deeper into adventure. No matter where you are in the story, Chuck brings you back to your human form with all of her timely and hilarious pop culture references. The callbacks had a way of grounding me as the story became more and more sci-fi.
I highly recommend this soft sci-fi read!
Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life reads like a campaign, but…not D&D? More like, Portals & Phuphrath. Each chapter leads you deeper and deeper into adventure. No matter where you are in the story, Chuck brings you back to your human form with all of her timely and hilarious pop culture references. The callbacks had a way of grounding me as the story became more and more sci-fi.
I highly recommend this soft sci-fi read!
March 2, 2023
This book was such a fun read! Great humor, and interesting premise and characters that you can’t help but love. I mean you have to love your friends a lot to risk alien abduction!
This book has some excellent mental health and disability rep along with queer representation. See below:
Rep: Bisexual female MC that has anxiety and ADHD and uses mobility aid. Black lesbian, gender-fluid and nonbinary side characters.
This book has some excellent mental health and disability rep along with queer representation. See below:
Rep: Bisexual female MC that has anxiety and ADHD and uses mobility aid. Black lesbian, gender-fluid and nonbinary side characters.
June 7, 2024
The writing style was really juvenile in a hard-to-comprehend way. And I liked the woke & nerd references but nobody (no kids) in real life actually talk like that.
The book was exactly what I expected, but I wasn’t expecting much.
The book was exactly what I expected, but I wasn’t expecting much.
September 9, 2024
I was remiss in not reviewing this earlier. As a indie author, this book earned and deserved a swift review.
This was honestly so great and not just as a 'debut' author great, but just a good heartwarming YA scifi book. Representation was there without feeling icky or having to check boxes. Story crafting was superb. Plot moved naturally and great character development. It felt like true to life conversations from mature teenagers, not just what an adult 'thinks' mature teens sound like. It was well written and the story was original what more could you want? I will be reading more from McCutchen.
This was honestly so great and not just as a 'debut' author great, but just a good heartwarming YA scifi book. Representation was there without feeling icky or having to check boxes. Story crafting was superb. Plot moved naturally and great character development. It felt like true to life conversations from mature teenagers, not just what an adult 'thinks' mature teens sound like. It was well written and the story was original what more could you want? I will be reading more from McCutchen.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews