YA SciFi LGBTQ+; MC girl is having strange flashbacks of a place that she describes as almost womb like. Spoilers.

[Kailina]

I apologize for the choppy rendition but I do remember some key plot details, the only problem is I can’t remember if I’m melding two books together in my mind so if you think parts of it sound familiar but not others please tell me!



[Spoilers Ahead]



So the the books main character is a young adult maybe 18-20 but she was living with a relative (grandma or aunt someone female) her relative was a scientist and went to work regularly.

There is a point in the book where the girl is walking down the sidewalk and meets another girl with brightly colored hair, they hit it off and go hang out later. Eventually the bright haired girl invites her back to her home and asks if the main character is into girls. She says no but eventually they kiss and she decides she wants to be in a relationship with her.

At the same time the girl is having strange flashbacks of a place that she describes as almost womb like. It drives her crazy that she can’t articulate what she’s seeing and she tears apart her bedroom to make her walls reflect what she sees. She paints the walls orange and covers them in cling film.

It’s later revealed that she is an alien or other worldly creature and her relative (the scientist) was in charge of raising her. I also believe the bright haired girl knows this but I can’t be positive.

I was never able to finish the book but I read it about 7 years ago. I don’t think it could have been more than two or three years old at the time so it probably came out circa 2010 or so.

[Emily]

That sounds like part of the plot from Adaptation, by Malinda Lo.

[Kailina]

No that doesn’t appear to be it (although I’ve put it on my reading list because the plot sounds interesting!)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Kailina, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Daisy]

Kailina, are you 100% positive it's notAdaptation or its sequel? It's an exact fit - womb walls and the two girls bumping into one another, for example.

[Kate (Feathered Turtle Press Reviews)]

Are you sure?
Lines from Adaptation:

(view spoiler)[When they entered Reese’s bedroom, Amber gasped. The paint was still wet, and the red drips that streaked down the wall ended in gleaming little droplets. Ambers mouth parted slightly, and a shadow seemed to pass over her face, as if she were seeing something that struck a nerve in her.

***

“You said you weren’t finished. What else are you going to do?”
“I’m going to put plastic wrap over part of it.” Hearing the words outloud made Reese realize how odd they sounded.

***

“Now why don’t you tell me why you’ve painted a gigantic red and yellow mural on your bedroom wall without asking my permission first?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, rubbing a hand over her forehead. “I just had this dream and I really wanted to see it in three dimensions. I’ve been thinking about it for days and I had to paint it.” (hide spoiler)]