Joint Review – Alien in the Family by Gini Koch

Publisher: Daw
Publish Date: Out Now
How we got this book: Review requested from author

 
Super-Being Exterminator Kitty Katt and the Alpha Centaurian she loves, Jeff Martini, should be finalizing their wedding plans. But that was before she discovers Jeff is in line to become Emperor back on his home world. Kitty knows she is everything a royal family wouldn’t approve of, and is bracing herself for the worst. As it turns out, the royal family is just the beginning. Especially when extraterrestrial Amazonian terrorists are determined to start and end Kitty and Jeff’s nuptial festivities with a bang.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Has: I have been looking forward to this book for a long time especially since it promised an eventful event for Kitty and Jeff and in that case it certainly didn’t disappoint.

MinnChica: I too have been really looking forward to this one. I’ve come to love the hijinks that Kitty and Martini get into, and with their wedding being in this book.. I knew it would be a treat!

Has: I think this book really cemented their relationship in a lot of ways and definitely developed further which I loved. And I think it really needed that, especially with the previous events and happenings.

MinnChica: Definitely. I felt like both Kitty and Jeff were really focused on each other, on their relationship in this book. To me, it felt like they were in a more adult relationship; trusting each other, putting their faith in each other, growing together,  and I loved that!

Has: Yes! I think my favourite scenes from the books and I think from the series to date between them, is in this book. I loved how they learned from each other and realised a few things with this book.

MinnChica: Exactly!! Although it seems like the two of them did not have as much page time together as they had in previous books. So much of this story also focused on Reader (whom I love and adore) and Kitty as they humans within the AC group.

Has: And Reader definitely has some interesting developments too! I was glad we got a lot more insight with him because the first two books focused so much with Kitty and Jeff. I also hope we get more insight and development with other characters like Christopher and the other AC’s in future books.

MinnChica: I agree completely. Gini does such a good job of bringing the secondary characters to life, I totally want more and more of all the secondary characters.

Has: I also loved the new characters that were introduced – like the new alien AC’s and the tribble like Poofs whose’s scenes were a HIGHLIGHT of hilarity.

MinnChica: OMG yes, the poofs were so fun!! I loved every scene with them. And the new Aliens were a great introduction to explanding the world. I loved how different they were than other typical aliens. I hope they stick around for future books!

Has: It definitely expanded the world and I loved the brief glimpse we got of the offworld setting too! I wished we had more of that because it felt like a taster of how the AC’s origins. Although a few subplots was tied up in Alien in the Family – A few has opened up which I look forward to seeing happening.

MinnChica: Yes, there were a lot of sub plots that were left open in this book, and I have to say that was one thing that I was a little disappointed in. There was SO MUCH going on in this book. Sometimes I felt like my head was spinning in a million different directions, trying to keep up with everything.

Has: I agree – I actually had trouble following the main subplot which was the alien threat/conspiracy that was happening alongside the buildup to the wedding. I think due to the hectic pace and the twists and turns – so much was happening it was really hard to follow especially when the twists happened. I had to reread those sections to follow what was going on.

MinnChica: Yea, I found myself flipping back and forth pages as well, trying to figure out if I missed anything or didn’t let something sink in all the way. And that is typically something I never have to do. This book is definitely FILLED up with action and non stop plot twists and turns, almost to the point of brain overload.

Has: It really felt like it two books in one – there was enough to fill two books but it was jammed all in one.

MinnChica: Agreed, I felt as if it could have been separated into two books as well, although I don’t know if I would have wanted to wait any more for the Kitty/Martini wedding. Which while I know some people felt dragged on, I was happy with it. I loved that they did things their own quirky way, and that nothing happened to disrupt their day. I breathed a little sigh of relief that no fugly or big bad guy popped out to ruin things for them!

Has:  I thought something was going to happen in the wedding too but I loved the scenes leading up to it along with the big day itself. I thought it was a fun and a cute ending- I especially loved the unique ‘wedding march’ bit.

MinnChica: Exactly! It was so fun and personal to them. I really enjoyed that!

Has:  I think the wedding scenes/the ending felt a bit like a novella/epilogue of sorts – I think it could have stood out very well as a stand alone short. I think so much happened in the book we needed a bit of a breather although it did feel like something bad was going to disrupt the big day but I was glad it never happened!

MinnChica: I thought exactly the same thing, that the last 100 pages or so would have made a great novella within the series. As much as I loved it, it did seem to drag out the story and left me almost emotionally drained at the end.

Has:  Exactly!!! I felt the same way. So much happened in a relative short frame of time it was definitely overwhelming

MinnChica: All in all, I really liked Alien in the Family. Although the book really seemed to drag on at times, and was filled with sub plots galore, I really did enjoy the extensive continuation of world building, introduction of new characters and development of Kitty and Jeff’s relationship. I can’t wait to see where else Gini will take us. I give Alien in the Family a B-

Has: I also enjoyed Alien in the Family and some of my all time favourite scenes with Jeff and Kitty are in this book. I also loved the expansion of the AC world and the new alien races, although I did feel overwhelmed with the plotline, which felt that there was too much going on. However this book for me cements Jeff and Kitty’s relationship in a lot of ways and I look forward to seeing how it evolves further in the next book. I give Alien in the Family a C+