4.3 Stars 

Lynette goes to live with Aunt Magnolia (Mags) after her father’s demise. She’s a nine-year-old with no friends or anyone else in her life. Moving with Aunt Mags opens up a new world, where Lynette learns nature’s secrets, self-reliance, and confidence. But things can’t stay the same forever, and Lynette may have to make another choice soon. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Lynette. 

As a short story writer and fan, this little book was a delightful experience. The story doesn’t feel like speculative fiction except at the beginning and the end. This can be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the reader’s expectations. 

The imagery is beautiful and reminded me of Foster by Claire Keegan. The themes overlap, while the books deal with two different issues. 

Aunt Mags is a wonderful character. I love people like her- the ones who teach how to look at life and navigate the ups & downs with grace and persistence. 

You need to go with the flow rather than ask questions, as some things are left unsaid (felt like a deliberate choice). 

The ending was a little too quick. I understand the why, but it could have been a couple of paragraphs longer to lead the readers to the inevitable ending. 

To summarize, My Alien Life is a bittersweet and heartwarming short story that leaves you with a soft smile (once the ending sinks in). Oh, I like the wordplay in the title and how it works in the story. 

Thank you, BookSirens and J. Martain, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.