On Earth As It Is On Television by Emily Jane

This debut science fiction novel is a deeply weird yet engaging read. Blaine wonders about his wife Anne, who likes single use plastic more than a green lifestyle and is rather over the top about almost everything, especially bacon. Their kids, Jas and Avril, fight like young wild beasts until the TV catches their attention, or Mr. Meow Mitts, their cat.

In Malibu, Heather is taking a rather aimless gap year before college when alien spacecraft arrive, hovering over major cities, including Los Angeles. Her mother is on vacation with Heather’s stepfather, Jack, a television executive who gained fame on Jeopardy. Jack’s son Alex, a high school senior, is so perfect that Heather thinks her mom likes him better.

Then there’s Oliver, who has an extremely bland existence until the starships arrive. The ships leave, but it turns out there may already be aliens among us. And did I mention the cats?

The characters’ stories mesh together cleverly, and not very predictably. This book will be published in June, and may be a hit. Readalikes include forthcoming novel The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis and also this fall’s Starter Villain by John Scalzi because, cats. No, not because of bacon. I don’t even eat bacon (true). If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, enjoy!

Brenda