Review: Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil
Publication date: Feb. 1, 2013
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: Gifted from Estelle (Thanks!)
Summary: Sam Kinnison is a geek, and he’s totally fine with that. He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of Warcraft – and until Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, he doesn’t have to worry about girls. Then Sam meets Camilla. She’s beautiful, friendly and completely irrelevant to his life. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a life of her own – and she’s decided that he’s going to be part of it. Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies ... but now it looks like he’s been watching the wrong ones. (Adapted goodreads.com)

The good
Where were guys like Sam Kinnison when I was in high school? He's cute, a movie buff and totally real. He's comfortable with who he is in this unassuming way. But if you were to ask him to describe himself, he'd probably also mention his love of all things horror movies, his nerdiness (and the nerdy but awesome friends he hangs out with), World of Warcraft and that he's fine being single. Then new girl Camilla shows up. She's beautiful, kind, fun and determined to get to know Sam. He is delightfully clueless but that's what made him, his friendship with Camilla and the book overall so endearing.

It's rare to find authentic male voices in YA and Sam is definitely one of them. What makes him feel real is that he doesn't try too hard. He's not trying to be anything but a good friend and a good son while dealing with all the changes in his life. His best friend Mike is acting strange and he, along with their other friends Allison and Adrian, don't know what to do. They genuinely care for each other and I loved their little motley group of friends. Then his parents' marriage is strained and he's caught in the middle. And finally Camilla comes along and he can't even begin to describe or process what she means to him. The author amazingly builds up their relationship by letting them be friends first. Camilla kind of throws herself into his life but it isn't long before they're spending a lot of time together, sharing their interests and being there when the other person needs it. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Camilla is there for Sam during a particularly hard time even though she's miles away.

Life in Outer Space was a fun, sweet book about friendship, growing up and falling in love for the first time (that also happens to be scattered with movie references!).

(No) Reservations
None, I really enjoyed the way everything unfolded.

Do I recommend?
I do! This book wouldn't have even been on my radar if it hadn't been for Estelle, who reviewed and later the gifted it to me. I'm looking forward to more from this author!

3 comments

  1. Admittedly, I was a bit scared when I clicked your review because WHAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT???? Good thing you loved it because this is still my favorite geeky contemporary YA romance ever and it's just so cute and wonderful and earnest and full of heart. <3

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  2. I haven't head of this wonderful novel. Based on your review it sounds like something I would truly love. The male protagonist in it sounds a lot like people I have been friends with since high school and I do love all things nerdy. :) Thank you for the review and recommendation! I will for sure be picking this book up next time I see it.

    Mary @ Logophilist

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  3. I loved Life In Outer Space! It's seriously such an underrated YA release, and it's a shame more people don't know about it. I fell hard for Sam and Camilla and the rest of their friends, and loved the way Keil told this story. So great!

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with love,

Rachel