A Different Kind

by Lauryn April

Payton Carlson’s life is perfect – until the night she’s abducted by aliens. Now she’s plagued by pieces of memories from a night that feels as hazy as a dream, and that’s not the only strange thing that’s been happening. When Payton’s neighbor, Logan Reed, who spends every night sitting on his roof staring at the stars, starts to pay extra attention to her, Payton starts to wonder if he knows more about the night she can’t remember than she does. Suddenly finding a date to the Homecoming dance and cheering at the football games aren’t as important as they used to be - especially when the aliens return for a second time.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Aliens, Science Fiction

260 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Lauryn is a YA/NA Paranormal Romance writer from Wisconsin. She has a BA in Psychology and when she's not writing works with kids with special needs. Her debut novel "Into the Deep" explores the intricacies of the adolescent mind and what it means to feel alone.

You can find out more about her on her blog where she writes about her experiences writing and shares her opinion about books. laurynapril.blogspot.com

You can also follow her on twitter @LaurynApril where she tweets about articles and blogs she reads, specifically related to reading, writing, and the reviewing of books.

Reviews

[Lucinda Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for a page turner!

Payton Carlson is a social success: she was Junior Prom Queen, is planning to be Senior Prom Queen; she's planning to go to the Homecoming dance with Ian, her handsome latest crush.She's the head cheerleader, at the head of the in group at school. She's got her life exactly as she wants it.

But then, her night terrors begin; the dazzling lights, the floating sensations, the sinister grey figures with the great black eyes - are these nightmare experiences bad dreams, or something worse?

Only one person can advise Payton - serious minded, unpopular loner Logan Reed, who Payton's always dismissed as a super nerd.

And she needs his help.

But is Logan what he appears? For that matter, are her best friends Jo and Hailey quite what they appear ot be?

As with her former books, author Lauryn April delivers a fast paced, exciting story full of vivid characters with an effortless combination of paranormal elements and day to day high school issues.

Recommended for an exciting read that also makes you think about issues like popularity, and fitting in, besides the even greater matters of what exactly is out there in the rest of the universe?

[Hannah (Hannah, Fully) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Different Kind follows Payton Carlson, a high school who has a perfect life as a cheerleader and on top of the social pyramid at her school, at least until she starts getting strange dreams that are actually her being abducted by aliens.

A Different Kind definitely isn't my favorite book, contrary to the stellar rating. It reminded me a lot about Lux, which I actually have a like/hate relationship:

~ Aliens. Obviously. On the bright side, the name isn't complex, although Lux certainly isn't complex. But Latin is most certainly complex. Here, they're just called Greys. Simple. Easy.
~ DOD, aka Department of Defense, or maybe some sort of government interference. The DOD checks up on fellow Luxens in Lux. It's pretty much a similar case here, although it's simply someone. Chances are it's the DOD. That's up to Lauryn to confirm.
~ Telepathy. Need I say more? O_O I did find "We mean you no harm" funny though... it's probably made me think of the weird voice going "We come in peace."

What Made Me Enjoy A Different Kind?
~ Logan's humble. At least, that's what it seems to me. He certainly doesn't need an ego check AT ALL. I don't think he even has an ego. I'm not saying all book boys with an ego need a check. Some I just don't like. Some I don't like in the first but I like them by the second, and if I don't like said boy by the second book, he's toasty. No pun intended.
~ Telekinesis over metal, which I find majorly cool. Blacksmiths would be uber happy if this were an actual power. Oh, and there would be less hospital bills. ;)
~ Despite the fact I disliked Payton in the first half of the book, I actually liked her by the end. She makes a major character change – from being a complete jerk to someone who realized that she didn't want to be popular after all and for her entire life, she's been acting like someone that everyone expected her to be. I did have a problem with her being drunk a lot though. But that was before her change. I suppose that means strong character development. :3

MORAL: Be Yourself

------------------
Review copy provided by the author
Original Rating: 4.5
This review and more can be found over at Bookwyrming Thoughts

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Follow the Yellow Book Road


I really enjoyed this book. Now, if I had to categorize this book, I would call it a YA paranormal with a touch of sci-fi; yes there are aliens, but the sci-fi is not overwhelming it’s more of a blend that I think a larger audience will enjoy.

I don’t have much experience reading about aliens, but I think Lauryn April’s take on them is pretty unique and original. The Greys are totally creepy, but a well-developed species.

I loved the characters in this book. Payton starts out unlikeable but she grows so much throughout the novel that I couldn’t help but root for her. I love the way the author wrote the growth; she let us into Payton’s internal thoughts and reflections – I really hope this character inspires teens to be conscious of their words and actions. Logan is pretty awesome. Jo might be my favorite; she also grows in the book, but in a different way. Lauryn April is truly connected to her intended young adult audience, her characters feel like they could be from any high school and like any teen could relate to them.

The plot moves at a good pace. There were a few times where it felt like it dragged a little, but the action scenes made up for it.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel W · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as alien conspiracy stories go, A Different Kind was ok. It was a short, well-paced easy read, with a good balance between action and drama. It could have been funnier, but I like the style as it was. Sometimes, it seemed like it was going a tad to far with the high school drama, there was a lot more clique stuff than in real life. Also, I didn’t really like any of the characters other than Jo and Logan, nearly every one else was either a creep, a jerk, a heartless bitch or an airhead. However, i did like the romance between Payton and Logan. A lot of things also seemed a little too convenient. Like, Frank somehow knowing all this stuff about the aliens, and not just the basic conspiracy bullshit, but also about the Dr. Also, what are the chances that the aliens would decide to abduct a girl whose neighbour just so happens to be an alien hybrid from their planet? I don’t know, but that just felt off to me. I would have liked to know more about the aliens them selves. Besides them being pretty much the stereotypical sci-fi horror aliens, who are they? What the planet was like, why they need to et the souls (?) of humans, why they experiment with hybrids so much and how they know about us. There were just too many unknowns for my liking. Overall, it was a nice, easy, fun little sci-fi/romance and if you're into that kind of thing, this is the book for you.

[Jess (jessreads1985) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always thought the sci-fi genre was interesting. I guess my watching the Roswell re-runs has me kind of on a kick as of late, so when I came across A Different Kind on Lauryn April's website I couldn't resist. It is kind of frightening, mysterious, and romantic all at the same time. Peyton's life was definitely altered in the most abnormal way, and I was right there with her wanting answers. The night sky certainly comes alive in this book.

The main narrator, Payton Carlson is pretty, popular, and kind of a bitch. As least she is in the beginning, but after her other worldly encounter, things have changed and she's not the same girl she once was. I liked her character much more further into the story. Along the way she finds an unlikely friend in Logan Reed, who happens to be her next door neighbor and possibly someone who may understand her nighttime situation better than she thinks. I thought Logan was just a great young man and was very good for Payton.

 They just seemed to fit together so well and had complete trust in one another, which was important especially concerning Logan. There is more to him then meets the eye. With the terrifying notion that an alien abduction could happen again, Payton has the help of her friend Jo, Nikki, Logan and his mother to do what they can to keep her safe. I will say that Lauryn knows how to write one good ending.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest. At the beginning of this book, I didn't like Payton at all and thought I'd struggle reading from her point of view. She reminded me a lot of Elena from The Vampire Diaries book series; blonde, bitchy, and bossy. But Lauryn April skillfully evolved her characters in a way that only added to the story.

A Different Kind is inviting and fast-paced. The story took off on the very first page, and I found myself engrossed immediately. Even though it deals with high school issues, this book exceeds that age as far as readers go. The paranormal elements and building suspense weave a tale that will draw in readers of all ages.

It has been awhile since I read a more SciFi book, and A Different Kind offered an excellent story to get back into the genre. There were times during the story that I was completely, look over my shoulder frightened by the things happening. The twists and turns are placed perfectly during the book to keep you guessing.

Even if you're not the biggest fan of science fiction, I'd say give this book a try. It would make for a great introduction to the genre and the suspense will keep you turning pages!

**I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Lauryn April.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously loved this refreshingly different YA read! I don't think I've read an alien novel before, and this one dealt so seamlessly with the less explored genre. Any fan of paranormal romance will easily enjoy Peyton's story. While she didn't start out as one of my favorite characters (also refreshing to read about an MC who isn't shy and withdrawn), she quickly evolved into someone who realized her priorities and grew from her experiences (which was kind of the point of the story). There were twists that I was not expecting and kept me turning page after page. I really hope this will turn into a sequel!

[Griffinyarn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.5?

I have mixed feeling about this one. Mostly because the protagonist is so unlikeable for the large majority of the book. And then there is the deliberate obtuseness that Payton adopts... But the novel is well-written with good pacing and decent character development.

Note: this is more of a suspense/teen romance than a sci-fi novel. The aliens are there more as a plot device, very little is said about the alien world or its technology.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a good read, but I would not consider it to be one of my top reads.

The book started off rather slow, introducing the characters to a large extent, but in a very slow manner. Once the characters began to interact with each other and action was present, the story was much faster and much more enjoyable for me. I found the ending to be very lame though and not thought out well. The big build up to the climax was perfect, and then the climax made me feeling like half of the pages were ripped out of my book and I was missing the real copy.

Payton was a very relatable character. Her situation and her friends' situations were believable and not far off from how society is today in high schools. I began to connect with the character on a deep level. During every turn of the story, I cheered for Payton and Logan.

The plot line, seemed believable for a story about aliens, but I felt as if the author just stopped the book because she ran out of space to continue the story. If the story would have had a bit more action, and a better climax and ending, the book would have made up for the slow and boring start.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it was not my favourite. I wouldn't read it again, but I would suggest it to someone who wasn't looking for a hard read but wasn't looking for a book that would keep them attached at the hip to the book.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Piseog · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointed. I was expecting much more from this book and I don't think the author did a very good job with the premise she had. Alien abduction is a fascinating premise for a YA. I thought the book was going to be along the terms of a psychological thriller; dark and mature and really interesting. I thought the issue of mental health would come into play and that by the end it was possible that the MC was never actually abducted by aliens. Anyway, it appears that was too much for this author to deal with. She didn't even scratch the surface of the amazing possibilities this story could lead to. She stuck with the shallow YA stupid drama. More time was spent on boring high school issues. An actual line from the book (spoken by the token high school queen bitch): "Well if it isn't Payton and her band of losers". Seriously.

I didn't care about the lesbian friend subplot (what was the point of that?) or the juvenile romance. The author treated the alien aspect very timidly and it all ended abruptly with a nice bow. It was just too YA, and not a very good YA. Payton wasn't likeable as a main character and so stupid. She sees a man in her room in the middle of the night and convinces herself it was all a dream- after learning she was already abducted by aliens and after she sees that man around two more times. I just didn't care what happened to her. I still gave it 2 stars because there was potential in the plot, and it's an easy read for a 15 year old.

[Basht · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright, so I won an ARC of this book and want to give it a fair review. This is my opinion on it, and I know that some will disagree.

I know that with these they are unedited, so sometimes spelling errors happen. No one is perfect. In this though, they were a bit distracting, especially in the beginning. But it's an unedited book. Shit happens right?

I like the bones of the story. Really, it's interesting. It's just really hard to get past the idiocy of the main character. She definitely leaves a strong impression and unfortunately for me, it wasn't a good one.

Outside of that, I wasn't a big fan of the writing style. So over all, this was just ok. I'd definitely be interested in reading more from the author because I like the ideas presented.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, quick read. I started off hating Payton, but I warmed up to her after a few chapters. She's kind of a bitch, but at least she owns up to it and tries to make things right eventually. It seemed like 3/4 of the book was just her fretting over when she was going to be abducted, but there was enough character development throughout to keep it interesting while you waited for something really exciting to happen. A good blend of YA romance and science fiction.

[Katya de Becerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been some time since I've read A Different Kind but this book is still fresh in my mind, which attests to the impression it made on me. I enjoyed this one for its fresh take on the aliens, the evocative voice (looking at you, Payton!) and the very believable romance. I don't know what it is with Lauryn April's books (I've read three so far), but she really nails it when it comes to authentic teen voices, character growth and twisty plotting. Plus, that gorgeous cover!

[More Books Than Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author manages to make the local mean girl, head cheerleader and prom queen Payton, into a sympathetic character who grows and develops character. Nonetheless for me the novel fizzled out about half way through. I may retry.
Full review: http://www.morebooksthantime.com/mini...