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Earth to Alis
Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, he’s isolated himself by letting his classmates believe he’s a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs.
But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isn’t so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to him—namely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition don’t irritate Alis nearly as much as they should.
Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental health—even if it means letting someone in.
Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isn’t so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to him—namely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition don’t irritate Alis nearly as much as they should.
Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental health—even if it means letting someone in.
Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
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First published July 1, 2024
10 people are currently reading
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About the author
Lex Carlow
1 book29 followersLex Carlow is a Canadian-born, Scotland-based author of young adult fiction. She holds a degree in psychology from Toronto Metropolitan University and has a passion for mental health and the messiness of the human experience. When she’s not trying to write a book, you'll find her at a concert, exploring beaches with her dog, or buying copious amounts of tea.
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August 12, 2024
It is, I think, the best pink sky moment I’ve had yet.
Don’t you love those pink sky moments? Those moments at night when the sky turns into these soft colors, and everything looks suddenly so beautiful. I was so happy that Alis was enjoying these moments because this story is sometimes hard to read. Like really hard and, therefore really triggering. But it’s also genuinely good. So, if you’re interested in reading this one and get triggered easily or have specific triggers, please, please check out the trigger warnings first!
So, Earth to Alis. Lex Carlow reached out to me and asked if I wanted to read her debut, but I immediately wanted to decline because it would be released in about a week, and I had enough other ARCs on my shelf. But then I checked the blurb, and suddenly, I said yes, and I’m SO happy that I did!
Alis is a teen who’s fighting his own demons and real ones. He’s such a lonely boy (by choice), and I loved to see him opening up to other people and letting them in while traveling through Europe. Noor, Drew, Dakota, and of course Craig, were the best friends Alis could have. They were so caring, and the found family trope is such a sweet thing in this book!
But be prepared because even though this is upper YA, it’s harrowing at times. Think of the detailed scenes in Young Mungo (adult and different themes!). As an adult (for ages) sometimes even I had to look away from the pages because it became too much for me, and I can handle almost everything. At one particular time, I wanted to scream at Alis don’t, don’t, don’t, but he did it anyway. And I felt numb, tears burning behind my eyes. But even though the story is heavy, messy, and full of drama (bullying, neglecting parents, a fallout with a best friend), it also made me smile so many times. I adored cute cinnamon roll Craig and was so happy to see a more bulky love interest!
Another huge plus was that I finally read a book by a North American author, and I wasn’t frowning because of the stereotypical descriptions of Europe. I especially loved to be in Interlaken again 😊.
Thank you, Lex, for this ARC! Earth to Alis is such a solid debut, and I will be eagerly waiting for your next book!
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Don’t you love those pink sky moments? Those moments at night when the sky turns into these soft colors, and everything looks suddenly so beautiful. I was so happy that Alis was enjoying these moments because this story is sometimes hard to read. Like really hard and, therefore really triggering. But it’s also genuinely good. So, if you’re interested in reading this one and get triggered easily or have specific triggers, please, please check out the trigger warnings first!
So, Earth to Alis. Lex Carlow reached out to me and asked if I wanted to read her debut, but I immediately wanted to decline because it would be released in about a week, and I had enough other ARCs on my shelf. But then I checked the blurb, and suddenly, I said yes, and I’m SO happy that I did!
Alis is a teen who’s fighting his own demons and real ones. He’s such a lonely boy (by choice), and I loved to see him opening up to other people and letting them in while traveling through Europe. Noor, Drew, Dakota, and of course Craig, were the best friends Alis could have. They were so caring, and the found family trope is such a sweet thing in this book!
But be prepared because even though this is upper YA, it’s harrowing at times. Think of the detailed scenes in Young Mungo (adult and different themes!). As an adult (for ages) sometimes even I had to look away from the pages because it became too much for me, and I can handle almost everything. At one particular time, I wanted to scream at Alis don’t, don’t, don’t, but he did it anyway. And I felt numb, tears burning behind my eyes. But even though the story is heavy, messy, and full of drama (bullying, neglecting parents, a fallout with a best friend), it also made me smile so many times. I adored cute cinnamon roll Craig and was so happy to see a more bulky love interest!
Another huge plus was that I finally read a book by a North American author, and I wasn’t frowning because of the stereotypical descriptions of Europe. I especially loved to be in Interlaken again 😊.
Thank you, Lex, for this ARC! Earth to Alis is such a solid debut, and I will be eagerly waiting for your next book!
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August 3, 2024
i think expressing what this book was in its entirety is a very hopeless thing. i definitely cannot do it justice. but it was cathartic and healing and i think teenage me would've been so deeply grateful to find this book.
reading about lonely, abandoned, affection-starved teenagers finding some real friends tugs at something right behind my navel. and reading about them the way Lex has wrote them, with a smudge of mellow and deep and happy and tragedy, is almost enough to make my stomach split.
lex carlow so extraordinarily records the the teenage experience of feeling everything with 10x intensity, with all their hurt and fun and lame jokes and playing games and drawing on sneakers in the train and depression and loneliness and pain and barely functioning brain.
the writing would plunge deep into your soul and just shake everything up inside you. it's so pithy and sharp and braided with humor and this tang of perpetual misery...that is so ordinary and not, that i think every teenage experience is about. and that's the thing. it felt real — the dialogues, the narration, alis, craig, their whole gang, and their feeling every emotion the way they did, everything and everyone — all felt so unambiguously, incredibly REAL i felt like i was in one of my own pink-sky moments.
alis' voice was witty, sardonic and perfectly captures the crushed but fiesty spirits of a teenager about to graduate high school, who's bullied and misunderstood consistently forever and is jaded and tired over it all.
books like this hit me personally, like they know my medical records and the exact sore scar tissue that still hasn't healed and take the responsibility to find it and hit it. and then put some cold balm over it afterward.
i am just so grateful that this book is a gentle manifestations of so many difficult things that are hard to congeal into words: it's teenagers actually being teenagers with their sometimes-dumb, sometimes-dark, mostly-funny takes and they're awed with multi-hued pink skies and cute Swiss houses and want to live in derelict Roman hostels and they're hotheaded and snappish and get embarrassed by cheesy lines from their boyfriends.
it's toxic abusive absentee parents with bone-crushing expectations of performance, who inevitably make a child latch on to the first person who shows them a modicum of kindness.
it's all the vicious burns from friendships and bullies alike and teenagers whose coping mechanism for dealing with pain is unhealthy, bc they never really had any template for a healthy outlet.
it's teachers who are more compassionate and caring than you expect a teacher to be, teachers who tell you to stop when nobody else did, who understand the need for teenagers to have a reliable adult figure in their life they can look up to, who make you feel you're more than your homework and mistakes. i can tell you personally how much having such a figure in your life is important and i loved that alis had that.
it's first loves and soft kisses in your hair and kisses in the rain and holding you through nightmares and seizures and not balking on seeing their pain and endearing, adorable boyfriends with no sense of hats or colors trying their damndest to make you laugh.
it's closures and finding your pink-sky moments — something to revel in, something to quiet your thoughts.
it's hurting and being hurt, and being detrimentally depending on one person for being okay. it's old friendships that fracture and new friendships that last, friends who don't leave but help you manage panic attacks. it's letting them love you and slowly accepting the love too.
which honestly..surpasses everything else. stories of friendships and found family always dig a hole in me, and here alis, finding noor and craig and drew and dakota, and letting them find him, support him, show him the gentleness and care he never knew the concept of, believing they'd stay even after seeing his ugliest scar, was almost excruciating in its sweetness.
being gentle with yourself, accepting and trusting in someone's love for you...those were abstract concepts i've heard a lot but nobody tells you how monumental and strenuous and HARD they are to execute. how much WORK self-healing, self-love needs from yourself, and that it all starts with baby steps and relapsing into old patterns.
but this book did. the way it dove into mental health headfirst, with dissociation and self-harming tendencies and panic attacks, and depression and epilepsy...it fully captured the difficulties of all the simple things we need just to become a small percentage of okay. it was a whole lot of tender and soft and cathartic and wholesome and i mean...you'll be doing yourself a favor by reading it.
reading about lonely, abandoned, affection-starved teenagers finding some real friends tugs at something right behind my navel. and reading about them the way Lex has wrote them, with a smudge of mellow and deep and happy and tragedy, is almost enough to make my stomach split.
lex carlow so extraordinarily records the the teenage experience of feeling everything with 10x intensity, with all their hurt and fun and lame jokes and playing games and drawing on sneakers in the train and depression and loneliness and pain and barely functioning brain.
the writing would plunge deep into your soul and just shake everything up inside you. it's so pithy and sharp and braided with humor and this tang of perpetual misery...that is so ordinary and not, that i think every teenage experience is about. and that's the thing. it felt real — the dialogues, the narration, alis, craig, their whole gang, and their feeling every emotion the way they did, everything and everyone — all felt so unambiguously, incredibly REAL i felt like i was in one of my own pink-sky moments.
alis' voice was witty, sardonic and perfectly captures the crushed but fiesty spirits of a teenager about to graduate high school, who's bullied and misunderstood consistently forever and is jaded and tired over it all.
books like this hit me personally, like they know my medical records and the exact sore scar tissue that still hasn't healed and take the responsibility to find it and hit it. and then put some cold balm over it afterward.
i am just so grateful that this book is a gentle manifestations of so many difficult things that are hard to congeal into words: it's teenagers actually being teenagers with their sometimes-dumb, sometimes-dark, mostly-funny takes and they're awed with multi-hued pink skies and cute Swiss houses and want to live in derelict Roman hostels and they're hotheaded and snappish and get embarrassed by cheesy lines from their boyfriends.
it's toxic abusive absentee parents with bone-crushing expectations of performance, who inevitably make a child latch on to the first person who shows them a modicum of kindness.
it's all the vicious burns from friendships and bullies alike and teenagers whose coping mechanism for dealing with pain is unhealthy, bc they never really had any template for a healthy outlet.
it's teachers who are more compassionate and caring than you expect a teacher to be, teachers who tell you to stop when nobody else did, who understand the need for teenagers to have a reliable adult figure in their life they can look up to, who make you feel you're more than your homework and mistakes. i can tell you personally how much having such a figure in your life is important and i loved that alis had that.
it's first loves and soft kisses in your hair and kisses in the rain and holding you through nightmares and seizures and not balking on seeing their pain and endearing, adorable boyfriends with no sense of hats or colors trying their damndest to make you laugh.
it's closures and finding your pink-sky moments — something to revel in, something to quiet your thoughts.
it's hurting and being hurt, and being detrimentally depending on one person for being okay. it's old friendships that fracture and new friendships that last, friends who don't leave but help you manage panic attacks. it's letting them love you and slowly accepting the love too.
which honestly..surpasses everything else. stories of friendships and found family always dig a hole in me, and here alis, finding noor and craig and drew and dakota, and letting them find him, support him, show him the gentleness and care he never knew the concept of, believing they'd stay even after seeing his ugliest scar, was almost excruciating in its sweetness.
being gentle with yourself, accepting and trusting in someone's love for you...those were abstract concepts i've heard a lot but nobody tells you how monumental and strenuous and HARD they are to execute. how much WORK self-healing, self-love needs from yourself, and that it all starts with baby steps and relapsing into old patterns.
but this book did. the way it dove into mental health headfirst, with dissociation and self-harming tendencies and panic attacks, and depression and epilepsy...it fully captured the difficulties of all the simple things we need just to become a small percentage of okay. it was a whole lot of tender and soft and cathartic and wholesome and i mean...you'll be doing yourself a favor by reading it.
July 3, 2024
I don't even know how to begin to explain my feelings about this books because they're still confused in my head as well.
Admittedly, it took me a while to read the book because I was very busy with life, but if I had a full free day I would have read the whole thing in one sitting because it’s that gripping.
I truly think the book delivered on all fronts. It was interesting, it was angsty, it had an amazing found family, and I found myself in the text more times that I should be comfortable with (there was even something I straight up discussed with my own therapist a few months ago).
Content Warnings: self-harm (via cutting and burning one self), physical and emotional child abuse and neglect, bullying, brief incidents of homophobia, panic attacks, dissociation (derealization/depersonalization), disordered eating, violence, a scene depicting manual strangulation, a scene depicting an epileptic seizure, blood, vomiting, injury/medical details, mentions of past suicidal ideation, self-deprecating thoughts, mention of hypothetical violence against animals, references to off-page animal death, mentions of fires and being accused of being an arsonist, underage drinking and smoking, references to off-page marijuana use, profanity and sexual references.
Admittedly, it took me a while to read the book because I was very busy with life, but if I had a full free day I would have read the whole thing in one sitting because it’s that gripping.
I truly think the book delivered on all fronts. It was interesting, it was angsty, it had an amazing found family, and I found myself in the text more times that I should be comfortable with (there was even something I straight up discussed with my own therapist a few months ago).
Content Warnings: self-harm (via cutting and burning one self), physical and emotional child abuse and neglect, bullying, brief incidents of homophobia, panic attacks, dissociation (derealization/depersonalization), disordered eating, violence, a scene depicting manual strangulation, a scene depicting an epileptic seizure, blood, vomiting, injury/medical details, mentions of past suicidal ideation, self-deprecating thoughts, mention of hypothetical violence against animals, references to off-page animal death, mentions of fires and being accused of being an arsonist, underage drinking and smoking, references to off-page marijuana use, profanity and sexual references.
August 14, 2024
It is I, the author, flying in to act as your ✨content warning fairy!✨
Earth to Alis is not the lightest of reads, and is targeted toward an upper young adult audience. While it is ultimately a story of hope and healing, and I've tried my very best to write about difficult topics in a sensitive and informed way, you may still find some scenes triggering to read. You can find a full list of content warnings for this book, along with some mental health resources, on my website, but the big ones you should know about off the bat are for graphic self-harm, panic attacks, general depressive/anxious/self-deprecating thoughts, references to past suicidal ideation, and child abuse. Please take care that you are in a head space where you can safely read detailed depictions of these topics from an unreliable narrator.
If you choose to take a chance on this book: thank you so much. Means the world to a baby author. 💛
Lex
Earth to Alis is not the lightest of reads, and is targeted toward an upper young adult audience. While it is ultimately a story of hope and healing, and I've tried my very best to write about difficult topics in a sensitive and informed way, you may still find some scenes triggering to read. You can find a full list of content warnings for this book, along with some mental health resources, on my website, but the big ones you should know about off the bat are for graphic self-harm, panic attacks, general depressive/anxious/self-deprecating thoughts, references to past suicidal ideation, and child abuse. Please take care that you are in a head space where you can safely read detailed depictions of these topics from an unreliable narrator.
If you choose to take a chance on this book: thank you so much. Means the world to a baby author. 💛
Lex
February 12, 2025
This book follows Alis’ struggles with his mental health. It was a hard read, at times, but it seemed like a very realistic and honest portrayal of depression. There was a very good exploration of Alis’ feelings when it came to his self-harm, his abusive family, the bullying he suffered and his ex-bestie Jordan; I also really liked seeing Alis grow and heal, slowly, through his new friendships.
This is definitely not a bad book, at all, and I’d still recommend it! For some reason, however, it just never managed to fully grab my attention. 😕 I genuinely can’t pinpoint what happened here, but I was disengaged and extremely bored the whole way through, and I never wanted to pick this book up. It took me 10 days to finish such a simple book. I can’t even explain why I was so uninterested in this story, but alas.
I also didn’t really care about the romance. The book takes place in a week and Alis and Craig never really spoke to each other before, so they go from basically strangers to friends to lovers in just a couple of days, which wasn’t very believable to me. They show interest in each other really early on in the book. I feel like they weren’t even friends and they were already into each other, just based on looks (which like, is how attraction usually works, sure, but *I* personally find it boring to read about. I prefer it when characters fall for the other’s personality first. Just a personal thing, which unfortunately made me not care about their romance).
With that said, Craig was really sweet and understanding of Alis’ problems, which I really appreciated. I also LOOOOOVE to see a fat LI! We rarely see different types of bodies in romances, especially with the male characters, so I really liked this representation.
So, overall, this is a very well-done book that tackles important topics in a sensitive yet raw way, and I’d definitely recommend it (though check out the TWs!). Unfortunately, though, it just didn’t work for me. 😢
This is definitely not a bad book, at all, and I’d still recommend it! For some reason, however, it just never managed to fully grab my attention. 😕 I genuinely can’t pinpoint what happened here, but I was disengaged and extremely bored the whole way through, and I never wanted to pick this book up. It took me 10 days to finish such a simple book. I can’t even explain why I was so uninterested in this story, but alas.
I also didn’t really care about the romance. The book takes place in a week and Alis and Craig never really spoke to each other before, so they go from basically strangers to friends to lovers in just a couple of days, which wasn’t very believable to me. They show interest in each other really early on in the book. I feel like they weren’t even friends and they were already into each other, just based on looks (which like, is how attraction usually works, sure, but *I* personally find it boring to read about. I prefer it when characters fall for the other’s personality first. Just a personal thing, which unfortunately made me not care about their romance).
With that said, Craig was really sweet and understanding of Alis’ problems, which I really appreciated. I also LOOOOOVE to see a fat LI! We rarely see different types of bodies in romances, especially with the male characters, so I really liked this representation.
So, overall, this is a very well-done book that tackles important topics in a sensitive yet raw way, and I’d definitely recommend it (though check out the TWs!). Unfortunately, though, it just didn’t work for me. 😢
May 31, 2024
Rating: 5/5
Finished in 8 hours
This book felt so real to me because Alis had so many aspects of my childhood and whenever he explained it more, I cried, lots of tears were shed during this book. The way this book was written was so beautiful and I cherished everything about it. The characters, the support, and the whole journey were so wonderfully done and I have felt myself become vulnerable reading it but this book also helped me embrace it. The build-up of this relationship felt so detailed and heartfelt and this book will be in my mind for a long time.
I did receive this book as an ARC for free, but I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Finished in 8 hours
This book felt so real to me because Alis had so many aspects of my childhood and whenever he explained it more, I cried, lots of tears were shed during this book. The way this book was written was so beautiful and I cherished everything about it. The characters, the support, and the whole journey were so wonderfully done and I have felt myself become vulnerable reading it but this book also helped me embrace it. The build-up of this relationship felt so detailed and heartfelt and this book will be in my mind for a long time.
I did receive this book as an ARC for free, but I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 25, 2024
No way am I able to write a review that makes this book justice.
Earth to Alis has the potential to become epic just like Heartstopper, or John Green's books.
Since the book is in Alis'pov, the writing is pragmatic but in an emotional way, raw, sarcastic at times, self-loathing, showing emotions not explicitly but describing what happens to Alis' body or his actions.
But things change slowly, as Alis is not only surrounded by people who hate him anymore but suddenly has people who see through him, who care about him, who actually like him.
Craig, Noor, their teacher Mrs Lachlan, each of them is a surprise to him. And he slowly slowly opens up. They are wonderful and very patient.
Alis and Craig couldn't be more different from each other, but it seems like that's a good thing for Alis.
Craig is a super fluffy cinnamon roll. He's adorable, smart, positive, kind, compassionate.
Their moments together are so special, while they build their friendship, and their romantic moments gave me goosebumps.
Truly a remarkable book I'm grateful for and that deserves to be reread many times ❤️
Earth to Alis has the potential to become epic just like Heartstopper, or John Green's books.
Since the book is in Alis'pov, the writing is pragmatic but in an emotional way, raw, sarcastic at times, self-loathing, showing emotions not explicitly but describing what happens to Alis' body or his actions.
But things change slowly, as Alis is not only surrounded by people who hate him anymore but suddenly has people who see through him, who care about him, who actually like him.
Craig, Noor, their teacher Mrs Lachlan, each of them is a surprise to him. And he slowly slowly opens up. They are wonderful and very patient.
Alis and Craig couldn't be more different from each other, but it seems like that's a good thing for Alis.
Craig is a super fluffy cinnamon roll. He's adorable, smart, positive, kind, compassionate.
Their moments together are so special, while they build their friendship, and their romantic moments gave me goosebumps.
Truly a remarkable book I'm grateful for and that deserves to be reread many times ❤️
June 29, 2024
Beautifully painful young adult story which I would have loved to have when I was struggling at that age. His thoughts and motivations were really well portrayed, and his mental health struggles felt particularly accurate. Craig sometimes felt too perfect, although that fit as the whole book was written in the POV of Alis. The characters were very realistic and fit their ages. The ending was perfection, still a lot of healing to be done but some hope for the future.
January 31, 2025
this book is so important and powerful and well-done. it punched me in the gut about 17 times and i said thank you very much
May 9, 2024
*free ARC review*
so sue me if i love reading about mentally unwell queer people! at least i pick the ones where they start to heal by the end!
so sue me if i love reading about mentally unwell queer people! at least i pick the ones where they start to heal by the end!
July 28, 2024
Earth to Alis is an upper YA tale that will not only move the reader but many will relate to the pain, loneliness and struggles of Alis Woodson. It has a long list of trigger warnings and I do caution the reader to check them pit before beginning to read. I especially caution anyone who has recently recovered from any form of depression as it could be a difficult read.
Carlow has woven together a beautiful albeit prudent story that delves into the life of a group of teenagers, especially Alis who struggles with his mental health and bullying in his school. I was captivated by the story after my initial wariness that this would be a hard read, which it is. However mental illness in any form needs greater representation in the media and needs to be handled both correctly and kindly, both of which happen in this debut novel.
Alis comes to life from the page and is so well written that he becomes so tangible that you will feel you can reach out and give him the hug he desperately needs but no doubt would be wary of. I related to his desire to be left alone, his inability to connect because he's been betrayed before and how he struggles so hard with the demons of those around him and the group of idiotic popular kids who revel in causing misery. He deserves so much more and at each turn of the page, as the school trip in Europe travels from Paris onwards bicker among the beauty. That people would reach out to him, to dare break the proverbial wall Alis has constructed so he can see he's worthy of kindness. When he gets them, you will struggle with emotion if you've ever been the weird quiet kid, or the emo etcetera because these friends understand true loyalty and there were moments that Carlow's writing of this new group brought me to tears.
Please once again take note, that alongside this journey of healing and friendship and a found family? Some moments are extremely hard to read. Alis has faced and experienced painful things and has suffered greatly. Again, these made me cry and wish to protect him, to beg him to see what we the readers see of him. I also desperately wanted to curse the instigators of his torment and I imagine you will too.
This is a hard, but rewarding book that I couldn't and didn't want to, put down because I wanted so much; to see Alis gain freedom from the darkness that lingers.
Carlow has woven together a beautiful albeit prudent story that delves into the life of a group of teenagers, especially Alis who struggles with his mental health and bullying in his school. I was captivated by the story after my initial wariness that this would be a hard read, which it is. However mental illness in any form needs greater representation in the media and needs to be handled both correctly and kindly, both of which happen in this debut novel.
Alis comes to life from the page and is so well written that he becomes so tangible that you will feel you can reach out and give him the hug he desperately needs but no doubt would be wary of. I related to his desire to be left alone, his inability to connect because he's been betrayed before and how he struggles so hard with the demons of those around him and the group of idiotic popular kids who revel in causing misery. He deserves so much more and at each turn of the page, as the school trip in Europe travels from Paris onwards bicker among the beauty. That people would reach out to him, to dare break the proverbial wall Alis has constructed so he can see he's worthy of kindness. When he gets them, you will struggle with emotion if you've ever been the weird quiet kid, or the emo etcetera because these friends understand true loyalty and there were moments that Carlow's writing of this new group brought me to tears.
Please once again take note, that alongside this journey of healing and friendship and a found family? Some moments are extremely hard to read. Alis has faced and experienced painful things and has suffered greatly. Again, these made me cry and wish to protect him, to beg him to see what we the readers see of him. I also desperately wanted to curse the instigators of his torment and I imagine you will too.
This is a hard, but rewarding book that I couldn't and didn't want to, put down because I wanted so much; to see Alis gain freedom from the darkness that lingers.
October 2, 2024
I've been very careful about selecting books in recent years because there are many topics that trigger me. When I came across Alis, at first, I wasn't sure if I would finish it. It started as research reading since I'm working on a character who is self-harming. But it became much more than that.
The protagonist is a boy going through an emotional crisis, traveling to Europe with his class, forced to endure the company of people he had never spoken to before.
At sixteen, I was Alis. Life hurt just as much for me as it did for him. We're very similar because I, too, had a blade or scissors depending on how much it hurt, but there's also the abusive family, childhood trauma, the 'just me and a friend against the world' feeling, the black (which still comforts me, and on bad days, I always wear black because it helps), the eating problems... you could practically put an equal sign between us. But it took me a long time to realize that—until halfway through the book, it didn’t click how messed up my teenage years really were. How, besides the self-harm, I ended up in so many situations that could have gone terribly wrong, from stolen cigarettes to drinking with random guys. But I pulled myself together, and it was good to see the message that it wasn’t impossible for Alis either. That he would make it, and although I still have some things left—like listening to painfully loud music, taking scalding hot baths, fasting—I’m whole and healing, and so will he. He can too.
And every message was spot on, every character was spot on. Everything was beautifully, clearly wrapped up, and it taught me a lot about myself while reassuring me how much I've changed, how much I've consciously done for myself. The characters communicated well, and nothing felt preachy.
It helped me a lot because I understand my own character better, and I dared to break down the wall between us. Maybe if I write this new novel, I’ll heal even more and go further!
And the fact that someone writes a book like this on their first try is a miracle to me—only Adib Khorram’s debut novel had this kind of effect on me. The bar is set high, and I hope it can be reached.
Thank you! ♡
The protagonist is a boy going through an emotional crisis, traveling to Europe with his class, forced to endure the company of people he had never spoken to before.
At sixteen, I was Alis. Life hurt just as much for me as it did for him. We're very similar because I, too, had a blade or scissors depending on how much it hurt, but there's also the abusive family, childhood trauma, the 'just me and a friend against the world' feeling, the black (which still comforts me, and on bad days, I always wear black because it helps), the eating problems... you could practically put an equal sign between us. But it took me a long time to realize that—until halfway through the book, it didn’t click how messed up my teenage years really were. How, besides the self-harm, I ended up in so many situations that could have gone terribly wrong, from stolen cigarettes to drinking with random guys. But I pulled myself together, and it was good to see the message that it wasn’t impossible for Alis either. That he would make it, and although I still have some things left—like listening to painfully loud music, taking scalding hot baths, fasting—I’m whole and healing, and so will he. He can too.
And every message was spot on, every character was spot on. Everything was beautifully, clearly wrapped up, and it taught me a lot about myself while reassuring me how much I've changed, how much I've consciously done for myself. The characters communicated well, and nothing felt preachy.
It helped me a lot because I understand my own character better, and I dared to break down the wall between us. Maybe if I write this new novel, I’ll heal even more and go further!
And the fact that someone writes a book like this on their first try is a miracle to me—only Adib Khorram’s debut novel had this kind of effect on me. The bar is set high, and I hope it can be reached.
Thank you! ♡
July 27, 2024
⭐️3.75⭐️
okay I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did ! I think the look into someone dealing with self harm and mental illness is good for a YA book and important for the intended audience. Even as a 21 year old I liked seeing Alis understand and come to terms with the fact that people do care even if it seems so unlikely to him. I know I've definitely struggled with that so reading those things was a reminder to myself that people loving and supporting you is possible and real. Also there are a lot of potentially triggering things in this book so that is just something to note and look out for! I appreciated how it was casually and quickly mentioned that Alis was queer and that had nothing to do with the issues he was dealing with.
This would be rated higher but there are a few things like seemed stereotypical or cliche, but other than that I liked. I think the topics were handled nicely in the book and the characters had important conversations about those hard topics. This book felt like I was being validated again and again, and I think if I read something like this when I was younger it would've really helped me.
I think the book was really sweet in general. I love books about friendship and this was just that. I appreciated that the epilogue didn't take place too long after the end of the book and nothing drastic had changed since the ending. It was just the natural progression of where we left off with Alis. I've been slacking with reading lately but tbh I couldn't put this book down so thank you netgalley for letting me read this book so I could finally indulge in reading again 🙂↕️
okay I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did ! I think the look into someone dealing with self harm and mental illness is good for a YA book and important for the intended audience. Even as a 21 year old I liked seeing Alis understand and come to terms with the fact that people do care even if it seems so unlikely to him. I know I've definitely struggled with that so reading those things was a reminder to myself that people loving and supporting you is possible and real. Also there are a lot of potentially triggering things in this book so that is just something to note and look out for! I appreciated how it was casually and quickly mentioned that Alis was queer and that had nothing to do with the issues he was dealing with.
This would be rated higher but there are a few things like seemed stereotypical or cliche, but other than that I liked. I think the topics were handled nicely in the book and the characters had important conversations about those hard topics. This book felt like I was being validated again and again, and I think if I read something like this when I was younger it would've really helped me.
I think the book was really sweet in general. I love books about friendship and this was just that. I appreciated that the epilogue didn't take place too long after the end of the book and nothing drastic had changed since the ending. It was just the natural progression of where we left off with Alis. I've been slacking with reading lately but tbh I couldn't put this book down so thank you netgalley for letting me read this book so I could finally indulge in reading again 🙂↕️
August 9, 2024
I went through an emotional roller coaster with this book. The way I was sucked into the story. The vulnerability and sincerity of Alistair’s story feel simultaneously like a huge flashback to the worst time of my life as a teenager but simultaneously nostalgic in a way I cannot describe. I am absolutely enthralled by the way the writer managed to craft a bunch of complex characters, especially the protagonist, that feel like they are going to stick with me for a very long time to come. I think I will think of every description, every piece of dialogue and every interaction between them like memories that I didn’t experience but feel like experiencing all the time.
Review on Instagram:
Rating: 5⭐ omfg
This book was everything. I am literally speechless. I am never getting over it and I devoured it in like 24 hours and it felt like the best thing ever even though parts of it tore me to shreds and reminded me of a lot of the worst parts of my teenage yrs (but in like the best way possible).
I went into this book curious and left it being blown away. I think I will be thinking of these characters, especially Alis, for a long time afterwards. I am absolutely begging you to read this (but do check the trigger warnings). Because this feels like an unfiltered version of my own past in a way that I never seen in books before. It's nastolgic almost but in a very distant and raw way.
Review on Instagram:
Rating: 5⭐ omfg
This book was everything. I am literally speechless. I am never getting over it and I devoured it in like 24 hours and it felt like the best thing ever even though parts of it tore me to shreds and reminded me of a lot of the worst parts of my teenage yrs (but in like the best way possible).
I went into this book curious and left it being blown away. I think I will be thinking of these characters, especially Alis, for a long time afterwards. I am absolutely begging you to read this (but do check the trigger warnings). Because this feels like an unfiltered version of my own past in a way that I never seen in books before. It's nastolgic almost but in a very distant and raw way.
August 10, 2025
Okay okay okay okay. So my friend @theboookishkat sent me a physical copy of this book and I knew I needed to be in the right headspace to read it.
I was searching for an audiobook to hit me in the feelings the other night, and I noticed this was available on Hoopla. The rest was history.
I DEVOURED this book. Alis is SUCH an incredible character. I was so in love with her personal journey throughout this book as you learn about his life and what has happened to him. My heart *ached* for Alis. I wanted to keep him so so safe. The way he learned and grew made me tear up several times. His teacher being there for him!???
CRAIG. My little angel baby chicken nugget sweetie pie. He was just this ball of delightful energy who was insistent on getting in Alis’s space and being his friend. I loved him so so so so much. He was just a genuinely *good* character and so good for Alis.
The *sparks* between these two were incredible. Their first kiss had me REELING. Their intimacy was a little fumbling and a lot perfect. I loved how their relationship and trust and love progressed throughout the book. Even with that *intense* scene toward the latter half. The ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹.
Please read the content warnings and read this book if you can. It is incredible. Beautiful written by @carlow.lex and narrated impeccably by @samstarkva - you won’t regret it.
I was searching for an audiobook to hit me in the feelings the other night, and I noticed this was available on Hoopla. The rest was history.
I DEVOURED this book. Alis is SUCH an incredible character. I was so in love with her personal journey throughout this book as you learn about his life and what has happened to him. My heart *ached* for Alis. I wanted to keep him so so safe. The way he learned and grew made me tear up several times. His teacher being there for him!???
CRAIG. My little angel baby chicken nugget sweetie pie. He was just this ball of delightful energy who was insistent on getting in Alis’s space and being his friend. I loved him so so so so much. He was just a genuinely *good* character and so good for Alis.
The *sparks* between these two were incredible. Their first kiss had me REELING. Their intimacy was a little fumbling and a lot perfect. I loved how their relationship and trust and love progressed throughout the book. Even with that *intense* scene toward the latter half. The ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹.
Please read the content warnings and read this book if you can. It is incredible. Beautiful written by @carlow.lex and narrated impeccably by @samstarkva - you won’t regret it.
March 24, 2025
I seem to be in my YA era. I’m on a roll with this genre atm 🙌🏻.
I have fallen in love with this read for so many reasons and I don’t know if this review will give this read enough justice.
This is a beautiful but painful story that will stay with me for a long time.
While we have some lighthearted moments with a sprinkle of humour, we also have gut-wrenching emotional dark scenes that moved me close to tears. The writing touches something deep within you and I feel that most people who have had similar teenage/ coming-of-age experiences can resonate with Alis.
I loved the friendship group that formed on the trip and how Alis finally found his people. Alis is struggling with inner demons, keeping Alis from letting people in completely, but as the read goes on and the layers slowly drop away, a bond forms with these people that you can see lasting a lifetime.
Craig is just the cutest boy ever! I loved how caring and selfless he was towards his friends. He was always there for Alis on the trip and just knew what Alis needed and didn’t ask questions. Craig and Alis gave me all the fuzzy heartwarming feels.
Mrs Lachlan needs a teacher of the year award! I wished I had a teacher like her growing up in my late teenage years. Lachlan was so cool, calm and collected when certain situations arose. Love her!
I highly recommend this read for everyone, but please check the TW before venturing into it. The author has done a brilliant job portraying mental health, trauma and the self-harming Alis goes through. We have on-page moments that might be triggering for some.
I have fallen in love with this read for so many reasons and I don’t know if this review will give this read enough justice.
This is a beautiful but painful story that will stay with me for a long time.
While we have some lighthearted moments with a sprinkle of humour, we also have gut-wrenching emotional dark scenes that moved me close to tears. The writing touches something deep within you and I feel that most people who have had similar teenage/ coming-of-age experiences can resonate with Alis.
I loved the friendship group that formed on the trip and how Alis finally found his people. Alis is struggling with inner demons, keeping Alis from letting people in completely, but as the read goes on and the layers slowly drop away, a bond forms with these people that you can see lasting a lifetime.
Craig is just the cutest boy ever! I loved how caring and selfless he was towards his friends. He was always there for Alis on the trip and just knew what Alis needed and didn’t ask questions. Craig and Alis gave me all the fuzzy heartwarming feels.
Mrs Lachlan needs a teacher of the year award! I wished I had a teacher like her growing up in my late teenage years. Lachlan was so cool, calm and collected when certain situations arose. Love her!
I highly recommend this read for everyone, but please check the TW before venturing into it. The author has done a brilliant job portraying mental health, trauma and the self-harming Alis goes through. We have on-page moments that might be triggering for some.
June 9, 2024
Earth to Alis is about Alistair "Alis", who is on his way with some classmates to Europe. Alis is a secluded-by-choice troubled teenager, with tumultuous feelings hidden inside a couldn't-care-less attitude. His classmates don't like him, not after a fire that they claim he started a week ago at his ex-best friend's party. Alis is fine with letting them believe this and refuses to accept the blame, nor deny he did it, since it means he can be left more alone.
At first, Europe is good for Alis - he's away from his rough home-life, and away from the problems that happened the week before but his mental health doesn't suddenly fix itself just because he's on another continent. His tendency to self harm, isolate, and snap at well-meaning people still continue. Until an incident with his classmate, Craig, suddenly has him wanting to become close to someone again. But letting Craig in means letting himself be vulnerable, and that creates feelings that Alis, quite frankly, isn't ready to deal with yet.
This was an amazing book, a true can't-put-down read. I loved so many of the characters, the writing was top notch, the storytelling was well paced and watching Alis learn to let people in was wonderful. This book covers a lot of heavy subjects and didn't shy away from them at all, which I appreciated. It made the characters feel more real. I could easily read many more pages, or stories, containing these characters. If this book is available for physical purchase, I'll be doing so!
At first, Europe is good for Alis - he's away from his rough home-life, and away from the problems that happened the week before but his mental health doesn't suddenly fix itself just because he's on another continent. His tendency to self harm, isolate, and snap at well-meaning people still continue. Until an incident with his classmate, Craig, suddenly has him wanting to become close to someone again. But letting Craig in means letting himself be vulnerable, and that creates feelings that Alis, quite frankly, isn't ready to deal with yet.
This was an amazing book, a true can't-put-down read. I loved so many of the characters, the writing was top notch, the storytelling was well paced and watching Alis learn to let people in was wonderful. This book covers a lot of heavy subjects and didn't shy away from them at all, which I appreciated. It made the characters feel more real. I could easily read many more pages, or stories, containing these characters. If this book is available for physical purchase, I'll be doing so!
March 27, 2025
This one resonated a little too hard. Loved it so so much.
Read the content warnings, PLEASE!
Chapter 32 🥹
Thank you Dawn for posting about this & thank you Lex for writing this story.
Another read for the TRR!
Read the content warnings, PLEASE!
Chapter 32 🥹
Thank you Dawn for posting about this & thank you Lex for writing this story.
Another read for the TRR!
June 6, 2024
I knew I was the target audience right from the start, but I had no idea how much this book would hit me right in the soul.
This book covers a lot of very heavy topics, but it’s something my sixteen year old self would have needed and I can only smile knowing this book will be out there for future sixteen year olds struggling with their mental health, identity and relationships. It’s a hard but raw narrative I know will mean a lot to so many people.
Earth to Alis is such a refreshing entry into the YA Contemporary genre, a genre I usually tend to avoid now I’m in my twenties, but it’s something I think everyone will be able to relate to in some way. I cannot wait for you all to meet Alis, Craig, and Noor so you can love them just as much as I did. This story will have you not wanting to put it down and will take you through every emotion imaginable, so strap in, grab your tissues and Shoegaze playlists and let’s go and travel Europe.
This book covers a lot of very heavy topics, but it’s something my sixteen year old self would have needed and I can only smile knowing this book will be out there for future sixteen year olds struggling with their mental health, identity and relationships. It’s a hard but raw narrative I know will mean a lot to so many people.
Earth to Alis is such a refreshing entry into the YA Contemporary genre, a genre I usually tend to avoid now I’m in my twenties, but it’s something I think everyone will be able to relate to in some way. I cannot wait for you all to meet Alis, Craig, and Noor so you can love them just as much as I did. This story will have you not wanting to put it down and will take you through every emotion imaginable, so strap in, grab your tissues and Shoegaze playlists and let’s go and travel Europe.
September 23, 2024
4.5 stars
🩷🩷
🩷🩷
May 10, 2024
I am a very active reader. I have no idea how many books I have read in my life, but I know Earth to Alis is easily one of the best novels I have ever read. Lex Carlow has written a masterpiece; Earth to Alis is going to save lives and help people build empathy for those suffering with mental health issues. This was such an amazing story full of raw and unfiltered life. I know you’re going to love it as much as I have. Reading this book was definitely a “pink sky moment” for me.
I did receive an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. But you need to know that this book is so outstanding I plan on buying multiple copies to both keep and gift. It is a book people are going to be talking about for a very long time.
I did receive an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. But you need to know that this book is so outstanding I plan on buying multiple copies to both keep and gift. It is a book people are going to be talking about for a very long time.
December 23, 2024
*4.75
This was in a lot of ways hard to read. That being said, I loved it.
Honestly, I have pretty much no notes.
I loved the characters. They were all so distinct and dimensional, and I think the story couldn’t have existed without that. I loved the varying dynamic between them all.
The plot never dragged to me. Every time I thought there might be a lull, there wasn’t. And it was never outlandish or unbelievable. It was just another event in Alis’s life.
The only little thing that was niggling at me is that I would have liked to see more not-perfection from Craig. He existed in a lot of ways to be perfect for Alis and I wanted to hear more about struggles from him too, in a way that was serious. The reason this hasn’t lowered my rating is because we’re getting Alis as out narrator and he is so into his own head that I’m sure it’s happening, we just don’t see it.
But really, I loved this book. I’m not sure that I could have read it in high school because I would have rejected his growth, not seen the toxicity in relationships for what they were, but now it was great. I’m so proud of Alis’s growth and the way it’s happening.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the e-arc!
This was in a lot of ways hard to read. That being said, I loved it.
Honestly, I have pretty much no notes.
I loved the characters. They were all so distinct and dimensional, and I think the story couldn’t have existed without that. I loved the varying dynamic between them all.
The plot never dragged to me. Every time I thought there might be a lull, there wasn’t. And it was never outlandish or unbelievable. It was just another event in Alis’s life.
The only little thing that was niggling at me is that I would have liked to see more not-perfection from Craig. He existed in a lot of ways to be perfect for Alis and I wanted to hear more about struggles from him too, in a way that was serious. The reason this hasn’t lowered my rating is because we’re getting Alis as out narrator and he is so into his own head that I’m sure it’s happening, we just don’t see it.
But really, I loved this book. I’m not sure that I could have read it in high school because I would have rejected his growth, not seen the toxicity in relationships for what they were, but now it was great. I’m so proud of Alis’s growth and the way it’s happening.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the e-arc!
November 1, 2025
I'm going to need everyone to silently pretend it is the sign of a very mentally healthy person to make this book a regular comfort re-read.
June 30, 2024
"I've always liked the idea that you could put yourself through pain like that and have something beautiful to show for it on the other side. Or, you know, maybe not always beautiful - I've seen Ink Master - but at least something that means a lot to you. Something permanent, and not in a bad way."
Before I get into talking about how absolutely fucking incredible this book was for me, I just wanted to drop the TWs for Earth to Alis for any prospective readers. This is truly an amazing book, but it deals very graphically with self harm, depression, dissociation, panic attacks, anxiety and depression, severe bullying, and child abuse. If any of those topics are triggering to you, take care of yourself if you choose to read this book!
Earth to Alis was, to me, many things: exceptionally well-written, unputdownable, heartbreaking, affirming, loving, painful, and everything in between. But above all, this book was immensely healing to me as an adult, and I can only imagine how a book like Earth to Alis might've changed my life if I'd read it as a teenager. While there's still a long way to go, we're in an age of mental health destigmatization, where people are very openly and honestly discussing what it's like to live with severe anxiety and depression - and Earth to Alis is exactly that. It felt like a very accurate and genuine depiction of struggling with mental health problems, and even for someone who now has a better handle on her anxiety and depression than I did as a teenager, it reminded me so clearly of the one thing I constantly forget about mental health: no one is truly alone. I think that's a cheesy sort of line that often gets tossed around by corporations, but what I mean is that when you're in a mental health crisis, your first thought is that no one could possibly understand what you're going through, what the pain of a panic attack is like, what the relief of self-harm is like, and all of the nuanced sensations that come with things like that.
But Earth to Alis is a beacon of visibility and representation, and reminds me that even in my lowest, most terrified moments, I have physical proof that I am not the only one on the planet feeling that way. That's an immensely comforting thing for me. Also, as a bonus thought that has nothing to do with this review, I'm super proud of myself for being able to read Earth to Alis start to finish without panicking or having any severe anxiety flare-ups. That's a big hallmark of progress for me because I know that even a few short years ago, some of these topics would've sent me spiralling. Instead, this was one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
I took a bit of a chance when I picked up an ARC of Earth to Alis, because straight fiction is a genre I tend not to read (I'm far more of a genre reader, whether that's horror or fantasy or sci-fi). But the summary appealed to me, and I figured I'd give it a shot. My expectations were low not because of the book itself, but because I knew that I was going into a book of a genre I don't particularly like - so when I was absolutely engrossed from page one, when I stayed up late reading one more chapter, okay one more chapter, now just one more chapter, nobody was more surprised than me. If there has ever been a case of 'read outside of your comfort zone' really working for someone, take this as that.
Lex Carlow is an incredibly gifted writer, and Earth to Alis is one of the exceedingly rare 5-star books where I can't think of a single thing I wish would've been done differently. The pacing was perfect, the chapters were short (my preferred length), the characters were loveable but flawed (y'know, like real people are), the twists and turns are heartbreaking and unexpected, and the ending was perfect. I won't spoil the ending, of course, but it's important to me that with a book like this, potential readers go into it knowing that everything is okay. The queer, mentally ill, abused, bullied kid doesn't kill himself at the end, doesn't get stuck in a bad situation, doesn't continue to suffer. It's not a perfect 'happily ever after' ending, either, but rather, something more realistic, and something that lends itself to the theme of Earth to Alis: healing. Healing, and growth, and progress.
Carlow has officially got a fan for life, and even though I got the ebook ARC of Earth to Alis, you bet your ass I'm buying a physical copy the second I can. I'm going to treasure Earth to Alis for the rest of my life, and it's going to sit on my bookshelf not only as a great read, but as a reminder of the power that books have to make us feel seen, to make us feel loved, and to make us feel like we're not alone in the world.
Before I get into talking about how absolutely fucking incredible this book was for me, I just wanted to drop the TWs for Earth to Alis for any prospective readers. This is truly an amazing book, but it deals very graphically with self harm, depression, dissociation, panic attacks, anxiety and depression, severe bullying, and child abuse. If any of those topics are triggering to you, take care of yourself if you choose to read this book!
Earth to Alis was, to me, many things: exceptionally well-written, unputdownable, heartbreaking, affirming, loving, painful, and everything in between. But above all, this book was immensely healing to me as an adult, and I can only imagine how a book like Earth to Alis might've changed my life if I'd read it as a teenager. While there's still a long way to go, we're in an age of mental health destigmatization, where people are very openly and honestly discussing what it's like to live with severe anxiety and depression - and Earth to Alis is exactly that. It felt like a very accurate and genuine depiction of struggling with mental health problems, and even for someone who now has a better handle on her anxiety and depression than I did as a teenager, it reminded me so clearly of the one thing I constantly forget about mental health: no one is truly alone. I think that's a cheesy sort of line that often gets tossed around by corporations, but what I mean is that when you're in a mental health crisis, your first thought is that no one could possibly understand what you're going through, what the pain of a panic attack is like, what the relief of self-harm is like, and all of the nuanced sensations that come with things like that.
But Earth to Alis is a beacon of visibility and representation, and reminds me that even in my lowest, most terrified moments, I have physical proof that I am not the only one on the planet feeling that way. That's an immensely comforting thing for me. Also, as a bonus thought that has nothing to do with this review, I'm super proud of myself for being able to read Earth to Alis start to finish without panicking or having any severe anxiety flare-ups. That's a big hallmark of progress for me because I know that even a few short years ago, some of these topics would've sent me spiralling. Instead, this was one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
I took a bit of a chance when I picked up an ARC of Earth to Alis, because straight fiction is a genre I tend not to read (I'm far more of a genre reader, whether that's horror or fantasy or sci-fi). But the summary appealed to me, and I figured I'd give it a shot. My expectations were low not because of the book itself, but because I knew that I was going into a book of a genre I don't particularly like - so when I was absolutely engrossed from page one, when I stayed up late reading one more chapter, okay one more chapter, now just one more chapter, nobody was more surprised than me. If there has ever been a case of 'read outside of your comfort zone' really working for someone, take this as that.
Lex Carlow is an incredibly gifted writer, and Earth to Alis is one of the exceedingly rare 5-star books where I can't think of a single thing I wish would've been done differently. The pacing was perfect, the chapters were short (my preferred length), the characters were loveable but flawed (y'know, like real people are), the twists and turns are heartbreaking and unexpected, and the ending was perfect. I won't spoil the ending, of course, but it's important to me that with a book like this, potential readers go into it knowing that everything is okay. The queer, mentally ill, abused, bullied kid doesn't kill himself at the end, doesn't get stuck in a bad situation, doesn't continue to suffer. It's not a perfect 'happily ever after' ending, either, but rather, something more realistic, and something that lends itself to the theme of Earth to Alis: healing. Healing, and growth, and progress.
Carlow has officially got a fan for life, and even though I got the ebook ARC of Earth to Alis, you bet your ass I'm buying a physical copy the second I can. I'm going to treasure Earth to Alis for the rest of my life, and it's going to sit on my bookshelf not only as a great read, but as a reminder of the power that books have to make us feel seen, to make us feel loved, and to make us feel like we're not alone in the world.
July 2, 2024
A rare and wonderful read, highly recommended
If you love YA, good writing, strong characterization, hurt-comfort, prickly closed off guys with deep-held secrets meeting golden retriever sunshine guys, pick this one up. This feels like a darker, angstier, non-graphic version of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series.
It’s brilliant.
TWs for self-harm, bullying, past suicide ideation (no attempt on page), mental health elements.
Oh, Alis. Alistair. This closed off, hurting, prickly and so smart boy won my heart in one page and I just kept reading. Alis is the narrator, and the book opens on a plane to Europe for a senior class trip. Alis is isolated, estranged from everyone, having lost his best and only friend earlier in the year to a friendship meltdown, and he's so in need of human contact, and part of the heartbreak of the book is finding out why. But trust me there’s so much more joy in seeing classmates Alis has always assumed want nothing to do with him reach out and try to connect with him…and finally get a response…seeing Alis reluctantly let people in and realize maybe it's okay to try is so healing and lovely, and I felt like I was on this great European adventure with Alis.
Craig is someone Alis has never taken seriously, joking, kind, never a bad thing to say about anything, but Alis’s disdain turns to interest and respect fast as Craig refuses to be shut out and keeps coming back to interact, invite, bring Alis into his small circle of friends, including Noor, Danika, and Drew. Others orbit them, but that’s the core group, and Alis’s growing attachment to Craig alarms and annoys and finally addicts Alis until he starts lashing out from fear of what it all means. Nothing good ever happens for Alis; there’s always got to be a catch. But learning Craig has secrets too opens him up to possibilities and brings him out of his own head, and there are many revelations throughout the trip.
There’s so much love and heartbreak in these pages, so much authenticity in the reactions and responses and actions, and I was there for it all. Maybe the teens are a little too insightful for teens, but they’re how I wish things could have been and it’s a delight and hopeful to read. Teacher Ms. Lachlan has a starring role and I wish everyone had a Lachlan in their school life. Other teachers are also well drawn, no stereotypes here, and they touch Alis’s journey here and there too.
Alis’s struggles with his bullies on the trip are tough to get through, and you sense disaster is coming, and it does. But Alis’s crew has his back, even when he doesn’t expect them to, and it’s a story that offers hope in human kindness and the ability to break free of herd mentality and appreciate someone for all their foibles and flaws and uniqueness.
Journey through Europe with Alis and Craig and crew! Falling in love through tough times is so precious. While Alis’s personal journey is the focus, the romance was sweet and present enough to satisfy shmoopy old me, and I fell in love too.
HFN to grow to HEA, very hopeful. Hurt comfort, grumpy sunshine YA personal journey with strong romantic element. No cheating or any others in any way; the romance isn’t the focus but adds exponentially to the story. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Booksirens for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
If you love YA, good writing, strong characterization, hurt-comfort, prickly closed off guys with deep-held secrets meeting golden retriever sunshine guys, pick this one up. This feels like a darker, angstier, non-graphic version of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series.
It’s brilliant.
TWs for self-harm, bullying, past suicide ideation (no attempt on page), mental health elements.
Oh, Alis. Alistair. This closed off, hurting, prickly and so smart boy won my heart in one page and I just kept reading. Alis is the narrator, and the book opens on a plane to Europe for a senior class trip. Alis is isolated, estranged from everyone, having lost his best and only friend earlier in the year to a friendship meltdown, and he's so in need of human contact, and part of the heartbreak of the book is finding out why. But trust me there’s so much more joy in seeing classmates Alis has always assumed want nothing to do with him reach out and try to connect with him…and finally get a response…seeing Alis reluctantly let people in and realize maybe it's okay to try is so healing and lovely, and I felt like I was on this great European adventure with Alis.
Craig is someone Alis has never taken seriously, joking, kind, never a bad thing to say about anything, but Alis’s disdain turns to interest and respect fast as Craig refuses to be shut out and keeps coming back to interact, invite, bring Alis into his small circle of friends, including Noor, Danika, and Drew. Others orbit them, but that’s the core group, and Alis’s growing attachment to Craig alarms and annoys and finally addicts Alis until he starts lashing out from fear of what it all means. Nothing good ever happens for Alis; there’s always got to be a catch. But learning Craig has secrets too opens him up to possibilities and brings him out of his own head, and there are many revelations throughout the trip.
There’s so much love and heartbreak in these pages, so much authenticity in the reactions and responses and actions, and I was there for it all. Maybe the teens are a little too insightful for teens, but they’re how I wish things could have been and it’s a delight and hopeful to read. Teacher Ms. Lachlan has a starring role and I wish everyone had a Lachlan in their school life. Other teachers are also well drawn, no stereotypes here, and they touch Alis’s journey here and there too.
Alis’s struggles with his bullies on the trip are tough to get through, and you sense disaster is coming, and it does. But Alis’s crew has his back, even when he doesn’t expect them to, and it’s a story that offers hope in human kindness and the ability to break free of herd mentality and appreciate someone for all their foibles and flaws and uniqueness.
Journey through Europe with Alis and Craig and crew! Falling in love through tough times is so precious. While Alis’s personal journey is the focus, the romance was sweet and present enough to satisfy shmoopy old me, and I fell in love too.
HFN to grow to HEA, very hopeful. Hurt comfort, grumpy sunshine YA personal journey with strong romantic element. No cheating or any others in any way; the romance isn’t the focus but adds exponentially to the story. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Booksirens for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
August 14, 2024
"teenager in the house A must-read for you! July Release
Ranking at no.46 in literary fiction for young adult at no. 52 on depression & mental health
This story has REALISTIC content, RELATABLE characters & RAW struggle/s while we wade through life especially teenage years.
The story of ALIS has everything from queer representation to a narcissist parent, from broken friendships to heartache to precious relationships, from self-destruction to fighting it out with motivation & support.
It also has a character with my name, Noor which made me really happy!
Alis's perspective, POV as a teenager who lost his only precious friendship plus having toxic, unsupportive parents which leads him to form an armor around him, to seclude himself, mask his loneliness with a criminal image, is worth the time, learning about it & understanding it.
The author's experience & academic study in the related field helps enrich the narrative.
Alis & Craig are .
Don't forget to check out the TWs explicitly given at the beginning itself. So thankful for them.
The writing style is captivating & engrossing with the trips to Paris, Switzerland, Rome, Florence & Venice actually taking the reader on a ride!
I could actually feel Alis while reading through the book.
My insights: Never isolate yourself, support is very important, reach out, talk about your struggles. Everyone is fighting their own battle, but still we can help each other out. It needs lots of work starting with self-acceptance, work on your own self, pick yourself up when you fall & with support from friends, family & professionals.
Self-harm is not the answer.
____
Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, he's isolated himself by letting his classmates believe he's a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs.
But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isn't so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to him-namely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition don't irritate Alis nearly as much as they should.
Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows how: drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental health-even if it means letting someone in.
Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Ranking at no.46 in literary fiction for young adult at no. 52 on depression & mental health
This story has REALISTIC content, RELATABLE characters & RAW struggle/s while we wade through life especially teenage years.
The story of ALIS has everything from queer representation to a narcissist parent, from broken friendships to heartache to precious relationships, from self-destruction to fighting it out with motivation & support.
It also has a character with my name, Noor which made me really happy!
Alis's perspective, POV as a teenager who lost his only precious friendship plus having toxic, unsupportive parents which leads him to form an armor around him, to seclude himself, mask his loneliness with a criminal image, is worth the time, learning about it & understanding it.
The author's experience & academic study in the related field helps enrich the narrative.
Alis & Craig are .
Don't forget to check out the TWs explicitly given at the beginning itself. So thankful for them.
The writing style is captivating & engrossing with the trips to Paris, Switzerland, Rome, Florence & Venice actually taking the reader on a ride!
I could actually feel Alis while reading through the book.
My insights: Never isolate yourself, support is very important, reach out, talk about your struggles. Everyone is fighting their own battle, but still we can help each other out. It needs lots of work starting with self-acceptance, work on your own self, pick yourself up when you fall & with support from friends, family & professionals.
Self-harm is not the answer.
____
Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, he's isolated himself by letting his classmates believe he's a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs.
But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isn't so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to him-namely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition don't irritate Alis nearly as much as they should.
Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows how: drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental health-even if it means letting someone in.
Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
June 21, 2024
I requested and received an eARC of Earth to Alis by Lex Carlow via NetGalley. The novel focuses on Alistair Woodson, a high school student, who seems to exist in near total social isolation. After a betrayal from his former best friend, Jordan, Alis finds himself labeled an arsonist and the target of increased bullying by Jordan’s boyfriend and the group of friends she seemingly chose over him. Between constant academic pressure from his mother, overwhelming anxiety, and the stinging rejection from Jordan, he finds it difficult to enjoy himself on his class graduation trip to Europe. Things begin to turn around when Craig Miltenberg, a somewhat goofy and sappy classmate, begins to pay attention to him, drawing him into a new circle of friends and experiences. Despite these new found sources of joy and companionship, Alis finds himself unable to escape the intrusive thoughts that plague him.
I really enjoyed this story, particularly because of the wonderful characters that inhabit it. I found Alis to be very relatable. Much like Alis, something I have always struggled with is the ability to show true vulnerability. The way he fumbled his way through the story, learning to open himself a little bit more at his own pace, felt very healing. His decisions often angered me and saddened me and I wanted nothing more than reach through the page and give this poor kid a hug. Carlow did a really magnificent job of creating a history for Alis and Jordan that made the wreckage of their friendship feel very real, despite Jordan not physically appearing in the story aside from flashbacks. The tenderness and understanding that Craig demonstrates with Noor (and vice-versa) felt so special and served as an excellent foil for the friendship between Alis and Jordan.
Thematically, this book is very heavy. It is targeted for older, YA audiences, and I would encourage paying close attention to the content warnings for this particular book. I don’t say that to deter anyone from reading this story, but rather to fully prepare them. Suicidal ideation, self harm, anxiety/depression, and abuse all play a role in this novel. There were a few scenes in the novel that were difficult to read, but they always felt necessary to the story. It’s refreshing to see such a nuanced approach to mental health issues, particularly as the author doesn’t attempt to shield their characters from the attitudes and realities of the world they inhabit. Carlow has crafted an exceptional experience for any reader who chooses to follow Alis’ journey, and while the path may be bumpy, it is certainly worth the effort. I think the blurb suggests that this is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and The Perks of Being a Wallflower and I couldn’t agree more. The darkness of the story is balanced by moments of joy and hopefulness and the result is very moving.
I really enjoyed this story, particularly because of the wonderful characters that inhabit it. I found Alis to be very relatable. Much like Alis, something I have always struggled with is the ability to show true vulnerability. The way he fumbled his way through the story, learning to open himself a little bit more at his own pace, felt very healing. His decisions often angered me and saddened me and I wanted nothing more than reach through the page and give this poor kid a hug. Carlow did a really magnificent job of creating a history for Alis and Jordan that made the wreckage of their friendship feel very real, despite Jordan not physically appearing in the story aside from flashbacks. The tenderness and understanding that Craig demonstrates with Noor (and vice-versa) felt so special and served as an excellent foil for the friendship between Alis and Jordan.
Thematically, this book is very heavy. It is targeted for older, YA audiences, and I would encourage paying close attention to the content warnings for this particular book. I don’t say that to deter anyone from reading this story, but rather to fully prepare them. Suicidal ideation, self harm, anxiety/depression, and abuse all play a role in this novel. There were a few scenes in the novel that were difficult to read, but they always felt necessary to the story. It’s refreshing to see such a nuanced approach to mental health issues, particularly as the author doesn’t attempt to shield their characters from the attitudes and realities of the world they inhabit. Carlow has crafted an exceptional experience for any reader who chooses to follow Alis’ journey, and while the path may be bumpy, it is certainly worth the effort. I think the blurb suggests that this is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and The Perks of Being a Wallflower and I couldn’t agree more. The darkness of the story is balanced by moments of joy and hopefulness and the result is very moving.
July 28, 2024
Oh my god, I love this novel with my whole heart. I've read a LOT of books over the years, but Earth to Alis is hands down the best novel I've ever read about the experience of being a young person struggling with their mental health. That might make it sound like it's a heavy read, but it's anything but - it's full of warmth and heart and humour, and is a complete page turner. It's a rare talent to make a book with so much depth so accessible to read, but Lex Carlow does it masterfully. I found myself devouring 70+ pages at a time whenever I sat to down to read it, because it just completely hooks you into Alis's world.
I've rarely read a book that treats mental health with such care and sensitivity - and yet also provides such a raw, visceral portrayal of the internal experience of living with it. There were so many times while reading it that I felt as though I was reading my own experience as a young person put into words for the first time. Lex Carlow really captures all the nuance of all different ways that struggling with your mental health can impact you, and if you're anyone who's ever felt anything like Alis then reading this book will probably fill you with the same sense of solace that filled me when I was reading it.
One of my favourite things about this book was also how original all of the characters are - absolutely no one is a stereotype. Even characters who aren't the focus still feel so real and unique, and reading it left me wishing I'd had a little gang of friends like the one Alis finds as the book goes on. The book also does such an amazing job at portraying his slow acceptance of himself and beginning to open up and trust people for the first time. It feels so realistic, and doesn't gloss over how challenging that is for someone who's experienced long term struggles with their mental health and complex trauma - but it also shows how unbelievably worthwhile it is to let yourself be *you* with the people who care about you.
Honestly this is the book I needed to read as a teenager, and getting to read it now has healed parts of me I didn't realise needed healing. It's a not just a book about mental health; it's a story about friendship and love and self-acceptance, ultimately, it feels like it's a book about hope.
Lex Carlow is such a talented author, I honestly can't believe that this is their debut novel. It's the kind of book that makes you scribble notes in the margins and want to scream about it to all your friends. Truly an absolute joy to read, I can't recommend it enough!
I've rarely read a book that treats mental health with such care and sensitivity - and yet also provides such a raw, visceral portrayal of the internal experience of living with it. There were so many times while reading it that I felt as though I was reading my own experience as a young person put into words for the first time. Lex Carlow really captures all the nuance of all different ways that struggling with your mental health can impact you, and if you're anyone who's ever felt anything like Alis then reading this book will probably fill you with the same sense of solace that filled me when I was reading it.
One of my favourite things about this book was also how original all of the characters are - absolutely no one is a stereotype. Even characters who aren't the focus still feel so real and unique, and reading it left me wishing I'd had a little gang of friends like the one Alis finds as the book goes on. The book also does such an amazing job at portraying his slow acceptance of himself and beginning to open up and trust people for the first time. It feels so realistic, and doesn't gloss over how challenging that is for someone who's experienced long term struggles with their mental health and complex trauma - but it also shows how unbelievably worthwhile it is to let yourself be *you* with the people who care about you.
Honestly this is the book I needed to read as a teenager, and getting to read it now has healed parts of me I didn't realise needed healing. It's a not just a book about mental health; it's a story about friendship and love and self-acceptance, ultimately, it feels like it's a book about hope.
Lex Carlow is such a talented author, I honestly can't believe that this is their debut novel. It's the kind of book that makes you scribble notes in the margins and want to scream about it to all your friends. Truly an absolute joy to read, I can't recommend it enough!
June 25, 2024
From the MC to the sidekicks - even those we're supposed to loathe - I don't think I've liked a cast of characters in its whole as I did the one in this book. Even those not present - Jordan's constantly mentioned, but she isn't physically there - hooked claws into me, and had me putting myself in their shoes and trying to understand the whys and the whats behind their behaviour. And for me, at least, these were understandble, for there are always two sides to every coin and what we get here is Alis's side, meaning we're left to imagine what the shoe feels like on the other foot. I'd say the author did a very good work of it, because they made me go there, to the other foot, to pull on that other shoe, which is rare with books of this ilk - we're meant to root for the MC and stand by them at all times, loyal to the end, because the 'villain' is just a bad person who hurt our baby. In this case, i'd say the author weaved the tale in such manner that I put myself in the shoes of every character - whether they were pro or against Alis.
I liked the way Alis evolves and opens up on his own, discovering himself as he does Craig and Noor and the rest. I loved the manner in which he slowly - but so quickly, at the same time - gives himself these small little chances, and the permission to trust again, after all that happened. I also like the way in which he somehow, deep down, knows he's been regarding only his side of events, assuming things about everyone else that are based on his own personal prejudices and fear. And I love the way he tries to fight against that. All in all this was a very feel good book - yes, even though some really dark places are visited and some really bad things happen. It's a book filled with hope and determination and the light that friendship can light upon someone. Is it realistic? I sure hope so, though life's shown me different. But it's books like this that make you somehow believe that good things can happen, and loyal, honest, real people still exist, and that no matter who you are, love can be there for you, as well. Because you can also learn to love yourself.
This novel is right now sitting at the top of my fave reads, this year.
I liked the way Alis evolves and opens up on his own, discovering himself as he does Craig and Noor and the rest. I loved the manner in which he slowly - but so quickly, at the same time - gives himself these small little chances, and the permission to trust again, after all that happened. I also like the way in which he somehow, deep down, knows he's been regarding only his side of events, assuming things about everyone else that are based on his own personal prejudices and fear. And I love the way he tries to fight against that. All in all this was a very feel good book - yes, even though some really dark places are visited and some really bad things happen. It's a book filled with hope and determination and the light that friendship can light upon someone. Is it realistic? I sure hope so, though life's shown me different. But it's books like this that make you somehow believe that good things can happen, and loyal, honest, real people still exist, and that no matter who you are, love can be there for you, as well. Because you can also learn to love yourself.
This novel is right now sitting at the top of my fave reads, this year.
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