A Long Way Home

by J.J. Hynd

Alex thought she had outrun her old life, that was until her old life came knocking...

Alexandra Peake has a problem. A few, actually.
First there is her ex-husband who turned up out of the blue and is currently pounding his fist against the tiny glass window of the airlock door. Then there is the fact she is trapped on the side of the door currently venting the remains of a breathable atmosphere into the vacuum of space. Plus, she really misses her cat.

Matthias Müller has one problem - How to save his wife.

PRAISE FOR A LONG WAY HOME

" It’s like someone trapped you in a sleek, slightly malfunctioning spaceship with your ex, threw in unresolved feelings and zero personal space, and said, “Good luck, babe.” And honestly? I ate it up." - Ali Evers, author of Taken by the Wisps

" If you're looking for something that blends the best of romance and sci-fi, and with more on the horizon, then make sure you check out A Long Way Home! (Did I mention there's some zero-G spice?" - SM Campbell, author of The Widow's Monster.


A LONG WAY HOME is the first installment in the ISS Romance series .

PLEASE This book is intended for readers 18+

Genres: Second Chance

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2025

About the author

J.J.Hynd is a Londoner that ran away to the North. As a single parent with a short attention span, and even less free time, they write stories that are pace fast, ADHD friendly. They write about lovers in space, alien crime lords, murderous AIs, the occasional dinosaur, and barbarian kings.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great quick read. I haven’t read any space romances before, but I love a story or movie based in space. And honestly I felt this book probably didn’t need the romance elements to be a solid read. It’s well paced for a short story with both world building and character development.

For me the one star was purely lost to the spicy scene, I didn’t really need it for the story and it took me out of it. I love Alex and Matze (and also Luca - stellar job to JJ for managing to have 2 main love interests vying for the heroine and not making either of them terrible humans!) I just probably don’t need the spicy scenes, this book is great without them.

I loved the detail that went into describing life on the space station and there was clearly research done into how life functions in the vacuum of space (well within a secure space ship).

The ending was so foreboding. I was so here for it. Where will JJ take us on the second installment?! Only time will tell but I am hanging to know more about the motley crew aboard the ISS!

[Rebecca Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! My first ISS romance! I like that it was written in British English as most books are written in American English, so it was a nice change!

I love the relationship between the characters and I was routing for Alex and Matthias the whole way through!

I’m excited to see what happens in book 2!
It’s seems they may not be alone…👀

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATED: After some more reading, I found the rating system I was using was not working for me. I felt it didn't accurately reflect how good I felt about the book. So, I am making my way through my reviews and adjusting the rating where necessary. Therefore, this review is now 4 out of 5 (from 3 out of 5). Meaning, it surpassed expectations and would recommend.

Sci-Fi Romance. Ex lovers. Suspense and mildly spicy.

This was a really enjoyable read. It had me hooked from page one and wanting more when it ended. I can't wait to read more from this author, including the next instalment.

Read via E-reader.

[Rhiannon Sharples · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first sci-fi romance! It was fabulous! I want crew lists, maps of all the locations described and beautiful illustrations in all my books. Add to that great characters, a beautiful plot that I need more of, and a splash of spice! A Long Way Home has it all.
-second chance romance
-forced proximity
-zero gravity spice

I can't wait for more from JJ!
Fav quotes include:
"forever and always"
"anal retentive complete with stick up butt"
"cobwebs down there"
"didn't think 3 years of radio silence was an answer?"

[Wings & Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. It was quick, easy and a bit different to my usual type. I have never read a book where they are in space before. It was a 2nd chance romance, a life and death situation and u likely friendships formed. It ended on a cliff hanger and I need, the next installment!!!

[Stacy Clearman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to read a whole book when I settled in this evening, but I'm glad I picked this up. I really liked the setting of the story, as it's certainly a unique place for a romance novel to occur. The research that went into this was phenomenal. The plot was quick and provoking. I enjoy a good second chance romance and have been looking forward to this release for a while, and I was not disappointed. However, the final reunion at the end felt a little forced and out of place. Other than that, I couldn't put it down.

[Ali Evers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella crams so much into its pages: a claustrophobic rescue mission that had me sweating. A second-chance romance that made my heart do parkour, and just enough spice and chaos to make me question my life choices (in a good way).

It’s like someone trapped you in a dated, slightly malfunctioning spaceship with your ex, threw in unresolved feelings and zero personal space, and said, “Good luck, babe.” And honestly? I ate it up.

If you're looking to disappear into another world for a few hours and emerge emotionally disheveled and lightly perspiring, I highly recommend it. Yes, I said recommend. (Not recumbent—unless you, too, need to lie down afterward. Which, fair.)

[Katieandgroot · Rating 4 out of 5]

** RECIVED AS AN ARC this is my free and honest review ** This is a great mix of SciFi and romance. It is suspensful, funny and endearing. I like the foundation it has set for future books. It is fast paced without feeling rushed. Pacing can be a problem with novellas but this one seemed just right. It is a fresh take on a familiar trope: forced proximity, no escaping when you are on the International space station thats for sure! I cannot wait to see how things evolve for this crew in future installments.

[S.T. Arsheep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mmm, I wanted to like this, but I was too distracted by all the unanswered questions (not the good kind) I was left nursing to really enjoy it. The premise is really interesting and the plot too, but it was buried under a lot of personal drama that I just didn't find it in me to care for (and being a sucker for a dismissive MMC, I should have fallen for that like a shark for a fresh piece of chum, but alas). I made it to the end mostly out of sheer spite.

The female characters are done really dirty here, relegated to shallow stereotypes (which bleeds into the male characters as well, but not nearly as much) rather than interesting, multidimensional people. The text hates women for some reason (never explained), portraying them unfavourably in comparison to the men, and making them antagonistic with each other while they simultaneously fawn over the men (even when being openly lecherous).

The FMC was the worst offender of them all. She seems to hate everyone, herself included, and at several points I wished she'd just space herself and let me read my book in peace. Had she been murdered by the end of the book, it would have been incredibly satisfying (it's a romance, not gonna happen, I know).

I kept wishing the book would balance the science better with plot elements - either dig in more into the science and explain it in the moment (rather than me running to google things every five minutes to really understand the stakes) or just straight up gloss over it in favour of Plot Things Happening (Hollywood style). There was also some confusion with the welders getting mixed up, which vexed me an irrational amount, probably because of the FMC making me feel like I wanted to bitch slap someone.

The writing leans heavily into clichés, the dialogue is wooden in many places, the large cast not introduced in a way that makes them all clear and distinct individuals... but we've all been new authors at one point, still in search of our own voice and our own vision, and if she ever decides to turn this into a horror and throw Alex out an airlock, I'll be there with my revenge popcorn.

[GeeAlbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It took me back to that nostalgic feeling of being a kid & watching Star Trek: Voyager but an adult version with that nice bit of outer space spice.

The sci-fi side of this was incredible. I really loved the artwork that accompanied the book as it really brought the space station to life, immersing me straight into the story & the characters’ emotions. I really enjoyed having the crew list at the start of the book & the use of the different languages within the book, it was a really fun & very clever addition.

My heart went out for Alex, especially in the prologue. I was very quickly hooked into her story.

Matthias was definitely a character that grew on me. He had a lot of grovelling to do as I was Team Alex from the get go.

This is sci-fi, second chance vibes. There’s a little love triangle, but not really. Unlikely friendships that give a found family feeling. A life or death situation that brings certain characters clarity, & there’s definitely some ‘Oh Shit!’ moments which I loved! Even the cliffhanger leaves you wanting more.

Overall, I loved this so much. I’ve been looking forward for it since before I even bought it, had high expectations, & JJ smashed all those expectations & more! Cannot wait for the next book!

[John Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found J.J. Hynd via TikTok and have had fun following her progress on this novel. However, I'll preface everything by saying that I don't normally read anything remotely approaching risqué genres.

For context, I'm more on the Star Trek to 2001 to Cowboy Bebop side of scifi expectations. I like things that ask difficult questions and provide tentative answers, even if incomprehensibly artistic. A Long Way Home is more on the Star Trek interpersonal side of that divide, but it is there confidently and tells its story very well.

I found myself rather invested in the plot the whole way through!

I could very much appreciate how the author captures the 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 of space. She manages to humanize a somewhat abstract atmosphere and emotion in a very palatable way. I think she finds an immaculate balance between loneliness and hope. That is, to me, what embodies realistic space travel.

And I am very curious to see where the story will go.

I need to know whether or not the conspiracy theories are true!

[S.M. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of both beta reading and ARC reviewing this book. This is my free and honest opinion!

A Long Way Home is an exciting ride filled with delicious relationship drama, tense zero-G excitement, and a multicultural cast alongside our capable and captivating heroine.

I love a good story that explores the dark parts of a relationship and the trials one might go through to rekindle a lost love. ALWH does a great job of putting us in the middle of Alex's romantic struggles, and then taking us back and forth from beginning to end as we wait to see if the pieces will be put back together. Throw in a little danger and threat brought on by the realities of space travel, and you have a great catalyst for Alex's and Mathias's journey to reignite their passion.

If you're looking for something that blends the best of romance and sci-fi, and with more on the horizon, then make sure you check out A Long Way Home! (Did I mention there's some zero-G spice?)

[Alexander Li-Timmins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Long Way Home
I loved the story, writing style and accuracy of this book the same as I did with @J J Hynd | SciFiRomance Author other works however... I absolutely hated the main characters. I would have been happy if the story "went the other way" without spoiling it. There was a section I got confused at with some characters seemingly swapping places without any explaination. When I was reading I was engrossed in the situations that happened in the book and wanted to see how the team would handle it, but I almost wish it was done from anyone else's point of view or even got an unhappy ending. That being said it leaves space *pun intended* for a sequel and I can't wait to read it.

[Meana Faerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful surprise. I really enjoyed this book. It's a nicely short story, but boy is there a lot crammed in it. I liked all the characters we interact with, and the story flowed quite well. There are a lot of unanswered questions, but I'm hoping they will be answered in future books, as this story is far from finished. I look forward to seeing where this story goes, and what happens to everyone.

[Alexia Muelle-Rushbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Long Way Home is a fast paced, quick read. It felt like the author had made an effort to make the sci-fi believable but easily digestible, which I really liked. The varied cast was also good, mixing nationalities to man the spaceship. I was quickly invested in the main characters romance (the prologue sets that up perfectly) and I'm keen to read part two whenever it is ready!

[Roxiiboo92 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh what can i say? Honestly this book had me gripped my 1st sci fi book since getting back into reading and this did not disappoint. This is a second chance romance with abit of a miscommunication at the start. In the beginning i was adament that i disliked certain charcters however by the end i loved said character. If you like sci fi, with lots of tension between characters with a slowish burn then look no futher. P.s. j j we need more (do not stop this series)

[Michelle Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars and my first romance in space. So well written with its characters and pacing. Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly written sci-fi romance with heart and a hero who’ll do anything for love.

‼️ SPOILERS ‼️

⭐️ 4 stars

I read this in about an hour and a half because I was completely sucked in. 🙌🏻

The storyline and setting were fantastic, and the writing felt so intelligent. I genuinely felt smarter just reading it. You can tell the author knew exactly what they were writing about, and that made it such an enjoyable story.

I loved the side characters. They were funny, diverse, and all had their own ways of communicating that made the world feel real and alive. This is no small feat in a shorter novel. 💚

The MMC was easily my favourite part. A man who waits (probably a bit foolishly) for three years, still pining for his wife, then chases her into space the moment the divorce papers arrive? Yes please. A man who’s learned his lesson, actually fights for what he wants, and will do anything to save her? I was all in for that.

Now, a couple of personal things that didn’t quite work for me (emphasis on personal, not a criticism of the book or author!).

If I’m being honest, I didn’t really like the FMC. She leaves her marriage without any real discussion (and I felt the MMC was truly blindsided). Then she runs off to a space station, only sends divorce papers years later, and starts seeing another man who’s clearly more serious than she is. After everything that happens, she seems ready to go one way and then suddenly sleeps with her husband instead and never actually breaks it off with the other man. I just found her frustrating.

Additionally, I’m not a fan of intimate scenes that aren’t between the main couple, so that’s always a small ick for me.

That said, my issues with her didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The writing, pacing, and tone were brilliant. It’s a lovely, funny, well-written story, and I genuinely loved being in that world.

Thank you JJ for writing something this clever and layered. It hooked me from start to finish and reminded me why I love discovering new books (even if I’m occasionally yelling at the FMC 😅).

I cannot wait for the next one!

[Iain Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book by J J Hynd certainly won’t be my last. For a start off, I’ll need to find out what happens next. A Long Way from Home doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, as such, as the reader knows well in advance what’s happened, but it ends as the female character finds out the extent of her problems.

I will not go into details about that, as it made me go “Oh! I didn’t expect that!” and it’s a moment every reader should have.

Alex is strong-willed, smart, in her sexual peak and on the ISS as nowhere on Earth felt far enough away from Mattheus, her ex-ish-husband. But the international space station let her find somebody new. When Mattheus arrives on the next shuttle up, we get a love triangle.

How it turns out is a problem for future Alex. She has a nice, rounded feel to her, a relatable back-story and problems aplenty (all really well written), so I'm sure she'll come up with a solution.

There was a little spice towards the end. It’s not my go-to for a book, but I really enjoyed the twists, the turns, and the thought put into depicting zero-gravity issues. I skim read the depictions of zero-G gyrations. I would love to know where all the fluids floating around go, though…that has health-and-safety me worried. It’s not a long book; I flew through it at the ISS’s speed in transit across the sun, enjoying every second.

[J.J. Hynd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I like it, I wrote it.