It’s difficult to save a planet when you’re totally distracted by a hot blue alien.
Ever since Elowen was little, all she wanted was to belong. A human growing up traveling the universe came with its perks, but she still longed for Earth. Now, she’s got the chance of a lifetime to solve Earth’s food crisis with her groundbreaking research on pollination and finally put down roots.
Aro is gorgeous, spontaneous, and exactly the distraction that Elowen does not need. Unfortunately for her, he’s also been utterly obsessed from the first moment he laid eyes on her. His job as security captain doesn’t include sharing spicy noodles with a certain human botanist, but it quickly becomes the best part of his day.
He’s also not one to let a little rule like, a galactic alliance prohibiting interspecies relationships stop him. When it comes to Elowen, he is willing to risk everything (and I mean everything) when it comes to her.
Is it possible to make their relationship work and save Earth, all while not breaking an interplanetary alliance?
Uprooted is the sci fi rom com you’ve been waiting for, where the only thing more dangerous than killer aliens is falling for the arrogant one who that won’t stop until he wins you over. Grab Uprooted, and escape into debut author Kennedy Rhodes’ cozy world of banter, chemistry, and bravery.
This was an interesting and enjoyable sci-fi romance book. I’m newer to the sci-fi genre so this was a refreshing addition to have in combination with a romance story. I loved getting to know the main characters Elowen and Aro and getting both of their points of view.
I really liked the world that the author created as well as her easy to read writing style. The short chapters made this a breeze to get through.
This one was a bit outside of my comfort zone, but I did really like it. If you enjoy sci-fi and alien romance definitely consider giving this one a read.
Read this if you like: → Fated mates → He falls first → She’s immune to his charm
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy of the book.
I was sent this as an ARC and I loved it! Fated mates? Yes. Cozy? Yes. Women in STEM? Yes. This was a refreshing read and I can’t wait to see where this series goes! Blue alien men are simply the standard at this point. The banter was lovely and the story felt original. Read Uprooted!
I did not do much preparing when I began this book. I was offered an ARC and because the book was already on my TBR (of which there are far too many books anyway and I rarely remember why I add a book), I happily accepted. I don't think I was fully prepared for how good this was for what I assumed I was getting into.
Uprooted is a cozy alien romance that doesn't dwell overly on the differences between the characters in terms of species, and more so focuses on the differences in their actual personalities and how they move about in the world (whatever world that may actually be.) It's certainly a refreshing take on the alien/sci-fi romance aspect because we aren't given a character that's at a disadvantage in terms of knowledge. Both Elowen and Aro are capable and evolved. There isn't a caveman aspect that Elowen feels compelled to "teach" Aro how to be a more sentient being. In fact, other than Aro being close to 7 feet tall (this is mentioned briefly and then is not really mentioned again, for anyone opposed to big guy x smol girl trope) and blue, his other species alien-ness is not really a thing. Aro comes across like any big, golden retriever guy that has a crush on the smart workaholic girl.
The dynamic between Elowen and Aro was very sweet. Nothing felt rushed between the two of them and it was clearly a relationship on equal standing. They worked well together. Elowen helped Aro to control his impulsivity (somewhat) and Aro pushed Elowen to loosen up and accept just being happy.
The plot outside of the relationship building was a bit vague. We know that Elowen and several other humans are going to j'Tilak to research how to fix and reverse multiple problems stemming from a climate crisis. WE aren't given a timeline for how dire the problem is, how soon would the change be irreversible even with help. We just know that it's serious and Elowen is determined to be the one to solve the problem. That leads to the only issue I, personally, had with the book. And this is simply an issue on my part. There was a lot of science speak in this. It was not persistent and it did not overshadow the relationship building or the story really at any point. But I don't understand plants and so when things come to a head and a lot of botany and genetic jargon is used, I was completely lost. I didn't hate it. I just made me feel dumber than I like.
Overall, this was a fantastic read especially from a debut author. The writing was done very well. The pacing was immaculate. Everything about this felt cozy and light (even with the background plot and threats). If you're just getting into alien romances, this would be the perfect place to start. If you're looking for a chill little romance but want something a little more than just a standard cozy contemporary, this is the place to start. I'm am excitedly looking forward to the next book in this series. Kennedy Rhodes has blown my expectations away.
Elowen expects to put her head down and focus in the lab when she arrives on j'Tilak. After all, she's got her work cut out for her. Humans have trashed Earth (shocking, I know), and require the results of her research to help pollinate essential food crops.
What she doesn't expect is a big blue distraction in the form of the very tempting Aro.
Aro, on the other hand, probably can't remember the last time he took anything too seriously. That is, until he met Elowen. Boy has it bad 😂 and she's going to make him work for it.
So, now it's up to Aro to convince Elowen that he's not just a distraction through a combination of spicy noods and spicy nudes. If he keeps at it long enough, he might just be able to persuade his hard-working scientist that she has feelings for him too, despite her best efforts to pretend otherwise.
I recommend Uprooted for anyone looking for a sweet and spicy scifi romance with loveable MCs and a hilariously fun cast of side-characters.
I blew through this fast-paced, spicy sci-fi romance read!
When botanist Elowen is sent to the alien planet j’Tilak to aid in a climate crisis project, she meets Aro—and sparks fly!
I mean, he’s tall, blue, hot, and just the right mix of cocky and sweet…what more is a girl to ask for?
Uprooted has all the things! A smart, capable FMC and a swoon-worthy MMC, a touch of fated mates, well-rounded world building that felt attainable and real, and BANTER (banter via text, too, which is a personal fave of mine). The conflict didn’t feel forced, and neither did the attraction.
And the spice…! 🥵
Kennedy knocked it out of the park with this one! The supporting characters were great, and I can’t wait to get their stories, too.
If you’re a lover of alien romance with intelligent FMCs, go add this to your TBR! I’m off to go snag some noodles. 🍜
A cute little alien romance. This is a super cute read.
Elowen is a botanist about to do a special project on an alien planet. Little did she know her mate was waiting for her. Ari knows as soon as he sees Elowen she is special. He didn’t realize how special until she started to change him. Not all the aliens are ok with humans being on their planet.
These 2 are the perfect balance of each other. There are some fun themes in this book. I really enjoyed it.
Who knew I could be so into a COZY ALIEN ROMANCE?!? Guys this book was the cutest little sci-fi rom com ever! It gave me Avatar(beautiful blue aliens) and Star Trek vibes. Our MMC, Aro, is sexy and confident with a one track mind for the FMC, Elowen. She is a cute little scientist with a one track mind towards work. Her bestie(Bri) and Aro help bring her out of her shell and it just keeps getting better from there. You've got a hot MMC, feisty best friend, cute and intelligent FMC, what more could you want?! If you do want more, you'll get it because Bri's story is coming next!
The story was so well done, the writing phenomenal, and the characters were so dreamy! This was exactly what my heart needed.
This really pulled me in and wouldn’t let me go. I could have read it in one day, but life happens. I loved the world. It was unique and so interesting! I loved Aro from the beginning. Elowen is my new favorite FMC. She’s so cool! If I have another daughter, her name might just be Elowen. I love that name.
I am SO EXCITED for book 2!!!!! I screamed!!! I was 80% in and told my friend, oh I really hope she makes this a series!!
I loved this sci-fi romance book! The author did an excellent job with the world building and I felt like I was on the planet j’Tilak with the characters. I enjoyed following the main characters Elowen and Aro in this story and seeing how their relationship developed over the course of the book. I also really liked the side characters, especially Bri. This book had me smiling quite a bit throughout the story and this is one that I recommend picking up if you are looking for a romance that takes place on another planet. Overall this was a great debut novel and I look forward to reading future books by this author.
Read this if you like:
📖 He falls first 📖 Opposites attract 📖 Fated mates 📖 Alien romance 📖 Some spice
Thank you for giving me the chance to receive an ARC of this book
It's been a while since I have read an alien romance!
No kidnapping: There is actual world-building and politics in this universe. A well-travelled FMC goes on research and successfully achieves her results. I'm tired of traumatized victims falling in love with invaders, kidnappers, or overlords, so this is refreshing.
Relatable Romance: It felt more like an office romance than an alien one, which is good because the love story progresses naturally, from a first meet-cute to attraction, and then dates.
Fated mate: This trope doesn't fit the story; it's revealed very late in the book that such a thing exists in this universe, and it just pops up.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had the honour of reading this book as an ARC, and I enjoyed every minute of it! I loved the way the MCs fit each other perfectly - they were relatable and real. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, Kennedy's world is one I'd gladly hop on a spaceship to go and visit. I also had a constant craving for noodles throughout the book. You'll know why when you read the book :)
This is a cute sci-fi romance that includes the following: he falls first/harder, opposites attract, fated mates, and alien romance. I adored the plot and premise of this one. It was a bit different than most of the standard romance books out there and I was all for it. I was also a big fan of the characters. Elowen, the FMC, is a serious, rule following, scientist heroine who is the perfect counterbalance to Aro, our MMC. Aro is a lighthearted, easygoing, alien military captain. Together they are perfect and I love the fated mates vibes. The side characters (Bri, Tai, Maak, Lugo, Andi, Aro’s family, etc) are also nice additions which bring more depth and complexity to the story. I enjoyed the world building that we got but I feel like it could have been better. Sometimes I feel like we were dropped right in the middle of this world with too little information to fully enjoy it. The writing seemed unsophisticated at times as well. The informal shortening of words like vid, plexi, etc annoyed me. There are also editing errors like the duplication of sentences and quotation marks not being closed. While we do get a full and complete story in this quick little read, I’d have liked just a little bit more. This was good but comes in just shy of great. Still, this sweet and spicy alien romance was a most enjoyable way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
A cozy opposites attract alien romance with sweet and relatable characters; a slow-burn journey that feels earned and natural, with a swoon-worthy "he falls first" dynamic.
Elowen is meticulous, methodical, and a planner, a stark contrast to Aro's impulsive nature. Aro challenges her to break from her rigid routines, loosen up, and accept happiness. Aro is spontaneous, impulsive, and full of warmth. His unwavering support and genuine affection for Elowen are endearing, and it is easy to fall for his golden retriever energy.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, masterfully creating the world of j’Tilak and the research facility without overwhelming with complex scientific jargon. The setting feels immersive, providing a perfect backdrop for the blossoming relationship between Aro and Elowen.
"Uprooted" is a debut novel for Kennedy Rhodes; readers can't dive into a backlist of books, but her strong character work, world-building, and cozy romance style makes her an author to watch for readers of scifi and alien romance. Can't wait to see what comes next—the teaser for "Untangled" left me eager for book 2!
Elowen is an overworked human botanist sent to T’jilak to save her world (earth). Aro is the besotted blue alien captain of the guard sent to watch out for her, and Elowen’s opposite in almost every way. Which I think is what made their romance all the more sweet! Every interaction between them felt like a test of nature and challenging of fate as we watch their attraction bloom over steaming bowls of noodles.
I think the romance falls on the cozier side, but the stakes and the excitement are definitely there. It was intriguing to explore more of those stakes as the book progressed.
T’jilak to me felt a little like this oasis planet, existing in harmony with its terrifying nightmare creatures. Almost like an alien Jurassic park? Nestled in a little bit of whimsy. We get delicious glimpses into this world throughout the book, and especially there at the end. I can’t even wait to explore it further with later books.
Recommend to anyone looking for a little sweet to go with their spicy. 1.5 🌶️
So good! This is a new author for me, but I am so glad I found this novel. It did not disappoint. I love a good sci-fi novel and this novel did not let me down. From the first few chapters this novel pulled me into the story. I loved the world building. I love a good fated mates novel where the hero falls first. I loved Elowen and Aro's story. I loved how Aro was obsessed with Elowen. Their chemistry was so good! Once I started reading I had a hard time putting this novel down. I loved watching how Elowen lowered her defenses and walls and watched the two fall in love. I am looking forward to seeing what this author has coming next. So good!
I'll preface this by saying it's my first "spicy" book, so it was a new experience for me. I had fun reading it, and it was cool to read someone's first novel as it's being released, also a new experience for me. I've been reading some heavy books lately, so this was honestly a lovely dive into something I just got to sit back and enjoy! The world building was solid, it did just enough to keep the plot moving and slowly expand our understanding of the characters without getting bogged down in details.
Overall, it was really cool to read a first novel and see the setup for a follow up, it was a fun experience!
Opposites attract is one of my favourite tropes, and here it felt so fresh. Elowen is a workaholic focused on her (very important) job. Aro is a bit arrogant but rather lighthearted. They pull each other's strings and fit perfectly. Their romance is so sweet and has its profound moments. At times, it feels so comforting, like a friend putting a blanket over your shoulders. And wait until you see why this book is called "Uprooted." I live for a title reveal in the book, and this one was sooo good. Honestly, the worldbuilding is strong in this one. I'm very excited for the next stories set there. Warning: this book will make you crave noodles
Thanks for the ARC for The Author Agency. As always, this is an honest, voluntary review.
I don't think I ever read cozy alien romance before and if this one is anything to go by, I definitely missed out.I enjoyed this more than I expected, really loved it so much. The characters were relatable and so easy to like. The world building was nice and easy to follow, no info dumps, perfect pacing for everything. And of course, the banter - always all time fave - was great! I really can't wait to see where this series is going.
Adorable and when the heat gets turned on its HOT 🔥
This was a super cute alien romcom with an opposites attract couple who take their time getting to the spicy bits, but when it gets spicy, whew! There's precarious alliances, sneaky jackwagons who make you wanna scream, crazy creatures who pop outta nowhere like sugar fuelled nightmares, and plenty of worldbuilding groundwork for the next book! If you enjoy fated mates, big blue alien hunks, and FMCs who are smart and driven, give this book a read!
This is the story you read when you want a se×y alien MMC and a human FMC meeting on another planet in a futuristic world, but you also want the sci-fi aspects to be accessible and fun. Feel free to cut your teeth on alien romance with this one! And the banter! Pardon me while I stop laughing, cuz their teasing had me rolling! You do get a little spice in this one, but I wouldn’t call it sm×t, just enough to keep things se×y. And Aro is one se×y blue alien with a giant c— uh, heart. Yeah, he has a big heart.😘
I really loved this book! The pacing was fantastic. The characters were relatable - it felt like I could see a little bit of myself in each of them. And the banter was so good! There were parts that made me legitimately laugh out loud.
The way the author built the world felt natural and easy to consume; it wasn't info-dumpy like some others I've read, so that was a nice change of pace. I also didn't feel like I needed a PhD to understand the science behind the plot.
This was such a fun read! I loved how nerdy and determined Elowen is. Whether it’s digging into her research project or trying to understand the mate bond, her curiosity made her such a relatable FMC. Our MMC Aro is a breath of fresh air. No games, no confusion, he’s just 100% upfront about his feelings, and it made their dynamic so sweet. I especially loved the food-as-love-language moments! BIG FAN OF THAT.
Swoony, cozy, a little spicy, and nerdy in the best way. Can’t wait for the next one!
Such a cute quick read! All the futuristic techy talk at first was hard to follow, but I quickly got used to it enough to focus on the story. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed the sweet romance that bloomed between the two main characters! The author did a great job of balancing work life scenes and romance scenes keeping my attention enough that I read this in one day!
I heard about this book from Vanessa Garabedian at Bookish520. I have heard the author is going to be at the store for an event but I have to be out of town for the event...can't wait for the next book!