Three ways to date an Alien: Previously published as Three Ways to Snog an Alien

by Graham Joyce, Suzanne Joyce (Editor)

Doogie is fascinated by the new girl at school. She's beautiful, super intelligent and incredibly she seems to like him. Unsure of how to impress her Doogie turns to the internet for advice with very mixed results. Just as things seem to be going well Doogie sees something which throws him into confusion. Is he going crazy or could Angelica really have a forked tongue? Are her freaky parents really human? Could she be an alien or is that just how girls are?! This Graham Joyce young adult novel is one of his funniest but dealing with possible extra-terrestrials is not always a laughing matter.

Genres: Humor, Young Adult

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Graham Joyce (22 October 1954 – 9 September 2014) was an English writer of speculative fiction and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories.

After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.

Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.

Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.

Reviews

[Jason Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our narrator is Doogie, a fifteen-year-old schoolboy bumbling clumsily through his own life. He fancies the new girl in school and asks her out. Things are going well, despite his ill-judged reliance on a website of dating tips, when he suddenly begins to suspect that Angelica is actually an alien, a notion that rather eats away at his commitment to the relationship...

This is a very funny tale, but since it is written by edgy-horror expert Graham Joyce, it is not without an undercurrent of unease and moments that verge on the creepy. IS Angelica an alien? Is Doogie a paranoid schizophrenic? Is it all some horrible misunderstanding? Can boys simply not understand girls, and vice versa? Will love conquer all? At any rate, the situation leads to any amount of yo-yoing, confused emotions and awkward conversations, sure to entertain teenagers as they fumble, like Doogie, to finding out what matters. Great fun.

[Terry Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first of Graham Joyce's YA novels and it was such a fun read. It took me back to my school days when I was a bit shy with girls especially one in particular who I really liked.Mind you her being an alien never crossed my mind.Any one who just wants a light hearted novel which is hysterical at times and guaranteed to cheer you up give it a try. Graham Joyce never disappoints.

[Danny Farham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham Joyce is one of my favourite authors and after reading all of his ‘adult’ books, I decided to try another if his YA novels. I am glad to say that it was a fun read. I would recommend this book to anyone over 12 as it does contain some bad language.

[Karan Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious and entertaining.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an absolutely charming and hilarious YA novel.