On the surface, Zero Repeat Forever by Gabrielle Prendergast could be your typical apocalyptic, end-of-the-world, alien invasion-type story, and in many ways it follows the formula—but the emotions in this one leap off the page and make you feel. Intensely, at that. The plot does move relatively slowly (so be prepared), but at least for me, the story came alive so effectively it didn’t bother me much.

THE 411: Zero Repeat Forever is told from two perspectives, Eighth (the alien) and Raven (the human). Raven is out for vengeance after the Nahx (the invading alien race) murder her boyfriend. Eighth seemingly has no free will and acts on orders of his superiors (as you might guess, “eighth” is his rank.” Events to lead to Eighth and Raven meeting…and…well, you can probably roughly surmise where the story goes from here.

Like I said before, the fact that this story is told a lot in YA fiction should have turned me off, but it really didn’t. Prendergast has a really lovely, lyrical way of writing (particularly evident in Eighth’s POV) and it kept the story interesting and fresh for me. Raven isn’t particularly likable, but she grows on you, and I just wanted to give Eighth a hug the entire time. And I don’t even particularly like physical contact. When you find out what “Zero Repeat Forever” actually means, the tears will fall and won’t stop until the expected cliffhanger ending.

Book two, where are you?

MY RATING: ✰✰✰✰
RECOMMENDED FOR: lovers of alien invasions, dystopias, and slow-burn/heart-wrenching romances.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for my galley. Zero Repeat Forever is available now.