A review by tostita
Contagion by Amanda Milo

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book was genuinely funny, and the narrator’s performance only enhanced the humor. The story is told entirely from from the first-person POV of a germophobic alien who escapes captivity with a human woman with radically different ideas about the acceptability of touching things, with her bare hands no less! Together they make their way through the definitely-not-sterile wilderness, with the smaller, softer but more worldly human leading the way, both emotionally and as navigator. Simmi’s rather nerdy nature makes it all the funnier when they finally reach a human outpost and he is suddenly perceived as a barely constrained killing machine, a perception Aurora encourages as a protective camouflage. Though the banter between  the two was amusing, as a romance I found it less compelling. I didn’t feel much in the way of chemistry between them and the story would have worked just as well, if not better, as a buddy comedy without the smooching. Also, there is a weird moment during the first sex scene where things suddenly take a dark turn, with reference to recent sexual assault that never comes up again, that could have easily been cut from the story with no loss. Still, overall this book made for an enjoyable quick listen. 
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