Key Lime Sky 🛸

By Al Hess.

Key Lime Sky by Al Hess is a cosy, heartfelt science fiction book that blends alien invasion tropes with pie, small town dynamics, and deeply affirming representation.

Set in the tiny town of Muddy Gap, Wyoming, the story follows Denver Bryant, a non binary, autistic pie blogger whose greatest passion is tracking down the best slices across the state. Denver once had a brief brush with online fame, but those days are long gone, and their blog is barely bringing in enough to cover the rent.

Then, on a quiet drive home, Denver witnesses a UFO explode directly over their town.

The problem is that no one else seems to remember it happening at all.

As Denver starts asking questions, it becomes clear that Muddy Gap is not quite right. The weather behaves strangely, people act out of character, and a mysterious hail storm hints at something far more sinister.

Being seen as the town eccentric does Denver no favours, and their concerns are dismissed as over imagination or attention seeking. Frustrated, Denver begins documenting everything on their failing pie blog, only for it to suddenly go viral. Their readers want answers, and Denver becomes determined to uncover the truth.

The only person who truly listens is Ezra, a kind and handsome bartender who believes Denver and offers support, companionship, and the possibility of something more. As their investigation deepens, the alien presence reveals itself as far more dangerous than initially suspected.

People start disappearing, reality begins to warp, and when Denver and Ezra try to escape, the town itself refuses to let them leave

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What makes Key Lime Sky so special is its emotional core. Beneath the sci fi mystery is a tender story about autistic alienation, belonging, and the complicated nature of small town communities.

The book critiques gossip, judgement, and the suffocating lack of privacy that can come with knowing everyone, while also showing the quieter, often overlooked love that exists beneath the surface.

Watching Denver struggle to connect, be misunderstood, and yet slowly realise how deeply they are cared for was genuinely moving.

The autistic representation is handled with remarkable care and authenticity. Denver is allowed to be frustrated, hopeful, anxious, brave, and deeply human. Seeing this kind of representation in a gentle, cosy sci fi setting felt especially meaningful.

Warm, strange, and quietly powerful, Key Lime Sky is a book about outsiders, found family, and choosing to fight for a future. It is comforting without being shallow, and thoughtful without losing its sense of fun.

Thank you to Caroline and the team at Watkins Publishing and Angry Robot for running this book-tour! The book is out now and available to purchase.

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