One of the things that we love about romance stories is their ability to whisk us away from everyday life and make us feel things that are out of this world.
So, is it any surprise that out-of-this-world alien romances are also becoming popular these days?
As crazy as it sounds, there are a lot of books that focus on the blooming romance between a human and an off-worlder.
Given just how much vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and generally other supernatural romances between people and not-quite-so-ordinary people, aliens only feel like a natural next step.
And plus, who doesn’t love a romance amongst the stars?
The following books are our selection of the best alien romance stories that we have found so far.
While there are plenty more books out there that will no doubt be a thrilling emotional roller coaster from start to finish, these are the books that stuck in our minds (and hearts) that we’ve come across in the last few years!
1. Uncharted Territory, By Connie Willis
We’re starting this list in a rather appropriate place. After all, before first love, there must be first contact!
First contact is already an exciting moment to through into a science-fiction setting. Adding a romance plot to the mix is just brimming with potential!
It’s a concept that Connie Willis was thinking about when she came up with this great piece of short fiction!
Our two human explorers, Carson and Findriddy, are exploring the far-flung world of Boohte, and come across some uncooperative local aliens.
In a bid to get more information about their locale, the two are paired with a young intern, who is considered an expert in alien mating rituals, and a native guide of an undetermined gender.
However, the intern might not be quite as much of an expert as they say, and they’re heading deep into territories and lands far removed from any kind of academic understanding, especially in the way of sex and even love.
Needless to say, shenanigans ensue, as Connie Willis tells a tale that is as funny and humorous as it is romantic!
2. Ice Planet Barbarians, By Ruby Dixon
Aside from first contact stories, alien abductions are another big popular subgenre in this wildly popular form of fiction. And of those stories, Ice Planet Barbarians might be one of the steamiest.
Our sassy protagonist, Georgie, has unfortunately been abducted from Earth and is being held on a ship with other women as cargo.
Sounds like it should be a nightmare scenario, shouldn’t it?
Well, as it turns out when the abductees are forced to dump their cargo on an ice planet, populated with a powerful barbarian race, it looks like Georgie’s luck is turning for the better.
Especially when one of them, Vectal, seems to have the hots for her too!
In a story that is as passionate as it is tense and sweet, Ice Planet Barbarian is a joy to read, from the first page to the last!
3. Rules Of Redemption, By T.A. White
When it comes to our romance protagonists in space, you have a wide range of options that you can enjoy that are catered to your tastes.
Some, like the protagonist from the last entry, are pretty passive characters, though still full of charm and attitude, that respond to the world around them.
And some, like Kira Forrest, are women of action, who take the reins of fate and love into their own hands!
However, an accident with her spaceship forces her to land at a nearby space station, where circumstances force her to come between humanity and the Tuann species, a race of technologically advanced aliens that almost brought humanity to its knees.
She finds herself under scrutiny, especially of one particularly powerful and insightful Tuann who is trying to uncover key details of her past.
Can this tense, fraught situation blossom into love? Well, you’ll just have to read on and find out for yourself!
4. Earth Fathers Are Weird, By Lyn Gala
Earth invasion stories aren’t usually the first thought that comes to mind when it comes to touching romance stories.
And yet, that’s exactly the situation that human captain Maxwell Davis finds himself in, as his unit attempt at fighting off the alien armada that loomed over Iowa, and has found himself stashed on their alien’s ship as they travel away from Earth.
Now stuck at an alien spaceport, Maxwell must do what he can to earn enough money to get back to Earth. But when he attempts to find work as a ‘nanny’, he finds that the supercomputer that found him his latest client may have mistranslated a few key details.
What follows is a wonderful and weird (so weird) romance story that turns into something incredibly heartwarming as our main romance blossoms.
A word of advice/warning before going into this book, there is some pretty weird concept and content in this book that you should be aware of before reading. There are aliens, there are tentacles, and there’s a romance story, so make of that what you will.
5. Obsidian, By Jennifer L. Armentrout
You know those classic teenage romance stories where a high-schooler moves to a new location that they’re unfamiliar with, and she has to adapt to a whole new social order, but finds love in her stranger next door?
Well, what if you had that, but that hot alien neighbor was also an alien with the weirdest powers you’ve ever seen?
That’s exactly the situation that Katy finds herself in when her family is up and moves from sunny Florida to nowhere West Virginia.
Her new next-door neighbor, Daemon, is as imposing as he is insufferable to Katy at first.
But a chance encounter where he saves her starts to change her mind about him, as Katy finds love in the most unlikely of places.
No, not West Virginia! With a disguised alien boy!
6. Cottonwood, By R. Lee Smith
In some of these entries, you usually expect the aliens to invade or abduct the human love interest. They are rarely forced to stay. But that’s exactly what happened with the Yang’ti 20 years ago, in Cottonwood.
The human social service liaison, Sarah Fowler, finds out not only the abjectly horrible conditions that the aliens have been forced into living in in the internment camps that were ‘made’ for them, but also finding love in the form of alien Sanford, and his son Ta’ki.
If you’re looking for a romantic tale that crosses District 9 with a classic love story, you’ve come to the right place with this next entry!
7. Strange Love, By Ann Aguirre
We do love a good comedy of errors when it comes to romances. But confusing an abduction operation with an intergalactic dating service is perhaps one of the biggest comedies of errors that you can get.
It’s the situation that our alien Zylar finds himself in. On his fifth and final chance of finding a life mate, he accidentally signs up for a service that abducts workaholic and no-nonsense daycare attendant Beryl Bowman.
However, from this awkward arrangement, love begins to blossom, as Beryl finds that her new life with the alien of her dreams might not be so bad after all.
It’s kind of funny how what was a staple plot point of classic B-movie horror films some 70 years ago has turned into the setup for excellent modern romance stories.
I guess real life can be stranger than fiction at times!
8. Radiance, By Grace Draven
In an interesting blend of classic sci-fi and fantasy tropes, we find ourselves in a story where our lucky human protagonist doesn’t just get to marry a prince in shining armor, but an alien prince in shining armor!
Well, maybe the first meeting isn’t quite as romantic as this. The political alliance between the Kai and the Gauri people means a marriage between prince Brishem and princess Ildiko, two people who have resigned themselves to loveless political marriages.
And, as fate would have it… they find each other repulsive at first sight.
But through that initial meeting, the friendship and relationship that blossoms between the two are one that everyone should at least try and pick and read for themselves, if only once!
9. The Krinar Exposé, By Hettie Ivers
Listen, if you’re going to an alien sex club, then a lot of feelings (and plenty else) are going to be going around.
That’s the initial impression that Journalist Amy pens for a daring exposé on one particular club out among the stars.
However, her penmanship finds her under the attention of one Vair, the owner of said club, especially every little detail of her… investigations there.
As Vair uses this to blackmail Amy, she suddenly has a choice to make: Does she blow her cover, and potentially ruin her future career and ambitions, or give in to this tricky alien’s demands?
What does she do? Well, you’ll have to read on and find out for yourself!
Final Thoughts
So, how were those spicy stellar tales for you? Are any of them to your taste? Which of them will you pick up first?
