Published: 2021
Author: Shaun David Hutchinson
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction / LGBTQ+ Romance / Sci-Fi Mystery
Audience: Grades 9–12 (High School Young Adult)
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: A Complicated Love Story Set in Space
Content/Trigger Warnings: Includes a specific scene referencing a sexual assault (Note: The publisher thoughtfully included a front-matter content warning indicating the exact page numbers containing this material).
Themes: Identity and Self-Discovery, Existential Isolation, Found Family, The Mechanics of Trust, Survival Simulation.
Review by: Mary Alice Brennan-Steere
Publisher’s Summary
Black Mirror meets What If It’s Us in this gripping, romantic, and wildly surprising novel about two boys lost in space trying to find their way home—while falling in love—from the critically acclaimed author of We Are the Ants.
When Noa closes his eyes on Earth and wakes up on a spaceship called Qriosity just as it’s about to explode, he’s pretty sure things can’t get much weirder.
Boy is he wrong. Trapped aboard Qriosity are also DJ and Jenny, neither of whom remember how they got onboard the ship. Together, the three face all the dangers of space, along with murder, aliens, a school dance, and one really, really bad day. But none of this can prepare Noa for the biggest challenge—falling in love. And as Noa’s feelings for DJ deepen, he has to contend not just with the challenges of the present, but also with his memories of the past.
However, nothing is what it seems on Qriosity, and the truth will upend all of their lives forever. Love is complicated enough without also trying to stay alive.
Review
In this cosmic tale, three sixteen-year-old strangers suddenly wake up on a drifting space vessel without any memory of who they are, how they got there, or why they were placed on the ship. The overarching concept is highly intriguing, and Hutchinson effectively captures the evolving interpersonal dynamics between the main characters as they are forced to form tight-knit friendships and romantic survival safety nets.
Admittedly, I found some of the dialogue and conversations between the teenagers to feel a bit artificial at times, and I initially struggled to stay fully engaged during the opening chapters of the book. Yet, as the central mystery unfolds and the plot truly gets moving, the narrative becomes significantly more captivating. The story features multiple unexpected plot twists that will easily keep readers guessing and turning pages.
I particularly appreciated the emotional character development of the protagonist, Noa, who is gay. He beautifully discovers more about his own identity and worth through his vulnerable romantic interactions with DJ and his deep platonic conversations with Jenny.
On the downside, I felt that the character of Jenny was the least developed of the central trio, which unfortunately acted as a slight detriment to the balance of the story.
Overall, A Complicated Love Story Set in Space is a lighthearted, yet sometimes bittersweet, young adult read. Hardcore science fiction purists should be warned that they may be left desiring a bit more of a rigorous technological, mechanical, or hard-scientific focus. However, as an emotional character study, it shines. I highly appreciated the proactive trigger warning that the publisher placed at the front of the volume, which clearly guides educators and readers regarding sensitive content. It is a very strong four-star contemporary sci-fi read!
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- English Language Arts & Creative Writing (Analyzing Dialogue and Pacing):
- Activity Idea: “Refining the Script.” The reviewer notes that some early conversations between the teens feel artificial. Have students select a dialogue-heavy scene from the first three chapters and audit the language. Students will rewrite the scene to sound more like authentic contemporary adolescent speech, paying close attention to subtext, vocal cadence, and how characters mask fear through humor or irritation.
- Social-Emotional Learning & Library Media (Evaluating Curricular Content Warnings):
- Activity Idea: “The Anatomy of a Front-Matter Warning.” Use the publisher’s proactive content warning as a case study for a classroom or professional development seminar.
- Have students discuss the social-emotional benefit of including specific page markers for sensitive content (like trauma or sexual assault) in young adult literature. Have them write a mock publishing guidelines sheet evaluating how warnings empower vulnerable readers to self-regulate without compromising the artistic integrity of a novel.
- Psychology & Creative Media (The Amnesia Narrative Device):
- Activity Idea: “The Tabula Rasa Profile.” In the book, the characters wake up with empty memories, meaning their initial identities must be built entirely from scratch through how they treat one another under pressure. Have students write a short psychological profile of Noa, evaluating how his romantic attraction to DJ helps him reconstruct his self-image and navigate historical traumas even before his official memories return.
