My Summer on Earth
A potty-mouthed young alien disguised as a teenager wades ashore on Southern California's Venice Beach and discovers that he has a lot to learn, both about impersonating a human and about getting laid. Who better to teach him than a junkie beach bum, a 15-year-old runaway named Zoe, and a member of his own species masquerading as a fading Hollywood superstar? Well, yes, almost anyone else. But there you are. Lombardi's debut covers so many bases (romantic comedy, SoCal satire, and a poignant coming-of-age tale) that . . . the inspired premise, the frequent raunchy bits, and hilarious misunderstandings will elicit gales and guffaws . . . --Booklist