Book review by Corey
The Last 8
The Last 8 follows Clover Martinez after an alien invasion wipes out most of humanity and leaves her believing she may be one of the last people alive. After months of surviving alone, she eventually finds a group of other teenagers hiding at Area 51, and together they start trying to figure out what the aliens want and whether there is any real chance of fighting back.
The book mixes post-apocalyptic survival, alien invasion, mystery, and found family, with Clover’s isolation and trauma giving the story more emotional weight. There is also strong LGBTQ+ representation, and the friendships between the survivors become just as important as the larger fight against the aliens.
The Goods
- Strong alien-invasion setup
- Good LGBTQ+ representation
- Clover is a solid main character
- Found-family dynamic works well
- Fast, easy pacing
The Bads
- Some characters need more development
- A few twists are predictable
- The alien threat stays vague for a while
- Some survival details are rushed
- The pacing can feel uneven
My Recommendation
This is a good choice for readers who like LGBTQ+ YA science fiction, alien invasions, and post-apocalyptic survival stories with a strong found-family element. Clover’s loneliness and trauma make the beginning feel more personal, while the group at Area 51 gives the story more energy once everyone comes together. If you enjoy queer YA with survival, mystery, and a larger alien threat building in the background, The Last 8 is a fun start to the duology.