This book was incredibly compelling -- a wonderful story told in a wonderful way. Meyer is (apparently) the author of several SF books for the YA market, and this was her first foray into adult fiction. As far as I'm concerned, you'd never know.

The premise of the book is that Earth has been taken over by an alien life form that inhabits the living bodies of the inhabitants of a variety of different planets. Their intent is to experience what it is like to be that species, and, on Earth at least, they clean up some of what they see of social & environmental problems. In any case, as with any good alien takeover of Earth, there are rebels. The story begins when a rebel, Melanie, is inhabited by one of the beings, with the goal being that Mel will then lead the aliens to other human rebels. It doesn't quite work out that way. What follows is a gripping and emotionally powerful (I cried, several times, very unusual for me with books) story that ends at exactly the right place.

For skeptics and those who don't consider themselves to be info SF, I still recommend that you pick this up. To me, the SF aspects were very naturally incorporated into the story, and if you can bring yourself to accept the world of the book -- which includes the existence of alien species both on Earth and elsewhere in the universe -- you'll be in for a wonderful treat. Don't let the heft of the hardcover edition keep you away -- you won't be able to put it down. I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next.