Sunati has a confession. She’s been noticing this girl during her commune to work for a while now. The intriguing thing is, that girl has never changed her appearance while Sunati has modded her looks countless times since. Of course when Sunati musters up the courage to speak to her, she made the girl cry instead.
Relationship Context
💥 Couple Dynamic
Sunati and Austen – Gap Couple
Sunati newly joins the workforce and is ever too considerate of others’ feelings. Austen is stressed out from school and all too aware that she stands out in society.
💙 Sunati – Stubborn Softie
- Sees people’ strengths which mostly go unnoticed
- Honest and too considerate of others’ feelings all the time
- Found strength in Austen’s bravery to prove her worth in this world
🧡 Austen – Wounded Soul
- Determined to prove herself in a society she’s disadvantaged in
- Aware of her shortcomings and outbursts but found peace in Sunati
- Grows to become more stable and mature emotionally
| Title | Always Human |
| Author | Ari North |
| Status | Completed, 2017 |
| Genre | Sci-fi Yuri |
| Tags | Romance, Futuristic, Disability, Self-growth |
Review
| Category | Rating (0-3) |
|---|---|
| Romance | 🌸🌸🌸 Flirting in your face |
| Intimacy | 🔥 Few and demure |
| Story | 📝📝 Straightforward |
| Pacing | 🚶🏻♀️🚶🏻♀️ Easy to follow |
| Emotional damage | 🥺 A little here and there |
| Fluff | ☁️☁️ Quite cute and warm |
Story Overview
Always Human is a sci-fi romantic yuri story about:
– A disadvantaged girl who fights to forge her own path
– A girl who is still learning to prioritise her own wants and desires
– How communication includes lashing out and crying, yet always end with listening to be better
Key Themes
Standing out without a choice:
In a highly futuristic nano-technology led world where bright and fancy body modifications (mods) are just normal as breathing, Austen stands out for being plain. Not that she has a choice, as she was born with an immune system that rejects mods.
Others can utilise mods to cope with seasonal allergies, to organise studies for exams, or even to simply try out different looks for the week. Austen has to do it the hard way with only her own efforts. Though she is aware of others’ attention about her sticking out like a sore thumb, she stays determined in her path to one day find a cure for her condition.
Being overly honest to a love interest:
When Austen asked Sunati whether she would have been noticed if she didn’t stand out, Sunati spoke her mind like always. She was at least self-aware of truthfulness, which shows her considerate side. Austen appreciated her honesty, but over time realises that Sunati tends to put others’ feelings before hers.
Sunati tries her best not to inconvenience others with her choice and feelings, choosing to make what she thinks is a decision that will hurt others the least. Good thing Austen is there to give her a reality check that big decisions do not have to be decided alone.
Personal Review
I love how the title reminds readers that no matter how one changes your appearance even in such an advanced world, emotions and feelings are what keeps one always human.
This world setting is highly accepting of gender identities and sexualities with snippets of asexuality, healthy polygamy, and agender folks sprinkled in the story. Ethnicity is still regarded as important though, which is a nice touch of remembering one’s own roots.
Final Thought
Always Human is a young adult love story between Austen who is basically a pressure cooker with all that self-imposed pressure, and Sunati who is well-meaning but overly considerate to others except herself. These young ones do their best navigating their school and work lives, and trusting each other to build this relationship together.
This is ultimately a story about identity and what makes one happy, in whichever world one may be in.
My Rating: 10/10 highly recommended!
Would you stay the way you look just for a significant other?
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