Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Noemi is seventeen and is getting ready to die.  She's going to be one of the suicide squad breaking up the gate (worm hole) from her world to earth and other planets.  It's a sacrifice required for the greater good.  By blocking the gate it will give her country more time to build weapons to defend themselves.  But the war starts early...

Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published April 4th.

When enemy ships come through gate while they are practicing their approach, she's suddenly fighting for her life early.  What's even worse is that her friend who is observing the action is hit.  She tries to save her and ends up on a deserted space ship from the past.  The first thing that happens is that the mech on board tries to kill her.  Abel looks like a man but he's a machine.  Once she says the right thing, he becomes her aide and protector.  Unfortunately, the other girl won't survive because she chooses to die instead of accepting synthetic parts.  Now Noemi and Abel will have to decide what to do next.

Noemi wants to go back to Genesis and close the gate.  Abel agrees to help her.  The adventure while doing so is space opera.  There's theft, disguises, false identities and more used to gain the equipment they need to use.  They are being pursued.  Abel's creator wants him back.  And, without either one of them realizing it, they're falling in love...

I'm going to be watching for the next book in this series.  I can't wait to see where the author takes this story.  Just make it a happy ending, OK, Ms. Gray?