The Romantic Agenda by
Claire KannThirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox.
Fox sees a kindred spirit in Joy—and decides to help her. He proposes they pretend to fall for each other on the weekend trip to make Malcolm jealous. But spending time with Fox shows Joy what it’s like to not be the third wheel, and there’s no mistaking the way he makes her feel. Could Fox be the romantic partner she’s always deserved?Why you should read it: This book caught me completely off guard and knocked me on my ass in the best way. It's a messy, complicated, gorgeous asexual romance that feels achingly authentic. I love Joy. I resonated so much with so many of her frustrations with getting people to understand her ace-ness, and shared her rage every time someone tried to put her in a box. And I also love how stubborn and soft and unapologetic she is. This is definitely an ace experience far different from my own, but it still felt incredibly real, and I loved the way it was written. A lovely romance.
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Perfect Rhythm by
JaeCan a burned-out pop star and an asexual woman find the perfect rhythm together?
Pop star Leontyne Blake might sing about love, but she stopped believing in it a long time ago. What women want is her image, not the real her. When her father has a stroke, she flees the spotlight and returns to her tiny Missouri hometown.
In her childhood home, she meets small-town nurse Holly Drummond, who isn’t impressed by Leo’s fame at all. That isn’t the only thing that makes Holly different from other women. She’s also asexual. For her, dating is a minefield of expectations that she has decided to avoid.
Can the tentative friendship between a burned-out pop star and a woman not interested in sex develop into something more despite their diverse expectations?
A lesbian romance about seeking the perfect rhythm between two very different people—and finding happiness where they least expect it.Why you should read it: I enjoyed the hell out of this sweet, soft, earnestly asexual sapphic romance. It packs a lot of growth and sincerity into a book that could have easily felt too heavy. Leo is dealing with burnout, unresolved trauma, and a messy (even toxic) relationship with her family. Holly has her own share of baggage to work through. And still throughout the book—through existential crisis and the loss of a loved one—these two women are so soft and good and always doing their best. I thought the asexuality was beautifully depicted, and it was lovely to see Holly learning to trust that Leo won't hurt her the way other people have. A powerful and heartfelt read.
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Being Ace by
Madeline DyerDiscover the infinite realms of asexual love across sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary stories
From a wheelchair user racing to save her kidnapped girlfriend and a little mermaid who loves her sisters more than suitors, to a slayer whose virgin blood keeps attracting monsters, the stories of this anthology are anything but conventional. Whether adventuring through space, outsmarting a vengeful water spirit, or surviving haunted cemeteries, no two aces are the same in these 14 unique works that highlight asexual romance, aromantic love, and identities across the asexual spectrum.
Full contributor list: Akemi Dawn Bowman, Lara Ameen, Rosiee Thor, Moniza Hossain, Linsey Miller, Kat Yuen, Madeline Dyer, S.E Anderson, S.J. Taylor, K Hart, Cody Daigle-Orians, Anju Imura, Emily Victoria, Jas Brown, and RoAnna Sylver.Why you should read it: Oh, this is an excellent collection. A few of the stories didn't land for me—whether by narrative style or craft—but on balance there were so many phenomenal narratives that I genuinely didn't mind the ones that weren't my jam. There's an impressive variety of different sub-genres on the one hand, and asexual experiences on the other, and the overall quality of this anthology is terrific.
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