Loveless by Alice Oseman

Young Adult. Realistic Fiction. British. Queer. Asexual. Relationships. Friendships. 

Just bought the US edition, which was supposed to come out March 1 but actually got here earlier, and read it. This was my second time reading the book.

Rating: 4.9/5

Started: 19 February 2022

Finished: 25 February 2022

Summary:

    Though she's nervous, Georgia is thrilled to go to university with her friends Pip and Jason, meet new people, and fall in love. Her new roommate, Rooney, is outgoing and liked by everyone, and so Georgia decides that she'll just stick with Rooney, and she'll find someone to be with, just like in the rom-coms she loves watching so much. But the issue is, Georgia isn't really interested in anyone. She knows she's not into girls, but she also has never met a boy that she's actually liked. As she comes to terms with her sexuality, Georgia must also navigate her friendships. And really—aren't they their own kind of romance?

Thoughts:

    This book is everything. There is so little asexual representation in the media anywhere, and the amount of care that Alice, as an aro-ace person, put into this book is incredible. As an aspec-questioning person just getting to witness an asexual person's (accurate) journey and experiences is incredible. I won't lie: I definitely have spent both times I've read this comparing myself to all of Georgia's tastes and experiences. But it's both helpful and quite affirming, so it's really okay. As Georgia says, love that for me. The relationships and friendships in the book in general are amazing, though. Like. Pip and Rooney are so. freaking. good. Their relationship feels complex and real, but also just really cute. Alice's new short story at the beginning of the US edition is so adorable, and the fact that Rooney and Pip both acknowledge that their friendship with Georgia is as important as any other relationship is both super adorable and also really comforting. It made me think of the podcast Ada told me to listen to, where Alice was talking to two other aspec people, and pointed out how friendships can be just as romanticized as romantic relationships, You can have a meet cute, do fun things together, and have a really strong connection, all without having a romantic/sexual relationship.

    I didn't cry while reading this time, but it still made me feel all the things, and I'm endlessly grateful that Ada introduced me to Alice's books.