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nightlight_reader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
These characters were a delight, I’d be thrilled to see some kind of novella of them planning their wedding and Alice being obsessed with everything looking cute and Takumi’s color palette ideas.
I think what rubbed me wrong in this book was mostly Alice’s inability to own up to her mistakes, but that’s such a big part of her arc that it’s forgivable.
This book, imo, doesn’t feel like a romance so much as a coming of age mixed with romance. I almost wish it had leaned more one way or another for clarity’s sake.
I found myself relating really hard to Alice and her fandom lifestyle and her desire to write long essays about her favorite media, which definitely isn’t for everyone but worked really well for me.
I think what rubbed me wrong in this book was mostly Alice’s inability to own up to her mistakes, but that’s such a big part of her arc that it’s forgivable.
This book, imo, doesn’t feel like a romance so much as a coming of age mixed with romance. I almost wish it had leaned more one way or another for clarity’s sake.
I found myself relating really hard to Alice and her fandom lifestyle and her desire to write long essays about her favorite media, which definitely isn’t for everyone but worked really well for me.
sleepy_girl_stories's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
forestfloor's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, I was so happy to come across a book that focused on an asexual main character.
I do think the asexual representation was done well, and I think it was strength of the book that it hit the balance of explaining asexuality while still providing something for asexual people themselves. I also think that the representation of different races was good - the acknowledgment of the way racism affects different races differently was nice.
I think my main problem is that it makes use of a lot of very time specific language and cultural references to tumblr, so even though it's only been a few years, the language already feels dated. I also don't think the balance between age-tone and content was quite right. In many ways the characters felt immature and the text seemed aimed at a younger audience, even though it's set in a college context.
I have a bit of a qualm about the friendships in this book as well - they are very close, very physically affectionate relationships, in a way that is somewhat atypical. This in itself would be really cool, except every character treats it as normal, and I do feel that there were moments when realistically it would have led to miscommunication or a need to reckon with the difference between outside and own-perspective of the relationships. In particular I found that it really interferes with the quality of the slow-burn romance, in my opinion.
Overall I just didn't resonate with the characters as much as I would've liked, and I think I would've enjoyed reading this a lot more when I was around 15, than I did at this age.
I do think the asexual representation was done well, and I think it was strength of the book that it hit the balance of explaining asexuality while still providing something for asexual people themselves. I also think that the representation of different races was good - the acknowledgment of the way racism affects different races differently was nice.
I think my main problem is that it makes use of a lot of very time specific language and cultural references to tumblr, so even though it's only been a few years, the language already feels dated. I also don't think the balance between age-tone and content was quite right. In many ways the characters felt immature and the text seemed aimed at a younger audience, even though it's set in a college context.
I have a bit of a qualm about the friendships in this book as well - they are very close, very physically affectionate relationships, in a way that is somewhat atypical. This in itself would be really cool, except every character treats it as normal, and I do feel that there were moments when realistically it would have led to miscommunication or a need to reckon with the difference between outside and own-perspective of the relationships. In particular I found that it really interferes with the quality of the slow-burn romance, in my opinion.
Overall I just didn't resonate with the characters as much as I would've liked, and I think I would've enjoyed reading this a lot more when I was around 15, than I did at this age.
worldroamer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
dwinareads's review against another edition
3.0
This story is about a Biromantic, Asexual Black Girl. I am an Asexual Black Girl. This book was, essentially, written for people like me — to represent people like me. I should have adored it! But, alas, I’m left feeling a bit meh.
THE GOOD: I will say that this book does a great job of explaining and detailing asexuality accurately, as well as pointing out that asexuals CAN have sex and are still validly ace.
Also good: BLACK ASEXUAL REP. BLACK ASEXUAL REP. BLACK! ASEXUAL! REP!!!!!
That being said: I didn’t much care for the storyline, or the characters. The career choice storyline with Alice’s parents and siblings seemed unnecessary and irrelevant. I can see what the author was trying to do, see the growth that happened and how it helped wrap up the conclusion, but it felt forced. I did see a lot of my younger self in Alice, but some parts of her and her friends’ personalities were too quirky or cliché or unrealistic in my opinion, which made it hard to root for anyone.
This isn’t a BAD book by any means, I just feel like I would have enjoyed it a lot more back when I was 19, boy-crazy, and reading/writing fanfiction like my life depended on it. Reading it as a quasi-pessimistic, carrer-oriented, uninterested in romance for now, almost-29 year old… it simply didn’t hit.
Is it strange that I feel I’ve outgrown this kind of story? It truly read like a fanfiction to me, there were so many metaphors, and references to Tumblr, and other things that would have made 19yo me squeal, but made 29yo me groan.
Idk. I’m glad I read it (because black asexual rep) but I’m bummed I didn’t love it. 2.5 stars.
THE GOOD: I will say that this book does a great job of explaining and detailing asexuality accurately, as well as pointing out that asexuals CAN have sex and are still validly ace.
Also good: BLACK ASEXUAL REP. BLACK ASEXUAL REP. BLACK! ASEXUAL! REP!!!!!
That being said: I didn’t much care for the storyline, or the characters. The career choice storyline with Alice’s parents and siblings seemed unnecessary and irrelevant. I can see what the author was trying to do, see the growth that happened and how it helped wrap up the conclusion, but it felt forced. I did see a lot of my younger self in Alice, but some parts of her and her friends’ personalities were too quirky or cliché or unrealistic in my opinion, which made it hard to root for anyone.
This isn’t a BAD book by any means, I just feel like I would have enjoyed it a lot more back when I was 19, boy-crazy, and reading/writing fanfiction like my life depended on it. Reading it as a quasi-pessimistic, carrer-oriented, uninterested in romance for now, almost-29 year old… it simply didn’t hit.
Is it strange that I feel I’ve outgrown this kind of story? It truly read like a fanfiction to me, there were so many metaphors, and references to Tumblr, and other things that would have made 19yo me squeal, but made 29yo me groan.
Idk. I’m glad I read it (because black asexual rep) but I’m bummed I didn’t love it. 2.5 stars.
akiikomori's review against another edition
4.0
Finally a book about Asexuals.
I feel represented <3
This was so adorable.
I would have loved it more if she wasn't like a decade younger than me but I still totally related to her nerdiness and all the struggles the MC went through.
Really enjoyed this one :)
I feel represented <3
This was so adorable.
I would have loved it more if she wasn't like a decade younger than me but I still totally related to her nerdiness and all the struggles the MC went through.
Really enjoyed this one :)