Diving into the kaleidoscope of queer stories, amplifying LGBTQ+ authors one narrative at a time.
There is a noticeable lack of asexual representation in modern media. The typical coming-out and coming-age story remain the theme that prevails in the majority of LGBTQ+ stories – and to say asexual romance books are a rarity would be an understatement…
Asexuality is said to be people who identify as asexual and experience little to no sexual attraction to others. But, like any other word, it requires nuance to fully grasp what it means to be asexual.
It’s important to know that this asexuality exists. Queerness, we are learning, is to be celebrated. And more than ever, there is a need to provide a space and a language for young and old people navigating their sexuality. More than ever, there is a need for stronger and more authentic asexual representation.
Asexual representation remains a challenge, even as stories beyond self-acceptance in terms of sexuality and self-identity continue to emerge. One book can’t sum up the entire experience of asexuality: with the self or other people, romantic or otherwise.
Still, some stories have managed not only to highlight the experience but to rise beyond the themes of self-discovery, sexuality, family, and friendship. Books published in recent years give us stories we need to hear: the struggles of survival, the comforts of friendship and art, the unlikely relationships, and the rickety but necessary path to self-discovery.
These books offer us characters beyond the asexual stereotype and teach us that there’s no “proper” way to be asexual and that people have different relationships with their asexuality compared to others. Still, while the authentic representation of asexuality has a long way to go, here are the best asexual romance book representations in the written medium.
“Nobody is ever obliged to use any label for anything. I find my own sexuality increasingly slippery and hard to pin down, particularly as my sense of gender shifts and matures.
I still find it resonates most strongly with ace experiences, but I’m also very aware that asexuality is a spectrum, and that not everybody who sees themselves as belonging to that spectrum is in the No Attraction Ever category, nor is attraction synonymous with interest in sex.”
Finn Longman, author of The Butterfly Assassin
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The Audible app also has features like adjustable narration speed, a sleep timer, and the ability to create bookmarks, making it easy to customize your listening experience. Additionally, Audible offers a membership program that gives members access to a certain number of audiobooks per month, making it a cost-effective option for avid listeners.
A great resource for people who want to maximize their time and make the most out of their daily activities. Try a free 30-day trial from Audible today, and you'll get access to a selection of Audible Originals and audiobooks, along with a credit to purchase any title in their premium selection, regardless of price (including many of the books on this list!)
For ebook lovers, we also recommend Scribd, basically the Netflix for Books and the best and most convenient subscription for online reading. While they have a catalog comprising over half a million books including from many bestselling authors, for some of the books on this list, you'll still have to purchase individually - either as a paperback or eBook to load on your Kindle - due to publishing house restrictions.
In this article we will cover...
- Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor
- Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
- The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen
- The Butterfly Assassin by Finn Longman
- Loveless by Alice Oseman
- Rick by Alex Gino
- Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
- Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland
- Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Omsbree
Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor
“Maybe it’s silly, but having the vocabulary to describe what I felt made me feel
less alone, made me feel like I’m not the only one.”
In her debut novel, Thor’s science fiction and fantasy novel features an enemies-to-lovers plot, a queer wlw romance, and a thoroughly immersive world of the post-Earth. Destined to rule, Nathaniel, who identifies as aromantic asexual, is conflicted about his father— the Commissioner— and his corrupt practices.
Desperate to prove himself worthy, he decides to capture Settlement’s most notorious outlaw. Secrets unravel, and unlikely friendships occur. Thor’s worldbuilding reels the reader in a quick but immensely satisfying read. The book has dark moments, and its lyrical style brings the thrill to life.
As the book evolves, it discusses the ethics of power and technology. Our three main characters, Anna, Eliza, and Nathaniel, are given the chance to be heroes, and the book becomes more than just a story about identity but also about sacrifice, friendship, and belonging.
The book is perfect for teens who enjoy dark themes and fun relationship dynamics and leaves its audience as if they had a ball of sunshine in their chests.
“Nathaniel suddenly found it difficult to swallow. “I don’t know if there’s even a word for it.”
Eliza chewed her lip. “I don’t want to presume—there are myriad ways TO
understand yourself, and as many words to describe it. You could be asexual, if you don’t experience sexual attraction. Or, if you don’t experience romantic attraction, you might be aromantic.”
“Could I be both?”
Eliza smiled. “You can be both, or neither, or different levels of each. The truly beautiful part is you have the rest of your life to decide—and if you never know or change your mind, that’s all right.””
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
“People don’t give animals enough credit sometimes. Or maybe they give humans too much credit.”
Ghost dogs, supernatural gifts, and a murder mystery. Indigenous author Darcie Little Badger’s debut novel is a brilliant piece of magical realism. Elastoe weaves in the Lipan Apache tribe and offers its reader a slightly different world than our own. Elatsoe or Ellie must solve her cousin’s murder before it’s too late, and the story that ensues is chaotic but charming.
The world is shaped by magic and monsters; Ellie is challenged to navigate the world as she learns to use her passed-down skill of raising the ghosts of dead animals. The story also remains relevant as it educates its readers about the Lipan Apache tribe, putting issues such as settler colonialism in the spotlight.
Little Badger does not fail to engage the audience, giving an important story about familial loyalty, heritage, and friendships. The Indigenous main character Ellie, whose power she had inherited from her six-great grandmother (for also whom she was named), is asexual in the book, and what is notable is that the book doesn’t interrogate or question her sexuality but accepts it.
Easy flowing and engaging, enjoyable and educating, this book has it all. The book can fit into a myriad of genres, but young readers will come to enjoy the story as it unravels, and seasoned readers will appreciate the refreshing narrative.
The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen
“Why?” the spider asked. “What message do you think is so important that everyone should hear it?”
“The message that being different from what is considered the norm does not mean you will lead an unhappy life.”
In a short but satisfying read, The Dragon of Ynys doesn’t fail at delivering a perfect story in less than a hundred pages. Its inclusive cast of characters and gorgeous imagery make for a light and spirit-lifting read. Aromantic asexual protagonist Sir Violet must confront a dragon after unexplainable events in the book’s small fairy tale town.
The book is targeted at a young audience, but it also hosts a space for sentiments that a reader of any age would learn from. Soft and magical, witty and comedic, The Dragon of Ynys reads like a fairy tale and feels like a hug, and who knew Snap, the dragon, would make for an unexpected but lovely companion!
The Butterfly Assassin by Finn Longman
“I got out, she tells herself. But is that even true, when she can’t bring herself to sleep in her own bed? This is nothing but a temporary reprieve. She shouldn’t have left. She’s going to spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder.”
This rage-filled fantasy thriller may not be for everyone. Set in a dystopian world, Longman’s jam-packed debut novel leads the reader into a whirlwind of suspense and tension as the main character Isabel tries to escape her past life and start a new one. An exploration of pain, trauma, and PTSD, the book’s fast-paced style just about hooks the reader in and never lets them go.
Longman provides the reader with a dark and gritty narrative where a rage-filled Isabel tries to find her place in the world, having to face her past, and she tries to build her future. There is nothing the story lacks: the importance of friendships, learning how to carry pain and live with it, and persevering through dire circumstances.
The book’s unproblematic representation of asexuality is remarkable: where it is an essential part of her selfhood but isn’t made such a big deal, where it is lived and accepted. In an article about their book,
Longman mentions that the narrative does not give Isabel much time to explore her sexuality, as it would be deeply unnecessary to her current situation. Her survival is her focus throughout the book, which many people can relate to. Still, the book achieves at being unique with its twists and turns, even without a romantic plot or subplot.
“Turns out, allosexual people and characters do start thinking about sexual attraction at deeply inconvenient moments, up to and including while Trying Not To Die. Who knew!”
Finn Longman
Loveless by Alice Oseman
“I hadn’t realised.
I hadn’t realised how behind I was. I’d spent so much time thinking that my one true love would just show up one day. I had been wrong. I had been so, so wrong. Everyone else was growing up, kissing, havingsex, falling in love, and I was just . . .
I was just a child.”
Oseman’s latest standalone book features Georgia and her shaky, if not messy, and heartwarming journey to self-discovery and acceptance. With her unlikely and equally messy group of friends, the reader is drawn to her world as they navigate life, identity, and sexuality.
The book is familiar to its queer and diverse readers, full of pop culture references and allusions to fandom culture that’s easily recognizable to a queer audience— a result of the struggle for representation in queer media and finding oneself in the consumption and creation of fanfiction and other related forms of media.
Her relationship to fandom culture is familiar and comforting: the immersive experience of fandom culture is something a lot of queer folks are familiar with. This isn’t the only theme in the book that makes it exceptional: Georgia’s internalized aphobia is evident as the reader witnesses her frustrations and experimentations.
Early on in the book, it’s established that Georgia has never had a romantic relationship; she believes that she is behind, that she’s a child who only needs to go through what everyone has to become “normal.” She becomes equipped with the language to begin to accept herself.
Loveless, with its relatability and cast of characters who identify in the LGBTQ+ spectrum, is undoubtedly intimate to its readers.
Rick by Alex Gino
“Asexuality was definitely more complicated than kale.”
Alex Gino’s Rick follows a journey of self-discovery. Sweet, soft, and hopeful, Alex Gino manages to capture their readers’ hearts again after their debut book Melissa (previously titled George), a novel about a young transgender girl. Rick decides to join his school’s Rainbow Spectrum club to figure out who he is.
He discovers that his friend, Jeff, is hateful of the LGBTQ+ and takes every chance he gets to vocalize how he feels. As Rick learns to accept himself and others, it becomes clear the undeniable importance of learning a language that we need to better understand ourselves. Gino does this perfectly in this perfectly paced book.
Beautifully crafted, just as Rick finds the Rainbow Spectrum club, readers will also find a space to explore their gender identity and sexuality within the pages. An exploration of asexuality targeted to young readers, Gino’s writing will surely resonate with young and old readers alike.
The book includes important conversations about pronouns, setting boundaries, and standing up for yourself— all of which are not easy things to do, yet Gino manages to emphasize why they’re necessary.
Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
“I don’t want to hold hands, or flirt, or… kiss. And I don’t feel like I’m somehow less whole because I don’t want to date.”
An exploration of guilt and grief, Akemi Dawn Bowman’s Summer Bird Blue centers on Rumi and her heartbreaking healing journey after losing her sister. Something in the novel’s rawness makes for an honest and heavy read: the book manages to capture having to deal with the weight of unimaginable grief.
Rumi’s path to healing is slow, and throughout the book, she is pulled in different directions. The relationships she makes are unexpected but welcome ones. Bowman pulls off the complexity of grief in a nuanced manner. Rumi is unapologetic and rightfully angry in her grief.
In the book, she also discovers that she may be aromantic asexual but stops short as she feels these labels are too restricting for what she feels. Given the themes, the book might not be for everyone, but Bowman makes the read worth it. Heavy, poignant, and carefully crafted, Summer Bird Blue is an excellent depiction of grief and the massive love that comes from it.
Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland
“Never apologize for who you are. You are a complete soul…”
What does a soul look like? What is Kamai’s mother not telling her? What’s behind the black door? In their ambitious novel, Strickland’s Beyond the Black Door features a good old villain romance and an array of loveable and morally grey characters.
In this dark fantasy YA novel, the asexual main protagonist, Kamai, a soul walker, is followed by a black door, which her mother always warned her never to open. Having to deal with the complicated world of politics, secret guilds, and conspiracies, Kamai is to embark on a thrilling journey.
Amazingly imaginative, the book’s rich mythology and world-building, along with the story’s dark yet delightful events, make the book thoroughly enjoyable. As Kamai’s curiosity got the best of her, and as she ventured deeper into her world, she also explored her sexuality until she came to terms with her asexuality.
Her relationship with her asexuality is a major theme, and Strickland’s atmospheric writing places the reader in the middle of the world and inside Kamai’s head. Perfect for myth lovers and those who love unapologetic LGBTQ+ characters.
Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Omsbree
“This is my interpretation: If you want a chance at being happy, exist. Because yes, life can suck, but as long as you’re alive, there’s a chance you can be happy. And maybe that’s a dismal way to look at life, but I think there’s hope there.”
Met with sudden internet fame over her web series, Tash is faced with praise and the downsides of fame, as well as a chance to meet her internet crush. Omsbree’s novel Tash Hearts Tolstoy delves into asexuality and the joy of creation. Tash modernizes a classic Tolstoy book— Anna Karenina, into a web series, and her passion resonates with the audience.
Her journey of coming to terms with her sexuality is a rocky one. The Internet plays a large role as it details YouTube, the highs and lows of fame, and content creation. Tash proves to be easily loveable with the many mistakes she makes.
The book also features an MLM romance, its diverse characters, and the dynamics between them. Omsbree’s style and prose flow makes the story easy to follow. Tash Hearts Tolstoy makes a fun read for teens and classics lovers.
