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reading_magda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
atlastheninth's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
5.0
This book is getting a special place in my heart.
It gives all the important basic definitions which is great but most importantly it's so hopeful. Cody acknowledges all the struggles you might face/have faced but always in a way that you belief him that it gets better :(
"If there's one thing you take away from this book, I hope you take away the belief in your future. There's something on the other side of all the questions you have, all the insecurities you battle, all the shame you feel, all the fears you face. What's on the other side is possibility. A version of you that lives confidently, bravely, and joyfully ace."
bibliophilecats's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
4.0
What I was looking for: I knew Cody Daigle-Orians as AceDadAdvice on Youtube and happened upon this book at my library so I checked it out.
Conclusion: The structure is well thought through, going from personal experience to wider circles of people around you to the world. The tone is very much like a dad talking to a young person, especially in the earlier chapters – but never condescending. The book is very gentle, highlighting that there is no “right” or “wrong” way of living ones life.
While the earlier chapters were very much focused on somebody just starting their journey of figuring out their sexual identity, later chapters hold information for everyone and I can imagine going back to, for example, the chapter on microaggressions.
The short personal stories Cody Daigle-Orians shares at the beginning of each chapter elevate this book from a mere collection of general advice to a more personal talk between the author and the reader.
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend this book especially to (young) people starting in their identity journey.
imperatoryvette's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
jussery's review against another edition
I think this was a very sweet intro to asexuality and as the author said, I also wish I had a book like this when I was younger and figuring myself out! I've been out as ace/aro for over 10 years now so I didn't gain anything new from this book, but it was still heartwarming to know there are resources like this accessible to people now.
georgiaseely's review against another edition
5.0
All I can say is that this book feels like a comforting arm wrapped around my shoulders? A lot of books I’ve read focus on the defining, introducing, and analyzing of asexuality as a topic, which is really important to spread awareness to the general public about, and also super interesting, but this book speaks directly and specifically to individuals who are questioning their identity or have recently started identifying as asexual. Basically, “By Ace For Ace”. It’s completely different than other asexuality books I’ve read; I described it to an acquaintance as a longform “So You Think You Might Be Asexual?” pamphlet, in the best way. This is without a doubt the #1 book I would loan to a friend if they were in search of advice, reflections, wisdom, a comforting word, or conversation about the possibility of asexuality in their own life, if they can deal with all the circling, underlining, bracketing, hearts-and-stars’ing, and horribly scribbled annotating in the margins of my copy.
The fact is that there are relatively few resources for young people who think they may be ace (although visibility is beginning to improve slightly in media), and specifically a huuuge lack of older ace role models to give advice and positive examples to young people who more likely than not feel extremely isolated in what they’re experiencing. Elder figures are invaluable in all queer communities, and the ace community newly realized aces are likely to come into contact with tends to trend young due to how internet-based it is, so this book felt doubly special. I especially loved the Q&A format of some sections, because I think the author’s own experience of coming into their asexuality relatively recently, as an older adult, allowed them to both understand and articulate the exact questions, concerns, and fears that all newfound aces are teeming with, and also provide conversation, reflection, and advice that is supported by decades of lived queer experience. It’s just a really special book, and I would totally recommend it to anyone who is even slightly considering the possibility of maybe questioning if there is a chance they might could be somewhere on the ace spectrum themself, lol.
There is a lot of power in seeing your internal thoughts, feelings, anxieties, fears, and experiences written out in words by other people, and this book feels like a teacher, mentor, aunt or uncle sitting you down and telling you that this thing is not as solitary an experience as you feel in this moment. Super great.
The fact is that there are relatively few resources for young people who think they may be ace (although visibility is beginning to improve slightly in media), and specifically a huuuge lack of older ace role models to give advice and positive examples to young people who more likely than not feel extremely isolated in what they’re experiencing. Elder figures are invaluable in all queer communities, and the ace community newly realized aces are likely to come into contact with tends to trend young due to how internet-based it is, so this book felt doubly special. I especially loved the Q&A format of some sections, because I think the author’s own experience of coming into their asexuality relatively recently, as an older adult, allowed them to both understand and articulate the exact questions, concerns, and fears that all newfound aces are teeming with, and also provide conversation, reflection, and advice that is supported by decades of lived queer experience. It’s just a really special book, and I would totally recommend it to anyone who is even slightly considering the possibility of maybe questioning if there is a chance they might could be somewhere on the ace spectrum themself, lol.
There is a lot of power in seeing your internal thoughts, feelings, anxieties, fears, and experiences written out in words by other people, and this book feels like a teacher, mentor, aunt or uncle sitting you down and telling you that this thing is not as solitary an experience as you feel in this moment. Super great.