Scan barcode
elerireads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
3.75
Ok it was YA, it was a bit preachy and there wasn't all that much plot. Georgia goes away to university for the first time and over the course of the year figures out that she's asexual and aromantic, but in the process treats all her friends appallingly and so then has to go and win her friends back because actually friendships are just as important as romantic relationships and yada yada yada. Also they do a Shakespeare play.
It also felt a bit overwritten? For the first few chapters I was thinking wow this has really clearly and sensitively captured the confusion that Georgia is feeling, but as it went on I started think "yeah ok we get it she's asexual and she hasn't figured that out yet" and get a bit fed up with it. The thing is it's a book written from Georgia's perspective about figuring herself out, so obviously the whole thing is just a lot of introspection and going over and over the same thoughts trying to rearrange them so they actually make sense. It just gets a bit tedious from a reader's perspective, especially the part where she was blatantly using Jason and taking advantage of his feelings for her, even after she had acknowledged to herself AND ROONEY that she didn't like him 'like that'.
All of that said, I could see and appreciate what Oseman was trying to do, which was to capture as accurately and in as much detail as possible what it feels like to be a young asexual person, to come to terms with that and then a coming out process. YA is brilliant for its coming of age stories but ordinarily I think there's a background understanding that can be assumed both because of readers' lived experiences and because there's so much other writing about coming of age stories. But that's not really the case here - there's basically no other fiction centering asexual characters, or really any other kind of media. Essentially Oseman had to assume zero background knowledge? What I'm trying to say is, I think the overwriting was probably necessary because this really was the first book of its kind. I also liked that Oseman made sure to incorporate so much fun and joy into Georgia's life, that by the end she was able to make jokes about asexuality and revel in the funny sides of her different perspective on the world, and ultimately of course that she was incredibly loved and had so much love to offer the world, i.e anything but loveless.
It also felt a bit overwritten? For the first few chapters I was thinking wow this has really clearly and sensitively captured the confusion that Georgia is feeling, but as it went on I started think "yeah ok we get it she's asexual and she hasn't figured that out yet" and get a bit fed up with it. The thing is it's a book written from Georgia's perspective about figuring herself out, so obviously the whole thing is just a lot of introspection and going over and over the same thoughts trying to rearrange them so they actually make sense. It just gets a bit tedious from a reader's perspective, especially the part where she was blatantly using Jason and taking advantage of his feelings for her, even after she had acknowledged to herself AND ROONEY that she didn't like him 'like that'.
All of that said, I could see and appreciate what Oseman was trying to do, which was to capture as accurately and in as much detail as possible what it feels like to be a young asexual person, to come to terms with that and then a coming out process. YA is brilliant for its coming of age stories but ordinarily I think there's a background understanding that can be assumed both because of readers' lived experiences and because there's so much other writing about coming of age stories. But that's not really the case here - there's basically no other fiction centering asexual characters, or really any other kind of media. Essentially Oseman had to assume zero background knowledge? What I'm trying to say is, I think the overwriting was probably necessary because this really was the first book of its kind. I also liked that Oseman made sure to incorporate so much fun and joy into Georgia's life, that by the end she was able to make jokes about asexuality and revel in the funny sides of her different perspective on the world, and ultimately of course that she was incredibly loved and had so much love to offer the world, i.e anything but loveless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
madisone's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
chamaeleontis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
5.0
I had the audacity to think I may be the exception to the rule and not be called out by Georgia. I was wrong. I also had the audacity to wait over a year to read this book. That was a mistake. I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Racism, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
wngwendy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
So good, absolutely loved this
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is my comfort read all of Alice Oseman's book. This is suitable for light reading even there were a trigger warnings in it. I love that this book potrays friendship love as a love too. Love not always come from someone special, but friendship can bring love too.
Well done, Alice. What a beautiful story, self-discovery and self-acceptance from the main character; Georgia Warr.
Well done, Alice. What a beautiful story, self-discovery and self-acceptance from the main character; Georgia Warr.
Content Warnings
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
matheo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Alice Oseman literary universe has always been a comfort for me to escape into, and the newest addition to the family, Loveless, proved just as amazing.
Loveless follows university freshman Georgia, as she discovers herself to be aromantic and asexual, learning along the way that meaningful connections are not strictly romantic.
All aspects of this book are amazing! The characters are messy but real, and I felt attached to each member of their found family. I also really loved the idea of using a university setting to explore identity and sexual orientation, and the plot progression really worked well into this.
Overall, this book is SO IMPORTANT, and I cannot stress enough how much I think you should read it (check trigger warnings!)
Loveless follows university freshman Georgia, as she discovers herself to be aromantic and asexual, learning along the way that meaningful connections are not strictly romantic.
All aspects of this book are amazing! The characters are messy but real, and I felt attached to each member of their found family. I also really loved the idea of using a university setting to explore identity and sexual orientation, and the plot progression really worked well into this.
Overall, this book is SO IMPORTANT, and I cannot stress enough how much I think you should read it (check trigger warnings!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, and Emotional abuse
vaalescapism's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
LO AMÉ. Fue muy informativo sobre el espectro asexual - aromántico. Y amé a todxs lxs personajes. Es una historia de descubrimiento personal, de descubrimiento del mundo y de cierta forma, de found family. De verdad quisiera una secuela solo describiendo las cosas mundanas del día a día de la vida de lxs personajes juntxs. Quiero algo tan bello y único y hermoso como lo que tienen ellxs. <33 ❤️🔥❤️🔥
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Gaslighting, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
bookishflower's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
This was PERSONAL, my word! 😭 Georgia is a bit too close to home! I cried throughout this. I want what Georgia and Rooney have. 10/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Bullying, Cursing, Gaslighting, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
kaii's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
hated this book because I felt totally called out both by the fact I relate to every toxic trait shown by Georgia and Rooney and by the fact it called me out for being lonely af
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual content