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foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved this so much!!! I need more Ace romance books ASAP!
The Romantic Agenda follows thirty year old Joy. She's been in love with her best friend, Malcolm, for as long as she can remember, but he's never returned her feelings. When he tells her he's met the love of his life, Joy is crushed. Reluctantly, she agrees to a weekend getaway with Malcolm, Summer and Fox. Malcolm has asked her to keep an eye on Fox and this has Joy curious. The more time she spends with the grumpy Fox, the more she likes him.
This book was so fun. I loved being in Joy's head. The way her anxiety manifests was so relatable. Her hyperactivity and effervescence were so much fun to read. Joy made me feel energized every time I would pick this book up. It was so easy to fall in love with Joy and enjoy her story.
I loved that there's two asexual characters in this! We get to see that while both Malcolm and Joy are asexual, that means different things for their attitudes towards sex. Many times it's felt like all ace characters are written the same and they shouldn't be because the spectrum is so vast. But I think as more stories are written that center ace characters and voices, we'll truly see the diversity of the community shine through.
This book was so romantic. I loved it so much. The grumpy and sunshine trope is at it's max in this one and it was so good. I loved watching Fox and Joy grow closer. Fox's grumpiness was so much fun to poke at and I loved how Joy would easily get under his skin. Not only did I enjoy the romance, but I really loved the in depth look at Joy and Malcolm's friendship and how it had evolved to be something that was holding both of them back. I'm glad they took the time to figure out what they needed from each other and how they needed to make new boundaries.
Overall, I 1000% loved Claire Kann's adult debut and I hope she writes more adult romances like this one! I can't wait for her next book.
Rep: Black asexual cis female MC with anxiety, Black asexual cis male side character, white cishet female side character, white cishet male side character, BIPOC female side characters.
CWs: Mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks, cursing, acephobia/acemisia, alcohol consumption. Moderate: discussions of sexual content/behavior, racism. Minor: car accident.
I loved this so much!!! I need more Ace romance books ASAP!
The Romantic Agenda follows thirty year old Joy. She's been in love with her best friend, Malcolm, for as long as she can remember, but he's never returned her feelings. When he tells her he's met the love of his life, Joy is crushed. Reluctantly, she agrees to a weekend getaway with Malcolm, Summer and Fox. Malcolm has asked her to keep an eye on Fox and this has Joy curious. The more time she spends with the grumpy Fox, the more she likes him.
This book was so fun. I loved being in Joy's head. The way her anxiety manifests was so relatable. Her hyperactivity and effervescence were so much fun to read. Joy made me feel energized every time I would pick this book up. It was so easy to fall in love with Joy and enjoy her story.
I loved that there's two asexual characters in this! We get to see that while both Malcolm and Joy are asexual, that means different things for their attitudes towards sex. Many times it's felt like all ace characters are written the same and they shouldn't be because the spectrum is so vast. But I think as more stories are written that center ace characters and voices, we'll truly see the diversity of the community shine through.
This book was so romantic. I loved it so much. The grumpy and sunshine trope is at it's max in this one and it was so good. I loved watching Fox and Joy grow closer. Fox's grumpiness was so much fun to poke at and I loved how Joy would easily get under his skin. Not only did I enjoy the romance, but I really loved the in depth look at Joy and Malcolm's friendship and how it had evolved to be something that was holding both of them back. I'm glad they took the time to figure out what they needed from each other and how they needed to make new boundaries.
Overall, I 1000% loved Claire Kann's adult debut and I hope she writes more adult romances like this one! I can't wait for her next book.
Rep: Black asexual cis female MC with anxiety, Black asexual cis male side character, white cishet female side character, white cishet male side character, BIPOC female side characters.
CWs: Mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks, cursing, acephobia/acemisia, alcohol consumption. Moderate: discussions of sexual content/behavior, racism. Minor: car accident.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Mental illness, Cursing, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident
caseythereader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
Thanks to Books Forward PR for the free advance copy of this book.
- Hi, let's have some queer screaming about THE ROMANTIC AGENDA! Two Black asexual characters who experience their asexuality differently! Grumpy/sunshine! Forced proximity! A dash of fake dating! So many feelings!
- I think this book might not be for everyone, given that almost nothing happens except these four characters trying to work through years of tangled thoughts and feelings. But I absolutely loved it. I loved Joy being proud of her identity, and calling people out when they were being ignorant or making her explain herself rather than learn it for themselves.
- I loved that given that Joy doesn't experience physical attraction, this romance novel was less focused on the characters' bodies and more about finding other ways to show your deep feelings to your partner. And I loved how quickly Fox learned how to show his affection while keeping Joy comfortable.
- I'm so glad Kann has made the jump to adult novels. It's tempered the quirkiness of her women characters, but don't worry, the wit and pop culture references are still there.
- Hi, let's have some queer screaming about THE ROMANTIC AGENDA! Two Black asexual characters who experience their asexuality differently! Grumpy/sunshine! Forced proximity! A dash of fake dating! So many feelings!
- I think this book might not be for everyone, given that almost nothing happens except these four characters trying to work through years of tangled thoughts and feelings. But I absolutely loved it. I loved Joy being proud of her identity, and calling people out when they were being ignorant or making her explain herself rather than learn it for themselves.
- I loved that given that Joy doesn't experience physical attraction, this romance novel was less focused on the characters' bodies and more about finding other ways to show your deep feelings to your partner. And I loved how quickly Fox learned how to show his affection while keeping Joy comfortable.
- I'm so glad Kann has made the jump to adult novels. It's tempered the quirkiness of her women characters, but don't worry, the wit and pop culture references are still there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident
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