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emilyexmas's review
4.0
I don’t normally write reviews, but I’ve read a lot of books recently with asexual representation in them. Quite often it’s just presented to the reader by way of a character being told ‘this is what asexuality is’ and then everyone is like, “oh, ok, cool!” It’s usually a bland textbook explanation, which always reads like it’s a speech in a high school health class.
This book explored it slightly differently- it had the questioning, the ‘wtf does any of this mean,’ the fear of being other, etc. plus it did a great job of explaining the difference between sexuality and romanticism. This is very much a romance, and it is a successful one, even without any sex whatsoever. Any time there needed to be a more encyclopedic explanation of some facet of asexuality the author managed to slot it in as a part of the support meetings, so it really never felt out of place.
In hindsight after reading it I’m not sure this book had the amount of character development and plot I would normally like in a novel, but the fabulous ace rep alone made it worthwhile. Also, I haven’t read much that had poly representation, so I found that interesting. It’s not something for ever be open to, but knowing a friend being in a poly relationaship I found it an interesting potential insight.
This book explored it slightly differently- it had the questioning, the ‘wtf does any of this mean,’ the fear of being other, etc. plus it did a great job of explaining the difference between sexuality and romanticism. This is very much a romance, and it is a successful one, even without any sex whatsoever. Any time there needed to be a more encyclopedic explanation of some facet of asexuality the author managed to slot it in as a part of the support meetings, so it really never felt out of place.
In hindsight after reading it I’m not sure this book had the amount of character development and plot I would normally like in a novel, but the fabulous ace rep alone made it worthwhile. Also, I haven’t read much that had poly representation, so I found that interesting. It’s not something for ever be open to, but knowing a friend being in a poly relationaship I found it an interesting potential insight.
melg14's review against another edition
5.0
The fact that both characters are asexual and their relationship explained asexuality so well and was absolutely well developed in such a cute way is godsend! Jordan was the best, he was so adorably awkward and funny. Hennessy was so patient and adorable. There is little to no angst, which could be a disadvantage in most stories but not this one. It might be cheesy how everything wrapped up and was tied together but I loved it.
Glen Lloyd also did an amazing job narrating!
Glen Lloyd also did an amazing job narrating!
_ellisnoble_'s review
4.0
'Sex doesn't make us whole. How could you ever be broken?'
Così si conclude una delle scene più belle della seconda stagione di 'Sex Education' in cui la sessuologa Jean tranquillizza una ragazza asessuale sulla propria identità. Spesso ci chiediamo come possano le persone asessuali riuscire ad avere una relazione per l'associazione interiorizzata vera intimità=sesso e questo romanzo ci dimostra che tale associazione non vale per tutti.
Jordan - uno dei miei protagonisti preferiti di sempre -, ragazzo gay con la passione dei libri e la tendenza a straparlare quando nervoso e a imprecare più del dovuto scopre di essere asessuale e cerca di capire fino in fondo cosa questo comporti, anche grazie all'aiuto di Hennessy, che gestisce il gruppo di supporto ace alla ricerca di un amore che non porti a tensione per il suo rifiuto a fare sesso.
Questo libro è divertente e brillante come la miglior commedia romantica, ma al tempo stesso mostra molto bene tutti problemi, i desideri e i dubbi vissuti dalla comunità ace, come per esempio la paura del contatto fisico che possa venir considerato preludio ai rapporti sessuali. E anche se manca la classica scena d'amore anche solo accennata, la love story non è meno valida per questo, anzi si sviluppa in maniera realistica e vi farà pentire di aver letto il libro in soli 4 giorni come la sottoscritta perché non vorrete più i i personaggi della storia.
Unica pecca, se così la vogliamo chiamare, è il fatto che ci sono molti spiegoni che spiegano l'asessualità e che se ne siete già a conoscenza potreste trovarli un pochino ridondanti, così come alcune parti in cui i personaggi spiegano il significato dietro le proprie azioni e tu vorresti urlare alla scrittrice: "Show, don't tell!", ma a parte questo, è stata la lettura più bella di questo Pride month.
Così si conclude una delle scene più belle della seconda stagione di 'Sex Education' in cui la sessuologa Jean tranquillizza una ragazza asessuale sulla propria identità. Spesso ci chiediamo come possano le persone asessuali riuscire ad avere una relazione per l'associazione interiorizzata vera intimità=sesso e questo romanzo ci dimostra che tale associazione non vale per tutti.
Jordan - uno dei miei protagonisti preferiti di sempre -, ragazzo gay con la passione dei libri e la tendenza a straparlare quando nervoso e a imprecare più del dovuto scopre di essere asessuale e cerca di capire fino in fondo cosa questo comporti, anche grazie all'aiuto di Hennessy, che gestisce il gruppo di supporto ace alla ricerca di un amore che non porti a tensione per il suo rifiuto a fare sesso.
Questo libro è divertente e brillante come la miglior commedia romantica, ma al tempo stesso mostra molto bene tutti problemi, i desideri e i dubbi vissuti dalla comunità ace, come per esempio la paura del contatto fisico che possa venir considerato preludio ai rapporti sessuali. E anche se manca la classica scena d'amore anche solo accennata, la love story non è meno valida per questo, anzi si sviluppa in maniera realistica e vi farà pentire di aver letto il libro in soli 4 giorni come la sottoscritta perché non vorrete più i i personaggi della storia.
Unica pecca, se così la vogliamo chiamare, è il fatto che ci sono molti spiegoni che spiegano l'asessualità e che se ne siete già a conoscenza potreste trovarli un pochino ridondanti, così come alcune parti in cui i personaggi spiegano il significato dietro le proprie azioni e tu vorresti urlare alla scrittrice: "Show, don't tell!", ma a parte questo, è stata la lettura più bella di questo Pride month.
seriously_booked's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
justforqueerbooks's review
5.0
One of the few books I've read with GREAT ace rep. I absolutely adored it.
kaitlin_durante's review
4.0
4 stars.
There were enough positive aspects of this book that I feel confident in my 4 star rating.
-Jordan and his ramblings and outbursts.
-The cute and aw factor that came with Jordan and Hennessy getting to know each other on the bus.
-All the side characters from Merry and Angus to the bus crew.
-The writing because N.R. Walker is an excellent writer.
The negative aspects are more personal preferences but hey it's my review so I get to have them.
-Hennessy and his repetitiveness whether it be about asexuality and how every little situation applies or about how perfect Jordan is. This got old quickly and I found myself not liking him as much as a character for this reason.
-How this could be considered one of the lowest angst reads I've read in a long time. I don't need every book to have explosions and guns but when the conflict arose I was like oh snap, oh it's been settled the next day, oh alright I guess.
Overall this book was sweet and if you're interested in a relationship between two asexual men this is the book for you.
There were enough positive aspects of this book that I feel confident in my 4 star rating.
-Jordan and his ramblings and outbursts.
-The cute and aw factor that came with Jordan and Hennessy getting to know each other on the bus.
-All the side characters from Merry and Angus to the bus crew.
-The writing because N.R. Walker is an excellent writer.
The negative aspects are more personal preferences but hey it's my review so I get to have them.
-Hennessy and his repetitiveness whether it be about asexuality and how every little situation applies or about how perfect Jordan is. This got old quickly and I found myself not liking him as much as a character for this reason.
-How this could be considered one of the lowest angst reads I've read in a long time. I don't need every book to have explosions and guns but when the conflict arose I was like oh snap, oh it's been settled the next day, oh alright I guess.
Overall this book was sweet and if you're interested in a relationship between two asexual men this is the book for you.
pleasejustletmeread's review
3.0
På plus-siden; masser af rep! Aseksuelle, homoseksuelle, polyamorøse og et par stykker jeg ikke fangede en label på, men som åbenlyst tilhørte queer miljøet.
På minus-siden (afhængigt af øjnene der ser); meget gennemsnitlig kærlighedshistorie, dog uden noget eksplicit, - altså ud over at enkelte karakterer bander en del..
På minus-siden (afhængigt af øjnene der ser); meget gennemsnitlig kærlighedshistorie, dog uden noget eksplicit, - altså ud over at enkelte karakterer bander en del..
bibliobrittish's review
4.0
4.5 - like if TJ Klune and Alexis Hall had an Australian baby. And that ppt ending!
adammm's review
2.0
As I've mentioned in previous reviews, N.R. Walker is a sometimes writer for me. Sometimes I like her books... and sometimes I don't.
Upside Down is an example of the latter.
Let me be clear: the asexual representation in this book is pretty stellar. Lots of information. Too much, at some points. But good nonetheless.
One issue with this book is that, well, it consists of a few hundred pages of absolute nothing. By that I mean there is no plot at all. Nothing. Nada. 없다. There is no reason why this couldn't have been a short story or novella.
The other major issue is the character of Jordan. Dude rambles on and on and on and oh my god just shut UP. Much like the book, he has nothing to say yet he just. keeps. going. In addition to that, he uses the word "motherf*cker" every other sentence. At work, on the bus, talking with his love interest, blah blah UGH. Grow up, man. You're twenty-something years old, learn how to speak like an adult and not like a 13-year-old boy with his friends. On Walker's part, it's just poor character-building.
Frankly, I find this book - plot (which of course has the ~big miscommunication~ at the climax) and characters alike - incredibly lazy and not particularly good. Read if you want to see asexual/aromantic representation, but don't bother if you have any other expectations.
Upside Down is an example of the latter.
Let me be clear: the asexual representation in this book is pretty stellar. Lots of information. Too much, at some points. But good nonetheless.
One issue with this book is that, well, it consists of a few hundred pages of absolute nothing. By that I mean there is no plot at all. Nothing. Nada. 없다. There is no reason why this couldn't have been a short story or novella.
The other major issue is the character of Jordan. Dude rambles on and on and on and oh my god just shut UP. Much like the book, he has nothing to say yet he just. keeps. going. In addition to that, he uses the word "motherf*cker" every other sentence. At work, on the bus, talking with his love interest, blah blah UGH. Grow up, man. You're twenty-something years old, learn how to speak like an adult and not like a 13-year-old boy with his friends. On Walker's part, it's just poor character-building.
Frankly, I find this book - plot (which of course has the ~big miscommunication~ at the climax) and characters alike - incredibly lazy and not particularly good. Read if you want to see asexual/aromantic representation, but don't bother if you have any other expectations.