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A review by sarahsupastar
Upside Down by N.R. Walker
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
As a story, this is a cute, fun, enjoyable read. Not much happens; not much needs to. It's a light, relaxing read about quirky characters falling in love.
As asexual representation, it's pretty solid. There are a few things it did really well (like highlighting the challenges of identifying as asexual, not just socially but introspectively), and a few things that were oversimplified to the point of being misleading (like explaining there's a difference between attraction and desire, but then describing sexual desire/arousal as the body betraying the mind). There's a lack of nuance in the asexual identities depicted, as every ace character in this book is unambiguously sex averse, so the book doesn't acknowledge the variety of experiences on the asexual spectrum, including grey-asexuals who do sometimes experience sexual attraction and are no less ace for it. The asexual support group felt like a bit of a missed opportunity for representation, since it would've been a great way to show a variety of experiences on the asexual spectrum and add further nuance to some of the discussions about asexuality.
Overall, I'd've liked more nuance in the asexual experiences and identities depicted, but I'm delighted to have this book to add to my ace representation rec list.
As asexual representation, it's pretty solid. There are a few things it did really well (like highlighting the challenges of identifying as asexual, not just socially but introspectively), and a few things that were oversimplified to the point of being misleading (like explaining there's a difference between attraction and desire, but then describing sexual desire/arousal as the body betraying the mind). There's a lack of nuance in the asexual identities depicted, as every ace character in this book is unambiguously sex averse, so the book doesn't acknowledge the variety of experiences on the asexual spectrum, including grey-asexuals who do sometimes experience sexual attraction and are no less ace for it. The asexual support group felt like a bit of a missed opportunity for representation, since it would've been a great way to show a variety of experiences on the asexual spectrum and add further nuance to some of the discussions about asexuality.
Overall, I'd've liked more nuance in the asexual experiences and identities depicted, but I'm delighted to have this book to add to my ace representation rec list.