A review by kamitsukasero
Upside Down by N.R. Walker

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.5

 “I didn’t realise how hard I’ve ben trying to fit in with the real world, trying to be normal when my normal was here all along.” 

Finding a book with valid asexual representation is one of the hardest things and I am extremely grateful this book handled it well and is also the only ficitional book I found so far that is about actual adults dealing with their identities on the asexual spectrum. The audiobook was incredibly well performed – fun and engaging - and the entire book felt like 'watching' a television drama. I think it is so important to have these types of cheesy but heart-warming queer stories that don’t end in tragedy and just portray the very down-to-earth, ever so trivial struggles of queer people falling in love (or doing other mundance things, living their lives) - especially with ace characters involved – we so desperately need more of these ace stories! 

At the start I thought this particular style of writing was not going to be for me (and I can only speak for the audio book here) but I quickly came to enjoy it and got surprisingly attached to the characters. I think the audio book may in fact have uplifted the entire experience for me as it’s a very dialogue heavy, ‘colloquial’ experience and the 1st person POV might have put me off in print, possibly. It did feel a little like fanfiction (and I say that as very positive thing, I wish more stories read like fanfiction sometimes) e.g. how the story did not waste too much time on establishing settings and characters (but introduced them well and organically) and had a sense of freedom to the way it is presented to the reader. At times it was be very direct, maybe too direct, but it felt very genuine and real, and the ace community really doesn’t get that a lot so I will take any overly direct exposition over nothing any day. It feels almost too perfect and too happy but it made me smile for being that way – it was so good to escape to a story as happy as this one. 

While it did feel like a feel-good TV drama, it also felt relatable in many parts to the point where I got very emotional over seemingly trivial things because they just hit home a lot. Upside Down is essentially here for you to have a fun time and a laugh here and there, and I really appreciate that as welcome distraction from how glum real life feels more often than not in comparison. Many moments in the book felt like a reassuring pat on the shoulder to give hope and encouragement to ace readers for their own lives and futures.