Loveless
by Alice Oseman
Published by Scholastic Press
on July 9, 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: 432 pages
Ages: 14 & up
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Literary Awards:
Buxtehuder Bulle Nominee for Shortlist (2022)
Audie Award Nominee for Young Adult (2023)
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for YA Fiction (2022)
Synopsis:
For fans of Love, Simon and I Wish You All the Best, a funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of a girl who realizes that love can be found in many ways that don't involve sex or romance.
This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't understand why she can't crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She's surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It's not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum--coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she's been told since birth isn't easy--there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia's determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major dram of) her friends.
My Thoughts:
Georgia Warr has always loved the idea of romance.
She's watched all the films, read the books, and always pictured herself following the same steps that society has laid before her. But then she realizes that she's far behind her peers, in many ways. So off to Uni she goes, determined to find that special someone to "fall in love with" and have her first kiss with, except that once there she finds the task more difficult than ever.
While new and old friendships clash around her, Georgia tries to figure out who she is, or isn't, and comes away with a much clearer picture thanks to new friends on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Personally, I don't always love contemporary novels, especially in school/college settings, but Oseman has a way of drawing me in. Her stories are always lighthearted and inspiring (even when there's really tough subject matter) and I love that Oseman always seems to include plenty of mental health awareness in their novels. It's a really great balance that I believe is perfect for young readers.
This novel in particular is a fantastic and informative look at the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and Aro-ace (aromantic asexuality) in general.
There's also lesbian, bi, and pansexual rep in this novel!
