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Somewhere around a 4.5 but rounded up because this representation is so important and meaningful!

Asexuality is a spectrum of identities (as is its common companion, aromanticism). Thus, the ace experience is a complex, multifaceted one, and no single story can fully capture it. That’s what makes an anthology like this so valuable: it allows for a broader intersection of perspectives. This also makes the book greater than the sum of its parts: while most of the stories in this book would get just 3 or 4 stars from me as standalones, when taken together, they create a striking exploration of the broad spectrum that is the ace experience. It encompasses a variety of genres and styles, from contemporary stories in verse to interplanetary sci-fi to high fantasy, and spans a broad cross-section of asexuality and various romantic orientations. And every story in it is from an ace author, making each narrative wholly authentic.

Most importantly, though, this is still a collection about love. Not just romantic love, but familial love, platonic love, and self-love. There is a popular misconception that being ace means being cold, heartless, or missing some fundamental aspect of humanity. The stories in this collection reject that notion, sometimes head-on, sometimes obliquely, but always unflinchingly. It is beyond validating for those of us who identify as ace–and will also, I think, be incredibly enlightening for those who are not. It’s a valuable book, and I highly recommend it.

As a final note, a few of my favorite stories in this collection were “The Mermaid’s Sister,� “Give Up the Ghost,� “Smells Like Teen Virgin,� and “Well Suited.� See more story and rep notes on my blog !