Pages: 435
Format: Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: July 9th 2020
Buy the Book: Book Depository
Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.
As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.
But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.
Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?
As someone who is constantly calling out for books with
asexual and aromantic rep, Loveless was easily one of my most anticipated reads
of the year. Following new university student Georgia as she goes on a quest to
fall in love, she slowly starts to realise that the romance she reads about in
fanfiction might not be what she wants for herself. After several failed
attempts at trying to prove that she can be attracted to someone, she must come
to terms with the fact that her future is not going to look how she always
thought it would.
When I say Georgia’s thoughts and feelings really hit home
for me, I do mean it. She is everything I’ve needed as a character for a long
time. Her journey is such an incredibly important one, especially as a
character who discovers what asexuality is throughout the course of the book.
It’s a reminder that there are so many people out there who might have heard the
term in passing, but still don’t know anything about it. I’m so grateful to books
like this for not only allowing asexuals to see themselves represented, but to
educate people who might be confused about the label.
The friendship group in this book is WONDERFUL. A mix of different personalities, some who’ve been friends for years and others who’ve only just met, thrown together in the chaos of university, and it makes for such an entertaining story. Their relationships with each other tangle and get messy along the way, but it helps them to face the issues that have been tugging at them.
The bond that grows between Georgia and Rooney is much appreciated. To have completely different characters share a room and grow closer despite not having a whole lot in common is something I always enjoy reading about.
- ASEXUAL & AROMANTIC REP. I mean it’s pretty obvious, but
god did we need this book. Loveless seamlessly weaves important information
into a gorgeous, character-driven story. I also adored how the book demonstrated
that a person can be both aroace, but there is no ‘one size fits all rule’.
- SETTING. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Durham
through the eyes of Georgia. As someone who loves the aesthetic of old
universities, I was all about this location. It did make me wish I was a uni
student again though…
- OLD & NEW FRIENDSHIPS. I enjoyed the mix of Georgia’s
childhood friends and new people she meets at uni. Too often we see YA
characters trade old friends for new ones in coming-of-age stories, so I
appreciated how this story simply worked new friends into the current group.
Yes, there’s drama, but the characters are able to work through it.
- RODERICK. Best fictional plant.
Easily one of my favourites from this year, Loveless delivers an adorable cast of diverse characters to root for whilst teaching us some important lessons along the way. Alice Oseman does a perfect job of making sure readers feel included and understood.
Royal Rating:
