Review: Loveless by Alice Oseman

British author Alice Oseman's latest novel is a story of a young woman trying to find her identity in a world obsessed with sex and relationships. Georgia is eighteen years old. She has never been in love, and never kissed anyone. And when the opportunity for her first kiss comes along, she finds herself reacting in a totally unexpected way. Is there something wrong with her? When she moves away to start university with her two closest friends she starts questioning herself more and more. How come sex and relationships are so easy for other people, when it is so difficult for her?

Loveless is a frank look at the life of a young woman who experiences neither sexual nor romantic attraction. Written by the author of the Heartstopper series of graphic novels, there are strong themes of self-acceptance and coming out when your sexuality is one that many have never heard of. 

On the whole this was an entertaining read with some very humorous moments. My only real complaint is that with the message that friendships can be just as lasting and as important as relationships, it's a bit limiting that Georgia only makes two friends over the course of an entire year at university and both of those are with people who are more or less thrown her way--her roommate Rooney, who has problems of her own, and her slightly older and wiser 'college parent' Sunil. While these friendships are clearly an important part of the story, surely the lack of other characters, even as 'outer circle' friends undermines the message a bit? However, it's pleasing to see that, finally, someone took the time to write a book about something that is a very real and valid experience for many people. And the best part? It doesn't end with Georgia being 'cured' or finding her first love. 

Written for the right reasons, this will almost certainly please fans of the author and may be an excellent resource for teens who are asexual or think that they may be asexual.

Recommended.

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