london ace book club

Read in: October 2022

Synopsis: What exactly is sexual attraction and what is it like to go through life not experiencing it? What does asexuality reveal about gender roles, about romance and consent, and the pressures of society? This accessible examination of asexuality shows that the issues that aces face – confusion around sexual activity, the intersection of sexuality and identity, navigating different needs in relationships–are the same conflicts that nearly all of us will experience.
Journalist Angela Chen creates her path to understanding her own asexuality with the perspectives of a diverse group of asexual people.  Disabled aces, aces of colour, gender-nonconforming aces, and aces who both do and don’t want romantic relationships all share their experiences navigating a society in which a lack of sexual attraction is considered abnormal. Chen’s careful cultural analysis explores how societal norms limit understanding of sex and relationships and celebrates the breadth of sexuality and queerness.

Category: Non-fiction

Audience: Adult

To borrow: 

To buy: Gay’s the Word