Rebecca Burgess writes about their experiences growing up uninterested in crushes and dating, and being in distress about being abnormal and broken due to society's messages. They find out about asexuality and write about their struggles getting others to accept and understand them, as well as dealing with anxiety and OCD. Society's pressure about dating and having sex as markers of adulthood are dwelled on a lot in this book. Burgess tries dating, but they hate the physical contact that is expected. You can't help but to root for Burgess as they come to understand and accept themself and find a relationship that works for them. I loved the Good Omens shout-out in this book; Burgess says they see their own asexual relationship reflected in Aziraphale's and Crowley's. I think the intended audience for this book is young adult and older, based on the mentions of sex. The drawing style is a very 'childish' style and makes the book seem younger than it is. The page where it depicts various ace approaches to sex actually has illustrations of couples engaging in these activities, and with the cutesy cartoony drawing style it kind of takes you aback. Overall, this was a valuable book and I'm glad I read it. This is also a book I wish I'd had in high school.

Read the full review, including trigger warnings and representation list, at https://fileundermichellaneous.blogspot.com/2023/10/ace-week-books.html ( )

This is a solid memoir, one which I related to a lot in my own asexual experiences. I appreciated the information breaks at the end of each chapter. I felt they didn’t interrupt the story too much, and they could be helpful for someone without knowledge of asexuality. I also really appreciated the parts about Burgess’s OCD and anxiety. A quick read with solid information and a great message of self acceptance and understanding. ( )

A nice short, easy to read graphic novel detailing the author's experiences of growing up, discovering their identity, and going through a process of trial and error to find a lifestyle they're happy with. It also includes some short sections explaining concepts relating to asexuality and what other people on the asexual spectrum experience. A great resource for people looking to understand what asexuality is, see one person's experience of it, and learn some of the basic terminology and the common do's and don'ts for interacting with an asexual person. Resources for further reading on the topic are laid out opposite the final page, where it's basically impossible to miss them.

What a way to feel validated. Rebecca Burgess covers topics that don't only pertain to identifying as asexual, but also her OCD, her anxiety, and other concerns she had/faced growing up, making this memoir relevant even if you aren't under the ace umbrella (which, if you are or are exploring your identify, I highly recommend this book). I've always struggled with figuring out how to tell my friends and family about my identity, and now honestly I feel like I can just give them this book to read to provide insight into how my mind and feelings work. ( )

Delightful graphic memoir about growing up and being ace. Does a good job to describe how weird you feel when everyone and everything around you seems to be interested in sex, and you are not. ( )