This Pride Month, we’re celebrating and amplifying the voices of folks across the LGBTQIA+ community. Among these identities is asexuality, in which one experiences little to no sexual attraction or desire (in contrast to allosexuals, who do). Those on the asexuality (often shortened to “ace”) spectrum can face societal stigma and misconceptions regarding their identities and relationships. It’s more important than ever that we lean into authentic storytelling to best understand and uplift the realities and complexities of being asexual in an allonormative world. This collection centers such voices, amplifying characters and creators who identity as asexual and stories about the lived experience of folks on the ace spectrum.
Up first is an insightful deep dive into asexuality. In this audiobook narrated by the award-winning Natalie Naudus, journalist Angela Chen examines sexual desire, sex itself, and society through the lens of asexuality. Angela Chen herself is asexual, and employs her personal perspective and her journalistic eye to craft this examination of how our culture responds to asexuality.
Aces Wild is a fresh, fun listen that follows an online group of asexual friends who decide to infiltrate a high-stakes gambling club. Jack's life is falling apart. His mom has been arrested for ties to organized crime, but Jack knows someone set up his mom—and he needs help from his friends if he wants to get to the bottom of it. Talented video game and animation voice actor Robbie Daymond brings this fun, fast-paced story to life.
Not all ace stories are aromantic; in fact, romance can and often does appeal to many asexual people. One such romance unfolds in this sweet listen written by ace author Sarah Whalen featuring top-notch narration from Ashley Clements. Spencer is doing great in her first semester at Ravens College. She even decides to try online dating, but she doesn't understand her own revulsion toward sex until she finds the word "asexual." Still, she likes Nick. He seems to like her, and they're spending more and more time together. But Nick has concerns, and the two will have to work hard to navigate them together.
This speculative fiction tale from an Indigenous author blends magic and mystery with a great asexual lead character brought to life with tender narration from Diné poet and performer Kinsale Hueston. Elatsoe lives in the small town of Willowbee, where her favorite cousin has been murdered. Now, it's up to Elatsoe to use her wits and her ability to raise the ghosts of dead animals to find her cousin's killer. But Willowbee won't give it up easily, and everyone there seems determined to keep their darkest secrets hidden.
T.J. Klune is a massive author in the queer literary space. In one of his earlier works, How to Be a Normal Person, Klune explores asexual identity. The story follows Gustavo “Gus” Tiberius, who doesn’t quit fit in in his small town. He has a pet ferret, owns a video rental store that nobody visits, and doesn't date. That is, until one day, when Casey moves to town. Casey is asexual, he works as a barista, and before long, he's into Gus. And to Gus's surprise, he feels the same way. Together, the new couple explores their shared asexuality and the ups-and-downs of burgeoning young romance.
Another great nonfiction listen about asexuality, The Invisible Orientation features excellent narration from Reay Kaplan. Julie Sondra Decker seeks to bring ace identity into the light, helping others understand that asexuality is a sexual orientation well-deserving of its place in the LGBTQIA+ family. Asexual people are often ostracized, their identity conflated with mental health struggles, instead of being embraced, respected, and loved for who they are. Decker aims to help fix that through her brilliant audiobook.
This read brings a fresh and romantic take on the old haunted house story and features a dynamic asexual protagonist, delightfully voiced by actress Zenzi Williams. Lucky has always had an affinity for the supernatural—even if no one has ever taken her seriously. When a big-budget movie runs into problems with a haunted house, Lucky sees an opportunity to make her reputation. She arrives at the house, scheming her way in, and meeting Maverick. Their chemistry is real, but as their budding romance starts to take hold, the old house gets jealous. It wants her undivided attention, and everything is about to get scarier before it gets better.
From the author of Heartstopper comes this fresh YA novel about teenager Georgia. Throughout high school, she doesn't understand why she's different. Dating plus sex equals love, right? So why doesn't she want to do either? Once Georgia starts college, she comes into her own, understanding that she's asexual and aromantic. What's more—she's not alone, but part of the LGBTQIA+ family. This audiobook is an excellent, inclusive coming-of-age story. Narrators Billie Fulford-Brown, Elizabeth Schenk, and Imogen Church bring Georgia's journey to life
No exploration of identity can be complete without being fully intersectional. Heteronormativity, capitalism, and patriarchy all play a role in diminishing asexual people. And for Black ace people, white supremacy and anti-Blackness compound oppression. In this listen, Sherronda J. Brown examines how asexual people are often viewed as queer, but not queer enough. Brown's strong authorial voice is captured effortlessly by podcaster and narrator Yu-Li Alice Shen.
This audiobook is specifically tailored to help asexual people navigate an allosexual world. The cultures of the world have been constructed around pairing off just to live a happy and "normal" life. But for asexual people, there are many more paths to happiness than allosexual expectations provide. Writer and narrator duo Sarah Costello and Kayla Kaszyca's book shows just how that can work. For more insights, don't miss their podcast of the same name.
