kav (xreadingsolacex)'s Reviews > Let's Talk About Love

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my review of the novel.

I’m in need of a setting to give this novel 6 out of 5 stars because h o l y c r a p y’all, this novel changed my life.

LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE is a story about a biromantic asexual black woman, Alice, in college, living with her two best friends who are dating, and working at a library where she meets Takumi, who changed her life forever.

I requested this ARC as a biromantic asexual reviewer because I have never seen those words in any form of media before. N e v e r. When I heard that not only was a book going to be published with a biroace main character, but the main is a queer woman of color, I was sold.

And for good reason.

Let’s start with the representation. LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE gets representation right.

Racial microaggressions are constantly addressed in this novel, primarily through Alice and as well as briefly through Takumi, who is Japanese. As a non-black person of color, I can’t speak firsthand on the representation, but I am aware that the author herself is black making that aspect ownvoices and as a person of color I can attest to some truth to it from my experience. Furthermore, this novel also discusses (though not in these exact words and briefly), how black people have to work twice as hard to get half as far as people with more privilege and that is so true and important to discuss.

Then we can discuss how this novel also combats gross sexism. Whereas I do not want to go in-depth as to not spoil anyone, let’s just say there’s a party scene with a drunk male that completely brings to light a HUGE issue in our society.

Finally, this novel gets the queer rep right. I heard that the original manuscript had some issues with the ace rep, but I can say with full confidence that this book had none of those issues with the ace rep and I would even go as far as arguing that it is the best representation I’ve seen. Now I can only speak from my own personal experiences, but Alice often discusses her fears as an alloromantic asexual when it comes to dating which I can relate to so much. There is a specific chapter towards the beginning of this novel where Alice talks in-depth about her struggles with asexuality, including the fears of being alloromantic and asexual as well as the possible reactions from people and the fact that it’s ridiculous that she needs to “come out” because the default believe is that she is heterosexual.

Now I talk in-depth about the representation, but there is so much more to this novel.

Can I just take a moment to note how unbelievably well the characters and relationships are developed?

Though I would it’s arguable that their personalities may fall a slight bit into certain classic contemporary stereotypes, there is so much more to them. I loved how you could tell each character had their own character and they had their own individuality.

The relationships are developed just as well, if not better. During an emotional encounter between Alice and her best friend, Feenie, I started crying. I started crying because of how realistic this relationship, and all others in this novel, were. And these characters also admit they have flaws. They know they’re not perfect and that is so important.

I would say that the writing of this novel is a little basic, but I think that’s understandable as it’s a debut. I think the author was really trying to get into a teenager’s head and whereas she did succeed on that front, the writing had a little less “oomph” as a result.

The journey Alice goes through during this novel is remarkable. The person she is at the end is not the same as the person she starts out as and her story is important. It highlights real aspects of so many other teens and young adults out there.

I can’t even express to you all what it felt like to see the words “biromantic asexual” in an actual book. I don’t have the ability to express what representation like that for the first time ever means. So you’ll have to see it for yourself by reading the novel.

Other notes:
• this novel does confront problematic rhetoric as stated in the representation section, so be aware of that
• this novel highlights the fact that it is okay to want to be a stay-at-home mom
• um...read the book when it comes out in January