2018 has been an amazing year for ace-spectrum characters in young adult fiction. We've gotten ace stories in romance, fantasy, sci-fi, historical, mystery, and every genre in between. There has been romantic ace rep, aromantic ace rep, and demisexual rep. We've had more stories by ownvoices ace authors than ever before and they are telling stories that are so, so important to ace readers.
Unfortunately, even though asexual representation is getting much more common, it is still sometimes hard to find out which books feature asexual characters. Reviewers often forget to mention ace rep in their reviews and too often these books fly under the radar. To combat this, I've complied a list of every ace-spectrum character I could find in 2018 young adult fiction. This includes main characters, love interests, and side characters. I've also included links to reviews by ace-spectrum reviewers so that you can read their thoughts about each of these books.
Please be aware that the fact that I included a book in this list does not mean the representation is good. A few of the books have very mixed or negative reviews so I urge you to check those out before you read them yourself if you are worried about poor representation. I included as many links to reviews by ace-spectrum readers as I could find to help you gauge which books are beneficial and which are harmful to ace readers.
Don't forget to check out the end of the post to enter to win any YA book featuring an asexual character!
Unfortunately, even though asexual representation is getting much more common, it is still sometimes hard to find out which books feature asexual characters. Reviewers often forget to mention ace rep in their reviews and too often these books fly under the radar. To combat this, I've complied a list of every ace-spectrum character I could find in 2018 young adult fiction. This includes main characters, love interests, and side characters. I've also included links to reviews by ace-spectrum reviewers so that you can read their thoughts about each of these books.
Please be aware that the fact that I included a book in this list does not mean the representation is good. A few of the books have very mixed or negative reviews so I urge you to check those out before you read them yourself if you are worried about poor representation. I included as many links to reviews by ace-spectrum readers as I could find to help you gauge which books are beneficial and which are harmful to ace readers.
Don't forget to check out the end of the post to enter to win any YA book featuring an asexual character!
Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Contemporary Romance
Alice, the main character, is asexual and biromantic.
Read LaRonda's review, Ben's review, Dorka's review, my review, and watch Kav's video review
Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skrutskie
Science Fiction
Aisha, the main character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Sarah's review, Ceillie's review, and Laura's review
That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger
Contemporary
Lee, the main character, is asexual.
Read Jessie's review
Contemporary Romance
Alice, the main character, is asexual and biromantic.
Read LaRonda's review, Ben's review, Dorka's review, my review, and watch Kav's video review
Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skrutskie
Science Fiction
Aisha, the main character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Sarah's review, Ceillie's review, and Laura's review
That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger
Contemporary
Lee, the main character, is asexual.
Read Jessie's review
Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy
Contemporary Romance
Iris, the main character, is demisexual and heteroromantic.
Read Alex's mini-review
Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Contemporary
Rumi, the main character, is questioning asexual and aromantic identities.
Read Tay's review, LaRonda's review, and Harker's review
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Historical Fiction / Companion Novel
Felicity, the main character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Elise's review, Crystal's review, and Harker's review
Contemporary Romance
Iris, the main character, is demisexual and heteroromantic.
Read Alex's mini-review
Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Contemporary
Rumi, the main character, is questioning asexual and aromantic identities.
Read Tay's review, LaRonda's review, and Harker's review
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Historical Fiction / Companion Novel
Felicity, the main character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Elise's review, Crystal's review, and Harker's review
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
Fantasy
Alys, one of the lead characters, is asexual.
Read Meaghan's review, Claudie's Review, and Bee's Review
The Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
Historical Fantasy
Wolf, one of the lead characters, is demisexual and homoromantic.
Read Crystal's review, Jessie's review, and my review
On a Summer Night by Gabriel D. Vidrine
Contemporary Romance
Ella, the main character's best friend, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Gretal's review
Fantasy
Alys, one of the lead characters, is asexual.
Read Meaghan's review, Claudie's Review, and Bee's Review
The Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
Historical Fantasy
Wolf, one of the lead characters, is demisexual and homoromantic.
Read Crystal's review, Jessie's review, and my review
On a Summer Night by Gabriel D. Vidrine
Contemporary Romance
Ella, the main character's best friend, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Gretal's review
Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
Mystery
Corey, the main character, is asexual.
Read Katherine's review, Jessie's review, and Harker's review
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Fantasy Thriller
Zoey, one of the lead characters, is asexual.
Read Tay's review, LaRonda's review, Meaghan's review, and Lauren's review
One Giant Leap by Heather Kaczynski
Science Fiction / Sequel
Cassandra, the main character, is asexual.
Read Laura's review and Lia's review of the first book in the series
Mystery
Corey, the main character, is asexual.
Read Katherine's review, Jessie's review, and Harker's review
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Fantasy Thriller
Zoey, one of the lead characters, is asexual.
Read Tay's review, LaRonda's review, Meaghan's review, and Lauren's review
One Giant Leap by Heather Kaczynski
Science Fiction / Sequel
Cassandra, the main character, is asexual.
Read Laura's review and Lia's review of the first book in the series
Secondhand Origin Stories by Lee Blauersouth
Science Fiction
Isaac, one of the lead character, is asexual and heteroromantic.
Read LaRonda's review and Ceillie's review
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn
Fantasy
Dejean, one of the lead character, is asexual.
Read Emma's review
New World by Lyssa Chiavari
Science Fiction / Sequel
Isaak, one of the lead characters, is demisexual and Nadin, another lead character, is asexual.
Read Claudie's review and Sarah's review of the first book in the series
Science Fiction
Isaac, one of the lead character, is asexual and heteroromantic.
Read LaRonda's review and Ceillie's review
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn
Fantasy
Dejean, one of the lead character, is asexual.
Read Emma's review
New World by Lyssa Chiavari
Science Fiction / Sequel
Isaak, one of the lead characters, is demisexual and Nadin, another lead character, is asexual.
Read Claudie's review and Sarah's review of the first book in the series
Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno
Modern Fantasy
Vira, a side character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Jessie's review and Alex's mini-review
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Historical Fantasy
Katherine, an important side character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read LaRonda's review and Sarah's review
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by Nathan Burgoine
Modern Fantasy
Alec, the main character's best friend, is asexual.
Read Alex's review
Modern Fantasy
Vira, a side character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read Jessie's review and Alex's mini-review
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Historical Fantasy
Katherine, an important side character, is asexual and aromantic.
Read LaRonda's review and Sarah's review
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by Nathan Burgoine
Modern Fantasy
Alec, the main character's best friend, is asexual.
Read Alex's review
The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shuan David Hutchinson
Modern Fantasy
Fadil, the main character's best friend, is questioning ace-spectrum.
Read Elise's review and Lia's review
Puddin' by Julie Murphy
Contemporary / Companion Novel
Amanda, the main character's best friend, is asexual.
Read Becca's review and Heather's review
Black Wings Beating by Alex London
Fantasy
Kylee, one of the lead characters, is often read as asexual and/or aromantic although it is not confirmed in the text.
Modern Fantasy
Fadil, the main character's best friend, is questioning ace-spectrum.
Read Elise's review and Lia's review
Puddin' by Julie Murphy
Contemporary / Companion Novel
Amanda, the main character's best friend, is asexual.
Read Becca's review and Heather's review
Black Wings Beating by Alex London
Fantasy
Kylee, one of the lead characters, is often read as asexual and/or aromantic although it is not confirmed in the text.
Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
Contemporary
Kaisha, one of the side characters, is asexual and biromantic.
Read Jessie's review, Angel's review, and Kait's review
What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Contemporary Romance
Juliet, one of the side characters, is asexual and biromantic.
Read LaRonda's review, Harker's review, and Elise's review
All Out edited by Saundra Mitchell
Historical Fiction / Anthology
Nilah Magruder's story "And They Don’t Kiss at the End" features an asexual main character.
Read Kav's review, Elise's review, and Heather's Review
Contemporary
Kaisha, one of the side characters, is asexual and biromantic.
Read Jessie's review, Angel's review, and Kait's review
What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Contemporary Romance
Juliet, one of the side characters, is asexual and biromantic.
Read LaRonda's review, Harker's review, and Elise's review
All Out edited by Saundra Mitchell
Historical Fiction / Anthology
Nilah Magruder's story "And They Don’t Kiss at the End" features an asexual main character.
Read Kav's review, Elise's review, and Heather's Review
Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
Science Fiction
Ana, the main character, has been confirmed as being on the asexual spectrum by the author even though it is not specified in the text.
Read Jessie's review, Elise's review, and Alex's mini-review
Miles Away From You by A.B. Rutledge
Contemporary
Miles, the main character, is demisexual and pansexual.
Read Amy's review
Science Fiction
Ana, the main character, has been confirmed as being on the asexual spectrum by the author even though it is not specified in the text.
Read Jessie's review, Elise's review, and Alex's mini-review
Miles Away From You by A.B. Rutledge
Contemporary
Miles, the main character, is demisexual and pansexual.
Read Amy's review
I hope this list helped you find some great reads and awesome representation! I have loved so many of the ace books that came out this year and I can't wait to catch up on more of these releases. If I missed any asexual YA characters from this year, please let me know here or on twitter! Also, let me know below what your favorite asexual read or character is.
Don't forget to enter to win your choice of any YA book featuring an ace-spectrum character!
Don't forget to enter to win your choice of any YA book featuring an ace-spectrum character!
Anyone with a mailing address in a country that is eligible for free shipping from Book Depository is eligible to win. The book chosen must cost $20 or less. Anyone under the age of 18 should have their parents permission to give me their mailing address if they win.