Item: A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Molly Muldoon

This book is for anyone who wants to learn about asexuality, and for Ace people themselves, to validate their experiences.

Asexuality is often called The Invisible Orientation. You don't learn about it in school, you don't hear "ace" on television. So, it's kinda hard to be ace in a society so steeped in sex that no one knows you exist. Too many young people grow up believing that their lack of sexual desire means they are broken - so writer Molly Muldoon and cartoonist Will Hernandez, both in the ace community, are here to shed light on society's misconceptions of asexuality and what being ace is really like. This book is for anyone who wants to learn about asexuality, and for Ace people themselves, to validate their experiences. Asexuality is a real identity and it's time the world recognizes it. Here's to being invisible no more!

Molly Muldoon is a former scholar and bookseller, current librarian and writer, and always demisexual fanfiction enthusiast. Her works include The Cardboard Kingdom, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom, and the forthcoming The Cardboard Kingdom: Roar of the Beast. Although she's spent the past ten years globetrotting, she currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her ridiculous cat, Jamie McKitten.

Will Hernandez is a lifelong artist, and a first-time published comic creator/ co-author. Though a passionate storyteller and draftsman, Will is also on an endless journey of discovery, looking to learn more about the world and, in turn, themself. Through ups and downs, they've discovered themself to be on the asexual spectrum, growing ever more curious of the role sexuality and gender play in society, and fond of the culture it creates.

Molly Muldoon is a former scholar and bookseller, current librarian and writer, and always demisexual fanfiction enthusiast. Her works include The Cardboard Kingdom, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom, and the forthcoming The Cardboard Kingdom: Roar of the Beast. Although she's spent the past ten years globetrotting, she currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her ridiculous cat, Jamie McKitten.

Summary:

It's true that a lot of people don't understand what asexuality is. It's often called the invisible orientation – and with good reason. Even its definition is largely explained by an absence, which makes it harder to spot and understand.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality is a comfortable and approachable explanation and guide. It's perfect for anyone hoping to get a better understanding, regardless of the reason behind it.

Review:

A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality is a quick and easy guide to aro and ace life. It doesn't have all the answers – but it is a great starting point! (For further reading, I would highly recommend Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex).

The biggest takeaway from this book is that sexuality is a spectrum—a wide one, at that. So, learning all about it will take time. Likewise, there's no need to be upset with yourself if you don't seem to fit perfectly into one definition or another.

I found the artwork to be a tad bit plain. Then again, the important focus is the words our characters (guides) are saying, so it doesn't really matter!

Important Note: One of this book's final chapters discusses a hot topic within the community. This is what the "A" in LGBTQIA+ stands for. Some people define it as "Ace/aro/agender," while others like to call it "ally." Even more, I would like to say that it applies to both; it is highly contentious, so the book probably didn't do any favors by covering it (and clearly choosing a stance). I think the goal was to not make anyone feel alienated, but it probably missed the mark?

Highlights:
Nonfiction Graphic Novel
Approachable Explanation
LGBTQ+
Ace & Aro

Thanks to Limerence Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality

by Molly Muldoon

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Mar 11, 2024

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