bfdbookblog's review against another edition
3.0
This is going to be more of a thought dump than a review probably but it’s hard to collect my thoughts in a way that makes sense. It's getting a rating in the middle since I did have some issues with the story but overall I liked it. I've started moving away from the younger books - kids in high school or college - because of my age. Because there was really no sex in the story, that helped me get through it.
First, I’m going to get the disclaimers out of the way.
1. I’m heterosexual.
2. I don’t have any first or second hand direct knowledge of or experience with the ace spectrum.
3. I don’t read manga or watch anime and my knowledge of Japanese culture is limited at best.
4. I am 100% unapologetically honest with my reviews. I NEVER read reviews of books before reading the book for two reasons 1) I don’t want to have a bias going into the book and 2) I find that not everyone is completely honest in their reviews so I usually don’t agree with the reviews I’ve read.
I will also tell you that I struggled with reading this and when given the opportunity to switch to the audiobook, I took it and found myself unable to finish quickly enough. I am a VERY picky audiobook listener…and can tell you that there is ONE series I would rather listen to than read and I’m a fan of maybe 3 vocal performers and can possibly name another 3 if pressed. The vocal performance was SPOT ON and he was perfect as the characters of this book. It helped with the pronunciation of the Japanese words and made the flow of the story smoother for me. It’s rare that I prefer audio over reading but in this case I did.
I didn’t find their fetish for Japanese culture off-putting…even considering there are no Japanese characters in the story. I put it in the same box with all other fetishes – ‘to each his own’ and whatever works for you has no effect on my opinion of the story unless it’s something I just cannot read about. Some of it was boring and I didn’t care about it but I found listening to the book made it easier to get past.
As for the representation of the spectrum characters, I can’t tell you if it was offensive or harmful as I don’t know much about those orientations. I can’t put myself in their shoes. Yes, it was fairy-tale like and unusual for someone not on the spectrum – Xander – to quickly know how to be in a relationship with someone on the spectrum – Skylar – but this is fiction and for me it worked. I thought they were great together and I loved how they balanced each other. They were able to bring out the best in each other and get the other to be comfortable being and with themselves.
There are a lot of things in this story that just worked out perfectly for the characters and the story itself. Again, I didn’t find this off-putting as a lot of the books I read are usually ‘too good to be true’ or happen perfectly to end in everyone being happy. That’s the point of fiction – it ain’t real. I was really surprised at the turn of the story. The story starts with the reader believing Xander is the center of the story and the character that will go through the most change. It's actually Skylar with most of the struggles and going through the most change in the story. Xander is actually pretty well-adjusted in his antisocial grumpiness.
As I stated in my reviews of this author’s Roosevelt series books, she is preachy to the point of soapboxy about events/themes in her books. None of that bothered me enough to give this book or those books a bad rating even though I skimmed through a lot of it (that was hard to do with this book once I switched to audio).
This book isn’t for everyone any way so I would read all the reviews and make a decision on whether or not to read it after doing that.
First, I’m going to get the disclaimers out of the way.
1. I’m heterosexual.
2. I don’t have any first or second hand direct knowledge of or experience with the ace spectrum.
3. I don’t read manga or watch anime and my knowledge of Japanese culture is limited at best.
4. I am 100% unapologetically honest with my reviews. I NEVER read reviews of books before reading the book for two reasons 1) I don’t want to have a bias going into the book and 2) I find that not everyone is completely honest in their reviews so I usually don’t agree with the reviews I’ve read.
I will also tell you that I struggled with reading this and when given the opportunity to switch to the audiobook, I took it and found myself unable to finish quickly enough. I am a VERY picky audiobook listener…and can tell you that there is ONE series I would rather listen to than read and I’m a fan of maybe 3 vocal performers and can possibly name another 3 if pressed. The vocal performance was SPOT ON and he was perfect as the characters of this book. It helped with the pronunciation of the Japanese words and made the flow of the story smoother for me. It’s rare that I prefer audio over reading but in this case I did.
I didn’t find their fetish for Japanese culture off-putting…even considering there are no Japanese characters in the story. I put it in the same box with all other fetishes – ‘to each his own’ and whatever works for you has no effect on my opinion of the story unless it’s something I just cannot read about. Some of it was boring and I didn’t care about it but I found listening to the book made it easier to get past.
As for the representation of the spectrum characters, I can’t tell you if it was offensive or harmful as I don’t know much about those orientations. I can’t put myself in their shoes. Yes, it was fairy-tale like and unusual for someone not on the spectrum – Xander – to quickly know how to be in a relationship with someone on the spectrum – Skylar – but this is fiction and for me it worked. I thought they were great together and I loved how they balanced each other. They were able to bring out the best in each other and get the other to be comfortable being and with themselves.
There are a lot of things in this story that just worked out perfectly for the characters and the story itself. Again, I didn’t find this off-putting as a lot of the books I read are usually ‘too good to be true’ or happen perfectly to end in everyone being happy. That’s the point of fiction – it ain’t real. I was really surprised at the turn of the story. The story starts with the reader believing Xander is the center of the story and the character that will go through the most change. It's actually Skylar with most of the struggles and going through the most change in the story. Xander is actually pretty well-adjusted in his antisocial grumpiness.
As I stated in my reviews of this author’s Roosevelt series books, she is preachy to the point of soapboxy about events/themes in her books. None of that bothered me enough to give this book or those books a bad rating even though I skimmed through a lot of it (that was hard to do with this book once I switched to audio).
This book isn’t for everyone any way so I would read all the reviews and make a decision on whether or not to read it after doing that.
susanmacnicol's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. Breathtaking. More than five stars.
I think my title says it all. Loved learning about Japanese culture. Adored Skylar and Xander. Such a beautiful tale.
I think my title says it all. Loved learning about Japanese culture. Adored Skylar and Xander. Such a beautiful tale.
risinike's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book, it was fresh with a flow that sucked the reader in. It was in my honest opinion So cute. Antisocial by Cullinan is a clutter of feels, angst and fanboying.
Add in some cute MCs and a plot that includes artistic philosophy, equality issues and learning to be true to who you are and you've got one entrancing read.
Xander and Skylar are incredibly real, MCs who deal with issues that range from family relationships to identity crises all while trying to stay true to who they really are.
Antisocial's inter-cultural elements were well researched down to the tiniest detail.
And they were slotted in naturally which lent incredible authenticity to the book.
I really loved antisocial and if I have any complaints it's that we never really saw a real relationship between Skylar and his mother. I'd have loved to see more of that but it was an entrancing read that I'd recommend to anyone.
I got Antisocial from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Cullinan and her publishers for giving me the chance to read such a great novel.
Add in some cute MCs and a plot that includes artistic philosophy, equality issues and learning to be true to who you are and you've got one entrancing read.
Xander and Skylar are incredibly real, MCs who deal with issues that range from family relationships to identity crises all while trying to stay true to who they really are.
Antisocial's inter-cultural elements were well researched down to the tiniest detail.
And they were slotted in naturally which lent incredible authenticity to the book.
I really loved antisocial and if I have any complaints it's that we never really saw a real relationship between Skylar and his mother. I'd have loved to see more of that but it was an entrancing read that I'd recommend to anyone.
I got Antisocial from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Cullinan and her publishers for giving me the chance to read such a great novel.
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
heads up: got this free arc from netgalley
okay starting off with the bad and then moving on to the 'omg i loved aspects of this book lemme tell you why'
- this sure is a book about a whole lotta people interested in japanese culture that features no japanese people...
(like it's acknowledged? and i could def see it happening in real life seeing as i work for a university that has way more chinese art and pottery and displays then you'd expect in a small midwestern town and has a chinese language program because one of the alumni that paid for several buildings LOVED china and we def don't have reams of chinese students here but still...)
- the characters sometimes talk like a john green novel. tbf they have a better excuse for it since they're at least in their twenties rather than being ridiculously articulate verbose teenagers
moving to the positive! OH MY GOD HEIDI CULLINAN IS AMAZING AT WRITING PEOPLE DISCOVERING THEIR SEXUALITY AND NAVIGATING INTIMACY TO FIND WHAT WORKS FOR THEM EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL SCRIPTS OF WHAT SEX AND ROMANCE SHOULD BE LIKE I WAS SO INTO IT I WAS READING THIS AT LIKE 3 IN THE MORNING LIKE WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLLL
3.5 stars
okay starting off with the bad and then moving on to the 'omg i loved aspects of this book lemme tell you why'
- this sure is a book about a whole lotta people interested in japanese culture that features no japanese people...
(like it's acknowledged? and i could def see it happening in real life seeing as i work for a university that has way more chinese art and pottery and displays then you'd expect in a small midwestern town and has a chinese language program because one of the alumni that paid for several buildings LOVED china and we def don't have reams of chinese students here but still...)
- the characters sometimes talk like a john green novel. tbf they have a better excuse for it since they're at least in their twenties rather than being ridiculously articulate verbose teenagers
Spoiler
- yo that marriage proposal came outta NOWHEREmoving to the positive! OH MY GOD HEIDI CULLINAN IS AMAZING AT WRITING PEOPLE DISCOVERING THEIR SEXUALITY AND NAVIGATING INTIMACY TO FIND WHAT WORKS FOR THEM EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL SCRIPTS OF WHAT SEX AND ROMANCE SHOULD BE LIKE I WAS SO INTO IT I WAS READING THIS AT LIKE 3 IN THE MORNING LIKE WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLLL
3.5 stars
heresthepencil's review against another edition
I received a galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
** I'm still grossed out a year later wow.
I saw the cover that makes the guys look like manga characters & I ignored that sign. I should have known better. But I wanted to give this book a benefit of a doubt because there were so many positive reviews! So many people loved the romance! So I thought "hey, maybe that cover will make sense in the end". It doesn’t. It only gets worse from there.
It gets so bad I actually stopped reading at 65% because I just couldn’t take it anymore.
I probably would be able to overlook all the other flaws I found in this one, if it wasn’t for its biggest issue - the fetishisation of Japanese culture. The main point of this book, the thing that it couldn’t exist without at all, are indeed the references to Japanese culture. It’s everywhere: in the setting, in the way the characters interact, in the plotlines. It’s rooted in the book so deeply, it would fall apart without it.
So this is a story about students at a made-up college but the catch is - it’s a college founded by a Japanese culture "admirers". The town’s name is fictional - Takaketo - and don’t quote me on this but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t actually mean anything. It just vaguely sounds Japanese. There are hidden shrines on campus! The uni publishes a manga that our main character draws! (A manga drawn by an American, in America… So not actually a manga at all.) Both Xander & Skylar (the main characters) love manga and anime and have some interest in Japanese culture, but it’s extremely superficial.
And another kicker: there are no Japanese characters! The only one was a late husband of Xander’s landlady and she, an American, is the one "teaching" about the culture she so clearly knows everything about.
Listen, I say this from a perspective of a white woman who is interested in Japan, took classes on some aspects of its culture and history at uni, studied Japanese for a few years - and even from where I’m standing, this is just gross. They pick and choose from the culture as it pleases them. Xander & Skylar randomly speak Japanese in times of distress or as some kind of romantic gesture, but keep in mind: only Xander ever took any Japanese lessons. And they don’t have whole conversation in another language, no, they just tuck in a word or two at the end of their very English sentences. Or just use Japanese to say "I’m sorry" because what? It’s more meaningful that way? They also think of their relationship in terms of anime a lot, which is just honestly weird. It’s straight up fetishisation and even as someone with very little ties to Japan, it made me uncomfortable.
Listen, you wanna write a book appreciating Japanese culture? Make your main characters Japanese, set the whole thing in Japan, find literally any reason other than "it’s kinda cute". But making your character say things like "Arakawa-sensei"? Not the way. God, even if this was a Japanese book, sensei would be translated into English! Another country’s culture is not a prop to make your story more interesting! There are teens on the internet, first discovering anime, who behave this way & I can excuse them, based on their age, but an adult, a published author? A big fat no from me.
There’s also the fact of asexuality being one of the most important themes of the book. One of our main characters is a gray ace and the book is pretty much his journey to become comfortable with himself. It ticked me the wrong way a lot of the time, but personally I’m nowhere on the spectrum, so I’d rather not give opinions. There are a few reviews by actual members of the community so check those out instead!
What I will say though is that Xander hears this voice in his head. A voice that tells him how to handle Skylar, how to act around him and it’s always the opposite of what his desires and instinct tell him. Still, his friend Zelda actually calls this voice an instinct. What I would call it is some fucked up "ace superpower". Because of course Xander can’t be anything less than the knight in shining armor, accepting Skylar as he is, demanding nothing & basically being a gift from heaven. The only one on earth.
You worry that both main characters are white? Don’t fret! There is a chronically ill Latina who is in maybe 3 scenes & a poor Black guy who chose this uni because he saw Obama speak at campus. Two whole poc that are basically just names and a lousy story. Now doesn’t that make you feel better about the representation!
Onto the less important stuff!! If this was a fic, I wouldn’t have read more than a few paragraphs. You know how with fics you just know when the writing isn’t right for you? Well this was a case of that, but I kept thinking it’s a book so slightly different rules apply, maybe it will get better over time. It didn’t. The writing is just… not very good. All the descriptions are way too detailed - like, come on! I really don’t need to know he washed his bowl after eating instant ramen! - and they’re not written interestingly enough, aren’t funny or charming, or surprising enough that you can overlook this.
And it doesn’t get better with dialogues. If anything, it only get worse. Honestly, it feels like the author has never actually met a young person. They all speak in whole speeches and use words and phrases like "congruent" or "vastly different", or "wet dream". I mean. Seriously? They don’t act like 21-year-olds either. For the love of god, one of them admits he can’t look up manga translations online without getting a virus. And has a phone with a stylus! That he actually uses! Which brings me right to my next point.
Are you sure this book is set in 2017? Because there are references to the last presidential elections & we can’t draw any other conclusion. But then we have a smartphone with a stylus. And another character’s flip phone? Like where would he even get one?! Xander is also apparently named after Buffy’s Xander but he’s 21 years old and Buffy started airing in March of 1997 so unless this is set in the future… They also mention DeviantART which I’m pretty sure no one has used since like 2007 but okay. How hard is it to make some proper research?
This book is praised as a romance and yeah, those parts of the story are pretty okay-ish. The two main characters are well developed and I would actually really like them in a different book. One that isn’t gross and doesn’t make me wanna punch people.
** I'm still grossed out a year later wow.
I saw the cover that makes the guys look like manga characters & I ignored that sign. I should have known better. But I wanted to give this book a benefit of a doubt because there were so many positive reviews! So many people loved the romance! So I thought "hey, maybe that cover will make sense in the end". It doesn’t. It only gets worse from there.
It gets so bad I actually stopped reading at 65% because I just couldn’t take it anymore.
I probably would be able to overlook all the other flaws I found in this one, if it wasn’t for its biggest issue - the fetishisation of Japanese culture. The main point of this book, the thing that it couldn’t exist without at all, are indeed the references to Japanese culture. It’s everywhere: in the setting, in the way the characters interact, in the plotlines. It’s rooted in the book so deeply, it would fall apart without it.
So this is a story about students at a made-up college but the catch is - it’s a college founded by a Japanese culture "admirers". The town’s name is fictional - Takaketo - and don’t quote me on this but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t actually mean anything. It just vaguely sounds Japanese. There are hidden shrines on campus! The uni publishes a manga that our main character draws! (A manga drawn by an American, in America… So not actually a manga at all.) Both Xander & Skylar (the main characters) love manga and anime and have some interest in Japanese culture, but it’s extremely superficial.
And another kicker: there are no Japanese characters! The only one was a late husband of Xander’s landlady and she, an American, is the one "teaching" about the culture she so clearly knows everything about.
Listen, I say this from a perspective of a white woman who is interested in Japan, took classes on some aspects of its culture and history at uni, studied Japanese for a few years - and even from where I’m standing, this is just gross. They pick and choose from the culture as it pleases them. Xander & Skylar randomly speak Japanese in times of distress or as some kind of romantic gesture, but keep in mind: only Xander ever took any Japanese lessons. And they don’t have whole conversation in another language, no, they just tuck in a word or two at the end of their very English sentences. Or just use Japanese to say "I’m sorry" because what? It’s more meaningful that way? They also think of their relationship in terms of anime a lot, which is just honestly weird. It’s straight up fetishisation and even as someone with very little ties to Japan, it made me uncomfortable.
Listen, you wanna write a book appreciating Japanese culture? Make your main characters Japanese, set the whole thing in Japan, find literally any reason other than "it’s kinda cute". But making your character say things like "Arakawa-sensei"? Not the way. God, even if this was a Japanese book, sensei would be translated into English! Another country’s culture is not a prop to make your story more interesting! There are teens on the internet, first discovering anime, who behave this way & I can excuse them, based on their age, but an adult, a published author? A big fat no from me.
There’s also the fact of asexuality being one of the most important themes of the book. One of our main characters is a gray ace and the book is pretty much his journey to become comfortable with himself. It ticked me the wrong way a lot of the time, but personally I’m nowhere on the spectrum, so I’d rather not give opinions. There are a few reviews by actual members of the community so check those out instead!
What I will say though is that Xander hears this voice in his head. A voice that tells him how to handle Skylar, how to act around him and it’s always the opposite of what his desires and instinct tell him. Still, his friend Zelda actually calls this voice an instinct. What I would call it is some fucked up "ace superpower". Because of course Xander can’t be anything less than the knight in shining armor, accepting Skylar as he is, demanding nothing & basically being a gift from heaven. The only one on earth.
You worry that both main characters are white? Don’t fret! There is a chronically ill Latina who is in maybe 3 scenes & a poor Black guy who chose this uni because he saw Obama speak at campus. Two whole poc that are basically just names and a lousy story. Now doesn’t that make you feel better about the representation!
Onto the less important stuff!! If this was a fic, I wouldn’t have read more than a few paragraphs. You know how with fics you just know when the writing isn’t right for you? Well this was a case of that, but I kept thinking it’s a book so slightly different rules apply, maybe it will get better over time. It didn’t. The writing is just… not very good. All the descriptions are way too detailed - like, come on! I really don’t need to know he washed his bowl after eating instant ramen! - and they’re not written interestingly enough, aren’t funny or charming, or surprising enough that you can overlook this.
And it doesn’t get better with dialogues. If anything, it only get worse. Honestly, it feels like the author has never actually met a young person. They all speak in whole speeches and use words and phrases like "congruent" or "vastly different", or "wet dream". I mean. Seriously? They don’t act like 21-year-olds either. For the love of god, one of them admits he can’t look up manga translations online without getting a virus. And has a phone with a stylus! That he actually uses! Which brings me right to my next point.
Are you sure this book is set in 2017? Because there are references to the last presidential elections & we can’t draw any other conclusion. But then we have a smartphone with a stylus. And another character’s flip phone? Like where would he even get one?! Xander is also apparently named after Buffy’s Xander but he’s 21 years old and Buffy started airing in March of 1997 so unless this is set in the future… They also mention DeviantART which I’m pretty sure no one has used since like 2007 but okay. How hard is it to make some proper research?
This book is praised as a romance and yeah, those parts of the story are pretty okay-ish. The two main characters are well developed and I would actually really like them in a different book. One that isn’t gross and doesn’t make me wanna punch people.
tinkcourtney's review against another edition
5.0
Quietly sensual
This is a definite change of pace after reading Nowhere Ranch and Dirty Laundry by the same author, but the writing is just as excellent regardless of the lack of kinky smexy times. (Also, I love the ways the characters find to be intimate with each other that has nothing to do with traditional s3x).
What really struck me, though, is how Skylar seems to be the one who has it all at the beginning, and it seems natural to want him to take grouchy Xander under his wing and make him shine. And then, gradually, you see that Skylar is the one who’s desperately unhappy and Xander helps transform him. It’s meaningful on a lot of levels and just a beautiful story overall.
This is a definite change of pace after reading Nowhere Ranch and Dirty Laundry by the same author, but the writing is just as excellent regardless of the lack of kinky smexy times. (Also, I love the ways the characters find to be intimate with each other that has nothing to do with traditional s3x).
What really struck me, though, is how Skylar seems to be the one who has it all at the beginning, and it seems natural to want him to take grouchy Xander under his wing and make him shine. And then, gradually, you see that Skylar is the one who’s desperately unhappy and Xander helps transform him. It’s meaningful on a lot of levels and just a beautiful story overall.
aamna_theinkslinger's review against another edition
5.0
Antisocial was a book that I was actively searching for, to complete a prompt for Book Riot's Read Harder 2022. I'm so glad I found this because I have a feeling that it is going to be one of my best reads this year.
The cover was the first thing that caught my attention. It was a gorgeous mix is purple and pastels, plus the anime-like artwork that I am a sucker for.
It's about two boys in college who run in very different circles and couldn't have been more unlikely friends, but as fate would have it, they meet and are instantly drawn to each other.
Xander is a shy, socially inept artist whose love language is painting. And then there is Skylar, who is a rich, charming, social butterfly suffocating under his father's expectations. Skylar approaches Xander for tuition classes, and in exchange takes Xander on his little project to turn him into a more social person.
The way it talks about identity, sexuality, and the stigmas around it- it's not merely careful and meaningful, but it's beautiful. It doesn't be vague or dance around the issue. It goes in-depth with it and explores very naturally.
Some of the scenes just about made me cry and made my heart swell with love. It ties the intimacy between two people with art, and gives it so much meaning, especially in context with how many ways there are to express yourself and show your love.
I can just keep going on and on about its praises and we would be here all day. The way it handles parental pressure, social anxiety, and has themes of friendship, self-care, and growth is remarkable.
The cover was the first thing that caught my attention. It was a gorgeous mix is purple and pastels, plus the anime-like artwork that I am a sucker for.
It's about two boys in college who run in very different circles and couldn't have been more unlikely friends, but as fate would have it, they meet and are instantly drawn to each other.
Xander is a shy, socially inept artist whose love language is painting. And then there is Skylar, who is a rich, charming, social butterfly suffocating under his father's expectations. Skylar approaches Xander for tuition classes, and in exchange takes Xander on his little project to turn him into a more social person.
The way it talks about identity, sexuality, and the stigmas around it- it's not merely careful and meaningful, but it's beautiful. It doesn't be vague or dance around the issue. It goes in-depth with it and explores very naturally.
Some of the scenes just about made me cry and made my heart swell with love. It ties the intimacy between two people with art, and gives it so much meaning, especially in context with how many ways there are to express yourself and show your love.
I can just keep going on and on about its praises and we would be here all day. The way it handles parental pressure, social anxiety, and has themes of friendship, self-care, and growth is remarkable.
cadiva's review against another edition
4.0
3.5*
I want to say at the start that this book is beautiful. Impeccably researched, detailed in Japanese culture, anime and manga and featuring a love story which goes beyond the normal physical expressions into something soul deep.
However, as beautifully written as this book is, it's not a five star read for me only for the simple reason that the whole Japanese culture element of it isn't something I'm personally interested in and, as it anchored the whole narrative, I wasn't as engaged in it as someone who does have a fascination with it probably would be.
However, it is so rare to get a love story which, even within the LGBTQ+ world, isn't a conventional one so it was a delight to read. Here Heidi Cullinan does it with some style as she depicts how someone identifying on the ace/gray spectrum finds the perfect person to become his.
The Greek myth of Galatea and Pygmalion - so famously turned into a play by Sir George Bernard Shaw and then into My Fair Lady, starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn - forms the basis of this romance as business student and future lawyer Skylar Stone takes on the project of putting reluctant Xander Fairchild's art out into the world as part of his senior project.
Xander is anti-social, the artist responsible for the manga comic produced at the college they both attend, and a bit of an enigma. He's also perfect for Skylar as he sees beneath the frat boy to the scared and confused young man beneath.
This story is so well written, the sensuality and eroticism of watching the two fall in love is superbly done, there is no "sex" in this book but there absolutely is a whole host of making love as Xander discovers just how much he can be turned on by watching Skylar find himself aroused by a simple touch.
The painting scene alone is an exercise on how to make something incredibly sexy and stimulating without the trappings of penetration in any form and their romance oozes intimate connections and passionate loving which fits perfectly within the sexuality of the protagonists.
#ARC received from the publishers via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
I want to say at the start that this book is beautiful. Impeccably researched, detailed in Japanese culture, anime and manga and featuring a love story which goes beyond the normal physical expressions into something soul deep.
However, as beautifully written as this book is, it's not a five star read for me only for the simple reason that the whole Japanese culture element of it isn't something I'm personally interested in and, as it anchored the whole narrative, I wasn't as engaged in it as someone who does have a fascination with it probably would be.
However, it is so rare to get a love story which, even within the LGBTQ+ world, isn't a conventional one so it was a delight to read. Here Heidi Cullinan does it with some style as she depicts how someone identifying on the ace/gray spectrum finds the perfect person to become his.
The Greek myth of Galatea and Pygmalion - so famously turned into a play by Sir George Bernard Shaw and then into My Fair Lady, starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn - forms the basis of this romance as business student and future lawyer Skylar Stone takes on the project of putting reluctant Xander Fairchild's art out into the world as part of his senior project.
Xander is anti-social, the artist responsible for the manga comic produced at the college they both attend, and a bit of an enigma. He's also perfect for Skylar as he sees beneath the frat boy to the scared and confused young man beneath.
This story is so well written, the sensuality and eroticism of watching the two fall in love is superbly done, there is no "sex" in this book but there absolutely is a whole host of making love as Xander discovers just how much he can be turned on by watching Skylar find himself aroused by a simple touch.
The painting scene alone is an exercise on how to make something incredibly sexy and stimulating without the trappings of penetration in any form and their romance oozes intimate connections and passionate loving which fits perfectly within the sexuality of the protagonists.
#ARC received from the publishers via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
riley16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
cewhisenant's review against another edition
5.0
*An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
"Art is not finished, only abandoned."
Sometimes, you start a book, and a few pages in you get the feeling you had underestimated the importance of it, whether it be the importance of it to you personally or to the world as a whole.
I did just that with this book, and I did it in both ways.
I stumbled upon [b:Love Lessons|17853573|Love Lessons (Love Lessons, #1)|Heidi Cullinan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491605970s/17853573.jpg|24990932] last year, and ever since I have been a devoted fan of the author. Her books are always cute, quirky, romantic, diverse, and hilarious. When I read the Love Lessons trilogy, I was in love with them. When I read the Roosevelt series, I felt educated on the lives of those who don’t fall under the umbrella of neurotypical.
But when I read Antisocial, I felt a personal connection to not only the characters, but the story itself. Was it because I could relate to some of the struggles of the characters? Yes. Was it because I have a lot of odd interests that were center stage in this book? Also yes. But the reason this book hit me personally, is because I could tell it was personal to the author.
Xander and Skylar weren’t the typical quirky, but otherwise average guys that usually get portrayed in New Adult romances. They were awkward and scared, and their relationship showcased that. If you’re looking for suave quips and sexy times, this book is probably not for you.
This is a spoiler, but it’s such an important aspect of the novel that I have to discuss it.
Well, not in this case. There is no sex in this book. No. Sex. These characters fall in love, and are in a relationship for a majority of the novel, but they never once even go so far as a deep kiss. Why? Because Xander is an awkward college boy and Skylar falls somewhere under the gray area of sexuality.
New Adult (and Young Adult) aim for representation and diversity. This is what that representation and diversity should look like. There is nothing wrong with people having sex, but it’s important for there to also be representation for those who don’t need a physical act to consummate their relationship, because their love is real to them and that’s all that matters.
This was a breath of fresh air from the typical steamy, and often, unrealistic sexual encounters I’ve read in other books. It was a story of two boys who loved each other just as much as any other couple, but didn’t need that physical element to prove anything.
On top of handling minority sexualities, like asexual, pansexual, and demisexual, this book tackled the effects parents have on their children whether intentional or unintentional, and mental illness. One of the characters has a severe anxiety disorder, and another has depression.
After all these heavier topics, I would like to clarify that overall this book was just as cute and fun as all her novels, if not even more so. It had everything.
Perfect read for fans of New Adult, LGBTQ, and of course, romance.
"Art is not finished, only abandoned."
Sometimes, you start a book, and a few pages in you get the feeling you had underestimated the importance of it, whether it be the importance of it to you personally or to the world as a whole.
I did just that with this book, and I did it in both ways.
I stumbled upon [b:Love Lessons|17853573|Love Lessons (Love Lessons, #1)|Heidi Cullinan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491605970s/17853573.jpg|24990932] last year, and ever since I have been a devoted fan of the author. Her books are always cute, quirky, romantic, diverse, and hilarious. When I read the Love Lessons trilogy, I was in love with them. When I read the Roosevelt series, I felt educated on the lives of those who don’t fall under the umbrella of neurotypical.
But when I read Antisocial, I felt a personal connection to not only the characters, but the story itself. Was it because I could relate to some of the struggles of the characters? Yes. Was it because I have a lot of odd interests that were center stage in this book? Also yes. But the reason this book hit me personally, is because I could tell it was personal to the author.
Xander and Skylar weren’t the typical quirky, but otherwise average guys that usually get portrayed in New Adult romances. They were awkward and scared, and their relationship showcased that. If you’re looking for suave quips and sexy times, this book is probably not for you.
This is a spoiler, but it’s such an important aspect of the novel that I have to discuss it.
Spoiler
When most people read New Adult, they expect beautiful people in their early twenties, and lots of sex. Whether it’s just an accurate depiction of discovering your sexuality in college, or suits with wealth and kinks, there is almost always lots of sex in New Adult novels. That’s a given.Well, not in this case. There is no sex in this book. No. Sex. These characters fall in love, and are in a relationship for a majority of the novel, but they never once even go so far as a deep kiss. Why? Because Xander is an awkward college boy and Skylar falls somewhere under the gray area of sexuality.
New Adult (and Young Adult) aim for representation and diversity. This is what that representation and diversity should look like. There is nothing wrong with people having sex, but it’s important for there to also be representation for those who don’t need a physical act to consummate their relationship, because their love is real to them and that’s all that matters.
This was a breath of fresh air from the typical steamy, and often, unrealistic sexual encounters I’ve read in other books. It was a story of two boys who loved each other just as much as any other couple, but didn’t need that physical element to prove anything.
On top of handling minority sexualities, like asexual, pansexual, and demisexual, this book tackled the effects parents have on their children whether intentional or unintentional, and mental illness. One of the characters has a severe anxiety disorder, and another has depression.
After all these heavier topics, I would like to clarify that overall this book was just as cute and fun as all her novels, if not even more so. It had everything.
Perfect read for fans of New Adult, LGBTQ, and of course, romance.