I hoped for more than I got in this one. I was excited to find a book featuring an asexual main, but I just felt like the storyline fell flat. It was a typical "fake dating but I'm in love with my best friend" story and I just didn't vibe with it. Now, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of fake dating, but when done well I've enjoyed the trope before. This time, I just felt like there was a lot of filler and not much substance. It's amazing to see something that hasn't been represented much (asexuality) in a title, but I just wish this book gave me a bit more.

While this book should be celebrated for showing a nuanced part of the asexual spectrum, it's a bit bogged down by poor pacing and stilted prose.

Loved this book and the perspective it gives on asexual identity/romance—something that is unfortunately not as common in the rom-com genre.

I was excited about this book because of the asexual representation. I am not sure if this was a fluke because I love Claire Kann but this book was just so meh. The cliches, the storyline, the progressions. Just not for me -- 3 stars,

Joy showed me a new side of the asexual spectrum, and it was interesting to read about experience with romantic relationships. I generally have a hard time with books where one character has had a longstanding crush on a best friend. Sometimes it can win me over, but Joy had feelings for Malcolm much longer in this book than I wanted.

That being said, the fake dating relationship with Fox was really fun, and watching them become close was super swoony.

Joy had to explain her sexuality a lot in the book, and I tend to like romances where the characters live in a bit of a fantasy land where people understand and respect differences, so that characters don’t have to really explain themselves at this level. I don’t like that people feel that they need to explain their often marginalized identity. I don’t want someone to have to stand up for themselves, I just want a romcom where everyone can be themselves and be accepted by the other characters.

I was so looking forward to reading my first romance novel with a main character who identifies as asexual, but unfortunately, I disliked the main character almost immediately and that feeling didn't really go away throughout. I know a lot of folks have liked this one (and I really, really wanted to) but I think I just had a hard time getting past my initial annoyances.

If you were looking for an updated My Best Friend's Wedding featuring a cast of lovable characters and asexual representation, I have good news for you.

This is a stellar weekend read for the beach with a great one bed trope turned one hammock and fake dating. I also liked that between all the fun this took on some serious topics in a real way from asexuality to unhealthy relationships.

I personally had a couple issues with pacing, but it my be that I read this over a few days and never got to just sit down and read big bits in one go, but I love a good flawed character who shows growth, and we had both elements here.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

I really enjoyed this book, the cast of characters and the asexual lead heroine, I hope there are more books like this.

Many thanks to my friends at @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted copies.

90’s rom-coms are still my fav. I’ve watched My Best Friend’s Wedding approximately 9.25 million times. Want me to quote the crème brulee/jello scene word by word? I digress…

Kann has taken the premise of that beloved classic… a love triangle between two best friends and a new love interest… and modernized it with two black, asexual characters. I think Julia Roberts would approve.

What I loved:
☀️The fake dating/only one hammock trope (oh that hammock!)
☀️Joy is bold, brazen, and unapologetic. I couldn’t help but cheer for her. She knows who she is and won’t settle.
☀️Fox Gruff yet soft and tender. With the most gentle (even when eager) touch for Joy.

But where this book really shines… the asexuality representation.
This was my first book with an asexual main character, and the look at the spectrum of asexuality was so well handled and very enlightening. This was a different type of love story for me, yet still so deeply satisfying.

My only hang up was the best friend relationship between Malcolm and Joy. So codependent. So unhealthy. But towards the end, they confront those dynamics in order to grow into the future that awaits, and that I found fulfilling.

Much like the main character, this book is filled with joy (and puns…lots of great puns). It’s perfect to throw in your bag for a weekend getaway.

🎧I found myself easily lost in this audiobook. Narrated by Adrienne Walker, she gave a distinct voice to joy, and I felt as though I was immersed in Joy’s thoughts and emotions.

Joy is a strong female who has always had a clear vision of what she wants, never having many qualms about getting it. The exception to the rule is her relationship with her co worker and best friend, Malcolm. Inseparable since college, Joy has always had a thing for Malcolm, but has never had the nerve to spell it out for him. Instead she sits on the sidelines, watching him bounce from relationship to relationship, never revealing her true feelings.

Then one day Malcolm announces he may have met “the one”. Naturally he wants his best friend’s stamp of approval. So when Malcolm invites Joy to meet his intended, Summer, on a weekend away, she begrudgingly obliges, trying to psych herself up into telling the truth, once and for all.

As if the party of three wasn’t awkward enough, Summer has brought along her own, “platonic but it’s complicated” best friend, Fox. As the weekend unfolds, the lines between friendship and love predictably blur, but in some unpredictable ways. Before weekend’s end some truths will be told and hearts will break, but will Joy finally find what she’s looking for?

The Romantic Agenda is a rom com that strays from the script. The main character Joy, is a strong, Black female, but she’s also asexual, something that rarely occurs in rom coms. It’s also something that isn’t just thrown in to check off a box, a lot of time being given to a descriptive portrayal. This alone sets this story apart from other romances.

However, there’s a lot of talking in this book about what the characters want, but I never really got the sense they knew the answer. As a result, the reader doesn’t know what to root for, or where Cupid’s arrow might land. A well written novel, its conclusion was succinct, even if not completely satisfying.

Great romance book that was unlike any I’ve read. The characters were good and it was a fun read. It was refreshing not to have a perfect female main character. Joy definitely sounds like someone I’d want to hang out with.
I did feel that it dragged a bit in parts but overall I liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary ebooks exchange for my review.

This is a great love triangle book with so much going on. I really loved every minute of it and it's not like anything I've read before, so I look forward to reading more from Kann!

I've read Kann on a few occasions and really wanted to give her another chance. It's been hit and miss with her books so far.

Joy is in love with Malcolm.
But Malcolm really likes Summer.
Summer is in love with love.
And Fox is Summer’s ex-boyfriend.

So overall, Joy is one of those really intriguing, kind characters that everyone loves. And that's okay on the surface, but it becomes kind of boring 75% of the way through the book. I also kind of want to shake her and be like, girlfriend, your boy Malcolm is not who you should be fixating on and you should be looking elsewhere. Like as someone who is ace, I understand that sometimes there's that safe person that you build up in your head and that's all well and good. But yeah. I like that eventually she comes around to Fox, but I ended up kind of finding this book more cutesy and less actually really interesting as a romance. I wasn't expecting certain things you might find in other romances because the main character is ace and also had a thing for another ace person. But I did hope that she would at least delve deeper into truly exploring the romance as much as possible beyond some bickering? I don't know.

Thanks for the ARC.

I was surprised how much I loved this book. I had not heard about this author or title before but ended up loving the authors writing style. The characters were well written and I was able to relate to them very well.

OH MY GOD, THIS WAS SO GOOD! I ATE THIS UP SO FAST! NEW FAVOURITE!

The flow and effortless, easy reading of this story was magnificent! I cannot say just how much this book hooked me from the beginning and left me so invested I was on the couch for 2.5 hours, desperate to finish!
Reading an asexual romance that was so respectful and accurate, my ace friends will be so happy! Representation matters, folks! The beauty of how romance and love aren't all about sex and touching but connection and trust. Just because you don't like or don't feel the desire for sex or romance doesn't mean you aren't worthy of love!

The genuine discussion and frank talk about how they love each other but that it's not quite right, as it is heavily codependent, was refreshing. Their lives were tied and safely wrapped in each other, and seeing them, realize they are in love but not suitable for each other was heart-hitting. They were holding each other back from new forms of happiness, and the step back and truth, allowed them to be happy in each other's lives.

I loved how the relationship between Joy and Summer grew; it was respectful in the end after pettiness and bitterness - which is fair if you love someone and want them happy. BUT OH MY GOD, Fox & Joy were such a beautiful slow burn (I know it was a weekend, but hush), and that relationship proving that more people can offer you love, comfort and understanding and open your mind to more was ... it LEFT ME EMOTIONAL!

Thank you Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann. The only thing I love more than a good romance story is an LGBTQIAP+ romance novel!

Joy is in love with her best friend Malcom, but she’s never told him. Malcom really likes Summer, the new love of his life. On a weekend trip, Fox (Summer’s ex) sees a kindred spirit in Joy and decides that they should pretend to fall in love with each other to make Malcom jealous. The more time she spends with Fox, the less she’s thinking about Malcom…could he be just what she needs?

This one’s got it all. Love triangles (squares), all of the shapes. Unrequited love, and unexpected love. This book is a great reminder that sometimes the best things in life are unexpected (most times, right?) I found this one to give me all the feels - I laughed and yes my heart got fuzzy. I am looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

Sweet romance with a really strong voice. I had a lot of fun reading this book but it was also emotional and all the characters were lovable.

Stevie‘s review of The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann
Multicultural LGBTQ+ Romance published by Berkley 12 Apr 22

It’s a rarity to find a romance, or indeed any book, with an asexual main character, so finding one with two of them was a definite inducement to start reading. Two very different asexuals, no less: Joy, who has yet to figure out whether she needs to find out what all the fuss is about when it comes to sex, and Malcolm, who really enjoys sex in spite of not experiencing sexual attraction. Best friends since college, Joy has always been in love with Malcolm and has been the one constant in his life through his endless, doomed, romantic relationships. She’s also his personal assistant at work, which Malcolm turns to his advantage far too much, expecting Joy to be able to drop all her plans every time he needs something – whether it’s work-related or not. Now, he wants her to accompany him on a holiday with his new girlfriend, Summer – whom he is convinced really is the one this time – and her male best friend, Fox.


Joy isn’t keen on the idea. Malcolm’s last relationship ended, because his ex thought that he and Joy spent too much time together, and she’s not particularly taken with either Summer or Fox. She goes along with it, however, out of love for Malcolm and soon discovers that she and Fox have several things in common when it comes to their best friends and the new relationship said best friends are forming. They also discover mutual interests when it comes to media consumption, along with a shared suspicion of all the enforced fun and couples activities that Malcolm has planned for them.

Fortunately, Joy has calls to her twin sister to fall back on, and she and Fox are soon teaming up to avoid the worst-sounding of the activities. Fox also lets Joy in on his observation that Malcolm is just as in love with her as she is with him. Fortunately for readers, Joy is too ethical to do anything about the news while Malcolm is with Summer and instead works on enjoying her time with Fox, organised activities notwithstanding.

I liked Joy and Fox a lot, and Summer grew on me as the book progressed, but Malcolm just came across as a colossal arse. This is the biggest thing that annoys me about the ‘best friends who can’t express their feelings to each other’ trope. If there’s an alternative love interest being posited for the main character, then their existing love ends up being portrayed in a negative light. Malcolm aside, though, it was so great to see such contrasting characters showing up in a romance, and with no implications being made that Joy was in any way broken, incomplete, or immature because of her asexuality. It was also good to see her revel in her body and enjoy her clothes and minor-influencer lifestyle as a completely separate identity to her sexuality. I’d like to see more from this author, particularly if it features different asexual characters subverting other romance tropes.|

Grade: B

This one was cute and different. Prior to reading The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann, I can't say that I ever read a romance-focused book with an Asexual character as the main character. To be honest, what I know about Asexuality is very limited, and my own lack of knowledge on the subject is part of what drew me into this book. Now, I know that Asexuality is a spectrum, and people who are Asexual call fall anywhere on that spectrum.

I really liked Joy, and watching her journey was just amazing and so fulfilling. I was rooting for her, I understood her, and to my surprise, I identified with her. Honestly, any book that can leave me feeling good and teach me something at the same time is alright in my eyes.