4.5 stars

*eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

this was a great read, really informative and helped me a lot to reflect on asexuality and aromanticism and my own experiences being a-spec. it helped me think about things i hadn't before, like how Anglophone prevalence impacts asexuals in other countries, and how asexuals interact with abstinence-only sex education. the author effectively used statistics, like the Ace Survey and other studies on asexuality - great to see other studies are being done! i thought it would be an anthology from different contributors, however it was written by Eris Young with anonymised testimonies. this was good and i really liked all their perspectives - while it helped to give voices to ordinary people living their a-spec lives, it felt quite distant and impersonal compared to other comparable anthologies.

For a start, I never warmed up to Young's writing style. Then there is the fact that while they spend the entire book talking about how this is a communal project, it is still heavily weighted towards Young and they never actually end up explaining how they conducted their survey on which most quotes are pulled from. It feels particularly weird considering the title and the implications that this would feature multiple voices - I was expecting more than a few quotes from disembodied two-letter acronyms.
Not to mention the fact that the subtitle and the book try to balance both ace and aro topics but still, in my opinion, favor the ace perspective and it is obviously called Ace Voices which shows pretty clearly what the focus was. For example, there is an entire chapter on sex but not one for romance/marriage but an esoteric musing on what love means.

This is messy and I don't really think I would recommend this to people as a resource.

This book was wonderful and extremely informative. I love that it provided a personal account of being ace-spec but also provided other personal accounts to give the reader a diverse set of experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints on being ace-spec. The book was laid out really well, providing the reader with a detailed background on definitions, the identities within the ace-spec umbrella, and what different ace-spec experiences with sex, relationships, coming out, etc look like, I highly recommend this book to everyone both ace-spec and allo people. This book is very needed and I hope it helps other ace-spec folks not feel alone in their identity.

When I was younger and questioning my sexuality it would've been incredible to have this to show me "There are so many people out there who feel like you and this is what that is" and I am so incredibly overwhelmed by the writing in this book. A collection of asexual and aromantic experiences, over 140 of them. Incredibly informative and thoroughly researched. I am so glad that anyone questioning whether they are a-spec or not have this as a starting point to delve deeper into their own understanding of who they are.

As I was reading the introduction to the book I knew it was a good choice to read. It’s very personal but also very informative so I couldn’t seem to put it down. As someone who knew virtually little about being ACE, this really helped me learn and understand what it all means. Young touches on so many topics that really paint a complete picture of how an ACE person sees the world. And with challenging books becoming a big topic of conversation recently, I think books like this are important so marginalized people are able to tell their stories they way they want them to be told.

Ace Voices gives a rare and refreshing look into the actual lives of a-spec lives as we hear from more than 140 individuals living freely and proudly within their asexuality, giving visibility to a sector that needs more of it. Eris Young reminds us that allonormativity doesn't mean that's the only way to live or love.

Demisexual myself and it was really nice reading other peoples experiences being on the asexual spectrum. I think this added with Ace by Angela Chen would be a good starter point for those exploring their possible asexual identity.

This book was super informative and seemed really well-researched. I am so happy that there is more media about the ace scale that is coming out now, as it is a topic that is so forgotten and misunderstood if people do know about it. I also really liked how the author was very aware of their position and wrote in a very approachable manner. I am so glad that I had the chance to read through this!

Ace Voices is exactly as the title suggests -aroace people talking about being aroace. I love that in this book there is no one way to define yourself as “aroace” and instead it’s an examination of the many ways ace-ness embodies our lives. Finding, and accepting, the term “asexual” is so freeing for some of us. I really enjoyed the specific inclusion of traditionally marginalized BIPOC voices and their experiences in the book. The only con I found in this book is that those who aren’t as familiar with LGBTQ+ discourse terms may feel a bit left out or confused by the barrage of terminology. However, the author has done a good job of providing definitions or descriptions.

Eris Young did an excellent job collecting stories from across the wide spectrum of asexual individuals. This was an excellent read, and I've already ordered a physical copy!

This was a lovely read! As usually, it takes me awhile to work my way through non-fiction because that's how my brain works.

Starting off, this is a book for fellows queers. I'm sure other would get information and some wonderful insights into the community, but it's emotionally for a-spec folks. If you are diving in to this books, make sure you have a decent understanding of queer terms and experiences, or be willing to look things up as you go. Many definitions are laid out, but you will get more out of the book if you have a foundation of understanding. I feel it could be overwhelming if you have to learn so much on the go. But if that's something you enjoy, go for it!

The way the book is laid out is great. There are well organized sections with questions that guide the reader into self reflection at the end to help retain and further dissect the information presented. Each section also begins with content warnings, which is very helpful to have due to some of the more serious topics that are covered in the book.

The author has done a great job of leading you through various perspectives and experiences within the a-spec community. I think of it like a walk in the wood with a talented guide. In the forest, there are little places to rest along the way and meet with people who tell you a bit about their lives in the a-spec forest. The guide (author) gives you things to think about as you move along to the next discovery, pointing out things here and there within the stories that are being told.

My favorite section in this book was the topic on Cultural backgrounds. They dive into many religions and races and how they influence a-spec identities.

If you are queer or a-spec, I highly recommend giving this a read!

Ace Voices is a brilliant exploration of the ace experience through the own voices of the community. As one of the most misunderstood and unknown parts of the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s so refreshing to see people get to tell their own experiences and meanings - especially to see how fluid these terms are, how they mean different things to different people, and how ultimately these labels are more about how they make you feel, and what they mean to you, than about labelling yourself for understanding by society.

As someone who read this while coming to terms with their own asexuality and aromanticism, I can say this book is absolutely vital to learning to understand yourself and the terminology at your disposal as an ace spectrum individual.

4/5

There were some things I loved about this book, some conversations and discussions that are incredibly important and experiences shared that were vulnerable and have the capacity to assist an individual reading this book with their own journey, parsing through confusion and arriving at self-acceptance. There were times I was just confused as to the audience the book intends. Ace Voices serves to share as the experiences of people who identify as ace all across the spectrum, and highlights how although we may share the same label, our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and motivations can be completely varied depending on different aspects of our lives. I'm just not sure if this book serves the purpose of seeking out individuals already on the ace spectrum, looking to find that sense of community, or as a means of education to those not sharing of our identity. Truly anyone can pick up this book (or any non-fiction) and learn something, but at times I felt this book seemed a little lost in its purpose. I was also a little confused when I saw the title and subtitle listed. "Ace Voices," makes it clear that the book will incorporate the voices of people who identify as ace, or asexual. Then the subtitle brings in "aromantic, demi, and gray-ace." Demi and gray-ace address how some individuals fall on the ace spectrum, but aromantic addresses an entirely different type of attraction. While it can be said that many people who are asexual also identify as aromantic, or somewhere on the aro spectrum, they are separate. Some parts of the book did discuss how romantic attraction can and does affect one's outlook on their sexual identity, the author uses the term "a-spec" throughout the book, which is sometimes used to shorten the asexual spectrum and sometimes used to combine both the aromantic and asexual spectrums. Personally, I felt like naming the book "A-Spec Voices," might have been more beneficial to achieve the author's goal, but that is simply my opinion.

A small aspect of the book that irked me, but I won't spend too much time on because I think it's personal preference, was the fact that the individuals interviewed are addressed only by their initials. I understand it might have been key to aide in allowing them to retain a form of anonymity for this project, but sometimes, when their experiences were discussed several chapters apart, it made it hard for me to make those connections. The way this author incorporates their own personal journey with their gender and sexual identity, with the experiences of additional individuals to compare, was a fine way of presenting this information, I just wish it was easier to see how the different topics are seen through the lens of one individual (like perhaps an index listing the interviewees initials and the pages where their quotes appear.)

There are several discussions addressed in this book that I want to highlight specifically. First is the obvious, that no two a-spec people are the same. No two individuals interviewed for inclusion in this book had the same thoughts for every topic brought up, because our lived experiences can shape our thought processes and allow us to feel things differently. We all have our own boundaries that are constantly being explored, and just because you know one a-spec person does not mean you know how we'll all react in certain situations. Second, that just because asexuality is sometimes framed as a "lack," that doesn't mean we deserve to be treated as "less." The world is constantly catering towards a society that feels at least some kind of sexual attraction, and those of us who don't are either cast aside or, worse, infantilized and treated as though it is something we simply "don't understand." We understand just fine, and sometimes we are even more in-tune with our sexual identities, and what we feel comfortable with, because we might have to do more self-reflection that the average allosexual person. Just because you don't understand our identity, does not mean we do not exist. And lastly, I loved the final chapter titled "Joy." It truly was a celebration of both our similarities and our differences as s-spec individuals, and how we should strive to be proud of who we are and how far we've come in our journeys. It won't always be easy, sifting through confusion and denial, and the feelings of worthlessness we may feel sometimes. But we are all unique, and we are all wonderful in our own ways.

While I didn't find Ace Voices to be a perfect book, I still found myself relating to many of the thoughts shared by those who were interviewed. It's easy to feel so alone, especially when society tries to ostracize people who they deem to be too different from the norm, but it was so nice to so such a variety of experiences of those who belong to the same community. I can't wait for 2023 and all the non-fiction surrounding asexuality to come. I'm honestly so excited to see the different styles and takes. Ace Voices is set to release on December 21st, 2022, which is the day this post goes live, so please join me in wishing it a happy book birthday and consider picking up a copy for yourself if you're interested. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Read from November 7th, 2022 to December 12th, 2022. Written on December 12th, 2022.

With this book, Eris Young has taught me so much about myself and the a-spec and LGBTQIA+ communities, mainly the a-spec since it is the foundation of this book.

From navigating the different sexualities and terms to heavier topics like trauma, the author takes the reader on an exploring voyage through one of the most forgotten and discarded communities within the LGBTQ+ movement, teaching the reader more about what it means to be who they are and helping come to terms with who they are as well. With responses from several interviewees who give their own stories and perspectives on what it means to live in today's world with their sexuality(ies)/label(s).

I loved this book so so much, it brought me enlightenment on the a-spec community, helped me with my own questions and confusions and guided me through a world I hadn't seen before, learning more about different people and different experiences, some similar to mine, that I will cherish for a long, long time.

I feel truly honoured that I got to read this before it came out because it truly changed some things in my life, and I believe it will continue to do so. Thank you to Eris Young and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the opportunity!

Signing off,
B.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers that I chose to review after reading)

I loved this book. It was so informative, while being very personal and reflective. I myself am ace, currently identifying as greysexual and panromantic, so I found this book so validating. I loved getting to hear all of the responses from the community that were interviewed for this book. It’s called ace voices and that’s exactly what you get!

The book does an incredible job of discussing terminology, and the nuance that goes along with each term, in a very positive-to-neutral way. There is zero judgment at all. There’s even an entire section on a-spec joy, which was super refreshing.

I have done some research about asexuality and aromanticism, albeit not enough haha, and I really loved getting to learn even more about the community.

I loved the section on intersectionality and how ace and aro identities interact with other aspects of identities such as religion and race. It was super well done- I especially loved the highlighting of Indigenous folks (obviously lol).

I definitely learned a ton about these identities, but I also learned more about myself and my own feelings about sex and romance. Some parts were very eyeopening and, as I said before, very validating.

Overall, I highly highly highly recommend this book. It was so educational and thoughtfully done. There are a ton of myths and misconceptions about asexuality and aromanticism and this book dispels them beautifully.

Overall, this is a very good nonfiction book about asexuality. I read Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex earlier this year and really enjoyed it, so I wanted to read another nonfiction book about asexuality and aromanticism. Both Ace Voices and Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex are informative and well written books and I recommend both of them, but I think both serve a different purpose. I think Ace by Angela Chen is maybe a slightly better book to start with and it includes more about the intersection between asexuality and race, but doesn't include much on aromanticism beyond a chapter dedicated to it. Ace Voices has a lot of perspectives from a-spec people as a lot of the book is interviews. I really liked how these interviews shows how a-spec experiences differ greater from person to person and how language and labels can mean different things depending on the person. I also liked how it placed the same weight on ace and aro identities as well as all lesser known identities that fit under the ace or aro umbrella (eg. demiromantic, gray-ace, etc.) While both these books are on the same topic, I think that reading both is definitely worthwhile as they focus and and emphasize different aspects of being ace.

The biggest issue I had with this book was not the writing, but the formatting. (For full transparency, I read an electronic copy on my Kindle.) The footnotes did not work and instead of being superscripts, were the same size and were in line with the rest of the text. While not a huge issue, and one I got used to over time, it's still a little frustrating especially because with an ebook copy, I can't just flip to the back to see the footnotes. Additionally, the quotations from the people interviewed were not integrated well into the text. For shorter quotes, quotation marks were used, which made it clear what was text and what was a quote. However, for longer quotes, no quotation marks were used and the quotes were in a smaller font. This isn't uncommon or incorrect at all, in fact, this is a requirement for MLA essay formatting so I'm somewhat used to this (I'm specifically referring to the formatting of when a quote longer than four lines, no quotation marks are used and the margins of the quote and increased to it's approximately 1/2 to 1 inch in from the body text. I'm giving the publisher the benefit of the doubt and assuming this is the case for the print version. In the digital version I read, this formatting was lost so quotes sometimes ended up where they didn't belong, making some parts confusing. (Please keep in mind I know nothing about the process of writing nonfiction, but the intended formatting for this book seemed very similar to MLA essay writing so that's what I'm going off of). Many essays follow the point (introducing the argument; statement that the author is trying to prove), proof (using evidence to back up point; this book mostly used quotes from interviews, but also referenced studies, other book, and online posts) , explanation (why the evidence supports argument) structure and that seemed to be what this book was following as well. However, due to the frequent issues with the integration of quotations, instead of the structure being point then quote then explanation, the order would sometimes get messed up and be point then explanation then quote, or point then quote then another quote not connected to the point then explanation for the first quote. While this wasn't a super frequent occurrence, it did make this book harder to understand in a number of places because things were sometimes in the wrong order. The author also chose to assign two to three random initials to interviewees' quotes to keep the sources anonymous. While it is important for the people who wish to remain anonymous to be able to do so, I found it very confusing who was saying what. Here's an example of what that's like: "SH said: 'quote', agreeing with BR on this issue." Then several pages later, it could say, "CQ had a different perspective than SH, saying, 'quote.'" I'm not really sure how to express what it was like, but just know that I couldn't keep all the initials straight in my head and wasn't able to distinguish who said what.

Formatting issues aside, this was a well-researched and insightful nonfiction book about asexuality and aromanticism that I highly recommend if you're interested in learning more. I just hope that the formatting problems are resolved for the published print and ebook versions.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

My Thoughts: This is a book that I wish I had when I was growing up, because even though I now know what I identify as, I still learned so much about myself and my identity by reading this book. It’s hard identifying as aspec in a world that is thinks its unnatural, and this book made me realize I wasn’t alone!

I loved how the author interviewed aspec individuals to get their points of view. And I also loved that the author gave their own experiences and views as well! My favorite part of the book was reading about the different types of identities in aspec. Some of them I had never heard of before and found myself relating to them! I personally like labels because it helps me put a word to how I’m feeling, but not everyone feels that way.

Overall, if you identify as aspec or want to learn more about the asexual, aromatic, demi, and grey-ace identities I definitely recommend this book. It was great reading from a knowledgeable author who kept people’s feelings in mind when writing this book!

I really enjoyed this book and I found it engaging, informative and interesting. The writing style is clear and easy to follow, and the author’s voice is compelling.

The book is divided into chapters according to different topics, and every chapter includes multiple voices of people identifying as a-spec. It is more academic in this sense because it analyses different themes from multiple perspectives. But the tone of the book isn’t academic. In fact, I found it to be the right amount of interviews, personal experience and discussion.

Many topics left me thinking about things and concepts that usually do not invite too much attention (such as what it means to be a friend, what kind of friendship there are and why we don’t have more words for our relationships). I also learned a lot.

Every chapter has a couple of discussion questions at the end, which leave the reader thinking further, examining their own bias and inviting to questions things many people take for granted or self explanatory. Another important thing that more books should include are content warnings before each chapter.

I would recommend this book to people who are not complete beginners because it may get confusing for those completely unfamiliar with the discussions.

A broad, comprehensive glimpse into asexuality and its place in the world, told through complementary research and personal anecdotes from members of the a-spec community. While this book is tailored more towards people with some knowledge of asexuality, Young does offer up an extensive list of terms under the asexual umbrella that will help the most unaware readers to follow along.

Covering a range of topics, the book takes an intersectional approach, recognizing the broad variations in experiences, cultural and racialized identities, gender, etc. that informs an individual's asexual identity and their societal perception. With such a vast array of stories that show there is no singular way of being ace, one is bound to find a sense of kinship and camaraderie in Ace Voices,

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am always looking for more ace rep- whether it's fiction or nonfiction. I was excited to read this and to read more perspectives of being ace. And while there was a lot I liked about it, there were also things I didn't like.

Rather than having chapters or sections dedicated to specific individuals, the author uses quotes from various individuals throughout each chapter. This is fine, but because of this format, if the same person was quoted later, I couldn't remember what their perspective was from earlier. I appreciated all of the different perspectives, but it was difficult to fully form a picture of who these people are.

Nonfiction generally isn't my genre, but sometimes I can get into it. The tone of this book was very scientific and dry-- more of a textbook than a narrative. That might appeal to some people, but it's not my cup of tea.

Aside from a couple of generalizations thrown in that I didn't care for, the author does a good job of emphasizing that these identities are a spectrum and are impossible to fully define, while still showcasing a wide array of experiences. The author does a good job of explaining different labels, microlabels, and other terminology, while also explaining how different people assign these terms different meanings.

Each chapter ended with discussion questions, which I'm undecided on. I liked that they prompted deeper thinking, but I'm not sure about the intended audience.

Overall, I appreciate this book. It has a lot of great information in it and I learned a lot. It also made me feel seen and I wrote down multiple quotes that really spoke to me. As this book discusses, lack of visibility is a real issue for ace individuals (I know that personally). Books like this are so important because they are another step in the right direction.