Love looks like Lola. Is a sweet story.of an aunt who teaches her niece that love doesn't have to be a relationship. A beautiful celebration of love. A sweet treat of a book.

Love Looks Like Lola was a really sweet book and does a good job of introducing aroace identities to a young audience. This book would be a great read for any child to help understand the many different formats love can take, but would also be a perfect guide for a child who has come across a person who is aroace and is curious to learn more.

The illustrations were also lovely, and I loved the guide for adults and questions for discussion at the back of the book. I hope this book gets picked up by children’s libraries!

This was cute and inclusive. The illustrations are also great! A fun and informative read for young children who may not understand. Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and all involved for the ARC of this book.

Thank you for the copy of reading this book. Truthfully I did pick it up with the intention of getting some feedback ratio for my new account. That being said, I still teared up at the sweet story this was.

As someone who is on the ace spectrum myself, and an aunt myself, this was a great introduction to showcase that we do not all express love the same way. This book show cases the different forms of human connection beyond the lenses of a joined society. And as a single woman, it is great to see a book addressing that just because someone is alone it doesn't make them a deviant that leads a lesser life. But instead lives a different level of a fulfilled life. Very cute and touching to express to children not ever adult they meet is going to have a "romantic" match or interest.

I feel the concept of this book was a good one and quite unique. However, I am not sure a child thinks as deeply about issues raised in the book, children often take things at face value and with a positive lens.

This book maybe helpful in families where this issue has been raised and can help to explain that difference is not a negative and people all follow different paths in life.
Illustrations were great.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

This book follows a little girl called Claire, who is spending the weekend with her wonderful Aunt Lola.
While watching her parents’ wedding video, Claire begins to wonder why Aunt Lola never got married. This opens up a gentle and thoughtful conversation, where Lola explains that she is aroace—meaning aromantic and asexual. She shares that she is happy as she is, and that the love she experiences comes through friendship, care, and meaningful connections rather than romantic or sexual relationships.

As Claire spends more time with her aunt, she meets Lola’s friends, neighbours, and chosen family. Its through these interactions that Claire begins to understand that love isn’t just about romance or marriage—it can also be found in kindness, respect, and a sense of belonging.

I’ll admit I hadn’t come across the term “aroace” before, so I really love how this book gently introduced and explained it. It was educational for me as an adult, and I think it’s written in a way that younger children can understand too.

My five-year-old is naturally very inquisitive and often asks questions I don’t always have the answers to. Books like this are such a helpful tool to explore those topics, using simple language and engaging illustrations to make our differences more understandable to little minds.

I’ll definitely be sharing this with both my son and daughter. I think it’s so important to introduce children to different identities and ways of experiencing love from a young age. This book does that in a warm, inclusive, and easy-to-understand way, helping children see that there isn’t just one “right” way to love.

Thank you Net Galley for the Arc.

Informational, positive, and inclusive. Appropriate to introduce children to aro-ace identities, and a great addition to lgbtq+ themed children's selections.

I really enjoyed reading this book with my little one. It’s a sweet, heartfelt story about Claire and her Aunt Lola. While Claire’s parents are away celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary, she spends time getting to know her aunt better and begins to understand that love can look different from what’s often considered the norm.

This book offers a thoughtful and age appropriate introduction to aromantic and asexual identities for younger readers. I especially loved the art style and the way the story highlights community through its diverse and inclusive characters.

Great book read this to my children before bed and they loved it. Can’t wait for this to come out so I can get a copy to put on their bookcase

I think this book is a great way to discuss all the different types of love there are in the world especially when so much emphasis is placed on only a few very specific types in society. Aroace can be difficult to explain to adults, let alone kids, but I think this book did a great job. This was a wonderfully informative book with amazing illustrations and I think a lot of kids and parents/teachers/caregivers will appreciate it.

I have never seen a picture book that introduces kids to aro and ace identities, but I'm so glad this one exists now! I like that it challenges amatonormativity while celebrating all types of love, including romantic relationships. I loved how the illustrations included all types of people. I will definitely recommend this book to friends with kids and for our school library.

What a wonderful book about different kinds of love and how they can be made understood for children. Beautiful illustrations and message that love is all around in different shapes and forms.
Love the guide for adults with additional resources and questions for discussion.

Love Looks Like Lola is a beautiful, age-appropriate introduction to asexual and aromantic (aroace) identities, framed through a weekend visit between young Claire and her amazing Aunt Lola.

The book’s greatest strength is its warmth and simplicity. It reframes the conversation around love from "who do you marry?" to "how do you connect?" showing children that love is found in community, care, and friendship. Siân Coules-Milne’s layered, collage-style illustrations are absolutely vibrant and jewel-toned, making the world of Lola’s neighborhood feel like a place anyone would want to belong. I also loved the support materials at the end, which provide a helpful toolkit for parents to continue the conversation.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? While the message is vital and the representation is first-of-its-kind, the story itself is quite short and more of a "concept book" than a character-driven narrative. Some readers might want a bit more plot, but as an entry point for learning about a often-misunderstood identity, it is perfectly pitched.

Overall, it is an essential addition to any library for ages 5–7. It’s a sweet, validating story that proves love isn't one-size-fits-all and that every kind of connection is worth celebrating.

This is such a cute book! I love how diverse the beautiful illustrations are and the asexual aromantic representation. This book shows that love comes in all forms, which is a great message for everyone. With the lack of queer representation in books, especially for ace people, I appreciate that the author included an ace main character and shows how simple love truly is.

I recommend this book for everyone. It’s so heartwarming and put a smile on my face! Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book promotes inclusion and love in all ways. Would advise the parent reading this book prior to the child to insure you know how to answer questions that may arise. Beautiful illustrations!

Are Claire and Aunt Lola taking applications to join their next weekend hangout? And if yes, where can I find one? I enjoyed the two of them so much, I want to join in their fun.

I love this book. I love the way it shows how there are so many ways to love and be loved by those around you. I love the way it represents family and found family and the communities we build. The illustrations were vibrant and engaging too!

Thank you to the publisher and author for the eARC! Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A beautiful story to introduce an oft looked over identity in the queer community. Teaching children that all kinds of love are valid is so important, and this book shows that it doesn't always look the way we think it will, but it always surrounds if we try to see it.

This is such a beautifully illustrated and genuinely thoughtful book.

As a mom of a preteen who’s starting to figure out both the world and themselves, I really appreciated what this story is doing. It introduces aroace identity in a way that feels very natural and age-appropriate, without making it feel like a “lesson.”

I especially loved the way it expands what love can look like beyond romance. Through Lola’s life and community, it shows that love can be friendship, care, connection, and chosen family — and that you don’t need romantic relationships to be whole or happy.

One of my favorite parts was actually the additional notes and guiding questions for adults. They make it so much easier to start conversations with kids about different kinds of love, identity, and belonging.

Even if you don’t have an LGBTQIA+ kid, I still think this is such a valuable book to have. It opens the door to understanding a part of the community that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, and it does so with warmth, clarity, and kindness.

Overall, this is a really sweet, important, and accessible book about love in all its forms — and how all of them matter.

I have to say, I read a lot of queer books, but honestly I've just picked up some meanings of different things in context. So when I saw this title pop up on NetGalley, it sparked my interest. Also because I usually love how things are explained naturally to children. There is a more inclusive vibe in big subjects in childrens book in my opionion, things are never very heavy.

I really like how the story explains things, but does not feel informative. It is a mix with the story, but it's still a nice story to read while you learn something, it is not 'just' explaining.

And I ADORE the artwork! I think it will appeal to children as well.

I highly recommend this!

Giving this 5 stars. The story is simple but informative and heartfelt, and the illustrations are stunning. I am an aroace person and a proud auntie to three young niblings, and I would absolutely buy this book to read with them someday.

If you're looking for a way to introduce the kids in your life to aroace identiies, or just want those kids to have diverse books in general, I would highly recommend giving this a look.

Love Looks Like Lola, written by Cody Daigle-Orians and beautifully illustrated by Sian Coules-Milne, is a brilliant book about love, teaching children how love can manifest in many different ways.
Within this story, the characters explain what it is to be aroace in a very child friendly way. It also comes complete with an adult explanation for the aro and ace communities.
I would recommend this book to children aged 4-7.

This is a very cute and sweet children's book. As an asexual reader, I think this is a perfect way to explain what aroace is to a child. I love the questions at the back to get kids thinking deeper. Love takes many forms. I love that this book shows them. It also has a very diverse cast and is well illustrated. I would highly recommend it for parents looking to expand their children's knowledge of different LGBTQIA+ orientations.

A lovely positive short children’s story about a complicated topic. Despite being very difficult for young children to fully understand, I feel this book does a great job. I read this with my daughter and it led to healthy conversations and questions that can only help her level of understanding and acceptance. Overall, a beautiful illustrated story for young readers.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

this book was so incredibly beautiful! the story was simple but so incredibly sweet and heartwarming whilst also being educational! it really explains what it means to be aroace in such an accessible way which i think is so important!
having these kinds of books published allows both children and adults to understand the world better.
also the art style was super vibrant and absolutely gorgeous which just enhanced the story!

i would highly recommend this to anyone but especially to those with kids who may be wanting a wholesome story that also offers a bit of education on the queer community!!

I absolutely adore this picture book, it explains aromantic and asexual identity in such a beautiful way and I dare anyone of any age to come out of this book without a deeper understanding of the aroace experience. I think what is especially important is that this story really highlighted all of the different ways aroace people experience deep and meaningful relationships and love that is incredibly fulfilling. I am so excited for this to be out in the world and that now there is a resource for children to learn more about asexuality and aromanticism.

This is a beautifully illustrated and heart warming story that celebrates the many different ways love can look. The cover immediately stands out with its bright, colourful, spring-like feel and that same warmth carries through the book. The illustrations are full of detail, giving children plenty to spot and talk about on each page.
A very meaningful aspect of this book is its introduction of the term aroace in a way that feels simple and accessible for children. It gently opens up conversations about identity, showing love doesn't have to follow one specific pattern to be real or meaningful. Lola's world includes her friends, people from her community and colleagues which shows what love and family can look like.
I really liked how the story highlights kindness and community. Lola volunteers to help improve her neighbourhood, which adds a lovely message about caring for others and working together to make things better.
The ending is especially joyful with a surprise anniversary celebration at the park surrounded by all the people they love. It brings together the themes of family, friendship and community in a satisfying way.
A particularly nice touch is the inclusion of discussion questions at the end of the book. These make it a great choice for shared reading, making it easier to talk more deeply about the themes and ideas.

What a positive and informative book for a younger audience. I think this is a great book to introduce children to different identities that are not talked about.
I know it wasn't something that I was ever taught; I had to go out of my way to educate myself when I was older.
Books like this are super important for not only our youth but anyone of any age.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

A picture book about asexual and aromantic identities!?!?! I had to read it immediately. Thank goodness it was available as read now on NetGalley.

I love picture books. They aren't just great for kids, they can also be a great primer for adults. Cody Daigle-Orians did a phenomenal job at balancing information with illustrations. I will be adding this to my library's request list as soon as I possibly can.

When I saw that this was about being aroace, I knew that I had to read it. I've recently started to identify as aroace myself, and I'll be completely honest — this book actually made me tear up a little bit!

When Claire spends a weekend with Aunt Lola and watches her parents' anniversary video, she becomes worried that her aunt may be unhappy without marriage or romance. Aunt Lola then explains that she is aroace and that she can love people without those things, showing Claire the many different ways love can exist in someone's life outside of romantic relationships and how it can be just as fulfilling and meaningful as romantic love.

I really appreciated this book for how it challenged amatonormativity while celebrating all types of love and connection. The illustrations were lovely (the diversity was great!), and the text was arranged nicely on each page. Finally, I appreciated the guide and questions at the end to encourage further conversation and reflection.

Overall, this is a sweet and supportive story that shows how love exists in so many forms, and that all of them matter. Books like this are so important, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone wanting to introduce younger readers to these topics.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review***

Claire's parents are going away for their anniversary, leaving her with Aunt Lola. Hanging out together is always a good time, but Claire also wants to help celebrate the occasion. Aunt Lola puts on the video of Claire's parents' wedding, so it can feel like they are actually there.

Claire notices that Aunt Lola didn't attend the wedding with anyone. She wants her aunt to be happy and in love too, and is concerned that she doesn't have a partner.

Aunt Lola explains that marriage and love in the traditional sense are not things that she desires because she is aroace. This means that she gives and accepts love in other non-romantic, non-physical ways.

They decide to throw Claire's parents a surprise anniversary party, and Aunt Lola takes her around town to meet some of the important people in her life that will help them plan it.

Claire learns that being single doesn't always mean you're alone. Aunt Lola's life is full of people that she loves in her own way. Heteronormativity has always tried to tell kids that the goal is to grow up, get married, and have children. Anyone who strays from the ideal is looked down upon, like there is something wrong with them for not wanting what everyone does.

rep: aroace (Aunt Lola), Black (Claire's mother, Claire [1/2], disability (Mr. Harrison, unnamed character in bookstore scene, either Patrick or Charlie in the cleanup scene - unclear who is who), nonbinary (Zoe), transgender (Patrick or Charlie in cleanup scene - unclear who is who)

Love Looks Like Lola was informative in a way children will understand. They could relate and learn about others who may be different from them. It teaches abour Aroace people and how they love but don't need a special person to be with them. Will be recommending to my school library and my community public library.

What an adorable book that explains what being aroace is! The illustrations were gorgeous. I loved how the author explored what love looks like.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the e-ARC of this absolutely heart warming children's book. I was sincerely moved by this seemingly simple children's book about a young, curious girl and her aunt Lola. Lola teaches her niece that love doesn't have to be romantic to be genuine. I absolutely loved this. Charming illustrations complete the story.

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book about being yourself and being happy about it. The pictures are really cute!

Love Looks Like Lola is a warm, tender reminder that love has never been one-size-fits-all. With heart, gentleness, and care, it celebrates aroace identity while opening space for children to understand that connection, belonging, and chosen family are just as meaningful as romance. Thoughtful, affirming, and beautifully inviting, this feels like exactly the kind of book young readers should grow up with.

as a single, queer aunt to two amazing nephews, i loved this book so much. my niblings are 2 and 5, so they're still a little young to understand some things, but conversations like this are starting to happen. they want to know about the rainbow flag in my house, why i don't have a husband like their mom does, and i know they'll only ask and understand more as they get older. i've never seen a book about this kind of love before, or just the experience of being an adult who's complete without the traditional romantic milestones, and it made me feel so seen. it's short, sweet, simple, and made me smile so hard. i will buy this book and give it to my nephews. we'll read it together. i can't wait.

i read this book in the netgalley reader so that i could see the colors and layout correctly. everything is so cute!! one note on formatting: on some pages with light/beige backgrounds, it's a little hard to read the white text (at least digitally, maybe its better in print?).

When I saw this, I knew I immediately had to check it out because I am asexual and questioning if I am on the aromantic spectrum. I think this is a really good book to introduce kids to the fact that not everyone experiences romantic or sexual feelings, and that is completely fine. I also love the representation, and I would most likely be using this to teach my own kids to teach them about aroace.

ratings:
- plot: 10/10
- illustrations: 10/10