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Finally Loved
Can you meet The One in the middle of being dumped?
Neve thought she’d finally found someone who would love her, but here she is, getting dumped again. Perhaps it would be less embarrassing if it were happening in private—and with words she hadn’t heard time and time again. Or, perhaps she’s destined to never find real love. At least, that’s how it feels until she runs directly into her very own knight in shining armor.
Alba is perfectly happy dating, but nothing seems to stick. It seems every one of her friends knows her type, but something is always missing. However, when she collides with Neve, the challenge is on to try not falling for someone who is both exactly her type and one of the most wonderful people she’s ever met.
As the pair get closer, Neve’s life as she knows it falls apart, but Alba is there to help pick up the pieces. With interfering friends, the fear of never finding love, and Neve attempting to navigate the complications of dating while ace, will the two take a risk on what’s growing between them, or ignore it to preserve the friendship neither wants to lose?
Finally Loved is a slow burn romance featuring only one bed, found family, and an ace-allo romance with communication around intimacy and boundaries. Content warnings for toxic friends, friendship breakup, romantic breakup (not main couple), discussions of past pressure around intimacy, aphobia, and reference to an off-screen toxic family with no contact.
Neve thought she’d finally found someone who would love her, but here she is, getting dumped again. Perhaps it would be less embarrassing if it were happening in private—and with words she hadn’t heard time and time again. Or, perhaps she’s destined to never find real love. At least, that’s how it feels until she runs directly into her very own knight in shining armor.
Alba is perfectly happy dating, but nothing seems to stick. It seems every one of her friends knows her type, but something is always missing. However, when she collides with Neve, the challenge is on to try not falling for someone who is both exactly her type and one of the most wonderful people she’s ever met.
As the pair get closer, Neve’s life as she knows it falls apart, but Alba is there to help pick up the pieces. With interfering friends, the fear of never finding love, and Neve attempting to navigate the complications of dating while ace, will the two take a risk on what’s growing between them, or ignore it to preserve the friendship neither wants to lose?
Finally Loved is a slow burn romance featuring only one bed, found family, and an ace-allo romance with communication around intimacy and boundaries. Content warnings for toxic friends, friendship breakup, romantic breakup (not main couple), discussions of past pressure around intimacy, aphobia, and reference to an off-screen toxic family with no contact.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 18, 2025
Can’t really get over the fact a huge revelation was done off-page!! Like really? Man I would’ve loved to be a fly on that wall. Also, to hell with you Roxanne!!!
June 7, 2026
As someone who's been dumped by my girlfriend a few days ago, because she suddenly decided she wasn't fine with me being ace after all, I could deeply relate to Neve.
The last 25% felt a little rushed and I think the book could and should have been longer.
I would've liked to see more of them as a couple.
But overall I really liked the characters and thought they were cute together.
Neve has my heart and I'm so happy that Alba is so understanding and sweet to her.
Hope to find my own Alba one day.
The last 25% felt a little rushed and I think the book could and should have been longer.
I would've liked to see more of them as a couple.
But overall I really liked the characters and thought they were cute together.
Neve has my heart and I'm so happy that Alba is so understanding and sweet to her.
Hope to find my own Alba one day.
March 12, 2025
This was an excellent story about the feeling of not fitting in as an asexual person in an allosexual world and wondering if it's fair to ask a partner to give up sex to be in a relationship with you. Neve is clearly deeply traumatized by both her past relationships where she's been literally abused by being forced into sex or shamed for not providing it and also by a toxic friend who is deeply controlling.
Anyway, Alba is lovely and I'm really pleased that we have a story where Neve goes to therapy and works through the guilt she feels and the gunshyness about getting in a relationship with any more allo people as an asexual person. This is very cute and sweet and I love the HEA.
Anyway, Alba is lovely and I'm really pleased that we have a story where Neve goes to therapy and works through the guilt she feels and the gunshyness about getting in a relationship with any more allo people as an asexual person. This is very cute and sweet and I love the HEA.
July 27, 2026
Sorry- just too slow for me: sad that the Ace was a weak character and spent most of the first half in tears. Skip read.
December 27, 2024
Oh boy do I have mixed feelings on this one! I feel like this is a great novel with a bunch of problems (as opposed to a bad novel with good parts). Initially I was absolutely in love with this novel and it was on track for 5-stars but then some things jumped out at me that threw me off in big ways. I am struggling to determine if these were minor things that I am blowing out of proportion, or if my criticisms are valid. Anyways, this was a good book but with some things that bothered me.
Assume there are a bunch of SPOILERS below because I’m just going to rant honestly:
My Rating: "C+"
GoodReads: 3-stars
High points:
-The writing was awesome.
-The dialogue was witty and hilarious and I loved it. The banter between the characters was delightful and really made a positive impact.
-The novel showcases some interesting relationship dynamics, and focuses on friendships in ways that are often overlooked in romance-focused novels.
Criticisms:
-My biggest complaint: WHEN did Neve reveal to Alba that she was ace?? For me this was a big issue that I simply couldn’t get past. This is a major plot point, and I expected to see a scene where this conversation took place. This is a major plot element of the novel and it was addressed off-screen?? What we saw was that Alba was thinking sexy thoughts about Neve in one scene and then suddenly in the next one she was fully aware of her asexuality and implied that they had discussed it at length. She was also aware (somehow) that this was what caused all of the prior relationship breakdowns. This was never discussed in the novel though! I actually re-read the book because I wanted to ensure that I didn’t miss it.
-Piggybacking on above, this was a common issue. There seemed to be a lot of conversation or scenes that we can assume happened off screen but we don’t see it, and we don’t even get properly told that it happened. This is just weak storytelling, and left me confused and assuming that I missed bits.
-Alba assumes for most of the novel that they cant have a relationship together but we are never told why. At the very start she is trying to be a good friend (while thinking lusty thoughts) but then she switches to knowing about the asexuality and being certain that Neve doesn’t want a relationship (but she does). Where did this assertion come from? I couldn’t ever find Alba’s motivation for this fairly important point.
-We never saw a good relationship between Neve and Charlie, or any examples of it ever being good. Neve doubles down hard on the fact that Charlie was important to her and a good friend but because we never saw any trace of that it was hard to care about the friendship relationship breakdown. I never felt like there were any stakes or conflict for this point, it was 100% objectively clear what should happen.
-Neve had a therapist the whole time? Who knows the inns-and-outs of the people she mentions and the whole situation? This just didn’t fit for me. Neve did NOT act like someone who actively goes to therapy. Some of the revelatory pieces of advice she was given in the novel were therapy 101 and would have been discussed before. Also, how on earth did Neve’s toxic relationship with Charlie go unchallenged if she had a long time therapist that she sees regularly? It just didn’t fit.
-So many little details were missing or strange. For example, what do the characters do for a living? They have jobs, and one scene takes place in Neve’s office, but there is no mention of what they do. This made the characters seem rather shallow and undeveloped.
Assume there are a bunch of SPOILERS below because I’m just going to rant honestly:
My Rating: "C+"
GoodReads: 3-stars
High points:
-The writing was awesome.
-The dialogue was witty and hilarious and I loved it. The banter between the characters was delightful and really made a positive impact.
-The novel showcases some interesting relationship dynamics, and focuses on friendships in ways that are often overlooked in romance-focused novels.
Criticisms:
-My biggest complaint: WHEN did Neve reveal to Alba that she was ace?? For me this was a big issue that I simply couldn’t get past. This is a major plot point, and I expected to see a scene where this conversation took place. This is a major plot element of the novel and it was addressed off-screen?? What we saw was that Alba was thinking sexy thoughts about Neve in one scene and then suddenly in the next one she was fully aware of her asexuality and implied that they had discussed it at length. She was also aware (somehow) that this was what caused all of the prior relationship breakdowns. This was never discussed in the novel though! I actually re-read the book because I wanted to ensure that I didn’t miss it.
-Piggybacking on above, this was a common issue. There seemed to be a lot of conversation or scenes that we can assume happened off screen but we don’t see it, and we don’t even get properly told that it happened. This is just weak storytelling, and left me confused and assuming that I missed bits.
-Alba assumes for most of the novel that they cant have a relationship together but we are never told why. At the very start she is trying to be a good friend (while thinking lusty thoughts) but then she switches to knowing about the asexuality and being certain that Neve doesn’t want a relationship (but she does). Where did this assertion come from? I couldn’t ever find Alba’s motivation for this fairly important point.
-We never saw a good relationship between Neve and Charlie, or any examples of it ever being good. Neve doubles down hard on the fact that Charlie was important to her and a good friend but because we never saw any trace of that it was hard to care about the friendship relationship breakdown. I never felt like there were any stakes or conflict for this point, it was 100% objectively clear what should happen.
-Neve had a therapist the whole time? Who knows the inns-and-outs of the people she mentions and the whole situation? This just didn’t fit for me. Neve did NOT act like someone who actively goes to therapy. Some of the revelatory pieces of advice she was given in the novel were therapy 101 and would have been discussed before. Also, how on earth did Neve’s toxic relationship with Charlie go unchallenged if she had a long time therapist that she sees regularly? It just didn’t fit.
-So many little details were missing or strange. For example, what do the characters do for a living? They have jobs, and one scene takes place in Neve’s office, but there is no mention of what they do. This made the characters seem rather shallow and undeveloped.
June 19, 2026
I haven't found too many books covering ace sexuality, so I was looking forward to this one. Neve is dumped by her current girlfriend at the Best Buy. I gotta admit it was extra cruel and needless to say, she was emotionally crushed. Running away crying and broken she actually runs into Alba. Alba comforts her and gives her a ride home. Alba cannot get Neve out of her mind and visits a restaurant near Neve's apartment. As karma would have it, they meet again and find a mutual interest. Alba and Neve's budding relationship is soft, cute and so loving. But one of my peeves with this book is how friendship is handled. Both Neve and Alba's besties are jerks. I had a hard time enjoying the story with the harshness that "friends" dealt out to each other. So, I'm giving this 3 stars just for Neve.
July 23, 2024
Neve is standing in the store aisle surrounded by refrigerators and other home appliances, but all she can hear is her girlfriend dumping her. Alba is the beautiful and mysterious stranger who comforts and supports her immediately after the breakup.
At the beginning of this story we feel Neve’s anguish, her heartbreak. It is written in such a way as to really get to the reader. We feel Neve’s hopelessness, her devastation. But we get to see and feel the journey Neve and Alba are on.
I love this book. There are lots of little funny moments, some LOL moments, witty banter, loving comments - even before Alba and Neve really realise their attraction themselves.
Part of this story is an exploration of Neve’s internal monologue, and she is a worrier. However, unlike many other books with a similar character, Neve comes across as a loveable worrier, someone we all would want to help in any way possible. This contrasts well with Alba being a laid back, seemingly constantly happy woman. There is much to read between the lines here, and lots of discussion and examination of Neve’s feelings
Neve is asexual, and there is so much discussion of that in this story, that means we get to see Neve and her emotional attraction to Alba, and her worries about being ace - worrying if she won’t be enough for Alba. This is handled extremely well, with so much care that we feel a deep empathy for Neve. That is just so beautiful. Because of the subject of Neve’s asexualism, there are no steamy scenes in this story. However this is really not a problem, as the book is exceptionally well written. We as a reader feel a part of Alba and Neve’s lives. We get to experience the wonder of their budding relationship, their excitement as they each realise that their romantic and emotional attraction is not one-sided, and especially for Neve, that she is worth loving.
At the beginning of this story we feel Neve’s anguish, her heartbreak. It is written in such a way as to really get to the reader. We feel Neve’s hopelessness, her devastation. But we get to see and feel the journey Neve and Alba are on.
I love this book. There are lots of little funny moments, some LOL moments, witty banter, loving comments - even before Alba and Neve really realise their attraction themselves.
Part of this story is an exploration of Neve’s internal monologue, and she is a worrier. However, unlike many other books with a similar character, Neve comes across as a loveable worrier, someone we all would want to help in any way possible. This contrasts well with Alba being a laid back, seemingly constantly happy woman. There is much to read between the lines here, and lots of discussion and examination of Neve’s feelings
Neve is asexual, and there is so much discussion of that in this story, that means we get to see Neve and her emotional attraction to Alba, and her worries about being ace - worrying if she won’t be enough for Alba. This is handled extremely well, with so much care that we feel a deep empathy for Neve. That is just so beautiful. Because of the subject of Neve’s asexualism, there are no steamy scenes in this story. However this is really not a problem, as the book is exceptionally well written. We as a reader feel a part of Alba and Neve’s lives. We get to experience the wonder of their budding relationship, their excitement as they each realise that their romantic and emotional attraction is not one-sided, and especially for Neve, that she is worth loving.
August 26, 2024
Okay this was SOOOO good.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Definitely not the type of book I usually read but I always find myself drawn in by Jacqueline Ramsden books because of how real and emotional they are. This book was so interesting to me because I actually learned so much about some things I don't have too much insight into. And at the same time I was pulled in by all the emotions, acceptance, and love.
Definitely not the type of book I usually read but I always find myself drawn in by Jacqueline Ramsden books because of how real and emotional they are. This book was so interesting to me because I actually learned so much about some things I don't have too much insight into. And at the same time I was pulled in by all the emotions, acceptance, and love.
July 28, 2024
Neve and Albas journey is a story of unconditional love and unapologetically uplifting those around you. Neve gets hurt time and again by the people she is supposed to trust. Until Alba steps in. Alba is open, honest and doesn't judge. Alba is who we all should strive to be in a friendship and a relationship. She supports Neve, gives an opinion but doesn't expect her to share it. The world would be a better place with more Albas in it.
This is very much a hurt/comfort book with one of those special friendships, which seem to only exist in books. It's a fairy tale with villains left and right, but the only thing that matters is Neves personal journey. There is no cathartic revenge, because the villains aren't that important anymore. There is only love and acceptance.
This is one of my favourite books in 2024 and probably even an all-time favourite.
This is very much a hurt/comfort book with one of those special friendships, which seem to only exist in books. It's a fairy tale with villains left and right, but the only thing that matters is Neves personal journey. There is no cathartic revenge, because the villains aren't that important anymore. There is only love and acceptance.
This is one of my favourite books in 2024 and probably even an all-time favourite.
July 31, 2024
Wonderful, wholesome, and oh so beautiful. It's a tale of healing, love, found family, and of finding that special someone who understands you for who you are, and accepts you for who you are. Ace rep isn't something that you often find in a book, especially in a romance one, but it is sorely needed, and here it is handled so well. Jacqueline Ramsden's books have definitely become a must read for me now, every one highly enjoyable, and a lovely read.
July 28, 2024
This was a superbly done book! So well
Written and engaging from start to finish. I was immediately captured by Neve and so so happy that she was able to find her happily ever after. The communication throughout between our MCs in particular was so amazing and beautiful. Alba. Whew. She is the friend we all would want by our side. The kind of person that is truly a good person, in character and personality. Neve too! I loved getting to follow along as she found her strength and confidence in herself and in her sexuality. Highly recommend!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Written and engaging from start to finish. I was immediately captured by Neve and so so happy that she was able to find her happily ever after. The communication throughout between our MCs in particular was so amazing and beautiful. Alba. Whew. She is the friend we all would want by our side. The kind of person that is truly a good person, in character and personality. Neve too! I loved getting to follow along as she found her strength and confidence in herself and in her sexuality. Highly recommend!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 13, 2024
This was such a cute book! It was a fast and easy read. I really appreciated the way a sexuality was explained and explored. Honestly I’d love to see more of how the MCs navigate it in their relationship. There’s no angst between the two MCs and I felt like the relationship was very fast paced. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and found myself relating to Neve a lot!
August 4, 2024
Books With Asexual Main Characters Are Rare!
And this is also a great book. Neve is asexual but she blames herself for the failure of her relationships. And when she gets dumped at the mall by yet another person who tries to make her feel bad for being asexual, she ends up crying, then running out the door only to run smack into Alba. And once they’ve met, neither can get the other out of their minds.
This is a story about love, romantic love, trust, loyalty, and commitment without sex as a component. It’s also a story that shows that romantic love can flourish without sex in some cases.
And this is also a great book. Neve is asexual but she blames herself for the failure of her relationships. And when she gets dumped at the mall by yet another person who tries to make her feel bad for being asexual, she ends up crying, then running out the door only to run smack into Alba. And once they’ve met, neither can get the other out of their minds.
This is a story about love, romantic love, trust, loyalty, and commitment without sex as a component. It’s also a story that shows that romantic love can flourish without sex in some cases.
August 7, 2024
Excellent!
Excellent portrayal of an asexual (ace) character and the struggles she has in finding friends and a lover who are wholly accepting of her sexual identity. Beautifully written, this story gives the reader the opportunity to fully grasp and understand what it's like to be asexual and the impact that other peoples' acceptance (or lack thereof) can have on their life.
I think this is one of the author's best novels, and I'm very grateful to them for writing and publishing it, and bringing these characters to life.
Excellent portrayal of an asexual (ace) character and the struggles she has in finding friends and a lover who are wholly accepting of her sexual identity. Beautifully written, this story gives the reader the opportunity to fully grasp and understand what it's like to be asexual and the impact that other peoples' acceptance (or lack thereof) can have on their life.
I think this is one of the author's best novels, and I'm very grateful to them for writing and publishing it, and bringing these characters to life.
June 15, 2026
Finally Loved was a beautiful novel that had emotional but humourous main characters. The novel is a slow-burn that tackles self-acceptance and self-discovery with consideration for being on the ace spectrum. It also has a wealth of emotional intimacy alongside the fear of being unlovable as a prevalent theme.
One of the novel’s highest points is how much care it takes to address the representation of asexuality. Neve’s struggles—her self-doubt and worry that she isn’t "enough" for a partner—are explored with remarkable sensitivity. The book excels in its emotional depth. The early chapters immerse you in Neve’s heartbreak, making her journey toward accepting and choosing herself pretty real and fulfilling. The chemistry between the protagonists is built through witty banter, heartfelt conversations, and small but powerful moments of connection. While there are no steamy scenes, the emotional intimacy is more than enough to make their romance compelling.
Some aspects of the storyline that could be stronger—
- I know the MCs are adults, but I don't know anything about their jobs or their day-to-day activities
- Sometimes, it felt like conversations happened off-page and then were resolved for the reader on-page, but you weren’t able to “see the full picture”
- I didn’t know Neve was in therapy till like the last quarter of the book, and I mean, with everything going on, that seemed relevant info
- Sometimes, the internal monologues went on foreverrrrrr
Other Thoughts:
Roxanne’s character is a piece of work, and I wish her pillow is always hot on both sides.
Overall, Finally Loved was a touching story, and while it had some narrative hiccups, its heartfelt character development, authentic emotions, and beautiful exploration of love beyond conventional expectations made it a pretty good read for me personally.
One of the novel’s highest points is how much care it takes to address the representation of asexuality. Neve’s struggles—her self-doubt and worry that she isn’t "enough" for a partner—are explored with remarkable sensitivity. The book excels in its emotional depth. The early chapters immerse you in Neve’s heartbreak, making her journey toward accepting and choosing herself pretty real and fulfilling. The chemistry between the protagonists is built through witty banter, heartfelt conversations, and small but powerful moments of connection. While there are no steamy scenes, the emotional intimacy is more than enough to make their romance compelling.
Some aspects of the storyline that could be stronger—
- I know the MCs are adults, but I don't know anything about their jobs or their day-to-day activities
- Sometimes, it felt like conversations happened off-page and then were resolved for the reader on-page, but you weren’t able to “see the full picture”
- I didn’t know Neve was in therapy till like the last quarter of the book, and I mean, with everything going on, that seemed relevant info
- Sometimes, the internal monologues went on foreverrrrrr
Other Thoughts:
Roxanne’s character is a piece of work, and I wish her pillow is always hot on both sides.
Overall, Finally Loved was a touching story, and while it had some narrative hiccups, its heartfelt character development, authentic emotions, and beautiful exploration of love beyond conventional expectations made it a pretty good read for me personally.
September 3, 2024
When Neve's girlfriend dumps her in the middle of a store, listing reasons she's heard many times before... she is not ok. In her attempt to escape the electrical department, Neve runs headlong into Alba, who helps and comforts her.
We then follow Neve and Alba's journey as they navigate toxic friends, past trauma, expectations, intimacy, and feelings of safety in each other's arms.
This is a tale of Ace and Lesbian main characters, focusing on their needs and relationship goals. It's endearing and yet full of the harshness reality can bring.
A good read with well-developed characters, real issues, and a HEA ending... Who could ask for anything more?
*I received an advance reader copy of this book for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.*
We then follow Neve and Alba's journey as they navigate toxic friends, past trauma, expectations, intimacy, and feelings of safety in each other's arms.
This is a tale of Ace and Lesbian main characters, focusing on their needs and relationship goals. It's endearing and yet full of the harshness reality can bring.
A good read with well-developed characters, real issues, and a HEA ending... Who could ask for anything more?
*I received an advance reader copy of this book for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.*
June 20, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. I got the ARC of the book from the author and this is my honest review.
After only 20% I was hooked. I've previously liked the author's books and Finally Loved is no different. I really enjoy how the characters are built and introduced. You get to know them, what they feel and what they think, what are their motivators. The story builds up and is revealed slowly and I couldn't put the book down to find out more. There's also this intriguing vagueness in the author's style that allow the reader to make the characters their own. For example in Finally Loved main characters' ages, professions, physical appearances, geographic location etc. are left mostly unsaid. It's maybe easier to relate to the story and characters this way.
I've read only a few other romances with main characters on the aro-ace spectrum. I don't have personal experience so a book like Finally Loved - a book that is well written and researched - is really eye-opening and got me also invested in the love story.
Finally Loved is sweet and beautiful, at times also a bit heartaching, sapphic romance. There are some heavier topics and themes, too, but the good writing made it an enjoyable read.
After only 20% I was hooked. I've previously liked the author's books and Finally Loved is no different. I really enjoy how the characters are built and introduced. You get to know them, what they feel and what they think, what are their motivators. The story builds up and is revealed slowly and I couldn't put the book down to find out more. There's also this intriguing vagueness in the author's style that allow the reader to make the characters their own. For example in Finally Loved main characters' ages, professions, physical appearances, geographic location etc. are left mostly unsaid. It's maybe easier to relate to the story and characters this way.
I've read only a few other romances with main characters on the aro-ace spectrum. I don't have personal experience so a book like Finally Loved - a book that is well written and researched - is really eye-opening and got me also invested in the love story.
Finally Loved is sweet and beautiful, at times also a bit heartaching, sapphic romance. There are some heavier topics and themes, too, but the good writing made it an enjoyable read.
October 21, 2024
Wasn't quite sure how to rate this one. On one hand, I haven't read a lot of books with an ace MC, so this definitely was a welcome read. On the other hand, it kind of feels like there's something not quite right with the setting. I don't know how to explain it other than "it's like the book equivalent of a show filmed in front of a live audience."
There's at least one office scene, but I'm not entirely sure what Neve actually does. I don't even remember if Alba works at all. I do like this book, but there's just something missing.
There's at least one office scene, but I'm not entirely sure what Neve actually does. I don't even remember if Alba works at all. I do like this book, but there's just something missing.
March 18, 2025
2.5 rounded up. Why were things so disjointed?? Like...there were whole ass conversations that weren't shown, and those conversations were super important!
July 21, 2024
Neve meets the quirky but kindhearted Alba after a humiliating public breakup. The encounter leads to a friendship that everyone else seems to think should be a romance, but Neve and Alba must decide if love is worth the risk to both their hearts.
Finally Loved is a beautiful, sweet, and delightfully awkward romance between two endearing characters. Neve is a bright, sensitive asexual woman who has been made to feel inferior by friends and romantic partners for years because of her identity. Alba becomes her eccentric yet adorable knight in shining armor. Although their relationship mostly takes center stage, that position is shared by Neve’s poignant journey toward independence and self-acceptance. Alba’s warm concern supports that journey, even as she struggles with how fast her heart gets entangled in it. A colorful cast of side characters both smooth and clutter the bumpy road to love, especially Charlie, the emotionally manipulative roommate and Zainab, the glamorous wiseass with a heart of gold. Their presence adds angst and entertainment to the story while driving home the point that true love thrives best in an accepting community.
For readers looking for a deep yet funny and heartwarming sapphic romance with excellent ace representation Finally Loved is rare gem of a novel.
Finally Loved is a beautiful, sweet, and delightfully awkward romance between two endearing characters. Neve is a bright, sensitive asexual woman who has been made to feel inferior by friends and romantic partners for years because of her identity. Alba becomes her eccentric yet adorable knight in shining armor. Although their relationship mostly takes center stage, that position is shared by Neve’s poignant journey toward independence and self-acceptance. Alba’s warm concern supports that journey, even as she struggles with how fast her heart gets entangled in it. A colorful cast of side characters both smooth and clutter the bumpy road to love, especially Charlie, the emotionally manipulative roommate and Zainab, the glamorous wiseass with a heart of gold. Their presence adds angst and entertainment to the story while driving home the point that true love thrives best in an accepting community.
For readers looking for a deep yet funny and heartwarming sapphic romance with excellent ace representation Finally Loved is rare gem of a novel.
July 30, 2024
Finally Loved is a romantic story about an Asexual character Neve, who embarks on a journey to learn to accept who she is as well as find her independence all while having met Alba. Alba who in herself is a warm and supportive friend who is there to offer support to her friend. Despite her struggles, she maintains her support of Neve and their romance blossoms. Their romance is what some would call sweet, a bit on the awkward side, but in the end, it is truly beautiful. I don’t want to give too much away. All I will say is that this story had everything you were looking for with some angst, which we can thank Charlie and Zainab for that. I truly enjoyed the diversity and relatable ensemble in Finally Loved - Jaqueline has written a beautiful and captivating story.
I came across this author and their book one night while on social media. I was drawn in by the cover. I reached out and asked for an ARC copy of the book for an honest review. I received the book. I downloaded the book from BookSprout and couldn’t put it down once I started reading. I must say this is a book I will be recommending should be read more than once.
I reached out and asked for an ARC copy of the book for an honest review.
I came across this author and their book one night while on social media. I was drawn in by the cover. I reached out and asked for an ARC copy of the book for an honest review. I received the book. I downloaded the book from BookSprout and couldn’t put it down once I started reading. I must say this is a book I will be recommending should be read more than once.
I reached out and asked for an ARC copy of the book for an honest review.
September 10, 2024
“Finally Loved” is A Wonderfully Written Lesson Of Acceptance!
I loved this book. The leads, Neve and Alba were strong characters. Neve has been so insecure after several breakups because she is asexual and now being broken up with again in a Best Buy with her overnight bags sitting in her now exes car. Walking away upset she slams into Alba. Alba sees a woman crying and needs to help by getting her away from the mall entrance and letting her cry it out. As these two walk a path through friendship, nothing but understanding and respect comes from Alba. It is what Neve needed. When her friend/roommate makes a disparaging comment against her disguised as help and protection, Neve bolts right into Alba’s arms. As Neve and Alba learn more about each other, each are experiencing something more than friendship. Mostly both need to understand that who they are and what they represent needs to be layer out to each other if they are going to move forward. Oh and it has a sweet HEA that is important to the story. A book that teaches us how to handle gender identity and what it means to the individual and also what control someone can hold over you when you don’t believe in yourself. I think this is the best of Jacqueline Ramsden!
I loved this book. The leads, Neve and Alba were strong characters. Neve has been so insecure after several breakups because she is asexual and now being broken up with again in a Best Buy with her overnight bags sitting in her now exes car. Walking away upset she slams into Alba. Alba sees a woman crying and needs to help by getting her away from the mall entrance and letting her cry it out. As these two walk a path through friendship, nothing but understanding and respect comes from Alba. It is what Neve needed. When her friend/roommate makes a disparaging comment against her disguised as help and protection, Neve bolts right into Alba’s arms. As Neve and Alba learn more about each other, each are experiencing something more than friendship. Mostly both need to understand that who they are and what they represent needs to be layer out to each other if they are going to move forward. Oh and it has a sweet HEA that is important to the story. A book that teaches us how to handle gender identity and what it means to the individual and also what control someone can hold over you when you don’t believe in yourself. I think this is the best of Jacqueline Ramsden!
August 18, 2024
Oh, I so wanted to love this book... It is so rare to see Ace representation, and I have to say, the author does that really well. The struggles the mc has feel so real and the way this particular part of her identity is fleshed out in the book is amazing to read. Unfortunately, everything else in the book is kind of a mess. The narrative is at times all over the place, and I would find myself sometimes wondering if I had skipped over the part of the book that mentioned something that was just thrown in there. For example, in the last quarter of the book, we find out that one of the MCs has a therapist that, despite everything that had happened to her before, never once got mentioned. Also, we never really learn what their jobs are, even though there are scenes that take place in that environment (it might not be relevant to the story, but it bothered me). Those are just two examples, but there are a lot more I can think of. To me, the lack of these and other simple details that could have been mentioned in a single line would help the reader get to know the characters better, and it really tainted my enjoyment of the book
December 7, 2025
I recognise I'm saying this from a place of allo privilege but it really seems like sapphics should be all over ace sapphics who just want to cuddle and talk about their feelings
so we have Neve, who is asexual, and Alba, who is apparently the first sane person Neve has ever met. speaking of which, we spend a lot of the book untangling Neve's entanglements with her ex-girlfriend and her overbearing lesbian friend-parents (actually weird and toxic). arguably too much of the book? to me it felt more like a chick lit drama about Neve getting away from all the psychos in her life rather than a romance between her and Alba
not that Alba isn't delightful and I'm sure Neve and Alba have a wonderful life together, it's just the parts that are actually in the book are Neve and Alba spending a fair amount of time in sapphic indecision while Neve works through her issues with everyone in her life other than Alba. then they decide they're dating, then the book ends almost immediately afterwards
also god I hope Neve's ex-girlfriend and Neve's former best friend aren't pulled from real life experiences because holy shit those two are insane
so we have Neve, who is asexual, and Alba, who is apparently the first sane person Neve has ever met. speaking of which, we spend a lot of the book untangling Neve's entanglements with her ex-girlfriend and her overbearing lesbian friend-parents (actually weird and toxic). arguably too much of the book? to me it felt more like a chick lit drama about Neve getting away from all the psychos in her life rather than a romance between her and Alba
not that Alba isn't delightful and I'm sure Neve and Alba have a wonderful life together, it's just the parts that are actually in the book are Neve and Alba spending a fair amount of time in sapphic indecision while Neve works through her issues with everyone in her life other than Alba. then they decide they're dating, then the book ends almost immediately afterwards
also god I hope Neve's ex-girlfriend and Neve's former best friend aren't pulled from real life experiences because holy shit those two are insane
July 24, 2024
Neve is a heartbroken asexual who believes she's at fault for all her relationship failures. After being dumped in the middle of Best Buy, she literally runs into the arms of Alba as she rushes from the store. As the story progresses, Neve and Alba eventually become friends. This book is extremely well written and believably portrays Neve's emotional journey and the budding relationship between an ace and an allo along with the commutation necessary for it to work. We see worrywart Neve struggle with her asexuality because those around her see it as a negative trait instead of simply a minor part of who she is. Easygoing Alba and her band of friends help Neve see there's more to her than her sexuality and that she deserves love and friendship. There's plenty of humor, too, especially with the witty banter between Alba and her best friend. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 27, 2024
Finally Loved is another sweet romance from Jacqueline Ramsden that hit all the right notes for me. I particularly resonated with Neve and her journey toward self-acceptance, as like her, I’ve often felt like something was wrong with me, because of my identity, as I’m also ace. While our experiences aren’t exactly the same, I enjoyed seeing her realize she doesn’t have to compromise on what she’s looking for in this regard.
Alba was also easy to empathize with, as she wears her heart on her sleeve. I love how she immediately bonded with Neve and offered her emotional support. The romance that develops is tentative, but beautiful, and I loved how it grew in such a positive and fairly healthy way, amidst the negative influences around them.
This was another enjoyable read from Jacqueline Ramsden, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a slow-burn, contemporary sapphic romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alba was also easy to empathize with, as she wears her heart on her sleeve. I love how she immediately bonded with Neve and offered her emotional support. The romance that develops is tentative, but beautiful, and I loved how it grew in such a positive and fairly healthy way, amidst the negative influences around them.
This was another enjoyable read from Jacqueline Ramsden, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a slow-burn, contemporary sapphic romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 16, 2024
Have you ever picked up a book and it transports you directly into an embarrassing scene? It’s interesting that our intro to Neve begins with what she'd consider an embarrassing moment. But just wait! Keep reading 'cause then we meet Alba. What a way to meet our other main character that has just so much love, care, and kindness for those she doesn’t know! If you want to know what I’m referring to, read Finally Loved! I love this heartwarming story and all the steps that it took for Neve to find her other half. Neve had to meet lots of frogs before finding her forever partner in Alba. It’s such a sweet heart-wrenching story sometimes that just fills your heart with how Alba stole Neve’s heart. Alba’s love for Neve snuck up on her slowly and quietly. Enjoy this heart warming lovely story.
July 31, 2024
The shame and angst of the MC is visceral. Further, swap out any perceived 'failure' or 'weakness' and it's easy to empathise with her; I certainly wanted to stand beside her and donk a few heads on her behalf.
The author wrote on a topic that is often not romance MC material and, as such, there was so much to learn and/or know. While I understand what the author was trying to convey, there were some parts that felt more like an information dump.
Nonetheless, this book is so sweet and includes personal growth, resilience, self-acceptance and the setting of boundaries which, subsequently, allowed for people who support rather than control to step up. Genuine characters and a lovely romance.
The author wrote on a topic that is often not romance MC material and, as such, there was so much to learn and/or know. While I understand what the author was trying to convey, there were some parts that felt more like an information dump.
Nonetheless, this book is so sweet and includes personal growth, resilience, self-acceptance and the setting of boundaries which, subsequently, allowed for people who support rather than control to step up. Genuine characters and a lovely romance.
February 6, 2025
Wow. I haven’t read anything like this book before. Ever. I haven’t learned so much about sexuality and it really opened my eyes as to what type of relationships there could be.
Neve, a woman who just got dumped in the middle of best buy runs out of the store and into a woman, Alba. A total stranger. Alba comforts Neve in a way that she needed. Between Neve and her toxic friendships, past relationships and feeling like she has never been good enough for anyone because of her sexuality, Alba makes her feel like the most special woman on earth.
I absolutely adored the friendship between Alba and her best friend. It was everything and more!
If you want a book that’s light-hearted, quirky, fun and with some heavy topics sprinkled in there, this book is for you!
Neve, a woman who just got dumped in the middle of best buy runs out of the store and into a woman, Alba. A total stranger. Alba comforts Neve in a way that she needed. Between Neve and her toxic friendships, past relationships and feeling like she has never been good enough for anyone because of her sexuality, Alba makes her feel like the most special woman on earth.
I absolutely adored the friendship between Alba and her best friend. It was everything and more!
If you want a book that’s light-hearted, quirky, fun and with some heavy topics sprinkled in there, this book is for you!
September 17, 2024
This is a ridiculously beautiful read that exposes a difficult partnership!
Jacqueline Ramsden has provided a warm, sensitive delivery of an emotionally charged topic. Being asexual is difficult, different and decidedly little understood. This love story has provided a warm look at the issues surrounding falling in love with a “normal” and an “abnormal” as they grow and learn from each other in a healthy way. The main characters are well developed, the hard to like characters are necessary and offensive. The story is well written and leads the reader to understanding. It is delightful and heart warming.
Jacqueline Ramsden has provided a warm, sensitive delivery of an emotionally charged topic. Being asexual is difficult, different and decidedly little understood. This love story has provided a warm look at the issues surrounding falling in love with a “normal” and an “abnormal” as they grow and learn from each other in a healthy way. The main characters are well developed, the hard to like characters are necessary and offensive. The story is well written and leads the reader to understanding. It is delightful and heart warming.
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