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Being Aro: A Collection of Aromantic Fiction about Love, Connection, and Empowerment
Being Aro is a collection of short stories in genres like science fiction, fantasy, historical, and contemporary that shines a light on aromantic relationships and experiences, as well as the many other sub-identities under the aromantic umbrella.
From high-school matchmaking mishaps to battling book banning with dragons, this anthology is rich in imagination and diverse in its perspectives, showcasing aro characters that go on adventures, form friendships, and rise against the status quo.
Contributors include a mixture of established and emerging YA writers, such as Lammy Award-finalist Madeline Dyer, Lammy Award-nominated Rosiee Thor, USA Today bestselling Kemi Ashing-Giwa, and NYT bestselling authors Kalyn Josephson and Laura Pohl.
From high-school matchmaking mishaps to battling book banning with dragons, this anthology is rich in imagination and diverse in its perspectives, showcasing aro characters that go on adventures, form friendships, and rise against the status quo.
Contributors include a mixture of established and emerging YA writers, such as Lammy Award-finalist Madeline Dyer, Lammy Award-nominated Rosiee Thor, USA Today bestselling Kemi Ashing-Giwa, and NYT bestselling authors Kalyn Josephson and Laura Pohl.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Madeline Dyer
31 books280 followersMadeline Dyer is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. A novelist, poet, and anthologist, she is drawn to all things dark, spooky, and scary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I started reading this anthology with high expectations since this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. The idea behind the collection is beautiful: showing that there isn't just one way to be aromantic, but endless - I really liked that. Sadly, most of the stories felt lackluster and not very memorable to me. Still, there are a few good ones in here. I really liked 'Joust friends' and 'Thomas Marley's fake bride'. Good ideas, but the overall result was just okay.
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I’m so excited to read this soon! It’s one of my most anticipated reads of 2026
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I’m so excited to read this soon! It’s one of my most anticipated reads of 2026
April 25, 2026
3.5 stars
Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match by Ann Zhao
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a really sweet aroace awakening story. It was a bit goofy and a lot heartfelt. As with most good short stories, I desperately want more while appreciating it didn’t leave anything left unsaid.
The Binding by Soumi Roy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fascinating concept. I was worried it would be too short for all it was trying to tackle but it ended up being the perfect length for this story. I love the idea of aromantic people having the power to stop a God who feeds on love until they’re drained and empty.
Lovesick by Taka Owen
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Well this was…devastating. I feel like it would have worked a little better if it were a little longer. It was a bit info-dumpy and obviously, being so short, I felt nothing of the build-up of what eventuated. But that loneliness still punched me in the gut.
Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
⭐️.5
This one just bored me. I honestly skim read the second half of it because I wasn’t at all interested.
Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked this well enough but it did feel a little over-dramatic without any real context. But the characters were good and I liked the way it was resolved.
Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M. Carlisle
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a lot of fun. Very silly, sometimes a little over the top in its silliness, but enjoyable. I loved the very specific aro-allo rep and I loved the platonic marriage resolution.
Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I adored this. I only wish it were longer. This is the kind of incredible story that deserves more time and more fleshing out. But it was still really good as it was. I adored Mira and her fire and passion and I’d love a series of her travelling with her sword and cat.
Flying Solo by Claudie Arseneault
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a lot of fun but I didn’t really connect with the character. I loved the sci-fi of it all and the parallel of aromanticism vs this sci-fi pilot pairing.
Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a really cool concept. I loved the magic system, turning books into dragons that can go spread their tale. I loved this as a form of rebellion against book banning. But I also felt like this story was being too obvious, like the reader couldn’t be trusted to understand its meaning.
Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was brilliant! It was eerie and haunting and so full of compassion. I loved that Yoli had people in her life who understood and loved her as she was and because of that, she could show love and compassion and understanding to someone who’d done terrible things because she’d had no one.
Daughter of Tile by Madeline Dyer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a beautiful story of two people from very different worlds stumbling across one another and giving each other the strength to be as they are. I really loved the connection between Nala and Orla.
Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl
⭐️⭐️
I just didn’t connect with this one. It was an interesting idea but didn’t work for me as a short story. I never cared about the MC or what they were doing.
Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match by Ann Zhao
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a really sweet aroace awakening story. It was a bit goofy and a lot heartfelt. As with most good short stories, I desperately want more while appreciating it didn’t leave anything left unsaid.
The Binding by Soumi Roy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fascinating concept. I was worried it would be too short for all it was trying to tackle but it ended up being the perfect length for this story. I love the idea of aromantic people having the power to stop a God who feeds on love until they’re drained and empty.
Lovesick by Taka Owen
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Well this was…devastating. I feel like it would have worked a little better if it were a little longer. It was a bit info-dumpy and obviously, being so short, I felt nothing of the build-up of what eventuated. But that loneliness still punched me in the gut.
Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
⭐️.5
This one just bored me. I honestly skim read the second half of it because I wasn’t at all interested.
Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked this well enough but it did feel a little over-dramatic without any real context. But the characters were good and I liked the way it was resolved.
Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M. Carlisle
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a lot of fun. Very silly, sometimes a little over the top in its silliness, but enjoyable. I loved the very specific aro-allo rep and I loved the platonic marriage resolution.
Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I adored this. I only wish it were longer. This is the kind of incredible story that deserves more time and more fleshing out. But it was still really good as it was. I adored Mira and her fire and passion and I’d love a series of her travelling with her sword and cat.
Flying Solo by Claudie Arseneault
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a lot of fun but I didn’t really connect with the character. I loved the sci-fi of it all and the parallel of aromanticism vs this sci-fi pilot pairing.
Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a really cool concept. I loved the magic system, turning books into dragons that can go spread their tale. I loved this as a form of rebellion against book banning. But I also felt like this story was being too obvious, like the reader couldn’t be trusted to understand its meaning.
Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was brilliant! It was eerie and haunting and so full of compassion. I loved that Yoli had people in her life who understood and loved her as she was and because of that, she could show love and compassion and understanding to someone who’d done terrible things because she’d had no one.
Daughter of Tile by Madeline Dyer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a beautiful story of two people from very different worlds stumbling across one another and giving each other the strength to be as they are. I really loved the connection between Nala and Orla.
Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl
⭐️⭐️
I just didn’t connect with this one. It was an interesting idea but didn’t work for me as a short story. I never cared about the MC or what they were doing.
June 21, 2026
A few years after the enjoyable
Being Ace
anthology, Madeline Dyer is back and joins forces with Rosiee Thor for this companion anthology, Being Aro. This collection features twelve short stories, along with an introduction by Julie Sondra Decker. About the only thing the stories have in common is that the protagonist is arospec. Other than that, some are contemporary, others are science fiction or fantasy or historical, and they are all very fun. I received an eARC from NetGalley in return for a review.
The opening story, “Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match,” by Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy , grabbed me from the beginning. It’s such an understated story, and it ends so abruptly and left me wanting more—in a good way. Give me a whole novel with Kimberly! But seriously, Zhao gives us a questioning protagonist who is just trying to figure things out, and it is cute and ever-so-slightly heartbreaking.
That motif of heartbreak reverberates throughout Being Aro, I find. Some of these stories are very sad; others are more upbeat and even humorous. All of them acknowledge, however, the challenges inherent in being aromantic in a society that privileges romantic love. As an aro person myself, I actually had a hard time reading all these stories back to back (which is why it took me a while to get through this collection), because each one felt like another—albeit very fresh—punch in the gut. (Indeed, “Indulge the Other,” by Laura Pohl, was hard for me to get through because it was just so sad and bleak.) This is not a criticism, by the way, but rather praise for how well these authors all manage to develop aromantic themes in such limited space.
“Joust Friends,” by Rosiee Thor, is a great example of this. Once again, the plot itself is very simple: two friends go to a Renaissance fair, they have a tiff, and they split up. There’s some drama; the protagonist is exploring their gender identity and expression and runs into kids from school. It’s a whole thing.
In contrast, “Paper Rebellions,” by Rukman Ragas, is set in a fantasy world with a character who can transform books into living dragons. Their aromantic identity, while important, isn’t the main focus of the plot, which is much more a debate about the best way to fight fascism and what makes someone a collaborator. The scope and setting of this story is markedly different, yet it’s still ultimately a story of heartbreak, loss, and rediscovery.
Then there’s “Flying Solo,” by Claudie Arseneault, in which the title pulls double duty for the main character’s sexuality as well as his career choices. I really enjoyed reading a science fiction story by Arseneault, who brings her usual level of creativity and humanity to the tale.
There’s a great diversity in the protagonists and where they find themselves on the aro spectrum. Some are aroace like me. Some are demi, grey, or questioning. A few have fully accepted their identity and are even flourishing with it. A few find it quixotic, challenging, even dislike it. All of these feelings are valid.
Romance is having a moment and, in romantasy, encroaching on one of my beloved genres! I don’t begrudge anyone who enjoys reading romance. Yet as Decker notes in her introduction, when we assume that romance is a necessary ingredient in storytelling, it erases aromantic people—and it also devalues all the stories where other forms of relationships are in the foreground. At times, it reinforces heteronormativity. Yet even when we talk about queer love, too often there is an emphasis on romance because we want queer characters to have happy romantic endings to challenge that heteronormativity. And I get it, I really do—but there’s so many more possibilities.
Being Aro is an ode to those possibilities. Although none of the stories stands out to me, individually, as being something I’d discuss at length, all of them collected together form a powerful and broad exploration of aromanticism. I really enjoyed reading new stories from familiar authors and discovering some new names as well.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
The opening story, “Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match,” by Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy , grabbed me from the beginning. It’s such an understated story, and it ends so abruptly and left me wanting more—in a good way. Give me a whole novel with Kimberly! But seriously, Zhao gives us a questioning protagonist who is just trying to figure things out, and it is cute and ever-so-slightly heartbreaking.
That motif of heartbreak reverberates throughout Being Aro, I find. Some of these stories are very sad; others are more upbeat and even humorous. All of them acknowledge, however, the challenges inherent in being aromantic in a society that privileges romantic love. As an aro person myself, I actually had a hard time reading all these stories back to back (which is why it took me a while to get through this collection), because each one felt like another—albeit very fresh—punch in the gut. (Indeed, “Indulge the Other,” by Laura Pohl, was hard for me to get through because it was just so sad and bleak.) This is not a criticism, by the way, but rather praise for how well these authors all manage to develop aromantic themes in such limited space.
“Joust Friends,” by Rosiee Thor, is a great example of this. Once again, the plot itself is very simple: two friends go to a Renaissance fair, they have a tiff, and they split up. There’s some drama; the protagonist is exploring their gender identity and expression and runs into kids from school. It’s a whole thing.
In contrast, “Paper Rebellions,” by Rukman Ragas, is set in a fantasy world with a character who can transform books into living dragons. Their aromantic identity, while important, isn’t the main focus of the plot, which is much more a debate about the best way to fight fascism and what makes someone a collaborator. The scope and setting of this story is markedly different, yet it’s still ultimately a story of heartbreak, loss, and rediscovery.
Then there’s “Flying Solo,” by Claudie Arseneault, in which the title pulls double duty for the main character’s sexuality as well as his career choices. I really enjoyed reading a science fiction story by Arseneault, who brings her usual level of creativity and humanity to the tale.
There’s a great diversity in the protagonists and where they find themselves on the aro spectrum. Some are aroace like me. Some are demi, grey, or questioning. A few have fully accepted their identity and are even flourishing with it. A few find it quixotic, challenging, even dislike it. All of these feelings are valid.
Romance is having a moment and, in romantasy, encroaching on one of my beloved genres! I don’t begrudge anyone who enjoys reading romance. Yet as Decker notes in her introduction, when we assume that romance is a necessary ingredient in storytelling, it erases aromantic people—and it also devalues all the stories where other forms of relationships are in the foreground. At times, it reinforces heteronormativity. Yet even when we talk about queer love, too often there is an emphasis on romance because we want queer characters to have happy romantic endings to challenge that heteronormativity. And I get it, I really do—but there’s so many more possibilities.
Being Aro is an ode to those possibilities. Although none of the stories stands out to me, individually, as being something I’d discuss at length, all of them collected together form a powerful and broad exploration of aromanticism. I really enjoyed reading new stories from familiar authors and discovering some new names as well.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
April 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this anthology, just like the “being ace” one. I’m not huge on short stories collections, but I’ll never pass up on seeing representation like these ones. I did like some stories more than others and that is why I’m giving it a three stars, because it’s a balance of the different ratings. My favorite one was “lovesick”, I do enjoy zombies stories and this one was a really good one and packed a punch. Some of the lines in this collection had me in tears.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2026
What a good day to be demiromantic and to read a bunch of short stories featuring aro leads 🥹🫶🏻
Being Aro is such a delight to read, like a balm to the soul. Reminds me so much of all the times I hated the love at first sight trope in media, and the rushed or unnecessary romantic subplots. Here, on the other hand, we see stories where romance or romantic love isn't at the forefront and how that's more than okay. We see platonic love and relationships that matter equally as romantic love. And we see different aromantic people create their own story and live their truths. This is so special to me. 🥹
The stories go from contemporary to science fiction to fantasy. It's just amazing to see all these different stories and settings, and how aromantic identities and connection will look like in each character and each setting.
Some of my favorites are Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson (I knew Kalyn Josephson wouldn't disappoint 😆), Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl, and Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa.
Full review on the blog soon! Thank you so much to Page Street YA for sending an ARC 🥹
Being Aro is such a delight to read, like a balm to the soul. Reminds me so much of all the times I hated the love at first sight trope in media, and the rushed or unnecessary romantic subplots. Here, on the other hand, we see stories where romance or romantic love isn't at the forefront and how that's more than okay. We see platonic love and relationships that matter equally as romantic love. And we see different aromantic people create their own story and live their truths. This is so special to me. 🥹
The stories go from contemporary to science fiction to fantasy. It's just amazing to see all these different stories and settings, and how aromantic identities and connection will look like in each character and each setting.
Some of my favorites are Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson (I knew Kalyn Josephson wouldn't disappoint 😆), Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl, and Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa.
Full review on the blog soon! Thank you so much to Page Street YA for sending an ARC 🥹
[ Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: Read Queerly 2026.
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Storygraph | Fable | Blog
June 27, 2026
I needed this book, to the point where I feel like I know more about myself now than I did when I started to read it.
July 4, 2026
Nice to finally have some representation, if only in a handful of short stories.
July 9, 2026
Being Aro is a Young Adult anthology of 12 short stories, covering various genres around the lens of being aromantic and/or examining romantic love, covering many of the consequences that emerge. Some of them are literal, others are metaphoric. In just about all the stories, the protagonists feel like outcasts and felt relatable. I’ve only read from Ann Zhao in the past, but was willing to take a chance on some new to me authors. The stories were hit or miss, but I enjoyed a good chunk of them. As someone that is not a fan of shoehorned romance in stories or doesn’t like it when romance is held as “the most importance thing”, especially in teen media, this collection was a breath of fresh air. I also liked the introduction at the front of the book, explaining the aromantic concept. My favorites were The Binding, Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride, and Swordmaiden.
Overall score: 46/12= 3.83 stars, rounded to 4
Individual story reviews:
*Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match by Ann Zhao: A school-wide dating quiz turns into an exploration of romantic feelings for Kim. A neat contemporary story. 4/5
*The Binding by Soumi Roy: A village’s ritual leaves those without love as outcasts, but not everything is as it seems. A interesting concept made fantastical and twist of lack of attraction. 5/5
*Lovesick by Taka Owen: A virus to make people lovesick sweeps the world. I liked the concept and themes, but i didn’t entirely click with this one. 3/5
*Preservation by Demi Ashing-Giwa: A young person rebels after being made outcast by a rich family. This story written in a love letter format had a good idea, but the story itself felt like a miss. 2/5
*Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor: A day at the fair brings an insight about relationships. Starts slow, but was fine with it by the end. 3/5
*Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M. Carlisle: A noble young man schemes his way to a fake bride. A fun fast paced fantasy and enjoyed every minute of this one. 5/5
*Swordmaiden by Kalyn Joesphson: A sword creating maiden reluctant to marry opens her up to the truth of her duty. A fun fantasy story that gripped me the whole way through. 5/5
*Flying Solo by Claudie Arsenualt: In a fleet depended on dual flying, a pilot wants to fly solo. This was a fun space faring story with interesting characters. 4/5
*Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas: A magical archivist has to fight book bans. This was okay and had some interesting concepts, but it felt too “ripped from the headlines” and was missing connective tissue. 3/5
*Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel: A young woman tries to avoid a family cure of misery or death on her 18th birthday. A interesting horror story with interesting characters. 4/5
*Daughter of Time by Madeline Dyer: An experiment brings two young women from different times together to learn about connections. A fun story, but I wish some things were explained a bit more. 4/5
*Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl: A robot builds new creations over the years, which keeps being destroyed. The second person narrative works and I was intrigued by the concept. 4/5
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Page Street YA. All opinions are my own.*
Overall score: 46/12= 3.83 stars, rounded to 4
Individual story reviews:
*Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match by Ann Zhao: A school-wide dating quiz turns into an exploration of romantic feelings for Kim. A neat contemporary story. 4/5
*The Binding by Soumi Roy: A village’s ritual leaves those without love as outcasts, but not everything is as it seems. A interesting concept made fantastical and twist of lack of attraction. 5/5
*Lovesick by Taka Owen: A virus to make people lovesick sweeps the world. I liked the concept and themes, but i didn’t entirely click with this one. 3/5
*Preservation by Demi Ashing-Giwa: A young person rebels after being made outcast by a rich family. This story written in a love letter format had a good idea, but the story itself felt like a miss. 2/5
*Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor: A day at the fair brings an insight about relationships. Starts slow, but was fine with it by the end. 3/5
*Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M. Carlisle: A noble young man schemes his way to a fake bride. A fun fast paced fantasy and enjoyed every minute of this one. 5/5
*Swordmaiden by Kalyn Joesphson: A sword creating maiden reluctant to marry opens her up to the truth of her duty. A fun fantasy story that gripped me the whole way through. 5/5
*Flying Solo by Claudie Arsenualt: In a fleet depended on dual flying, a pilot wants to fly solo. This was a fun space faring story with interesting characters. 4/5
*Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas: A magical archivist has to fight book bans. This was okay and had some interesting concepts, but it felt too “ripped from the headlines” and was missing connective tissue. 3/5
*Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel: A young woman tries to avoid a family cure of misery or death on her 18th birthday. A interesting horror story with interesting characters. 4/5
*Daughter of Time by Madeline Dyer: An experiment brings two young women from different times together to learn about connections. A fun story, but I wish some things were explained a bit more. 4/5
*Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl: A robot builds new creations over the years, which keeps being destroyed. The second person narrative works and I was intrigued by the concept. 4/5
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Page Street YA. All opinions are my own.*
May 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA for an arc. All opinions are my own.
★ Rating: 5/5
Genre: misc anthology
Are There Gay People in this?*: ✅
A collections of entirely aromantic stories getting published a few days after my birthday? It's like a little treat just for me :]
How I would rate each story individually:
- Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match by Ann Zhao -- 4/5
- The Binding by Soumi Roy -- 3.5/5
- Lovesick by Taka Owen -- 3/5
- Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa -- 5/5
- Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor -- 3.5/5
- Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M. Carlisle -- 5/5
- Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson -- 4.5/5
- Flying Solo by Claudie Arseneault -- 3.5/5
- Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas -- 3/5
- Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel -- 3/5
- Daughter of Time by Madeline Dyer -- 2/5
- Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl -- 5/5
Overall: As is often the case with anthologies, it is hard to give it a single rating or review. However, I will say I am so glad that this book exists. I myself am aroace, and while asexuality is definitely still underrepresented, aromanticism is almost impossible to find in fiction. I've read SO many romances where the protagonist isn't interested in love, but what they really need is for someone to come sweep them off their feet or break through their cold exterior etc etc. And so, seeing a book where aro people get to be the protagonists and have their happy endings really means a lot to me. Additionally, the stories are really good in their own right! Some of them didn't really click for me personally, but I think even the ones I didn't enjoy were well crafted.
Who I would recommend this to: Pretty much everyone, but specially to anyone who identifies as, or is questioning if they might be aromantic.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
★ Rating: 5/5
Genre: misc anthology
Are There Gay People in this?*: ✅
A collections of entirely aromantic stories getting published a few days after my birthday? It's like a little treat just for me :]
How I would rate each story individually:
- Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match by Ann Zhao -- 4/5
- The Binding by Soumi Roy -- 3.5/5
- Lovesick by Taka Owen -- 3/5
- Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa -- 5/5
- Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor -- 3.5/5
- Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M. Carlisle -- 5/5
- Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson -- 4.5/5
- Flying Solo by Claudie Arseneault -- 3.5/5
- Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas -- 3/5
- Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel -- 3/5
- Daughter of Time by Madeline Dyer -- 2/5
- Indulge the Other by Laura Pohl -- 5/5
Overall: As is often the case with anthologies, it is hard to give it a single rating or review. However, I will say I am so glad that this book exists. I myself am aroace, and while asexuality is definitely still underrepresented, aromanticism is almost impossible to find in fiction. I've read SO many romances where the protagonist isn't interested in love, but what they really need is for someone to come sweep them off their feet or break through their cold exterior etc etc. And so, seeing a book where aro people get to be the protagonists and have their happy endings really means a lot to me. Additionally, the stories are really good in their own right! Some of them didn't really click for me personally, but I think even the ones I didn't enjoy were well crafted.
Who I would recommend this to: Pretty much everyone, but specially to anyone who identifies as, or is questioning if they might be aromantic.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
April 18, 2026
Thank you to the collection authors, and to Page Street YA for allowing me to check out this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is a nice short story collection spanning multiple genres, all revolving around a central theme of aromanticism and the stigmas the aromantic characters face as they try to navigate their situations. I appreciated the list of content warnings in the beginning, as well as the wide swath of genres from fantasy to sci-fi and beyond!
This is a nice short story collection spanning multiple genres, all revolving around a central theme of aromanticism and the stigmas the aromantic characters face as they try to navigate their situations. I appreciated the list of content warnings in the beginning, as well as the wide swath of genres from fantasy to sci-fi and beyond!
June 25, 2026
I loved this so much!!! The aromantic spectrum was explored so well here (featuring a character that's aromantic but not asexual is SO rare), and I loved the variety of stories. My favorites are "Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match", "Thomas Marley's Fake Bride", "Flying Solo", "Paper Rebellions", and "Daughter of Time."
July 8, 2026
The aro rep I’ve been missing 🙌
Favs:
- Kimberly Ma meets her match
- Lovesick
- Preservation
- Joust Friends
- Swordmaiden
- Flying Solo
- Indulge the Other
Favs:
- Kimberly Ma meets her match
- Lovesick
- Preservation
- Joust Friends
- Swordmaiden
- Flying Solo
- Indulge the Other
June 19, 2026
This anthology is made up of 12 stories, all centered around characters who are aromantic.
A lot of the stories are incredibly on the nose - they use myth and magic and metaphor to explain the lack of romantic attraction that the protagonists feel. There is little to no subtilty, but I'm willing to forgive a lot because 1) this is an anthology aimed at young adults and 2) because there just isn't a lot of aromantic-specific literature out there.
And there were definitely a couple of moments where I felt seen in a way that I never have been before. Like, just the fact that one of the stories states that a lack of romantic connection doesn't mean that there isn't a connection there at all was ground-breaking. It's such an important lesson to be taught, especially for those who might be questioning why they don't feel the same way that their peers do.
A lot of the stories are incredibly on the nose - they use myth and magic and metaphor to explain the lack of romantic attraction that the protagonists feel. There is little to no subtilty, but I'm willing to forgive a lot because 1) this is an anthology aimed at young adults and 2) because there just isn't a lot of aromantic-specific literature out there.
And there were definitely a couple of moments where I felt seen in a way that I never have been before. Like, just the fact that one of the stories states that a lack of romantic connection doesn't mean that there isn't a connection there at all was ground-breaking. It's such an important lesson to be taught, especially for those who might be questioning why they don't feel the same way that their peers do.
June 8, 2026
Wonderful stories about aromantic people not wanting to find love and relationship. There are a couple of stories I feel sensitive about, but those are alright. I appreciate a trigger warning on short stories at the beginning. Overall, I mostly enjoy Being Aro!
I received a copy in exchange for review. All opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Toppling Stacks Tours!
I received a copy in exchange for review. All opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Toppling Stacks Tours!
July 13, 2026
I think this collection has a stronger set of stories as a whole than Being Ace. Quite a few imaginative ones. The first, “Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match,” by Ann Zhao of “Dear Wendy” (which I LOOOOVEE), is a great starting point, as it shows what aromanticism is. The rest of the book, I feel, already assumes the reader knows what it is, so not much repetition on Aromanticism 101.
Rosie Thorr’s “Joust Friends” is the only other story aside from Zhao’s that has a realistic setting. And “Joust Friends” is one of the more emotional ones, because Archer, the aro character, not only experiences arophobia from bullies (who also misgender them) but also from their bff, and that hurts more, coming from someone who’s supposed to understand you.
The rest are SFF, which I love, because it shows you can have a fascinating story without always having to shoehorn romance (and a pet peeve of mine is forcing two characters together, especially when they have no chemistry, simply because one is a guy and the other is a girl). My favorite is Kalyn Josephson’s “Swordmaiden,” because who doesn’t like a story of women forging swords? Only, due to a curse and tradition, they themselves can’t use them, except for Miradet who so wants to keep hers.
Another good one is Soumi Roy’s “The Binding,” where Gauri upends the tradition of, well, having to bind with someone. Love this quote: “This wasn’t a place for the lost. It was a sanctuary for the forgotten,” referring to the place where those who couldn’t bind and were cast off to. For me, it reminds me of the saying, “Another world is possible.” Being cast off shouldn’t necessarily be a punishment; it shows you can create a world that’s right for you. May not be easy, but it could be done.
Other favorites are Taka Owen’s “Lovesick” (zombie apocalypse where the symptoms are lovesickness, anyone?), Claudie Arsensault’s “Flying Solo” (sci-fi “Echo and Narcissus,”
Rosie Thorr’s “Joust Friends” is the only other story aside from Zhao’s that has a realistic setting. And “Joust Friends” is one of the more emotional ones, because Archer, the aro character, not only experiences arophobia from bullies (who also misgender them) but also from their bff, and that hurts more, coming from someone who’s supposed to understand you.
The rest are SFF, which I love, because it shows you can have a fascinating story without always having to shoehorn romance (and a pet peeve of mine is forcing two characters together, especially when they have no chemistry, simply because one is a guy and the other is a girl). My favorite is Kalyn Josephson’s “Swordmaiden,” because who doesn’t like a story of women forging swords? Only, due to a curse and tradition, they themselves can’t use them, except for Miradet who so wants to keep hers.
Another good one is Soumi Roy’s “The Binding,” where Gauri upends the tradition of, well, having to bind with someone. Love this quote: “This wasn’t a place for the lost. It was a sanctuary for the forgotten,” referring to the place where those who couldn’t bind and were cast off to. For me, it reminds me of the saying, “Another world is possible.” Being cast off shouldn’t necessarily be a punishment; it shows you can create a world that’s right for you. May not be easy, but it could be done.
Other favorites are Taka Owen’s “Lovesick” (zombie apocalypse where the symptoms are lovesickness, anyone?), Claudie Arsensault’s “Flying Solo” (sci-fi “Echo and Narcissus,”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a great collection spanning across a range of genres! Each story is written for a YA audience, exploring aromanticism, but otherwise they varied hugely.
The collection starts off strong with ‘Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match’, which focuses on a high school match-making fundraiser. Another favourite of mine was ‘Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride’, a fun, comedic historical fantasy, that lightly poked fun at many romance tropes we see in genre fiction. One of the other fantasy stories, ‘The Binding’, stood out to me for the opposite reason, embracing a much darker tone.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
What was really interesting was seeing the similar themes that started to crop up, especially in the sci-fi and fantasy stories. Many of these authors used the alternative settings to turn the social expectations of romance into something more enforceable, such as an established custom or a law.
Nearly all of the writers, in every genre, chose to explore the way that romance and romantic relationships are not just the norm but the expectation in our society. Some stories depicted the loneliness an aromantic person can feel, and the way they’re perceived by alloromantic people. Some others depicted other kinds of relationships, and celebrated the strength and beauty that can be found in platonic or familial relationships.
As well as celebrating aromantic voices and stories, this collection is also a great reminder of the importance of all different kinds of relationships in our lives. As queer people we are constantly defying the expectations of heteronormativity, and this book is an ever-important reminder to include aromantic and asexual people in that process too.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The collection starts off strong with ‘Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match’, which focuses on a high school match-making fundraiser. Another favourite of mine was ‘Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride’, a fun, comedic historical fantasy, that lightly poked fun at many romance tropes we see in genre fiction. One of the other fantasy stories, ‘The Binding’, stood out to me for the opposite reason, embracing a much darker tone.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
What was really interesting was seeing the similar themes that started to crop up, especially in the sci-fi and fantasy stories. Many of these authors used the alternative settings to turn the social expectations of romance into something more enforceable, such as an established custom or a law.
Nearly all of the writers, in every genre, chose to explore the way that romance and romantic relationships are not just the norm but the expectation in our society. Some stories depicted the loneliness an aromantic person can feel, and the way they’re perceived by alloromantic people. Some others depicted other kinds of relationships, and celebrated the strength and beauty that can be found in platonic or familial relationships.
As well as celebrating aromantic voices and stories, this collection is also a great reminder of the importance of all different kinds of relationships in our lives. As queer people we are constantly defying the expectations of heteronormativity, and this book is an ever-important reminder to include aromantic and asexual people in that process too.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual rating: 4.25 stars - bumping up to 5 stars on GR because I can and Aro books deserve all the love <3
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This collection was so cozy and fun to read and pick up but like every short story collections they’re are going to be favourites and of course I have mine 😘
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I’ll start off by saying that a majority of these stories are from the Aromantic-Asexual spectrum, which I understand because it seems like they are a larger portion of the aromantic spectrum as we know it now, but second, they also appear to be a little easier for Alloromantics to understand.
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However, we did get one story with an explicitly Aromantic-Allosexual story and oh my god I ate it up!! I was thrilled and kicking my feet with every page and ended up highlighting almost every single sentence. I kid you not when I tell you that I went back and re-read that story immediately once I had finished it the first time before continuing on with the book. It is rare that I ever feel seen in a book but damn, it feels really fucking good, doesn’t it? I wish there had been more but I get that this is a YA collection so there are limits. But I adored my little portion 💚
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Of course, this story was my favourite. It was Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M Carlisle. My other favourite stories were Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor (which I will shout out for having the best opening line of the entire collection), Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa, & Daughter of Time by Madeline Dyer. I loved that this collection made a point to bring a diverse range of authors to the telling of aromantic stories.
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Being Aro is a fun and thoughtful of genre stories and I would be happy to put it into the hands of any young adult. I hope that some young Aros can feel seen in this collection just like I did 💚
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*I received an eARC from Page Street YA & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
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Hisses & Kisses 🐍
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This collection was so cozy and fun to read and pick up but like every short story collections they’re are going to be favourites and of course I have mine 😘
.
I’ll start off by saying that a majority of these stories are from the Aromantic-Asexual spectrum, which I understand because it seems like they are a larger portion of the aromantic spectrum as we know it now, but second, they also appear to be a little easier for Alloromantics to understand.
.
However, we did get one story with an explicitly Aromantic-Allosexual story and oh my god I ate it up!! I was thrilled and kicking my feet with every page and ended up highlighting almost every single sentence. I kid you not when I tell you that I went back and re-read that story immediately once I had finished it the first time before continuing on with the book. It is rare that I ever feel seen in a book but damn, it feels really fucking good, doesn’t it? I wish there had been more but I get that this is a YA collection so there are limits. But I adored my little portion 💚
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Of course, this story was my favourite. It was Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride by Ian M Carlisle. My other favourite stories were Joust Friends by Rosiee Thor (which I will shout out for having the best opening line of the entire collection), Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa, & Daughter of Time by Madeline Dyer. I loved that this collection made a point to bring a diverse range of authors to the telling of aromantic stories.
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Being Aro is a fun and thoughtful of genre stories and I would be happy to put it into the hands of any young adult. I hope that some young Aros can feel seen in this collection just like I did 💚
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*I received an eARC from Page Street YA & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
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Hisses & Kisses 🐍
June 21, 2026
Que coletânea incrível, histórias sobre resistência, solidão, sobre continuar e mais importante, amor. Gostei muito e espero que Being Ace seja tão bom quanto.
◆ Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match
- foi bem apressado, mas eu gostei bastante
- senti que a escrita da Ann tá bem diferente de Dear Wendy
- leria uma livro com a Kim e a Grace fazendo amizade
◆ The Binding
- eu amei demais este aqui, não esperava encontrar um conto voltado a fantasia e foi muito maneiro
- não pareceu apressado, na verdade, essa foi uma história excelente sua quantidade
- "Bound. But not connected."
◆ Lovesick
- Sendo arromântica no apocalipse zumbi, adorei
- Descrições muito boas da solidão arromântica
◆ Preservation
- "I don’t fall in love; but by the gods, I love deeply, with my whole heart."
- legalzin esse, mas até agora meu menos favorito
◆ Joust Friends
- engraçadinho, meio feira renascentista parece? ou entendi errado
- foi legal ver uma situação que teve briga semelhante a outro conto, mas com um resultado diferente
◆ Thomas Marley's Fake Bride
- outro engraçadinho, meio bobo, mas muito bão
- gosto que a Molly ficou
◆ Swordmaiden
- mais um de fantasia
- adoro histórias com gatinhos companheiros
- esse rolê da espada, achei interessante, leria um livro inteiro sobre
◆ Flying Solo
- "I'll fly again."
- legalzin
◆ Paper Rebellious
- "Quando histórias morrem, elas viram dragões" FODA
- "Rules and times pass, but books persist."
- leria "The Haunting, Uncommon"
- um dos meus favoritos, definitivamente
◆ Do You See Me?
- cante para viver em desgraça ou morra, legal
- gostei desses que envolvem maldições
◆ Daughter of Time
- meio histórico, achei um pouco paradinho e longo
◆ Indulge The Other
- gostei da narração deste
- outro favorito
◆ Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match
- foi bem apressado, mas eu gostei bastante
- senti que a escrita da Ann tá bem diferente de Dear Wendy
- leria uma livro com a Kim e a Grace fazendo amizade
◆ The Binding
- eu amei demais este aqui, não esperava encontrar um conto voltado a fantasia e foi muito maneiro
- não pareceu apressado, na verdade, essa foi uma história excelente sua quantidade
- "Bound. But not connected."
◆ Lovesick
- Sendo arromântica no apocalipse zumbi, adorei
- Descrições muito boas da solidão arromântica
◆ Preservation
- "I don’t fall in love; but by the gods, I love deeply, with my whole heart."
- legalzin esse, mas até agora meu menos favorito
◆ Joust Friends
- engraçadinho, meio feira renascentista parece? ou entendi errado
- foi legal ver uma situação que teve briga semelhante a outro conto, mas com um resultado diferente
◆ Thomas Marley's Fake Bride
- outro engraçadinho, meio bobo, mas muito bão
- gosto que a Molly ficou
◆ Swordmaiden
- mais um de fantasia
- adoro histórias com gatinhos companheiros
- esse rolê da espada, achei interessante, leria um livro inteiro sobre
◆ Flying Solo
- "I'll fly again."
- legalzin
◆ Paper Rebellious
- "Quando histórias morrem, elas viram dragões" FODA
- "Rules and times pass, but books persist."
- leria "The Haunting, Uncommon"
- um dos meus favoritos, definitivamente
◆ Do You See Me?
- cante para viver em desgraça ou morra, legal
- gostei desses que envolvem maldições
◆ Daughter of Time
- meio histórico, achei um pouco paradinho e longo
◆ Indulge The Other
- gostei da narração deste
- outro favorito
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I feel quite neutral about this anthology, as that's how I felt about most stories, although it has a very compelling and important premise. The introduction is interesting. It talks about diversity inside the diverse category itself and queerphobia inside the queer community. It has a big plathera of stories, with very varied themes, which I appreciate. I love the cover, too. Now have my rambly thoughts of each story (except for the ones i DNFed) as I read them:
kimberly ma meets her match
- i'm a little confused
- entertaining writing
- actual issues i went through as an aroace in discovery
- interesting!
lovesick
- cool setting
- interesting characters
- so relatable
- very interesting!! had fun
preservation
- i'm sorry, but this was so uninteresting
Joust Friends
- i guess it did its job because, oh god, that was frustrating.
Tomas Marley
- cool topics and setting
- overall is lukewarm
Swordmaiden
- a lot of descriptions of small mundane activities that bore me so much
- cool setting, again
Paper Rebellion
- love the setting and like the characters
- "part of fighting is knowing how to choose your battles"
Do you see me?
- quite eerie
- i'm confused as to who is who ? maybe i AM stupid
Daughters of Time
- Very compelling plot
- Being aro but yearning for affection is so real
- Not very credible, despite being charming
Indulge the Other
- Very engaging narrative
- So cool, probably my favorite story from this anthology
- "You are wanted for what you can give. You give it freely, and it is enough."
Thank you, NatGalley and Page Street Publishing, for this eARC! This review was honest and interely unbiased.
kimberly ma meets her match
- i'm a little confused
- entertaining writing
- actual issues i went through as an aroace in discovery
- interesting!
lovesick
- cool setting
- interesting characters
- so relatable
- very interesting!! had fun
preservation
- i'm sorry, but this was so uninteresting
Joust Friends
- i guess it did its job because, oh god, that was frustrating.
Tomas Marley
- cool topics and setting
- overall is lukewarm
Swordmaiden
- a lot of descriptions of small mundane activities that bore me so much
- cool setting, again
Paper Rebellion
- love the setting and like the characters
- "part of fighting is knowing how to choose your battles"
Do you see me?
- quite eerie
- i'm confused as to who is who ? maybe i AM stupid
Daughters of Time
- Very compelling plot
- Being aro but yearning for affection is so real
- Not very credible, despite being charming
Indulge the Other
- Very engaging narrative
- So cool, probably my favorite story from this anthology
- "You are wanted for what you can give. You give it freely, and it is enough."
Thank you, NatGalley and Page Street Publishing, for this eARC! This review was honest and interely unbiased.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street YA for the free e-ARC. (I received this ARC two days into Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, so the timing was perfect.)
Giving this anthology, overall, 4 stars. It's a collection of short stories by different authors, so of course there are some stories I enjoyed more than others. But generally I thought the quality was high, and it's always a delight to read more aro stories.
To my surprise, my favorite of the short stories is Lovesick by Taka Owen, which is the zombie apocalypse one. I don't generally read a lot of zombie/dystopian stuff, but something about this one hit hard. I even highlighted a line (something I NEVER do): "How he'd never understand how devastating this was - for anyone, but especially for me, knowing that I would always come second to someone else's more important relationship." As you might guess, this is not one of the happy stories, and the tragedy makes it all the more poignant.
If I had to pick a few other favorites, I'd probably say: Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson, Flying Solo by Claudie Arseneault, and Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel.
Overall, this is a solid collection of short stories. More importantly, it's a rare example of centering and exploring aro experiences. Whether you're aro yourself, or just an ally, definitely give this a try.
Giving this anthology, overall, 4 stars. It's a collection of short stories by different authors, so of course there are some stories I enjoyed more than others. But generally I thought the quality was high, and it's always a delight to read more aro stories.
To my surprise, my favorite of the short stories is Lovesick by Taka Owen, which is the zombie apocalypse one. I don't generally read a lot of zombie/dystopian stuff, but something about this one hit hard. I even highlighted a line (something I NEVER do): "How he'd never understand how devastating this was - for anyone, but especially for me, knowing that I would always come second to someone else's more important relationship." As you might guess, this is not one of the happy stories, and the tragedy makes it all the more poignant.
If I had to pick a few other favorites, I'd probably say: Swordmaiden by Kalyn Josephson, Flying Solo by Claudie Arseneault, and Do You See Me? by Isa Fiel.
Overall, this is a solid collection of short stories. More importantly, it's a rare example of centering and exploring aro experiences. Whether you're aro yourself, or just an ally, definitely give this a try.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this anthology and the spotlight it shines on the assumptions made about human connection when a society values romantic/sexual connection above any other. By placing platonic relationships lower in the "hierarchy," we are cutting ourselves off from a whole range of love. Even as someone who is not on the ace/aro spectrum, I still related to the ways many characters felt isolated, abandoned, and objectified because they did not want to follow the path laid out for them. The stories went well together, although a few more realistic fiction or horror would have been a good complement to all the sci-fi and fantasy. Lovesick by Taka Owen was my favorite story and really impacted me emotionally with its themes of betrayal, friendship and self esteem. Some, like Preservation by Kemi Ashing-Giwa and Paper Rebellions by Rukman Ragas, confused me a bit with their plots and symbolism. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to examine their own relationship with romance and sexuality, as well as fans of short stories, fantasy or sci-fi.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
May 30, 2026
🌼 An Anthology to open your heart and mind 🌼
I was so excited to read this anthology of aromantic (aro) stories — and it made me realize just how romance‑forward our world is. We’re constantly defined by our relationships: Are you married or single? In a relationship or a situationship? Committed or open?
No matter where you turn, you’re framed in terms of who you’re with… or who you’re not with.
But what if you’re someone who feels complete without needing that kind of connection? What if your sense of self isn’t tied to romance at all? I’d honestly never stopped to consider that before reading Being Aro.
These stories are emotionally sharp, psychologically insightful, and deeply compassionate. They explore what it means to enjoy people’s company without needing that intense romantic pull — and what it feels like to live in a world that assumes you should want it.
It’s like the pressure to have “someone special” on February 14th… but every single day.
And yet, this anthology also shows the beauty of aro community, friendship, and connection on your own terms. It’s tender, validating, and eye‑opening in all the best ways.
I was so excited to read this anthology of aromantic (aro) stories — and it made me realize just how romance‑forward our world is. We’re constantly defined by our relationships: Are you married or single? In a relationship or a situationship? Committed or open?
No matter where you turn, you’re framed in terms of who you’re with… or who you’re not with.
But what if you’re someone who feels complete without needing that kind of connection? What if your sense of self isn’t tied to romance at all? I’d honestly never stopped to consider that before reading Being Aro.
These stories are emotionally sharp, psychologically insightful, and deeply compassionate. They explore what it means to enjoy people’s company without needing that intense romantic pull — and what it feels like to live in a world that assumes you should want it.
It’s like the pressure to have “someone special” on February 14th… but every single day.
And yet, this anthology also shows the beauty of aro community, friendship, and connection on your own terms. It’s tender, validating, and eye‑opening in all the best ways.
May 30, 2026
*I got an arc*
Importance of the book: 5 stars
Content: 3.5 Stars I think
Note: I am not aromantic so definitely give the reviews of aro people more weight than you do mine!
CW: before the table of contents but also I had to DNF because it felt like each story was trauma dumping a bit?
I *love* that this anthology exists! The introduction makes an excellent point that it is much easier to identify with stories rather than textbook definitions (especially for marginalised groups that aren't surrounded by people like them).
Again I am not aro so don't consider my voice as important but, to me, this didn't feel like showcasing the many different ways people are aromantic; instead, it seems to showcase the many ways aro and aroace people are abused, traumatised, and abandoned by those around them? Granted, I haven't read all the stories in here yet but I have read enough of them to feel faintly nauseated. I didn't expect every story to be about the powers of platonic love, but I expected a bit more about non-romantic relationships versus the trauma of solitude.
Importance of the book: 5 stars
Content: 3.5 Stars I think
Note: I am not aromantic so definitely give the reviews of aro people more weight than you do mine!
CW: before the table of contents but also I had to DNF because it felt like each story was trauma dumping a bit?
I *love* that this anthology exists! The introduction makes an excellent point that it is much easier to identify with stories rather than textbook definitions (especially for marginalised groups that aren't surrounded by people like them).
Again I am not aro so don't consider my voice as important but, to me, this didn't feel like showcasing the many different ways people are aromantic; instead, it seems to showcase the many ways aro and aroace people are abused, traumatised, and abandoned by those around them? Granted, I haven't read all the stories in here yet but I have read enough of them to feel faintly nauseated. I didn't expect every story to be about the powers of platonic love, but I expected a bit more about non-romantic relationships versus the trauma of solitude.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There are a variety of trigger warnings listed for the collection of stories in Being Aro. I would advise checking them before starting.
☆
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"Everyone has the ability to be lonely if they don't find a community. So, you know, here I am. Being your community." I loved this story, and this quote. It felt important to me. It's also very accurate. For aspec people, their friends and their community are key, always, but especially when someone is just figuring out where they might fit on the spectrum of asexuality and aromanticism.
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Anthologies aren't usually my thing. I don't like when stories don't have any connecting features or any kind of link between them. That being said, I do think that this anthology is incredibly important. Aromantic people deserve to see their stories being told. We deserve to see people like us in stories and being the heroes and main characters in fantasy and science fiction, as well as contemporary stories.
•
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
☆
☆
"Everyone has the ability to be lonely if they don't find a community. So, you know, here I am. Being your community." I loved this story, and this quote. It felt important to me. It's also very accurate. For aspec people, their friends and their community are key, always, but especially when someone is just figuring out where they might fit on the spectrum of asexuality and aromanticism.
~
Anthologies aren't usually my thing. I don't like when stories don't have any connecting features or any kind of link between them. That being said, I do think that this anthology is incredibly important. Aromantic people deserve to see their stories being told. We deserve to see people like us in stories and being the heroes and main characters in fantasy and science fiction, as well as contemporary stories.
•
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Explaining what Being Aro made me feel is like trying to catch the rain during a storm. Being Aro made me smile, sigh in annoyance, laugh, and cry. It broke me open and made me feel so whole, like another book hasn‘t managed to in a while.
The anthology features a range of genres as well as a wide range of aromantic experiences and are all relatively fast-paced, which makes them perfect for everyone who wants to learn about what aromanticism is and how it affects your experience of the world around you. Every single author did an incredible job by building a unique setting in a short period of time, while also leaving space for the characters and their personalities to shine. There is a story for everyone, no matter what genres you usually prefer.
It also cemented my belief that we deserve more diverse voices in media. I have gotten a taste of what representation could be like, and I desperately want others to also get the experience of feeling so utterly understood.
No matter if you are aromantic yourself, know someone who is aromantic, or are just interested in the aromantic experience, this book is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
The anthology features a range of genres as well as a wide range of aromantic experiences and are all relatively fast-paced, which makes them perfect for everyone who wants to learn about what aromanticism is and how it affects your experience of the world around you. Every single author did an incredible job by building a unique setting in a short period of time, while also leaving space for the characters and their personalities to shine. There is a story for everyone, no matter what genres you usually prefer.
It also cemented my belief that we deserve more diverse voices in media. I have gotten a taste of what representation could be like, and I desperately want others to also get the experience of feeling so utterly understood.
No matter if you are aromantic yourself, know someone who is aromantic, or are just interested in the aromantic experience, this book is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy!
I’ve recently come to love short story collections after years of struggling with them being hit or miss. This one was definitely a hit for me, and had everything I love about short stories.
This is a lovely collection of stories that encompass different aspects of being aromantic, and the characters who are living in worlds where not wanting a romantic relationship can demonize you or make your community think of you as “other.”
Each story packs a punch, and some I’ve found myself thinking about over and over for the last few weeks. The characters and worlds are so well-developed that it’s hard to believe these are short stories and not whole novels. And while I would LOVE to see many of these worlds expanded on, they are whole in their current form and say exactly what they need to say.
I think this is a perfect example of what a short story collection can be, and I need more that give me this feeling.
I’ve recently come to love short story collections after years of struggling with them being hit or miss. This one was definitely a hit for me, and had everything I love about short stories.
This is a lovely collection of stories that encompass different aspects of being aromantic, and the characters who are living in worlds where not wanting a romantic relationship can demonize you or make your community think of you as “other.”
Each story packs a punch, and some I’ve found myself thinking about over and over for the last few weeks. The characters and worlds are so well-developed that it’s hard to believe these are short stories and not whole novels. And while I would LOVE to see many of these worlds expanded on, they are whole in their current form and say exactly what they need to say.
I think this is a perfect example of what a short story collection can be, and I need more that give me this feeling.
June 29, 2026
3.5 stars (average overall rating)
Each story was interesting in it's own way. Personally as a fantasy and sci fi fan I preferred the ones that had a less literal approach to aromanticism (aro as metaphor) or involved a big fantasy plot.
The biggest criticism I have for most of the stories tho is lack of time. I'm assuming since this is a short story anthology there was a word limit the writers had to stick to and so some of the stories (esp. the fantasy ones) felt rushed by the end, or needed more time to build tension or explore the world it created. This is a downside of the medium so I'm not holding it too hard against the stories.
Eventhough I read it mainly for the Goodreads bookmark achievement and it seemed like the easiest one to read through, I'm really glad I did choose it. The stories were sweet and the representation lovely. It's nice to read stories where I can relate to the characters more.
Each story was interesting in it's own way. Personally as a fantasy and sci fi fan I preferred the ones that had a less literal approach to aromanticism (aro as metaphor) or involved a big fantasy plot.
The biggest criticism I have for most of the stories tho is lack of time. I'm assuming since this is a short story anthology there was a word limit the writers had to stick to and so some of the stories (esp. the fantasy ones) felt rushed by the end, or needed more time to build tension or explore the world it created. This is a downside of the medium so I'm not holding it too hard against the stories.
Eventhough I read it mainly for the Goodreads bookmark achievement and it seemed like the easiest one to read through, I'm really glad I did choose it. The stories were sweet and the representation lovely. It's nice to read stories where I can relate to the characters more.
June 6, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
A collection of varying stories, Being Aro brings out many distinctive kinds of aromanticism and offers aromantic characters in different settings. As it is with any collection of stories by a larger group of authors, some of them are better, but in the end, I can say that I enjoyed all of them to some degree. The diversity, not only of the aromantic spectrum, but also of other character traits, settings, and relationships, is definitely something that makes this book really good and I love how I could compare my aromantic experience with the ones in the book.
If I had to pick a story to highlight, it would be 'Flying Solo'. With such good action sequences and interesting characters, it was definitely my favourite of the anthology. Other would be 'Lovesick', which most closely reflected my aromantic feelings and definitely resonated with me a lot.
A collection of varying stories, Being Aro brings out many distinctive kinds of aromanticism and offers aromantic characters in different settings. As it is with any collection of stories by a larger group of authors, some of them are better, but in the end, I can say that I enjoyed all of them to some degree. The diversity, not only of the aromantic spectrum, but also of other character traits, settings, and relationships, is definitely something that makes this book really good and I love how I could compare my aromantic experience with the ones in the book.
If I had to pick a story to highlight, it would be 'Flying Solo'. With such good action sequences and interesting characters, it was definitely my favourite of the anthology. Other would be 'Lovesick', which most closely reflected my aromantic feelings and definitely resonated with me a lot.
July 13, 2026
Being Aro: A Collection of Aromantic Fiction about Love, Connection, and Empowerment is a thoughtful and engaging anthology that celebrates the diversity of the aromantic spectrum through twelve imaginative short stories. Spanning contemporary fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and historical settings, the collection demonstrates that aromantic experiences are as varied as the people who live them. While every story features an arospec protagonist, each explores different themes, identities, and relationships, making the anthology feel fresh throughout.
Many stories center on self-discovery, friendship, belonging, and the pressure of living in a society that places romantic love above all else. Some are deeply emotional, even heartbreaking, while others are hopeful, funny, or adventurous. Highlights include Claudie Arseneault's Flying Solo, with its compelling science fiction setting and memorable protagonist, and Ann Zhao's Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match, which captures the uncertainty of questioning one's identity with warmth and subtlety.
One story that lingered with me was Laura Pohl's Indulge the Other. Written in the second person, it creates an immediate emotional intimacy that makes its themes especially powerful. The story thoughtfully examines how those who reject compulsory romance are often viewed as less than fully human, echoing wider discussions about compulsory sexuality and the way fiction frequently casts characters without romantic attachments as villains or outsiders. It's a beautiful, thought-provoking piece that serves as a striking conclusion.
As with most anthologies, a few stories resonated more than others, and none felt individually unforgettable. However, together they create a powerful portrait of aromantic lives and challenge the assumption that romance is essential to every meaningful story. Being Aro is an affirming, inclusive collection that offers valuable representation while reminding readers that love, connection, and fulfillment take many different forms.
"Love is not your undoing. It’s in your creation. (…) You are wanted for what you can give. You give it freely, and it is enough."
Many stories center on self-discovery, friendship, belonging, and the pressure of living in a society that places romantic love above all else. Some are deeply emotional, even heartbreaking, while others are hopeful, funny, or adventurous. Highlights include Claudie Arseneault's Flying Solo, with its compelling science fiction setting and memorable protagonist, and Ann Zhao's Kimberly Ma Meets Her Match, which captures the uncertainty of questioning one's identity with warmth and subtlety.
One story that lingered with me was Laura Pohl's Indulge the Other. Written in the second person, it creates an immediate emotional intimacy that makes its themes especially powerful. The story thoughtfully examines how those who reject compulsory romance are often viewed as less than fully human, echoing wider discussions about compulsory sexuality and the way fiction frequently casts characters without romantic attachments as villains or outsiders. It's a beautiful, thought-provoking piece that serves as a striking conclusion.
As with most anthologies, a few stories resonated more than others, and none felt individually unforgettable. However, together they create a powerful portrait of aromantic lives and challenge the assumption that romance is essential to every meaningful story. Being Aro is an affirming, inclusive collection that offers valuable representation while reminding readers that love, connection, and fulfillment take many different forms.
"Love is not your undoing. It’s in your creation. (…) You are wanted for what you can give. You give it freely, and it is enough."
July 21, 2026
3.5/5 stars
Unfortunately, this was a disappointing anthology that I was really looking forward to. I was not impressed with most of the stories, and a lot of them felt too similar to other stories in the collection.
I felt like most of the stories had a lot of focus on the misery and loneliness of being aromantic, and I would have loved to see more joy.
Regardless, I did have some favorites.
The Binding: 4.5 stars; I loved the religious deconstruction, and the worldbuilding was done very well.
⭐️Swordmaiden: 5 stars; I LOVED this! The writing and worldbuilding was so good, and I want a whole series to continue the story.
Indulge the Other: 4.5 stars; This was a great Frankenstein-style “villain” story. It got a little lost in the sauce for a bit, but I really liked it.
CW: arophobia; queerphobia; violence & injury; death & grief; misogyny; animal cruelty
Unfortunately, this was a disappointing anthology that I was really looking forward to. I was not impressed with most of the stories, and a lot of them felt too similar to other stories in the collection.
I felt like most of the stories had a lot of focus on the misery and loneliness of being aromantic, and I would have loved to see more joy.
Regardless, I did have some favorites.
The Binding: 4.5 stars; I loved the religious deconstruction, and the worldbuilding was done very well.
⭐️Swordmaiden: 5 stars; I LOVED this! The writing and worldbuilding was so good, and I want a whole series to continue the story.
Indulge the Other: 4.5 stars; This was a great Frankenstein-style “villain” story. It got a little lost in the sauce for a bit, but I really liked it.
CW: arophobia; queerphobia; violence & injury; death & grief; misogyny; animal cruelty
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