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Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away
A middle schooler navigates the challenges of feeling invisible—literally and figuratively—as she comes to terms with her asexual identity in this poignant speculative novel perfect for fans of Ellie Engel Saves Herself and Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone.
Seventh grade has just started, but Olivia Gray already knows this year is different. Her brother ignores her for his crush, and all her friends talk about is who likes who, something Olivia has never cared about—even when Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks her to the fall formal. After unknowingly rejecting him, Olivia goes viral on the social app KruShh. As the chatter about Robbie and dating grows, Olivia starts to feel left out to the point of feeling invisible—literally.
Seen only by her new librarian and a friendly kid named Jules, Olivia flickers in and out of sight whenever the topic of romance comes up. As she begins to realize she might be asexual, Olivia struggles to actually use the label because of the negative perception behind it. All she wants is to be normal, but can she really fit in without disappearing completely?
Seventh grade has just started, but Olivia Gray already knows this year is different. Her brother ignores her for his crush, and all her friends talk about is who likes who, something Olivia has never cared about—even when Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks her to the fall formal. After unknowingly rejecting him, Olivia goes viral on the social app KruShh. As the chatter about Robbie and dating grows, Olivia starts to feel left out to the point of feeling invisible—literally.
Seen only by her new librarian and a friendly kid named Jules, Olivia flickers in and out of sight whenever the topic of romance comes up. As she begins to realize she might be asexual, Olivia struggles to actually use the label because of the negative perception behind it. All she wants is to be normal, but can she really fit in without disappearing completely?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So many books are being written now that I totally needed when I was growing up! Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away is a fairly short middle-grade/YA book about a 13-year-old who is realizing she is not fitting in with her friends and their new obsession with boys and dances and such. This new realization comes along with her feeling bad and seeming invisible at times. During one of her spells, she meets another kid facing something similar.
I thought this was a neat way to make a metaphor for how not fitting in with your peers can be and finding the right friends, as well as a really simple introduction to asexuality. When I was 13, I didn't even know asexuality was an thing, and a book like this would have put some labels on things I was experiencing and made me feel like I didn't have to try so hard to be something I wasn't.
In conclusion, I really liked this one! It was short and sweet, and had a good message.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing & Margaret K. McElderry Books for the e-ARC!
I thought this was a neat way to make a metaphor for how not fitting in with your peers can be and finding the right friends, as well as a really simple introduction to asexuality. When I was 13, I didn't even know asexuality was an thing, and a book like this would have put some labels on things I was experiencing and made me feel like I didn't have to try so hard to be something I wasn't.
In conclusion, I really liked this one! It was short and sweet, and had a good message.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing & Margaret K. McElderry Books for the e-ARC!
December 12, 2025
I really loved this book! Honestly seeing that it was about finding acceptance in yourself and also finding out that she was asexual/aro was nice since I could connect with the character.
Olivia is just starting 7th grade and everything is starting to change. Her brother is drifting away after coming out and getting a boyfriend, her friends are all boy crazy and the school dance is coming up. There seems to be romance everywhere but she’s just not feeling it. Whenever it starts to get too much, she starts to turn invisible.
I really enjoyed the analogy of “turning invisible” because when you are trying to figure out something about yourself and everyone around you seems to have already “figured it out” it can seem like you are invisible and no one understands you. Having Olivia figuring out she is asexual and aromantic in middle school is really nice especially having another friend, Jules, who is also on the asexual spectrum to help her figure things out. I figured it out later with no one really to help along the way, so to have this for the new generation is really great.
I loved the story overall and I feel like the flow of the story was really well and thought out.
Thank you Netgally and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia is just starting 7th grade and everything is starting to change. Her brother is drifting away after coming out and getting a boyfriend, her friends are all boy crazy and the school dance is coming up. There seems to be romance everywhere but she’s just not feeling it. Whenever it starts to get too much, she starts to turn invisible.
I really enjoyed the analogy of “turning invisible” because when you are trying to figure out something about yourself and everyone around you seems to have already “figured it out” it can seem like you are invisible and no one understands you. Having Olivia figuring out she is asexual and aromantic in middle school is really nice especially having another friend, Jules, who is also on the asexual spectrum to help her figure things out. I figured it out later with no one really to help along the way, so to have this for the new generation is really great.
I loved the story overall and I feel like the flow of the story was really well and thought out.
Thank you Netgally and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2026
This book is going to change so many young readers’ lives. Every child who has ever felt unseen, struggled to understand themselves, or tried too hard to fit in. It’s a beautiful story about staying true to oneself and a reminder that one can always find support and people who understand.
March 17, 2026
Oh gosh, I don't even know how to write about this book, but I strongly suspect that it was just not For Me, as I struggled to empathize with the main character (not a problem I ordinarily have!)
And I get it, middle school friendships are hard and occasionally stupid and definitely prone to sudden splintering at that age. At thirteen, my friends and I had a weird falling out over, of all things, where we wanted to play rounders during recess. The pressure for conformity is perhaps most brutal -- and most deeply felt -- at that age. Relationships shift and fracture, sometimes for good.
Adding diverse sexualities to the mix can make kids feel even more alienated. In progressive circles, not being heterosexual is no longer something to be shunned, which is a great thing in and of itself. Unfortunately, this puts pressure on kids who just don't care about that kind of thing to pretend that they do, since there's no longer an "excuse" for being quiet about their crushes (tho in reality, there's always an excuse, if your crush is taken or older or otherwise not socially acceptable.) Jerks will pressure kids who don't have crushes to conform, while the more well-meaning will assure them that liking someone will happen eventually.
For sensitive asexual/aromantic kids who already feel overlooked and unseen, this can feel like erasure to the point of invisibility. And that's pretty much what happens to our title character Olivia Gray. Her older brother was her best friend until he got a boyfriend and no longer has time for her. Her group of school friends all seem more interested in boys and social status (powered by the unlikely new app KruShh) than in whatever it was they used to talk about. And her favorite school adult, the now-former librarian, has retired without a word to her.
When she starts getting these weird staticky, tingly feelings, the last thing she expects is to actually disappear. She makes a friend, Jules, who's in a similar situation, but decides that the best way to fix things is to pretend that she has the same romantic feelings that all her old friends do, roping Jules in to her playacting. Things don't go well. Can Olivia find a way to stick up for herself and be seen by the ones she loves most, before she disappears altogether?
So I get the desire to be seen while simultaneously not wanting to be looked at. You want people to love and accept you for who you are without you having to explain anything. This is an appropriate feeling for children. Becoming an adult, however, means understanding that we live in a society, where people's instinctive viewpoints come, of necessity, through the lens of their own experience. There's a stat in the books that states that almost 2% of people in the US are ace/aro, so it's honestly not that strange that people wouldn't know a lot about it.
The challenge is just to state who you are and stick by it in a way that works for you. This is a test that Olivia fails repeatedly and poorly, making it hard for me to sympathize with her. She's super dramatic and self-centered in a way that reads less like she's being overlooked and more like she's a killjoy who can't be happy for the people she claims to care about. Sure, it's hurtful when your closest confidante is deep in the throes of his first relationship and no longer has time for you. But it felt like she never really tried with Maggie and, to a lesser extent, Elaine, until the very end. It's one thing to not want romance for yourself, but blanking everyone else's interests unless they align with yours is just bad friend behavior.
Worse, she pretty much treated Jules the way she herself didn't want to be treated. It felt like she was terminally incapable of being happy for her friends and their interests, whether newfound or otherwise, unless they made sure to center her. It's hard as a reader to be sympathetic to someone who decides to internalize everything as a slight instead of making a greater attempt to be a friend herself.
Which, y'know, that's a lot of kids that age! And figuring out that you're ace/aro is a struggle on top of all the usual middle school drama. But it was genuinely weird to me the way that people, Olivia included, wouldn't just accept that there was no one she was crushing on. That's so normal, whatever orientation you are. This felt more like an adult complaint -- hearing the litany of "Why are you still single? When are you getting married? When are you having kids?" is legit annoying for grownups -- being presented rather awkwardly in middle school format instead.
I'm always for more ace/aro representation, tho think there'd be more value in being clearer about the distinction, as asexual people do have crushes and want fulfilling romantic relationships (I know fewer aro people irl but the ace people I know are mostly married to people who understand their orientation.) This book might serve as a primer for kids who think they might be ace/aro, but I'd personally hesitate to place Olivia herself as any sort of role model. And while I'm usually pro role-playing game representation too, the D&D appearance at the end felt just as forced as the rest of the novel.
Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch will be published tomorrow March 17 2026 by Margaret K McElderry Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
And I get it, middle school friendships are hard and occasionally stupid and definitely prone to sudden splintering at that age. At thirteen, my friends and I had a weird falling out over, of all things, where we wanted to play rounders during recess. The pressure for conformity is perhaps most brutal -- and most deeply felt -- at that age. Relationships shift and fracture, sometimes for good.
Adding diverse sexualities to the mix can make kids feel even more alienated. In progressive circles, not being heterosexual is no longer something to be shunned, which is a great thing in and of itself. Unfortunately, this puts pressure on kids who just don't care about that kind of thing to pretend that they do, since there's no longer an "excuse" for being quiet about their crushes (tho in reality, there's always an excuse, if your crush is taken or older or otherwise not socially acceptable.) Jerks will pressure kids who don't have crushes to conform, while the more well-meaning will assure them that liking someone will happen eventually.
For sensitive asexual/aromantic kids who already feel overlooked and unseen, this can feel like erasure to the point of invisibility. And that's pretty much what happens to our title character Olivia Gray. Her older brother was her best friend until he got a boyfriend and no longer has time for her. Her group of school friends all seem more interested in boys and social status (powered by the unlikely new app KruShh) than in whatever it was they used to talk about. And her favorite school adult, the now-former librarian, has retired without a word to her.
When she starts getting these weird staticky, tingly feelings, the last thing she expects is to actually disappear. She makes a friend, Jules, who's in a similar situation, but decides that the best way to fix things is to pretend that she has the same romantic feelings that all her old friends do, roping Jules in to her playacting. Things don't go well. Can Olivia find a way to stick up for herself and be seen by the ones she loves most, before she disappears altogether?
So I get the desire to be seen while simultaneously not wanting to be looked at. You want people to love and accept you for who you are without you having to explain anything. This is an appropriate feeling for children. Becoming an adult, however, means understanding that we live in a society, where people's instinctive viewpoints come, of necessity, through the lens of their own experience. There's a stat in the books that states that almost 2% of people in the US are ace/aro, so it's honestly not that strange that people wouldn't know a lot about it.
The challenge is just to state who you are and stick by it in a way that works for you. This is a test that Olivia fails repeatedly and poorly, making it hard for me to sympathize with her. She's super dramatic and self-centered in a way that reads less like she's being overlooked and more like she's a killjoy who can't be happy for the people she claims to care about. Sure, it's hurtful when your closest confidante is deep in the throes of his first relationship and no longer has time for you. But it felt like she never really tried with Maggie and, to a lesser extent, Elaine, until the very end. It's one thing to not want romance for yourself, but blanking everyone else's interests unless they align with yours is just bad friend behavior.
Worse, she pretty much treated Jules the way she herself didn't want to be treated. It felt like she was terminally incapable of being happy for her friends and their interests, whether newfound or otherwise, unless they made sure to center her. It's hard as a reader to be sympathetic to someone who decides to internalize everything as a slight instead of making a greater attempt to be a friend herself.
Which, y'know, that's a lot of kids that age! And figuring out that you're ace/aro is a struggle on top of all the usual middle school drama. But it was genuinely weird to me the way that people, Olivia included, wouldn't just accept that there was no one she was crushing on. That's so normal, whatever orientation you are. This felt more like an adult complaint -- hearing the litany of "Why are you still single? When are you getting married? When are you having kids?" is legit annoying for grownups -- being presented rather awkwardly in middle school format instead.
I'm always for more ace/aro representation, tho think there'd be more value in being clearer about the distinction, as asexual people do have crushes and want fulfilling romantic relationships (I know fewer aro people irl but the ace people I know are mostly married to people who understand their orientation.) This book might serve as a primer for kids who think they might be ace/aro, but I'd personally hesitate to place Olivia herself as any sort of role model. And while I'm usually pro role-playing game representation too, the D&D appearance at the end felt just as forced as the rest of the novel.
Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch will be published tomorrow March 17 2026 by Margaret K McElderry Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
December 8, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Olivia is starting 7th grade, and is fortunate enough to have a good group of friends. Her brother, Malcolm, has come out as gay, and Olivia's parents have thrown a party for him as a way to be supportive. Olivia used to spend a lot of time in the school library, talking to Mrs. Cassidy and showing her her sketchbook, but when she checks in this year, she finds to her surprise that she has retired and been replaced by a young, hip librarian, Ms. Amelia. When a 7th and 8th grade formal is announced, Olivia's friends want to share all of the gossip on a social media app called KruShh, which Nessa helpfully downloads for her. Olivia doesn't have much interest in in, but does spend a Friday evening scrolling through it when Malcolm forsakes the family movie night for a date. There's all kinds of drama on KruShh, but Olivia has little interest. She's annoyed when Robbie, a boy her friends think is cute, leaves a note asking her out. She isn't quite sure who left the note and says "no", and things get out of hand on KruShh. Olivia meets Jules in the library; Jules is nonbinary and has asked Miss Amelia for books to help. The odd thing is that both Olivia and Jules have an odd condition; they get headaches, feel tingling in their limbs, and then are invisible to everyone around them. Miss Amelia is the only other person who can see them. As the drama over the dance escalates, Jule and Olivia have a misunderstanding. Eventually, Olivia realizes that she is aromantic and doesn't share the same interest in having relationships that her friends do.
Strengths: Olivia's experience in middle school is given an allegorical twist as she feels invisible and actually physically manifests that feeling. This is a book that is definitely on trend and embraces the cultural zeitgeist when it comes to sexual identity. It also has plenty of tween drama and an especially evil form of social media in KruShh. Olivia's parents are probably the best characters as they try really hard to support Malcolm, but in the cringiest ways possible.
Weaknesses: Being "invisible" in the real world is not particularly pleasant all the time (try being Mrs. Cassidy, Olivia! I'm sure she was probably about 55-60; people don't usually stay in teaching until they are 80.), but if people ACTUALLY turned invisible, it would be an interesting experience. I prefer Kessler's Have Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins or Thompson's The Day I was Erased for fun stories about tweens becoming invisible.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Gino's Alice Austen Lived Here or Riley's Jude Saves the World.
I feel really seen and perhaps a bit irritated by the following description: "Mrs. Cassidy has been nice but tired and had listened to Olivia the way a grandma would, fondly and with vague interest." (page 96 of the e ARC). Ms. Amelia, with her dark purple hair, sneakers, and nose ring, is brand new and possible under thirty years old. She will learn soon enough that she won't have the energy to teach six classes a day while power washing 30 Chromebooks AND weeding the collection in her downtime if she spends time counseling tweens who find the cafeteria overwhelming during her "lunch". Mrs. Cassidy was probably trying to answer e mails while talking to Olivia about her drawings. I do have a bit of concern for Ms. Amelia; there are places where she would be putting her job in jeopardy for sharing her own aromantic identity with students. I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying that we live in perilous times.
Olivia is starting 7th grade, and is fortunate enough to have a good group of friends. Her brother, Malcolm, has come out as gay, and Olivia's parents have thrown a party for him as a way to be supportive. Olivia used to spend a lot of time in the school library, talking to Mrs. Cassidy and showing her her sketchbook, but when she checks in this year, she finds to her surprise that she has retired and been replaced by a young, hip librarian, Ms. Amelia. When a 7th and 8th grade formal is announced, Olivia's friends want to share all of the gossip on a social media app called KruShh, which Nessa helpfully downloads for her. Olivia doesn't have much interest in in, but does spend a Friday evening scrolling through it when Malcolm forsakes the family movie night for a date. There's all kinds of drama on KruShh, but Olivia has little interest. She's annoyed when Robbie, a boy her friends think is cute, leaves a note asking her out. She isn't quite sure who left the note and says "no", and things get out of hand on KruShh. Olivia meets Jules in the library; Jules is nonbinary and has asked Miss Amelia for books to help. The odd thing is that both Olivia and Jules have an odd condition; they get headaches, feel tingling in their limbs, and then are invisible to everyone around them. Miss Amelia is the only other person who can see them. As the drama over the dance escalates, Jule and Olivia have a misunderstanding. Eventually, Olivia realizes that she is aromantic and doesn't share the same interest in having relationships that her friends do.
Strengths: Olivia's experience in middle school is given an allegorical twist as she feels invisible and actually physically manifests that feeling. This is a book that is definitely on trend and embraces the cultural zeitgeist when it comes to sexual identity. It also has plenty of tween drama and an especially evil form of social media in KruShh. Olivia's parents are probably the best characters as they try really hard to support Malcolm, but in the cringiest ways possible.
Weaknesses: Being "invisible" in the real world is not particularly pleasant all the time (try being Mrs. Cassidy, Olivia! I'm sure she was probably about 55-60; people don't usually stay in teaching until they are 80.), but if people ACTUALLY turned invisible, it would be an interesting experience. I prefer Kessler's Have Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins or Thompson's The Day I was Erased for fun stories about tweens becoming invisible.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Gino's Alice Austen Lived Here or Riley's Jude Saves the World.
I feel really seen and perhaps a bit irritated by the following description: "Mrs. Cassidy has been nice but tired and had listened to Olivia the way a grandma would, fondly and with vague interest." (page 96 of the e ARC). Ms. Amelia, with her dark purple hair, sneakers, and nose ring, is brand new and possible under thirty years old. She will learn soon enough that she won't have the energy to teach six classes a day while power washing 30 Chromebooks AND weeding the collection in her downtime if she spends time counseling tweens who find the cafeteria overwhelming during her "lunch". Mrs. Cassidy was probably trying to answer e mails while talking to Olivia about her drawings. I do have a bit of concern for Ms. Amelia; there are places where she would be putting her job in jeopardy for sharing her own aromantic identity with students. I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying that we live in perilous times.
November 26, 2025
Upon entering seventh grade, Olivia’s friends begin developing crushes and obsessing over a new social media site, leaving Olivia feeling invisible. She isn’t crushing (on guys, on girls, on anyone!) and she couldn’t care less about the social ongoings of her peers. In moments where she feels disconnected from her friends, she begins to experience a tingling throughout her limbs and notices that she’s actually invisible. Her level of invisibility depends on the social situation and the people she’s surrounded by; she is never invisible to Jules, a non-binary student that Olivia befriends, or the school librarian, who we learn is asexual. This book is written from the third-person omniscient viewpoint, so readers are granted full insight into Olivia’s feelings and motivations. Olivia’s parents are supportive of Olivia’s older brother Malcolm, who is in a relationship with a boy in his class, but Olivia worries that even her parents will think something is wrong with her if she tells them she doesn’t like anyone at all. Olivia tries sacrificing her internal peace to feel “normal” and fit in with her friends, but how much is she willing to sacrifice?
Based on the cover art, we know that Olivia is Black, but her race isn’t explicitly mentioned in the book at all. Burch mentions that Olivia and Malcolm (her brother) both have curly hair and refers to Malcolm’s boyfriend as being “paler” than him. Olivia is also researching Black artists in one chapter, but the characters’ racial identities aren’t discussed outside of those passing comments, so their Blackness is more implied than named. This book contains positive LGBTQ+ representation, including Olivia exploring her aro-ace (aromantic and asexual) identity, Jules’ confidence in their non-binary identity, and the school librarian offering Jules and Olivia resources on sexuality and self-discovery. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Based on the cover art, we know that Olivia is Black, but her race isn’t explicitly mentioned in the book at all. Burch mentions that Olivia and Malcolm (her brother) both have curly hair and refers to Malcolm’s boyfriend as being “paler” than him. Olivia is also researching Black artists in one chapter, but the characters’ racial identities aren’t discussed outside of those passing comments, so their Blackness is more implied than named. This book contains positive LGBTQ+ representation, including Olivia exploring her aro-ace (aromantic and asexual) identity, Jules’ confidence in their non-binary identity, and the school librarian offering Jules and Olivia resources on sexuality and self-discovery. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
March 23, 2026
Hip hip hooray for Olivia Gray!
I really loved this book so much. 4.5 hearts rounded up because while the target audience is middle grade, it packs a huge punch! It takes me back to 7th grade and that very sensitive time of being a teenager but kind of "stuck in the middle." Your friends, family, and society are telling you that you're not a little kid anymore but sometimes that thought process becomes your detriment. There's so much pressure externally to fit in and so much pressure internally to stand out and not get caught in the demands. Olivia (Livvie) is smart, wise and creative. Entering the 7th grade she knew would be hard but she couldn't expect all the changes around her to make her feel invisible; unseen and unheard. When her brother comes out, she is nothing less than supportive. When her friends suddenly take an interest in being popular and swooning over boys, she feels left out of the conversation, trying to claw her way through it all and still remain a figure in their lives. But she just doesn't fit in anywhere, except with the new librarian who sees her and Jules, another student on the outskirts of the popular crowd. This book works so well because it is a coming of age, speculative fiction work that hits on every cylinder. I loved how open to learning and accepting Livvie's parents are. How she begins to cling to the new librarian after thinking her world was over when the previous librarian retired. It also was fitting that we got a chance to witness firsthand how Livvie felt with the physical sensations of invincibility deplored beautifully. Because even as adults we can go much of our lives feeling like we don't fit in and like no one truly sees us for who we are. I loved the tension in this book, so indicative of the teenage years. It's an exploration that I feel is so important. By its end, I was so proud of Livvie and the community she began building and for taking the leap to self-identify. Kudos to NetGalley for the gifted copy.
I really loved this book so much. 4.5 hearts rounded up because while the target audience is middle grade, it packs a huge punch! It takes me back to 7th grade and that very sensitive time of being a teenager but kind of "stuck in the middle." Your friends, family, and society are telling you that you're not a little kid anymore but sometimes that thought process becomes your detriment. There's so much pressure externally to fit in and so much pressure internally to stand out and not get caught in the demands. Olivia (Livvie) is smart, wise and creative. Entering the 7th grade she knew would be hard but she couldn't expect all the changes around her to make her feel invisible; unseen and unheard. When her brother comes out, she is nothing less than supportive. When her friends suddenly take an interest in being popular and swooning over boys, she feels left out of the conversation, trying to claw her way through it all and still remain a figure in their lives. But she just doesn't fit in anywhere, except with the new librarian who sees her and Jules, another student on the outskirts of the popular crowd. This book works so well because it is a coming of age, speculative fiction work that hits on every cylinder. I loved how open to learning and accepting Livvie's parents are. How she begins to cling to the new librarian after thinking her world was over when the previous librarian retired. It also was fitting that we got a chance to witness firsthand how Livvie felt with the physical sensations of invincibility deplored beautifully. Because even as adults we can go much of our lives feeling like we don't fit in and like no one truly sees us for who we are. I loved the tension in this book, so indicative of the teenage years. It's an exploration that I feel is so important. By its end, I was so proud of Livvie and the community she began building and for taking the leap to self-identify. Kudos to NetGalley for the gifted copy.
April 15, 2026
Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch is about a middle schooler, Olivia Gray, trying to navigate the challenges of feeling invisible while coming to terms with her asexual identity. As Olivia begins the seventh grade, she knows this year will be different from last year. Her beloved brother has come out and found a boyfriend. Instead of spending time with Olivia, he spends all his time with his crush. Her friends only want to talk about boys, who likes who, and school dances.
When Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks Olivia to the dance and she unknowingly rejects him, her life is thrown into a tailspin. Olivia goes viral on the social app KruSHH after rejecting Robbie. Now the chatter about Robbie and dating is nonstop among her friends, and Olivia feels left out and invisible.
When Olivia feels invisible, only the new librarian and Jules, a friendly kid she met who also struggles with feeling invisible, notice her. As Olivia tries to figure herself out and come to terms with being asexual, she struggles to find where she fits in and to deal with the negative perceptions of the label. All Olivia wants is to fit in with her friends.
I thought the book was a cute read. I have read another book by the author, and this one seemed geared toward older kids who are struggling with their identity. At times, I did get annoyed with Olivia, as while she tried to fit in, she wasn’t always receptive to other people’s wants and needs, especially when they didn’t align with hers. I did like seeing her grow and become a better friend and sister. I would be open to reading more books by the author.
When Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks Olivia to the dance and she unknowingly rejects him, her life is thrown into a tailspin. Olivia goes viral on the social app KruSHH after rejecting Robbie. Now the chatter about Robbie and dating is nonstop among her friends, and Olivia feels left out and invisible.
When Olivia feels invisible, only the new librarian and Jules, a friendly kid she met who also struggles with feeling invisible, notice her. As Olivia tries to figure herself out and come to terms with being asexual, she struggles to find where she fits in and to deal with the negative perceptions of the label. All Olivia wants is to fit in with her friends.
I thought the book was a cute read. I have read another book by the author, and this one seemed geared toward older kids who are struggling with their identity. At times, I did get annoyed with Olivia, as while she tried to fit in, she wasn’t always receptive to other people’s wants and needs, especially when they didn’t align with hers. I did like seeing her grow and become a better friend and sister. I would be open to reading more books by the author.
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June 25, 2026Navigating the social order of seventh grade is hard enough, but Olivia Gray is having an extraordinary hard time as the school year kicks off.
She can sense something is different. She's not at all interested in using the new social app KruShh that all her friends are using; her favorite librarian has been replaced and her brother is so involved with his new boyfriend that he doesn't have time for her. She especially does not care about the upcoming fall dance or who everyone is taking as their date. Olivia not only feels left out, but she also begins to feel invisible. Soon, Olivia finds herself flickering in and out of sight every time someone talks about romance. Only her new friend Jules and the new librarian can see her at these moments.
As Olivia begins to suspect she's asexual — not having romantic feelings toward either gender — she's reluctant to embrace the label and instead decides to try her best to blend in. But on the night of the dance, things don't go as planned. Olivia fades so much that she fears she'll never become visible again.
Author Ciera Burch crafts a touching, heartwarming and funny story that tackles tough topics with sensitivity. Bravo for creating Olivia and giving young tweens and teens a character that they might identify with, a character that will help them on their own journey of figuring out who they are.
She can sense something is different. She's not at all interested in using the new social app KruShh that all her friends are using; her favorite librarian has been replaced and her brother is so involved with his new boyfriend that he doesn't have time for her. She especially does not care about the upcoming fall dance or who everyone is taking as their date. Olivia not only feels left out, but she also begins to feel invisible. Soon, Olivia finds herself flickering in and out of sight every time someone talks about romance. Only her new friend Jules and the new librarian can see her at these moments.
As Olivia begins to suspect she's asexual — not having romantic feelings toward either gender — she's reluctant to embrace the label and instead decides to try her best to blend in. But on the night of the dance, things don't go as planned. Olivia fades so much that she fears she'll never become visible again.
Author Ciera Burch crafts a touching, heartwarming and funny story that tackles tough topics with sensitivity. Bravo for creating Olivia and giving young tweens and teens a character that they might identify with, a character that will help them on their own journey of figuring out who they are.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars
This book explores Olivia going into the seventh grade and realizing that nothing is the same. She is trying to navigate why her friends are obsessed with who is cute and who is dating. She doesn't understand why these need to be conversations. She starts to wonder why she doesn't feel the same way. With the help of a kind and patient librarian and Jules, who is nonbinary, she learns that she is aro or ace. She also realizes that her friends are not nice. But she tries to fit in anyway. It was difficult to get through those scenes. But I could see this book being beneficial for someone of a similar age who can relate heavily to what's happening in it. Olivia is also dealing with the distance from her brother after he came out as gay and started dating a guy he liked. Olivia feels invisible. I would recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ciera Burch, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book explores Olivia going into the seventh grade and realizing that nothing is the same. She is trying to navigate why her friends are obsessed with who is cute and who is dating. She doesn't understand why these need to be conversations. She starts to wonder why she doesn't feel the same way. With the help of a kind and patient librarian and Jules, who is nonbinary, she learns that she is aro or ace. She also realizes that her friends are not nice. But she tries to fit in anyway. It was difficult to get through those scenes. But I could see this book being beneficial for someone of a similar age who can relate heavily to what's happening in it. Olivia is also dealing with the distance from her brother after he came out as gay and started dating a guy he liked. Olivia feels invisible. I would recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ciera Burch, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2026
Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away: three stars. Excellent example of using magical realism to explore a social issue--Olivia struggles with being literally invisible as an aro/ace kid in a crush-obsessed community. Her loneliness and frustration come through clearly, and could be really validating for just the right reader. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Olivia's drawing hobby and Jules' interest in D&D. However, I was bothered to find that this is yet another MG book that seems to say "queer kids need to come out, otherwise they can't have honest relationships with family/friends." No! There's also a weird comment about the ace flag having "awful colors", some middle-school logistics that didn't quite feel believable to me, and more social media talk than I prefer (though it fits with the story). Overall, not quite right for me, but interesting!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*4.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this little gem of a middle grade book. I loved the main character and I honestly felt everything she felt. I loved the invisibility and how that worked and I really loved Jules too and the librarian. Everything was well-paced and I was into all of it from start to finish. I loved how the book was about asexuality and aromanticism as you're growing up and I just really enjoyed the cast of characters. I wish we would have had a bit more of resolution and understanding of the whole invisibility of it all by the end but I also liked that we didn't. Overall, this was such a good middle grade book and it should get into all the hands!
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this little gem of a middle grade book. I loved the main character and I honestly felt everything she felt. I loved the invisibility and how that worked and I really loved Jules too and the librarian. Everything was well-paced and I was into all of it from start to finish. I loved how the book was about asexuality and aromanticism as you're growing up and I just really enjoyed the cast of characters. I wish we would have had a bit more of resolution and understanding of the whole invisibility of it all by the end but I also liked that we didn't. Overall, this was such a good middle grade book and it should get into all the hands!
March 20, 2026
👧🏻 review: This book is perfect for middle-school kids who are struggling and searching for their own identities because they simply don’t know how to navigate and feel comfortable where they should belong. I remember when we started middle school, I saw some kids seeking and feeling lost because their friends from elementary school have changed after summer holidays. This book is quite striking because Olivia is one of those kids searching for her place and normality in school. Kids questioning her feelings and her choices while she is scrutinizing her invisibility and being lost. It is an amazing story to help kids comprehend and understand the importance of being different is OK.
April 20, 2026
Olivia Gray's story is very relatable and well written. The experience of finding your feelings don't match those of your friends is nearly universal. Discovering the people who care about you are assuming they understand when they do not is also a frequent experience for adolescents. Olivia's tale may be specific to the aroace community, but the author is clear that not every person who is aroace feels the same way, or discovers themselves in the same manner. Happily it does lay out how friends and family can be more inclusive in their speech and encourage teens to be themselves rather than struggling to conform. This book is needed for young teens in my library.
May 8, 2026
Since they started seventh grade, Olivia's friends have gone boy crazy. They spend all their time gossiping about crushes, both in person and on the social media that has taken over their lives. It makes Olivia so uncomfortable her whole body goes on the fritz, starting with a painful buzzing and ending with total invisibility whenever anyone talks about romance. She finds allies in Jules and the school librarian Ms. Amelia, who help her come to grips with her asexuality. But it's so hard to fight against the social pressure from her friends and family. The metaphor works perfectly to illustrate Olivia's struggles, both against society and her own flaws.
July 18, 2026
since i’m working in a children’s library i decided to just start reading children’s books again because they’re honestly very good! this book was a new acquisition at the library this week and it looked like something i would’ve really connected with at that age. it was super relatable to my middle school experience and i loveddd how the school library was a safe space for olivia and the librarian wanted to provide that space for her because the library had been her safe space in middle school too and that was a big part of why she had become a librarian. anyway thinking of concentrating in school librarianship when i start library school…
April 26, 2026
Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch
This book gave me all the feelings! 🥺 Seventh grade is hard enough, but for Olivia, it’s getting weird. While everyone else is obsessed with crushes and the fall formal, Olivia just isn't. When she rejects the school's most popular boy, she starts literally disappearing whenever romance is mentioned.
▫️The Vibe: Magical realism meets a beautiful discovery of asexuality.
▫️Why I Loved It: It’s such a relatable look at feeling different and the bravery it takes to embrace your own label instead of just trying to fit in.💖
This book gave me all the feelings! 🥺 Seventh grade is hard enough, but for Olivia, it’s getting weird. While everyone else is obsessed with crushes and the fall formal, Olivia just isn't. When she rejects the school's most popular boy, she starts literally disappearing whenever romance is mentioned.
▫️The Vibe: Magical realism meets a beautiful discovery of asexuality.
▫️Why I Loved It: It’s such a relatable look at feeling different and the bravery it takes to embrace your own label instead of just trying to fit in.💖
May 23, 2026
Genre: realistic fiction, kidlit
1 LGBTQ main character: questioning, asexual & aromantic
2 LGBTQ side characters: gay, nonbinary & asexual +
2 LGBTQ minor characters: asexual, gay
Importance of identities to plot: 5/5
Romance: 1/5
Coming out: yes
Notes: Really enjoyed the actually turning invisible aspect of the story, however it’s much too painfully accurate of a metaphor unfortunately.
1 LGBTQ main character: questioning, asexual & aromantic
2 LGBTQ side characters: gay, nonbinary & asexual +
2 LGBTQ minor characters: asexual, gay
Importance of identities to plot: 5/5
Romance: 1/5
Coming out: yes
Notes: Really enjoyed the actually turning invisible aspect of the story, however it’s much too painfully accurate of a metaphor unfortunately.
June 15, 2026
As Olivia begins seventh grade, she starts noticing that everyone around her is changing. Her older brother has a new boyfriend, all her friends can talk about is their crushes, and all her classmates are obsessed with the new app KruShh, which is full of school gossip. When Olivia accidentally rejects the most popular boy in school and goes viral on KruShh, she feels completely left out...so much so that she begins to literally become invisible. With only the new school librarian and a fellow invisible kid on her side, Olivia must figure out how to find herself again.
Y'ALL. Middle grade ace rep!!! This was done SO WELL. People tell Olivia that she's just a late bloomer, that she's young, things will change. But what if things don't? What if this is how she is? Being aromantic and/or asexual in our society can feel so isolating. So many people still don't know about or understand aromanticism and asexuality. This book does such a good job of exploring that and how it can feel like you're being left behind or that there's something wrong with you. The fact that this book really highlights this feeling at the age when crushes become such a huge part of the social scene makes it even more4 impactful.
Y'ALL. Middle grade ace rep!!! This was done SO WELL. People tell Olivia that she's just a late bloomer, that she's young, things will change. But what if things don't? What if this is how she is? Being aromantic and/or asexual in our society can feel so isolating. So many people still don't know about or understand aromanticism and asexuality. This book does such a good job of exploring that and how it can feel like you're being left behind or that there's something wrong with you. The fact that this book really highlights this feeling at the age when crushes become such a huge part of the social scene makes it even more4 impactful.
featured
January 24, 2026Olivia Gray from Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Giving this five stars for the representation and the concept. Unsure about my rating for the book - sorting out my feelings from it and will update it later.
Did Not Finish
April 5, 2026dont like
May 20, 2026
As a person who only realized they were asexual upon reaching adulthood, this book would have meant so much to middle school me and meant a lot to me as an adult.
July 28, 2026
Obviously, I’m not the intended audience, but I love that this exists for the youth !
July 2, 2026
4.5 stars. This was a great book for anyone trying to figure out who they are, how they fit in with their friends, and how it can feel when you don't feel like you fit in anywhere. I loved Olivia. She's her own person and it was sad to see her trying to fit herself into her friend group by pretending to have a crush. Her family was so extra while also being oblivious. I'm not a huge fan of magic realism or fantasy but I appreciated how Olivia physically turning invisible would help tweens understand how invisible she felt within her family, her friends and society in general. I hope some preteens will see themselves in Oliva and realize they might be on the aro/ace spectrum so they don't try to force themselves to be like their friends.
Read
June 18, 2026Olivia can't wait for the first day of seventh grade. She has so much to tell her friends like Malcolm's coming out celebration, her favorite art streamer making more content, and her visit to a theme park. But instead of talking about what happened over the summer all her friends want to discuss is crushes, which boy are cute, and the latest social media app KruShh where people anonymously share their (and mostly other people's) secrets. Olivia does not see what the big deal is about and is struggling to keep up. Then everything goes sideways when the most popular boy in school asks her to go to the Fall Formal with her and she says no. But who asks someone to a dance by putting a paper heart on their locker door that only says You're Cool, Olivia. Dance? How was she supposed to know who asked her. And even if she did he wouldn't go with him anyway because she doesn't know a thing about him unless you count the 2 minute conversation they had in class where he said boys don't need to learn anything besides woodcarving and girls cooking which--yuck.
But that's not how her classmates see it or her friends. And when she starts to turn invisible -- literally -- whenever people try to start talking to her about who she likes -- well that just makes everything even more complicated.
Can Olivia find a way to stay permanently visable while figuring out why she seems to have missed the crush bus?
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First line: "Surprise!"
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Content Notes:
Sex/sexual references? None
Profanity/swearing? A couple instances of taking the Lord's name in vain
Religious references? When Olivia rejects a boy to the Fall Formal one of her friends suggests that she is like a nun. Another friend says that not liking one boy doesn't mean you want to be the bride of Jesus (p. 83)
LGBTQIA + rep? Yes, Olivia's brother Malcolm (8th grader) is gay, Olivia is cued to be ace/aro (7th grader), Jules is non-binary
But that's not how her classmates see it or her friends. And when she starts to turn invisible -- literally -- whenever people try to start talking to her about who she likes -- well that just makes everything even more complicated.
Can Olivia find a way to stay permanently visable while figuring out why she seems to have missed the crush bus?
---
First line: "Surprise!"
---
Content Notes:
Sex/sexual references? None
Profanity/swearing? A couple instances of taking the Lord's name in vain
Religious references? When Olivia rejects a boy to the Fall Formal one of her friends suggests that she is like a nun. Another friend says that not liking one boy doesn't mean you want to be the bride of Jesus (p. 83)
LGBTQIA + rep? Yes, Olivia's brother Malcolm (8th grader) is gay, Olivia is cued to be ace/aro (7th grader), Jules is non-binary
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