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Shapes of Love
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26
Loveless
meets
This Time It’s Real
in this aroace story about challenging the idea that romance is the ultimate life goal and finding where you fit in when you don’t follow society’s script.
When nineteen-year-old Sasha’s first album throws her into stardom, her fans become obsessed with discovering who inspired her love songs. Except, Sasha is aroace-spec (aromantic, asexual), and she’s not interested in romance (unless it comes in the shape of a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers book or a star-crossed-lovers manga). Her music is all about her favorite love stories, not her own.
After running into Kai, her estranged best friend who she hasn’t seen in two years, pictures of them together leak, and everyone assumes he’s Sasha’s muse, the “boyfriend” who broke her heart. Pressured by her label and fearing fan backlash, Sasha agrees to a PR relationship with Kai for six months—but her sense of self is put to the ultimate test. Where does she fit in a society that equates happiness with romantic love? One where even her closest friends prioritize their partners over her?
Under the guise of their faux romance, Sasha and Kai get a chance to rebuild their platonic bond and heal the wounds of their past. But when actor Asher Grish enters the scene, threatening to shake the foundation of Sasha’s PR relationship, she finds herself at a crossroads. Either she loses herself, or her career.
L.V. Peñalba’s Shapes of Love is an unforgettable story of finding the people that feel like home—even if that home isn’t what the rest of the world expects. It's not a romance, but it's most definitely a love story.
"Shapes of Love is an honest, distinctly relatable exploration of aroace identity, the entertainment industry, and what our relationships mean to each other. I felt mortifyingly seen when Sasha admitted her songs were mostly about anime and TV ships. This book was utterly unputdownable." - Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy
When nineteen-year-old Sasha’s first album throws her into stardom, her fans become obsessed with discovering who inspired her love songs. Except, Sasha is aroace-spec (aromantic, asexual), and she’s not interested in romance (unless it comes in the shape of a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers book or a star-crossed-lovers manga). Her music is all about her favorite love stories, not her own.
After running into Kai, her estranged best friend who she hasn’t seen in two years, pictures of them together leak, and everyone assumes he’s Sasha’s muse, the “boyfriend” who broke her heart. Pressured by her label and fearing fan backlash, Sasha agrees to a PR relationship with Kai for six months—but her sense of self is put to the ultimate test. Where does she fit in a society that equates happiness with romantic love? One where even her closest friends prioritize their partners over her?
Under the guise of their faux romance, Sasha and Kai get a chance to rebuild their platonic bond and heal the wounds of their past. But when actor Asher Grish enters the scene, threatening to shake the foundation of Sasha’s PR relationship, she finds herself at a crossroads. Either she loses herself, or her career.
L.V. Peñalba’s Shapes of Love is an unforgettable story of finding the people that feel like home—even if that home isn’t what the rest of the world expects. It's not a romance, but it's most definitely a love story.
"Shapes of Love is an honest, distinctly relatable exploration of aroace identity, the entertainment industry, and what our relationships mean to each other. I felt mortifyingly seen when Sasha admitted her songs were mostly about anime and TV ships. This book was utterly unputdownable." - Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 19, 2026
13 people are currently reading
5979 people want to read
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October 21, 2025MORE AROACE REP IN MEDIA
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February 17, 2026
3.75
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was super cute but definitely a little too ya for my taste. I get what it was trying to do hence my rating and i would have loved this so much more if i read it 5 years ago. I think it talked about a very important topic even thought it was a bit on the nose and predictable at times. I also think some of this was overdramatized such as everyone being in a pr relationship and the grammy speech at the end. That being said i can recognize that I am a bit older than the target audience and I think this is a great way to have aroace representation for a younger audience!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was super cute but definitely a little too ya for my taste. I get what it was trying to do hence my rating and i would have loved this so much more if i read it 5 years ago. I think it talked about a very important topic even thought it was a bit on the nose and predictable at times. I also think some of this was overdramatized such as everyone being in a pr relationship and the grammy speech at the end. That being said i can recognize that I am a bit older than the target audience and I think this is a great way to have aroace representation for a younger audience!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was so beautiful and the representation was amazing!! The main character has you rooting for her the whole way as she learns more about herself and how to live as her self. It is on the slower side, but that's to be expected of a contemporary and definitely worth it. I feel it teaches many great lessons and will have the reader looking into themselves and understanding more about how humans are. I also love that is calls out people's weird parasocial relationships with celebrities, so much. Though Sasha is the lead and amazing, I think everyone should read for Kai!!
Read
January 19, 2026oh this was amazing - hilarious, wonderful aroace representation and so important, I swung between crying and cackling at the anime references (shout out to Levi Ackerman's Cravat) and 'Friday' aka Wednesday lol
A YA contemporary about an aroace TikTok singer that's blown up into fame, and the love story she feels like she has to fake. Or does she?
(Disclaimer I work for PRH!)
A YA contemporary about an aroace TikTok singer that's blown up into fame, and the love story she feels like she has to fake. Or does she?
(Disclaimer I work for PRH!)
November 8, 2025
4.5 stars
This was a really beautiful love story on many levels. I really loved Sasha and Kai and Asher and Mia and their relationships with each other. Highly recommend, especially to people looking for more aroace rep in media!
This was a really beautiful love story on many levels. I really loved Sasha and Kai and Asher and Mia and their relationships with each other. Highly recommend, especially to people looking for more aroace rep in media!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sasha’s debut album is filled with love songs, and so her fans have assumed there is a secret boyfriend and have tried to puzzle out his identity. However, Sasha is aroace (aromantic and asexual). Her love songs are about her favorite fictional characters and stories. Sasha wants to share that she’s aroace but her record label and manager are opposed, and she worries that her fans will feel betrayed if they find out there is no boyfriend (or girlfriend). A series of mishaps result in Sasha being photographed with Kai, a former close friend and a guy she previously dated (before realizing she was aroace), and the paparazzi “outing” Kai as the mystery boyfriend. Which leads her manager to propose faking a relationship temporarily.
This does not work out as planned but that it is ultimately the best for Sasha and Kai (and others) because Sasha will eventually decide that being true to herself is more important than her career or the public’s perception of her.
The story focuses heavily on the difficulty and discomfort of being aromantic and asexual in a world where romantic relationships are prized/prioritized. Sasha is happy being aroace, recognizing that it feels right to her. However, it also comes with a lot of loneliness because she doesn’t have the romantic attraction/connection with anyone, and she knows/fears that even her closest friendships will change when the other person finds their “one.” As she says at one point in the story, she loves romance, just not when it involves her. And as much as she knows that being aroace is right for her and is a good/positive thing, it is still a struggle to accept that she will likely never have romantic feelings for anyone given that romantic love is the societal norm; it is hard not to feel like she is missing out. That conflict and seeming disconnect makes her friendship/relationship with Kai difficult. She loves Kai but it is not a romantic or sexual attraction type of love; rather, they understand each other in a way that others don’t.
And Sasha is not the only character struggling to reconcile themselves with societal expectations. Kai has his own secrets and insecurities that will be revealed, as do Mia (their mutual friend) and Asher (an actor with whom a friendship will develop). These four characters are enjoyable and engaging— people the reader will want to care about. Sasha’s producer, Shirley, will play an important role, being “unconventional” in relationship status and sexual orientation but having already realized the importance of being true to themself.
The message of being true to yourself is an important one. It is not always easy, especially if you don’t fit the “norms” — and Sasha and other characters don’t on multiple levels. However, society would be better if we were more accepting of differences and more willing to let people be who they want to be (so long as it is not harmful/dangerous).
One of the things I liked about the story is Sasha receiving messages from fans about how her music influenced them or impacted their lives. I also liked how the friendship that developed between Sasha and Asher, including Kai developing a friendship with Asher through Sasha, results in positive changes for all of them, as they reveal and explore their beliefs and challenge each other regarding those beliefs about relationships, friendships, public persona versus private reality, etc. I also liked the mix of cultures and cultural aspects found in the book, and the influence and importance that various cultures had on the major characters and the events in their lives.
This does not work out as planned but that it is ultimately the best for Sasha and Kai (and others) because Sasha will eventually decide that being true to herself is more important than her career or the public’s perception of her.
The story focuses heavily on the difficulty and discomfort of being aromantic and asexual in a world where romantic relationships are prized/prioritized. Sasha is happy being aroace, recognizing that it feels right to her. However, it also comes with a lot of loneliness because she doesn’t have the romantic attraction/connection with anyone, and she knows/fears that even her closest friendships will change when the other person finds their “one.” As she says at one point in the story, she loves romance, just not when it involves her. And as much as she knows that being aroace is right for her and is a good/positive thing, it is still a struggle to accept that she will likely never have romantic feelings for anyone given that romantic love is the societal norm; it is hard not to feel like she is missing out. That conflict and seeming disconnect makes her friendship/relationship with Kai difficult. She loves Kai but it is not a romantic or sexual attraction type of love; rather, they understand each other in a way that others don’t.
And Sasha is not the only character struggling to reconcile themselves with societal expectations. Kai has his own secrets and insecurities that will be revealed, as do Mia (their mutual friend) and Asher (an actor with whom a friendship will develop). These four characters are enjoyable and engaging— people the reader will want to care about. Sasha’s producer, Shirley, will play an important role, being “unconventional” in relationship status and sexual orientation but having already realized the importance of being true to themself.
The message of being true to yourself is an important one. It is not always easy, especially if you don’t fit the “norms” — and Sasha and other characters don’t on multiple levels. However, society would be better if we were more accepting of differences and more willing to let people be who they want to be (so long as it is not harmful/dangerous).
One of the things I liked about the story is Sasha receiving messages from fans about how her music influenced them or impacted their lives. I also liked how the friendship that developed between Sasha and Asher, including Kai developing a friendship with Asher through Sasha, results in positive changes for all of them, as they reveal and explore their beliefs and challenge each other regarding those beliefs about relationships, friendships, public persona versus private reality, etc. I also liked the mix of cultures and cultural aspects found in the book, and the influence and importance that various cultures had on the major characters and the events in their lives.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This is a really cute, non-traditional love story.
We follow our protagonist, Sasha/ Sassy, who is an up-and-coming famous artist. She has to navigate the realities of fame after living a life relatively unknown to the public.
Sasha has two main best friends, Mia and Kai, but after a failed high school relationship, her friendship with Kai is strained. We enter the story with Kai entering back into the picture and get to watch as Sasha and Kai try to figure out how to become friends once more. In this journey, we also meet anther famous actor, Asher, who ends up joining our friend circle, and we are introduced to many important role models in Sasha's life, such as Shirley the producer, Sasha's moms and sister Sonia, and her manager Marissa.
Each person has a distinct role they play in helping Sasha discover what her priorities are in life and who she really is. Marissa is our kind-of antagonist character, as she is so focused on the "sassy" image that the world relates that she ends up neglecting Sasha's own feelings.
Ultimately, this is a story about validating all different kinds of love. We see lots of queer relationships that are successful in this book, and Sasha has the unique character element of being aroace, which is not a common identity that main characters get. And so because of that, we as the readers, go on the journey to learn what "love" means for someone who is aromantic and asexual, and in this manner, we see that there are a plethora of definitions for love. Sasha's is based off her relationships with her support system, and is inherently platonic, but this novel shows us that that type of love is just as valid and important as romantic love.
I think this is a very unique story and opportunity to normalize all different forms of love in society. I think this would especially be a helpful read for high schoolers who themselves may be questioning what "love" means when it defies heteronormative standards. That age is an especially challenging period as you're struggling to truly discover yourself, and just seeing the validation that this book provides would be so helpful.
Thank you to goodreads for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
We follow our protagonist, Sasha/ Sassy, who is an up-and-coming famous artist. She has to navigate the realities of fame after living a life relatively unknown to the public.
Sasha has two main best friends, Mia and Kai, but after a failed high school relationship, her friendship with Kai is strained. We enter the story with Kai entering back into the picture and get to watch as Sasha and Kai try to figure out how to become friends once more. In this journey, we also meet anther famous actor, Asher, who ends up joining our friend circle, and we are introduced to many important role models in Sasha's life, such as Shirley the producer, Sasha's moms and sister Sonia, and her manager Marissa.
Each person has a distinct role they play in helping Sasha discover what her priorities are in life and who she really is. Marissa is our kind-of antagonist character, as she is so focused on the "sassy" image that the world relates that she ends up neglecting Sasha's own feelings.
Ultimately, this is a story about validating all different kinds of love. We see lots of queer relationships that are successful in this book, and Sasha has the unique character element of being aroace, which is not a common identity that main characters get. And so because of that, we as the readers, go on the journey to learn what "love" means for someone who is aromantic and asexual, and in this manner, we see that there are a plethora of definitions for love. Sasha's is based off her relationships with her support system, and is inherently platonic, but this novel shows us that that type of love is just as valid and important as romantic love.
I think this is a very unique story and opportunity to normalize all different forms of love in society. I think this would especially be a helpful read for high schoolers who themselves may be questioning what "love" means when it defies heteronormative standards. That age is an especially challenging period as you're struggling to truly discover yourself, and just seeing the validation that this book provides would be so helpful.
Thank you to goodreads for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THANK YOU to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC!
I hope I can someday meet the author and get a signed copy because this story was THAT meaningful to me.
The aroace community is eating tonight, folks 😭
This book made me feel all the things: happy, sad, confused, angry, hopeful.
I relate SO much to Sasha. The struggle of finding yourself, dealing with others' opinions, and trying to fit yourself into a small box. Oh, and how she goes down Wikipedia rabbitholes? Chef's kiss. Hello twin. Her journey was amazing to watch.
Sometimes my brain just shuts down, like a computer that's about to overheat, and simple tasks like cooking become hard to do. RELATABLE content.
Kai was the perfect male best friend. His redemption arc was short (thank gawd) and he quickly grew into one of my favorite sidekicks.
"Why not? We could be roommates. Except we'll actually be roommates." "Historians will call us lovers." VERY PRO QUEERPLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS. MAY THIS LOVE FIND ME.
And Asher? AMAZING. He made me feel so sad - he was looking for not just his person, but his people. His story was well-done, and maybe we can all be a bit kinder to nepo babies.
I didn't love Mia as much as the other two friends, but her storyline about falling out of touch when you leave high school behind is one that can resonate with many. Also, girl, never settle for a toxic man. Being alone > feeling lonely in a relationship.
The aroace community is often misunderstood, or we're told something is wrong with us.
I would kms. being in love is the best feeling in the world? she's probably going to be alone forever. i'd feel sorry for her if it's true.
This book is a true exploration of self-love, not just for aroace folx, but for the LGBTQIA+ community as whole.
"who the fuck cares? do you know how harmful it is to speculate about someone's sexuality?
I need this book to BLOW UP so I can get some Muse fan art, please & ty.
I hope I can someday meet the author and get a signed copy because this story was THAT meaningful to me.
The aroace community is eating tonight, folks 😭
This book made me feel all the things: happy, sad, confused, angry, hopeful.
I relate SO much to Sasha. The struggle of finding yourself, dealing with others' opinions, and trying to fit yourself into a small box. Oh, and how she goes down Wikipedia rabbitholes? Chef's kiss. Hello twin. Her journey was amazing to watch.
Sometimes my brain just shuts down, like a computer that's about to overheat, and simple tasks like cooking become hard to do. RELATABLE content.
Kai was the perfect male best friend. His redemption arc was short (thank gawd) and he quickly grew into one of my favorite sidekicks.
"Why not? We could be roommates. Except we'll actually be roommates." "Historians will call us lovers." VERY PRO QUEERPLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS. MAY THIS LOVE FIND ME.
And Asher? AMAZING. He made me feel so sad - he was looking for not just his person, but his people. His story was well-done, and maybe we can all be a bit kinder to nepo babies.
I didn't love Mia as much as the other two friends, but her storyline about falling out of touch when you leave high school behind is one that can resonate with many. Also, girl, never settle for a toxic man. Being alone > feeling lonely in a relationship.
The aroace community is often misunderstood, or we're told something is wrong with us.
I would kms. being in love is the best feeling in the world? she's probably going to be alone forever. i'd feel sorry for her if it's true.
This book is a true exploration of self-love, not just for aroace folx, but for the LGBTQIA+ community as whole.
"who the fuck cares? do you know how harmful it is to speculate about someone's sexuality?
I need this book to BLOW UP so I can get some Muse fan art, please & ty.
January 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I haven’t had too many books that have hit me in a way this book did. Sasha’s journey is a pretty close mirror to my own. I realized I was ace over a decade ago and just came to the realization I was aro about a year or so ago. There aren’t many books on aroace experiences so I was so excited for this one.
The idea of love is in such a box. There are so many other important relationships. The idea of a soulmate is not just a black and white idea. I wanted so bad what Sasha had with her friends. A group or a person to be there for you no matter what. To show that you aren’t unloved and can love people in your own way. Asher, Kai, and Mia were all so great. Even though there were moments of hardship, they all had each other. I couldn’t stop tearing up or smiling during this. The idea of people not accepting you or understanding you hits so hard for me too. I haven’t really discussed my sexuality with people offline. I understand Sasha’s fear and hesitance. Especially since she’s famous.
This book brought out so many emotions for me along with some thoughts about things I hadn’t really thought about or accepted before. This book is going to be close to my heart. There is so much to love. You can love so many different people in so many different ways that matter. People will love you for who you are and there will be people who accept you and want to stay in your life no matter what shape or form it takes. This was hard hitting and exactly what I needed to read. I’m so happy there are others like me and people I can relate to out there writing books for other people understand themselves or others better.
I haven’t had too many books that have hit me in a way this book did. Sasha’s journey is a pretty close mirror to my own. I realized I was ace over a decade ago and just came to the realization I was aro about a year or so ago. There aren’t many books on aroace experiences so I was so excited for this one.
The idea of love is in such a box. There are so many other important relationships. The idea of a soulmate is not just a black and white idea. I wanted so bad what Sasha had with her friends. A group or a person to be there for you no matter what. To show that you aren’t unloved and can love people in your own way. Asher, Kai, and Mia were all so great. Even though there were moments of hardship, they all had each other. I couldn’t stop tearing up or smiling during this. The idea of people not accepting you or understanding you hits so hard for me too. I haven’t really discussed my sexuality with people offline. I understand Sasha’s fear and hesitance. Especially since she’s famous.
This book brought out so many emotions for me along with some thoughts about things I hadn’t really thought about or accepted before. This book is going to be close to my heart. There is so much to love. You can love so many different people in so many different ways that matter. People will love you for who you are and there will be people who accept you and want to stay in your life no matter what shape or form it takes. This was hard hitting and exactly what I needed to read. I’m so happy there are others like me and people I can relate to out there writing books for other people understand themselves or others better.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Shapes of Love
by L.V. Peñalba
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Shapes of Love is positioned as not a romance, but still a love story, and that distinction is important. L.V. Peñalba centers an aroace-spec main character navigating sudden fame, industry pressure, and a culture that insists romance is the ultimate measure of fulfillment. Sasha’s struggle is not about choosing between two love interests. It is about holding onto her identity when the world keeps trying to rewrite it for her.
The premise works well. A PR relationship layered over a broken friendship creates emotional tension without relying on traditional romantic payoff. The book also does a strong job addressing parasocial fandom culture and the entertainment industry’s tendency to manufacture narratives for public consumption. That element feels timely and sharp.
Sasha’s aroace identity is handled with care and clarity. The novel makes space for the nuance of being someone who loves love stories yet does not experience romantic attraction in the expected way. For readers looking for more representation in this space, this will likely resonate deeply.
At times, the emotional conflicts lean heavy. Some situations feel drawn out longer than necessary, and there are moments where clearer communication might have diffused tension more naturally. Still, the heart of the story remains grounded in self acceptance and chosen connection.
This is ultimately a book about redefining what love can look like and refusing to let outside expectations dictate your worth. It may not land for every reader, but its perspective feels important and sincere.
3.5 stars.
by L.V. Peñalba
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Shapes of Love is positioned as not a romance, but still a love story, and that distinction is important. L.V. Peñalba centers an aroace-spec main character navigating sudden fame, industry pressure, and a culture that insists romance is the ultimate measure of fulfillment. Sasha’s struggle is not about choosing between two love interests. It is about holding onto her identity when the world keeps trying to rewrite it for her.
The premise works well. A PR relationship layered over a broken friendship creates emotional tension without relying on traditional romantic payoff. The book also does a strong job addressing parasocial fandom culture and the entertainment industry’s tendency to manufacture narratives for public consumption. That element feels timely and sharp.
Sasha’s aroace identity is handled with care and clarity. The novel makes space for the nuance of being someone who loves love stories yet does not experience romantic attraction in the expected way. For readers looking for more representation in this space, this will likely resonate deeply.
At times, the emotional conflicts lean heavy. Some situations feel drawn out longer than necessary, and there are moments where clearer communication might have diffused tension more naturally. Still, the heart of the story remains grounded in self acceptance and chosen connection.
This is ultimately a book about redefining what love can look like and refusing to let outside expectations dictate your worth. It may not land for every reader, but its perspective feels important and sincere.
3.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC of Shapes of Love by L.V. Peñalba.
The representation in this book makes it a worthy addition to the great conversation. As an avid romance genre reader and also someone on the AroAce spectrum, I can tell you this was a story that felt pertinent and real. I did not have the vocabulary to understand how the things I felt and experienced differently while in my youth, this conversation became easier as the vocabulary expanded. I saw my experience first in an AroAce story that I read in my 30s. I hope everyone, everywhere can see themselves and their experience in a story someday! This book is surely a mirror for some folks out there that have not seen themselves in a LOVE story, this is a way to see that every shape and color and brand of humanity is valid and worthy of love, even if they seek it, feel it, find it, or experience it in a way that others do not understand. Humans NEED LOVE, they need connection, they need belonging and people that are their ride and dies! Not all humans NEED romantic or sexual relationships, but they will always NEED LOVE, the Beatles said it and I believe it, "All we need is LOVE," and Jackie DeShannon's lyrics, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." And we don't need to judge the shape of it. That is what this book could be for someone out there who feels like they are unworthy of love if the shape of their love or their need for love is different or misunderstood, Your shape of love is valid and you are worthy of love, just as you are. You are ENOUGH, even if it's messy. It will probably be messy, that's just how being human is sometimes. Just keep being authentic, the world needs YOU!
The representation in this book makes it a worthy addition to the great conversation. As an avid romance genre reader and also someone on the AroAce spectrum, I can tell you this was a story that felt pertinent and real. I did not have the vocabulary to understand how the things I felt and experienced differently while in my youth, this conversation became easier as the vocabulary expanded. I saw my experience first in an AroAce story that I read in my 30s. I hope everyone, everywhere can see themselves and their experience in a story someday! This book is surely a mirror for some folks out there that have not seen themselves in a LOVE story, this is a way to see that every shape and color and brand of humanity is valid and worthy of love, even if they seek it, feel it, find it, or experience it in a way that others do not understand. Humans NEED LOVE, they need connection, they need belonging and people that are their ride and dies! Not all humans NEED romantic or sexual relationships, but they will always NEED LOVE, the Beatles said it and I believe it, "All we need is LOVE," and Jackie DeShannon's lyrics, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." And we don't need to judge the shape of it. That is what this book could be for someone out there who feels like they are unworthy of love if the shape of their love or their need for love is different or misunderstood, Your shape of love is valid and you are worthy of love, just as you are. You are ENOUGH, even if it's messy. It will probably be messy, that's just how being human is sometimes. Just keep being authentic, the world needs YOU!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“I’ve always hated the expression More than friends, as if romantic love were one step above friendship.”
A deep, meaningful and funny “romance” book that has so much to tell us about identity and love. A YA book that is very true to the voice of Gen Alpha. Shapes of Love challenges our assumptions about romantic love and partnership.
Sasha (stage name Sassy) is just at the crux of stardom and she has found a solid audience. Her campaign year for Best New Artist Grammy, the world is very interested in her love life. She accidentally likes a post potentially outing her as aroace. Although her closest friends know, her producer Shirley and studio does not. As a PR stunt, her manager decides to hire her ex boyfriend and ex best friend Kai for fake dating for 6 months. She also gets a guest role on her favorite show and they meet Asher, a nepo baby with a penchant for partying.
Young Adult books can sometimes be heavy handed in their messaging, but I found this to be very meaningful and plot driven. The characters are wonderful. As a cis middle aged lady, I picked this up to educate myself so I can be a better and more educated ally to our aroace friends. I definitely found myself reading and realizing I have a lot to learn about the aroace community. Shapes of Love is the perfect title to describe all the ways we experience love, connection and partnership. And romantic love is not the only path, just like there’s not only one way into the ocean.
If you enjoy queer YA romance, don’t miss this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.
A deep, meaningful and funny “romance” book that has so much to tell us about identity and love. A YA book that is very true to the voice of Gen Alpha. Shapes of Love challenges our assumptions about romantic love and partnership.
Sasha (stage name Sassy) is just at the crux of stardom and she has found a solid audience. Her campaign year for Best New Artist Grammy, the world is very interested in her love life. She accidentally likes a post potentially outing her as aroace. Although her closest friends know, her producer Shirley and studio does not. As a PR stunt, her manager decides to hire her ex boyfriend and ex best friend Kai for fake dating for 6 months. She also gets a guest role on her favorite show and they meet Asher, a nepo baby with a penchant for partying.
Young Adult books can sometimes be heavy handed in their messaging, but I found this to be very meaningful and plot driven. The characters are wonderful. As a cis middle aged lady, I picked this up to educate myself so I can be a better and more educated ally to our aroace friends. I definitely found myself reading and realizing I have a lot to learn about the aroace community. Shapes of Love is the perfect title to describe all the ways we experience love, connection and partnership. And romantic love is not the only path, just like there’s not only one way into the ocean.
If you enjoy queer YA romance, don’t miss this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martian's Press for the ARC!~~
3.5/5 stars rounded up!
Soooo, I cried at the end. As heavy-handed as it is, it is so needed. Love comes in all shapes and definitions; no one should dictate what love is but you. That got me really in the feels.
I've contemplated that I'm somewhere on the aspec for a long while now (Moreso the aro front, but I don't feel like going into specifics), so a lot of Sasha was thinking about and going through resonated with me a lot. I also loved the exploration of autism, as well. I really do believe this will hit with many other aspec folks who've most likely felt everything Sasha had.
I loved Sasha's friend group, and I loved the family they knitted together. And the queerplatonic relationships? Oh, my lord, may this type of love find me one day. But it wasn't just the main cast of side characters but also the smaller ones who felt realized, too, like Rosa and Shirley. It just felt like everyone had an important part to play, no matter how small.
The only slights I have may be the fact that, one, I'm much older than this book's intended audience and felt some things were a bit too on he nose for me, and two, some parts of the plot dragged here and there. I definitely would've loved this had this come out when I was closer than teenagerhood than thirty.
Overall, this is such a wonderful book for aroace rep, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves once it officially publishes.
3.5/5 stars rounded up!
Soooo, I cried at the end. As heavy-handed as it is, it is so needed. Love comes in all shapes and definitions; no one should dictate what love is but you. That got me really in the feels.
I've contemplated that I'm somewhere on the aspec for a long while now (Moreso the aro front, but I don't feel like going into specifics), so a lot of Sasha was thinking about and going through resonated with me a lot. I also loved the exploration of autism, as well. I really do believe this will hit with many other aspec folks who've most likely felt everything Sasha had.
I loved Sasha's friend group, and I loved the family they knitted together. And the queerplatonic relationships? Oh, my lord, may this type of love find me one day. But it wasn't just the main cast of side characters but also the smaller ones who felt realized, too, like Rosa and Shirley. It just felt like everyone had an important part to play, no matter how small.
The only slights I have may be the fact that, one, I'm much older than this book's intended audience and felt some things were a bit too on he nose for me, and two, some parts of the plot dragged here and there. I definitely would've loved this had this come out when I was closer than teenagerhood than thirty.
Overall, this is such a wonderful book for aroace rep, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves once it officially publishes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love the aroace representation, along with other LGBTQIA+ characters and topics interwoven in the story. I think it’s great that there is representation, especially in YA genre, and that people can either read and see themselves in it or read and learn something about people who are aroace. There was a large focus on the discomfort that comes with being aromantic and asexual - everything from fear, loneliness, feeling ‘other’, etc. There is also commentary on the entertainment industry, especially around fame and power imbalance.
I also think this book will resonate with people beyond the LGBTQIA+ community. Shapes of Love is a coming of age story, as Sasha tries to balance being true to herself while also not risking her growing career. She’s facing an internal battle to figure out what to share about herself, and with who, while in the public eye (meaning others are trying to write the narrative for her).
But I don’t tend to like YA books for a handful of reasons, a lot of which held true in this book. The writing is a little too direct and on the nose, I would personally have liked more subtlety and showing vs telling. I also struggled with how much drama there was, feeling over the top and unnecessary at times.
Ultimately I would say if you like YA, this is worth a read.
Thanks to L. V. Peñalba, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I also think this book will resonate with people beyond the LGBTQIA+ community. Shapes of Love is a coming of age story, as Sasha tries to balance being true to herself while also not risking her growing career. She’s facing an internal battle to figure out what to share about herself, and with who, while in the public eye (meaning others are trying to write the narrative for her).
But I don’t tend to like YA books for a handful of reasons, a lot of which held true in this book. The writing is a little too direct and on the nose, I would personally have liked more subtlety and showing vs telling. I also struggled with how much drama there was, feeling over the top and unnecessary at times.
Ultimately I would say if you like YA, this is worth a read.
Thanks to L. V. Peñalba, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Romantic relationships can't be the only way to have someone deeply care about you."
There's a lot of beautiful representation in this book, and I was especially drawn to how it portrays friendships. While the book centers on an asexual and aromantic main character — and I appreciated getting to learn more about that lived experience — I think the exploration of friendship's deeper role in our lives will resonate with anyone, regardless of their sexual identity.
We get to see friends prioritizing each other alongside romantic relationships. We get to see them navigating what their relationship looks like through moves and life changes—how they can evolve together instead of growing apart. We get to see friendships rebuilding after conflict instead of simply fading away.
I'm grateful that teens and young adults have access to stories that model the kind of intention and vulnerability that go into building lifelong friendships. And it’s all framed within an engaging story about the good, the bad, and the ugly of a rapid rise to fame.
This would make a wonderful gift for any young reader in your life who's approaching graduation or a move and wondering what comes next for their cherished friendships, or a sweet read for anyone who enjoys reading YA!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
There's a lot of beautiful representation in this book, and I was especially drawn to how it portrays friendships. While the book centers on an asexual and aromantic main character — and I appreciated getting to learn more about that lived experience — I think the exploration of friendship's deeper role in our lives will resonate with anyone, regardless of their sexual identity.
We get to see friends prioritizing each other alongside romantic relationships. We get to see them navigating what their relationship looks like through moves and life changes—how they can evolve together instead of growing apart. We get to see friendships rebuilding after conflict instead of simply fading away.
I'm grateful that teens and young adults have access to stories that model the kind of intention and vulnerability that go into building lifelong friendships. And it’s all framed within an engaging story about the good, the bad, and the ugly of a rapid rise to fame.
This would make a wonderful gift for any young reader in your life who's approaching graduation or a move and wondering what comes next for their cherished friendships, or a sweet read for anyone who enjoys reading YA!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is a YA book with LGBQTIAP subject matter. A young rising singer, Sasha has written an album full of angst and her fans are wondering who is the person being sung about. When her manager arranges for a former boyfriend is enlisted to be "the one" as a PR event, the situation predictably goes awry. Feelings get hurt, friendships get overwhelmed and eventually all ends well.
The character is a aroace-spec (aromantic, asexual), I was unfamiliar with these terms and both are listed as being part of the spectrum. I understand an author's desire to write a story where people can identify with the characters. For me, the aroace aspect of the story didn't resonate with me. I understood the character's confusion, her questioning of herself, even how she felt but for me, it was no different than any other character questioning their feelings. The aroace aspect felt unnecessary to me, what should of been a component of the story became the story which I believe didn't do justice. I'm not the target audience which maybe the reason this story just didn't click with me. It's a fast read and a YA reader would probably enjoy the story, the romance and the mixture of emotions throughout the book. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins Press.
The character is a aroace-spec (aromantic, asexual), I was unfamiliar with these terms and both are listed as being part of the spectrum. I understand an author's desire to write a story where people can identify with the characters. For me, the aroace aspect of the story didn't resonate with me. I understood the character's confusion, her questioning of herself, even how she felt but for me, it was no different than any other character questioning their feelings. The aroace aspect felt unnecessary to me, what should of been a component of the story became the story which I believe didn't do justice. I'm not the target audience which maybe the reason this story just didn't click with me. It's a fast read and a YA reader would probably enjoy the story, the romance and the mixture of emotions throughout the book. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins Press.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am so happy that books like this are getting written these days.
Knowing someone young who is aroace, it really helped me understand their life better. I also loved that it dove into some of the issues I fret about (i.e. will they feel lonely when friends partner off in adulthood?) and clarified some of the misconceptions I initially had before doing my homework (not all ace or aro people are virgins).
While these characters are in college, this book still does read as more YA than NA, but again that was OK with me because I think it will attract younger readers who will resonate with the story. So I think it's best to suspend some disbelief on the reality of dealing with these issues while being an international pop star.
I also wish that'd we'd dove a bit more into the best friend Mia's shitty boyfriend and positioned it less as a story of "straight girl explores her sexuality" and more of "young girl gets trapped in a controlling, volatile and unhealthy relationship after feeling an obligation to partner up."
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Knowing someone young who is aroace, it really helped me understand their life better. I also loved that it dove into some of the issues I fret about (i.e. will they feel lonely when friends partner off in adulthood?) and clarified some of the misconceptions I initially had before doing my homework (not all ace or aro people are virgins).
While these characters are in college, this book still does read as more YA than NA, but again that was OK with me because I think it will attract younger readers who will resonate with the story. So I think it's best to suspend some disbelief on the reality of dealing with these issues while being an international pop star.
I also wish that'd we'd dove a bit more into the best friend Mia's shitty boyfriend and positioned it less as a story of "straight girl explores her sexuality" and more of "young girl gets trapped in a controlling, volatile and unhealthy relationship after feeling an obligation to partner up."
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to AM from St. Martin's Publishing for the DRC of this deep dive into the different expressions of love. At first, I felt that the book was trying to cram too many types of alternative relationships into the story, but I quickly realized that love is actually a very individual feeling, and everyone expresses love in their own unique way. With this in mind, the story is more of a stroll around the relationships of the people in Sasha's personal sphere. Sasha is in a position of having two identities: her personal self and her professional persona. Her two identities are at odds, and this story is more about how she relates to those around her in order to better define and accept herself. The story is told in a completely non-judgemental manner while being true to the backlash facing those that do not follow society's norms. All of the characters feel authentic, and I grew to like all (or at least most) of them. I found this story to be sensitive, sweet and an uplifting read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, which allowed me to share my honest thoughts.
This book was so incredibly heartfelt and vulnerable. It is truly a beautiful coming-of-age novel with so much complexity and wonderful representation. The tight rope walk of the normal struggles of that readers will relate to and the high pressure struggles of celebrity are shown equal gravity. It was so well written that I was shocked to find out this was a debut when I went to find more books by the author. They have done a truly incredible job! I was laughing and crying throughout.
It feels like a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community featuring aroace representation rarely seen in literature. There is so much love being shown, in general, that is not often featured in the YA space. Queer stories are so important, but especially stories like this that focus so much on finding love all around us. While this isn’t a Romance, this is definitely a love story. There is so much love in these pages.
This book was so incredibly heartfelt and vulnerable. It is truly a beautiful coming-of-age novel with so much complexity and wonderful representation. The tight rope walk of the normal struggles of that readers will relate to and the high pressure struggles of celebrity are shown equal gravity. It was so well written that I was shocked to find out this was a debut when I went to find more books by the author. They have done a truly incredible job! I was laughing and crying throughout.
It feels like a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community featuring aroace representation rarely seen in literature. There is so much love being shown, in general, that is not often featured in the YA space. Queer stories are so important, but especially stories like this that focus so much on finding love all around us. While this isn’t a Romance, this is definitely a love story. There is so much love in these pages.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sasha has been skyrocketed to fame with the release of her pop album and top hit, Summer Blues. Sasha's pop star alter ego is Sassy, and as her fame increases, Sassy seems to be taking over more and more of Sasha's personality. Specifically, Sasha is being encouraged by her manager and record label to conceal her sexuality, which she identifies as aroace (aromantic, asexual). In Shapes of Love, we follow Sasha's journey of coming of age and out in front of fans and the world.
Overall, Shapes of Love is a sweet, warm story. I haven't read (m)any stories with an aroace protagonist and it was great to learn about the emotions an aroace might feel and the stigma they might experience. Importantly, Shapes of Love reminds us that not being interested in romance or sex is NOT the same as not being interested in love or desiring affection.
Recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, Shapes of Love is a sweet, warm story. I haven't read (m)any stories with an aroace protagonist and it was great to learn about the emotions an aroace might feel and the stigma they might experience. Importantly, Shapes of Love reminds us that not being interested in romance or sex is NOT the same as not being interested in love or desiring affection.
Recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I had the honor of getting to blurb this wonderful book and can't say enough good things about it, but here are a few:
"Shapes of Love is a wonderfully heartfelt, powerful story of the many ways love can be expressed, and the depth true friendship can go. With a cast of engaging, layered characters you can't help but fall in love with, L.V. Peñalba's must-read debut about fame, growing into who you're meant to be, and the messiness of finding your people flips the script on what a love story can be in all the best ways. Filled with a whole lot of fun and heart, this is a book you will absolutely stay up way too late to read!" - C.R. Averett, author of the forthcoming Not Your Typical Love Story
"Shapes of Love is a wonderfully heartfelt, powerful story of the many ways love can be expressed, and the depth true friendship can go. With a cast of engaging, layered characters you can't help but fall in love with, L.V. Peñalba's must-read debut about fame, growing into who you're meant to be, and the messiness of finding your people flips the script on what a love story can be in all the best ways. Filled with a whole lot of fun and heart, this is a book you will absolutely stay up way too late to read!" - C.R. Averett, author of the forthcoming Not Your Typical Love Story
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Wow, I needed this book.
There are so many beautiful moments and musings on love and queerness here. The representation is wonderful, the dialogue feels realistic while showcasing characters' maturity, vulnerability, and self-awareness, and the story has many poignant reflections on the moments that give life meaning and how lovely it is to inhabit in-between spaces - to exist without having everything figured out.
There is so much love in the universe, truly, and this book does a spectacular job distilling some of the forms it can take while illuminating the impossibility of capturing them all.
Extremely grateful for this ARC.
There are so many beautiful moments and musings on love and queerness here. The representation is wonderful, the dialogue feels realistic while showcasing characters' maturity, vulnerability, and self-awareness, and the story has many poignant reflections on the moments that give life meaning and how lovely it is to inhabit in-between spaces - to exist without having everything figured out.
There is so much love in the universe, truly, and this book does a spectacular job distilling some of the forms it can take while illuminating the impossibility of capturing them all.
Extremely grateful for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. I absolutely adored it! As an aroace reader, it means the world to read about aroace characters. I thought Sasha was well-written, and I could relate to many of her experiences surrounding her sexuality. I loved the book's emphasis on friendship, and Sasha's friends were fleshed-out, engaging characters. Finally, I appreciated that the book showcased how amatonormavitivty can harm more than just aromantic people; it also marginalizes polyamorous people and can pressure alloromantic people to stay in unhealthy relationships. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shapes of Love by L. V. Peñalba is soooo good. This story felt so honest and refreshing, especially in the way it explores aroace identity and the pressure to fit into romantic expectations. Sasha’s voice is real, vulnerable, and deeply relatable. I loved how the book shows that love doesn’t have to look one specific way to matter. The fake PR relationship added tension and drama, but the heart of the story is about friendship, identity, and self-acceptance. It’s emotional, thoughtful, and empowering. This isn’t a traditional romance, but it is absolutely a beautiful love story in every sense.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sassy’s legions of fans all want to know about the ex-boyfriend who inspired her music by breaking her heart. Little do they know he’s just as made up as she is; really there is only Sasha, an asexual, aromantic nineteen-year-old writing about her favorite animes’ romances. She reconnects with her estranged bestie Kai and is pressured into fake dating him to assuage her fans’ curiosity. Sasha struggles to balance the demands of her career and heteronormative social expectations against her own sense of self. Just the right mix of heartwarming and fraught, and a welcome exploration of an underrepresented perspective. Thanks, Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had it all: fun, drama, and food for thought. Sasha with the glimpses of her singer persona Sassy, a duality of Sasha’s existence and Sassy becoming someone who doesn’t represent the real Sasha. The journey of Sasha as an artist, the fame, how people treat celebrities, the online comment culture, being part of the LGBTQA2S+ community, friends, family, the shapes of love. What a beautiful journey, what a heartbreak it can be to stay true to yourself. It’s a book worth reading. It’s light and fun, it’s also very heartfelt and inspiring. Loved every minute of it.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
March 29, 2026
This was a good YA book showing diverse representations for people to identify and see themselves in. It definitely touched on multiple topics and really spoke heavily on the different shapes and type of love that do exist. I think it is important that this story showcased multiple types of love and the emotions/feelings/weight that is carried with them all.
I had never heard of aroace before and this book allowed me understand it a bit more, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is the central theme of the story. It is also dealing with a pivotal time in life, when you are a young adult navigating relationships, careers, education, and personal choice. This is a good choice for college aged students that are struggling with figuring out who they are and what they want.
Each of the main characters was different, but the author blended their stories together in a way that allowed them to compliment and build off one another, while still giving room for each character to be an individual and have their own triumphs and challenges.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted arc in exchange of an honest review.
I had never heard of aroace before and this book allowed me understand it a bit more, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is the central theme of the story. It is also dealing with a pivotal time in life, when you are a young adult navigating relationships, careers, education, and personal choice. This is a good choice for college aged students that are struggling with figuring out who they are and what they want.
Each of the main characters was different, but the author blended their stories together in a way that allowed them to compliment and build off one another, while still giving room for each character to be an individual and have their own triumphs and challenges.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted arc in exchange of an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought this was an engaging and sweet read. This was the first book I have read with aroace representation and I thought it was well done. Sasha was a character that I found easy to root for and genuine. I also enjoyed that the themes of identity and love explored throughout the book. Faking dating isn't one of my favorite romance tropes but I can see the role it played in this plot.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 29, 2026
I got this book as a giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like it more than I did but the angst was so much. So over the top. There were so many times the problems could have been resolved with a conversation that suddenly is cut short by some manufactured drama that didn’t really add to the story. It’s always interesting to learn about different people’s experiences with coming out but these characters were annoying and felt really flat.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I was sent this book as my first ever ARC!! I usually do not read queer/LGBTQ+ books as a straight female but am glad that I had the opportunity to read this one! I feel that the author not only provided insight of the feelings and life of someone that is aroace but also tied their struggles back to something everyone can understand no matter their sexuality. I felt that there was a lot of character growth and development throughout the book and very much enjoyed the ending!
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