Platonic Books

by Lexi, Day-Riverside Branch

Lately, it seems like February is all about love. Romance, dating, hand-holding, candlelight, and on and on. If you are getting a little bit sick of it you are not alone. Here are 5 books to combat that. Following is a list of books spotlighting aromantic and/or asexual protagonists and featuring platonic relationships! . 

Before we get started, here are a few terms to help you out! Asexual is used to describe a person with little to no interest in sexual contact with another person. Aromantic defines a person who has no interest in romantic relationships, (trust us, they are different)! Ace stands for asexual. Aro stands for aromantic. So, an aroace character is an aromantic, asexual character. Simple!
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Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Let’s follow Rumi, a young musician, on her journey through a tragedy, a move to Hawaii and feelings of abandonment. The journey is worth it, because Rumi is easily one of our top aroace protagonists. Just hearing her thoughts makes it all worthwhile. Click here to find it in our catalog.
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Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia

There’s no doubt about it, friendship is at the center of this moxy-filled venture. Lita and Chicky are dead set on pulling off the ultimate underdog story in history, a hefty-yet-not-impossible task. As Lita and Chicky work together to redefine beauty standards we get to see the dictionary-definition of friendship. Click here to find it in our catalog.
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The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Seventeen-year-old ace Ellie is living in one of the strangest dystopian cities ever written about, where music, art and books are illegal and emotions can be grounds for execution! Ellie gets to know M0Rr1s, who was born in a lab and raised to be emotionless and the two of them embark on a dangerous trip to bring down a destructive system. Click here to find it in our catalog.
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Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

This is a beautiful, haunting story of asexual friendship and love. Corey (another great asexual protagonist), has to unravel the last messy year of her life and a move to Alaska all at once. This is the story of a girl who believes in heroes and wants to be one herself. Click here to find it as a book in our catalog or here for the eBook copy!
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Not Even Bones by Rebecca Shaeffer

Let’s take a left turn into the horror genre to meet Nita, an excellent aroace character. What’s the daughter of a murderer to do when she gets sold for her organs? Don’t worry, Nita will show us what to do in style! Click here to find it in our catalog.

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