Georgia’s thought processes will have relatable moments for a lot of people who aren’t used to seeing these things depicted in fiction, particularly some of her more negative thoughts around herself and her own future, but Oseman balances this with Georgia working out how to accept herself and to build new visions of the future. The setting was well-realised (I went to a similarly archaic uni and found freshers week to be similar in its weird combination of club nights and old traditions) and the supporting characters are varied and interesting with their own hints of narrative, but what is perhaps most notable is the protagonist coming to terms with being asexual and aromantic. I’ve never read an Alice Oseman book before, though I’ve heard of her books and particularly her webcomic Heartstopper, but the premise of this one made me know I had to read it. Instead, she finds herself sharing a room with someone who is much more outgoing than her, not enjoying going to clubs, and risking friendships as she desperately tries to prove to herself that she can find love, but maybe she’s been too focused on certain kinds of love and things aren’t as fairy tale straightforward as Georgia has been imagining.

Georgia is just starting at Durham, alongside her best friends from school Pip and Jason, and though she’s never been kissed or had a crush, she loves romantic stories and is dreaming of one of her own in this new setting. Loveless is a YA novel about a girl starting university and working out she’s asexual, whilst seeing that she doesn’t have to have the exact uni experience that she pictured herself having before she came.

Loveless by alice oseman characters