Hi friends,

I just finished another YA novel, Loveless (Amazon affiliate link) by Alice Oseman (author of the graphic novels Heartstopper) which has characters who are asexual, aromantic, and other queer identities. I love reading these queer YA books now as an adult because my inner child feels so starved for the understanding I didn't have when I was younger. When I was growing up, the most LGBTQ book I had was probably Tamora Pierce's Alanna series. I was fascinated by how Alanna lived comfortably as a boy for years in these books - I still am.

In Loveless, asexuality and aromanticism are introduced in characters who are still figuring themselves out. So much media centers around everyone wanting sex and romance, so I thought it was great to explore the story of characters who have no desire for either. Highly recommend! The book also has a nonbinary character who uses he/they pronouns - nice!

I've been seeing some exciting birds recently, from the purple galinule ("marsh chicken") to ospreys fishing!

This week on the blog:

Amplify Respect | Rey Katz (they/them) | Substack

You are welcome here if you're LGBTQ+, an ally, or just curious about a nonbinary writer's experience. I share relatable weekly true stories about what it's like to be trans and nonbinary, hiking, travel, martial arts, and building community! Click to read Amplify Respect, by Rey Katz (they/them), a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Take care,

Rey