#lunaside

Under the Gaydar: Asexual Rep

“Under the Gaydar” features books you might not realize have queer content but do! And definitely belong on your radar. This time around we’re looking at books with major characters on the ace spectrum that don’t have that info in the blurb (and haven’t been on every post about this since the beginning of time; at this point I assume most people have discovered books like Quicksilver by RJ…

So here is my review of Lunaside by J.L. Douglas. I wasn’t too active during the month with the Ace Book Club or any discussions (darn you, finals!) but I enjoyed participating and look forward to another month. :)

Note: I received a review copy of this book, and read it as part of the Ace Book Club.

Lunaside focuses on our main character Moira's struggle to balance her job at a summer camp (named Lunaside, naturally) with her relationship with her girlfriend, Andrea, and her attraction to another counselor, Millie. The result is a light, super cute read, with some charming characters. What is better than girls who like girls working at a summer camp? Not much.

The book is heavily character-driven and there isn't much in the way of plot, but it moves along naturally and at a good pace, in part thanks to the demands of the setting. Summer camp must go on, after all, no matter what emotional tizzy Moira finds herself in. The prose is casual but there are some nice turns of phrase sprinkled in. I only wish we had seen a bit more from the side characters. Moira receives the lion's share of the character development and the some of the others do seem to exist solely to populate her world. Layla, representing Team Ace, is great (I'm biased) but she had very little screen-time (page-time?). One of the campers, Shapiro, is hilarious and adorably defiant, and although she was more present than some other characters, I still would have liked to see more of her.

One stand-out point for me was Moira's relationship with her mother. Initially their relationship is a little rocky, due to tensions over Moira's relationship with Andrea. Seeing Moira go to her mother for advice and having her mother respond so lovingly was a wonderful moment.

Despite a lot of the plot focusing on a love triangle, there was surprisingly little drama. We were presented with Moira's inner turmoil over the situation, but thankfully Lunaside avoids many of the common, annoying tropes that surround love triangles. I did think for the longest time that Moira would turn out to be asexual (hence the book being chosen for the Ace Book Club), so the turn that her relationship with Andrea took at the end of the book was surprising and a little disappointing.

There were a few minor errors, and issues with the e-book formatting, but nothing so bad as to prevent legibility.

I read this book after having received a review copy from the publisher. I would like to note that I read it in 8 days while I usually read a book this size in about 20 days.

From the beginning I really liked the style of writing in this book. It is really fast paced and casually written.

In the beginning I could really relate to Moira, she is a nervous but very happy. Okay, this book isn’t a literary masterpiece but it is a very airy and well written book. If you are looking for a quick happy and cute read this is definitely a book I would recommend.

From the beginning I had the feeling that Moira, the main character was asexual, especially since she is very nervous about intimacy with Andrea and it doesn’t seem like she is sexually attracted to her at all. She loves her very much, that much is clear, but there seems to be no sexual tension at all. The author is asexual after all, it would have been good representation and it would’ve fitted well in the story line. Later I found out that Moira was originally written as an asexual and that the author changed it because test readers said it needed a little sexual tension. I think she should’ve never changed this. It’s her book, she can do whatever she wants. But of course I understand. I enjoyed the main setting with the camp, I think this is very creative since, usually, these kind of books are set in a high school or something. It makes for a very interesting dynamic between the main character and the minor characters, being other councilors and camp kids.

I think the relationship between Andrea is very cute, but something like this was bound to happen for Moira to realize how much she actually loves her and think the relationship is stronger for it. Moira made the right decision, okay she shouldn’t have kissed Millie in the first place, but it was necessary. I believe that maybe it could’ve been worked out a little better.  

So, I’m finished! First of all, thanks for @fuckyeahasexual for the review copy, I forgot to answer your e-mail because I’m a lazy and terrible person... But here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1599104680

(I’m also terrible at reviews...) 

Book photo challenge April:

1 - Currently reading 

I can only ask for one book at the time (ah, the beauty of being underage) (also, I‘m planning on buying a Pokemon game so kaching-kaching), but I’m torn between Lunaside by J.L Douglas and Ceíli by Moriah Gemel.

Why Lunaside?

Avaible from bol.com, which is easier for Dutchies. Since my parents will have to buy it for me (and I’ll give them the money later, it is always prefered to use bol.com) it’s easier to use bol.com

Ace Book club started today, and the first book wasn’t my cup of tea. Lunaside is.

Why Ceíli?

I’ve been following it ever since the first announcement on the IP site and I’ve been looking forward to it for so long..

But because of that.... I’M WILLING TO WAIT FOR IT (WAIT FOR IT, WAIT FOR IT)

(Because, see above, Lunaside for the Ace Book club will be from April 2nd-19th)

The story sounds amazing. I’ve been planning on buying it since St. Patty’s day, aka the release day.

Why no Lunaside?

I barely know shit about it. I’ve been following Ceíli for so long, but Lunaside just happened.

I prefer Ceíli’s story.

Honestly, the only thing is the timing.

Why no Ceíli?

WHY NOT?

It’s not on bol.com. Bol.com tends to fuck with IP books.

Honestly, that’s all.