It’s not uncommon for ace activism to be considered a joke, but Chen rightly notes that it can be devastating and isolating for those who aren’t aware that this is what they are. Critiquing the centrality of sex in western society, Chen rightly notes that “true sexual liberation means having many choices – no sex forever, sex three times a day, and everything in-between – that all feel equally available and accepted.” Her observations on what she describes as the conspicuous consumption of sex as a way to perform feminist/radical politics is thought-provoking, while her dissection of social norms and how these can inhibit sex and relationships is both expansive and inclusive. Journalist Chen takes a rigorous approach to her subject, interviewing hundreds of people who fall under the ace spectrum. This thoughtful, explosive and essential book by Angela Chen offers an overdue insight into the multiple experiences and challenges faced by asexual people in a world that often struggles to recognise their very existence. Best for understanding the migrant experience – ‘Patsy’ by Nicole Dennis-Benn, published by Oneworld Publications: £8.99,.Best memoir – ‘I'm Afraid of Men’ by Vivek Shraya, published by Penguin Random House Canada: £9.79, .uk.Best new British novelist –‘Rainbow Milk’ by Paul Mendez, published by Hachette: £14.99, .uk.Best poignant read –‘Who Killed My Father’ by Edouard Louis, published by Penguin: £8.99,.Best literary read – ‘In the Dream House’ by Carmen Maria Machado, published by Graywolf Press: £8.19, .uk.Best for learning about gender – ‘Non-Binary Lives: An Anthology of Intersecting Identities’ edited by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker and Kat Gupta, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers: £13.79, .uk.Best for laughs – ‘Wow, No Thank You’ by Samantha Irby, published by Faber & Faber: £9.99,.Best for LGBT+ history –‘Sensible Footwear: A Girl’s Guide’ by Kate Charlesworth, published by Myriad Editions: £13.79, .uk.Best coming-of-age tale – ‘The Black Flamingo’ by Dean Atta, published by Hachette: £7.99,.
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Best for romance – ‘Last Night at the Telegraph Club’ by Malinda Lo, published by Hachette: £7.99, .uk.Best short story collection – ‘A Dream of a Woman’ by Casey Plett, published by Arsenal Pulp Press: £10.55, .uk.Best non-fiction – ‘The Transgender Issue’ by Shon Faye, published by Allen Lane: £9.49,.Best fiction – ‘Young Mungo’ by Douglas Stuart, published by Macmillan: £10.99, .uk.Best poetry – ‘C+nto & Othered Poems’ by Joelle Taylor, published by Saqi Books: £8.39, .uk.Best overall – ‘Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex’ by Angela Chen, published by Beacon Press: £10.99, .uk.