Review: The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann

I’ve been a huge fan of Claire Kann’s since Let’s Talk About Love. And so when I saw this new romance book featuring an asexual protagonist, I bumped it to the top of my list. And I was not disappointed. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.

Summary

Thirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox.

Fox sees a kindred spirit in Joy—and decides to help her. He proposes they pretend to fall for each other on the weekend trip to make Malcolm jealous. But spending time with Fox shows Joy what it’s like to not be the third wheel, and there’s no mistaking the way he makes her feel. Could Fox be the romantic partner she’s always deserved?

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

What I loved about The Romantic Agenda was how deeply rooted in characters, specifically Joy’s, it is. Beginning with Joy being in love with her best friend Malcom, Joys’ weekend trip forces her to re-navigate her entire mindset. We can become so in tune with someone it transcends words. But at the same time, we can fall into habits, limits we might have passed ages ago, that turn into something we don’t know how to correct. What I loved is that Joy has to interrogate not only her own feelings about Malcom, but also herself.

Is she so set on Malcom for the right reasons? The Romantic Agenda is a book that should thrill fake dating romance trope fans! The budding friendship between Joy and Fox was so lovely to see. To see characters who are starting with a new slate, unlike Joy and Malcom who are tangled together, gives us new insight into Joy. Who is Joy when her interactions aren’t in the context of her life with Malcom? Most of the book revolves around Joy’s character journey.

And how Joy has to search within herself about the type of person she deserves. The type of person she choose to love. I loved having an ace heroine and I deeply support seeing more ace characters in romance books. I loved that Malcom and Joy are both Ace with varying experiences. There were so many elements of The Romantic Agenda that I loved. Besides the major ones I’ve spoken about, I loved Joy’s relationship with her sister Grace. Their interactions were beyond precious. Don’t even get me started on Fox and him being such a grumpy softy.

Overall,

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Seeing Fox and Joy open up to each other melted my heart. You have to read The Romantic Agenda if you’re a fan of Kann’s books, ace main characters, and heroines who have to question whether they truly want what they think they think they do. It’s a story about being vulnerable and opening up our heart and truly seeing people. Find The Romantic Agenda on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.

Discussion

Who is your favorite ace heroine?

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