#being aro

[rosieethor]

Aromantic short fiction open call!

Hey! We're doing an open call for submissions for Being Aro, which released from Page Street Publishing next summer. Submission guidelines here!

Text: Editor of BEING ACE Madeline Dyer and author of TARNISHED ARE THE STARS and FIRE BECOMES HER Rosiee Thor's BEING ARO, an anthology of short stories in multiple genres from contemporary to fantasy to science fiction that celebrate and explore the sub-identities of the aromantic spectrum from a mixture of established and emerging YA writers, to Tamara Grasty at Page Street, in a nice deal, in an exclusive submission, for publication in summer 2026, by Saba Sulaiman and Amy A. Collins at Talcott Notch Literary Services (world English). 

Submissions are open between March 31st-April 28th 2025!

Stories should be:

approximately 5000 words long

any genre/subgenre of young adult fiction

centered on aromantic characters/themes

written for a young adult audience

original fiction (no fanfiction, no AI)

written by new/emerging authors who identify on the aromantic spectrum and are 18+

Once again, here's the link to the full guidelines! Please don't self-reject! We hope to see your submissions in the inbox!

[falling-stars-dont-go-far]

I love having my little bimonthly epiphany that, yes, I do in fact yearn for a relationship. But it’s never how most people would expect.

I just want someone who will love me, who will actually be there and care. I don’t care about all the normal things that people associate with romance. I’d want cuddles and a kiss on the forehead, maybe, but that is basically it.

I just want to be cared for. I want to care for someone

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Books of 2026: June Wrap-Up.

'Twas the month of homes and hearts and murder islands, apparently?? Happy Pride?!?

I did try to read exclusively queer authors (plus Poetry Quest material), and I was successful on that front! I'm also still chugging along on my revision project (and feeling the deadline squeeze)(we won't talk about that)(much).

Reviews linked!:

BEING ARO ★★★ Enjoyed some of these a lot! Unimpressed with some, too, though. BEING ACE is the stronger collection, but I'm glad they both exist!

COME HOME TO MY HEART ★★★★★ This fucked me up so bad I had to set it down for a week. Achingly and heartbreakingly well done

MODEL HOME ★★★★ I will follow Rivers Solomon anywhere, up to and including a horrible HOA in Dallas suburbs. More literary bent than haunted house, still extraordinarily well done.

THE ODYSSEY ★★★★ Phenomenal and fascinating translation, hugely approachable and thoroughly modernized language (with good pedagogical reasons for why!), I will be checking out Wilson's ILIAD also because of this.

MAKE ME BETTER ★★★ I will also follow Gailey anywhere, up to and including coral cult island :)

SEASONS OF GLASS AND IRON ★★★★ Amal El-Mohtar once again knocking it out of the park!! Loved this prickly collection.

THE ENDING WRITES ITSELF ★★★½ Indulgent fun! Check it out if you're a writer and want someone coming for your jugular, maybe skip it if you're a mystery/thriller aficionado.

ANNA AKHMATOVA - 169/942 pages read. Made it through "Rosary"! I'm still scribbling a LOT of fragments in my notebook, I dig her stuff a lot, I think.

Next month, I will be swinging back around to read more Driscoll-adjacent fiction (writing project reasons). I've got seven (7) scenes I'm trying to finalize by the end of July to stay on my Oft-Revised Target--I need to have this manuscript wrapped up by early September, so we're approaching the Final Sprint. Send more caffeine, I'm gonna need it!!

Under the Cut: How I Conceptualize ~*★Stars★*~

★ - This was Bad. I would actively recommend that you do NOT read this one, no redeeming qualities whatsoever, not worth the slog. Save Yourself, It's Too Late For Me. Book goes in the garbage (donate bin).

★★ - This was Not Good. I would not recommend it, but it wasn't a total waste or wash--something in here held my interest/kept my attention/sparked some joy. I will not be rereading this ever. Save Yourself (Or Join Me In Suffering, That Seems Like A Cool Bonding Activity).

★★★ - This was Good/Fine/Okay/Meh. I don't care about this enough to recommend it one way or another. Perfectly serviceable book, held my interest, I probably enjoyed myself (or at least didn't actively loathe the reading). I don't have especially strong feelings. You probably don't need to save yourself from this one--if it sounds like your jam, give it a shot! Just didn't resonate with me particularly powerfully. I probably won't reread this unless I'm after something in particular.

★★★½ - I liked this! I'll probably recommend it if I know it matches someone's vibes or specific requests, but I didn't commit to a star rating on Goodreads. More likely to reread, but not guaranteed.

★★★★ - I really enjoyed this!! I would recommend it (sometimes with caveats about content warnings or such--I like weird fucked up funny shit). Not a perfect book for me by any means, but Very Good. This is something I would reread! Join me!!

★★★★★ - I LOVED THE SHIT OUT OF THIS, IT REWIRED MY BRAIN, WILL RECOMMEND TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE AT THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION (content warning caveats still apply--see 4-star disclaimer). Excellent book, I'll reread it regularly, I'll buy copies for all my friends, I'll try to convince all of Booklr to read it, PLEASE join me!!

[saladites]

“i didn’t mind reading stories that incorporated romance, but its omnipresence was tiresome after a while, and its portrayal as a prerequisite to fulfillment and even personhood was disturbing.”

-Julie Sondra Decker (in the introduction to Being Aro by Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor)

[aroaessidhe]

2026 reads / storygraph

Being Aro

YA aromantic anthology

12 stories exploring aromantic people’s experiences with their identities and varying forms of relationships & connection

contemporary, fantasy, historical fantasy, sci-fi, space opera, zombie apocalypse & paranormal

arc, out may 26

[the-book-ferret]

In this follow-up to Lambda Literary Award Finalist Being Aro, exploreexpansive aromantic love and connection in twelve stories across genres. These twelve stories showcase aromantic people breaking generational curses, finding acceptance, and protecting the vulnerable while highlighting the infinite ways people find connection and love without romance.

[thedeadreaderslibrary]

ARC Review: Being Aro edited by Rosiee Thor and Madeline Dyer

Publishing: 26th May, 2026

———

Thank you to Netgalley and Page Street YA for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

———

This is an anthology of stories featuring characters from various aro-spec identities living their lives as authentically as possible, whatever that looks like for them.

I’m not going to lie. I cried multiple times reading this. As someone on the aromantic spectrum, it is… rare to see aromantic representation in the books I read. Solely on that fact alone, I think this is a book that people should read, regardless of whether they are aromantic or not.

However, like with all anthologies, there were definitely some stories I preferred over others. I’d say my favourites from this collection would have to be ‘Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride’, ‘Indulge the Other’ and ‘Do You See Me’, but all of them had something important to say about arospec identities.

My only nitpick would be that I wished there was more than one story with explicitly aroallo rep because as someone who is aroallo, it gets tiring explaining to people that asexuality and aromanticism are NOT the same thing and that aro people can exist without also being asexual (it’s me! Hi!).

All in all, a good addition to the arospec book canon. It’s always great to see more aromantic books coming out!

[lgbtqreads]

Exclusive Cover Reveal: Being Aro ed. by Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor

Today on the site I’m delighted to reveal the cover of Being Aro: A Collection of Aromantic Fiction About Love, Connection, and Empowerment ed. by Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor, a YA anthology releasing May 26, 2026 from Page Street YA! Here’s the gist: Explore expansive aromantic love and connection in stories across genres These twelve stories showcase aromantic people breaking generational…

Exclusive Cover Reveal: Being Aro ed. by Madeline Dyer and Rosiee Thor