Thanks for Listening

Starred review from October 1, 2024
As an asexual high school senior dips her toe into romance, she also starts an online advice account to get her friends to listen to her. Mia is a consummate stage manager, talking her friends through their dramatics both on and off the stage. But since no one ever actually takes her advice, Mia launches HeretoHelp, an anonymous social media account. Maintaining anonymity is tough when Mia knows her friends so well, however--and she's starting to have more insight into their lives than is comfortable. Plus, someone is finally paying attention to her: new student Sadie, a confident piano prodigy who seems truly interested in learning what makes Mia tick. As asexual Mia figures out what a relationship might look like for her, she also learns more about friendship--and what to do when people take her for granted. Horan neatly subverts tired genre tropes, forgoing manufactured drama for a strongly developed character-driven narrative. Sadie and Mia's romance moves beyond the question of whether a relationship between asexual and allosexual partners can work, investigating the how of it with humor and heart. Mia's strong, likable voice propels the story, and readers will come to care about the cast around her as much as she does. Mia and Sadie are cued white. Take our advice--this one is a joy from start to finish.(Fiction. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2024

Gr 10 Up-Horan's second contemporary queer YA novel is a fantastic and much-needed ace romance. Mia, an ace senior in high school, navigates dating and friendships while stage managing her school's musical. Mia often feels unheard by her peers who go to her for advice but don't listen. She creates an anonymous account called HeretoHelp on social media platform ReelLife with hopes of avoiding further chaos from her peers. Horan does a wonderful job of providing an authentic depiction of being ace in an allosexual world and giving realistic insight into universal conversations about consent and boundaries for all teens. Readers will relate to Mia's internal stream of anxiety around her identity. She worries if she's accidentally flirting or on a date, if a potential partner will think she is presumptuous by trying to establish physical boundaries early in a relationship, and if she values her friendships more than her friends do. The addition of the anonymous account adds tension and humor to the plot as Mia starts giving advice to her friends and is able to figure out who they are. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Ann Zhao and for any theater-loving teens who like contemporary romances.-Taylor Skorski

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 High-school senior Mia has supported friends and castmates on- and offstage for years behind the scenes of every school production. In her official capacity as a black-clad "techie," she invisibly ensures the show goes on. Unofficially, she is an agony aunt to all, quick to give advice on any topic from romance to power tools. Never mind that hours spent on Reddit haven't made Mia an expert on anything yet; everyone would see her wisdom if they would only listen to her. When a staple-gun mishap on set makes it clear not even her best friends do, Mia devises a scheme to get the respect she deserves. While an anonymous social-media account may not exactly yield the validation she's seeking, juggling the stress of a new relationship, discovering and keeping secrets, and planned-but-unexpected popularity soon have Mia in over her head. Snarky, know-it-all Mia is endearing and her flaws true to life, but she may chafe some readers. A coming-of-age ace romance perfect for theater nerds, though with few musical theater references, this should garner broader appeal.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 16, 2024
Good intentions go awry in this touching novel by Horan (Epically Earnest). As the stage manager for the drama club, 18-year-old Mia is the go-to person for advice, particularly for her best friends Tally and Essie. Despite their seeking her out, however, everyone seems to ignore her good counsel. Frustrated that no one ever listens to her suggestions, Mia turns to social media, starting an anonymous advice channel. Simultaneously, Mia, who has never had a romantic relationship (“Just your friendly neighborhood asexual over here, not hooking up with anyone”), finds herself in desperate need of some advice when she meets piano prodigy transfer student Sadie. And as the year progresses, a serious event forces Mia to reflect on the wisdom of and motivations behind her advice. Horan sensitively and astutely examines the asexuality spectrum by juxtaposing Mia’s inner monologue with her interactions with Sadie as their relationship develops. The girls’ organic feeling and respectfully rendered romance will have readers swooning, while complex friendship dynamics are explored with emotional maturity. Major characters read as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Laura Crockett, Triada US.