It’s Ace Awareness Week, so what better way to celebrate than with a list of books with Ace characters? (Most are romances, and I have noted whether the books have sexual content and/or boinking.)

 

Ace-Ace Romances

Upside Down by N.R. Walker: MM contemporary 8.5/10.

Jordan has a crush on a guy who rides the same bus he does, and that guy turns out to be the leader of the local ace support group Jordan’s best friend talks him into joining. This is a comfort read and I giggle all the way through it.

Three Stupid Weddings by Ann Gallagher: MM contemporary, novella 7.5/10.

Friends to partners. When Vic asks Dom to be his date for three different family weddings he has to attend Dom realizes he can’t hide that he loves Vic.

The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter by K.J. Charles: trans-FM, historical, novella 7.5/10.

This is part of her Lily White Boys series, and is about two characters who appear in the series.

All the Wrong Places by Ann Gallagher: MM contemporary 7/10.

Brennan doesn’t understand why all of his girlfriends cheat on him and then dump him, so he goes to a sex shop looking for answers. (I swear this is ace.)

His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto: MM contemporary, novella 9/10.

The terms are not used by Martin is pretty clearly a sex-repulsed ace. Arthur is ridiculously adorable and reads as demi. Martin remains an enigma through the story.

 

Ace-Allo Romances

Play It Again by Aidan Wayne: MM contemporary 9/10.

Sam is most likely ace. Dovid is allo. Dovid’s twin sister Rachel is a sex-repulsed ace. Long distance relationship through social media. Ridiculously sweet.

Family Matters (3^rd story) by Angel Martinez: MM supernatural fantasy, boinking 9/10.

Charon states he is ace. The ancient gods are hanging out on earth, running detective agencies and being in bands and having wineries (and running a funeral parlor).

Blank Spaces by Cass Lennox: MM contemporary, mystery, sexual content 8.5/10.

Vaughn discovers he is ace, which is why all his relationships fail (also he totally doesn’t get sexual cues). Jonah is into hookups and nothing else. They fight crime! (Well, ok, they solve a crime.)

Uncommonly Tidy Poltergeists by Angel Martinez: MM supernatural fantasy, sexual content 8.5/10.

Taro is ace and tired of dating allos. Jack (adorakable) comes into Taro’s life when they try to figure out if Taro is haunted–and if so, by what.

Thaw by Elyse Springer: FF contemporary, FTB 8.5/10.

Abigail is a sex positive and accepting ace but has not dated before. Gabriella is a famous model known for being an ice queen.

How to Be a Normal Person by TJ Klune: MM contemporary 8/10.

Casey is ace. Gus is… Gus. There is a LOT of pot smoking in this story, but it’s also awfully sweet.

 

Demi / Gray Ace Romances

That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert: MF contemporary, boinking 8/10.

Zach has discovered he is demi. Rae needs a fake boyfriend for a convention. It’s Talia Hibbert. Of course it’s good!

For Better or Worse by R. Cooper: MM contemporary, novella, boinking 7.5/10.

Javier is gray ace and absolutely cannot read sexual signals. He is attracted to his friend and neighbor Jimmy, who he thinks might be straight but isn’t sure.

A Gentleman’s Position by K.J. Charles: MM historical, boinking 7/10.

According to KJ Charles, Richard is demi. (This is my least favorite story of this series.)

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun: MM contemporary, FTB 9/10.

Charlie needs to rehabilitate his image after being (essentially) fired from the company he helped found. So he ends up on a reality dating show. What could go wrong? (Everything. Everything could go wrong.)

 

Characters that Read as Demi / Gray Ace

This is subjective on my part, so if I’m wrong, I apologize.

Jericho Candelario’s Gay Debut by R. Cooper: MM contemporary, novella FBT 9/10.

Jericho reads as demi; also his niece asks him if he’s ace but he doesn’t know what ace is. Jericho also cannot read sexual signals at all, which is why I think he’s gray/demi. He’s in love with the local baker, but since he spent his entire young adulthood raising his siblings and helping to raise his niece, he thinks it’s too late to start dating.

Making Love by Aidan Wayne: FF supernatural fantasy, novella FTB 7.5/10.

Carla reads as demi or gray, doesn’t understand attraction and tries to find a love match for a succubus.

Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian (Seducing the Sedgwicks) MM historical, boinking 8/10.

Martin reads very much as gray ace. I have some reservations about this being an HEA or HFN, simply because Martin has consumption, and that is cause for a very short life span. Which is not very happy.

Grumpy Bear by Slade James (Bear Camp) MM contemporary, boinking 8/10.

Coleman runs a gay clothing optional camp and doesn’t have time for a relationship. Luke states “I didn’t really do hookups. I required an emotional connection.”

Vincent’s Thanksgiving Date by R. Cooper MM contemporary, novella 8/10.

Vincent reads as demi.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn MF contemporary, 6/10.

“Sleeping with someone feels like a big deal to me,” he says, settling back into the couch, as though he’s grown more comfortable with the subject matter than he was fifteen minutes ago. “I don’t think I could do it casually.”

Model Citizen by Lissa Kasey (Haven Investigations) MM contemporary, mystery, boinking 8/10.

“I needed a deeper connection to let anyone that close. Trust of some kind had to be established before I got into bed with anyone.”

 

Characters that Read As Ace

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee: Fantasy 9/10.

This is the sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. Felicity has zero interest in society or marriage or love.

Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan: Fantasy 9/10.

Audrey once thought she might have had a crush on a guy (it went badly) now she is perfectly content focusing on her research and her friendships.

 

Ace Rep

Scenes from Quarantine by K. D. Edwards Supernatural Fantasy. Secondary ace character.

All the World’s an Undead Stage by Angel Martinez MM Supernatural Fantasy (boinking book). Secondary ace character.

Motts Cold Case Mystery series by Dahlia Donovan: Poisoned Primrose, Pierced Peony. Motts, the main character, is Ace.

Secret, Book, & Scone Society Mystery series by Ellery Adams: The Book of Candlelight introduces an ace character who seems to be staying around.

All Systems Red (Murderbot) by Martha Wells. Murderbot is definitely ace and aro.