Loveless meets This Time It’s Real in this aroace story about challenging the idea that romance is the ultimate life goal and finding where you fit in when you don’t follow society’s script.
When nineteen-year-old Sasha’s first album throws her into stardom, her fans become obsessed with discovering who inspired her love songs. Except, Sasha is aroace-spec (aromantic, asexual), and she’s not interested in romance (unless it comes in the shape of a slowburn enemies-to-lovers book or a star-crossed-lovers manga). Her music is all about her favourite love stories, not her own.
After running into Kai, her estranged best friend who she hasn’t seen in two years, pictures of them together leak, and everyone assumes he’s Sasha’s muse, the 'boyfriend' who broke her heart. Pressured by her label and fearing fan backlash, Sasha agrees to a PR relationship with Kai for six months - but her sense of self is put to the ultimate test. Where does she fit in a society that equates happiness with romantic love? One where even her closest friends prioritise their partners over her?
Under the guise of their faux romance, Sasha and Kai get a chance to rebuild their platonic bond and heal the wounds of their past. But when actor Asher Grish enters the scene, threatening to shake the foundation of Sasha’s PR relationship, she finds herself at a crossroads. Either she loses herself, or her career.
L.V. Peñalba’s Shapes of Love is an unforgettable story of finding the people that feel like home - even if that home isn’t what the rest of the world expects. It's not a romance, but it's most definitely a love story.
'Shapes of Love is an honest, distinctly relatable exploration of aroace identity, the entertainment industry, and what our relationships mean to each other. I felt mortifyingly seen when Sasha admitted her songs were mostly about anime and TV ships. This book was utterly unputdownable.'
- Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy
'A fabulous and compulsively readable ode to self-realization, found family, and love in all its forms.'
—Dahlia Adler, award-winning author of Going Bicoastal
'A vibrant, fun, and at times heart-wrenching debut that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt out of tune with the world around them.'
—Heather Kaczynski, author of Dare Mighty Things
'A poignant examination of identity, love, and friendship.'
—Katrina Leno, critically acclaimed author of Persephone’s Curse
'An unforgettably affirming and resonant love song penned to identity, friendships, belonging, and deciding how and when we tell our stories.'
—Julian Winters, award-winning author of Prince of the Palisades
About the Author
L.V. PEÑALBA (she/they) is a fiction writer who splits her time between Spain and LA. Their work delves into themes of identity, love, and mental health. When not writing, they enjoy learning new languages, escaping problems by watching anime, and resenting the fact that everyone in their life is allergic to cats, so she hasn’t been able to adopt one (yet). Shapes of Love is their first novel. You can find Laura on TikTok and Instagram.
Industry Reviews
'A vibrant, fun, and at times heart-wrenching debut that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt out of tune with the world around them. Shapes of Love is a joyful, affirming story about the courage to own your voice, show up as your true self, and write your own happily ever after.'
Heather Kaczynski, author of Dare Mighty Things and One Giant Leap
'Peñalba's debut is a sweet and sweeping examination of life in the spotlight, and a tribute to the power of friendship. A tender and heartwarming platonic love story.'
Elle Gonzalez Rose, author of Marisol Acts the Part
'Shapes of Love is an honest, distinctly relatable exploration of aroace identity, the entertainment industry, and what our relationships mean to each other. I felt mortifyingly seen when Sasha admitted her songs were mostly about anime and TV ships. This book was utterly unputdownable.'
Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy
