His Quiet Agent

This was phenomenal. Perfect, and unique, and one of the most steady, consistently gentle, yet emotional in a redacted sort of way (if that makes any sense) reads I have had the great pleasure of experiencing.

These are two very socially awkward and closed-off men, and they form a relationship very slowly and gently through nearly silent shared lunches and little forays by our narrator into "his quiet agent's" life.

One character is likely demisexual, the other likely asexual, so this was completely about very slowly sliding into each other's heart and mind and making each other happy in the way that works for both of them. Their sexualities were not a main, or even much of a secondary concern; the story was instead about what truly show more mattered to each to be happy.

Both characters were so foreign in comparison to my personality, yet I was able to empathize and care for them so, so deeply. I completely adore this short read, and recommend it most highly. It's hard to explain and review, but definitely one that I will come back to re-read many times. show less

I loved this. So much. Firstly as an asexual person, and as a gray-romantic person, and also just a neurodivergent person who really related to Martin/Merlin. We honestly need more books like this, that don't read like a '101 introduction to asexuality brochure' but instead are gentle, and reveal their truths sweetly and sometimes seriously. This story shows that tender and true love doesn't need to be overtly romantic, or at all sexual. And even better, I just loved both of the characters, and as someone who plays nonfiction roulette myself, loved all of the titles of Martin's books throughout. (I also love, love, loved the idea of educating Martin about food through reading).

I hope we get another book about these characters, though I show more also know it's maybe not likely, because books with ace MCs don't always sell (ask me how I know), but they SHOULD sell, because in my opinion, they're freaking amazing and deserve more people to read them - allo and ace eyes both. show less

This is an absolutely wonderful story, particularly with asexual leads. I love the whole cast and the world-building. It's funny, sweet, angsty, and soft, in all the right ways. A really lovely story. Will definitely reread soon.

Devastating.

The slow approach becomes a slow burn, there's past trauma, current grief, complicated family and agency secrets, and more, and all that makes this a thousand times more complex than I'd anticipated. It's terrific asexual rep, whatever permutation of no or little physical urges one feels fits as they never define it themselves, and all the more powerful for the mysteries left hidden.

Only 3.5 hours but I didn't get it finished before it evaporated on Hoopla.

The book has a George Orwell 1984 vibe, and I'm expecting that there was a romantic HEA at the end. The story idea was good, that a desk nerd is told to be less awkward and make friends if he wants that promotion - so he picks another loner to befriend - which shocks the loner and adds humour.

(Later) Borrowed this again and I got into it much more the second time. It's touching how Arthur leans into the task he is given of "caring" for Agent Martin Grove aka The Alien. Who is not such an alien afterall - as Arthur uncovers when he stands in for him at the library, and how the scarily isolated Martin, of the one fork and one cup variety, responds to his show more kindnesses.

I've revised my rating from 2.5 stars to 3 stars.

I feel that I'm cliche of romance reader expectations when I say this, but as the blurb says, this book has a Heat Rating of zero, therefore I'm not sure I regard it as a romance - it kinda doesn't get to the romance. Am I saying that I mistakenly? believe that romance carries with it a sexual component? Is asexual romance a thing? or an oxymoron? I actually don't believe the latter. Love, in loveliness, can be non-sexual. BTW, is non-sexual the same as asexual? This novella is a character driven piece - a quirky short story about two odd characters, both gay, who potentially could have something together. Actually, they do have something together, and it is love, just non sexual. show less

It's easy to say you love a friend's book, but in this, I really love my friend's book. I was privileged to be a beta reader and from the start I fell in love with this quirky romance.

This book is about two people who fall in love despite themselves, who have a lot of personal baggage and whose work (as secret agents!) discourages openness and communication. There is so much more to the story though; Arthur thinks he's an every-man kind of guy, but he really isn't. Martin is successful at being isolationist and detached, except when he isn't. Reading time at the library for a bunch of kids is just the start of these two very independent and unique men to start to connect, and by the time Arthur is in mid-crisis when his father dies -- show more leaving behind a wife, a son, a mistress, and "illegitimate" daughters -- Martin has interwoven himself into Arthur's life in ways neither of them understand until after the fact.

This is not a racy, sexy book. It is a love story and it speaks quietly to the power that love can have on people when and where they least expect it too. show less

A curious little book I picked up from my library's overdrive page on a bit of a whim. There's not a lot of asexual/demisexual romance out there, and I enjoyed this. Haven't decided if I'm going to pick up the next yet.