as a fellow aroace, this book was everything i needed to read when i was younger and first figuring out my identity. the simplicity in which almost everyone around the main characters just accepts their identities, the conversations about platonic love being just as important and impactful as romantic love, the various stages of acceptance, and (as a girlie who is also from Massachusetts) Massachusetts love and appreciation. 
jo and sophie are such important characters, and i loved getting to watch their love grow through the book. im so lucky that i have a handful of fellow a-spec/aro-spec friends, so their relationship feels so special to me.