#How to Be a Normal Person

[lgbtqreads]

Fave Five: Asexual Adult Romances

For demisexual romances, click here. For Asexual YA Romances, click here. How to Be a Normal Person by TJ Klune (m/m) Perfect Rhythm by Jae (f/f) The Romantic Agenda and Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann (m/f) It’s Always Been You by Elin Annaliese (f/f) Upside Down by N.R. Walker (m/m)  

[idmnbc]

Phrases I love in “How To Be A Normal Person” by TJ Klune now that I’m reading for a second time this beautiful book:

Before he fell asleep at precisely 11:00 p.m., he looked up at the ceiling and said, “Today was an okay day. Tomorrow will be too.” And he almost believed it.

“… Something tells me that I’m going to be in here quite a bit as I’ve decided that you and I are going to be friends.” And then he winked. That was the moment Gustavo Tiberius realized he was most certainly doomed.

“… Maybe smoke a little, drink a little, cry a little if you have to, and remember me a lot. But be happy. You promise me. That’s all I ever wanted for you was to be happy forever. You make me happy, Gustavo Tiberius. You make me the happiest I’ve ever been. Because as much as I love this little clay pipe, you will always be the greatest thing I have ever created.”

But here was Casey, stoned, confusing Casey who was hugging Gus like they did it every day, and he wasn’t even put off by the fact that Gus had yet to hug him back. And Casey had been right, he was good at hugging. Their bodies were perfectly lined up with each other, barely a space between them. Casey’s arms were under Gus’s, hands clasped at the back. Gus cold feel Casey’s breath on his neck, and it wasn’t sexy, it wasn’t arousing, it was just… it was good. It was sweet and kind, and Gus hadn’t realized how much he’d missed being hugged.

“Eep,” Casey said. Gus made a strangled noise because it was not adorable when Casey did that. And what the hell was the word adorable doing in his vocabulary?

“Trying something different,” Casey said. “Los Angeles was getting too crowded for me, and I couldn’t think. I thought maybe some mountain air would do me good.” He glanced quickly at Gus before looking back as the We Three Queens. “Seems I was right.”

“… It’s not a secret, nor is it meant to be, but it shows a sign of trust and comfort to be told.” Gus was quiet for a moment. Then, “He gives really good hugs.” The We Three Queens sighed. “Ah, to be young again,” Bernice said, hands clasped over her heart. “Hugging is wonderful,” Bertha said. “We should hug more,” Betty said.

If you had told Gus even a week ago that a bow tie worn by a bearded guy who could pull off a man bun, for fuck’s sake, would be the beginning of his downfall, most likely he would have glowered at you until you returned to the pit from which you had crawled with the sole purpose of saying something ridiculous.

“Yeah,” Gus said. “Totally. I can totally see that. Great story. Right on, brotha.” Casey grinned. “You okay, man?” “I’m epic,” Gus said. “I’m so epic, I’m like the Lord of the Rings musical score by Howard Shore, ya know?” “Cool,” Casey said. “I never saw those movies.” “They’re epic,” Gus said. “Just… boom.” “Yeah,” Casey said. “I saw the commercials. I was, like, ten years old.” Well, if that didn’t make Gus feel old as fuck.

Gus glared at him. “Nothing you just said should be used to describe anyone ever,” but he wondered just how much Casey could see him. Or, rather, how much he wanted to show to Casey. Not in a Share Bear way, of course, because what the fuck. But other ways? Maybe. Maybe a lot. And god, if that didn’t scare the shit out of him.

However, it was a low thing, a negligible thing, outweighed by that bright, damning feeling in his chest. As his fingers brushed against the hair at the back of Casey’s neck, Gus understood if for what it was. Happiness. It was happiness. Gus was a little dumbstruck with the idea that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt happy. And why was it that it would be happening now. Simple answer, those. He hadn’t been happy since Pastor Tommy died. He was happy now because of an asexual hipster. He was so fucking screwed.

Bertha frowned. “Now you’re generalizing and that’s not fair. Sex and romance don’t always have to go hand in hand, Gustavo. And there’s a difference between being asexual and aromantic. Asexuals experiencia little to no sexual attraction. Aromantics experience little to no romantic attraction. They’re not the same. And you can be one without the other. Or both. Or neither.”

And three days before the last time he went into the hospital and thirteen days before he died, he said, “I believe in you, Gus. I believe that you’ll take care of things after I’m gone. I believe that you’ll be strong and brave and that you’ll be so good. I wish I could be here to see everything you’ll accomplish, but just know that wherever I am and wherever you are, I’ll always believe in you.” Gus’s hands had shook and his voice had gone away but he’d nodded, and Pastor Tommy, that has been enough. For Pastor Tommy, Gus had always been enough.

“What?” he asked, still hearing the laughter in his voice, noticing how Casey hadn’t moved away. “Nothing,” Bernice said, recovering first. “It’s nice. You know. Hearing you laugh. It’s just nice, is all.” “It is, isn’t?” Casey said, briefly touching his forehead to Gus’s temple. Gus wondered if this was what Pastor Tommy had meant by having belief.

“Yes,” Casey said as he nodded furiously. “All the dates. Like, so many dates. You’re not even going to believe how many dates.” “There aren’t even numbers for how many dates we’ll go on,” Gus said, pretty sure he could smell the burning that must have been pouring from his ears as his brain broke down. “They’ll have to make up numbers just to quantify how many dates we’ll go on.”

[nekohrine]

happy ace day from me and some of my fav and current CANON ACE reads! 💜

[everlastingfable]

I haven't even started the book yet and it's making me teary eyed

[glasshouses-and-stones]

Writing Patterns

Thanks @suseagull04 for tagging me! This was fun :)

List the first (optionally: and last) sentence of your last 10 (or less) ao3 works. My ao3: glasshouses_and_stones

From newest to oldest:

▪︎why don't we kick it up a notch? (let my hands give it a shot)

(hockey rpf, Jamie Drysdale/Trevor Zegras)

The adrenaline from the game is still buzzing under Jamie's skin when he and Tregor bang through their front door, a trail of equipment bags and tossed dressed shoes forgotten in their wake.

He kind of wants to die a little.

-

▪︎a place they still put sugar in their iced tea

(RWRB, Alex/Henry)

Henry thinks he's going to die.

He was wrong.

-

▪︎i'll do everythin' i can to help you through

(hockey rpf, Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews)

It was a shitty game.

They don't have any reason to stay awake after that.

-

▪︎How to Spring Clean

(How to be a Normal Person, Gus/Casey)

It’s that time of year again!

Whatever.

-

▪︎rough on the surface, but you cut through like a knife

(hockey rpf, Mitch Marner/Dylan Strome)

He’s annoying.

"Now, how about some pizza?"

-

▪︎why celebrities should NEVER look themselves up

(hockey rpf, Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews)

Mitch thought it was funny at first.

Mitch just huffs sleepily before he's drifting off into a dream-less doze.

-

▪︎want

(original work, f/f)

The candles have almost burnt out.

I think I feel something press into my forehead before I fall under.

-

▪︎Suddenly

(Watcher Entertainment rpf, gen)

It's eight in the fucking morning—too early for Ryan to be up, but he doesn't think he got any sleep last night anyways, so what's the point of just laying there?

Suddenly, sure, but it happened all the same.

-

▪︎the potential of us

(hockey rpf, Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews/William Nylander)

It’s a quiet night in.

"I guess it was always you two."

-

▪︎pink camellias, heliotrope, and morning glories

(hockey rpf, Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews)

Honestly, Shakira is such a queen (Hips Don't Lie is a banger, for real), and Mitch is about ready to bow down at her feet because she is doing God's work.

He falls asleep with a smile on his face.

-

This honestly all over the place, lmao. I start most of my stories off very choppy with a short sentence, and my next sentence usually elaborates on it. I think its supposed to be a hook, but who knows? I like it.

Tagging anyone who sees this and who wants to do it! Please tag me in it if you do it. I'd love to read yours :)

[willsweedwords]

what I love about Gustavo Tiberius is that he hates Michael Bay exclusively because of the Transformers movies. like, he was so offended by the destruction those movies did to his favorite show as a child that he skipped right over hating the movie to hating the director with such an incredible passion. he was like "this is YOUR fault" and then treated his grudge like a promise and is never letting it go. top fucking tier 🤣

[noahhawthorneauthor]

Oh. This is why I'm listening to it for the fourth time.

[firstpersonnarrator]

I have never been so happy to see an ad on tumblr

TJ Klune is my most favorite author writing today. I would rather read him than pretty much everyone else. His sense of humor is everything, and I shamelessly steal most of my writing style directly from him. If I could only write like TJ Klune I would feel invincible *sigh*

How to Be a Normal Person — read it immediately

Or read Tell Me It’s Real followed immediately by The Drag Queen and the Homo Jock King

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune is a queer sci-fi novel about found family, government conspiracies, comets, and bacon.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything. He returns to his family’s cabin to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It’s not.

Inside is a man named Alex, who is more attractive (and dangerous) than he has any right to be. And with him is a mysterious ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.

Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past or fight for a future he never thought possible.

[pyrus-salicifolia]

“Normal” test results are not the relief people think they are. When you wake up in pain and continue to be in pain for hours every day and your tests come back normal you don’t stop being in pain.

[mrtequilasunset]

Listen man, you guys can't be like "you guys need to be normal about asexuality" and then turn around and get weirdly judgemental when you find out someone doesn't have sex by choice. Like that's weird that some of you do that.

[idmnbc]

I’m finally reading again this beautiful book but this time in paper. Can’t be more grateful.

[snugsunresplendence]

reminds me of Gus -

yup, do it anyway

"no man will want you if you keep frowning like that"

frowns harder

[disgracefulthings]

Shang Qinghua, holding a present: Happy Birthday my king!

Mobei-Jun: ...what?

Shang Qinghua: Oh, once a year humans celebrate our birthdays with gifts, so I got you something!

Mobei-Jun: No I got that, I just don't know how you know it's my birthday, I don't even know when I was born

Shang Qinghua, sweating profusely: I guessed

[everlastingfable]

finally finished how to be a normal person and I only cried like 12 times

[basket-of-loquats]

somebody give her a hug goddamit

[thatcrimsonsun]

exactly exactly exactly, it's like, if my soul was poured onto the pages of a book, it would be his book, any book.

TJ Klune books are so special to me. especially because every time i open one of his books an overwhelming sense of calm washes over me and i feel at peace. even when it’s a very tense moment or tears are streaming down my cheeks, or i only read a paragraph that day: i feel calm, i feel safe, i feel home (god, it is so fucking cheesy but it’s true, especially as an queer person who lives in a not so accepting area.)