Shapes of Love

Description: When nineteen-year-old Sasha becomes famous for her love songs, she feels pressured to enter a fake relationship with her estranged best friend while hiding the fact that she identifies as aroace from her fans.

Brief description: 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 her 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 her on TikTok and Instagram.

Review Quotes:

* The Nerd Daily, "72 Anticipated YA Books Releases Of 2026"
* EnVi, "5 Debut Novels We Can't Wait to Read This Year"
* Pop! Goes the Reader, "50 Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books: April-June 2026"
* Ms. Magazine, "May 2026 Reads for the Rest of Us"
* Autostraddle, "Our Most Anticipated Queer Books for May 2026"

"Peñalba's approach captures the heart and beauty of an underrepresented group of the LGBTQIA+ community...and the well-paced plot and lovable side characters work to create a story that honors a diverse array of experiences [and] offers a depiction of commitment and devotion amongst platonic friends." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

"A thoughtful debut... Peñalba deftly interrogates the assumptions audiences place on artists, and explores the dissonance between reputation and authenticity. Balancing universal challenges of emerging adulthood with the rarified pressures of celebrity, it's a nuanced, affirming portrayal of aroace identity and the many forms love and partnership can take." - Publishers Weekly

"Readers on the ace spectrum will find their own fears reflected, but they'll take heart from Sasha's journey to alternate ways of living and loving...A diverse, heartfelt exploration of the fallout when the price of fame meets the price of being aroace." - Kirkus

"There are myriad authentic portrayals of LGBTQIA+ relationships through side characters and each individual in the main love triangle. The novel's themes show the difficulties of life after graduation no matter what path someone takes. There are also strong themes of connectedness, friendship, and the balance between honesty and protecting privacy. A unique romance that stands out among others in the genre." - School Library Journal

"Queer people are abundantly represented [and] the pacing is steady throughout...older teens might be engaged by Sasha's positioning as an aro-ace Taylor Swift; all Swifties will love to see her coming." - Booklist

"Shapes of Love is a fabulous and compulsively readable ode to self-realization, found family, and love in all its forms that's guaranteed to become your new favorite comfort read. I loved it so much I devoured it in a single sitting. The perfect pick for Alice Oseman fans." - Dahlia Adler, award-winning author of Going Bicoastal

"Shapes of Love is a wonderfully heartfelt, powerful story of the many ways love can be expressed, and the depth true friendship can go. With a cast of engaging, layered characters you can't help but fall in love with, L.V. Peñalba's must-read debut about fame, growing into who you're meant to be, and the messiness of finding your people flips the script on what a love story can be in all the best ways. Filled with a whole lot of fun and heart, this is a book you will absolutely stay up way too late to read!" - C.R. Averett, author of the forthcoming Not Your Typical Love Story

"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

"A poignant examination of identity, love, and friendship. Sasha's journey - which culminates in a beautiful place of self-acceptance and confidence - is an important one that will resonate with so many." - Katrina Leno, critically acclaimed author of Persephone's Curse and Horrid

"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

"An unforgettably affirming and resonant love song penned to identity, friendships, belonging, and deciding how and when we tell our stories, Shapes of Love hits all the right notes. L.V. Peñalba's witty, relatable voice will make you an instant fan!" - Julian Winters, award-winning author of Prince of the Palisades

"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