At the start of Let’s Talk About Love, Alice already knows she’s biromantic ace. As you can probably imagine, that was not always the case. While wading through the hellish landscape otherwise known as her high school experience, she began to notice that she didn’t react to the physical appearances of potential love interests (or aesthetics) the way her friends did. Too afraid to come out with the truth of why she felt different (or felt nothing at all) she created The Cutie Code™ and taught them how to play.

Inspired by the term code: red, which typically means HOT (or a metric ton of danger is imminent), the Cutie Code™ uses the color wheel from Green to Red. You see/meet/get to know a person and then you give them a code. The code and its categorizations are not solely about physical appearances, however. It’s primarily about feelings. The higher the code, the greater the intensity of your emotions.

Does that person make you happy? Feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Can you see yourself with them romantically? How about sexually? Are you unable to stop staring because they are too beautiful and so you end up walking into a wall? There’s a code for all of those! 

But the Cutie Code™ also lives a secret agent life. Once you slide down the pole hidden behind a fake wall in the basement, it becomes a system used for critical analysis. Alice used it to process the different kinds of attraction everyone else seemed to experience by comparing it to her feelings/codes. She continued to use the code well after she figured out she was ace–and then Takumi came along…

In honor of Let’s Talk About Love and the Cutie Code™ officially being released into the world, I’m going to share some of my codes!

Ryan from Let’s Talk About Love

Feenie’s fiance, the light of Alice’s life, and my one of my dearest favorites amongst my bookish children. One day, I hope he can be the MC in his own book.
Code: Green

WhitneyBae (Vlogger)

Whitney exudes such fantastic energy. Cheery, confident, and funny, watching her videos is pretty much like bathing in sunshine. And when she’s feeling down, I have an intense urge to send her all of her favorite things.
Code: Yellow

Alana from Saga

I thought I was immune to book crushes. I was wrong. So very wrong. (See also: Charlie Weasley)
Code: Yellow-Orange

John Boyega 

While watching The Force Awakens, I may or may not have repeatedly slapped my friend's arm and whispered, “HE IS MY PUMPKIN AND I LOVE HIM” every time he appeared on the screen. He must be treasured and protected at all costs.
Code: Orange

SHINee

Legends. Kings. #5hinee. My preciousssss. I would fight a bear for Onew, Jonghyun, Minho, Key, and Taemin. I mean, I don’t know why a bear would threaten their honor, but if it happened, you better believe Yogi will get his. 
Code: Red

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Alice is secretly asexual, and that’s the least important thing about her.

She’s a college student, has a great job, amazing friends, and is fine being single—nope, that’s a lie. Alice wants rom com—grade romance: feels, cuddling, kissing, and swoons galore—as long as it doesn't lead to having sex.

When her last relationship ends, Alice swears off relationships for good. Stick a fork in her, she’s done. Everyone Alice tries to date is so sure love and sex have to go together, and there doesn’t seem to be any way to convince them otherwise.

But when Alice meets Takumi, who she can't stop thinking about, she doesn’t know what to do. If Alice tells him the truth, it can only end in heartache. But there’s something about Takumi that makes him worth the risk . . .

Start reading now.