Alice Oseman, the author of Loveless, is a popular young adult fiction author. She was only 17 years old when she received her first publishing deal for the novel Solitaire (2014). She is best known for her webcomic-turned-graphic-novel series Heartstopper, which has been adapted into a Netflix television show. Oseman’s coming-of-age stories connect with readers in part because she herself has dealt with confusing questions about her sexual orientation. Loveless is partly based on her own journey to identifying as asexual.

Oseman’s first novel, Solitaire, is about two teenagers who come together due to a shared interest. This interest develops into complicated feelings about romance. In Loveless, Oseman continues this theme through Pip and Rooney, as well as Jason’s past relationships, to explore the complicated nature of falling in love despite trying to hide one’s vulnerabilities. Oseman’s second novel, Nick and Charlie (2015), spotlights a gay relationship, the titular characters being the leads in Heartstopper. In Nick and Charlie, Oseman explores the nuances of an adolescent, gay relationship without making the central focus an identity crisis around queerness. She treats such topics not as trauma narratives but celebrations of love—her works having popularized open discussions about sexuality and pride in the spectrum.