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ANTWERP PRIDE | Alternative love stories: author Nikita Goossens puts friendship and aromanticism centre stage

Posted by Timothy on

2026 marks the nineteenth (19th) edition of Antwerp Pride. From Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August, Antwerp in Belgium will once again be taken over by rainbow vibes. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2026 edition, the organising committee focuses on fearing less and being fearless.

Would ‘Heated Rivalry‘ have been as successful if Illya and Shane had not ended up as a couple? In a context where people long for homoromantic stories with a happy ending, it takes some courage – or rather fearlessness – to go against the zeitgeist. To question the ideal of the monogamous relationship. To question the ideal of the romantic relationship itself, whether with one or more people. Nikita Goossens does so with ‘Tijd om te bloeien‘ (‘Time to Bloom‘) and Ype Driessen with ‘Vanilla‘. Each in their own very distinct way.

As queer representation in literature continues to broaden, Belgian author Nikita Goossens is deliberately telling stories that challenge one of fiction’s most familiar conventions: the idea that every happy ending must involve romance.

Goossens’ latest novel, ‘Tijd om te bloeien‘ (‘Time to Bloom’), explores aromanticism, asexuality, friendship and intersectionality instead of centring on a romantic relationship. In doing so, she hopes to offer readers stories they rarely encounter, particularly in Dutch-language literature.

“There are hardly any stories about aromanticism,” Goossens says. “So I wrote one myself,” Nikita tells Antwerp Pride Magazine.

The 25-year-old author made her debut in 2021 with the coming-of-age novel Op zoek. Her second novel, published earlier this year, follows Lauren, an ambitious Belgian event planner who travels to Washington, D.C. to organise the National Cherry Blossom Festival. And yes, that’s a real-life festival.

Things quickly become more complicated than expected. Lauren struggles with sexism in the workplace, questions what she wants from romantic relationships and initially finds it difficult to connect with her housemates. As those friendships deepen, however, she is introduced to aromanticism and asexuality while also becoming more aware of her own position and privileges as a white European woman. Her housemates, including Black lesbian Mai and Mexican Amanda, each face different forms of discrimination, but gradually discover how much they have in common.

Friendship over romance

Unlike many contemporary feel-good novels, ‘Tijd om te bloeien’ places female friendship at its heart rather than a love story.

“A lot of feel-good stories ultimately turn out to be romances above all,” Goossens says. “Moreover, they often end with marriage and children, and that is exactly something I have a strong aversion to.”

She laughs that she has often wanted to stop reading such novels ten pages before the ending. “I found a better alternative: I simply wrote the book I want to read myself, with characters who break out of traditional boxes. Because if I want to read it, then surely I cannot be the only one and there must be more people waiting for it.”

Giving visibility to overlooked identities

Goossens hopes the novel will increase understanding of aromantic and asexual identities, which she believes remain underrepresented, even within LGBTQIA+ discussions.

“The concerns Lauren struggles with in the book will also be very recognisable to people somewhere on the aromantic or asexual spectrum,” she says. “Think about things like ‘Do I actually fit within the LGBTQI+ community?’ or ‘Does this mean I will end up alone on this planet?'”

The novel also addresses common misconceptions.

“People often think, ‘You just haven’t met the right person yet.’ That also makes it very educational for people who are not familiar with aromanticism and asexuality.”

Beyond romantic and sexual attraction, the novel explores other forms of attraction, including aesthetic and sensual attraction, distinctions that are often discussed more explicitly within aromantic and asexual communities.

“There is also another asexual character in my book who highlights the nuances within the community,” Goossens says. “Because it is certainly not the case that it only has one face.”

Representation matters

Goossens says she considers accurate representation an important part of her work as an author.

“I do my utmost to represent every community as accurately as possible when developing characters, through extensive research and conversations. I see that as my responsibility as an author.”

At the same time, she acknowledges that no single book can capture every possible experience.

“That is why it is important to allow multiple writers to tell different stories.”

While ‘Loveless‘ by Alice Oseman has become one of the best-known novels about aromanticism, Goossens believes there is still considerable room for more stories, especially in Dutch-speaking countries.

“There is definitely still progress to be made for this orientation, especially in the Dutch-speaking world.”

She hopes her own novel contributes to that growing body of literature. “If one reader feels seen through my book, then I have achieved my goal. I want to tell stories that truly mean something to people.”

A hopeful story in an imperfect world

Although Goossens describes ‘Tijd om te bloeien’ as feel-good fiction, she emphasises that it does not shy away from difficult subjects.

“There are quite a few heavier themes in it, from the real threats queer people experience to even topics such as the fear of femicide.”

The three protagonists all experience sexism in different ways. “They remain three women living in a man’s world, dealing with different forms of sexism.”

Despite those challenges, Goossens says the novel ultimately offers hope through the friendships its protagonists build. “The friendship and support they find in each other are very meaningful. They can share every setback and every victory with one another.”

In a society that often encourages competition between women rather than solidarity, she believes those relationships deserve greater attention. “Especially in a world that pits women against each other more than it gives them opportunities to connect, that is worth a lot. ‘Tijd om te bloeien’ is therefore a kind of celebration of womanhood and sisterhood.”

She hints that readers may even discover a subtle Pride reference in the novel’s conclusion. “And perhaps the ending of the story even refers to a Pride… But for that, you will have to read the book.”

‘Tijd om te bloeien’

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3 Comments Add yours

  1. Priti's avatar Priti says:
    20 July 2026 at 5:52 am

    Well reviewed!

    Reply
    1. Timothy's avatar Timothy says:
      20 July 2026 at 5:54 am

      Thank you ☺️

      Reply
      1. Priti's avatar Priti says:
        20 July 2026 at 6:10 am

        💐

        Reply

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