I am an autistic adult, I have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and I frequently see myself in the way certain types of characters are written. If a gong is mysophobic and curt with his words, odds are I have considered him for this list. However, that is not the only thing I  pick up on. I have autistic roommates, and I was club president of my university Autism Alliance, so I am quite familiar with us in many forms!

It is a value-neutral assignment. Not an insult. In fact, for me, it is an endearment. I love us. Being who we are is not a bad thing, as evidenced by the number of autistic characters who are simply undiagnosed but still considered lovable and even popular. I created this list so I can prove our representation, and to share with others like me who want romance novels that feel familiar.