Strong Female Character

Praise

“Strong Female Character is a testament to the importance of self-knowledge. Fern Brady is a natural and engaging writer, weaving bleak episodes with moments of pure comedy as she reappraises crucial moments in her life through the lens of her autism diagnosis. Brutal honesty and a talent for storytelling combine to make an insightful memoir that’s not only very funny, but will no doubt provide invaluable moments of recognition for many readers.”―Rachel Healy, The Guardian

“Fern Brady’s book is alive in your hands. Brave doesn’t cover it and I’m not sure what will. Fizzing with intelligence, it will hit you in the heart, lungs, and liver. You’ll laugh, cry, be still, and if you’re not autistic—by God you’ll learn. If you are autistic, you’ll be seen, heard, held, rocked, and loved here.”—Deborah Frances-White, author of The Guilty Feminist

“Glorious. Frank but nuanced, a memoir that doesn’t sacrifice voice or self-awareness. And it has brilliant things to say about being autistic and being funny.”―Elle McNicoll, author of Show Us Who You Are

“So funny and brilliant.”―Holly Smale, author of Geek Girl

“Fern’s book, like everything she does, is awesome. Incredibly funny, and so unapologetically frank that I feel genuinely sorry for her lawyers.”―Phil Wang, comedian and author of Sidesplitter

“Of course it’s funny—it’s Fern Brady—but this book is also deeply moving and eye-opening.”―Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to Hurt

“An absolute riot. I’m literally going to read it again once I’ve finished, and I’m a miserable bastard…it’s a belter.”―Frankie Boyle, comedian and author of Meantime

“Witty, dry, and gimlet-eyed, Fern Brady’s Strong Female Character is a necessary corrective in a world where autistic women are all either written off as quiet and docile or erased entirely. Brady offers a compelling, messy, highly resonant portrait of what masked autism feels like to experience.”―Devon Price, PhD, author of Unmasking Autism and Laziness Does Not Exist
 
“It made me laugh out loud and broke my heart and made me weep…I hope absolutely everyone reads this, and it makes them kinder and more curious about the way we all live.”―Daisy Buchanan, comedian and author of Careering

“Fern is a brilliant, beautiful writer with a unique voice and an even more unique story. Astute, honest, and very, very funny.”―Lou Sanders, comedian and host of the Cuddle Club podcast

“An unflinching self-portrait.”—Kirkus Reviews