Willow in Winter

Hi! It’s Autism Acceptance Week in the UK! And this is a very long post, sorry!

I was 27 when I had a weird experience that made me seek therapy for the first time. I had gone to a social event with my partner that I would have preferred to avoid. I was my usual self, quiet and shy, only spoke when spoken to and even then, my replies would be short and simple, never making eye contact, and with my face resembling that of a deer caught in headlights. Convinced that everyone thought me weird, I went straight to my cosy sofa when we finally made it home, and I didn’t move or talk for two hours straight. I had gone nonverbal; this is a common reaction among autistic people when you’re so exhausted and over-stimulated that you can’t speak. I didn’t know what nonverbal was at the time, but I knew that it wasn’t normal.

I started going to therapy soon after to “cure” my social anxiety and was promptly recommended to seek an autism diagnosis.

It was discussing my nonverbal episode with my current psychologist, two years later, that she said my reaction had been normal. My nervous system had been so overworked that night (I had gone into sensory overload from all the talking, the noise, and the lights around me) that it needed some time to regroup, and it chose to shut down for a while.

Being autistic came as a shock to me. Like most people, I had no idea what Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) entailed.

I’ve been using books as a way to make sense of the world since I was a kid. So, the second ASD was mentioned, I started to collect books by neurodivergent authors or with autistic characters. Reading about their experiences made me feel less alone. I found characters I related to and realised my experiences are more common than I thought. It feels so validating to read about other people, real or not, who went through the same struggles as me growing up or who feel as lost when trying to navigate adulthood.

So, since it’s Autism Acceptance Week, it’s the perfect time to share some of the books I’ve read.

Books written by neurodivergent writers

Fiction

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton 

Fantasy | Romance | Witches | Historical Fiction

This is the second novel of Dangerous Damsels. While the word “autism” doesn’t exist yet in Victorian England, the way the main character is described, it’s alluded that she’s autistic. The chaotic and quirky writing by author India Holton can be hard to follow sometimes, but I related a lot to the young witch Charlotte and her view of the world.

The Kiss Quotient series by Helen Hoang

Romance | Contemporary | Mental Health

All three books have an autistic main character! The series follows three different autistic people navigating their adult life and trying to find love. Author Helen Hoang is also autistic.

Act your age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Romance | Contemporary

This is the third part of The Brown Sisters series, and Eve was my favourite sister. Both main characters are autistic while also being polar opposites. This story shows that no two autistic people are the same, with one being the stereotypical tidy and organised person, while the other is a chaotic ray of sunshine. Author Talia Hibbert is also autistic.

A Room Called Earth by Madeleine Ryan

Contemporary | Mental Health | Literary Fiction

While I loved this book, the story itself is chaotic and feels like a fever dream. The descriptions are so vivid, it made me laugh and it made me anxious at the same time. Needless to say, it was a very intense read for me. Both the protagonist, and writer Madeleine Ryan are neurodivergent.

Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings

YA | Romance | Mental Health

This book is a sweet romance between an ADHD girl and an autistic boy. I related a lot to both characters, and Oliver’s obsession with colour made me feel seen, as I also share the same passion for colours. Writer Mazey Eddings is also neurodivergent.

Social Queue by Kay Kerr

YA | Romance | Mental Health

A coming-of-age story of an autistic eighteen-year-old girl trying to make it as a writer. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my TBR for the year. 

Graphic novels

Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women by Sarah Bargiela, Sophie Standing (Illustrator)

Mental Health | Feminism

This graphic novel offers an insight into the lives and minds of autistic women using real-life case studies. I haven’t read it yet, but from what I’ve heard, the illustrations are stunning.

Sensory: Life on the Spectrum by Bex Ollerton (Editor)

Mental Health | Anthology

Artist and curator Bex Ollerton has created an anthology featuring comics from thirty autistic artists. This collection explores various autistic experiences, from diagnosis journeys to finding a community, told from each artist’s unique perspective.

Invisible Differences: A Story of Asperger’s, Adulting, and Living a Life in Full Color by Julie Dachez, Mademoiselle Caroline (Illustrator)

French translation | Memoir | Mental Health

It is a similar story to mine, about a woman who’s struggling every day and doesn’t know why until she starts investigating her life and realises she is autistic.

Non-fiction

Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World by Laura James

Memoir | Mental Health

Journalist Laura James writes about getting her diagnosis in her mid-forties. Her book includes a lot of research and conversations with experts as well as her own experience. This was the first book I read while researching ASD, and it was the perfect book for a newbie like me.

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

Memoir | Mental Health

Comedian Fern Brady writes about her experience as an undiagnosed autistic woman living in Scotland in the late 90s and early 2000s. Her experience is so different from mine. While I was quiet and anxious, she was loud and angry. I would go nonverbal, while she had meltdowns that made her break things. I think everyone should read this book.

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin

Nonfiction | Memoir | Phsycology

Published in 1995, Temple Grandin shares her experience as an autistic woman living in the US. The reviews I’ve read say this book is more science-focused than a memoir, either way, it sounds like a good read.

Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About it by Pete Wharmby

Nonfiction | Mental Health | Self Help

Pete Wharmby wrote this book after a late diagnosis and a lifetime of masking. The book has been described as “a practical handbook for all of us to make the world a simpler place for autistic people to navigate.” I haven’t read it yet, but that sounds like something many neurotypical people should read.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list, dear reader. I’ve only added the books I’ve read and some that are on my TBR, but I’m always looking for new recommendations.

I’ll be turning 30 this year, and while I’m still my awkward, introverted self, I know that if I had to go to that dreadful social event again, this time, I would be more prepared, and it wouldn’t be that bad. Some people hide their diagnosis, either because they don’t feel safe or are worried about other’s reactions. For me, I’ve used it as a shield, as a reason for being as I am. I’ve stopped masking as much, and I feel better than I did almost three years ago.