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Strong Female Character

Nero Book Awards Winner

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Strong Female Character

By: Fern Brady
Narrated by: Fern Brady
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About this listen

 BRITISH BOOK OF THE YEAR: AUDIOBOOK WINNER 2024

Fern Brady was told she couldn't be autistic because she's had loads of boyfriends and is good at eye contact. This is a story of how being female can get in the way of being autistic and how being autistic gets in the way of being the 'right kind' of woman.

(p) 2023 Octopus Publishing Group©2023 Fern Brady Gender Studies Mental Health Neurodiversity Performing Arts Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences Funny Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Health Comedy

Critic reviews

Of course it's funny - it's Fern Brady - but this book is also deeply moving and eye-opening (ADAM KAY)
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)
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)
Fern is a brilliant, beautiful writer with a unique voice and even more unique story. Astute, honest and very, very funny. (LOU SANDERS)
So funny and brilliant (HOLLY SMALE)
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)
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. A set text for all of us in 2023
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 re-appraises 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.
Witty, dry, and gimlet-eyed, Strong Female Character is a necessary corrective. Brady offers a compelling, messy, highly resonant portrait of what masked Autism feels like
This Bathgate girl has more jaw-dropping tales to share than your average comedian-cum-author could hope to harvest in a lifetime. Perhaps more of us ought to grapple with our own mortality if it births something so bold as Strong Female Character.
Strong Female Character will reassure fellow autistic folk that they are not alone
Shocking and incredibly moving - and it will make you laugh at subjects that you didn't think you possibly could
A brutal, funny and heartbreaking memoir. The pace is brisk and her deadpan humour makes the darkest material hilariously funny. (Marianne Power)
Brilliant! (Sarah Atkinson, CEO Social Mobility Foundation)
This very personal account of bullying, stripping, homelessness and stand-up is shocking and incredibly moving - and will make you laugh at subjects that you didn't realise could be funny. (Kirsty McLuckie)
[Brady] brings unsparing wit to a memoir that calls out the bulls--t in every culture she's experienced. (Helen Brown)
All stars
Most relevant
Great book, really enjoyed. Fern has had an interesting life and it was very informative around autism and the lived experience of autistic women. Great anecdotes from a hilarious comic

Brilliant funny and informative

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I’ve been a fan of Fern’s stand up for years, and absolutely loved this book. It is funny but also heartbreaking, and I feel like I learned a lot about autistic people in general, while also getting a glimpse into Fern’s unique viewpoint. Highly recommend!

Just brilliant

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This audiobook is definitely worth listening to, what more can I say? Thank you, Fern Brady.

Excellent

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Absolutely amazing book. I accidently bought it on Kindle as well as Audible, but I've very glad I did, as I need to read it again and highlight most of the text.

I have never actually seen Fern perform, so acquired this purely for the autistic element. As a late-diagnosed woman myself, so much that Fern experienced was entirely relatable.

It's a very honest and moving book. It's very helpful for autistic folks, as well as their family and friends.

My neurodiverse sister

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I am so glad I listened to this in the audio format. Fern reading it made it sound so raw and real. It made it very easy for me to sympathise with her. Not only was Fern brutally honest about her personal experiences but she also shared a lot of facts about autistic women and non-binary folk. I hope more awareness will be spread around autism and neurotypical people will understand it a bit better.

A perfect mix of personal and informative

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