Audiobook Recommendations for World Autism Acceptance Month
World Autism Acceptance Month, celebrated throughout April, was launched to help raise awareness, acceptance and inclusion of autism and autistic individuals, while challenging preconceived attitudes and stereotypes.
The month shines a spotlight on informative campaigns and educational resources that support a more understanding society and more inclusive environments, particularly in schools and the workplace.
If you’d like to find out more about autism, look no further. We’ve put together a list of five brilliant audiobooks - both fiction and non-fiction - featuring autistic protagonists or written by neurodivergent authors, which shine a light on autistic experiences.
Strong Female Character - Fern Brady
Fern Brady, the Scottish comedian, podcaster and writer best known for her stand-up comedy and appearances on shows such as Taskmaster, explores autism, identity and survival in her bold, bestselling memoir. Featuring a powerful voice on late diagnosis, Strong Female Character is a darkly funny and sharply observed memoir, delving into her life before and after receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult.
Fern Brady was told she couldn’t be autistic because she’s had lots of boyfriends and is good at eye contact. This is a story about how being female can get in the way of being autistic – and how being autistic can get in the way of being the ‘right kind’ of woman.
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady is available for members to borrow here.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Featuring a socially awkward and loveable SecUnit cyborg protagonist – which amusingly refers to itself as Murderbot – this sci‑fi novel kicks off an entertaining and witty series that uncovers a conspiracy involving a powerful corporation.
On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied 'droid - a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as "Murderbot." Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells is available for members to borrow here.
The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion
This charming, feel‑good romantic comedy features an amusing protagonist conducting his “Wife Project”, while simultaneously helping an unsuitable candidate with “The Father Project”. The Rosie Project is funny and surprisingly tender, shining a light on the challenges of navigating love and social interaction for neurodivergent individuals, while celebrating different ways of seeing the world.
Meet Don. Don is a genetics professor who just might be somewhere on the autistic spectrum. He looks a little like Gregory Peck and is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet. But he has designed a very detailed questionnaire to help him find the perfect woman. And it's definitely not Rosie. Absolutely, completely, definitely not. Rosie, meanwhile, isn't looking for love; she's looking for her biological father. Sometimes, though, you don't find love: love finds you...
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is available for members to borrow here.
Girl Unmasked – Emily Katy
This Sunday Times bestseller is a candid and heartfelt memoir charting Emily Katy’s experiences of anxiety, depression and OCD from her early school years through to university. The book explores identity, masking and self‑acceptance, and is a warm, empowering read rooted in lived experience.
To the outside world, Emily looks like a typical girl, with a normal family, living an ordinary life. But inside, Emily does not feel typical, and the older she gets, the more she realises that she is different.
As she finally discovers when she is 16, Emily is autistic. Girl Unmasked is the extraordinary story of how she got there – and how she very nearly didn’t.
Girl Unmasked by Emily Katy is available for members to borrow here.
The Cassandra Complex – Holly Smale
With a very relatable and unique lead and a fun, timey-wimey magical realism twist, The Cassandra Complex is an entertaining and at times, emotional read (and great for fellow Greek mythology fans!) It can feel a little Groundhog Day-esque at certain points, as Cassandra repeatedly tries to rewrite recent moments from her former timeline, but the amusing encounters at work more than make up for it.
Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order. Until now. She's just been dumped. She's just been fired. Her local café has run out of banana muffins.
Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. Now, Cassie should be able to find a way to fix the life she accidentally obliterated. And with time on her side, how hard can it be...?
The Cassandra Complex by Holly Smale is available for members to borrow here.
If any of these stories resonate with you, please know that you’re not alone, and that support is available if you need it. Whether you’re exploring an autism diagnosis, supporting someone who is autistic, or simply finding things overwhelming, there are organisations that can offer practical help, guidance and reassurance.
The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families, providing a wide range of advice, support and information, as well as an online community. They also offer adult support services, an autism services directory, workplace training, and support for education and children’s services.
Anxiety UK provides information and support for managing anxiety and related conditions, while Samaritans offer a safe space to talk whenever you need it. Reaching out - whether for advice, reassurance or simply someone to listen - can be a meaningful first step towards understanding yourself better and accessing the support that’s right for you.
