booksblabbering 's review for:

Love & Autism by Kay Kerr

4.5

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I feel… so seen?!

If I hadn’t got my autism diagnosis a few months ago, this book would have made me reach out. I have never related so much to different stories and ways of seeing, feeling, experiencing the world. 

Random things that I thought was just ‘Caitlin’ things rather than neurodivergent. 

Lists, comfort food all the time, an obsession with books, hyperlexia, info dumping, perfectionism, fear of rejection. A detrimental need for routine, a deep fear of change and an inability to manage it well. A way of preparing for any situation, social scripts, observation and imitation. Different ways of showing and handling love. Touch, texture, mind and body business…

You better believe I have already shoved this in my parent’s’ hands and will be sending it to all of my neurodivergent interested friends and family. 

<b>I do not think we need to separate autism from the person to be able to see and appreciate their humanity. Autism is not something I carry around with me, like sunglasses or a miniature poodle. It is part of my make-up, and it cannot be separated.

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I do not think it offers anything breakthrough, but its tender messaging and easy, accessible language makes this great. 

The most important message - we all react, behave, show differently. There is no one simple diagnosis with a checklist. 

Be compassionate.