Wow. I could write pages and PAGES for a review but I wont do that to y’all. This was a beautifully written first person telling of a young woman’s experience being autistic (with other related diagnoses)- as a child and as an adult. She’s allowed herself the vulnerability of sharing her story with all of us and I think that’s beautiful.

I do not have an autism diagnosis, but I do suffer from depression, anxiety, and OCD like Paige does. I was anxious to read this book, knowing I would probably be able to relate a lot to Paige regarding her symptoms of those disorders and WOW was I ever correct! There were so many lines and idiosyncrasies on so many pages that I highlighted and said “Hey that’s me!” Or “omg I do those things too / feel the same exact way as she does”. I’m not sure I’ve ever related to a book more and this one will be a permanent fixture on my bookcase as soon as it’s published. It was very eye opening and comforting knowing I’m not alone in how my brain works and my feelings and struggles and emotions are valid.

I’d never heard of Paige prior to this, but after reading her book, I looked her up on TikTok and all I can say is- what an intelligent, bubbly, kind, mature, and impressive young woman she is balancing all in life that she is. I have gained so much respect for her. I hope this is just one of many future books she will publish about her many diagnoses and her coping mechanisms. I will buy every single one of them.

Thank you SO much to Hachette Books (publisher) and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this book! I’ve never been so excited to have been accepted for an ARC book and I will forever be grateful that I had the honor of reading this book. This book had so much to offer even for non-autistic (allistic) people. 10/10 recommend!

This book gave personal insight into what the author experienced growing up autistic. This book was a page-turner, one in which every word was read and treasured. Not being understood on the social spectrum while learning how to accept oneself as authentic is difficult. The author takes you with her as she navigates her life through her formidable years, her struggles are real. She shares an intimate part of herself while writing this book. I found this read consuming, as one who is struggling with a diagnosis myself. I would recommend this book for addition to our library collection. Thank you to the author for writing this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Every autistic person has a different story to tell and as the saying goes, if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism. It's refreshing to read autism book from an adult female's perspective. I was diagnosed at age 40 and felt very misunderstood during my years in school too. I'm so glad she was able to be diagnosed to at least get some help. It's sad her parents and other people were so unsupportive for so long. Hopefully this book will shed some light for those who are or know someone who is autistic.

Rating: 4.5/5

"But Everyone Feels This Way" by Paige Layle is a heartfelt and enlightening memoir that offers readers a unique glimpse into the life of an autistic woman who received her diagnosis later in life. With her candid and conversational writing style, Layle invites us into her world, making us feel like we're chatting with a close friend. This approachable tone is one of the book's many strengths, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of how autism truly affects individuals.

The book is a powerful exploration of autism, dispelling stigmas, challenging taboos, and breaking down stereotypes. Paige Layle's journey is inspirational, as she learns to embrace her authentic, autistic self while navigating a world that often misunderstands and marginalizes those with autism.

One of the standout features of this book is Layle's ability to articulate her experiences and emotions with clarity and honesty. Her narrative is both raw and empathetic, allowing readers to connect with her on a profound level. Through her words, we gain insights into the daily challenges of being autistic, from sensory sensitivities to social interactions.

While "But Everyone Feels This Way" is a valuable resource for those seeking to better understand autism, it also serves as an essential reminder that every individual's experience with autism is unique. Layle's book encourages empathy, compassion, and a reevaluation of preconceived notions about autism and neurodiversity.

The only reason this review does not award a full 5 stars is because, at times, the narrative could benefit from a slightly tighter structure. Some readers may find themselves wishing for a more linear progression of events, as the narrative occasionally meanders. However, this does not diminish the overall impact of the book.

In summary, "But Everyone Feels This Way" is a compelling and eye-opening memoir that sheds light on the lived experiences of an autistic woman. Paige Layle's candid, friendly, and authentic storytelling makes this book an engaging and essential read for anyone looking to broaden their understanding of autism and the importance of embracing one's true self. It's a must-read for those who wish to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and foster a more inclusive society.

This was a transparent, emotional recount of Paige's journey to being diagnosed as autistic. I can relate a lot to her challenges and how she excelled in academics but struggled in so many other ways. I think it's super important to have different perspectives of autism shown in media, especially outside of the stereotypical "autistic boy". Lack of representation is part of the reason I struggled so long to understand myself, so I admire Paige for sharing her story and advocating for autism awareness.

I haven’t binged a book in a while and Paige’s words made me want to keep reading.

In the last few years, I’ve been casually exploring self-diagnosis of autism because I’ve always felt different. I was never bullied or singled out; I was just always on the edges of friend groups and never felt like I fit in. I’ve learned about common traits or similarities of autistic people from those sharing online and Paige’s book and hearing about her childhood has me questioning some more of my traits, especially from childhood where I thought that maybe I’m just really shy.

While Paige shares her own experiences of growing up, she also gives a good overview of autism in general, the diagnosis process, labels related to autism, and how autism impacts every aspect of a person - you just might not know it or believe it because of masking.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who thinks they may be autistic, anyone who is (although I can see it being a difficult read if you had a similar childhood to her), or anyone who wants to learn more about autism, especially from a first person perspective and someone who doesn’t look autistic.

I am genuinely so thankful I was given an advanced copy of Paige’s book. I can tell it’s going to be a great help on my own personal journey and I hope it’s helpful to others.

I cannot begin to express how much I adored this read!

While everyone’s ASD journey is unique; I found so many parallels between Paige’s story and my own experiences. Finally something where I can honestly say “ someone else understands me and what I have been through”

5 beautifully written stars!

I applaud Layle for writing this book about her autism diagnosis and everything that came with it. There were many facts and examples of behaviors I had no idea that were also associated with autism. I learned a lot and felt a lot while reading. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

There is comfort
in shared struggle.

I adored this book.
As an autistic person myself, much of this was really hard to read because of how relatable it was to my own experience. That said, it is also so validating in a "wow, someone else has felt the exact same way as I have felt before".

But this book isn't just about Layle's personal life as an autistic person. This could be an excellent introduction to autism: if you have never read about what it is like to live in North America as an autistic person, this is a perfect first autistic perspective to encounter, because she also explains so much about:
- what is autism
- the process of diagnosing
- labels related to autism (and why we don't use "functioning" and "asperger")
- how completely different autistic people can be from one another
- the many cooccurring conditions that are common with autism
- how it impacts every aspect of who you are
- that the world we live in is built by and for allistic people, and it is good to question how things could change to be more inclusive and fair

It is a very good overview of what everyone should know about autism, the level of basic knowledge that I wish the general population had. I especially wish it was mandatory reading for adults working with autistic children.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has been recently diagnosed or self-diagnosed (I won't get into how problematic and difficult diagnosis can be), anyone who knows someone who is autistic or genuinely just anyone who wants to learn from a first person perspective what being autistic means.

Infinite thank yous to the author for writing this book. I cannot imagine it was an easy process, and it now offers me an incredible resource which I cannot wait to acquire so I can keep it in my collection to lend to friends and family who definitely need to read this book so they can better understand me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book comes out on March 26th, 2024.