Little Alien doesn't see the world the way others do. She communicates differently, reacts differently and generally behaves in ways which her parents and teachers make it clear are 'wrong'. But when she chances upon a TV programme about the Voynich Manuscript, Little Alien wonders if there are others out there like her. This delightful story about growing up neurodivergent and the wonder of language is a commanding, original debut from author Alice Franklin.

Although never explicitly labelled as autistic, Franklin has stated that it was her intention for Little Alien to be read as such, her story offering an insight into the experience of growing up neurodivergent in a society which is built for the neurotypical. Franklin herself was not diagnosed as autistic until adulthood, and Life Hacks for a Little Alien could certainly be read as the advice she wishes someone had given her as a child.

The use of the unusual second person is an interesting choice, which pays off nicely at the end. By telling the story as if addressing Little Alien directly, it felt like the narrator was trying to reassure her that, while there are inherent challenges to navigating school, and society, as a neurodiverse person, it is not because she is being difficult or obtuse that others do not always understand her. Indeed, the narrator's explanations only highlight the absurdity of some of the ways so-called 'normal' people speak and behave. I hope that anyone who reads this and works with neurodivergent children is prompted to empathise with their charges and understand just how difficult it can be to navigate expectations which don't make sense to you, but which everyone else seems cognizant of.

For Little Alien, the Voynich Manuscript, and the idea of language more generally, quickly becomes an area of special interest or hyperfocus, and the book is also an in-depth exploration of language, a clever idea which again helps the reader to understand Little Alien's perspective. I was fascinated to read about concepts I had never considered in much detail before, such as how words go from cool to cringe between generations, and the idea that most languages are 'living', and as such the meaning of words can change over time as different - or previously incorrect - usages become accepted. Franklin interrogates the mistakes which young children often make (I goed to school, etc) and the fact that this is actually a logical way of regularising an objectively peculiar language, as well as noting how language becomes even more complex when distorted by tone, expression and intention.

The audio book is read by the lovely Sally Phillips, who brings warmth and humour to the role of narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review an ARC of this audiobook.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien tells the story of the unnamed Little Alien, who we follow as she tries to navigate growing up. To others she is a little different, doesn't understand turns of phrase, isn't able to judge whether doing something is right or wrong. To Little Alien she is just who she is. Her world both makes sense and can be incredibly confusing, especially when people react in a way she doesn't expect.

The story is told in second person narrative, as if you are the little alien, working out the life hacks needed to survive in a world that you don't quiet understand and that doesn't understand you. This adds to the slightly distorted feel to the story. There's the impression that Little Alien's life viewed through a slightly distorted lens, as if she is trying to catch up with a world full of people, some who understand her, many who don't. Sally Phillips narrates, and the way she reads the story makes it come alive. It also adds to that sense of disconnect, being told a viewpoint that is both relatable and not at the same time.

This is a gentle book. There are no great moments of peril, but highs and lows as there are with any life, some more impacting than others. I found I felt sad as I listened to it. Not in a crying way but sad that Little Alien has the added difficulty of figuring out who she is as a person in a world that doesn't understand her. She is having to form her personality to become a person society can deal with, without the inconvenience of trying to understand her. We all struggle at some stage to find out who we are. For people like Little Alien they are given the burden of justifying themselves rather than having that burden removed by not always being appreciated for who they are and helped to navigate life.

For me a slightly bitter sweet tale with a sense of hope for Little Alien.

*Life Hacks for a Little Alien* by Alice Franklin is a heartwarming and insightful coming-of-age novel that explores the journey of a neurodivergent girl, affectionately called "Little Alien." Struggling to navigate a world that feels foreign, she finds hope and purpose in the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, believing it holds answers to her sense of otherness. Franklin masterfully blends humor, poignancy, and sharp social commentary, creating a narrative that is both whimsical and deeply moving. This book is a celebration of individuality, resilience, and the power of human connection, making it a must-read for anyone who has ever felt out of place.

Alice doesn’t see the world as we expect her to and that makes her odd. This book explores how Alice engages with the world and how the world responds . A celebration of language and how wonderful libraries can be. The audio of this novel was extremely well narrated by Sally Phillips and this added another dimension to the novel. I did however find the extra reading suggestions at the end of each chapter rather irritating and unnecessary although I do understand that they were amusing. I know that lots of readers will love this book but something didn’t quite gel with me unfortunately as it deals with a very important subject. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I found it funny, sad, touching and hugely entertaining. The second person POV is unusual, but I thought it was a brilliant choice, especially in audio, and allowed for more humour with the in-story linguist narrator. The audiobook's narrator Sally Philips is absolutely excellent. Recommended.

I really enjoyed this one. With the caveat that I don't have direct experience of neurodiversity, this felt like the author did and had captured the stresses and joys of this character. Little Alien was great, a character who was engaging and interesting throughout, whose observations made me as the reader think about how I see and engage with the world. There was a real mixture of adult interactions, showing the clear frustrations of Little Alien as she navigate the education system, and her own interests, as well as the affirming interactions in the public library and with a linguistics professor. I loved the exploration of language in this novel, how Little Alien breaks things down, considers language development, and develops her own ideas. I also felt the issues with the family worked well. There were some genuinely finny moments in this and plenty to think about. The narrator was perfect and overall, this was a very enjoyable debut.

I don't recall having read/listened to a book written in the Second Person. I felt this worked well for audio, I can't comment about how it works as the written word. The narration by the Sally Phillips works brilliantly, as she oozes the warmth, care, compassion, hope and understanding of the book.
The target audience I feel is the neurodivurgent teenager or the parent of their own little "alien" as they begin their journey with their infant giving them hope by giving them a glimpse into their "aliens" world and what they could experience in the upcoming years or understanding of where they have come from.

I started listening to this book, but sadly had to stop for a while. Unfortunately I could not finish as the archive date came and stopped me from finishing this audiobook.
Loved the narration, but was a bit confused, about who the main protagonist was. I was hoping that it would become clear, but as I did not get to listen to more of the book, I think I got onto 5% am still unsure.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I was wary it’s true when starting out but the narrative is clear, the delivery excellent, and the difficult situations dealt with sensitively. Overall it has an abiding positivity and a gentle reassurance provided mostly by the alien narrator but also by the balanced good forces and negative (ignorant forces) it’s uplifting and has a real voice at its heart! Bravo.

not really for me and didn't finish it, started it three times and re read sections to try to immerse myself but didn't grab me.

First off I’d like to thank NetGalley and Quercus Audio for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

This is not really a book of life hacks! However it is quite informative and interesting. Told through the second person pov, we follow the life of a little girl through her education, family life, and into her teenage years. I don’t think I should give away anymore so that none of the amazing things about the book are given away.

I honestly don’t know how to describe this book other than saying that you will find it extremely relatable if you are neurodivergent and if you are not, it is a great way to understand the difficulties of being neurodivergent.


I found the narrator to be perfectly brilliant. The writing style and the narration format (especially the second person perspective) were perfect for this book. The story was easy to get into and follow as it had a smooth flow. It really was a throughly enjoyable read and had me realising so much about myself.

Thanks, Quercus Books and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy!

I went into Life Hacks for Little Aliens hoping for a quirky, engaging story, but unfortunately, I had to DNF this one—it just didn’t grab me. Rather than a strong narrative pulling me in, it felt more like a series of loosely connected scenarios designed to highlight how inept the characters around the protagonist are. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—it’s actually very true to life—but without a compelling plot or deeper character development, it started to feel repetitive.

The writing itself is sharp and observational, and I can see how some readers might find its humour relatable. But for me, it lacked the momentum to keep me invested. If you enjoy slice-of-life stories that lean heavily on social awkwardness and human folly, this might be worth a try. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sally Phillips (who I love) and while the narration was solid, it didn’t elevate the material enough to keep me engaged. The delivery was clear, and she captured the dry humour well, but the episodic nature of the story made it easy for my attention to drift. It might work better in print, where you can dip in and out rather than experiencing it in one continuous stream.

This was an absolute delight from beginning to end. A beautiful, insightful and empathetic insight into neurodiversity, as Little Alien (because we never actually learn her name - ironic, given one of the observations made towards the end of the book) navigates childhood and adolescence. Added to her challenges is a mother who loves her deeply but is also struggling with mental health issues.
One of the aspects I loved about this story was the narrator character, who’s a linguist and offers many interesting insights and asides about the nature of language and how Little Alien processes it.
I listened to the audiobook, brilliantly narrated by Sally Phillips and I’m going to be banging on about it to everyone for at least the next twelve months (maybe longer - don’t say I didn’t warn you). At 304 pages with short chapters it’s also a fast read.
Five shiny ones from me for Alice Franklin’s enchanting debut, which releases on 13 February.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Audio for the advance review copy.

This novel, beautifully read by Sally Phillips is a joy. Alice Franklin never names the neurodivergent main character but we feel connected to her throughout. I empathised so strongly with her struggles and loved her fascination with language that emerged as she navigates a tricky home and school life. There is humour and real sensitivity in this story and the narration is superb.

A uniquely joyous and insightful journey into the world through the eyes of a neurodivergent human being just trying to find their place. Capturing the alienation, isolation and confusion we can experience by just existing in a world not made for, or explained to, us through amazingly dreamlike scenarios that truly show the essence of how mundane, normal scenarios can feel so oddly strange to some people.

The book puts us at the centre of the story, addressing us as “you” - allowing us to step in and become the character, with a slightly wandering, meandering structure that I both loved and hated, with footnotes, trains of thoughts. Yes, it felt a little like my brain but having someone else read them out loud to me was a surreal experience, with the narrator talking right to us in an oddly personal and almost invasive way.

We go to school, spend time with our parents, witness crises and conflicts, and observe the world from a distance, trying to understand why people act the way they do and why they all seem so far away, like they’re through a screen.

While a bit close to home at times, this story was so healing. The little girl sitting on the floor of the local library, losing herself in words and trying to solve the world’s mysteries.

A great, really engaging book. A unique style given you root for the main character so much but never learn their name. Fantastic narration on the audiobook.

“You’ll be normal enough, though. And by this, I mean you’ll have just enough normal to seem normal without actually being normal.”

'Life Hacks for a Little Alien' follows our neurodivergent main character - ‘Little Alien’ - through childhood and adolescence as she navigates the isolating experience of growing up in a neurotypical world. Exploring the struggles of autistic people, with a heavy helping of wit and dry humour, I found this book really refreshing and enjoyed the inclusion of many autistic traits such as stimming, communication difficulties, hyper fixations/special interests, light/sound sensitivity and literal thinking - just to name a few! This publication is a great example of female autism/neurodivergence rep within contemporary fiction.

“You are grateful for how explicitly Mike and Mark express their feelings. You would like it if everyone were like this.”

Issues surrounding the healthcare system (in the context of neurodivergence) are effectively covered, including accessibility difficulties relating to the diagnostic process for neurodivergence. Additionally, mental health issues are also represented in this novel as our main characters mum struggles with a mental health disorder.
Despite the heavy topics this was a light and humorous book which I consumed in partnership with the audiobook (narrated by Sally Phillips) which I really enjoyed. I definitely recommend this read if you're keen to learn more about neurodivergence but aren't a huge fan of non-fiction!

“You look at the big light. It's far too bright. Its white light beams at you aggressively, hurting your eyes but also your mind.”
"The frustration can't just sit there. It has to go somewhere, be somewhere, manifest as something."

(Publishing 13th February 2025- huge thank you to Elizabeth at Riverrun publishing for the physical review copy of this book and thank you to NetGalley for access to the early audiobook!)

This is a very good debut novel about a girl who is different, most likely neurodivergent. The rather unusual 2nd person narration emphasizes how 'the little alien' perceives these differences between her and her peers, family members etc. It is an endearing read which I enjoyed - however, I found myself losing interest at around the mid-point of the story, but recaptured it towards the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

I have read some books about what it’s like to be neurodivergent such as Elenor Oliphant, but I don’t think I ever read anyhing like this book. The second person narration using “you” really draws a reader into the perspective of the protagonist, Little Alien who I assume is on ASD pectrum (the book doesn’t say clearly but it’s implied). You feel misunderstood as she feels. Her parents have their own problems, not necessarily their fault but not helpful either. The whole situation is so heartbreaking that I wish the world is kinder to her.

Then she meets a librarian and a linguist and develops her passion for language and words. I found the exploration of linguistic matters very interesting and I think any bookworm appreciate that about this book.

While it wasn’t a five star read for me as I wanted more from the ending, this was a delightful and engaging read. The audiobook narrator, Sally Phillips who has a soft, comforting voice perfect for this book, brought extra depth and warmth to the storytelling. I could listen to her narration nonstop for many hours. If you’re looking for a good audiobook, I can highly recommend this one!

4 🌟/5

A lovely story about a girl with ASD who tries to navigate her way through life and living in this world whilst feeling like an alien. There is so much I could relate to and really enjoyed following little alien through her journey as she makes sense of all of life’s twists and turns. The further readings at the end of each chapter was a little annoying but I could get passed this as the book was an emotional yet funny read.