This was an unusual story.
Little Alien is a neurodivergent girl who lives with her mum and her dad in the South-East of England. Her mum has a ‘how-to’ guide for every situation, and her dad is always kind and always right. And there is her best friend Bobby, who coincidentally has a bob.

But it is only when Little Alien sees a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript – a mediaeval codex written in an unknown language and script – that she begins to suspect that there are other people who feel just like her. Convinced that translating this manuscript will offer the answers she needs, she sets out on a journey that will show her a delicious taste of freedom.

The audiobook was superbly narrated by Sally Phillips who is a joy to listen to.

With thanks to NetGalley for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was a quirky read following a young girl who struggles to fit in so much at school, as well as within her family, that she believes she is an alien. We follow as she tries to navigate the world where nobody seems to understand her and see how she deals with the people who can't and don't try to understand her.

Well narrated by Sally Phillips, this was a solid debut.

Life Hacks For a Little Alien, follows a young girl as she tries to navigate an education system (and a world) that she doesn't quite understand and that doesn't seem to understand her!

I loved this book for a number of reasons. Firstly for whatever reason, it took me a while to catch up with my peers when I first started primary's school and Franklin captured the feeling of being a small child who wasn't quite up to school perfectly. Unfortunately this feeling of not being quite being up to scratch does follow Little Alien throughout her Education and you are frustrated for her on a number of occasions.
Franklin has woven , linguistics particularly etymology in to the book and I loved learning about the history of words , particularly how her love of language helped Little Alien find her way in the world.
The author uses a 2nd person narrator, which really fits in with the theme of not fitting in.
I loved the humour of the book, which was absolutely heightened by having Sally Phillips as a narrator. Her pacing was absolutely perfect .

I suspect I would have given this book 5 stars if I had read it and I am frustrated I can't give Phillips an extra star for her fabulous narration.

If you have ever felt like you are odd, had an unusual hobby or been underestimated you will adore this book.

A poignant tale of a girl on the spectrum navigating her way through the world and all its complexities as she grows from toddler to teen. Slightly different in that the story is delivered in the 2nd person. Personally for me, I found this to be apt. It added some emphasis to Little Alien’s discomfort in the world.

It’s fascinating, the take from down there where all of the people who should know how to behave in your interests discuss and discuss and are still lost, Little Alien. The world would be a lot simpler if people said what they meant indeed. I loved being privy to the ways in which you discovered your place in life.

This’ll be a hit for 2025, perfect for fans of Cactus and Eleanor Oliphant.

Loved the audio narration by Sally Phillips 🎧

My thanks to Quercus Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the ALC 🎧

I'm not sure this was meant to be a sad book but that's how it left me feeling. An autistic child, unsupported by family, is left to try and figure themselves out in a world that they can't understand.

This was a really lovely character-driven story. I listened to the audiobook which was wonderfully narrated by Sally Phillips. She read with such compassion and understanding that it really elevated the story, in my opinion.
This book reminded me very much of The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything by Kara Gnodde, in that the main character is neurodivergent and struggles significantly with social interaction and has a very particular special interest. In the case of 'Little Alien' it is a fascination with linguistics and the Voynich Manuscript in particular. Although I felt little personal interest in the Voynich Manuscript, and could have perhaps had less detail about this, it was a reasonably good hook on which to hang 'Little Aliens' special interest.
I loved the epilogue which is thought was really emotive.

Overall an accomplished debut and I would definitely read more by this author.

This is such a gorgeous and quirky exploration of neurodivergence, and a real gem of a debut!

Our unnamed narrator believes she’s not from this planet after struggling to fit in at school and with her family, and becomes fixated with a manuscript to try and make sense of everything through language. It’s not a massively plot driven novel, but anyone who loves a nuanced and compelling character like Eleanor Oliphant will likely enjoy this one! I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Sally Phillips and it’s absolutely exceptional - her comedic timing is just perfect and totally elevated the story.

Perfect for when you want a gentle, soothing story!

The story of a girl who feels so different to other children that she thinks of herself as an alien. A girl who is fascinated by an untranslated manuscript, hot on the pursuit of answers, soaking up everything on this obscure topic despite the obstacles. The narrative throughout is straightforward and follows this unnamed child through challenges at home and at school, faced with people who don't always understand her, and some who do. There's friendship, mentorship, and family. This Little Alien who sometimes behaves more as an adult than those around her, and one whose interest in learning is charming and had me really rooting for her on her mission to know more. I think I took away from this book that life is not always easy, we are not all the same, and whilst there are big and little struggles, there is also happiness to be found. Both similar interests and similar experiences of the world can bring people together at any age. I enjoyed seeing Little Alien across those years of her life the story covered and we're left with a good dose of hope for her future. This story is beautifully narrated by Sally Phillips and makes for a great audiobook read!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Life Hacks for a Little Aliens is a strange book, annoyingly told in the second person
Mildly amusing and in turn tragic if reveals the very inadequate parents she is inflicted with. Through Little Alien's eyes we witness the stupidity of those in authority and do-gooders.
Each chapter ends with further reading, which is quite funny.
It seems to travel along for a very long time then end abruptly, having got nowhere.

A wonderful book about not fitting in and life growing up. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. It shows us all we need a little patience and kindness when dealing with anyone who may need the extra bit of time when learning how to go through life.

An interesting take on a child growing up with a sense of not fitting in to the world, however I found it quite hard to listen to and I imagined the book is written in quite a stilted way on the page, with short sentences and lots of gaps, as it just didn't seem to flow and felt too flat at times with no real body?

It was difficult to get in to on the audiobook and I just didn't want to keep going at times, I was not invested at all. Maybe the story is trying to be too different, when actually we can all relate to feeling like an alien at times. The mother's mental health was hardly portrayed and hollow, there was just no depth or meat to any of it.

Left me wanting more and wondering what could have been. A missed opportunity I feel.

I was drawn to the debut novel of Alice Franklin, Life Hacks for a Little Alien, because of the unusual title and as it was narrated by Sally Phillips, who I could listen to read anything. I was delighted I did select this title as it really is such a gem of a book, a very accomplished debut.
We meet little alien when she is uttering her first words and follow her on her journey through childhood. She feels like a little alien, she knows she doesn't quite fit in, she doesn't feel the same as other people. She is neurodiverse. The book is bright and little alien is delightful. It is at times also a very sad book, how little alien is treated by those around her who cannot accept and understand her, it is no wonder she feels like an alien.
Overall, it is ultimately an uplifting book, with more joyous moments and gives us hope.
I look forward to seeing the next book from the author. And, as anticipated, it was an excellent narration of the book by Sally.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, narrator and publishers for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 21%

I was so hoping I'd love this. I'm autistic and from reading early reviews was hoping for some great autism rep (I don't know if the author is autistic or not) but this really just didn't do it for me. The second person perspective threw me and truthfully I think a big issue for me was the narration - perhaps I'd prefer this physically.
I'd also suggest the comp to Eleanor Oliphant is great as I also did not enjoy that book. I don't have the words to articulate what it is about them, I just didn't get along with them but that's not to say they are "bad". Maybe just the wrong time for me. If my library gets this in I might try it physically.

Ever feel as though you’re from another planet? You are not alone.

Ever wanted a beautifully observed, poignant, lightly humorous account of growing up with a mind that finds words infinitely easier to relate to than the people who say them? Again, you’re not alone - and you’re in luck! Alice Franklin’s ‘Life Hacks for a Little Alien’ does just that.

I don’t read as much contemporary fiction as I’d like (because my application for additional hours in the day and not having to sleep is still pending), but this caught my eye: a novel featuring neurodiversity, linguistics, deftly brilliant writing, hyperfocus and humour.

It’s beautifully crafted, funny, moving, and thought-provoking, following the unnamed neurodivergent protagonist from nursery to the verge of adulthood as she negotiates a world in which she feels like an alien with the help of a book that might have been written by aliens (to thoroughly misdescribe the plot 📕).

There are some very poignant family themes, some heartwarming depictions of friendship, of the agony and the ecstasy of hyper-focus, and some heartrending moments of frustration when you can’t understand the world, or when you can understand it more clearly than you ought to. Plus some lovely linguistic gems - a good one for word nerds.

It’s not remotely preachy (and this comment isn’t meant to be either), but I found it a helpful reminder to give people the benefit of the doubt when their behaviour seems off as we all experience the world in different ways. Especially apt around Christmas, which isn’t quite the most wonderful time of the year for everyone (I’m thoroughly team festive gibbering wreck if anyone needs a safe space to scream btw).

Thanks to @netgalley and the team at @riverrun_books / @quercusbooks for the audio ARC. The narration by Sally Phillips was - unsurprisingly - superb.

If I had to sum this book up in one word, it would be, ADORABLE.

Covering all the blessings of neurodivergence, while espousing the disadvantages brought about by a lack of patience and understanding in everything from our educational systems, our social interactions, our families, friends and relationships, it's a carefully crafted delight. Whether you are reading for pleasure, for insight or understanding it's simply fabulous.