The (Slightly Distracted) Woman’s Guide to Living with an Adult ADHD Diagnosis

by Laura Kerbey, Eliza Fricker (illustrator)

Being a woman in your thirties and beyond is challenging enough when your brain works the way society expects—throw ADHD into the mix, and it's a whole new ballgame!

Written by Laura Kerbey with charming illustrations from Eliza Fricker and quotes from other ADHD women from across the world, this accessible, lived experience guide is here to help you make sense of it all.

Candid, funny, and validating, Laura offers a truly honest look into the realities of being a woman with ADHD, with chapters focused on parenting, rejection sensitive dysphoria, menopause, working life, mental health, and relationships—Laura uses a combination of research and her own lived experience as a late-diagnosed ADHDer to provide advice you can actually use in your busy, everyday life.

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2025

Reviews

[Sarah Boon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to read one of the proofs before publication, as I'm one of the endorsers of the book.

I found Laura's book a very entertaining read. The (Slightly Distracted) Woman's Guide to Living with an Adult ADHD Diagnosis balances both the good and the difficulties that ADHD women experience when navigating life. Safe to say it's the only neurodiversity related book I've read that's made me laugh so much!

[Bright Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The (Slightly Distracted) Woman’s Guide to Living with an Adult ADHD Diagnosis by Laura Kerbey with illustrations from Eliza Fricker.

I was interested in this book because the blurb indicated that it provided "...advice you can actually use in your busy, everyday life." I mistakenly interpreted this to mean the book would provide guidance, tips, and tools to help someone with ADHD to better accomplish everyday chores or larger tasks.

The author, a woman with late-diagnosed ADHD herself, provides a lived-experience guide including stories of the unique life events of adult women who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD and how these experiences affected them.

The book presents information in an ADHD-friendly manner with details broken out in small sections that are visually differentiated.

In it you will find UK centered information including:

-Research
-Tips
-Advice
-Links
-Resources

Topics broken out by chapter include:

* Childhood and education
* Parenting
* ADHD hormones and menopause
* Rejection-sensitive dysphoria and imposter syndrome
* Work and career
* Mental health
* Friendships and relationships
* Impulsivity and impatience
* Special interests, obsessions and random collections
* Shopping (and other addictions)
* Dropping the disorder and reframing ADHD

Whether you or a family member have been recently professionally diagnosed with ADHD or are just recognizing you may have ADHD yourself, this book may be right for you.

Reviews are posted on Goodreads, and
generally post to BrightBookReviews' Instagram and Facebook pages on the publication date. Just added: LinkedIn.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
July 21, 2025

#TheSlightlyDistractedWomansGuidetoLivingwithanAdultADHDDiagnosis @JKPBooks #JessicaKingsleyPublishers
#LauraKerbey #ElizaFricker
#arc #netgalley
#Brightbookreviews #facebook #Goodreads
#Instagram #LinkedIn

[Noir · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the introduction, I felt understood, validated, less alone, and less weird.

I appreciate the author writing this book for/about women with ADHD because there doesn't seem to be enough out there. This is a good introductory guide to those who have just been diagnosed with ADHD, self-diagnosed, or even those suspecting. Especially, if they're adults.

I liked the anecdotes from other women with ADHD sprinkled throughout the book. I really related to a lot of their stories and felt comforted that I'm not the only one who has struggled with something similar.

I appreciated the format of this book breaking paragraphs into smaller portions with bullet point lists and the anecdotes into speech bubbles.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy to review.

[kashiichan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book. I suspect I'd have gotten more out of it if I was at the start of my ADHD journey, closer to the impulsive side of the spectrum, and living in the UK.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and definitely got a lot out of it.
After being diagnosed (after being adamant for years that I did not have ADHD as I'm not 'hyperactive') I have been reading up a lot about it and this book was one of the best I have read on the topic for me. I could definitely relate to a lot of it.

Laura Kerbey has such a conversational writing style, it was really easy to read. She is very honest, and has such wit and charm too.

Would definitely recommend for those looking for more info!