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Look Ma, No Hands: A Chronic Pain Memoir
A humorous, profound debut memoir about chronic pain, accessibility, and young adulthood, by an acclaimed essayist and cartoonist.
In 2021, Gabrielle Drolet developed a condition that made her unable to use her hands. It only worsened over time, and as a writer and artist, she had to learn new ways of creating and expressing herself. The experience completely changed her life and her outlook.
Look Ma, No Hands explores both the difficulty and the humour of developing chronic and life-altering pain in her twenties. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of her life touched by her how she learned to write when she couldn’t type; how she learned to manage the most mundane daily tasks. She moves cities and as her work as a writer and cartoonist builds has to navigate different byzantine health systems without the privilege or security of having a family doctor, even as she moves into her new apartment and embarks on first dates. And she does all of this with the most wonderful sense of the absurd.
Look Ma, No Hands is utterly charming and shares profound reflections on life’s curveballs, and explores how, in Drolet’s words, “you can live a full—even funny—life in a disabled body.”
In 2021, Gabrielle Drolet developed a condition that made her unable to use her hands. It only worsened over time, and as a writer and artist, she had to learn new ways of creating and expressing herself. The experience completely changed her life and her outlook.
Look Ma, No Hands explores both the difficulty and the humour of developing chronic and life-altering pain in her twenties. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of her life touched by her how she learned to write when she couldn’t type; how she learned to manage the most mundane daily tasks. She moves cities and as her work as a writer and cartoonist builds has to navigate different byzantine health systems without the privilege or security of having a family doctor, even as she moves into her new apartment and embarks on first dates. And she does all of this with the most wonderful sense of the absurd.
Look Ma, No Hands is utterly charming and shares profound reflections on life’s curveballs, and explores how, in Drolet’s words, “you can live a full—even funny—life in a disabled body.”
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2025
21 people are currently reading
616 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 7, 2025
This was fabulous, especially when the memoir interrogates how disability interacts with Drolet's bisexuality. Funny, insightful, delightfully earnest! And so many lovingly rendered Canadian settings (Wolfville, NS and Montreal!)
March 8, 2025
4.5 Stars
Earnest, vulnerable, smart, and funny, I read this book in one sitting. I have followed Gabrielle’s writing on social media for a little while, so I was VERY excited to read this book, and thrilled that it lived up to the hype. Gabrielle’s writing style is great - engaging and witty, and full of deep care and tenderness. The essays range in topic, but cover a broad spectrum of themes and experiences, largely centered around Gabrielle’s life and her disability. I was charmed and found myself laughing out loud a few times. This felt like a beach read in the ease with which I was able to devour it, which I love. It was fresh, engaging, and compulsively readable.
My one criticism is that the essays didn’t always flow together in the most cohesive way, leaving you wanting a bit *more* connective tissue. We sometimes touched on a topic or an issue lightly, and didn’t really explore it more. Obviously you don’t owe your reader every personal story, thought, and feeling, but I think it would have been valuable to dive into some of these experiences and relationships just a bit more. There’s no denying she’s a talented writer, but I wish the book had been a bit longer, because reading it almost felt like hanging out with a new friend.
As someone with a disability myself, I was expecting to relate to much of what Gabrielle wrote (and I did), but I didn’t expect how much I would feel her words in my own (arthritic) bones. Gabrielle invites you into her life and her world with such care.
You feel for her, and you feel with her. I can’t wait to read more from Gabrielle!
I received an advanced reading copy of the book from the publisher.
Earnest, vulnerable, smart, and funny, I read this book in one sitting. I have followed Gabrielle’s writing on social media for a little while, so I was VERY excited to read this book, and thrilled that it lived up to the hype. Gabrielle’s writing style is great - engaging and witty, and full of deep care and tenderness. The essays range in topic, but cover a broad spectrum of themes and experiences, largely centered around Gabrielle’s life and her disability. I was charmed and found myself laughing out loud a few times. This felt like a beach read in the ease with which I was able to devour it, which I love. It was fresh, engaging, and compulsively readable.
My one criticism is that the essays didn’t always flow together in the most cohesive way, leaving you wanting a bit *more* connective tissue. We sometimes touched on a topic or an issue lightly, and didn’t really explore it more. Obviously you don’t owe your reader every personal story, thought, and feeling, but I think it would have been valuable to dive into some of these experiences and relationships just a bit more. There’s no denying she’s a talented writer, but I wish the book had been a bit longer, because reading it almost felt like hanging out with a new friend.
As someone with a disability myself, I was expecting to relate to much of what Gabrielle wrote (and I did), but I didn’t expect how much I would feel her words in my own (arthritic) bones. Gabrielle invites you into her life and her world with such care.
You feel for her, and you feel with her. I can’t wait to read more from Gabrielle!
I received an advanced reading copy of the book from the publisher.
May 18, 2025
This was a heartfelt, coming of age memoir about living with chronic pain and disability and learning how to manage both in terms of work and love. Excellent on audio narrated by the author and highly recommended for fans of books like I'll look so hot in a coffin or It must be beautiful to be finished. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 5, 2025
Already know this book is going to be hilarious, beautiful, touching, and brilliant ❤️
Edit now that the book has actually been released: it was hilarious, beautiful, touching, and brilliant. Gabi!!!! I’m blown away!!!
Edit now that the book has actually been released: it was hilarious, beautiful, touching, and brilliant. Gabi!!!! I’m blown away!!!
May 30, 2025
Gabi is a bolt of lightening. This made me gasp & laugh out loud, & I treasured every page.
June 3, 2025
4.5 stars, I literally started this last night before bed and then finished it today after work bc I couldn’t put it down. A very compelling, moving and honest story about the author’s experience with chronic pain, the inadequacies of our healthcare system, friendship, romance, and generally what it’s like to be in your mid 20s. The essays are easy to digest but give you a lot to think about. I really enjoyed this
May 30, 2025
Funny and heartfelt- I'm looking forward to reading everything Gabrielle Drolet ever writes
May 21, 2025
I read this in a single sitting, I couldn’t put it down 💘
July 23, 2025
What a great memoir! I’ve been following Gabrielle Drolet on Twitter for a couple years now and was excited to get my hands on this - thoughtful, vulnerable, and funny, she writes about living with chronic pain in a very relatable way… even if most folks probably can’t actually relate (I know I can’t).
I loved it, devoured it in one day, definitely recommend it if you’re into memoirs.
I loved it, devoured it in one day, definitely recommend it if you’re into memoirs.
July 29, 2025
“…Chronic pain isn’t linear : you have good days, and bad ones, great weeks and horrible ones, even a single day can be a mixed bag too. You might wake up feeling good, and then 12hrs later be in so much pain you can’t sleep.”
Let me start off by saying how grateful I was to finally find a memoir on chronic pain & it’s writer being a young Canadian woman…I myself suffer from chronic pain & I felt a sort of kinship to the writer while reading her story. A lot of the locations in this memoir were also ones I’ve either lived in or traveled to so it also hit very close to home as well. It’s very difficult to rate memoirs as they are so personal but I have a few notes:
I felt her journey towards a diagnosis and explanation could have been touched upon more as I found the toughest parts in one’s chronic pain journey is going through the long, torturous, and often plagued medical care system. Each chapter was more or less a short story on her small victories in everyday life as well as being someone trying to move through the world with a pain disability. I found most antidotes only touched the surface of her pain journey, and the ending felt very abrupt & lacking a form of hope and closure that I was so desperately wanting. I’ll be searching for more reads like this in the future.🖤
Let me start off by saying how grateful I was to finally find a memoir on chronic pain & it’s writer being a young Canadian woman…I myself suffer from chronic pain & I felt a sort of kinship to the writer while reading her story. A lot of the locations in this memoir were also ones I’ve either lived in or traveled to so it also hit very close to home as well. It’s very difficult to rate memoirs as they are so personal but I have a few notes:
I felt her journey towards a diagnosis and explanation could have been touched upon more as I found the toughest parts in one’s chronic pain journey is going through the long, torturous, and often plagued medical care system. Each chapter was more or less a short story on her small victories in everyday life as well as being someone trying to move through the world with a pain disability. I found most antidotes only touched the surface of her pain journey, and the ending felt very abrupt & lacking a form of hope and closure that I was so desperately wanting. I’ll be searching for more reads like this in the future.🖤
May 21, 2025
We are lucky to have Gabrielle Drolet and her incredible writing 💖
June 14, 2025
Separate of the fact that Gabi is one of my dearest friends and my favourite celebrity, I’ve also struggled with chronic pain from a similar condition! And regardless of the cause, being in pain on a daily basis really sucks! Knowing Gabi has helped me understand how to make the most of a shitty situation, and I’m so glad this book exists to help those who don’t know her find the same comfort
August 6, 2025
this was actually so good and a welcome break from the octopus book that is draining my patience
June 26, 2025
This book misses a mark for me. I’m all for supporting my fellow disability writers and advocates, but if you neglect to mention disability justice and address your privilege in the healthcare system, then that brings forth some concerns.
The healthcare system is grueling and unfair for everyone; It’s a long and unpleasant experience we can all agree on. But it’s a fact that it’s disproportionately unfair to BIPOC people and communities, as well as those with certain disabilities. I understand this is a memoir, but you can still use this opportunity to talk about disability justice and acknowledge your privilege. There were opportunities for Drolet to address her privilege, but doesn't.
I know a lot of people are going to read this book because Drolet has a fan base who loves her very much. For good reason too. I don’t want to dismiss this book entirely because Drolet’s experience with chronic pain does resonate in many ways. She also does a great job writing about people in her life as she goes through this journey, so why not include a chapter of someone else's experience? Someone who isn't white and can speak for themselves as opposed to Drolet speaking for them. It is just odd to me that there is a lack of responsibility in this book, especially in connection to disability justice.
The healthcare system is grueling and unfair for everyone; It’s a long and unpleasant experience we can all agree on. But it’s a fact that it’s disproportionately unfair to BIPOC people and communities, as well as those with certain disabilities. I understand this is a memoir, but you can still use this opportunity to talk about disability justice and acknowledge your privilege. There were opportunities for Drolet to address her privilege, but doesn't.
I know a lot of people are going to read this book because Drolet has a fan base who loves her very much. For good reason too. I don’t want to dismiss this book entirely because Drolet’s experience with chronic pain does resonate in many ways. She also does a great job writing about people in her life as she goes through this journey, so why not include a chapter of someone else's experience? Someone who isn't white and can speak for themselves as opposed to Drolet speaking for them. It is just odd to me that there is a lack of responsibility in this book, especially in connection to disability justice.
June 2, 2025
Favourite book I’ve read in 2025 :) so funny so sincere and just such a good read, I am a Gabrielle Drolet stan
June 26, 2025
A touching, funny, extremely well written memoir structured into essays. I found out about the book after reading one in The Guardian; if you like this one, you’ll like the whole book. Closer to Jenny Lawson than Marya Hornbacher, Drolet tells a story in digressions that don’t really obscure the fact that she’s afraid, at mercy of a medical system she doesn’t quite understand (I didn’t know what a physiatrist is either), and in constant pain. As a fellow chronic pain sufferer I kept my fingers crossed until the end for Drolet to get a happy ending and emerge free from pain; after all, she has written and illustrated this book after spending a long time unable to do either. How did she manage? Read and find out – there is meta quality to some of the essays, one of them about writing the others, the final one about having written the book.
Have I mentioned it’s very, very good?
(4.5 rounded up to 5 for Goodreads)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
Have I mentioned it’s very, very good?
(4.5 rounded up to 5 for Goodreads)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
October 25, 2025
SO good. SO SO GOOD. 🥹
September 5, 2025
Read in one sitting. Beautifully written, heartfelt, funny and relatable. I’m looking forward to reading her future work!
June 8, 2025
I’ve enjoyed Gabrielle’s artwork on her social media for several years and was excited to read her work. I finished this in one sitting. It’s a very moving story, written with a lot of honesty and thoughtfulness about her chronic pain and coming to terms with living with chronic pain. A very well-written series of vignettes of her journey in a new city, with new friends, with dating, all while making adjustments to life with chronic pain. She has such a wonderful writing style with humor and gentleness. It’s a wonderful and moving read, highly recommend!
May 26, 2025
Oooooh Gabrielle, I have so much to say.
It's been so nice following you on twitter for the last year (and a half-ish? a little less?). I love seeing your tweets and art and stories and selfies and pictures of Pidgey.
You know how on social media you might not be *talking* with a person but you can still make up an idea of what they're like with the few things you see of them? Well, it's been very interesting to read LOOK MA, NO HANDS, and discover so many other things about you, and this side of you that I would've never imagined from seeing your rat drawings.
I used to be *a reader* but ~life~ has made my brain so mushy in the last few years that I haven't read a new book since May of 2023. I was hoping LOOK MA, NO HANDS would win the fight against my brain, and let me read it. I, however, never expected to read those 249 pages in a single day.
I was sitting on the couch with my mom yesterday, reading, and she caught me laughing and sniffling a handful of times. LOOK MA, NO HANDS, was a beautiful, raw, painful, funny, book that didn't let me put it down.
While reading, I remembered that in june of last year I sent my friend one of your tweets and they replied "this girl is so you. canadian you.". I thought of this text a looot while reading LOOK MA, NO HANDS.
Anyway, I'm very happy for you that it's out! I ultimately don't *know* you but I still feel like a proud mom or akin to that (is this weird? idk. idc.). I'm very happy to have now read it after months of impatiently waiting for it! Here's to many more great things in your career. (hey mom, i made it, my twitter mutual, aka rat girl, published her memoir!)
and guys. not to brag but. totally bragging about my signed copy with a drawing of snoopy in it <3
It's been so nice following you on twitter for the last year (and a half-ish? a little less?). I love seeing your tweets and art and stories and selfies and pictures of Pidgey.
You know how on social media you might not be *talking* with a person but you can still make up an idea of what they're like with the few things you see of them? Well, it's been very interesting to read LOOK MA, NO HANDS, and discover so many other things about you, and this side of you that I would've never imagined from seeing your rat drawings.
I used to be *a reader* but ~life~ has made my brain so mushy in the last few years that I haven't read a new book since May of 2023. I was hoping LOOK MA, NO HANDS would win the fight against my brain, and let me read it. I, however, never expected to read those 249 pages in a single day.
I was sitting on the couch with my mom yesterday, reading, and she caught me laughing and sniffling a handful of times. LOOK MA, NO HANDS, was a beautiful, raw, painful, funny, book that didn't let me put it down.
While reading, I remembered that in june of last year I sent my friend one of your tweets and they replied "this girl is so you. canadian you.". I thought of this text a looot while reading LOOK MA, NO HANDS.
Anyway, I'm very happy for you that it's out! I ultimately don't *know* you but I still feel like a proud mom or akin to that (is this weird? idk. idc.). I'm very happy to have now read it after months of impatiently waiting for it! Here's to many more great things in your career. (hey mom, i made it, my twitter mutual, aka rat girl, published her memoir!)
and guys. not to brag but. totally bragging about my signed copy with a drawing of snoopy in it <3
June 10, 2025
it seems i’m one of the few who found this book before finding gabrielle’s work in the new yorker, but i’m pleased i got the chance to get to know her story. skilled writing, skilled storytelling. absolutely obsessed!!
August 7, 2025
Breezed through this well-written and humorous memoir about disability. Puts into perspective the things we take for granted and the little victories that drive us forward. Two thumbs down for the Canadian healthcare system tho
November 24, 2025
After all the horror I've been reading, this was a very relaxing break. I enjoyed all the Canadian content and the settings, and it was nice to just read about a queer person making friends and trying to navigate her life with her disabilities. Definitely a recommended read for anyone new to having a chronic health condition, or with family or friends who have it. A fairly well written snack of a book, not too heavy.
June 6, 2025
4.5 stars
I've enjoyed following Drolet on social media (love her illustrations, beginning with the sewer rats of New York), so when I was in Montreal this month I made sure to seek out a copy of her memoir. And no surprise, it's great! She's a really lovely storyteller to spend time with.
I've enjoyed following Drolet on social media (love her illustrations, beginning with the sewer rats of New York), so when I was in Montreal this month I made sure to seek out a copy of her memoir. And no surprise, it's great! She's a really lovely storyteller to spend time with.
June 4, 2025
This was such a beautiful memoir! It was funny, but also deeply relatable. As someone with endometriosis, Gabrielle’s use of humour during all-things-chronic-pain helped me come to terms with similar experiences I’ve had myself — and it made me feel less alone.
May 27, 2025
fantastic. THE audiobook of all time. gobbled this up through my ears so fast. the one regret i have in consuming this via audio is that i didn’t get to see the drawings, which i’m sure were fantastic. a beautiful, cleverly written collection of stories that progress through time and space in a very natural way. a love letter to montreal, to friendship and to writing and to the self and the body, and a profound reminder to take life one day at a time and enjoy every little moment.
May 28, 2025
i really loved this book, so much so that i read it in one sitting. it was thought-provoking, especially for someone like me who is also disabled. thank you, gabrielle :)
May 25, 2025
Transformative, colon closed parenthesis!
May 22, 2025
I’m a slow reader but I really resonated with this book and didn’t put it down till I was done. Going through a big upheaval myself right now, I really resonated with her strong resolve and her approach to this massive change with humour. My struggle is definitely not the same, but in this moment I felt a connection to someone I didn’t know, knowing that things can only get better if you work to make it so. Gabrielle you will always be famous
May 14, 2025
A beautiful collection of stories that sheds light on how living with and developing a disability at such a young age affects more aspects of life than most people probably think. The author does a great job at bringing us through the trials and tribulations she’s faced. Read this is one sitting!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews