No Words for This

by Alison Mau

An inspiring, honest and intimate memoir about family, love and rising from the ashes.



'Ali's memoir absolutely wrecked me - in the best, most necessary way. It's brutally honest, beautifully written, and I have huge respect for her for putting this into the world' Paula Penfold

'I couldn't put this book down. And it's haunted me since I finished it' Claire Mabey, The Spinoff

'Gripping, revelatory, generous and layered' Alex Casey, The Spinoff


From the age of twelve, Alison Mau wanted to be a journalist like her father. He was a beer-swilling, straight-talking Aussie who was rough around the edges but could quote passages of Hamlet at will. He taught Ali everything - from how to skin a rabbit and throw a punch to how to craft a sharp sentence - and she craved his validation as she navigated the sexist badlands of Australian print and television journalism through the 1980s and '90s.

From Melbourne to London and Auckland, Ali built a glittering career and became a media darling - until an unexpected call from her sister brought her professional and personal lives crashing together with devastating force. As an investigative reporter bringing New Zealand's #MeToo stories to light, she had to survey the wreckage of her family myth and ask herself, 'Am I strong enough?' and 'Are there words for this?'

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Book Club

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2025

Reviews

[Shilo Kino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up watching Ali Mau on TV and remember the iconic moment on Breakfast when she gave it to the women’s magazines. Also inspired by her fearless coverage of sexual abuse here in Aotearoa.

However, reading Ali Mau’s memoir gave me a newfound appreciation for her and her mahi. It’s a beautifully written and deeply intimate memoir. Thank you for writing this.

[Melissa Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually rate biographies - I feel like it’s not my place to “judge” someone’s life story but this story.. this one.. needs to be told. Thank you for writing this and for sharing your story with us

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this with no expectations and no context, other than a recommendation from a friend that it was a good read. Ali Mau is a formidable woman, and thanks to her lifelong career in journalism, an excellent storyteller. This book was shocking and beautiful and raw and powerful. The epilogue was the perfect reconciliation of trauma, hope, and level-headed analysis of the plight of sexual assult survivors. A ruthless feminist lens placed over a lot of the book - this one will stick with me for a while.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate a woman speaking her truth. This book really needed another edit, though. So much of the first half was not really relevant and made the book slow. I have mixed feelings about the letters placed throughout the book; on one hand, they're dropped with no context, but the story within the story makes more sense towards the end.

[✧.*aleks·˚ ༘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

with the more books i pick up written by people in my own backyard, the more and more i am impressed and proud to call myself a kiwi.
what an impressive woman! what an impressive journalist! what an impressive person. i can only hope to make the same staggering effect she has had on the kiwi media industry, but there will really only be one and only ali mau.

[Sophie Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started flicking through this at the airport as I’d seen the Spinoff reviews - enjoyed it so much that I got it out on Libby straightaway! Powerful story well-told, if challenging at points, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Tika does!!

[Emma Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well written memoir - a truly balanced account which tells the very sensitive story.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

No words for this is so true of this book. A must read for women who need to be heard because Ali gives us a voice. Thank you.

[Kiwiflora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zillions of points to Alison Mau for her courage in telling her story. This memoir had me from page 1, deeply immersed in her family's way of being. All families have secrets, some more dangerous than others, and there are some biggies in Alison's early life. We all know how the long term effects of secrets fester, shape us, our families, and yet there is always that pull to never reveal. Alison identifies this as 'shame', telling her story with this as its basis. Until she eventually rises above the shame threshold, the nature and strength of herself and her family changing as a result. Memoirs are always tricky, how much is true one never really knows. But so much of Alison's life in NZ has been lived in the media, in the women's magazines, giving her story huge credibility. Plus she writes from the heart, from deep trauma and on going recovery. She is candid about mistakes she has made, things that have gone wrong - how brave it is to admit mistakes especially in the punishing public arena, and how admirable to be able to rise above it. I loved this book, one I had trouble putting down. I love her honesty, her fighting spirit, her work and commitment to helping those who don't have her voice. Her dignity is intact, a woman to be respected and listened to. Keep going Alison !

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a consumer of celebrity gossip and I have not watched TV news consistently ever. But still I was surprised when reading this to learn that not only were Alison Mau and Simon Dallow but that Alison has been in a longterm relationship with Karleen for a long time!

Anyway, my obliviousness aside this book is incredible. Ali shines a spotlight on the hideous sexism and misogyny of journalism and newsrooms and really all institutions. Then there's her own personal experience of sexual abuse and the multi generational nature of it which was horrificly kept secret for so long. It's hard to read about her father's abuse (only positive is he admits to it) and also her mother's complicity in it. It will never be known whether her mother knew all along or it is recent knowledge and her declining mind can't process it enough to be sufficiently outraged but still the scene in the epilogue is disturbing beyond belief.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not sure what to expect from this book. Simply loved it. The beginning had me in awe of the humour and beautiful, skillful writing. Couldn't put it down. Later, I bowed in admiration at her honesty and willingness to share painful memories in such a respectful way. Respectful to those who experienced it while being clear about the anger and impact.

Not an easy read but written so beautifully, you connect and glide through the pages. Read a library copy but will be buying this book to share with my best friend. This will gives us hours of conversation and so many topics to unpick. Thank you Alison for sharing and provoking our thoughts

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have huge respect for the author as a journalist, especially after reading this book and hearing stories about what being a woman in the industry was like. There was great scene setting re this, and also adolescence in 80s Melbourne - parts of the descriptions kind of reminded me of Boy Meets Universe.

Obviously there's a sinister undertone, and the darker storyline is weaved in throughout - but in a way where it's not just dropped in for shock value, but cleverly integrated through the more BAU parts of a memoir. It is unimaginable, and written in a way which conveys this with nuance and always emphasises that these things are never the victim's fault.

[Felicity Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read after attending her session at the Book Festival - a great speaker and a good writer, but the timeline and key facts of the book could have been much better presented with better editing. Abused by her father but in denial from it (as was her sister and nephew), it became very peripheral to the book, relegated to a few pages here and there behind her media career and leading the #MeToo movement in NZ. Yet it was central to her whole purpose (as a journalist trying to win her journalist father's approval) and then leading the #MeToo reporting initiative on Stuff.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I’ve finished this year, I found the story so well told and I couldn’t put the book down.
It’s a very real and raw story, warts and all, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster at times reading this book. And I felt like I knew Alison just from reading her story, and I felt proud of her and what’s she’s been able to overcome and open up about.
Great read, and for me who finds reading books a challenge I really enjoyed this.

[Jessie Noone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali is an incredible storyteller of her life, she has lived through some horrific stuff and tells it in a honest, gripping and eloquent way. Her personal resilience is incredible as she has navigated life in the public eye and also fighting for what she believes in - helping others through the MeToo movement.
I have also listened to a few podcasts with Ali around the time this was released and really enjoyed them also.

[Alice K Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book yesterday and absolutely could not put it down. It is such an open and honest account of what is in reality an extremely common story. That Alison Mau should be prepared to share it should not be so incredible but it is. She has risked herself in all kinds of ways for the beauty of making others feel less alone. An incredible book.

[Jordan Oppert · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘No words for this’ is exactly how I’d sum up this incredibly personal, raw and vulnerable memoir. I’ve long admired Ali Mau as a journalist/presenter - she truly is one of the best in business. And reading her back story.. it just cemented how remarkable, resilient, strong and brave she is. Read on my e-book and scanned through the photos at the end in tears..

[Jess Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gripping account of Ali Mau’s life from childhood through to today. Woven throughout her stories is a common theme - perseverance. Clinical but not cold, hopeful but not whimsical. Thank you for sharing your story, Ali. Big trigger warnings for sexual abuse, childhood abuse, and sexual harassment.

[Ursula Mountfort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting hearing Alison’s take on her marriage breakdown, as the media painted a different picture and sided with her husband (from what I remember).
Terrible recounts of abuse, I’m sorry she suffered.
Alison describes how she still got on with things and carved out a great career despite that.
She has a great relationship with her kids, that’s nice.

[Anthony Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastic, and sometimes harrowing read. Ali Mau is an incredible writer, with a lovely way of words that paint vivid pictures and keep you engaged. Ali's story is captivating, and the trauma she navigates is horrific. great read from one of New Zealand's (yeah, we claim Ali) best journos, broadcasters and advocates.

[Brittany Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual read but Ali Mau was on a podcast I listen to (Between Two Beers) talking about this book and her story was captivating. This books cover some shocking family sexual abuse, but Ali also talks a lot about misogyny and sexism in the workplace, especially in NZ media in the 90's, and after reading this it's evident Ali was a positive force for change for young kiwi, working women.

[Daria Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a work of art. While some of the things it covers are dark and awful, there are many beautiful and uplifting moments too. It is so well-written that I struggled to tear myself away from it, and the words and images stayed with me long after I'd put the book down. A must-read.

[Mary Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali is a courageous woman , a woman of integrity , of valour and of honesty as she tells her story and that of her loved ones ! I laughed and I cried as I read her account . Thanks Ali, for fighting for those who have not yet found the courage to do so!

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting read . Shouldn’t just be promoted about the abuse side of it, as there is so much more to her story. Extremely honest and sad in places. Ali writes well and I found it hard to put down.

[Jen Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful story from Ali Mau about her life and upbringing. I love learning about people and human nature in biographies and I learn so much from this one. Ali is such a strong wāhine and I’m glad I’ve crossed paths with her in my lifetime.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook, so was great to hear Ali's voice. Stunning wordsmith, and a great story covering a variety of topics. A great insight into the media industry at the time I was growing up. Thoroughly recommend.

[Wayne Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, painful at times, joyful at others. Absolutely brilliant and couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

[Elizabuf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Shining Light

Ali shines a light into the darkness of family secrets and exposes what can rot and fester behind them. Heartbreaking and also beautiful, this book explores one family's journey to come to grips with betrayal and abuse, and forge a new path forward.

[Helen Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intimate and well written memoir. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.

[Sheri Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Well written and easy to read. Loved it!