Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD's Lost Generation

by Carla Ciccone

Why is a generation of women only now discovering they have ADHD? A journalist recounts her own experience living for decades with undiagnosed ADHD and explores the transformative power of finally coming to understand your own brain.

When freelance journalist Carla Ciccone became a mother, she realized she might need to finally see a therapist. Sure, she had struggled to hold down a job and manage her intense emotions for most of her adult life, but she’d always made it work. But “making it work“ wasn’t going to cut it now that she had another human being to raise.

Months into therapy, at age thirty-nine, Carla was officially diagnosed with ADHD, and she learned that she was far from the number of women Carla’s age who were being diagnosed with ADHD had more than doubled in recent years. Forty-one million prescriptions for the psychostimulant Adderall were filled in the United States in 2021, a 10% increase from the year before—and, for the first time, a substantial number of these new prescriptions were being written for women.

In Nowhere Girl, Carla weaves her personal story with a broader investigation into the rise of ADHD diagnoses. She looks back at the classrooms of the 1990s, where ADHD was diagnosed mostly to little boys who were unable to sit still, shifts her gaze to the hormonal upheavals of adolescence and their unique effects on the neurochemistry of girls, and then examines her own chaotic entrance into motherhood and her desire to do right by her own daughter. Throughout, she examines the science and cultural history of ADHD, and considers how the hundreds of thousands of women now being diagnosed with ADHD can revisit their own personal histories and navigate their way towards a steadier, happier adulthood.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Adhd, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Nowhere Girl, by Carla Ciccone, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a book about ADHD, how even adults can be diagnosed with it, men and women, kids of all ages, have been diagnosed with this disease. This is an interesting book, with one women's account of having ADHD.

[Gabby Halle · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH 🥹😭❤️‍🩹💔 first of all, I’m proud of myself for finishing my first audiobook thank u

This book made me SAD??? But also, I felt so seen. While not all of the content was super relatable to me (motherhood esp) the statistics and medical research was so incredibly comforting

I felt sad when I realized how relatable a lot of this content was to my own feelings, because I truly am so hard on myself for things often outside of my control

I feel like I am in a season of life filled with a lot of personal struggles with my brain. Which I am having a hard time navigating- but this book made me want to keep trying 💛🤍💘🧡

“Medication provided reasons for why they were struggling, but didn’t offer a way out”

*trigger warnings for sexual abuse, trauma, family issues, mental health

[Emma (of South Woobeewoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I’m on a memoir kick this year, and this was another good one. I don’t have ADHD, but both my boyfriend and my lifelong best friend do, so this is a subject I’m always looking for more insight on, especially from the female perspective. Growing up, my friend faced many childhood and academic struggles similar to Ciccone’s and relatively unique to women before finally receiving her diagnosis just before starting her grad program--this despite showing clear signs from the time she learned to walk and talk. Many conversations have been had about how much easier undergrad would've been for her if the doctors had listened, and how fortunate she is not to have to earn her PhD in that same mental space; and the book really does speak to this kind of experience.

There is a good amount of information in here for those who are not already familiar with ADHD, particularly ADHD in women. For some people, I think the information will be a bit basic. Still, I personally felt it was a fair balance of information considering this is Ciccone’s memoir about her experience and the experiences of those she spoke to personally, not a purely informational book, though Ciccone does cite her sources carefully when discussing the data.

I really enjoyed Ciccone’s writing, sense of humor, and honesty. Parts of this book are devastating, parts are uplifting, and it’s all very well-narrated with a clear voice. The main issue I had was that often, the transition between personal accounts and deeper dives into information/statistics is a bit jarring. There were plenty of times where the narrative would take a detour for the science and then pop back into a story about Ciccone’s life that I had already lost track of due to the tangent. None of these interjections felt unnecessary; they just felt like they could’ve been structured better. Overall, though, this was a good one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review!

[Sara ➽ Ink Is My Sword]

love this cover! i have a feeling this book is gonna hit home.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Jessica Tengco · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Nowhere Girl’ is a memoir based on the life of Carla Ciccone who blends in her own lived experience with evidenced-based literature on ADHD.

A ‘nowhere girl’ is a woman who grew up undiagnosed, untreated, and ignored for most of her life. In order to make sense of her world, Ciccone has taken a look back at her life and offers a more compassionate perspective to her story. This approach makes room for multiple points of connection rather than maintaining the aimless wandering typical of nowhere girls.

This book highlights gender bias and overlooked aspects when diagnosing mental health conditions. It’s easily relatable and well researched. It imbues a kindness to self sentiment.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the e-arc.

[Amanda Dubé · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I absolutely love a good tell-all style memoir especially from a Canadian girly! Her storytelling had a perfect balance between humor and honesty.

I found myself relating to so many of her struggles, especially navigating life while unknowingly living with ADHD. The book is packed with research and facts that connects ADHD not just to medical issues, but also to the pressures of societal “norms.”

This book shines a long overdue spotlight on ADHD in women. I kept getting emotional over the fact that there are actually others out there who feel just like me. Each day I’m learning how to better accept my own brain instead of hiding from it. What a read. 🥲 ❤️‍🩹

“Nowhere girls are not only the girls science forgot. We are the girls who’ve been bending ourselves into uncomfortable shapes for our entire lives, ashamed that we’re unable to perform life with the ease that other people seem to.”

If I had one critique, it would be that the book could have used clearer trigger warnings, many heavy topics are covered in this one!!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is the MOST relatable non fiction I have read. I do not have a lot of the same symptoms as the author as a child, but all of the other things were just so so spot on. It did get a bit technical and references at times, but I was never bored and I learned SO MUCH. Highly recommend the audiobook!

[Holly Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most furiously validating book I’ve read on what it means to have a late in life ADHD diagnosis as a woman. An exhale. I want to cry for a year. Etc.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.25 stars)

Thank you to The Dial Press for the complimentary eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This non-fiction read is mostly set up as a memoir in which author Carla Ciccone looks back on her life through the lens of her later-in-life ADHD diagnosis. Ciccone also uses her journalist background to supplement her own story with studies, statistics, and observations about ADHD in women and other understudied populations. She ties together her childhood and several of the traumas she experienced, her adolescence and young adulthood, and her more recent life as a new mother - the phase in which she was finally diagnosed.

I recommend this book to readers who have ADHD or think they might, along with those who may be wondering why it feels like so many women in their 30s suddenly seem to have ADHD. Beyond this particular disorder, Ciccone also touches on other forms of neurodivergence, misogyny, unconscious bias, the patriarchy, and how our societal systems are not set up for women and families with children.

Audio note: Since I read this after its pub date, I mostly listened to the audiobook with my Spotify hours. Ciccone narrates herself and I felt like I got to know her even better than if I'd only read with my eyes.

I appreciated this book in a deeply personal, cathartic way. I don't talk about it very much (especially on the internet) but I too am a "Nowhere Girl" as Ciccone calls us. While my experience differs from hers in many ways, I do fall into the category of receiving an ADHD diagnosis in my mid-30s, when motherhood and life in general had caught up to me enough that I saw some of my struggles in a new light. To be honest, I still have imposter syndrome about "really" having it, even though I know I do. I'm also still working through what it means to me, how best to treat it, how to moderate the judgmental voice inside my head, and how to integrate the diagnosis into my personal identity. No biggie right?

Thank you so much to the author for being so open with her story and bringing this book to fruition! It was a good reminder that I'm not alone, and that I can be more self-compassionate and continue some of the work I have started. Very grateful to to have read this book!

One last note: Please check content warnings if you have topics you need to avoid to care for yourself.

[Shannon (The Book Club Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In NOWHERE GIRL, author Carla Ciccone recounts her experience of living for decades with undiagnosed ADHD. I wanted to read this memoir on behalf of my daughter. She was diagnosed with ADHD in the second grade and is now a teenager in high school. I was hoping that it would give me a better understanding of how things might be during her teen years and into adulthood, and Ciccone provided exactly that.

When Ciccone discusses her early years in school, I was nodding my head constantly and remembering similar instances that my daughter experienced. So many of my daughter’s behaviors and struggles mirrored the author’s own. Ciccone blends scientific studies and cultural history along with her own life experiences to shed light on how ADHD symptoms appear differently in girls. So many early studies focus on typical symptoms shown in boys—hyperactivity and impulse control—which is generally not the case for girls. Females tend to be inattentive and mask a lot of their symptoms which leads to a misdiagnosis or no diagnosis at all. I thank my lucky stars every single day for my daughter’s second grade teacher who suggested that my daughter get tested.

Even though Ciccone received her diagnosis later in life, the signs were all there in her early years—the events and behaviors shared in this memoir make that perfectly clear. In her entrance into motherhood, she took the steps to do right by her own daughter in order to be the parent that she needs and deserves.

If you believe that you yourself, your daughter, or another female in your life may have ADHD, I highly recommend this memoir. I guarantee that it’ll be eye-opening and informative. 4/5 stars for NOWHERE GIRL! It’s available now!

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an afab person with ADHD, I thought I'd be in the target audience for this book, but it didn't feel like it while reading. I found it excruciatingly dull. Ciccone doesn't seem to have the knack of making her story engaging; nothing in the memoir sections feels at all remarkable. Interspersed with these is a lot of info-dumping about the condition that didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, so it just added to the boredom. Two stars because maybe it might be useful to a different audience - women wondering if they may have ADHD, perhaps, rather than those who already know.

[Morgan Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was GREAT. Definitely did a fantastic job at the deep dive of having ADHD as a woman, it made me feel heard and so validated.

Anyone with ADHD, people dating someone with ADHD, or anyone wanting to learn more about what life is like with ADHD should read this. It’s not always the go go to and bouncing off the walls that society portrays as ADHD and gives a great insight on what life is as a neurodivergent person.

Anyways - big fan.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I don’t recommend the audiobook, but reading the physical book was far more enjoyable.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book merges memoir and science, weaving the author’s personal journey with broader research on ADHD, especially how gender bias has long masked symptoms in girls. This blend keeps the narrative engaging and accessible, avoiding purely clinical language.

The book traces the author’s life from childhood through growing up, becoming a mother, trying various medications, and learning to love herself. The author specifically talks about their therapy experience going back and forgiving or helping their younger selves heal. This is very much how this book read, as an exploration and processing of how ADHD was present and could have been addressed throughout the author’s life if diagnosed properly earlier.

This book is highly relatable and deeply moving, including likely familiar experiences for most as this spans from childhood to age 40. This is also recent, so impacts like COVID isolation are also included in the discussion. The way this memoir blends memoir with science makes these complex topics emotionally approachable.

Overall, I applaud the author’s ability to share their experience and struggles so transparently and the research they brought into their memoir. I think this is an educational and relatable read, especially for the “nowhere girls” who grew up unseen. If you appreciate heartfelt memoirs that illuminate overlooked aspects of mental health, this is a great read to offer both intellectual insight and emotional resonance.

[Alexandra Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐ rounded up to 3

I was super excited for this one and initially while reading I kept that same excitement, but the more I read it the less I cared to keep going. While I did relate to some of the things she spoke about, I think it was overall a bit too unrelatable for me, but that isn't why the low atr staying as that's a me problem not a memoir problem. I'm sure some people will relate to this one super well and love it though!

I think I just thought it felt a bit klunky the more I kept reading. I also felt like I kept waiting for more that just never came. Felt a bit too short for my liking and I felt underwhelmes by it.

I think this could be very helpful for people in similar situationa as Carla or people that don't a lot about ADHD.

As always, thank you so much to NetGalley and The Dial Press for an ARC of this memoir!

[Arlette Sheyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ✨

I teared up a bit reading this because I felt so seen.

The author does a beautiful job of sharing her personal experiences while seamlessly weaving academic research to paint a full picture of her life as a woman with ADHD. I could relate to a lot of what she wrote, and paired with the evidence-based literature, this made me feel so validated, especially as someone who was diagnosed as an adult. There’s a healing element in finally being able to place an explanation for why things felt harder than they should be.

I found comfort in the way she addressed the gender bias in the research and how dismissive it is towards girls and the struggles that we face. As a woman of color from a low-income household, I also appreciated that she brought about the racial and socioeconomic class differences that create disparity in diagnoses and appropriate next steps.

One thing I wish the author had provided more insight into is the “Nowhere Girls” she surveyed. It would have helped to read even snippets from the women included in her research.

While this book is for the “lost generation,” it reads like a story of girlhood. As women, we are often told that we’re overreacting and treated as though our problems are not worth taking seriously. This memoir serves as a reminder that our experiences are valid and deserve to be discussed.

Overall, this was such an informative and engaging text. I would recommend this to anyone with ADHD or who is looking to learn more about how it may affect a person in their day-to-day life.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a MOST anticipated book for me and it did NOT disappoint!! Part motherhood/parenting memoir, part cultural history of ADHD treatment and part reflection on sexual assault and trauma (both as a child and an adult).

Canadian journalist Carla Ciccone is wholly vulnerable as she shares some incredibly personal stories growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, dyscalculia and asthma and she does a great job laying out how neurodiversity has historically been shown to be connected to many other conditions (including asthma).

She also touches on her sobriety journey, struggles with mental health following the birth of her daughter, being gaslight and neglected by the medical profession when she sought help and feeling alone and depressed post-partum.

While not named, she shares about her involvement with Jian Ghomeshi, as one of the early whistleblowers and how she was condemned and worse and it wasn't until others stepped forward years later that people finally believed her. I really appreciated the Canadian lens she writes through and how so much of her story resonated with me. Great on audio and for a shorter book the author unpacks quite a LOT!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Libby Ward who has her own ADHD motherhood, mental health memoir coming out in 2026: Honest Motherhood.

[Carrie]

I'm interested in the uptick in women who are diagnosed later in life with things like ADHD and ASD. This book made me think about the ways that the patriarchy forces women with legitimate diagnoses to mask their symptoms (something women are clearly MUCH better at than men) and not get actual proper treatment to help quality of life. Just another way that men attempt to control and assert power over women - getting their own treatment to curb symptoms of the very same thing they force women to deal with alone.

Not going to give this a rating because it's a memoir.

[JuliaR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and it was such a great experiencia. The author narrates it and it left me impressed with her strength in sharing some heavy personal topics. It was also great to hear the emotion in her voice.

The subject lives close to my heart, as a late and recently diagnosed myself. It’s always great to gather more insights on the journey of living and trying to adapt oneself with knowing about the diagnosis.

Ciccione mixed a great amount of research with her own personal life and insights. The structure of the book made it easy to understand, and I appreciated her bringing how ADHD has impacted her parenting experience.

I highly recommend it!

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*audio edition*

A really interesting memoir/history of ADHD in women, or lack thereof as we learn. Really loved that this was a Canadian author as well!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never felt more seen by a book. If you are a late diagnosed ADHD woman, you NEED to read this ASAP. I will be buying my own copy.

[Jordo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect blend of memoir and science. All Nowhere Girls should consider this a must-read!

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the content of this book and the fact that it was part memoir, part research.

As a new mom, the motherhood parts of this really hit close to home and I related heavily to how hard it is to juggle everything.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

[Ricci~🎈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an honour to record this audiobook, and through laughter and through tears, hear Carla bravely share her story with the world 💞

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I want to thank Carla for putting herself on these pages and sharing her diagnosis journey with us.

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 17, so not into adulthood like Carla and those that she interviewed for this book. However, I struggled the entire time in elementary and high school, despite teachers knowing and telling my parents I had ADHD (unbeknownst to me). The ADHD diagnosis helped me get support I always needed and helped me succeed in post-secondary & life in general afterwards.

Carla filled this book with honest stories of her life and the way she struggled from childhood to adulthood with what she didn’t know what ADHD at the time. She spoke to different people who got diagnosed at different stages of adulthood and includes incredible facts from different books and studies done on ADHD. I don’t know really anyone in my life with ADHD and hearing her stories, genuinely made me tear up at times. It feels so surreal to hear someone with the exact same experiences and makes you feel less alone as a person.

This book is great for anyone who struggles with ADHD, hasn’t been diagnosed yet or just wants an in depth view on how it affects individuals.

Thank you Carla.

[Rachel Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Carla Ciccone and Random House Publishing for a NetGalley ARC Copy of Nowhere Girls

Rating 4/5 ⭐

As someone that is not diagnosed, but highly suspects myself of having ADHD, this was such a helpful insight into life with and behaviors associated with this disorder. I appreciate the author's humor and honesty as she shares her life stories, even the uncomfortable ones. I did find myself struggling a bit with the transition from life story to research/statistics as there was no clear break in the text. Overall I found this memoir extremely informative and feel as I’ve gained a better understanding of what life post diagnosis can look like. 💕

[Misty Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

here is a non-conclusive list of every experience i found relatable about this book, as an adult woman also struggling with ADHD:

- having asthma (wdym there's a link to adhd???)
- dealing with bullying
- issues in relationship w/ parents
- struggles of the immigrant family (x mental health especially)
- feeling bad because other people feel bad
- self sacrifice to please others, even when you don't benefit or are disproportionately harmed
- MATH
- friends (??? how are ya'll managing this ?? as ADULTS too???)
- "everyone else knows how to be a person"
- RSD
- being a highly sensitive person
- substance abuse/self-medicating
- crashing out the first time you're on your own
- navigating abusive relationships
- poor memory leading you to be easily manipulated in relationships
- EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION
- super niche (and brief) interests
- hyperfocus (and having no ability to control what it's focused on)
- feeling like you're being chased by a lion but you're sitting trying to will yourself to get up and do literally anything (EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION YOU MF)
- higher pain prevalence and perception to said pain
- emdr and ifs
- adhd tax
- struggling to keep in touch with friends as an adult
- struggling to express how deeply you do in fact care about people (your ability to text back not being indicative of how much you care)
- having to learn how to stop looking outside of yourself for reassurances

there are also many other juicy topics (motherhood and parenting x adhd is a big one, for all of you who were diagnosed after having kids and thinking, hey wait a sec, after your kid gets diagnosed first), this is just a list of things that had me going hey, that's my life too.

now i can only really rate a memoir on what it is, and not what it isn't, or what it lacks. after all, it is someone's life story first and foremost, despite the inclusion of some pretty extensive research in this one (much appreciated). the book touches briefly on facts pertaining to bipoc and trans experiences with ADHD, but doesn't deep dive into further discussions of sexuality x adhd or race x adhd. this lack leaves something to be desired, especially in regards to more information about the intersection of racism x adhd, but seeing as this is in fact the memoir of a white woman, i am quite happy to see any breadcrumb of information being included at all, and even more so appreciate the author not speaking as if her experience is universal. She uses the label "nowhere girls" to describe women with adhd navigating a system that wasn't made for us, and this label seems to leave room for other intersectional, lived experiences, (in which i do sincerely hope there are women out there working on bipoc adhd memoirs, and more research being done on how women - from various backgrounds - experience adhd).

this book is simultaneously a v welcome step in the right direction for women with adhd, while also feeling like something long overdue. it truly should be the bare minimum regarding information on adhd in women (how is this all we've been given ??? in the year 2025 ??? we deserve this and so much more).

p.s. i find it v interesting while reading other reviews that generally women with adhd tend to be the 'YES, THIS IS MY LIFE. 5 STARS' reviews, and those reading as spectators to adhd are like 'enjoyed it thx, 3.5 stars :)'. idk, i think there's something to be said by the reviews alone about how silently women with adhd suffer, and how our struggles are largely unseen or under-understood.

[Maya Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We're here, we're weird, and we're healing."

This is a worthwhile read for anyone who considers themselves a late diagnosed/identified female/AFAB ADHDer. The saving grace of this book is that Ciccone incorporates a great deal of outside research and perspectives into this and I did genuinely learn new things. Some of her story was deeply resonant and relatable to me and I do think that she is a fantastic writer.

ADHD varies so greatly in symptoms and impact, so I think it it wise to go into this knowing that the author has predominantly inattentive ADHD and a lot of this book revolves around her experiences self medicating with drugs, alcohol, and toxic relationships. If that isn't your experience as the reader (it certainly isn't for me, I have combined type ADHD and my more noticeable symptoms are hyperactive/impulsive and I've never struggled with drugs and alcohol), at times it can feel like the author is drawing conclusions that are counter to my lived experience. This is a memoir, it's not the author's job to necessarily capture the great breadth of what it can be like to have ADHD, but since she does incorporate a decent amount of outside research, there were times that I felt like there were perspectives or considerations that went unexplored. The best example of this was the conversation about stimulant medications, which did not work for the author, but can be absolutely life changing for others. The conversation in this book around medication was centered on the ability to be productive and the implications of that in a capitalist society. While I don't disagree that the way that ADHD is talked about tends to be in relation to measures of productivity or the impact of a person's symptoms on the people around them (this is literally the entire diagnostic criteria-- how annoying are the present symptoms to other people), I thought that the positive impacts that medication can have on emotional regulation, hypervigilance, and energy regulation to increase overall mental wellbeing was missing.

[Ifrah Yousuf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was diagnosed with ADHD about 9 months ago when I was short of turning 27 in few months. No one in my family had ever been diagnosed with it. Mostly because no one talked about or took mental health issues seriously. Everything had always been swept under the rug or was just marked as one of a personality quirk. I didn't even know ADHD was a thing.❓

I only found out that ADHD even existed because of my best friend who got diagnosed during COVID lockdown. Through our various conversations I started noticing about my life and wondered maybe I have it too. My best friend wore me down after 3 years to get assessment and lo and behold, the suspicions were correct! 📖

Since the diagnosis, my entire outlook on my life and habits have shifted. Knowing that I wasn't being "lazy," or "too emotional," or "impulsive." If my brain is wired differently, how can I punish myself for it? 🧠

I have been reading as much as I can to learn more about ADHD so I can understand myself better and finding ARC of this book on NetGalley was Godsend! 📚

The personal narrative braided with research enhanced the understanding of the ADHD. I was no longer just reading someone's research on unknown participants but a real life account sharing in detail instances when ADHD symptoms were apparent but neglected. Each of those incidents backed by the research helped cement the real issues women and especially women of color go through. I have learned so much through this book about ADHD, women of color, intergenerational trauma, and most importantly how to go easy on myself. 🧘🏻‍♀️

Thank you @cciccone for this book and writing about living with undiagnosed ADHD. It definitely sums it all up perfectly! Going to be sharing with at least the 8 women around me who got diagnosed with ADHD in their late twenties and thirties. ✨

[Laura Gumz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

What I enjoyed most about this book was the research the author put in regarding women with ADHD. As a woman with ADHD, who was not diagnosed until age 25, and who has spent significant time researching, I still learned a lot of new things from this book. And of course I could relate with a lot of what the author was describing.

Mixing personal memoir with ADHD research is a great idea because it gives a story to the facts and brings the real feelings behind these struggles to life.

However, mixing the two requires a delicate balance that I’m not sure this book fully delivered on. Some of the personal stories that were chosen felt a bit ~off~ because when they were paired with the research it came across as saying “because ADHD effects women in this way, this thing happened in my life and could happen to other women as well”. And while some of the stories being used in this way fit perfectly, others felt like we were ignoring the many other factors that contributed to that event taking place. And I think sometimes some of the stories even came across like a scare tactic.

And while this book is not a self help book, sometimes the advice that was given (ie live a healthier lifestyle and be careful of taking ADHD meds) only prompted the shame/inadequacy that the author beautifully describes throughout the book in this ADHD reader.

Overall I am glad I read it. I could relate to it and I learned a lot but I just wish I didn’t step away with this lingering feeling of “i’m not doing enough” and I wish there was a bit more mindfulness put in to selecting which stories to include (or at least in how those stories were described).