Life on the Bridge: Linking My World to Yours as an Autistic Therapist

by Kaelynn Partlow

Narrated by the author! Experience Life on the Bridge in the voice of Autistic Advocate, Love on the Spectrum cast member, and therapist Kaelynn Partlow herself. This audiobook features new material that makes it a must-listen, including an introduction from and read by Cian O'Clery, director of Netflix's hit series Love on the Spectrum, as well as a bonus conversation with Kaelynn Partlow and Lisa Lane, co-CEO and co-Founder of Project Hope Foundation, a nonprofit autism service provider. Life on the Bridge is a warm, personal, and practical guide to understanding autism—from behaviors to communication and beyond.

You've heard from autistic authors.

You've heard from therapists.

Now hear from one extraordinary young woman who's both.

Experience autism from the inside out through a rare fusion of professional skill and personal understanding. Reshape what you know about the autism spectrum and increase your ability to give support. Varied perspectives among autistic individuals, their families, and professionals have often been difficult to reconcile. Now, you can bridge that divide with guidance from someone who’s lived in multiple worlds. Find immediate, actionable options to build connections, foster communication, navigate challenges, and enhance interactions.

SPECIFIC

Autism. What it is, what it isn’t, and what are the resulting misunderstandings across the spectrum?

Communication. Exactly how do you avoid misunderstandings, encourage conversation, and build options for better interaction?

Behavior. Learn about the origin and mechanics of meltdowns, stimming, perseveration, sensory distortion, and other common autistic challenges.

Interaction. The struggles are autism-enhanced loneliness, social-skill deficits, goal-setting, and the thorny issues of disability accommodation.

Common Questions. What are DSM-V diagnostic levels and why do they matter? What about therapy and ABA or routes to useful advocacy?

"Loved Kaelynn Partlow's information on ambiguity and communication. She gives lots of practical pointers on how to be more direct and specific when talking to autistic individuals. Vague, open ended questions are not effective communication." — Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of Visual The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions

"As a rising star in the field, Partlow is poised to become this generation’s Temple Grandin." — Erin R. Hahn, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor of Psychology, Furman University Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Memoir, Mental Health, Disability, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Beth Roger aka Katiebella_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book my stepmother (Karen)was reading when she passed away, April 4th, 2025. My father gave it to me the Sunday after her funeral.

my middle child is on the spectrum. how I was raising her was a constant battle between Karen and I, to the point we weren't speaking when we lost her.

This book became a real comfort. Knowing that she was reading it and trying to understand her granddaughter better. knowing that she was reading a book written by a woman my daughter follows. Seeing the marked pages where Karen finally was understanding.

Though I may not have gotten anything new out of the read (we follow the author) being able to know that the arguments were going to be resolved brought me closure to a difficult time in my life.

ps it's beautifully written, and I highly recommend reading if you have a loved one on the spectrum.

[winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is great for both autistic people and people who engage with them. it contains information and many practical tips on how to help autistic people. the author is a low-masking individual, so some of her experiences may be less relatable to those high-masking. regardless, I think this is a valuable book because high-masking autistic people are still autistic.

why I prefer this book over other books about autism by autistic authors:
- the author acknowledges her privileges.
- the tone is nonaggressive.
- differences in ability, eg in language, are considered.
- autism is neither glamorized as a superpower nor pathologized. it is acknowledged that it is a pervasive disorder AND that there are many ways to facilitate the lives of autistic people.
- commonly asked questions are answered, including diagnostic levels, finding a good therapist, ABA therapy, and how to get into autism advocacy.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom recommended this. Now that she, my wife, and the in-laws have all read it, it was time to take the plunge.

Our son was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) when he was 2. He was initially diagnosed as level three but has been re-diagnosed as level two after years of therapy. It was a bitch potty training him and he still needs some instructions on some day to day things but he's almost seven and can play the piano by ear and does math and reading at a high school or above level. We went from wondering if he'd ever speak to wondering if he ever shuts up.

A lot of the information Kaelynn presents from her own life give me some greater insight to how my son's mind works and why he does some of the things he does, why he has big, big feelings about seemingly minor things. It also makes me feel lucky that we've dodged any number of bullets by having a comparatively laid back child who doesn't slam his head into walls or smear feces on the them.

I described my son as being like someone who is from another place, learning English as a second language and not understanding a lot of American customs that most of us instinctively know and Kaelynn backs me up on this.

I don't really know what else to say. Some of the information I gleaned from other sources or just from watching my son. I thought Kaelynn's writing style was engaging and funny and made what could be dry topic very accessible. My wife alleges that we saw the seasons of Love on the Spectrum she was in but I must have been reading or chasing our son at the time.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Kaelynn's Netflix or social media content, are autistic, support an autistic person, or just want to be better informed on autism, I highly recommend this book! It is incredibly digestible- the content is split up into short, informative sections with plenty of analogies and illustrations. Plus, Kaelynn makes an effort to be inclusive of all folks on the spectrum, including those who are nonverbal or have higher support needs.

Personally, my favorite parts of the book were the suggestions for navigating a neurotypical society, such as the social skills hacks and adulting tips. I also learned from Kaelynn's view on ABA, and am excited to hear that she is writing a second book for providers.

Overall, reading from the perspective of someone who both IS autistic and supports autistic folks in her professional life definitely provided some valuable insights on "bridging" gaps!

---
9/16/24:

Suuuuuuper excited to read this one!!

[Abigail Burdett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is impressive, especially considering all the learning difficulties the author went through to get to where she is today! I really love seeing these sorts of books in the media, ones not just written about people with learning and developmental differences, but written by them. This book gave a helpful glance into the life of someone with autism who has pushed past society’s expectations for her life and has accomplished so much.

Where this book felt less than perfect to me was in how she addressed her audience and organized her topics. This book is not a memoir, rather, is supposed to be a sort of manual to help people with autism and people who are caregivers and supporters to those with autism as well. Sometimes, I had a hard time understanding which audience she was speaking to. Sometimes she spoke to “you” as the caregiver and sometimes to “you” as the person on the spectrum. Some of the sections of the book were on how to help manage your child or loved one, some sections were about integrating these skills into your own life as someone on the spectrum. Overall, I think this book is more helpful to those who interact with those who are autistic rather than those who actually are.

All in all, I found this an enjoyable and helpful read, albeit a little cumbersome at times.

[Matt Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven’t watched season one of Love on the Spectrum or Kaelynn Partlow’s videos on social media, that’s fine. This book still ranks among one of the best and most helpful resources I’ve seen so far about autism. It’s probably no coincidence that it happens to be written by someone on the spectrum who works with autistic children and adults. She uses direct language and humor to help bridge the understanding between non autistic people and autistic people as well as autistic level ones who can communicate and twos and threes who have more difficulty advocating for themselves. I will definitely return to this one.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Life On A Bridge is a nonfiction book that covers a number of topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorder, with personal experience included from the author about her own struggles, achievements and tools. I really liked how this story was written. It was easy to follow, broken down into smaller easier to grasp categories, and had a number of great examples and scenarios. I was familiar with several topics covered as well, some I was not and as a parent of a special needs child and always looking for more information especially in regards to communication and understanding behaviors and I think that this book did a great job of really breaking it down and adding tips to use that anyone can use. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for in-depth information.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

[Christine Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve followed Kaelynn Partlow on social media since seeing her on the first season of Love On The Spectrum and have admired her videos and advocacy. As someone who believes they might be on the spectrum themselves, this book was very informative and validating. As a visual learner, I also really enjoyed the featured artwork that went along with some of Kaelynn’s examples that she uses in her therapy practices.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for early access for this upcoming edition of the book!

[Ashley Boudle · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t build tomorrows bridges if you don’t understand today’s barriers.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for teachers, parents, and therapists, and I wish it were required reading for humanity. Kaelynn does an amazing job articulating skills, strategies, and the why of challenges facing people with autism and their loved ones. I especially appreciated how she bridges the place between a therapist who supports patients with autism and being a person with autism who has experienced these challenges herself.

[Clover · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5
Nope

Internet personalities need to stop self-publishing. The cover is so blurry it was impossible to read. If you can't take 2 minutes to search the proper image size, why should I spend 2 minutes reading your work?

Problematic information that reflects the horrible botched self-published cover: supports ABA. You're not an autistic ally if you push ABA and forcing people to act and appear as neutrotypical as possible. Autistic people do not need to be assimilated into the neurological body. There's nuance here that she doesn't address and ploughs right through which is a habit you see often in her online content. She will always lack accountability and that makes autistics of every level look bad. You don't need to always feel shame, but remember, Ambien doesn't make you racist (so your diagnosis isn't why you're racist, rude, and inconsiderate).

Not everything is terrible, but overall, I'm sad my library wasted money on these copies. Supposedly it's been picked up by a big publisher and "expanded" but her core promotion of ABA won't change. She's an okay content creator although there's many issues there too, but it's a shorter medium that she excels at with her community. I wanted to love this as I really liked her content before, but I don't recommend this for fellow autists or neutrotypical folk.

[Josie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh I cried and cried

It's written in plain speech and is extremely understandable. Kaelynn uses a good combination of examples, anecdotes, and facts to get her point across such that it's easy for any human to relate to.

[Kaitlyn Cotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an exceptionally clear and insightful guide to understanding autism. The author’s writing is both accessible and compassionate, weaving together vivid examples and thoughtful metaphors.

What truly sets it apart, though, are the practical, thoughtfully explained strategies woven throughout—each one easy to understand and genuinely useful for everyday situations. It’s a rare blend of clarity, empathy, and actionable guidance, making it an invaluable read for anyone seeking real support and deeper understanding.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very interesting to read and I hope I can apply some of what I learned here to be more inclusive to others.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Kaelynn Partlow for the ARC to review*

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was solid until the ABA defense 😅 like girlypop I know that's your bag and it helped u or something but bruh, bruh. and in that section she specifically said she wouldn't listen to online criticism so I won't even bother but Bruh 🕴️

okay wait other people might read this review so I'll criticize:

-okay first of all, the whole ABA defense section is just way less logically cohesive than the rest of the book like she's just grasping for any justification, (idk she's just really emotionally attached to ABA in particular so wasn't able to be logical about it?)
--for example, she likens ABA specifically to all of medicine or science? like, she argues that just because some scientific/medical theories were wrong/harmful doesn't mean we give up on the whole field, therefore don't give up on ABA? but girlypop that's not analogous? ABA is a specific "therapy", the more sensical comparison would be like giving up on all therapy in general, which no one has argued for
--she makes this whole ado about using "and" instead of "but" because "but" is invalidating ~but~ the meaning of the sentence/message remains the same? just because you don't use "but" doesn't mean you're not trying to downplay the harms of ABA? basically, "ABA was harmful in the past but current practices are improving" vs "ABA was harmful in the past and current practices are improving", corporate wants you to spot the difference
--she argues ABA is good because practitioners are able to work with you outside normal working hours? how is that relevant to anything? that's not an exclusive and intrinsic feature of ABA?

-basically the main argument was, sure ABA *can* be harmful, but that was the past/other distant countries, I/people I know are doing it well
--and ~✿☆In My Opinion☆✿~ while the goals of awareness of body and social norms, greater autonomy, alternative coping strategies etc. are good, the current practice of ABA is abusive, and besides, children or people otherwise should not be forced to participate in any sort of "therapy" (caveat: I believe children deserve more rights than most)

uh so yeah 3 stars just watch her shorts for autism education and ignore the ABA advocacy 😵‍💫

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely write a review of a book. This book is really well written. I am in education and really want to better understand how to work with autistic students to really give them the tools they need.

A lot of times you read a book like this and it's very clinical. Her book explains things from her perspective. She explains different situations, how an autistic person deals with a situation, gives her own experience, then she tells you how to handle the situation. Most books would not do that. Most trainings I do at work don't do that so I am always grasping for what to do in certain situations.

They usually just say, this is how an autistic person is. This is how they think and what they do but never give you scenarios to relate to the situation.

I found her explanation of the 3 levels that autistic people are put into extremely helpful. First, she gives the clinical description. She then focuses on the language of those definitions followed by "here's what it looks like for me." This is incredibly helpful for a neuraltypical person in helping to understand the behaviors I see from some students I work with.

It is a great read. She is funny and a great writer.

[Assortedtrashprincess · Rating 3 out of 5]

She talks about "profound autism" which is not an official diagnosis. She also promotes ABA. I would not recommend this book. She promotes some forms of communication to autistic people that for me seemed ableist and belittling.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

A good resource for neurodivergent people and neurotypical people alike. The information in the book was accessible and easy to digest. I liked the chapter length and the way things were explained. I did find some chapters needing more detail for me to fully understand certain concepts and some had some unnecessary details but overall I really enjoyed the book. And I did learn a lot, both about the concepts in the book and myself and how I communicate.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

[Reading Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about autism. I really loved all of the scenarios written to make communication easier. I think this book would be great for anyone wanting to learn more about autism and especially communication with an autistic person.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful. Practical. Personal. This is one of the best books on autism I've read.

[Jenny Madronich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read. I’d recommend this book to educators, caregivers, and honestly anyone who works with or cares about autistic people. It gave me a really helpful perspective on the experiences and tendencies of autistic individuals.

As a teacher, it helped me better understand some of my autistic learners and see things from their point of view. I found myself thinking about my classroom and certain situations differently, which has helped me be more supportive and build stronger connections with my students.

I could also see this book being really meaningful for autistic readers themselves because it speaks to experiences that are often misunderstood.

[Laila Celestino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard about Kaelyn from "Love on the Spectrum" and currently follow her on Instagram. Reading this book highlights the importance of the life experiences of autistic individuals, their families, and the community. As this is a book written from the perspective of Kaelynn, who is an autistic therapist, it brings in a meaningful perspective, in which she talks about her life and how she helps her own clients. The book was easy to read and understand, providing new insights about the autistic community.

[Hailey Despain · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read for anyone trying to understand asd

This book was really helpful to me as a parent of a child on the spectrum. Kaelynn does such an amazing job of explaining her thought processes and what is going on inside when she has specific behaviors. She helps those of us who love someone who is autistic toward compassion, understanding, as well as practical ways to help them navigate the world around them. Loved it!

[Alana Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who works in this field, I was very excited to read this book and gain more of Kaelynn’s perspective. The analogies throughout this book were amazing and well explained. I thought this was a very helpful tool to learning more about autism and therapy! If anyone is interested, I would definitely recommend checking out Kaelynn’s social media platforms!!

[Vicki Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read for practical resources on autism, written by a wise young woman who is on the spectrum and serves others on the spectrum. She gives lots of practical advice for supporting, communicating with, and understanding our loved ones or friends who are also on the spectrum. The author did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

[Shelby Vongroven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaelynn was my favorite cast member on Love on the Spectrum, so naturally I followed her on socials. Her content about autism is so insightful, and her book expands on similar themes, but goes more in depth. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge on how to be a better advocate and ally for the autistic people you love and care for (and people in general!)

[Angelica Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

both incredible for the autistic self and those who seek an active role in learning about and supporting autistic people! my journey has gone on over 2 years now and this book illuminated so many ways I can support myself and continue to be an advocate for others

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I think this book is a really great tool for someone who is new to neurodivergent spaces. It features snapshots of all sorts of different things you might see from autistic folks.

That being said, for me personally, I didn't find it to be helpful. I have low support needs myself and understand WHY those with higher support needs were featured more, but I hardly saw myself portrayed in this book.

Important literature, and I'm glad its out there. Didn't work well as a personal reference. Did not finish.

[Daniel Folk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This woman needs more publicity

[Kailey H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kaelynn’s use of metaphors to explain things from her perspective as a woman with autism. I appreciated her swimming pool metaphor providing the distinction between autism being classified as a disability versus a difference so that the right accommodations and support are available. She says accommodations and support are like a life jacket or a swim coach.