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Might Cry Later
A hilarious, romantic, messy, neurodivergent story of burnout for readers of Bonnie Garmus, Gabrielle Zevin and Meg Mason, by autistic author Kay Kerr.
Meet Nora Byrne. Over-thinker, under-achiever, champion vibes-killer.
After spectacularly blowing up her life, twenty-one-year-old Nora Byrne retreats to the family home with little to show for herself but a shiny new autism diagnosis. But it's hard to process this news under the critical eye of her mother, who already treats her like the black sheep, and the rest of her less-than-understanding family.
Worst of all, it's the week before Christmas, which means mandatory socialising with the neighbours - including Fran, her childhood best friend, last seen when she broke his heart (again).
Nora's only goal is to get through the interminable family dinners, awkward Fran encounters and excessive holiday festivities without crying, throwing up, or finding new ways to humiliate herself. But with her track record, it's not going to be easy ...
A heartfelt, hilarious and romantic story about burning out, coming home and finding yourself, no matter how messy and imperfect the process.
Praise for Might Cry Later
'Such a smart, funny, gorgeous evocation of the messy path to acceptance of self and others.' - Laura McPhee-Browne
'Finally, the messy, complex neurodivergent heroine I've been waiting for! I love Nora and I think you will, too.' - Clem Bastow
Meet Nora Byrne. Over-thinker, under-achiever, champion vibes-killer.
After spectacularly blowing up her life, twenty-one-year-old Nora Byrne retreats to the family home with little to show for herself but a shiny new autism diagnosis. But it's hard to process this news under the critical eye of her mother, who already treats her like the black sheep, and the rest of her less-than-understanding family.
Worst of all, it's the week before Christmas, which means mandatory socialising with the neighbours - including Fran, her childhood best friend, last seen when she broke his heart (again).
Nora's only goal is to get through the interminable family dinners, awkward Fran encounters and excessive holiday festivities without crying, throwing up, or finding new ways to humiliate herself. But with her track record, it's not going to be easy ...
A heartfelt, hilarious and romantic story about burning out, coming home and finding yourself, no matter how messy and imperfect the process.
Praise for Might Cry Later
'Such a smart, funny, gorgeous evocation of the messy path to acceptance of self and others.' - Laura McPhee-Browne
'Finally, the messy, complex neurodivergent heroine I've been waiting for! I love Nora and I think you will, too.' - Clem Bastow
- GenresFiction
Audible Audio
Published December 16, 2025
13 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Kay Kerr
8 books149 followersKay Kerr is an autistic author and journalist from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
PLEASE DON'T HUG ME is Kay's first book, and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) Book of the Year for Older Readers. It was also a Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) 2021 Notable Book for Older Readers.
Her second novel, SOCIAL QUEUE, is a YA romance with an autistic girl at the heart of it. It was shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, and also a CBCA Notable Book for Older Readers.
Her narrative non-fiction book, LOVE & AUTISM, is out now. It is an exploration and celebration of autistic lives, as well as a return to her journalistic roots.
PLEASE DON'T HUG ME is Kay's first book, and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) Book of the Year for Older Readers. It was also a Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) 2021 Notable Book for Older Readers.
Her second novel, SOCIAL QUEUE, is a YA romance with an autistic girl at the heart of it. It was shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, and also a CBCA Notable Book for Older Readers.
Her narrative non-fiction book, LOVE & AUTISM, is out now. It is an exploration and celebration of autistic lives, as well as a return to her journalistic roots.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 29, 2025
This book felt so fucking authentic, vulnerable, and very easy to love from start to finish.
Might Cry Later is funny, tender, and quietly romantic, but also really sharp in how it highlights the weight of everyday things so many people take for granted or just never notice. Nora's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are written with so much honesty. Her path to acceptance of self and others is messy yet profoundly human.
The family dynamic — especially the avoidance and lack of understanding after Nora's autism diagnosis — made me want to scream, but also showed how much a person is shaped by their environment, for better or worse.
Kay Kerr does a wonderful job portraying how the world can weigh so much more heavily when you experience it differently.
Might Cry Later is funny, tender, and quietly romantic, but also really sharp in how it highlights the weight of everyday things so many people take for granted or just never notice. Nora's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are written with so much honesty. Her path to acceptance of self and others is messy yet profoundly human.
The family dynamic — especially the avoidance and lack of understanding after Nora's autism diagnosis — made me want to scream, but also showed how much a person is shaped by their environment, for better or worse.
Kay Kerr does a wonderful job portraying how the world can weigh so much more heavily when you experience it differently.
December 30, 2025
3.75 stars
ARC review
Nora, a recently diagnosed autistic woman in her twenties, is burnt out. Seeking respite, she moves back into her family home to live with her passive father and critical mother. If that’s not enough, Christmas is around the corner and with it comes her siblings she has isolated herself from as an adult. Nora reflects on the moments in her youth that led her to where she is now while using her new-found knowledge and skills to try to cope with adversity better. Nora has been “the problem” her whole life and she goes on a journey to change her own thinking as well as her that of her loved ones.
I’ve read a lot of books with autism-coded protagonists, but very few where they are explicitly identified as autistic and I loved how the author blended lived experience with clinical descriptions. I really relate to Nora and I feel like I could’ve written so many of her childhood experiences. Nora is a huge character, I feel like I could tell you so many things about her beyond her story in Might Cry Later. Kay Kerr doesn’t try to paint a picture of a perfect person with Nora and with all the conflict in her family, there is no true “villain” at the end of the day. There are strong themes of patience and forgiveness from all sides of the equation.
My favourite thing about this book is Nora’s relationship with her niece and how comfortable she feels around the toddler. I love their connection and how Nora natural feels with someone young enough to not have expectations for how she should act. Their relationship definitely helped bridge the gap between Nora and her sister as well.
There is a minor romantic subplot which is really important to Nora’s arc, but I didn’t care for it very much so my attention wavered a bit in the meat of it. I do appreciate that the love interest wasn’t treated like a remedy to all of her issues though, it’s kind of just the cherry on top!
ARC review
Nora, a recently diagnosed autistic woman in her twenties, is burnt out. Seeking respite, she moves back into her family home to live with her passive father and critical mother. If that’s not enough, Christmas is around the corner and with it comes her siblings she has isolated herself from as an adult. Nora reflects on the moments in her youth that led her to where she is now while using her new-found knowledge and skills to try to cope with adversity better. Nora has been “the problem” her whole life and she goes on a journey to change her own thinking as well as her that of her loved ones.
I’ve read a lot of books with autism-coded protagonists, but very few where they are explicitly identified as autistic and I loved how the author blended lived experience with clinical descriptions. I really relate to Nora and I feel like I could’ve written so many of her childhood experiences. Nora is a huge character, I feel like I could tell you so many things about her beyond her story in Might Cry Later. Kay Kerr doesn’t try to paint a picture of a perfect person with Nora and with all the conflict in her family, there is no true “villain” at the end of the day. There are strong themes of patience and forgiveness from all sides of the equation.
My favourite thing about this book is Nora’s relationship with her niece and how comfortable she feels around the toddler. I love their connection and how Nora natural feels with someone young enough to not have expectations for how she should act. Their relationship definitely helped bridge the gap between Nora and her sister as well.
There is a minor romantic subplot which is really important to Nora’s arc, but I didn’t care for it very much so my attention wavered a bit in the meat of it. I do appreciate that the love interest wasn’t treated like a remedy to all of her issues though, it’s kind of just the cherry on top!
December 31, 2025
I really enjoyed this so it’s more like a 3.5 star. I listened to it and the narrator and recording is what made it fall flat for me. (The narrator was very stop/start, kept fumbling words and restarting sentences)
I could hear authenticity in the author and that it was full of humour that would have been brilliant to read a physical copy.
I could hear authenticity in the author and that it was full of humour that would have been brilliant to read a physical copy.
Read
January 12, 2026This hit a bit too close to home so struggling to rate it. It was well done though.
December 29, 2025
I felt this book deep in my bones. It was beautifully written, with the raw honesty that could have come straight from a personal journal. Many sentences felt like a gut-punch in their accuracy and made me "oof" out loud. Not ashamed to say that I did cry - while reading.
The blurb described it as "hilarious", which didn't fit with how I experienced this book. Perhaps it's funnier to neurotypical people, while ND folk may relate more to Nora's discomfort of just trying to 'be' in a family that won't let her.
Not a book I will forget in a hurry.
The blurb described it as "hilarious", which didn't fit with how I experienced this book. Perhaps it's funnier to neurotypical people, while ND folk may relate more to Nora's discomfort of just trying to 'be' in a family that won't let her.
Not a book I will forget in a hurry.
December 22, 2025
"The default of being at fault" SOB. IF this isn't the perfect encapsulation of neurodivergence, then I don't know what is.
I love this book! I am, admittedly, biased and adore everything written by Kay Kerr. However, 21 year old Norah's struggles hit harder because that was SUCH a hard age for me, too, as a late-diagnosed ND woman. Highly recommend!
I love this book! I am, admittedly, biased and adore everything written by Kay Kerr. However, 21 year old Norah's struggles hit harder because that was SUCH a hard age for me, too, as a late-diagnosed ND woman. Highly recommend!
January 12, 2026
What an interesting, thought-provoking and relatable narrative. Such a great insight to neurodivergence and the perceptions from family and friends, and their assumptions, projections and expectations.
I struggled a little with the pacing, but overall a unique and enjoyable read.
I struggled a little with the pacing, but overall a unique and enjoyable read.
December 29, 2025
Might Cry Later is Kay Kerr’s debut adult novel, and I really enjoyed it.
The story follows Nora Byrne, a twenty-one-year-old self-described over-thinker and under-achiever who returns home after experiencing burnout and receiving an autism diagnosis. As Nora navigates complex family dynamics, reconnects with old friendships, and endures awkward holiday encounters, she tries to work out what she wants from life and what her next steps might be.
Not knowing a great deal about autism, I felt the author took me on a journey that helped me better understand just how challenging it can be to navigate yourself through the complexities of life.
The novel is thoughtful, relatable, and quietly moving in its exploration of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance.
The story follows Nora Byrne, a twenty-one-year-old self-described over-thinker and under-achiever who returns home after experiencing burnout and receiving an autism diagnosis. As Nora navigates complex family dynamics, reconnects with old friendships, and endures awkward holiday encounters, she tries to work out what she wants from life and what her next steps might be.
Not knowing a great deal about autism, I felt the author took me on a journey that helped me better understand just how challenging it can be to navigate yourself through the complexities of life.
The novel is thoughtful, relatable, and quietly moving in its exploration of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews