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Good Morning, Dinah
He's all about change. She's not.
Senior year—not the biggest deal in the world, right? Except that it is, because everything is changing. Most seniors worry about their dates for school dances, soaking up final memories with friends, and planning life after graduation. Seventeen-year-old Dinah Finaylson has other worries, like students brushing against her and her autism service dog, Higgins; like winning board game matches in the disability classroom; and like opening up to a new student, Maverick Wright.
Maverick asks too many strange questions and Dinah is scared of everything that could go wrong by letting this mysterious guy become part of her routine. That is, until he becomes her first best friend. But the moment Dinah makes Maverick part of her schedule, he disappears, changing everything in Dinah's life and sending her into a downward spiral. Was the risk of letting change enter her life worth it? Now that senior year is ruined forever, Dinah can't possibly imagine braving the halls of high school for one more day, let alone finishing senior year-or can she?
Senior year—not the biggest deal in the world, right? Except that it is, because everything is changing. Most seniors worry about their dates for school dances, soaking up final memories with friends, and planning life after graduation. Seventeen-year-old Dinah Finaylson has other worries, like students brushing against her and her autism service dog, Higgins; like winning board game matches in the disability classroom; and like opening up to a new student, Maverick Wright.
Maverick asks too many strange questions and Dinah is scared of everything that could go wrong by letting this mysterious guy become part of her routine. That is, until he becomes her first best friend. But the moment Dinah makes Maverick part of her schedule, he disappears, changing everything in Dinah's life and sending her into a downward spiral. Was the risk of letting change enter her life worth it? Now that senior year is ruined forever, Dinah can't possibly imagine braving the halls of high school for one more day, let alone finishing senior year-or can she?
314 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2022
4 people are currently reading
2556 people want to read
About the author
Emily Holyoak
1 book52 followersEmily is a neurodivergent author, mom, gamer, and avid reader. Originally hailing from Logan, Utah, she’s since followed her husband around the country for the U.S. Air Force, finally settling in Northern California. She has a MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional and Creative Writing from Central Washington University. Her ultimate goal is to become a library-haunting ghost so she can finally read every book in her to-be-read pile.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 26, 2022
“Make no mistake, I’m just as human as you.”
TW for pet injury, sensory overloads/meltdowns, mentions of physical, drug & alcohol abuse
“Good Morning, Dinah” follows Dinah, an autistic teenager with an adorable service dog and a big fear of change.
Unfortunately for her, change is imminent and it’s coming fast. Graduation, her birthday, her aide of seven years leaving, and a new boy at school that has an interest in her.
It’s all too much, too fast and Dinah isn’t sure if she can handle it.
“Good Morning, Dinah” is a quick, well written and unique read that peeks into the very real and overwhelming disability known as autism. I found it very informative and I really enjoyed the perspective of it. Absolutely wonderful representation. Not to mention, all the characters are great and the little romance that blossoms between Maverick and Dinah is adorable (but not as adorable as our star service dog, Higgins)!
Overall I really enjoyed this and I definitely recommend it! Thank you very much to the author for allowing me the opportunity to get an ARC. 💕
TW for pet injury, sensory overloads/meltdowns, mentions of physical, drug & alcohol abuse
“Good Morning, Dinah” follows Dinah, an autistic teenager with an adorable service dog and a big fear of change.
Unfortunately for her, change is imminent and it’s coming fast. Graduation, her birthday, her aide of seven years leaving, and a new boy at school that has an interest in her.
It’s all too much, too fast and Dinah isn’t sure if she can handle it.
“Good Morning, Dinah” is a quick, well written and unique read that peeks into the very real and overwhelming disability known as autism. I found it very informative and I really enjoyed the perspective of it. Absolutely wonderful representation. Not to mention, all the characters are great and the little romance that blossoms between Maverick and Dinah is adorable (but not as adorable as our star service dog, Higgins)!
Overall I really enjoyed this and I definitely recommend it! Thank you very much to the author for allowing me the opportunity to get an ARC. 💕
December 31, 2022
Dinah's life exists of routines; she needs them to feel comfortable in her skin. Dinah has multiple diagnoses including autism and OCD and shows her daily life as a senior student with a service dog.
I know this book is sold as a YA romance - I would classify it as a YA contemporary that has a romance (think The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School or Not My Problem) since the romance takes a backseat to the coming-of-age narrative
The writing is easy and straightforward, Dinah is a charming character and the story has a nice flow throughout. I enjoyed following her through her ups and downs as she falls in love for the first time. It hits all the expected moments: butterfly stomachs, excitement that feels dizzying, soft touches and first kisses.
At times, the narration gets a little heavy-handed with explaining Dinah's symptoms. It's awkward since the book is written in 1st person POV but those sentences are clearly aimed at a neurotypical audience. They aren't even necessary in my opinion since the writing does a good job of describing her emotional state otherwise. The writing also made her appear younger at times than 17.
I was personally not a fan of the little snippets we got from Dinah's fantasy worlds. Aside from showing her creative side, they added nothing to the overall story, especially for how numerous they are. I understand they were her safe space and worked as an analogy for dealing with her emotions but all of that information is already in the text, so it felt more like an unnecessary repetition.
As expected, the novel does a fabulous job showing how Dinah lives her life with multiple disabilities. (In my opinion; I don't share any of her disabilities).
. she's been getting help for about six years and has a plethora of coping mechanisms, from her aide to her stim toys to her emotional support dog
. the book clearly shows how her life differs from neurotypicals without making her a villain or a victim; her family exists with and around her, she is a lover of fantasy books and none of that is separate from her disability
. she is also taking on an active role in understanding her mind and her diagnoses to advocate for herself and recognize her needs. I really liked the focus on activism in general and how Dinah is starting to take her first steps toward adulthood.
. while the book does not shy away from showing meltdowns and the effort it takes from Dinah and her family, it's an overall uplifting story and limits the amount of ableism Dinah encounters. It has a great balance that works really well for a YA title.
I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I know this book is sold as a YA romance - I would classify it as a YA contemporary that has a romance (think The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School or Not My Problem) since the romance takes a backseat to the coming-of-age narrative
The writing is easy and straightforward, Dinah is a charming character and the story has a nice flow throughout. I enjoyed following her through her ups and downs as she falls in love for the first time. It hits all the expected moments: butterfly stomachs, excitement that feels dizzying, soft touches and first kisses.
At times, the narration gets a little heavy-handed with explaining Dinah's symptoms. It's awkward since the book is written in 1st person POV but those sentences are clearly aimed at a neurotypical audience. They aren't even necessary in my opinion since the writing does a good job of describing her emotional state otherwise. The writing also made her appear younger at times than 17.
I was personally not a fan of the little snippets we got from Dinah's fantasy worlds. Aside from showing her creative side, they added nothing to the overall story, especially for how numerous they are. I understand they were her safe space and worked as an analogy for dealing with her emotions but all of that information is already in the text, so it felt more like an unnecessary repetition.
As expected, the novel does a fabulous job showing how Dinah lives her life with multiple disabilities. (In my opinion; I don't share any of her disabilities).
. she's been getting help for about six years and has a plethora of coping mechanisms, from her aide to her stim toys to her emotional support dog
. the book clearly shows how her life differs from neurotypicals without making her a villain or a victim; her family exists with and around her, she is a lover of fantasy books and none of that is separate from her disability
. she is also taking on an active role in understanding her mind and her diagnoses to advocate for herself and recognize her needs. I really liked the focus on activism in general and how Dinah is starting to take her first steps toward adulthood.
. while the book does not shy away from showing meltdowns and the effort it takes from Dinah and her family, it's an overall uplifting story and limits the amount of ableism Dinah encounters. It has a great balance that works really well for a YA title.
I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2024
I can’t believe I found a book that represents me so much. I’ve read many books with autism representation but never read a book with a service dog. My service dog is my best friend, my safety net. She is more than words can describe. Thank you Emily Holyoak for Writing a book with perfect representation!!
February 24, 2023
I received a temporary digital ARC copy of “Good Morning, Dinah” from the author, Emily Holyoak, in exchange for an honest review before the publication date. My review is my thoughts, my opinions, and my point of view and was not influenced in any way by anyone or anything other than myself.
“When people speak, they always seem to say sentences that mean two or sometimes three things other than their original meaning. Like if their point were a layered dip, I would only scoop the shredded cheese onto my chip while everyone else scoops to the bottom.”
Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story.
TW/CW: Injury of a pet; Depictions of Autistic meltdowns; Parental abuse; Brief mentions of underage drug/alcohol abuse
Dinah is an Autistic teen who despises change, until she meets Maverick, a new boy at school who has an Autistic brother. Dinah is thrust into a new world of good change (is that a thing?) and uncharted feelings. Will she overcome her biggest hurdle as an Autistic person, or is all this change just too much?
Oh my goodness where do I start? I guess I should start by saying I am an autistic person, and it should be WELL known that no autistic person has the same experience, the same stims, the same reactions to overstimulation. I cried on page two because of how seen I felt through Dinah. I think Holyoak, who is neurodivergent herself, did the most beautiful job of depicting the ugly side of Autism that other authors simply won’t. My Autism is not a superpower, it is a disability. I am not “otherabled” I am in fact disabled.
The author did not villainize, victimize, or romanticize Dinah. She simply wrote Dinah as autistic. Yes, this is a romance, but it is so much more than that. The focus is not the romance but the struggle of change and the hurdles Dinah faces trying to overcome her triggers. Not every page is this beautiful story of an Autistic teen finding love. There are pages full of detailed uncomfortableness, overstimulation, meltdowns, and even menstruation.
The writing of the story itself is very fluid and beautiful, however the writing of Dinah’s disorders is stunningly accurate.
In summary, this book is not only a beautiful story, but a wonderful example of accurate representation of a neurodivergent person. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone regardless of your preferred genre. I look forward to reading Holyoak’s future work!
“When people speak, they always seem to say sentences that mean two or sometimes three things other than their original meaning. Like if their point were a layered dip, I would only scoop the shredded cheese onto my chip while everyone else scoops to the bottom.”
Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story.
TW/CW: Injury of a pet; Depictions of Autistic meltdowns; Parental abuse; Brief mentions of underage drug/alcohol abuse
Dinah is an Autistic teen who despises change, until she meets Maverick, a new boy at school who has an Autistic brother. Dinah is thrust into a new world of good change (is that a thing?) and uncharted feelings. Will she overcome her biggest hurdle as an Autistic person, or is all this change just too much?
Oh my goodness where do I start? I guess I should start by saying I am an autistic person, and it should be WELL known that no autistic person has the same experience, the same stims, the same reactions to overstimulation. I cried on page two because of how seen I felt through Dinah. I think Holyoak, who is neurodivergent herself, did the most beautiful job of depicting the ugly side of Autism that other authors simply won’t. My Autism is not a superpower, it is a disability. I am not “otherabled” I am in fact disabled.
The author did not villainize, victimize, or romanticize Dinah. She simply wrote Dinah as autistic. Yes, this is a romance, but it is so much more than that. The focus is not the romance but the struggle of change and the hurdles Dinah faces trying to overcome her triggers. Not every page is this beautiful story of an Autistic teen finding love. There are pages full of detailed uncomfortableness, overstimulation, meltdowns, and even menstruation.
The writing of the story itself is very fluid and beautiful, however the writing of Dinah’s disorders is stunningly accurate.
In summary, this book is not only a beautiful story, but a wonderful example of accurate representation of a neurodivergent person. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone regardless of your preferred genre. I look forward to reading Holyoak’s future work!
December 10, 2022
I had the wonderful opportunity to read an ARC of this book and feel so honored. This book was eye-opening without being overwhelming. The protagonist’s different diagnoses are well-explained, and the imagery used to show what it’s like living with them are fantastically done. I felt so exhausted living life through this character, but in the best way possible. Now, for the love story. So sweet and perfect. The characters in this book, including the service dog, are all enjoyable and perfectly human - well, except the service dog who’s perfect in all
his glory.
his glory.
November 29, 2025
Hmmmm... Must sort through my thoughts on this one. RTC.
However, something I CAN say for certain: SERVICE DOGS AND THERAPY DOGS ARE NOT THE SAME THING. This book seemed to swap them out interchangeably and it drove me bonkers. I'm not sure if they were trying to show how having a service dog can be therapeutic, but there were scenes in which the dog's vest is described as saying "autism service dog, do not separate from handler" and then two paragraphs later referring to the dog as an "autism therapy dog". Again, to be very clear... service dogs and therapy dogs are *not* the same thing, so I'm confused.
However, something I CAN say for certain: SERVICE DOGS AND THERAPY DOGS ARE NOT THE SAME THING. This book seemed to swap them out interchangeably and it drove me bonkers. I'm not sure if they were trying to show how having a service dog can be therapeutic, but there were scenes in which the dog's vest is described as saying "autism service dog, do not separate from handler" and then two paragraphs later referring to the dog as an "autism therapy dog". Again, to be very clear... service dogs and therapy dogs are *not* the same thing, so I'm confused.
January 24, 2024
such a sweet story, i really enjoyed it. a narrator who brought us into her very real world and made it easy to empathize with and support her story. i enjoyed myself whilst reading. sometimes a story about a family who supports one another is exactly what you need
December 16, 2022
⚠️SPOILERS AHEAD! READ WITH CAUTION!⚠️
Thank you to the author for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating:
4⭐️
TWs:
Autistic meltdowns from the perspective of 1st POV MC, attack of a dog by other dogs, mentions of child abuse/domestic violence, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse
Synopsis:
He's all about change. She's not.
Senior year-not the biggest deal in the world, right? Except that it is, because everything is changing. Most seniors worry about their dates for school dances, soaking up final memories with friends, and planning life after graduation. Seventeen-year-old Dinah Finaylson has other worries, like students brushing against her and her autism service dog, Higgins; like winning board game matches in the disability classroom; and like opening up to a new student, Maverick Wright.
Maverick asks too many strange questions and Dinah is scared of everything that could go wrong by letting this mysterious guy become part of her routine. That is, until he becomes her first best friend. But the moment Dinah makes Maverick part of her schedule, he disappears, changing everything in Dinah's life and sending her into a downward spiral. Was the risk of letting change enter her life worth it? Now that senior year is ruined forever, Dinah can't possibly imagine braving the halls of high school for one more day, let alone finishing senior year-or can she?
Review:
I feel that I went into this book with the wrong expectations. I was expecting a romance with some autistics (and service dog!) representation, whereas it was more of a story about autism and service dogs with some romance in it. For this reason, I feel that my rating was lowered than what it would typically be and I intend to read this book again in the future, and adjust my rating/review.
With that being said, this was an emotional and relatable coming-of-age story about an autistic seventeen-year-old girl, Dinah. She goes through many ups-and-downs, including making new friends, her friend leaving her, having to get a new aide, as her old aide is moving away, her service dog being attacked, graduating high school, being in her first romantic relationship, etc. We get to go on a journey with Dinah, watching how she handled the endless changes that seem to dump into her lap suddenly and we get to watch her grow as a person.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to a lot of the struggles Dinah faced, and I love how she was given the support to get through all of those struggles. I could really empathize with her.
The only negative to this book that I could think of (and why my score isn't quite 5⭐️) is that there are certain times where I feel that Dinah is infantilized and it isn't ever resolved. For example, there is a scene where they are trying to push Dinah to take a shower, despite the fact that she would prefer a bath. I feel that, were she a neurotypical 17-year-old, she would have just been allowed to take a bath instead, no questions asked. Or a time where she states she wants to play video games, and told no because "that's a reward." Again, if she was a neurotypical 17-year-old, I feel that she would have been allowed to just play video games. This could be nit-picky of me, though.
Thank you to the author for giving me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating:
4⭐️
TWs:
Autistic meltdowns from the perspective of 1st POV MC, attack of a dog by other dogs, mentions of child abuse/domestic violence, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse
Synopsis:
He's all about change. She's not.
Senior year-not the biggest deal in the world, right? Except that it is, because everything is changing. Most seniors worry about their dates for school dances, soaking up final memories with friends, and planning life after graduation. Seventeen-year-old Dinah Finaylson has other worries, like students brushing against her and her autism service dog, Higgins; like winning board game matches in the disability classroom; and like opening up to a new student, Maverick Wright.
Maverick asks too many strange questions and Dinah is scared of everything that could go wrong by letting this mysterious guy become part of her routine. That is, until he becomes her first best friend. But the moment Dinah makes Maverick part of her schedule, he disappears, changing everything in Dinah's life and sending her into a downward spiral. Was the risk of letting change enter her life worth it? Now that senior year is ruined forever, Dinah can't possibly imagine braving the halls of high school for one more day, let alone finishing senior year-or can she?
Review:
I feel that I went into this book with the wrong expectations. I was expecting a romance with some autistics (and service dog!) representation, whereas it was more of a story about autism and service dogs with some romance in it. For this reason, I feel that my rating was lowered than what it would typically be and I intend to read this book again in the future, and adjust my rating/review.
With that being said, this was an emotional and relatable coming-of-age story about an autistic seventeen-year-old girl, Dinah. She goes through many ups-and-downs, including making new friends, her friend leaving her, having to get a new aide, as her old aide is moving away, her service dog being attacked, graduating high school, being in her first romantic relationship, etc. We get to go on a journey with Dinah, watching how she handled the endless changes that seem to dump into her lap suddenly and we get to watch her grow as a person.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to a lot of the struggles Dinah faced, and I love how she was given the support to get through all of those struggles. I could really empathize with her.
The only negative to this book that I could think of (and why my score isn't quite 5⭐️) is that there are certain times where I feel that Dinah is infantilized and it isn't ever resolved. For example, there is a scene where they are trying to push Dinah to take a shower, despite the fact that she would prefer a bath. I feel that, were she a neurotypical 17-year-old, she would have just been allowed to take a bath instead, no questions asked. Or a time where she states she wants to play video games, and told no because "that's a reward." Again, if she was a neurotypical 17-year-old, I feel that she would have been allowed to just play video games. This could be nit-picky of me, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2023
This is a fantastically written and totally enthralling read - I loved it!
December 20, 2022
Happy Release Week to Good Morning, Dinah by Emily Holyoak! Good Morning, Dinah is a beautiful coming of age, young adult romance that deserves to go on every romance fans TBR list!
To my knowledge, this is the first book I’ve read with disability representation that has multiple diagnoses, which is really neat because that is actually super common in the disability/chronic illness world. I have multiple diagnoses myself, so I really appreciated actually being able to see that in a book for once.
It was eye-opening for me to read from the perspective of someone on the spectrum with other diagnoses as it let me enter their world & experience what they experience. The author does an amazing job of showcasing the agonizing pain that can be sensory overload, the difficulties of interpreting human behavior along with all the other important nuances of autism in a neurotypical world. Although I’m neurodivergent, I have a different diagnosis, so while there’s overlap, it was still so incredibly helpful & informative for me to step into their world. This is exactly why I think it is so crucial for more disability, chronic illness & mental health representation in books because it allows others to be able to find themselves in others’ shoes & hopefully gain understanding & empathy to other people’s lives.
Also, the teenage love story was just beautiful. It was so cute & I love watching their connection blossom.
The main character, Dinah, has a service dog named Higgins & he’s a huge part of the story. I love learning more about service dogs & how vital they are. I knew some but I also found it mind-boggling to learn about the cost & how long the waitlist for one can be.
Dinah Finaylson meets new kid Maverick Wright, who enters Dinah’s world & completely disrupted her carefully curated schedule in an amazing way. Both Dinah & Maverick are struggling through difficult times & they may be just what the other needs in their life. This book covers some very challenging topics & life moments, but it’s balanced with adorably awkward, quintessential teenage love moments.
This is a must-read for young adult romance fans!
Massive thanks to the author & INCLUDAS Publishing for the arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains pet injury, autistic meltdowns, parental abuse, &!drug & alcohol abuse.
To my knowledge, this is the first book I’ve read with disability representation that has multiple diagnoses, which is really neat because that is actually super common in the disability/chronic illness world. I have multiple diagnoses myself, so I really appreciated actually being able to see that in a book for once.
It was eye-opening for me to read from the perspective of someone on the spectrum with other diagnoses as it let me enter their world & experience what they experience. The author does an amazing job of showcasing the agonizing pain that can be sensory overload, the difficulties of interpreting human behavior along with all the other important nuances of autism in a neurotypical world. Although I’m neurodivergent, I have a different diagnosis, so while there’s overlap, it was still so incredibly helpful & informative for me to step into their world. This is exactly why I think it is so crucial for more disability, chronic illness & mental health representation in books because it allows others to be able to find themselves in others’ shoes & hopefully gain understanding & empathy to other people’s lives.
Also, the teenage love story was just beautiful. It was so cute & I love watching their connection blossom.
The main character, Dinah, has a service dog named Higgins & he’s a huge part of the story. I love learning more about service dogs & how vital they are. I knew some but I also found it mind-boggling to learn about the cost & how long the waitlist for one can be.
Dinah Finaylson meets new kid Maverick Wright, who enters Dinah’s world & completely disrupted her carefully curated schedule in an amazing way. Both Dinah & Maverick are struggling through difficult times & they may be just what the other needs in their life. This book covers some very challenging topics & life moments, but it’s balanced with adorably awkward, quintessential teenage love moments.
This is a must-read for young adult romance fans!
Massive thanks to the author & INCLUDAS Publishing for the arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains pet injury, autistic meltdowns, parental abuse, &!drug & alcohol abuse.
December 14, 2022
thank you INCLUDAS publishing for the EARC of this book!
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
okay, i really really liked this! the autism representation was amazing to see and i honestly feel like i learned so much. even during the book there is more than one autistic person shown, and even the mc questions herself and her views on autism even tho she is autistic herself. and i really liked that aspect of the story. i also loved higgins with my entire heart!!! he is honestly the goodest boy ever 🥹and maverick ugh, he got me okay, he is a sweetheart and i love him!
okay, even tho i LOVED this book, the “conflict” around the 80% mark relationship wise felt weak for me and also not as big as it was portrayed to be? idk, i kinda felt like it was there more bc it had to be rather than bc it made sense with the story. luckily it got fixed fast enough, but it was still a little confusing and threw me off the story for a bit.
all in all, i highly highly recommend this book, everyone should read this if they wanna learn more about autism and how a neurodivergent brain works!
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
okay, i really really liked this! the autism representation was amazing to see and i honestly feel like i learned so much. even during the book there is more than one autistic person shown, and even the mc questions herself and her views on autism even tho she is autistic herself. and i really liked that aspect of the story. i also loved higgins with my entire heart!!! he is honestly the goodest boy ever 🥹and maverick ugh, he got me okay, he is a sweetheart and i love him!
okay, even tho i LOVED this book, the “conflict” around the 80% mark relationship wise felt weak for me and also not as big as it was portrayed to be? idk, i kinda felt like it was there more bc it had to be rather than bc it made sense with the story. luckily it got fixed fast enough, but it was still a little confusing and threw me off the story for a bit.
all in all, i highly highly recommend this book, everyone should read this if they wanna learn more about autism and how a neurodivergent brain works!
December 16, 2022
4.5 stars
ARC COPY REVIEW
disability awareness, disability acceptance, autism, high school, friendship, life changes, a touch of romance, contemporary YA, family, service dog
I loved Dinah, I felt that the author did a good job of representing the individual flaws and truths as honestly depicting (not every autistic child is the same, and I would know for sure since I'm a mama of 2 autistic kiddos). I cried both tears of joy and sadness at some of the cutest and rough moments. The other characters in her life were written so well too because they play a vital role in her character development.
ARC COPY REVIEW
disability awareness, disability acceptance, autism, high school, friendship, life changes, a touch of romance, contemporary YA, family, service dog
I loved Dinah, I felt that the author did a good job of representing the individual flaws and truths as honestly depicting (not every autistic child is the same, and I would know for sure since I'm a mama of 2 autistic kiddos). I cried both tears of joy and sadness at some of the cutest and rough moments. The other characters in her life were written so well too because they play a vital role in her character development.
May 22, 2023
ok so this book is now one of my favorites
i have adhd, sensory processing, and auditory processing disorder. this was written SO WELL and it felt SO ACCURATE to my experiences
i have adhd, sensory processing, and auditory processing disorder. this was written SO WELL and it felt SO ACCURATE to my experiences
August 26, 2024
everything I read felt like I could resonate with. I didn’t know what to expect with this book and I didn’t know how much autism representation there would be, but there was so much representation and it felt mostly very accurate. this is exactly the type of book autistic people need to read.
I am now attached to the characters in the story and the story itself. it’s a book i now love and one that feels special to me.
I am now attached to the characters in the story and the story itself. it’s a book i now love and one that feels special to me.
January 24, 2023
I won’t lie- I knew next to nothing about the lives of functional autistic people. Up until reading this book, most of my experience was with non verbal autistic people. This book really opened my eyes!
I loved the main character and how hard she worked to get through daily life with all of her quirks. I enjoyed the way this book was written even though YA isn’t normally my genre.
I loved the main character and how hard she worked to get through daily life with all of her quirks. I enjoyed the way this book was written even though YA isn’t normally my genre.
August 28, 2023
+5/5⭐ I don't have words to describe how I loved this book.😍😍
February 8, 2023
Good Morning, Dinah is an atypical coming of age, and first love story. Dinah is a 17 year-old autistic girl entering her senior year in high school. All she wants is to keep to her routines, avoid change and melt downs with the help of her service dog Higgins. All was on track until her new autistic classmates older brother, Maverick, tries to befriend her. Dinah is skeptical of Mavericks friendship. Maverick is all about change, asks too many questions and makes Dinah challenge herself. As Dinah begins to trust Maverick he becomes part of her routine but when Maverick disappears Dinahs world is turned upside down. Dinah begins to shut down and questions if letting someone in, if change is worth it?
I found this book to be such a refreshing coming of age and first love story particularly because it is told from the perspective of an autistic teenager and it was written by an author who is autistic and captures all the nuances of being neurodivergent. There is a lot of internal dialogue but I found it crucial to the plot. It helps you understand how this autistic girl processes emotions and further more it shuts down the stigma about autistic people being emotionless robots. My one caveat is that some of the escapism scenes that Dinah has are too long winded. I found those parts of the book hard to get through even a bit boring in some cases. As the story goes on they become more relevant as these escapism scenes help her or better said force her to face her fears. The character growth and development of Dinah is wonderfully done I can only describe it as watching her bloom and become comfortable with herself. The male character Maverick was beautifully written, he is supportive and understanding with Dinah without being condescending. He is genuinely sweet, loving and caring. The supporting characters were all well written and likable. This is a beautiful book that helped me view autism in a new positive light. A book like this was long overdue.
Book tropes: YA, outsider, neurodivergent, first love
I found this book to be such a refreshing coming of age and first love story particularly because it is told from the perspective of an autistic teenager and it was written by an author who is autistic and captures all the nuances of being neurodivergent. There is a lot of internal dialogue but I found it crucial to the plot. It helps you understand how this autistic girl processes emotions and further more it shuts down the stigma about autistic people being emotionless robots. My one caveat is that some of the escapism scenes that Dinah has are too long winded. I found those parts of the book hard to get through even a bit boring in some cases. As the story goes on they become more relevant as these escapism scenes help her or better said force her to face her fears. The character growth and development of Dinah is wonderfully done I can only describe it as watching her bloom and become comfortable with herself. The male character Maverick was beautifully written, he is supportive and understanding with Dinah without being condescending. He is genuinely sweet, loving and caring. The supporting characters were all well written and likable. This is a beautiful book that helped me view autism in a new positive light. A book like this was long overdue.
Book tropes: YA, outsider, neurodivergent, first love
March 23, 2023
I absolutely LOVED this story. Dinah's character is incredibly lovable, and you immediately connect with her.
This story follows Dinah, who has autism, as she experiences some pretty drastic changes in her life, which completely throw off her routine. It is about Dinah's personal growth in learning about herself, learning to open up to new people and experiences, and finding love for the first time.
There was amazing representation for the autistic community, and it was fascinating to read about Dinah's coping skills and things that did (or could) trigger a meltdown. I feel like I wasn't just reading a story, but learning a ton.
The romantic storyline is also incredibly charming, and Maverick is the sweetest, most understanding character. He "gets" Dinah. He knows when to let her be and he knows when she needs support. Seriously, he was the cutest love interest and big brother.
I've already recommended this to several friends and plan on calling an indie bookstore in my town to see if they can carry this in their store. Loved this, 10/10 recommend, and I'm so excited to see what the author has in store for us next!
This story follows Dinah, who has autism, as she experiences some pretty drastic changes in her life, which completely throw off her routine. It is about Dinah's personal growth in learning about herself, learning to open up to new people and experiences, and finding love for the first time.
There was amazing representation for the autistic community, and it was fascinating to read about Dinah's coping skills and things that did (or could) trigger a meltdown. I feel like I wasn't just reading a story, but learning a ton.
The romantic storyline is also incredibly charming, and Maverick is the sweetest, most understanding character. He "gets" Dinah. He knows when to let her be and he knows when she needs support. Seriously, he was the cutest love interest and big brother.
I've already recommended this to several friends and plan on calling an indie bookstore in my town to see if they can carry this in their store. Loved this, 10/10 recommend, and I'm so excited to see what the author has in store for us next!
September 22, 2023
I met Emily and she was kind enough to gift me a signed copy of this book, and I will never let it go. This book is filled with amazing characters. Dinah, the main character is an autistic teenager, through meeting Maverick and his autistic brother, Felix, she learns to be empathetic and handle change.
This was a different kind of book for me, and I enjoyed seeing the world through another perspective. This book allowed me to see the different types of experiences and the wide array of coping mechanisms that so many people experience, all under the same umbrella. By showing Dinah at her meltdown moments, it allowed the reader to see the growth and change she experienced.
I loved that Dinah was introduced as herself, the opening scene was her going about her day, no explanation, unapologetic. I learned a lot reading this. The romance is well done, depicting the highs and lows of trusting another person in a relationship. The characters are complex humans. They all have things that they are working on overcoming. You can feel the emotions very strongly. Also, I have to say, Maverick is an amazing book boyfriend :)
This was a different kind of book for me, and I enjoyed seeing the world through another perspective. This book allowed me to see the different types of experiences and the wide array of coping mechanisms that so many people experience, all under the same umbrella. By showing Dinah at her meltdown moments, it allowed the reader to see the growth and change she experienced.
I loved that Dinah was introduced as herself, the opening scene was her going about her day, no explanation, unapologetic. I learned a lot reading this. The romance is well done, depicting the highs and lows of trusting another person in a relationship. The characters are complex humans. They all have things that they are working on overcoming. You can feel the emotions very strongly. Also, I have to say, Maverick is an amazing book boyfriend :)
August 10, 2023
it's a fun book with a main character who grows tremendously over a relatively short page count. Dinah's journey is both compelling and uplifting.
May 11, 2025
I did not realize all the variety a person with Autism has. This was an awesome telling of a girl in her senior year just trying to deal with her Autism. A must read, especially if you have no idea about autistic children.
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