Friendship Love Autism

by Michelle Preston, Andrew Preston

Andrew didn’t realize he might be autistic until his girlfriend, Michelle, approached him about it months into their relationship. No amount of life experience could’ve prepared Michelle for the confusion she felt while dating Andrew, as he was unlike any man she had ever dated before. The thought never dawned on her that she could fall deeply in love with a man who was autistic or that he might be unaware of this, even into his thirties.

Whenever they share their story, they are asked the same three

How did you figure out Andrew was autistic?
How did you approach him about it?
How did you get a diagnosis?

These are all fair questions and have interesting and often comedic answers. In this compelling book, Michelle and Andrew answer these questions and share much more.
You will follow along as their FRIENDSHIP unexpectedly blossoms into a relationship. You will see LOVE flourish among ridiculous twists and turns. They bring you along for the AUTISM diagnosis that allowed them to grow a deeper understanding of each other.
Andrew’s contributions to this book are invaluable as they give insight as to what life is like to be him. Michelle’s humor and authenticity are both unexpected and refreshing.

Come along on this outrageous journey of friendship turned to love on the spectrum.

“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll see numerous people you are close to through a whole new lens! This book is a must-read for people of all ages and walks of life.”

Teresa de Grosbois, #1 International Bestselling Author of Mass Influence

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Research, Mental Health

475 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Maddie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful memoir that reads like a rom-com while also being very informative, deeply vulnerable, and practically applicable. I laughed out loud, swooned a bit, and stopped to reread parts aloud to my spouse that were particularly funny or endearing. My dominant emotion cover to cover was delight.

Regardless of whether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical, this book will entertain, inform, and inspire you.

As someone who primarily reads fiction, I was impressed by how readable this is. It has great structure, pacing, and punchy-ness. Also, it’s just super relatable if you’re a human being navigating any kind of relationship.

After reading, I feel like I’m real-life friends with Michelle and Andrew, and I’m ready to invite myself over for game night. They’ve given a gift to us all, and wrapped it up in humor and honesty. I learned a lot and had a swell time doing it!

I have family members on the spectrum and this was a helpful way for me to learn more without putting the responsibility on my loved ones to teach me about themselves.

Loved this. Highly recommend.

[Office · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and easy read!

I am a counseling intern and I highly recommend this book for anyone who is either neurodivergent or loves someone who is neurodivergent. It is also an awesome resource if you suspect autism but are not sure. I work with a few neurodivergent couples and have searched for a book to recommend to them for educational and modeling purposes and could not find one I liked until I came across this one. It’s respectful, honest, practical, and very insightful! Thank you so much, Andrew and Michelle, for being vulnerable with the world. We need more of this!

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me understand a bit more about autism

Came across this couple on TikTok. My wife and child are autistic so I was immediately interested in their dynamic relationship. I highly recommend this book. I’m a slow reader but I finished this in two days. That’s how easy to read it is. Very informative and full of interesting stories. After reading it I know have a better perceptive on how I can better my relationship with my wife and my child.

[Gemma LeDain · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Andrew had finally realised what I’ve known all alone” basically sums up the majority of this book for me. A lot of it I found difficult to read. From the descriptions about how Michelle felt Andrews “poor choice” of friends made him less attractive to her, and her need to almost guide him into relationships she deemed appropriate to the really sad pages that show Andrew being bullied, badgered and eventually ultimatum-ed into moving in to her condo was a hard hard read.

I really found the overall tone of the book pushed a neurotypical narration almost drowning out the actually autistic voice of Andrew. This isn’t really what I was expecting when wanting to read the book. I really wanted to like it, I love their TikTok, but the funny stories on TikTok come across as much more condescending on the page and I’m not sure how to feel about it all. It almost felt like the perspective of “this is what Andrew can’t do, this is why I’m the only person who can “fix” him, why doesn’t he realise I am the source of his happiness?”

Generally, it was another voice speaking loudly over the voice of an actually autistic person and proclaiming that the strange autistic people deserve love too.

It’s a shame, and while my review is probably sounds quite scathing, I don’t dislike Michelle (or Andrew) and I appreciate that perhaps this book is not for me, but is likely helpful for other people. I’ll continue to enjoy their TikTok’s but will likely give any other of their books a swerve.

[k8 conroy · Rating 1 out of 5]

i tried so hard to finish this book and with 40 mins left on the audiobook i just couldn’t do it anymore. this is the most repetitive writing i have ever encountered. and i got very little out of the content that was relevant. but i am not new to the topic so maybe that’s why. if you have just found out your partner has autism, maybe it could be useful. but you can probably find another book that’s written better.

[Nira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Michelle and Andrew and their story. This book was incredibly helpful and gave me an insight and an understanding of autism, wished we had more of Andrew's perspective though.

[Aylin Merck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful story about a couple discovering one of them was on the spectrum (NT wife, ASD husband). This book is a helpful insight into how brain wiring affects an intimate relationship. Both of the persons in the couple write this book - giving both perspectives of the same situation. Their honesty and transparency is refreshing.
Key takeaways - do everything you can to put yourself in your partners’ shoes, to see life from their point of view; always ask questions about the motivation behind why they did something you don’t understand; don’t take things personally.
I am encouraged by this wife’s heart for her ASD spouse - and her deep love & delight in her husband, even as she is honest about what is hard.
The authors are not believers in Christ so they lived together before getting married. There is a chapter on sex you may decide to skip if it offends you. Overall I think the grace, wisdom and compassion of God shine through in this story.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly LOVED this book! I found Michelle and Andrew on social media a few years ago and fell in love with them. Michelle and I have corresponded a few times messaging back and she makes me feel like we’ve been friends for years and years. This book is exactly the same. It feels like you’re sitting down with a friend just discussing life. Hearing about Andrews diagnosis was so eye opening and learning on being more direct like Andrew isn’t a bad thing. I’ve learned things about myself while reading this book. I highly recommend giving this book a read!

[LeRoy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friendship Love Autism: Communication Challenges and the Autism Diagnosis that Gave Us a New Life Together by Michelle Preston and Andrew Preston. Michelle Preston is in a relationship with an Autistic person named Andrew Preston. She is very emotional and tends to express her emotions in her daily life and relationships. She is a former athlete now with a concussion. Andrew Preston is an Autistic adult who was undiagnosed until he became an adult, he is a nerd with an interesting fashion statement, and he is an HVAC technician. The book relates the struggles and benefits of dating an autistic person from both the lover's (Michelle’s) and the Autistic person's perspective (Andrew’s). As well as breaking down the diagnosis process from both perspectives. This book goes beyond the normal perspectives found in self-help and books about autism spectrum disorder to portray that uniqueness is important to forming long-lasting relationships. But to illustrate each person is unique and that is what makes humanity beautiful.
Importantly, the introduction sets the tone and vibes of what is to come after. It shows how the information is supposed to be conveyed and to break down the stereotypes of romance and love found in popular culture. Then chapter 1 is where Michelle finds out about autism spectrum disorder through Andrew’s love for Shadow Syndromes. In Shadow Syndromes information about Autism is presented and Michelle relates this information to Andrew. For the first time, we get insight into Andrew’s autism. Andrew and Michelle speak about getting a diagnosis of Autism and how they will navigate the road less traveled. Chapters 2-6 are unlike most love stories in popular culture. They take us on an adventurous journey down a path of friendship where not much of the stereotypical romance and sex is unapparent. Instead, it paints a picture of how two opposites attract, and through this abnormal beginning arises a beautifully strong connection between two wonderful human beings. Yes, there are plenty of pictures found at the end of each chapter for readers viewing pleaser. Chapters 7-15 are where we get the rollercoaster experience that doesn’t permit one to easily close the book and come back later. Here we build an emotional connection with the authors as we experience their struggles. What is extremely important is the level of vulnerability that it took in writing this book. The vulnerability is highlighted in “Chapter 15 - The Bedroom” where they speak of their sexual explorations. Oh boy is this a very interesting and insightful chapter for those comfortable to read. Chapters 16-19 take us into the process of diagnosis. The hours, days, weeks, and months of anticipation, patience, and connection as this is a very long and tedious journey. It starts with the intake. Then the three sessions with Dr. Baker to get diagnosed. Followed by the aftermath with the overwhelming anxiety of the changes that will be required to strengthen this already firm relationship. The conclusion ends with highlighting the importance of breaking stereotypes of romance. As well as calls to action for readers to do the same as Michelle Preston and Andrew Preston have done on their romantic journeys.
Just as important, I find this book to be very enjoyable to read and I love the bestie over some liquid perspective to be an interesting and insightful way to get readers like myself to engage with the difficult material. It makes both the author and the reader gain a stronger relationship where both feel it is okay to be vulnerable with each other. The one-year anniversary and gift-giving are crucial moments to highlight found on pages 160-162 for it notes the struggles that go into dating someone with Autism on both ends. It states, “Happy anniversary.” Andrew says without looking at me as he lobs a mug into my lap. It feels as if it is a hot potato, he couldn’t wait to get rid of it. I’m left dumbfounded as he continues looking forward and begins driving. I’m waiting for him to start laughing, say he’s kidding, or pull over and kiss me. Nope, he’s not joking. This is how he’s going to deliver my anniversary present” (Preston Michelle, and Preston Andrew 160). The awareness of this situation where Michelle is questioning what has occurred and Andrew thinks that what is implied in his mind is very apparent. However, it is these moments in life where the confusion and awkwardness lead to life lessons. Andrew’s perspective notes the life lesson learned. He states, “I’m very glad Michelle asked me about the mug. I might not have told her otherwise. It felt as though she was with me when I bought it. I assumed she would know this was the best mug I could find” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 162). Don’t just assume something based on what was observed, Communication is key. What seemed like an inappropriate act turned out to be social anxiety and a very thoughtful gift-giving experience. Through this hilarious anecdote, we see the struggles between Michelle Preston, and Andrew Preston unfolds. In addition, they were able to use their uniqueness to highlight the love for each other. This is much more effective than mere information about Autism. Personally, I am able to connect more to what I am reading without becoming bored and wanting to stop reading.
Continuing, “Getting Noticed by the Ladies” (pg. 188 - 190) is a moment where Andrew’s honesty and Autistic thinking create an engaging anecdote for readers to read. I really enjoyed how unemotional he is when he tells Michelle that women are talking to him more after Michelle changes his fashion. This reaction makes for not only an engaging experience for readers like me but also notes the struggles that these two lovers go through daily. The moment when Andrew informs Michelle that women are noticing him more is where we see how Andrew is progressing in the relationship without the need for data, graphs, and other information-heavy material. She states, “I mostly tell you this story to show you how Andrew is evolving through our relationship. But I also found it adorable the way he brought it up in a confused tone by saying, “So, women seem to be talking to me more.” His honesty is so refreshing. And don’t you worry, bestie. I, of course, have a glow-up of Andrew’s fashion evolving in the photo section for you at the end of this chapter (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 189). The evolution on the road to a long-lasting relationship between these two lovers forges a connection between the reader and these two lovers' journey. In this way, the tone is described as “confused” which makes the struggles of being autistic shine. Also, allow the readers to sympathize while gleaning the overall thesis of the book. The pictures at the end of the chapter with the use of diction such as “bestie” make the sentiment of what is being shared effectively. These pictures allow both sides to connect in a manner that many other books both about self-help and about Autism fail. Without this crucial element, these other books are unable to create a warm and welcoming environment for the reader to feel like they are a part of the journey. Instead, they feel they are merely a spectator. The struggle that many Autistic people go through with emotions. As well as the expression of their emotions is real as I too am emphatic for, I deal with this same issue. Andrew discusses his thought process when discussing his emotions to reveal this struggle. He states, “In my mind, I’m always the same. I’m always Andrew. This makes sense because of how poor my ability to know my own emotions can be. Not knowing how I really feel inside means that prior to Michelle, I would have no way of comparing how I feel with how others treat me” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 190). Andrew expresses that he cannot notice the change in vibes when it comes to the stages of a relationship, and I totally understand as an Autistic adult. It is having Andrew’s perspective that opens a truly genuine Autistic perspective that allows for humans flourishing.
Moving along, the Autistic perspective gained from this book is incredible. While some books might include the perspective of Autistic people, these perspectives seem to be fake and/or heavily censored to what the publisher finds to be socially acceptable or what will sell. It is the level of honesty, trust built, and even the hilarious anecdotes that make this Autistic perspective different from most. The diagnosis process is similar to other books in the way it is laid out. What makes this more interesting is the aftermath that is not often taken into consideration when writing a book about Autistic diagnosis. The Autistic perspective is derived from an information-heavy first chapter, Andrew’s perspective, bonus stories by Andrew, and the Autism Diagnosis process in chapters 16-19. A list of Autistic symptoms is laid out as Michelle relates the symptoms to Andrew to see how he might be Autistic in the first chapter. While I feel that this is boring, it is helpful to get insight into Andrew. I would have much rather had this chapter later and started with a hilarious anecdote to spark interest in the readers. It is Andrew’s perspectives and bonus stories where we get quick commentary from Andrew as to the situations given by Michelle. Here we get both sides of the story instead of a singular side. This increases engagement, furthers the thesis of the book by promoting unique views and Autistic awareness, and strengthens the perceived strength of their relationship with the readers making it more credible and emotionally connecting. One bonus story I found to be fascinating for the level of anxiety and enthusiasm towards was titled “Jiujitsu Attacks” Michelle Preston comes home drunk and starts to cuddle and watch Netflix with Andrew, Andrew is tired. Then Michelle starts to roughhouse with Andrew, at first both seem okay with it then Andrew Attempts to get her to stop. This is Andrew’s perspective on why he made it stop. He states, “But I didn’t care; I protested verbally several more times as she tried to wrestle me. Luckily by this time, she was tired, and she passed out. The following day she knew that I was upset with her, and we had a small fight. I told her that I didn’t like how she acted. She understood me, but her pride prevented her from totally owning up to it at that moment” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 293). The level of energy in this story reaches what I expected to end up being erotic. However, in this moment we get the drunkenness of Michelle for the first time and see how Andrew deals with such. But what is key to the Autistic perspective is that it takes us into a retrospective perspective when it goes into their thoughts the following day.
The thrill and anxiety of getting an appointment with Dr. Baker are one that leaves readers and me in a constant state of yearning for more. As the plane was about to set off for departure Michelle finished applying to see Dr. Baker. She describes it, “This time she is not moving. She’s clearly going to stand there until she sees me put my phone away. The plane is now rolling. After I click next, I’m directed to a button that says to submit an application. I click it and wait until it goes through before I turn off my phone and put it away.” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 328). The level of anxiety I felt was as though I was on the plane with her feeling the anxiety from the flight attendant who had a schedule to follow and the anxiety from Michelle as she rushed to complete the application. The inappropriate facial expressions and lack of being able to read others’ body language land Andrew and Michelle in tough situations. One I must highlight for the impact it has on their relationship and I find to be both funny and sad is right after they spend a week with Andrew's family Andrew is speaking to Michelle about the discussion between him and his uncle. But this turned out to have a different effect on Michelle than Andrew anticipated. It states. “I’m glad my uncle convinced me that I should stay with you. This trip went really well,” Andrew says to me as we wait to show our boarding passes. “Excuse me?!?!” I respond. It is the weirdest thing because Andrew says it with a smile on his face as if he were giving me a compliment” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 334). The smile on his face as he states he needs convincing to be together with Michelle is hilarious and sad for readers are able to piece together that something isn’t clicking in his mind thus an inappropriate facial expression is given and the reaction from Michelle makes us sympathetic towards her for this breaks her heart. Then Michelle describes Andrew as a robot man as she visualizes him in a store, then Michelle explains her period cycle to Andrew after she learns about it from Code Red. An intake session at Dr. Baker’s house where their excitement is expressed. Then the diagnosis booklet is broken down then three sessions between Andrew, Michelle, and Dr. Baker to get Andrew's diagnosis. Here we get how Andrew interacts with another Autistic adult with enthusiasm talking about topics that non-autistic people tend to not have. This is the front page of the diagnosis letter Andrew received. “The front page of Andrew’s diagnosis letter reads like this:
July 17, 2019,
To whom it may concern,
Andrew was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder today. The specific diagnosis is:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Level 1 Social Communication Severity - Supports needed.
Level 2 Restrictive Repetitive Behavior Severity - Substantial Support needed
Without Developmental Speech Disorder Without Intellectual Developmental

Disorder DSM 5 Severity is based on the level of support needed in each area.
Level 1 - Supports needed.
Level 2 — Substantial support needed

Level 3 — Very substantial support needed” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 389).
The aftermath of the diagnosis was a huge learning curve for them both and hit me the hardest for this was the most difficult part in my Autistic experience. Right after the diagnosis, they go for a week to hang out with Andrews's family. But what happens is unnormal and takes an autistic perspective, unlike most books on this subject. It states, “By the weekend, to complete overwhelms sets in, and Andrew is hardly functional. He is struggling to have even the simplest of conversations. Once he reaches this point, it takes him a few more days to explain what is bothering him. He turns to me and says, “It’s as if I’ve been going through my life looking through the wrong lens. I don’t know how to think and don't know what I’m doing. I don’t know who I am. I must change my lens” (Preston Michelle and Preston Andrew 393). This is very similar to my reaction to being diagnosed and then my first experience with philosophy. The moment you realize that life can be looked at through different lenses, perspectives, and theories one's life is changed forever. This realization is extremely scary at first for Autistic people who do not like change. Personal identity is extremely hard as a philosophical concept. However, it is even more of a challenge for Autistic people like me to discover their personal identity. Especially difficult with drastic changes like a diagnosis of Autism and the way people perceive you with such a diagnosis. The Autistic perspective found in the book is more engaging and gets me to think more critically than other books about this topic I have read. It is the level of comfort and engaging activity that allows one to reach a higher level of interest and insight into Autism that I recommend all to enjoy.
To conclude, Friendship Love Autism: Communication Challenges and the Autism Diagnosis that Gave US a New Life by Michelle and Andrew Preston transcends the typical approach to self-help books and books about autism spectrum disorder it displays how the uniqueness of Autistic people is important to forming long-lasting relationships. It also illustrates humanity is beautiful since we all are unique. This is completed through the unique perspective of the bestie over some liquid. Here pictures are presented at the end of most chapters and a higher level of comfort in being vulnerable is achieved. The Autistic perspective given mixes both information heavy and anecdote. The diagnosis process where we see how two autistic people interact, and the aftermath of the diagnosis is often overlooked in books surrounding Autism. This book will assist anyone curious about autism spectrum disorder, dating an Autistic person, or just wanting an entertaining page-turner.

[Thalarctos · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book that explains so much

This book is so informative. The stories are interesting and have helped me understand myself more as well. Must buy!

[Kaylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everyone could have written this and been as candid about the hard parts as much as the hopeful parts. Thank you Andrew and Michelle for pressing into growth and helping others see possibility.

[Katlyn D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and written very well!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. Such a good read. Michelle is funny and easy to follow along. Can’t wait to read more from Andrew’s perspective in the next book!

[Matt Porteous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw and honest. A really great read/listen!!

I've followed Michelle and Andrew on their social media channels for about a year now, so I was excited to get a chance to read their book.....and it did NOT disappoint!!

I'm currently diagnosed ADHD but self diagnosed Autism 1 year ago. I haven't been able to afford the official diagnosis, so I've been learning as much about it as I can including getting personal perspectives from people online.

I've really enjoyed Michelle and Andrew's raw and honest posts on tiktok and instagram and once I started reading the book... I couldn't put it down. So many of the social issues that Andrew faced during their courtship I related to on such a visceral level. The feeling of being misunderstood when you think you're doing the right thing. The lack of fashion sense (LOL the stories on this in the book are SO relatable). The different lens in which we view the world.

I also found myself relating to Michelle on a deep level as she came to grips with her own mental health, her intense people pleasing tendencies, and her perceptions changing drastically and how the ripples of that action change your entire life.

I think my favorite part of the book is the pure honesty. This isn't a book where the writer leaves out the messy parts that make them look bad. It's just a raw and honest portrayal of a shift in 2 peoples lives because of new understandings of themselves and each other.

I didn't even get through 4 chapters before I got a copy for my GF. If you are in a relationship with someone that is Neuro-divergent, I couldn't recommend this book more! If you have anyone i your life that is Neuro-divergent that you would like to understand on a deeper level, I couldn't reccomend this book more!

From romance to Autism discovery to diagnosis and beyond, this is a wonderful example of love overcoming misunderstanding and what's possible when two people take a journey of self discovery together. ❤️ 💙 💜

[Heather Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really changed how I view my relationship as we understand this new side of my husband. The way they explain finding the diagnosis and growing together through the experience was amazing. They explained it from both sides, which helped me to understand my husband better. It has changed so much for us and I am really grateful!

[Damla Kuduoglu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read many books about autism. This one is the least useful one. I have not learnt anything. Too much description that is unnecessary. Such as; I was too tired, I came home, took of my clothes, sat on the couch…

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned what's wrong with my vacuum and some new things about being a woman.
Aside from that, I'm not sure I can put into words how important this book might be to me. I'm still processing everything from this book and how it's affecting me. How it applies to my life. To my marriage. To my friendships. It reads like a regular book, but when I started nearing the end I realized it was really impacting me. And as I said, I'm still processing so I'm not even sure to what extent yet. I want to recommend it to others but I am so "shook" as to how intimately it's impacting me. I'm so curious to hear how this book is interpreted and how it affects allistics. The authors made a video on tiktok saying they had help by some award winning writer. This is definitely reflected in the book. The way its structured feels casual and smooth, but is very organized and tactic. As a reader I enjoyed this very much.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finaly… a book that makes sense of the pretty, the hard and the obvious
Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2023
If you have a neurodivergent partner or if you recently discovered your partner is autistic you NEED to read this book. Finaly… a book that makes sense of the pretty, the hard and the obvious!

Michelle explains it in great details and you completely understand what she is going through. At the end of every chapters, Andrew add on his part of the tales. I like that we see both sides of the same stories.

Chapter by chapter it became clear that i recognize my partners behavior in Andrews reaction/actions/words. Its a book about love, friendship, acceptation, trust and hope.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book both for the personal story of a couple who journeyed from friendship to dating to partnership and discovered one partner’s autism along the way, as well as for the information they shared about *how* that knowledge shaped their understanding of the contours of the relationship itself. There is information about autism (particularly the aspects that are most present in David’s life), but less often in abstract form (“autistic people have communication difficulties”) and more often in real-life, “here’s what it looked like for us, from *each* of our perspectives” stories. The book was personal, humorous, honest, and educational all at once. Nicely done.

[Reah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I read this in hopes of understanding my audhd partner’s perspectives a bit more, but Michelle’s voice was too strong throughout to really get a clear sense of Andrew’s perspectives. It felt more like Michelle’s journey of understanding Andrew than Andrew’s journey of understanding himself.

It was rough to read the weight self-shaming and food-related comments as well. I appreciate Michelle and Andrew trying to give the most honest version of their relationship story, but there were some bits that did not resonate.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I live on Andrew’s side of the life coin. It was great to read about similar situations my girlfriend and I have faced ourselves from Michelle’s point of view. The added bonus of relating to Andrew’s explanations from his perspective was the cherry on top. I feel like this book would be helpful to any couple of the ND/NT variety. I can also see it being a great book for anyone in any relationship honestly. Looking forward to the next book by them.

[Wyz Wmn · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent!

I love this book! It’s given me real authentic information and not just lip service to the question at hand. As a 67-year-old woman who has been told time and time again by doctors that they don’t want to test me because they don’t want me labelled I truly appreciated the story of Andrew and Michelle‘s first years of relationship.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will feel validation while reading this book!!
If you are in a relationship and one of you is on the spectrum this book is for both of you! You will both gain insight into eachother and grow closer as a couple. Michelle and Andrew share openly and easily their perspectives. An easy read that will have you laughing and gaining understanding with each chapter. Great work guys!!

[Jessie McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at the beginning of 2023 because my boyfriend (now husband) has autism. Reading both Michelle and Andrew's perspective genuinely helped with some of the issues I myself was facing in my relationship, and it was a great read overall. It did not take me long to finish it, and was well worth the time!

[Jo Stettmier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from page one. I follow Michele and Andrew on TikTok and love their story. Friendship love autism is a must read. They are amazing authors. I can’t wait to read future books.

[Lorainne Massicotte Jerse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love every juicy detail about their perspective on every encounter these two had and want more!!!!! I especially appreciate their honesty and humiliation! Best part is Andrew explaining his common sense! So simple and so refreshing and so intelligent! I want more!!!!

[Johnathan Avonta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I currently am neurodivergent with a neurotypical partner and this was a fantastic insight into both of our experiences! This book is honest, holds no punches, and shares insights masterfully in a funny and friendly tone!

[Hidenzeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm listening to this on Libby. Wow!! It's incredible to listen to both sides of a relationship with an Autistic person and also a neuro typical person. It is helping me understand myself and others:)

[Malissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for anyone. Was a reminder that in relationships we need to understand how differently we all think and process information. Can not wait for book 2.

[Linda Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and engaging. I’ve rarely laughed so hard while being educated. The vulnerability and straightforwardness of the authors was much appreciated. Highly recommend!