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This coming of age story is told from the perspective of a little girl through her teenage years, this story is all about a clearly autistic girl trying to navigate life in a world that doesn’t always make sense. As a result, when she hears about aliens she thinks, maybe that’s me. And when she hears about a manuscript discovered several centuries before but the code has never been cracked and someone on tv posit that it could’ve been written by aliens, she becomes obsessed.

It’s a charming read to see this young lady grow up in this crazy world, but heartbreaking to see those around her unwilling to empathize and try to help her.

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I really liked the beginning of this audiobook and found myself chuckling along at the story of a neurodivergent child. It was poignant and eye-opening, however, as much as I love character development without much of a plot it's hard for me to stay rooted to the story and halfway through I gave up.

I loved this unusual story. This is a neurodivergent girl’s endearing coming of age story told in second person point of view (the story is told directly to the main character using the pronoun "you"). I won’t spoil the surprise of who is telling the story, but I suspect most readers will catch on fairly soon. As someone bookish and very literal who never quite fit in and often finds other people’s actions baffling, I could relate. I found the story alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming and always humorous.

The audiobook production was excellent, and Sally Phillips’s narration was a delight. She was fun to listen to, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, distinctive voices and speech patterns to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood, emotion, and humor effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and Little, Brown & Company for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

"Life Hacks for a Little Alien" is a captivating debut novel that kept me hooked from start to finish. I couldn't put it down! The main character quickly won my heart, and her struggles felt deeply relatable. Watching her growth throughout the story was truly inspiring. While the narrative was generally engaging, there were a few slower moments that slightly interrupted the flow, which is why I’m giving it four stars (4.5 if allowed). Overall, it’s a delightful and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book, written in the third person is about a little girl who is neurodivergent being raised by an engineer father and a mother who seems neurotic but in a common way when we first meet her. Hester. That's a spoiler I guess, because at first, we just hear about the child in a very abstract way that goes to what a tiny, nonverbal child might be thinking when they do things. It is a slow start, but I had a sense I should stick with it. I'm very glad I did, because the little girl in her loving family with her cousin who sometimes bullies her and her best friend who is a lot like her works her way through the world in ways that are engaging, interesting, sometimes humorous and kind of…. informative. Life Hacks definitely got fun to read and the audio version I read was particularly well done.

The slow beginning is most likely reflective of the child''s slow beginning in terms of conventional behavior. She acts out in preschool in ways that stand out. She is beloved and understood more or less by both of her parents. On the outside, I read a lot about this book in terms of a manuscript Heather becomes interested in and her slowly understanding what a manuscript is, where one might be found, and so forth. But this story is way more about coming of age as a neurodivergent person and of family dynamics. Hah! I usually run the other way from novels about family dynamics. They are so often stressful. But seriously, this one is fun and not upsetting. A bit sad at times but okay despite the things that happen. There is lots of humor. There is lots of love. There is a whole lot of confusion, misunderstandings, unconventional conversations and behavior that gets you in a world of trouble if you are a kid whose logic is distinctly not consistent with convention. I really am glad I listened all the way. Definitely recommend.

Starting my 2025 reading year off with a 5 star?! I absolutely loved everything about this book. Not only was it heartwarming and funny, it also addressed heavy topics in a gentle way. As someone whose mother had almost three years of psychotic episodes, I found the way that the mother was portrayed very accurate. While I experienced it as an adult, I can only imagine how difficult it would be as a child. And especially as a child on the spectrum. I loved how the focus was on how special Little Alien was and how her brain working differently was her strength. The audiobook was absolutely wonderful and really brought the story to life!

I just loved this quirky little gem of a book. It is funny, heartfelt, loving and also a little heartbreaking as we follow a young neurodivergent girl who is just trying to fit in to a world she does not understand. I think that anyone with an autistic child would really benefit from and enjoy this story told from a child's perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the authors writing style. I listened to the audio version and the narrator, Sally Phillips did a splendid job. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Many Thanks to Net Galley and Hachette Audio | Little, Brown & Company for a chance to read/listen to an ARC version of this novel.

This story is a triple treat. One for the story, one for the inner narrative of a child, and one for the ending. The story begins as a child of three starts seeing the world, and how to navigate to blend in. As the child grows the love of the library grows and shenanigans ensue. The high spirited behavior continues as the child who has been fixated for some time on an ancient manuscript known as the Voynich Manuscript, discovers it is on loan in a college library. The heart of the story tells us that no matter the difficulty there is always a way with the help of family and good friends. This is the type of story that stays with one long after reading. I will be recommending it as soon as it become available.
Thank you NetGalley and Alice Franklin for entrusting me with this advance copy for my honest review.

Another reviewer (or more) said that this is a book you will either get, or you won't. You'll either love it or hate it. I totally agree!

The neurodivergent narrator is telling the story to her younger self (now I can' recall if that was stated, or I' presuming since the audiobook narrator was female). I could see how some may not appreciate and/or understand the perspective.

Other reviews also critique the lack of more explanation of the family. I believe these are from reviewers who don't "get it". We are only going to understand what the "little alien" understood and was able to explain.

As much as I enjoyed the audiobook narration (thank you, Sally Phillips!), I think physically reading this story would also be wonderful for the visual footnotes. Those were very entertaining and had me cracking up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien is such a lovely title that it immediately caught my attention. The book is written in the second person, which took me a little while to get used to, but I really enjoyed the story. It explores the theme of being different and understanding life from a unique perspective. I love how the narrator, the older version of the "little alien," kindly explains life to her younger self. The narrator did a fantastic job, and the second-person style worked particularly well in the audiobook format. I felt as if someone was actually telling me the story, rather than simply listening to a fictional book. While this book may not be for everyone, I believe it will find its own audience. Overall, it was a delightful read and I highly recommend the audiobook. Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

Such an original story, brought to life by wonderful narration. A strong recommendation for those looking for character driven novels.

I love the title and the cover. Immediately made me interested.

The synopsis says it is good for fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures and I loved that book so figured why not.

While the story sounds good, I didn't connect with it. I liked the "recommended reading" parts but sometimes I just didn't get it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Franklin, Sally Phillips, and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to Life Hacks for a Little Alien. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

3.5 stars

I did enjoy this book and appreciated the neurodivergent rep, but I wish that the plot and characters were fleshed out more. I understand the motivation for the second person perspective, but I struggled with it. I enjoyed the audiobook narration and thought it was very well done.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An adorable novel about a neurodivergent teen girl and her special abilities that can take her places while she has to cope with feeling like an alien being (compared with her peers). In addition her mother struggles with mental illness, making for a very messy home. The novel is sad, funny, and poignant.
Great narration for the audiobook. I’m sorry you have to wait until Feb 2925 to read this. Highly recommended!
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HachetteAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes.

The description says for fans of Eleanor Oliphant and Remarkably Bright Creatures, and this book is exactly that!

Little Alien doesn't understand the world around her. Watching TV late one night, she hears of the Voynich Manuscript and suddenly she doesn't feel so alone anymore. She turns to the library and her BFF, Bobby, to start figuring out the world around her.

Our unnamed narrator is so endearing as she tries to learn how to navigate the world around her. It made me think about the way we instruct kids to "use their words" when a lot of the time they probably don't have the right words yet to explain their feelings or what's happening around them. It's introspective and weird. There is not a lot of plot movement, but there is so much heart, and I am glad I got the chance to be a part of this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Audio!!!

Thanks to Hachette & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This little story is quite charming: our protagonist is never named, but we know that she feels very different from other kids, kind of like ... a little alien. However, she is in fact human, and presumably neurodivergent. We follow her from elementary school age to the teen years, as she undergoes trials and tribulations, capping off with a slight obsession with something called The Voynich Manuscript, a thing I had never heard of, which the Little Alien thinks is written in an extra-terrestrial language - i.e. the language of her people. The Voynich Manuscript effectively creates a raft by which L.A. is able to sort of launch into a future where her idiosyncrasies will be not just tolerated but perhaps accepted, and might even provide her with the focus necessary to launch a proper career, with the right education.

I gather that the story is a fictionalized account of the author's own coming of age; it's written in first person present tense (the older Little Alien speaking to the young one), which is initially jarring, but I did get used to it, helped immensely by voice actor Sally Phillips. She brings a lot of heart and accessibility to this book.

This book was sweet and I wasn't expecting to like it, but there you go - it warmed the cockles of my icy heart, which doesn't happen often.

3.5 stars rounded up

Narrator was fine. The story was so-so. It wasn't bad, but I can't say that it was really gripping. By the time that I reached the end of the book, I didn't feel like anything really happened.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien is a quirky, heartfelt story that offers a fresh perspective on what it feels like to be different. Little Alien’s journey through an often confusing world is both funny and deeply relatable, especially as she learns to navigate human quirks and misunderstandings. Alice Franklin’s writing is both tender and witty, making this book a perfect blend of humor and emotion. If you enjoy stories about self-discovery, embracing uniqueness, and finding your place in the world, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. What a wonderfully, weird little audiobook! The author's writing style reminded me of Kevin Wilson, who I love. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and appreciated that it was so different than what I typically listen to. Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook; giving it a 4 out of 5 star review.

What a lovely, thought-provoking book. Sally Phillips' narration is absolutely spot on, and adds such character and whimsy to the story. Little Alien is neurodivergent, and navigating a host of challenges: school, friendships, a complex family life, and more. She becomes obsessed with an old time-y manuscript, researching and discussing it, and eventually embarking on a journey to see it.I really enjoyed listening along as Little Alien grew up, formed friendships, and tackled so many big, scary things about child- and teenagehood. I also learned quite a lot about various forms of communication, and the ways in which neurodivergent people express themselves. A great read.