I thought this was an overall very informative book on understanding Autism. I have a young son with Autism who is non verbal and has motor planning delays. I liked reading how they were not any less intelligent and shouldn’t be treated as such. It upsets me when people think my son is less than because of the labels he has. My son is very intelligent and communicates in his own way. What really resonated with me was when the author spoke about how just because someone is non verbal doesn’t mean they don’t want to communicate as I feel many people think this about my son. I think this book contains a lot of good information for both autistic and non autistic people and I recommend it.

This is a great book for both allistic readers and autistic individuals who want to better understand their neurodivergence. Some chapters may feel a bit introductory for those who have been researching autism or active in online autism spaces for a long time, but there’s still plenty to learn. Plus, the author approaches topics with an intersectional mindset, which is a much-needed and welcome perspective.

I don't often read non-fiction but through my journey of self-diagnosis with autism I sometimes venture into the genre to research and gain perspective.

I think this book could be quite useful for learning how to improve and work on various forms of communication, and can be a guide to support and enable neurodivergents to maintain different relationships through a variety of ways. It's written in a way that's easy to read and understand, and feels like a dissertation in a way. I liked that the author included personal experiences- some I relate to, others not so much. The information is backed up with references and further reading, which I'm definitely going to look into.

Like always, everyone will take different things away from this book depending on who you are and what you need/are looking for.

4/5 🌟

I’m the parent of a child with autism, who grew up as a sibling of two autistic siblings. You’d think I’m good at this? But that’s not the case! I found this book to be well written and informative. It does read a little like a textbook but the information is incredibly helpful, and I think it will really help me as I navigate parenting a young child with different communication needs.

Whilst 'The Autistic Guide to Communicating and Connecting' was hard for me as someone who dislikes reading non-fiction, I found it an incredibly informative handbook when I consumed it in smaller sections. Too often these types of books are poorly researched and completely invalidating of how individuals experience their autistic traits, so this book does well to avoid this.

The structure and prose utilised by Garvey is in my opinion definitely targeted towards adults rather than the younger generation. It is very text heavy, which I unfortunately struggle to read. It is also a great book to read if you are studying neurodiversity as a whole, and even better if researching the specific details and information relating directly to autism.

I like the tips that are suggested throughout the book, and will be absolutely be implementing them into my daily interactions with others.
If you are after a well researched and intensive guide to communicating, I definitely recommend 'The Autistic Guide to Communicating and Connecting!'

Since I aspire to work with autistic and ADHD youth as a therapist, I am always on the lookout for resources that might help me broaden my understanding of how neurodivergent people experience the world, what they might struggle with due to their neurotype, and which ways to provide support are the most effective and affirming. In this sense, I was really grateful that I came across this book, because it helped me understand autistic burnout in much more depth than any university handbook ever has.

Due to the lack of public autism awareness among the general public, another thing I try to prioritise is my backlist of recommended reading for the people I work with and their loved ones. Families tend to feel overwhelmed upon learning that their relative is autistic, and might not know where to look for information or how to tell whether the resource they've picked up is legit and evidence-based. In this sense, this book is most certainly going to be one of my star recs for autistic teenagers and their families, friends, caretakers, and/or teachers, since it covers a struggle that's often overlooked or mistaken for defiance, laziness, or even a sign of ill intentions.

Viv Dawson's own autistic child illustrated this book, which I though was very lovely. Aside from being a lovely way to bond as a family, the fact that the two people involved in bringing this book to life were autistic was really wonderful in and of itself. Young autistic people often carry years' worth of stigma, low self-esteem, and negative stereotypes about themselves, because they have spent their whole life being censored or reprimanded for being different in ways they cannot control. They might be seen as cold, uncaring, too-literal, unimaginative and boring. The fact that this book was both written and illustrated by autistic people helps debunk such unfair stereotypes, and it's in this sense that I find it valuable to show autistic youth that they're capable of a lot more than they might've been told they are.

In regards to the book's contents, they are more of an informative buffet than a three-course meal. even though one can read it from beginning to end without running into any issues, it's best used as a suit-yourself selection of facts and tips about autistic burnout. There is information about what burnout looks and feels like; preventive measures that can help autistic folks avoid getting burnt out; triggers to look out for; strategies for whenever an autistic person is already experiencing it; and empowering reminders to prevent shame or guilt after an episode. While aimed primarily at autistic youth, I feel like families, therapists, teachers and all other people who are close to someone who's autistic will benefit from reading this guide.

Last, but not least, I do want to point out that I appreciated the effort put into making this text cognitively accessible. While some autistic people have little to no problems with language and reading, some others do struggle to process the meaning of what they're reading. Overly complex writing tends to make this worse, as does relying on figurative language rather than being clear and straightforward about what one means. In this sense, I was quite satisfied too. 100% recommended!

This put a name to so many things that I have experienced but I now have the language to better understand. It will take me a little while to fully process but I expect this will stay with me for a while. I don’t know how I haven’t heard about monotropic minds or Gestalt language processing before as so many pieces fell into place in my mind after reading about them.

There were some sections that I didn’t learn anything from or weren’t relevant to me, which is to be expected from this kind of book but the other parts more than make up for that.

I also really appreciated the collation of so many studies but also the autistic view of what they were missing and talking about things that haven’t been researched such as faces not conveying what the person is thinking.

This book feels like a deep exhale for anyone who's ever struggled with the social “rules” that seem to come naturally to others. Niamh Garvey, an autistic author herself, brings both lived experience and solid research to the table, making this guide feel personal and empowering rather than clinical or preachy.

It’s split into three parts—communication styles, socializing, and navigating specific situations like interviews or group chats—and each section is packed with strategies that actually feel doable. The standout? Her “Six Step Social Plan,” which is basically a cheat sheet for surviving social stuff without burning out.

Overall, it’s a thoughtful, inclusive guide that respects neurodiversity and offers real tools for connection. 4 stars—a solid resource that’s both validating and genuinely useful.

This is a fantastic read. While it is lengthy, it is full of information and tools that are so incredibly helpful for those on the spectrum, for their family, caretaker, educators, etc. Anyone. As a parent to a teen on the spectrum (and possibly on the spectrum myself, my life would make so much more sense with that diagnosis) communication was and still is, the number one deficit. From communicating needs to just having a simple back and forth conversation, it has always been a struggle. Now that my son is older, his needs are somewhat different but what has remained the same was the social aspect and communicating.

Grab this and take your time connecting with it. You are in no rush. Niamh Garvey has provided us, the reader, invaluable information coming from first hand experiences and first hand knowledge. This is not a book or reference from someone who simply observed or studied the topic. That makes a world of difference, because the reader will relate to the author and the author can relate to the reader, regardless of how "wide" a "spectrum" Autism truly is and how no two people are alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Niamh Garvey for the advance reader copy. I have left my honest review voluntarily.

I can confidently say that 'The Autistic Guide to Communicating and Connecting' is one of the most helpful and affirming books I’ve ever read. Whether you are autistic yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply want to foster better communication and connection across neurotypes, this book is an essential read.

What makes this book stand out is its deep relatability and authenticity, the author, being autistic herself, writes with clarity, compassion, and lived experience. She balances personal insight with current research in a way that feels both informative and affirming. Every chapter resonated with me on a personal level, helping me better understand not only how I communicate but also how I’ve masked in ways I hadn’t even realised. The author's voice is warm, honest, and so validating.

I read this book hoping to better understand myself and my relationships (especially navigating communication between both my neurodivergent and neurotypical friends) and it delivered far beyond my expectations. It not only helped me reflect on my communication style. The practical suggestions for communication, self-reflection, and reasonable adjustments are especially helpful. I often get asked what adjustments I need at work, and this book gave me a solid starting point for answering that question with more confidence

I also appreciated the thoughtful suggestions for further reading—I’ve already added several titles to my list. It’s rare to come across a book that informs, affirms, and empowers all at once, but this one does just that.

I truly believe 'The Autistic Guide to Communicating and Connecting' should be required reading for everyone. It bridges gaps in understanding and promotes empathy in such an accessible, honest way. If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

This book was phenomenal, although it was a big long and a little dense at times the writing structure was overall remarkably. Garvey with her own experiences in with Autism has found a way to make her rewriting feel relevant at times on a basis of either experiencing Autism themselves or through a loved one and the journey with verbal and non-verbal communication. This book is something I would hand to anyone who is interested in learning more about the ASD world.

The work does a good job at equitably explaining the range of autistic social experience, even giving a massive portion of the book geared towards non-verbal autistic sociality. The writer does a good job at extrapolating social implications from personal experience and secondary research.

At one point, they gave an opinion about non-verbal language boards that I didn’t agree with, but everything else in the book seemed well-reasoned and research supported.

Wow, This book accompanied me during a long trip and kept me engaged from the outset.
Garvey has lived experience with autism, and she discusses many topics relevant to autistic individuals while providing excellent advice to enrich our inner lives and connections.
In Garvey’s writing style, I found many snippets that felt relevant, relatable and useful, and felt as if I was listening to a close friend while reading this book.

Phenomenal own voices book that is a great reference for those who want to learn more about Autism.

I am struggling to put into words how helpful this guide is. It is very difficult to find good resources on ASD, as many books and organizations tend to push potentially harmful messaging (like Autism Speaks for example). This book is an amazing resource and guide for those wanting to have a solid understanding of how ASD affects people, or how it might impact them as a reader if they have it or are wondering if they have it.

I did find the writing to be a bit more dense. It is a longer book, but this is why I think it's great reference material. This is something I would personally hand to someone who wants to learn more about how ASD works.

The cover has gorgeous colors too.

Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.