@MurdochBooksUK – Mai's Musings

Today I am joining the blog tour for Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden. Many thanks to Chloe and Murdoch Books for providing me with a copy of the book, and to Anne at Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

BLURB:

An empowering guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence from Netflix’s Heartbreak High star and disability advocate, Chloe Hayden.

Growing up, Chloe Hayden felt like she’d crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And why are you people so touch-oriented? None of it made sense.

Chloe desperately wished to be part of the fairytales she so dearly loved. A world in which the lead is considered a hero because of their differences, rather than excluded and pushed aside for them.

She moved between ten schools in eight years, struggling to become a person she believed society would accept. After years of being “weird, quirky Chloe,” she was eventually diagnosed with autism and ADHD. It was only after a life-changing group of allies showed her that different didn’t mean less that she learned to celebrate her true voice and find her happily ever after.

Different, Not Less is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with insights on how autism and ADHD present differently in females, advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive relationships, communities and workplaces, and much more.

Whether you’re neurodivergent or supporting those who are, Different, Not Less will inspire you to create a more inclusive world where everyone feels like they belong.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

REVIEW:

Some of you will know that I suffer with a couple of chronic illnesses, and as much as I wish some of the people around me would do more to understand my health issues, I realise that I also have a lot to learn about how other people experience the world. When the opportunity to improve my understanding through joining the blog tour for Different, Not Less came about, I jumped at the chance. I know I still have a way to go, and I apologise if I word things incorrectly in this review. I would welcome any further education if I do.

While I could empathise with the sensory processing issues Chloe has faced, struggling with hypersensitivity myself, other areas were a real eye opener. The complete lack of support she received from the education system and medical professionals in the very recent past was shocking! I naively thought that, at least in these area, things had improved over the years. My heart bled for the little girl who wanted so much to find her place in the world, and was blocked from doing so at every turn, and simply written off as “weird.” I also had no idea that autism came with so many common comorbidities – as if life isn’t difficult enough when you don’t fit the accepted “normal” mould, you are hit with multiple health conditions to manage on top of everything else.

The passion with which this book was written shines through in the language used making it an easy book to read, not dry or a slog like some self-help/health books can be. Chloe’s openness about her experiences as a neurodivergent woman is brutally honest at times, but it is this honesty that a) will hopefully make other people in her situation feel less alone, and b) really drives home to neurotypical readers just how confusing and overwhelming life can be.

Whether you are neurodivergent yourself, supporting someone who is, or just want to understand more about other people’s experiences, Different, Not Less is a great place to start.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chloe Hayden is an award-winning actor and disability advocate, motivational speaker and social media influencer whose story of being “different, not less” has attracted a worldwide following. She is currently appearing in Heartbreak High, the Netflix remake of the iconic Australian series.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

Don’t forget to have a look at the other blogs taking part in the tour for Different, Not Less.

I am delighted to be joining the blog tour for The C Word (Confidence) by the wonderful Mel Schilling today. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part, and to Murdoch Books for providing me with a copy of the book.

BLURB:

If you think you weren’t born with confidence, it’s time for a reframe. Step beyond imposter syndrome, a crisis of self belief or a deficit of bravery with this empowering and practical guide to making friends with your fear and building the skills of confidence in every aspect of your life.

Human behaviour and performance specialist Mel Schilling walks you step by step through taking control of your relationships, career and life, demonstrating that confidence, resilience and self esteem are skillsets to be learned and are essential to helping you thrive. Building on the work she does to coach celebrities, world leaders and game changers, now anyone can learn the tools and skills to expand their comfort zone, to take calculated risks and to develop emotional bravery and fluid competence.

Complete with journaling opportunities, as well as case studies to demonstrate the four sections of the book, Mel teaches us how we can move through the four stages to mastering confidence (fear, courage, confidence, competence) in order to successfully implement it into all corners of our everyday life.

So, if you’re ready to move from barely functioning to absolutely flourishing, it’s time to embrace The C Word.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Purchase Links

REVIEW:

I am not a confident person. I never have been and I doubted I ever would be. I also often find it a struggle to connect on any significant level with self-help books. However, reading this book feels like sitting down for a coffee and a chat with a trusted friend. Mel’s writing style is warm and down to earth, and you get a sense that she knows that The C Word Method works because she has tried it herself.

There is a lot to like about this book, but I think what I love most about it is that it isn’t about overnight results or pushing yourself instantly and terrifyingly out of your comfort zone. It is about building towards your goals, learning how to reframe your thoughts and mastering your fears. For someone who struggles with anxiety and low confidence, this is huge. I finally feel as though I have found a book that speaks to me at my level – and perhaps more importantly, it feels as though I now have a set of tools that come without judgement if you don’t instantly succeed at what is being suggested and have to go back and try again until it really clicks.

Am I 100% confident after reading this book? No. Do I have the tools in my pocket to help me on the road to becoming more confident? Absolutely yes. It’s going to take time, but I know I will revisit this book many times as I work on improving my confidence and becoming the empowered woman that I have always wanted to be but never thought I would be.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Based in the UK, Mel Schilling is a specialist in human behaviour and performance. Mel is known for being one of the Relationship Experts on E4’s BAFTA nominated series, Married at First Sight UK (#MAFSUK).

She has built a 20 year career as a therapist, business consultant and leadership coach for high performing people.

A thought leader in Confidence and Courage, Mel draws on her 20 year background in psychology, as well as stage and screen performance, to ensure her speaking and consulting engagements are highly informative, actionable (and always entertaining).

SOCIAL MEDIA: