By now, Strong Female Character will be familiar to many — whether through a review, a podcast mention, or a friend’s recommendation. Fern Brady’s memoir was published in 2023 and has drawn attention for good reason. It’s sharp, unsparing, and charged with a particular kind of fury that feels both timely and timeless.

For women in their twenties to forties – especially those who’ve ever second-guessed a conversation long after it ended, or felt slightly out of sync in social settings – Brady’s account offers something close to recognition.

The book arrives to me under the weight of five-star praise, all of it clearly deserved. There’s a clarity and candour to Brady’s writing that strips away any pretence. Even without prior familiarity with her stand-up, readers are quickly drawn in by the memoir’s disarming humour. The rawness of her voice may not resonate with all, but then again – liked by all, loved by none.

About Fern Brady

Fern Brady is a Scottish comedian and writer who has appeared on shows such as Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, and Taskmaster (series 14). The public knows her for her commentary on topical issues, from gender to class to neurodivergence (which, haven’t read her book, doesn’t come as a surprise).

About Strong Female Character

Brady’s narrative is a candid conversation with the reader, peppering her reflections with biting humour and incisive social commentary. Her experiences—ranging from childhood misunderstandings to the realities of working in male-dominated industries—are by turns relatable, excruciating, and unexpectedly hilarious.

What begins as a witty, self-deprecating account of her life quickly reveals itself to be an unflinching exploration of identity, resilience, and the often-overlooked reality of autism in women—particularly those that get a later diagnosis.

Childhood traumas

During childhood, her family dismissed the sensory overwhelm of tight dresses and restrictive bras as the quirks of a difficult child. Her recounting of trying to survive a family wedding as a flower girl is amusing at this core. But it is also a moment many will relate to: the agony of being moulded into a form of femininity they truly don’t fit in.

Working at Boots

Her time at Boots as a teenager is another key piece of her journey. Faced with bullying and a lack of support from her colleagues, she turned to shoplifting to gain control over her life. Beneath the surface, her actions speak to a deeper emotional reality. The powerlessness and shame that can come from being consistently misunderstood—especially in a world quick to dismiss women like Brady as simply “difficult.”

The stripping days

The time working in a strip club is a period Brady approaches with equal parts humour and disarming honesty. She writes about her time in the strip club with a kind of dry clarity, painting it as one of the few environments where she didn’t have to pretend—where masking, small talk, and the awkward dance of social norms could fall away. There’s power in the way she tells it: not trying to shock or moralise, just laying it out as it was.

Finding clarity in chaos

But the story doesn’t just wallow in these moments of difficulty—it’s also about finding clarity in the chaos. Brady’s wit and self-deprecating humour make this memoir an easy read, even when she’s discussing her most painful and traumatic experiences. For instance, when she finally gets her autism diagnosis at 35 years old, there is a sense of liberation as she begins to understand herself on her own terms.

Despite the depth of these issues, Strong Female Character never feels preachy or heavy-handed. Brady’s ability to take complex topics like autism, gender expectations, and mental health, and make them not only accessible but deeply relatable, is what makes this memoir such an urgent read.

What to read next?

If you have read this book already or are keen on reading more books this month, check out our reviews of Stolen Focus, which delves into the crisis of attention in modern life, and We Will Be Jaguars, a powerful memoir of living in an Amazon tribe and combating modern world greed to protect land.