Why is a generation of women only now discovering they have ADHD? (Spoiler: misogyny). A writer examines the cost of living with undiagnosed ADHD in a reported memoir about the girls that medical science ignored.

“A fascinating analysis of who gets left out of ADHD research and a rallying cry to a ‘big chaotic sisterhood’ of neurodivergent girls finding answers later in life.”—USA Today

When Carla Ciccone is diagnosed with ADHD at thirty-nine—an event brought on by the demands of early motherhood—it flips the script on the story of her life. After years of self-blame and sabotage, it turns out that her most reviled traits aren’t deep personality flaws, but symptoms of an undiagnosed disorder. And as she goes from being her own biggest hater to something a bit more compassionate, she notices the growing community of women in the same situation.

Weaving her personal story into a broader investigation of the rise in ADHD diagnoses, Carla draws on scientific research and expert interviews as she looks back on the classrooms of the 1990s, where “ADD” was reserved for hyperactive white boys and the girls learned to mask their differences. She examines the hormonal upheavals of adolescence and their unique effects on neurochemistry and later charts her chaotic entrance into motherhood. She also reflects on the history of women’s mental healthcare and the pressure put on us to perform our genders in a certain way. Throughout, Carla seeks to understand the ramifications of an ignored mental disorder on an entire generation—the nowhere girls.

With humor, depth and detailed reporting, Nowhere Girl explores the cultural impact of ADHD on girls and women and offers a path forward for reclaiming our narratives, forgiving ourselves and parenting our children (and reparenting ourselves) with the softness we didn’t receive.

“We live in a mainstream and health culture that demands us to ‘fit in.’ This is the opposite of living an authentic life. Our bodies and minds are speaking to us and doing their job in raising their red flags. The question remains: are we truly ready to listen? Carla’s candid memoir about being diagnosed with ADHD after years of feeling lost and ignored shines a light on the inconvenience of truth. That in itself is a sacred gift to make sure we head somewhere together instead of nowhere.” —Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, bestselling author of Closer Together

“Nowhere Girl is at once lucid, captivating, poignant, terrifying and ultimately uplifting. Once I opened it, I literally could not put it down…. Five stars, highest recommendation.” —Stephen P. Hinshaw, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkley and author of Straight Talk about ADHD in Girls: How to Help Your Daughter Thrive

“Nowhere Girl is funny, wise, infuriating and deeply moving. Carla Ciccone has done a stellar job of explaining how ADHD has affected her life, and the lives of countless other women who have been overlooked and dismissed. I wanted to press this book into the hands of every woman who has ADHD, or knows someone who does—in other words, all of us.” ―Elizabeth Renzetti, author of What She Said: Conversations About Equality

“Truly eye-opening.” ―Anna Mehler Paperny, journalist and author of Hello, I Want to Die Please Fix Me: Depression in the First Person

“Ciccone’s in-depth research and vulnerable storytelling opens up space for the hard, messy and complicated truths of life with ADHD for girls and women. Nowhere Girl reads like a warm hug, a pep talk and a call to action for us all. I think it’s the most important book of the year.” —Julie S. Lalonde, author of Resilience Is Futile: The Life and Death and Life of Julie S. Lalonde

“Carla Ciccone is a masterful writer. Nowhere Girl is powerful, vulnerable and a testament to the necessity of empathy and understanding when navigating ADHD, but on a personal level, this book made me feel seen, heard and not alone.” —Anne T. Donahue, author of Nobody Cares