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Alter Ego

By: Helen Heckety
Narrated by: Sian Reese-Williams
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Summary

'I adored Alter Ego. A book that can truly make you both laugh and cry. Written with such honesty and warmth, it's powerful, joyful, heartbreaking and so funny all at once. A brilliant debut' SARA NISHA ADAMS, author of The Reading List

'Eye-opening, moving and highly original' LAURA PRICE, author of Single Bald Female

Six months ago, something happened that changed everything for Hattie. The next morning, she came up with The Plan. It was time for a whole new life. That's how Hattie ends up in a little cabin in the middle of nowhere, where the woodland stretches for miles and stars light up the night sky. Here, Hattie can be whoever she wants to be.

At two years old, Hattie was diagnosed with a condition that would alter the course of her life. Ever since then she's had to constantly explain herself and pretend that the pitying looks don't bother her.

If she wants The Plan to work, nobody back home can know why she really left, and nobody in her new life can know the truth about her.

But it's not long before she's caught in her lies - trapped between who she really is, and who she so desperately wants to be. When everything falls apart, can she piece herself back together?

If you've ever felt a little lost, wanted to hide, or struggled to accept yourself, you will see yourself in this book. Perfect for fans of Kirsty Capes and Daisy Buchanan, this hilarious and achingly relatable audiobook will break your heart, mend it anew and leave you with a smile on your face.

'Every now and then a book comes along that changes the way you see the world, and this is one of them... Uplifting and angry, hilarious and heartbreaking. I absolutely adored it' Freya Sampson, author of The Last Library

'An uncompromising, sharp and funny novel that took me from laughter to heart-aching tenderness... A fresh voice on the contemporary scene full of sharp insight and deeply funny bones' Abigail Mann, author of The Lonely Fajita

'Filled with heart and depth, this joyous book will stay with me for a very long time!' Tess Amy, author of The Confidence Games

'Sharp, witty and raw . . . This is a book everyone should pick off the shelves' Rebecca Netley, author of The Whistling

'Alter Ego was impossible to put down. Joyful and sad, profound and moving, I laughed and cried while cheering for the much-needed disability representation' Ella Allbright, author of The Last Charm
©2024 Helen Heckety (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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What listeners say about Alter Ego

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Definitely one you need to listen to!

I loved the story - it was refreshingly different and had a great balance of being funny whilst addressing some really important, difficult issues. Sian did a fantastic job of narrating the book too, making it really easy to listen to and enjoyable throughout.

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A book that should be read by everyone, funny, enraging, uplifting & extremely relatable to those living in wobbly bodies

I loved this book and I needed to read this book. The book describes the many frustrations of living in a body that sort of passes as non disabled, internalised ableism, how small it can make you feel having to constantly speak up for basic needs/rights but also how important communication and community are, particularly finding the right community who accepts you, sees you and loves you as you are. I will be listening to and reading this book many more times. I'm so happy it's in the world, especially for you get generations of disabled kids. We need more books like this, publishers, take note.

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I need a book club dedicated just to talking about this book!

Complex, layered, funny, heartbreaking, relatable, eye-opening, yet easy to read, Alter Ego is a book everyone should read. Heckety addresses disability, loss, grief, mental health and more with grace, humour and a light touch, while holding your hand up and down the emotional roller coaster of falling in love while starting a new life in a new place, with all new people in both.

Medium spicy language just seasons the storytelling and lends a freshness to the communication style of contemporary 20-somethings.

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Hooked till the end!

A compelling story that explores disability, ableism, grief and self acceptance. Was not expecting such a rollercoaster of emotions - laughing one minute to actually sobbing! Great characters and a plot with twists and reveals that kept me hooked till the end. A must read!! Beautifully read by Sian Reese-Williams too!

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I LOVED this audiobook it is brilliant

I think Sian read the story beautifully, she really read Alter ego with character I absolutely loved it. It was like she really was Hatty, which is brilliant. I love Hatty being disabled myself, i totally get how Hatty feels. Sometimes there is still, a lot of negativity around disability. People who don’t understand often, make negative comments. I think it’s good to make disability less negative, and more positive.

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A must read for anyone who has experienced the weight of ableism or access

Loved this story, though it was so close to the bone, that it was genuinely triggering in terms of medical trauma and attitudes to disability. Really affirming though, and like someone was in my head at times. Brilliantly narrated. Quirky yet brutally honest!

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Didn’t finish the book

Fair enough I didn’t finish this book and I dare say it became more positive, but as a person with a visible disability I didn’t like it at all.
I suppose I should finish the book, but not for me.

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