A laugh-out-loud, big-hearted memoir of queer coming-of-age — perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love and Caitlin Moran's How to Be a Woman, with a glorious queer twist.
I am 13 years old and these are my secrets:
- I have a crush on Jet from the ITV gameshow Gladiators. So strong! So pretty!
- I still play with Barbie dolls. It's mostly making them scissor. Or snog. Or lie on top of each other with feeling.
- I just kissed my best friend. Spoiler alert: she's a girl.
From the suburbs of Leeds to the streets of Sydney, from the queer clubs of London to a quiet life by the sea — through love, family, friendship, and heartache — join Roxy Bourdillon on a wildly funny, tender, exhilarating journey to work out exactly who she is.
What a Girl Wants is the perfect read for anyone who's ever searched for their place in the world. For anyone who's ever been catcalled, despaired about their body, fallen in love, had their heart broken, and then found friends who could put it back together. From overcoming shame and finding your tribe, to surviving the dating scene and learning to really express yourself — this is a book about joy, empowerment, and freedom.
Praise
"Courageous, moving, bold and beautifully, brilliantly written." — Daisy Buchanan, bestselling author of Insatiable
"Smart and funny — genuinely, brilliantly, laugh out loud funny. Unabashed, bold, even confronting at times. Exhilarating to read." — Laura Kay, author of The Split and Wild Things
"An inspiring and refreshing read! I wish this had been around when I was 19. And 29, and 39..." — Val McDermid, author of The Mermaids Singing
"What a girl NEEDS, because every girl NEEDS to read this — relatable for the girls who've gone through it, reassuring for the girls who are going through it." — Charlie Craggs, author of To My Trans Sisters
About the author
Roxy Bourdillon is a writer, editor, and journalist who has written for The Guardian, The Times, Stylist, DIVA, and many more. A passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, she is a sharp, generous, and laugh-out-loud funny voice on identity, sexuality, and belonging. What a Girl Wants is her debut memoir.
