What a Girl Wants: A (True) Story of Sexuality and Self-discovery

Author:   Roxy Bourdillon
Publisher:   Pan Macmillan
ISBN:  

9781035037179


Pages:   272
Publication Date:   09 April 2026
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

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What a Girl Wants: A (True) Story of Sexuality and Self-discovery


Overview

'Courageous, moving, bold and beautifully, brilliantly written' – Daisy Buchanan, bestselling author of Insatiable I am 13 years old and these are my secrets. 1. I have a crush on Jet from ITV gameshow Gladiators. So strong! So pretty! 2. I still play with Barbie dolls. It’s mostly making them scissor. Or snog. Or lie on top of each other with feeling. 3. 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 journey to work out exactly who she is. A relatable and moving coming-of-age memoir, What a Girl Wants is the perfect read for anyone who’s searched for their place in the world, for anyone who’s ever been catcalled, anyone who's despaired about their body, fallen in love, had their heart broken and found friends who can 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. Warm, witty and nostalgia-drenched, it's a laugh-out-loud treat of a read for fans of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love and Caitlin Moran's How to Be a Woman – but with a glorious queer twist. 'Unabashed, bold, even confronting at times . . . exhilarating' – Laura Kay, author of Wild Things 'A joy to read' – Rosie Jones, comedian

Full Product Details

Author:   Roxy Bourdillon
Publisher:   Pan Macmillan
Imprint:   Bluebird
Dimensions:   Width: 13.10cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 19.80cm
Weight:   0.196kg
ISBN:  

9781035037179


ISBN 10:   1035037173
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   09 April 2026
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Reviews

Courageous, moving, bold and beautifully, brilliantly written. -- Daisy Buchanan, bestselling author of <i> Insatiable </i> Smart and funny – genuinely brilliantly, laugh out loud funny. What A Girl Wants is unabashed, bold, even confronting at times and it's exhilarating to read Roxy's words, to be witness to her life. -- Laura Kay, author of <i>The Split</i>, <i>Making It</i> and <i>Wild Things</i> An inspiring and refreshing read! I wish this had been around when I was 19. And 29, and 39. . . -- Val McDermid, author of <i> The Mermaids Singing <i/> What a girl NEEDS, because every girl NEEDS to read this – relatable for the girls who've gone through it and reassuring for the girls who are going through it. -- Charlie Craggs, author of <i>To My Trans Sisters</i> This is the book I wish existed when I was younger, all told in Roxy’s wonderful, unique, inimitable way. Roxy has my heart. -- Adele Roberts, broadcaster and author Beautiful, kind, inclusive, hilarious, passionate. A taster of how glorious things can be when a girl gets what she wants. -- <i>The L Word<i/> star Rachel Shelley Jam-packed with hilarity and heart! The personality that has always made Roxy’s journalism a must-read shines through! -- Rosie Wilby, comedian, broadcaster and author of <i>The Breakup Monologues</i> Funny, thought-provoking and totally charming. . . An important and passionate book on the power of sexuality, creativity and love. Brilliant. -- Karen McLeod, author of <i>Lifting Off</i> and <i>In Search Of The Missing Eyelash</i> Heartfelt, sexy and highly entertaining, Roxy Bourdillon's memoir is also tender on the realities of growing up queer under Section 28 and what it means to be out and proud today. -- Holly Williams, author of <i>The Start Of Something</i> and <i>What Time Is Love?</i> A no holds barred trip down memory lane that packs a hilarious, nostalgic and seriously sapphic punch. -- Jamie Windust, author of <i>In Their Shoes</i> A fabulously femme romp through a queer life, that will be a guiding light for anyone embracing their truth. -- Lotte Jeffs, author of <i>This Love</i>, <i>The Queer Parent </i> and <i>How to Be a Gentlewoman</i> Hilarious, honest – and sometimes painful. . . From her first secretive kisses to arguments with femmephobic bouncers, Roxy's stories are affirming – and occasionally outrageous! At once a giggly gossip-fest with your lesbian best friend, and a fiercely feminist call to arms, What A Girl Wants is a must-read! -- Rachel Dawson, author of <i>Neon Roses</i> An honest, uplifting and inspirational journey of discovery. I loved it! -- Mari Hannah, author of <i> The Murder Wall <i/> An exuberant, open-hearted memoir about growing up a lesbian under Section 28, and about living a richly queer life in 21st century Britain. -- Kate Young, author of <i>Experienced</i> I loved this book on so many levels. . . It’s beautifully written, a truly uplifting and engaging read. -- VG Lee, author of <i>Mr Oliver's Object of Desire<i/> I adored What a Girl Wants. It’s such a lovely, warm book to escape to. It gave me so much joy. -- Kate Holderness, actor and author of <i> Be More Keanu <i/> A warm, tender, and playful memoir of growing up lesbian under Section 28 all the way up to becoming the DIVA magazine editor-in-chief. -- Lily Lindon, author of <i> Double Booked <i/> A joy to read. -- Rosie Jones, comedian


'Courageous, moving, bold and beautifully, brilliantly written.' -- Daisy Buchanan 'Smart and funny - genuinely brilliantly, laugh out loud funny. What A Girl Wants is unabashed, bold, even confronting at times and it's exhilarating to read Roxy's words, to be witness to her life.' -- Laura Kay, author of The Split, Making It and Wild Things 'An inspiring and refreshing read! I wish this had been around when I was 19. And 29, and 39. . .' -- Val McDermid 'What a girl NEEDS, because every girl NEEDS to read this – relatable for the girls who've gone through it and reassuring for the girls who are going through it.' -- Charlie Craggs, author of To My Trans Sisters 'This is the book I wish existed when I was younger, all told in Roxy’s wonderful, unique, inimitable way. Roxy has my heart.' -- Adele Roberts, broadcaster and author 'Beautiful, kind, inclusive, hilarious, passionate. A taster of how glorious things can be when a girl gets what she wants.' -- The L Word star Rachel Shelley 'Jam-packed with hilarity and heart! The personality that has always made Roxy’s journalism a must-read shines through!' -- Rosie Wilby, comedian, broadcaster and author of The Breakup Monologues 'Funny, thought-provoking and totally charming. . . An important and passionate book on the power of sexuality, creativity and love. Brilliant.' -- Karen McLeod, author of Lifting Off and In Search Of The Missing Eyelash 'Heartfelt, sexy and highly entertaining, Roxy Bourdillon's memoir is also tender on the realities of growing up queer under Section 28 and what it means to be out and proud today.' -- Holly Williams, author of The Start Of Something and What Time Is Love? 'A no holds barred trip down memory lane that packs a hilarious, nostalgic and seriously sapphic punch.' -- Jamie Windust, author of In Their Shoes 'A fabulously femme romp through a queer life, that will be a guiding light for anyone embracing their truth.' -- Lotte Jeffs, author of This Love, The Queer Parent and How to Be a Gentlewoman Hilarious, honest – and sometimes painful. . . From her first secretive kisses to arguments with femmephobic bouncers, Roxy's stories are affirming – and occasionally outrageous! At once a giggly gossip-fest with your lesbian best friend, and a fiercely feminist call to arms, What A Girl Wants is a must-read! -- Rachel Dawson, author of Neon Roses 'An honest, uplifting and inspirational journey of discovery. I loved it!' -- Mari Hannah 'An exuberant, open-hearted memoir about growing up a lesbian under Section 28, and about living a richly queer life in 21st century Britain.' -- Kate Young, author of Experienced 'I loved this book on so many levels. . . It’s beautifully written, a truly uplifting and engaging read.' -- VG Lee 'I adored What a Girl Wants. It’s such a lovely, warm book to escape to. It gave me so much joy.' -- Kate Holderness, actor and author 'A warm, tender, and playful memoir of growing up lesbian under Section 28 all the way up to becoming the DIVA magazine editor-in-chief.' -- Lily Lindon


Author Information

Roxy Bourdillon is an award-winning writer and the editor-in-chief of DIVA, the world's leading magazine for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. As a journalist she has interviewed everyone from A-listers Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Keira Knightley to the legendary Rebel Dykes. Roxy’s writing has appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Guardian, Woman & Home, Attitude and more. Her groundbreaking work in media has earned her a place in both the Pride Power List and the Attitude 101: LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Changing The World. What a Girl Wants is her deeply personal memoir.

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