“Several years after receiving her autism diagnosis, writer and painter Mélissa Perron has released her second vivid and deeply moving novel, ‘She Is Like a River.’ In the book, she recounts the luminous journey of Fabiana—a protagonist who, like the author herself, has completely reexamined her past in light of her autism diagnosis.”
— Le Journal de Montréal

“A story brimming with tenderness, self-reflection, and gentle truths. Readers will be utterly captivated by this journey, which is both beautiful and profoundly human—and thoroughly entertaining as well.”
— Polar, noir et blanc

“She Is Like a River is truly uplifting. First, it’s thanks to the character of Fabienne—radiant, witty, and richly colorful—and second, to the effortlessly evocative descriptions of the landscapes that seem to spring effortlessly to mind.”
— Les Versants

★The second work from Promets-moi un printemps series by Quebec-based Canadian author Mélissa Perron. Set six years after the events of the first book, the protagonist Fabiana has emerged from severe depression and appears to have her life back on track. More importantly, two years earlier she was diagnosed with autism—a diagnosis that, for the first time, enabled her to truly understand herself and shed light on all the moments in her past when she felt “out of place.”
★Several libraries in Quebec have recommended this book under two themes: “Women’s Self-Reconstruction” and “Neurodiversity.” Reviews praise the book for turning rivers into emotional verbs, describing it as a lifeline for anyone who has ever struggled against hidden currents.
★Unlike traditional inspirational narratives, this trilogy weaves together depression, autism, female identity, and artistic creation into a tender guide on how to keep blossoming even with cracks in one’s foundation. It has been included on multiple library recommendation lists in Quebec as a “psychological read for the transition from adolescence to adulthood.”

The trilogy consists of:
Book One: “Phibiana’s Spring”
Book Two: “She Is a River”
Book Three: “Perseid Meteor”

After six years, Fabiana’s life is almost a dream come true: she deeply loves her work at the hospice, picks up her paintbrush more often than ever, and remains as sweetly in love with her partner Fred as ever. Even more significant, she has learned that she is autistic—a diagnosis that has redefined her past and illuminated her everyday life.

The novel opens with the death of Fabiana’s mother, who leaves her a semi-detached house in the coastal town of Saint August, located downstream at the mouth of a river. At first, Fabiana is content to sell the house and move on—but when she visits the place in person, the dilapidated building captivates her at once. She is enchanted by the town and its residents, and she feels an irresistible pull toward the river and its banks. These unexpected developments throw her carefully ordered life into disarray—and there is yet another variable, or rather, another person: Charles, an old acquaintance who has returned from western Canada and suddenly appears at a critical juncture in Fabiana’s relationship with Fred. What began as a simple weekend getaway outside the city quickly spirals into a cascade of soul-searching for Phoebeana. A life that feels like a rebirth seems to ripple along the river’s edge. Dare Phoebeana reach out? And if she does, how far will she go?

Following her exploration of depression, the author now turns her attention to another pressing issue—autism in women—an topic sure to resonate deeply with countless female readers and those in their lives.

Mélissa Perron

A multi-talented creator from Quebec, Canada: novelist, painter, illustrator, podcast host, and public speaker. She has long lived at the foot of the mountains where she was born, embracing the belief that “anything is possible” as her guiding principle in life.

At the age of 38, she was diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition. This personal experience has inspired her to weave the lived experiences of neurodiversity into her novels and graphic novels, and to explore the topic of “women and autism” in her lectures and talks.