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  • Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse

  • Written by: Shane Burcaw
  • Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
  • Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (65 ratings)

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Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse

Written by: Shane Burcaw
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
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Publisher's Summary

With his signature acerbic wit and hilarious voice, 20-something author, blogger, and entrepreneur Shane Burcaw is back with an essay collection about living a full life in a body that many people perceive as a tragedy. From anecdotes about first introductions where people patted him on the head instead of shaking his hand, to stories of passersby mistaking his able-bodied girlfriend for a nurse, Shane tackles awkward situations and assumptions with humor and grace. 

On the surface, these essays are about day-to-day life as a wheelchair user with a degenerative disease, but they are actually about family, love, and coming of age.

©2019 Shane Burcaw (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse

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Loved it!

Well written, with perfectly timed humour. I finished it in almost a day, and found myself wishing it was longer.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I love Hannah and Shane.

I watch these two on YouTube. The're an awesome couple. When the book was over, I wanted to hear more. Good job Shane!

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3 people found this helpful

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Frank and …

… I want to say frank and inspiring, but as Shane has said how sick he gets of being called inspiring, I’ll say heartening instead. Great follow up to his first memoir. I enjoyed hearing how Shane is living his life beyond his parents’ care.

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I love Shane Burcaw writing style.

I would read anything this author writes. He is an incredible story teller. This book made me laugh and cry.

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Hilarious and relatable!

10/10 for advocating for the real, daily lives of people who use wheelchairs and depend more on others for daily-life activities, all while sharing the relatable adventures of adolescents.

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WOW!! That 4 some odd hours went fast!

That's the end? Already? Those were the words I said when Audible said "Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program". This book was funny, engaging and thought provoking and had me so interested that it seemed like only an hour passed by! This is the first I have heard of Shane but will be looking to purchase his first book asap!

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  • PhinzPride
  • 2020-04-12

Uplifting

Loved this. I too live with a disability (CP). I so identify with struggling about being a burden. Currently just starting a new interabled relationship. So I'm excited yet terrified that my disability will eventually be too much for my partner. Love this book. I don't like to read but finished it in one sitting.

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9 people found this helpful

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  • Taylor Pearce
  • 2019-06-20

squirmy and grubs

I loved the book, Shane! I watch Squirmy and Grubs on YouTube which brought me over to Audible to listen to your book. Thank you for sharing your story and your personal life with the world.
Taylor

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9 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2020-07-25

Amazing writing

I’ve learned so much from Mr. Burcaw’s writing. The way he laid bare his thoughts and feelings caused me to examine my own thoughts and feelings about my multiple sclerosis and anxiety and how I am allowing it to hold me back. I would wish him the best but it seems as if he’s already living it.
His writing is concise and honest in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat and I was sad when it ended. I will definitely make his first book my next read.

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  • Ella
  • 2020-03-18

A wonderful sequel

I highly recommend the book for fans of Shane's first book still dirty and unapologetic as hell.

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  • Grace
  • 2019-07-04

Amazing!

I am very picky when it comes to books, but this by far is one of the best!

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3 people found this helpful

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  • R. MCRACKAN
  • 2021-07-16

Just as good as the first book

This book has everything you love from the first book. And if you haven't read/listened to that one, you should. As someone with a disability in the family which most people would consider extreme, I appreciate Burcaw's depiction of the experience and agree with it 100%. You keep writing them and I'll keep reading them.

Perfect narration from Heyborne. I'm a fan of his from many other books and he gives another flawless delivery here.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Aaron Janz
  • 2020-04-10

Great book by an awesome guy.

Shane Burcaw is a great author, an excellent youtuber, and someone whose presence in my life via silly internet videos and now two books has made my life better. He always brings a smile to my face, and it has nothing to do with his SMA. Shane has such a wonderful sense of humor that leaps off the page in his books and radiates through the screen in his videos. I highly suggest this book, his first book Laughing at my Nightmare, his YouTube channel Squirmy and Grubs, and anything else he's involved in. His uplifting positivity and humor is a great distraction from all the chaos around us every day. Stop considering buying this book and just freaking do it! haha.

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  • Sandy
  • 2023-03-28

love Shane's books

love Shane's books and following him and Hannah. They are funnier the heck. And so real, I live in northern MN and hope to someday run into them.

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  • RachelAmazon Customer
  • 2022-11-09

Good Stuff!

I wish it had been longer/expanded in some parts. Great perspective to help others see into the world of some with disabilities.
Im a RN, and I also provide care for those with special needs as an attendant. I laughed at some of situations because I completely understood. I was able to clearly imagine those situations, what it must feel like..
One of my patients has a different disability..Autism, with tiny bits of verbal but he generally he communicates on a small flat board that resembles a keyboard with emotions and simple words on the other side, he types and I read. We became very fluid after a year, as if I could read his mind, with mere abbreviations and sometimes even 1-3letters. Communication is a top priority and a an important tool. I do understand how others assumptions can lead to frustration, irritation and even feeling insulted at times when people think your capability with your disabilities are limited.. Clearly this book shares how false those beliefs are..
A patient I attended to.. many thought he was mentally challenged and had limited feelings or awareness based on the exterior. The inside joke, he had a full degree from a University and a hysterical sense of humor! We laughed when people thought he was stupid and his remarks were quite witty.
Moral of the story: Dont Judge a Book by its Cover! Cheezy Pun intended.

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  • EntrepreneurialHousekeeping ^.^
  • 2022-03-31

Easy listen, funny light hearted but lots of drama

I have been a fan of Squirmy and Grubs YouTube channel for many years but didn’t pick up the books. Wow, very impressed. I knew Shane was quick witted but it really shines through in this book. Also very thankful to know Shane curses IRL which i suspected lol. This is a story of someone who is just realizing their place in the world and the challenges that lead to overcoming that and obviously in relation to him having SMA. Relatable on so many levels. Loved the performance as well, hard to follow Shane whose voice and delivery we know so well.

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