My Messed-Up Life

Humour and pathos mingle in this story of teenage Violet’s struggles to come to terms with her parents’ divorce and her father’s re-marriage.  A young, glamorous step-mother and adorable twin step-sisters only add to her woes.  Then, to make matters worse, Violet’s Mom has a new, and seemingly impossibly cringe worthy boyfriend called Dudley Wiener.  Action is called for and Violet enlists her wise, loyal best friend, Phoebe, in a hilarious spying mission to check out whether Dudley is likely to prove as disastrous as his predecessors.

Violet’s antics are funny but her anger and pain at what she feels is rejection by her father are real and lead to disturbed behaviour.  This novel touchingly combines humour and insight as Violet slowly learns to move on and to be more accepting.

This novel was first published in Canada in 2010 with the title Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom and, whilst the theme of George Clooney being the ideal marriage partner is inevitably dated now, the witty dialogue, comic set pieces and fast pace will keep 12+ fans of problem family stories engaged.