My Wonderful Disgrace (Angourie Rice & Kate Rice, Walker)

My Wonderful Disgrace by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice (Stuck Up & Stupid) is a darkly comic tale of misjudgements set around the most anticipated night of the year for a graduating class – the school ball. Amy Middleton has spent months imagining the perfect evening and has planned everything: the perfect designer dress, the perfect pre-ball routine and the perfect celebratory speech – even her perfect dream date, Leo Prince, has agreed to go with her. What could go wrong? As it turns out, almost everything. From a miscalculated romantic encounter to a disastrous text message that spreads too widely, Amy’s carefully constructed night quickly unravels. Add an unfortunate incident involving an innocent goat and a series of betrayals from peers and teachers alike, and the perfect evening becomes a perfect storm. The mother–daughter writing duo tells the story at a lively pace, using a creative mix of diary entries, text messages, interviews and school newsletters to piece together the disastrous night. They capture the social pressures teenagers face, from the desire to fit in to the challenge of staying true to themselves in the digital age. Fans of contemporary romance authors such as Alexandra Moody and Ali Hazelwood will find much to enjoy here. My Wonderful Disgrace is a must-read for anyone aged 14 and over who has ever pinned their hopes on a single supposedly perfect night.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Abbey Taylor is currently completing a diploma in library and information services in Adelaide, South Australia, and has got her foot into public libraries, working across 2 local councils. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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