My Name is MacKenzie Bly: A hilarious coming-of-age novel from the bestselling author of Old Baggage

Meet MacKenzie Bly, as he navigates the trials of life while struggling with the vexed issue of being a teenage boy. Perfect for fans of Sue Townsend.

I am fourteen years old and I’m called MacKenzie Bly. It’s a good name, isn’t it? Unfortunately, I just made it up, I’m actually called Philip Stephens which, if there was ever a competition for the world’s most boring name, would be a clear winner. ‘We didn’t want to call you something that would mean you’d get teased’ is what Mum B says.

But given that I’m the size of a vending machine, hate sport, live with my Mums, one of whom teaches biology at my school, and don’t live with my Dad who plays air guitar, has ginger plaits down to his waist and writes random notes on Rizlas instead of using a diary, they might as well have called me ‘Fattus Butticus’ for all the difference it would have made....

Oh, and my best friend Sy has just moved to New Zealand.

Life is terrible.

I hope you enjoy reading this.

'MacKenzie Bly is the Adrian Mole of our times... A work of comic genius' India Knight
'Loved it, so many laugh out loud scenes... a joyous escape from this messed up world' Clare Chambers

© Lissa Evans 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026