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As someone on the lookout for funny, wholesome books, I took a dive into the YA humor section. I wanted something lighthearted – plenty of laughs without getting bogged down by heavy themes. That search led me to How You Ruined My Life, by Jeff Strand.
This book delivers exactly what I was looking for: quirky, clean, and perfectly suited to my emotional maturity level (grade 6-12.) It’s an epic cousin rivalry packed with hilariously disastrous consequences. Plus, the lead character is a 16-year-old in a punk band named “Fanged Grapefruit.” Intrigued?
My How You Ruined My Life book review:
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How You Ruined My Life Summary
How You Ruined My Life follows teenager Rod, a pretty average guy with a solid life. He’s got a punk band, a great girlfriend (frankly, way out of his league), and a general lack of major disasters. Enter Cousin Blake, who comes to stay with Rod’s family for three months.
Blake isn’t just any houseguest—he’s rich, charming, and suspiciously good at worming his way into Rod’s life. One minute, Rod is in control of his pretty sweet life. The next, Blake has somehow taken over everything: his room, his friends, his social status, and maybe even his band (Fanged Grapefruit.)
What follows is a hilarious (for the reader, not for Rod) spiral of chaos as Rod tries to reclaim his life while Blake keeps up his suspiciously innocent act. Is Blake an evil mastermind? Just naturally infuriating?
Rod’s life is falling apart. But if he goes down, he’s taking his cousin with him.
What does it mean to “break the 4th wall” as a narrator?
In literature, “breaking the 4th wall” is when a narrator or character acknowledges the audience or readers directly, stepping outside the fictional world. Imagine the narrator and characters are in a fictional box. There are 4 walls in that box, (as are in many boxes.) YOU, the reader, are outside one of those walls. In order to truly acknowledge you as part of the story, the narrator breaks one of those 4 walls.
In How You Ruined My Life, Jeff Strand frequently uses Rod, the main character, to break the fourth wall, reminding readers they’re in on the joke. This self-aware narration adds to the humor, letting Rod comment on his ridiculous situation and pull the reader into the chaos alongside him.
You’re welcome.
Who is author Jeff Strand?
Jeff Strand is an author known for his comedic and often quirky writing style (that 4th wall thing), primarily in the horror and young adult genres. His books are marked by humor, dark absurdity, and characters facing bizarre or uncomfortable situations. Strand’s works range from humorous horror novels to lighthearted young adult stories, such as How You Ruined My Life (the one you’re reading about now.)
For more on his work, check out his official website.
Now onto the rating! How You Ruined My Life Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 5/5
Intended for grades 6-12, How You Ruined My Life is a slam dunk of wholesomeness. There are no swears, sexual content, or references to drinking or drugs.
The epic level of hatred and prank-fighting between cousins might be considered slightly less wholesome, but let’s keep some perspective. It’s all in good fun, making it a great choice for young readers OR 50+ year old bloggers/authors.
Hilarity Score: 4/5
I loved Jeff Strand’s style of writing. He broke the 4th wall throughout the entire book, inviting us (me) into the whacky hijinks along the way. The main character’s (Rod) punk band was pretty epic. Since this was intended for a YA audience, the band name (Fanged Grapefruit) and song names were innocently edgy and mostly hilarious.
A couple slices of humor that caught my attention:
When Rod’s annoying cousin Blake falls asleep in the car and starts snoring:
“Poke him,” I tell Mel. “He doesn’t get to snore in my car anymore.”
Mel jabs Blake in the side. Blake pops awake.
“What?”
“You were snoring.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Then you were talking in your sleep in a foreign language that sounds like snoring.”
-Jeff Strand, How You Ruined My Life
Rod warning his cousin Blake not to get any ideas with his female friend and bandmate, Clarissa:
“So don’t even think about it.”
“There’s no reason I shouldn’t think about it,” says Blake. “I think about lots of girls that would never talk to me. I also think about being Batman. You think about being Batman too, don’t you?”
“Sometimes,” I admit.
-Jeff Strand, How You Ruined My Life
Main character and narrator, Rod, welcoming in readers…somewhat literally. (That 4th wall thing.)
Wipe your feet on the “Welcome Friends” mat and come on in. (Fun fact: that doormat is older than I am.) Congratulations! You’re in my living room! That’s one ugly couch, huh? It’s more comfortable that in looks. Don’t bother checking the cushions for loose change. I’ve got that covered.
-Jeff Strand, How You Ruined My Life
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
How You Ruined My Life is awesome because it strikes the perfect balance (by my standards) of humor and wholesomeness. It’s just plain fun. The lighthearted, comedic rivalry between Rod and his cousin Blake offers a ton of laughs, while the “breaking the 4th wall” narration adds an extra layer of charm and engagement.
Things I liked:
- The author (and narrator) breaks the fourth wall throughout the entire book, making me feel like part of the story—maybe even an honorary member of Fanged Grapefruit. I know I’ve mentioned the fourth wall a lot, but it’s a key part of the narration and really shapes the book’s tone.
- Squeaky clean
- intended for grades 6-12. Which is right where my maturity lies!
- ridiculous punk band song titles
Things I didn’t like:
- I get that it’s part of the story’s schtick, but I can’t pin down who Cousin Blake is supposed to be. Evil genius? Master manipulator? Just an opportunistic slacker? All of the above?
Conclusion: How You Ruined My Life Book Review
How You Ruined My Life is a fun, wholesome read full of humor, relatable family dynamics, and hilarious pranks. Although it’s intended for readers in grades 6-12, its light-hearted tone and clever narration make it enjoyable for readers of all ages who appreciate goofy comedies and quirky characters. Or maybe I’m just trying to justify my deep dive into the YA humor section, and REALLY enjoying it.
Have you read any funny/wholesome YA books? Send your recommendations my way! (A.K.A. comment below.)
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
