My Name is MacKenzie Bly cover art

My Name is MacKenzie Bly

A hilarious coming-of-age novel from the bestselling author of Old Baggage

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My Name is MacKenzie Bly

By: Lissa Evans
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Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

© Lissa Evans 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction
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Critic reviews

Lissa Evans perfectly captures the agony and absurdity of adolescence... MacKenzie Bly is the Adrian Mole of our times… A work of comic genius. (India Knight)
Loved it, so many laugh out loud scenes - MacKenzie Bly is a joyous escape from this messed up world. (Clare Chambers)
An utter joy and very funny indeed. Philip Stephens is a brilliantly drawn character and My Name is MacKenzie Bly is a wonderfully affectionate portrait of modern Britain. (Rob Newman)
So imaginative, funny and life-affirming. (Hadley Freeman)
My Name is MacKenzie Bly is Adrian Mole for the 21st century, with all of the original’s charm, humour and brilliance. This has to be one of the funniest books I’ve read in years, and Lissa Evans is an absolute comedy genius. (Katya Balen)
So good. So funny. Befriend MacKenzie Bly immediately. He is the man you need in your life. (Lucy Mangan)
MacKenzie Bly is one of the funniest, most loveable characters I’ve met in years. (Hilary McKay)
MacKenzie Bly is proof that great writing and great humour can go hand in hand. Evans captures the messy brilliance of being a teenage boy perfectly - one of the funniest books I've had the pleasure to read. (Jenny Pearson)
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