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  • I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag

  • Poignant and Funny: A Novel for A Generation of Women
  • By: Jackie Clune
  • Narrated by: Jackie Clune
  • Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (44 ratings)
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I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag cover art

I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag

By: Jackie Clune
Narrated by: Jackie Clune
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Summary

Warning! This novel may lead you to make rash and life-changing decisions!*

*Probably don't listen if you fear you may be ripe for liberation. Or if you sometimes wee when you laugh....

First there was Having It All, then there was Bridget Jones's Diary and I Don't Know How She Does It. Now there is I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag.

I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag is a laugh-out-loud, sob-on-the bus journey through the so-called life of a middle-aged woman.

Ciara is mother to three ungrateful, entitled teenagers, is married to steady Martin, a man with hairy udders, and is grieving for her mum who now lives in the wardrobe in a cardboard box from the crematorium. She finds solace in her anonymous blog and in the daily chats she has with her mum's ashes (often the best conversations she has all day.)

Despite the menopause, the invisibility of middle age and the daily self-esteem bashings, courtesy of her kids, Ciara manages to navigate the stormy waters of grief and family life - until her mask slips and she is cast out from the family bosom. She embarks on a mission to fulfil her mum's dying wishes to have her remains sprinkled from the top of the Empire State Building, finding company, distraction and - ultimately - herself in the process.

If motherhood is a job - who says you can't resign?

©2020 Jackie Clune (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

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What listeners say about I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag

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wow

Great book. should be handed out to parents at primary school induction day . loved it.

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Real!

You either laugh or you cry? This book will make you smile until you start saying to yourself.. wow yeah that’ actually does happen! Fantastic listen

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Such a laugh!

At some points you may get a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye, but for the majority of this excellent book I had a broad smile on my face and just so many spluttering of drinks and laugh out loud moments that I couldn’t stop listening. As a similarly aged 50 year old mother going through her own mid-life crisis, I found this book an absolute joy.

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I’m Just a Teenage Punchbag-Fantastic listen

Loved the whole story and how the narrator was very good voicing the different characters. A hilarious listen… couldn’t put it down . A light hearted listen on a subject about modern difficult teenage behaviour. I could really relate and made me laugh more! Loved the whole story of one woman’s mundane life living with teenage children/ a drab husband and her mothers urn anc what she does with it! Thoroughly recommended

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  • 18-02-23

Very real depiction of Mum of teenagers

So much of this felt like my life - the relentless thankless task of being a Mum to teenagers.
A book that will make you laugh and cry in equal parts. Very well written - I can’t wait for Jackie’s next book.

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First 15 chapters tell my life

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. First chapters tell about my life at the moment. Last half after she goes to US and the ending was a bit cliche. Having said that I totally agree with her that we, mums, should not devote our life to children all together. We need to find a way to be “me” as well as a mum.

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Mum of teenagers? Download this now!

Brilliant from start to finish. I was expecting another life with teenagers factual book but was blown away by this terrifically spot-on description of mum life in hilarious and inspiring story form.

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loved it laughed and cried

made me think about things I need to change in my own life and what a difficult call and fine balance that is. easy read.

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WOW!

Absolutely loved it. This could actually be written about me, the best read/listen ever. Thank you, now I realise I'm not on my own as Woman, wife, mum, and most of all human being.

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