The Bad Decisions Playlist - Paperback

by Michael Rubens (Author)

"Funny and painful, it's a sharply etched portrait of fallible human beings living, loving, screwing up, and making do." --Publishers Weekly

Sixteen-year-old Austin is always messing up and then joking his way out of tough spots. The sudden appearance of his allegedly dead father, who happens to be the very-much-alive rock star Shane Tyler, stops him cold. Austin--a talented musician himself--is sucked in to his newfound father's alluring music-biz orbit. None of Austin's previous bad decisions, resulting in broken instruments, broken hearts, and broken dreams, can top this one. Witty and audacious, Austin is dragged kicking and screaming toward adulthood in this hilarious, heart-wrenching novel.

Finding out your dad isn't dead is one thing. Finding out he's a rock star who wants to pull you into his orbit is something else entirely.

• Father-Son Relationship: Austin's dad, Shane Tyler, is a legend with a guitar and a total stranger. As Austin gets a taste of the rock-and-roll life, he has to decide if the man who abandoned him is one he can finally trust.
• Teen Romance: He's a screw-up who jokes his way out of everything. She's the brilliant tutor who sees right through him. Their connection is undeniable, but Austin's talent for bad decisions could ruin everything.
• Finding Your Voice: A gifted singer-songwriter who freezes on stage, Austin has a million half-finished songs. But to survive his dad's world--and win the girl--he'll have to find the courage to finish one.
• Witty Protagonist: Laugh-out-loud funny and painfully real, Austin's sharp-witted narration turns a story of heartbreak and bad choices into an unforgettable journey.

Author Biography

Michael Rubens is a former producer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, as well as a writer and producer for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. He is the author of the YA novel Sons of the 613 and the middle grade novel Emily and the Spellstone. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit www.michaelrubens.com.