Love Just Screws Everything Up

For Better or For Worse #14

by Lynn Johnston

Elly and John Patterson, along with their children Michael, Elizabeth, and April, make up one of the most beloved families in America. The clan from "For Better or For Worse" is not only recognized, their lives are studied, identified with, and, most of all, treasured for the amusing reflections they provide.Perhaps it's seeing part of ourselves in this familial five--something that makes them so endearing. Maybe it's the good old-fashioned values they display. No matter what her secret, creator Lynn Johnston excels, once again, with this collection, "Love Just Screws Everything Up," that gives us a chance to grow even closer to the Pattersons and their devoted dog, Edgar.

This collection of heartwarming and humorous vignettes traces the Pattersons as they toil and traipse through their daily existence--lives much like our own, amplified by Johnson's insightful take on the extraordinarily funny things that happen to ordinary people. For example, we watch as Elly, seemingly stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, uses her cell-phone to call the office--while actually waiting to give her drive-up donut order. Or there's John scolding his girls during a fishing trip for wasting the live bait, only to have a gull grab his next cast in mid-air.

No matter what their situation, no matter what their challenges, the Pattersons always come through with smiles--at least on their readers' faces. This creative collection, "Love Just Screws Everything Up," is sure to captivate all fans of cartooning's first family.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Strips, Comedy, Fiction, Graphic Novels

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1996

About the author

Lynn Johnston CM OM is a Canadian cartoonist, well known for her comic strip For Better or For Worse, and was the first female cartoonist to win the Reuben Award.

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Just Screws Everything Up is a sweet selection of comics that will make you smile.

This is the first (and only) book I've been able to pick up from this series. I happened upon it by mistake, but figured it sounded lovely. And boy, was it! I quite enjoyed the friendly and fun atmosphere of the comics. We follows a family that is dealing with typical family issue: new business, romantic relationships, a child starting pre-kindergarten. All of the drama is positive, funny and made me smile. It's the kind of positive read I needed in my life. Definitely a series that I want to start from the beginning and support.

Four out of five stars. What a nice change up for me!

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth the teenager butts heads with her mother, starts high school, and has boy troubles. The family goes on a cross country trip to visit family. Michael has girl trouble. April starts pre-kindergarten.

I haven't mentioned it yet, but I love the art in this comic. Johnston does amazingly detailed backgrounds and settings. So many of the jokes are based on visual cues and she has whole strips that are word less. All of it is incredible, especially when you consider that she was doing this for a daily comic strip and so had the constant pressure of a dead line.

[The other John · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this, the um, (let me count...) fifteenth collection of For Better or For Worse strips: Gordon goes into business and gets married; the Pattersons, sans Michael, take a vacation to visit the grandparents; April starts Pre-Kindergarten; Elizabeth starts high school; Michael stays in college, but switches housing and Elly gets a hair cut. Oh, and there's also romantic issues that come up, hence the title. ... Well, it's funnier when you actually read the strips.

[Mireille Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Baby April seems much more touching that I have a baby girl of my own. It's interesting to see the transition that Michael's making to college, too. And I really enjoy following Gordon's adventures. One of the great books in the series.

[Kyrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is particularly amusing if you followed the series and know how things turn out.

[Pam Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Better or Worse comic strip compilation, what could be better?

[Amy Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid volume as always, not as exciting or heartwarming as some,but still lovely.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1996 with strips from May of 95 through February of 96. With Michael now at college and Elizabeth going into high school the issues are a bit less juvenile, much to my delight.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

More good cartooning and good stories with the only comic strip I have seen that is a genuine drama and not a melodrama.