SOLVED. Humorous YA with female protag, and sequel - possibly australian [s]

[Emily]

Unfortunately I don't remember much of the plot, so here's what I've got.

It's a humorous YA novel from the perspective a teenage girl, about her crazyish family, I think. There's definitely one sequel but I don't remember more books than that. I read them 10ish years ago, early 2000s, possibly late 90s. I seem to recall it being a diary/journal style narrative but I've checked out some lists of teen diary books and haven't seen anything familiar so I could be wrong.

I'm pretty sure it's set in Australia, I remember her mentioning vegemite at least once. I don't remember her name but I remember she doesn't like because her mom thought it was pretty because it was "french sounding" but now theres a leading brand of feminine hygiene products with the same/similar name (something like Fleur maybe?). In one of the books, I think the second, her family is either camping or staying in a trailer park for the summer (on vacation?). Particularly in that one she tries to dye her hair with chlorine and it comes out green, and there's a boy she likes who ends up accidentally seeing her topless in a scene where she's pretending to be Madonna by dancing around with cone party hats over her chest.

I also remember that the covers were primarily black and white, I'm pretty sure photos of her family and I think one's on a beach. One of the covers has pink highlights (text color for title, etc.) and the other has yellow I'm pretty sure, though it's possible they've been published under other covers. I read them in Canada so that would be the Canadian or American edition if that helps.

Thanks!

[LauraW]

It sounds a bit like the Georgia Nicholson booksAngus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

[Emily]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I know I didn't read any of those unfortunately, although it's definitely similar style/tone wise.

[LauraW]

TTYL?

[Emily]

Also not it, it was definitely centered on one character.

[Tab]

Could it be one of Brigid Lowry's books?

[Emily]

Tab wrote: "Could it be one of Brigid Lowry's books?"

Looking at her books I think I've read Guitar Highway Rose, but it's not the one I'm thinking of. Her other books seem too new, I'd say 2003 was the latest I would have read it, and I remember it being out for at least a couple years I think.

[LauraW]

How about ?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

The Year My Life Went Down The Loo series possibly? While not Australian, the MC and her family head to Europe and she's not happy about it.

Life, Love And The Pursuit Of Hotties is the 5th book in the series, and could possibly be the second book you were describing.

[Emily]

After an extensive hunt through World Cat's juvenile Diary Fiction listings, I managed to find it! I was thinking of My Life is a Toilet and My Life is a Wedgie by Gretel Killeen, and apparently there are two other books as well. Hooray!