My Wonderful Disgrace by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice

Title: My Wonderful Disgrace

Author: Angourie Rice and Kate Rice

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Published: 1^st May 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 304

Price: $21.99

Synopsis: A funny, edgy dark comedy of errors – the highly anticipated second novel from best-selling authors Angourie and Kate Rice.

Amy Middleton has all her plans in place for the school ball – the perfect designer dress, the perfect dream date, the perfect night.

When Leo Prince finally agrees to go with her, success seems assured, and the night belongs to Amy.

But fate, it seems, has other plans, and with the buzz of an unexpected text, her perfect night begins to unravel.

In the second novel from acclaimed Australian mother-daughter duo Angourie Rice and Kate Rice, brutally honest journal entries, texts, interviews and school newsletters slowly reveal a night gone terribly and hilariously wrong.

My Wonderful Disgrace is a deliciously dark comedy of errors about unrequited love, manipulation, misunderstandings and the tragic fate of one innocent goat.

~*~

My Wonderful Disgrace is the second book by mother and daughter duo, Angourie Rice and Kate Rice. Unlike their first book, I didn’t get a sense that this was a retelling of an older story or play. Instead, My Wonderful Disgrace is its own entity about finishing high school, the perils of peer pressure, the dangers of sharing private photos and the consequences of delving into things that can get you in trouble. Oh, and there’s a dead goat.

What should be a perfect night to end year twelve, before heading into the final months of year twelve becomes, well, quite possibly, one of the worst and one of the most bizarre nights of Amy Middleton’s life. Up until the night of the ball, everything has gone well. In a series of police interviews, statements, journal entries and text conversations, the events that led to the tragic fate of a goat called Choc-Top, and the entire messy night.

This is more than a romance. In fact, I felt like the romance was a consequence of the dark comedy of errors. Because whatever could go wrong, did go wrong throughout the book. The style used – the journal entries, messages, and everything else does feel fragmented at first. I think this encourages the reader to forge through though, because the hints that are dropped in the early chapters hint at something intriguing. Something more that evolves as the story moves on.

Much like their first book, My Wonderful Disgrace plays with humour, and the funny, dark side of school formals and dances, and the mischief teens can get up to. Whilst it might be exaggerated a bit, there is a sense of it being possible. It’s a little edgier than Stuck Up and Stupid, which makes it stand out in the genre, and what will make it appeal to young adult readers and teens. It is aimed at teens aged fourteen and older, as there is a bit of swearing, but it all felt right for the characters and the situation they found themselves in.

What else would happen with a dead goat, teens trying to cover it up, and the unravelling of events and relationships that make this novel work so well. It has something for everyone, and does touch on a few important subjects, illuminating issues about internet safety and manipulation, even when it’s just amongst friends. It evolves into a compelling and funny novel that sees Amy and her friends make a shift in their lives. Become responsible as they embark on the final year of school.

Anyone who has gone through the final year of school or is currently going through it will know the ups and downs of this time of life. The shifts, the expectations, and everything in between. Trying to have fun and stay on top of studying and exams, and making promises and working out what you want to do in life. In this way, it’s a coming of age story with humour, zest and joy, even when faced with things you never thought you would have to face in your final year of school. And some things do happen, and this book shines a light on them and how they affect the people involved and the wider school community.

What I didn’t expect was the entire book to reflect a single night, which was an interesting way of writing it. I had thought it might be about what followed that night in real time. The way it was done did bring you into the book and it did make me wonder what was going on at times, especially when things were hinted at without too much context. It was a quick read for me, and it will be interesting to see how people enjoy this new book.

Another funny book that teens will enjoy.