GCC Spotlight on: 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER by Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody stop by the blog to talk about her new book, 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER.

About the Book:

Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.


Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.


Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteenth birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.


In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.

Our Interview:

KRISTINA: How did you get the idea for 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER?

JESSICA:  Actually it’s kind of a funny story. I was sitting in my car, watching a meter maid write someone a parking ticket and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to be a meter maid? But only for like a week. Just to see what it was like.” Then I start to brainstorm all these other jobs I’d like to do for one week. And I decided, “Well, I’m too busy writing novels to actually do all these jobs, so I guess I’ll just have to write a book about someone else who does them.” And then I tried to think of the funniest character to put in that kind of situation and the answer was instant: a spoiled heiress who has never had to work a day in her life. And alas, Lexington Larrabee was born. But really the joke’s on me, because in researching the story, I actually did take on some of the jobs that are in the book! My favorite was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. Those head-sets you have to wear are like something out of Star Trek!

KRISTINA: If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?

JESSICA: This is always a really tough question for me. Actually, the book has been optioned for film and we’ve had some early interest from Victoria Justice (from the show Victorious on Nickelodeon) to star in the film. Nothing has been officially decided yet but I think she would be totally perfect for the part! She definitely looks like how I imagined Lexi to look.

KRISTINA:  Would you ever try writing in another genre?

JESSICA: Funny you should ask! Last year I signed a deal with my publisher for a young adult sci-fi trilogy. I just finished revising the first book called UNREMEMBERED which releases in March 2013. It’s about a sixteen year old girl who wakes up amongst the wreckage of a devastating plane crash with no memories, she's forced to piece together her forgotten past with only one clue to her identity— a mysterious boy who claims she was part of a top-secret science experiment.

KRISTINA: Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?

JESSICA: Suzanne Collins! Totally! I LOVE her books! I saw the Hunger Games movie like 5 times in the theatre. I was there at midnight for the opening. I can’t wait for the next movie!

KRISTINA: Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?

JESSICA: I can only read non-fiction on my ereader. It’s weird. With fiction, I have to have the book in my hand. I think it’s because I really love looking at the cover as I read the book. I like how covers can change the more you get into the story. 

KRISTINA: Are you on Twitter? Can we follow you?

JESSICA: Please do! www.twitter.com/jessicabrody

Author Bio:

Jessica Brody is the bestselling author of The Karma Club and My Life Undecided, as well as two books for adults: The Fidelity Files and Love Under Cover. In researching this book, she took on several minimum wage jobs, her favorite of which was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. She splits her time between California and Colorado. Visit her online at: www.jessicabrody.com