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I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag
Ciara is mother to three ungrateful, entitled teenagers, is married to steady Martin, a man with hairy udders, and is grieving for her mum who now lives in the wardrobe in a cardboard box from the crematorium. She finds solace in her anonymous blog, and in the daily chats she has with her mum's ashes (often the best conversations she has all day.)
Despite the menopause, the invisibility of middle age and the daily self-esteem bashings, courtesy of her kids, Ciara manages to navigate the stormy waters of grief and family life - until her mask slips and she is cast out from the family bosom. She embarks on a mission to fulfil her mum's dying wishes to have her remains sprinkled from the top of the Empire State Building, finding company, distraction and - ultimately - herself in the process.
If motherhood is a job - who says you can't resign?
Despite the menopause, the invisibility of middle age and the daily self-esteem bashings, courtesy of her kids, Ciara manages to navigate the stormy waters of grief and family life - until her mask slips and she is cast out from the family bosom. She embarks on a mission to fulfil her mum's dying wishes to have her remains sprinkled from the top of the Empire State Building, finding company, distraction and - ultimately - herself in the process.
If motherhood is a job - who says you can't resign?
- GenresFiction
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2020
13 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Clune
7 books7 followersJackie Clune (b. 1967, raised in Essex) is an English female comedy cabaret performer/writer, actress, and broadcaster who has previously done a Karen Carpenter act. She has appeared on popular British comedy trivia shows such as QI, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and The Staying-in Show and had a small role in a number of episodes of EastEnders, but is largely known for her one woman shows and her portrayal of Julie Burchill in a play by Tim Fountain. She is known for her dry anecdotal approach to comedy and camp sense of humour.
For a number of years, much of Clune's comedy act was based on her sexual orientation; Clune identified as a lesbian from 1988 to 2000. In one interview in 2003, she suggested that she chose to become a lesbian, apparently at least partly on political grounds, and did not identify with the coming out experiences of certain of her gay friends. She currently identifies as straight and has had four children with her partner Richard Hannant.
Clune sang the theme tune and wrote additional material for the TV show Smack the Pony. She also wrote the novel Man of the Month Club and Extreme Motherhood, an account of finding herself pregnant with triplets little more than a year after having her first child.
For a number of years, much of Clune's comedy act was based on her sexual orientation; Clune identified as a lesbian from 1988 to 2000. In one interview in 2003, she suggested that she chose to become a lesbian, apparently at least partly on political grounds, and did not identify with the coming out experiences of certain of her gay friends. She currently identifies as straight and has had four children with her partner Richard Hannant.
Clune sang the theme tune and wrote additional material for the TV show Smack the Pony. She also wrote the novel Man of the Month Club and Extreme Motherhood, an account of finding herself pregnant with triplets little more than a year after having her first child.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 28, 2020
So much of this book was like reading a script of my own life (embarrassingly so). Loved the main character and the ending made me very happy indeed. Very much enjoyed!!
May 12, 2022
3,5 🌟
#reseña ¡Estoy hasta el moño!
Partimos de la siguiente premisa…
A pesar de la menopausia, la invisibilidad que supone pasar de los cincuenta y el bombardeo diario que sufre su autoestima por cortesía de sus hijos, Ciara intenta mantenerse a flote en las turbulentas aguas del dolor y la vida familiar. Hasta que un día dice basta. Y su familia le da la espalda. Ciara se embarcará entonces en una misión: cumplir el último deseo de su madre. En el viaje para esparcir sus restos desde lo alto del Empire State Building, encontrará compañía, distracción y, por qué no, también a ella misma.
Opinión
No hace falta ser madre para empatizar con la pobre Ciara. Ser madre de adolescentes no debe ser tarea fácil y está contado se tal manera que te hace entenderla muy bien. Este libro es una combinación de humor y crítica, con mensajes que realmente te hacen pensar.
Está dividido en tres partes. Un blog en el que descarga su sufrimiento, un viaje a Nueva York para esparcir las cenizas de su madre y un encuentro con ella misma, que le será de gran ayuda.
Me gusta como esta escrito. Te hace reír y también llorar. Tiene un final que yo no me esperaba y creo que es un grito pidiendo ayuda en toda regla. Creo que a las mujeres que estén en esa etapa de su vida, les puede ser muy útil y sentirse identificadas.
En resumidas cuentas, lo tiene todo para ser una buena lectura.
¿Madre de adolescentes? ¡¡Advertencia!! No la leas si no estás lista para sentirte liberada de una vez por todas. O si a veces acabas llorando cuando te ríes...
Gracias a @versatil_ediciones por esta colaboración 💜
#madres #adolescentes #blog #conteporaneo #leer #newyork #autoestima #autoayuda #narrativa
#reseña ¡Estoy hasta el moño!
Partimos de la siguiente premisa…
A pesar de la menopausia, la invisibilidad que supone pasar de los cincuenta y el bombardeo diario que sufre su autoestima por cortesía de sus hijos, Ciara intenta mantenerse a flote en las turbulentas aguas del dolor y la vida familiar. Hasta que un día dice basta. Y su familia le da la espalda. Ciara se embarcará entonces en una misión: cumplir el último deseo de su madre. En el viaje para esparcir sus restos desde lo alto del Empire State Building, encontrará compañía, distracción y, por qué no, también a ella misma.
Opinión
No hace falta ser madre para empatizar con la pobre Ciara. Ser madre de adolescentes no debe ser tarea fácil y está contado se tal manera que te hace entenderla muy bien. Este libro es una combinación de humor y crítica, con mensajes que realmente te hacen pensar.
Está dividido en tres partes. Un blog en el que descarga su sufrimiento, un viaje a Nueva York para esparcir las cenizas de su madre y un encuentro con ella misma, que le será de gran ayuda.
Me gusta como esta escrito. Te hace reír y también llorar. Tiene un final que yo no me esperaba y creo que es un grito pidiendo ayuda en toda regla. Creo que a las mujeres que estén en esa etapa de su vida, les puede ser muy útil y sentirse identificadas.
En resumidas cuentas, lo tiene todo para ser una buena lectura.
¿Madre de adolescentes? ¡¡Advertencia!! No la leas si no estás lista para sentirte liberada de una vez por todas. O si a veces acabas llorando cuando te ríes...
Gracias a @versatil_ediciones por esta colaboración 💜
#madres #adolescentes #blog #conteporaneo #leer #newyork #autoestima #autoayuda #narrativa
May 31, 2020
Ciara is a fifty-something, menopausal, and unappreciated wife and mother to three entitled teenage children. Feeling dissatisfied with her lot, and reflecting on her role in life following the death of her mother, Ciara starts to blog about her family. When a drunken evening leads her to publish the posts, her secret outlet becomes not-so-secret, eventually leading her to heading off to New York as much to escape from her family as to fulfil a promise to her late mother.
This was very much a story of two halves for me. There obviously needed to be a certain amount of setting up of Ciara’s story, with tales of her horrible teenage children and steady (but boring) husband. While there were humorous moments in this, and while as a mother I can definitely relate to the thankless, “Groundhog Day”-ness of monotonous tasks, I did feel as though the story smacked a little of “poor me” (which sapped my empathy for her somewhat), until Ciara headed off to New York. That’s when the story really came alive... I loved Ciara’s experiences there, which felt very real, and her relationship with the wonderfully drawn Gina.
I also loved some of the subplots, especially Ciara’s relationship with Debbie, and the chats Ciara had with her mother. I’m also pleased that the ending wasn’t what I expected… I’ll certainly be looking out for more from this author in future.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
This was very much a story of two halves for me. There obviously needed to be a certain amount of setting up of Ciara’s story, with tales of her horrible teenage children and steady (but boring) husband. While there were humorous moments in this, and while as a mother I can definitely relate to the thankless, “Groundhog Day”-ness of monotonous tasks, I did feel as though the story smacked a little of “poor me” (which sapped my empathy for her somewhat), until Ciara headed off to New York. That’s when the story really came alive... I loved Ciara’s experiences there, which felt very real, and her relationship with the wonderfully drawn Gina.
I also loved some of the subplots, especially Ciara’s relationship with Debbie, and the chats Ciara had with her mother. I’m also pleased that the ending wasn’t what I expected… I’ll certainly be looking out for more from this author in future.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
June 23, 2021
Dreadful
So utterly disappointing. I’d heard the author on woman’s hour and rushed to get the book. I hated it. Tedious and unfunny, in my opinion.
So utterly disappointing. I’d heard the author on woman’s hour and rushed to get the book. I hated it. Tedious and unfunny, in my opinion.
May 30, 2020
I’m Just a Teenage Punchbag is the story of Ciara. Wife of Martin and Mum to daughter Amelie and twin boys Lorcan and Paddy.....
Menopausal, unappreciated, feeling unattractive and grieving for her Mum who passed away a year ago Ciara has had enough.
What started out as musings on a private website becomes a public blog post after a drunken evening. Her family are furious so she runs away....taking the urn of her Mother’s ashes with her to New York to sprinkle them from the top of the Empire State Building
Alone in New York Ciara is forced to evaluate her life and figure out what she really wants...
This book gets a bit of a mixed reaction from me. I am a menopausal Mum to a teenage boy and whilst there are situations I can identify with that made me smile I am nothing like Ciara (thankfully) That said I did feel for her so identified with a small part of her life. The only person she feels listens to her is her dead Mum, during daily conversations with her ashes that she kept in her wardrobe.
I loved her relationship with Gina and I was thankful she found a true friend in her. Gina definitely gave Ciara the confidence to figure out what she wanted in life.
Overall this book was a painful look at family life, heartbreaking but funny in parts and worth a read if you have teenage kids as I guarantee there will be parts you can sympathise with Ciara
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Menopausal, unappreciated, feeling unattractive and grieving for her Mum who passed away a year ago Ciara has had enough.
What started out as musings on a private website becomes a public blog post after a drunken evening. Her family are furious so she runs away....taking the urn of her Mother’s ashes with her to New York to sprinkle them from the top of the Empire State Building
Alone in New York Ciara is forced to evaluate her life and figure out what she really wants...
This book gets a bit of a mixed reaction from me. I am a menopausal Mum to a teenage boy and whilst there are situations I can identify with that made me smile I am nothing like Ciara (thankfully) That said I did feel for her so identified with a small part of her life. The only person she feels listens to her is her dead Mum, during daily conversations with her ashes that she kept in her wardrobe.
I loved her relationship with Gina and I was thankful she found a true friend in her. Gina definitely gave Ciara the confidence to figure out what she wanted in life.
Overall this book was a painful look at family life, heartbreaking but funny in parts and worth a read if you have teenage kids as I guarantee there will be parts you can sympathise with Ciara
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2022
Esta novela es una de las novedades de la editorial, salió a la venta el 17 de denero y ha sido todo un placer leerla porque engloba varias cosas con las que disfruto de un libro.
Por un lado la parte cómica, el sarcasmo de la protagonista me ha arrancado muchas carcajadas sobre situaciones que cuando las he vivido y no han sido agradables me ha hecho verlas desde otro punto de vista, y eso lo valoro mucho.
Tiene una parte emocional con la que casi lloro en ocasiones y me ha hecho reflexionar con la parte introspectiva de la protagonista.
¿Se le puede pedir más a una historia?
Una trama que es una crítica social e individual sobre la familia y la educación de los hij@s, sobre relaciones de pareja y la sociedad en general.
Además suma temas como el duelo, las distintas etapas de la vida, la madurez...
Ha sido un placer este viaje por la vida de Ciara, todo un aprendizaje.
Por un lado la parte cómica, el sarcasmo de la protagonista me ha arrancado muchas carcajadas sobre situaciones que cuando las he vivido y no han sido agradables me ha hecho verlas desde otro punto de vista, y eso lo valoro mucho.
Tiene una parte emocional con la que casi lloro en ocasiones y me ha hecho reflexionar con la parte introspectiva de la protagonista.
¿Se le puede pedir más a una historia?
Una trama que es una crítica social e individual sobre la familia y la educación de los hij@s, sobre relaciones de pareja y la sociedad en general.
Además suma temas como el duelo, las distintas etapas de la vida, la madurez...
Ha sido un placer este viaje por la vida de Ciara, todo un aprendizaje.
June 29, 2020
Absolutely loved this book! This is not just the ranting and raving of a menopausal mother of three teenagers its much more than that! Ciara married to Martin and mother of three, spends her days meeting her families needs and taken for granted, her needs,wants and desires are sidelined as she deals with the daily monotomy of family life, this all changes one day when her family find out they are the source of her online blog!so taking her mums ashes she leaves them all and heads to the states! What follows is a voyage of self discovery as ciara finds herself and in doing so becomes a happier more fulfilled person.A fantastic read for any women of a certain age with teenagers!
Thank you net galley for this early read
Thank you net galley for this early read
July 30, 2020
This book is fabulous, quite startling that it felt like I was reading my life story ha, I loved it from the beginning to the end it made me just want to cuddle Jackie and say it will be ok she was doing the right thing, learning to live and love herself again. Being a mother is hard probably one of the hardest roles you’ll ever take in a lifetime,being responsible for another life 24/7, meeting every single need that your child demands can be draining, a mother sometimes doesn’t feel like a person anymore, your mum/mother/Mam, even stripped of your own name on a daily basis, are you alone ?
Such a breathtaking read it was so lovely to know that I’m not going mad that I’m not being selfish in feeling that I just want to sit in a room for quiet time for five minutes of a day.
Such a breathtaking read it was so lovely to know that I’m not going mad that I’m not being selfish in feeling that I just want to sit in a room for quiet time for five minutes of a day.
August 20, 2020
As Mum to three teenagers, including twin boys, as has the main character of this book, I definitely related to Ciara's plight and my husband and I had a giggle reading aloud scenarios that definitely resonated with us!
This book does find humour in parenting but also does not shy away from the drudgery and thankless ness that can come from being a parent. In this book, the main character heads to New York to rediscover a bit of herself where she meets Gina who gives her permission to break out of her comfort zone. I so wanted to be on a motorbike travelling to Coney Island too!
This book does find humour in parenting but also does not shy away from the drudgery and thankless ness that can come from being a parent. In this book, the main character heads to New York to rediscover a bit of herself where she meets Gina who gives her permission to break out of her comfort zone. I so wanted to be on a motorbike travelling to Coney Island too!
August 21, 2023
Average in every way. Not so much relatable as an exercise in ticking all the boxes of cliche and stereotype- it's lazy depictions like this that make the prospect of middle aged womanhood terrifying.
The use of blog posts is an equally lazy device to get a character's inner world across without requiring any effort from the reader- it's the modern day 'Dear Diary' entry. Which is fine if a lazy effortless read is what you're after...if you've picked up a book with such an awful cartoon cover it's probably safe to assume you are.
In which case, enjoy!
The use of blog posts is an equally lazy device to get a character's inner world across without requiring any effort from the reader- it's the modern day 'Dear Diary' entry. Which is fine if a lazy effortless read is what you're after...if you've picked up a book with such an awful cartoon cover it's probably safe to assume you are.
In which case, enjoy!
October 23, 2020
Embarrassingly relatable, and I cringed at the parts that I am pathetically guilty of: Snapchat ignorance, posting whilst drunk amongst others! But loved being able to share the chuckles with my husband that are so typically him: driving to the pub via the local tip, even though we're already late, and the family are subjected to the stench of rotting leaves... A funny book that can be shared with friends and chortled over.
September 22, 2020
Well, this book turned out to be a surprise. It began as a story about a mother of teenager's with issues that I can relate to. I thought it would continue in a slummy mummy style for the rest of the story. But, no, it didn't. Without giving too much away, it turned on it's head completely and delivered a sort of Shirley Valentine re-awakening. I loved the story and it was not as I expected.
August 3, 2020
I could identify with so much of this. My kids might have reached their 20s but it is all still so vivid. And the menopause details. I had my head in my hands when the blog came out. Such a human, real life character in Ciara. I loved her adventures in New York - just amazing, I am in awe. A real story of our time. #ImJustATeenagePunchbag #netgalley
April 14, 2022
3.5 en realidad 🧡
August 4, 2023
Having teenagers myself, much of the teenage stuff is so similar it’s funny and is the case of many other mums out there. That’s what makes it all so relatable, teenagers are all much the same.
Ciara is a mum of three teenagers and a husband Martin and she feels taken for granted and she’s not happy with her life, so she blogs about it and it resonates with so many other women and mums and for once in her down trodden life, Ciara feels appreciated, like someone is actually listening and can see her.
Naturally her family find out and it doesn’t go down well and so Ciara takes herself off to New York to find herself.
This book was so easy to read and I had it read in a few hours. It’s funny and sad too. How can it not be when it’s about a mum who’s not really missed by her teenagers, other than to moan and complain to and ask her to bring presents home for them.
The ending was rather unexpected and parts of what Ciara gets up to in New York were a bit hard to believe, like this woman is trying to find herself so she must try that too, something totally not her, but sure let’s throw it into the mix.
Ciara is a mum of three teenagers and a husband Martin and she feels taken for granted and she’s not happy with her life, so she blogs about it and it resonates with so many other women and mums and for once in her down trodden life, Ciara feels appreciated, like someone is actually listening and can see her.
Naturally her family find out and it doesn’t go down well and so Ciara takes herself off to New York to find herself.
This book was so easy to read and I had it read in a few hours. It’s funny and sad too. How can it not be when it’s about a mum who’s not really missed by her teenagers, other than to moan and complain to and ask her to bring presents home for them.
The ending was rather unexpected and parts of what Ciara gets up to in New York were a bit hard to believe, like this woman is trying to find herself so she must try that too, something totally not her, but sure let’s throw it into the mix.
March 11, 2025
Si la maternidad es un trabajo ¿quién dice que no puedes dimitir?
Un giro inesperado -o mejor dicho, una huída- para reencontrarse a sí misma.
Ciara es una mujer menopáusica de 50 años. A pesar de que carga sobre sus hombros todo el peso que suponen tres hijos adolescentes, se siente invisible frente a su familia. Así, aburrida de su vida empieza a escribir un blog -que por un descuido cuelga online-… y ahí comienza su aventura: descubrirse a sí misma y descubrir el mundo.
El reflejo de la maternidad en esta comedia es tan fidedigno que da vértigo. Sería difícil encontrar a madres que no se sientan en algún punto identificadas con la protagonista.
Los mensajes que deja este libro son maravillosos: ¡Vive!, y piensa ¿qué te gustaría hacer para divertirte?
Citas:
“La vida es muy diferente de lo que se imaginaba mi yo universitaria.”
“Odio el Día de la Madre con pasión. Es el ejemplo perfecto de lo que los filósofos llaman «tolerancia represiva»:”
“¿Es necesario que me explique más? Estoy harta de explicarme.”
Un giro inesperado -o mejor dicho, una huída- para reencontrarse a sí misma.
Ciara es una mujer menopáusica de 50 años. A pesar de que carga sobre sus hombros todo el peso que suponen tres hijos adolescentes, se siente invisible frente a su familia. Así, aburrida de su vida empieza a escribir un blog -que por un descuido cuelga online-… y ahí comienza su aventura: descubrirse a sí misma y descubrir el mundo.
El reflejo de la maternidad en esta comedia es tan fidedigno que da vértigo. Sería difícil encontrar a madres que no se sientan en algún punto identificadas con la protagonista.
Los mensajes que deja este libro son maravillosos: ¡Vive!, y piensa ¿qué te gustaría hacer para divertirte?
Citas:
“La vida es muy diferente de lo que se imaginaba mi yo universitaria.”
“Odio el Día de la Madre con pasión. Es el ejemplo perfecto de lo que los filósofos llaman «tolerancia represiva»:”
“¿Es necesario que me explique más? Estoy harta de explicarme.”
September 12, 2023
This book literally had me laughing out loud in the first few chapters.
It was so relatable and a must read for any mums that want to feel good about themselves and know that we aren’t on our own when it comes to our parenting journey.
Jackie’s writing flows easily, this was a fun easy read and I loved all of the characters especially Gina.
For me the ending seemed a little rushed but I enjoyed it all the same.
It was so relatable and a must read for any mums that want to feel good about themselves and know that we aren’t on our own when it comes to our parenting journey.
Jackie’s writing flows easily, this was a fun easy read and I loved all of the characters especially Gina.
For me the ending seemed a little rushed but I enjoyed it all the same.
August 7, 2020
Well, not what I was expecting, it was so much more!! I expected a few laughs, but not the tears or to have it hit quite close to home - currently raising a tween... wholeheartedly recommend this book, but have a box of tissues handy!
September 7, 2020
This book pushed a few buttons. Part of me was horrified and thought she was very selfish do do what she did... and part of me has to admit that I have fantasised about doing that very thing. It definitely got me thinking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2022
I loved this book. Bought based on a brief review in a magazine and wasn't disappointed. Could really identify with the main character and her experience as a mother.
Made me laugh and almost cry in places. The story was fast paced and mainly realistic.
Enjoyed the ending.
Made me laugh and almost cry in places. The story was fast paced and mainly realistic.
Enjoyed the ending.
February 27, 2024
Started off ok with a few laugh-out-loud lines but very quickly became repetitive and predictable and cliched as it progressed. Chick-lit level which is not my cup of tea, if it’s yours you might like it but it ended up irritating me and I only finished it out of stubborn determination.
July 26, 2020
Laugh your way to sanity
I loved this book. It made me laugh but so reminded me of life with teenagers. Reminds every down trodden middle aged mum that there is more to life.
I loved this book. It made me laugh but so reminded me of life with teenagers. Reminds every down trodden middle aged mum that there is more to life.
August 10, 2020
Not quite what I’d expected when I bought it, but a really enjoyable read nonetheless! Loved the middle section best, so glad Clara got the chance to ‘live’ in New York for that time.
October 22, 2020
This could have been written about me...
Certainly the first half was my life story. I loved this book but would never have the guts to go to America.
Certainly the first half was my life story. I loved this book but would never have the guts to go to America.
March 22, 2021
Not bad. A great quick, fun read, with unexpected ending.
October 24, 2021
Sometimes you just like a nice easy read. Funny and honest. Glad Ciara got a happy ending.
November 8, 2021
This is what you would expect and more. I really loved the ending.
April 15, 2022
HG Apr 28
January 18, 2024
3.5 stars
April 19, 2025
Hell. Yes! 🙌🏻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews