Short Synopsis
A real-life Arrested Development that could only unfold in southern Florida, This Is Not My Beautiful Life is a hilariously funny and unexpectedly moving memoir of a just-functional family you'll never forget.

Full Synopsis
When a squad of federal agents burst through her parents' front door, Victoria Fedden felt ill-prepared to meet them: She was weeks away from her due date, and her T-shirt wasn't long enough to hide her maternity undies. As for the question of how to raise a child when you've just discovered that your mother and stepfather have allegedly masterminded a pump-and-dump scheme? She was pretty sure that wasn't covered in What to Expect When You're Expecting—and she really hoped that Bradford Cohen, the noted criminal defense attorney who famously waived his exemption on The Apprentice, would prove them innocent.

This Is Not My Beautiful Life is the story of how Victoria lost her parents to prison and nearly lost her mind. No one ever said motherhood would be easy, but as she struggles to change diapers, install car seats, and find the right drop-off line at preschool—no easy task when each one is named for a stage in the life cycle of a butterfly—she's also forced to ask herself whether a jumpsuit might actually complement her mom's platinum-blonde extensions and fend off the cast of shady, stranger-than-fiction characters who populated her parents' world.

"Fedden’s true story of crime, comeuppance, and toughing it out will appeal to all devotees of scandalous endeavors and tabloid tales." ---Booklist

"Fedden’s book charts a refreshing path through family dysfunction and personal redemption. Entertaining and unexpectedly wise." ---Kirkus

"Narrator and comedienne Marie’s timing and tone align remarkably with Fedden’s smirking demeanor." ---Booklist Audio Review