The Mix-Up by Kylie Ladd

a thought-provoking novel about what it is to belong

Kylie Ladd’s latest (and seventh!!) novel The Mix-Up is another fine example of well-developed characters and ethical questions. She always does this so well.

What would you do if you discovered that your sixteen-year-old’s DNA is not yours, but from another couple … who happen to have a child with your DNA?

This is the premise of The Mix-up. Two families discover that their sixteen-year-olds don’t have their DNA due to an IVF mix up.

Interestingly, IVF stuff ups are more common than we know; one was even in the news the other day.

The revelation occurs when one of the teens, Ammy, completes a school project involving a DNA test. When the results come back, she learns that her genes do not match those of her parents. From that moment, everything unravels for her, her parents, and the other family. Adding to the drama, one teen is desperate for independence and pushes all the wrong buttons, viewing this new evidence as a way out of what they consider an insufferable life, while the other is a homebody.

The central question Ladd poses in this novel is: Who is family? Is it the people who share our DNA, those who care for and love us, or something more complex? As usual, Ladd doesn't shy away from exploring complicated characters and pushing them to their limits. With her background as a neuropsychologist, it's no surprise that the story is richly layered, featuring complex characters and an engaging plot that kept me up much later than I should have stayed awake to finish it.

The Mix-up offers everything you might expect from families with teens pushed to the absolute brink: breakdowns, runaways, lies, and much more. I highly recommend putting this book on your radar, and if you haven’t explored Ladd’s other works, do seek them out.

I’m lucky enough to know Kylie, and have since we were teens. It’s been a pleasure watching her publishing pathway and I’m always keen to get my hands on her next book.

If you’ve read The Mix-up, let me know what you think.

What am I reading next?

I’m listening to The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth and reading The Honeyeater by Jessie Tu.

What are you reading?

Til next time, and happy reading!

x M