When I Grew up in the 80s

By Mitch Carter

GO BACK TO THE 80s.

Back to hot Brisbane nights, roller skates on polished floors, cassette tapes in battered players, schoolyard drama, loud radios, bus rides, thunderstorms, and the kind of friendship that can carry you through anything.

When I Grew Up in the 80s is a sweeping coming-of-age novel set on the northside of Brisbane, beginning in 1980 and running right through to the final days of 1989. On the same day they turn thirteen, a boy and a girl from Stafford step into a decade that will shape the rest of their lives. They are best mates, never lovers, and together they move through the highs and hits of growing up in a world filled with music, mischief, family pressure, heartbreak, rebellion, and change.

From Everton Park High to neon-lit roller rinks, from suburban backstreets to the growing pulse of Brisbane itself, this story drops you straight into the sound, feel, and colour of the 80s. You will hear the songs, feel the summer heat coming off the bitumen, and live every awkward, funny, fierce, and unforgettable moment right beside them.

This is more than a nostalgia trip. It is a story about friendship, loyalty, class, family, growing up, and the people who stay with us long after the decade is gone. Big-hearted, vivid, and packed with atmosphere, When I Grew Up in the 80s is for anyone who wants to be taken back to a time when life felt louder, rougher, freer, and full of possibility.

If you have ever wanted to go back to the 80s, this is your ticket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GXP434S7
• ISBN13: 9798257617768
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"