Brat: An '80s Story

Andrew McCarthy's memoir chronicles his experience as a member of the Brat Pack during the 1980s. Known for his roles in Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Weekend at Bernie's, and Less than Zero, McCarthy was part of a group that included Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Demi Moore—actors whose work came to define both a film genre and an era of pop culture. The book focuses on that specific moment in time, exploring McCarthy's coming of age amid conflicting ambition, innocence, addiction, and questions of masculinity. McCarthy recounts his 1980s New York City youth, from Washington Square Park to the revival movie houses of the Village where he discovered films that shaped his artistic direction. Brat includes personal accounts of his early years and his time in Hollywood working with director John Hughes and other notable figures. McCarthy presents an intimate account of an outsider who unexpectedly found success during this transformative cultural period.