A Different Kind Of Dysfunction - A Shameless Fanfiction (Book One)

AUTHOR’S NOTE — BEFORE YOU START BOOK ONE
Welcome to the beginning.

You’re about to read Book One of A Different Kind of Dysfunction — the first installment in a gritty, emotional, and deeply character-driven trilogy. If you’re here, thank you for giving this story your time. I promise I’m not here to waste it.

This series is about survival.
Not the kind that’s tied up in neat endings or dramatic victories — but the quiet, messy, everyday kind.
It’s about siblings raising each other.
About kids navigating trauma, addiction, grief, poverty, and love in a world that doesn't care if they make it.
It’s about trying to break a cycle that’s already claimed the people who were supposed to protect them.

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What You’re Getting Into

Book One introduces the Whitman siblings: eight kids surviving their mother’s emotional abuse, addiction, and neglect after the sudden death of their father. They're not saints. They're not martyrs. They’re just doing whatever it takes to stay together — even if it means losing pieces of themselves along the way.

This is not a fluffy story.
It’s hard. It’s raw. It’s filled with bruises — physical and emotional.
But underneath it all, it’s about loyalty, love, and choosing to stay when no one would blame you for walking away.

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My Writing Process & Promise to You

Let’s be real — a lot of stories on platforms get abandoned. I don’t want this to be one of them.

So here’s how I do it:

I write entire books in full drafts before releasing chapters.
That way, you’re never reading something half-finished. The ending already exists. I’ve seen where this story goes — and I’m taking you there, chapter by chapter.

Each book in this trilogy has 40 chapters. Book One was written over the course of four months. I worked steadily, alongside Books Two and Three, building the whole world before ever pressing “publish.”

I average 30 chapters a month, working across all three books.
That means you're not getting dropped mid-series. There’s a full roadmap, and I’m committed to the finish line.

Most chapters are 500+ words minimum, though many are far longer — some reaching 1500–1800+. I balance pacing and emotional weight, aiming to keep the rhythm tight and the story grounded.

Whether you're reading this all at once or a few chapters at a time — this story will be finished. You won’t be left hanging.

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DISCLAIMER — Please Read Carefully

This book contains mature themes, including:

Substance abuse and addiction

Emotional and verbal abuse

Family dysfunction and trauma

Neglect and survival-based parenting

Mental health struggles

Teen relationships and sexuality

Realistic depictions of violence, poverty, and systemic failure

None of this is written for shock value.
Nothing is glorified.
Everything is rooted in honesty and care.
But if you need to step back, skip a chapter, or take a break for your own well-being, please do that. Your peace comes first.

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Thank you for showing up for this story.
Thank you for seeing these characters.
Thank you for giving this chaos a chance.

Now — let’s begin.

— The Author