After surviving the Holocaust, Josl and Renia move to Melbourne with their daughter Lola Bensky to start a new life. This poignant yet bitingly funny collection of short stories follows Lola's struggles to come to terms with herself, her place in the local Jewish community and the horrific family history whose legacy is still felt by them all. Things Could Be Worse, Brett's debut work of fiction, was first published in 1990 to universal acclaim. It was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards and the Talking Book of the Year Award. With haunting illustrations by the renowned painter David Rankin, it introduced Lola Bensky to the world, the eponymous heroine of Lily Brett's 2012 award-winning international bestseller.