Elly and John Patterson, along with their children Michael, Elizabeth, and April, make up one of the most beloved families in America. The clan from <I>For Better or For Worse</i> is not only recognized, their lives are studied, identified with, and, most of all, treasured for the amusing reflections they provide.<P>Perhaps it's seeing part of ourselves in this familial five--something that makes them so endearing. Maybe it's the good old-fashioned values they display. No matter what her secret, creator Lynn Johnston excels, once again, with this collection, <I>Love Just Screws Everything Up</i>, that gives us a chance to grow even closer to the Pattersons and their devoted dog, Edgar.<P>This collection of heartwarming and humorous vignettes traces the Pattersons as they toil and traipse through their daily existence--lives much like our own, amplified by Johnson's insightful take on the extraordinarily funny things that happen to ordinary people. For example, we watch as Elly, seemingly stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, uses her cell-phone to call the office--while actually waiting to give her drive-up donut order. Or there's John scolding his girls during a fishing trip for wasting the live bait, only to have a gull grab his next cast in mid-air.<P>No matter what their situation, no matter what their challenges, the Pattersons always come through with smiles--at least on their readers' faces. This creative collection, <I>Love Just Screws Everything Up</i>, is sure to captivate all fans of cartooning's first family.