The My Life series is a five-part contemporary novel cycle that follows the life journey of Sebestyén, a boy growing up in Budapest who gradually becomes an adult navigating the challenges of modern European life. Through personal experiences, historical change, and unexpected turns of fate, the story presents a realistic and emotionally engaging portrait of growing up, searching for identity, and eventually finding stability.
My Life – Childhood introduces readers to Sebestyén’s early years in the outskirts of Budapest, in the city’s 20th district. His father works as an electrician, his mother manages residential buildings, and together with his younger brother he grows up in a family shaped by the realities of the late 1980s and early 1990s. This period marks a major turning point in Hungary’s history as socialism slowly fades and capitalism begins to emerge. Through everyday life, school experiences, family struggles, and the changing social environment, the story captures how these years influence a young boy’s personality and worldview.
In My Life – Teen Age, Sebestyén enters high school, where new friendships, first love, and youthful adventures begin to shape his identity. At the same time, his family faces both success and hardship in business and personal life. Hungary in the late 1990s is undergoing dramatic transformation. Although the Yugoslav Wars have ended in neighboring countries, Budapest is experiencing tensions linked to organized crime and underworld conflicts. For teenagers growing up during this period, life offers excitement but also unexpected dangers as they move toward adulthood.
The third volume, My Life – In the politics, follows Sebestyén as he begins his professional career while becoming increasingly involved in political life. Driven by the idealism of his twenties, he believes the world can be changed. Travels to London and California broaden his perspective and help him understand the realities of global society. At the same time, family conflicts continue to shape his life, and by the end of the decade the paths of those close to him diverge dramatically—some seeking opportunities abroad while others face serious consequences for their choices.
In My Life – In England, Sebestyén moves to the United Kingdom and embarks on a long and challenging journey. Traveling across much of the country, he takes on many different jobs, working as a flight attendant, a waiter in a five-star hotel, a barista in a café, and later as a project manager in an office environment. Along the way he meets both friends and rivals, gaining valuable life experience and gradually finding his place in London. Yet the question remains whether North Finchley represents the final destination or merely the beginning of a new chapter.
The final part, My Life – Finding the path, brings Sebestyén back to Hungary after his divorce. His life becomes divided between Budapest, Székesfehérvár, and Győr, where he studies at university while building new friendships and professional connections. Hoping to return to London, he also begins a one-year academic program there. Unexpected events soon reshape his life, including a disturbing encounter with a dangerous woman and the global disruption caused by the COVID pandemic. During this period he begins writing a book, changes careers, and ultimately leaves his studies in England. Despite these challenges, life gradually turns in a positive direction. Sebestyén finds love again and eventually marries Dorothy, the woman who becomes the true partner of his life.
Across its five volumes, the My Life series presents a deeply personal story about growth, resilience, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.