48 Shades of Brown is a young-adult novel by Australian author Nick Earls,[1] published by Penguin Books in 1999.

[2][1] In his final year at school, and with his parents overseas, Dan is forced to grow up fast when he moves in with his 22-year-old aunt Jacq and her eccentric friend Naomi.

His story is light-hearted and funny, with a definite twist of insanity.

[3] In 2001, Philip Dean adapted the novel into a play for the La Boite Theatre Company.

[4] The novel was also adapted into a film, titled 48 Shades, which is now available on DVD after screening across cinemas in Australia in 2006.