Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Anything But Fine

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden

11 reviews

gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This was a wonderful book to read. I loved the characters, the journey and how it ended; although I was concerned it was going to go another way so I'm happy it ended how it did.
I thought it was really well paced and hit on a lot of topics that people can feel and go through no matter their age, I believe the author after finishing the book wondered if he just wrote about his situation, because of that I think a lot of people can take something away from this.

A small thing but, I am so happy with how the father was written in this story. A lot of books like to make parents unapproachable or useless when I was a teen but in recent years parents in books have been written so much better.

Content Warnings

goblindad's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

r_a's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

“The second it happens, I know my life is over. I feel the bones break. I literally hear them crack into pieces. As soon as my body hits the floor, my whole world falls apart. My future collapses - dream by dream, goal by goal - right before my eyes. One missed step and it's all over. It’s as simple as that. One missed step.”

I had so much fun with this book! And I may have also shed a tear or two…

When I first read the plot to Anything But Fine, I instantly thought Billy Elliot. I love both the film and musical adaptation of Billy Elliot and was really keen to start reading this book.

Another reason that it piqued my interest was the fact that its author, Tobias Madden, is Australian, and the story is set in Australia. I found it incredibly refreshing to delve into a work by an Australian author that didn't rely on the tropes of idyllic coastal towns or fantasy realms, which have dominated much of my reading. While I love C.S. Pacat and James Islington, who are both primarily fantasy writers, it was exciting to discover a new Aussie author who offered a different perspective.

One aspect of this book that I absolutely adored was its distinctly Australian flavour. The story is set in the city-country town of Ballarat, located in the state of Victoria. Having visited Ballarat numerous times myself, since my sister lived there for almost five years, I found it delightful to be able to envision the exact locations mentioned in the book. I love how Madden chose to set the story in his hometown, as it provides reader with a new perspective on Australian culture and lifestyle.

The Aussie slang featured in the book was an absolute delight. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of familiarity while reading a novel, as I could instantly comprehend the colloquial language. As someone who frequently reads works by American authors or books published in the United States, it can be tiresome to constantly search up places or terminologies mentioned in the story. However, with this book, I was thrilled to read without interruption, without needing to constantly Google. Though I can see how some foreign readers may find certain terms or expressions confusing if they haven't visited or researched Australia previously. Some of these slang/places include: Woolies, Grill’d, Coles, Salvo’s and bogan (and Ocean Grove and Lorne are places along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria [P.S. Lorne is beautiful]).

“And without ballet, without [my friends], without my non-existent chances with Jordan… What the hell do I have?”

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of this book, there were certain aspects that didn't fully resonate with me. Primarily, I found that the relationship between Luca and Jordan fell a bit short.

I found myself deeply invested in Luca's character. When he suffered his injury, I empathised with him and appreciated witnessing his journey of self-discovery outside of ballet dancing. Admittedly, like any teenager, he does make some missteps, but that's what makes him an authentic and relatable character. He's flawed in his ability to empathise and communicate at times, yet he's remarkably compassionate and creates a safe space for his friends. Luca is struggling not only to understand his own identity but also to navigate his relationships with his friends, father, and acceptance. His multifaceted nature is what made him so genuine and relatable to me.

While I enjoyed Jordan's character, I must admit that I found him a tad underwhelming. Though I appreciated him as a love interest for Luca, my attachment to him was mostly through Luca's eyes. While there were certainly cute and sweet moments between the two, I found them too infrequent to establish a deep connection to Jordan's character. With a few extra pages, Madden may have been able to further develop their bond, as I was hoping.

Overall, this book was a delightful, wholesome and fast-paced read. I adored the protagonist's perspective and the vivid setting, and the inclusion of Australian slang was a charming touch. However, while the romance between the characters was enjoyable, I personally desired more depth and development. Nevertheless, for anyone interested in reading stories and authors within the LGBTQIA+ community, this book would bring you joy and entertainment.

Content Warnings

dlrosebyh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Luca is prepared for his Australian Ballet School audition. One misstep is all it takes to dash his hopes… a broken foot, too. Jordan is Luca's new school's stunning rowing star and captain. Although everyone claims that he is straight, Luca isn't so sure… Luca begins to question, "Who is he without ballet?" as their strange friendship gets deeper. And is he putting himself on the hook for yet another breakup?

This one will appeal to you if you liked Heartstopper and The Passing Playbook. We watch as Luca's career comes to an end due to a fractured foot. And if you turned Charlie and Nick's narrative into prose, it reminded me so much of Heartstopper. Having saying that, I truly enjoyed the book. I only gave it 3.5 stars because I wanted to see more of Lucas' mother. That was really dismissed. When it comes to writing from the perspective of a teenager, Tobias Madden is exceptional.

Content Warnings

hannahs_library_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

wastingtime1994's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

sarahmichelle30's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

m_riaelle's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

My expressions while listening to this were hilarious. Did I smile repeatedly? Yes. Did I laugh? Yes. Did I gasp? Yes. Did I gasp and laugh altogether? Yes. Did I feel secondhand embarrassment? Also yes. Did I bump my knees so hard on my mini table that it has scraped? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes, worth as 'tights.' Did I just find myself another favourite Achillean book? Yes. Was it sad? There are parts it is, especially when you relate to it. Do I recommend this? 100%

I can't help but see Luca as Alex from Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. The difference is Alex would have said those flirty, sexual 'passion' that's going on in Luca's mind that had me laughing and gasping altogether without any hesitance and shame. XD

I was waiting for Luca's ex-friends to have character development, but there are really some friends you have to let go of and aren't worth it. I wasn't disappointed that it's not shown or what happened. I'm satisfied that only one of them can grow and be ready to show that to Luca and be friends with him and Amina because she was the only one who really cared from the bottom of her heart.

I love how transferring to another school made Luca at least has a distraction from a single miss-step that happened. It didn't end there because every choice made has consequences. It seems as though he kept falling and never got back on his feet until he took action to do so.

The narrator's way of voicing out the story is outstanding. The way it's narrated made me more entertained, which I'm looking for in audiobooks, and Anything But Fine is done right! I commend Matthew Backer!

TW: De*th of Parent, Grief, H*moph*bia, H*moph*bic Slurs, Anxiety, Racism, Racial Slurs, Islam*ph*bia, Outing, T*xic Friendship, H*te Crime, and Sexu*l Content (search it up for more specifics or correct TW as mine is what I thought is TW while I read it)

Content Warnings

bookstarbri's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book really had me immediately at ballet, but actually reading it was a remarkable experience. I think what was most beautiful was the progression of Luca. His character growth wasn't linear and there were moments he'd take a step forward only to be knocked back three more. It was authentic and wondrous to see him go through such a life-changing event and still manage to find himself at the end, while still growing into someone else.

The other characters were great too. Jordan is absolutely adorable (even though I wanted to shake both him and Luca many times). Amina is a textbook perfect best friend that I think deserves everything in the world. She was the perfect person for Luca to have during such a terrible time. I'm also always happy to see good parents in YA books and Luca's dad didn't disappoint. I thought he was such a unique figure. I've also never read a father/son relationship quite as beautiful as Luca's and his dad's and it was such a nice surprise to see their relationship grow the way it did.

This book is character driven, so the plot is more focused around events. I often read character-driven novels and they get a little slow at times for my taste, but Anything But Fine avoids that. It's a fast-paced read that does a lot in its pages. I think I wish the last 25ish pages went a little *too* fast and it would've been nice to slow it down some and linger with Luca a bit longer after he resolved some of his challenges.

I also DESPERATELY wanted a scene where Luca danced one more time (maybe even for Jordan or his dad), but these are minor complaints that are probably just me wanting to spend more time with these characters!

Such a lovely read that has become a quick favorite!

Thank you to Tobias Madden, Page Street Kids, and NetGalley for providing a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings

dhwani's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

More...