Scan barcode
codyreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow. I loved this book so much.
The setting of Australia was fresh as I haven’t read many book set there. I love Australian accents and the narrator was fantastic.
The writing was fantastic. The main characters weren’t perfect, but who wants that anyway. Life is messy and people are messy. I loved the three main characters of Luca, Jordan, and Amina. Every other character was good as well, except for two of them. If you have read the book or when you do read the book you will know exactly which two I’m talking about.
Overall, I loved so much about this book and can’t wait to read more by Tobias Madden.
Wow. I loved this book so much.
The setting of Australia was fresh as I haven’t read many book set there. I love Australian accents and the narrator was fantastic.
The writing was fantastic. The main characters weren’t perfect, but who wants that anyway. Life is messy and people are messy. I loved the three main characters of Luca, Jordan, and Amina. Every other character was good as well, except for two of them. If you have read the book or when you do read the book you will know exactly which two I’m talking about.
Overall, I loved so much about this book and can’t wait to read more by Tobias Madden.
littleowlets's review against another edition
4.0
i enjoyed this one quite a bit. as an australian, it's nice seeing bits of your upbringing being reflected in a book. like, seriously, did this author live my life? the pea and ham soup, the "red sky at night" rhyme, plus countless other things (that i said i would note down but i forgot)... it was almost jarring at times. i don't know much about ballarat, though i have family there, but it felt familiar all the same.
plus, luca's mum's birthday is the same as mine. so that was a bit weird.
plus, luca's mum's birthday is the same as mine. so that was a bit weird.
pandafan7's review against another edition
4.0
Anything But Fine follows Luca, a gay teenager. Luca suddenly finds himself lost after he falls down the stairs, breaking his foot and effectively crushing his dreams of becoming a famous ballet dancer. Luca doesn’t know who he is without ballet, and now his school is taking away his ballet scholarship because he can no longer dance. He is feeling completely overwhelmed with the change of a new school and no more ballet, but things start to change once he meets Jordan at his OT appointment. Meanwhile, at his new school he also meets Amina, a friendly Muslim-American girl.
Amina honestly turned out to be my favorite character in the story. The way the author describes her faith and the racism she faces sometimes was very well written. I also enjoyed the budding romance between Jordan and Luca. I could empathize with Luca and understand how it might feel to fall in love with someone that isn’t out.
I highly recommend this book full of diverse characters. It held my attention throughout the book. The author did an excellent job making the story relatable. I would love to have a friend like Amina in real life. I also really enjoyed the author interview included at the end of the audiobook. It really made me feel a connection with Tobias Madden. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thanks to Netgalley and RB media for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Amina honestly turned out to be my favorite character in the story. The way the author describes her faith and the racism she faces sometimes was very well written. I also enjoyed the budding romance between Jordan and Luca. I could empathize with Luca and understand how it might feel to fall in love with someone that isn’t out.
I highly recommend this book full of diverse characters. It held my attention throughout the book. The author did an excellent job making the story relatable. I would love to have a friend like Amina in real life. I also really enjoyed the author interview included at the end of the audiobook. It really made me feel a connection with Tobias Madden. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thanks to Netgalley and RB media for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
4.0
This was adorable, and maybe it's because I just finished Les Mis and needed something very easy and gentle to read, but I enjoyed it a whole lot more than I imagined I would. In some ways, it's what I thought [b:Red, White & Royal Blue|41150487|Red, White & Royal Blue|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487._SY75_.jpg|61657690] would be, but... better. And yeah, it's not nearly as long, and yes, the premise (aside from queer YA) is very different, but I genuinely enjoyed this... a lot.
The timing is also fun in that like Luca, I also suffered a debilitating injury that ended any future in dance as well as took my whole identity with it. I'm recovering from a major operation like Luca, too, and my journey with rehab and physio has had a lot of ups and downs. I'm only eight weeks out myself, and yeah, I'll probably run again (my big passion), but I'll never dance.
Luca's angst might seem selfish, but honestly, I think everyone gave him too much crap for it. Going through a life changing injury, as he did, and all the other shit that got flung at him, too (changing schools, losing his friends, losing all his independence, being completely alienated from everyone) means he's allowed to be fucking selfish. Hell, I'm twice his age and I've had to tell a number of people, as well, to lay off me because I'm recovering from a major operation. It's exhausting. So... relatable, Luca. You be an angry gay bean.
The timing is also fun in that like Luca, I also suffered a debilitating injury that ended any future in dance as well as took my whole identity with it. I'm recovering from a major operation like Luca, too, and my journey with rehab and physio has had a lot of ups and downs. I'm only eight weeks out myself, and yeah, I'll probably run again (my big passion), but I'll never dance.
Luca's angst might seem selfish, but honestly, I think everyone gave him too much crap for it. Going through a life changing injury, as he did, and all the other shit that got flung at him, too (changing schools, losing his friends, losing all his independence, being completely alienated from everyone) means he's allowed to be fucking selfish. Hell, I'm twice his age and I've had to tell a number of people, as well, to lay off me because I'm recovering from a major operation. It's exhausting. So... relatable, Luca. You be an angry gay bean.
amyikes's review against another edition
3.0
Apparently having a dance academy phase is something that just becomes a part of you forever, because I saw ballet, and the next thing I knew I was walking home with this book in my bag.
No spoilers, but as I read, I felt like the Luca/Jordan plot was supposed to be the focal point, and for me at least it just wasn't. I would have loved to have spent some more time with Amina's character, especially her story before meeting Luca! I also wish we could have explored a bit more about Luca's move to North - I think I'll ramble more about this on my tumblr later, (I'll link it here once I do), but there were some eerie similarities between Talia and some girls who I myself went to private school with. I would love to see if Tobias Madden in the future writes more about that kind of elitism, the little that we see of how he deals with it in Anything But Fine was extremely accurate.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes netflix romcoms like Never Have I Ever, To All the Boys, or the Kissing Booth. This was a super quick read for me (took me a couple of hours after dinner) and would have been a really fun but not mindless read too if I hadn't had flashbacks to my own experiences in the arts and private schools haha.
No spoilers, but as I read, I felt like the Luca/Jordan plot was supposed to be the focal point, and for me at least it just wasn't. I would have loved to have spent some more time with Amina's character, especially her story before meeting Luca! I also wish we could have explored a bit more about Luca's move to North - I think I'll ramble more about this on my tumblr later, (I'll link it here once I do), but there were some eerie similarities between Talia and some girls who I myself went to private school with. I would love to see if Tobias Madden in the future writes more about that kind of elitism, the little that we see of how he deals with it in Anything But Fine was extremely accurate.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes netflix romcoms like Never Have I Ever, To All the Boys, or the Kissing Booth. This was a super quick read for me (took me a couple of hours after dinner) and would have been a really fun but not mindless read too if I hadn't had flashbacks to my own experiences in the arts and private schools haha.
sharpreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
harasnicole's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me cry so damn hard towards the end, I was congested for a while afterwards.
linaa13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
adammm's review against another edition
4.0
Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden has very little in common with Heartstopper, and if you're out here comparing them that means you have a total of three queer references. Please, do better.
Some disjointed thoughts:
- I really appreciate how Madden writes Luca being Jordan's dirty little secret as affecting so many people. Though adult m/m romances like to portray men in the closet as being something sexy, in the real world, it is difficult and stressful for everyone involved.
- I think the author does a great job at showing how truly selfish and unlikable teenagers can be - and how they can grow and change with a little self-actualization.
- I don't really like how it takes Luca until so late in the book to really start thinking and questioning his own actions/attitudes. I do get that the book needs to build to an explosive climax, but I think he should have shown a little more growth earlier in the story (starting at the 50% mark, perhaps?) to make it feel more organic.
- Luca's relationship with his dad is excellent. As discussed in an interview between the author and the audiobook voice actor, the intention was to show that plenty of people have accepting parents - coming out or being queer is not a big deal for everyone, and this relationship is natural and just great. The issues between them being unrelated to Luca's sexuality is terrific writing.
- I do wish that there was at least one more scene featuring Luca's new friend group towards the end of the book. It was a bit too tell-but-not-show.
- Honestly, I don't know if But what do I know?
- Amina! That is all.
Great m/m YA book from a part of the world that doesn't seem to see to many of them. Definitely worth a read.
Oh, and for my own comparisons: think Nina Kenwood, Robbie Couch, Ciara Smyth. Now that's how you do (mostly) queer references!
Some disjointed thoughts:
- I really appreciate how Madden writes Luca being Jordan's dirty little secret as affecting so many people. Though adult m/m romances like to portray men in the closet as being something sexy, in the real world, it is difficult and stressful for everyone involved.
- I think the author does a great job at showing how truly selfish and unlikable teenagers can be - and how they can grow and change with a little self-actualization.
- I don't really like how it takes Luca until so late in the book to really start thinking and questioning his own actions/attitudes. I do get that the book needs to build to an explosive climax, but I think he should have shown a little more growth earlier in the story (starting at the 50% mark, perhaps?) to make it feel more organic.
- Luca's relationship with his dad is excellent. As discussed in an interview between the author and the audiobook voice actor, the intention was to show that plenty of people have accepting parents - coming out or being queer is not a big deal for everyone, and this relationship is natural and just great. The issues between them being unrelated to Luca's sexuality is terrific writing.
- I do wish that there was at least one more scene featuring Luca's new friend group towards the end of the book. It was a bit too tell-but-not-show.
- Honestly, I don't know if
Spoiler
the book needed to end with a relationship between Luca and Jordan. I sort of think the book would have been stronger if Luca and Jordan had gone their own ways and Luca ended the book with his new friend group of Amina and Grace.- Amina! That is all.
Great m/m YA book from a part of the world that doesn't seem to see to many of them. Definitely worth a read.
Oh, and for my own comparisons: think Nina Kenwood, Robbie Couch, Ciara Smyth. Now that's how you do (mostly) queer references!
blandrea_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I had seen this book around but if anyone had led with "this is set in Ballarat", I would have picked it up instantly! I very much enjoyed reading a YA that was so deliberately set in Australia.
It managed to walk a fine line between being a light hearted, but also dealing with some pretty heavy content.
It managed to walk a fine line between being a light hearted, but also dealing with some pretty heavy content.