amelia6685's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
fountain_ken's review
3.0
A good Sunday read, but not really substantial, I felt. It was predictable and cringey, at points, but, at least there was a bit of growth and closure at the end.
ecairns's review
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
drama's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
literally_just_tears's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.75
I really love reading Australian lit so naturally, I was excited to read this one! I liked the premise, I knew it was going to present some amazing development for the characters and it really did. Amina deserves the actual world and we all need a friend like her.
I found the topics discussed in this book well balanced. Being afraid of the world, finding your purpose just after it was lost, moving on, teenage love and grief.
Though I loved so any parts of the book, Jordan as a character really fell flat for me. Him and his struggles with coming out to himself and others could have been delved into so much better and I would have loved it if he more personality.
The author also has a habit of individually describing the emojis a character uses during the texting scenes and it kinda took me out of the story. A bit like:
Hey how have you been smiley emoji
Great thanks, just had dinner thumbs up emoji pasta emoji smiley emoji.
Despite that, I really loved this book and I think it's a great starting point if you're looking into Australian Queer lit.
I found the topics discussed in this book well balanced. Being afraid of the world, finding your purpose just after it was lost, moving on, teenage love and grief.
Though I loved so any parts of the book, Jordan as a character really fell flat for me. Him and his struggles with coming out to himself and others could have been delved into so much better and I would have loved it if he more personality.
The author also has a habit of individually describing the emojis a character uses during the texting scenes and it kinda took me out of the story. A bit like:
Hey how have you been smiley emoji
Great thanks, just had dinner thumbs up emoji pasta emoji smiley emoji.
Despite that, I really loved this book and I think it's a great starting point if you're looking into Australian Queer lit.
vezreads's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
pstrick836's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
r_a's review
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.
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
Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Bullying
issy_oneil's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
amyikes's review
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.