Anything But Fine

Anything But Fine is everything wonderful I love in a book: characters so real they breathe, a rollercoaster of a story that made me laugh, cry, and swoon, and vivid, gorgeous writing. Brilliant.

Jennifer Niven, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

In Anything But Fine, Tobias Madden delivers a stirring meditation on identity and grief. Sweet, warm and thoroughly delightful, it will quickly dance its way into your heart.

Krystal Sutherland, bestselling author of OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS

I was hooked from the first paragraph and I absolutely loved this book! At its heart is such a fresh, diverse, heartwarming love story that anyone will love, no matter how they identify. I cried at times but I smiled so often while I was reading this. While it was at times raw, devastating and real, it was such a fun, cute and romantic read, and I fell in love with Luca over and over again! I was cheering for Luca from the beginning and continue to cheer for him beyond the final page.

Gary Lonesborough, award-winning author of THE BOY FROM THE MISH

Anything But Fine is a gorgeous story about love, loss, friendship and hope – and about finding your true self after your one and only dream shatters into a thousand pieces.

Fleur Ferris, bestselling author of RISK

Anything But Fine is a hilarious and moving portrait of what it means to reassess your life when your future suddenly looks very different to what you’ve always dreamed. Tobias Madden has created a queer love story that is fresh, romantic and thoroughly entertaining.

Erin Gough, award-winning author of AMELIA WESTLAKE

Sincere, charming, emotional, and chaotic, Anything But Fine is an honest portrayal of how equally terrifying and beautiful figuring out who we are and who we can be is.

Jonny Garza Villa, author of FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM THE SUN

Luca and the whole cast of Anything But Fine will forever be pirouetting in my soul! With so much humour and heart, Tobias Madden shows that whether it's coming out, romance, friendship, school, or career ambitions, there's no singular right way to get where you're going. Even when seemingly insurmountable obstacles come your way, sometimes the biggest triumphs come from dancing into the unexpected.

Jason June, author of JAY'S GAY AGENDA

A messy, funny, and heartwarming book that brilliantly tackles the difficulties of grieving your biggest dreams, the headrush of first love, and the complexities of friendship.

Adiba Jaigirdar, author of THE HENNA WARS

Heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting and romantic, Anything But Fine explores how hard the fall from a great high can be, and what it means to pick yourself back up again. With unforgettable, realistic characters you can't help but root for, this contemporary is a must-read for everyone who's ever been left wondering how to find themselves again when their entire world is uprooted.

Sophie Gonzales, author of ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED

Luca's wit is the armor shielding his tender and sweet insides, and what brilliant armor it is. This book is the funniest I've read all year, which makes its vulnerability and poignancy only more powerful.

Eliot Schrefer, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author

Anything But Fine is anything but just fine; it's everything inspiring, complicated, and beautifully human, like a pirouette. Luca is a broken ballet dancer trying his best to find himself in a new world where his dreams are as shattered as his foot, but Tobias Madden deftly explores how imperfect the path is to rebuilding, finding yourself, and forging ahead when all seems lost. With a messy, swoony romance and an array of complex and evolving relationships, Luca's story is a lesson in realising that the only misstep is not taking the next step, and the power that comes from within.

Steven Salvatore, author of CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY

Everyone should read this book . . . I love this book and I would recommend it to everyone, young and old, but most specifically to those of us who have yet to discover ourselves in one way or another. *****

Gretel, Year 11, Good Reading

This funny and sad story is full of believable, often flawed, characters whose relationships are heartbreakingly real . . . Regardless of gender identity this love story will have wide appeal.

Sue Speck, ReadPlus

Loud and lively at times while also endearing and infused with tenderness.

Joy Lawn, Magpies