Wrong Answers Only - by Tobias Madden (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Marco should be at university, studying biomedicine. Instead, he's been sent to live on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean with his estranged uncle, all because of a "blip" everyone else is convinced was a panic attack. (Which it most definitely was not.)

And even though Marco's trip is supposed to provide answers--about himself, about his family--all he finds on board the Ocean Melody are more and more questions.

But then his best friend CeCe proposes a new plan: for someone who has always done the right thing, in every possible way, it's time for Marco to get a few things wrong. And hooking up with a hot dancer from the ship is only the beginning . . .

Review Quotes

"A perfect transitional book for those leaving their teenage years behind and stepping forward into the vastness of uncertainty that is adulthood."
--SLJ, starred review

"Australian author Madden [...][does] an excellent job with the unusual setting and the psychologically astute character development of Marco. All aboard!"
--Booklist, starred review

"An endearing examination of family, friendship, and personal growth in the wake of mental health struggles."
--Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderfully funny and heartfelt novel that is also intensely, relatably human. I devoured it in one sitting."
--Jennifer Niven, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places

"A sincere, heartfelt, and hilarious look at what can happen when life forces us off-course--and onto a cruise ship, no less--when the last thing we want is to take a detour. Tobias Madden's latest triumph is bound to make a splash."
--Robbie Couch, author of New York Times bestseller If I See You Again Tomorrow

"Wrong Answers Only is an honest and heartfelt exploration of living with anxiety and the setbacks and successes that occur when trying to manage it."
--Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Blue and Jay's Gay Agenda

"Tobias has explored family very tenderly here--all the love, disconnection, intergenerational harm, loss, and beauty you can find in the families we are born into and those we choose. I'm so glad it is going out into the world for others to read and feel deeply too."
--Helena Fox, award-winning author of How It Feels to Float

"Charming and hilarious, Wrong Answers Only whisks readers away on a voyage around the Mediterranean, where they will bask on beaches and swoon in the sun while exploring the importance of family, friendship, and self-discovery."
--Robby Weber, author of I Like Me Better

"A frank and adventurous look at what it means to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the ups, downs, and absolute messiness of life. In Wrong Answers Only, Tobias Madden gets the coming-of-age experience just right."
--Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country and My Fair Brady

"Say 'Ahoy' to this coming-of-age story full of family, fun, gorgeous locales, self-acceptance, and figuring out that it's okay not to have all the answers."
--Sara Farizan, award-winning author of If You Could Be Mine

About the Author

Originally from Ballarat, Australia, Tobias now lives in New York City with his husband, Daniel, and their Cavoodle, Ollie. In 2019, Tobias edited and published Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories. He also co-wrote the cabaret show Siblingship, which played to sold-out audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Tobias's debut novel, Anything But Fine, was published in 2021 and shortlisted for ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children. His second novel, Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell, is available now. Tobias is a passionate member of the #LoveOzYA and LGBTQ+ communities, and he currently works full-time in digital marketing.