Title: Anything That Isn't This
Author: Chris Priestley
Pages: 480
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Release date: 1st October 2015
Blurb from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Frank Palp lives in a grim little
apartment, in a grim little building, in an exceedingly grim (and rather large)
city. Cobbled streets and near-destroyed bridges lead one through Old Town and
Old New Town, and war-damaged houses stand alongside post-war characterless,
concrete hutches. Most people walk hunched over, a habit from avoiding snipers,
but others are proud to stand tall and make the world take notice . . . This is
a city full of contradictions, and Frank is no exception.
He mostly hates his life, he definitely hates the ludicrous city he is forced to live in and he absolutely with complete certainty hates the idiots he's surrounded by . . . and yet he is in love. A love so pure and sparkling and colourful, Frank feels sure it is 'meant to be'. His love is a reward for all the terrible grey that he is surrounded by - which would be great, if the girl in question knew he existed. And then one day, the perfect sign lands in his lap. A message, in a bottle. A wish, for 'anything that isn't this'. The girl who wrote this is surely his soulmate - and now he just needs to find her.
My Review:
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest
review. Thanks to Bonnier Publishing and NetGalley*
2/5 stars
Frank Palp lives in a post-war city where everything has
muted colours and nearly everyone works for the Ministry.
The only good thing in Frank's life is Olivia but she is
part of the popular crowd and Frank isn't.
What will Frank do when he finishes school?
Will fate throw Olivia and Frank together?
Anything That Isn't This was an okay but slow read.
Frank was an alright protagonist but I didn't connect with
him. None of the other characters stood out except Frank's sister, Petra, who I
felt sorry for.
The plot was slow paced and predictable and not much seemed
to happen.
The Grey - something that apparently only Frank can see - is
never explained but it could be that it's meant as a metaphor.
There isn't much information given about the war/revolution
and I would have liked to find out more.
The writing style didn't hold my interest and I found myself
skim reading several times.
Overall this was an okay read.
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