Wrong Answers Only by Tobias Madden
It has always been Marco’s dream to study biomedicine at the University of Melbourne and become a neurosurgeon. But when he starts to suffer from panic attacks, Marco’s parents do the unthinkable and delay his first year at uni, despite his protests that he’s completely fine. Marco’s one week away from being 18, so technically, as his parents remind him, he’s still legally under their care.
Feeling devastated and lost after such hard work, Marco’s nonna comes up with a plan for him to stay with his estranged uncle on a cruise ship around the Mediterranean, hoping that a change of scenery, and some well-needed relaxation, will help Marco discover the root cause of these panic attacks. But there are some major things Marco has to unpack first. Firstly, why his uncle left the family all those years ago; what to do about the feelings he’s growing for the handsome boy that’s on the same cruise as him; how to reconnect with his best friend, CeCe, as she feels discarded since Marco has spent all his time focusing on his new crush; and, finally, what Marco actually wants to do with his life. Is the dream he thought he always needed the same as what he’s always wanted?
Wrong Answers Only is a queer coming-of-age story that will make you yearn for that feeling of first love, of friendships promised to last forever, for the European sun, and for family that sticks by your side no matter what. For ages 14+.