Callum is on his way home from an epic fail of a summer exchange in France when a panic attack in the station toilets leads to him missing his train and going into Paris in search of his long-lost cousin instead of heading home to his parents. An evening out at a concert with his oboe-playing cousin on the hottest night of the year leads to a crazy adventure crisscrossing Paris on the back of a motorbike with a stranger.
Almost Nothing Happened is a frenetically fast paced, funny, heart-warming journey of self-discovery for Callum who, after a long sleepless boiling hot 24 hours, discovers a different type of France and a different, more confident Callum.
A wonderful adventure for a YA audience.

Almost Nothing Happened is a fantastic YA adventure full of humour, heart, and a sense of wild unpredictability. Meg Rosoff brings Paris to life in such a vivid and chaotic way that you can’t help but be swept along on Callum’s journey.

The character of Callum is incredibly relatable—his awkwardness and insecurities are spot-on for a teenager trying to find himself. The book is quick to read and so full of energy that it’s easy to get lost in the mayhem of Callum’s adventure.

It’s a perfect read for anyone looking for a funny, heart-warming story about finding your way in the world, even if your plans don’t always go according to, well, plan.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Almost Nothing Happened is typically Meg Rosoff. In this case it's a whistle-stop madcap adventure where (obviously) a LOT happens. But that, equally obviously if you've read Meg's books before, is not what the novel's about. As ever, the main focus is character development. Sometimes I struggle with Meg's books, either because I am too stupid to understand them or because I find it difficult to find a point of contact with the characters. But Almost Nothing Happened gripped me from the start. Do read it.

Oh how I loved this book! I got completely wrapped up in the adventure and it reminded me of how much I loved reading stories like this when I was a teenager. It was both funny and sad, heartwarming and dark, but the characters were vividly realised and fun to spend time with.

Callum has had a disastrous summer in France he has a panic attack and misses his train and stays in Paris without telling his parents. What follows is a discovery of himself

Meg Rosoff does not disappoint in this quirky summer adventure set in Paris. Callum feels let down and ashamed of his uneventful, lonely summer abroad. At the last moment, he flees the station instead of catching the train back home and a chaotic 48 hours follows, full of adventure and suspense. I loved the humorous chain of events and how Callum got a chance to redeem himself and his trip! A really fun summer read for teens!

Exciting and fast.
Well what a whirlwind of a book, it felt like you were on the back of that motorbike.
Straightforward, easy to follow, right amount of characters and references to Paris.
The insight into Callum's thoughts, doubts and ultimate confidence boost is refreshingly written.
Thank you Meg, NetGalley and Bloomsbury for this ARC

Almost Nothing Happened by Meg Rosoff really intrigued me. It’s one of those books where not much seems to happen on the surface, but emotionally, it’s doing so much. The writing is quiet and understated, but it captures that strange, dreamy feeling of being a teenager in the summer, when everything feels heightened and a little unreal. I loved how Rosoff leaves so much unsaid, trusting the reader to sit in the tension and fill in the gaps. It won’t be for everyone — if you prefer a fast-paced plot, this might feel too slow — but I found it beautifully written and quietly haunting. It stayed with me long after I finished it.

I was delighted to receive and ARC copy of 'Almost Nothing Happened' by Meg Rosoff from Netgalley (this has not affected my review). The main character is Callum - he has spent the summer in France but it has not turned out as he has hoped. At the last minute he decides not to go home and instead finds his cousin, Harrison, who is living in Paris and trying to make a living as an oboist. Callum unwittingly introduces Harrison to a thief who steals his oboe - what follows is a crazy journey across Paris to put right the chaos he has caused. A fast-paced read, great for students in year 9 and above.

Had fun and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was fantastic! Rollicking, chaotic, amusing and nostalgic - a great escapist read. Such a lovely depiction of Paris, and a joyous reminder of the thrill of fun and spontaneity.

Another winner from the consistently reliable Meg Rosoff. The story raced along at a cracking pace and I felt I was there in Paris with Callum living his adventure. Fabulous escapist read!

This book was a total joy from cover to cover. So much fun I want to read it all again! Fabulous book.

Fun and easy to read. Great book and a real break from dystopian darkness. Loved following the characters with unexpected twists. Thanks for making me smile.

Seventeen-year-old Callum has spent his summer on a disappointing French exchange. Staying with an aloof, sophisticated family undermined his already low self-esteem to the extent he didn't dare try out his limited French. Instead of coming of age and finding himself, he spent the visit in the company of the family dog, feeling invisible and miserable.
As he’s about to board the Eurostar home with the rest of his English cohort, he impulsively U-turns and, in a last-ditch attempt to find adventure, heads into Paris alone.
On a sweltering, sleepless night in the city, he gets caught up in an outrageous and uproariously funny caper involving a stolen oboe; a sultry, experienced older companion; high-value artwork; a motorcycle; a sex club; a protest demo; exotic street food; and a coachload of sightseeing Texans. (Three members of my close family have been on extended exchange visits in Europe and between us we experienced pretty much the same - except for the stolen oboe, obvs.)
The author does a great job of describing the atmosphere of the French capital in a heatwave and of conveying the clumsy, endearing angst of her protagonist.
This is billed as Young Adult, but it's laugh-out-loud funny for adults too, especially for those who've been on a stay abroad.
Much like a typical exchange visit, Almost Nothing Happened is short, wild and oodles of fun.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Upon publication, I will post this review on my blog, on Amazon and on GoodReads.