Er gebeurde bijna niets

by Meg Rosoff

Na een rampzalige zomeruitwisseling in Frankrijk kan Callum niet wachten om de trein terug naar huis te nemen. Maar wanneer hij appjes van zijn vader op zijn telefoon ziet bedenkt hij zich. Dwalend door Parijs probeert hij het onvermijdelijke dat hem bij thuiskomst staat te wachten uit te stellen. Hij ontmoet Harrison, zijn neef die muziekstudent is en in Parijs studeert, de onverschrokken Lilou en klimaatactivist Arnoud.

Wanneer door Callums toedoen de hobo van zijn neef wordt gestolen, reizen Callum en Lilou ’s nachts kriskras door de verzengende steegjes van de Franse hoofdstad, op zoek naar antwoorden…

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, France, Mystery, Contemporary

157 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Meg Rosoff was born in Boston and had three or four careers in publishing and advertising before she moved to London in 1989, where she lives now with her husband and daughter. Formerly a Young Adult author, Meg has earned numerous prizes including the highest American and British honors for YA fiction: the Michael L. Printz Award and the Carnegie Medal.

Reviews

[hannah! · Rating 3 out of 5]

had way too high hopes for this but i loved the writing style

[Nemesia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Totally unrealistic, but might be fun if you let go.

[Antonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

unfortunately almost nothing happened within these pages that i cared about. upped to 2⭐️ under the influence of my book club.

ps I ❤️ book club

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump so I’m glad to have finally finished a book again. This was cute! It easily could’ve been 100 pages longer as everything resolves kinda easily near the end but I really enjoyed it nonetheless!

[thewildreaderwithacat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was browsing through a shelf of YA reads in a bookstore where Almost Nothing Happened caught my attention.

The cover is too good, and I had to buy it. I am happy to have it in my collection.

The story is crazy, for a lack of a better word. The highs and lows are random and there's a lot that happens at once.

The simplest way to describe the characters would be, teenagers who are excited to risk it all.

Callum views things in different light as he meets people, and re-evaluates his experiences. I think that was a good addition to the story and character growth, especially since it's a YA read.

The book starts slow, and the first half is boring. But halfway through you're on the journey you never signed up for, and it's kinda fun.

I like how unexpected the second half and especially the end was, I couldn't help but laugh through it.

If you find the blurb interesting, check the Library for a copy. I recommend purchasing it if you like the cover, which I absolutely do!

[Merryn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the author, so i'm entirely biased. But I promise it's very good!

[Kirsten Paoline König · Rating 2 out of 5]

---
Tijdens het lezen (spoilers can happen)

32
Ik ben pas op pagina 32 en heb al zo vaak hardop gegrinnikt. Het is heel gevat, geestig en ongemakkelijk.

Callum, 17, heeft een treurige uitwisseling met Frankrijk achter de rug. De taal niet geleerd, ook nog. Op het station voor de trein terug naar Londen krijgt hij een (schat hij in) verontrustende oproep van zijn vader plus een paniekaanval - en loopt in een opwelling Parijs terug in. Doel: neef Harrison, die in een aftands klein appartementje totaal niet op gezelschap zit te wachten. En hobo speelt. Best goed ook.

55
'Wijsheid achteraf is iets bewonderenswaardigs.' 😂

60
Vanaf het moment dat de hobo verdwijnt en Lilou vanonder een helm verschijnt, kakt het verhaal volledig in voor mij. Terwijl er ogenschijnlijk een vaart komt in de gebeurtenissen (diefstal! overtreding van de avondklok! vreemde buitenwijken vol wiet!), kan de nu spaarzaam gevatte toon van de hoofdpersoon me er niet echt bijhouden. Ik dommel nogal in zoals Callum zelf achterop de motorfiets.

76
'Mijn portret van Arnaud werd aardig aangevuld. Een aristocratische, vioolspelende klimaatactivist, dief en pooier. Dit was niet het soort persoon met wie ik daarvoor veel contact had gehad.'

---
Voor het lezen

Absolutely LOVED the slowburn, subtiele vorm van 'The Godden', maar kon weinig met deel twee in het drieluik. Dit deel speelt zich af in Parijs, let's go!

[Leone Mattheus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boekje numero uno van de zovele die er waarschijnlijk deze vakantie zullen volgen. Helaas wel niet echt gestart met een banger van formaat. Of het is mijn brein die nog steeds saus is door de examens, of dit boek werd geschreven onder invloed van alcohol of drugs. Nul samenhang of logica.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book -5 stars, I would.

[Estelle Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Esmé Boom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read (Paris, activism, first loves, what's not to like) but I miss some of the emotional wisdom and melancholia that I value Meg Rosoff so much for.

[Tom Hazelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book after a Q&A with Meg.
I knew nothing about her or the book, but she won me over by talking about her own experience on French exchange as a kid and how she basically wrote this book in a month 🤯

I've really struggled reading in the past and could've done with something short and fun like this.
I've got a signed copy that says 'Keep Reading' and I definitely will!

[marte · Rating 1 out of 5]

great godden was een one-hit-wonder😔

[Mara Miniaci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg Rosoff’s "Almost Nothing Happened" starts off with a moment that feels rather odd — Callum, the main character, decides at the very last moment not to board his train from Paris to London, immediately setting a kind of eerie tone for the story. It’s strange, because it's clear from the beginning that Callum hasn’t exactly enjoyed his time as an exchange student in France — so why stay? There’s an unsettling sense that something has to happen for the story to really take off, which managed to grasp my attention right away.

Of all the characters, Lilou stood out the most for me. She’s independent, strong-headed & never hesitates to speak her mind — especially to men, which seems to serve her well overall. She's the kind of character who commands attention & it was refreshing to see her navigate the world on her own terms 💪🏼.

The novel felt like a proclamation of identity — about Callum trying to figure out who he is & where he belongs. He clearly hated Paris at first, since he didn’t even bother to learn the language & would love to be invisible at times. But once he reconnects with his cousin, things begin to shift. Not always for the better, but that’s life — can’t have a little sunshine without a little rain, right? 🌞🌧️

There wasn’t one big pivotal emotional moment for me, but there were several smaller ones that stuck. Callum’s internal thoughts often reveal how lowly he thinks of himself — he sees himself as a loser, someone unlikable, someone who just doesn’t seem to fit in - at home, here or anywhere for that matter. He can’t seem to catch a break & honestly, I felt for him more than once ❤️‍🩹🥺.

The title is kind of genius. On one hand, it feels sarcastic, because honestly, a lot DOES actually happen. On the other hand, if Callum had taken the train, you could argue that almost nothing WOULD have happened. It walks that beautiful line between irony & truth 👌🏻.

Compared to other books by Meg Rosoff, this one definitely carries her signature style — fluid, immersive writing & deeper, introspective moments that sneak up on you from time to time.

That said, I did feel like something was missing. It’s a good story, no doubt, but I didn’t feel as captivated as I wanted to be. It reminded me of "How I Live Now" in that sense — things moved along rather quickly & I wished I had gotten to know Callum a bit more before everything started happening. A few more pages & some added depth would’ve pursuaded me to give a higher rating for sure.

In the end, though, the message I took away was loud and clear: do it.
Just do it. Before it’s too late.
Carpe the f*ck out of this diem while you still can. 🍀

[Kanako Okiron]

Trying to give Meg Rosoff my time of day (or as I'm writing this, early morning)...the beautiful plot and tangible scenery did not live up to the blurb, sadly....blurb very misleading.

[Xanthe Waite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Meg Rosoff, will read & re-read her books, love the style of her writing & themes. This one was a lot of fun, a grand adventure in Paris. Not all that believable but lots of joyous adventure & it was funny. Very enjoyable.

[Sam Saunderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a very strange book this was

[Josefin · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,5

Ja du. Varför förväntades jag kunna franska? Och varför var huvudkaraktären inte ens involverad i handlingen?? Liksom han bara följde med hon som gjorde saker o kollade på?

[Charlotte Exton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg Rosoff is icon status, always

[m4rit · Rating 4 out of 5]

leeeuk geschreven
luchtig en toch niet luchtig
leest vlot
dromerig
en ik heb echt weer kei veel motivatie om mijn frans te verbeteren :)
ook gewoon in 2 dagen uitgelezen, dus das echt een goed teken

[☆ Mies ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆ 3,5 stars ☆

--------------- NO SPOILERS ---------------

I read this book in a 24-hour reading challenge, as the first book. It took me 4 hours, a bit longer than I expected. The book was defenitely enjoyable, it was just a bit hard to not get distracted at some points.
The beginning did hook me, but a few chapters in I started getting a bit bored. Not a lot was happening, but it was fun to read.
There was a lot more happening in the middle of the story, and it defenitely kept me reading. Sometimes I missed a bit of extra context, meaning the writer didn't really explain feelings or things happening. Now, the story is of course told from Callum's perspective so that does make sense.
The ending was very enjoyable, there were a lot more things happening and it was very fun to read. It did go very quickly though, so the ending did come a bit unexpectedly.
Overall, it was a fun coming-of-age story, but
I think I kind of missed a bit of romance in the story, cause I did expect that.
I did really like the chatacters.
Callum was a very realistic character, and it was fun to read from his perspective.
Harrison and Arnould were also interesting, sometimed their choices were a bit weird, but that is to be expected from them 😂.
Lilou was also nice to read about.
I didn't expect it, but I did like that there was a lot of French language interprated into the story, it made reading it very fun.

[Adibah(whatdibsread) · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmmmm

Almost Nothing Happened by Meg Rosoff is a witty young adult novel that makes me realize I’m too old to justify Callum's impulsive choice in this book. Set in Parisian summer, Callum, whose uneventful exchange trip in rural France takes an unexpected turn when he impulsively decides to stay in Paris instead of returning home propels him into a whirlwind 48-hour escapade.

The story itself is engaging and funny in some way but that's it. The fact the whole book is based on Callum’s point of view makes the line between reality and his perceptions a bit blurry. Too many things happened in this short book. Imagine within two days you are experiencing being a thief, joining a protest, and having a relationship with someone that is impossible to get my head around. This book reminds me of The Lizzie Macguire’s movie, humourous and exhilarating.

Anyways thank you Pansing @definitelybooks for sending me this copy in exchange for a review. This book is now available at all good bookstores.

[Rachel Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

Er gebeurde bijna niets. Door: Meg Rosoff.

Meg Rosoff veroverde mijn hart met De Godden Broers; wat een boek! Daar was ik echt verliefd op. Ik kijk dan ook reikhalzend uit naar elk nieuw boek van haar. Eerlijk is eerlijk: Er gebeurde bijna niets raakte me net iets minder. Maar ja, ik kan me niet goed voorstellen welk boek De Godden broers kan overtreffen dus dat zegt in feite niet veel.

In dit geval maken we kennis met Callum, wiens zomer als uitwisselingsstudent in Frankrijk een ramp was. Behalve de hond uitlaten gebeurde er niet veel. Tot hij beslist niet naar huis (in Londen) te gaan maar naar Parijs…

Over wat er dan gebeurt ga ik niet veel vertellen. Wat ik wél kan zeggen: plots gebeurt er héél veel. Meg Rosoff kan schrijven, dat bewijst ze wederom. Haar personages zijn levensechte, toffe mensen die falen en triomferen, niet zwart-wit zijn en ook gewoon maar proberen. Het verhaal is spannend, afwisselend traag meanderend en dan weer zinderend spannend. Zoals een goede zomer hoort te zijn.

Ben je nog geen fan van Rosoff en weet je niet wat te verwachten? Denk dan aan soort van Aidan Chambers van nu. Aanrader dus. En de cover is ook wederom een pareltje.

[Rachael Stray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost Nothing Happened is a strange, unpredictable story that takes a while to find its footing.

The first half is a little slow but stick with it, because the second half takes a sharp turn into chaos, and it’s oddly entertaining.

The characters are classic teens: impulsive, dramatic, and ready to risk it all for the thrill of the moment.

Callum’s shifting perspective and personal growth stood out and added some much-needed depth to the story, especially for a YA novel.

It’s not the most cohesive book, with highs and lows that feel random at times, but once things kick off, it’s kind of fun.

The ending is so unexpected, I actually laughed out loud. Not perfect, but worth a read if you’re in the mood for something different.

I enjoyed whizzing round Paris in the dead of night on a motorbike - I felt like I was riding there with them both.

The insurance fraud, theft and the activism felt relavant to what is happening around the world at the moment especially around Just Stop Oil.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[melodie | readingwithmelodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

this book seemed to entirely exist in callum’s mind, and it’s so weird to read with such little dialogue?? it’s also hard to distinguish what’s happening half the time bcos callum’s train of thought is like mine - a mess

the whole adventure part was so fun to read but not entirely satisfying - i feel like we didn’t get enough character development for anyone, and everything was wrapped up too nicely with a lil bow at the end

also the fact that callum is 17 and lilou 21 is sortaaaa weird?? also like it make sense that as a teenage boy, callum thinks about sex all the time, but the random lusting over elodie is so weird bcos it adds nothing to the plot or anything??

it’s one of those books where the content isn’t completely middle grade friendly, but the writing felt like it was directed at a younger audience?

(also i feel like i was semi cheated by the fact there’s two versions of this book on goodreads, where the one with less reviews has a 4.5 rating so i was expecting so much more??)

thank you bloomsbury for the review copy!

[booksbyaimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew absolutely nothing going into this book and I was genuinely pleasantly surprised!! I don’t often read YA books but it was a really refreshing read and nice change to usual!!

I don’t know how but the plot twist in this really shocked me😂😂 I didn’t see it coming!! I thought the structure of the book was a nice easy read and I found the plot easy to follow which is ideal when I’m constantly reading challenging thriller novels😂

As someone who has previously taken part in a French Exchange Program at school, I found parts absolutely hilarious and highly relatable!

I think there were parts in the book that did border on not being YA friendly😳😂 Despite this, there were elements of a ‘coming of age’ story which were really sweet and wholesome.

I would really recommend this one if you’re looking for a change of pace - I ended up reading this in 1 day!!

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5.

I know so many people rave about Meg Rosoff, so I figured it was about time I picked one up! Whilst I wouldn’t call this mind blowing, it was a fun, speedy coming of age read set in one of my favourite cities!

The story follows Callum as he decides not to get back on the train to the UK after his summer exchange in France. So he finds himself in Paris during a heatwave with no money or place to stay, and what follows are some seriously mad capers as he finds himself embroiled in a robbery with a beautiful French girl who he may be falling in love with! It’s basically 48 hours of madness and adventure, and I especially loved the Parisian setting, and the heatwave which I would totally take right now 😂 Callum’s insecurities are so relatable for any teenager, and I loved the way he found his confidence as the story progressed.

A quick and enjoyable read, and probably enough to make me pick up another book by the author!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Helen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can so much happen in 48 hours. Or in such a slim book, for that matter? Written with Rosoff’s inimitable wit and charm, this wild romp of a book follows the hapless Callum as he is dragged into a frenzied, sleep deprived, race around Paris. Stranded in the French capital (admittedly his own fault), after a disappointing summer of heartbreak and humiliation, Callum slowly realises that life is about taking part, reaching out, and embracing chance. Every character springs from the page, and Paris is brought to life in all her guises. Although Callum is 17, there is nothing to prevent a younger teen from enjoying this book (no strong language, and only brief references to sex).