A review by kimbofo
Floundering by Romy Ash

5.0

Fishing for flounder in shallow coastal waters as the tide comes in is known as “floundering”, which explains the title of this extraordinary debut novel by Australian writer Romy Ash. But it’s also an apt description for what the characters in the story are doing for each is struggling to get by.

Floundering begins as a “road novel” when a pair of brothers — 11-year-old Tom, who narrates the story, and 13-year-old Jordy — are “kidnapped” from their Gran’s place, where they live, by their mother, Loretta, and driven across the country, from somewhere in the east, to the west coast of Western Australia.

Loretta doesn’t ring Gran until we are right across the border into the next state.
They’re with me, Mum. It’s fine.
I’ve got a hold of Loretta’s hand, and she’s keeping the glass door of the phone booth open with her sneaker. I can feel Loretta’s painted fingernails, two of them broken and sharp against my palm.
No, Mum, they’re my boys. I’m not having this conversation with you again. They’re my boys. I’ve got a place ready and everything. Please, Mum, she says. Don’t say that. I told you already. That’s why I’m ringing you now, Mum.
She’s leaning her head against the glass with the orange phone curled around her face.


After several stressful — and baking hot — days on the road, in which the boys continually squabble and Loretta struggles to maintain her new facade of responsible young adult, the trio arrive at their destination just a couple of days before Christmas.

To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.