Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction
Golden by S.S. Turner is a witty, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale of a man’s search for belonging in a land as wild and untamed as his own sense of hope.
There’s an old Australian saying: “She’ll be right.” It’s a phrase that carries a universe of meaning — resilience, blind optimism, and a touch of reckless abandon. For Will Watson, a Brit seeking a fresh start in Queensland’s sun-drenched paradise, that phrase becomes a survival mantra. After a brutal breakup and a career-ending act of defiance, Will packs up his life (and his beloved golden retriever, Mia) and heads Down Under, armed with little more than a raffle prize ticket and a heart desperate for reinvention. What he finds is a world both more unforgiving and more magical than he ever anticipated.
The novel sweeps readers into Will’s rollercoaster of misadventures, from the chaos of Brisbane taxi queues to the peculiar charm of Maleny, a town brimming with quirky characters and even quirkier truths. Turner’s storytelling is sharp and self-aware, lacing every misstep with humour and heart. Will’s wide-eyed wonder at the Australian landscape — his reverence for its ancient rainforests, awe at its wildlife, and oblivious entanglement in its social norms — makes him an endearing, if hapless, guide through this foreign world. The author effortlessly captures the bittersweet nature of starting over: the sting of isolation, the absurdity of small-town politics, and the fragile hope that keeps pushing Will forward, even when the odds are stacked against him.
The authenticity of the book is its biggest asset. Each place and character is vividly portrayed in the writing, which is bursting with creativity and emotional depth. The blue-tongued lizard lounging on Mount Coot-tha, the platypus ripple that never fully shows itself, and the bull sharks that lurk in the Brisbane River are all powerful analogies for Will’s own hidden potential. The structure is organic, reflecting the erratic tides of life, and the narrative coherence is found in Will’s gradual development of self-awareness and his position in the world rather than in plot twists. One standout moment is Will’s encounter with a giant python in the middle of a forest path — a quietly powerful scene that encapsulates the tension between fear and awe, danger and beauty, survival and surrender.
In the end, Golden is a tale of second chances and the messy, magnificent process of finding oneself. It celebrates the beauty of brokenness, the quiet strength of companionship, and the unexpected grace that can bloom in life’s most awkward, painful moments. Like the Australian landscape it so lovingly depicts, this novel is sprawling, sun-drenched, and teeming with life. It leaves readers not with the certainty that everything will be alright, but with something even more precious: the reminder that even in life’s harshest terrains, there’s always something worth staying for.
About the Author
Reflections in Fiction: Exploring Trust and Humanity with SS Turner
Narratives serve as windows into the human experience in SS Turner’s literary universe and illustrate the complexity of mankind, trust, and the pursuit of meaning in the face of hardship.
Continue reading Reflections in Fiction: Exploring Trust and Humanity with SS Turner
Book of Excellence Award
This book is a winner of multiple awards, including the Book of Excellence Award.
The Book of Excellence title is a year-round recognition awarded to books that demonstrate exceptional quality, originality, and impact. These works set a high standard in storytelling, creativity, and contribution to culture or thought.
Voting for The World’s Best Book Awards Readers’ Book of the Year title is now closed. The results are below.
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