Soft Serve by George Kemp is a poignant coming-of-age debut novel set in a regional McDonald's, exploring the aftermath of loss and the struggle to move forward. After the tragic death of Taz, a young teenager, the small Australian town is still reeling. His mother, Pat, has left her job as a school career counselor to work at the local McDonald's, seeking solace in the repetitive nature of the work. Taz's friends, Ethan, Fern, and her brother Jacob, gather annually to toast three soft serves to his memory, trapped under the golden arches as bushfires rage nearby. As the story unfolds, we witness different kinds of courage: volunteer firefighters persevering to keep the town safe, and individuals fighting their own private anguish. Kemp skillfully handles the symbolism of the bushfire, using it as a backdrop and a metaphor for the interplay of destruction and rebirth. However, the novel's stage-like quality and dialogue-driven plot keep us at arm's length, rarely delving into the characters' psyches. Despite this, Soft Serve offers a relatable and sardonic depiction of regional Australia, with a tender undercurrent that speaks movingly of grief and life at its many thresholds.
