Was not a fan of this book. I felt like it was so plodding and LONG. I kept reading and reading and saying "it's got to pay off, there's got to be a big reveal for all of this angst. Nothing. I still don't get what the issues were. In the last quarter of the book, when Jude is at the father's house I STILL couldn't understand that story she told about the big betrayal.

Awful

I have a childhood memory of driving through the Florida Everglades with my large family all packed into a station wagon and coming upon a horrific car crash. My mother was next to me in the front seat and told me not to look, but stupidly I did look, and what I saw was a lot of mangled metal and a lot of blood on the wet ground. That awful image is seared in my head along with a number other not particularly pleasant memories of time spent in Florida. Florida has always felt exotic but in a dark and creepy way to me. Florida politics, the heat, the endless strip malls, the sense of no there there, guns, don’t help the cause.

All this to say, this story of one Florida family and the very tenuous threads that hold them together just was an extension of my own perceptions of this state. Heat, Busch Gardens, the oddly warm ocean water, herons and vultures, those with too much money in close quarters with those living month-to-month, marriages that end but not fully… it’s a borderline creepy story that all the time holds the threat of going somewhere darker.

I couldn’t figure out why Jude was the omniscient narrator, but she is one of 4 siblings, and she tells the story of growing up with intensely career-focused and affluent parents in a sort of benign neglect atmosphere. As adults all 4 gather back in Florida for their mother’s funeral. In the time during and after the funeral, each is puzzling out their own messy life in the context of this hard-edged family of origin. It’s not a quirky family - more of a family held together by shared disappointments, not enough parental warmth and positive attention, and dissatisfactions.

The looming environmental issues that are harder to avoid in Florida, an underlying vibe of potential doom that weighs like the Florida humidity, and a family with at least a few people imploding and in need of some mental health care, all float around together in an uncertain direction and lead to a not very satisfying but not unwelcome ending.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. There were a lot of characters, too many for my liking. I didn't find any of them likable, therefore I couldn't connect to any of them. I hate that.

The gun was brought up a lot. It seemed like it would be used in a certain way, but definitely not in the way it finally was.

I wouldn't recommend this book.

This was a slow read about a wealthy Florida family and their codependent relationship. It was not always easy to follow. I did enjoy some of the characters and wished for more information about them.

I love how effortlessly the title was involved in the book. This was a well written story about family and the power family has in our lives.

I read this at the same time as The Long Island Compromise and The Blue Sisters. It was probably a little too concentrated of a foray into multi-narrator family toxicity because by this one I was almost conflating plot points. But if you liked either of yhe other two, you’ll likely like this as well.

While the writing is beautiful, this book didn’t work for me. Too many characters that started to get confusing toward the end. And the storyline was so flat, I didn’t really care to try harder to figure them/it out. Having just read Blue Sisters, which also dealt with four siblings, I found that one far superior.

My gratitude to #NetGalley and #MarinerBooks for the opportunity to read Lynn Steger Strong's newest novel -- "The Float Test" - in exchange for a review. First, I love this title and its origin is explained very soon into the novel. The float test is one aspect of a swimming test (and the one aspect of the overall test that the Kenner children have difficulty with) that require "non-doing."
The paradox of floating in water is that a person needs to relax, be passive, not "do" and just, well, float, and this is not how the Kenner children were raised. The novel begins with a flashback of the two younger daughters -- Jude and Fred -- as children in a pivotal moment and then returns to the present day. It then proceeds, centering on the relationship between these two sisters, and incorporates the rest of the family as well as other relevant characters.
I always look forward to Steger Strong's novels -- all very family/relationship-centered -- people navigating life-changing circumstances and situations (individually and as a system), and always compelling. This novel is no different. The plot kept me engaged and invested in the characters. Each of the four children are very different but also burdened with shared insecurities and the expectations of high-achieving parents (especially their mother). These traits are brought forward into their own adult relationships (as parents, partners, employees).
For me, the only drawback was being in Jude's single POV for the novel's entirety while also feeling that she was the least understood character by the end (especially for being such an integral part of the overall novel). Fred, on the other hand, was very clearly depicted -- her actions, motivations, etc. I didn't feel that Jude was an unreliable narrator - more an "incomplete" one.
Also the characters of George, the youngest of the Kenner children, and Mauve, the childhood friend of Fred's, were pretty clearly depicted as well. This may be a weakness in me, as a reader, and not uncommon in single character POV (to not know much about the narrator in this instance), but I wanted more of Jude..
Lynn Steger Strong's books (plots, characters, landscapes) are SO good, I highly recommend this latest (and all of them) but found myself wishing I had the POVs of other characters OR a more omniscient narrator who was not so intimately crucial to the overall plot (which was, as said, really solid). The state of Florida (for better and for worse) plays a starring role in this book and this author writes a truly tangible setting - one that I physically felt - and also a reflection of the state of our planet. So sharp and well told!

The novel introduces us to Jenn, Fred, Jude, and George, each grappling with their own set of problems. Jenn is overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood, Fred is a blocked novelist who seems disillusioned with her craft, Jude is a former lawyer with a grudge, and George is entangled in his own turmoil. These character setups could have been a strong foundation for rich, engaging narratives, but they fell flat in the end.

Moreover, while the novel touches on some interesting themes—like the subjective nature of family stories and the secrets each person carries—the execution is lacking for me. There are moments where the narrative picks up and offers glimpses of what could have been a more engaging read, but these are fleeting.

In the end, the novel attempts to explore what it means to be a family, but the message gets muddled along the way. While there are some relatable moments and well-drawn scenes, the overall experience is lukewarm. Readers looking for a powerful family drama might find this book lacks the depth and emotional resonance needed to make a lasting impact.

I may go back and reread this one to see what I may have missed the first time around.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a slow burn story about a family that comes together after the unexpected passing of their mother. The siblings grew up in a very large house in a wealthy family. The siblings do not seem well adjusted or happy. They go back to Florida to be near their father and the place they grew up.

This book did not work for me. I felt the storyline was meandering and slow. Where are we going with this? Some of it felt politically motivated. There was too many chapters on the climate change and deforestation of Florida land that has left native species without a home. I understand the importance of this issue but it felt improperly placed in a family drama.

I was bored with this book by 38% and had to move on.

Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

4.5/5 stars

This family drama was a really enjoyable read. In retrospect, there wasn't a whole lot of plot, but with there was so much character development (within the characters as individuals and their relationships to their siblings and their significant others and friends).

The narration by Jude throughout was an interesting choice. The blurb saying that the story is only as reliable as the narrator made me wonder if we might get an epilogue from a different perspective and it would change everything. I think, even if still from Jude's POV, an epilogue would be a really nice way to tie up some loose ends. Does Fred get back with David? Does Jude repair her relationship with Cassie? Does George end up with Maeve? Do they get another dog?

I must say that I absolutely hated the killing of the dog. I don't know why that was necessary — I guess it gave Fred a use for that gun, finally, after me thinking throughout the book that she was going to shoot herself, it was honestly so much worse that Jude shot Libby, and then LAUGHED about it.

Overall, I really liked this novel. Short chapters, well-fleshed out characters, and very realistic family dynamics.

This is a perfect summer book! The action takes place in Florida, and almost every chapter describes how the characters swim in pools or in the ocean. The atmosphere of the book is stiflingly humid and hot, just as the Florida weather, and psychologically too, because each of the characters feels suffocatingly uncomfortable inside their own family.

Once again, as in the Christmassy novel “Flight,” the death of the matriarch becomes the beginning of the book and the main theme. Three sisters and a brother come to the mother's funeral, and the whole family gathers together for the first time in many years. One of the sisters, Fred, is an outsider in the family, everyone avoids and dislikes her. The sister who is the main character of the book and the narrator has not spoken to her for almost a year. And with time, the reader will find out why.

Strong’s last two novels echo each other strongly, sometimes mirroring each other, sometimes playing antipodes. In both cases, the brightest and the most important character of the novel is the recently deceased matriarch, whom we meet only in the memories of loved ones. But if the heroine of the cozy winter novel “Flight” is a kind and wise woman who united the family and generously gave warmth to everyone, here, in an environment of unbearable heat, we meet a cold and die-hard woman, a real Steel Magnolia of the American South.

Mother was a successful lawyer all her life, a self-made overachiever. She rose from poverty to prosperity thanks to her incredible, seething energy. A tiger mom, she demanded achievements from her children too. The result were depression, alcoholism, eating disorders, and alienation of the children from her and from each other. And even after her death, adult children are surprised to feel that the pressure and pain of not meeting their mother’s expectations have not gone away. This is what they try to cope with throughout the novel, each in their own way.

I really liked how subtly and carefully the writer touched on the topic of challenging motherhood. (And is there a motherhood that's not challenging?) At first, it seems that the mother was absolutely terrible and treated the children cruelly and neglectfully. But gradually, through the stories of second-plan characters whom she once helped a lot, and through the sisters' memories of her, a much more multifaceted and interesting portrait of a woman is created. A woman who did not want to devote herself entirely to children, who was really demanding and did not know how to stop, but at the same time was brave enough live her life the way she wanted, unapologetically. And she always helped those who depended on her.

Another interesting storyline for me was the process of creative writing and how it sometimes alienates writers from loved ones, whose most personal and traumatic stories they simply cannot help but use as material for their books and stories. The author and the writer's character Fred constantly ask themselves and the reader: is creativity really worth such sacrifices? Is there an ethical way to be an artist?

The state of Florida, its nature and culture, is like a separate character in the novel. I'm still in the process of getting acquainted with American psychogeography, but I already understand that Florida, the origin of a "Florida Man", is a special place. Because of the global warming, it will be the first state to end up underwater. The flora and fauna of the state are incredibly rich and unique, but they are being destroyed at an incredible rate. Mangroves are being illegally uprooted, river deltas and swamps are being covered with sand and paved over, and even vultures are dying of starvation. And it seems that most people there don't care: après nous, le déluge. Intellectuals from New York love to call Florida the fascist state, and perhaps sometimes it is well deserved, but how does it feel to those who were born and raised there?

The writer knows exactly what it’s like to simultaneously love and hate the place where you come from and your origins. And that alone made me (a Russian) feel very close to her.

If these themes also touch you, and if you, like me, adore Anne Tyler, Liane Moriarty and family novels about loving but dysfunctional families, you will surely like this book too!

The storytelling in this book was the star. I enjoyed the flashbacks and learning about these siblings and the bonds they shared. The present day provided such a stark contrast in the distance and coldness between them. I couldn't wait to keep going and find out what caused this rift and boy was it worth the wait!

I’m a sucker for dysfunctional family stories and this hit the mark. When the matriarch dies, the siblings and father deal with the aftermath told from the somewhat omniscient narration of Jude (the older sister). Secrets, lies, communication breakdowns, roving perspectives and literary writing made for a compelling read in the spirit of The Most Fun We Ever Had. At times, the story did drag a bit and the timelines were muddled, but overall I'd reccomend.

An extremely well-written book detailing the layers upon layers of family dysfunction that come to the surface when four siblings' mother passes away and later their bereaved father has a bad accident. While the characterization is strong and the writing is good, it was just too much family dysfunction for me. I don't enjoy reading about this, no matter how well executed.

Jenn, Fred, Jude and George Kenner must learn to navigate life without their mother after her sudden passing. Fred, a writer struggling with creative block, feels adrift; George is dealing with the fallout of his wife leaving him; Jenn is overwhelmed by the demands of her own children while trying to keep the family united; and Jude is confronted with her daughter growing up and discovers troubling truths about her life through Fred’s writing. When their father is involved in a car accident, the siblings are forced to come together, not only to confront their individual issues but also to navigate the diverse and often strained relationships they have with each other and their grieving father. This book shows the power of family resilience and the complexity of sibling bonds.

Floating implies a sense of vulnerability as one subjects themself to another to keep them upright. Even before their Mom's death, ,this family did not support each other to keep their heads above water; rather, they prayed upon actions and feelings to drive them apart. Fred and Jude didn't speak for a very long time and Fred instead turned to incessant swimming and running to block all feelings she has towards her sisters, George and Daniel. Jenn tries to be perfect in everything she does including being the best Mom to all of her kids. Jude will not admit to her actions that caused her job to be terminated. George had a hard time standing up to his boss even when he knew he was in the right. Their father was lost without his wife and at times, his own children couldn't put aside their differences to assist him through this difficult time. I was glad to see that they began to realize that they are a family and even though they may have their differences, they are bound together by growing up together. Like floating, they are there to support each other. The true test is how to put their hand on each others back so that swimmer knows they will not go.under.

loved this book- filled with family disfunction at its best. I cannot wait to read the author’s backlist.

The Float Test by Lynn Steger Strong is the story of a group of siblings who return to Florida when one of their parents die and is their family story, told through things going on presently along with flashbacks.

Family dynamics are not always easy to convey, but Ms. Steger Strong does this impeccably. She starts with their closeness at the beginning and then jumps to their distance and how they may (or may not) repair their feelings toward each other as the book progresses. I impatiently awaited to find out WHY the relationships dissolved and wasn't disappointed in how it was handled.

Families can be hard. Dealing with siblings when a parent dies can make it harder and I feel like all of this was conveyed beautifully. The ending made me gasp.

Read this, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Family secrets are intriguing to read about just as complicate relationships and drama are. Strong does a fantastic job creating characters and putting them into complex situations in this new book. The Float Test is worth a read and book club discussion in my opinion! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.