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Big Things
Grover is a man of small routines, not big responsibilities. When his sister asks him to babysit her two kids, Alex and Jennifer, he reluctantly agrees. It’s just for one night after all. But nothing could have prepared him for what comes next.
In the wake of sudden tragedy, Grover finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the role of guardian. Convinced the children would be better off with their grandmother, he decides to take them on a cross-country road trip to ease them into the idea of their new life.
The roadside attractions aren’t the only big things they encounter on their journey. The trio meet larger-than-life new friends and find themselves embroiled in a media storm as their simple road trip quickly becomes something much bigger. Along the way Grover, Alex and Jennifer begin to confront their grief and fears, and they form an unconventional, yet powerful bond. As past wounds resurface, Grover must face the ghosts he’s long avoided and decide what kind of future he wants - and what kind of future he deserves.
Full of humour, pop culture and heart, BIG THINGS is a story of second chances and family, set against the stunning backdrop of Australia.
In the wake of sudden tragedy, Grover finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the role of guardian. Convinced the children would be better off with their grandmother, he decides to take them on a cross-country road trip to ease them into the idea of their new life.
The roadside attractions aren’t the only big things they encounter on their journey. The trio meet larger-than-life new friends and find themselves embroiled in a media storm as their simple road trip quickly becomes something much bigger. Along the way Grover, Alex and Jennifer begin to confront their grief and fears, and they form an unconventional, yet powerful bond. As past wounds resurface, Grover must face the ghosts he’s long avoided and decide what kind of future he wants - and what kind of future he deserves.
Full of humour, pop culture and heart, BIG THINGS is a story of second chances and family, set against the stunning backdrop of Australia.
376 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2025
About the author
David Rogerson
5 books1 followerDavid Rogerson was born and raised in Western Australia and earned his bachelor’s degrees in English and Comparative Literature and Law at Perth’s Murdoch University.
After studying screenwriting and creative writing courses at the Royal Melbourne Institute for Technology (RMIT), David completed additional studies through Open Channel Australia and The Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
David was a finalist in Fremantle Media’s Neighbours Initiative for emerging television screenwriters and was shortlisted for the Australian Writers’ Guild Monte Miller Award for having co-authored a historical Australian period-mystery series.
With a passion for Australian popular culture, television and movies, David previously wrote a weekly column on the subject for an online publication.
He has also contributed to Australian newspapers, magazines and journals with articles ranging from true-life Aussie stories to Australian history.
After studying screenwriting and creative writing courses at the Royal Melbourne Institute for Technology (RMIT), David completed additional studies through Open Channel Australia and The Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
David was a finalist in Fremantle Media’s Neighbours Initiative for emerging television screenwriters and was shortlisted for the Australian Writers’ Guild Monte Miller Award for having co-authored a historical Australian period-mystery series.
With a passion for Australian popular culture, television and movies, David previously wrote a weekly column on the subject for an online publication.
He has also contributed to Australian newspapers, magazines and journals with articles ranging from true-life Aussie stories to Australian history.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 18, 2025
Okay, so there is a new Australian voice in writing.
This novel is completely engaging from start to finish. It's uniquely Australian, full of colourful cultural references with hilarious commentary from Mr Rogerson. Without giving too much away, it leaves you questioning: What if this happened to me?
Belongs on the 'bangers only list', so do yourself a favour and give it a go.
This novel is completely engaging from start to finish. It's uniquely Australian, full of colourful cultural references with hilarious commentary from Mr Rogerson. Without giving too much away, it leaves you questioning: What if this happened to me?
Belongs on the 'bangers only list', so do yourself a favour and give it a go.
November 7, 2025
Big Things is the quintessentially Australian road trip novel from WA author David Rogerson. With a good dose of nostalgia and plenty of humour it’s a ride I won’t soon forget.
When Grover is asked to babysit his niece and nephew overnight he reluctantly agrees, figuring not much could go wrong in one night. However when tragedy strikes, he finds himself thrust into the role of Jennifer and Alex’s guardian. It’s a job for which he feels ill-prepared and he’s convinced they would be better off with their grandmother. To ease them into the idea, Grover decides to first take them on a cross country road trip to check out the Big Things roadside attractions. Along the way they meet an eclectic cast of characters and find themselves at the centre of a media storm. However, despite all the fun, they must also confront their own grief and fear in order to move forward together.
Big Things was just the book I needed to pull me out of my reading slump. Full of heart, humour and hope, I was fully invested in this unconventional family and felt compelled to follow them on what was an eventful journey. I adored the interjections from the anonymous narrator who addressed the reader directly with his irreverent and rule breaking speeches and I was drawn to each of these vibrant characters and the struggles they were facing.
The nostalgic Aussie references were also heartwarming and funny and the sibling bickering very authentic and relatable. I was there for all the cheesy jokes and innuendo too, which had me laughing out loud on plenty of occasions.
Although Big Things deals with some heavy themes such as death, grief, fractured family, transphobia, bullying and guilt, it does this in a sensitive and warmhearted way using humour to balance it out.
If you love a good Aussie road trip novel with found family, pop culture references and a big dose of cheesy humour, then I urge you to pick up Big Things and get ready for a good old belly laugh.
When Grover is asked to babysit his niece and nephew overnight he reluctantly agrees, figuring not much could go wrong in one night. However when tragedy strikes, he finds himself thrust into the role of Jennifer and Alex’s guardian. It’s a job for which he feels ill-prepared and he’s convinced they would be better off with their grandmother. To ease them into the idea, Grover decides to first take them on a cross country road trip to check out the Big Things roadside attractions. Along the way they meet an eclectic cast of characters and find themselves at the centre of a media storm. However, despite all the fun, they must also confront their own grief and fear in order to move forward together.
Big Things was just the book I needed to pull me out of my reading slump. Full of heart, humour and hope, I was fully invested in this unconventional family and felt compelled to follow them on what was an eventful journey. I adored the interjections from the anonymous narrator who addressed the reader directly with his irreverent and rule breaking speeches and I was drawn to each of these vibrant characters and the struggles they were facing.
The nostalgic Aussie references were also heartwarming and funny and the sibling bickering very authentic and relatable. I was there for all the cheesy jokes and innuendo too, which had me laughing out loud on plenty of occasions.
Although Big Things deals with some heavy themes such as death, grief, fractured family, transphobia, bullying and guilt, it does this in a sensitive and warmhearted way using humour to balance it out.
If you love a good Aussie road trip novel with found family, pop culture references and a big dose of cheesy humour, then I urge you to pick up Big Things and get ready for a good old belly laugh.
August 31, 2025
David Rogerson’s Big Things is a quintessentially Australian road-trip novel that captures the chaos, humour, and heartbreak of a dysfunctional family brought together and crammed into a famous bus, chasing the country’s oversized roadside icons.
Packed with 80s and 90s Aussie pop-culture references—TV shows, music, fashion, food—it’s a nostalgic ride that feels both hilarious and painfully real. The “big things” themselves become perfect symbols of ambition, absurdity, and the search for connection.
Equal parts sharp, tender, and laugh-out-loud, Big Things is a fantastic debut novel, I can’t wait to read book number two!
Packed with 80s and 90s Aussie pop-culture references—TV shows, music, fashion, food—it’s a nostalgic ride that feels both hilarious and painfully real. The “big things” themselves become perfect symbols of ambition, absurdity, and the search for connection.
Equal parts sharp, tender, and laugh-out-loud, Big Things is a fantastic debut novel, I can’t wait to read book number two!
June 29, 2025
A corker of an adventure story, the likes of which you have never read before.
Cleverly told in the voice of a first-time narrator doing their level best to do a good job, Big Things follows an unlikely group on a road-trip to parts of Australia not featured in glossy tourism brochures.
On the surface, Big Things is entertaining and startingly irreverent. At its core, it's a heartwarming and delightfully colourful celebration of authenticity, acceptance, and family.
An absolute must read.
Cleverly told in the voice of a first-time narrator doing their level best to do a good job, Big Things follows an unlikely group on a road-trip to parts of Australia not featured in glossy tourism brochures.
On the surface, Big Things is entertaining and startingly irreverent. At its core, it's a heartwarming and delightfully colourful celebration of authenticity, acceptance, and family.
An absolute must read.
October 26, 2026
Grover Sullivan likes his life just so: his video games loud, his takeout meals hot, and his responsibilities minimal. In David Rogerson’s Big Things, his easy routine falls apart after a family tragedy leaves him in charge of his niece, Jennifer, and nephew, Alex. Joined by their teenage neighbor Bryce, they set off across Australia aboard the bus from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Their goal is to see giant roadside attractions, but figuring out how to be a family proves to be the real challenge.
The characters bring real emotion to this loud and sometimes chaotic adventure. Grover grows through choices that push him beyond his comfortable routine: protecting the kids, asking for help, and having conversations he would usually avoid. His call to his friend Pablo for parenting advice captures that awkward learning process. Later, Pablo observes, “You use comfort to avoid change,” getting right to the heart of Grover’s struggles. Jennifer’s tough exterior softens through small gestures, including taking playful photographs of Alex’s teddy bear to cheer him up. Alex’s own vulnerability emerges when illness sends him seeking comfort beside his uncle. These moments give substance to their bond. Their arguments can get tiring, but the shifting sibling relationship feels recognizable. Bryce adds welcome stability, though his emotional wisdom sometimes seems a little too perfect.
Rogerson fills the journey with a strong sense of place. Caravan parks, dusty roads, quirky gift shops, and huge roadside sculptures make Australia feel alive in the story. The open road offers fresh distractions, while the close quarters of the bus keep the travelers tangled in one another’s moods. They can change locations much faster than they can escape their worries. As photographs and souvenirs accumulate, the bus becomes a messy, makeshift home. A favorite teddy bear and a family camera carry particular emotional weight, showing that moving forward with grief does not mean forgetting someone. The familiar family-road-trip premise gains personality from its Australian setting and unlikely friendships.
The writing is full of energy. Dialogue moves quickly, the humor can be outrageous, and the narrator talks directly to readers while consulting—and usually ignoring—a handbook. This running joke makes the storytelling feel playful and gives readers another personality to contend with alongside the travelers. It also takes on greater significance as the novel unfolds. However, the narrator sometimes interrupts scenes just as they gain momentum or explains jokes that have already landed. Cutting back on those interruptions would sharpen the comedy and give emotional moments more space. Some supporting characters could also benefit from development beyond their most exaggerated qualities.
The road trip gives the story a clear shape, with regular updates on location, music, and mood keeping readers oriented. The pacing, though, is uneven. Some misunderstandings linger because important conversations keep getting postponed. An extended TV interview sequence brings the
book’s themes of prejudice, privacy, and public judgment into focus, but its length slows the action. The scene has a clear purpose; a more concentrated version could preserve its impact while keeping the story moving. Rogerson is often most convincing when the characters reveal these themes through their choices and reactions.
Grover’s final choices follow naturally from his growing sense of responsibility, while the closing perspective gives the narrator’s earlier asides a more personal meaning. Some reconciliations, however, happen surprisingly quickly after so much tension. Giving those changes of heart more time to develop would make them easier to believe.
Rogerson’s Big Things is a good fit for adult readers who like bold characters, bawdy humor, and family stories that tackle difficult subjects. Strong language, sexual jokes, and a frank treatment of suicide make it more mature than its young central characters might suggest. The darker material can be unsettling, even with the warmth and humor surrounding it. Beneath the jokes and detours is an appealing belief that people can learn to love one another better without becoming perfect. That is the most satisfying discovery on this unruly road trip.
The characters bring real emotion to this loud and sometimes chaotic adventure. Grover grows through choices that push him beyond his comfortable routine: protecting the kids, asking for help, and having conversations he would usually avoid. His call to his friend Pablo for parenting advice captures that awkward learning process. Later, Pablo observes, “You use comfort to avoid change,” getting right to the heart of Grover’s struggles. Jennifer’s tough exterior softens through small gestures, including taking playful photographs of Alex’s teddy bear to cheer him up. Alex’s own vulnerability emerges when illness sends him seeking comfort beside his uncle. These moments give substance to their bond. Their arguments can get tiring, but the shifting sibling relationship feels recognizable. Bryce adds welcome stability, though his emotional wisdom sometimes seems a little too perfect.
Rogerson fills the journey with a strong sense of place. Caravan parks, dusty roads, quirky gift shops, and huge roadside sculptures make Australia feel alive in the story. The open road offers fresh distractions, while the close quarters of the bus keep the travelers tangled in one another’s moods. They can change locations much faster than they can escape their worries. As photographs and souvenirs accumulate, the bus becomes a messy, makeshift home. A favorite teddy bear and a family camera carry particular emotional weight, showing that moving forward with grief does not mean forgetting someone. The familiar family-road-trip premise gains personality from its Australian setting and unlikely friendships.
The writing is full of energy. Dialogue moves quickly, the humor can be outrageous, and the narrator talks directly to readers while consulting—and usually ignoring—a handbook. This running joke makes the storytelling feel playful and gives readers another personality to contend with alongside the travelers. It also takes on greater significance as the novel unfolds. However, the narrator sometimes interrupts scenes just as they gain momentum or explains jokes that have already landed. Cutting back on those interruptions would sharpen the comedy and give emotional moments more space. Some supporting characters could also benefit from development beyond their most exaggerated qualities.
The road trip gives the story a clear shape, with regular updates on location, music, and mood keeping readers oriented. The pacing, though, is uneven. Some misunderstandings linger because important conversations keep getting postponed. An extended TV interview sequence brings the
book’s themes of prejudice, privacy, and public judgment into focus, but its length slows the action. The scene has a clear purpose; a more concentrated version could preserve its impact while keeping the story moving. Rogerson is often most convincing when the characters reveal these themes through their choices and reactions.
Grover’s final choices follow naturally from his growing sense of responsibility, while the closing perspective gives the narrator’s earlier asides a more personal meaning. Some reconciliations, however, happen surprisingly quickly after so much tension. Giving those changes of heart more time to develop would make them easier to believe.
Rogerson’s Big Things is a good fit for adult readers who like bold characters, bawdy humor, and family stories that tackle difficult subjects. Strong language, sexual jokes, and a frank treatment of suicide make it more mature than its young central characters might suggest. The darker material can be unsettling, even with the warmth and humor surrounding it. Beneath the jokes and detours is an appealing belief that people can learn to love one another better without becoming perfect. That is the most satisfying discovery on this unruly road trip.
June 19, 2025
This book is, in short, incredible.
Set against the backdrop of a road trip across Australia, this quirky story is the literary soul-food we didn’t know we needed, but absolutely deserve.
With a cast of fully-formed, larger-than-life characters, an innovative narrative style, and evocative writing, this book will break your heart then have you laughing out loud in the next breath.
This story now lives rent-free in my brain, and it’s a universe I am happy to inhabit for the foreseeable future.
I cannot overstate how quickly you need to go and buy this book. You will not be disappointed.
Set against the backdrop of a road trip across Australia, this quirky story is the literary soul-food we didn’t know we needed, but absolutely deserve.
With a cast of fully-formed, larger-than-life characters, an innovative narrative style, and evocative writing, this book will break your heart then have you laughing out loud in the next breath.
This story now lives rent-free in my brain, and it’s a universe I am happy to inhabit for the foreseeable future.
I cannot overstate how quickly you need to go and buy this book. You will not be disappointed.
September 5, 2025
quite emotional and thought provoking
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews