Jacaranda Blues

by Mehreen Ahmed

A midsummer's morning. Rhonda Smith is on her way to work. She sees a jacaranda tree and sits under it. As she waits for her bus here, she thinks about her relationship with her husband Sam and former lover Chris. Thoughts simply stream into her mind. Her musings take her back to a convoluted journey of a life of struggles, aspirations, hopes and dreams.She is torn between the two worlds. The only way to resolve this is to deal with it. But to what end?

Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Mehreen Ahmed is an acclaimed voice in Australian literature.The Midwest Book Review hails her work for its "exceptional flair for narrative storytelling" and "compellingly memorable characters." With eleven books across various genres—ranging from novels to micro-fiction—her stories have been translated into multiple languages and featured on NationalFlashFictionDay(NZ), AntipodeSF Radio(AU) to name a few.She is Fiction Editor for the UK-based Panorama: Journal of Travel, Place, and Nature.

University Publications:Academic/Literary
Journal of Computer Assisted Language Learning, 15(4), 423–433. Routledge. Indexed in Language Teaching, 36(2), Cambridge University Press. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1017/S026144480322...,
University of Hawai Press,Michigan State University Press,University of Queensland:Call-ej,University of Saskachuwan:The Sheaf,University of Kent Press,Syracuse University Press:Perception,University of Wisconsin-Parkland:Straylight Lit Magazine,Florida University:The Talon Review,Dundee University: Metachrosis Lit Mag,YSJ:BitterleafBooks,Mcneese State University:Boudin,University of Virginia:Jimson Weed Lit Mag,University of Houston-Downtown:The Bayou ReviewAcademy of Creative Writing:,Literary Parthenon.

Literary Magazines
ChironReview,Bull,BendingGenre,FlashFrontier,Litro UK,miniMag:votedoneoftheBestOnlineLiterary Magazinesof2024,Popshot Quarterly,NationalFlashFictionDay,PanoramaTheJournalofTravelPlaceandNature,BlazeVox,CentaurLit,HootReview,CommuterLit,,SixSentences,LiteraryHeist,RogueAgent,VineLeafReview,InParenthesis,ConnotationPress,DoorIsAJar,ELJ
ScissorsandSpackle,VisualVerse,FlashBoulevard,
FlashFrontier,EllipsisZine,Ginosko#24#29#30,TheCabinetofHeed,HeroinChic,Setu,ImpspiredMagazine,TheBombayReview,FlashBackFiction,DarkWinter,BridgeHouse,CosmicTeapot and more.

Awards/Honours
Received formal Certificate of Recognition for the competitive selection of the bilingual flash fiction piece, 'The Stretch: Greek-Η Ανάβαση' from International Publication Selection, Creative Writing Academy of Greece,August 2026 for inaugural issue,Literary Parthenon.

Substack Featured Author: Selected for Ginosko Literary Journal’s digital spotlight showcase (Ylem), 2026.

Winner, Drunken Druid’s Editor’s Choice | The Pacifist (Cosmic Teapot Publishing 2017, Canada)

First Place, May Flowers Contest | Academy of the Heart and Mind (2022) The Phases of the Moon

Co-Winner, Waterloo Writing Competition | Waterloo Arts Festival (2020) Dolly

Winner, Stream-of-Consciousness Challenge | The Cabinet-of-Heed (2020) Black Mirror

Winner, Gaze Theme Contest | Ayaskala Literary Magazine (2023) Rain and Coffee

James Tait Black Prize for Fiction |Nomination 2021
Gatherings(Bridge House Publishing)

Pushcart Prize | Two Nominations: 2020, 2026
Ylem (Ginosko#24)
Paradox of Love (CentaurLit)

Best of the Net | Four Nominations: 2020–2025
Number Ninety-Four- (The Decolonial Passage)
Of the Blue Evening (The Gorko Gazette)
The Interlude (Literati Magazine)
Elysium (Flash Fiction North)

Best Small Fictions | 2025
The Stretch (Boudin)

Featured Author, Flash Fiction Friday Podcast | Immortal Works (2018)Selected from international submissions to have short story "The Portrait" adapted into an audio broadcast.

Top Fantasy Shortlist, Editor’s Choice Award: Exemplary Eclectic Fiction | Freedom Fiction Journal (2025)-"Around the Bend" and "Flamenco"

Finalist, Fourth Adelaide Literary Award Contest (2020) — Flower Girl

Honourable Mention, Weavers of Words Contest (2022) — Silent Bleat

Bestofs/Best10Read
Paint the City Red,AntipodeSF,2025
Cloud-fields,AntipodeSF,2025
Dear Father,Impspired Magazine,2025
The Other,Mad Swirl,3.21.26
The Lament,Mad Swirl,9.21.24

Translations
The Stretch:Greek-Η Ανάβαση (The Ascent)
Red Land:Spanish-Tierra Roja
Pink Toenails:Bengali-Golapi Angul
The Black Coat:Greek-Μαύρο Παλτό
Anomalous Duo:German-Das Anomale Duo

Reviews

[Boyko Ovcharov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introspection

Rhonda and Chris may seem like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, in a way. Their story is deeply psychological, emotional and hence, the writing style has been appropriately tailored. Unique language, dramatic prose, symbolism everywhere. Even the title itself is evocative. Pleasant and dramatic read, which provokes the reader to assess their own life and future.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a solid piece of work that will have your brain humming in overdrive? A tale that sounds like one woman’s personal failures in life are always blamed on others? To say Rhonda is unhappy is an understatement, but why? She seems to feel that her life was meant for more and it all goes back to Chris, the one that got away and it was all her fault. Fear of the unknown was the root of her heartbreak then and now in her mid-forties, she is going through life like a hamster on a treadmill. Fate gives her the opportunity to re-connect with Chris, now a successful man, living on the “better” side of the tracks. But is the reality of Chris the same as Rhonda’s memories and fantasies? Has Rhonda been fair to herself and those around her? For that matter, has she been fair to Chris? Maybe it’s time for Rhonda to look outside her little personal vortex of misery and find the meaning of true happiness and fulfillment, but will she?

Jacaranda Blues by Mehreen Ahmed carries more weight than its short number of pages would appear to. She has dug deep and come up with a short tale of a woman who has lived years as a malcontent, believing she is the glue that keeps others together, but is she? Ms. Ahmed makes dark, bold strokes in her writing, heavy with underlying meaning, in this character-driven tale. Whether you see yourself in Rhonda at times or someone you know, this story will haunt you long after that last page. Filled with characters that are seriously dysfunctional, deceitful and just plain down on their luck, as well as the “successful” who hide behind their locked gates, everyone needs to find their own happiness in giving.
Highly recommended for a quick, yet meaningful read!

I received this copy of Jacaranda Blues from Mehreen Ahmed in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: June 24, 2015
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN-13: 9781462640904
Genre: Adult Fiction
Pages: 84
Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
For Reviews and More Check out: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Joshua Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues by Mehreen Ahmed doesn’t pull any punches. Rhonda isn’t happy in her marriage and seeks love in the arms of an old fling. She is quickly confronted with a tragedy involving her brother only complicating the matter. This story is very melancholy, but it’s well written and offers some hope in the end. A good read for anyone looking to tackle the challenges of the heart!

[Michael Mardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues by Ahmed is a love story with the ups and downs of one. The reader is shown inside the protagonist's mind (Rhonda) who is feeling the angst of middle age. She remembers fondly a past love and almost wills him into her life when he, Chris, wants to sort out a car accident with his son. Rhonda is married to Sam but their life together seems perfunctory - she sleeps on the floor in the study. Then we are introduced to Rhonda's siblings and are shown that her brother, David, is a problem. The title of the story comes from the tree where Rhonda waits to catch the bus. The story ends with their adopting a child and the tree blossoms next summer, a metaphor that all's right with her world.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly unique story

First, I really enjoy any work from Ahmed, as she writes so well, and full of lyrical and prose, even though it's a story. She pens a grand story and I enjoyed this story. She brilliantly writes with literary metaphors and brings to life her characters. The story is full of drama, family drama, and there is that Jacaranda tree. It's the center of the story, and about those lives that surround it. It was quick read, but it was worth the read. I enjoyed it thoroughly and highly recommend it.

[Saradia Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues is one of those stories that remain with you for a long time. It borders on the stream of consciousness technique. In fact, Rhonda's life at the time when the story starts is much the same as Clarissa Dalloway's, as Rhonda herself points out! The Jacaranda tree emerges as a symbol of optimism that Rhonda tries to constantly cling to in her mirthless existence. Situated on a busy street, it is the symbol of hope and peace. The quote by Hardy that the book opens with is very apt when the story is concerned. The writing is brilliant. We see everything from Rhonda's perspective and it helps us realize the pain and drudgery involved in her daily dozen. We think with her and we think like her! Although the story follows Rhonda's different thoughts and explores her psychology, nothing is incomprehensible or overcomplicated. The unnecessary complexities of novels that deal with similar themes make them go beyond the ken of average readers. In many such books, I've failed to find a proper story and perhaps not having a story has become a trend in contemporary literature. This book, however, has struck a balance between having a story and delving in the depths of a character's thoughts. Using this kind of a narrative technique is very difficult and the author has used it to perfection! I'll definitely be watching out for other novels by this author and I'd recommend this book to people who appreciate good literary fiction.

[Leticia Lightly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The physical and environmental descriptions were something beyond amazing. I felt myself transported to the places in the book with ease. There is plenty of in-depth insights into the emotions and thoughts of the main character and how she battles her conscience. I loved and appreciated that the book was more than a simple story, but something with layers of meaning and thought-provoking lines. The main character, Rhonda, is relatable no matter what your age, and she defies the typical. Her frustration with her life is completely understandable.

The reader will find themselves drawn into the issues of daily married life, and the temptations of first love. What happens when the line between fantasy and reality become blurry? What happens when a thought becomes an action? And what if fantasy is better than reality? These heavy subjects are addressed in Ahmed’s novella and the story will continue to intrigue. I won’t say too much about the plot because I fear giving anything away! You, as the reader, will have to see for yourself what makes this story a unique piece.

[J.H. Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues is an intense, evocative story. The central character, Rhonda, is a woman facing her own troubles and often serves as a flashpoint with regard to the struggles of her family and lost loves. The author’s imagery is dramatic and beautiful and representative of the human emotions her characters experience. This story shows us a slice of humanity – in all of its flawed glory through our own internal struggles and how we are often buffeted about in life by events outside of ourselves. Rhonda tries to find a path through to rise above and seek her own happiness within the context of her life. She attempts to come to terms with what she can and cannot control, and find peace within both. This is a very well-written tale that touches on central issues in the emotional lives of people. The author’s strong writing, excellent descriptive writing (visual and emotional imagery), and the underlying messages in this story make this an excellent read!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Pauline James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues is a dramatic story of damaged people, beginning with a middle-aged woman regretting a lost love. But the Jacaranda Blues increase in potency as her siblings and husband become involved in more serious issues. The novel contains some beautiful imagery, highly evocative of Brisbane and its afternoon storms, while the jacaranda tree provides a constant, a reference point, for the human emotions swirling around it. Perhaps, in some ways, the woman herself is a reference point for this unhappy family, to whom others look for support though, of course, she too is implicated in their plight. This novella is difficult to put down and the ending is also redemptive and satisfying. My only quibble is the need for further editing which would help the book to reach its potential. I do recommend the story though.

[Robert Eggleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this story, it reminded me of my own lost love in the 8th grade, the one that I still occasionally dream about, and, as the first, the love that will never die. As I was getting mushy, the author just had to throw in some twists to mess up my daydream. I don't want to spoil this very short read, possibly too short with a rather abrupt but satisfying ending, but let's just say that true love runs deeper than romance. I look forward to the next in the series, I hope, so that I can find out if challenged love can be sustained. There were a few minor technical glitches in the story, but nothing that distracted from the enjoyment, and simply because of my personal enjoyment, I gave it a top rating.

[Sarah Butfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book appealed to me from the opening pages. Firstly it is set in Brisbane, Australia, a city I love and have lived in the suburbs of. Secondly, because of the depth and excellent use of vocabulary, Rhonda's story is conveyed effortlessly as if talking about an old friend. I became engrossed in it quickly and even though my first read was spread over a few sessions due to family pressures I had no qualms about re-reading it before writing my review. Captivating and intelligently crafted it was a pleasure to read and I think a large number of readers will relate to the mental mindset Rhonda's finds herself in. How many of us reach our forties and are haunted by the 'what if' of previous relationship decisions. Highly recommended read.

[Akhil Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god what did I just read. Couldn't believe it until the reality told me that it's finished and wanted to read more.
Absolutely beautiful novel about the eternal question of what it could have been if it would not have been. Is it the road not taken is more beautiful which we could have took only if we have listened to our hearts or is it the road taken which is turning wild and dark with time.
The subtle quest or life of Rhonda let the reader to ponder this question and the importance of it for every reader and may be answer it for themselves.

[Cameron Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short yet rich pleasure to read. The descriptions and metaphors were wonderful. The writing is clear yet lyrical. The characters felt rich enough that I know they will stick with me, and I'll be thinking of them. There's a tinge of melancholy throughout, with musings over missed chances, yet the beauty of life wins out by the end. Personally, I really like that subtle bitter-sweet approach. Really a wonderful read. Big thanks to the author for sending it to me

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very thought provoking but short story. With a great developed main character and a very thought out story. It was very short but still a great read that made me think more while reading!

[Annie Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuesday, February 20, 2018
6:22 PM

I really wanted to give this a better rating because there are moments in the story that I started to get into it...where I really started to enjoy it. The problem I am having is that there were a lot of moments where I was left very confused. I think it’s a timeline issue; there weren't any clues to let me know if I was back in the main character Rhonda's memories, or if I was hearing about a moment in her current situation. I truly wish the author would remake this book with the past in italics. For much of the story I was floundering to catch up. I admit, this may be on me- I've never read 'stream of consciousness' before.

Another issue I had was the editing. It felt like this was a second draft, with ideas that should have been removed or reworded...along with the other editing error, like run amok splicing commas. The story was fully outlined and fleshed out, but there were still parts that didn't fit or make sense. Take this sentence: "Holding him by the arms in an iron grip, he shook him violently as he walked over, closing in on him." I'm having a very hard time understanding how you can walk over to somebody when you are already holding them in an iron grip. From that same chapter this character lunged a kitchen knife into the other character's shoulder and the victim dies from the punctured organs. A shoulder wound that somehow this punctured the person's organs... fatally? (If I say any more or use the character's names, I fear I'll give too much away). So many bits just didn't line up as I tried to imagine them, making reading this story a struggle.

Another editing issue that didn't make sense to me was the relationships that begin the story. The first one that really bothered me was her opening reason for choosing Sam, her husband who she never felt any passion for, over Chris her amazing lover. The reasoning was that Sam was stable and would provide a secure life whereas Chris was bohemian and would not. But then you read on and find that Chris was a doctor, even while they dated. And Sam was fired from a low level job and had never worked again, relying on Rhonda to provide for them. Which, according to the book, she does not mind at all since she makes a sufficient income as a flower attendant….??!! That was only the beginning of the logic that the book presented to me.

Finally, the reader is introduced to an autistic child. The author labeled the child as such by his inability to hold eye contact, but the child had no qualms whatsoever with being held and smothered in hugs by a stranger. Odd, because autistic children resist hugging and other types of physical contact.

But I digress.

Listed above are issues I had a very hard time getting around which made this a long, slow read for me. But there were good parts too. The mood of the story stayed consistent, the voice never changed - although it also never sounded like it belonged to any one character, either- and since the book was written in what sounded to me like a British-based vernacular, there were new concepts introduced to me. Would you believe that living landlocked in America, I had never heard of the term "offing"? Well, now I have. And, there were some really great lines in this book: "In wakefulness she slept. In sleep, she woke up." That's deep. Another line I love (referring to a tree) "It didn't stoop because it didn't know how to." And then there was: "He wooed her tenderly without a touch." Yum, right?

It was for the lines that seemed totally quote-worthy that I really had wished I could rate this book higher.

[A.V. Osten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues tells a story of a middle-aged woman, regretting the choices she had made in love. When younger, she had settled for stability with an average man instead of the exciting but unpredictable life with the one who she truly loved.
Unhappy and ready to leave her husband Sam, she suddenly gets the chance to meet her long lost love Chris, twenty years later. Meanwhile the drama in her family is revealed past to present, setting the scene for a twist.
Quick read, good development of the characters, excellent writing, would highly recommend this story.
It needs more editing, in my opinion, and this is why my rating is a bit lower.

[Hock Tjoa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tells the story of the main character Rhonda, with the two men she has loved, Chris and Sam, and briefly sounds like it could be an exploration of another way in which unhappy people are miserable. Would there be an exploration of the regrets, the roads not taken?

She chose Sam at the time [thirty years earlier], "floundering in her reminiscence of his composure [while] Chris's bohemian lifestyle put her off. At that time she'd made a decision, a sensible one in which love might or might not have had a role to play."

Yet she also remembers [cherishes?] "an evening with Chris, ... enthralled in the warmth of the embrace, their passion relinquished well into the tender night."

But we are told, the story is about a dysfunctional family, and the writer uses the "stream of consciousness style" which does not help me.

The author says "Rhonda reconciled with fate. She did not think of her regrets, much. ... She wished, and then she did not wish for this to happen, but it happened." The man to whom she is married, Sam, "had such wild mood swings ...blaming Rhonda practically for everything." Meanwhile, she, Rhonda "played a wife, a sibling, a lover, but to another. ... There was a dream. That she had fallen into an abyss; she tried to breathe. There was no breath left in her lungs but, [sic] she resuscitated. Her dreaming paved a way to a parallel world in another reality of wakefulness."

David, her younger brother, who sleepwalked in his early teens, encounters his fate, it is not clear to me when or where, but Rhonda/ the author laments: "No poetic justice mete out for David; his fate sealed in misfortune ... Humans are essentially such flawed creatures. David would live an eternal life now in the land of the dead. He cruised the boat down the depths of the Tartarus. But no David, no sinner, but more sinned against than sinning. Angels of joy surely sang, as he entered the blissful heavens."

I am mystified. There is not a chance for plot or theme or character development.

[Laurel Heidtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacaranda Blues is a tale of regret over the path not taken. Rhonda Smith is a middle-aged married woman who was raised in an abusive and dysfunctional family with two sisters and a brother. She’s not happy in her marriage, and her thoughts go to Chris, the man she loved when she was young. He loved her as well, but, as a doctor, he was dedicated to helping people in third world countries and wanted her to go with him. She chose the safer, more traditional path—partly because of the duty she felt to take care of her brother and sisters—and now she’s regretting it.

By chance, Rhonda and Chris make contact again, which of course, fuels her imagination with thoughts of not just what might have been, but also what might be. Reality, however, is never as perfect as one’s imagination.

Jacaranda Blues is a very good story of family drama, regret, and even the tendency of humans to view the past through rose-colored glasses, particularly when they’re not happy in their present. It’s written in the stream of consciousness style, which it was perfect for, although I think the references to Rhonda reading Mrs. Dalloway were a bit much. If readers are familiar with Mrs. Dalloway, they’ll recognize the style; it doesn’t need to be pointed out to them. The book also needs editing, and the dialogue didn’t sound real to me. Because of these things, I rated it lower than I would have otherwise because the story itself is very good.