Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Just Another Week in Suburbia</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

Les Zig's <i>Just Another Week in Suburbia</i> offers a peek into the seemingly mundane life of Casper Gray, a man whose world is upended by a shocking discovery. What starts as a routine week in suburban Melbourne quickly spirals into a whirlwind of paranoia, suspicion, and self-reflection as Casper grapples with the reality of his marriage and the choices he's made.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The novel shines in its portrayal of the slow unraveling of Casper's psyche. Zig's writing is sharp, often laced with dark humor. The story’s pace matches the gradual buildup of tension in Casper’s life. The author captures the everyday ennui of suburban life with precision. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories may find themselves drawn into Casper's internal conflict.

However, the book falters in some areas. While the premise is intriguing, the story sometimes feels repetitive. Casper’s introspective musings take centre stage at the expense of plot progression. Some readers might find the narrative a bit slow, with the tension dissipating in moments that could have been more impactful. Additionally, the secondary characters, while interesting, often feel underdeveloped, making it difficult to fully invest in their roles in Casper's life.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Just Another Week in Suburbia</i> is a solid read for those interested in exploring the complexities of suburban life and the fragility of relationships. It’s a book that will likely resonate with readers who enjoy a deep dive into a character's mind. But for others, it may lack the narrative drive to keep them fully engaged. A decent, though not outstanding, addition to the domestic drama genre.

Just Another Week in Suburbia
Genre - contemporary fiction
Rating- 3.5⭐️/really enjoyed

Quick synopsis- set in Australia, Casper is happily married until he comes across evidence that questions his marriage… and everything he knows.

My thoughts- The first half of the novel moved along a bit slowly, but was still an overall quick read at just over 300 pages. While Casper doesn’t always make the best decisions, and at times borders of self destruction, he’s a well developed and relatable character that you’ll still root for his happiness. I recommend this for anyone looking for a fictional account of the struggles of marriage, with a flawed but well meaning narrator.

I loved this book! I must admit I was put off by the cover, but this has just taught me how important it is to not 'judge a book by its cover' as the old adage goes. It was good to read a story about a normal street full of normal people and the comings and goings of their weeks. It was a basic premise, but I think it struck a chord emotionally because it was just so relatable. I'll definitely look out for more of Les Zig's book.

I really enjoyed and it I loved how it read! I thought it could be a very slow read but it ended up being very good and I rushed through it!

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book at all. It was told from a man's view and was hghly sexualised which I found very cliche. I thought it started ok and had potential however it just stayed in the ok zone.It was slow-paced and the main character seemed to have the same thoughts for most of it. I found it boring. I didn't find Casper a character I liked and most of the time he was annoying. This book is sexually explicit, and while I am not a prude, these scenes did not connect characters and seemed to be just that sex, even between Casper and his wife. I am not going to lie, I was glad when I got to the end of this book.

One week can change life. It can turn your world upside down and break your heart. It can bring you so much pain and no joy. It can… be just another week in suburbia.

A story of betrayal from man’s eyes was an eye-opener for me. This book took a piece of my heart and soul with it. I finished it in one day. I really wanted to see how it all turns out.

English High School teacher has a job, a house in suburbs, a beautiful wife and a dog. Him and his wife are socialising well with friends and are trying for a baby. Everything is just right… on the surface.

Just Another Week in Suburbia’ characters are alive enough to create environment and different view points. The main character finally reaches the point of no return, or does he?

Would you mend a broken cup? Would you trust a person again?

Casper wakes up one morning and finds himself in the midst of a mid life crisis, all over the after effects of toppling his wife's purse and what he finds in the contents.

How well do you really know another person? Like, REALLY, know them? Maybe you can't say...

This book reminds me of stories that involve men, and sometimes women, having midlife crises. They're happily living suburban life with their lovely little family. And then, one day, they just freak out. However, in this book, Casper has every right. With his marriage sans child after 7 years of trying and then obsessing over a condom that accidentally falls out of Jane's purse, I'll say he's gonna need some leeway and be allowed to freak out on this one. However, you'll need to read it to find out whether or not he confront his problems with his wife, much less everything else.

Book 4 of my 2018 Reading Challenge

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**

Just Another Week in Suburbia by Les Zig

Summary (via Goodreads)
Casper Gray goes to bed a happily married man.
He wakes up questioning whether everything is a lie.
Life in suburbia holds few surprises for Casper. He and his wife Jane are still trying for a baby after seven years. His neighbours have their quirks to be navigated. And his job as a high school teacher, while satisfying, comes with its challenges. Every day is much like the one before - that is, until Casper makes a discovery that threatens everything he knows...
As Casper's fears grow into obsessions, his world starts to unravel. Just Another Week in Suburbia is a story about love, trust, and insecurity, and the question of whether you can ever really know another person.

My Opinion
This book was deceptively simple. It's very grounded in reality but the characters are still unpredictable enough to keep me surprised. There's no huge dramatic "aha" moment but I didn't want to put the book down, probably because I love to people-watch and this felt like looking into a couple's window and witnessing their private marriage moments. I would definitely read this author again.

I can't really say much about the discovery or the progression after it other than to say that it was a perfect example of how something so small can begin an unraveling and change the dynamic of everything. Some of the stuff involving his work felt unnecessary but overall, I understood the journey of the characters even if I wouldn't react the same way.

This would be a good book club book, assuming the book club can handle a few graphic sex scenes, because there is a lot of discussion potential about characters' choices and how the reader felt about them.

Quote from the Book
"Everyone knows what they should've done after it's too late to do it."

I could not get into this book. Very boring and flat

While this book was well written, with thoroughly developed characters, JUST ANOTHER WEEK IN SUBURBIA was difficult to enjoy. The main character, Casper Gray, finds a condom in his wife's purse and begins to fear she is having an affair. Rather than ask his sweet wife Jane why she is carrying a condom, Gray slips into paranoia and melancholy and loses his nerve every time he promises himself that he confront Jane on the issue. Casper drove me CRAZY and I spent much of the book wanting to give him a good slap! That said, Les Zig is obviously a very talented writer and I would be willing to try a future work of Zig's. The characters have human problems and flaws and Zig knows how to weave a believable story.

Casper lives the typical suburban life. One morning, he finds something in his wife's purse that changes everything.

The story was told from Casper's point of view. After making a discovery about his wife, he started to question things. The book covered one week of Casper's life, starting on Monday and ending on Sunday.

Realistic and relatable. Casper and his wife seemed to live the average, kind of boring suburban life. After Casper started to question his marriage, he encountered additional issues in life. His work life got more complicated and his feud with his neighbor escalated. At first, I wasn't a fan of Casper. He was too weak. He struggled with insecurity, but his awareness lead to his growth as the story progressed. In the end, I found myself rooting for Casper. I wanted things to turn around in his life.

I was expecting this to be a slower read, but I flew through this book. Sure, the mundane and every day life was covered, but this well-written book had enough going on that I wanted to know how the story would end.

Casper is ticking along happily in life. He & his wife Jane are happily married with a dog. He teaches at the local secondary school which he enjoys on the whole. Life is just standard, run of the mill. Then he is shocked to find a condom in his wife's bag. Is there a reasonable and innocent explanation? Is she having an affair? As Casper ponders on this everything else seems to slowly disintegrate around him. Does he trust his wife? Can he support his friend Beth? Can he stop the dog barking and annoying the neighbours? Life is not as comfortable as he thought it was.
I struggled somewhat with this book. I think my main problem was Casper. This is quite unfortunate as the he is the main character. I just couldn't get on with him. I found him quite weak & wanted to shake him & tell him to pull himself together. This, of course, affected my whole reading of the book and I just couldn't get into it. Books about mid-life crises can be amusing as this one was in places. However I just couldn't get past my irritation at Casper so couldn't settle into this book.
I was given a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was the first I've ever ready by this author and I wasn't disappointed.

I really don’t know what to say about this book, so I will leave it at this : story of a midlife crisis that is not my cup of tea.

Casper Gray is a normal guy with a normal job living a normal existence in his normal suburban town. There are few surprises for Casper and his wife in this life and every day is very similar. That is until he makes a horrible discovery that makes him question everything he knows.

You're dropped right into Casper and Jane's everyday life in the middle of the dreaded Sunday night before a work week starts. Casper wakes up and looks at the clock that reads 12:09. He hears their dog barking outside and realizes he has to go outside to find him before that horrible neighbor hears and gets angry. Once he's up, he can't go back to sleep so he tries to work on his sketches until he grows sleepy again. This is when he makes an uneasy discovery that leads to paranoia and insecurity.

From the very beginning, you're given all access to his every thought and worry while he decides how to handle each situation as they come. Even though there is a lot of inner dialogue and the action is so normal, you don't want to stop. You want to know what's going on in his life and care deeply for Casper. You want to cheer him on and want him to stand up for himself and make good decisions and get what he deserves. I finished this in less than 24 hours, because I had to know how his week turned out.

Fair warning - there's quite a bit of graphic descriptions during the intimate scenes. Zig left nothing to the imagination which I, personally, could have done without. It's not a life altering kind of novel, but that's okay. I loved the immersion into this normal setting watching regular people grapple with different kinds of relationships: marriage, friends, co-workers, students, neighbors. It makes you wonder what would you do if you were in that situation. What if you don't know your spouse or best friend as well as you always thought you did? Are they lying to you? What if they did the unthinkable? Should I forgive them and try to move on? Could I ever trust them again? This is a real life story with a lot of emotions and it's really good.

A very enjoyable book from a uniquely male perspective about a life that highlights how surprising a seemingly ordinary life can be.
Casper Gray thinks he is an average guy, until a series of unfortunate events forces him to look at himself in a different light. He, along with everyone else in his life, believes that he has no hidden depths, when in actual fact, he is a man of great fortitude. I like Caspar, because he could be any male I know. He is funny, smart, loves his dog and has a complicated relationship with self-analysis.
Well written, humorous and insightful. A very enjoyable and easy 3 1/2 star read.

I found this book pretty forgettable and I just couldn't empathize with the main character, he seemed so weak.

Every day is the same in suburbia. Until, of course, it’s not. When Casper Gray discover his wife is keeping secrets from him, his world starts to unravel, and so does his mind. Just Another Week In Suburbia, Les Zig’s debut novel, (he’s also written a memoir, Overload, had screenplays optioned and is a prolific short story writer) is a perceptive and accurate portrayal of relationships and routine, insecurity and infidelity, life and love. Casper finds himself in a rut – nothing’s wrong with his life with Jane and his job as a teacher, but like us all, things could be better. Life and its participants are flawed after all. Taking place over just one week the easy prose and observant dialogue reflect the mundane, whilst the plot twists and the subsequent tangles that Casper finds himself in remind us that anything can happen. Characters are believable and likeable, even with their flaws, and the description of chores, work, exercise, hobbies, evenings on the sofa and nights in the pub very relatable. It’s not a groundbreaking novel, but then suburbia isn’t a groundbreaking topic. It’s every day life, and all the more powerful for it. Available now on Pantera Press.

I couldn't put this one down. A complex story told simply. The characters have stayed with me weeks after finishing the book.