A fun, funny read. This is not high art, but it is told in an interesting way. It is a good light read with interesting characters and storyline. I plan to read the other books by this author.

I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!

Intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable; Puddick's novel centers around Dave Brookman's life and turmoil as he meets his new neighbour, also called Dave Brookman, who seems to be doing considerably better in life than the original, 46% better than the original, to be exact. A witty and unique take on the the literary doppelgänger archetype that questions the constant need of human beings to constantly compare themselves to other, to measure themselves against self-imposed factors.

I read this in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it! Dave Brookman’s life is great, he has a lovely wife and 2 children and a career he is good at. This all changes when he gets a new neighbour, also called Dave Brookman, who seems to be doing considerably better in life than the original. Original Dave made me laugh and at times feel really frustrated with him, I quite identified with his wife throughout! Though this is an easy, funny read, this book does make you stop and consider our constant need to compare ourselves to others and measure ourselves against self imposed factors. I’ll be going to read the author’s other books right away.

This is my third Alastair Puddick story and still I’m impressed. I really care about his antiheroes, flawed characters that for some reason or other - usually their inner-self struggle with what the world throws at them. After George Thring and Freddie Winters, this time it’s all about Dave Brookman. We meet Dave and his family at the point when his new neighbour moves in, by some twisted fate also called Dave Brookman. Neighbour-Dave and his family are seemingly all that our Dave aspires to: ace career, big bucks, flashy cars, great hair, gorgeous wife - the kind of uber-Joneses that bring Dave’s world crashing down into a smouldering heap.
This, to me, is the most agonising, personal, gut-wrenching, heartfelt of Puddick’s novels to date. A self-imposed ego inferno, but surely there is hope for Dave?
PS: and pssst...it’s the “sole of your shoes” in chapter 4

It’s Keeping Up With The Jones in a book!!! Read it!! You will love every page like I did. Amazing job!!