Gabriel Jacoby can't get to sleep. In fact, he can't get anywhere at all, either in his Triumph Dolomite or his life. Everything around him, from his large collection of coffee-machines to his balding Bradford-born flatmate, is breaking down. Not that Gabriel is bothered; he's too busy being in love with his intensely happily married brother's wife. Which is why Gabriel chooses to waste his time - because he knows that whatever else he might achieve, it won't be happiness. There's no way there when you're in love with your brother's wife.

Unless you suddenly remember your brother's wife has a sister...

 

 
Sarah bought me a copy of this book for Christmas when it was first released, and it had me howling with laughter until tears ran down my cheeks. I've been a huge fan of David Baddiel (and his former writing partner Rob Newman) since his Mary Whitehouse Experience days and this book, so clearly based on David's co-habitation with comedian Frank Skinner, is his funniest solo work to date. So why have I had to buy another copy? Well I was stupid and leant the original to a friend, one of those people who never returns anything (though I didn't know that till after I leant him a bunch of stuff!). It was forever lost, and so I now replace it and look forward to rereading the novel.