Normal or Nothing Like It

by Wayne Tunks

40 isn’t the time for a mid-life crisis. In these sixteen interwoven short stories, we meet a group of 40-year-olds learning to deal with the things life throws at them while trying to juggle their jobs, family and personal connections. Trying to finally be their true selves and discovering if they are normal or nothing like it. There’s Teresa, a woman trying to deny that she is turning 40, and her brother, Max, who’s in denial that his family is living beyond their means. May is trying to find love again while still not over her ex and Blake is either meeting the man of his dreams or his nightmares. Then there is Lenore, who is trying to decide if she loves or hates her husband, while Brian can’t believe he’s raised a son capable of committing a crime. These are stories of love, hope, loss and the inexplicable feeling that everyone who said your life should be settled at 40 was lying. This is the debut novel for award winning screenwriter and playwright, Wayne Tunks. Besides getting older, 40 can’t be all too bad, can it?

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the LGBTQ+ representation in this book! Wayne is a great storyteller.

[Jacinta Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of friendship, heartbreak, triumphs, hardship and life. Wayne Tunks has the ability to write from the heart and make us feel something. Normal or Nothing like it. Read it!

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book with relish! It made me laugh out loud, shed some tears and smile in recognition. Wayne Tunks has such a great ability to tell the stories we all relate to and to create characters we fall in love with.
Warning - don’t be surprised if you gobble this book up in one sitting!

[Justin Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much. Engaging stories that made me laugh and cry, and loved all the music references. Highly recommended.

[Wayne Tunks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoops, didn't mean to rate my own book - but hey, if I don't believe it's 5 stars, then who can? I definitely would suggest reading it!!

[Tammy Tantschev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayne Tunks has an amazing way of providing insight into what feels like the private lives of the ordinary people around you. The fact that this book is set in somewhat unremarkable settings, suburban homes, suburban families, he expertly finds the remarkable and relatable thread between them and the reader. You feel so involved and connected in each story, becoming more interwoven as the book goes on. I really enjoyed this book, and not just because I’m in my early forties! Highly recommend.

[Hayley Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking and relatable collection of short stories. I really enjoyed this book. I laughed, I cried and I said, 'Oh, I can relate to that.' An all-round good read.

[Lydia Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of stories that show the myriad of ways these characters deal with life in their forties. The book had me cheering, laughing, screaming and in tears - a real rollercoaster.

The people in these stories seem so real and relatable, and it was really nice to see a story in suburban Sydney. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

(Read the book)