A woman enters a suburban sleep clinic to undergo dream deprivation, hoping to uncover the identity of a man who has become an obsession for her husband. The protagonist navigates the sterile, controlled environment of the clinic while attempting to untangle the complex web of her marriage and personal relationships. She faces the psychological strain of forced wakefulness and the scrutiny of those around her, including her husband and friends. The narrative employs a sharp, observational tone to dissect the domestic tensions and suburban anxieties of the characters, revealing the fragility of their social and romantic bonds.

Upon its initial release, the novel garnered significant critical acclaim and recognition within the Canadian literary landscape. It secured the Georges Bugnet Award for the Novel and earned a spot on the shortlist for the Smith’s/Books in Canada First Novel Award. Critics noted the author's ability to blend dark humor with a piercing examination of suburban life and psychological instability. The work is widely regarded as a foundational text that established the author's reputation as a distinct and skilled voice in contemporary storytelling.