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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I loved this book. It reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Not quite as good, but you get attached to the main character, who is prickly, anti-social, but endearingly sympathetic.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am so thankful for the books that reference anxiety and other mental health issues. I add them to a Goodreads shelf I call “Banish the Stigma.”
This is, I believe, the first book I’ve ever read where the main character copes with phobias. This is especially important to me because I too cope with them and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character battle them before, in a book I’ve read.
I found the portrayal of them fairly authentic and non-judgmentally spoken of. This is a great Book Club read - there’s so much to discuss and so much in the way of character development, even with some of the more background characters.
I think it’s important too, to normalize therapy. It can be a game changer.
When I first started listening to the audiobook of Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything, I was worried that I’d find it too heavy on the satire for me to enjoy it. Confession: Sometimes satire just wings right over my head or I don’t realize it’s satirical and take it at face value. I don’t recommend it. ;)
Fortunately, Agatha definitely had satirical moments but was really well done and not isolating or too specific. I.e. I’m not a mom, but I don’t need to be one to understand and smirk at the shenanigans happening in the moms facebook group!
The book is humorous, ridiculous, heartwarming, emotional and fun. Bonus points for making me feel seen. I can’t weigh that heavily enough.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.
This is, I believe, the first book I’ve ever read where the main character copes with phobias. This is especially important to me because I too cope with them and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character battle them before, in a book I’ve read.
I found the portrayal of them fairly authentic and non-judgmentally spoken of. This is a great Book Club read - there’s so much to discuss and so much in the way of character development, even with some of the more background characters.
I think it’s important too, to normalize therapy. It can be a game changer.
When I first started listening to the audiobook of Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything, I was worried that I’d find it too heavy on the satire for me to enjoy it. Confession: Sometimes satire just wings right over my head or I don’t realize it’s satirical and take it at face value. I don’t recommend it. ;)
Fortunately, Agatha definitely had satirical moments but was really well done and not isolating or too specific. I.e. I’m not a mom, but I don’t need to be one to understand and smirk at the shenanigans happening in the moms facebook group!
The book is humorous, ridiculous, heartwarming, emotional and fun. Bonus points for making me feel seen. I can’t weigh that heavily enough.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 Stars!
Agatha Arch is having a really bad day. She finds her husband in the shed with the dog walker (not THEIR dog walker, because he didn't want the family to have a dog), and they're naked, and apparently this isn't the first time they've been together. In a moment of rage, Agatha also finds a hatchet and the next few minutes are a blur. The shed is in shambles, there are cops everywhere, and her neighbors are just staring. To top it off, her husband has decided to take the kids and leave with the dog walker. If Agatha Arch wasn't afraid of everything, she might be tempted to do something really crazy.
Agatha Arch has always had a fear of everything, fear of beans, fear of others, a fear of being alone, and now it's time to face all of her fears. Using therapy, Bear Grylls, and her moms' Facebook group, Agatha Arch decides to take on this dog walker, the other moms in the neighborhood, her ex-husband, and some random interloper. Agatha finds out that there are ways to get through the world other than fear, like spy pants and drones and a 12 days of Christmas song about the moms.
Bair has crafted an extremely realistic world, set in the suburbs, and full of moms always in other people's business. The characters are all unique and funny, and Agatha Arch is the type of woman I strive to be. Strong, motivated, and honestly.... fearless.
5/5 Stars!
Agatha Arch is having a really bad day. She finds her husband in the shed with the dog walker (not THEIR dog walker, because he didn't want the family to have a dog), and they're naked, and apparently this isn't the first time they've been together. In a moment of rage, Agatha also finds a hatchet and the next few minutes are a blur. The shed is in shambles, there are cops everywhere, and her neighbors are just staring. To top it off, her husband has decided to take the kids and leave with the dog walker. If Agatha Arch wasn't afraid of everything, she might be tempted to do something really crazy.
Agatha Arch has always had a fear of everything, fear of beans, fear of others, a fear of being alone, and now it's time to face all of her fears. Using therapy, Bear Grylls, and her moms' Facebook group, Agatha Arch decides to take on this dog walker, the other moms in the neighborhood, her ex-husband, and some random interloper. Agatha finds out that there are ways to get through the world other than fear, like spy pants and drones and a 12 days of Christmas song about the moms.
Bair has crafted an extremely realistic world, set in the suburbs, and full of moms always in other people's business. The characters are all unique and funny, and Agatha Arch is the type of woman I strive to be. Strong, motivated, and honestly.... fearless.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The best part about this book was the humor. Agatha got to be annoying rather quickly and I didn't like her being so judgmental. I struggled to finish this one.
This book wasn't for me and I couldn't get into it or invest in Agatha who was afraid of beans, who was mean and intolerant, and was a stalker. The narrator was fine, but had to read emojis (mad emoji, laugh emoji) and had to read out conversation threads on a Facebook page (a string of 40 or so answers saying stinkbug, stinkbug, stinkbug, stinkbug...) would have been easy to see on a page, but was incredibly annoying on audio. I almost quit, when after about five hours of listening I was only halfway through and not much had happened. I cranked the speed up to 2X to finish it out in hope there would be some redemption for Agatha. Rating: 1.5-2 stars.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for an advance copy of this audiobook.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for an advance copy of this audiobook.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes