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Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything
A quirky, nervous wreck of a New England mom is forced to face her many fears in this touching, irresistible novel from author Kristin Bair.
Agatha Arch's life shatters when she discovers her husband in their backyard shed, in flagrante delicto, giving the local dog walker some heavy petting. Suddenly, Agatha finds herself face to face with everything that frightens her...and that's a loooooong list.
Agatha keeps those she loves close. Everyone else, she keeps as far away as possible. So she's a mystery to nearly everyone in her New England town. To her husband, she's a saucy, no-B.S. writer. To her Facebook Moms group, she's a provocateur. To her neighbor, she's a standoffish pain in the butt. To her sons, she's chocolate pudding with marshmallows. And to her shrink, she's a bundle of nerves on the brink of a cataclysmic implosion.
Defying her abundant assortment of anxieties, Agatha dons her "spy pants"--a pair of khakis whose many pockets she crams with binoculars, fishing line, scissors, flashlight, a Leatherman Super Tool 300 EOD, candy, and other espionage essentials--and sets out to spy on her husband and the dog walker. Along the way, she finds another intriguing target to follow: a mysterious young woman who's panhandling on the busiest street in town.
It's all a bit much for timorous Agatha. But with the help of her Bear Grylls bobblehead, a trio of goats, and a dog named Balderdash, Agatha may just find the courage to build a better life.
Agatha Arch's life shatters when she discovers her husband in their backyard shed, in flagrante delicto, giving the local dog walker some heavy petting. Suddenly, Agatha finds herself face to face with everything that frightens her...and that's a loooooong list.
Agatha keeps those she loves close. Everyone else, she keeps as far away as possible. So she's a mystery to nearly everyone in her New England town. To her husband, she's a saucy, no-B.S. writer. To her Facebook Moms group, she's a provocateur. To her neighbor, she's a standoffish pain in the butt. To her sons, she's chocolate pudding with marshmallows. And to her shrink, she's a bundle of nerves on the brink of a cataclysmic implosion.
Defying her abundant assortment of anxieties, Agatha dons her "spy pants"--a pair of khakis whose many pockets she crams with binoculars, fishing line, scissors, flashlight, a Leatherman Super Tool 300 EOD, candy, and other espionage essentials--and sets out to spy on her husband and the dog walker. Along the way, she finds another intriguing target to follow: a mysterious young woman who's panhandling on the busiest street in town.
It's all a bit much for timorous Agatha. But with the help of her Bear Grylls bobblehead, a trio of goats, and a dog named Balderdash, Agatha may just find the courage to build a better life.
Audible Audio
Published November 10, 2020
468 people are currently reading
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About the author
Kristin Bair O'Keeffe
4 books167 followersKristin Bair writes fiercely—and humorously—about women navigating (peri)menopause, marriage, motherhood, the mental load, and identity. Her fourth novel, Clementine Crane Prefers Not To, tells the story of a woman radicalized against the patriarchy by her very first hot flash. It is a blazing anthem for anyone ready to rewrite the rules. (coming October 14, 2025)
Her third novel, Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything, was named a Best New Book by People magazine. She is also the author of The Art of Floating and Thirsty, as well as numerous essays about China, bears, adoption, off-the-plot expats, and more. Her work has appeared in The Gettysburg Review, The Baltimore Review, The Manifest-Station, Flying: Journal of Writing and Environment, The Christian Science Monitor, Poets & Writers Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and other publications.
With a BA from Indiana University and an MFA in fiction writing from Columbia College Chicago, Kristin has a proven track record of helping writers find their voices and shape their strongest material. She currently teaches in the MA in Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University and annually at the Yale Writers’ Workshop.
In addition, she is an Associate Fiction Editor for Pangyrus, a literary magazine based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
A native Pittsburgher, Kristin now lives north of Boston with her husband and two kiddos. Follow her on TikTok and Instagram: @kbairokeeffe.
Her third novel, Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything, was named a Best New Book by People magazine. She is also the author of The Art of Floating and Thirsty, as well as numerous essays about China, bears, adoption, off-the-plot expats, and more. Her work has appeared in The Gettysburg Review, The Baltimore Review, The Manifest-Station, Flying: Journal of Writing and Environment, The Christian Science Monitor, Poets & Writers Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and other publications.
With a BA from Indiana University and an MFA in fiction writing from Columbia College Chicago, Kristin has a proven track record of helping writers find their voices and shape their strongest material. She currently teaches in the MA in Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University and annually at the Yale Writers’ Workshop.
In addition, she is an Associate Fiction Editor for Pangyrus, a literary magazine based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
A native Pittsburgher, Kristin now lives north of Boston with her husband and two kiddos. Follow her on TikTok and Instagram: @kbairokeeffe.
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November 13, 2020
This is a review of the audiobook of this novel.
Agatha Arch is afraid of a lot of things, there are too many to list. The most ridiculous one is “beans”. She is afraid of beans because she had once watched a movie where the serial killer ate beans after he kills his victims, usually in very gruesome ways. But we all have our inner fears so I went with it.
The beginning starts with Agatha catching her husband having sex with the neighborhood dog walker in the shed in their backyard. It was so unexpected and unbelievable that Agatha completely loses it. She chases the dog walker away with only a tarp to cover her naked body. She finds a hatchet and goes to work destroying the shed while she cries and screams expletives. The neighbors are left aghast at the destruction of the shed and the mess that she continues to leave her yard in.
Most of the book is taken up with the ways in which Agatha finds to spy on her husband and Willow, the dog walker. Turns out that she lives quite close to her, so easy for her to creep around the yard and more. She invests in a great pair of binoculars and even goes so far as to climb a tree in the yard across from the house so that she can see what is going on.
Agatha is a writer with quite a good following. She had decided that she wanted to write a thriller next because they are so popular. She thinks since people love thrillers, perhaps they will love her more? However since her husband Dex’s desertion she hasn’t been able to work.
There is an online mom’s group which she chats with constantly. Some of the moms are at first supportive but when Agatha’s actions start going towards the “crazy” they begin to turn on her. She doesn’t really care, she just wants someplace to sound out her fury.
Inside however Agatha is despondent, hurt and doesn’t know what to do next. Her husband tells her that he is in love with Willow and that he wants to share custody of their two boys, spending a few days at Willow’s house and the rest with Agatha. She misses her boys desperately.
She has a therapist, whom she calls “shrinky dink”, who seems to know her quite well. She is a bundle of nerves and has no idea how to proceed into this next phase of her life. Her husband has made it clear that he is not coming back.
I did laugh at some of her attempts at spying, they were pretty over the top. However by the halfway point I was getting bored. Since it was an audiobook I just let it play on and the last quarter of the book redeemed itself.
Agatha finally begins to see that she does have the strength to cope with this disaster and starts to do things that make her feel good. She has a quick tryst, she redecorates the boys rooms and her bedroom. She then goes on to recreate her writing space, getting rid of any remnants of Dex including the desk that he handmade for her. She is beginning to see a way to move forward. The ending of the novel was great because it showed that she was growing and learning, how to make more friends, how to rearrange her life with her boys, maybe even joining her friend and taking yoga for relaxation!
If you are looking for a quick, entertaining listen then this would be a good choice. I think the narrator did a good job with this title.
I received this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley.
The novel in all of it’s formats is set to publish on November 10, 20
Agatha Arch is afraid of a lot of things, there are too many to list. The most ridiculous one is “beans”. She is afraid of beans because she had once watched a movie where the serial killer ate beans after he kills his victims, usually in very gruesome ways. But we all have our inner fears so I went with it.
The beginning starts with Agatha catching her husband having sex with the neighborhood dog walker in the shed in their backyard. It was so unexpected and unbelievable that Agatha completely loses it. She chases the dog walker away with only a tarp to cover her naked body. She finds a hatchet and goes to work destroying the shed while she cries and screams expletives. The neighbors are left aghast at the destruction of the shed and the mess that she continues to leave her yard in.
Most of the book is taken up with the ways in which Agatha finds to spy on her husband and Willow, the dog walker. Turns out that she lives quite close to her, so easy for her to creep around the yard and more. She invests in a great pair of binoculars and even goes so far as to climb a tree in the yard across from the house so that she can see what is going on.
Agatha is a writer with quite a good following. She had decided that she wanted to write a thriller next because they are so popular. She thinks since people love thrillers, perhaps they will love her more? However since her husband Dex’s desertion she hasn’t been able to work.
There is an online mom’s group which she chats with constantly. Some of the moms are at first supportive but when Agatha’s actions start going towards the “crazy” they begin to turn on her. She doesn’t really care, she just wants someplace to sound out her fury.
Inside however Agatha is despondent, hurt and doesn’t know what to do next. Her husband tells her that he is in love with Willow and that he wants to share custody of their two boys, spending a few days at Willow’s house and the rest with Agatha. She misses her boys desperately.
She has a therapist, whom she calls “shrinky dink”, who seems to know her quite well. She is a bundle of nerves and has no idea how to proceed into this next phase of her life. Her husband has made it clear that he is not coming back.
I did laugh at some of her attempts at spying, they were pretty over the top. However by the halfway point I was getting bored. Since it was an audiobook I just let it play on and the last quarter of the book redeemed itself.
Agatha finally begins to see that she does have the strength to cope with this disaster and starts to do things that make her feel good. She has a quick tryst, she redecorates the boys rooms and her bedroom. She then goes on to recreate her writing space, getting rid of any remnants of Dex including the desk that he handmade for her. She is beginning to see a way to move forward. The ending of the novel was great because it showed that she was growing and learning, how to make more friends, how to rearrange her life with her boys, maybe even joining her friend and taking yoga for relaxation!
If you are looking for a quick, entertaining listen then this would be a good choice. I think the narrator did a good job with this title.
I received this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley.
The novel in all of it’s formats is set to publish on November 10, 20
November 20, 2020
Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything features an anxious protagonist. Kristin Bair O’Keeffe’s writing is refreshing and clever. When Agatha finds her husband cheating on her, she loses the last hold she thought she had on her life, which goes from bad to worse really quickly. The book is never too heavy because Agatha and her antics add some levity.
Agatha Arch’s story is a touch zany and always entertaining. I really loved Agatha even if she is a little over-the-top. She made me - almost - want to make a list of all the things I’m afraid of! If you are looking for a little fun with a ton of heart, check out Agatha’s story!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
•
Agatha Arch’s story is a touch zany and always entertaining. I really loved Agatha even if she is a little over-the-top. She made me - almost - want to make a list of all the things I’m afraid of! If you are looking for a little fun with a ton of heart, check out Agatha’s story!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
•
September 19, 2021
Q: “Consider life your Hogwarts.” (c)
Q: There are so many maybes in the world. How does anyone live with them all? (c)
Q: “When another person—let’s say a woman named Gloria—is afraid of the dark, she sits in a corner with all the lights on. You? You turn off the lights, grab a sword, and stab anything that comes close.” (c)
A woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown trying to write a thriller in between being amazed by Bear Grylls, being sared of every single alien in the galaxy and hatcheting up her shed (after finding her hubby doing the nasty with the GDOG).
The GDOG debacle is great!
Q:
Agatha didn’t think she’d ever have reason to thank the universe for SpongeBob, but life is funny like that. (c)
Q:
“I don’t read many books,” he said.
Agatha rolled her eyes as her soul rose up and towered over them. She doesn’t trust people who don’t read books—despises them really—but other than Kerry Sheridan, who was pretending to study her sun-scorched lawn but who was really trying to see if Agatha was going to go ninja on anything else, the officer was the only one around. (c)
Q:
He saw the splintered wood but not the shards of her family, her marriage, and her heart piled up all around. Fuck the shed. (c)
Q:
dazzle (zebras)
quiver (cobras)
tower (giraffes)
prickle (porcupines)
crash (rhinoceroses)
mob (kangaroos)
shrewdness (apes)
maelstrom (salamanders)
murmuration (starlings)
rafter (turkeys)
wing (plovers)
knot (frogs)
descent (woodpeckers)
Each is clever, but her favorite is the first. A dazzle of zebras.
But friends? A collective noun for friends? If she had them …
Maybe a flicker.
A flash.
A quiver.
A clementine.
A zephyr.
So many possibilities. She can dream. (c)
Q:
A streak of tigers, Agatha thinks.
A sloth of bears.
A candle of anteaters.
A whoop of gorillas.
A leap of leopards.
A pride of lions.
A tower of giraffes.
A stand of flamingos.
A bloat of hippopotami.
A mob of kangaroos.One lonely man.
Me. (c)
Q:
A prickle of porcupines
A cauldron of bats
An obstinacy of buffalo
A mischief of rats
A flamboyance of flamingos
A thunder of hippos
A smack
Yes, a smack,
of jellyfish
Ravens, a storytelling
Bullfinches, a bellowing
Larks, an exalting
Cormorants, a gulp
Lions, a pride
Bears, a maul
Kangaroos, a troop
Gorillas, a whoop. (c)
Q:
So what of a group of friends?
A devour
A rebuke
A censure
A stricture
But better,
A soul
A luminescence
An aurora
A syzygy (c)
Q:
the crush of people who charge past the Mona Lisa every day. On their honeymoon in Paris, Dax had insisted they do the same. Agatha had not been impressed. “Who needs to stand in line for three hours to see another wry woman not speaking her mind?” (c) OMG. YES, I know!?
Q:
When Orion winks at her, a Bear Grylls tweet flashes in her head: “Walk toward the dangerous and the difficult.”
Damn. The universe is conspiring. (c) It always is that way! (I feel like a Greel choir now.)
Q:
“I’ve got a theory,” Agatha said.
“I’m not surprised,” Shrinky-Dink said. ...
“Biggie Z,” Agatha’s nickname for Mark Zuckerberg, “is the esteemed leader of a group of aliens from another galaxy intent on studying human behavior. Facebook groups are his human terrariums. Moist nourishing environments in which his victims can thrive or fail.” (c)
Q:
Melody Whelan:“I’m most afraid that the people who are most afraid will not achieve their true potential because they remain governed by their fears.”
If anyone else had spit out this mumbo jumbo, Agatha would have called them on it, but knowing Melody the bit she does, she knows she is telling her truth. Melody Whelan’s fear is all about others not achieving their true selves. Agatha doesn’t know what mix of DNA and voodoo occurred at the moment this woman had been conceived, but this is who she is. (c)
Q:
A single life does not happen in isolation. Humans are connected to fish are connected to whales are connected to flashes of lightning are connected to trees and ants and roots of the tallest stalk of corn and sunflowers and raindrops and exploding stars. Humans are connected to one another. (c)
Q:
Without the tree in front of the window, the northeast part of the house is fresh with light. In an unseasonable surprise, a charm of goldfinches gathers on the sill.
Agatha warms to this. A charm of friends. (c)
Q: There are so many maybes in the world. How does anyone live with them all? (c)
Q: “When another person—let’s say a woman named Gloria—is afraid of the dark, she sits in a corner with all the lights on. You? You turn off the lights, grab a sword, and stab anything that comes close.” (c)
A woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown trying to write a thriller in between being amazed by Bear Grylls, being sared of every single alien in the galaxy and hatcheting up her shed (after finding her hubby doing the nasty with the GDOG).
The GDOG debacle is great!
Q:
Agatha didn’t think she’d ever have reason to thank the universe for SpongeBob, but life is funny like that. (c)
Q:
“I don’t read many books,” he said.
Agatha rolled her eyes as her soul rose up and towered over them. She doesn’t trust people who don’t read books—despises them really—but other than Kerry Sheridan, who was pretending to study her sun-scorched lawn but who was really trying to see if Agatha was going to go ninja on anything else, the officer was the only one around. (c)
Q:
He saw the splintered wood but not the shards of her family, her marriage, and her heart piled up all around. Fuck the shed. (c)
Q:
dazzle (zebras)
quiver (cobras)
tower (giraffes)
prickle (porcupines)
crash (rhinoceroses)
mob (kangaroos)
shrewdness (apes)
maelstrom (salamanders)
murmuration (starlings)
rafter (turkeys)
wing (plovers)
knot (frogs)
descent (woodpeckers)
Each is clever, but her favorite is the first. A dazzle of zebras.
But friends? A collective noun for friends? If she had them …
Maybe a flicker.
A flash.
A quiver.
A clementine.
A zephyr.
So many possibilities. She can dream. (c)
Q:
A streak of tigers, Agatha thinks.
A sloth of bears.
A candle of anteaters.
A whoop of gorillas.
A leap of leopards.
A pride of lions.
A tower of giraffes.
A stand of flamingos.
A bloat of hippopotami.
A mob of kangaroos.One lonely man.
Me. (c)
Q:
A prickle of porcupines
A cauldron of bats
An obstinacy of buffalo
A mischief of rats
A flamboyance of flamingos
A thunder of hippos
A smack
Yes, a smack,
of jellyfish
Ravens, a storytelling
Bullfinches, a bellowing
Larks, an exalting
Cormorants, a gulp
Lions, a pride
Bears, a maul
Kangaroos, a troop
Gorillas, a whoop. (c)
Q:
So what of a group of friends?
A devour
A rebuke
A censure
A stricture
But better,
A soul
A luminescence
An aurora
A syzygy (c)
Q:
the crush of people who charge past the Mona Lisa every day. On their honeymoon in Paris, Dax had insisted they do the same. Agatha had not been impressed. “Who needs to stand in line for three hours to see another wry woman not speaking her mind?” (c) OMG. YES, I know!?
Q:
When Orion winks at her, a Bear Grylls tweet flashes in her head: “Walk toward the dangerous and the difficult.”
Damn. The universe is conspiring. (c) It always is that way! (I feel like a Greel choir now.)
Q:
“I’ve got a theory,” Agatha said.
“I’m not surprised,” Shrinky-Dink said. ...
“Biggie Z,” Agatha’s nickname for Mark Zuckerberg, “is the esteemed leader of a group of aliens from another galaxy intent on studying human behavior. Facebook groups are his human terrariums. Moist nourishing environments in which his victims can thrive or fail.” (c)
Q:
Melody Whelan:“I’m most afraid that the people who are most afraid will not achieve their true potential because they remain governed by their fears.”
If anyone else had spit out this mumbo jumbo, Agatha would have called them on it, but knowing Melody the bit she does, she knows she is telling her truth. Melody Whelan’s fear is all about others not achieving their true selves. Agatha doesn’t know what mix of DNA and voodoo occurred at the moment this woman had been conceived, but this is who she is. (c)
Q:
A single life does not happen in isolation. Humans are connected to fish are connected to whales are connected to flashes of lightning are connected to trees and ants and roots of the tallest stalk of corn and sunflowers and raindrops and exploding stars. Humans are connected to one another. (c)
Q:
Without the tree in front of the window, the northeast part of the house is fresh with light. In an unseasonable surprise, a charm of goldfinches gathers on the sill.
Agatha warms to this. A charm of friends. (c)
December 10, 2020
Agatha Arch is... Quirky, angry, impulsive, funny, loving, hateful, interesting, scary, unhinged, unhappy and afraid of everything.Kristin Bair has written this clever character driven story about A slightly-OK maybe more than slightly- unhinged woman that you will simultaneously love and hate. The book kicks off with Agatha catching her husband in a compromising position with the dog walker. Agatha is not having it! she promptly picks up an ax takes off after her husband and the dog walker, and then destroys the shed where the shenanigans were taking place. what follows is an entertaining story about a scorned woman obsessed. She goes to war with the Facebook moms. Spies on her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Lets her yard go wild. she also befriends a woman in need and is always there for her kids. you may not like Agatha, but you will want to see what she’s up to next. I thoroughly enjoyed this crazy story. Soneela Nankani -One of my favorite audiobook narrators- narrates the story. she gave the perfect voice to Agatha, enhancing the story for me. Love spending time with this colorful character, just made sure I did not get on her bad side.😉
This book in emojis 🪓 🐶 🐐 👩👦👦 🔎
*** Big thank you to Dreamscape Media for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This book in emojis 🪓 🐶 🐐 👩👦👦 🔎
*** Big thank you to Dreamscape Media for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
January 10, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
I must confess I kept postponing listening to this audiobook after reading a review that said the main character was completely annoying and she got boring pretty quickly. I have one thing to say to that reviewer: you're wrong! Kidding (not).
Is Agatha Arch annoying? Yes. Is she unhinged? Yes. Is she quirky? Yes. Is she a little bit cruel? Yes. Is she over the top? Absolutely. But she is also funny, loving and caring with those she loves, and that's what made her such an interesting character.
After finding her husband cheating on her with the dog walker, on their shed (how he dares!), she not only loses her husband but her mind (a little bit). This is not a plot drive story, but a character one. We follow Agatha as she tries to deal with her new life at the same time she does with all her fears. And they're quite a few! Hello fava beans!
I did laugh out loud several times but I felt bad I did cause, hilarious as she was, at the end it was clear she wasn't well. Behind all her weirdness she was just a woman asking for some help in overcoming her fears. I was glad to witness her growth and how she got the strength needed to cope with them while realizing not everyone was out to get her, making possible some new friendships.
I found the writing style very refreshing. Her no-nonsense approach while talking to people, the funny nicknames (GDOG and Kumbaya Queen are ones I need to apply in my daily life from now on), the Mom's Facebook Group chats... I guess some people could find all these things irritating, but I thought they were fantastic!
Special mention to the amazing job done by Soneela Nankani, the audiobook's narrator, that brought Agatha to life (irritating some times, lovable others) and all the different characters in a very distinctive way, making this a very enjoyable listen.
I must confess I kept postponing listening to this audiobook after reading a review that said the main character was completely annoying and she got boring pretty quickly. I have one thing to say to that reviewer: you're wrong! Kidding (not).
Is Agatha Arch annoying? Yes. Is she unhinged? Yes. Is she quirky? Yes. Is she a little bit cruel? Yes. Is she over the top? Absolutely. But she is also funny, loving and caring with those she loves, and that's what made her such an interesting character.
After finding her husband cheating on her with the dog walker, on their shed (how he dares!), she not only loses her husband but her mind (a little bit). This is not a plot drive story, but a character one. We follow Agatha as she tries to deal with her new life at the same time she does with all her fears. And they're quite a few! Hello fava beans!
I did laugh out loud several times but I felt bad I did cause, hilarious as she was, at the end it was clear she wasn't well. Behind all her weirdness she was just a woman asking for some help in overcoming her fears. I was glad to witness her growth and how she got the strength needed to cope with them while realizing not everyone was out to get her, making possible some new friendships.
I found the writing style very refreshing. Her no-nonsense approach while talking to people, the funny nicknames (GDOG and Kumbaya Queen are ones I need to apply in my daily life from now on), the Mom's Facebook Group chats... I guess some people could find all these things irritating, but I thought they were fantastic!
Special mention to the amazing job done by Soneela Nankani, the audiobook's narrator, that brought Agatha to life (irritating some times, lovable others) and all the different characters in a very distinctive way, making this a very enjoyable listen.
January 15, 2021
‘Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything’ is a story full of heart and hilarious antics that will have you rooting for Agatha in her imminent breakdown after a life altering event and ultimate betrayal from her husband.
Underneath this hilarious novel is a mother who loves her sons, a wife jilted by her husband with another woman, a writer longing to find her next inspiration, and a woman trying to make sense of her middle age life through therapy trying to work out her fears and anxieties.
I enjoyed the modern and fresh writing style - from the Facebook moms group convos, to the funny nicknames she uses, her unconventional way of speaking to people with a no-nonsense approach, and calling out people on their BS.
Bair did a fantastic job giving a unique voice to our beloved Agatha - an unlikely heroine that is as unforgettable as she is relatable.
A fun read I devoured! I highly recommend this entertaining book and a fun read. Loved this book!
Underneath this hilarious novel is a mother who loves her sons, a wife jilted by her husband with another woman, a writer longing to find her next inspiration, and a woman trying to make sense of her middle age life through therapy trying to work out her fears and anxieties.
I enjoyed the modern and fresh writing style - from the Facebook moms group convos, to the funny nicknames she uses, her unconventional way of speaking to people with a no-nonsense approach, and calling out people on their BS.
Bair did a fantastic job giving a unique voice to our beloved Agatha - an unlikely heroine that is as unforgettable as she is relatable.
A fun read I devoured! I highly recommend this entertaining book and a fun read. Loved this book!
December 17, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Here I go, here I go, here I go again . . . .
MEN - Books whose covers resemble Where’d You Go Bernadette.
Okay then.
Alright, so Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything???? Maybe a more fitting title would have been Agatha Arch Is Having A Little Teensie Bit Of A Nervous Breakdown After Finding Her Husband Fucking The Dog Walker In Her Backyard Shed.
I’m going to go ahead and blame Finlay Donovan for me not loving this one as much as I should have. First, the similar covers being the reason I added both to my TBR and second, both were authors and third, Finlay was simply a hoot while Agatha had to grow on me much like a fungus before I could truly appreciate her. The “maybe there’s a reason she acts like that/maybe she’s just a douchebag” is a slippery slope for authors to walk and unfortunately for Agatha . . . .
She got her redemption arc at the end, but I can imagine there will be plenty ofsnowflakes readers who would have an opinion about the way her phobias were portrayed. To them I say, this is a broad who gets sprayed in the face MULTIPLE TIMES by a skunk she fucking knows lives under her She Shed and who has been around long enough that the family has named it. Obviously the story ain’t steeped in reality, yo.
Here I go, here I go, here I go again . . . .
Okay then.
Alright, so Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything???? Maybe a more fitting title would have been Agatha Arch Is Having A Little Teensie Bit Of A Nervous Breakdown After Finding Her Husband Fucking The Dog Walker In Her Backyard Shed.
I’m going to go ahead and blame Finlay Donovan for me not loving this one as much as I should have. First, the similar covers being the reason I added both to my TBR and second, both were authors and third, Finlay was simply a hoot while Agatha had to grow on me much like a fungus before I could truly appreciate her. The “maybe there’s a reason she acts like that/maybe she’s just a douchebag” is a slippery slope for authors to walk and unfortunately for Agatha . . . .
She got her redemption arc at the end, but I can imagine there will be plenty of
November 8, 2020
This will be a harsh, yet an honest review. I disliked this book. Like truly, didn’t enjoy a minute of it while listening to the audiobook. I found myself constantly tuning out and tempted to skip ahead only to get it done with (which I did from time to time and didn’t miss a single thing or found myself lost). I only crawled my way forward in the hopes of something to happen to make the book interesting. It never did.
I’m pretty sure that I am the right target audience for this book since I check all the boxes but I don’t know, I couldn’t connect with or even get any of the characters. I found the plot was all over the place and there was too much repetition. There wasn’t much happening other than in the annoying mom’s Facebook group.
I think I’d better stop ranting and end my review with the note that Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything is absolutely nothing like Where’d You Go Bernadette and this comparison is so not fair to the latter.
Thank you Dreamscape Media, LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC.
I’m pretty sure that I am the right target audience for this book since I check all the boxes but I don’t know, I couldn’t connect with or even get any of the characters. I found the plot was all over the place and there was too much repetition. There wasn’t much happening other than in the annoying mom’s Facebook group.
I think I’d better stop ranting and end my review with the note that Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything is absolutely nothing like Where’d You Go Bernadette and this comparison is so not fair to the latter.
Thank you Dreamscape Media, LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC.
May 29, 2020
If you were a fan of Where'd You Go, Bernadette, you're going to love Agatha Arch. From the very first page, her voice is a breath of fresh air, fears and all: Even as she reels from life-altering betrayal, our unlikely heroine had me laughing, cheering her on, and hanging on her every word. A highly satisfying read, sure to be one of my favorites of the year.
November 16, 2020
Agatha Arch is afraid of a lot of things. Not everything. She is annoyed by everything. She is judgmental of everything. And everyone. Compared to those, her fears are actually a pretty short list.
Agatha Arch should be someone I was pulling for. She should have been someone I related to. She starts off losing it for a pretty good reason. Yes, her reaction was beyond what most would have been, but it made sense. I think it was the only time she made sense. She had snotty nicknames for everyone she met. Who calls their therapist Shrinky Dink? Or some poor homeless woman The Interloper? Agatha Arch is just a horrible person. We are supposed to believe that this is because of her fears and her mental issues. You can't blame it all on that.
I couldn't like her and I kept hoping she would face real consequences for what she did to people. No one did, though. Her husband is caught having sex with a dog walker. Not THE dog walker because they don't even have a dog. His kids are a few yards away, he's in a shed, and he's caught by his wife. Yet, no one seemed to see him as much of a bad guy.
It all boils down to whether I would want to read about these people. I'd hate to live in this town and I never want to visit it again. It's too bad, because the author had an interesting voice and a good sense of humor at times.
Agatha Arch should be someone I was pulling for. She should have been someone I related to. She starts off losing it for a pretty good reason. Yes, her reaction was beyond what most would have been, but it made sense. I think it was the only time she made sense. She had snotty nicknames for everyone she met. Who calls their therapist Shrinky Dink? Or some poor homeless woman The Interloper? Agatha Arch is just a horrible person. We are supposed to believe that this is because of her fears and her mental issues. You can't blame it all on that.
I couldn't like her and I kept hoping she would face real consequences for what she did to people. No one did, though. Her husband is caught having sex with a dog walker. Not THE dog walker because they don't even have a dog. His kids are a few yards away, he's in a shed, and he's caught by his wife. Yet, no one seemed to see him as much of a bad guy.
It all boils down to whether I would want to read about these people. I'd hate to live in this town and I never want to visit it again. It's too bad, because the author had an interesting voice and a good sense of humor at times.
November 16, 2020
Oh, don’t mind my friend Agatha on the cover there. She’s not spying on you.
Since she found her husband in the shed bonking the dog walker, she’s become a bit… unhinged?
Getting sprayed by a skunk, the town interloper, and a not-so-friendly moms Facebook group is not helping her case.
Her Shrinky Dink can’t change that she’s terrified of beans, and that the only thing that gets her through the day is Bear Grylls.
Will Thelma and Louise, a state of the art drone, the Tush, and a snotty bowl of soup help?
You’ll just have to read to find out!
I think a lot of us are looking for light, fun, and entertaining reads the days. Look no further - Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything is a laugh-out-loud fothermuckingly fun book 😆 that is definitely worth peeking into!
There were so many times I laughed out loud reading this book. Agatha may not be for everyone but she creeped right into my heart and settled in pretty close to my funny bone as well. She's really just a human being that is hurting and lacking a bit in the courage department. She loves those close to her fiercely, including her two sons the most, and in turn, keeps everyone else at a very uncomfortable distance.
But she's also insanely brave in other ways when she sets her mind to things. And I loved watching her find herself and climb out of her shell... and her "spy pants!" And a really fun surprise part about this book was all the animals - there are so many furry characters that I adored as well.
Give Agatha a try. I think you'll like her.
Since she found her husband in the shed bonking the dog walker, she’s become a bit… unhinged?
Getting sprayed by a skunk, the town interloper, and a not-so-friendly moms Facebook group is not helping her case.
Her Shrinky Dink can’t change that she’s terrified of beans, and that the only thing that gets her through the day is Bear Grylls.
Will Thelma and Louise, a state of the art drone, the Tush, and a snotty bowl of soup help?
You’ll just have to read to find out!
I think a lot of us are looking for light, fun, and entertaining reads the days. Look no further - Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything is a laugh-out-loud fothermuckingly fun book 😆 that is definitely worth peeking into!
There were so many times I laughed out loud reading this book. Agatha may not be for everyone but she creeped right into my heart and settled in pretty close to my funny bone as well. She's really just a human being that is hurting and lacking a bit in the courage department. She loves those close to her fiercely, including her two sons the most, and in turn, keeps everyone else at a very uncomfortable distance.
But she's also insanely brave in other ways when she sets her mind to things. And I loved watching her find herself and climb out of her shell... and her "spy pants!" And a really fun surprise part about this book was all the animals - there are so many furry characters that I adored as well.
Give Agatha a try. I think you'll like her.
November 5, 2020
Agatha Arch, Agatha Arch, Agatha Arch! Your book was somewhat amusing, but the posts from the FB Mom's group got to be a bit monotonous and all those rants about the "interloper" -- same. Tap, tap, tippity tap. . . So glad you spared that woodpecker, by the way. There were some good bits about being a good friend. Loved the Bear Grylls bobblehead and Agatha's spy pants. And the goat yoga was a fun addition. Unfortunately, although there is a vague resemblance to 'Where'd You Go, Bernadette,' there just weren't enough moving parts to even compare. Finally, I feel a strong nudging to go read 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.' Why is that?
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
Unfortunately, this was tedious and shallow; a lot of effort went into making Agatha as obnoxious and unlikable and artificial as possible, but it lacks self-awareness. She doesn't have enough personality to be this self-entitled. It's kind of Stepford-strikes-back-esque and tries to be a revenge fantasy that has no guts behind it. No one talks like this and it feels inspired by Liane Moriarty but is a poor facsimile.
Agatha Arch (full name must be spoken at all times) is just ~too quirky for words~! She's ~better~ than everyone around her (in her own mind), but in reality is actually just an immature jerk who could use some communication skills. Her phobias don't feel like obstacles, but cred? Like the author is just including them to say "SEE HOW NEUROTIC SHE IS? ISN'T IT HILARIOUS?"
If it wants to be satire, it's not smart enough. If it's trying to be just fiction, it's not smart enough.
The repetition in the recapping of facebook post comments does NOT translate well to audio. Hearing the narrator (who is doing her best) say "Agatha Arch?" in 30 different inflections was very very tiring. Same with "Stinkbug" that I literally had to fast-forward through.
I think I'm supposed to hate Dax and Willow Bean (again, name must be said in full at all times) but honestly, Agatha seems like she's insane and I don't blame them? She's clearly in a mental health crisis but it's not treated as an obstacle to her necessarily, but as one of those "if you can't handle me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best" graphics designed to make women feel better about being assholes.
Soneela Nankani narrated this audiobook, and as I said before, did what she could with what she was given.
I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
Agatha Arch (full name must be spoken at all times) is just ~too quirky for words~! She's ~better~ than everyone around her (in her own mind), but in reality is actually just an immature jerk who could use some communication skills. Her phobias don't feel like obstacles, but cred? Like the author is just including them to say "SEE HOW NEUROTIC SHE IS? ISN'T IT HILARIOUS?"
If it wants to be satire, it's not smart enough. If it's trying to be just fiction, it's not smart enough.
The repetition in the recapping of facebook post comments does NOT translate well to audio. Hearing the narrator (who is doing her best) say "Agatha Arch?" in 30 different inflections was very very tiring. Same with "Stinkbug" that I literally had to fast-forward through.
I think I'm supposed to hate Dax and Willow Bean (again, name must be said in full at all times) but honestly, Agatha seems like she's insane and I don't blame them? She's clearly in a mental health crisis but it's not treated as an obstacle to her necessarily, but as one of those "if you can't handle me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best" graphics designed to make women feel better about being assholes.
Soneela Nankani narrated this audiobook, and as I said before, did what she could with what she was given.
I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
December 20, 2020
I have reached 34% of the book and after reading two pages of 'Stink bug. Stink bug. Stink bug' I've decided I cannot read any word further.
What an INCREDIBLE waste of time considering the amount of good books out there waiting to be read!
What an INCREDIBLE waste of time considering the amount of good books out there waiting to be read!
July 24, 2020
Loved it! Funny and charming with a touch of melancholy. Wonderful.
November 2, 2020
GOATS
Okay, did I get your attention? I hope so. Agatha Arch is worth that attention. I was lucky enough to get an ARC, and a few things struck me about this novel:
1. Yes, it does remind me of WHERE'D YOU GO BERNADETTE, but not because it duplicates the themes or plot. AGATHA is zany, heart-felt and voicey, just like BERNADETTE. If you liked one, you'll certainly like the other.
2. This novel is so funny. The interactions with the Mom's FB group, the mental circles that Agatha sometimes follows... it was a balm to read something that made me laugh.
3. It still packs a punch. This book would be great to read with your book club. There's a lot of meat here about identity, motherhood, fear, and community.
Long story short, yes, there are goats in this novel. There are beans and skunks and sheds and hatchets. There are storms and drones and some tuna salad, but there is real heart here, too. I hope you'll pick it up.
Thanks much to NetGalley for the ARC.
Okay, did I get your attention? I hope so. Agatha Arch is worth that attention. I was lucky enough to get an ARC, and a few things struck me about this novel:
1. Yes, it does remind me of WHERE'D YOU GO BERNADETTE, but not because it duplicates the themes or plot. AGATHA is zany, heart-felt and voicey, just like BERNADETTE. If you liked one, you'll certainly like the other.
2. This novel is so funny. The interactions with the Mom's FB group, the mental circles that Agatha sometimes follows... it was a balm to read something that made me laugh.
3. It still packs a punch. This book would be great to read with your book club. There's a lot of meat here about identity, motherhood, fear, and community.
Long story short, yes, there are goats in this novel. There are beans and skunks and sheds and hatchets. There are storms and drones and some tuna salad, but there is real heart here, too. I hope you'll pick it up.
Thanks much to NetGalley for the ARC.
November 22, 2020
Are you ready to forget about all the sadness in the world and read a happy make you laugh out loud book? I found you one that you will really enjoy. A dog walker? You have got to read this book to find out what happened with the dog walker.
This is a 5 star read that you are going to be so happy you took the time to read. And Yes, Agatha is afraid of everything.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
This is a 5 star read that you are going to be so happy you took the time to read. And Yes, Agatha is afraid of everything.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
December 29, 2020
Suburban New England Moms. A world of their own. From the Facebook Moms Group to the local gossip. Agatha Arch's life is thrown for a loop when she discovers her husband messing around with the local dog walker in their backyard shed. Agatha immediately loses it and hacks the shed apart with a hatchet. Agatha's life is suddenly changed and she finds herself needing to face her fears and she has A LOT of fears. For example, she is afraid of beans (beans!) after watching Silence of the Lambs. Agatha pretty much rubs the entire town the wrong way. She tries to work through her issues with her therapist, who she refers to as Shrinky Dink. She is continually causing drama on the local Moms Facebook Group. AND during all of this she is supposed to be writing a new novel.
This was a fun read and although Agatha is extremely anxious AND expresses it in a completely different way than I ever would, you can't help but root for her. I cringed at her behavior and choices a lot of the time, but through the course of the book, she learns to "come into her own". The Facebook Moms stuff was relatable. Those groups have plenty of drama! This is a good pick for fans of Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
What to listen to while reading...
I Don't Wanna Know by Mario Winans
Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye
Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
Afraid by The Neighborhood
Wind Beneath my Wings by Bette Midler
Lost in the Supermaket by Ben Folds
Goats in Trees by Foster the People
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
This was a fun read and although Agatha is extremely anxious AND expresses it in a completely different way than I ever would, you can't help but root for her. I cringed at her behavior and choices a lot of the time, but through the course of the book, she learns to "come into her own". The Facebook Moms stuff was relatable. Those groups have plenty of drama! This is a good pick for fans of Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
What to listen to while reading...
I Don't Wanna Know by Mario Winans
Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye
Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
Afraid by The Neighborhood
Wind Beneath my Wings by Bette Midler
Lost in the Supermaket by Ben Folds
Goats in Trees by Foster the People
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
November 3, 2020
"Fear sharpens us."
This is Agatha's mantra. She's a big fan of Bear Grylls, so that's why she has made this phrase her own motto. In fact, Bear Grylls has said this:
"You're not human if you don't feel fear. But I've learned to treat fear as an emotion that sharpens me."
Agatha is really afraid of, well, almost everything. And now her life has been put upside down because of her husband's love affair with the dog walker. She's always felt protected by her husband, and now he has betrayed her. Moreover, he moves right away to live with his new partner and he takes their children with him. They spent time with both of their parents, but Agatha feels even worst by this. She can't bear living only some days of the week with her boys.
She's suppossed to start writing her new book, a thriller, but she can't even go up the stairs and enter her office. Everything reminds her of his husband and what he's done. Therefore, another fear to add to the long list. Eventhough she repeats constantly her mantra and goes with her Bear Grylls bobblehead, it doesn't work. Days are passing by, and it seems she's stuck.
Furthermore, there's a mysterious young woman asking for money in one of the busiest streets in town. Agatha is afraid of her, because she's certain the interloper, as she calls her, is dangerous.
Agatha spends a lot of time reading the comments on the facebook group of Moms. She likes to laugh at them, so she's constantly writing ironic comments in response to anything they say.
Agatha has no friends, and she wishes she had some, but how could she make friends if she can't trust anyone? Anyway, life has its mysterious ways to show us the right path. Sometimes we just need someone who can make us realise we're wrong. Agatha must learn that she's not the only one in pain, and she's defenitely, not the only one with fears. And a little bit of kindness makes things better.
Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Agatha is really afraid of, well, almost everything. And now her life has been put upside down because of her husband's love affair with the dog walker. She's always felt protected by her husband, and now he has betrayed her. Moreover, he moves right away to live with his new partner and he takes their children with him. They spent time with both of their parents, but Agatha feels even worst by this. She can't bear living only some days of the week with her boys.
She's suppossed to start writing her new book, a thriller, but she can't even go up the stairs and enter her office. Everything reminds her of his husband and what he's done. Therefore, another fear to add to the long list. Eventhough she repeats constantly her mantra and goes with her Bear Grylls bobblehead, it doesn't work. Days are passing by, and it seems she's stuck.
Furthermore, there's a mysterious young woman asking for money in one of the busiest streets in town. Agatha is afraid of her, because she's certain the interloper, as she calls her, is dangerous.
Agatha spends a lot of time reading the comments on the facebook group of Moms. She likes to laugh at them, so she's constantly writing ironic comments in response to anything they say.
Agatha has no friends, and she wishes she had some, but how could she make friends if she can't trust anyone? Anyway, life has its mysterious ways to show us the right path. Sometimes we just need someone who can make us realise we're wrong. Agatha must learn that she's not the only one in pain, and she's defenitely, not the only one with fears. And a little bit of kindness makes things better.
Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2020
Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything by Kristin Bair is an offbeat novel that relies on the anxieties and dialogue, often internal, of the protagonist. I had my questioning moments while reading but ultimately found it both fun and even thought-provoking in many ways.
Agatha would not, in real life, be an easy person to like or even have any dealings with. But fiction is full of these characters because they offer things a "likeable" or "sane" character can't. From some amazingly narrow ideas (usually based on fears and anxieties) to actions that are borderline criminal, these characters act out, and allow us to vicariously act out, things we only ever think about and would never, one hopes, follow through on. Agatha is such a character. So her likeability, the likeability of the other characters who serve as her foils, really is beside the point. If we only read novels with characters we like, or would like in real life, or who don't do questionable things, we would be reading a bunch of boring self-serving drivel. But to each their own I guess.
I found many of her thoughts both over the top yet also emblematic of things that I might think in my more irritable or less generous moments. We didn't hold a lot of the same views but I felt she was written in a way that made her specific eccentricities translatable to many of the eccentricities we all have. If you think you don't have any, find the friend of yours who will be most honest with you and ask them, they'll tell you, unless one of yours is cutting ties with anyone who doesn't view you through rose-colored glasses.
Life altering moments, such as discovering your spouse having sex in your shed, can and usually do lead to both positive and negative change. Realizing you're more alone than you thought, that your world is not as stable as you thought, can destroy you or cause you to find a path through that confusion. For Agatha, that path is winding and bumpy but all in all not a horrible one. Will most readers believe they would never do what she does? Of course, but we can claim all we want, we don't know until it happens to us. Having walked Agatha's path with her may help me to find a less turbulent path when life throws me a curve ball.
I recommend this but will also caution readers who want perfectly likeable characters in order to like a book that this may not suit you. As for the dreaded "target audience" stuff, I am an over 60 male, so forget target audiences, it is whether or not it appeals to you as a human being, not as an age or a gender. If you can't empathize with a woman who, likeable or not, has her world turned upside down, then your age and gender don't matter, it is simply who you are.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Agatha would not, in real life, be an easy person to like or even have any dealings with. But fiction is full of these characters because they offer things a "likeable" or "sane" character can't. From some amazingly narrow ideas (usually based on fears and anxieties) to actions that are borderline criminal, these characters act out, and allow us to vicariously act out, things we only ever think about and would never, one hopes, follow through on. Agatha is such a character. So her likeability, the likeability of the other characters who serve as her foils, really is beside the point. If we only read novels with characters we like, or would like in real life, or who don't do questionable things, we would be reading a bunch of boring self-serving drivel. But to each their own I guess.
I found many of her thoughts both over the top yet also emblematic of things that I might think in my more irritable or less generous moments. We didn't hold a lot of the same views but I felt she was written in a way that made her specific eccentricities translatable to many of the eccentricities we all have. If you think you don't have any, find the friend of yours who will be most honest with you and ask them, they'll tell you, unless one of yours is cutting ties with anyone who doesn't view you through rose-colored glasses.
Life altering moments, such as discovering your spouse having sex in your shed, can and usually do lead to both positive and negative change. Realizing you're more alone than you thought, that your world is not as stable as you thought, can destroy you or cause you to find a path through that confusion. For Agatha, that path is winding and bumpy but all in all not a horrible one. Will most readers believe they would never do what she does? Of course, but we can claim all we want, we don't know until it happens to us. Having walked Agatha's path with her may help me to find a less turbulent path when life throws me a curve ball.
I recommend this but will also caution readers who want perfectly likeable characters in order to like a book that this may not suit you. As for the dreaded "target audience" stuff, I am an over 60 male, so forget target audiences, it is whether or not it appeals to you as a human being, not as an age or a gender. If you can't empathize with a woman who, likeable or not, has her world turned upside down, then your age and gender don't matter, it is simply who you are.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 14, 2020
Oh, Agatha. I love you. You are a breath of fresh air. Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything by Kristin Bair O’Keeffe was just the audiobook I needed this past week. I’ve been a nervous wreck lately for multiple reasons, so Agatha and all of her quirkiness eased some tension, and brought a huge smile to my face. I admired her dry sense of humor, and would totally befriend her in real life. Here’s a few things you need to know about Agatha:
1. She loves to cuss.
2. She’s a little crude.
3. She’s fricken hilarious.
4. She owns a pair of spy pants.
5. She’s a #boymom.
6. She caught her husband cheating.
7. She’s not for everyone.
8. She’s afraid of everything.
Agatha is an extremely relatable character that you just can’t help but root for. The way she pokes fun at the local moms group on Facebook had me howling! She really knows how to press the buttons of the neighborhood moms, and says exactly what’s on her mind. No filter whatsoever! If you’re a fan of Laurie Gelman or Abbi Waxman, then Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything is definitely for you. 4/5 stars for this fother mucking book! Ha!
1. She loves to cuss.
2. She’s a little crude.
3. She’s fricken hilarious.
4. She owns a pair of spy pants.
5. She’s a #boymom.
6. She caught her husband cheating.
7. She’s not for everyone.
8. She’s afraid of everything.
Agatha is an extremely relatable character that you just can’t help but root for. The way she pokes fun at the local moms group on Facebook had me howling! She really knows how to press the buttons of the neighborhood moms, and says exactly what’s on her mind. No filter whatsoever! If you’re a fan of Laurie Gelman or Abbi Waxman, then Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything is definitely for you. 4/5 stars for this fother mucking book! Ha!
July 22, 2020
Agatha has been compared to the likes of Bernadette and it's not far off. The book follows Agatha who has some pretty strange fears, an outspoken tendency in her fb mom's group, and unwritten novel looming over her head. She also has the little incident with her husband that sets the story in motion. "Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything" is a light, funny, and quick read that will have you laughing out loud and talking about her facebook mom's group long after the last page.
August 1, 2020
I received the ARC of this book through NetGalley and Alcove Press and I would like to thank them for this charming book. Agatha Arch is about as quirky of a character as you can get. She is afraid of everything it seems, from beans to anthrax and over reacts to any encounter with the things she is afraid of. When she finds her husband having sex with the dog walker (they don’t even have a dog) in the shed in their backyard she completely loses control and destroys the shed with a hatchet. Then there is the skunk that lives under her doorstep and the FB page of Mums in her neighbourhood where everything gets posted. This book is laugh out loud funny and although it is a bit confusing to read in the beginning I think you will fall in love with Agatha. I found myself cheering her on. The author created such an amazing character with Agatha that I could overlook her ramblings - the book is written as a mixture of Agatha’s thoughts and what she actually says. You will feel bad for her but overall it is just a hilarious story of a flawed and mixed up woman who is lonely. She reminds me of Amelia Badelia from the kids books. If you want a light and fast read that will amuse you and make you appreciate life then this is the story for you.
April 5, 2024
Agatha discovers her husband having sex with the dog walker in her shed and loses it. She hatched the hell out of it. Agatha is an acquired taste. She is literally afraid of everything, and her husband leaving exacerbates her fears. It's written in a funny tone, but her mental health is tenuous at best. Obviously, she has money, so the craziness is well financed. (Here in the real world, you have to suck it up buttercup and get on with it ) At least she has her therapist, a woman who is called shrinky dink through the whole book, which made me laugh.
In the end, I found myself rooting for Agatha. And I still hate Facebook. Lol
In the end, I found myself rooting for Agatha. And I still hate Facebook. Lol
October 31, 2020
Laugh-out-loud funny; recommended of fans of Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go Bernadette. Agatha Arch is a woman in crisis after discovering her husbands infidelity in the backyard shed with the beautiful neighborhood dog- walker. While Agatha’s behavior is often cringe worthy, the reader can’t help but route for her. Sharp, witty dialog.
May 28, 2023
This is the kind of expectations I have with every read. Fun! Fun!! More fun!!!
February 7, 2021
Agatha Arch's approach to fear is to attack. With a hatchet. With drone surveillance. With sharp words that keep others at a safe perimeter. The results are hilarious exchanges with the Facebook Moms and interior monologue as she spies on the House of Sin where her estranged husband now lives with the dog walker.
There is so much to love about this book. Agatha is a great character, and her journey to healing and wholeness is honest, authentic, and heartfelt. Her relationships with others in the book developed in interesting ways, and despite her efforts to keep others away, hope found a way to shine its light. Agatha has a wit and voice that made me laugh out loud, many times, cringe in pain, and nod in agreement.
I am rooting for her.
There is so much to love about this book. Agatha is a great character, and her journey to healing and wholeness is honest, authentic, and heartfelt. Her relationships with others in the book developed in interesting ways, and despite her efforts to keep others away, hope found a way to shine its light. Agatha has a wit and voice that made me laugh out loud, many times, cringe in pain, and nod in agreement.
I am rooting for her.
May 21, 2021
Agatha Arch is supposed to be fun and quirky and dealing with "Big Stuff" but, in actuality, she is a judgmental, irrational and downright mean. Her over-the-top reaction to finding her husband cheating on her could be construed as humorous and even understandable considering the situation but it all goes downhill from there. She has little nicknames for everyone that are more demeaning than funny and the "fears" she needs to deal with are just an excuse for her to be illogical and aggressive to everyone. Even the ending where we're supposed to be charmed by her "healing" is just eye-rolling silliness. And I won't even get started on her harassment of an innocent homeless woman. Wow. I will keep track of this author so as to avoid all other books written by her in the future.
September 29, 2020
This is not going to be a long review -I really don't have a lot to say about this book. Actually, I do have a lot to say, but I don't want to give the whole book away!
I had to actually force myself through the first 2/3 of this book. I really disliked the narrative and the characters. The trope/s drove me crazy also! But the last third or so really kept me captive. I was really rooting for Agatha to get her sh*t together, and as much as I disliked the secondary and tertiary characters -it was nice to see them grow also.
All in all, it was a quick read that would have made a great beach read.
*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
I had to actually force myself through the first 2/3 of this book. I really disliked the narrative and the characters. The trope/s drove me crazy also! But the last third or so really kept me captive. I was really rooting for Agatha to get her sh*t together, and as much as I disliked the secondary and tertiary characters -it was nice to see them grow also.
All in all, it was a quick read that would have made a great beach read.
*ARC supplied by the publisher and author.
June 14, 2021
The main character uses unmanaged anxiety as an excuse to be an asshole for 85% of the book, then rushes through an unbelievable and unearned redemption at the end. This book features: an awful depiction of a therapist-client relationship; toxic and cruel online behavior; unhinged and illegal invasions of privacy; basically no consequences for the main character's repeated, repeated transgressions.
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