Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything

The story centers on Agatha Arch, a writer and mother of two boys, whos truly afraid of everythingfrom storms to strangers to beans, and seemingly all in between. In the first scene, she discovers her husbands infidelity in a most indelicate manner, and proceeds to unravel in cringey, hilarious ways for the first half of the book. Agatha takes her big ball of anxiety everywhere she goes andas its astutely pointed out at one point by her shrinkplays offense with it by spying, scheming, fuming, and plotting revenge on her soon-to-be-ex and his new girlfriend. I found Agathas behavior aggravating and odious at points, but I never lost interest in her unique worldview and problem-solving. What I love most about this book is the way that Agathadespite her very real stumbling blocksgrows just a teeny, tiny bit in each scene throughout the second half of the book so that, without even realizing it herself, she ends up as a decent and well-adjusted person whos ready for the challenges ahead. Its a light read thats at times laugh-out-loud hilarious (the sex scene near the end, OMG!), and yet there are some real gems about the human experience and how all of usall of usare struggling in some way or another. It surprised me only a little when tears sprang to my eyes while reading the last few pages of the book; the author earns it. Overall, its an entertaining and uplifting read thats well worth the price of admission.

Agatha Arch is an interesting, perfectly-imperfect character grappling with the breakdown of her safe little world. I loved this crazy character & seeing her grow. Shes dealing with the loss of her marriage, but more than that, the book focuses on a struggle to find connection & acceptance in the world.
There are some hilarious scenes right from the start, & the Facebook moms group is so funny & true…this should go in a time capsule to be opened in a hundred yrs so people can understand exactly what made Facebook so fascinating & frustrating 🙂
Overall, it was fun but also genuinely touching. Theres this small ongoing drama about a desk lamp, & it was funny but its sticking in my head – Nothing is just a lamp. Were all trying to overcome our fears & insecurities & find some connections in the world. It was a good read for me right now & makes me appreciate the people in my life…& want to be open to more.

If you liked (Where’d You Go) Bernadette, you’ll love Agatha Arch. Agatha is afraid of everything, from beans to escaped lions, but she’s not afraid to take a machete to her shed when she catches her cheating husband in the act, or to trek into the wilds of her Connecticut nature preserve in a thunder storm to spy on a homeless woman. She’s a bundle of contradictions–desperate for friends but unable to suffer fools gladly on the local moms Facebook group, alienating them even when they should be coming to her aid when her husband leaves her for the local dog walker. Readers will laugh & cringe at her behavior while rooting for her to find a path to happiness. An endearing character, great story line, and brilliant writing!

If Human A is kind to Human B.
If Human B is Kind to Human C.
Then Human A is (mostly likely)
kind to Human C.

This is the story of a woman who uses fear to keep from feeling life fully. Agatha Arch is a delightful curmudgeon who takes us along on a self sabotage spree until shes saved by true friendship.

In the opening chapter, Agatha is skunked while taking a hatchet to the shed behind her house because her husband is inside having sex with the dog-walker (who has buns as ripe as grapefruits). Seizing the Bear Gyllis motto fear sharpens us, Agatha drills down, determined to destroy everything that frightens her.

In the end, she is saved from herself by the Kumbaya Mom in her Facebook group who refuses to give up on the idea that Agatha can be released from fear, by love.

Its a good lesson.

This is a quick, charming, summer beach read with a creative cast of extras. Susan Sontag, the skunk. Thelma and Louise, the goats. And Balderdash, a lost dog. A woodpecker. A funny effective therapist. Plus, a hilarious 12 Days of Christmas.

Readers who enjoyed the interior monologue in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will like reading this novel.

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.

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