Out of Touch: April Book Club

I've had notification from the publishers that I've been lucky enough to win a copy, so thank you, I'll look forward to reading it.

Thank you for my copy of “ Out of Touch” I shall certainly have plenty of time on my hands to read and review it! ?

Thank you.
Mine has arrived today. Good timing as I've just finished a book. Many thanks to GN & the publishers.

Thank you so much for my copy of Out of Touch which the postie carefully laid on the front doorstep, rang the bell and hastily retreated! What a lovely way to brighten up a dull cool day here in Norwich! I will let you have my comments in due course.

I received my copy this morning, must finish my current read before starting it. It does sound as if I’m going to enjoy it. Thank you

I found this book really absorbing, so much so that I finished it within a few hours of receiving it! The story explores some complex family dynamics while remaining very readable and enjoyable. I particularly warmed to Ava and I found her relationship with Sam really heart-warming. Without giving too much away, I felt that the author wrapped up the story perfectly and the ending felt very satisfying.

My questions for author:
What inspired you to write this book?
Which character (or characters) do you most identify with and why?

A copy of this arrived in the post today. I’ve not had any notification, but I assume this is where it’s come from. I will start it when I finish my current read and report back.
Thanks!

Really enjoyed this book, quite a complex subject but still an enjoyable read. The ending was just right I really felt for Ava.

I loved this book from beginning to end, I’ve read it whilst lying in the garden today in glorious sunshine, a joy to read!

I’d love to know what inspired you to write it.
I enjoyed the fact that the characters were believable and found myself drawn in by them.

I look forward to hopefully read more by Haleh Agar.

Thank you for my book. Such a relief to have something new to read. I look forward to getting stuck in.

Out of Touch is a brilliant read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. First book that I have started and finshed since lockdown began. The characters were so believable and I feel that I really got to know them. I loved the relationship between Ava and Sam. I hope that it will be on Book at Bedtime, I love listening to a story. American Dirt is on at the moment...last months free giveaway!
I would like to ask the author if she ever draws on people that she knows to base her characters on?
Thankyou again, fabulous book!!

Thank you for my book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it particularly as the relationships between the characters played out. I felt there was an honesty about complicated family relationships that you rarely see in literature.
My question would be to what extent the distancing of family relationships in her personal experience fed into the story.

I received my copy last week. I’m enjoying it hugely . It is developing nicely and I don’t want it to finish.

I have struggled a bit to keep my interest in this book but seem to be a lone voice so it must be me!!!

I enjoyed this book, which was a gentle read perfectly suited to sitting in the garden in the sun. I found all the characters to be believable and most of them likeable, the plot moved along at a good pace, alternating between the UK and the US, and for a welcome change there were no dramatic shock horror plot twists or time shifts. I'd certainly read more by this author.

I'd like to ask the author whether she has lived in New York. She really caught the essence of it in the chapters featuring Michael and his family.

Thank you again for the book and for the Book Club itself, GNHQ. It's definitely the best of Gransnet at the moment and I hope it can continue as things are.

Thanks very much for the book love to read and be introduced to new authors.
Liked that the plot alternated between the UK and the US and the brother and sisters lives. It was an easy read and the characters were believable.
But it was too gentle for me I like twists turns, plots and drama
Question to author was this a refection of her family life

Thanks very much for this book, I've just finished reading it.
I did enjoy it as a good insight into family relationships when things go wrong.
The characters were well rounded and you were routing for Ava all the way through.
I too wondered if the author was very close to this subject. If not she researched the issues very well.

Thanks for this book, I enjoyed it very much. The characters were well formed and portrayed a very real fractured and estranged family. I was engaged from the first page right through to the end. I could see this as a movie without too much having to change. It was a perfect read for a holiday weekend under lockdown and I recommend it very much as a holiday read (when we are allowed holidays again).

A fascinating subject for a debut novel. The story of a very dysfunctional family that have grown apart. The tensions caused by alcoholism and infidelity influenced the memories of Michael and Ava. He lives in America and she in England. His struggle is being a husband and father and hers is relationships.
I enjoyed the book , the well drawn characters' , and quickly became involved in their lives. A thought provoking read for these strange times.
My question for Haleh would be will your next book be in the same format or would you do something completely different?

I really enjoyed this book and found it an easy read. The characters were well rounded and I could understand and almost sympathise with their motivation, even when they were in the process of making potentially disastrous mistakes - a girl, trapped by familial obligations, her brother fleeing from them and feeling guilty. We all know families like that!
My question is could there be a follow up with Ava continuing to discover her Greek family and her own 'Greekness' ?

Delighted to receive my copy! It’s interesting, but not as engaging as I’d hoped. In fact I’ve set it aside for now. That’s unusual for me, so it may be more about me and the current lockdown, than about the book.
My question would be, did you live in either location, as you seem to have both pegged well.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately I struggled to maintain any interest in any of the characters: I found them bland and the whole thing without a real plot, leaving me flat and disinterested. I will pass the book on and hopefully the next reader will enjoy the storyline and engage with the main characters.

Have just finished book I enjoyed it .i really felt for Ava following her accident thought her relationship with Sam abit strange though . I would say it's a holiday read type of book .the dynamics of the family was very typical of a lot of families so very believable .
My question is does author know families like this.

As an eighty year old I am completely ‘Out of Touch’ with the characters within the book. My whole inclination was to say ‘ for goodness sake stop whining and grow up!’.
Life throws each of us many different things to face and the answer is to deal with them, not blame someone else.
As you can see I became engaged in the book by getting totally irritated probably the wrong reaction.
Ava looked after her Mother till she died but did she feel glad about it, no. Michael ran away then used it as an excuse to misbehave. Their mother separated from their father and used it as an excuse to become an alcoholic, the father felt sorry for himself when he was dying. Jane seemed the only decent character and was painted as a dogooder.
My question to Haleh is:- do such bars actually exist where people can stand up and tell other people how they feel sorry for themselves? If so why on earth do people go to listen?