What do you think?
Rate this book
Out of Touch
When Teddy Clarke sees Vincent Stewart's Facebook profile in 2008, he isn't sure why, but sending him a friend request seems like a good idea. Over the weeks and months ahead, the two teenagers become friends and maybe-possibly-something more, through late night chats and hasty confessions. Breaking more rules than Vincent could dream of, he agrees to meet Teddy in London and for one magical night, it feels like the start of their forever. Or so they hope.
When real life intervenes, the two boys struggle to stay on the same page. Still, Teddy and Vincent carry a torch for each other and the love story they almost had. Over the years their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, two boys who are clearly meant to be together...if they can ever manage to be in the right place...at the right time.
When real life intervenes, the two boys struggle to stay on the same page. Still, Teddy and Vincent carry a torch for each other and the love story they almost had. Over the years their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, two boys who are clearly meant to be together...if they can ever manage to be in the right place...at the right time.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2023
3 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Michael Sarais
4 books53 followersBorn in Italy, Michael Sarais has spent the last decade living in London. He achieved his BA in Fashion Journalism from the University of The Arts London before deciding to follow his dream of being an author.
He debuted with the adult queer novel All Of My Friends Are Rich, and he released a children's picture book tie-in titled The Golden Boy. His second novel Out Of Touch will come out in Autumn 2023.
When he is not creating worlds for his often queer and wildly flawed characters, Michael enjoys videogames, anime, and spending his time outdoors with his husky Cloud.
He debuted with the adult queer novel All Of My Friends Are Rich, and he released a children's picture book tie-in titled The Golden Boy. His second novel Out Of Touch will come out in Autumn 2023.
When he is not creating worlds for his often queer and wildly flawed characters, Michael enjoys videogames, anime, and spending his time outdoors with his husky Cloud.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 16, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“I didn’t want to let him go, holding his slim waist with my arm, his soft skin against mine, just one last time until he’d be out of reach forever.
I wished I could freeze time, go back in time, give us more time. I pulled away from him, leaving a piece of my soul with him always.”
Michael Sarais' sophomore novel is the story of two exchange students - Australian native Teddy Clarke and London resident Vincent Stewart - who meet online and quickly become friends and develop feelings for each other, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it can never blossom into something deeper, and forces them to fall Out of Touch. It's a heavy-handed time that keeps them apart - one not without it's fair share of trauma, pain, and emotional surrender. But, even as the years go by, as the distance between them deepens, through new relationships and forging their way through their own personal grievances and challenges, fate still has a hand left to play for them to finally be able to reach out a hand for each other. 🥺🥺
“Ten minutes with Teddy Clarke? Worth every penny.’ His voice was smooth, intoxicating even.
Hearing his breathing, so close to my ear…I couldn’t control myself.
Teddy, no.
‘The things you say sometimes…’ I said, under my breath.”
It was a heart-warming and endearing start to their relationship as Teddy, 'everyone’s favourite Australian gay best friend' and Vincent, the'grey-eyed Disney prince' met online via Facebook in the years 2007-2008. Raise your hand if you were caught up with the novelty of MSN Messenger when it first launched. 🙋 It was with the fresh hit of nostalgic feels as I laughed and loved alongside them, their playful and hesitant flirtatious quips, their chuckles at their cultural differences that made me wish I could share the experiences of foreign lands, along with them. From learning how'Cazzo was my favourite Italian swear word' to how in Australia, but 'we also drink the absolute worst kind of wine. Usually comes in a box. We call it goon.' and even when on Christmas Day 'it was Swedish tradition to watch Donald Duck cartoons on TV. Every year.' 😅😅
It's not that I can confirm how accurate it is, but how natural it all felt - their clever and funny banter, the sense of understanding and connecting over the air waves that pulled them close to one another - close enough to want to touch - those thoughts of 'I smiled, and I wondered if he was smiling with me.' 🫠🫠 To feel that emotional connection with someone on the opposite side and feel as if they were the missing half of your soul, the way Teddy and Vincent became for one another It was with the softest of feelings they became a part of each other, to meet in person, only to be tragically ripped apart - by no means of their own. 🥹🥹
“We weren’t the same people as we had been five years before, but being near each other felt right; it felt like peace; from the surface of my skin, into the depths of my soul—the tiny scrap I had left—stretching out to touch his, knitting together to form one imperfect soul.”
It was painful and jarring, and somewhat disheartening to see how hard they refused to connect; the sheer longing of wanting to be near, but pushing each other away even further - simply reasoning it's for the best. The time jump of five years hurt me; so much time lost, so much that could have been salvaged, but I also related to it, too. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹 Because what did happen was enough to traumatize anyone mentally and emotionally, but just the way it went about. Individually they were nursing their own inner pains in the only way they thought best - ‘I’m so tired of life getting in the way of my happiness, why can’t I just be free…’ - something so raw and expressive that it hurt me and frustrated me.
I felt so bad for both of them, and for a brief reprieve of a meeting, I hoped their feelings could be salvaged, that slight moment of intimacy that they both ached and yearned for. So many ill-timed and ill-fated choices that made them never reach for each other long enough to touch. The coping mechanisms they both adopted to get through their difficult trials may have been damaging and disheartening, but it worked for them. 😢😢 And it hurt their relationship, too - made the distance between one another, almost self-imposed, but something they deemed necessary to make it through. For, Michael Sarais was not yet done from pulling at their heartstrings, and as we transverse over years and places, it is with another tug to to the heart and their personal journey that we see them meet up at their final destination. 😟😟
“I smiled again, my eyes watery. ‘Thank you, Teddy.’
‘For what?’
‘For…loving me. For waiting for me when we were young, for being there for me now. For making me feel special and for just…making me feel safe in your arms.”
The thing about a book that attempts to navigate a story divided into parts - that focuses solely on one specific year to highlight the trajectory of a relationship - one part always suffers. And for me - it was their final touch to becoming one. It can still be an emotionally-gripping story, beautifully told and vividly expressed, but it's never enough to make one part of their journey have enough attention or make it believable enough for me to appreciate the characters' dynamic. 😔😔 Especially, when the majority of their relationship focuses on other topics that feel a bit too heavy-handed for one's liking. When it was the pivotal moment for their heart-felt connection to finally deepen, it actually became a rush to the finish line, ensuring that this intense emotional roller-coaster of feels would actually pay off in a rewarding way.
I won't deny that the writing really pulled me in; it hurt, it angered, it grieved, but it also healed, and comforted, and loved. 'I wondered what his life was like now. I wondered if he was with somebody. I wondered if he still cared about me,' is a feeling that I really resonate with - that questioning doubt if you're still worth someone's memory - an existence not forgotten. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 And their last turn of time definitely did get a lot heavier and angst-ridden with feels on a familial level, that, somewhat detracting from making Teddy and Vincent's eventual falling back together a more solid and believable one, but it was still laced with plenty of sweet and endearing moments that made me smile. I loved their fortuitous reunion, and the sigh of relief I exhaled when they finally aired out their personal trauma that had kept them apart for so long, and got the closure that they both needed for so very long. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“We can’t live in the “if only”, Teddy, because any one of those may have taken me away from you. This way, no matter what, I know that I get to love you.”
While I was reading, the lyrics from Out of Touch by Daryl Hall and John Oates kept playing on loop in my mind - 'You're out of touch, I'm out of time/ But I'm out of my head when you're not around'. I know it doesn't really cover the full scope of their story, but it was such a pleasant soundtrack to reflect upon, because Teddy and Vincent were reaching out for something to hold on - to make their own. 🤍🤍
“I didn’t want to let him go, holding his slim waist with my arm, his soft skin against mine, just one last time until he’d be out of reach forever.
I wished I could freeze time, go back in time, give us more time. I pulled away from him, leaving a piece of my soul with him always.”
Michael Sarais' sophomore novel is the story of two exchange students - Australian native Teddy Clarke and London resident Vincent Stewart - who meet online and quickly become friends and develop feelings for each other, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it can never blossom into something deeper, and forces them to fall Out of Touch. It's a heavy-handed time that keeps them apart - one not without it's fair share of trauma, pain, and emotional surrender. But, even as the years go by, as the distance between them deepens, through new relationships and forging their way through their own personal grievances and challenges, fate still has a hand left to play for them to finally be able to reach out a hand for each other. 🥺🥺
“Ten minutes with Teddy Clarke? Worth every penny.’ His voice was smooth, intoxicating even.
Hearing his breathing, so close to my ear…I couldn’t control myself.
Teddy, no.
‘The things you say sometimes…’ I said, under my breath.”
It was a heart-warming and endearing start to their relationship as Teddy, 'everyone’s favourite Australian gay best friend' and Vincent, the'grey-eyed Disney prince' met online via Facebook in the years 2007-2008. Raise your hand if you were caught up with the novelty of MSN Messenger when it first launched. 🙋 It was with the fresh hit of nostalgic feels as I laughed and loved alongside them, their playful and hesitant flirtatious quips, their chuckles at their cultural differences that made me wish I could share the experiences of foreign lands, along with them. From learning how'Cazzo was my favourite Italian swear word' to how in Australia, but 'we also drink the absolute worst kind of wine. Usually comes in a box. We call it goon.' and even when on Christmas Day 'it was Swedish tradition to watch Donald Duck cartoons on TV. Every year.' 😅😅
It's not that I can confirm how accurate it is, but how natural it all felt - their clever and funny banter, the sense of understanding and connecting over the air waves that pulled them close to one another - close enough to want to touch - those thoughts of 'I smiled, and I wondered if he was smiling with me.' 🫠🫠 To feel that emotional connection with someone on the opposite side and feel as if they were the missing half of your soul, the way Teddy and Vincent became for one another It was with the softest of feelings they became a part of each other, to meet in person, only to be tragically ripped apart - by no means of their own. 🥹🥹
“We weren’t the same people as we had been five years before, but being near each other felt right; it felt like peace; from the surface of my skin, into the depths of my soul—the tiny scrap I had left—stretching out to touch his, knitting together to form one imperfect soul.”
It was painful and jarring, and somewhat disheartening to see how hard they refused to connect; the sheer longing of wanting to be near, but pushing each other away even further - simply reasoning it's for the best. The time jump of five years hurt me; so much time lost, so much that could have been salvaged, but I also related to it, too. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹 Because what did happen was enough to traumatize anyone mentally and emotionally, but just the way it went about. Individually they were nursing their own inner pains in the only way they thought best - ‘I’m so tired of life getting in the way of my happiness, why can’t I just be free…’ - something so raw and expressive that it hurt me and frustrated me.
I felt so bad for both of them, and for a brief reprieve of a meeting, I hoped their feelings could be salvaged, that slight moment of intimacy that they both ached and yearned for. So many ill-timed and ill-fated choices that made them never reach for each other long enough to touch. The coping mechanisms they both adopted to get through their difficult trials may have been damaging and disheartening, but it worked for them. 😢😢 And it hurt their relationship, too - made the distance between one another, almost self-imposed, but something they deemed necessary to make it through. For, Michael Sarais was not yet done from pulling at their heartstrings, and as we transverse over years and places, it is with another tug to to the heart and their personal journey that we see them meet up at their final destination. 😟😟
“I smiled again, my eyes watery. ‘Thank you, Teddy.’
‘For what?’
‘For…loving me. For waiting for me when we were young, for being there for me now. For making me feel special and for just…making me feel safe in your arms.”
The thing about a book that attempts to navigate a story divided into parts - that focuses solely on one specific year to highlight the trajectory of a relationship - one part always suffers. And for me - it was their final touch to becoming one. It can still be an emotionally-gripping story, beautifully told and vividly expressed, but it's never enough to make one part of their journey have enough attention or make it believable enough for me to appreciate the characters' dynamic. 😔😔 Especially, when the majority of their relationship focuses on other topics that feel a bit too heavy-handed for one's liking. When it was the pivotal moment for their heart-felt connection to finally deepen, it actually became a rush to the finish line, ensuring that this intense emotional roller-coaster of feels would actually pay off in a rewarding way.
I won't deny that the writing really pulled me in; it hurt, it angered, it grieved, but it also healed, and comforted, and loved. 'I wondered what his life was like now. I wondered if he was with somebody. I wondered if he still cared about me,' is a feeling that I really resonate with - that questioning doubt if you're still worth someone's memory - an existence not forgotten. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 And their last turn of time definitely did get a lot heavier and angst-ridden with feels on a familial level, that, somewhat detracting from making Teddy and Vincent's eventual falling back together a more solid and believable one, but it was still laced with plenty of sweet and endearing moments that made me smile. I loved their fortuitous reunion, and the sigh of relief I exhaled when they finally aired out their personal trauma that had kept them apart for so long, and got the closure that they both needed for so very long. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“We can’t live in the “if only”, Teddy, because any one of those may have taken me away from you. This way, no matter what, I know that I get to love you.”
While I was reading, the lyrics from Out of Touch by Daryl Hall and John Oates kept playing on loop in my mind - 'You're out of touch, I'm out of time/ But I'm out of my head when you're not around'. I know it doesn't really cover the full scope of their story, but it was such a pleasant soundtrack to reflect upon, because Teddy and Vincent were reaching out for something to hold on - to make their own. 🤍🤍
September 27, 2023
This was such a good read! A real treat for millennials, like myself, with the characters being teenagers in 2008-2009 throughout the first part of the book. I was rooting for them so much! What struck me the most was how brilliantly the author conveyed their emotions. The writing style really draws you into their world, making you feel what they feel and keeping you on edge when they're anxious or excited. I could not put the book down until I knew how the whole story would play out.
It was an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. There were moments of intense pain, but it was all part of the crazy ride of emotions that made the read so worthwhile. Still, some parts of the story felt a bit rushed (for example, the second part) and some minor things kind of remained unclear. These aspects, however, were very insignificant and didn’t ruin my impression of the book on the whole.
It was an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. There were moments of intense pain, but it was all part of the crazy ride of emotions that made the read so worthwhile. Still, some parts of the story felt a bit rushed (for example, the second part) and some minor things kind of remained unclear. These aspects, however, were very insignificant and didn’t ruin my impression of the book on the whole.
July 1, 2025
I'm a sucker for an on-again / off-again / second-chance / third-chance romance (hello, Something Like Summer is one of my all-time favorite books!) and this gave me everything I wanted. Add in an elongated timetable spanning more than a decade and I am sold. Throw in an ongoing Taylor Swift reference and I'm so there it's insane.
We got to watch not only a beautiful journey of two men finding their way into each other's hearts, but we got to watch them learn how to love themselves first. I loved Teddy and Vincent's dynamic, I loved their relationship, and I loved how much they loved each other.
What made Out of Touch so special was its ability to address so many serious subjects. Seriously, read the content warnings. I wasn't prepared for the level of seriousness when I went into this book, but the conflicts and tragedies added such complexity to the character development we received -- and that made all the difference in those characters being important to me.
The writing was sometimes poetic, and sometimes it was more simplistic — and I love that. Michael Sarais’ voice is unique.
I was there for our two boys, Teddy and Vincent -- and I completely flew through this book, absolutely needing to know where their story would end. I am so happy I settled on Out of Touch when I was searching for my next read.
We got to watch not only a beautiful journey of two men finding their way into each other's hearts, but we got to watch them learn how to love themselves first. I loved Teddy and Vincent's dynamic, I loved their relationship, and I loved how much they loved each other.
What made Out of Touch so special was its ability to address so many serious subjects. Seriously, read the content warnings. I wasn't prepared for the level of seriousness when I went into this book, but the conflicts and tragedies added such complexity to the character development we received -- and that made all the difference in those characters being important to me.
The writing was sometimes poetic, and sometimes it was more simplistic — and I love that. Michael Sarais’ voice is unique.
I was there for our two boys, Teddy and Vincent -- and I completely flew through this book, absolutely needing to know where their story would end. I am so happy I settled on Out of Touch when I was searching for my next read.
Read
February 9, 2023Review to come.
February 12, 2023
Well… sometimes, you read a book that consumes you entirely. A book that you emerge in and don‘t quite notice you‘re utterly enthralled, fixated, drowning, until you try to catch your breath and slowly come back to reality.
That book is Out of Touch. The writing is utterly impeccable and poetic at times, which only serves to make the sad themes hit you harder. Not that I am complaining. This story is so real, so palpable. What the characters go through so utterly human, devastating and beautiful. You know the saying „when it rains, it pours“? I think everyone can relate to that in one way or another. And so can Teddy and Vincent. I found myself in both of them. Despairing, happy, in love, devastated, helpless, spiralling, drowning… Being able to relate to these characters and their story was as much heartbreaking as it was a relief. A comfort even. This is not the romantic tale of happily ever after (or rather, not just), but a very well thought through story of two people, who are dealing with life as best as they can. And as a result, make bad choices, suffer, rejoice and love. Gosh, there is so much love in this story.
It warmed my heart and healed it, honestly.
Sarais has created a world, characters, a story, a book, that seems too large to be hold between two coverpages. Too heavy, too beautiful, too important.
I am so, so thankful I got to read this book early, thanks to the ARC from the author and I can just tell you to read this. Pre-order it, savour it and love it. Just as I have, do and will.
Thank you, Michael, for bringing Teddy and Vincent into my life. The impact the two of them have on a reader is incredible and they will stay with me forever.
That book is Out of Touch. The writing is utterly impeccable and poetic at times, which only serves to make the sad themes hit you harder. Not that I am complaining. This story is so real, so palpable. What the characters go through so utterly human, devastating and beautiful. You know the saying „when it rains, it pours“? I think everyone can relate to that in one way or another. And so can Teddy and Vincent. I found myself in both of them. Despairing, happy, in love, devastated, helpless, spiralling, drowning… Being able to relate to these characters and their story was as much heartbreaking as it was a relief. A comfort even. This is not the romantic tale of happily ever after (or rather, not just), but a very well thought through story of two people, who are dealing with life as best as they can. And as a result, make bad choices, suffer, rejoice and love. Gosh, there is so much love in this story.
It warmed my heart and healed it, honestly.
Sarais has created a world, characters, a story, a book, that seems too large to be hold between two coverpages. Too heavy, too beautiful, too important.
I am so, so thankful I got to read this book early, thanks to the ARC from the author and I can just tell you to read this. Pre-order it, savour it and love it. Just as I have, do and will.
Thank you, Michael, for bringing Teddy and Vincent into my life. The impact the two of them have on a reader is incredible and they will stay with me forever.
September 13, 2023
WOW! i read this book so damn fast. i was hooked from the jump with the nostalgia, and stayed for the vibesssssss. 2008 was a wild time with the beginning of facebook and the way we operated back then: likes, pokes, adding random strangers and falling in love with them. it made me feel like I was back in high school, oh the memories. the feelings of the two MCs were so well depicted that i felt everything they were feeling and it was so swoony and heartbreaking and omg! the conflicts in this book felt SO REAL even tho they were INTENSE (like please pay attention to the TWs if that is something you need). then we time jump and you're just thrown right back in. it felt natural and uniquely done. we got to travel the world from sweden to italy to england to australia to bali and back to australia. i absolutely loved it. this book was real life and made you think and feel and hurt along with the characters. it was so beautiful and so well written. like i said, i read it so fast. i could not get enough. though the 2020 section was heartbreaking (omg i cried so much!!!), their journey to recovery, acceptance, self-worth, love etc was amazing to witness. i will have these nerds in my heart forever.
dnf
November 9, 2023dnf @ 40%
So okay. In my original dnf review, I used some words that were insensitive. The author quoted me on his instagram story and was rightfully upset. I apologize for that!
Something happens to one of the protagonists that felt like a gut punch and I didn't get why it had to be included in the story. I understand that an author wants and needs to put their own experience into their stories, but it still needs to feel organic and not like a plot device to create conflict. I just wasn't prepared for something like this to come out of left field like that. There should've been some content warnings in the front of the book, not the back. But that's just a personal preference for me, as I'm not going to skip all the way to the end of an ebook.
Again, apologies for calling what happened "weird and unnecessary". It just didn't feel good reading that scene but I get that it's not supposed to. I thoroughly enjoyed this book up until that point, so if you don't mind some heavier subject matter (cw: sexual assuault, r*pe), this could be the perfect book for you!
Also: Reviews are for readers, not the author!
So okay. In my original dnf review, I used some words that were insensitive. The author quoted me on his instagram story and was rightfully upset. I apologize for that!
Something happens to one of the protagonists that felt like a gut punch and I didn't get why it had to be included in the story. I understand that an author wants and needs to put their own experience into their stories, but it still needs to feel organic and not like a plot device to create conflict. I just wasn't prepared for something like this to come out of left field like that. There should've been some content warnings in the front of the book, not the back. But that's just a personal preference for me, as I'm not going to skip all the way to the end of an ebook.
Again, apologies for calling what happened "weird and unnecessary". It just didn't feel good reading that scene but I get that it's not supposed to. I thoroughly enjoyed this book up until that point, so if you don't mind some heavier subject matter (cw: sexual assuault, r*pe), this could be the perfect book for you!
Also: Reviews are for readers, not the author!
June 18, 2023
In 2008, Teddy friends Vincent on Facebook while he is visiting his host parents in Italy. Vincent is currently in an exchange student program, living in Sweden. The two begin chatting online, which progresses into phone calls. Eventually they meet up in London and the two solidify their very real feelings. A promise is made for Teddy to visit Vincent in Sweden soon.
When tragedy strikes, and promises are broken the two start falling out of touch.
Michael Sarais did a phenomenal job chronicling the intricacies of friendship that spans over a decade, and we got to witness firsthand the harsh realities of life, and raw emotions that go along with them.
Out of Touch has some very dark topics, so please be sure to check the content warnings.
The book takes us on a journey of leaving youth behind and becoming adults — the sacrifices that we make and the hope that we carry.
I am so thankful to have gotten to read Out of Touch, and I think there was something for everyone to relate to in this book. Sarais did a great job writing with such vivid clarity on events that could have been realistic, and at times I thought this could have been the story of someone’s life.
Thank you to Michael Sarais for providing me with an advance reader copy to read and review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
Follow me on instagram!
When tragedy strikes, and promises are broken the two start falling out of touch.
Michael Sarais did a phenomenal job chronicling the intricacies of friendship that spans over a decade, and we got to witness firsthand the harsh realities of life, and raw emotions that go along with them.
Out of Touch has some very dark topics, so please be sure to check the content warnings.
The book takes us on a journey of leaving youth behind and becoming adults — the sacrifices that we make and the hope that we carry.
I am so thankful to have gotten to read Out of Touch, and I think there was something for everyone to relate to in this book. Sarais did a great job writing with such vivid clarity on events that could have been realistic, and at times I thought this could have been the story of someone’s life.
Thank you to Michael Sarais for providing me with an advance reader copy to read and review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
Follow me on instagram!
September 16, 2023
I can truly say I haven't felt EVERY feel until I read this book. From the most absolute heart-warming fuzzies to the stickers-attached-to-book-covers level of sadness, it WILL be felt!
Something on the more serious end, and one that resonated with me entirely, is the loss of a parent and the journey up to that point. Having gone through that myself, and highlighting the fact that people handle grief and cope in various ways, with no way be the "correct" way, Sarais did a brilliant job of providing exposure to this sort of experience, and showing just how difficult it can be for all parties involved. It's hard. And when a book does an excellent job of showing that journey, it means a lot to me, and to other's as well that see that they aren't the only ones that struggle during those sort of times. And to that, I say thank you Michael. On top of educating us on Huntington's disease, a disease I personally had not even heard of prior to reading this book. Again, you will feel it ALL.
Freakin loved the jostling between Teddy and Vincent! Don’t get me wrong, she needed a seat belt, 7 boxes of tissues, some chamomile tea, and 7 fluffy puppies because we got flipped, dipped, twisted, and turned with our emotions barely intact! But we're here for that sort of journey because we're what? Readers who love to punish their emotions! He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not. Picking flowers for a decade over here! It added so much to this relationship though! It's like each time, they were able to get past one extra hurdle. They would pull that plug when timing is right and sometimes it just isn't. But man did it notch up my love for these characters by 1,000! Because it was just them, their feelings, and sorting them out, fingers and toes crossed that it ends in the most brilliant of brilliance! I loved their journey!
There is a MASSIVE time-lapse in this book. We get to see these little beans as they venture from 2008 all the way up to 2020! And if you're anything like me, you KNOW those versions of you were VASTLY different! And henny the same goes for T and V! From young, dumb, and confused to angsty adult dreading their job....we see them in ALL their forms! Their relationships. Their ups. Their downs. And everything in between. And even having a whole 12 years with them, I still wanted more!
*Sigh*...I miss them already
Something on the more serious end, and one that resonated with me entirely, is the loss of a parent and the journey up to that point. Having gone through that myself, and highlighting the fact that people handle grief and cope in various ways, with no way be the "correct" way, Sarais did a brilliant job of providing exposure to this sort of experience, and showing just how difficult it can be for all parties involved. It's hard. And when a book does an excellent job of showing that journey, it means a lot to me, and to other's as well that see that they aren't the only ones that struggle during those sort of times. And to that, I say thank you Michael. On top of educating us on Huntington's disease, a disease I personally had not even heard of prior to reading this book. Again, you will feel it ALL.
Freakin loved the jostling between Teddy and Vincent! Don’t get me wrong, she needed a seat belt, 7 boxes of tissues, some chamomile tea, and 7 fluffy puppies because we got flipped, dipped, twisted, and turned with our emotions barely intact! But we're here for that sort of journey because we're what? Readers who love to punish their emotions! He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not. Picking flowers for a decade over here! It added so much to this relationship though! It's like each time, they were able to get past one extra hurdle. They would pull that plug when timing is right and sometimes it just isn't. But man did it notch up my love for these characters by 1,000! Because it was just them, their feelings, and sorting them out, fingers and toes crossed that it ends in the most brilliant of brilliance! I loved their journey!
There is a MASSIVE time-lapse in this book. We get to see these little beans as they venture from 2008 all the way up to 2020! And if you're anything like me, you KNOW those versions of you were VASTLY different! And henny the same goes for T and V! From young, dumb, and confused to angsty adult dreading their job....we see them in ALL their forms! Their relationships. Their ups. Their downs. And everything in between. And even having a whole 12 years with them, I still wanted more!
*Sigh*...I miss them already
April 7, 2023
There’s a full-throated love story at the heart of this book, but don’t be lulled into thinking this is a simple romance. It’s far from it.
This book is not a light read. The trigger warning list is long. This is a book about dealing with trauma, dealing with degenerative disease, and dealing with the impacts of these unfairnesses (and others) on people’s lives. It deals with some very heavy stuff. Please read the trigger warning if you’re likely to be affected by anything.
To the story. It starts with two exchange students who connect online through a mutual friend and fall for each other. It starts out very sweet (evil exchange mother aside) but then the author starts dropping pebbles into the water… and that’s where things really take a turn (or five).
The author has bitten off a lot here, and he’s weaved quite the globetrotting story. It meanders across countries and continents and a dozen years. The scale is huge. So it’s a credit to his skill that he’s achieved so much intimacy in the story told. That’s no easy feat.
It’s also entertaining. There are moments of levity to balance out the dark, there are moments of sweetness and of romance, and there are moments of joy. Teddy and Vincent are very likable and it’s easy to get invested in them and their relationship. I was literally slapping my forehead at various points, as they made terrible decisions that kept them from what their hearts really wanted.
But, make no bones about it, this book will leave you emotionally shattered. At times, it was a bit much for me. That’s not really about the text, that’s about me the reader, but it is why I’m urging you to take the trigger warnings seriously and to go in with your loins girded if need be.
Thank you to the author for generously providing me with an ARC of this book. That’s got to be a nerve-wracking thing and I very much appreciate him trusting a total stranger from Instagram.
This book is not a light read. The trigger warning list is long. This is a book about dealing with trauma, dealing with degenerative disease, and dealing with the impacts of these unfairnesses (and others) on people’s lives. It deals with some very heavy stuff. Please read the trigger warning if you’re likely to be affected by anything.
To the story. It starts with two exchange students who connect online through a mutual friend and fall for each other. It starts out very sweet (evil exchange mother aside) but then the author starts dropping pebbles into the water… and that’s where things really take a turn (or five).
The author has bitten off a lot here, and he’s weaved quite the globetrotting story. It meanders across countries and continents and a dozen years. The scale is huge. So it’s a credit to his skill that he’s achieved so much intimacy in the story told. That’s no easy feat.
It’s also entertaining. There are moments of levity to balance out the dark, there are moments of sweetness and of romance, and there are moments of joy. Teddy and Vincent are very likable and it’s easy to get invested in them and their relationship. I was literally slapping my forehead at various points, as they made terrible decisions that kept them from what their hearts really wanted.
But, make no bones about it, this book will leave you emotionally shattered. At times, it was a bit much for me. That’s not really about the text, that’s about me the reader, but it is why I’m urging you to take the trigger warnings seriously and to go in with your loins girded if need be.
Thank you to the author for generously providing me with an ARC of this book. That’s got to be a nerve-wracking thing and I very much appreciate him trusting a total stranger from Instagram.
January 25, 2023
Teddy is an Aussie exchange student in Italy, heart recently broken and dreaming of a life flying around the world as an air host. He has a brother he isn’t very close to and a mother he adores back home in Tasmania. His host family treat him like a son.
Vincent is an only child from England, also an exchange student but in Sweden, trying to avoid the host mother who sets his teeth on edge and loving the friends he’s made. He doesn’t think he’s anything special.
Until he meets Teddy.
What starts as a random friend request online snowballs into hours of late night messages, quickly typed confessions and a not so secret meeting. Teddy is everything Vincent needs and not all what he expected to find in life, and Vincent is quickly all Teddy wants.
Out of Touch takes place over three acts, three distinct and defining parts of their lives and in very different places around the world. They’re meant to be, it’s clear as day, but will they ever manage to be in the same place at the same time and able to truly be together.
There are so many ups and downs in this, and trigger warnings are crucial if you are sensitive to certain topics, but even if you aren’t, be prepared to have your heart broken and your faith in true love restored. This is just stunning from start to end, and it will always hold such a special place in my teeny tiny heart.
I’m not going to pretend that I have no bias here, because I do. But I don’t review or promote things I don’t love and Out of Touch is hands down one of the best books I’ve read.
Vincent is an only child from England, also an exchange student but in Sweden, trying to avoid the host mother who sets his teeth on edge and loving the friends he’s made. He doesn’t think he’s anything special.
Until he meets Teddy.
What starts as a random friend request online snowballs into hours of late night messages, quickly typed confessions and a not so secret meeting. Teddy is everything Vincent needs and not all what he expected to find in life, and Vincent is quickly all Teddy wants.
Out of Touch takes place over three acts, three distinct and defining parts of their lives and in very different places around the world. They’re meant to be, it’s clear as day, but will they ever manage to be in the same place at the same time and able to truly be together.
There are so many ups and downs in this, and trigger warnings are crucial if you are sensitive to certain topics, but even if you aren’t, be prepared to have your heart broken and your faith in true love restored. This is just stunning from start to end, and it will always hold such a special place in my teeny tiny heart.
I’m not going to pretend that I have no bias here, because I do. But I don’t review or promote things I don’t love and Out of Touch is hands down one of the best books I’ve read.
July 25, 2023
Teddy Clarke is sick of being stood up by his boyfriend. He came back to Italy to see if they could make the relationship work, after all. After his year abroad in Italy and he returned to Australia, Teddy postponed his life to come back and now the jerk is standing him up. In a rage-filled Facebook moment (that only could happen in 2008) Teddy decides to send a friend request to a random guy who popped up in his "people you may know" section. Enter Vincent Stewart.
Vincent is suffering through his year abroad; his host mother is rude and constantly belittling him. If it wasn't for his best friends Hazel and Daniel, Vincent would risk changing families and having to move elsewhere in Sweden. After some scathing remarks from his host mother, as usual, Vincent runs off to his bedroom and has a good cry...and notices a random friend request from an Australian in Italy named Teddy Clarke. Taking a chance he sends Teddy a message and starts a decade-long connection that will change their lives.
In three parts, starting in 2008 and moving to 2014 and then 2020, Out of Touch tells the story of a deep connection between Teddy and Vincent and how their lives change, they lose touch, and come back together over and over like magnets. If you've read anything by Sarais before it won't come as a surprise that this book is a lot deeper and heavier than you'd expect from the blurb (be sure to check trigger warnings). Sarais made me immediately care deeply about both of the boys and I ended up devouring this in literally one day. I loved watching them grow even if they had to go through some rough times. Hazel and Laura (Teddy's host-sister in Italy) are wonderful and I love that they maintained such a deep connection with the boys long after their time studying abroad. I was a bit bummed that Daniel didn't have a larger part to play in the whole book as he was just as charming a side-character as the two girls. All-in-all I really had a good time with this book and was sad when I realized I was on the last chapter. I would've loved even more of these two circling each other.
Thank you to the author Michael Sarais for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Vincent is suffering through his year abroad; his host mother is rude and constantly belittling him. If it wasn't for his best friends Hazel and Daniel, Vincent would risk changing families and having to move elsewhere in Sweden. After some scathing remarks from his host mother, as usual, Vincent runs off to his bedroom and has a good cry...and notices a random friend request from an Australian in Italy named Teddy Clarke. Taking a chance he sends Teddy a message and starts a decade-long connection that will change their lives.
In three parts, starting in 2008 and moving to 2014 and then 2020, Out of Touch tells the story of a deep connection between Teddy and Vincent and how their lives change, they lose touch, and come back together over and over like magnets. If you've read anything by Sarais before it won't come as a surprise that this book is a lot deeper and heavier than you'd expect from the blurb (be sure to check trigger warnings). Sarais made me immediately care deeply about both of the boys and I ended up devouring this in literally one day. I loved watching them grow even if they had to go through some rough times. Hazel and Laura (Teddy's host-sister in Italy) are wonderful and I love that they maintained such a deep connection with the boys long after their time studying abroad. I was a bit bummed that Daniel didn't have a larger part to play in the whole book as he was just as charming a side-character as the two girls. All-in-all I really had a good time with this book and was sad when I realized I was on the last chapter. I would've loved even more of these two circling each other.
Thank you to the author Michael Sarais for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 27, 2023
"'Can you hold me for just a bit longer?' I whispered, tears soaking into his shoulder, hugging him tighter and feeling safe in his unique Vincent scent. 'I could hold you forever,' he said, so quiet I wasn't sure I was supposed to hear."
Vincent and Teddy start out as online friends when they connect on Facebook through a shared friend. They're both in different countries, but they talk every day, and get to know each other better and better, and eventually fall in love. But then their circumstances drive them apart, and it takes years for them to see each other again. And even then, a happily ever after isn't yet in the cards for them, as life keeps getting in the way.
This book is divided into three parts, each set years apart, following Vincent and Teddy as teens, in their early twenties, and in their late twenties. It quickly becomes apparent that they're meant to be, but it takes a lot of time for them to get together.
Star-crossed romance is one of my favourite tropes, and I loved it here. The entire book is so intense, and especially part 2 of the book filled me with so many feelings. I found myself internally screaming at the book at times, wanting them to just be together already. Vincent and Teddy both go through really difficult things in life, but the hurt-comfort of how being together eases things for them and makes them feel safe made everything so much better.
I would highly recommend this, but I do urge you to look up the trigger warnings at the back of the book first.
Many thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Vincent and Teddy start out as online friends when they connect on Facebook through a shared friend. They're both in different countries, but they talk every day, and get to know each other better and better, and eventually fall in love. But then their circumstances drive them apart, and it takes years for them to see each other again. And even then, a happily ever after isn't yet in the cards for them, as life keeps getting in the way.
This book is divided into three parts, each set years apart, following Vincent and Teddy as teens, in their early twenties, and in their late twenties. It quickly becomes apparent that they're meant to be, but it takes a lot of time for them to get together.
Star-crossed romance is one of my favourite tropes, and I loved it here. The entire book is so intense, and especially part 2 of the book filled me with so many feelings. I found myself internally screaming at the book at times, wanting them to just be together already. Vincent and Teddy both go through really difficult things in life, but the hurt-comfort of how being together eases things for them and makes them feel safe made everything so much better.
I would highly recommend this, but I do urge you to look up the trigger warnings at the back of the book first.
Many thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 16, 2023
3.5
This was a bit tricky for me to rate because there were things I really loved about this books and things that just didn’t work for me.
What I loved:
• the pining!
• It was tearing me up every time Teddy and Vincent had to say goodbye to each other over the years. And it all made sense for where they were in their lives. I mean it was heartbreaking.
• the joy of first love compared to the hand you get dealt in life as you grow older
• the friends!
• Teddy and Vincent in general. I really loved them separately and as a couple
• the time jumps. I love romances that are structured this way
What didn’t work for me:
• there was a lot of trauma these two folks had to endure.
• the lack of safe sex or any discussions on the matter. This will always be an issue for me and will lower a star rating. I want to hear the discussion of prep and clean blood-work if the characters decide to not use condoms. Safe sex is sexy! Especially when both partners have had multiple partners and one was partners It’s two throw away lines in a sex scene but I really need it to keep me from getting the icks.
The first 25% had me convinced that this was a no brained five star read for me, but even though it lost me a little along the way, I still think it’s a good story. I also really want to read more of the authors work.
A big thanks to the author for providing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a bit tricky for me to rate because there were things I really loved about this books and things that just didn’t work for me.
What I loved:
• the pining!
• It was tearing me up every time Teddy and Vincent had to say goodbye to each other over the years. And it all made sense for where they were in their lives. I mean it was heartbreaking.
• the joy of first love compared to the hand you get dealt in life as you grow older
• the friends!
• Teddy and Vincent in general. I really loved them separately and as a couple
• the time jumps. I love romances that are structured this way
What didn’t work for me:
• there was a lot of trauma these two folks had to endure.
• the lack of safe sex or any discussions on the matter. This will always be an issue for me and will lower a star rating. I want to hear the discussion of prep and clean blood-work if the characters decide to not use condoms. Safe sex is sexy! Especially when both partners have had multiple partners and one was partners It’s two throw away lines in a sex scene but I really need it to keep me from getting the icks.
The first 25% had me convinced that this was a no brained five star read for me, but even though it lost me a little along the way, I still think it’s a good story. I also really want to read more of the authors work.
A big thanks to the author for providing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2023
First reaction: What a book! I have so many feeling about this story. Michael did such a great job with the romance as well as all the difficulty topics covered in this book.
REVIEW:
This book…gods, how amazing it was. Michael Sarais’ writing got me right from the beginning and I never wanted to stop reading.
This book made me go through so so many emotions, from bittersweet nostalgia to heart crushing pain. I laughed, smiled like a fool, cried, sobbed, cursed the author when it hurt, and more.
Out of Touch is the story of two boys who met online by chance and connected through their shared exchange year experience. For Vincent it was during his exchange year in Sweden, while for Teddy it was when he returned to his host family in Italy, where he did his exchange the year before.
Two teenage boys with their whole lives ahead of them, meeting online in different countries but still forming a beautiful friendship that also felt like more…what are the odds that they’d meet in real life and would stick together and have their happily ever after?…
All that I’m gonna say is that life (or destiny?) is not always easy, and it isn’t always fair…they go through so much over the years and, despite everything, still manage to be their for each other…
The characters are lovable and have so much to them. It was impossible not to fall in love with the MCs as well as their friends.
I recommend this book with all my heart.
Make sure to check all trigger and content warnings before reading this book.
REVIEW:
This book…gods, how amazing it was. Michael Sarais’ writing got me right from the beginning and I never wanted to stop reading.
This book made me go through so so many emotions, from bittersweet nostalgia to heart crushing pain. I laughed, smiled like a fool, cried, sobbed, cursed the author when it hurt, and more.
Out of Touch is the story of two boys who met online by chance and connected through their shared exchange year experience. For Vincent it was during his exchange year in Sweden, while for Teddy it was when he returned to his host family in Italy, where he did his exchange the year before.
Two teenage boys with their whole lives ahead of them, meeting online in different countries but still forming a beautiful friendship that also felt like more…what are the odds that they’d meet in real life and would stick together and have their happily ever after?…
All that I’m gonna say is that life (or destiny?) is not always easy, and it isn’t always fair…they go through so much over the years and, despite everything, still manage to be their for each other…
The characters are lovable and have so much to them. It was impossible not to fall in love with the MCs as well as their friends.
I recommend this book with all my heart.
Make sure to check all trigger and content warnings before reading this book.
August 11, 2024
Title: Out of Touch
Author: Michael Sarais
POV: Dual
Rating: 3.75/5
Representation: LGBTQ+ and Mental Health
I don’t think Teddy, the world’s most loveable Australian, really ever knew how much the simple act of clicking on a button back in the late 2008 would really change the course of his life and that of Vincent, our classic Disney Prince.
“Out of Touch” is a kaleidoscope of human experiences, so rich and varied that it defies simple categorisation. At its heart, it's a series of interwoven journeys:
Love and Passion: The story charts the course of romance, from its inception to the pursuit of a happily ever after.
Self-Discovery: It delves into sexual awareness and self-acceptance, portraying characters coming to terms with their sexual identities.
Healing and Reconciliation: The narrative tackles the process of mending past hurts and reconnecting with estranged loved ones.
Enduring Friendships: Spanning years, the book showcases the strength and resilience of bonds formed over time and how no matter what happens, they still stand strong.
Loss and Grief: It doesn't shy away from the painful realities of saying goodbye and coping with absence and loss.
Recovery and Growth: We follow characters having to deal with their past traumas and see how life takes them on a path to healing.
In this captivating novel, a simple Facebook friend request sets off a chain of events that profoundly alters the lives of Teddy, an endearing Australian, and Vincent, our quintessential Disney Prince. Their tale of love, friendship, and near-misses unfolds over years, culminating in a satisfying resolution in 2020.
There were many enjoyable parts to this novel. Our MMC’s were both flawed, yet those flaws were what made them so perfect. The struggles they both face are just so immense that it was surprising how well Sarais managed to express all of the anguish and heart shattering moments onto the pages of this novel. The side characters were also so fierce. Laura, Hazel, Daniel, Mitchell were well crafted and just added to the depth of the narrative.
The plot definitely moved, but there were a few times between the three parts of the book that there were these sudden leaps in time, which left me sometimes a bit confused and rushed. To be real honest it just left me wanting answers or at the very least more of an explanation. Things just happened and they were very often not accounted for, which led for a very frustrating and stilted read.
I was also not made aware of any content/trigger warnings when reading the blurb. I did see them at the end of the book, unfortunately only after I had already read the story. There was no prior mention whatsoever of on-page sexual assault and rape, nor was there any mention of terminal illness, death, loss, drug addiction, or on-page intimacy.
Now, I am not intentionally trying to be picky about these, but these themes were very evident and played a big role in the narrative of this book. In fact, the second half of the book was rather top heavy on these topics, with the mother of one of the MMCs falling victim to it and in the end passing away from it and the other MMC having to deal with the sexual assault, rape, and drug addiction (of another character). So if you are considering reading this novel, please be very aware of these and take caution when reading this novel.
Despite these challenges, the book remains largely accessible. Vincent's journey of self-discovery is beautifully portrayed, and his evolving feelings for Teddy - from infatuation to enduring love - are wonderfully depicted. This second-chance (or perhaps third-chance) romance offers a heartwarming read that's both cute and engaging.
"Out of Touch" is, in essence, an emotional rollercoaster. It takes readers on a multifaceted journey through life's highs and lows, evoking a wide spectrum of feelings along the way. The novel's ability to touch on so many aspects of the human experience makes it a compelling and deeply affecting read.
Author: Michael Sarais
POV: Dual
Rating: 3.75/5
Representation: LGBTQ+ and Mental Health
I don’t think Teddy, the world’s most loveable Australian, really ever knew how much the simple act of clicking on a button back in the late 2008 would really change the course of his life and that of Vincent, our classic Disney Prince.
“Out of Touch” is a kaleidoscope of human experiences, so rich and varied that it defies simple categorisation. At its heart, it's a series of interwoven journeys:
Love and Passion: The story charts the course of romance, from its inception to the pursuit of a happily ever after.
Self-Discovery: It delves into sexual awareness and self-acceptance, portraying characters coming to terms with their sexual identities.
Healing and Reconciliation: The narrative tackles the process of mending past hurts and reconnecting with estranged loved ones.
Enduring Friendships: Spanning years, the book showcases the strength and resilience of bonds formed over time and how no matter what happens, they still stand strong.
Loss and Grief: It doesn't shy away from the painful realities of saying goodbye and coping with absence and loss.
Recovery and Growth: We follow characters having to deal with their past traumas and see how life takes them on a path to healing.
In this captivating novel, a simple Facebook friend request sets off a chain of events that profoundly alters the lives of Teddy, an endearing Australian, and Vincent, our quintessential Disney Prince. Their tale of love, friendship, and near-misses unfolds over years, culminating in a satisfying resolution in 2020.
There were many enjoyable parts to this novel. Our MMC’s were both flawed, yet those flaws were what made them so perfect. The struggles they both face are just so immense that it was surprising how well Sarais managed to express all of the anguish and heart shattering moments onto the pages of this novel. The side characters were also so fierce. Laura, Hazel, Daniel, Mitchell were well crafted and just added to the depth of the narrative.
The plot definitely moved, but there were a few times between the three parts of the book that there were these sudden leaps in time, which left me sometimes a bit confused and rushed. To be real honest it just left me wanting answers or at the very least more of an explanation. Things just happened and they were very often not accounted for, which led for a very frustrating and stilted read.
I was also not made aware of any content/trigger warnings when reading the blurb. I did see them at the end of the book, unfortunately only after I had already read the story. There was no prior mention whatsoever of on-page sexual assault and rape, nor was there any mention of terminal illness, death, loss, drug addiction, or on-page intimacy.
Now, I am not intentionally trying to be picky about these, but these themes were very evident and played a big role in the narrative of this book. In fact, the second half of the book was rather top heavy on these topics, with the mother of one of the MMCs falling victim to it and in the end passing away from it and the other MMC having to deal with the sexual assault, rape, and drug addiction (of another character). So if you are considering reading this novel, please be very aware of these and take caution when reading this novel.
Despite these challenges, the book remains largely accessible. Vincent's journey of self-discovery is beautifully portrayed, and his evolving feelings for Teddy - from infatuation to enduring love - are wonderfully depicted. This second-chance (or perhaps third-chance) romance offers a heartwarming read that's both cute and engaging.
"Out of Touch" is, in essence, an emotional rollercoaster. It takes readers on a multifaceted journey through life's highs and lows, evoking a wide spectrum of feelings along the way. The novel's ability to touch on so many aspects of the human experience makes it a compelling and deeply affecting read.
March 28, 2023
Oh wow. I finished this last night after not being able to put it down for a few days and I needed some time to process it before I wrote this review.
This story is phenomenal, and I don't use that word often. Michael is a gifted story teller and the world he creates is captivating, engrossing and one I could stay in forever.
Teddy and Vincent are such beautifully created characters I just adored them from the off and my love only grew as they embarked on life and all it had to throw at them.
The story begins like many a good love story does, a random Facebook request... kind of how me and my soon to be husband met actually!
We begin in 2008 when Teddy and Vincent are young men and we find out how they randomly meet and how their love blossoms, but nothing is as simple as just falling in love. Life happens and happens hard to these two and whilst this is a romance there are so dark moments here too (handled brilliantly but read the trigger warnings).
The story then moves through 2014 and 2020 and tells us how their lives evolve and how due to reasons beyond either ones control they are never able to just be together.
The story is so well told and thought out, the prose flawless. It flows beautifully with no filler and the supporting cast of characters are all an absolute joy to read about with a great cameo from All My Friends Are Rich to boot!
I could gush about this all day but instead I'll just HIGHLY recommend you all to read this when it is released in September. You will not be disappointed and you will love it. Michael is quickly becoming a leading voice in LGBTQ literature and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
Thanks Michael for the ARC.
This story is phenomenal, and I don't use that word often. Michael is a gifted story teller and the world he creates is captivating, engrossing and one I could stay in forever.
Teddy and Vincent are such beautifully created characters I just adored them from the off and my love only grew as they embarked on life and all it had to throw at them.
The story begins like many a good love story does, a random Facebook request... kind of how me and my soon to be husband met actually!
We begin in 2008 when Teddy and Vincent are young men and we find out how they randomly meet and how their love blossoms, but nothing is as simple as just falling in love. Life happens and happens hard to these two and whilst this is a romance there are so dark moments here too (handled brilliantly but read the trigger warnings).
The story then moves through 2014 and 2020 and tells us how their lives evolve and how due to reasons beyond either ones control they are never able to just be together.
The story is so well told and thought out, the prose flawless. It flows beautifully with no filler and the supporting cast of characters are all an absolute joy to read about with a great cameo from All My Friends Are Rich to boot!
I could gush about this all day but instead I'll just HIGHLY recommend you all to read this when it is released in September. You will not be disappointed and you will love it. Michael is quickly becoming a leading voice in LGBTQ literature and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
Thanks Michael for the ARC.
July 22, 2024
Buddy read this with my brother for a book club! This was such a delightful surprise in how much I loved this book and how emotional it was. I don’t typically gravitate towards the right person/wrong time stories (too much angst for me) so had we not decided on this for book club I probably wouldn’t have ever had this book on my radar, but wow this was great! Both humorous which also heart breaking and weaving those two together in a way that allowed this story to tell such a beautiful tale which never feeling too heavy for me. I laughed, I cried a little, I got angry, I just felt so many things!! And whenever a book is able to make me feel so viscerally like that it’s an automatic 5/5.
My one complaint was that, at times, the writing style (consisting often of very short sentences that were very simple and to the point) grated me especially at the beginning. The books I’ve read recently have all been very focused on prose and had very whimsical writing styles, so getting used to this book took some time. Once I got a bit into Part 1 I didn’t notice it anymore, and I don’t this the more simple writing hinders the ability of the story to unfold and get across the intended emotions, but I do remember texting my brother a few times saying I was missing commas :,-). Like I said though, I got used to it and it didn’t hurt the actual story, just a personal thing!
Overall a beautiful story about love, grief, and perseverance that will probably stick with me for some time and one I’m very glad I stumbled upon!
My one complaint was that, at times, the writing style (consisting often of very short sentences that were very simple and to the point) grated me especially at the beginning. The books I’ve read recently have all been very focused on prose and had very whimsical writing styles, so getting used to this book took some time. Once I got a bit into Part 1 I didn’t notice it anymore, and I don’t this the more simple writing hinders the ability of the story to unfold and get across the intended emotions, but I do remember texting my brother a few times saying I was missing commas :,-). Like I said though, I got used to it and it didn’t hurt the actual story, just a personal thing!
Overall a beautiful story about love, grief, and perseverance that will probably stick with me for some time and one I’m very glad I stumbled upon!
August 16, 2024
Oh my goodness, this book took me on a JOURNEY. Out of Touch is a "right person, wrong time" story spanning YEARS with tons of angst and heartbreak (DEFINITELY check TWs) but ultimately a very sweet happy ending. Friends to lovers with beautiful soulmates vibes, this book took me by surprise in the best way!
Oh gosh, these poor guys. Teddy and Vincent meet online while they are both studying abroad (back when you could totally friend random people on Facebook and it wasn't *that* weird) and IMMEDIATELY hit it off. I love how their online friendship enables them to really get to know each other from a distance. The beginning of the book is so sweet and hopeful - the romance is slow burn and innocent, and Teddy and Vincent's first in-person meeting is swoony. But things get dark really quickly when Teddy has to deal with things back at home in Australia... Vincent encounters some pretty significant trauma and life changes... and then aren't in a place where they can actually be together for so freaking long it hurts. Despite the pain, I do feel like it was kind of necessary for them to really live their lives before they can really commit to each other.
I absolutely loved the side characters in this book - huge bright spot in a book that can be very heavy at times. Daniel is hilarious (boy would I love to see a book about him!), and I loved Hazel and Laura as both guys best friends (at different times in their lives). And I also loved the 2008 nostalgia - definitely some stuff I could relate to as an elder millennial!
I really appreciate Pride Book Tours and Michael Sarais for the opportunity to read this one. Out of Touch will really stick with you, and I encourage anyone looking for unconventional love stories to give this one a shot!
Oh gosh, these poor guys. Teddy and Vincent meet online while they are both studying abroad (back when you could totally friend random people on Facebook and it wasn't *that* weird) and IMMEDIATELY hit it off. I love how their online friendship enables them to really get to know each other from a distance. The beginning of the book is so sweet and hopeful - the romance is slow burn and innocent, and Teddy and Vincent's first in-person meeting is swoony. But things get dark really quickly when Teddy has to deal with things back at home in Australia... Vincent encounters some pretty significant trauma and life changes... and then aren't in a place where they can actually be together for so freaking long it hurts. Despite the pain, I do feel like it was kind of necessary for them to really live their lives before they can really commit to each other.
I absolutely loved the side characters in this book - huge bright spot in a book that can be very heavy at times. Daniel is hilarious (boy would I love to see a book about him!), and I loved Hazel and Laura as both guys best friends (at different times in their lives). And I also loved the 2008 nostalgia - definitely some stuff I could relate to as an elder millennial!
I really appreciate Pride Book Tours and Michael Sarais for the opportunity to read this one. Out of Touch will really stick with you, and I encourage anyone looking for unconventional love stories to give this one a shot!
March 6, 2023
Out of Touch is a story that is so relatable that I found myself identifying with (nearly) all of the characters in the book (a testament to the level of attention and detail given to the development of the characters).
The premise of a connection that is so real, so seemingly effortless, but also held hostage by timing, distance, etc., is followed over years of challenges and triumphs. Along the way we meet the friends and family of Teddy and Vincent - learning their own unique joys and struggles, creating an entire world where you can't help but feel so invested in this story that very quickly you realise you aren't merely reading this book - you are living it.
While reading this I felt ALL of the emotions one can imagine - happiness, laughter, sadness, love, loss, yearning, desire, and more. Sarais has a tremendous ability to make the characters so instantly loveable that you only want the best for them, even if they frustrate and disappoint you at times along the way. These are not two-dimensional characters: if you can't identify a Teddy or a Vincent in your life, it's probably because you are a Teddy or Vincent.
Out of Touch is a reminder of the power of good storytelling and just how magical a good book can be.
The premise of a connection that is so real, so seemingly effortless, but also held hostage by timing, distance, etc., is followed over years of challenges and triumphs. Along the way we meet the friends and family of Teddy and Vincent - learning their own unique joys and struggles, creating an entire world where you can't help but feel so invested in this story that very quickly you realise you aren't merely reading this book - you are living it.
While reading this I felt ALL of the emotions one can imagine - happiness, laughter, sadness, love, loss, yearning, desire, and more. Sarais has a tremendous ability to make the characters so instantly loveable that you only want the best for them, even if they frustrate and disappoint you at times along the way. These are not two-dimensional characters: if you can't identify a Teddy or a Vincent in your life, it's probably because you are a Teddy or Vincent.
Out of Touch is a reminder of the power of good storytelling and just how magical a good book can be.
September 15, 2023
Ho. Ly. Fuck. I laughed. I cried. I experienced emotions. I screamed. Baby, I went through it and I loved every second of it!
Out of Touch showed depth. Character development. Growth. I felt like I really grew with the characters. I mean I guess I did because based on the years I was also around the ages of the characters 🤣
I actually did some research on something that happens and learned more about it. I learned that I also have terrible mental representation of all the different accents 😅
Anyways, all the stars! All the love! All the praise! A top contender for the month and possibly year!
Thank you to Michael Sarais for sending me an eARC for my honest review!
Out of Touch by Michael Sarais releases September 19, 2023!
Out of Touch showed depth. Character development. Growth. I felt like I really grew with the characters. I mean I guess I did because based on the years I was also around the ages of the characters 🤣
I actually did some research on something that happens and learned more about it. I learned that I also have terrible mental representation of all the different accents 😅
Anyways, all the stars! All the love! All the praise! A top contender for the month and possibly year!
Thank you to Michael Sarais for sending me an eARC for my honest review!
Out of Touch by Michael Sarais releases September 19, 2023!
September 2, 2023
Out Of Touch was an enjoyable read, but left me divided. While I loved the first part of this book and quickly fell in love with the two main characters, I couldn't help but be dissapointed by how part two set up things and felt dragged compared to the first one. There was something about the pacing of the part that was just too slow and many of the characters' interactions didn't make sense. But I am glad that when part three came, the book managed to continue with the nice writing from part one.
Overall, I think this story was fine, but unfortunately didn't work out for me.
Thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I think this story was fine, but unfortunately didn't work out for me.
Thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2024
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, all the way from the wild days of 2008 Facebook frenzy to the heartbreaks of 2020. The nostalgia hit me hard; it was like being back in high school. The romance between the two MCs? Absolutely swoony! And the way the author depicted their feelings? I felt EVERYTHING. The time jumps? Smooth and engaging. Travelling the world within these pages from Sweden to Bali was an added treat. And yes, it made me cry a river by the end. What a beautifully crafted story!
March 20, 2023
This was hands down an amazing and very well written book, I was hooked from chapter 1! This book does have trigger warnings such as: alcohol, drugs, rape, sex, death, homophobia, emotional abuse etc. The author did a wonderful job writing this book, the characters love story through the book was amazing. I’m so happy they found a happy ending together, the characters each had issues they were going through and the found a way to be together and that made my heart happy. Teddys character was my favorite because we have many similarities, I felt a big connection to him and I know that’s weird but when I read a book I like to imagine myself as a character and teddy was that character for me so I felt the emotions he felt while reading this book. I would 100% recommend this to everyone to read. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel!!!
April 11, 2024
Teddy and Vincent, these guys will steal your heart. They start off all cute and flirty online, making you wish you could jump into their chats. But then, life happens, and they're torn apart. It's like watching a drama unfold, but you're rooting for them the whole time. The book hits hard in places, not gonna lie, but it's worth it for the moments when they find their way back to each other.
March 30, 2023
I’m so happy to see just how much michael has grown as a writer. The biggest strength michael has on his continuing growing arsenal is his dialogue. It often times feels so raw and real he ripped it directly from real conversations he’s had or heard. I’ll read anything he writes regardless the topic. Cheers mate!
August 27, 2023
Seeing you was worth the wait.
You will always be worth it.
The year is 2008, and one day Teddy Clarke stumbles upon a face that he can’t help but be enraptured with from the very first glance, even if it is on a monitor in the guise of a Facebook profile, and without even giving it too much thought he sends a friend request to Vincent Stewart. He can’t be 100% sure why but sending this handsome stranger a friend request almost feels akin to fate. And what does he have to lose, really? After all his heart can’t break more than it already has.
Vincent is at first confused as to why this cute guy who is half way around the world has sent him a request to be friends, but something about Aussie guy Teddy Clarke pokes at Vincent’s curiosity and before the pair know it, over the weeks and months they become good friends and perhaps more, through late night chats and hasty confessions so when they have a chance to meet in person in London, both must face their fears and take the plunge. And when they do come face to face, the world around them fades to nothing, and both Teddy and Vincent realise they cannot be without each other. Yet fate can be a cruel mistress and when real life calls them back from their living fantasy, Teddy must finally take hold of his family life in order to make sense of it all, after one too many ignored signs from his mother, but Vincent holds a much darker secret which he feels so ashamed about that he soon builds armour over his heart making it seemingly impossible to penetrate.
Will the two ever be able to truly be happy and be together or will there be one too many obstacles to overcome?
A queer love story full to bursting with heart, Out of Touch is a must-read for those wanting a new crush in their literary lives.
You will always be worth it.
The year is 2008, and one day Teddy Clarke stumbles upon a face that he can’t help but be enraptured with from the very first glance, even if it is on a monitor in the guise of a Facebook profile, and without even giving it too much thought he sends a friend request to Vincent Stewart. He can’t be 100% sure why but sending this handsome stranger a friend request almost feels akin to fate. And what does he have to lose, really? After all his heart can’t break more than it already has.
Vincent is at first confused as to why this cute guy who is half way around the world has sent him a request to be friends, but something about Aussie guy Teddy Clarke pokes at Vincent’s curiosity and before the pair know it, over the weeks and months they become good friends and perhaps more, through late night chats and hasty confessions so when they have a chance to meet in person in London, both must face their fears and take the plunge. And when they do come face to face, the world around them fades to nothing, and both Teddy and Vincent realise they cannot be without each other. Yet fate can be a cruel mistress and when real life calls them back from their living fantasy, Teddy must finally take hold of his family life in order to make sense of it all, after one too many ignored signs from his mother, but Vincent holds a much darker secret which he feels so ashamed about that he soon builds armour over his heart making it seemingly impossible to penetrate.
Will the two ever be able to truly be happy and be together or will there be one too many obstacles to overcome?
A queer love story full to bursting with heart, Out of Touch is a must-read for those wanting a new crush in their literary lives.
November 9, 2023
This was an unexpectedly complex book, with multiple twists and turns and trauma that happens to both characters.
It follows the main characters over more than a decade - from being young, naive, sweet and (fairly) optimistic about their futures (both individually and as a couple) to being older, separate, traumatised by different events, stuck in situations they feel are dead-ends and not feeling that there is a way out of for either of them.
I loved the witty banter between Teddy and Vincent, and also between the men and their respective best friends, Laura, Hazel and Daniel. Teddy is definitely one of my favourite characters of the year - he's witty, funny, kind, generous, independent and know how to show he cares for Vincent.
The first act is by far the funniest, the second the most heartbreaking and trauma-filled and the third gives us the combination of humour and trauma and how these two men find their way back to each other.
Please heed the TW and CW because as light as the first part is - it ends with heaviness that could be terribly upsetting to readers.
It follows the main characters over more than a decade - from being young, naive, sweet and (fairly) optimistic about their futures (both individually and as a couple) to being older, separate, traumatised by different events, stuck in situations they feel are dead-ends and not feeling that there is a way out of for either of them.
I loved the witty banter between Teddy and Vincent, and also between the men and their respective best friends, Laura, Hazel and Daniel. Teddy is definitely one of my favourite characters of the year - he's witty, funny, kind, generous, independent and know how to show he cares for Vincent.
The first act is by far the funniest, the second the most heartbreaking and trauma-filled and the third gives us the combination of humour and trauma and how these two men find their way back to each other.
Please heed the TW and CW because as light as the first part is - it ends with heaviness that could be terribly upsetting to readers.
August 26, 2023
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Rating: 4 stars (8/10)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: right person wrong time, terminal illness, trauma, LDR
Review:
This was definitely an interesting story, and I didn't at all predict the direction it was taking. The story is split in 3 parts, and we get to see these 3 points in time where Vincent and Teddy's lives cross paths, their love story, and the traumas they experience. I didn't really expect the trauma we got in this book, and I will say it is important to check the trigger warnings, as they are not graphic but they are very much on-page. The first section, set in 2008, was a very innocent a fun story, and I enjoyed watching these two slowly fall in love, and for Vincent to have his sexual awakening, and their meeting in London. The last 2 chapters kind of throw 2 big gut punches at you, and we're left with a broken Vincent in Europe and a distraught Teddy in Australia. We jump to 2014, and I must say I was not happy with the progression of their lives. Vincent is in a situation where he believes he is happy, and maybe he does get happiness out of it, but it's not really what we wanted and he has just gone along with it, while Teddy is stuck in a rut and feeling alone, bitter, and hurting. They meet again in London for a day when Teddy can't take things happening at home and just wants to see Vincent again, and we end the section with Vincent having moved on, and Teddy going home to try and confront his demons and problems. Then we jump to 2020, and I am curious if this is meant to be a 2020 that has COVID, since it was never mentioned, and we're still globe-trotting a little bit and road tripping around Australia. Things have gone from bad to worse for both Teddy and Vincent, and Vincent has had enough of his situation and wants out, while Teddy has finally taken his life back into his hands and is doing what he's always wanted. They meet completely by chance, and it's during this time that Teddy has to rush back to Australia, except finally this time, Vincent is by his side.
I really enjoyed some of the exploration of lives diverging and converging, the struggles from trauma and terminal illnesses, the difficulty of rekindling friendship and broken family ties, the merging and splitting of friend groups, and how sometimes you can't be together, but there is always the chance that your lives will entwine again. The story got a lot heavier and sadder than I was expecting, but I definitely was hooked by the time Teddy and Vincent first met, and I just loved watching them burn so hot for each other. The precious moments they first spent together in London, before their lives blew apart and they were ripped from each other, were so gentle and tender and I really fell in love with them. The pacing of the story is pretty good, and I felt like everything that needed to be addressed was. The only 2 things I wished for were for 2 scenes to be expanded on a little more. The first time that Teddy and Vincent have sex felt like it was really rushed, and I would've liked more time in their heads to really feel their thoughts after having waited so long to finally be together. And also, I would have loved to have a bit of a deeper conversation between Teddy and his older brother Mitchell as they hashed out their traumas and feelings around their broken relationship. I really appreciated seeing them come together and deal with things together, and I think it is important to show them feeling their emotions and being there for each other. Apart from that, I really enjoyed the discussions in the book, especially around Huntington's Disease, and how these things tear apart people and families, and how important it is to educate people and try to raise awareness to help fund research and help people be more compassionate.
Rating: 4 stars (8/10)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: right person wrong time, terminal illness, trauma, LDR
Review:
This was definitely an interesting story, and I didn't at all predict the direction it was taking. The story is split in 3 parts, and we get to see these 3 points in time where Vincent and Teddy's lives cross paths, their love story, and the traumas they experience. I didn't really expect the trauma we got in this book, and I will say it is important to check the trigger warnings, as they are not graphic but they are very much on-page. The first section, set in 2008, was a very innocent a fun story, and I enjoyed watching these two slowly fall in love, and for Vincent to have his sexual awakening, and their meeting in London. The last 2 chapters kind of throw 2 big gut punches at you, and we're left with a broken Vincent in Europe and a distraught Teddy in Australia. We jump to 2014, and I must say I was not happy with the progression of their lives. Vincent is in a situation where he believes he is happy, and maybe he does get happiness out of it, but it's not really what we wanted and he has just gone along with it, while Teddy is stuck in a rut and feeling alone, bitter, and hurting. They meet again in London for a day when Teddy can't take things happening at home and just wants to see Vincent again, and we end the section with Vincent having moved on, and Teddy going home to try and confront his demons and problems. Then we jump to 2020, and I am curious if this is meant to be a 2020 that has COVID, since it was never mentioned, and we're still globe-trotting a little bit and road tripping around Australia. Things have gone from bad to worse for both Teddy and Vincent, and Vincent has had enough of his situation and wants out, while Teddy has finally taken his life back into his hands and is doing what he's always wanted. They meet completely by chance, and it's during this time that Teddy has to rush back to Australia, except finally this time, Vincent is by his side.
I really enjoyed some of the exploration of lives diverging and converging, the struggles from trauma and terminal illnesses, the difficulty of rekindling friendship and broken family ties, the merging and splitting of friend groups, and how sometimes you can't be together, but there is always the chance that your lives will entwine again. The story got a lot heavier and sadder than I was expecting, but I definitely was hooked by the time Teddy and Vincent first met, and I just loved watching them burn so hot for each other. The precious moments they first spent together in London, before their lives blew apart and they were ripped from each other, were so gentle and tender and I really fell in love with them. The pacing of the story is pretty good, and I felt like everything that needed to be addressed was. The only 2 things I wished for were for 2 scenes to be expanded on a little more. The first time that Teddy and Vincent have sex felt like it was really rushed, and I would've liked more time in their heads to really feel their thoughts after having waited so long to finally be together. And also, I would have loved to have a bit of a deeper conversation between Teddy and his older brother Mitchell as they hashed out their traumas and feelings around their broken relationship. I really appreciated seeing them come together and deal with things together, and I think it is important to show them feeling their emotions and being there for each other. Apart from that, I really enjoyed the discussions in the book, especially around Huntington's Disease, and how these things tear apart people and families, and how important it is to educate people and try to raise awareness to help fund research and help people be more compassionate.
August 12, 2024
A huge thank you to @PrideBookTours and @MichaelSarais and for a gifted copy of this lovely eBook to read and review - all thoughts are my own.
Out of Touch is a real coming of age story, set in three different time periods and stages of the two MCs lives; Teddy and Vincent. Both are exchange students experiencing their own traumas and issues in foreign countries, when by pure chance Teddy adds Vincent – a stranger – on Facebook, and they quickly become more than pen pals, this story takes you on an emotional and heartfelt rollercoaster as both males remain just “out of touch”
This was a very engrossing read with quick chapters, and split into three parts; starting with both MCs as young 18y olds embarking on new adventures and heartbreaks, the story continues to alternate between both Teddy and Vincents perspectives, and each part of the book jumps in time, with part two being set around 24/25 for the MCs, and part three when they are 30. Part one for me personally felt slightly rushed in places with both MC’s suddenly going from general chats to having phone sex, especially when Vincent was unsure of his sexuality, I felt a little bit more time could have been spent with Vincent and him understanding/finding himself.
However, parts two and three were wonderful, watching both characters grow and remain a constant in each other's life was lovely, I did spend the entire of the book shipping them and just hoping for a lovely happy ending. The world building was gorgeous, and it felt so realistic flicking between Stockholm, London, Perth, Sydney and Italy, this book just made me want to go on an adventure and experience the sights myself, the London scene with Teddy, Vincent, Hazel and Laura was adorable.
Whilst talking about characters, I will say they were all written so wonderfully that these feel like they were based off real people, Teddy came across as the caring, family first gentleman, and Vincent came across as sweet and strong but with the inability to open up, and those side characters; Laura and Hazel I loved them both and how supportive they were, and I just felt a real sense of comradery when they all came together!
I will say that despite the cover looking stunning and seeming like a happy summer read, this book is quite heavy in places, there are a few triggers in this book such as rape on page, sexually graphic scenes, terminal health condition, drug use/abuse and death. But all these triggering events were written caringly and added to the characters depth and understanding their psyche.
This is a book I was grateful to read, and really does make you believe in serendipity, I just love it when fate is at play!
Out of Touch is a real coming of age story, set in three different time periods and stages of the two MCs lives; Teddy and Vincent. Both are exchange students experiencing their own traumas and issues in foreign countries, when by pure chance Teddy adds Vincent – a stranger – on Facebook, and they quickly become more than pen pals, this story takes you on an emotional and heartfelt rollercoaster as both males remain just “out of touch”
This was a very engrossing read with quick chapters, and split into three parts; starting with both MCs as young 18y olds embarking on new adventures and heartbreaks, the story continues to alternate between both Teddy and Vincents perspectives, and each part of the book jumps in time, with part two being set around 24/25 for the MCs, and part three when they are 30. Part one for me personally felt slightly rushed in places with both MC’s suddenly going from general chats to having phone sex, especially when Vincent was unsure of his sexuality, I felt a little bit more time could have been spent with Vincent and him understanding/finding himself.
However, parts two and three were wonderful, watching both characters grow and remain a constant in each other's life was lovely, I did spend the entire of the book shipping them and just hoping for a lovely happy ending. The world building was gorgeous, and it felt so realistic flicking between Stockholm, London, Perth, Sydney and Italy, this book just made me want to go on an adventure and experience the sights myself, the London scene with Teddy, Vincent, Hazel and Laura was adorable.
Whilst talking about characters, I will say they were all written so wonderfully that these feel like they were based off real people, Teddy came across as the caring, family first gentleman, and Vincent came across as sweet and strong but with the inability to open up, and those side characters; Laura and Hazel I loved them both and how supportive they were, and I just felt a real sense of comradery when they all came together!
I will say that despite the cover looking stunning and seeming like a happy summer read, this book is quite heavy in places, there are a few triggers in this book such as rape on page, sexually graphic scenes, terminal health condition, drug use/abuse and death. But all these triggering events were written caringly and added to the characters depth and understanding their psyche.
This is a book I was grateful to read, and really does make you believe in serendipity, I just love it when fate is at play!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews