The pandemic was difficult on all of us and still weighs heavily on many people’s minds. In When We Lost Touch by Susan Kraus, the reader gets a raw and intimate look at a group of intertwined characters’ experiences at the beginning of 2020, the height of the pandemic, all the way until the end of 2021. Whether you are reading about Grace, Katrina, or Max. All the characters experience their own struggles, ultimately coming out at the end not unscathed but having survived.

While Kraus uses fictional characters to paint the narrative, her plot is anything but fictional. It’s grounded in reality, touching on the issues of the pandemic, racial matters, January 6th, and even radicalism. She does not shy away from touching upon the tough subjects that have plagued the United States in recent years and does so in a heartfelt manner.

Her greatest talent is managing to balance the multiple POVs without confusing the reader. Each of them stands out in their own way. It can seem a little jarring at first, but once you are a few pages into the book, you won’t even notice.

This story isn’t for those that don’t like a dose of reality in their stories, especially for a subject that is still raw for many people. However, When We Lost Touch discusses these issues with sensitivity. It doesn’t hold back in showcasing the character’s struggles and how desperately they want to return to normal. At times, the reader is going to feel like they have been punched in the gut. This just proves how effective Kraus is at crafting this.

I am giving When We Lost Touch by Susan Kraus a five out of five stars. It might be a tough read for some, but most will be swept away by the realism and completely be able to relate to the characters. This is a work of historical fiction, but it is grounded in the realities we all faced in this time period.

Pages: 515 | ASIN : B0BHJ7DWK1

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/19/when-we-lost-touch/