I truly savored this story. It is a beautiful book with a flawed yet stunning family dynamic.
The characters had depth and cracks and honesty.
The story itself was sweet and complex.
And I just really loved the writing style.
This book is a little difficult to get into at first because of all of the characters. This story follows a very large Irish family and I wasn’t sure who was who at the beginning. Once she started developing her characters I found it a lot easier to follow and I fell in love with many of them. Great book. Will recommend.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

After reading and loving Hello Beautiful last year, I had high hopes for this one. Although it has some commonalities such as an unwavering sister relationship and a complicated family history, it did not compare to the beloved characters we come to really know and understand in Hello Beautiful.

Told from multiple perspectives, with reference to many other characters within each chapter, I found it difficult to find my footing in the story. From the beginning, I was confused as to whose story I was being told and why I should care about them as a family member in this very large Irish family. Perhaps if I had more time with each character in the first 1/3 of the book, I could have felt immersed into their world. I didn't feel like I connected with any of them in particular, and when I did start to understand Gracie or Catherine, the perspective would change. I would have liked more time with each of these women.

I also found the pacing to be off. It took me a bit to get my bearings straight, often having to flip to the family tree at the beginning of the book. I was interested until the 35% mark, but then it slogged until the 55% mark, where the plot started to move the story forward. However, the overall plot was minimal and did fall flat for me with the ending. I would have really liked an epilogue six months out from the final chapter, or even a year, so that I could appreciate each character's choices instead of being left hanging.

Overall. I found this family drama to fall under the "sad, feel sorry for myself, but continue to make poor choices" umbrella instead of the "complicated family dynamics, yet hopeful" umbrella.

Three stars since I did finish it but I'm not sure how much of it I will remember two months from now. As the author's note mentions, I do think this is a very different Napolitano that we got in Hello Beautiful and Dear Edward, since it is a re-release of a story she wrote 20 years ago. I do think I will still give Dear Edward a shot since I enjoyed the writing!

I really struggled to get through this book. While I have loved Ann Napolitano’s last two books I didn’t find this one very interesting. It is the story of a large and dysfunctional family, and while there is some drama—an unexpected pregnancy—I did not find that it made for a great plot. But mostly I found the characters infuriating; they seemed to spend most of the book not being able to get out of their own way. Ultimately this was just not the right book for me, but I thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Napolitano's Hello Beautiful was my favorite book last year, so I was surprised to see another family saga so soon. This is actually her first novel, being re-printed. The cover is stunning, much like Hello, Beautiful.
This family saga follows the McLaughlin family over a brief period of time. Each chapter is a different POV, and the characters are well fleshed out which makes it very easy to follow. Everyone has problems, just like every family. There are a lot of interpersonal conflicts and secrets and stuff that could be easily solved if any of them would just talk to the other. Much like many families.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was just enough drama to keep me reading. It's not Hello, Beautiful and I can definitely seen where Ann has grown in her craft.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy!

“Within Arms Reach” is a family drama that has multi-layered characters that are irritating and somehow comfortingly familiar at the same time. This book started out slow for me but I found myself quickly pulled in to the family’s history, secrets and drama.

Ann Napolitano does it again! I think I learned something about every relationship in my own life from this book. We have parents, spouses, siblings. We have love, anger, fear, loyalty.

A few plot points bothered me. Maybe I’m too cynical but there is NO WAy there wouldn’t be a safety inquiry or investigation into Eddie’s death. I really felt for Louis. Grief doesn’t answer to reason, and even though he has the insight to understand he is grieving and struggling he couldn’t quite figure out how to get help.

I love the way Ann Napolitano writes about family. Her stories differ from my personal experiences but the soul of what she writes feels so familiar. This book follows the Mclaughlin family from the perspective of several family members. The characters are working through each of their flaws while also experiencing the complexities of family life, as their matriarch, Catherine, nears the end of her life. It’s a beautiful story but also very raw and sometimes dark as it touches on themes of death and grief. I loved Hello Beautiful and I loved Within Arms Reach all the same! 4.5 ⭐️

While a big fan of Ann Nepolitano's two latest releases, I was not aware that this was a re-release of a previously published work.

It was just ok for me. Her latest books are objectively better. It was on the depressing side without any levity.

Thank you Random House and Netgalley for the copy of this book.

I love Ann Napolitano's writing style, and was curious about her first novel that had fallen out of print and was difficult to find. When I learned that it was being republished, I jumped at the chance to read Within Arm's Reach.

Ms. Napolitano's writing in her debut is characteristic of her more recent novels. Within Arm's Reach features a family with difficult and strained relationships, and it shows them moving through life, dealing with those relationships in ways that both hurt and heal. This book has a number of typical triggers (child death, miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, infidelity) so sensitive readers should be aware.

I especially liked the relationship between Gracie and her sister Lila, like normal sisters they had a love-hate dynamic, yet were each other's biggest support when needed. I love a family saga told from differing characters' points of view, so with six different narrators, this book was just the right style for my taste.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the digital ARC of Within ARm's Reach by Ann Napolitano. The opinions in this review are my own.

Ann Napolitano reaches back into her own family for inspiration in her recent re-release of her debut novel. She takes a look at what holds a family together and what can pull a family apart. It’s a very good novel which I enjoyed more than some of her newer books.

This is the kind of book Ann Napolitano writes best. It’s study of family relationships. That makes it sound boring, but it’s not. Napolitano’s characters are rich and original. They definitely have their own voices. You might even find you like one or two better than the others (I love the grandmother Catherine) but you know you have to read them all because the story is all about how the pieces fit together. It’s one of those times when you have to use that hackneyed cliché, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

Unfortunately, this one did not draw me in like Hello Beautiful. I didn't realize it was a re-release of her debut novel. It might be something I revisit and enjoy more later, but it did not hit the spot in this attempt.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Dial Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this book by Ann Napolitano. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

The story of three generations of a large Irish Catholic family in New Jersey, the story revolves around the matriarch, Catharine, her children, and grandchildren, focusing more on her eldest living daughter, Kelly, her husband, Louis, and their two daughters, Gracie and Lila. Catharine has suffered many losses and as she nears the end of her life, she sees how loss, grief, and lack of communication have caused trickle-down effects throughout her family.

After the well-deserved success of Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful, this is a re-release of her first book, drawing on her own family stories. This story is told in alternating POV from the main family characters and we see how they struggle in various ways. Louis is grieving the loss of an employee for whom he feels responsible, and pulls away from Kelly and their marriage. Their two grown daughters have yet to find their way and now Gracie is pregnant and alone, while Lila is second-guessing her medical residency path. I was pulled into this family's stories, and liked how there was a spiritual element of past generations running throughout. It's definitely a nod to how important communication is for relationships, but also imperative for second chances. Great read!

I read this after loving Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful. I didn't like this as much, but it was a good story about an Irish family at odds with each other. The grandmother is trying to force family connection despite her illnesses. I didn't love the ending, but I did like the book. Told from six viewpoints.

⭐️⭐️/5. Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano. I was thrilled when I was offered the chance to get an advanced reader copy of Ann Napolitano’s new book. I loved Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful. Once I started reading it and was quickly disappointed, I realized this is actually her first book that they are re-releasing. Made a lot more sense, but it didn’t make me like it more. We meet three generations of a large Irish Catholic family. Grandmother Catharine is the best of the bunch. Pragmatic and tough, she’s struggling with health issues. Her daughters and sons all have their own issues as do the grandchildren. Dysfunction abounds in this family. There’s lots of bad behavior and tension. An unexpected pregnancy then has the ability to either tear them all apart or maybe finally they will pull together. I didn’t really care and found all the characters unlikable. Do not recommend. The author’s later novels were much better. #books #reading #bookstagram #whatiread #bookgram #bookworm #annnapolitano #netgalley #goodreads #libbyapp #thumbsdown

Was so thrilled to receive a copy of this book before its relaunch. It is great family drama following three generations of the family. The matriarch is a widow who holds the regard and instills some fear in the family. She generally knows what is going on and relays her feelings on the matter with a hard edge. Gracie and Lila are sisters whose relationship has fallen out and they’ve lost the support of each other. Gracie seems to be flailing, has a job writing an advice column and in her spare time bed hopping with little satisfaction in her life. Lila is pursuing her medical credentials, but running up against obstacles of her own making. Their mother, Kelly, and father, Louis, are having a hard time. Louis’ business has suffered a tragic loss and it’s haunting Louis. Kelly is unsatisfied in marriage and making mistakes that keep her from having the marriage she thinks she wants. This is a mini-saga of family dysfunction, broken promises, unachieved dreams and love. Although I didn’t enjoy it as much as Hello Beautiful, it is a great story that I really enjoyed.

Ann Napolitano’s novels Dead Edward and Hello Beautiful were easy 5 star reads for me. They have resonated with me, amongst the hundreds of other books I’ve read in that time, and I would easily pick them up and reread them again in the future.

I was so excited to read Within Arm’s Reach, her first published novel that is being rereleased. Her author’s note is well worth reading as well. It’s fascinating to go back two decades and read her first work. The aspects that I love about her other novels are here - rich, deep characters, families that feel real, emotions that are undeniably relatable and beautifully depicted intentionally.

I loved diving into this Irish family, getting to know these characters, seeing a family pushed to its limits and faced with what they will now do. If you’ve loved her other works, this is well worth the read as well. It isn’t nearly as strong as the two mentioned above, it does seem to lack the same strong direction and satisfaction, and it is clear she has grown tremendously as well, but I did enjoy this book.

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley.

This multi-generational family drama is filled with imperfect characters and complex inter-personal dynamics that were so beautifully written I was completely captivated from beginning to end. I really appreciate how authentic the relationships and dialogue felt. As someone who comes from an Irish Catholic family, I found it to be very cathartic to experience the growing pains of this family, the ways they confront (or don’t) their generational family trauma. I do wish the book had one more chapter, it would have been nice to see a few of the loose ends resolved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Another knock out of the park by Ann Napolitano!! She is officially an auto-buy author for me now- she writes family dynamics in such a real, raw way that you feel every emotion as you are reading.

Another great multi-generational drama from the author Ann Napolitano. Told from multiple points of view, I enjoyed getting to know this Irish American family.

I received this ARC from NetGalley.
Note: This is a re-release.