Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Hands down , last year my favorite book was Hello Beautiful. A gripping family drama that couldn’t have been better. How lucky we are that the publishers decided that we needed to be reminded of its predecessor, Within Arm’s Reach. This family drama grabs you from chapter one as we learn about the history of this big Irish family and the love between generations of woman (even some who were misunderstood).

My favorite thing about Napolitano, is that her books are real. There is no perfection. There is sadness, joy, happiness and all the other emotions we feel in this journey of life.

A multi-generational multi-POV story with incredibly flawed characters who keep you jumping from chapter to chapter. What else could you need in a book!?

This book was a ride! A family matriarch embarks on a new chapter with her family when her granddaughter becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Will this traditional family with huge chasms be able to come together to support the new generation? Or will previous traumas prove too large to overcome?

This book had such beautifully written characters who I both loved and despised at different times, while also understanding them. This is a deep character study type novel, so if you’re looking for a thunderous plot, this isn’t the book for you. I love the author’s style and is a good retreat into characters in a time when it feels like every book must have a plot moving 400 mph. Definitely enjoyed!

I read the author’s note at the end of this book and it certainly colors my reading experience different. This book was difficult to get involved with the characters. They were complex but unrelatable. They made a lot of bad decisions and felt entitled to their behaviors. There were bright spots where i found myself lost in the story but for the most part, I wasn’t interested in this story. The writing itself was great and I would give this author another chance.

After loving Hello Beautiful I was delighted to get this advanced copy. What beautiful, captivating storytelling we receive from Ann every time! Pulls on your heart strings!

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of the re-released Ann Napolitano book, Within Arm’s Reach. I really enjoyed this story of a family. Catharine is the grandmother, and we meet her and especially her granddaughters, who are young adults and struggling through life. Good relationships and family issues. #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #withinarmsreach #annnapolitano #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday

3-1/2 stars rounded up (because I did like this better than my last 3-1/2 star book). While not quite as well-written or cohesive as Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful, this is another enjoyable story of a multi-generational Irish-American family. Told from six different points of view, it reveals a family coming apart but holding out hope of coming together again. In a family of silences, secrets, and repressed emotions, Gracie’s secret has the potential for great destruction or great reunion, and it’s a secret that will soon reveal itself whether she wants to or not.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an objective review.

Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano is a highly recommended literary family drama featuring three generations of an Irish-American family. First published in 2004, this was Napolitano's debut novel and showcases her early skillful ability to create finely drawn characters and bring them to life.

Catharine, the matriarch of the Irish-American McLaughlin clan, is approaching 80 years-old. Catharine has the gift of visions and has conversations with deceased relatives, a gift of her heritage. She has 6 surviving children after losing three. Kelly, 56, is her oldest surviving daughter, is married to Louis and mother to Lila and Gracie. Now Gracie is pregnant and Catharine is sure this baby, this start of the next generation will help bind the family together again. Right now the whole family keeps a tight rein on their emotions. This new addition may change everything.

The narrative unfolds through the point-of-view of six different characters : Gracie, Catharine, Louis, Lila, Kelly, and Noreen Ballen (Catharine's nurse). These are all fully realized, exquisitely written characters who came to life on the page. They are all portrayed as real individuals, with different opinions, flaws, strengths, and conflicting emotions.

The writing is excellent in this portrait of three generations of a family. Within Arm’s Reach demonstrates how interconnected the members of a family can be and how they inherit more than they realize from their ancestors. I enjoyed everything about this novel except for the fact that it was left open ended. Certainly it showcases the developing talent of a gifted writer. It was a pleasure to read this debut novel from 2004 since I loved and adored both Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I was a little surprised to open and see this is not a new release - its a rerelease! that being said it definately feels like her more junior work that was perfected in hello beautiful, alot of the same themes and ideas but not the depth or pull.

Dysfunctional family story in the debut novel by the author of Hello Beautiful. I initially was going to rate this 1 star as I found the story boring and with not one character that I liked.. But then I realized that my extreme dislike for some of the women (Kelly in particular) was me being invested in the story after all. The ending seemed anticlimactic. And I did not like the ghosts that appeared occasionally.

Summary: Within Arms Reach is a story of a family that lives in service of its matriarch, an outwardly cold but inwardly loving grandmother. The story follows her daughters and grandchildren as they all attempt to fulfill the high standards of a family that lives in a culture which is deeply influenced by the Catholic Church. When one of the grandchildren falls pregnant out of wedlock, it forces their grandmother to deal with the untimely death of her child, as well as a gruesome stillbirth of twins. This family truly does not know how to be vulnerable with each other, communicate feelings, or be there for each other in a functional and healthy way. They are the prime example of what not to do and would be a poster family for group therapy!! But you can't help but want to root for them.

Review: I really wish they would include a trigger warning page at the start of this book as it describes fairly in depth instances of stillbirth and death of a young child which I found disturbing. I typically love family dramas however this one fell a little flat to me. The shifting perspectives wasn't as seamless as her other novels and I felt really frustrated by the ending. However it should be mentioned that this is a rerelease of Napolitano's previous work and her growth as a writing is so apparent!

Within Arms Reach is another sprawling family drama from Ann Napolitano, writer of Hello Beautiful and Dear Edward. The story is based on three generations of women in an Irish American family, told in alternating points of view from 6 people, which can get a little daunting to keep up with initially, but becomes easier the more you read. In this book you get all the relationships, the heartbreak, the secrets, the hopes and dreams, as one family deals with the changes brought about by an unplanned pregnancy. Catherine, as matriarch, reflects on how a lack of communication and reluctance to express feelings of grief and loss scars both children and parents, creating generational trauma passed down but never dealt with. Ann Napolitano does a wonderful job of making all the characters feel real and very relatable as they are shaken up and then pulled back together.

After the success of Napolitano’s last two novels, Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful, her debut novel - a family saga in a similar vein to Hello Beautiful, is getting a new cover and a rerelease.

I absolutely loved Hello Beautiful so I was excited to read this novel for the first time. And while it feels unfair to compare work separated by 20 years of experience and growth, Within Arm’s Reach never reaches the same heights as Hello Beautiful. The characters are just a little less compelling, and the plot just a little more melodramatic. I was never fully invested, but it is clear that Napolitano has always been an incredible writer - she’s just gotten better with age.

In this book, the reader explores 3 generations of an Irish American family, mostly women, where no one is happy and everyone is struggling with something. People are dying, having affairs, unhappy with their degree choices, etc. You name it, they don't like it. The saddest part is, they aren't even happy with each other, so most of these family members don't seem to have someone in their corner. Then, Gracie (granddaughter) makes an announcement that Catherine (grandmother) is certain will help everyone remember exactly what it means to be a family.
This book was a solid 2 for me before I read the author's note at the end. I always take the time to read those, and it matters with this book. I didn't realize until the end of the book that this is a republication of Ann Napolitano's debut. That definitely changed how I view things.

My first book by Ann Napolitano was HELLO BEAUTIFUL, so my expectations were set high for Within Arms Reach.

Unfortunately , I found myself struggling to relate to the plot and characters. There was a disconnect that I could not overcome.

This experience definitely does not hinder me from reading her upcoming books. She’s an excellent writer and a gifted storyteller. Every reader experiences every book differently.

I have very mixed emotions about this book and my review. It is interesting, well-written, with characters I could easily see in my mind’s eye. I could identify with characters and a generation that bottles up their emotions and worries about appearances, and a younger generation that is starting to question those values. I love multiple narrators, and here we have 6! However, the ending leaves the reader with SO MANY unknowns and loose ends. I don’t like it when every little detail is tied up with a bow, but I found it unsatisfying that every major character is on the cusp of a major decision or life change, and we are left to speculate on what their choices or outcomes will be. What happens next could be another book!

Ann Napolitano, Author of Oprah’s 2023 Book Club pick Hello Beautiful, has won our hearts again. Within Arms Reach was originally published in 2004, and is being re-released on April 30th this year. Mark your calendars because if you liked Hello Beautiful, you will absolutely fall in love with this book. Written in a very similar style, packed with life lessons and buried truths exposed from generational traumas, it’s impossible not to get lost in this story. This family drama touched on so many contrasting dynamics as the hierarch of the family, the soon to be great grandmother, approaches the end of her life. Along with this comes unexpected visits from the past, bringing forth wisdom, love and hope to answer the question of whether the family will fall apart once she is gone or overcome their differences to unite together and become stronger than ever imagined.
If you aren’t tearing up on the last few pages, reading the authors note will seal the deal. Thank you Ann, for providing a completely vulnerable depiction of your writing journey.

Thank you @annnapolitano @randomhouse and @netgalley for this ARC read. I feel so honoured to have read this!

Within Arms Reach is the story of three generations of Irish-American women living in New Jersey. While the story is told from nine different perspectives, it is very easy to follow as each characters' point of view includes the other key players.

Napolitano delves into the many dysfunctions of the McLaughlin family: fractured marriages, rebellious children (teen and adult), poor communication skills, adult sibling rivalries, poor coping skills, adultery, and guilty consciences. These dysfunctions are dealt with in a good manner and while important to the story they are not always at the forefront. It appears at some point each of the lead characters are trying to better their lives, relationships, and outlooks.

I found the book to be quite a good read overall. A key message to the readers: you can change yourself, if you so desire, but it won't be easy.

Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano is a poignant exploration of family dynamics and interconnected lives within the sprawling McLaughlin clan of New Jersey. Through multiple perspectives, Napolitano delves into themes of love, dysfunction, and the complexities of familial relationships, capturing the conflicting emotions that define the bonds between generations. While the abundance of characters may pose a challenge initially, the authenticity of their struggles and the richness of the narrative make for a compelling read. Despite some moments of mundanity and an open-ended conclusion, the novel's exploration of tradition, guilt, and the enduring power of family ties renders it a charming and authentic portrayal of family life, sure to resonate with fans of multi-perspective narratives and heartfelt family sagas.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱 "Within Arm’s Reach” by Ann Napolitano

⭐️⭐️⭐️
To be re- published April 30, 2024

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC of this novel. Although I was a little upset to see this was a rerelease of Ann’s 2004 novel of the same name.

A character driven dramatic story about 3 generations of an Irish- American family, the McLaughlins of New Jersey. With 5 POVs there were so many issues in this large family it was hard to keep track. Especially since the family’s theme is to keep secrets and don’t talk about how they feel. Catherine, the matriarch is living in an assisted living facility, after her husband Patrick has passed away. With her age and health failing she begins to see that she has to bring her family back together. Her story is told via frequent flashbacks showcasing how strong she is- the death of 3 children, 2 stillborn and literally tossed in the trash. She is the rock of this family through all the hardships, but now they need to come back together.
Gracie and Lila, sisters and the granddaughters of Catherine are the other main characters. Gracie is a “Dear Abby” columnist while still trying to figure out who she is at almost 30. She is a bit of a wild one, drinking and hoping men will help her fill the emptiness in her life. Lila, the smart one and finishing up medical school, realizes she doesn’t really want to be a doctor. When she drunkenly hooks up with Weber, the town goofball, she regrets it but finds she can be herself with him. The sisters parents, Louis and Kelly numbers 4 and 5 POV. The two have been married for years, and Kelly is Catharine's oldest child. Kelly is very controlling and wants her life and family to be seen as perfect. She realizes too late her husband and her children have drifted away from her. Louis is depressed after a death at a work site. He loves Kelly but she doesn’t understand how he blames himself for this accident.

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This book is based on three generations of Irish American women. As with many families, the drama and dysfunctional are shared. This was not my favorite by Ann Napolitano, but held my interest.

Thank you for the ARC.