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.

Within Arms Reach is a multi-generational family drama of the large Irish McLaughlin family: from the matriarch, 79-year-old Catharine to her six children with a focus on the oldest, Kelly. We also get to know Kelly’s husband Louis, and their two daughters, Gracie and Lila. Additionally, there is a non-family member whose narrative joins the others in Part Two.

Catharine has tasked herself with the job of holding together this large family with all their differences and issues. As Catharine reflects back on everything that has recently transpired in the family (and especially the events of one particular evening) she recognizes that this is “one of those perfect, full-to-bursting moments you wait a lifetime for, when it all comes together.”

My one regret is that the novel ends with so much left unresolved (although that’s what happens in life.) I would have liked an epilogue to let us know what happened next with some of the family members. Instead what we get are an Author’s Note and a Book Club Guide. This novel was first released in 2004. It is being re-released in 2024 due to the success of Ann Napolitano’s two most recent novels. I found this to be surprisingly enjoyable read.

I received a free ebook of <i>Within Arm's Reach</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This reissue of Napolitano's 2004 novel carries some familiar themes with her more famous works, <i>Dear Edward</i> and <i>Hello Beautiful</i>. Dig below the surface to find the ragged cracks and scarified resentments of what it means to be a family.

By all superficial appearances, all is well with the large, multi-generational McLaughlin family. Catharine, the grandmother, has weakened with age and much of the novel is her aligning the structured past with the messy present and the hopeful future. There are no saints here and the sinners find self-forgiveness fleeting. Reality for the McLaughlin clan means guilt and doubt and some really selfish behavior. They spent decades coloring within the lines, staying off the grass, and doing the expected. Unfortunately following the rules bred unhappiness and uncertainty.

Granddaughter Gracie's pregnancy outside of wedlock exposes many of the cracks. Catharine views this baby as a chance for a redo but Gracie is a personal and professional mess.

When I was a kid, my mother would shut all the windows so our neighbors wouldn't hear family arguments with my older sister. (Not with me. I learned much by observing.) The McLaughlins are finally opening the windows. Neighbors be damned.

Awesome blend of humor, wit, and emotional-depth. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have read this. I will recommend Ann Napolitano to anyone!

Within Arm’s Reach was a nostalgic jog down memory lane for me. I come from a large Irish Catholic family; our matriarch, my paternal grandmother, has ten children and has lived to see twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty (and counting) great grandchildren. Through reading this novel I felt closer to my grandmother and reflected upon how she may feel about choices she made while raising her family and now.

The novel unfolds from multiple POVs, most of which are members of the family, each struggling within their own lives. A common theme evolves from these struggles, relationships and openly sharing feelings. Kelly and her two daughters Lila and Gracie are unable to communicate or express any shared sentiment or feelings. This has led Gracie to seek love elsewhere and ultimately find herself pregnant and alone. Lila is incapable of forming real attachments and finds that if she cannot she may always be alone. Kelly no longer understands her husband Louis and is unable to help him navigate back to their previous life. Instead, she turns to another to find solace. Louis feels undeserving of his wife and goes to extremes to help a young widow to redeem himself. Catherine presides over it all and realizes the threads that bind her family are loosening. If she is no longer there to stand guard, will they completely unravel?

This poignant tale is not only about family but how the things left unsaid often have more weight than those we have said. I enjoyed this novel and did not find it difficult to navigate between characters. However, if a reader has never experienced such large family life, this may be more difficult. My one critique would be the open ending, this felt incredibly abrupt. I absolutely would have appreciated an epilogue, though I can form my own opinion on how everything turned out. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I wish the marketing for this book made it a big clearer that this is a re-release! Nonetheless, I I enjoyed the characterization and commentary of family, generations, and relationships.

I love Ann Napolitano’s writing, but the POVs and narration made it a bit convoluted. I also wish the ending was more fleshed out.

I loved Hello Beautiful, and I look forward to reading Dear Edward next.

Hello Beautiful was a 5 star read for me last year. A character driven, emotional read about a family of sisters who have to find their space in the world (and their family) while dealing with acceptance and grief. I love complex stories like this where you can see pieces of real life played out on the pages. ⁣
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So when I saw @dialpress had a “new” one coming out, I requested it thinking it would be a literary fiction with a lot of ‘life themes’. Which of course it does but it is also the re release of Ann Napolitano’s debut novel. ⁣
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𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘮’𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 is about a large Irish Catholic family in crisis. As expected, each adult sibling has some other piece of life they’re dealing with that bleeds into their connection to each other, their kids and of course the matriarch: Catharine. ⁣
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Told from multiple POV’s, majority of the story is about Catharine’s oldest living daughter Kelly and her daughters. The other siblings come in and out of the storylines but the heart lies with them. It’s about a matriarch at the end of her life, the large Catholic family that’s faith holds different beliefs to each person and the broken pieces of a large family that don’t know how to be fixed. ⁣
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I would be lying if I didn’t say I saw families I know in this one. There were many times where I felt like I was reading a nonfiction about another large Irish family I know. So seeing some of the cracks played out on pages felt like I was reading their story. ⁣
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If you like Tracey Lange’s books or Hello Beautiful, then I think you would like this one. But just as the Author’s Note (please read), you’ll find that the writing has become smoother over the years. It’s a debut with pieces of her own family connections that the author blurs together.

I love a multigenerational novel--I love Napolitano so much. Her ability to craft a story over multiple generations is outstanding--it can be so difficult to keep characters straight and to give them their place in the story, but few do it better than Napolitano.

I fell in love with Ann Napolitano's writing when I read Hello Beautiful earlier this year, so I was delighted to be gifted an advance copy of her "new" release (actually a re-release of her debut novel)! Within Arm's Reach tells the story of three generations of the McLaughlin family, who are trying to navigate their familial relationships while facing the ghosts of the past and the struggles of the present. When eldest granddaughter Gracie gets pregnant outside of marriage, the strictly Irish Catholic family will have to reassess their values, their history, and their relationships.
This is a beautifully written story, with elements of magical realism and relatable family dynamics. Napolitano just has a way of sweeping you into the worlds she creates, and this time is no different; I couldn't put this book down! With six different narrators, it's fascinating to see how each character interprets the events of the story; you get to know each of them well, and find yourself attached to the family--I was sad to leave them behind when I finished the book! It's also interesting to read this after Hello Beautiful; you can really see the roots of that story (and the Padavano family) here. This is the perfect spring/summer read if you're looking for love (in all its messy forms), family drama, and pervasive NJ summer heat that brings everything to a boiling point.

“Perhaps being free feels like flying. Or, like I fear, it is perhaps the most terrifying thing that can happen to a person, because all of a sudden anything is possible.”

Within Arm’s Reach is Ann Napolitano’s first novel, originally published in 2004, and is being republished at the end of April. Napolitano has written two of my favorite books over the past few years, so when I was given the opportunity to read her first book, I was happy to do it.

The story reminded me quite a bit of Hello Beautiful. It’s a multigenerational story about the Irish Catholic McLaughlin family, told from different points of view. They are not close, and there are good reasons for that - they are all struggling with their own issues, including an unplanned pregnancy, a handicap, unhappy couples, and infertility.

Overall I enjoyed the story. There may have been a few too many things going on though, and not everything was resolved at the end. Still I’m glad I read this book, for a debut it’s very good, especially knowing the great books she went on to write.

Thank you to Netgalley and the pubilsher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. [Quote is from the uncorrected review copy.]

I have been a huge fan of Ann Napolitano's work starting with Dear Edward. And I also enjoyed Hello Beautiful but Within Arm's Reach was painful for me. The writing, as always, is solid. The story construction is solid. But this book is an entire bag of downers. I kept thinking that there will be a bit of happy woven in but really the entire thing is depressing.

This is a story about an extended Irish family that lives in New Jersey. The matriarch, Catherine, is of advanced age and is not happy with how her family is interacting. The story mainly focuses on her "oldest" daughter, Kelly, Kelly's husband, and their two daughters. Each chapter is told from alternating POV between these five characters and two additional characters.

The book felt too long and drug out. The ending felt abrupt and sudden without much resolution. I can appreciate that Napolitano wanted to give readers the opportunity to deduce their own conclusion but a little more closure would have been nice in my opinion.

2 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Diving into Within Arm’s Reach was truly an emotional journey. This book was a heavyweight champion of emotional storytelling, but it was beautifully crafted. The character struggles and strength were painted with such delicate brushstrokes that it felt like witnessing a masterpiece unfold before my eyes.

As a Latina, this book felt like discovering a hidden treasure chest of shared experiences. It's incredible how the theme of family secrets, infertility, loss, disabilities and just day to day struggles resonates across cultures—it's like uncovering a universal truth hidden in plain sight. Whether we're from bustling cities, sleepy towns or different cultures, the struggle to keep it all together within our families is a thread that binds us all.

Within Arm’s Reach is more than just a story—it's a reminder that we're all just trying to keep our heads above water in the wild sea of life. With every page turned, I felt a little less alone in my journey, and a little more connected to the hearts beating in every corner of the world.

Thank You! It was a delight to dive into the pages of this gem. I can't wait to hold a physical copy in my hands, to feel the weight of its words and let it take its place among my collection.

This is a hard story to read. The McLaughlin family, who aren’t very close, are forced to examine themselves and their morals and values in the face of their ill Matriarch, Catherine.

There are many events happening, an unplanned pregnancy, a car accident, disability, infertility, and, matters of the heart. These events are complicated by guilt, resentment, religious beliefs, family honour and complete and total dysfunction.

The story is certainly very thought provoking and I was very conflicted while I was reading. However, I don’t feel this was as emotionally gripping as Hello Beautiful or Dear Edward. Nor are any of these characters likeable. Some of them have interesting perceptions.

For her debut novel (this is a re-release), it’s a valiant effort. 3.75 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of a large Irish family told through alternating points of view. The characters were interesting and each one was struggling with something that was holding them back from leading a fulfilling life. There are secrets, lies, and betrayal. The old saying, "You can't pick your family" came back to me often while reading this book. They all share a sense of connection even if they don't really want to.
I was surprised to learn, at the end after reading the Author's Note, that this was one of Ann Napolitano's earlier novels which was re-released.
I enjoyed the novel but I kept waiting for the story lines to get wrapped up and they didn't. I would love to know what happened to the characters in the future as there were too many loose ends.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. Napolitano has a unique way of showing families with flaws and all. This book’s twist of familial connection at the end was something I wasn’t expecting and a nice connection to the beginning of the novel.