Complex family dynamics and a multiple generational story that really told a great story of how connected we all are . So glad this was republished

I am sure there are many readers who will read this book because of Ms Napolitano's other novels. However, I found it difficult to follow at first and then found that I really didn't like any of the characters, except perhaps the grandmother and even she held sway over her children and grandchildren partly because she was helping to support them financially. The story was a little convoluted and I got a little tired of Catherine's visions and how I think it was all supposed to tie together, but somehow I could never see the connections. Maybe it is just me that was a little uncomfortable with this book or I have not been thrilled with her other books, maybe she is just not the author for me...

It's worth reading this book for the superb writing. The prose just flowed from one sentence to another, enhancing a story that kept building and building.
It's the account of 3 generations of an Irish American family. It contains all the complexities of what makes the members of a family tick. The drama of differing viewpoints of young and old, and acceptance of those viewpoints clash right from the beginning. It was a bit difficult keeping track of the many characters and those differing viewpoints, but it was still an engrossing read.

Family dynamics are always tough, this book covers a lot of those. An Irish Catholic family, with a daughter who is pregnant (and not married), secrets, lies, and keeping the image of a happy family. I think Ann wrote about these topics in a very eloquent way, while still showing the struggles that this family was facing (however true to her family or not).

This wasn't a OMG go by this read, but this was a very interesting read, one that makes you think a bit more.

This novel was originally published 20 years ago and the publisher re-released the book this year.

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for my DRC.

Having read several of Napolitano's other novels, it was great to go back and revisit this debut. At first, I had a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight, but it became easier as the book went on. I love a good family drama, and the addition of the outsider character was an interesting perspective.

I liked the multi-generational family dynamic in this novel. The differences between the generations and how they approach life was fascinating. It was a little hard to keep track of all the characters at first but I felt like they were all important to the story. I love that Ann got to publish her first novel after having so much success with her others.

This family drama novel by Ann Napolitano is a perfectly narrated story of a large Irish family. When an unexpected pregnancy shakes a big Catholic family, how will they come together or be torn apart? The characters and voices are unique and relatable. I love this author!

Three generations of an Irish-American family deal with some typical family issues -- petty disagreements, difficult marriages, an aging matriarch, a pregnant granddaughter, and more. If you're into books about family drama, this is a great book. This is Ann Napolitano's first book, reissued in response to her recent success. I enjoyed the book, but her later fiction is much better. The character development is excellent, and she has created some memorable characters. I enjoyed the book, but it's certainly not her best.

With so many pov’s it was hard to keep everyone straight and made it harder to connect to anyone as I’m trying to figure out who they are in the grand scheme of things. Throw in the extra person and I’m out. Overall the story was fine but difficult to read

This book was was okay, but I much preferred Hello Beautiful, it read slow for me.There is beauty in tragedy.

This was a tense family drama, full of unspoken feelings, generational wounds, and more. I did really enjoy Napolitano's writing style; however, I found the story fairly forgettable in a world full of many similar novels.

I enjoyed the grandma's character and her persistence to try and forge togetherness within a family that seems determined to drift apart without her, and there were many moments that spoke beautifully to the complicated feelings that are often at the heart of family structures.

Thank you @netgalley @prhaudio @thedialpress for this gifted ebook and audiobook!

I’ve had a month full of creepy, paranormal and fantasy books , but in true mood reader fashion I picked this one up after it just sort of called from me from my kindle library. I read this with mostly my ears, because @marinireland was one in a full cast of narrators 👏 I’ll literally listen to most anything she narrates.

I don’t read a ton of family dramas, but the ones I’ve loved are among some of my favorite books. As far as this story goes, I was a little underwhelmed. It read pretty quickly and held my attention, but wasn’t unique enough to leave a lasting impression. The characters in this family were all pretty unlikable. While I enjoyed tagging along on their growth journeys, I felt like there were some real loose ends in a unsatisfying way for me.

I think if you enjoy family dramas full of messy characters that are imperfect and love each other imperfectly, this would be worth picking up! I’d definitely do the audio. I’m such a sucker for a full cast.

Also, don’t skip the author’s note at the end. It did really make me appreciate the story more!

🖤 What’s a show you’ve been I to lately? Or a music artist?
Random two throwbacks, but I’ve listened to hours of Lil Wayne this morning bopping around my kitchen and am rewatching season one of Detroiters. I’m obsessed with @tsrobinson23

🖤 🖤 This is the kindle scribe. That’s why it’s huge. What are your thoughts on the new kindle colorsoft? I got the scribe last year and don’t feel any need to replace it for like many many years to come. Posting in b&w on purpose, still cute

🏷️
#annnapolitano #withinarmsreach #kindle #kindlebooks #earc #backlistbooks #netgalley #rsrbcarctober #booksiread #bookblogger #booksandplants #plantmom #momswhoread #arcreader #bookreview

This one is hard for me to rate because the bar was set so high with Hello Beautiful! I enjoyed this, but it didn't come close to the love I felt for Ann's first book.

I love family dynamics and multi generation stories, however this one was a bit slow for me at times--probably should have waited to do the audio. When you listen at 2.5x speed, even the dragging moments of a book fly by.

I didn't realize that this was a reprint of one of the author's first book. I loved Hello Beautiful, so thought I would love this one, too. Not so. Disappointing.

I've liked other novels by Napolitano but I found this one so tedious and difficult to get through. It's the story of 3 generations of the Irish American McLaughlin family, mostly told from the perspective of the women. There are many elements of family expectations, dysfunction, loss and grief. It was painful, it seems like everybody in this family needed love and support and nobody was capable of communicating with anybody else. I'm honestly not sure what the whole point of the novel was other than to peek in on a large and troubled family bound by their religion and generational trauma.

I will 10000% read anything from Ann Napolitano! Her stories of multi-generational family, loss, love, regret, memories, heartbreak and finding strength in your family - all told by different viewpoints -just speaks to me. Her writing is simply perfection. You can visual every character and action they take. Its spellbinding. It's on my re-read list just so I can enjoy it again! No one does family like Ann! Thank you to NetGalley and Crown for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I really enjoyed this read. The book covered a multi-generational catholic family and all their thorns. I really appreciated that the pov changes and you get the different viewpoints throughout. There is so much going on within the members of this family and it is almost an implosion for all the characters as they deal with their strife and try to come out on the other side. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

"Within Arm's Reach: Sisters" by Ann Napolitano is a poignant exploration of sisterhood, identity, and the complexities of familial relationships. The narrative delves into the lives of two sisters, intertwining their personal struggles and shared history. The characters are well-developed, each struggling with their own issues while reflecting the deep ties that both connect and divide them. Themes of love, loyalty, and the search for self-acceptance resonate throughout, making it a relatable read for anyone who has navigated complicated family dynamics.