I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I hesitate to call it an ARC because the book was originally published in 2004 to little fanfare and it has since fallen our of print. The recent success of the author's latest books, Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful, has created the need to re-release this fine earlier work.

This book is more about characters than plot. It is about family, an Irish-American family, three generations of family. The plot, such as it is, centers around Gracie, a single woman in her twenties, who gets pregnant out of wedlock. How does Gracie handle her pregnancy? How will the child be raised? Will the father have a role in the child's upbringing? How do Gracie's siblings, her parents, her aunts and uncles and especially her grandmother react to the surprise pregnancy?

But this book is not all about Gracie. Her younger sister Lila is also featured. Lila is studying to become a doctor, but may not have the will and desire to complete her studies. Gracie's parents are also featured, as their marriage is somewhat on the rocks and each of her parents may be on the hunt for another partner.

And the grandmother (Catharine) has sort of a regal presence in the book. She is close to 80 years old but commands the respect of the younger generations, some of whom fear her wrath to this day.

Excellent writing. Six different narrators from around the family, but not confusing because the story basically stays on one timeline, though some essential family history is effectively and efficiently presented along the way.

An ARC of the re-published novel Within Arm's Reach was offered to me by the publisher, and loving Ann Napolitano's previous novel Hello, Beautiful so much, I was excited to start this one right away.

Within Arm's Reach is a story of an Irish Catholic family whose members have drifted apart over three generations. Widowed matriarch, Catherine, is determined to pull her family together after the realization that her granddaughter, Gracie, is pregnant. Gracie lacks direction in her life, and the father of the unborn child is not in the picture. Not everyone in the McLaughlin family is as optimistic about Gracie's pregnancy as Catherine. While Gracie's situation is at the heart of the novel, the story unfolds through six different points of view. We meet Lila, Gracie's over-achieving sister; her mother, Kelley; father, Louis, who is Kelley's husband and son-in law to Catherine; and later in the novel we are introduced to Noreen, a grieving wife and not part of the McLaughlin family, yet woven into the fabric of the family through tragedy.

This novel is very much character-driven. While I enjoyed the story, I did not connect with any of the characters very much with the exception of Noreen, whose story was the least shared. The ending also left me wanting to know more. This is the third book I have read by Ann Napolitano and it seems each book gets better. Within Arm's Reach is her freshman book. I definitely enjoyed Hello, Beautiful and Dead Edward more, but it is clear with this book that she has great promise and I will continue to eagerly reach for her upcoming books.

Thanks to Dial Press Trade (Random House) and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is Ann Napolitano's debut novel, having adored Dear Edward and Hello Beautiful, I could not resist reading this. You can see all her promising talent laid bare here, a storyline that focuses on the complexities and dysfunctions of a New Jersey Irish Catholic McLaughlin family and the impact and repercussions of the unmarried Gracie's pregnancy on the different members of the family. Narrated by members of the family, we are given their distinctly different and personal perspectives, and their past histories, beliefs, the births and deaths, the towering figure of strength that is Gram (Catherine), who is delighted with her coming great great grand child, the bond between Gracie and Gram is so strong. However, Gram is dying, watched over by Noreen Ballen.

You get a real feel for the ways families have their own particular unspoken language, the silences, lack of communication, the emotions, the love, guilt, the secrets, what it is to be an outsider, and all the other aspects that define what it is to be family, the pros and the cons. I have no doubt there will be much that is likely to resonate for readers. An understanding and perceptive family drama, of life, death and birth, a debut from an author who will go on to grow in stature. Many thanks to the publisher.

Dear Edward had me ugly snot crying. I jumped at the chance to read Napolitano's first novel. I flew through the first 150 pages and hated to put it down.
I loved that we have a story about a family that spans over 3 generations. While my family is not huge, we are a big family. My aunts and uncles were/are my second parents. My cousins are more like my siblings and our children are the same. So a lot of this hit home for me!

Thank you NetGalley!

Ann writes some of my favorite books. I love the exploration of family and generations of voices. It was challenging to follow Within Arm's Reach because of its multiple characters and time frames. I finished the story and found it to be powerful. Reading about tense family relationships and hardships and secrets is a fave of mine! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.