Author: Ann Napolitano

Genre: General Fiction

Publication Date: April 30, 2024 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

“Within Arm’s Reach” brings readers into the fold of an intergenerational, large family, who are shaken in different ways by unexpected news. They live in a culture where emotions are often buried beneath tradition, and the book explores the ways in which guilt, loyalty, and the enduring ties that bind us together can adapt and change over time, for better or for worse.

If you have read anything by Ann Napolitano before, you know she does well at writing about characters past traumas and present problems, with just enough hope, humor, and wit added in to make the people she writes easier to connect with. The McLaughlin’s are a typical devout Catholic family that would rather stay silent than have the difficult conversations. As they all learn about one of their family member’s situation, they are forced to start confronting their individual fear as well as long-held family secrets. Some of the family is easier to feel sympathetic towards than others, but as the storylines evolve, it becomes easier to gain a deeper understanding of this flawed family. “Within Arm’s Reach” reminders its readers of the importance of communication, understanding, and the huge impact love in all its forms can have on us and those around us.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Random House , and Dial Press Trade Paperback for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.