Ann Napolitano has taken the literary world by storm lately. In 2023, her most recent novel Hello Beautiful became the 100th Oprah’s Book Club pick. From there it went on to become a New York Times bestseller and has surpassed 1 million copies sold. Similarly, her wildly popular novel Dear Edward became a television series on Apple TV+. Now, Napolitano is on tour as she re-releases her debut novel, Within Arms Reach. During one of those stops, she came to Arizona (home of She Reads) and we got the chance to discover what a few of her favorite reads have been. Make sure you check out her latest novels and the books Ann couldn’t put down herself.

Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano

The McLaughlin family must re-examine their well-established views and beliefs as Irish Catholics when they find out about their youngest daughter, Gracie’s, pregnancy. With narration from six different characters in the story, readers get an interesting view of the situation from all the family members’ perspectives. The McLaughlins struggle to find understanding and common ground, while each reconciles their past mistakes and secrets, further dividing the family.

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Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

William has a tragic past where the only person he could rely on was himself, and Julia is the opposite of this when it comes to her sisters and their unbreakable connection. Julia and her family welcome William with open arms, but when the past comes for William, loyalties between the sisters begin to crack, threatening to tear the entire family apart.

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Now dive into Ann’s favorite, recently released books for a peek into what stories fuel her creativity.

James

James by Percival Everett

Receiving high praise from the New York Times as a “Best Book of the Year (So Far),” James is a gritty and darkly hilarious retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, from Jim’s perspective. This story follows the major events of the original story but gives readers a view into Jim’s mind, expanding upon his intelligence and true nature.

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Trust by Hernan Diaz

The Pulitzer Prize Winner in Fiction in 2023, Trust, is about an extremely wealthy couple in the 1920s. He is a Wall Street mogul, and she comes from a well-established family. This story examines the rise and fall of the excess-oriented era, the privilege and power money can provide, and how far people will go to keep it.

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In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Winn’s debut novel tells the story of two boys during WWI, Sydney Ellwood and Henry Gaunt. While they attend school in a small English town, they hear news every day of their old classmates dying at war. After his family asks him to join the war, Gaunt enlists, thankful for time away from Ellwood, his classmate he is secretly in love with. However, Ellwood, who has hidden feelings for Gaunt, also enlists alongside their classmates. After losing dozens of friends to the war, will their love see them through to the end, or will the battle tear them apart?

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North Woods by Daniel Mason

A young couple set off on their own, fleeing the town that tries to keep them apart and find a small cabin in the woods where they can live. Years later, the couple passes away, but the cabin they lived in remains the host to others seeking refuge. From soldiers to con men, artists and panthers, the cabin is home to many and holds stories from all its visitors for years to come.

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Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

When a young Latin tutor, Henley, and an extraordinary healer, Agnes, fall in love in 1580, they quickly marry and start a family. Their little life is wonderful. Agnes is a protective and loving mother to their son, and Henley is pursuing his dreams of acting in London. All is well, until their young son catches a life threating and dangerous illness, the Black Death.

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