Reviews

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

mikolee's review against another edition

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2.0

A family story of adult children and their parents. Sweet tale that felt like an amalgam of several novels combined with episodes of the tv show parenthood. A quick read of life in NE in 2008 when three adult children and their myriad of issues come home to their parents for an extended visit. A little too neatly wrapped up at the end.

mimi_me's review against another edition

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3.0

A smart beach read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of family. All of the adult children of Ginny and William Owen return home one summer, families, spouses and crisis. Throughout the summer they learn about what is important to themselves and each other, process past hurts and learn to love and accept.

holly2kidsandtired's review against another edition

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1.0

Family dynamics fascinate me so the premise for The Arrivals sounded good. All the adult children returning home at the same time and all in some sort of crisis. The problem was that not one of these characters is at all likeable. Well, except maybe William. The rest are whiny, complaining, selfish people. I finished it, hoping these characters might grow on me. Sorry, no.

Predictably, they all resolve their particular issues and everyone goes their separate ways, leaving William and Ginny empty nesters once more. But by the time that happened, I didn't care.

People will call it real or endearing or fresh, but for me it was a story that sounded promising but ultimately couldn't deliver.

lisamadden's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a very enjoyable read. Ginny and William are suddenly overrun by their three children, who all run into major crisis situations at the same time and run home. Lillian has her three year old daughter and three month old son with her, and has to give up her old room to her brother Stephen, whose wife goes into premature labor while on a quick visit and ends up bedridden for the next few months. And then Rachel decides instead of dealing with the fact she can no longer afford her Manhattan apartment since her boyfriend moved out, and that she might just not love her job, runs home too and camps out in her old bedroom with her 3-year-old niece. I love Ginny's point of view -- where she feels a bit overwhelmed with it all, what she really loves is that they NEED her, and have expressed that by running home. Though that of course makes her wonder, did she mess everyone up? It is a very sweet book.

eam84's review against another edition

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4.0

I thought this book was going to be too simplistic a topic at first, but the author developed the characters well. A happy ending for this family of flawed humans.

rachelgallops's review

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emotional
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

mbedrosian's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lola425's review against another edition

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3.0

Reminded me of Maine by Sullivan or even Three Weissmanns of Westport. Entertaining read, if not earth shattering. The characters are all kind of whiny, all disappointed because life isn't handing them everything they always dreamed of, all looking to see what someone else has and being jealous of it. Really, there are no problems in this book that couldn't be solved by a solid sawt upside the head. I will say that one or two images of parents looking at their adult children and remebering the young children they were really resonated with me, but all in all just a story like many others.

anhurley15's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

katietotallybooked's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0