I review women's fiction for Library Journal. Here's the review that ran in the March 1 issue, reprinted with permission.
Moore, Meg Mitchell. The Arrivals. Reagan Arthur: Little, Brown.May 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780316097710. $24.99. F
William and Ginny Owens enjoy a quiet retirement in Vermont until their adult children return home one summer. Their oldest, Lillian, flees from a cheating husband, bringing a three-year-old and an infant. Thirty-five-year-old Stephen only planned a spontaneous weekend visit with his pregnant wife, but a medical emergency puts her in bed for the rest of the summer. Ginny picks up Rachel, the youngest, who’s had a miscarriage, left New York, and feels as if she’s failed at her job and her life. Glad to be needed, Ginny and William initially welcome their children home, but over the summer, they become tired and angry. When selfish people who haven’t grown up harbor secrets and spend too much time together, it won’t be long before the household is torn apart. VERDICT Reading about angry, immature adults can be tedious. With more sympathetic characters, Eleanor Brown’s The Weird Sisters is a better choice for a story about adult children returning home. This debut novel is recommended with reservations for readers who enjoy family stories.—Lesa Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ
FTC Full Disclosure - My copy was supplied by Library Journal in order to review the book.
