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The Arrivals: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,008 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Two empty nesters living a quiet life have their lives changed overnight as each of their children returns home to recover under the guidance of their parents in this story of relationships and familial connections.
First, their daughter Lillian arrives, with her two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage. Next, their son Stephen and his pregnant wife Jane show up for a weekend visit, which extends indefinitely when Jane ends up on bed rest. When their youngest daughter Rachel appears, fleeing her difficult life in New York, Ginny and William find themselves consumed again by the chaos of parenthood -- only this time around, their children are facing adult problems.
By summer's end, the family gains new ideas of loyalty and responsibility, exposing the challenges of surviving the modern family -- and the old adage, once a parent, always a parent, has never rung so true.
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"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."
— Lisa (4 out of 5 stars)
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“The Arrivals is told from multiple points of view, always a tricky maneuver. But Moore handles the shifts in perspective with ease, nimbly evoking the reader's sympathy for each family member.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“In her uplifting debut novel, The Arrivals, Meg Mitchell Moore charmingly examines what happens when adult children return to the familiar fold of the family home in search of solid footing when their own lives begin to falter.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Featuring sharp dialogue and witty, easily recognizable characters, Moore's debut takes an engaging, often humorous look at a family's struggle to cope with the passage of time and shifting family dynamics. It is a clear reminder of the changing yet changeless nature of families and the individuals who inhabit them.”
— Booklist -
“Meg Mitchell Moore's perceptive first novel becomes a moving story about conflicted adult children who are still learning how to be grown-ups.”
— AARP magazine -
“The Arrivals is a refreshing reminder that no matter how independent we are, we always turn to those we love and depend on in moments of need. Readers witness how each character arrives at the family house and undergoes a gradual transition into a stronger, more loving, and understanding adult by the book’s end.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
The Arrivals Listener Reviews
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" Great book about grown adults coming home to their parents for various reasons. Would recommend, read in a few days. Easy read. "
— Micaela, 2/20/2014 -
" Not bad, not great. The story was lacking any real conflict or depth. "
— Heather, 1/28/2014 -
" This is a story of grown children coming home to their parents house for one reason or another. I really liked this book and the thoughts on all of us having the need to feel needed as well as the need to be there for others. I was sad when I was done reading it because I liked the characters and wanted to know more about how their lives continued. "
— Lonni, 1/28/2014 -
" Quick read but a bit slow, boring with not much plot. would give it a 2.5. "
— Bridget, 1/25/2014 -
" I enjoyed this book very much. Empty nesters birds fly back to the nest. I can identify with the mother. She tries to fix her children problems. Sounds familiar to me. Easy summer reading. predictable, but worth reading. "
— Barbara, 1/22/2014 -
" I couldn't finish this book. It just didn't hold my interest. I'll probably end up try to read it again in the future. "
— Claire, 1/14/2014 -
" This book drew me in from page one, a book experience I haven't had in a long time. I loved it. It deals with a couple who has finished raising their three children...or at least they thought they had. Their empty next is suddenly invaded by the "arrival" of their offspring, some with no warning whatsoever, and (in one case)their children's offspring as well. Ginny and William learn some lessons about family life right along with their children. They dialog is excellent in this book. It sounds very true as you listen to the characters interacting with one another. This is a wonderful book. "
— Karen, 1/12/2014 -
" it was ok - a good beach book -family melodrama that doesn't really go anywhere although I don't know if it was suppose to...three adult kids find themselves bake at home for the summer ..... "
— Debbie, 12/30/2013 -
" Great book, very easy read. You can tell she is a mother herself and I definitely felt for the different characters. "
— Jessica, 12/30/2013 -
" It's a laid-back book. Remind you of your own family with all the drama and everything. "
— Anna, 12/21/2013 -
" Good book about a family coming back together through a series of challenging events. "
— Angie, 12/7/2013 -
" JUST like the book I read 5 minutes ago. How weird. "
— Lea, 12/4/2013 -
" Good easy read. The characters are likable and easy to relate to. "
— Amanda, 11/29/2013 -
" I loved this book -- well written characters, and I could really relate to the story line. "
— Wendi, 11/22/2013 -
" This reminded me of J. Courtney Sullivan's MAINE - the family dynamic, the converging on the family home. It was a good read, an impressive debut. "
— Keetha, 11/15/2013 -
" Clunky prose. Stereotypical characters. Stilted dialogue. "
— Aubrey, 8/20/2013 -
" Gave me something to do.. just a summer read. Kinda like drinking watered down kool-aid, you keep hoping there will be more to it. "
— Angela, 8/7/2013 -
" I wanted to like this more, but the cast of characters seemed too familiar and they didn't quite match the quirkiness of real people. I suppose the story and its resolution could be comforting for those with "who am I and where am I going?" angst. "
— Kirsten, 4/30/2013 -
" Good summer read. Light and easy. Could easily see this made into a movie. "
— Amy, 4/23/2013 -
" I am not a parent, but reading this book almost made me feel like I got a heart-wrenching glimpse into what it would be like; the fact that I cried uncontrollably when I took my cat to get her teeth cleaned (requiring her to be put under) doesn't even come close. "
— Eden, 2/20/2013 -
" Made me laugh; made me cringe! "
— mullady, 12/26/2012 -
" Light and entertaining comtempary fiction about grown children who return home for a visit bringing their personal problems along with them. "
— Phyl, 7/13/2012 -
" I wanted to read this book because I found out the author lives in my town and is a member of my local moms club! I ended up really enjoying it and found myself highlighting different phrases here and there (re: being a mom/parent) which is something I never do! "
— Deanna, 6/22/2012
About Meg Mitchell Moore
Meg Mitchell Moore worked for several years as a journalist. Her work has been published in Yankee, Continental, Women’s Health, Advertising Age, and many other business and consumer magazines. She received a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and a master’s degree in English literature from New York University. Meg lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with her husband, their three children, and a beloved border collie.
About Leslie Bellair
Leslie Bellair is a voice-over artist, stage and film actor, trained singer, and certified speech-language pathologist. Her voice can be heard on the iPhone application “Diss Crazy!,” the online game “Back to the Cubeture 2,” various audio books published for Audible, Inc., Carina Press, and Oxford Press, as well as the short animated Christmas movie An Elf’s Story. Her professional musical theater work in the Atlanta area has greatly contributed to the characterizations and versatility she brings to the voice-over mic.