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About the Book
"William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. So it's a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her appreciation of his quiet steadiness. With Julia comes her family; she is inseparable from her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book and imagines a future different from the expected path of wife and mother; Cecelia, the family's artist; and Emeline, who patiently takes care of all of them. Happily, the Padavanos fold Julia's new boyfriend into their loving, chaotic household. But then darkness from William's past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia's carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters' unshakeable loyalty to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?"--Book Synopsis
From the New York Times bestselling author of Dear Edward comes a poignant and engrossing family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole? "Hello Beautiful is exactly that: beautiful, perceptive, wistful. It's a story of family and friendship, of how the people we are bound to can also set us free. I loved it."--Miranda Cowley Heller, author of The Paper Palace William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him--so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it's as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family's dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos. But then darkness from William's past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia's carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters' unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most? An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott's timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.Review Quotes
"Ann Napolitano's new novel, Hello Beautiful, is exactly that: beautiful, perceptive, wistful. It's a story of family and friendship, of how the people we are bound to can also set us free. I loved it."--Miranda Cowley Heller, New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace "A rich, complex family saga, Hello Beautiful is a portrait of love and grief in equal measure. Napolitano's prose is so lovely, so keenly perceptive, that it held me captive until I finished. A lot of people are going to love this story."--Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes
"Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving and propulsive novel about the deepest connections of family and love, trauma and healing. In intricately elegant prose, Ann Napolitano explores both the cost and power of loyalty and honesty. This is a book to treasure and share with friends and loved ones."--Angie Kim, bestselling author of Miracle Creek "Hello Beautiful is the work of a great author at the height of her powers. Equally immersive, emotional, and brilliantly crafted, this is an early contender for best novel of the year."--J. Ryan Stradal, New York Times bestselling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest "In Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano treats readers to that rare pairing in fiction: intelligence and tenderness. And what a treat that is! This is a story about family and sisters and storytelling, but it's also an examination of identity and the consequences of doing love badly and how love can be redeemed. I was moved by the Padavano family's journey through all of that. Read this book! You'll be glad you did."--Therese Anne Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of It All Comes Down to This "Like great jazz, Hello Beautiful takes a melody and transforms it. This is a richly woven story about family, but it's also a unique take on Little Women. There are no heroes or villains here, only people--flawed and loving and striving like the rest of us. 'Generosity' is the word that comes to mind when I reflect on this gorgeous novel."--Allegra Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of The Cookbook Collector and Sam
About the Author
Ann Napolitano is the author of Dear Edward, which was an instant New York Times bestseller, a Read with Jenna selection, and which will soon be released as an Apple TV+ series. She is also the author of the novels A Good Hard Look and Within Arm's Reach. For seven years, Napolitano was the associate editor of the literary magazine One Story, and she received an MFA from New York University. She has taught fiction writing at Brooklyn College's MFA program, New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and Gotham Writers Workshop.Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Sub-Genre: Family Life
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Number of Pages: 400
Publisher: Dial Press
Format: Hardcover
Author: Ann Napolitano
Language: English
Street Date: March 14, 2023
TCIN: 87358781
UPC: 9780593243732
Item Number (DPCI): 059-01-7848
Origin: Made in the USA
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.61 inches length x 6.43 inches width x 9.55 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.39 pounds
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4.3 out of 5 stars with 32 reviews
50% would recommend
8 recommendations
Beautiful.
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
ks924 - 1 month ago, Verified purchaser
3 words come to mind when thinking about this book: Beautiful - Devastating - Quiet The writing is absolutely beautiful. The characters are very relatable on such a real & humanly level. I loved Sylvie. She's such a carefree dreamer that's just waiting for her soulmate to come along & she's not willing to settle on anyone until she truly feels that full electrifying connection that she only reads about in books. Never wanting to take the same path as anyone else around her. And the inseparable close sister bond that Julia, Sylvie, Cecelia & Emeline have is so beautiful. This book isn't for everyone. It's extremely emotional & deals with some heavy grief, depression, trauma & healing. I feel like, to like it you have to be able to appreciate the story. Have the tissues handy with this one.
Hello Beautiful
5 out of 5 stars
Stellason - 1 month ago, Verified purchaser
I have heard this is a good novel.
Forced myself to finish
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
ESL - 7 months ago
Was looking forward to this book for my Bookclub. Quarter way into book I reached out to our group asking if it gets better. They said stick with it. So I did. It was painfully slow and boring. Sure she developed the characters but it was too slow for me. And predictive. Cannot recommend. And actually wish I could get those hours back!
So incredibly slow
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
GX - 9 months ago, Verified purchaser
Slow and boring. I had to skip pages and force myself to finish. Not for me…
Great book
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Henni - 10 months ago, Verified purchaser
Excellent easy read.
Forced myself to finish
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Stcollins79 - 1 year ago
Such a boring read, with boring characters and zero substance. It was a chore to finish.
Not for me
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
ereciew - 1 year ago
I found this book incredibly boring and was trying to force myself to finish it, but I just realized I’m still only halfway through and have to give up. The main character, William, is depressing and literally has no personality. It’s a family story about him, his wife, and his wife’s sisters. The sisters are mildly more interesting than him, but I really could not get myself to care about any of the characters. I kept thinking it must get better but I’m almost 200 pages in and it’s still dull.
LOVED! A must read!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Read A Book With McCall - 2 years ago, Verified purchaser
SYNOPSIS: William Waters grew up with out any love from his parents. Buried with grief, they had no attention or love to give to their son. The 4 Padavano sisters have a fierce love for one another and their family. When Williams basketball talent takes him to Northwestern University, he meets Julia Padavano. As these 5 lives start to intertwine what is left is a story of raw emotion and characters that take us through the depths of the human experience. • THOUGHTS: This book! The characters in this novel are relatable on such a human level. I love how Napolitano wrote from multiple POVs, yet not one character outshined another. I was so deeply invested in each story. A reimagined modern day version of Little Women, It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s all woven together in a special way. Napolitano really touches on what it means to be loved and understood by those closest to us. She also challenges the reader with some tough questions. What does it mean to live your life as your most authentic self? Can we survive a life without any love at all? What about the relationship with have with ourself? How does that impact those around us? The domino effect of all these questions leaves us with some complex, yet very real characters all trying to do their best. These characters are flawed and real, but they are living lives as genuine as they are capable of. I loved it. • Grab this book and grab your tissues. It’s one worth reading friends. Also, have you ever seen a more beautiful cover?
A Great Book Club Pick
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Akbaird - 2 years ago
This book will rip your heart out before slowly putting it back together and developing into a heartwarming story. A well told story that highlights many issues including childhood neglect/ abandonment, trauma, and depression and the dangers of not getting help for them. This book highlights the ups and downs of William’s life and how his childhood experiences shaped his adulthood. William felt he was never recognized as a child until boys on the basketball court invited him to play. His parents didn’t pay much attention to him, due to his parents grieving about his sister’s death. Therefore, William knew he had to create the life he wanted on his own. Thanks to advice he was given early on about basketball, he was able to be successful in high school, where he was awarded a scholarship to play for Northwestern University. William found support in his college girlfriend Julia, who supported him along with her family throughout college. William and Julia ended up getting married. William’s life is consumed with basketball, teaching, grad-school, his wife and a new baby, but will this be enough? Is this the life that makes him happy? This book will have you turning the pages to find out. I loved how even though the book was focused on William, the author chose to have each chapter from a different perspective, including William. Each chapter that was not from the perspective of William was from a person who was important to William, such as his wife, daughter, sister-in-law, on their perspectives and how he affected their lives. This author does a good job of capturing the struggles and grief of the characters! This book is not for the light-hearted as it dives into heavy-hitting topics. Even though this book will leave you feeling satisfied in the end, it’s one of those stories that leaves a lasting impression! Perfect for those who are fans of Elizabeth Strout and Elizabeth Berg as this book reminds me a lot of books written by them. A great book club pick as well as this will lead to many interesting discussions.