What readers think of Hello Beautiful, plus links to write your own review.

Because I read a lot of books, I am often asked, "What is your favorite book?" Well, that is an impossible question! Who is my favorite child? But I do have a list of my top 10 favorite books, and this one just catapulted onto it. In addition to good old-fashioned storytelling that kept me turning the pages, this novel is filled with solid life advice, a compelling plot, and characters I fell in love with.

Written by Ann Napolitano, this is the story of the four Padavano sisters: Julia, the organizer and leader who is expert at solving everyone's problems; Sylvie, an avid reader with deep romantic yearnings; Emeline, the nurturer who loves children; and Cecelia, an artist who sees in her soul the palette of colors that make up the world. In a salute to Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," the novel, which takes place from 1960 to 2008, is a modern-day version of the four March sisters with many plot twists, turns, and surprises that are not in that classic novel.

The Padavano family lives in Pilson, an ethnically-diverse working class neighborhood in Chicago. Julia lives at home while attending Northwestern University where she meets William Waters, a six-foot seven-inch basketball player. She decides they will marry, and they do, mostly because William enjoys having Julia organize his life. And William, who is estranged from his family for heartbreaking (actually, somewhat shocking) reasons, is thrilled to be part of the chaotic and loving Padavano family. Life is good…for a while. But something happens to William that may tear apart not only his marriage to Julia, but also shatter the entire Padavano family, who rely on their love and loyalty to make their lives whole again—even if it takes decades.

With vivid and bold characters, this novel just grabbed me from the first page and wouldn't let go. It is emotionally searing but filled with life wisdom, devastating but insightful, tender but fierce. Most of all, it inspires a sense of hope after grief and loss—even when everything feels hopeless. The novel about our human need for connection to one another made me smile…and laugh…and cry. It's everything. It's nearly perfect.

Bonus: The book cover is gorgeous! And it has a special meaning that you'll figure out in the second half of the book.

Trigger warning: There is an attempted suicide in the novel.

I love Ann’s writing & this is by far my favorite book of hers. I don’t think it’s quite the new or updated Little Women as it sold to me as. I think it stands on its own with its own merits & things to say. I say as a Little women Stan. This book was complex & deals with sisterhood, infidelity, complex family trauma, serious mental health issues & intergenerational trauma. I loved every character, i loved how flawed they were allowed to be & how Ann allowed them to grow as we often do in life. The sisterly bond spoke me on a personal level even if I disagreed with the way they behaved I understood the characters. It’s a gorgeous story, a sweeping novel that you don’t want to put down & it stays with you. It reminds you that even though you may grow as a person your mistakes have consequences & hurt those you love most.

One of the most amazing books I have ever read. A book that can bring a tear to my eye is one to remember.

I applaud the author’s ability to create characters so completely relatable you are drawn into the family.

Kudos.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is a very highly recommended, poignant and complex family saga. One of the best novels and character studies I've read this year. Absolutely excellent!

William Waters grew up feeling completely isolated and unloved by his parents. One world he was accepted in was playing basketball and so he embraced that identity. When Julia Padavano, an assertive young woman who knows what she wants, meets him during their freshman year of college, she decides William will be her boyfriend. She introduces him to her three sisters: Sylvie, Cecelia, and Emeline and then has him come to their home for dinner. William is overwhelmed and immediately accepted by the loving but boisterous family and he is grateful Julia cares and is in charge.

The two marry, according to Julia's plans, and she presses on with her agenda for their future. When events occur in the family that she can't control, it unsettles the foundation of her plans. The sisters continue to hold their strong bond to each other, but when a crippling darkness and depression take William over, Julia and William divorce, and William gives up all rights to their infant daughter, Alice. Sylvie, however, understands Williams struggles and she stays by his side, along with support from Cecelia and Emeline. Julia takes Alice and starts a new life in New York City, apart from his sisters.

The narrative alternates between the voices of William, Julia, Sylvie, and late in the book, Alice. At the beginning of each chapter are the years covered in the narration. The events corresponds realistically to the time periods covered. William is the first narrator and the chapter covers 1960-1978, starting with his birth. This continues until the last chapter set in 2008. Written into the narrative is a homage to Louisa May Alcott’s, Little Women, with the four sisters each taking on a different role.

Hello Beautiful is an exquisitely written, complicated, and perceptive family drama that asks if love make a broken person whole? Beyond that it is so much more. It is an exceptional character study. With great compassion and care, the narrative is an examination of how people can support each other during times of struggle and build a meaningful life. It is a celebration of family and friendship during the difficult times.

Honestly, these are some of the most finely written and well-developed characters I've encountered in a long time. All of the characters in Hello Beautiful are fully realized, and portrayed as authentic, unique individuals with flaws and strengths. They all experience change and growth. There is great insight into their inner lives and relationships with each other. Certainly Hello Beautiful will be on my list of best novels of 2023.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Random House via NetGalley.

4.0

Broken, loyalty, rift…

The four Padavano sisters - Julia, Sylvie, and twins Cecelia and Emeline grew up in Chicago inseparable.

Julia met William Waters in college. He didn’t have the same loving , loyal, contented upbringing as the sisters. His past will play an important part in more than one sister’s life.

A tale of loss, rejection, flaws, rift, and depression, as well as love, acceptance, and forgiveness.


An emotional family story. A saga of a family circle.

Bittersweet ending.

A lot of boxes checked in this one - depression, gay character, single mother, walking away, and divorce. Of course , the girl’s mother was horrified by these events.

First time reader of this author.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is a moving and thought-provoking novel about the power of love and family. The story follows William Waters, a man who is haunted by the death of his older sister, Caroline, when he was just six days old. Caroline's death has a profound impact on William's life, and he struggles to find his place in the world.

The novel is told from the perspectives of William, his wife, Julia, and his daughter, Sylvie. Each character is dealing with their own grief and loss, and the novel explores the ways in which these losses shape our lives.

Hello Beautiful is a beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Napolitano's writing is lyrical and evocative, and she brings her characters to life with compassion and understanding. The novel is a powerful reminder of the importance of love and family, and it will leave you with a renewed sense of hope.

Here are some of the pros and cons of Hello Beautiful:

Pros:

Beautiful writing
Well-developed characters
Thought-provoking themes
Emotionally resonant

Cons:

Can be slow at times
Some of the plot points are predictable

Overall, Hello Beautiful is a great novel that is sure to touch your heart. If you're looking for a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, then I highly recommend Hello Beautiful.

Here are some additional thoughts on the novel:

I appreciated the way that Napolitano explored the different ways in which grief and loss can manifest themselves in our lives. William, Julia, and Sylvie all experience grief in different ways, and it was fascinating to see how their individual experiences shaped their lives.
I also appreciated the way that Napolitano explored the power of love and family. Even though William, Julia, and Sylvie all experience pain and loss, they are ultimately able to find healing and hope through their relationships with each other.
Hello Beautiful is a beautiful and moving novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story that will touch their heart.

Could have been so much better with tighter editing. This story could have been told in half the pages. It rambles all over the place for no obvious reason, like the author is worried we'll get bored. The basic premise is good - 4 sisters, 1st generation Italian, modeled after the sisters in Little Women.But the author is reluctant to identify which sister is which -they all take turns being "Beth" when they don't feel good. The story does have tender moments but there is so much artificial drama that those moments get lost in the histrionics. Yes, they love each other, but in a very unhealthy way.

Hello Beautiful was a goodbye in the first 50 pages. Dry emotionally draining to read. Wanting so desperately for the author to do something with this story, these characters. I wanted to walk into the lake with William and drown already. That’s how I felt reading it like I was walking deeper & deeper into the lake with no hope for this book ever getting better.