Hello Beautiful: A Novel

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 93,429 ratings

Price: 17.72

Last update: 12-31-2024


About this item

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK MORE THAN ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD! From the author of Dear Edward comes a “powerfully affecting” (People) family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole?

“Another tender tearjerker . . . Napolitano chronicles life’s highs and lows with aching precision.”—The Washington Post

ONE OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY’S TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, Time, Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Post, She Reads, Bookreporter

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.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Dee
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful tribute.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024
    A family history of life, love and loss. So well written with each character becoming a welcomed friend. I had read reviews of this book and finally took the opportunity to dive in. My only regret is not reading it sooner, it's A most wonderful tale.
    The ending is truly BEAUTIFUL.
    Do yourself the favor of reading this incredibly well done book.
  • diana jaycox (my friends call me DJ)
    4.0 out of 5 stars It improves as you read further...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
    Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, an Oprah's Book Club selection was read by this reviewer as part of a challenge. It would not have been my choice otherwise. As a rule I read to escape and find that many of contemporary bestsellers require me to be too much in the now and too much in my head. So it was no surprise that I struggled to get into this novel. It was too achingly real! The characters, their lives, their dreams and their struggles collided with my own and made me want to withdraw into my own darkness. I so wanted to send this book to the trash bin. Though, as a writer I challenged myself to read other writers ,especially those that are bestsellers. I needed to discover what makes other authors so appealing. How do other writers set-up their stories, build their settings, develop their characters. After a break, I came back to Hello Beautiful and read this as a writer as well as a reader. By applying a critiquing approach, I was able to achieve a degree of separation from the story. It was just enough to allow me to focus on the cadence of Ann Napolitano's words, to savor the style of her storytelling and to not get caught in my own angst and issues.

    I began to see how Hello Beautiful shared so many elements with one of my all time favorite books , Little Women. I was intrigued by the depth of personality of each of the sisters Ann Napolitano created. Ann was able to show how each sister was a part of the others yet completely individuals. How they became who they were was beautifully and intricately choreographed by Ann Napolitano throughout the novel. And, adding William a lost soul, an outsider to the mix, was a brilliant catalyst for the sisters growth and development!

    This was NOT an easy book to read. I took several breaks but always came back. This poignant story about family love and relationships, did end up stirring my heart and soul in ways, I admit, prefer to avoid. At times, I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. By the time I reached the climax of the story I was fully invested in the characters and their lives, the many highs and lows they experienced and yet were able to weather because they had each other.

    I don't know how many other of Ann Napolitano's my tortured soul will be able to tolerate. I can say that the beauty of Ann Napolitano carefully crafted words, the images she brought to my mind's eye and the powerful feelings of love that seemed to leap from the pages of Hello Beautiful, eventually brought me to place of peace. I read the last page with a sigh. Then I closed my eyes and reflected on all my best memories of life in a large, obnoxiously in your face , flawed, loving family! All the highs and lows, the good times, the bad and the big loving mess of it all!

    SIGH.
  • under the radar dot com
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hello, beautiful!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2023
    HELLO BEAUTIFUL
    Ann Napolitano

    When I turned my eBook to page one, I said aloud “HELLO, BEAUTIFUL!”

    I knew from page one that I was in for a good time what I did not know was how much I’d enjoy this book and the process of reading it and I certainly didn’t know I had found a new favorite author.

    In Hello Beautiful we start with William. William was born to a family suffering a great loss. And even in the first few pages with William, we come to know him in all that he isn’t instead of what he is. It’s an interesting way to construct a character.

    In the next chapter, we meet Julia and all that she is and all that she has. She is a lot, has a lot. Specifically, things that William does not. She has a close, loving family, and she has a plan and the will to carry it out.

    William and Julia meet in college and begin a wonderful life together. We follow over the years as eventually, William's past comes to light and the very thing that drew them together threatens to tear them apart.

    I read this one towards the end of 2022 and had to hold onto this review for over six months. It was torture. It was one of the best books I read last year, and I can’t wait for you to read it. It would make a great book club selection as there would be a lot to discuss. I imagine readers on opposing sides of imaginary lines, arguing their point. And they would both be right. That is the beauty of this book.

    Let’s talk about what I especially liked about it.

    The first thing I loved and noticed was the sentence structure. There is a pattern to the structure that creates a rhythm that increases reading enjoyment. Essentially it is very easy to read.

    The second thing I loved is what I noted previously. I loved how William was constructed as a character. His pages felt vacuous. As if I were leaving a part of myself there with him on every page. There is a scene early on when William is describing a moment with a professor. That passage is so telling of William and his lens for seeing his world and interacting with it.

    The third thing I loved was the number of emotions that were stirred within me. I don’t remember the last time I was angry with a fictional character. It’s been six months and I still disagree with some of the characters' choices.

    Although this was a five-star read for me I do want to note how critical the writing is. These characters are beautifully imperfect, and the narrative, no matter the character, was severe in correction. This can lead to a lack of empathy toward the characters and their situation. It didn’t affect me much, but I think readers should be aware of that going in.

    HELLO BEAUTIFUL comes out on March 14, 2023, and I highly recommend it.

    Now an Oprah Book Club pick for March 2023

    HELLO BEAUTIFUL…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for the advanced copy!
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hello Beautiful Novel
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
    Okay. Full confession. I judged this book by its cover and title and avoided it for awhile despite the great reviews. I thought it was some kind of stalker novel. Finally during a kindle sale, I took the plunge and wow am I glad.

    Simplistically, it is like a modern little women, but in reality, it is so much more. There is so much emotion here. The best word that I can use to describe it is poignant.

    No it did not make this 60 year old man cry, but I went through a gamut of emotions because the characters are sl fleshed out. They are each flawed, but are put back together through strong bonds of love.

    I highly recommend you give this book a chance.

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