Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel

Name: Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
SKU: 71257
Availability: InStock

4.4 | 79,094 ratings

Price: 2.99

Last update: 06-03-2024

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.

“Beautiful, perceptive, wistful . . . I loved it,” says Miranda Cowley Heller

“A rich, complex family saga,” says Mary Beth Keane

“Profoundly moving and propulsive,” says Angie Kim

“A richly woven story about family [and] a unique take on Little Women,” says Allegra Goodman

Top reviews from the United States

KWyly

Beautifully written…

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024

I love this story about the four Padavano sisters and their parents. Rose is the strong willed matriarch of the family. She strongly believes her husband, Charlie, just doesn’t quite measure up to what he could have been. Together, they have four daughters. Readers are drawn right into this story and feel every emotion the characters experience. Julie, the eldest of the four sisters, is a planner, a fixer, a girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. She has a plan for her life and it doesn’t include living in a tiny house like where she was raised. Second daughter is quiet Sylvie, a reader who has worked in the public library since she was thirteen and sneaks kisses from the boys behind the shelves knowing she doesn’t want a boyfriend. She doesn’t take the boys seriously because she is just practicing for her one true love. The twins who are energetic, fun loving girls, round out the Padavano sisters. Then there is William a loner, ignored and never loved at home, socially awkward, always wondering where he fits in, how should he behave, and why he wasn’t enough for his parents. He only feels at home on the basketball court. Julie has decided William is just what she needs to get her life plan started. In alternating chapters, the four main characters tell their story with each chapter bearing the character’s name. Quoting Walt Whitman’s poetry and making comparisons of the four sisters to the sisters in Little Women by Alcott, this book is more than a family saga. This book is a love story. It is about acceptance, heartbreak, forgiveness, and understanding. Napolitano’s writing is thoughtful and beautiful. The story is deeply moving as each character grows and discover his or her truth and learns how powerful it is to live an authentic life. A five star read and on my list of favorite books in 2024!

Gocanesgo

Bad title in book jacket, but a lovely read

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024

This book had interesting characters and was well written. It flowed a nice pace. it was touching and sweet and thoughtful. I would have given it a five but for the predictable call Hallmark movie ending (a tragedy strikes, which brings people back together).

Sharol J Felch

Powerfully moving

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2024

Exquisitely written. The artistry of words are woven so beautifully to the point of shear poetry about the essential deep issues of life , community, familia love the strength and beauty of it and the power of forgiveness. It addressed the messiness of life choices and the balm of forgiveness, compassion, loving supportiveness between sincere friends and family members. The characters are a colorful mosaic of puzzle pieces. Each one essential and necessary to complete this beautiful narrative about real love.
Thank you Ann Napoirano

Mark B.

Hello Brautiful

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024

Riveting reading, heartfelt and relatable. I'll read Edward now
Looking forward to another journey with Ann Napolitano. Thank you sincerely

Lynne M. Spreen

The story had so much promise.

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024

William Waters had the saddest childhood ever, and he is emotionally stunted as a result. So when, in college, a strong-willed and optimistic young woman nabs him as a fixer-upper, he's all too happy to obey. I use these words intentionally, because that's how it felt to me. Julia's family is warm and welcoming...except there are some seeds that develop through the story and burst into full toxic bloom. What surprised me was that the once-in-a-lifetime horribleness of William's parents' behavior was actually true as well of people in his new family, and I found that a little unimaginative. The way Julia and Rose, her mother, cut people dead was horrific. The ending was long in coming and not fulsome enough. I admit I skimmed some of the midsection, but I felt like the author was trying to draw out the resolution in a gratuitous way. Miscommunication and failing to speak are my least favorite plot mechanisms, and this book is built on them.

carolt

loved it!

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2024

This is a thoughtful & insightful book. I enjoyed the engaged, loving family of strong women. The cover is misleading & kept me from opening the book for quite awhile. It was a good read.

Agnes Shapiro

Heartwarming family story

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024

This book was a book club choice and while I usually dont like the books my club picks, I found this one a page turner. Being a mystery/psychological/thriller reader I was happy to find that I really enjoyed this one. I focuses on family, their trials and tribulations and takes you through more than one part of their lives....from growing up as kids we find a sister's bond is strong all through their teenage years and when they become adults, while we have a few bumps in the road to get over, family is still family.

A heartwarming and sometimes sad story, I even got angry a few times of what was going on. But I will admit I really enjoyed the story and look forward to discussing this book at my club meeting next week.

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