Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Hello Beautiful

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano was a very complicated book for me. Starting with the positives. Ann Napolitano is an absolutely amazing author. I've seen other reviews saying that the book is long, boring, and slow-paced, but I actually think that the writing was beautiful, and maybe a bit slow at times, especially in the middle. I think the characterization is fantastic, and the relations between the four sisters, with the dad, with the mom, and with William himself. I think the problems FOR ME, start with the events halfway through the book. I personally believe the book would not have been the same or as effective without these choices, but I personally feel very morally off about them. I think they lead to get discussions about love, choices and family, I just disagree with the characters choices. Overall, I think this is a good book for those looking for family dynamics, love, being your own person (even while still being in a relationship).

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lesbianlis's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was so beautiful!!! I really enjoyed it. I think it was a teensy bit heavy-handed in its references to Little Women, however, it handled it really well. The shifts in perspective through time were really useful. At first, I thought that an omnipresent narrator would've sufficed but I enjoyed the shifting perspectives of each event. I come from a large family, no sisters, but still a family with myths and legends passed down, and considering that through the ending chapters of this book made me sob.

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goodin10tions's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hello Beautiful Ann Napolitano with Maura Tierney (Narrator)

This is a very long (15 hours/400 pgs) story about family, forgiveness and generational trauma.

Because of the multiple POV of the same event, it can feel repetitive. However, that touches a personal favorite topic of mine which is how the same thing can happen to multiple people but they all remember it differently.

What this book is not is a page turner. I am seeing critiques about it being boring and long. If you aren’t comfortable spending 15 hours on a book, skip this one.

The book is described as an exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women. I can vouch for this, the characters also compare themselves to the March sisters.

In short, if you loved Little Women, you’ll probably love the Padavano sisters.

If you are going to read them together, I’d recommend Little Women first.

If you are doing the 52 BookClub 2024 reading challenge this book meets: four POV, grieving character, a plot similar to another book, the OTHER book, includes a wedding, and chapters have dates.

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