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lesbianlis's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
laheath's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.0
I know mine is an unpopular opinion, but I think this book was too long and slow. In the beginning, a lot of time is spent developing the close family relationship, especially among the sisters, but just a few events manage to tear the family apart for 25 years. Granted, these are not minor events, but the book then shifts to processing everyone's emotions over and over. I kept reading because so many reviewers raved about it but I was disappointed by the repetition and the pace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Cancer, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child death
142whoopingllamas's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was an okay book, but there were very few content warnings so I was blindsided by them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Cancer, Grief, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
msnikkiwilks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book wrecked me in the best way possible.
I know it's unlikely, but I'd love a companion book following Izzy and Alice.
Maybe later, I'll find the words to fully capture my feelings about this book, but geez, it was exquisite.
I know it's unlikely, but I'd love a companion book following Izzy and Alice.
Maybe later, I'll find the words to fully capture my feelings about this book, but geez, it was exquisite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
roget's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 out of five stars.
Hello Beautiful follows the lives of the Padavano family--especially Julia, Sylvie, William Waters, and a girl named Alice. Loosely Little Women inspired, this story focuses on the mundane and the deeper emotional revelations that come from living through change, loss, grief, and healing.
I spent most of this book wanting to throttle one or more people for their choices. And yet.
As a family epic, this is profoundly moving. Napolitano is a master of character work, and the voice has a way of calmly relaying both brokenness and strength. Did I like the plot? No. I wanted them to be happy and honest for far longer than they were . Did I like what I was left reflecting on, though? Yes, actually.
So many books bring a vague ideal to the table, and this slams you into a chair, shows you the ugly and the beautiful, and you are left blasted with love too big to wrap your arms around. You're left wondering about the nature of how we handle conflict or mistakes or forgiveness. You're left considering human mistakes and just...humanity in general, really, which is usually a sign that you've read something important. The family here isn't idealized--it's messy and real (though I admit there were some parts where people were a bit more charitable or less charitable than expected, but maybe that's because I'd respond differently in some of those situations).
Still can't decide if I deeply resent William or if I love him. I have no idea what to think.
But Alice--Alice is beautiful to me. I don't know. This book was a lot. Clearly, this is going to be one of the major literary works of 2023. I likely will have more thoughts in the days to come, and may return to this review after a time to add them.
*My thanks to Random House, The Dial Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. My thanks to my husband, who sat through a forty-five minute long summary of this novel so I could process it.*
Hello Beautiful follows the lives of the Padavano family--especially Julia, Sylvie, William Waters, and a girl named Alice. Loosely Little Women inspired, this story focuses on the mundane and the deeper emotional revelations that come from living through change, loss, grief, and healing.
I spent most of this book wanting to throttle one or more people for their choices. And yet.
As a family epic, this is profoundly moving. Napolitano is a master of character work, and the voice has a way of calmly relaying both brokenness and strength. Did I like the plot? No. I wanted them to
So many books bring a vague ideal to the table, and this slams you into a chair, shows you the ugly and the beautiful, and you are left blasted with love too big to wrap your arms around. You're left wondering about the nature of how we handle conflict or mistakes or forgiveness. You're left considering human mistakes and just...humanity in general, really, which is usually a sign that you've read something important. The family here isn't idealized--it's messy and real (though I admit there were some parts where people were a bit more charitable or less charitable than expected, but maybe that's because I'd respond differently in some of those situations).
Still can't decide if I deeply resent William or if I love him. I have no idea what to think.
But Alice--Alice is beautiful to me. I don't know. This book was a lot. Clearly, this is going to be one of the major literary works of 2023. I likely will have more thoughts in the days to come, and may return to this review after a time to add them.
*My thanks to Random House, The Dial Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. My thanks to my husband, who sat through a forty-five minute long summary of this novel so I could process it.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Grief, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content, Body shaming, Child death, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Medical trauma, and Child abuse
Minor: Addiction and Infertility
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