Reviews - Kaunokaisia | The StoryGraph

14.6k reviews for:

Kaunokaisia

Ann Napolitano

4.14 AVERAGE

badmammajamma's review against another edition

4.5

Oof—this one did a number on me.

charese_reads's review against another edition

3.0

This was a good book. Historical books aren’t my normal read but I enjoyed this book. One thing I wasn’t a fan of is that it each chapter was in a characters pov but the writing was still third person. It just irritated me a little and was hard for me to get through. But I wad able to listen to the entire book without having to quit halfway through.

pbraue13's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

“You’re depressed, not crazy. It’s not insane to be depressed in this world. It’s more sane than being happy. I never trust those upbeat individuals who grin no matter what’s going on. Those are the ones with a screw loose, if you ask me.”

Hello Beautiful - Ann Napolitano

This is a quiet, tender novel that explores the long shadow of trauma, the bonds of family, and the enduring ache of love. A loose homage to "Little Women", it centers on the Padavano sisters (Julia, Sylvie, Cecilia, and Emeline) who welcome William Waters, a basketball star with a tragic past, into their tightly knit world. What follows is a multi-decade story of brokenness and healing, as the characters navigate estrangement, grief, forgiveness, and the quiet strength of familial love.

William, raised in emotional isolation after a devastating family loss, finds solace in Julia Padavano’s determined love. But as their relationship deepens, so too do the cracks beneath the surface. When William’s internal battles pull him away from the life they’ve built, the ripple effects touch each of the sisters in different, deeply personal ways. Over time, the characters must wrestle with what love truly means and what it costs.

There’s so much to admire in "Hello Beautiful". The characters are drawn with care and complexity, and I truly loved them. I empathized deeply with their struggles, especially William’s quiet, aching grief and Sylvie’s yearning for a more meaningful life. Napolitano has a gift for rendering emotional interiority in a way that feels intimate and authentic. I understood these characters. I felt for them.

The subtle nods to "Little Women", from the sisters’ dynamic to Sylvie’s bookish soul and longing for a more romantic life, were a real delight. These literary echoes added texture to the novel without ever feeling heavy-handed, and they gave the story a timeless, nostalgic undercurrent that I genuinely appreciated.

That said, while "Hello Beautiful" is emotionally resonant and lovingly crafted, it ultimately didn’t quite cross the finish line for me. The novel builds slowly (and intentionally) but the payoff felt muted. I kept waiting for something to click into place, for a moment of catharsis or clarity that never fully arrived. There’s a restraint to the storytelling that, while elegant, also left me feeling a bit unfulfilled. It moved me in parts, but didn’t leave a lasting emotional imprint the way I hoped it would.

In the end, "Hello Beautiful" is a warm, introspective read that offers richly drawn characters and a quietly moving meditation on love and loss. It didn’t soar for me, but I admired its tenderness, its compassion, and its gentle literary grace.

Content Warnings

_lejzibeg's review against another edition

4.5

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

katiejane93's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

melissafhaley's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful in that I both felt the characters stories and pain and complications, and that it resonated all the way to my own family stories. Also, I loved all the strong stubborn women.