A review by tyras_bookshelf
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Wasn’t into the structure (3rd person POV, repetitive and seemingly unnecessary time sections) which made the story move really slowly for me. The audiobook kept me in partially interested while I was reading but I wasn’t excited to read when I put the book down. 

I think the characters were written well as in they’re complicated with a range of motivations, but certainly not likable. I understand Julia’s coping with her lack of control and security in life but she was so manipulative and selfish. I understand William’s childhood severely damaged him but he was so meek and dishonest with himself. 
I really struggled throughout the whole of what I read to reconcile the very real human emotions of grief and loss and anxiety and disappointment and entitlement  that the characters are experiencing. To balance a very black-and-white perception of what is right and what is wrong; it was so frustrating and upsetting to be upset with these characters that are going through real stuff and have all of this baggage and all of these wounds they didn’t ask for, but also knowing that I hate them as people and I hate their choices and the things that they’ve let themselves attach to rather than doing the right thing.

I think that’s why I didn’t finish it. It’s very emotionally complicated. 
It made me feel like maybe I need to examine my own emotional intelligence, but also let me revel in the feeling of being angry with someone for doing something that hurts you (or another character) is okay, even if you understand why they’re behaving that way. Both emotions can exist side-by-side.
Does that make sense? 

Anyway, this wasn’t me. 

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