Scan barcode
A review by freethefrican
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
I tend to struggle with character-based books but every once in a while I read one that sucks me in and this was definitely one of those.
It had one of the best depictions of depression I’ve ever read: the way it can be chronic, sinister, and pervasive; the way it can go unnoticed and unnamed by the sufferer and those around them. It felt very real.
Some of the characters were so infuriating sometimes that I wanted to reach into the book and shake them and other times they behaved so irrationally that I wanted to stop reading the book altogether but I didn't stop reading. I stuck it out. I watched the relationships splinter and morph with time and tbh, the difficulties were very realistic because if there is one thing an irrational human being can be, it is stubborn. I felt the ending left a little to be desired but I can live with that and I definitely want to read more from this author.
It had one of the best depictions of depression I’ve ever read: the way it can be chronic, sinister, and pervasive; the way it can go unnoticed and unnamed by the sufferer and those around them. It felt very real.
Some of the characters were so infuriating sometimes that I wanted to reach into the book and shake them and other times they behaved so irrationally that I wanted to stop reading the book altogether but I didn't stop reading. I stuck it out. I watched the relationships splinter and morph with time and tbh, the difficulties were very realistic because if there is one thing an irrational human being can be, it is stubborn. I felt the ending left a little to be desired but I can live with that and I definitely want to read more from this author.