A review by willowbiblio
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

5.0

"No one had ever loved him unconditionally like this, and that love, when he was the most undeserving he'd ever been in his life, made William feel like he was burning up."
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This was such a beautiful display of unconditional love, acceptance, and growth. It was interesting how the book continued past William and Sylvie declaring their love for each other, and into the consequences of his attempt and declaration. Most love stories would end there. Sylvie and William's love embodied what she dreamed of for herself, but the love amongst the sisters was total and ultimately unbreakable.

I found myself overwhelmed at the moments William's team showed up so completely for him. This felt like an exploration of the impacts of generational trauma and the things we pass on despite our best efforts. The forgiveness the twins showed for each member of their family was awe-inspiring.

I love that Napolitano used such vivid metaphors for emotion an described its impact on the body before conscious awareness of feelings. I also thought the use of a continuous timeline with varying pacing throughout the years was a genius way to span so much life without getting too bogged down in the minutiae.