Book Blurb:
William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. So it’s a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her appreciation of his quiet steadiness. With Julia comes her family; she is inseparable from her three younger sisters: Sylvie, the dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book and imagines a future different from the expected path of wife and mother; Cecelia, the family’s artist; and Emeline, who patiently takes care of all of them. Happily, the Padavanos fold Julia’s new boyfriend into their loving, chaotic household. But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable loyalty to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?
My Review: 4.5 stars
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano was at once a puzzle put together but as the story progresses, we see all the individual pieces (people and things) on their own. It’s unbelievable that after the major success from her runaway hit Dear Edward in 2020, that she’s created another incredible and heartfelt story. I can’t believe that it took a bit for me to get hooked and I was nervous that I wouldn’t get there. So glad I stayed with it. I still think about these characters.
Napolitano wrote this a an ode to Little Women, with each of the sisters representing just a bit of the beloved Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth. Honestly, when I listened to the audio I had no idea of these connections. I only realized it later from an interview. I’m sure if you’re a hard core Little Women fan you can find similarities or inspirations in the characters behaviors.
Willam Waters (love the alliteration) is swept up into this family of women and once he marries Julia, who intends to make William her “project” the story starts running. Not only is the writing pristine but the characters are crafted with precision – equally flawed and relatable.
Sadly, I’m keeping this super short as not to giveaway any spoilers. It’s one of those books that saying anything is almost too much. Enjoy this wonderful family drama.
Quotes I liked:
In Chicago, she was part of the paper chain of Padavano sisters; they had never operated independently, and if one of them have a problem, they all had a problem.”
“…she had always been more comfortable in the library with books then in the world with people.”
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