Hello Beautiful
By Ann Napolitano
In Hello Beautiful we are introduced to William, a quiet and lonely boy who takes refuge in his love of basketball. As William begins his college career he meets Julia, an outgoing fellow student. Unlike William, Julia comes from a loud, loving, and chaotic family, who embrace him as one of their own. When a trauma from William's past is brought to light it changes not only the trajectory Julia has set for the two of them but disrupts the relationship between all the family members for generations.
I was a fan of Ann Napolitano's book Dear Edward and enjoyed Hello Beautiful for the same reasons. She captures the true essence of human dynamics in such a raw and real manner. The characters and their pain, triumphs, and just day-to-day feelings are very relatable and you feel for them. At times it is a slowly paced novel but it is a lovely family drama nonetheless.
4 Stars