Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

William Waters is born into a family in which silence is the norm and love is absent to the degree that William’s parents can hardly bear to look at him. When in his freshman year of college he meets Julia Padavano, his world lights up with the appearance of not just Julia but her three sisters, who become inseparable in his life.

The house so different than his own is filled with loving chaos and he experiences a contentment his never expected—at least, until William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing Julia’s well-laid plans for their future. The relationship between the sisters suffers a catastrophic rift that will change their lives for generations. The question is: will the loyalty and love that once made them an unbreakable, cohesive whole be strong enough to bring them back together when it matters most? 

A friend gave me this book. She said it reminded her of Little Women. I agree and disagree. The first words to pop into my mind to describe my reading experience are powerful, riveting, heart-stopping. Author Ann Napolitano is a masterful storyteller and with Hello Beautiful, she has gifted her readers with a moving story not of love overcoming all, but what can be possible when one loves flaws, problems, and all. From the opening paragraph, I was captivated by the strong, well-written plot, and the characters who are flawed, which only makes them more relatable; I could not help but become emotionally invested in them.  As I turned the pages, this tale of the Padavano family and their lives drew me in more and more. This read is a keeper on the shelf to reread. To give it a five-star rating does not do this story justice. This is one of my top three reads so far this year. I highly recommend it.