Judy's Reviews > Hello Beautiful

I chose this book because I'd heard about the author, but had not read any of her work yet - and I'm really glad I picked this up. This was a moving story about family, tragedy, and most of all love. The characters were wonderful and the writing was beautiful.

The description:
"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?

Vibrating with tenderness, Hello Beautiful is a gorgeous, profoundly moving portrait of what’s possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it."

The family rift was devastating. My heart broke for William's upbringing. There were many touching moments in the story. Julie's family was so exceptional and caring the way they initially took William in and made him part of their family. These were great characters. The book title came from the way Charlie Padavano greeted all of his four daughters - "Hello Beautiful".

I would recommend this story to anyone who likes moving, family dramas. This is a great read!

Thanks to Random House - Dial Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on March 14, 2023.