Christine's Reviews > Hello Beautiful

All the stars in the world!

ADDENDUM on 12-30-2023: Yes, Hello Beautiful is indeed my number one favorite book of 2023, and that is saying a lot as I have read many wonderful books this year.

By 30% I knew this book was in serious contention for my book of the year despite it being only March and despite the fact I have had some exceptional reads already. By 50% I knew this book had a real chance of landing on my 10 Best Reads of MY LIFE list. This puts it right up there with Beartown, Us Against You, A Pray for Owen Meany, and A Little Life—some pretty good company.

This is my kind of book. My absolute favorite kind of book—a character-driven saga, deep in relationships, and the meanings of those relationships. A book with the depth of the ocean that makes it nearly impossible to put down until the final page. One that will throw me into a book slump as it will be extremely difficult to find a worthy follow-up. One that I will clearly remember for years to come. That’s how I feel about this book.

I am giving bonus stars for execution. This family saga spans almost 50 years. Ms. Napolitano writes with all the skill of Fredrik Backman who up to this point was in a very small class (with William Kent Krueger) of writers who I feel can dissect the human psyche like virtually no one else. Ms. Napolitano’s prose is rich without being flowery or cloying; it is simply some of the most beautiful composition I have encountered. The story is complex with a plethora of characters who I never confused; the members of the large extended family in particular were all well developed and real, so real. Themes include rejection, loss, loneliness, unfulfilled expectations, suicidal ideation, betrayal, the power of friendship, the strength of family, forgiveness, and second chances.

This novel grabbed me right from the beginning and would not let go. I pick and choose my books carefully, generally selecting only those that have a surefire chance of earning 4 or 5 stars from me; thus, I read a lot of good ones. But it’s rare that a book has the kind of effect on my heart that this one did. I’m going to have to search hard to find another just as worthy.

I cannot recommend a book more highly than Hello Beautiful. If you are even considering reading this one, go for it. It’s one in a thousand.

I want to thank Net Galley, Random House Publishing, and Ann Napolitano for an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.