Before starting Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano I was intrigued to learn that the story had been likened to Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, however other than the story following a lonely boy who befriended a family with four girls, and those girls from time to time saying they felt like Beth, Jo, Meg or Amy on particular days, I didn't notice a strong connection between the two books.
Hello Beautiful is the story of William Waters, who was born several days after the death of his older sister. His parents never recovered from the loss of their first child and as such were unable to feel or express love for William, who grew up lonely and unloved.
William discovered basketball and practised obsessively until his skills were exceptional. He was never a star player but William's basketball coaches quickly realised that his team mates played better when William was on the court in a supportive position. When William had an unexpected teenage growth spurt and reached the height of six foot seven (approximately 201cm), he received a scholarship to play basketball at a Chicago college.
Although William was still socially isolated and awkward in college, he met and fell in love with Julia Padavano, and was welcomed into her chaotic and loving family. Unfortunately, there were cracks in the Padavano family, who began dissolving not long after William and Julia married.
In an attempt to hold her family together Julia became pregnant, however William and Julia's marriage broke down and William, lost, lonely and suffering from depression, tried to suicide. After Julia disassociated herself from William, her younger sister Sylvie stepped in to advocate for him while he was in hospital, and eventually, William and Sylvie fell in love.
Although the story was generally William's, it also followed the breakdown in the Padavano family, particularly between the sisters. The story was variously narrated by William and members of the Padavano family.
I loved the colourful cover art on this book and think it suited the book's title perfectly and reflected the fractured lives of the characters.
I thought the story worked well up until William met the Padavano family, and I felt protective and fond of him, but I never felt a connection to any of the sisters. By about halfway the story had begun to drag and although I finished it, I had definitely lost interest in how things would all work out.
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