How would you react if your parents didn’t love you? If you knew they were always looking at you and seeing the daughter they lost many years before, comparing you? That has been William’s life. So, when he moves to college, William is surprised to find people who genuinely care for him. He makes many friends, starts dating Julia, and learns to let people in. It’s not until many years have passed that William discovers he’s not really happy, but just doing what others think he should. That revelation is the catalyst that turns his and Julia’s lives upside down as they come to terms with what William has discovered.
Hello Beautiful is a beautiful story of finding acceptance and love from the family you choose for yourself – friends. I was excited to see the way Ann Napolitano weaves mental health treatment, especially during triggering events, into this stunning coming of age story. She gives the perspective of these college aged kids losing their parental and familial support for various reasons with such tenderness and care that hits readers with a weight that will stay with you for quite a while. This novel goes beyond life on a college campus to really explore the reasons so many “middle class” parents have withheld their support from their children and the lasting trauma it can create.
I give Hello Beautiful 5 out of 5 stars. This is the first novel I have read in a while that left me without anything I would change. The conversations between characters, the scene setting, and the subject matter are all written from such a genuine perspective. I was surprised at the accurate details given during the discussion of William’s mental health journey. His inpatient experience, his long-term care, and his support network are very realistic. I also appreciated the realistic references to life for college students – I know this book was set several decades ago, but many of the experiences are shared by college students returning to campus today!
I would caution against reading this book if you are more sensitive to discussions around the loss of or lack of parental support, suicide attempts, or teen pregnancy. There are many reasons to pick this book up – the unique dynamic between Julia and her sisters, what feels like a behind the scenes look at the college and pro basketball world, and the way William’s friends show up for him. This would make a great book club read – there are so many different perspectives and events to investigate!
The Girlfriend Book Club chose Hello Beautiful as the book for August – the live discussion with Ann Napolitano is coming up on Tuesday on the group’s Facebook page! I decided to go into this read completely in the dark in terms of what the book was about, or even the author’s background. As you can tell, I was not disappointed. I am an advocate for removing the stigma of mental health treatments and this book does a great job of showing exactly what it’s like for both the patient and those around him. It’s not a journey everyone is capable of walking with the patient, and I was thankful that the book showed that, too. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The First Ladies, Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
- Current audio book: Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
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