Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

What happens when a child is raised with no affection or attention because his parents are broken by the death of their other child? In Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano coming out in March, Williams Waters grows up with so little consideration from his parents that he savors the chance to move far away from them thanks to a basketball scholarship.

At Northwestern University, he meets Julia Padavano, one of four sisters who are a tight-knit family including mother Rose and father Charlie. Julia believes her love and encouragement can save William after years of parental disinterest. Sisters Sylvia, the dreamer; Cecelia, the artist, and her twin Emeline, the nurturer, also embrace their quiet, troubled brother-in-law with their love and support.

But William can only thrive for so long before the darkness of his sister’s death and his parents’ neglect overtake him. His life with the Padavanos is jeopardized when William hits rock bottom, resulting in a rift in the family that lasts for generations. How will William survive his darkest hour? What will become of the family who does love him when he rejects them totally? How can the division William has caused among the sisters be repaired?

Ann Napolitano’s fourth novel is both joyful and heartbreaking in turns. Her last book, Dear Edward, was named one of the best books of 2020 by The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Real Simple. She is also the author of the novels A Good Hard Look and Within Arm’s Reach. She was the associate editor of One Story literary magazine from 2014-2020. Napolitano lives in Brooklyn with her family.

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