Spanning decades “Hello Beautiful” tells the story of the Padavanos, an Italian Catholic family that start off close knit. Centering around the four Padavano sisters: Julie, Sylvie and twins Cecelia and Emeline. Their bond is tested when the trials and tribulations of life cause friction in their relationships, with people doing things that are deemed unforgivable by others.
Best friends, the eldest Julie brings them all to meet the man she’s fallen in love with, William Walters. Unlike Julie, William grew up with emotionally abusive parents. Seen as the son they never had, he becomes a Padavano osmotically, marrying Julie and starting a family of their own. Things take a turn, tearing them apart when Sylvie and William fall in love. A convoluted mess, as simultaneously Julie falls out. Viewing him as defective, his lack of ambition and mental health issues are too much for her to bear. Whereas Sylvie, a hopeless romantic searching for her one great love, accepts him as is. Leaving the reader left cogitating on the moral ambiguity of this dilemma.
Dealing with betrayal, lgbtq, religion, identity, love and loyalty this book is a must read. The characters leave an everlasting impression. What’s worth sacrificing to live a life true to yourself? Were the fates dealt warranted? Via: Amazon
Updated: 8/28/2025 10:27am
