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Cover of Hello Beautiful by Ann NapolitanoHello Beautiful
New · Fiction, Literary Fiction, Family

Hello Beautiful

by Ann Napolitano
2023 · 416 pages · Fiction
72.4Must-Read
Score New
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 10 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

William Waters grew up in a silent, grieving household and found refuge in basketball. In college in Chicago he meets Julia Padavano, the eldest of four close, lively sisters, and is welcomed into their warm, loud family. But William carries a darkness, and when it surfaces, it splits the sisters apart for decades.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and an Oprah's Book Club pick. It's a moving story of sisters and family, inspired by Little Women.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It deals with depression and a suicide attempt. It spans thirty years.

By the numbers

72.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
27 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2023
Shortlisted
Goodreads Choice (fiction) finalist (2023)

Reads as

Moving

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
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Quick answers

Is Hello Beautiful worth reading?

Yes. It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and an Oprah's Book Club pick. It ranks #1,046 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Hello Beautiful about?

William Waters grew up in a silent, grieving household and found refuge in basketball. In college in Chicago he meets Julia Padavano, the eldest of four close, lively sisters, and is welcomed into their warm, loud family. But William carries a darkness, and when it surfaces, it splits the sisters apart for decades.

How long does it take to read Hello Beautiful?

About 10 hours (416 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Hello Beautiful?

If you liked it, try Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout or Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid.