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Shelley's Book Nook's Reviews > Hello Beautiful
Hello Beautiful
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2.5 Stars
I read and loved Dear Edward a few years ago, it was my first foray into this author's work and it was brilliant. This title left me a little disappointed. I do like a slow burn but this book was way too slow for my liking, especially the beginning. I will also say this took me four days to read and that is saying something coming from one who devours books. I almost did not finish it but decided to persist. It did get better. I am surprised I didn't like it more because this is Ann Napolitano's version of Little Women and that is one of my favourite books. This one had a soap opera feel to it.
I liked that the book deals with issues of mental health in a realistic way and I felt for William, but I had trouble connecting to any of the characters other than feeling bad for them I felt nothing else. I did like that William found the strength to fight his demons. This is a very character-driven story and when you don't connect with the characters in any way it makes it a slog to get through. I think part of the problem was William's basketball playing didn't interest me at all.
As much as I think that Napolitano is a beautiful writer this one just didn't do much for me. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
2.5 Stars
I read and loved Dear Edward a few years ago, it was my first foray into this author's work and it was brilliant. This title left me a little disappointed. I do like a slow burn but this book was way too slow for my liking, especially the beginning. I will also say this took me four days to read and that is saying something coming from one who devours books. I almost did not finish it but decided to persist. It did get better. I am surprised I didn't like it more because this is Ann Napolitano's version of Little Women and that is one of my favourite books. This one had a soap opera feel to it.
I liked that the book deals with issues of mental health in a realistic way and I felt for William, but I had trouble connecting to any of the characters other than feeling bad for them I felt nothing else. I did like that William found the strength to fight his demons. This is a very character-driven story and when you don't connect with the characters in any way it makes it a slog to get through. I think part of the problem was William's basketball playing didn't interest me at all.
As much as I think that Napolitano is a beautiful writer this one just didn't do much for me. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
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Reading Progress
October 5, 2022
– Shelved
January 30, 2023
–
Started Reading
February 2, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-49 of 49 (49 new)
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message 1:
by
Susan
(new)
-
rated it 1 star
Feb 11, 2023 05:38PM
I hope your next read is a five star one.
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Echo wrote: "I hope your next read is a five star one."Thank you, E.
Wonderful review Shelley
I agree! I couldn’t get into it and dnf’d at 50%. I did love Dear Edward though
Margaret M - Hiatus wrote: "Wonderful review Shelley"Thank you, Margaret!
JanB wrote: "I agree! I couldn’t get into it and dnf’d at 50%. I did love Dear Edward though"This was way too slow for my liking.
Good review……I think I’ll skip this one. Dear Edward was excellent. This one sounds like a letdown!
Di wrote: "Good review……I think I’ll skip this one. Dear Edward was excellent. This one sounds like a letdown!"Thanks, Di! I do look forward to her next one. 😊
Great review, I wasn't sure to pick it up or not but I think it's ok too give it a chance :)
Maryam wrote: "Great review, I wasn't sure to pick it up or not but I think it's ok too give it a chance :)"Maryam, you may have a different experience with this book as many have given it great reviews. It just wasn't for me. Happy reading! 🤗❤️📚
Sorry this left you feeling disappointed, Shelley. Better luck with your next read. ❤📚
Sandysbookaday is (reluctantly) on hiatus wrote: "Sorry this left you feeling disappointed, Shelley. Better luck with your next read. ❤📚"Thank you, Sandy. The writing is beautiful but the storyline just wasn't for me.
I agree and that was my rating. I just didn’t want to e en wrote a review. I was really disappointed.
Cheri wrote: "I agree and that was my rating. I just didn’t want to e en wrote a review. I was really disappointed."I just saw your review, really hard to connect with the characters. I did find the writing lovely though.
2.5 from me as well! Great review!
Jayme wrote: "2.5 from me as well! Great review!"Thanks so much, Jayme!
I loved Dear Edward as well. This one has mixed reviews, mostly positive. Thank you for explaining why you didn't enjoy it.
She wrote: "I loved Dear Edward as well. This one has mixed reviews, mostly positive. Thank you for explaining why you didn't enjoy it."You are so welcome.
Sorry that you were so disappointed with this one,Thanks for sharing your honest opinion.
I hope that your next read will be a winner.
NILTON wrote: "Sorry that you were so disappointed with this one,Thanks for sharing your honest opinion.
I hope that your next read will be a winner."
Thank you, Nilton and you are very welcome.
I am literally about to put this one down.
Jakki wrote: "I am literally about to put this one down."If you are considering a DNF I recommend it, I almost did and was so angry with myself for wasting precious reading time. I should have just put it down.
I felt the same way. This book was really a let down
Eowyn wrote: "I felt the same way. This book was really a let down"It was a slog to get through for me.
Great review! I also loved Dear Edward, but after slogging through this one for days, I skimmed the last 40%. I just wanted to be done!
Sylvene wrote: "Great review! I also loved Dear Edward, but after slogging through this one for days, I skimmed the last 40%. I just wanted to be done!"Thanks, Sylvene! I agree 100% it was a slog to get through! 💕🤗
I felt the same way. William was the only character I felt a connection with.
Bailey wrote: "I felt the same way. William was the only character I felt a connection with."I love the author's writing style but this one wasn't for me.
message 29:
by
Jennifer (Jaye) (My vision is on the right track yay!!! catching up slowly)
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
A fair and honest review Shelley, shame it did not work for you 💕💕💕
Jennifer SK wrote: "A fair and honest review Shelley, shame it did not work for you 💕💕💕"Thanks very much, Jennifer. 💕🤗
This one didn’t work for me either. Great review!
Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "This one didn’t work for me either. Great review!"Thanks so much, Lindsay. I hope you love your next read. 💕🤗
Oh my gosh, yes!! I’m struggling to finish this. It’s soooo slow and Little Women is one of my faves. I just don’t get the point of any of it!
Cristina wrote: "Oh my gosh, yes!! I’m struggling to finish this. It’s soooo slow and Little Women is one of my faves. I just don’t get the point of any of it!"I feel for you, Cristina. It's okay to DNF a book. 💕🤗
This book sounded interesting sorry i didn't hit. Wonderful review, Shelley. 💕🦋
jaymiej wrote: "This book sounded interesting sorry i didn't hit. Wonderful review, Shelley. 💕🦋"Thanks so much, Jaymie. 💕🤗
Just finished it and unlike a lot of people, I connected with just about all the characters. I felt like so many pieces of my own story were being played out.
Susan wrote: "Just finished it and unlike a lot of people, I connected with just about all the characters. I felt like so many pieces of my own story were being played out."That's wonderful, Susan. I am so pleased you loved it. 🤗💕
My turn to borrow Hello, Beautiful just came up at the library, and I'm curious if I'll feel similarly to you. I do often find myself signing the dissenting opinion on the buzziest cases that publishing houses submit to the reading public.
Sasha wrote: "My turn to borrow Hello, Beautiful just came up at the library, and I'm curious if I'll feel similarly to you. I do often find myself signing the dissenting opinion on the buzziest cases that publi..."I am often an outlier but I do hope you enjoy it, Sasha. 🤗💕
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "Sasha wrote: "My turn to borrow Hello, Beautiful just came up at the library, and I'm curious if I'll feel similarly to you. I do often find myself signing the dissenting opinion on the buzziest ca..."Thanks ☺️ Fingers crossed, although it's not the end of the world if it's not my thing.
Update a week later: DNF at 11%. I guess family saga isn't really my genre? The bit of Hello Beautiful I did get through felt like a less interesting sibling of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You, which I DNF'ed halfway through. Have you read that one?
Fantastic review, Shelley! It’s hard when you don’t make a connection with any of the characters. You made excellent, valid points. 🩷
Sasha wrote: "Update a week later: DNF at 11%. I guess family saga isn't really my genre? The bit of Hello Beautiful I did get through felt like a less interesting sibling of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told..."I have not read Everything I Never Told You. It got some bad reviews from readers I trust so I avoided it. I hope you love your next pick. Sasha. 🤗💕
Tara (On Semi- Hiatus) Released from hospital - recovering at home finally!! 🙌 wrote: "Fantastic review, Shelley! It’s hard when you don’t make a connection with any of the characters. You made excellent, valid points. 🩷"Thanks very much, Tara. 🤗💕
Fab review Shelly! Spot on! Im adding it!
Sagittarius girl§ ~*:··:*~ wrote: "Fab review Shelly! Spot on! Im adding it!"Thank you kindly, Sagittarius girl§. 🤗💕
Great review, Shelley. I appreciate your honesty.
Persephone's Pomegranate wrote: "Great review, Shelley. I appreciate your honesty."Thanks so much, Persephone. 🤗❤️
