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Jan's Reviews > Hello Beautiful
Hello Beautiful
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This book is filled with odd, one-dimensional characters that did some odd things and I didn't like most of them. Four too close for comfort sisters and one shadow of a man round out the main cast here. William might as well have been a ghost throughout most of the story, then that thing happened. Two of the sisters slept entwined in each others arms on more than one occasion, then that thing happened. Even that "thing" didn't save this for me. It just made me mad. Their lives lacked depth and I only could only get to know them on the very basic of levels. I just simply couldn't get invested in their troubles. I have no idea why they did anything much less their thoughts behind their actions. If I wasn't bored, I was angry or perplexed. My thoughts only.
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Hello Beautiful.
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Reading Progress
April 8, 2023
–
Started Reading
April 8, 2023
– Shelved
April 24, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 55 (55 new)
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Diana
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Apr 26, 2023 06:40AM
Onto the next!
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I am so in need of a good book, Diana!
I gave this 2 stars as well. I don't know why it's so, popular. Excellent observations, Jan.
Thank you, Shelley! It's a mystery to me as to the popularity as well. Did we miss something?!! I think not.
Great honest review, Jan. I had this book on Overdrive reserve but removed it after reading similar 2-star reviews. I hope that your next book earns 5 stars.
I too, felt bored and couldn't even finish this one. Once again, I am floored by the voluminous praise for this one.
I'm wondering if you read her last published work, "Dear Edward," and if so, how you would compare or contrast her writing between the two?
Thank you, Jayne. It sure disappointed this reader. Many loved it though. Unto better!!
My hopes were dashed about the 1/3 mark in, Marialyce. Since I'm unable to dnf anything, I pressed on to no avail. Since there are so many glowing reviews for Dear Edward I may give this author another try in the future.
I did not read Dear Edward Stephanie. The subject matter didn't appeal to me. It is, however, due to its stellar reviews the reason I picked up Hello Beautiful. I'm hoping that maybe it was just a one-off and will give the author another go in the future.
Hey Jan, yeah I was just curious. It's interesting how different readers have such different opinions - I pass zero judgement. Just wanted to check. I thought "Dear Edward" was quite well done, and it was interesting seeing the series screenplay adaptation play out on Apple+. They put together quite a wonderful cast and unlike many adaptations from book to screen/series, really pulled it off well, which was pretty cool.
Bummer. Sounds that thing didn't quite cut it. Certainly not a beautiful story! Fair review Jan!
No worries, Stephanie. I never felt that you were passing judgment. I had no idea Dear Edward was a series. It's rare when an adaptation works to a reader's satisfaction.
Bummer is right, Federico. I had high expectations. You win, you lose....we readers are resilient.
Agree. Shame on Oprah. Lousy book.
I don't take Oprah seriously anymore, Susan. Too many duds. I'm glad I'm not alone here. Plenty liked this drivel. I mean no offense to those that did.
You are definitely not alone. I felt betrayed reading it! 😂
So interesting how many reviewers felt the characters were so well developed, while like you I felt they were flat and almost cliches. Julia and her mother are unemotional robots and Cecilia is simply an artist- what more do we really learn about her over the entire book?Great review- glad to see a few others were left a bit baffled by the raves
Thank you, Ilene! For a character driven story, it was severely lacking character. You have summed it up well. Even the era seemed off!
Fabulous review, Jan! Sorry this one didn't work for you. I don't know if I will get around to reading this, but if I do I will keep your thoughts in mind.
Thank you, Meredith! If you do decide to read it, I sincerely hope you enjoy it more than I.
Sorry to hear this Jan. I'm going to give it a try at some point, probably as an audiobook since I really liked Dear Edward that way.
Thanks, Melissa. I hope this is a better fit for you than it was for me. Maybe it's time for me to try an audiobook. It seems like a different experience altogether.
I see all these amazing reviews and finally found one I agree with. I think you're the only one who read the book before writing a review!
Naysayers unite, Susan! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I dozed off reading this. It's obvious a few of us read an entirely different book than the masses.
Oh, it happens to the best of us, Jan. Hope your next one does not have that 'thing' in it! Onwards!
That it does, Jen! Yet we keep plugging along hoping for that masterpiece! Happy reading!
I thought the sisters were very unnatural!
No wonder the father drank, Barbara!
I’m halfway through and I couldn’t agree more. I’m so bored.
I feel your pain, Kate.
My thoughts exactly. This was a “meh” for me as well.
They were like that weirdo family in the neighborhood that was always ripe for rumor, Melissa!
This book was a snooze at best -- I came here to read the negative comments because I feel angry! Had to finish for a book club but it was a waste of time.
I feel your pain, Cara! So much eye-rolling that it gave me a migraine.
Thanks, Maureen! The two star are for me for finishing it!
This has has to be one of the absolute worst books I have ever pushed myself to get through. The eye rolling started to give me an eye migraine too! So far fetched, so ridiculous, so bizarre! I couldn’t believe that the ridiculousness of the characters and the story-telling only worsens. WASTE OF TIME!
Thank you, Maria! We are not alone in our disdain for this story. Was the authors intention for us not to like this book?! If so, I would say she succeeded brilliantly.
Odd one dimensional characters doing odd things - my thoughts exactly!
They made my head hurt, Diana.
Thanks Ellen! I'm still mad about it.
Thanks Andrea! Even the title makes no sense.
Glad to see I’m not the only one that thought this book odd. I kept waiting for some big twist. Even the twist was anticlimactic. Everything about this was anticlimactic.
Spot on comment, Tamara. The characters are insufferable and the storyline is nonexistent. We are not alone!
Totally agree with this review. I also found myself getting mad!! Haha! I either hated the characters or was completely indifferent. Just was not invested in the story at all. I finished it because it was my book club choice and I have scars from being a bad student in high school and I feel great shame in not doing my homework.
Thanks, Cailey! I finished it because I'm not capable of dnfing anything lol once I started this mess, I was stuck with those clowns.
Yup, things just kept happening and then the story moved on. I never really got invested in anything enough to really care
