Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

21 reviews

goodin10tions's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 Hello Beautiful Ann Napolitano with Maura Tierney (Narrator)

This is a very long (15 hours/400 pgs) story about family, forgiveness and generational trauma. 

Because of the multiple POV of the same event, it can feel repetitive. However, that touches a personal favorite topic of mine which is how the same thing can happen to multiple people but they all remember it differently.

What this book is not is a page turner. I am seeing critiques about it being boring and long. If you aren’t comfortable spending 15 hours on a book, skip this one.

The book is described as an exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women. I can vouch for this, the characters also compare themselves to the March sisters.

In short, if you loved Little Women, you’ll probably love the Padavano sisters.

If you are going to read them together, I’d recommend Little Women first.

If you are doing the 52 BookClub 2024 reading challenge this book meets: four POV, grieving character, a plot similar to another book, the OTHER book, includes a wedding, and chapters have dates.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Stalking, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Death of parent

drnaynay's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

ladynavalon's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is about depreession and generacional trauma. I enjoyed, I think the autor knows pretty well what depression is, but don't read It if you want some cozy Little women retelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

sarah_simpkins's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

annebennett1957's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Okay. First piece of advice: Listen to the audiobook with the speed bumped up. I listened at 1.3 speed and that was almost too slow.

Second piece of advice: Drink plenty of Gatorade before or during the last twenty percent of the book. I didn't and I feel lightheaded and dehydrated from my tears. At one point I had to stop listening just so I could get control of my sobbing. SOBBING.

Thirdly, don't build up too much expectation about Little Women and the similarities. It is there, but just a tiny bit and if you wait around for it you'll be disappointed. 

Fourthly, if you have any siblings. Call or text them and tell them you love them before it is too late and you don't get any more chances. Wouldn't that be the worst thing? Not to fix what is broken while you still have a chance? Here come the tears again... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

msnikkiwilks's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book wrecked me in the best way possible. 

I know it's unlikely, but I'd love a companion book following Izzy and Alice. 

Maybe later, I'll find the words to fully capture my feelings about this book, but geez, it was exquisite. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, and Suicide attempt

caitlin_davis22's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

jbones's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, and Suicide attempt

jordan21's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Not knowing that this book was in homage to Little Women, I was pleased with how the author deviated from the classic story in modern ways while still keeping the theme of  sisterly bond at the forefront. 

I’ve growing exhausted of perspective shifts in contemporary novels, but this one does it beautifully. The perspectives  seamlessly drift in and out of the same narrative (rather than retelling a conflict from multiple people’s POV) and creates a beautiful flow to the story. 

The hype surrounding this book is well deserved, and I’m so glad I got my hands on a copy at the library!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism

kimib79's review against another edition

emotional relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The selfishness of most of these people is astounding, yet the author writes them as "brave". The misappropriation of that word these days is amazing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Grief, and Death of parent