Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

108 reviews

korikam's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This  slow-paced novel tells the story of a young man whose promising basketball career is cut short by a knee injury, leaving him adrift. Combined with a cold upbringing and lack of direction, he struggles to find his place in the world. His personal crisis sets off a chain of events that deeply affects his in-law family. 

At its heart, this book explores themes of family ties, sisterhood, loyalty, and betrayal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death and Lesbophobia

nialiversuch's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death and Sexual content

applesaucecreachur's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.25

Over the last few days, while reading this book, I found myself in a daze any time I was alone. (The fact that I listened to the entire story over a few hours-long sittings likely has no bearing on this.) Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano had a striking way of showing me myself and my beloveds within its pages. In this way, the story fit like a lens over my frontal lobe: I saw its words walking down the street and trailing through my journal. The range of years and human emotions was exhausting in its beauty. The span of decades and personalities felt both breakneck in its pace and loving in its attention to detail. Hearing the story from multiple distinct POVs was not only enjoyable but also immensely clever. While the timeline remained more or less linear, Napolitano bends the arrow to allow for multiple perspectives on the same events, and to station the reader in different minds in the same instant.

The most breathtaking example of this was the day of Sylvie's death, where we first watch Alice waiting uncomfortably at her father's work before learning in the next chapter that he has just fallen headlong into grief.

With emotions swirling inside of me, I have only so many intelligible thoughts on this book.  I will end this review off with a lasting lesson: Love, like the people with whom we share it, is imperfect and essential.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death

leahmit's review against another edition

reflective sad

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Suicide attempt

bellsdixon's review

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, and Pregnancy

hannavaistila's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

oliviaemily's review

emotional hopeful 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

was a bit disappointed with this! it's a good story but spoonfeeds the emotions. felt like i was being carried through the story rather than taken...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

geoalice23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I loved and hated each character simultaneously in ways you only can about family 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Classism

emilymichiels's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria