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Hello Beautiful
앤 나폴리타노 / The Dial Press / 2024년 7월
평점 : 
This book is a sincere homage to sisterhood of 'Little Women.' It follows the lives of four sisters and a man named William, whose life becomes deeply intertwined with theirs. William had a sister who died when he was just an infant. His parents, devastated by their loss, never recovered and emotionally abandoned William. He grew up in the shadow of his dead sister, carrying a deep emptiness. This left him struggling with severe depression and an inability to fully love others.
At university, William met Julia, and they became a couple. When William visited Julia’s home, he was struck by the warmth and closeness of her family, which included her three sisters—Sylvie, Emeline, and Cecelia.
William and Julia eventually married and had a daughter named Alice. However, William’s depression worsened, rooted in the lack of love he experienced during his childhood. He attempted to take his own life but survived. With Julia’s eldest sister, Sylvie, and his best friend, Kent, stepping in to care for him. Before his attempt, William left a note to Julia giving up his parental right along with a $10,000 check he had secretly hidden - money he had received from his distant parents as a wedding gift, a symbolic final goodbye from them.
The story grows more complicated and emotionally charged. While Sylvie visited William in the hospital, Julia was devastated by his actions. During this time, Sylvie and William developed deep feelings for each other, but both knew they could never act on them. Their love remained unspoken, a painful secret they carried. When Julia discovered the emotional bond between her husband and her beloved sister, she left her hometown with Alice, broken but determined to move forward, leaving her entire family behind.
While this story could easily resemble a cheesy soap opera, the exceptional writing elevates it into something far more profound. The characters’ decisions feel authentic, making their struggles and choices deeply moving. The story is bittersweet—complex, raw, and filled with emotional depth. People are complicated, and sometimes one thing becomes more important than everything else, while some things remain unchangeable. I found myself loving every character in this book. It’s a beautiful and keeps me thinking about it.