Join a book club that is reading Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel!

BCPL's Book Club Posse

BCPL's Book Club Posse


Started December 2014


Meet monthly, last Thursday of every month, except no meeting in December, and November is TBD due to Turkey Day.


We are utilizing this new website as our hub for letting club members know what is going on. You can also download the free app.


Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/BsBCP

The Real Housewives of Literature

Flexible group exploring all genres! Monthly meets, quarterly votes, rotating hosts (virtually or in person)

Boston/Somerville Book Club

Book club currently of just girls who have been meeting to discuss different genres of books!

Hello Beautiful (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little WomenHello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.

BUY THE BOOK

416 pages

Average rating: 7.42

2,764 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Apr 19, 2025
10/10 stars
This was such a great book. I had been on the waiting list for over 10 weeks. When I finally had a chance to read it, I only had 3 days left on the loan. Most of this book was listened to on Thanksgiving while cooking all the food. It was a perfect day for a family saga. I hope that Ann Napolitano writes many more books for me to read ;) I think that Moura Tierney was the perfect person to read the audio book. Some audio book narrators can make the book even better and she did.
@MissLitLife
Apr 17, 2025
7/10 stars
A very engrossing read - I appreciated the story and depiction of these four sisters - Sylvie, Julia, Cecilia and Emeline - (*the writing was not a pull-factor for me) but I enjoyed the weft that the author created - the entanglement of emotions, rawness, and how a few select choices and decisions can completely alter the course of one's life - I also enjoyed reading the differing character perspectives and one of the story's central themes - "what does it really mean to be brave in one's own life story?" Whether it is bravery in love...loss...bravery in overcoming or suppressing - bravery in confronting or rejecting or bravery in anticipating and/or acceptance... The story did get me teary in some parts as it invites one to reflect on one's own family, upbringing, presence or absence of love or affection, first loves...last loves...and love we miss our on or never experience...
sloanefk
Apr 02, 2025
5/10 stars
My first book by Napolitano. It was a sweeping family saga centered around four sisters spanning more than 25 years. It includes selflessness, (perceived) betrayal, abandonment, and how we navigate through life with the support of family and true friends—our chosen family. I didn’t like all the characters, nor did I relate to their choices. But it was an interesting character study. The audiobook was well narrated by Maura Tierney.
Sorry She’s Booked
Mar 10, 2025
4/10 stars
Wanted to love it, really I did. I heard so many good things about it, and the concept of the book was very appealing but execution is everything obviously. It was just super boring at times, quite hard to get into if I must say. I’d go into detail but really it just wasn’t my cup of tea ☕️ Little Women was in the back of my mind while reading this, like haven’t I heard this all before?
imes909
Feb 26, 2025
9/10 stars
Modern version of Little Women, but better!

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