Beyond Diaries

Umm, where do I even begin? I received this book as a gift from a wonderful person I have known for over a year during my stay in Toronto. I’ll admit, I’m not much of a fiction reader—my TBR pile is mostly academic papers—and my prolonged absence from bookstores means I had no clue this book even existed.

That being said, I am genuinely happy to have this and a few other books as gifts. Now, let’s talk about Hello Beautiful. I’m writing this review as I read, so consider this your invitation to join me on the journey. It’ll feel like we’re flipping the pages together—minus the snacks and cozy chair. Let’s see where this story takes us!

I hope you won’t mind, but I’m moving away from traditional book reviews. Reading and writing are both integral parts of my life, and I believe a conventional review can’t truly capture the journey of experiencing a story spread across 400 pages.

Set in the 1980s, the book begins with the story of William Waters and Julia Padavano, who fall in love during their freshman-year history class. William is a lonely man, burdened by a traumatic childhood, finding solace in playing basketball. His life changes when he falls in love with Julia and her unwavering ambition and determination. Julia has a plan for everything and William initially comes laid back and lets Julia drive their life’s car. Everything happens so fast in William’s life and he was not able to decipher anything out of it. I really admire how the writer has brought together two characters with different personalities and developed a story around what makes love, love.

At first, I thought the narrative would center primarily on Julia, or perhaps William. But as the story unfolded and more characters entered the picture, the spotlight gradually shifted, weaving their lives into the fabric of the plot.

What truly stood out to me was the care the author took in giving each character their due attention. It reminded me of something George Saunders once mentioned in a book I was reading—how good writing involves crafting a story around every character you introduce. Ann has done exactly that, perfectly capturing the essence of each character, their emotions, and the life experiences that shaped them into who they are.

The story starts off at a slow pace but gains momentum as it nears the end. While I found the book somewhat predictable—given that it’s a homage to Little Women—the way the events unfolded often surprised me. That said, there were moments when the reasoning behind the characters’ emotions felt repetitive, and some paragraphs or pages could have been trimmed without losing the essence of the story.

As a woman, I have aspirations and am highly ambitious. As a child, I had dreams of becoming very successful and independent as an adult and I still have dreams to go beyond what I have achieved so far. I did not find it awkward when Julia was portrayed as highly ambitious and thinking about her success. But I get it, family matters and one should take a balanced approach. However, this plot was set in the 80s which was a difficult period for women to establish themselves and have an identity. Women by and large have been expected to cater to the family and leave their aspirations behind. Sometimes, it is the society that forces them to do so while at times it is the mental conditioning that makes them take this step. In either case, it has been a tough period and it still is in some parts of the world. When I consider all these factors, I don’t seem to hate Julia’s character as most people would. Rather, I feel proud of what she achieved—all by herself. Although, I secretly wished she had more empathy for others.

Sylvie, in particular, stood out to me. I found myself resonating with her at times, and that’s a testament to Ann’s talent as a writer. She crafts characters and situations so relatable that they pull you into the world of the story—a hallmark of great realistic fiction.

I’ve come across a fair share of negative reviews claiming the book lacks enough family drama. I disagree. In today’s world, where social media and real-life chaos have desensitized us to drama, expectations for it have reached exaggerated levels. In my view, the amount of drama in the book was just right—not overwhelming, but enough to feel authentic and meaningful.

In the end, Hello Beautiful is a testament to the enduring power of love and forgiveness. It reminds us that family is not defined by perfection but by the willingness to reconcile, to mend what’s broken. While the book has its imperfections, its emotional resonance and richly drawn characters make it a worthy read, especially for those who appreciate realistic fiction that mirrors life’s quiet yet powerful complexities. I would suggest that one should read this book at least once to admire the writing and thinking of the writer while also reflecting on deeper societal issues that still exist.

I hope you found this review useful. Please feel free to leave your comments on what you think about this book. Happy reading and a happier new year.