Hello Beautiful

Julia Padavano is the oldest of the Padavano siblings and is characterized by her fierce independence, ambition, and problem-solving abilities: “Julia specialized in answers. From the time she was old enough to speak, she’d bossed her sisters around, pointing out their problems and providing solutions” (26). Because of these qualities, she is the leader of her siblings during their childhood years.

Although Julia is not particularly interested in romance, she views marriage as one component in a successful life, and this motivates her to pursue a relationship and then marriage with William. Although at first, they are young and in love, after Julia gets pregnant with Alice, she becomes irritated by the way William depends on her for constant guidance. After giving birth, Julia’s outlook fundamentally shifts; she realizes that she doesn’t need a husband and has everything within herself to live a happy and fulfilled life.

Julia’s greatest trial comes after her divorce when Sylvie falls in love with William. Julia feels betrayed and decides to raise Alice without any knowledge of her extended family, including her father. These actions stem from Julia’s hurt but also from her need to control those around her. Sylvie’s marriage to William is the first act by one of her sisters that is not in her power to control; when Cecelia got pregnant, Julia thought she could “fix” the situation by having a baby herself. That kind of logic leaves Julia without a role in her family once everyone grows up and lives their own lives. To fully become part of her family again, Julia has to give up her desire to control and embrace the people in her life as they are.

As a young girl, Sylvie is defined by her love of books and her desire to have a great romance. She is a hard worker and has had a job at the library since she was 13 years old. Sylvie takes community college classes and tries to live up to her mother’s expectations of having all her daughters finish college. However, Sylvie does not share her mother’s dreams. She is not interested in living a traditional life but in exploring the deeper, philosophical underpinnings of life. In this way, she is much like Charlie. Like her father, Sylvie finds solace in books and poetry, and these become a way for her to connect with the world around her.

Later chapters reveal that Sylvie didn’t always believe her ideal of true love was achievable. In fact, her belief that it is unachievable is what keeps her emotionally safe. However, when she begins to fall in love with William, this safety unravels, and she chooses to embrace the risks of love—losing her relationship with Julia in the process. When Sylvie is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, she feels grateful to herself for taking these risks, noting that she has lived a brave life and it allowed her to love everyone and everything around her.

Cecelia Padavano grows from an artistic and straight-forward girl into a strong, independent woman who uses her art to celebrate the women in her life. When she becomes pregnant with Izzy, her choice to keep the child without involving the father creates a rift in the Padavano family, as her Catholic mother is appalled at her decision and worried that her daughter will repeat her mistakes. But Cecelia stays committed to her truth and forgives her mother, choosing to live a life without bitterness. Her free-thinking nature is evident in her decision to raise Izzy on her own and pursue her art despite the challenges that come with being a single mother. Throughout the novel, Cecelia serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for her siblings, pushing them to pursue their own dreams and passions. She is a model of empathy and passes those traits down to Izzy, who is the first to welcome Alice into the family when she arrives in Chicago.

Emeline is the most nurturing and caring of the sisters in Hello Beautiful, and initially, she seems the most comparable to Beth in Little Women. She is shy as a young woman: “She stood behind her sisters in social settings, the same way she’d hidden behind them at parties when she was a child” (112). She loves children and saves a good deal of money by being the neighborhood babysitter, dreaming of the day when she can have children of her own.

Despite being a loving and supportive sister, Emeline has kept the secret from her family that she is a lesbian. This secret is a burden that she carries, and it is William’s honesty about his past that inspires her that she is able to reveal herself to her sisters. Emeline's sexuality is a significant aspect of her character, and her journey toward coming out is a testament to the importance of acceptance and self-love. After she comes out to William, he is stunned at how she transforms into someone who is more open, confident, and fully alive. Emeline goes on to marry her first love, Josie, and the two foster newborn babies together, fulfilling Emeline’s childhood dream of being a mother.