We were beautiful was a lovely short read. The character development of Mia was well written even if the instafriendship with a close knit group who all shared a similar trauma was odd to me. I know it’s fiction but especially with a group of people who by all accounts should have trust issues to instantly accept a stranger into the group just feels unbelievable to me.
That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book - even with the unbelievable start I did enjoy the friendships, I enjoyed the growth of Veronica’s character in particular. Unsure if this is because I’m an adult reading this who had problems with her mother as a teen but I really enjoyed her growth.
The story overall seemed like a nice premise to me and I enjoyed the book. I will say the writing style seemed more aimed towards younger teens I thought as opposed to 16 year olds like the characters seem to be.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This book dives a little deeper (and could even be triggering for some, so please keep that in mind). It was interesting from start to finish and I would definitely recommend to a friend.

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis held so much promise, but the book failed to deliver as much as I hoped for from it. I enjoyed it well enough, but with a few tweaks it could have been an even more enjoyable read.

This was a really unique book with a lot of depth and emotion. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. However, it was a bit disjointed and I wasn't a huge fan of the ending.

I was not able to read this book due to personal issues I didn't want to be reminded of at the time of reading this book. Thank you for the chance to read and review.

It’s been a year since Mia lost her sister, Rachel in a horrible car accident. Her whole family is struggling to heal. But Mia has a lot more to heal from because she was the one driving and is told she had alcohol in her system. Her face was also horribly scarred in the accident.

She is sent to New York City to stay with a grandmother she’s never met for the summer, Mia thinks that is exaywhat she needs since she won’t have to be around people. But her Grandmother has a different plan. Mia is working at a cafe for the summer, where she meets Fin and her friends who each have traumatic things from their past also. They try to help each other navigate these situations but Mia keeps pushing them away especially when she finally remembers what happened the night she lost her sister..

I loved these characters. They were perfectly imperfect. Completely amazing friends who want to help each other. Just a great story with all the feels,

Such a great story. My heart was so sad for Mia, who’s grieving the loss of her sister while at the same time dealing with her own guilt. Doesn’t help matters that both her mother and her father seem to have given up on her as she’s been shipped off to her grandmother’s. Can new friends help her recover?

Mia was driving the night her sister died. She doesn't remember much, but her face bears the scars and her family is fractured. <spoiler>I am so mad at her mother--she left! She gave up and became. nun! Who does that? And why would they let her?</spoiler> Mia is spending the summer in New York with the grandmother she's never met, at a job Grandmother got her. But she makes a few friends and maybe even a boyfriend. She might even be okay, if her guilt and the flashbacks won't mess things up; and she learns to look beyond herself again.

This one caught me off guard, and I really enjoyed it. I'm definitely buying it for school.

Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures. At times an easy romantic read, at others, a painful look at grief.

I didn't expect to so thoroughly enjoy a book that deals with difficult subjects like guilt over the death of a sibling and family violence. Hepler creates lovable, quirky characters who are figuring out how to live with grace after facing tragedy. Serious topics handled sensitively are balanced with crazy scenes like a hotdog eating contest or Mia dressing up like a giant cannoli. Recommended for teens who don't want unrelenting drama but still want a book that deals with the realities of family, friendships and the beginnings of romance.

This was your typical YA contemporary. There was nothing that really stood out to me. I did enjoy Fig and her family. It's a quick read and I think it does an okay job of dealing with our main character's grief and recovery.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75-4 stars
tw for death, mourning, sexual assault (though brief) and abuse

OH man, when I first read this novel, I had to put it down at first because I did not like the beginning and how detached it felt. Upon giving it another shot, I was really quickly captivated once we got to the third chapter after we meet Mia's new-found friend, Fig. Seeing her get out of an emotionally detached home and learn to grow new relationships after tragedy really was beautiful.

I think I'm just not keen to this age group anymore and considering the fact that this was her first time really experiencing grief and tragedy of her own at such a young age made her angst all the more disheartening for me. I did enjoy the progression of the novel, but Mia's character I think could've used a bit more shaping. But I did love the open ending for this. Thought it fit quite well.

In Heather Hepler's new novel, We Were Beautiful, she takes readers on a grief journey with 15 year old Mia, who was the underage driver in a car accident that took her sister's life the previous year. Mia's world has stood still since the day her sister died. Her family has fallen apart, and Mia lives with the consuming guilt that it is all her fault. When her family sends her to live with the grandmother she has never known in New York City for the summer, Mia falls in with a group of teens who are all facing struggles of their own. Through baking and art, love and friendship, can Mia find her way back into the world of the living and make peace with her sister's death?

We Were Beautiful is a poignant, simple novel about being a young person coming to terms with a terrible loss. Hepler has written a book that examines the impact grief and guilt have on young people, and shows what a difference the right support system can have on a hurting person. While this book is insightful and important, it isn't the most captivating or intriguing novel I have read this year. However, teens who enjoy innocent, heartfelt novels about real problems that young people face will like We Were Beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blink for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This beautiful story deals with how our imperfections and our scars can be beautiful even if some cannot handle the differences between smooth skin, “clean” pasts, and perfection. I thought that this story was really empowering and emotional. I thought that it showed a lot about friendship and family and it made me hungry

Being a teenager is hard, and it doesn't necessarily get easier when you become an adult. I liked this book because it dove into the difficulties of being a teenager while also noting the struggles of the adults who are far from perfect.

I think I am YA'd out. Or perhaps I'm just getting too old, but I feel like i've read this book before. Multiple times. There wasn't really anything here that stood out for me, but it was very quick and readable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.
Considering the topics of grief, disfigurements, child abuse and abandon this is a very low-drama coming of age story about a girl recovering from a deadly car accident. Although, the reader does not know the details of the accident Mia clearly struggles with guilt and loss and you go along with her as she tries to start her life over. She immediately finds a crew of kids to spend time with and everyone is very kind and supportive without the mean girl that so many teen novels throw in as an antagonist. I enjoyed the details about how the kids met and their art group. I think this would be an excellent book for a young person who wants a heavy read but without any detailed content that would make it too adult.

Mia's sister Rachel was killed in a car accident and Mia was left scarred. She cannot remember what happened and she now suffers from the guilt of surviving and not being able to remember. She goes to New York City to stay with a grandmother she does not know. When she gets a job and meets Fig and her friends, she begins to embark on a journey to understand who she is. But then starts to remember what actually happened the night of the accident. We Were Beautiful is an amazing book that explores how we deal with tragedy and how we are able to move forward when we think that all is lost. Such a good book!

Although not a fairy tale like the author originally planned, this book was magical. I loved the characters, which is great for a character-driven story. I'm sad that I didn't read this earlier, but I'm so glad that I finally read it.