It's been a year since fifteen-year-old Mia Hopkins was in the car crash that killed her older sister and left her terribly scarred. The doctors tell her she was lucky to survive. Her therapist says it will take time to heal. The police reports claim there were trace amounts of alcohol in her bloodstream. But no matter how much she tries to reconstruct the events of that fateful night, Mia's memory is spotty at best. She's left with accusations, rumors, and guilt so powerful it could consume her.

As the rest of Mia's family struggles with their own grief, Mia is sent to New York City to spend the summer with a grandmother she's never met. All Mia wants to do is hide from the world, but instead she's stuck with a summer job in the bustling kitchens of the cafe down the street. There she meets Fig--blue-haired, friendly, and vivacious--who takes Mia under her wing. As Mia gets to know Fig and her friends--including Cooper, the artistic boy who is always on Mia's mind--she realizes that she's not the only one with a painful past.

Over the summer, Mia begins to learn that redemption isn't as impossible as she once thought, but her scars inside run deep and aren't nearly so simple to heal ... especially when Mia finally pieces together her memories of the night Rachel died.


Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: poignant, heavy-hitting subjects; well-written, believable amnesia; Heather Hepler explores PTSD, depression, and shifting family dynamics in the midst of trauma and loss; well-rounded, quirky characters; this journey unraveled like a fraying ribbon, in a beautiful way

HUGE thanks to Heather Hepler, Blink Publishing, the Fantastic Flying Book Club, and Netgalley for sending a complimentary egalley of this novel my way! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this title.

Once again this year, I found myself exploring the world in a new way with this read. Because I go into most novels "blind" (I don't really ever fully READ the synopsis, but instead skim over it and base my judgments on key words/the cover/the title/the author.......), I went into this book with no clear expectations. I didn't remember what the synopsis said the book was about...so finding myself looking at the world through Mia's eyes, in the midst of loss and trauma, was as new to me as to Mia herself.

I stood on the porch, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to stop the shivering. It wasn't the cold--the weather was unseasonably warm for May. It was the remaining loon calling from across the lake. They mate for life. I remember my mother telling Rachel and me that when we were young. That night, after my father went to sleep, I sat on the deck, listening as I had ever since my mother left. Listening to the loon call again and again. Every night, I sat out there, listening. The long, mournful sound would echo across the lake and raise goose bumps on my arms.

But one night I sat until all the color had faded from the sky, until the bats stopped swooping toward the water trying to catch their fill of mosquitoes. I sat there long after my father came out to tuck a blanket around me, pausing for a moment with his hand on my shoulder before stepping back inside and pulling the screen door shut behind him. I sat there until I could see my breath, and the only noises were the sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind and the distant sound of a dog barking. But no call ever came. I'm not sure which was worse: the sorrowful calls or the silence. As long as she was calling, she had hope. The silence was heavy with despair.


Heather Hepler explores some poignant, heavy subjects in this book--some of which I won't even mention, because #spoilers. Included, however, are depression and PTSD in the aftermath of trauma. Survivor's guilt, and the ways that losses can wreak havoc on a family, are also touched upon. There is a beautifully smooth transition for Mia's character arc; we start the journey knowing just as much as she does, and come out the other side with all the details laid bare. I feel like Heather Hepler did a glorious job of making her readers WANT to relate to Mia, number one...and then following through by opening her character up like a fraying ribbon. By the end of the read, I felt like I knew Mia almost as well as I know myself--which is saying a lot, as it's not so easy a feat to accomplish in writing.

I really appreciate the lengths that the author went to, to bring this story more fully to life for her readers. It is obvious that Heather Hepler has a passion--and a knack--for the art of wordsmithing. I'd recommend this read to lovers of contemporary fiction, well-rounded characters, and stories that don't give away all their secrets at once. We Were Beautiful is bound to make waves in the ways you view the world, Penguins, if you let it.

Not your typical YA novel, and that's what I love about We Were Beautiful. This is not your average, happy-go-lucky coming of age story, but one that feels more realistic. Heather Helper is wonderful, and so is her writing. Strap in and give this one your undivided attention.

We Were Beautiful was a good, solid read. I somehow needed more from it than it was willing to give, but it overall still a good read. I would have liked to see the characters progress and develop a little more than what we see. I love that the main characters have a lot of depth to them. They’re not the typical perfect, beautiful teenage characters, they have been through a lot and been damaged in the process. I give big props to Heather Helper for including characters like this, who do feel so much more real. I also wish we could have seen more from them on both the front and back end of the story we are told. Overall, a solid teen read.

The only thing that let this book down was the sheer number of similar plots I’ve read in the last year.
It’s really well written, but it pales when compared to others I’ve read. This offers nothing unique that sets it apart for me. Had I read this first, I perhaps would have been saying this about another book.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

On Mia’s 15th birthday, her sister took her to a party. After that party, a car accident occurred, leaving her sister dead and Mia ruined. Mia was driving, despite not having a license, and her injuries left her unable to remember most of the details from that day, including the accident itself.

Now, nearly a year later, her family has pretty much dissolved. Her mom left first, and then her dad sends her on a train to New York to go live with a grandmother, Veronica, that she has never met.

While Mia wants to be consumed with her own guilt and grief, Veronica gets Mia a job at another family’s restaurant where on the first day of work, she is “adopted” by Fig, a person with her own broken past. Mia must learn what it means to live with knowing what happened, her role in it, and how to live in the present moment.

We Were Beautiful takes a serious lok at what it looks like to live with the guilt and grief of something that is a complex issue while also looking at how it is survivable. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, I found this book heavily readable with a very good mix of emotional moments so the reader never stays in a dark emotional place for too long. (I have no objection to those books that do; this is just a mention because some readers may initially shy away for that reason.)

Because I was approved for this ARC shortly before the release date, the book is available to buy now. Check it out.

This story felt like watching a journey of healing unravel in real time.

It's been nearly a year since the accident that left Mia Hopkins scarred and her sister dead, and the pain still persists. She's been told time will heal her wounds, that she'll move on one day...but she doesn't want to. She just wants to remember. The night of the accident is a blur, with no memories remaining of what had happened. Without her mother and her father, she's sent to live with her Grandmother for the entirety of the summer. A new place, new people..a new chance to heal?

This story is heartbreaking and poignant, and is a wonderful read.

Though the story is developing quite slowly and read more like her day to day working at the kitchen while staying with her grandmother without us actually discovering the entirety of what happens (bits here and there- we know its a car crash, her sister is dead and she have a big scar on her face… aswell as Mia blaming herself for the wrong turn her family took) – I kinda like this!

With the little pieces we get every so often, I was quite eager to find the big picture and what actually happened. Is it that bad that what she thinks? Is she really to blame??

The friendship between Mia & Fig’s friends, aswell as the Relationship between the Brunelli family is really well made! Every one within the circle of friends are all broken in their own way, while always supporting each other! Wether it’s through a bad news, or just sharing their love of art. As for the Brunelli’s, they strongly believe that family is family no matter what happens, and are truly a sign of unconditional love; going as far as adopting Mia as one of theirs.

Though the novel in itself isn’t about the abuse or trauma in itself, it is about how each person may grieve differently; Not only Mia, but all of Fig’s friends have something to grieve of… And how it’s okay to keep on living, aswell as open up to others and turning towards the future.

Mia is still healing from the car crash that took her sister's life and tore apart family. Left with scars both physical and emotional, and a family more fractured than her face, she's shipped off to live with the grandmother she's never met. Her mother is gone. Her father can't even look at her. And Mia... well, Mia can't forgive herself, either.

With new friends, new possibilities, and her trusty old camera, Mia begins a journey of healing, forgiveness, and finally remembering exactly what happened the night her sister died.

I *loved* this book. The characters, the plot, everything. But my favorite, hands down, was Fig. Fig, then her family, then Mia, and then the romance. In that order!

This was solid YA, and an interesting story. The author tackled the heavy subject matter thoughtfully, and the main character was relatable, as were many of the supporting characters. It was a quick and engaging read. But the thing that I got stuck on was how many of the plot points and relationships were underdeveloped. A lot of things seemed very rushed or very convenient or just generally inexplicable. Mia and Cooper kiss twice and suddenly she’s made huge emotional leaps forward and feels way better about everything despite not even having a therapist to help her process her trauma. Mia’s mom, who by all accounts was a loving and happy mother, gives up after Rachel’s death, relinquishes her parental rights, and becomes a nun. Veronica is a stiff, standoffish, manners-obsessed grandmother who also leaves Mia almost entirely alone and very quickly becomes loving and supportive with almost no growing pains. Mia shows up in New York and immediately bonds with a group of wonderful teenager friends who are constantly doing amazing things with their time and make the most of what the city has to offer every single day. It was just too much suspension of disbelief for me, and in a lot of ways people’s decisions and behavior just never made sense. In a weird way, even though the subject matter was heavy and Mia had a lot of trauma around the accident, it was like... there was very little other, more regular angst in her life, and what was there was presented at a very superficial level. This was an interesting concept and a grabby read, but it could have gone a lot deeper and been much more relatable.

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<p style="text-align:center"><strong>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC for an honest review. </strong></p>
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<p>I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book but I was pleasantly surprised! In the beginning, I was a bit confused because it felt like I was just thrown into the middle of a story, but once I got oriented it was a breeze!</p>
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<p>Mia was a really relatable character and I really felt her pain and her insecurity and guilt radiate off the page. Mixed with her new and almost polar opposite friend Fig, it made for quite some entertaining conversations and fun! It was refreshing to see a friendship that wasn't completely about Mia feeling left out because she was new. And it was nice to see Fig including her and just being so nice and bubbly!</p>
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<p>I really enjoyed the incorporation of art and food! While the elements of the YA contemporary remained the same, it became unique with the fun art related things and with the interesting characters in the restaurant Mia had to work in. </p>
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<p>I also really loved the family dynamics. Mia's family was strange and heartbroken and difficult. And Mia had to live with a grandmother she never knew... but seeing their growing relationship just made me so happy! And on top of that, there was lots of fun drama and antics with Fig's family at the restaurant! They were loud and sort of gossipy and hilarious! The interactions between all the different characters really gave this story a bump up!</p>
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<p>There's one part in particular, where Mia gets to really know her new friends and understand that she doesn't have to feel guilty or alone in her tragedy that really got me. It was really touching to see that kind of realization and that solidarity in friendships and family.</p>
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<p>This book read like a Sarah Dessen novel (and if you don't know me, I love Sarah Dessen!). It was happy and sad with a sprinkle of drama and romance! I loved the characters' stories and (of course) the character development!</p>
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<p>I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read about tragedies and what follows them, guilt and resurfacing memories, friendship and romance, photography and art, really delicious pastries, and family drama.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center"><strong>A trigger warning to readers: Mia does suffer from some PTSD (as she has to deal with her sister's death and the guilt that comes with it). There's also mentions of domestic abuse. </strong></p>
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I was drawn to this book because of the concept. Mia is struggling with grief, sadness, anxiety and frustration with the events on the night her sister died. Plagued with rumours and accusations Mia is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother. Left to mourn her loss and deal with her scarred face, the constant reminder of all she lost. Mia meets Cooper and thry both begin to heal from their damage of the past. This book is written as Mia's healing journey and while it was slow and flat at points the friendships and the raw emotions make up for it. This isn't all rainbows and butterflies, it's the harsh truths and the staggering blows that cut you to the core. This is a story of not only surviving trauma but coming back to claim the life you deserve. I laughed, I cried and I had to put the book down. A moving read well worth your time

An emotional novel that will make you want to laugh, cry, and reach through the pages to hug the characters tight as they go through their trials.

Mia Hopkins has had almost a year to deal with the car crash she was involved in that killed her older sister and left her face scarred. She has been told over and over that it will take time to heal and move on, but she doesn’t want to move on. The night of the accident is a blank to her; she can’t remember what happened that night and the little alcohol that was found in her blood doesn’t help matters. With her mother gone and not able to handle being around her and her father having to go away to work, Mia ends up going to spend the summer with her grandmother. Being in a new place and around new people, Mia tries to figure out how to move on and live the life she has left.

We Were Beautiful is a powerful read with a message that is hard hitting and can help those struggling with deep emotional issues who are having trouble moving beyond. Mia is scarred, not just on her face but deep inside emotionally having to life with what happened, and worse not even remembering what happened. The worst part of it all is the way she feels abandoned by her family. Her mom leaving her is the worst part of all, she knows she is hard to look at but having her own mother turn on her is worse than the accident itself. Being forced to go live with her grandmother turns out to be just what she needs. I loved the way Hepler brings out the best and worst in these characters, showing readers their flaws and heartaches and how they go about moving forward with their lives. We all have hard times and scars we must live with, inside and out. This is the first book by Hepler I have read, and I was incredibly impressed with the way she brought these characters to life leading me to route for them, cheer with their victories and cry with their hardships. While there wasn’t much action the story itself moved quickly. The tension between the characters and what they are going through is plenty to keep the pages turning and the reader pleased. I recommend this to young adult readers that want a story that will teach them a lesson about forgiveness and moving on in the hard times.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The beauty of this book is just beyond words. This book is not only a story about loss and grief but about healing. It’s not easy to deal with insurmountable amounts of pain at such a young age, especially the loss of a sibling and the dismantling of a once happy family who can’t come together to cope with their grief.

In the beginning we meet Mia, a young woman scarred by the loss of her sister in terrible accident that she believes to be her fault. This accident leaves Mia with a scarred face and with the dismantling of her family that does not know how to cope with the loss. We learn that Mia’s mother has given up full custody and that rather than helping his only daughter work through her grief, he decides to ship her off to her grandmother.

What the reader would assume to be another cruel twist of fate for this character turns out to be a huge blessing in disguise for our beloved main character. Mia finally meets her grandmother for the first time who turns out to have needed a bit of healing too, she meets Nonna an Italian grandmother who I believe everyone needs in their life and Fig. If I could wish for anything right now, it would be that everyone had a friend like Fig because she was just such a wonderful being who Mia desperately needed in her life. Through Fig, Mia meets Sebastian and siblings Cooper and Sarah; a group of artists who help Mia heal and see that though she’s faced loss, she has so much more to live for.

I adored We Were Beautiful. Plain and simple it may just be one of the best books I’ve read all year and i cannot recomendable it enough.

We Were Beautiful is a story set in New York City about a girl named Mia who is sent to live with her grandmother for the summer. Dealing with the sorrow of losing her older sister, and having no memory of that night only a scare on her face. Mia just wants to hide from the world but a summer job provides that it might just be the start of healing that she never expected and new friends give her the confidence and hope that she thought might be gone forever. This is a beautiful story of healing and finding happiness again and new friends that bring joy back into her life again.

This is the prime example of what YA novel should be. This book deposited you into the world of Mia and her struggles and reluctantly released you and the end of the novel.
The friendships between the teens were beautiful and lifelike. Throughout the novel, they discover more about each other and share their struggles. They learn to rely on each other in a way that makes them stronger.
I was a bit shocked that Mia did not tell an adult about what happened to her sister on the night she died.
All in all, I would recommend this to one looking for a story of healing, hope, and forgiveness.

Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Content Rating: 2 Stars

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this book but I found myself really enjoying it. All the characters had their scars (some visible some not) and I loved how they embraced them and each other. Mia was a really likeable character who was trying to figure out what happened on the night the car crash happened while also trying to get to know this strange women who is her grandmother and has her own guilt. I loved Fig and how she took Mia under her wing and didn't ask questions or expect anything in return. It's a story about finding yourself but also helping others and realising that we all have scars some just more visible than others.

I didn't expect to tear through this novel in a matter of hours, but here we are. It was THAT good.

First, I was utterly charmed with the characters here - the dramatic Brunelli family, the eclectic group of friends, the complicated family of the main character, all of them! It was impossible not to get attached to each of them and not laugh along with the witty banter between them. Watching the way these characters took a hollowed-out girl and filled her with so much love and peace was really beautiful.

The romance was ADORABLE. My only complaint is I wanted a little more - I know the novel was mostly about Mia's development, but I felt Cooper was a little on the under-developed side, compared with other supporting characters like Fig. There were definitely "awww" moments, but a little more depth probably would have gotten some tears out of me.

This was a very, very enjoyable YA novel that I highly recommend to lovers of YA, coming-of-age stories about overcoming grief.

Mia is heading to stay with her grandmother, Veronica after her radio actress sister Rachel passed away and her mum and dad struggled to cope. Mia too as she bears scars from the tragedy too, written onto her face.



Mia is haunted by her memories as she tries to adapt to life with her grandmother and working at a diner and going to church with her too when she wants her to.



But she does make a friend in Fig or Fiona as her real name is and her group of friends involved in Art Attack a local art group whom also have a deal with the Museum Of Modern Art.



She meets Cooper a boy also facially disfigured but for a whole different reason, saving his sister...



Mia starts off as a weak and unsure girl whom flourishes as the book goes on. With new friends and a possible boyfriend her confidence grows despite her parental issues as her dad is back home at work without her and her mum has left them both to become a nun. With all the issues is a good slow to unfold drama as we discover a heartfelt reason behind the accident that sets the precedent for the novel from the start.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

I’m having a hard time rating this book. On the one hand I loved the story, and it definitely made me feel. On the other hand there were periods that were so slow and completely lacked any action. I will look forward to any future books by this author. 3.5 stars

Life is messy for all of us. Some have messier lives than others. Heather Hepler has written an incredible young adult novel about messy lives. It is about walls that need to come down. It is about learning each other’s stories and finding the similarities.

As I was reading this story I thought about the song by For King And Country – “God Only Knows.” Until we reach out to people and truly listen to their story, we have no clue what is going on in their lives. This truth is shown time and again in We Were Beautiful.

Heather Helpler’s book We Were Beautiful can help those struggling with secrets to realize they are not alone in their struggles. Like Mia and Cooper, many blame themselves for what happened to someone else – often carrying guilt they don’t need to carry.

I would not hesitate to add this young adult novel to the secondary side of my K-12 Christian School library.

I want to thank the publisher and Just Read Publicity Tours for the complimentary copy of the book.