While Hello Beautiful offers a mosaic of perspectives, William’s story is central to the trajectory of the novel. The book begins and ends with him and follows his life as he grows from a lonely boy to a man who can embrace his vulnerabilities and open himself up to giving and receiving love.

William is 6’7” and hails from Boston. He had no sense of identity growing up because his parents were emotionally distant; they equated his birth with the death of their three-year-old daughter, as both events happened the same day. William’s mental health difficulties as an adult are rooted in a childhood of emotional neglect. His family’s lack of emotional support left William feeling unsure of his identity, and he struggled with loneliness and depression throughout his life. However, William found an outlet and identity in basketball. Through the sport, which he discovered in high school, he found a sense of purpose and belonging, and it gave him a way to connect with others. Over the years, William's relationship with basketball changed. Repeated knee injuries meant he could no longer play, and this sunk him into depression, during which time he attempted to die by drowning in Lake Michigan.