Faithful: A Novel

Shelby Richmon is an ordinary girl, I would say maybe not even so ordinary – her best friend is very beautiful and popular. But one night something terrible happens – the two girls suffer a car crash which Shelby survives barely scratched, while her best friend Helene ends up in a coma with permanent brain damage. After this, Shelby is thrown into the deepest depression and won’t stop blaming herself for years, as well as destroying herself and letting others do it for her. We follow Shelby through her story of maturing, something like 5 or 10 years (I couldn’t tell) of her starting out as a complete mess and learning to live life anew. It is a touching account, filled with learning what love is, what one truly wants and how to forgive oneself for things unimaginable.
The aspect I liked the most about this book was how honest it was. So sad, aching and deep – and so sincere. It’s hard to be honest in these things. It’s hard not to overdramatize. And yet, it was done so well! Couldn’t help wondering if the writer had seen her own share of sorrow in her life. Only one who has suffered can really portray pain, depression and self-hatred so well. The part I thought was done the best was how Shelby refused to see that she was actually a kind, good person, that she was worth something. The inability to forgive oneself and see oneself worthy of anything is, I would say, the main point of the book.

It’s a painful path that we see our main character walk. But it’s one you can deeply empathise, or even connect with. You’ll keep turning it over and over in your head, whether Shelby’s choices were right or wrong, right considering the circumstances, or the only ones she could have taken anyway. And in the end, it’s so satisfying, because you can see clearly the whole path she walked and where it brought her. It’s a very good ending. Not because something exceptionally good happens, but because there’s release from the past, from the pain. There’s redemption.

It was a magical, wonderful, emotional and very well written journey into a young girl’s life. Troubled and raw, which you are going to love every minute of. I truly recommend this book, it was a great one to start my reading year with, and it might be my best read this year. I am deeply grateful to the writer and the publishers to have allowed me an early read of this gem, even if it took me so long to catch up to it in my schedule.

*I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest opinion*

I'll give it 3 stars because I liked it just enough to finish, even if it did make me mad the whole time.

Okay, first of all the prose in this book is really beautifully done. So well done that I constantly found myself looking forward to picking the book back up. The problem is when I did pick up the book, I remembered how frustrating this book is.

Shelby is probably the most infuriating character I have ever read about. And okay, real people are infuriating. Real people make mistakes and bad choices. But this girl has a non-stop pity party over something that was a complete accident, and thinks she's some sort of terrible person because of it. And when other people make terrible life decisions, like idk robbing people at gunpoint, she seriously thinks that her situation is comparable. Um no girl, you accidentally crashed a car, you can't relate to hardened criminals. Get a grip.

I did love the relationship with her mom and Maravelle's family. Shelby's relationship with her mom was really beautiful. It makes me want to go hug my own mom. And I like the way Shelby slowly gained the respect of Maravelle's family.

Something that really annoyed me was the way Shelby was treated when she said she didn't like kids.. As someone who doesn't want children, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. No, Maravelle, people won't like your kids just because they're yours. (And you can't just force people to be your babysitter.) Sure, it ended up being true in this case, but trust me when I say I've had that said to me soooo much and so few times did I end up not disliking those kids. Also no, Sarah Levy, when someone says they don't like kids it's not appropriate to say "You'll love your own baby." First of all, people who don't like kids don't plan to have a baby in the first place. Second of all, if that were in any way true, there wouldn't be abusive and neglectful parents. So knock it off with that nonsense.

*Spoiler Ahead, don't read if you don't want to know*

I had a MAJOR problem with the romance in this book. Seriously, what just happened? Here we have Ben, a man who Shelby had slowly gotten to know and had fallen in love with over time. Their relationship wasn't perfect, they would fight, but that's how most real relationships are. And then she falls in love with Harper after like 5 minutes of knowing the guy. Um what? Is this a Disney movie? And then she cheats on Ben with him. With a guy she just met. Of course, sweet karma comes along and it turns out he's a major player. And so Ben moves on and marries a chick he doesn't really love. And Shelby falls in love with a stalker she's only really known for 5 minutes. AGAIN with the Disney like falling in love with someone you barely know. And he doesn't even give her the tattoo she asks for, because clearly he knows best. WHAT. No, no, no. This guy is a major creep and SERIOUSLY she barely knew him. Don't make this out like it's normal. It's not normal and it's extremely weird. Ben would have been a MUCH better option. They got to know each other, he accepted her for who she was, the relationship was realistic and NOT stalkerish and creepy.

This story grabbed me right away-exactly what you want in a book! The story is about Shelby Richmond's journey through a difficult, life altering accident that happened when she was a teenager. Shelby has a tough road to climb, she is full of self hate for injuring her best friend in a car accident. She wishes it would have been her rather than her best friend Helene. This makes Shelby's journey in healing so much harder. How do you feel happy in life when your best friend cannot? All the while Shelby is on this journey, we learn she has had a "unknown" friend who is sending her words of encouragement along the way. Shelby has to learn how to live-how to be brave and how relationships can change over time.

A special thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alice Hoffman delivers FAITHFUL – A young woman’s journey of survivorship. From darkness to light. Survivor’s guilt. Filled with emotion and heartbreak. A person sometimes has to reach the bottom, in order to make changes. Transformation. The road is not always smooth to hope and healing.

“There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.”-- Leonard Cohen

From family, grief, friendship, and love- a coming-of-age young adult story of a tragic accident which changed both people in the car and their futures. Shelby Richmond and Helene Boyd were best friends. One night there was an accident that left her best friend comatose. Seniors in high school. The night they had a disagreement. The night Shelby did not want to go out. Helene did. Helene usually got her way.

Two years have passed. Shelby had a nervous breakdown. Spent three months in a psychiatric hospital. Was abused and raped. She's attempted suicide. Her diagnosis was major depression, anxiety, survivor’s guilt, and PTSD. She was bitter, miserable, and drowns herself in her sorrow. She shuts out her parents and everyone around her. She feels worthless. She has refused to eat, cutting herself. There were rumors she was crazy.

Girls who had been friends with Helene and Shelby decided they had lost both friends. It was easier that way. They are no longer alike. In the psychiatric hospital, they asked her if she believed in demons and angels. Why would an angel rescue her when she’s worthless and Helene was so much better than she could ever be?

Shelby buys weed from Ben Mink, a guy she knew in high school. A geek, he liked books and literature. She sleeps most of the time, dreaming of the way it used to be before her world turned to blackness. She knows Helene's vertebrae were broken, and her windpipe was crushed and part of her skull smashed. There was no oxygen to her brain for at least seven minutes. Helene will never come back.

Eventually, she moves to the City with Ben and they share an apartment. Her mom is sick and very supportive. Her dad has moved to Florida with a new life. She does not like people. People are dangerous, unreliable, stupid, greedy, needy, and breakable.

The one bright spot in her life is the secretive postcards she receives. The sender is unknown. Inspiring, hopeful, and encouraging messages and thoughts. A stalker, an angel? A lunatic who read about her in the paper? Why has this person never come forward? A game. He knows everything about her. She knows nothing about him.

In New York, she gets a job working at a pet store and falls in love with dogs and Chinese food. Some doors are opened, and some are closed. She slowly lets the light in. Ben encourages her to do something meaningful to show Helene she is a true friend. Could she actually have a future, a life, college, be a vet one day? Have a normal relationship?

"Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may be actually falling into place."

Though drugs, horrible hurtful sex, adultery, and betrayal…she felt all this was punishments for all the things she did wrong. “In fairy tales, such things happened. You stole from someone then were handed their fate as a punishment.” Being a bad daughter, bad person, stealing Helene’s life. Emotional connections which ultimately lead to hope and recovery. What Shelby wants is the most difficult miracle of all. She wants forgiveness.

"Angels arrive when you least expect them. When the road is dark, when you're bleeding and alone and hopeless, when you're sleeping in a basement convinced that no one knows you're there."

While Hoffman is certainly a talented writer, I never felt a genuine connection with this book or its characters. Some parts seemed to be disjointed. The beginning of the story was suspenseful and emotional, as well as the ending. However, in between after the move to the City, it fell apart somewhat and lost my interest. Too many loose ends and for some reason, the characters were not fully developed as much as I would have liked. This may be a good read for Young Adults or coming of age, versus the women’s fiction category.

As some other reviewers have mentioned, not sure I would have finished it, if it had not been for the author’s past history and her previous work. Shelby's last relationship in the book did not make a lot of sense to me, nor much said about Helene. The big reveal was not that explosive or expanded upon. Would have liked more flashbacks into the girl's relationships before the accident (possibly from two POV) would have been more interesting.

The best part for me was the mother-daughter relationship.

JDCMustReadBooks

A heartbreakingly beautiful coming of age story that will wreck you in ways you didn’t know was possible from beginning to end.

Trigger warning: self-harm, rape, drug abuse.

Faithful follows Shelby as she’s left to deal with the consequences of a car accident that left her best friend in a coma while she walked away physically unscathed. Every day Shelby deals with the grief of losing her best friend and the guilt of being the driver. Shelby is left in a state of limbo where she can’t decide if she’s alive or dead. One day she meets someone who might convince her she’s been alive after all this time.

Faithful was absolutely beautiful. It broke my heart in the first few chapters then slowly mended it as Shelby discovered what life has to offer. The entire novel is Shelby discovering what it truly means to be alive and what living entails. Her transition from a survivor filled with so many emotions that she shuts down to a self-aware individual is beautiful and flawlessly written. Alice Hoffman’s writing style is impeccable because of her firm grasp and understanding of Shelby’s emotional state at every moment.

A central theme of this novel is love. What it means to be loved, what it means to love someone, and what role love plays in life. Shelby discovers the answers to these questions through different people she meets throughout the novel.

What I loved most about this book was Shelby’s interactions with the people she meets. Shelby is guarded, introverted, and cynical. These qualities color each of her relationships in wonderful ways. Despite her sometimes off-putting personality she becomes friends with an unlikely individual and their friendship becomes a central part of Shelby’s transition.

Hoffman’s decision to write this novel from third person perspective is an interesting decision that also happens to be the correct choice. One of the pitfall of writing from third person is the potential lost of connection between the character and the reader as well as telling the reader what a character is feeling rather than showing. In spite of these issues, Faithful prevails. I think this book wouldn’t have worked from Shelby’s perspective because of the very dark place she finds herself in for most of the novel. In my opinion, the novel would have been too depressing and would have shifted the focus to her everyday internal struggle rather than the transition from guilt ridden to self-aware.

Overall, Faithful is an absolutely beautiful novel that I would recommend to everyone. Shelby’s transition is inspiring, frustrating, and real. Her struggle with guilt and depression will resonate with anyone who’s suffered and will offer a story to aspire to.
I will definitely be reading more Alice Hoffman in the future!

A touching story of pain, loss, guilt and the struggle to move past it. What happens when a life is turned inside out? When love is something so distant it may as well be a star in the sky? Faithful is the story of a survivor, filled with emotion—from dark suffering to true happiness—a moving portrait of a young woman finding her way in the modern world. A fan of Chinese food, dogs, bookstores, and men she should stay away from, Shelby has to fight her way back to her own future. In New York City she finds a circle of lost and found souls—including an angel who’s been watching over her ever since that fateful icy night.

Disaster can happen so quickly. One moment you’re young, happy, and nothing bad can touch you, and the next moment everything changes. You’re devastated by some accident. Is it possible to recover? I found this book to be so heartfelt and sad. It’s a true to life depiction of how depression and sadness can permeate a life. The ways depression colors the way you see everything. This poor girl. Shelby feels as though she is the cause of everything bad that’s happened or ever will happen to the people she loves. She won’t even open a fortune cookie because she’s so afraid that the other shoe will drop, her future will be marred and she will be destroyed completely.

Whenever anyone says that people get what they deserve, Shelby turns away. If that were true, she knows where she’d be right now, asleep and far away, cold to the touch, a dreamer who will never wake or rise from bed or kiss her beloved or lie to him and say, Yes, it’s true, the future is ours.

Oh this poor girl. So despairing. But there’s hope for Shelby. At heart she is a giving, loving person despite her suffering, and people around her (thankfully!) can see it. It’s going to be a long, slow mending though.

I enjoyed this book, because it is full of real moments … true to life emotions. It isn’t like so many books of this kind, full of overwrought, over-the-top, unrealistic scenes and characters. Instead, it presents us with the things we all actually deal with every single day. It feels honest. It’s a slice-of-life. A little dark grey cloud with a silver lining. I fully recommend it.

Song for this book: My Skin by Natalie Merchant

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.

Faithful was my first book by Alice Hoffman, and I will definitely be picking up more of her work. There is just something about her writing that is so distinct and compelling.

The beginning of this story was a bit slow for me, and it took a while to get into. But once I did, I couldn't put the book down. The story follows Shelby over the course of about 10 years, starting two years after an accident that changed her life. She's 19 (I think?), lives in her parents' basement, talks to no one, and does nothing (except drugs).

Slowly, we see Shelby start to live her life again, started by her decision to move to the City (NYC) with a boyfriend, get a job, all the other life things, while trying to learn how to move past the guilt that says she doesn't deserve her life after her best friend lost hers.

Honestly, this book was just so real. Navigating your twenties is hard, even without all the extra stuff that Shelby has going on. Even if I can't speak to Shelby's exact struggles, I could empathize. Shelby feels like she self-sabotages everything good in her life, she makes friends and goes through relationships, she rescue approx. 100 dogs, she eats way too much Chinese takeout. I think everyone can relate to Shelby in some way.

While some things were done really well (Ben, her mother, Maravelle's family), I felt other things were not fleshed out well at all (James, school, wtf is up with Helene). But other than a few things, I think the story was written very well. I especially loved the relationships Shelby learns to have, like with her mother and with Maravelle.

Since this book ranges such a long period of time (drastic changes happen in your twenties), I think this book will appeal to a wide range of people. I think this could even crossover into YA, as Shelby basically is a young adult when the story starts out. Overall, I thought this was a deep, complex, compelling book, and I really enjoyed it.

Alice Hoffman’s “Faithful” is a novel about Shelly Richmond, a young woman, who has her whole life ahead of her. It’s about fate and prevailing when all seems lost.

Shelby Richmond is a High School Senior when tragedy strikes and she and her best friend Helene Boyd get into an accident. She walks away, her life completely intact. Afterwards, Shelby loses her mind, her friends and loved ones and her sense of self. She finds love in animals who need rescuing and a new friend, Maravelle, whose family needs taking care of. Shelby, reaches the depths of despair and slowly but surely finds her way back by saving those who need her as much as she needs them.

Alice Hoffman’s Faithful was beautifully written. The book flowed from her fingertips, with characters you couldn’t help but care about. Her ability to make the character of Shelby extremely believable, yet lonely, awfully tragic and vulnerable, was exceptionally well done. I felt Shelby’s pain and heartache, but couldn’t help but love her and rally for her throughout the novel. The characters of Maravelle and Sue were also very well written and assisted in Shelby’s growth as a character.

Faithful is a book about friendship and love, conquering your fears, surviving things don’t think you can survive, and most of all, finding compassion for yourself.

I must say that I absolutely adored this novel. I found myself sobbing throughout the last few chapters of it. It wrecked me in the best way possible. If you’re looking for a novel you can jump into heart and soul, this is it. If you’re looking to bring a book with you for an afternoon in the park, or if you need a book for a book club – I can’t recommend this one highly enough.

Thank ever so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Alice Hoffman for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on: 8/3/16
** Will be published on the store on release date of: 11/1/16

A terrible accident occurred and Shelby Richmond was never the same. Neither was her friend, Helena, who is in a vegetative state. Shelby went from being the popular girl in high school to the odd outcast. She's lost her will to live and doesn't particularly care about anything anymore. Things start to change when she moves to New York City - she gets a job, makes friends, and ultimately figures out that her life is worth living. Shelby reminded me a little of Ove (from A Man Called Ove). She is cynical and doesn't want to be around people, but people are drawn to her and she ends up being a savior to many.

The funny thing about this book is that I started it about a year ago and just couldn't get into it as I found it rather dark and depressing. A friend of mine recently read Faithful and raved about it. I told her that it wasn't holding my interest and she convinced me to finish it. I'm so glad I did. Although the beginning is a bit dark, I realize that Hoffman had to show her readers this side of Shelby to get to where she was at the end of the story. This was such a great read - I laughed, cried, and thought about the story for days after finishing it.

This is such a beautifully written book that I devoured it in a weekend. Teenager Shelby blames herself for the auto accident that leaves her best friend Helene in a coma. Unable to forgive herself, she's on a path to self-destruction, she won't talk or eat, ends up in a mental facility diagnosed with major depression, and when released, she hides in her parents' basement, shaves her hair off, still refuses to talk to anyone, cutting herself and starts taking drugs. She periodically receives a postcard with a simple encouraging message from an anonymous person. She wonders if it's coming from an angel who is looking out for her and even wonders if it is somehow coming from Helene. She becomes friends with an old school mate, Ben, who helps her with her supply of pot. She starts talking and together they make the decision to head off to New York City. There we start to see a transformation of Shelby. She finds a job, rescues dogs, and becomes friends with co-worker Maravelle.

I cheered Shelby on and really hoped she would find love and happiness again. There were times I would get angry with her for some of the choices she made, but overall, she was just a young lost soul with a kind heart that ended up helping several people and doing the right thing. There is so much to this story that I want to say but do not want to spoil for other readers. I just have to say that this is a book that I recommend highly and is one that will be hard to forget. Masterful storytelling here! This book is going on my "Favorites" list for 2016. Truly a wonderful book!!

I was provided with an advanced readers copy of this book by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. So grateful to have received this copy!

OK, guys…seriously Faithful by Alice Hoffman was one of the hardest books I read all year. This book ripped my heart out and squeezed it the whole time I was reading it (I.E. Regina/Evil Queen style from OUAT)

Don’t let that dissuade you though…because trust me Faithful was so very worth it.

Faithful follows the story of a young girl involved in a horrific car accident and the effect that moment in time has on her, her family, her relationships and the town.

It’s a story of shock and depression, love and support…and taking the hard road to learning the truth about oneself and ones place in the world. And trust me…Shelby does take the hard road. Focused on punishing herself and escaping from all she knows Shelby is incredibly self destructive until she finds a new and unexpected path open up before her.

Love of dogs, love of bookstores, love of friends…all set Shelby on the path to self realization and ultimately redemption and forgiveness. It’s a long circuitous road but as we learn to have faith in Shelby, she eventually learns to have faith in herself.

Some have tagged this work as Magical Realism, and knowing Hoffman there are a few strands of “the impossible” woven throughout, but this is by no means what I would characterize as fitting within that sub-genre.

A tragically beautiful and moving piece of fiction…Faithful once again proves that Alice Hoffman is an expert when it comes to identifying that which makes life so complicated and so messy while managing to tie that to all that is beautiful and fulfilling about being alive.

NOTE: Review copy from Publisher, All thoughts and opinions my own.

Faithful is a remarkably well-written, complex character-driven novel. Right from the start, the reader is brought intimately into the heart and mind of a troubled teen, suffering from survivor guilt.

Shelby and Helene were the best of friends. They were inseparable until one night when Shelby’s car spun out of control, and Helene ended up in a coma. After a brief psychiatric hospitalization, seventeen-year-old Shelby shaved her head, isolated in the basement, smoked pot, and basically, gave up on life.

Although Shelby did her best to keep people at arm’s length, she was amazed to find, that they were still, drawn to her. She hated herself and often came across as a tough street girl, someone not to be messed with. Shelby had a kind heart; however, and a soft spot for abused animals and homeless people. She would go out of her way to help them. Someone was placing artistic postcards with encouraging messages in her mailbox. She called this mysterious someone, her angel. Shelby does eventually find her way in the world, but not before she nearly destroys herself in the process.

Each page is filled, with raw emotion, realistic dialogue, and flawed characters. Although this book can be intensely depressing at times, I found it to be also inspirational. There is a lot of hope; unconditional love and touching moments sprinkled throughout the dark pages of this book. Faithful is a story about penance, redemption, and unconditional love. It is also unforgettable.

I received this ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is a novel categorized by Simon & Schuster, its publisher, as Women’s Fiction. While I agree that women tend to be more interested than men in following stories of regeneration of damaged individuals, I think many men would appreciate this book as well. It centers on Shelby who is driving when an accident occurs that puts her best friend into a coma. To summarize this story into that one sentence makes the book sound trite, and it is anything but trite. With excellent character development, the novel draws the reader into Shelby’s world of pain and confusion as she struggles to survive a past she can not change.

It is important to participate in Shelby’s pain and the ups and downs of her journey as close to first hand as possible. Therefore, I provide no specifics that would interfere with the relationship of the reader to Shelby. The number of other characters in the book is limited as Shelby holds others at arm’s length, but they are interesting and sufficiently developed according to the part they play in Shelby’s story. Hoffman’s descriptive powers are good--both of physical setting and emotional climate. Her sensitive and realistic treatment of difficult events and her plot development make Faithful a novel worth reading and recommending.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shelby was the driver on one stormy night who skidded off the road and had a terrible accident. She had minor injuries but her friend Helene was left in a vegetative state. This trauma set off a deep depression in Shelby. Her world stopped and she went from being a normal teenager to a drug abuser and recluse who shaved her head and lived in her parent's basement.
The story evolves around Shelby's survival guilt. Shelby is miserable and has no self esteem. Slowly she begins to interact with others and eventually finds love. One man loves her deeply but she is not able to love back. One man is a cheater and a liar. And one man who loved her from the start. Shelby continues to exist and she gets her life back on track but she continues to feel responsible for Helene's continued comatose state.
I have always enjoyed Alice Hoffman's novels and this is another great read. I found the story evolved nicely to show how Shelby went from a totally broken girl, in a deep depression, to a loving and deeply caring young woman. I loved her spirit in rescuing animals and her kind heart. There were sad times but also some very moving and uplifting moments. This was one of those books that I wanted to go on and on. I came to really like Shelby and the person she became.
I received an Advanced Readers copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

This book is balm for the soul. I was hooked from page 1 and was rooting for Shelby to the last page. Shelby is the seventeen-year-old driver in a horrible one car accident that leave her best friend, Helene, with broken vertebrate, a crushed throat and skull and brain damage from a lack of oxygen for 7 minutes that causes her to be in a permanent coma. Shelby has a nervous breakdown and cuts herself off from everyone, as a penance for what she did and to protect others from her so-called ability to destroy snd hurt everything she touches. She slowly begins to heal with the help of strangers that grow into friends, her mother who quits her job to take care of her, and a mysterious stranger who rescued her the night of the accident and continues to watch out for her and send encouraging postcards. I had not read a book by Alice Hoffman in a long time but reading this book made me remember why I love her writing especially the way you are about to feel what the characters are feeling through her writing. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads and would highly recommend this book. I am surprised more people have not heard of and read this book-- maybe a cover makeover to attract young adult and contemporary readers to this beautiful book.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.

Although this is book was not my normal genre, I must say I enjoyed it very much. In my opinion Alice Hoffman is a very talented writer. She writes about life, people's feeling, their wants and their needs to survive in this world. "Faithful" made me think about my own life and helped me look at things in a different light. It was a book that made me reflect on some issues and really dig deep into my inner self. That is why it took me a bit longer to finish this book. I would read a few pages and feel the need to stop and reflect on what I had read.

Shelby and Helene were best friends forever. Helene was the smart, pretty ,popular girl that had everything going for her. Shelby was more laid back ,but yet popular in her own way. One cold winter evening Helene wanted to go out for a drive but Shelby was hesitant. Helene was persistent and they went out. Shelby was driving and there was a horrific accident. This is the story about how Shelby coped with being the driver that caused her best friend to never be the same person she once was. It is about guilt and redemption.

I would highly recommend this book. It is an enlightening and heartfelt story that will make you cry, laugh and think...really think.!

Thank You to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read "Faithful" for an honest review.

"Faithful" was a beautiful and heart-wrenching story of Shelby in the years after a car accident where she survived and her best friend Helene was put into a coma. Shelby feels intense and horrible guilt, changing her forever. The lyrical writing draws you in right from the start, even when the content is so difficult to read and you want to look away. The first couple chapters right after the accident paint a tragic portrait- Shelby is suffering and tries to take her own life, and when admitted a psychiatric care facility, she is repeatedly raped by an orderly. As this happens early, I don't think it's a spoiler, but it should be a content warning, as this was particularly difficult to read.

Shelby's pain comes through the book so clearly that the reader is swept up in her emotions and experiences. Shelby's life continues, even though Helene's cannot, and she feels immense guilt, hardly able to live her life. The book paints a beautiful portrait of someone who is broken and slowly, over years, begins to rebuild her life anew. It's not always easy, and it's not always pretty. However, I really felt all the feelings with this book- it's hard to describe how intensely it drew me in and kept me reading and how incredible I found it overall. It wasn't an easy read by any means- there is some harsh content- but I would absolutely recommend it to a suitable audience and would definitely reread it.

This is an artfully crafted book of love, loss, redemption, and healing. I am so glad I didn't give up on it early- it was a very worthwhile read. Please note that I received an ARC through a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.

When I'm looking for something interesting to read and I'm not in the mood to experiment, I often turn to Alice Hoffman, one of my favorite writers. She's written over thirty books and the ones I've read have all been good (The River King, The Red Garden, The Third Angel, and, The Dovekeepers). Faithful is another example of well developed characters set in an interesting plot.

Shelby Richmond and her best friend, Helene, are in a car accident just before they are to graduate from high school. The weather was bad, with icy roads they should have avoided, but Helene insisted and Shelby, who was driving, gave in. After the accident, Helene was left comatose and Shelby is wracked with guilt.

“People say if you face your worst fear, the rest is easy, but those are people who are afraid of rattlesnakes or enclosed spaces, not of themselves and the horrible things they've done.”

The story is about Shelby's path after that life changing event, but more than that, it is about her relationships with the people who help her along the way.

My favorite character is Ben Mink, a classmate of Shelby's who suffers with the more common insecurities of teenagers. While in school, he felt like a dork, but was enamored of both Shelby and Helene. After the accident, he became Shelby's friend/drug dealer, with an emphasis on the first of those two roles. It is fascinating to watch him grow over time and to see how he helps Shelby deal with her issues.

I had an issue with the way Hoffman chose to end the book. Without discussing specifics, I will say she seemed determined to avoid making the novel ending too pat. Although there was something going on throughout the story that pointed toward the ending Hoffman chose, it wasn't fully developed and felt as if it had come out of nowhere (deus ex machina). But this was minor, considering the overall beauty of the book.

Steve Lindahl – author of Hopatcong Vision Quest, White Horse Regressions, and Motherless Soul

2-1/2 stars

This novel is very different from the other novels I’ve read by Alice Hoffman. For one thing, its setting is contemporary. For another, there is not really any wonder or mysticism in the story. It is the story of a very troubled, guilty, and angsty young woman. She is not particularly likable. Although the reader understands the cause of her lousy attitude, Shelby’s point of view, behaviors, and attitudes wore on me pretty quickly. In fact, I almost stopped “reading” the audiobook near the beginning because it was just too miserable and pathetic. I mean, I get why she’s so miserable but that doesn’t mean I want to keep reading about it. Thankfully, things did get a little better so I persevered. However, in the end, I’m not sure it was entirely worth it. Since there is hope at the end of the novel, I will round up to 3 stars for Goodreads. But, this is definitely my least favorite of Hoffman’s novels.

Due to a few lucky breaks, Shelby’s life isn’t as terrible as it could be. Without giving too much away, it made no sense that her boyfriend a) wanted to live with her and b) tolerated her for so long. Seriously. What a saint to be willing to share himself with someone who doesn’t want to enjoy any aspects of life and who doesn’t appreciate him. What he saw in her, the reader never knows. It’s unbelievable. She’s also lucky that she had someone who cared enough to communicate via postcards and give her a tether to hope. She’s lucky that she got the position at work despite the fact that she most certainly did not deserve it. And she’s lucky to have walked into the tattoo parlor she chose out of all the possible places that exist in NYC. So, despite herself, life looks like it could turn out alright for Shelby. But, it was a somber path to reach that point. Yes, she was kind to animals and people who were down on their luck, but those good deeds were not enough to make me like her or the book. I also don’t understand the title of the novel. Perhaps the reader has to be faithful to get through the book? Shelby was not faithful.

The narration of this audiobook proves that not all actors make good audiobook narrators. Amber Tamblyn is most definitely not a good narrator. She got tolerable when speaking in the individual characters’ voices—at least she became more animated--but even then, the voices of Shelby and Ben were difficult to differentiate during conversations. And, unfortunately, they have a lot of conversations. As the narrator, she was completely monotone, not even putting emphasis on the correct words of the sentences. She sounded angry almost all the time and this did not add to my desire to continue listening. In fact, I think she is part of the reason I didn’t love this novel. I give her a C-.

I know there have been a lot of mixed reviews so far, but for me this story turned out to be just as good as the stunning cover. Despite my initial doubts about the possible amount of drama, this new novel by Alice Hoffman turned out to be a really interesting read. I found the story to be especially well written and the prose has convinced me I need to pick up more of her work soon. The characters are well developed and realistic, which is a huge bonus for any book in this genre. And even though Shelby is not exactly likeable as a character, you grow to love her anyway. Sure, I can understand why some people might have a problem with the way she behaves and part of the plot in general, but it is without doubt an intriguing story on how grief and guilt can change a person and how hard it is to move on. Faithful is filled with raw emotions, beautiful prose and second chances; a moving and realistic contemporary read with a main character that you will manage to endear you, flaws and all.

I received a free ARC of Faithful by Alice Hoffman from Goodreads and the publisher in exchange for a review. I've read 8 of Hoffman's other novels, Practical Magic, the Dovekeepers and Blackbird House, The Red Garden, The Museum of Extraordinary Things and three of her YA titles about a young "green" witch. I've enjoyed most of these works,and I believe Hoffman is a gifted storyteller and talented writer. That said, there are times when I wonder why her protagonists suffer so much. In this novel, Shelby carries a huge burden of guilt for her friend being in a coma after both of them were in a car accident (Shelby was driving and had her seatbelt on, while her friend didn't). Its normal for anyone to feel guilty after an accident, of course, but Shelby nearly drowns in guilt, cutting off her hair and taking crappy jobs at pet food stores. She steals animals that she knows are being abused from their owners, and she somehow subsists on Chinese takeout. She has a horrible boyfriend (who is also her drug dealer) and her father is a complete jerk, to both Shelby and her mother, whom he cheats on all the time. Soon, however, friends and family and dogs come to Shelby's rescue, as much as she comes to theirs, and her transformation and reclamation begins. Here's the blurb:
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and The Dovekeepers comes a soul-searching story about a young woman struggling to redefine herself and the power of love, family, and fate.
Growing up on Long Island, Shelby Richmond is an ordinary girl until one night an extraordinary tragedy changes her fate. Her best friend’s future is destroyed in an accident, while Shelby walks away with the burden of guilt.
What happens when a life is turned inside out? When love is something so distant it may as well be a star in the sky? Faithful is the story of a survivor, filled with emotion—from dark suffering to true happiness—a moving portrait of a young woman finding her way in the modern world. A fan of Chinese food, dogs, bookstores, and men she should stay away from, Shelby has to fight her way back to her own future. In New York City she finds a circle of lost and found souls—including an angel who’s been watching over her ever since that fateful icy night.
Here is a character you will fall in love with, so believable and real and endearing, that she captures both the ache of loneliness and the joy of finding yourself at last. For anyone who’s ever been a hurt teenager, for every mother of a daughter who has lost her way, Faithful is a roadmap.
Alice Hoffman’s “trademark alchemy” (USA TODAY) and her ability to write about the “delicate balance between the everyday world and the extraordinary” (WBUR) make this an unforgettable story. With beautifully crafted prose, Alice Hoffman spins hope from heartbreak in this profoundly moving novel.
The blurb above is correct in that Hoffman's prose, is, as usual, beautiful and lyrical and manages to be full of emotional truth without being maudlin. Her plots never flag or slow, and she always finds a way to make even the quirky characters seem real and alive. My only other problem with the novel was that there was a perfect stopping place at the end of chapter 14. It read like "the end" and I was prepared to let the story go when Hoffman tacked on chapter 15 like the odd bit out, or as if her publisher insisted that she do so, when she'd already finished the manuscript to her satisfaction. I realize that there was still a question about Shelby never visiting Helene, whose coma had turned her into a miracle worker, but it still seemed like an afterthought to me, since Shelby had, in the previous chapter, left all of her past behind and made a bright future for herself, her dogs and James. Visiting Helene was like taking a step backwards, and for no reason, as nothing really happens. Still, I was glad that I read this novel, and I'd give it an A and recommend it to anyone who has made a mistake that has overshadowed their life for a time, and dog lovers who understand the meaning of the word "Faithful."

Shelby Richmond is 18. She is living with her parents, smokes weed, and has a shaved head (no, it’s not from cancer). The disease that has gotten her to this sorry state is a soul-deadening combination of survivor’s guilt and suicidal tendencies. FAITHFUL, Alice Hoffman’s latest novel, treads territory familiar to the writer --- a world that is between worlds, between the physical and the metaphysical, where battles are waged between brains and hearts. Shelby’s life has been forever changed by an unfortunate accident. Where is the point? What is the point of living this life? she wonders.

Hoffman comes to those answers without dropping into sentimentality or high drama. The wise and wondrous way that Shelby weaves her story is a primer for how to write about difficult subjects, mining their very marrow for all the pain they have to offer, yet bringing to light all the ways in which the puzzle of this pain can be solved. FAITHFUL is just that --- faithful to life, faithful to hope.

Two years ago, Shelby survived a near-fatal car accident that left her best friend, Helene (a much more perfect girl than Shelby could ever hope to be), comatose. Shelby spends her weeks after the crash walking around a psych ward as she fights for her soul, after botching her suicide attempt. She is surrounded by loving people. Her mother stops at nothing to save her. Her drug dealer, Ben Mink, seems to be falling in love with her. Her friend’s mom and dad even send her birthday presents. Shelby doesn’t feel she deserves any of this. In order to find forgiveness from herself, she must find her own way in the world and grow into the adult only she knows she can be.

Shelby takes the first step towards independence and hits the road to New York City. She lives through the meaningful yet mundane experiences any new adult goes through --- relationships good and bad, jobs good and bad, reliance on a self that only she knows is not quite as mature as she tries to be. When Shelby finds real support from her family of pets, dogs of all shapes and sizes, her life changes immeasurably.

There is a lot to love in Shelby’s struggle, perhaps because it is so particularly recognizable to those of us who have already been through it. Working her way through her pain by living and not hiding from life is a hallmark Hoffman device, but it is ever so moving here as we watch Shelby learn so much in a short time and begin to move past the difficulties that have plagued her for so long. The most important person to love her is herself, of course. With the help of an unexpected angel who watches over her, Shelby journeys to her own heart and mind, finding along the road something she never expected --- the ability to prosper in even the roughest conditions.

Shelby is a young protagonist, and for that Hoffman makes some special arrangements for her. She is prone to all-or-nothing thinking at first; as we watch her mature, we find her reaching new heights of faith. She takes a while to become one of the faithful, certain that this life is worth living, that this Earth is worth walking, that love is worth earning and keeping. Hoffman blends the fantastical with the more everyday plane of life in a way that keeps you hoping that perhaps the fantastic realms are more real than the regular. We are just as Shelby is --- open, inquisitive, wounded by wanting to believe and thrive. And so, in FAITHFUL, Shelby does just that. And we, as readers, do as well.

Hoffman should be commended for finding such a gentle and persuasive tone to keep us in love with this difficult and depressed young woman. Even during the worst of times, we never doubt that she is on a road to salvation, a road completely of her own making. And in this day and age of discussion about the importance of women’s rights and self-esteem, Shelby becomes a beacon, an unconquerable female who can handle both good and bad and make her own life worth living again.

Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

Never underestimate the power of rescued dogs, anonymous postcards or lots and lots of Chinese food.

Wow . . . talk about a punch to the gut. An emotional journey - from the first few pages to the final few words - it was kind of draining. But in the best possible way; if that makes sense. Sometimes a sad and poignant read just hits the spot. And much like life, everything is an ebb and flow. The tough times make the good times, or in this case - the ending, that much sweeter.

It’s so easy for anyone sitting on the outside of a situation to pass judgment. To be definitive in what they would do or how they would live their lives differently. The same was true for just about everyone in Shelby’s life. After a horrific accident leaves her best friend in a comma (this is a little bit of an odd situation) and she’s able to walk away virtually unharmed, Shelby has tremendous guilt. Guilt that makes her jump into a pool of extreme self-destruction and not come up for air - for quite some time.

“I think I lost my soul.”

She lands in New York, with a guy from high school, but she’s just going through the motions. She knows deep down, she doesn't love him the way she should and it's impossible to escape the niggling feeling that she's destined for so much more. But does she deserve it? Everyone needs to figure things out at their own pace though and that's exactly what lent this story credibility. Shelby made a ton of mistakes and pushed people away; until she couldn't ignore what was right in front of her face. It was little things, coming together at just the right moments, that gave her the strength to find her way to the surface and let go. To forgive herself. Well, and a combination of tough love, angsty teenagers, stolen dogs (if you’re an animal lover, you’re in for a treat), anonymous postcards and a diet of chinese food, sans the fortune cookies.

"What is behind you is gone, what is in front of you awaits."

My favorite part of the entire story was the postcards, of course. All with different messages urging her to do things like - say something, do something, be something, feel something, want something, save something, believe something, love something. Those little cards gave this heartbreaking story a touch of mystery. I was anxious to figure out who was behind the words. I would be lying if I said the love story junkie within me wasn’t completely smitten. I kind of thought things were headed in a different direction, but it just goes to show that things come along where or when you least expect them to. And might be even better than what you initially hoped for.

"Love is a mystery. It’s like an alien abduction. You think you’re on earth, and there you are among the stars."

With only two Alice Hoffman books under my belt, she’s convinced me, I have to find the time to read more of her writing. The only other book of hers I’ve read, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, had an entirely different feel, but what they both have in common - her beautiful words. She strings together these meaningful thoughts and being the sentimental person I am, I can't help but to eat it up.

What do you do with your life when you’re seventeen and thanks to you your best friend is in a permanent vegetative state? If you’re Shelby you give up college, try to kill yourself, spend time in a psychiatric hospital and when released, shave your head. She is a wraith living in her parent’s basement when Alice Hoffman’s Faithful begins. If this sounds off-putting in its intensity, it’s worth noting the novel weighs in at only 270 pages so there is no dwelling on the details of Shelby’s self-destruction. Instead, with patient prose, Hoffman moves Shelby through a life that happens despite her sense of unworthiness.

When she finally exits the basement Shelby moves to New York City and gets a job at a pet store for the simple reason that

She has never wanted to be involved with people. People are dangerous, unreliable, stupid, greedy, needy, breakable.

She tries to keep her life as small as she can make it, but once started it has its own momentum and years pass, with the memory of her self-loathing fading. Hoffman fills this passage with an unconventional cast of boyfriends, co-workers, street people and neighbors, all of whom are damaged in their own way. There is even a stranger who, ever since the accident, has been sending Shelby hand-drawn postcards with just two words on them. One word is always “Something” and the other changes each time, from “Say” to “Do” to “Trust”. They arrive sporadically, but seem to appear when she needs them most.

She acts like she’s not excited to have gotten mail, but she is. There is someone, somewhere who knows she’s alive.

With these simple gestures and small actions Hoffman takes real, painful life situations and infuses them with enough quirkiness to soften their edges. Faithful encompasses some of life’s largest themes, but she writes them from the smallest perspective, creating an intimacy that strengthens their impact. By and large this works in the book’s favor, but there are a few plotlines and situations that felt artificial. They tempered my feelings about Faithful, but not enough that I stopped caring about Shelby. This is due, in no small part, to Sue, her mother. Hoffman’s depiction of maternal love, without embellishment or dramatics, is poignant. The arc of child and mother to adult and mother is the strongest of the novel and is a powerful component in the believability of Shelby’s journey. There may be fanciful aspects of Faithful that don’t work for some readers, but, I found myself touched by the world Hoffman creates.

More book reviews can be found at The Gilmore Guide to Books

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is a very highly recommended, heartbreaking novel about a young woman guilty over living. Two important facts right off: I sobbed like a baby for probably the last third to a quarter of Faithful and this is one of the best books I have read this year.

Shelby Richmond physically survives the accident that left her best friend, Helene, in a vegetative state on life support, but in reality there were two victims that night. Emotionally Shelby is just as wounded and absent as her friend. She was driving the car that night and suffers from survivor's guilt and overwhelming grief. She's attempted suicide and spent three months in a psychiatric institution where she was repeatedly raped.

Now it's been two years since the accident. Strangers are visiting Helene's bedside, saying that she has healing power, but Shelby's life has stalled. She's living in her parent's basement, smoking pot, and doing her penance for surviving. She's shaved her head, secretly cuts, and stopped living life. Her mother, Sue Richmond, has hope Shelby can recover. So does her angel, a man who sends her hand drawn postcards giving her simple directives like "say something" or "feel something" or "want something."

When her dealer and only friend, Ben Mink, wants her to move to NYC with him as he attends grad school, she goes. This opens her up to a world where no one knows her past. She's just a bald girl working at a pet store now. She loves Chinese takeout and dogs. She makes a friend. Slowly, we see hope for Shelby's recovery.

Admittedly, Faithful starts out dark and seems hopeless, but, if you were ever a lost teen or had a child who struggled, you're going to relate to this novel. If you have ever felt unworthy of love, of life, of success, then you are going to relate to Shelby. Hoffman captures Shelby's loneliness, flaws, heartbreak, missteps, and scars, but she also, carefully, captures her maturation, the importance of emotional connections, recovery, and, ultimately, hope.

Hoffman is an extraordinary, gifted writer. Faithful flows so smoothly, so perfectly, that I scarcely knew time was passing. The characters are all struggling in some way, but they are realistic. Shelby is especially a well-developed character. Once I started it, I was invested in the characters and cared deeply. My heart was breaking for Shelby and I wanted her to find her way. I wanted her life to get better.

I loved Faithful. Hoffman created an unforgettable character in Shelby and gave her life. When I finished the novel, after wiping away yet another round of tears, I knew Faithful would be on the short list for my top ten novels of the year.

Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Shelby is a popular girl who doesn't have a care in the world. That changes because of an accident. Shelby survives, but her best friend isn't so lucky. She doesn't die, but she also doesn't wake up and remains in a coma. Shelby was behind the wheel and she feels terribly guilty. When a new trauma occurs shortly after the first one Shelby loses herself completely. Will she ever be able to lead a fulfilling life again or will Shelby be broken forever?

Faithful is a beautiful story. Shelby is an extraordinary girl. She's been through a lot and it defines her. She can't be anything but herself and she has an interesting personality. The beginning of her story is incredibly intense and that sometimes literally took my breath away. After that some lightness creeps in and it's starting to spread in a wonderful meaningful way. I loved Shelby from the start, she's intelligent, she has a great sense of humor and she loves Chinese food. She's fabulous and her character is far from standard. That makes the story fascinating and I was hooked from the moment her transformation begins.

Alice Hoffman knows how to tell a good story. Her main characters are always special and they surprise me every time I read one of her books. I never know what's going to happen and I love this unexpectedness. Not everything should be taken literally, there are clues and symbols that bring something extra. Even a little detail can have a significant meaning. Alice Hoffman's writing flows easily and her stories are spellbinding, within minutes I stop noticing what happens around me and I'm completely engrossed in the story. Because of this it isn't difficult to fully pay attention to what I'm reading.

Shelby is still a young girl when the accident happens. Reading about a teenager whose life is completely ruined is tough and my heart ached for her. I felt so many different emotions while reading Faithful. It's a story with plenty of layers and they're all worthwhile. Shelby is unconventional and that is what I liked about her. I loved that she doesn't pretend. Alice Hoffman's story has an amazing message, she shows her readers how important it is to be loved for who you are and to be noticed instead of being taken for granted. Faithful is another brilliant book by one of my favorite authors, I highly recommend it.

Odd, messy, bleak, beautiful, hopeful. Those words all describe this story at different points. It's unlike anything else I've read recently. It's not a long story. I am a fast reader, and I usually only backtrack if I've gotten confused on who a character is or to check on something. I found myself re-reading whole paragraphs with this one for a much different reason. It took me longer than it usually would for a book this length. The way Alice Hoffman describes things just flows beautifully, even when she's describing loss and heartache.

Shelby is a perfectly normal teenager before the night that changed her life. She's happy, smart, pretty, has plans for the the future, and is attached by the hip to her best friend. Her best friend is popular, beautiful, and a little more of a wildcard than she is. One night when Shelby is driving, there is an accident. She's basically unharmed, but Helene is not. She isn't dead, but she's gone. The accident leaves her in a coma that she won't wake up from. From then on, Shelby might as well just crawl into the bed with her. She's not living. She moves and breathes on her own, but her future has been altered irrevocably. She doesn't want to go on while her best friend isn't able to. Even when she finally begins to snap out of it and do something other than wallow in her parent's basement, she's still trapped by guilt. The rest of the story follows her move out of town and new relationships as she tries to find her new path in life.

I went into this book without knowing much about it, and I think that led to my immersion in it... so I won't go into too many details about the plot. I did really love it though. It's an odd little book that's really moving. I don't think it's for everyone, but I'd recommend it to most. Because it's mentioned it the synopsis I do have to say: I absolutely loved the parts that had anything to do with the dogs. Will definitely make most any animal lover smile.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Simon & Schuster, thank you! As always, my review is honest and unbiased.

A novel of grief, guilt, regret conquered by forgiveness and resurrection. Shelby and Helene are two bright high school seniors when they are in a tragic car accident that leaves Helene in a vegetative state. Shelby, the driver, walks away from the accident and is plunged into a depression based in grief for her friend's ruined life, guilt for being the driver, and regret for allowing Helene to convince her to go out on a night she had preferred to say in. Shelby is so devastated that she foregoes a college opportunity, and moves to her parents basement to wallow in her misery instead.

Boosted, on occasion, by encouraging messages delivered by her"guardian angel", and with nothing better to do, Shelby eventually moves to New York City with her drug dealer, Ben. They share a tiny, spare apartment while Ben attends pharmacy school and Shelby works at a pet store. Along the way, Shelby starts rescuing dogs and people, and in the process finds a window to her future.

When we first meet Shelby, she is suffering and pitiful. Her parents, miserable in their own marriage, watch from the sidelines as their daughter sinks into drugs and despair, throwing away the bright future she had earned prior to the accident. We wonder if any good can come of Shelby moving to New York with a guy she doesn't love, or of filling their tiny apartment with animals they can't afford to feed. The result, however, is one of redemption and resurrection for Shelby, Ben, her parents, and her "guardian angel" who never abandons his messages of hope.

I have always enjoyed Alice Hoffman's books, and this one certainly did not disappoint. The characters were interesting and believable, and the story line took me down unexpected paths that kept me engaged and not wanting to put the book down.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC of this great novel.

This book probably belongs more for the preteen or young teen female reader than this Baby-Boomer man, but Alice Hoffman never seems to disappoint me and this book delivers.

No truly surreal moments exist in this book – something of a signature move by Hoffman. But, the topic of minority woman, living in the world of testosterone-laden men who murder or bar fight to extremes, make the protagonist a sympathetic character to anyone. When she evolves to becoming pregnant, and the father is less than at her side, the sympathies grow.

But, good things happen to good people. The protagonist is assuredly good. And, therefore the ending brings what we wanted to a close.

The undemanding faith of the protagonist for her brother, father, uncle and boyfriends delivers the title. A book Club could spend hours discussing which faith is more pronounced to make the title so meaningful. But, in the end, it doesn’t really matter. It is just important to acknowledge the great allegiance by one simple person for other simple people.

When Shelby survives a crash that leaves her best friend, Helene, in a coma, she suffers survivor’s guilt. She has a breakdown that puts her in a mental institution where she is abused. When her mother learns of the abuse, she pulls Shelby out and, for two years, she lives at her parents’ house while continuing on a path of self-harm to ‘atone’ for the fact that she was driving the car.

Eventually, she leaves to live on her own but she shuns people even at her job at a pet store. However, several things happen to force her out of her self-imposed punishment – she rescues several abused dogs; a coworker asks her to help her by babysitting, eventually offering her a family which is aware of her shortcomings and accepts her warts and all; she renews a relationship with a boy whom she once had a crush on; and an anonymous someone is sending her post cards periodically with encouraging messages like ‘Say something’ that seem to arrive just when she needs them the most. Healing doesn’t come over night for Shelby but, slowly but surely, Shelby learns to forgive herself.

Faithful by author Alice Hoffman is a beautifully written coming-of-age tale. It looks at some very moving and emotional issues - survivor’s guilt, sexual abuse, loneliness, redemption, the need to forgive oneself for past perceived sins and transgressions as well as the need to let others in if this is to happen - all weighty themes that could easily cross the line to melodrama and manipulative tearjerker with a lesser writer. But Hoffman is not a lesser writer - she balances very neatly on that line without ever tipping over and she makes it look easy. The characters are sympathetic while showing flaws that we can relate to and the story is compelling. Hoffman does an amazing job of showing Shelby’s growth from survivor’s guilt to survivor and makes us believe and care every step of the way. A definite high recommendation from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is a surprisingly uplifting book, even though a lot of sadness and turmoil take priority as the story unfolds. I received a book through a Goodreads giveaway and an advance reader copy for a fair review, thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster!

The books by telling the tragic story of two teenage girls involved in a car accident and what happens to both of them afterwards. Helene is in a coma and miraculously heals people by the touch of her left hand. Shelby feels guilty for not being as physically damaged as Helene and continues to blame herself for the accident because she was driving. Shelby has had to deal with horrible experiences even after the accident: trying to commit suicide, being sent to a psychiatric ward, being raped by an orderly in the ward and trying to deal with everything and still live a normal life. Shelby moves in with Ben, a guy she has known for a long time and this way, she finally gets out of her parents' home and gains a little independence. She saves neglected pets, gets a job in a pet store and builds a relationship with Ben. Shelby meets new people, makes friends and makes some mistakes along the way. Shelby finally realizes she wants to improve her relationships and be more grateful for them. She has a wonderful mother and she finally realizes that also. Shelby's world turns completely around after the accident, and then, eventually, her world turns around again. Through her struggles and trials, Shelby finally knows what she wants in life and how to let herself enjoy life and love. I give this book 5 stars because I became so involved with the characters and grew to understand parts of my own life more clearly through reading about Shelby! Thank you, Alice Hoffman!

This book is about the decade long downward spiral and self-redemption of a seventeen-year-old girl as she tries to come to terms with her grief and her guilt in the accident which put her best friend in a coma.

This is the first book that I've read by Alice Hoffman. It started off strong and had me quite engrossed in Shelby's descent into blame, grief and self-hatred. This teen is hurting so fiercely; her grief is raw and she doesn't feel like she has many people in her corner. Nor does she feel like she deserves anyone or any future.

I found the first third of the book quite interesting but after awhile it seemed like a lot of the same self-hatred, blame game and Shelby pushing people way. The book itself is about Shelby's coming of age/redemption but it didn't feel like it had a strong sense of direction. Instead, the plot meandered along until the pieces started to fall together for Shelby, in her personal and professional lives.

One of the aspects that kept me reading was the mystery surrounding who was sending Shelby secret notes which engaged her in a way that the people around her couldn't. This mystery was quite compelling but its resolution was a little lackluster and I wasn't a fan of how things ended. It felt too contrived and easy.

A big part of my feelings for the book stem from Shelby and my lack of connection to her. She was a hard character to like. I felt for her situation and her grief but she was very cynical, dark and so focused on self-loathing and intent on living a horrible life. She's a hot mess for a lot of the book and believes that she deserves a horrible existence as penance for the accident she believes she's responsible for. Even when the powers that be, including her friends, boyfriend(s), her attachment to animals and sudden scholastic ability, propel her to a better life she still feels undeserved. Hoffman writes the story in the third person and I think that by doing this she loses the chance for her readers to get inside Shelby's head and witness the grief through Shelby's eyes.

Overall, this was just an okay read for me. It's a book about tragedy, loss, grief, blame and the complex relationships that we sometimes have, especially those between mother and daughter. It's also a coming of age story with Shelby experiencing a lot of bumps along the way as she learns that she deserves love and a full life.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Hoffman is a prolific writer, having written at least thirty novels . I have read just three of them and it is apparent to me what a great story teller she is . Whether its historical fiction or a contemporary story like this one, her characters are real and relatable and I admire her ability to write across genres. While this felt YA at first , it became clear that what happened to Shelby and Helene could happen to anyone and how Shelby deals with it or didn't actually , could happen to anyone. Some have referred to this as a coming of age story but I see it more as a coming to grips story- facing the emotional trauma and depression that came for Shelby after a horrific car accident. It was a quick read. I read it in a day, and felt emotionally drained at times but couldn't stop reading. I felt for Shelby right from the beginning hoping she could forgive herself, care about herself as she deals with guilt, depression and lack of self worth.

Shelby's relationships - with her best friend Helene, with her mother, Sue (I especially loved this connection in particular towards the end), with Ben, with Maravelle and her children, and finally with James are central to her journey. These are characters you'll care about . And I can't forget about the dogs she saves or is it the other way around? There's a lot here - what it means to love, the depth of friendships, surviving the bad things that life sometimes deals us .

"Say something."
" Be something."
"Feel something."
"See something."
"Save something."
"Believe something."
"Trust someone."

I received an ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley and I highly recommend this book.

Shelby Richmond was behind the wheel the night of the accident that put her best friend into a permanent coma. Helene continues to exist, and for some reason people thing being in her presence can perform miracles of healing. People crowd Helene’s house, with her parent’s admitting them in lines. Shelby, on the other hand, is alone. She retreats to the basement, shaves her head, doesn’t speak, and attempts suicide. The only friend she has is the boy who she buys weed from, and she doesn’t consider him a friend. She doesn’t consider herself worthy of having a friend. But for some reason she follows him when he goes to pharmacy college, and slowly comes out of her shell, getting a job cleaning cages at a pet store. Unwillingly, she forms a friendship with a co-worker, even having the co-workers children- Shelby hates children- dumped on her one long weekend. Meanwhile, throughout this time, from accident to the end, she receives mysterious postcards with art on them and brief statements: Say Something, Be Something, See Something, Believe Something.

Saddled with major depression, PTSD, insanely low self-esteem, and survivor guilt, Shelby is a mess at the beginning of the story. She grows slowly through the years, but she goes grow- life sort of forces itself on her. Even though at times I wanted to shake some sense into her, it was beautiful to watch her spirit unfold. Of course she makes mistakes- we all do. It’s a coming of age story, albeit slightly delayed as she finds out who she really is. Hoffman almost always writes stories that I can’t put down, and this one was no exception.

After an accident that left her best friend in a permanent vegetative state, Shelby falls to pieces. Her survival guilt is so strong that she can’t function, and as penance, she gives away her life and happiness in bits and pieces. However, as the right people come into her life, she begins to let herself live, a little bit at a time, until one day, she finds she’s built a life and can imagine a future in which she can finally let herself be happy.

Having never read Alice Hoffman before, I didn’t know what I was in for, but being fully aware of her reputation and what she’s written in the past, I had a strong suspicion it would be good. Really good. And I was right. This story is wrought with emotion, bringing me to tears on several occasions. Shelby’s struggle was so easy to relate to, so painful and palpable, that it was an easy read to get sucked into. In fact, because of where I was at emotionally in my own life, I had to set the book aside after starting it because it was more than I could handle in that moment.
Though I haven’t been in exactly Shelby’s shoes, I know those emotions, the crushing weight of living with guilt that isn’t really yours to bear, and struggling to pull yourself out from under it. I imagine there are a lot of people that will identify with Shelby’s inner battles, and realistic or not, seeing her find her way made me feel very hopeful. For me, the message of the book was that we have to learn to forgive ourselves, we have to stop punishing ourselves for things we couldn’t control and things we can’t change, and we have to let the right people in because we can’t get where we need to go alone.
Great read. Definitely recommend it.

Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Faithful is the story of Shelby, a teenager who has suffered a traumatic event and is struggling to find her way out of the nightmare her life has become. Her mother, a not-so-popular boy from her school and the friendship of an unlikely co-worker are among the people who help Shelby find her way back into living and into believing that she is worthy of a good life.

At times, the story was unbearably sad. Shelby comes out of her grief in the same way a person would slowly peel back the layers of an onion. She was lucky to have a wonderful mother and friends who were accepting and patient. Not many people have that support during trying times.

Shelby also unwittingly helped to heal herself by rescuing mistreated animals and giving them a better home. Her experience with these animals put her on the path to a career goal that she never would have dreamed of before the accident.

I enjoyed the story, but was a bit disappointed at how gloomy it was overall. By the ending, Shelby had come out of the depths of sorrow and was looking forward to the rest of her life, not necessarily with happiness, but with an abundance of hope and acceptance.

I look forward to reading more from Alice Hoffman, but I don’t think this will be one of my favorites, simply because it was so sad. Faithful was very different from other books I have read by Hoffman, showing her diversity as a writer. Readers who enjoyed The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh would probably enjoy Faithful. Just be warned--keep the kleenex handy!

Thanks go to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me an advanced read copy. I enjoyed the story and am pleased to give it an honest review.

I knew I would like this book, first because I love Alice Hoffman's writing, then because the epigraph from a Leonard Cohen song was
"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in."

The story begins with a car accident that changes the lives of two high school senior girls that were best friends. Shelby was the driver. The friend is badly injured and winds up in a coma. Shelby sees an angel who leans over and covers her with his black coat and tells her she can't give up. "She was shivering and her soul was in her mouth, ready to escape in a puff of air, but the angel kept her on earth."

She is diagnosed with major depression, survivor's guilt and post-traumatic stress and spends the next 3 months in a psych hospital. She stops eating and talking and slits her wrist. Her mother is the only one who visits her in the hospital.

Then one day she gets a mysterious postcard with no signature or return address. All it says is Say Something. Two years pass before the next card comes. It says Do Something. There is someone, somewhere, who knows she's alive.

Even though it begins sadly, it gets better, lots better for Shelby! I'm glad I kept on reading!

Shelby Richmond was driving the car the night of the accident that left her friend, Helene in a coma from which Helene is unlikely to ever recover. Shelby feels survivor's guilt and takes it out on herself, including a suicide attmept, shaving her head, and holing up in her parents' basement for years. She puts her life on hold, including not going to college in the fall as she had planned.

Eventually, Shelby moves to New York City with her drug-dealer, Ben Mink. As Ben begins to pull his life together, Shelby pulls away, both from her romantic involvement with Ben and her life in general. She eventually takes a job at a pet store and makes friends with one of her co-workers, Maravelle. Against her wishes, Shelby is pulled into Maravelle's life and that of Maravelle's kids.

Along the way, Shelby begins to rescue dogs and even a cat from terrible living circumstances. She is haunted by periodic postcards she receives in the mail carrying simple but profound messages that have great meaning in her life every time she receives a new one.

Will Shelby ever begin to live up to her true potential and forgive herself for an accident on an icy road long ago?

This is a great read, one of the best books I read in 2016, carrying profound lessons and beautiful imagery.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was given the opportunity to read an electronic copy of Faithful via Simon & Schuster and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

It has been two years since best friends Shelby Richmond and Helene Boyd were in an automobile accident that destroyed both of their lives. Shelby, unable to cope with the guilt, has tried to hurt herself and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. Her life is in shambles and she has been unable to move on since that terrible night. Shelby is in a prison of her own making, while Helene is imprisoned in her own mind. While Helene sleeps on, the visitors that pass through her bedroom are convinced that they are treated to miracles. Will Shelby ever be able to forgive herself and be able to make peace with what happened?

Faithful is the portrait of a young woman's journey back after a devastating crash makes her question her value in life. Her damaged psyche takes another blow while in the hospital, which has lasting effects. The problem that I had with this book is that, although I should have a lot of sympathy for Shelby and her plight, I never really connected with the character. The closest I came was at the ending, but this was far too late. The premise was good, but the plot was not particularly strong. I do like that the author was able to humanize Shelby and provided a complete picture of her character. Faithful was a quick read and some readers may be able to relate to Shelby on a personal level.

Faithful is a beautiful book that follows the main character through many years of her life. She is a tortured soul and feels worthless to herself and anyone around her. After discovering what she had done, it was easy to immediately forgive her but to also understood why she is so hard on herself. Early in the book, I found myself rooting for her and cringing at the same time with all of her self-sabotage.

I was so touched by the characters in this book that surrounded her life...her dealer (and boyfriend), her mom, her Pet store girlfriend and finally, James. They were sweet and patient.

I don't know how it's possible, but this is the first Alice Hoffman book I have read. It will not be the last! I wanted to give it a 4.5 but am not able to.

**SPOILER ALERT**
The one thing I almost took issue with is the coincidence that you just need to accept or if not, you won't enjoy the book as much. The fact that James is writing her the postcards and then happens to be the tattoo artist in the store that she walks by and finally in to? And then she doesn't even bother to check her tattoo in the mirror before leaving? And I guess I realized at this point that perhaps the book is a little fantastical ... For example, Helene's situation and the absurdity of the visitors that go to her to be blessed. But that's all okay, I accept it and loved the story.

This book is about the decade long downward spiral and self-redemption of a seventeen-year-old girl as she tries to come to terms with her grief and her guilt in the accident which put her best friend in a coma.

This is the first book that I've read by Alice Hoffman. It started off strong and had me quite engrossed in Shelby's descent into blame, grief and self-hatred. This teen is hurting so fiercely; her grief is raw and she doesn't feel like she has many people in her corner. Nor does she feel like she deserves anyone or any future.

I found the first third of the book quite interesting but after awhile it seemed like a lot of the same self-hatred, blame game and Shelby pushing people way. The book itself is about Shelby's coming of age/redemption but it didn't feel like it had a strong sense of direction. Instead, the plot meandered along until the pieces started to fall together for Shelby, in her personal and professional lives.

One of the aspects that kept me reading was the mystery surrounding who was sending Shelby secret notes which engaged her in a way that the people around her couldn't. This mystery was quite compelling but its resolution was a little lackluster and I wasn't a fan of how things ended. It felt too contrived and easy.

A big part of my feelings for the book stem from Shelby and my lack of connection to her. She was a hard character to like. I felt for her situation and her grief but she was very cynical, dark and so focused on self-loathing and intent on living a horrible life. She's a hot mess for a lot of the book and believes that she deserves a horrible existence as penance for the accident she believes she's responsible for. Even when the powers that be, including her friends, boyfriend(s), her attachment to animals and sudden scholastic ability, propel her to a better life she still feels undeserved. Hoffman writes the story in the third person and I think that by doing this she loses the chance for her readers to get inside Shelby's head and witness the grief through Shelby's eyes.

Overall, this was just an okay read for me. It's a book about tragedy, loss, grief, blame and the complex relationships that we sometimes have, especially those between mother and daughter. It's also a coming of age story with Shelby experiencing a lot of bumps along the way as she learns that she deserves love and a full life.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Hoffman is a prolific writer, having written at least thirty novels . I have read just three of them and it is apparent to me what a great story teller she is . Whether its historical fiction or a contemporary story like this one, her characters are real and relatable and I admire her ability to write across genres. While this felt YA at first , it became clear that what happened to Shelby and Helene could happen to anyone and how Shelby deals with it or didn't actually , could happen to anyone. Some have referred to this as a coming of age story but I see it more as a coming to grips story- facing the emotional trauma and depression that came for Shelby after a horrific car accident. It was a quick read. I read it in a day, and felt emotionally drained at times but couldn't stop reading. I felt for Shelby right from the beginning hoping she could forgive herself, care about herself as she deals with guilt, depression and lack of self worth.

Shelby's relationships - with her best friend Helene, with her mother, Sue (I especially loved this connection in particular towards the end), with Ben, with Maravelle and her children, and finally with James are central to her journey. These are characters you'll care about . And I can't forget about the dogs she saves or is it the other way around? There's a lot here - what it means to love, the depth of friendships, surviving the bad things that life sometimes deals us .

"Say something."
" Be something."
"Feel something."
"See something."
"Save something."
"Believe something."
"Trust someone."

I received an ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley and I highly recommend this book.

Shelby Richmond was behind the wheel the night of the accident that put her best friend into a permanent coma. Helene continues to exist, and for some reason people thing being in her presence can perform miracles of healing. People crowd Helene’s house, with her parent’s admitting them in lines. Shelby, on the other hand, is alone. She retreats to the basement, shaves her head, doesn’t speak, and attempts suicide. The only friend she has is the boy who she buys weed from, and she doesn’t consider him a friend. She doesn’t consider herself worthy of having a friend. But for some reason she follows him when he goes to pharmacy college, and slowly comes out of her shell, getting a job cleaning cages at a pet store. Unwillingly, she forms a friendship with a co-worker, even having the co-workers children- Shelby hates children- dumped on her one long weekend. Meanwhile, throughout this time, from accident to the end, she receives mysterious postcards with art on them and brief statements: Say Something, Be Something, See Something, Believe Something.

Saddled with major depression, PTSD, insanely low self-esteem, and survivor guilt, Shelby is a mess at the beginning of the story. She grows slowly through the years, but she goes grow- life sort of forces itself on her. Even though at times I wanted to shake some sense into her, it was beautiful to watch her spirit unfold. Of course she makes mistakes- we all do. It’s a coming of age story, albeit slightly delayed as she finds out who she really is. Hoffman almost always writes stories that I can’t put down, and this one was no exception.

After an accident that left her best friend in a permanent vegetative state, Shelby falls to pieces. Her survival guilt is so strong that she can’t function, and as penance, she gives away her life and happiness in bits and pieces. However, as the right people come into her life, she begins to let herself live, a little bit at a time, until one day, she finds she’s built a life and can imagine a future in which she can finally let herself be happy.

Having never read Alice Hoffman before, I didn’t know what I was in for, but being fully aware of her reputation and what she’s written in the past, I had a strong suspicion it would be good. Really good. And I was right. This story is wrought with emotion, bringing me to tears on several occasions. Shelby’s struggle was so easy to relate to, so painful and palpable, that it was an easy read to get sucked into. In fact, because of where I was at emotionally in my own life, I had to set the book aside after starting it because it was more than I could handle in that moment.
Though I haven’t been in exactly Shelby’s shoes, I know those emotions, the crushing weight of living with guilt that isn’t really yours to bear, and struggling to pull yourself out from under it. I imagine there are a lot of people that will identify with Shelby’s inner battles, and realistic or not, seeing her find her way made me feel very hopeful. For me, the message of the book was that we have to learn to forgive ourselves, we have to stop punishing ourselves for things we couldn’t control and things we can’t change, and we have to let the right people in because we can’t get where we need to go alone.
Great read. Definitely recommend it.

Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Faithful is the story of Shelby, a teenager who has suffered a traumatic event and is struggling to find her way out of the nightmare her life has become. Her mother, a not-so-popular boy from her school and the friendship of an unlikely co-worker are among the people who help Shelby find her way back into living and into believing that she is worthy of a good life.

At times, the story was unbearably sad. Shelby comes out of her grief in the same way a person would slowly peel back the layers of an onion. She was lucky to have a wonderful mother and friends who were accepting and patient. Not many people have that support during trying times.

Shelby also unwittingly helped to heal herself by rescuing mistreated animals and giving them a better home. Her experience with these animals put her on the path to a career goal that she never would have dreamed of before the accident.

I enjoyed the story, but was a bit disappointed at how gloomy it was overall. By the ending, Shelby had come out of the depths of sorrow and was looking forward to the rest of her life, not necessarily with happiness, but with an abundance of hope and acceptance.

I look forward to reading more from Alice Hoffman, but I don’t think this will be one of my favorites, simply because it was so sad. Faithful was very different from other books I have read by Hoffman, showing her diversity as a writer. Readers who enjoyed The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh would probably enjoy Faithful. Just be warned--keep the kleenex handy!

Thanks go to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me an advanced read copy. I enjoyed the story and am pleased to give it an honest review.

I knew I would like this book, first because I love Alice Hoffman's writing, then because the epigraph from a Leonard Cohen song was
"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in."

The story begins with a car accident that changes the lives of two high school senior girls that were best friends. Shelby was the driver. The friend is badly injured and winds up in a coma. Shelby sees an angel who leans over and covers her with his black coat and tells her she can't give up. "She was shivering and her soul was in her mouth, ready to escape in a puff of air, but the angel kept her on earth."

She is diagnosed with major depression, survivor's guilt and post-traumatic stress and spends the next 3 months in a psych hospital. She stops eating and talking and slits her wrist. Her mother is the only one who visits her in the hospital.

Then one day she gets a mysterious postcard with no signature or return address. All it says is Say Something. Two years pass before the next card comes. It says Do Something. There is someone, somewhere, who knows she's alive.

Even though it begins sadly, it gets better, lots better for Shelby! I'm glad I kept on reading!

Shelby Richmond was driving the car the night of the accident that left her friend, Helene in a coma from which Helene is unlikely to ever recover. Shelby feels survivor's guilt and takes it out on herself, including a suicide attmept, shaving her head, and holing up in her parents' basement for years. She puts her life on hold, including not going to college in the fall as she had planned.

Eventually, Shelby moves to New York City with her drug-dealer, Ben Mink. As Ben begins to pull his life together, Shelby pulls away, both from her romantic involvement with Ben and her life in general. She eventually takes a job at a pet store and makes friends with one of her co-workers, Maravelle. Against her wishes, Shelby is pulled into Maravelle's life and that of Maravelle's kids.

Along the way, Shelby begins to rescue dogs and even a cat from terrible living circumstances. She is haunted by periodic postcards she receives in the mail carrying simple but profound messages that have great meaning in her life every time she receives a new one.

Will Shelby ever begin to live up to her true potential and forgive herself for an accident on an icy road long ago?

This is a great read, one of the best books I read in 2016, carrying profound lessons and beautiful imagery.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was given the opportunity to read an electronic copy of Faithful via Simon & Schuster and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

It has been two years since best friends Shelby Richmond and Helene Boyd were in an automobile accident that destroyed both of their lives. Shelby, unable to cope with the guilt, has tried to hurt herself and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. Her life is in shambles and she has been unable to move on since that terrible night. Shelby is in a prison of her own making, while Helene is imprisoned in her own mind. While Helene sleeps on, the visitors that pass through her bedroom are convinced that they are treated to miracles. Will Shelby ever be able to forgive herself and be able to make peace with what happened?

Faithful is the portrait of a young woman's journey back after a devastating crash makes her question her value in life. Her damaged psyche takes another blow while in the hospital, which has lasting effects. The problem that I had with this book is that, although I should have a lot of sympathy for Shelby and her plight, I never really connected with the character. The closest I came was at the ending, but this was far too late. The premise was good, but the plot was not particularly strong. I do like that the author was able to humanize Shelby and provided a complete picture of her character. Faithful was a quick read and some readers may be able to relate to Shelby on a personal level.

Faithful is a beautiful book that follows the main character through many years of her life. She is a tortured soul and feels worthless to herself and anyone around her. After discovering what she had done, it was easy to immediately forgive her but to also understood why she is so hard on herself. Early in the book, I found myself rooting for her and cringing at the same time with all of her self-sabotage.

I was so touched by the characters in this book that surrounded her life...her dealer (and boyfriend), her mom, her Pet store girlfriend and finally, James. They were sweet and patient.

I don't know how it's possible, but this is the first Alice Hoffman book I have read. It will not be the last! I wanted to give it a 4.5 but am not able to.

**SPOILER ALERT**
The one thing I almost took issue with is the coincidence that you just need to accept or if not, you won't enjoy the book as much. The fact that James is writing her the postcards and then happens to be the tattoo artist in the store that she walks by and finally in to? And then she doesn't even bother to check her tattoo in the mirror before leaving? And I guess I realized at this point that perhaps the book is a little fantastical ... For example, Helene's situation and the absurdity of the visitors that go to her to be blessed. But that's all okay, I accept it and loved the story.

From the very first lines of this book, I knew I was in the hands of a master storyteller and writer. I was immediately sucked in and just lived every minute of it with Shelby in Faithful by Alice Hoffman.

Imagine feeling responsible for a car accident (even though it was one of those accidents on an icy road) where someone is so seriously injured that they are in a coma for evermore. That happens to Shelby and it sends her into a spiral of depression, anxiety and self harm.

However the one thing about Shelby is she was a good person before the accident and however bad things get for her, however bad she acts, there is a heart that beats inside her, that is still her. While she doesn't recognise it at first her mother is there for her, a mysterious black angel who leaves postcards is there for her, even the boyfriend she sends away is good for her.

She also makes friends with Maravelle and her family of three children - and while Shelby maintains she doesn't like children, watch what happens.

I loved the way Shelby one step at a time, made her way back from the throes of self harm, self hate and depression. Reaching out to others was key. She was especially caring of dogs, and for awhile I was afraid she was going to turn into a reclusive dog lady, with an apartment full of dogs and little else.

Definitely a very satisfying read and I will carry this one around in my heart for quite a while.

Faithful is a relatively short novel about tragedy and redemption. To me it felt more a YA novel but, regardless it still managed to hold my interest.

Shelby Richmond and her friend Helene Boyd were making plans for college life when an automobile accident with Shelby behind the wheel changed everything for both girls. While Shelby recovered physically, she remains guilt ridden and stuck She can't deal with the fact that her good friend is in a coma.

At least initially Shelby doesn't feel that her life is worth living. She can't stop punishing herself and she even spends time in a psych hospital. Once released she lives in her parents basement, rarely emerging for nearly two years until one day with the help of her friend Ben, and the power of animals to heal, she begins to come around.

Shelby's character felt very genuine as did her gradual healing. As the title suggests, "faith" plays a significant role in the healing process. A story of survival, I loved the way that the novel ended on an uplifting note but, I wasn't a fan of the way Hoffman used Helene's coma as a touchstone for believers in need of a miracle in their own lives to visit Helene and touch her hand with the hopes of being healed.

It's been a while since I've read a novel by Alice Hoffman and although I had a few minor issues with this one it was still a good story.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of Faithful from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Shelby and Helene are 17 year old best friends, out for a typical high school night when their car encounters a patch of ice, sending both their car and their lives veering off course. Helene is left in a permanent vegetative state while Shelby starts down the long and winding, self-destructive path of a person who cannot forgive their own sins.

Faithful follows Shelby from that icy night's encounter with a guardian angel who covered her with his coat and told her not to slip away through her guilt and mental illness riddled late teens; through her early 20s and life in a NYC apartment with a man with whom she won't let herself fully connect; to her eventually beginning to heal as she finds her niche. At the heart of Faithful are relationships and redemption - the relationships of broken people with the world around them and with each other and questions of in what manner and how long people will punish themselves and what is it that finally gets them through it.

Faithful is beautifully written and the characters true to life, I was drawn in from the first page and raced through it. Once I finished it, I had to sleep on it and let it sink in - it was just that kind of book for me. I had never read an Alice Hoffman book before, but I enjoyed her writing and I plan on seeking out more of her work.

Shelby Richmond is a hot mess. She was driving with her friend Helene, hit a patch of ice, and got into an accident. Shelby survived with minor injuries and Helene ends up comatose. Shelby’s life stalls. She attempts suicide, she cuts herself, and ends up in an institution. She even shaves her head as a way to act out from survivor’s guilt.

The book follows Shelby’s life as she finally rejoins the land of the living. She falls into a relationship with a boy named Ben. After getting a job she meets a woman named Maravelle and is soon enfolded in her family. Shelby learns about making new friends and about how those friends can become family. She learns that it’s sometimes okay to depend on other people to help you through difficult times.

I laughed and I cried while reading this book. Shelby is broken but you can see so much potential in her that you root for her to wake up and enjoy her life again. I found her to be very relatable. She adopts stray animals and takes them in and they help her heal and find something to be passionate about. Her addiction to Chinese food made me worry about her MSG intake.

The relationship she has with her mother is profound. Despite everything that has happened to her mother is her rock. She’s stern when she needs to be and gentle when she has to be and when Shelby just needs her to sit and just be there she does that as well. There was an extremely touching but fun scene between Shelby and her mom that still sticks with me. It made me want to hug my mom a little tighter.

The character of Maravelle was amazing. She sees the gentle and loving person that Shelby is deep down and in her own no-nonsense way helps to bring it out. Maravelle’s family is a cast of characters all their own but they also help Shelby grow in their own individual ways. The situations that her children get into are things I have seen teenagers get into in real life. The writing here was rich and believable.

Shelby also has an “Angel” whom was the person that pulled her from the wreckage of her accident. Angel mails her postcards over the years that encourage her to keep her life moving. Shelby begins to look forward to the messages. The identity of Angel is later revealed in the book. I wish that part had been explored a little bit more but I am still satisfied with what happened.

The pacing on this book was perfect. It didn’t drag along but didn’t skimp on details. The ending left me wanting a little more but not in a bad way. It left me wanting more in the way that a book is so good that you just want it to continue. I wanted to stay in Shelby’s world and see what happens next. Instead, I was left with the promise of her facing her future with a promise of greatness.

I LOVED this book. LOVED. Please give it a try and I promise that you will not regret it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

You can find this review and more at:
[...]

I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.

Shelby’s hopes and dreams for the future came to a screeching halt the night of the accident that left her best friend, Helene, in a vegetative state. Seventeen-year-old Shelby went from anticipating her high school graduation and making plans for college to being an emotional wreck crippled with guilt. A suicide attempt ends with Shelby being committed to a mental institution, where she is abused rather than helped. Once out, Shelby resorts to drugs as a way of coping, her only friend a former classmate who is now her dealer. She’s unwilling to move past what happened… but life moves on, whether you want it to or not.

I felt a lot of sympathy for Shelby, but her defeatist attitude became tiresome after a while. I understand how debilitating depression can be, but… it was too much after a while. And frankly—given Shelby’s memories of Helene—I don’t understand why she was so determined to bring her life to a grinding halt, because Helene didn’t seem to be a very good friend to her.

Despite a few annoyances, it was still a pretty decent read, and kept my attention. I’m going to stick with the three star rating. I was tempted to lower it, but I think a three star rating is fair.

Although no one perishes, a tragic accident steals the lives of two best friends. Helene is breathtakingly beautiful. Her best friend Shelby, pretty and intelligent, pales by comparison. An ill fated excursion leaves Helene in a vegetative state and Shelby a virtual vegetable, consumed by guilt and self loathing. The accident becomes almost mythic in their small Long Island town and the shell of Helena is believed to generate miraculous healings. The only chance Shelby has is to leave and that she does with her goofy but endearing pot dealing outcast boyfriend.

This is very much the tale of a young woman's journey to wholeness and redemption. The writing is good but frankly, the melancholy wears, making the reader urge for escape almost as desperately as Shelby. I thought the secular saint in a hospital bed line was just silly. It was not well developed or especially believable. But Shelby's struggle to break free of her self imposed penance is compelling and memorable.

Alice Hoffman's output is prodigious and her books generally have a lot in common - a fondness for the magical or inexplicable, loss in its many varieties, physical abuse, painful love affairs, eccentric characters, beloved animals, endings which close the circle. Faithful fits right in - anyone who likes to read Hoffman will like this book. I'm a fan myself, so this story of young woman who is part of a tragic set of circumstances for which she feels (and is, to some extent) responsible, feels like, well, coming home.
Shelby(our heroine) suffers tremendously from what has gone so wrong in her early life, but she slowly and painfully begins to move forward toward the restoration of her soul and her confidence in the possibility of happiness.
Hoffman's novels are not for those who prefer realism. She lays out very difficult problems which are often solved by mysterious interventions and the unanticipated intersections of her characters' paths. I am, in most things, a pragmatist. But I take a break when I read Alice Hoffman, and allow myself to believe in magic.

{Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC of Faithful free of charge.}

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is not for the faint of heart. The pace is a slow burn, with a great deal of heartache, angst, and grief along the way.

After a car accident with her best friend that changed the course of her life, Shelby embarks on the challenging journey of finding a way to move forward. She changes overnight into a depressed, angry, grief-stricken young woman who cannot seem find her way out of the dark place she foudn herself in.

Along this journey, Shelby find people are are good, people who are pretty evil, and many an animal who needs rescuing. She's not a character that is easy to root for all the time, but there is always a glimmer there that kept me hoping she would turn a corner.

This was such a departure from the lyrical and sweeping historical fiction of The Marriage of Opposites, but in the hands of Hoffman, the story of an individual's life was just as impactful.

I've been reading Alice Hoffman books for over a decade and I've never been disappointed. She definitely has a distinguishable writing style that I've always enjoyed. Faithful is no different. A well woven story with interesting, authentic characters. A journey of learning about one's self and coming out the other side. I loved this book. Would definitely recommend!

Well, I think I have found my "go to" author for slaying slumps and ending tbr indecisions. With about 30 books to her name and more coming, I don't think I will have a Hoffman drought for a while! This was my first Adult Lit book by this author. I had previously read her Middle Grade story, Nightbird, which I adored.

I love the way she does character development. It was seemless. I don't know how to describe it, but the opening scene and description of the MC made me feel like I knew quite a bit about her already. I fell into the story immediately. I think older readers who like YA will like this even though it is Adult Lit.

There is no real romance in the story. There are relationships, but no detailed descriptions of the physical aspects of those relationships. There was one pretty big coincidence in the story, so it will stay at four stars for a rating on the blog because that is my number one pet peeve when reading.

This was a smooth enjoyable read, which believe it or not handled some pretty serious issues. It made me cry twice, and I am not a reading cryer.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is a vivid, gut-wrenching portrait of the effects of tragedy, the weight of guilt, and the power of love. Fifty pages in, I was hooked. When I finished, I knew it was a story that would stay with me forever.

The story follows the life of Shelby Richmond over seven years. It starts in February, on the two year anniversary of a tragic car accident that occurred in the winter of Shelby’s senior year of high school. She was the driver, her best friend Helene, the passenger. Shelby walked away with a hairline fracture, and Helene was left comatose.

“All she can remember is stepping on the brake after the car hit a patch of ice and spinning around and Helene laughing, like they were in a Tilt-a-Whirl car, and then the crunch of metal against metal.”

It is clear from the beginning that Shelby, while physically fine, is emotionally crippled. She becomes a recluse, starts doing drugs, shaves off her hair, stops caring about everything. She blames herself for what happened and she wishes she could take Helene’s place.

“Shelby has absolutely nothing inside of her. She’s a black hole. A sinkhole. A whole lot of nothing.”

Throughout the book, I felt Shelby’s pain. I mourned for Shelby’s loss. Shelby’s transformation out of her grief and into her life again was beautifully and realistically written. The friendships and relationships Shelby makes along the way are crafted and developed with careful purpose. Every character, from her parents to Ben to Maravelle to the many dogs Shelby rescues, will leave an imprint on your heart. Some will even make you think deeper about your own life and the way you love others.

“Love is a mystery. It’s like an alien abduction. You think you’re on earth, and there you are among the stars.”

A near perfect book, I would recommend and read again.

4.5 out of 5 stars

3 1/2 Stars
Hoffman starts this novel out slow and somewhat depressing, but as each chapters goes along, I found myself more and more caught up in the story. A story of hope and redemption with a cast of real, complex characters and a satisfying ending.

Shelby Richmond was the golden girl of her small suburban town in Long Island. She had friends, she was beautiful, she did well in school- everything was good until one fateful night when one car accident upturned her entire life. Shelby was driving with her best friend, Helene, in the passenger seat. The accident left Helene in a coma, and Shelby – overcome with guilt, rage and the sheer unfairness of it all – gets sent to a psychiatric clinic, shaves her head and becomes a recluse. When she moves to New York City with a ‘friend’ from home, Shelby is broken, isolated and distraught… but will the city give her the healing and power to move on with her life?

Faithful is one of those books that you can’t put down, simply because it’s so addictive. Hoffman writes with poise and grace, never overdoing her metaphors but never leaving her writing bare either. Her writing flows beautifully, pulling you in with its simplicity. The pacing, too, in this book is so well-done. Each scene serves a purpose, and even if it doesn’t, it provides a much-needed balance to the complex themes at play in the rest of the novel.

But perhaps what made this novel soar above and beyond my expectations was the abundance of strong female relationships. Friendships, caretaker, mother-daughter, the-other-woman, even complete freaking strangers- Hoffman does such an incredible job at crafting and developing nuanced, layered female dynamics, something which I’ve seen so little of in books. Moreover, I have read very few books where each and every secondary character has drawn me in so completely, and this was one of them. All the side characters were given concrete personalities, all lovable even though they exhibited clear flaws. I can go as far as to say that there were several secondary characters that I liked more than I liked the protagonist.

Which is where my eventual issue lies. Towards the beginning, Shelby’s in a broken state; she’s undergone severe trauma, both with her car crash as well as with the sexual abuse she endured when she was at the psychiatric clinic. She’s experiencing extreme depression, and turns to substance abuse to keep her grounded and sane. We were given the impression that Shelby was a damaged young lady who would have to overcome her mental illness, her flaws, every obstacle thrown at her to become a stronger person eventually. But as the narrative progressed, I came to realize that Shelby was – frustratingly – a Mary Sue.

Everything, and I mean everything, was handed to her. Her difficulties occurred before the novel took place- after the story starts, she was surrounded by a large network of people who loved and supported her, and she pushed them away – but endearingly so. Shelby’s good at everything when she wants to be. She’s an animal-person, she’s great with kids, she’s great at her job, she’s beautiful, she’s strong, she’s the perfect daughter. She’s quite literally perfect. Which is perhaps the worst thing that a protagonist can be, because it diminishes their struggle, and spoils any semblance of conflict because we are certain that the protagonist will overcome all difficulty with her perfection. I enjoyed seeing Shelby develop from a reclusive young girl to a forgiving, open woman but her actual path of development was so… homogenous and un-complex that I simply did not care. On top of this, her struggles with mental illness were tossed aside after the initial chapter, and the tone took such a drastically different path that I almost thought I was reading a different story.

Ultimately, this is a book that had a lot going for it- a book that you can get through in a ridiculously short amount of time because the very prose is amicable and addictive. But when the strong themes and superficial messages are stripped away, you realize that the protagonist’s struggle is so unrealistic and uninspiring that the magic is severely dented.

- I received an ARC of this review from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

No one else in modern literature can convey such raw AND ethereal emotion as Alice Hoffman does. I found Faithful reminded me most of my favorite of her novels, the Story Sisters, which only made me love it the more. As we travel through Shelby's life, quite full and yet quite lonely, it was all too easy to relate to her feelings of survivors guilt intertwined with a nagging hope that just barely keeps her pushing forward. However, what really made this story stand out for me was the Mother/Daughter relationship. As you grow and begin to see your Mother as a woman, and not simply Mom, you can discover so much about yourself, where you come from, and where you need to go. This was typical Alice Hoffman, beautiful, magical, heartwarming. My only complaint, as it normally is with her novels, is I wish it had been longer. Her hopeful and comforting worlds are always difficult to leave.

This was my first Alice Hoffman novel and it did not disappoint. After finishing it, I felt as though I had seen a movie instead of having read a book. That's how effective the author was at depicting time and place and developing the nuances of each character, even the minor ones. Speaking of movies, I think this book would make a great one and my personal choice for the role of Shelby would be Emma Stone. I can totally see her transforming from the oddly dressed, shaved bald weirdo to a gritty young woman determined to move forward with her life. I nearly gave up on the story in the early going because I thought it was going to be too dark and dreary, but I'm so happy I picked it up again and kept reading. I simply loved it, and it's one that is going to stay with me for a while. Highly recommended.

If you want to feel alive, read this book. It's a tender story that pulls in every direction. Shelby is just your average 17 year old high school kid, doing what 17 year old kids do. Nature gets in the way and Shelby's path suddenly veers into a whole new direction. The reader then shadows Shelby as she pulls herself out of the deepest, darkest place. There are angels along the way, people who prove to make all the difference in the world (even if they didn't realize it at the time). The story is a reminder of what it means to be real. It is also a reflection on how life can change in a matter of seconds. Life changed Shelby in the same way that life can change any of us. It was remarkable to watch this young woman's transformation from damaged adolescent to strong, resourceful, tender adult. Five stars.

Alice Hoffman’s FAITHFUL is a beautifully written, emotionally stunning account of a broken young woman’s journey to recovery. Shelby Richmond was seventeen when a tragic car accident left her best friend Helene in a permanent vegetative state. Shelby was driving, there was ice, and she blames herself for what happened to Helene. Shelby suffers from depression, anxiety, survivor’s guilt, and post-traumatic stress – in short, she’s a mess. And in the months following the accident she withdraws from life, shaving her head and rejecting all efforts of friends and family to reach her through the darkness. Ultimately, it’s her own determination to save others that ends up saving Shelby – she becomes a champion for abused and abandoned pets, pouring herself into a motley crew of dogs who become symbols of her own damaged soul. As she brings them back to life, she brings herself back as well.

There’s more to this novel than this simple formula, and Shelby’s journey is complicated by her own weaknesses, her inability to accept help from those who love her, and her undying belief that she can never be forgiven for Helene’s tragedy. She does have a boyfriend – a pot-smoking loner who believes in aliens and loves Kurt Vonnegut novels – but she can’t allow herself to love anyone, since she considers herself to be worthless and undeserving of love (she believes she “ruins whatever she touches”). She also has a mysterious “angel,” someone she isn’t even sure exists, who sends her mysterious unsigned postcards over the years with supportive messages on them (“Feel something,” “See something,” “Do something,” etc.). And she finds a friend – a single mom with three kids, who works at the same pet store with Shelby; through this family, she slowly begins to build a connection with life again, and with the world around her.

The best part of FAITHFUL is definitely Shelby, a young woman traumatized by something she is unable to overcome. She’s real and identifiable and I loved experiencing her transformation. Because she is transformed. And Hoffman’s message – that through love, compassion, and human connection we can become whole again (that love and compassion can heal a broken soul) – is an important one. For Shelby, the lost and broken dogs give her a purpose, something she can cling to and build on. Opening herself up to them is the first step in her journey toward salvation; her willingness to give of herself (and to risk everything for these weaker, more broken creatures) is what ultimately allows her to overcome her inner darkness.

There is one aspect of this novel that didn’t work for me – the suggestion that Helene, in her vegetative state, is somehow capable of performing miracles (roses bloom in her presence and she can somehow heal the sick). People gather outside Helene’s home for months and even years after the accident, praying and hoping for a chance to see her. This is mentioned fairly early in the novel, and it isn’t developed – whether or not any of the miracle stories are true is left unresolved – but I found it distracting. It suggests an interpretation of “faith” that is more religious than humanist, but it’s the humanist theme – that miracles come through love and forgiveness – that resonates in this novel.

Bottom line, this is a great read. I loved Shelby, even with all her weaknesses and self-doubt. And her journey is one any of us can identify with. While this isn’t necessarily a Young Adult novel, it would be a good choice for teens looking for a reality-based story with lots of heart. I would have loved it when I was in high school! Highly recommended.

Alice Hoffman is a fine story teller and this coming of age novel is yet another of Hoffman's contributions to understanding life in America. Her main character, Shelby Richmond, has grown up on Long Island; during her senior year in high school, she is in a horrific car accident, which damages her and changes her life course. I found the first part of the book very slow and repetitive, as we hear over and over about Shelby's recriminations against her self. Once Shelby moves to New York City, the verbal repetitions stop but the self-destructive behaviours don't stop. They just alter their form. Given that Hoffman has a steady hand on the narrative, we readers are fairly sure that Shelby is going to emerge, somehow, a fuller, more grown person, a woke person. The fine detail of setting in this novel is complemented by Hoffman's psychological insights. An excellent read.

Shelby is all set to start a promising life filled with potential when a car accident leaves her best friend in a coma and her laden with a huge dose of survivor's guilt. She gradually begins to crawl out of her dark despair and find her way. Her dark humor, brutal honesty and a pronounced tendency to rescue those around her make her an endearing and relentlessly interesting character.

Shelby's story is gut wrenching, devastating and encouraging. The accident leaves Shelby reeling and throws her off of her path toward success. She sinks into a deep depression and the path out of it is long and winding and intriguing. Her need to rescue everyone around her is what leads to her eventual personal rescue.

The story is intriguing and compelling. Shelby is a character that is familiar but fresh. Alice Hoffman did not disappoint.

I would like to thank Alice Hoffman and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read and review this book via NetGalley. Alice Hoffman certainly does not disappoint! On a personal note, the main character of this book, Shelby, was raised on Long Island, which I can personally relate to, as it is where I too live and raise my children. Shelby experienced a tragic and traumatic event in high school, which changed the course of her life. She suffers from deep survivor's guilt, and feels as if she had lost her soul. This beautifully written journey, of Shelby's gradual and painful evolution into a functional adult is a page turner. Mixed with love for Chinese food, dear unexpected friends, pets, boyfriends, as well as a bit of angels and magic, Alice Hoffman tells this moving story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book. I really loved this book. It is about a young woman named Shelby who was driving with her friend and hit a patch of ice. Shelby was ok but her friend was not. Helene was put into a vegetative state from the accident. Shelby has such guilt and self hatred after the accident. She needs to learn to live life again. From bad relationships, to a wonderful friendship with a friend from work, Shelby needs to learn to love herself again. So many emotions are in this book. Grief, love, and loss. It is a wonderful book that will really make you feel so many different things. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a book that will keep you reading until the very last page and stay with you long after you finish reading.

I would call Faithful a cross between a coming-of-age story and an emotional quest. Since a car accident in high school, Shelby has been trying to understand how to live her life as she deals with the regret and guilt of what happened on that night. She feels the accident is completely her fault and can't accept the impact it had on her best friend and loved ones. As she comes into adulthood she is faced with decisions she doesn't know how to make and doesn't want the responsibility for because of her lack of faith in her own abilities and self-worth. I thought this book was an excellent illustration of a young woman's growing pains and the possible tragedy people must learn to handle at a young age.

***I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review Alice Hoffman's "Faithful" is an engrossing and captivating novel dealing with a devastating situation, loneliness, self- deprecating behavior.redemption,survival,trust, love and believing. The characters are flawed, not perfect living in an imperfect world. Family and love are important elements of the novel. The heroine shows tremendous growth in her character and has more self respect and a sense of purpose. I enjoyed the location of the story, especially since it is the town I live in. Friendship and relationships are evident as well. I enjoyed Alice Hoffman's use of words, and how she "magically" tells a story. I would recommend this book as an engrossing read. Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this book. (less)

My last book of the 2016 reading year and a great one to end with. Really enjoyed this book. It was a satisfying coming of age book with well developed characters that you love despite their flaws (or maybe because of them!). I actually saw some things from my own life in this book, especially the mother daughter relationship between Shelby and Susan. And there were a few things that reminded me of my husband, who is a veterinarian and went to UC Davis and did all of his pre-vet school training in New York City. The writing was good, the pace fast, and the plot well developed. There was love, loss, and forgiveness. But I think the real message is that the most important person you need to forgive in your life is often yourself.

Shelby Richmond started off with a normal life on Long Island...until one winter night, when she and her best friend are in an auto accident...Shelby is wearing her seatbelt and lives...her best friend Helene didn't wear her seatbelt, and is in a coma, probably fr the rest of her life. Shelby is turned upside down and inside out...and life will never be the same again. Her path to aduthood, and forgiveness, is difficult...but you can empathize with her and feel what she is going through in every word of this bok...Very powerful...and hard to put down!

I don't know how the only other book I've read by Alice Hoffman is The Story Sisters, but there it is. I saw her speak at Frederick's Speaker Series, and I am devoted to the film of her novel, Practical Magic. I quite liked this. Alice Hoffman walks the line between thaumaturgy and daily reality, conjuring happy endings from tragic circumstances. She writes with a great faith in the resiliency of the human spirit, and her heroine, Shelby Richmond, lives a journey riveting, heartbreaking, and hope-giving in this book. We need happy endings right now, so I just might pick up some more of Alice Hoffman's work --- once I get through my holds and my own patiently waiting books.

Hoffman's latest is a wonderful portrait of a young woman clawing her way back to life after a devastating accident. Watching Shelby grow out of her shell and into the world via her animals, in particular, was very special. There are great characters here= from Sue to Ben, "Mimi", the twins and so on= but the plot is also very special. The little details of life in New York are a plus although I did wonder how Shelby was living on her own on a salary from a pet shop until she quit and then for the Humane Society. That said, this was terrific. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a sensitive novel where you will definitely find yourself rooting for Shelby (and Pablo, the General, Buddy, and most of all, Blinkie.

The book blurb pretty much says it all. This a story of the journey from the depths of despair to the realization of dreams and happiness. Shelby is nearly totally destroyed by the accident that left her best friend in a vegetative coma. She struggles through that despair with drugs, time in the mental ward and self-hatred by shaving her head. She makes mistakes that cost her emotionally but at the same time encourage her growth as a mature person. The prose in this book is superb, the characterization of every character true to each personality. You will laugh and cry for Shelby and with her but you won’t forget this book.
I received this book free for review from the publisher.

This was my first Alice Hoffman novel. Although the story is kind of dark and heavy, I enjoyed reading it. I can’t say if it portrays an accurate image of survivor’s guilt or PTSD, since I have no experience with them, but it felt very realistic to me. I can relate to feeling overwhelmed by all the sadness and suffering in the world, and not being able to find the good amidst all of the bad. I really liked how Shelby found solace in working with animals. I also really liked her mother, Sue. All the side-characters were well written, and everyone had a role to play in getting Shelby to live her life again.

If you liked Tarryn Fisher’s ‘Marrow’, definitely check out Faithful. Both are quite dark New Adult contemporary novels featuring a female main character in her twenties. However, Shelby is very different from Margo and therefor gives us a different perspective on the ugly side of life, and how to keep living despite all the bad in the world.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy.

Nothing hooks me in faster than an Alice Hoffman book and this is no exception. I read this in two very long sittings.
A story of how a terrible accident can change a life forever and how your "angels" can be people you never expected. Even your pets can heal you. My heart broke for Shelby and her struggle. The ending was perfect. Not expected but the only right way to say goodbye to the Shelby in Faithful.
It was also nice to find out my favorite author was raised In the same town on Long Island where I have been living for the last 45 years. Can't wait for the next Alice Hoffman book. I have read them all.

On a February night, when road conditions were challenging, Shelby Richmond and Helene Boyd were in an accident that left Helene in a coma and Shelby broken in spirit. They were only seventeen when it happened, with their lives ahead of them. Then everything changed.

Shelby spent some time in a psychiatric hospital, and more time afterwards in her family’s basement. She shaved her head and completely turned inward.

Faithful: A Novel is the magical story of Shelby’s journey back to herself and to feeling worthy of life and love.

From Huntington, on Long Island, to New York City, we follow her as she progresses. Slowly. Her friend, Ben Mink, helps her by being there for her, but when she starts to move on, to find some independence, that chapter in her life is over.

Her love for animals takes her from a pet store job, to working in an animal shelter…and then to college. Her ultimate goal: veterinary medicine. Finally, and slowly, there are friendships…and Shelby begins to shed the tough girl persona, even letting her hair grow out again.

Through the years, somebody is sending Shelby little postcards anonymously, with a short message on each one. The first one says “say something,” and the next one issues the challenge: “do something.”

They all seem to be leading Shelby toward something, and by the time she finds out who is sending them, the last one has said “trust someone.”

I loved the serendipitous moments that felt so magical, as if someone was watching over her. For a time, Shelby believed the postcard writer to be an angel. When she finally discovered who had been guiding her and why, the final piece to the puzzle led to a feeling of closure. And comfort. I loved the characters, and I especially enjoyed seeing Shelby’s growth, and how she finally let herself be happy. A wonderful 5 star read.

I would call Faithful a cross between a coming-of-age story and an emotional quest. Since a car accident in high school, Shelby has been trying to understand how to live her life as she deals with the regret and guilt of what happened on that night. She feels the accident is completely her fault and can't accept the impact it had on her best friend and loved ones. As she comes into adulthood she is faced with decisions she doesn't know how to make and doesn't want the responsibility for because of her lack of faith in her own abilities and self-worth. I thought this book was an excellent illustration of a young woman's growing pains and the possible tragedy people must learn to handle at a young age.

***I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review Alice Hoffman's "Faithful" is an engrossing and captivating novel dealing with a devastating situation, loneliness, self- deprecating behavior.redemption,survival,trust, love and believing. The characters are flawed, not perfect living in an imperfect world. Family and love are important elements of the novel. The heroine shows tremendous growth in her character and has more self respect and a sense of purpose. I enjoyed the location of the story, especially since it is the town I live in. Friendship and relationships are evident as well. I enjoyed Alice Hoffman's use of words, and how she "magically" tells a story. I would recommend this book as an engrossing read. Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this book. (less)

My last book of the 2016 reading year and a great one to end with. Really enjoyed this book. It was a satisfying coming of age book with well developed characters that you love despite their flaws (or maybe because of them!). I actually saw some things from my own life in this book, especially the mother daughter relationship between Shelby and Susan. And there were a few things that reminded me of my husband, who is a veterinarian and went to UC Davis and did all of his pre-vet school training in New York City. The writing was good, the pace fast, and the plot well developed. There was love, loss, and forgiveness. But I think the real message is that the most important person you need to forgive in your life is often yourself.

Shelby Richmond started off with a normal life on Long Island...until one winter night, when she and her best friend are in an auto accident...Shelby is wearing her seatbelt and lives...her best friend Helene didn't wear her seatbelt, and is in a coma, probably fr the rest of her life. Shelby is turned upside down and inside out...and life will never be the same again. Her path to aduthood, and forgiveness, is difficult...but you can empathize with her and feel what she is going through in every word of this bok...Very powerful...and hard to put down!

I don't know how the only other book I've read by Alice Hoffman is The Story Sisters, but there it is. I saw her speak at Frederick's Speaker Series, and I am devoted to the film of her novel, Practical Magic. I quite liked this. Alice Hoffman walks the line between thaumaturgy and daily reality, conjuring happy endings from tragic circumstances. She writes with a great faith in the resiliency of the human spirit, and her heroine, Shelby Richmond, lives a journey riveting, heartbreaking, and hope-giving in this book. We need happy endings right now, so I just might pick up some more of Alice Hoffman's work --- once I get through my holds and my own patiently waiting books.

Hoffman's latest is a wonderful portrait of a young woman clawing her way back to life after a devastating accident. Watching Shelby grow out of her shell and into the world via her animals, in particular, was very special. There are great characters here= from Sue to Ben, "Mimi", the twins and so on= but the plot is also very special. The little details of life in New York are a plus although I did wonder how Shelby was living on her own on a salary from a pet shop until she quit and then for the Humane Society. That said, this was terrific. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a sensitive novel where you will definitely find yourself rooting for Shelby (and Pablo, the General, Buddy, and most of all, Blinkie.

The book blurb pretty much says it all. This a story of the journey from the depths of despair to the realization of dreams and happiness. Shelby is nearly totally destroyed by the accident that left her best friend in a vegetative coma. She struggles through that despair with drugs, time in the mental ward and self-hatred by shaving her head. She makes mistakes that cost her emotionally but at the same time encourage her growth as a mature person. The prose in this book is superb, the characterization of every character true to each personality. You will laugh and cry for Shelby and with her but you won’t forget this book.
I received this book free for review from the publisher.

This was my first Alice Hoffman novel. Although the story is kind of dark and heavy, I enjoyed reading it. I can’t say if it portrays an accurate image of survivor’s guilt or PTSD, since I have no experience with them, but it felt very realistic to me. I can relate to feeling overwhelmed by all the sadness and suffering in the world, and not being able to find the good amidst all of the bad. I really liked how Shelby found solace in working with animals. I also really liked her mother, Sue. All the side-characters were well written, and everyone had a role to play in getting Shelby to live her life again.

If you liked Tarryn Fisher’s ‘Marrow’, definitely check out Faithful. Both are quite dark New Adult contemporary novels featuring a female main character in her twenties. However, Shelby is very different from Margo and therefor gives us a different perspective on the ugly side of life, and how to keep living despite all the bad in the world.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy.

Nothing hooks me in faster than an Alice Hoffman book and this is no exception. I read this in two very long sittings.
A story of how a terrible accident can change a life forever and how your "angels" can be people you never expected. Even your pets can heal you. My heart broke for Shelby and her struggle. The ending was perfect. Not expected but the only right way to say goodbye to the Shelby in Faithful.
It was also nice to find out my favorite author was raised In the same town on Long Island where I have been living for the last 45 years. Can't wait for the next Alice Hoffman book. I have read them all.

On a February night, when road conditions were challenging, Shelby Richmond and Helene Boyd were in an accident that left Helene in a coma and Shelby broken in spirit. They were only seventeen when it happened, with their lives ahead of them. Then everything changed.

Shelby spent some time in a psychiatric hospital, and more time afterwards in her family’s basement. She shaved her head and completely turned inward.

Faithful: A Novel is the magical story of Shelby’s journey back to herself and to feeling worthy of life and love.

From Huntington, on Long Island, to New York City, we follow her as she progresses. Slowly. Her friend, Ben Mink, helps her by being there for her, but when she starts to move on, to find some independence, that chapter in her life is over.

Her love for animals takes her from a pet store job, to working in an animal shelter…and then to college. Her ultimate goal: veterinary medicine. Finally, and slowly, there are friendships…and Shelby begins to shed the tough girl persona, even letting her hair grow out again.

Through the years, somebody is sending Shelby little postcards anonymously, with a short message on each one. The first one says “say something,” and the next one issues the challenge: “do something.”

They all seem to be leading Shelby toward something, and by the time she finds out who is sending them, the last one has said “trust someone.”

I loved the serendipitous moments that felt so magical, as if someone was watching over her. For a time, Shelby believed the postcard writer to be an angel. When she finally discovered who had been guiding her and why, the final piece to the puzzle led to a feeling of closure. And comfort. I loved the characters, and I especially enjoyed seeing Shelby’s growth, and how she finally let herself be happy. A wonderful 5 star read.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is a very unusual novel (let me be brutally honest and say it is just plain odd). Shelby Richmond is seventeen years old when she is in a tragic accident that puts her best friend (of a sort) in a coma. Shelby feels survivors guilt and does everything she can to ruin her life. She quits going to high school, tries to kill herself, and then shaves off all her hair. She spends the next two years lounging in her parent’s basement watching television and getting high (let’s not forget the smoking and junk food). The one person she talks to is Ben Mink, her pot dealer. When Shelby is nineteen, Ben is heading to New York for college. He is going to become a pharmacist and asks Shelby to come with him. Shelby then wanders around New York with her bald head (black clothes too). She eventually gets a job at a pet store. Ben is good for Shelby, but she refuses to see it. Shelby is still bent on self-destruction. After the accident, Shelby started receiving postcards. Whoever is sending the postcards is trying to help her move on. To encourage her on the right path. Will Shelby ever be able to move on with her life? Can she forgive herself for surviving an accident?

Faithful, as I said, was a very peculiar book. It is written like Shelby is talking. The reader is subjected to Shelby’s long, depressing narrative. Some parts of the book are compelling, but there are many pages that should have been tossed on the editing room floor (you get the metaphor). I felt that Faithful was not a finished book. It is also a very dark, negative novel. If you are a person prone to sadness or depression, please stay clear of this novel (otherwise, you will want to off yourself by page 75). I give Faithful 2 out of 5 stars (like I said there are some good parts).

Guilt is a silent monster that drains the soul and Hoffman portrays it to perfection. I alternated between empathy and disgust with Shelby’s belaboring process of self-hatred, a clear indication that she's human and changes as all humans do. A serious of innocent decisions leads Helene and Shelby in alternate directions destroying dreams and potential. Shelby is dragged through life by people who love and care for her, but until she finds her own way, the future will always be bleak.

I picked up the novel "Faithful" by Alice Hoffman, in the edition narrated by Amber Tamblyn on 5 cd's. I thought the reading was well-performed, conveying emotion and tone, excellent pacing, and the voices of various characters were subtly varied which I find more effective than when overdone and calling attention to itself. Tamblyn's voice is exactly suited to the main character, Shelby, a 20-something whose struggles with guilt, identity, and relationships are the subject of the narrative.

It is not one of the Author's more celebrated works, but her skill in story-telling is evident. She is able with a few words suggest the picture/scene, and the cast of ten major characters (plus five dogs) are portrayed in memorable, sometimes vivid ways. The plot is well-constructed for the most part, though I found one or two elements contrived- the childhood acquaintance who sends anonymous postcards and eventually becomes her love after she, not knowing it was he, seeks a tattoo from him. This is one of those plot twists that does not strike the reader at first as it unfolds, but afterward. To be sure, Shakespeare has been criticized for the same thing.

*Spoiler alert*

The picture that is drawn is effective, but I found it painful. Shelby has survived an automobile crash on a snowy Long Island road which has made her best friend Helene, the most popular girl in school, brain-dead. Shelby blames herself and experiences extreme psychic pain to the extent that she requires 3 months in a psychiatric ward, where, as an attractive young woman she is abused/raped by a worker, which she accepts passively as punishment. She does convey this to her visiting mother who brings her home to live in the basement as a pothead for the next two years. Though she has shaved her head, her dealer falls for her and eventually persuades her to live with him. she accepts his love passively, suspicious of being committed because her parents' marriage seems so undesirable. He gets his act together (as so often happens to a man in monogamous relationship), finishes his pharmacy degree and dreams of marriage, but she insists she's unworthy. She is passive toward his affection but has great empathy for dogs, especially two that are used by pan-handlers, so she steals them. At an accident where a man is hurt, she meets a veterinarian who she starts to see at the hospital, witnessing his treatment of animals, assisting even with surgery, and then banging in the office. At her live-in's graduation dinner she can't restrain herself from telling him at dinner with his parents that they are through, and he is beside himself. He leaves her the apartment furnishings and all, and she subsequently discovers that the veterinarian has a Sunday girl as well as a wife expecting. She becomes manager of the pet shop, making a good impression on the owners, even though she shoplifts the occasional can of dog food and other supplies for the now three dogs she has, having freed (stolen) another. She becomes friends with a coworker and her children, to whom she becomes strongly attached, guiding them through youthful issues, and reconnects with her mother who has cancer, and whose husband (Shelby's father) has taken up with the nurse .

Through all this times she gets occasional postcards with hand-drawn pictures and short exhortations to "don't give up" and the like. This is finally cleared up when she seeks a tattoo from a guy who turns out to be her 4th grade classmate who had lost his brother at a young age and struggled with similar survivor's guilt, self-destructive behaviors, incarceration, and reform. Meanwhile, Shelby has completed Hunter College and been accepted to veterinary school at UC Davis so she and her true love leave with the four dogs (he had one and her mother had adopted a teacup poodle during her last illness) driving to California. She makes a visit to her still vegetative friend Helene and family, receives some money from her now remarried father as inheritance from her mother, and ties up a few other loose relationship ends, and her story ends on the road west.

This story was painful illustration that hurt people hurt people. It is also a painful portrayal of the confused state of common morals. Shelby feels great guilt over things she was not responsible for, and no guilt for actual crimes she commits. Personal loyalty is greatly prized for some, but not for others, the basis seemingly being those she identifies with; hence she sides with her mother from the time of her initial accident through to the end, regarding her father with nothing but resentment throughout. I was frankly puzzled by what the title "Faithful" really meant; I suppose she kept faith with her mother, her co-worker friend, and her last love, the tattoo artist (and the dogs). Perhaps this was the point, that she had grown into (healed into) the point of keeping faith with significant others.

Angels figure in the story, but not God. Seemingly, both the good things as well as the bad things occur by accident. Adultery, drug use, shoplifting,theft, and general rule-breaking are an accepted part of this world, provided you are not on the receiving end. The deceased are said by some to return as animals/angels to let you know they are all right, or still around. The weight of guilt has no expiation as is found in Christian theology, and insights into life are discovered only in those who have experienced debasement, pain, regret, disillusion, and grief, and are of your own generation. In this world, pursuing your dream becomes indistinguishable from Alcoholic Anonymous' "one step at a time" minus the Higher Power. Painful.

This book was beautiful. It is a coming of age story about a girl who feels responsible for a horrible tragedy that took place in her late teens. This story chronicles the next ten years of her life on her journey from self-hatred to a semblance of normalcy and self-appreciation. The book read quickly and the writing was great. As I read, I never felt bored and was excited for the story to continue. It was paced well and the character development of both the main character was both believable and deep. It was one of the first books I have read in a while that just felt comfortable to read and was overall enjoyable.

I received a free digital copy of the book from NetGalley.

The main character, Shelby, gets into horrible accident that all but kills her best friend. She is overcome with guilt, and deems herself not worthy. The book spans over a decade in time, where Shelby slowly stops existing and grieving, and starts living.
The book is written very well, and makes you care about the main character. I liked how Shelby's relationships were described, how they developed over the course of the book and how Shelby's view of herself and people around her changed with time. The story is very moving.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Alice Hoffman, and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your work with me.

As always, Alice Hoffman has peopled this novel with folks you know, and learn to love. Shelby is so easy to love, despite the fact that she cannot love herself. Helene plays a big role here with her silence. Ben is a lovely man, as is James. And Maravelle and her family need their own book. This is a tale about fate and forgiveness, and finding tomorrow. It is one I will keep, and read again when the world starts feeling heavy.

I am really torn on this novel. It isn't the premise, because I found that to be most fascinating. The characters were layered and interesting. The story itself seemed a little long to me. I was hoping for a high degree of magical realism, but Faithful fell short for my taste. The heroine had lessons to learn, that's for sure, but I would have liked to have had her experience more personal growth in the 10 years her "lessons' were occurring. I think that fans of Alice Hoffman will still enjoy what I found to be an entertaining, if looong read. I would not recommend it for your first Hoffman novel.

I love Alice Hoffman, I think she is one of our finest living writers. Faithful might be one of my favorites. It is the story of a young woman named Shelby whose life is upended by a tragedy that led her best friend being in a vegetative state. The story is very believable, wonderfully written as always for Hoffman, and follows Shelby's journey back into life (from existing, depressed, in her parents' basement). The characters are great, her involvement with dogs is beautifully described, the whole book is magical. I was sad to finish it. Now I have to wait for the next Hoffman novel.

I enjoyed this book; however, it felt like there was something missing. I never really connected with any of the characters...until the very end. Kristin Hannah wrote a novel that covered similar territory and that book had me bawling throughout most of the book. Not even one tiny tear was leaked while reading this story. I enjoy watching the character take her life back bit by bit...and mostly, I found myself liking the "angel" and the dogs the best. Overall, a fine story.
I received a copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Great coming of age novel...I instantly felt a connection to Shelby, as I gre up on Long Island very near to the setting, and myself or any of my friends could have easily been Shelby or Helene. Tragic loss can be unimaginable and if you are lucky enough to never truly experience it, it is stories like these that inflict gratitude and provide lessons. Incredibly written. I gave it four instead of five stars simply because the turn around in Shelby, when she started speaking, was unbelievable...I felt that as a reader I missed something. Otherwise, fantastic!!!l

These complex relationships captured my interest from the beginning. I snatched this book up knowing the author's work and was not disappointed. Great look at life from the perspective of emotional injury and recovery. Highly recommend.

The Faithful, Alice Hoffman, author; Amber Tamblyn, narrator
Part of this novel was based on previously published short stories about Shelby Richmond, the main character, and her best friend Helene Boyd, who sustains a traumatic injury in a car crash. Helene was left in a permanent coma state. Shelby was the driver of the car who was convinced to go out that snowy night by Helene who was hurt and angry because her boyfriend had broken up with her that day. He did not want to go away to college with the responsibility of a girlfriend.
While heroic tales rise up about Helene’s ability to cure the sick with her very presence, and candlelight vigils with candles that burn longer than they should, Shelby is whispered about as the girl who drove the car and caused this grievous injury to her best friend, ruining her life. Her guilt consumes her. Shelby never goes to see Helene again after the accident. Instead, she slides down into a state of complete depression; she shaves her head and even attempts suicide. Although Shelby’s home life is nothing to write home, about, because her parents are not happy together, and her father is disloyal, her mother is totally devoted to her and always believes in her ability to achieve a successful life and overcome the effects of the tragedy that has had so devastating an effect on both girls at the tender age of seventeen. By some, one is branded as a savior and one as a villain, but for all intents and purposes, both of the girl’s lives were ruined.

Helene was the beauty and more of a risk taker of the two friends. She was often a bad influence on Shelby. She was the stronger of the pair and held sway over Shelby’s decisions, usually getting her way. Shelby was pretty, but not as pretty as Helene, and of the pair, she was more of a student. She was the more cautious of the two, as well, until that fateful night when Helene convinced her, against her better judgment, to drive her over to her boyfriend’s house to make mischief. Both teenagers had engaged in some bad behavior, like buying and smoking pot in secret; Helene used to sneak beer and boys into Shelby’s basement, and they would hang out there. Still, both had been achievers and were accepted to NYU. They were eagerly looking forward to attending college after their approaching high school graduation. When it became impossible for Helene to go, Shelby also refused; actually, she refused to leave the house and remained in the basement, silent as a mute.

The night of the accident, someone Shelby thought of as an angel came to her and comforted her, encouraging her to live. He told her that Helene was beyond his help. That night, Shelby lost a butterfly bracelet that each of them had worn as a symbol of their friendship. She never found it, although she went back to search after she recovered. Soon after the accident, postcards began to arrive regularly, at her home, for the next several years. Each had a simple two word inspirational message intended for her. The first to arrive said “do something” and the last said “trust me”. Some included tiny likenesses of her on the card. She had no idea who was sending them. Although her mom did see a large male place the card in the mailbox on some occasions, she could not identify him. The postcards reassured Shelby that at least someone out there understood what she was going through.

Soon, Shelby began to venture outside. She became friends with another outcast, not too affectionately known, also, as Ben Stink. He was a nerd and her pot supplier. Together, both began the long journey back to living in the real world. How her journey plays out is the subject of this book that is about guilt and redemption, sin and forgiveness, disappointment and happiness, love and hate, infidelity and promiscuity. It is about falling and rising back up, about succeeding against all odds, about changing, and in so doing, overcoming adversity.

The foreshadowing is pretty obvious and there are few surprises in the book. The reader watches Shelby grow from a girl who is totally unable to interact in the world to a girl who accepts low level jobs proving her ability to do far more, a girl who has a big heart and discovers herself slowly as she begins to recognize her own shortcomings and faults and to welcome and understand her own attributes as she finds she is capable of rising to the occasion each time a problem confronts her. Her behavior is not stellar, though. She steals and lies with abandon, she sleeps with a married man, naively believing he will leave his wife, she takes advantage of her friend Ben, but on the other side, she cares for those less fortunate, animal and human. The reader will watch Shelby grow. Even her ability to influence others changes, as she learns to care more and more about life and people, animals and friends; as she grows into a more positive human being, her life takes a brilliantly positive turn. She discovers things she never knew she could feel or accomplish.

Many of the characters are shown to have two sides. Those who fall and have the courage to rise up are able to succeed. Those who allow their fear and anger to consume them stay in the gutter. Those who feel worthless and never discover what is worthwhile about themselves are doomed, those who are able to express regret and reform are able to find their own value. There are a lot of philosophical messages in the book which make it a very good book club choice. What does the title mean? Who is faithful? Are they faithful to a behavior, a person, a way of life? It is a quick and easy read, but not rocket science.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in mid-October.

Although its ending is a teensy bit weak and abrupt, in any genre, Hoffman can do no wrong. During this troubled, urban, coming of age and beyond drama, Shelby is a riveting character who's easy to side with, even when no one else does, plus who doesn't love a novel with an animal advocacy undercurrent?

New author for me. I like her writing style and think she's a wonderful writer. The story was very creative yet realistic. I will look into her other books. Thank you so much Alice Hoffman for you book "Faithful", (smiles) with love in Christ Jesus [creator of heaven and earth]

Everything Alice Hoffman writes is magic. This book is no exception. She writes with grace and love and empathy. She knows the human spirit.She understands how precious and frail and confused we are. She is a certain and deft writer. I have read most of her writing. I'm very grateful there is more to come. I love her books.

I loved The Marriage of Opposites so I was looking forward to reading Faithful. I found it difficult to get into, but once I did, I wanted this young women to forgive herself and to live her life . Terrible things happen but struggling to free yourself of self imposed guilt sometimes seems impossible. It’s a worthwhile read, but slow at first, hang in there, it’s a good book club read and discussion.

This was my first Alice Hoffman book so I cannot compare it to her other work. And I am not inclined to read any more of her books at this point.

I found it difficult to relate to the main character during most of the book. Her tendency was to push people away and that is how I felt as a reader. I sensed that some of the characters needed to be fleshed out more. For me, some of the ends tied up too nicely. And I am a fan of nicely tied ends, usually.

I did finish the book. I remained faithful to it as a reader but the commitment was a tenuous one.

Do I love Alice Hoffman? Yes. Did I love this book? Well, yes and no. It grabbed me in the gut, made me cry, but it did these things too often. It was unrelentingly sad. (At least it seemed so to me) Beautiful writing, great character development, but just too many sad plot points. Of course, the overall theme is one of redemption, but upbeat it is not.

The first few chapters I didn't think I would like this book, keep reading I actually ended up loving this book.
The characters were so well written and just the feel of this author's writing was like it had you really there.
This would be four and a half stars and I think I will be remembering this one for awhile.

The story just filled an empty spot in me. Its told with tenderness and with words that bind you to little sparks of hope. If your mother has died like mine, it may make you ache, or if youre in the older stage of loss hopefully just remember. You will find yourself wanting to look at stars and send a postcard.

I loved that Hoffman showed us that, the road from depression, and or self-loathing is one of steps instead of miles. Reaching out to a dog or in this case dogs, looking at someone just a little differently, changing our perspective a tad bit, can move us to an entirely different place. Beautiful story.

This book got better as the story progressed. It seems like a young adult novel - and the characters are mostly young adults. Good book to strike up discussion or think about love, death, mental illness, drug use, education, parent-child relationships, etc.

This is a wonderful book! The writing is Hoffman's usual excellence, the characters are complex and believable, the story is compelling and interesting. Some of the coincidences required a stretch to be believable - but I didn't mind doing that. The payoff was worth it!

Another great story by Alice Hoffman. Shelby's experience with loss, grief and self punishment is vivid. I love the way Hoffman used animals and children to help Shelby grow and heal.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Hoffman is a wonderful writer and this story touches so many issues-friendship, guilt, mother/daughter love, mental illness and plain, old fashioned romance. I highly recommend for anyone and especially those who grew up on Long Island!

Any book by Alice is one you want to read straight through but hate knowing it would then be over. I adored Shelby and her love for animals endeared her to me even more. What a tale of journey, hers and everyone around her. You will never regret a novel by this author.

This is the third book I've read by Alice Hoffman and she's a terrific storyteller. She fills her books with interesting characters and Faithful is no exception. She shows in Faithful that even broken people can be redeemed.

Another wonderful book by Alice Hoffman (I have read them all!). This one seemed to have less magical realism than some of her others, but was a heart-breaking story of loss and recovery. Loved the character of Shelby and her story. Wonderful!

There were lots of dark moments in this book and many more hopeful ones. Alice Hoffman is a deft story teller and I enjoyed wandering around NY with Shelby. The picture I have of Shelby is one of resilience and a stand for things becoming better.

This was my first Alice Hoffman book so I cannot compare it to her other work. And I am not inclined to read any more of her books at this point.

I found it difficult to relate to the main character during most of the book. Her tendency was to push people away and that is how I felt as a reader. I sensed that some of the characters needed to be fleshed out more. For me, some of the ends tied up too nicely. And I am a fan of nicely tied ends, usually.

I did finish the book. I remained faithful to it as a reader but the commitment was a tenuous one.

Do I love Alice Hoffman? Yes. Did I love this book? Well, yes and no. It grabbed me in the gut, made me cry, but it did these things too often. It was unrelentingly sad. (At least it seemed so to me) Beautiful writing, great character development, but just too many sad plot points. Of course, the overall theme is one of redemption, but upbeat it is not.

The first few chapters I didn't think I would like this book, keep reading I actually ended up loving this book.
The characters were so well written and just the feel of this author's writing was like it had you really there.
This would be four and a half stars and I think I will be remembering this one for awhile.

The story just filled an empty spot in me. Its told with tenderness and with words that bind you to little sparks of hope. If your mother has died like mine, it may make you ache, or if youre in the older stage of loss hopefully just remember. You will find yourself wanting to look at stars and send a postcard.

I loved that Hoffman showed us that, the road from depression, and or self-loathing is one of steps instead of miles. Reaching out to a dog or in this case dogs, looking at someone just a little differently, changing our perspective a tad bit, can move us to an entirely different place. Beautiful story.

*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t love the first chapter. Everything was awful, and there were some triggers (rape and suicide) that made me think this book was not for me. But I kept going: I can’t abandon books with miserable main characters, it would make me feel terrible. The following chapters started to reveal some pretty great secondary characters: my favourites were Jasmine and the twins, and another one that’s a complete spoiler, but OMG. I was wonderfully surprised when the mysterious postcard sender was discovered. The author didn’t fall into a cliché, and it was great!
Today, I spent my afternoon reading the second half of the book, crying at everything while eating ice cream. I needed to reach the end of Shelby’s story, and see if everything finally worked out for her. Her story was terribly sad, and I loved reading her transition from a messed up kid to a strong and caring woman. “Faithful” was not the kind of book I would normally pick up, but I’m glad I did.

This book got better as the story progressed. It seems like a young adult novel - and the characters are mostly young adults. Good book to strike up discussion or think about love, death, mental illness, drug use, education, parent-child relationships, etc.

This is a wonderful book! The writing is Hoffman's usual excellence, the characters are complex and believable, the story is compelling and interesting. Some of the coincidences required a stretch to be believable - but I didn't mind doing that. The payoff was worth it!

Another great story by Alice Hoffman. Shelby's experience with loss, grief and self punishment is vivid. I love the way Hoffman used animals and children to help Shelby grow and heal.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Hoffman is a wonderful writer and this story touches so many issues-friendship, guilt, mother/daughter love, mental illness and plain, old fashioned romance. I highly recommend for anyone and especially those who grew up on Long Island!

Any book by Alice is one you want to read straight through but hate knowing it would then be over. I adored Shelby and her love for animals endeared her to me even more. What a tale of journey, hers and everyone around her. You will never regret a novel by this author.

This is the third book I've read by Alice Hoffman and she's a terrific storyteller. She fills her books with interesting characters and Faithful is no exception. She shows in Faithful that even broken people can be redeemed.

Another wonderful book by Alice Hoffman (I have read them all!). This one seemed to have less magical realism than some of her others, but was a heart-breaking story of loss and recovery. Loved the character of Shelby and her story. Wonderful!

There were lots of dark moments in this book and many more hopeful ones. Alice Hoffman is a deft story teller and I enjoyed wandering around NY with Shelby. The picture I have of Shelby is one of resilience and a stand for things becoming better.

Loved it so very much!!...heartbreakingly human...how to survive your worst fear... very well written, enticing and intriguing from the first chapter...Will definitely look for other books by this author!!

I loved this book. I have been reading Hoffman's books most of my adult life and this one of my favorites. This book is so full of truth, it stayed with me long after I read the final page. True to the dust jacket - I fell in love with the main character, Shelby. As the mother of a daughter, I was moved by the way Hoffman got to the core of that bond, of that love.

The story was hard to get through at first, mainly because the main character is so depressed. But that's also what made it interesting. You can really see the progression of the character. I also wasn't expecting some twists and turns that made me go 'oh wow no way". The story follows a young woman who got into a car accident with her friend and carries that guilt throughout the majority of the book. You can really how Shelby changes and what she does to make her own life better. I enjoyed the romance, all the pets, and the overlaying theme of forgiveness.

I have to admit I picked this book for selfish reasons. The cover was pretty and I read "dogs, Chinese food, and bad boys" in the description and I was hooked. What I didn't expect is the emotion that I felt tied to in Faithful. It really puts the reader through the ringer. Fans of Catcher in the Rye will appreciate the grown up (and female) Holden Caufield. Those who aren't Catcher in the Rye fans will be soothed to know that the book takes a new turn and twist every so often, enough to keep a reader interested. A great book for those who love to gobble in one bite and those who love to extend their feast. I loved Shelby's journey. Best book I've read in awhile.

Alice Hoffman is real hit or miss for me. Faithful, unfortunately, was a miss. Hoffman generally takes a leisurely approach to her story-telling, but this is even slower than usual. I never connected to the characters and had a really hard time finishing this.

Alice Hoffman weaves stories around well drawn characters who you get to know deeply. There is always a range of emotions in the book which the reader feels deeply and personally. Her books are magical and intoxicating.

I was not familiar with Alice Hoffman, but am now a fan. Her characters are well drawn, complex and curious. The story line moves at a good pace, yet is filled with subtle nuance and detail that give the reader a true sense of the moment.

I was not familiar with Alice Hoffman, but am now a fan. Her characters are well drawn, complex and curious. The story line moves at a good pace, yet is filled with subtle nuance and detail that give the reader a true sense of the moment.

I didn't really enjoy this one. I found it slow and I kept putting it down out of lack of interest in it and the main character. The way she was written about didn't draw me in and because of that I felt emotionally disconnected to the story and the characters. I skimmed to the end to find out what happened. It seemed more teen/young adult than women's fiction to me.

I was really hoping, after reading about this book, that Hoffman was returning to the format of her old books that I loved so much. Like Turtle Moon, Seventh Heaven, etc. Alas, it was not anything like them. Too repetitive and I never thought it would end. Such a disappointment. Sigh

Believe this novel would have a greater audience in young adults.

While in high school, Shelby and Helene are in a horrific accident. Helene is now in a vegetative state; while Shelby is filled with remorse and guilt as she drove the vehicle.

The novel focuses on Shelby and her journey.
Anyone living in a community long enough will at some point learn of tragedy in their own 'backyard'. Not specifically that of "Faithful' but often involving youth. It is poignant and life altering to even those on the fringe.

Alice Hoffman pens a descriptive narrative of Shelby and her torment and thought processes.

Shelby ultimately discovers her worth, the love that has sustained her, and a future.