Faithful: A Novel

Faithful is the newest novel by Alice Hoffman. The plot covers more than ten years of the protagonist’s (Shelby’s) life, from a teen to a young woman in her twenties. Shelby feels responsible for an accident that has left her best friend in a vegetative state. She goes through many stages of shock, anger at herself, guilt, denial, and, at last, she begins to move forward and live life.

At first, this reader had a difficult time loving Shelby. She seemed melodramatic, and it was hard to feel the seriousness and desperation that she felt after the accident. While the book does have some immaturity to it, as the plot progresses, it becomes moving and enjoyable. Shelby’s life in New York, her adopted pets, and her friendships were likable plot points with humor and quirkiness. Hoffman did a nice job of making the main friendship realistic. Shelby’s relationship with her mother was emotional and those with her boyfriends seemed relatable, including relationships that she walked away from and those that were cringe-worthy. Alice Hoffman’s love of the slightly otherworldly, in this case a stranger who anonymously encourages her over the years, is a touch that offers the reader curiosity and hope, for those willing to go with it. In the end, Faithful is a memorable read.