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gmamartha's review
2.0
Historical setting of Yellowstone in the 1900 era - and the prisons of no choice that women had to deal with then.
stephxsu's review
2.0
I wanted to like FAITHFUL, with its gorgeous cover and promising tale of self-discovery in Yellowstone Park. I’m not a historical fiction fan, but I do love me the inspirational beauty of nature. Unfortunately, lackluster writing, plot, and characters drag this book down until it is very difficult to like.
Nearly all of the characters in FAITHFUL are either unbelievable or unlikable. For lack of better words, Maggie is, simply put, a pain in the ass, a spineless, spoiled, and petulant girl forever waffling between her childish desires of admittance into the gossipy, fashionable worlds of New England society and her goal of being a young woman mature enough to be included in her family’s decision-making process. News flash, sister: you won’t be treated as an adult if you keep on being so self-centered.
Tom, the love interest, is introduced to us as a tall, good-looking, light-eyed young man with an enigmatic smile, who immediately makes our heroine feel clumsy and unworthy. Excuse me for a moment while I chuck something across the room. And pardon me when I don’t believe the supposed attraction between the two. If any guy as perfect as Tom is purported to be falls for someone as inconsiderate and selfish as Maggie, then, well, he’s really as far from perfect as can get.
Equally frustrating is the slow, flashback-laden plot. The flashbacks are meant for us to see what Maggie’s mother was like, and why Maggie feels so conflicted about her as she does. But in the present time, there is little that moves the story along. A story of self-development needs to find the right balance between the past and the present, and this one was bogged down with too much of the past to work effectively.
FAITHFUL wasn’t the book for me because it combined the parts I like least about YA lit into a single book, but fans of historical fiction might have more patience with Maggie’s story. You might be better able than me to appreciate the intricacies of societal rules of the time, as well as drink in the luscious idea of the setting.
Nearly all of the characters in FAITHFUL are either unbelievable or unlikable. For lack of better words, Maggie is, simply put, a pain in the ass, a spineless, spoiled, and petulant girl forever waffling between her childish desires of admittance into the gossipy, fashionable worlds of New England society and her goal of being a young woman mature enough to be included in her family’s decision-making process. News flash, sister: you won’t be treated as an adult if you keep on being so self-centered.
Tom, the love interest, is introduced to us as a tall, good-looking, light-eyed young man with an enigmatic smile, who immediately makes our heroine feel clumsy and unworthy. Excuse me for a moment while I chuck something across the room. And pardon me when I don’t believe the supposed attraction between the two. If any guy as perfect as Tom is purported to be falls for someone as inconsiderate and selfish as Maggie, then, well, he’s really as far from perfect as can get.
Equally frustrating is the slow, flashback-laden plot. The flashbacks are meant for us to see what Maggie’s mother was like, and why Maggie feels so conflicted about her as she does. But in the present time, there is little that moves the story along. A story of self-development needs to find the right balance between the past and the present, and this one was bogged down with too much of the past to work effectively.
FAITHFUL wasn’t the book for me because it combined the parts I like least about YA lit into a single book, but fans of historical fiction might have more patience with Maggie’s story. You might be better able than me to appreciate the intricacies of societal rules of the time, as well as drink in the luscious idea of the setting.
emromc's review
1.0
Meh. The characters weren't fleshed out, the romance was predictable, and I figured out the "big twist" halfway through the book, 100 pages or more before the (rather dense, annoying, one-note) main character figured it out. Not great writing. I only finished to be able to mark it as 'read' on Goodreads, which doesn't say a lot for it. I did finish it, which is why it gets two stars, but meh.
Disappointing, cause I liked "The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle."
Disappointing, cause I liked "The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle."
novelsbycaitlin's review
4.0
3.5 or 4
Disclaimer: I love Yellowstone and the turn of the century (1904)--both take place within Faithful, so this may be a bit bias.
The cover of Faithful matches it's contents. It's beautiful and breathtaking, but once you put more thought into it, that the spring sprouting hot, steaming water is probably photoshopped (or the girl is photoshopped) leaving you feeling a little bit ripped off.
Wait--what the heck are you talking about?
Let me explain. Faithful has tons of things working for it (tons of GOOD things), but once sitting around and actually thinking about the book as a whole, you'll find some things that don't work as well.
Our "heroine" Margaret "Maggie" Bennett is portrayed as a snob, with a conscious. And that's about how detailed I can describe the female lead. When it's difficult to explain who a fictional character is, you know the author has done a nice job at shelling the character out. Maggie may be an east coast society girl, but her fears for falling off her high horse are outlined well. Fox makes sure the readers understand that Maggie isn't brainless. Maggie is aware of what she's looking for at her debut--a man to take care of her. A husband. She's aware of the freedom she's giving up and the strict rules that cage her within this society system. She even sees that her one friend is nothing but shallow.
But she has reason to fear being outside the society, thus making her debut important to her. Her mother, who she dearly loves, never followed the mainstream. Maggie witnessed first hand the fall of her mother and, despite how much she loved her, she couldn't end up like her. During flashbacks we witness confrontations of Maggie and her mother. At first I couldn't believe Maggie--a total brat. But with more thought I realized Maggie's life revolves around the society life. Regardless of my priorities, Maggie's love/hate relationship with her eccentric mother is understandable. Maggie is raised to be one thing, while her mother, the person she admires is the other. It's a difficult situation.
Thus leading to the heart and plot of Faithful.
Maggie's mother "disappeared" according to her, leaving behind some very mysterious note. The cover of the novel may say, "She went in search of answers and found a love never expected." But in fact, the book is about the answers she finds. About her mother and herself. Without spoiling anything I'll say this: Faithful feels like a contemporary historical fiction. Maggie goes (well, tricked) to Yellowstone and witnesses things she never thought were possible, discovers secrets she'd never thought she'd find, and takes the independence she always dreamt about.
In historical terms, she makes the transition towards being a "modern woman."
Faithful may hold a love story (between a boy and the national park, Yellowstone, itself) but in reality, it's a book about Maggie and her mother. Maggie and herself. Fox does a brilliant job at developing a character who is portrayed as a snob, yet filled with reasons to admire her braveness and humanity. The girl will do something out her comfort zone, feel proud of doing it, then next thing you know she's speaking high and mighty again. But Maggie isn't ignorant, she's aware of what she's done--the sudden change and she hates herself for it. She can't understand why she can't abandon her old ways. Why she's still clinging to a better life back in Newport. Why she can't force herself to marry a man she doesn't love.
Maggie Bennett is extremely complicated and I like it.
The other aspect I thought was well done was the romance between Tom and Maggie. FIrst off, Maggie falls for Tom instantly. This is the ONLY thing I found myself sighing about. But Fox makes it up by creating a leading man who isn't instantly impressed with the female. In fact, Tom calls Maggie a snob on two separate occasions. TWO (and that doesn't include the other complaints about her)! They're differences are instantly noticeable, but chemistry between the two is there. But the best part of the romance is the fact that it's not the forerunner in the plot. It's a device that helps push Maggie toward independence (and away from engagement between Graybull). It never takes the reins and leads the story.
The other characters, Mrs. Gale, Kula are also great contributers to Maggie's internal struggles. Mrs. Gale is the woman with a passion, independence and also highly respected. She's everything Maggie would love to be but can't find herself being. Kula is girl who can't understand why Maggie is so upset and angsty. She has money. A rich suitor. She could have everything she wants, yet she complains and cries. Kula and Maggie don't understand each other, but want what the other one has.
Did I also mention the mystery revolving around Maggie's mother is really interesting and, even better, a true story?
Okay. Gushing over, now onto the "misses."
The pacing is weird in Faithful. The beginning feels slow as Maggie makes her rounds in Newport, sporting flashbacks of her mother, along with the end that seems to drag a bit. The meat of the novel usual flies well but on occasion Maggie will get angsty and once again the flow grows tedious. I get it Maggie. You're confused and torn, but do you really need to tell me every time something reminds me of your mother or the fact that you're trapped in a horrible engagement without love? Freedom? Controlled by men?
The other aspect that grows stale is the prose. Now, the prose is mostly good. But at times Fox gets a bit carried away and things start to sound melodramatic. Purple prose even. This usually happens when Maggie is angsting over her mother and her failure to understand herself. I for one can tolerate and see the gem of meaning behind the prose, but I'm sure people out there will find this aspect really annoying--a bit of a turn off (and I don't blame them).
I really enjoyed Faithful. Maggie is a great, compelling character who is disgustingly human. The struggles she faces, internally and externally, help shape her as a woman you can find in today's world. Overall I think most people will appreciate Faithful while a few others will shrug it off with a mere "eh." But still, Fox did her research well and I can't deny that Faithful is a great addition to my bookshelf.
Disclaimer: I love Yellowstone and the turn of the century (1904)--both take place within Faithful, so this may be a bit bias.
The cover of Faithful matches it's contents. It's beautiful and breathtaking, but once you put more thought into it, that the spring sprouting hot, steaming water is probably photoshopped (or the girl is photoshopped) leaving you feeling a little bit ripped off.
Wait--what the heck are you talking about?
Let me explain. Faithful has tons of things working for it (tons of GOOD things), but once sitting around and actually thinking about the book as a whole, you'll find some things that don't work as well.
Our "heroine" Margaret "Maggie" Bennett is portrayed as a snob, with a conscious. And that's about how detailed I can describe the female lead. When it's difficult to explain who a fictional character is, you know the author has done a nice job at shelling the character out. Maggie may be an east coast society girl, but her fears for falling off her high horse are outlined well. Fox makes sure the readers understand that Maggie isn't brainless. Maggie is aware of what she's looking for at her debut--a man to take care of her. A husband. She's aware of the freedom she's giving up and the strict rules that cage her within this society system. She even sees that her one friend is nothing but shallow.
But she has reason to fear being outside the society, thus making her debut important to her. Her mother, who she dearly loves, never followed the mainstream. Maggie witnessed first hand the fall of her mother and, despite how much she loved her, she couldn't end up like her. During flashbacks we witness confrontations of Maggie and her mother. At first I couldn't believe Maggie--a total brat. But with more thought I realized Maggie's life revolves around the society life. Regardless of my priorities, Maggie's love/hate relationship with her eccentric mother is understandable. Maggie is raised to be one thing, while her mother, the person she admires is the other. It's a difficult situation.
Thus leading to the heart and plot of Faithful.
Maggie's mother "disappeared" according to her, leaving behind some very mysterious note. The cover of the novel may say, "She went in search of answers and found a love never expected." But in fact, the book is about the answers she finds. About her mother and herself. Without spoiling anything I'll say this: Faithful feels like a contemporary historical fiction. Maggie goes (well, tricked) to Yellowstone and witnesses things she never thought were possible, discovers secrets she'd never thought she'd find, and takes the independence she always dreamt about.
In historical terms, she makes the transition towards being a "modern woman."
Faithful may hold a love story (between a boy and the national park, Yellowstone, itself) but in reality, it's a book about Maggie and her mother. Maggie and herself. Fox does a brilliant job at developing a character who is portrayed as a snob, yet filled with reasons to admire her braveness and humanity. The girl will do something out her comfort zone, feel proud of doing it, then next thing you know she's speaking high and mighty again. But Maggie isn't ignorant, she's aware of what she's done--the sudden change and she hates herself for it. She can't understand why she can't abandon her old ways. Why she's still clinging to a better life back in Newport. Why she can't force herself to marry a man she doesn't love.
Maggie Bennett is extremely complicated and I like it.
The other aspect I thought was well done was the romance between Tom and Maggie. FIrst off, Maggie falls for Tom instantly. This is the ONLY thing I found myself sighing about. But Fox makes it up by creating a leading man who isn't instantly impressed with the female. In fact, Tom calls Maggie a snob on two separate occasions. TWO (and that doesn't include the other complaints about her)! They're differences are instantly noticeable, but chemistry between the two is there. But the best part of the romance is the fact that it's not the forerunner in the plot. It's a device that helps push Maggie toward independence (and away from engagement between Graybull). It never takes the reins and leads the story.
The other characters, Mrs. Gale, Kula are also great contributers to Maggie's internal struggles. Mrs. Gale is the woman with a passion, independence and also highly respected. She's everything Maggie would love to be but can't find herself being. Kula is girl who can't understand why Maggie is so upset and angsty. She has money. A rich suitor. She could have everything she wants, yet she complains and cries. Kula and Maggie don't understand each other, but want what the other one has.
Did I also mention the mystery revolving around Maggie's mother is really interesting and, even better, a true story?
Okay. Gushing over, now onto the "misses."
The pacing is weird in Faithful. The beginning feels slow as Maggie makes her rounds in Newport, sporting flashbacks of her mother, along with the end that seems to drag a bit. The meat of the novel usual flies well but on occasion Maggie will get angsty and once again the flow grows tedious. I get it Maggie. You're confused and torn, but do you really need to tell me every time something reminds me of your mother or the fact that you're trapped in a horrible engagement without love? Freedom? Controlled by men?
The other aspect that grows stale is the prose. Now, the prose is mostly good. But at times Fox gets a bit carried away and things start to sound melodramatic. Purple prose even. This usually happens when Maggie is angsting over her mother and her failure to understand herself. I for one can tolerate and see the gem of meaning behind the prose, but I'm sure people out there will find this aspect really annoying--a bit of a turn off (and I don't blame them).
I really enjoyed Faithful. Maggie is a great, compelling character who is disgustingly human. The struggles she faces, internally and externally, help shape her as a woman you can find in today's world. Overall I think most people will appreciate Faithful while a few others will shrug it off with a mere "eh." But still, Fox did her research well and I can't deny that Faithful is a great addition to my bookshelf.
exhaleartist's review
3.0
I was not completely sure what this book was about when I picked it up at Borders one day, but I was completely in love with its gorgeous cover. I love the imagery and the fonts that were chosen. Plus it is historical, young adult fiction, which I adore, but often have troubling finding books that I like. I am glad I picked this up, because I found it to be a very enjoyable read.
Maggie was a lovely narrator. Her voice felt very true, and she was easy to sympathize with. Reading this book I found myself very grateful for the freedom of choice that women have today, compared to Maggie’s time. So much of Maggie’s life is dictated by the men around her, which drove me crazy, but that was the way it was. The character I connected with the most, strangely, was Maggie’s mother. She was a heartbreaking character, full of such raw pain. I really felt for her plight. I also really enjoyed Mrs. Gale. She was such an independent woman, especially for the period, and I really respected that. Some of the characters never felt fully developed to me, most notably Kula. I also felt that Maggie’s father was never really solid as a character. His attitude and motivations seemed to constantly be in flux, and they seemed to change somewhat abruptly.
The one thing that I found to be the most disappointing was the relationship between Maggie and Tom. It never really had that spark of passion that drives a good romance, but it was a very sweet relationship. I did, however, enjoy the mystery of Maggie’s mother and what had happened in the past. It consistently kept me wondering and speculating about what had caused all of the later heartache. The memories that told of the relationship between Maggie and her mother were also highlights for me.
Overall, I completely enjoyed reading Faithful. It was a thoughtful, sweet story that was well worth the read. I appreciated that it dealt with topics that are not often addressed in historical fiction, and I would love to see more of such topics. This is a book I would recommend, although not for a hard-core romance fan. For those looking for a creative, easy historical read, that is very clean, this would be an ideal book.
Maggie was a lovely narrator. Her voice felt very true, and she was easy to sympathize with. Reading this book I found myself very grateful for the freedom of choice that women have today, compared to Maggie’s time. So much of Maggie’s life is dictated by the men around her, which drove me crazy, but that was the way it was. The character I connected with the most, strangely, was Maggie’s mother. She was a heartbreaking character, full of such raw pain. I really felt for her plight. I also really enjoyed Mrs. Gale. She was such an independent woman, especially for the period, and I really respected that. Some of the characters never felt fully developed to me, most notably Kula. I also felt that Maggie’s father was never really solid as a character. His attitude and motivations seemed to constantly be in flux, and they seemed to change somewhat abruptly.
The one thing that I found to be the most disappointing was the relationship between Maggie and Tom. It never really had that spark of passion that drives a good romance, but it was a very sweet relationship. I did, however, enjoy the mystery of Maggie’s mother and what had happened in the past. It consistently kept me wondering and speculating about what had caused all of the later heartache. The memories that told of the relationship between Maggie and her mother were also highlights for me.
Overall, I completely enjoyed reading Faithful. It was a thoughtful, sweet story that was well worth the read. I appreciated that it dealt with topics that are not often addressed in historical fiction, and I would love to see more of such topics. This is a book I would recommend, although not for a hard-core romance fan. For those looking for a creative, easy historical read, that is very clean, this would be an ideal book.
lazygal's review
1.0
A Harlequin romance (with Whartonina overtones) for the Sarah Dessen set. Very cliched plot and characters.
Arc provided by publisher.
Arc provided by publisher.
katrinaburch's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I'm so confused about this book. On one hand, the writing style is really good and the author's description of Yellowstone makes you feel like you're there (having been there myself, it brought back memories!). However, on the other hand, the main character, Margaret is absolutely despicable and I hated her through 98% of the book. She's vapid, dumb, and the main reason I don't read a lot of YA because the characters, especially young women are just written so poorly and one dimensional! This book could have definitely been a lot shorter, the mystery surrounding Margaret's mother solved earlier, and the romance picked up. But the writing style and descriptions are utterly fantastic.
Also whomever chose the cover art for this book was.. again confusing. The location is gorgeous but the dress is soooo not turn of the century!
Also whomever chose the cover art for this book was.. again confusing. The location is gorgeous but the dress is soooo not turn of the century!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Animal death, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship
madeline19's review
I have read a few books by this author and I love her style of writing, this book was no exception. 'Faithful' made me want to get up and go to Yellowstone. The only problem I have with this book is that sometimes near the middle I got bored. The plot may seem predictable in the beginning but trust me it isn't what it seems.
emslovestoread's review
2.0
I wanted to like this one SO badly. It had all the elements that should have made it a win (romance, history, Yellowstone), but I was bored out of my mind. :(
ETA - finally went back and finished this. Didn't like it anymore the second time trying, but at least I finished.
ETA - finally went back and finished this. Didn't like it anymore the second time trying, but at least I finished.
sungmemoonstruck's review
2.0
Occasionally preachy historical fiction with some lovely description of Yellowstone, and a strong sense of place, but not enough romantic build up.