Alice Hoffman’s “Faithful” is a great book for people who feel guilt or feel little to no motivation to do much for themselves. I believe that this book connected with me and others who have also read it due to the way the book is written. I could relate to how the main character, Shelby, feels. Other readers may relate by also having felt survivor’s guilt, or just by how Shelby acts after her life changing incident. 

The book focuses on the main character, Shelby Richmond, allowing the reader to see her slow, yet meaningful journey through recovery. Unlike how most fiction would naturally treat recovery, as something that comes quick and is easy to get through, we see her struggle through it. I believe that this allows a more real and connecting experience for the reader.

Post accident, Shelby refuses all forms of help and avoids moving on in her life for a very long time. After this, Shebly receives help, but feels as if it should not be offered to her at all; she feels she does not deserve it. 

Fast forward and Shelby has gotten rid of that form of help and is on her own, working to give others help rather than help herself. Through this she finds people who, in her mind, are in a worse than or similar place as her, and she slowly starts to see the negative side of how she has been treating herself. 

She finally allows herself to move forward and take care of herself, and is able to sort of accept that she can’t change what happened to her, but that she can change how it has affected her. I think this shows readers that no matter what, they can still move forward, and that no matter what’s happened they still deserve to be cared for.

 I believe “Faithful” is a very motivating book and is wonderfully written, the characters and story itself is written so well it feels like it has been taken straight out from the real world. 

“Faithful” is a great book recommendation for people who want to read a short/medium length book on mental health. The plot is written in such a way that allowed me to really get a grasp on why and how Shelby may feel the way she does and even relate to her in some aspects. The way the book is written in a very visual way, which made it easier for me to picture the atmosphere in my mind and almost practically watch what is happening unfold in the book. The book is only 288 pages, so it is not a long read, making it good for those who don’t quite enjoy long chapter books.