The story begins with an car accident involving two HS girls- Shelby and Helene. It took me a bit to get to it, but after finishing, I have to write that I thought it was an ok book, but an ok Hoffman book is still pretty strong compared to other authors. When I was notified I would be able to read Faithful early*, I did a happy dance. While I have not read all of her book, she has written a ton of them, I have read quite a few to get her voice down. I have to admit that I am a big fan of Alice Hoffman. It's a beautiful story that I savored, and I can see myself rereading this in the future. Her interactions with Maravelle's family and how she stole her dogs to save them show that she does not deserve the self-loathing she feels after the accident.

The writing is excellent, with all the little details that make Shelby such a genuine and caring person, despite how she goes off the rails for a while. I've never read a bad Alice Hoffman book, but this one might be one of my favorites. Through all the ups and downs, Shelby clings to the postcards she receives from 'her angel,' the unknown man who sat by her the night of the accident until the ambulance came.

Gradually, she puts her life back together with the help of her loving mother, Ben, her pot dealer and lover, a new friend Maravelle, and a mix of dogs. Shelby has terrible survivor's guilt and has a nervous breakdown. Shelby Richmond was driving and slid on ice her best friend ended up in a coma. The book starts with the aftermath of a car accident.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman