Book Review - Keep The Faith

Keep the Faith
Author: Candy Harper
Series: Faith #2
Genres: Contemporary | Childrens, Young Adult
Release Date: 24th April 2014
Publishers: Simon and Schuster
No. Pages: 288
Source: Review Copy - Simon and Schuster
Rating: 
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Get ready for boy dilemmas, friendship dramas and madcap grannies - Faith is back!

Will Faith make up her mind between the gorgeous Finn and the lovely Ethan and manage to get herself a real-life boyfriend?
Will Mrs Cox finally get off her case and recognise Faith's true genius?
Will Faith's family learn how to be normal, non-embarrassing people?
Will Faith and her BFFs beat the world record for number of biscuits eaten in a minute?
All these questions and more will be answered in the hilarious next installment of this brilliant series!

The following review may contain spoilers concerning earlier books in the series.
If you have not read the previous installments, please proceed with caution.

When I compare Keep the Faith to Have a Little Faith, I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with the outcome. After the roller-coaster of laughs and humour I experienced in the first installment, the second book didn't have that quality as much, and focused much more on the relationship, which was quite frankly very lackluster and had me wondering where humourous and redheaded vixen Faith had actually gone. As if that wasn't bad enough, Harper gave me one of the biggest most unexpected turn of events in the last few pages that I felt myself close to tears, however, whether that was down to the story or the 3 and a half hours sleep I'd had in 24 hours, I still don't have a clue.

Now don't get me wrong, when the humour was around in Keep the Faith, it was around in abundance; Faith's family had a far more humourous crack in them in this installment, and Faiths friends, specifically Lily and Angharad, had huge amounts of character development and where really up on the comebacks with Faith, but I admit I was a little down-hearted when Megs character was glued to Cameron for most of the story, and when she wasn't, she was focusing on her Grammys's health, however, her friendship with Faith was of the much less humourous style and much on being support for one another, and keeping each other anchored, which I did come to appreciate the further on I read. In fact, as I was reading the book, it became apparent that this installment was much more heavily focused on families, friends, the support network they provide and maturing and growing up, which in year 10, is no doubt the place to start. When Faith was completely herself, her sarcasm and humour was second to none;

I got a text from Granny this evening. It said, "I'm outside." It completely creeped me out.
I could have her arrested for harassment.

-and it brought me back to Have a Little Faith, and the Faith I'd fallen in love with, the simplest of moments in the story would have me actually laughing out loud at 1am in the morning and the wonderful connection she formed to people she would have avoided previously was fantastic too. I'm not going to deny that Faith was quite flawed in Keep in the Faith, she was very self-absorbed and considered herself before others, at least in the first three quarters of the novel, and I was glad to see the back of some of that Faith's qualities.

I also confess I didn't quite enjoy the plot of this installment as much as it's predecessor either; it felt like I was reading and reading on occasions rather than enjoying he reading experience like I had done previously, and I genuinely believe that was down the relationship aspect. I won't give anything major away about the relationship, but Faith's dismissal of Ethan's feelings began to frustrate me, and her attitude towards Finn frustrated me even more, I wanted to reach into the book and slap her silly, and I commend Harper's writing talent in being able to make me feel the emotions I felt about the scenario, but that didn't mean I enjoyed it. Some of the book felt repetitive, always meeting and Juicy Lucy's, always the 'snogging', but other parts of the book, the none relationship parts were utterly wonderful. I enjoyed reading about Faith's relationship with her Mum, Dad and Sam, and even with her Granny, the days they spent together and the time they spent doing family things, it really helped Faith's character development and gave her an extra level that wasn't about humour or comebacks, but about love and appreciation, and her job hunt was also a stepping stone for her; and I really loved the changes she went through alongside the plot.

In the end, I enjoyed Keep the Faith less than Have a Little Faith. I was operating on little sleep and admit that could have been one the causes for my lack of adoration, but I do truthfully believe it was the too much involved boring relationship and slightly lacking humour, however, what I did enjoy I enjoyed a lot, and the distress I felt once I'd finished is a guarantee that as soon as the third installment, which I'm placing bets on being call 'Leap of Faith', is released, I will be snapping it up and begging for a happy ending, because my girl Faith needs a happy ending.