Sadly a DNF tag for a very anticipated novel. A lot of reviews like this more than me so clearly I am in the minority but I found the pace slow, the romance dull, the story rather rote. I didn't like the way the author approached the romance and disliked the main character as well.

I apologize but this title did not work for me. I apologize but this title did not work for me. I apologize but this title did not work for me.

We need more historical fiction in YA! In some ways this book was slightly predictable and included some tropes (girl dresses as a man trope especially), but it was also fairly enjoyable and seemingly well-researched!

Harriet belongs to a large family, but she lost her birth mother when she was born. Her father and stepmother want her to marry their well-off neighbor, Daniel Long, but Harriet thinks he is boring. Soon Gideon reveals his plan to move to the Genessee Valley and obtain a parcel of land to build and farm on. Harriet is tired of being bothered about Daniel, being required to do so many chores with little help, and being treated like a lesser person because she is a girl. She decides to go with Gideon, and along the way she disguises herself as a boy named Freddy. The trip is difficult, but that is nothing compared to what they face when they finally get to their destination. As they begin their new life, Harriet finds herself changing the way she thinks about life and also realizes that she is growing up. She will have to make decisions for herself and summon more courage than she ever had to before.
This was such a good book, and a breath of fresh air after reading other novels that followed the normal formulas. I would be happy to see more books like this, especially in young adult fiction. People had a difficult life back in the 1800's, something that many people now don't have to experience. I loved how Harriet stood up for herself against incredible discrimination and circumstances when most women just did what they were told without question. I did get a little bogged down in the middle of the book, but most of the book kept me reading until I found out what happened. The characters were very well drawn. Daniel, Harriet, and Phineas were my favorite characters. I was happy with the ending, but I wish there would have been a little more to it because several loose ends were left untied. I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and young adult novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Harry is a girl fed up with her prospects in life. Mr. Long—a fellow farmer not much older than her—has set his eyes on her, and he is D U L dull. While Harry loves her farm (and the seasons) and her family (from a distance), she's disgruntled that she can't inherit land and is expected to marry. After Mr. Long decides to court every other girl in town, Harry, in an attempt to ignore her growing not-feelings for the frustrating boy, decides that what she needs is a fresh start. She takes her first opportunity to flee with her brother Gid, and they set off to the Genesee Valley in a homesteading ploy...which turns out to be quite different than Harry had expected.

I don't normally read historical fiction, particularly not fiction taking place sometime during Madison's presidency, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. So much of historical fiction is written through the male gaze, and while there is a lot of histfic written by women with women in mind (Laura Ingalls Wilder springs to mind in a LOT of this book), this one nails it by showing the women. While the men get to head out and have a night with their buddies after a long and physically taxing day, their women are stuck slaving away in the house: watching babies, canning, cooking, sewing, darning, etc., etc., etc., it never ends. Plus, a woman without a man or family was dependent upon the goodwill of others—and she was expected to repay this generosity with good cheer and hard work. So terrifying.

I also really liked Harry. She has a very steep learning curve, has a hot temper, gets jealous and makes some very bad mistakes, but she learns from them and eventually apologizes for her actions. The romance is slow-burn, but completely believable (and reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel).

When all is said and done, this was a fascinating look into farm and homesteading life in New York in the early 19th century.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for “The Beloved Wild” by Melissa Ostrom. This is a beautiful story. The writing style immediately had my attention. The setting is very realistic and well described. I am not very fond of Historical Fiction but this atmosphere had a bit of magic to it. The relationships and story line were melodic. I suggest it for those who enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder as a child.