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Margaret Fuller is a force to be reconned with. From her famous friends (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathanial Hawthorne, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, a young Louisa May Alcott) to her commitment to writing (journalist, translator, editor, writer) to being a member of the transcendentalism movement and an advocate for women’s rights. To say she was remarkable is an understatement.

Heavily character driven at the beginning, I had a hard time getting into the beginning of this story. It was very slow with its flowery (1800 appropriate) speech and name dropping. Although revered by her famous friends, she seemed to be taken advantage of, mainly due to her being a woman. The story dragged for me until about 2/3 of the way in, then seemed to follow more of a story of her time overseas until her dramatic ending, which is hinted at in the first chapter. The writing is excellent and research top notch. Even though this wasn’t a hit for me, I enjoyed learning about this amazing women who was ahead of her time. I recommend Ms. Pataki’s earlier books, The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post and Beauty in the Broken Places.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley, Ballantine Books and Allison Pataki for the opportunity to read Finding Margaret Fuller.
I recently saw Allison Pataki on The Today Show and immediately looked for this book on Net Galley. I was so happy to receive it! I thoroughly
enjoyed every minute of it. This book is beautifully written with vivid and detailed writing. I had never heard of Margaret Fuller but I found her to be fascinating, dedicated and admirable. I loved the descriptions of all of her travels and experiences throughout the world. I felt like I was there with her instead of just reading about it.
Margaret was a bit ahead of her time. She was not fully accepted but what strength and convictions she had! Every young girl should read these experiences. Life is not always easy but obviously hard work will pay off. I especially liked her travels to Harvard and the feeling she must have had sitting in the library. So simple yet so dramatic.
I look forward to more historical fiction from this author and will definitely look into her backlist.

Once again, Allison Pataki has shown herself to be the master of biographical fiction. So much has been written about the Transcendentalists of Concord, Thoreau, Emerson and Alcott, but Margaret Fuller has become a lost woman. Allison Pataki brings her to life in this fascinating, beautiful novel. She gives us a portrait of a woman who was far ahead of her time in so many ways. She was one of the founders of the feminist movement, a writer, international newspaper reporter and so much more.

The book is rich in period details, and her descriptions of Concord, Italy, and everywhere Margaret Fuller walked are so real you feel like you're right there with her. Once again Ms. Pataki has given us a work of fiction that feels truer than any biography could.

How do we not know more about this brilliant woman, Margaret Fuller? I am glad that her story was told.

When I first learned about this book, I was excited to read it. The book shows that the author did extensive research. It was fun reading details about the lives of all the great authors (Hawthorne, Emerson, Alcott, etc.).

I like the way the story unfolded. The author is excellent at writing details and descriptions. I could "see" all that Margaret saw, and I felt that I was there with her.

I recommend this book. I look forward to reading Pataki's other books.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for a chance to review this book.

Link to Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3SQJ19J0SKHJK?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

In 1836, a group of "thinkers" was getting national attention. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorn, the Alcott's (with daughter Louisa May) all live near each other when "the most well-read person in America" is invited to visit- Margaret Fuller. As a woman before her time, Margaret is an intelligent writer and scholar and makes friends with the Walden Pond crowd. She goes on the be a journalist and have internation fame; this is her story.

Margaret meets many, many well-known people in America and Europe. You would think all that name dropping and her adventuresome life would be interesting. It might be, but not in this book. The pacing of this book was so slow, and it felt like a textbook. I have loved many Pataki novels before, and I don't know if it was the subject matter or the writing, but this one was not a win for me. It took me over three weeks to get thru it when I normally read a book in 2-4 days. I stuck it out and the conclusion is interesting, but then little is made of it when it should have been riveting. I suspect poor editing is partly to blame for this as you can tell it was heavily researched and enthusiastically written. I look forward to Pataki's next endeavor and I hope it's better than this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Allison Pataki books are just awesome! I love learning so much about a person I hadn't heard of before this story!

Margaret Fuller isn't a name I was familiar with, until this book. And wow, what a fascinating lady and her life was simply awesome! I loved learning more about her - and all her famous friends, name after name of literati and influential people. Her life was so interesting - and this book is so well written! I really enjoyed this historical read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Although I was an American Studies major and thought I knew “all” about the Transcendentalists, I somehow missed Margaret Fuller—except for a vague notion that she was somehow the seductress of the group. Amazing, isn’t it? And this was the ‘80’s!

Well, I am so glad I read this factionalized biography of the great, and I suppose misunderstood, Margaret Fuller. I was fascinated by her life, and shocked that her story is not better known today. I am in awe of her accomplishments, brought beautifully to life by Allison Pataki. I loved it, and recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction based in the first half of the 18th century—and who thinks they know about the early leaders of the women’s movement.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Exceptional novel! Margaret Fuller is a woman ahead of her time and she lived a courageous life for a woman of the 19th or 20th century. A brilliant triumph of historical fiction!

Although I adored The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post and found it incredibly informative and enjoyable, I am not finding Finding Margaret Fuller to be the same. The first book had a wonderful real history behind it, and this book does, too, but it is written in a much drier way.

This book is not what I had expected; the beginning is slyly written and very depressing. But I do admit that Margaret was a wonderful champion of women's rights and Feminism, way ahead of her time, especially in that bastion of Puritanism (Boston). As far as her being one of the few women Transcendentalists, this is true, and a lot of the ideology of this group was sound but way ahead of their time.

The prose is lovely, but the inner dialoguing was too much for me.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Ballantine Books, the author, and NetGalley.

I recommend Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki. The characters will engage you from the first page. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

I loved Allison Pataki’s previous books - she has a way of breathing new life into historical characters and introducing us all to those that history may have forgotten – so, of course, I jumped at the chance to read her latest book. Margaret Fuller is a formidable woman who has shaped the lives of many through her actions but unfortunately for me, I find intellectuals uninteresting. Inspiring, yes, but not my cup of tea. The book, as usual, is well written, but I have a difficult time connecting with any of the characters and, while I was charmed by a young Louisa May Alcott, the rest of the characters did not make any positive impressions on me. The story did pick up as she left New England but it wasn’t enough to carry the whole book.

Among the many accomplishments of Margaret Fuller was she was the first woman hired to write book reviews. She is our “Patron Saint”. Such an interesting story about someone I knew nothing about. I hope many people take the time to read it. Thanks to #NetGalley and #FindingMargaretFuller for advanced digital copy

Allison Pataki has outdone herself again with her latest novel, Finding Margaret Fuller. Knowing nothing about this woman before reading Pataki’s book, I was swept away by the story of a true force to be reckoned with. Contemporary of Emerson, Poe, Alcott, and Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller helped pave the way for women’s suffrage even before Stanton and Anthony. Pataki completely mesmerized me with her prose and storytelling ability, bringing to life a woman who deserves much more attention than history has given her.

Compelling, intriguing, breathtaking, and heart rendering, Finding Margaret Fuller is a beautiful story filled with both sorrow and hope. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Allison Pataki has done it again! Margaret Fuller, was the most well read woman in America, and someone I hadn’t heard about. Pataki has brought her to life in Finding Margaret Fuller!

Intertwined with many historical literary icons, Margaret Fuller was a feminist, teacher, writer, and journalist and traveller.

I absolutely loved how Pataki can find such great women in history who were so impactful. Her storytelling came to life and I couldn’t put it down. Pataki even had me googling and doing my own research while I was reading to learn more about everyone mentioned. I’ve loved Pataki’s past work too!

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and learning about great women in American history, be sure to pick up Finding Margaret Fuller! I can’t wait to recommend this wonderful story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki is a historical fiction novel about an actual historical figure. Apparently Ms. Fuller was a contemporary of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau. She hosted a women-only literary salon. She was a co-founder of The Dial Magazine. Ms. Fuller was also the first woman to study in Harvard Library, and first female foreign news correspondent. This is just a few of the amazing things this woman did. However, this book was a "did not finish" for me. Why, then, did I give it four stars?

I started reading this book, and though it was a bit slow going, it was beautifully written. Author Allison Pataki seemed to really capture the chemistry of this woman and her enlightened friends. My problem was this: I had never heard of Margaret Fuller before, and it seemed like a marvelous story. However, I found out in the prologue that she died young! Had I already known of her, I wouldn't have been shocked and would have sped through the pages to see the details of all that she accomplished. But after I read the prologue, I had trouble really getting into the story; I just kept thinking she was dead and I ended up putting it aside. So this wasn't the book for me, but I definitely will pick up other work by Ms. Pataki. I just hope she doesn't give away the ending before the story starts!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I indeed found Margaret Fuller, a name that is typically associated with the Concord crowd but I knew absolutely nothing about the life of the woman who carried the name.
Pataki wrote a beautiful book. Her words painted marvelous pictures of the people and the landscapes as seen through Fuller’s eyes. I admire Fuller for living a non conformist. She did rub shoulders with some of the shining stars of the literary world and beyond. I’ve never been a fan of the Transcendentalists (I find their books boring) but Pataki nailed Bronson Alcott’s character perfectly.
I was horrified to discover how Fuller’s life ended, so close yet so far from home.

(4.5/5)

This was an incredible historical fiction about the life and tragic death of Margaret Fuller. I had never heard of her and now am interested in reading more about this amazing, interesting, and trailblazing woman. I am a fan of Allison Pataki's books and I like her writing style. As with all of Ms. Pataki's books, this book was wonderfully written and researched. I'm fascinated by Margaret Fuller now and found it extremely sad how her life ended. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. And again, as in most of my reviews of historical fiction, do not pass on reading the Author's Notes as it offers important notes on the writing of the book.

Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

Loved this historical fiction so much! I never knew about Margaret Fuller yet loved and have read so many of the authors mentioned. I learned so much and will be buying this book!

Happy Pub Day to Finding Margaret Fuller! I absolutely loved The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post so when I saw Allison Pataki had a new book coming out I was so excited to learn about another incredible woman history has forgotten about.

Margaret Fuller is incredible. There is no other way to describe the woman who at her time was regarded as the most well-read person in America, heavily involved with the Transcendentalists along with Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott & Hawthorne. She was the first woman to be allowed to study at the Harvard Library, wrote a best-seller, was an activist for women's rights, was a literary critic in NYC, and was the first female foreign correspondent!

I enjoyed reading about Margaret and all of the incredible things she did in the 1840s! Allison Pataki's writing is engaging and draws you in. I was fascinated by each of the things she did and all of the people she knew! There were a few points where it felt a little long but otherwise I loved this book! The author's note was great, very detailed and loved seeing why she wrote this book!

Allison Pataki's Finding Margaret Fuller is just what I would expect from this author. I felt like I was part of the story. It was great. Five stars.