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After Annie
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.
Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice, and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is a story that ends with hope, a beautiful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways.
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.
Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice, and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is a story that ends with hope, a beautiful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways.
283 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2024
3525 people are currently reading
44225 people want to read
About the author
Anna Quindlen
86 books4,723 followersAnna Marie Quindlen is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist.
Her New York Times column, Public and Private, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. She began her journalism career in 1974 as a reporter for the New York Post. Between 1977 and 1994 she held several posts at The New York Times. Her semi-autobiographical novel One True Thing (1994) served as the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.
Her New York Times column, Public and Private, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. She began her journalism career in 1974 as a reporter for the New York Post. Between 1977 and 1994 she held several posts at The New York Times. Her semi-autobiographical novel One True Thing (1994) served as the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,189 reviews
September 30, 2023
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The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
I have read and loved every book by Anna Quindlen. She manages to capture the human condition so perfectly and she always makes the ordinary feel extraordinary. This one is about a year in the life of the husband, best friend and four children of a woman who dies suddenly before she even turns forty. It is told from three points of view, the oldest daughter Ali (13), the husband Bill and the best friend AnneMarie. Ali is forced to grow up fast when her mother passes and so does Bill it seems.
This story was so beautiful in its simplicity. It's really about what happens when the family (some blood, some not) loses the one that was holding them together. It's about losing someone you love and trying to heal from that, it's about the circle of life and the messy things that happen in between. There are some very heavy topics in this one, sexual abuse, addiction and of course death.
Nothing really exciting happens but I honestly couldn't put the book down and read it in a couple of sittings. It was so poignant, heartfelt and emotional so have some tissues ready. The characters are so real and raw, I really cared what happened to them and was cheering them on. I really felt like I got to know Annie through her loved ones and their stories. This book made me feel so blessed and made me want to reach out to my loved ones. It's amazing how fast your circumstances can change, in this family it happened in an instant.
What I took away from this one was that it just goes to show that the people we care about and who love us back don't need big dramatic declarations, we all just need to be there and show up when it matters to make a difference in each other lives. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
I have read and loved every book by Anna Quindlen. She manages to capture the human condition so perfectly and she always makes the ordinary feel extraordinary. This one is about a year in the life of the husband, best friend and four children of a woman who dies suddenly before she even turns forty. It is told from three points of view, the oldest daughter Ali (13), the husband Bill and the best friend AnneMarie. Ali is forced to grow up fast when her mother passes and so does Bill it seems.
This story was so beautiful in its simplicity. It's really about what happens when the family (some blood, some not) loses the one that was holding them together. It's about losing someone you love and trying to heal from that, it's about the circle of life and the messy things that happen in between. There are some very heavy topics in this one, sexual abuse, addiction and of course death.
Nothing really exciting happens but I honestly couldn't put the book down and read it in a couple of sittings. It was so poignant, heartfelt and emotional so have some tissues ready. The characters are so real and raw, I really cared what happened to them and was cheering them on. I really felt like I got to know Annie through her loved ones and their stories. This book made me feel so blessed and made me want to reach out to my loved ones. It's amazing how fast your circumstances can change, in this family it happened in an instant.
What I took away from this one was that it just goes to show that the people we care about and who love us back don't need big dramatic declarations, we all just need to be there and show up when it matters to make a difference in each other lives. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
March 27, 2024
I’m a big fan of Anna Quindlen, but After Annie isn’t an easy read. Annie is a young mother of four who dies of a brain aneurysm in the first chapter. The book follows her family and best friend through the first year after their loss. Each handles the loss in their own way. Her husband is initially lost but quickly seems to recover. Ant is angry and failing school. Annemarie is so lost without her best friend she fights to maintain her hard fought sobriety. And Ali… poor Ali bears the weight of the world on her shoulders. At age 13, she’s expected to be a caregiver to the younger boys. And no one seems to pay her any attention except for the school counselor.
As you would expect, this is a sad story, hard to read at times. My heart just went out to Ali and I had to fight not to get angry at the adults who ignored her. On top of everything else, she witnesses something she was never meant to see.
It’s not a complicated story, but it’s beautiful in its simplicity. The writing, as you would expect from Quindlen, is beautiful and resonates.
The good news is that by the end there is hope. It’s a testament to personal strength, love and how even tangential people can have an impact on someone’s life. It was a reminder of how someone can move on from grief without leaving the deceased behind.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book
As you would expect, this is a sad story, hard to read at times. My heart just went out to Ali and I had to fight not to get angry at the adults who ignored her. On top of everything else, she witnesses something she was never meant to see.
It’s not a complicated story, but it’s beautiful in its simplicity. The writing, as you would expect from Quindlen, is beautiful and resonates.
The good news is that by the end there is hope. It’s a testament to personal strength, love and how even tangential people can have an impact on someone’s life. It was a reminder of how someone can move on from grief without leaving the deceased behind.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book
March 15, 2024
This is what happens when the centre of the universe drops out. When a woman far too young passes. Leaving in her wake 4 children, a spouse, a best friend with a deep void.
Her best friend, Annemarie, a recovering addict. Annie had saved her before but now will call her back from the depths of despair?
Her daughter, Ali, needing her mother to help her wade through the noise of adolescence. Of her own sense of loss.
Her husband realizing only upon her death how much Annie knew him, loved him, accepted him.
Quindlen takes us on a journey of loss but also one of moving forward through devastating pain. How loss doesn’t always mean forgetting; but often remembering a voice; words. Memories that once delivered sharp pain softening over time becoming a healing balm.
5⭐️
Her best friend, Annemarie, a recovering addict. Annie had saved her before but now will call her back from the depths of despair?
Her daughter, Ali, needing her mother to help her wade through the noise of adolescence. Of her own sense of loss.
Her husband realizing only upon her death how much Annie knew him, loved him, accepted him.
Quindlen takes us on a journey of loss but also one of moving forward through devastating pain. How loss doesn’t always mean forgetting; but often remembering a voice; words. Memories that once delivered sharp pain softening over time becoming a healing balm.
5⭐️
February 27, 2024
Upping this to 5 stars after reading Karen’s review and remembering the impact of this story .
*************
A stunning portrayal of the profound grief of those she left behind, a character study of the wife, mother and friend named Annie who we know dies in the first sentence of this affecting novel. The characterizations of her husband Bill who can’t imagine how he’ll live without her and how he’ll manage the children, her four children trying to cope with their loss, her life long best friend, Annemarie, who Annie helped save from addiction are equally well done. We follow them through the heartbreaking year after Annie’s death , as each of them tries to figure out how they can manage without her. Bill is blinded by his grief and loses sight of what his children need. Thirteen year old Ali, even though mature for her age, bears more responsibility than she should have to, is also coping with an awful secret of what her best friend is enduring. Eleven year old Ant’s sadness manifests itself in anger. And the youngest boys eight and six, lost little souls who just want their mommy to come home brought tears to my eyes. Annemarie, Annie’s best friend loses control. The depth of their friendship is wonderfully portrayed. This is such a touching story, a very realistic one that connected me emotionally with these characters. I think anyone who has lost a loved one will be moved. I should read more by this author.
I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley.
*************
A stunning portrayal of the profound grief of those she left behind, a character study of the wife, mother and friend named Annie who we know dies in the first sentence of this affecting novel. The characterizations of her husband Bill who can’t imagine how he’ll live without her and how he’ll manage the children, her four children trying to cope with their loss, her life long best friend, Annemarie, who Annie helped save from addiction are equally well done. We follow them through the heartbreaking year after Annie’s death , as each of them tries to figure out how they can manage without her. Bill is blinded by his grief and loses sight of what his children need. Thirteen year old Ali, even though mature for her age, bears more responsibility than she should have to, is also coping with an awful secret of what her best friend is enduring. Eleven year old Ant’s sadness manifests itself in anger. And the youngest boys eight and six, lost little souls who just want their mommy to come home brought tears to my eyes. Annemarie, Annie’s best friend loses control. The depth of their friendship is wonderfully portrayed. This is such a touching story, a very realistic one that connected me emotionally with these characters. I think anyone who has lost a loved one will be moved. I should read more by this author.
I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley.
April 14, 2024
"They were all floating in some in-between where nothing seemed real and nothing seemed right. Waiting for the rest of life, whatever that was, a future that felt like a betrayal."
When Anne “Annie” Fonzheimer Brown, a mother of four in her thirties, dies suddenly, her children, husband and lifelong best friend are left struggling to cope with their loss. Her husband Bill, reeling from the shock of his wife’s sudden demise and drowning in his own grief finds it difficult to juggle his business and family responsibilities, unable to fathom how to address their new reality with his four children - thirteen-year-old Alexandra “Ali”, eleven-year-old Anthony “Ant”, eight-year-old Benjamin “ Benjy”, and six-year-old James “Jamie”. Ali takes it upon herself to hold the family together, assuming the role of an adult to take care of her father and siblings, each of whom is missing their mother in their own way. Annemarie, Annie’s closest friend, who depended on Annie for support during her dark phases, falls back into her destructive habits, struggling to keep her life from hitting rock bottom.
The narrative follows these characters over the course of a year as they navigate life without Annie, whose unconditional love, support and guidance remain a source of strength even though she has passed on.
"Grief was like spring, maybe. You thought you were getting out from under it and then it came roaring back. And getting out from under it felt like forgetting, and forgetting felt like treason."
After Annie by Anna Quindlen is a beautifully penned, evocative character-driven story that explores loss, grief, addiction, family and remembrance. This is a quiet, slow-paced novel written in simple yet elegant prose. The characters are real and relatable, as are their emotions and reactions to the bereavement they experience and the people around them. The narrative is structured in segments covering the seasons of the following year. As her family members and best friend mourn Annie, we are given insight into who Annie was as a person and her dynamic with those around her, through their memories of her. The sub-plots revolving around the main characters add depth to narrative while also allowing us to explore their respective personal journeys over the course of a year. The story features several supporting characters, most of whom have a significant role to play. While shared loss can bring people together, grief also requires individuals to cope with their respective loss in their own space. The author brilliantly captures both these aspects - how grief manifests in different ways and how Annie’s near and dear ones, the adults and her children, gradually learn to move on in her absence, both as a family drawing strength from one another and as individuals with hope and emotional resilience. Needless to say, this is a thought-provoking story that inspires pause and reflection.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on February 27, 2024.
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When Anne “Annie” Fonzheimer Brown, a mother of four in her thirties, dies suddenly, her children, husband and lifelong best friend are left struggling to cope with their loss. Her husband Bill, reeling from the shock of his wife’s sudden demise and drowning in his own grief finds it difficult to juggle his business and family responsibilities, unable to fathom how to address their new reality with his four children - thirteen-year-old Alexandra “Ali”, eleven-year-old Anthony “Ant”, eight-year-old Benjamin “ Benjy”, and six-year-old James “Jamie”. Ali takes it upon herself to hold the family together, assuming the role of an adult to take care of her father and siblings, each of whom is missing their mother in their own way. Annemarie, Annie’s closest friend, who depended on Annie for support during her dark phases, falls back into her destructive habits, struggling to keep her life from hitting rock bottom.
The narrative follows these characters over the course of a year as they navigate life without Annie, whose unconditional love, support and guidance remain a source of strength even though she has passed on.
"Grief was like spring, maybe. You thought you were getting out from under it and then it came roaring back. And getting out from under it felt like forgetting, and forgetting felt like treason."
After Annie by Anna Quindlen is a beautifully penned, evocative character-driven story that explores loss, grief, addiction, family and remembrance. This is a quiet, slow-paced novel written in simple yet elegant prose. The characters are real and relatable, as are their emotions and reactions to the bereavement they experience and the people around them. The narrative is structured in segments covering the seasons of the following year. As her family members and best friend mourn Annie, we are given insight into who Annie was as a person and her dynamic with those around her, through their memories of her. The sub-plots revolving around the main characters add depth to narrative while also allowing us to explore their respective personal journeys over the course of a year. The story features several supporting characters, most of whom have a significant role to play. While shared loss can bring people together, grief also requires individuals to cope with their respective loss in their own space. The author brilliantly captures both these aspects - how grief manifests in different ways and how Annie’s near and dear ones, the adults and her children, gradually learn to move on in her absence, both as a family drawing strength from one another and as individuals with hope and emotional resilience. Needless to say, this is a thought-provoking story that inspires pause and reflection.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on February 27, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
May 22, 2024
After Annie by Anna Quindlen blends Family, Literary, and Women's Fiction beautifully!
After Annie is the first novel I've read by this author and although it's a tough read emotionally, surrounded by sadness, it evokes resilience, hope, and inspiration.
Annie is a young wife and mother in her thirties who suddenly dies of a brain aneurysm, falling to the floor of her kitchen, just as the story begins. The oldest and only daughter, Ali, steadfastly attempts to hold the pieces together for herself and her three younger brothers while their dad, Bill, is completely overwhelmed...
Throughout the story, Annie’s lingering presence is felt beside, around, and within each family member. Loss and grief manifest themselves differently in each of them as the seasons pass in the year after Annie's death. One of my favorite aspects of this story is Annie's friendship with her best friend, Annemarie, and the impact Annie's death has on her. It is an inclusive perspective of "chosen family".
After Annie is a beautifully written character study about family, friendship, and coping with loss and grief. I love the simplistic writing style that focuses on the characters within a story, and that's what Anna Quindlen has delivered!
4.5⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Anna Quindlen for a DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
After Annie is the first novel I've read by this author and although it's a tough read emotionally, surrounded by sadness, it evokes resilience, hope, and inspiration.
Annie is a young wife and mother in her thirties who suddenly dies of a brain aneurysm, falling to the floor of her kitchen, just as the story begins. The oldest and only daughter, Ali, steadfastly attempts to hold the pieces together for herself and her three younger brothers while their dad, Bill, is completely overwhelmed...
Throughout the story, Annie’s lingering presence is felt beside, around, and within each family member. Loss and grief manifest themselves differently in each of them as the seasons pass in the year after Annie's death. One of my favorite aspects of this story is Annie's friendship with her best friend, Annemarie, and the impact Annie's death has on her. It is an inclusive perspective of "chosen family".
After Annie is a beautifully written character study about family, friendship, and coping with loss and grief. I love the simplistic writing style that focuses on the characters within a story, and that's what Anna Quindlen has delivered!
4.5⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Anna Quindlen for a DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
March 16, 2024
The novel opens when Annie, a 37-year-old wife and mother of four, drops dead of an aneurysm on her kitchen floor as her family gathers for dinner. And so begins life after Annie.
The novel is divided into seasonal sections, until a year has passed. The author, as she does in all her novels, puts us in the heads and hearts of her characters. We get to know and care about them deeply, and as we get to know them we also get to know Annie through their memories.
As I read, I began to think about these realistic and relatable characters even when I wasn’t reading. Anna Quindlen has a deep understanding of the human spirit, one that touches me.
Ali, who takes on more responsibility than any child should….Anthony (Ant), who in his grief turns into himself…the younger boys who still wait for mommy to come home….Bill, who is struggling to keep his plumbing business going while meeting the needs of his 4 kids without his Annie…..and her best friend Annemarie who struggles to stay clean in her recovery without Annie to save her from herself…
At this stage of my life, where I have known loss, and have dear friends who have suffered profound unimaginable losses, I related to the road these characters traveled. How do they cherish the memories of Annie while moving forward with the love she showed them?
The author doesn’t emotionally manipulate her readers, but instead has created a story of love, loss, family, and friendship, combined with the resilience of the human spirit, one that is ultimately filled with hope.
If you know me, you know I don’t give out 5 stars lightly. This book is worthy of 5 stars, and more.
The novel is divided into seasonal sections, until a year has passed. The author, as she does in all her novels, puts us in the heads and hearts of her characters. We get to know and care about them deeply, and as we get to know them we also get to know Annie through their memories.
As I read, I began to think about these realistic and relatable characters even when I wasn’t reading. Anna Quindlen has a deep understanding of the human spirit, one that touches me.
Ali, who takes on more responsibility than any child should….Anthony (Ant), who in his grief turns into himself…the younger boys who still wait for mommy to come home….Bill, who is struggling to keep his plumbing business going while meeting the needs of his 4 kids without his Annie…..and her best friend Annemarie who struggles to stay clean in her recovery without Annie to save her from herself…
At this stage of my life, where I have known loss, and have dear friends who have suffered profound unimaginable losses, I related to the road these characters traveled. How do they cherish the memories of Annie while moving forward with the love she showed them?
The author doesn’t emotionally manipulate her readers, but instead has created a story of love, loss, family, and friendship, combined with the resilience of the human spirit, one that is ultimately filled with hope.
If you know me, you know I don’t give out 5 stars lightly. This book is worthy of 5 stars, and more.
February 15, 2024
Love, loss, grief, and living are some of the themes of this gripping, beautiful, moving, and heartfelt novel. Annie Brown died suddenly leaving behind her husband and four young children. After Annie shows how Annie's family and friends are left to struggle while coping with her loss. Bill, Annie's husband, is overwhelmed trying to care for his children and run his business after losing his wife. Annemarie, Annie's best friend has always had Annie to call on for support and guidance and finds herself falling back to old habits, while Ali, Annie's daughter becomes a parentified child who is left to care for her younger siblings and her father in the absence of her mother.
This book shows the family dynamics, struggles, sense of loss and grief the characters experience after losing their wife, mother, and friend. During that year, Bill, Annemarie, and Ali will go through a lot of emotions, they will struggle, and each will grow.
This was a moving exploration of grief and love. The writing was beautiful and the passages heartfelt. I loved the message that moving on does not mean forgetting and that it doesn't lessen your relationship with the deceased.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
This book shows the family dynamics, struggles, sense of loss and grief the characters experience after losing their wife, mother, and friend. During that year, Bill, Annemarie, and Ali will go through a lot of emotions, they will struggle, and each will grow.
This was a moving exploration of grief and love. The writing was beautiful and the passages heartfelt. I loved the message that moving on does not mean forgetting and that it doesn't lessen your relationship with the deceased.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 16, 2024
Quindlan is the Queen of domestic fiction, and I am usually very receptive to her books. When Annie dies suddenly she leaves four children, a husband and a best friend who all depended on her. Now rudderless they must learn to move forward as a family and as their own selves.
This is, of course, a very sad, sympathetic scenario. But, I never felt, besides the fact that I was saddened by such a young death, that these characters were anything but stereotypes. No one is as perfect as Annie was supposed to be, and I felt like their actions, reactions, were rote. I neither liked, nor disliked the characters, and the story never became actions, just words. Told it not showed it,
I realize I am an outlier in my review but I expected more. Liked some of the descriptions of little moments, they saved the book, but again that ending. Too neatly tied up.
This is, of course, a very sad, sympathetic scenario. But, I never felt, besides the fact that I was saddened by such a young death, that these characters were anything but stereotypes. No one is as perfect as Annie was supposed to be, and I felt like their actions, reactions, were rote. I neither liked, nor disliked the characters, and the story never became actions, just words. Told it not showed it,
I realize I am an outlier in my review but I expected more. Liked some of the descriptions of little moments, they saved the book, but again that ending. Too neatly tied up.
November 6, 2023
Annie is a devoted married women in her 30’s with four children.
While at the stove with serving spoon in hand, with the children seated around the dinner table …she asks her husband Bill to grab her an Advil for a headache and seconds later falls to the floor.. she died.
This story is about how her husband, children, and best friend from childhood navigate life without her.
I was very touched by the story though it moved a bit slow for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!
While at the stove with serving spoon in hand, with the children seated around the dinner table …she asks her husband Bill to grab her an Advil for a headache and seconds later falls to the floor.. she died.
This story is about how her husband, children, and best friend from childhood navigate life without her.
I was very touched by the story though it moved a bit slow for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!
August 14, 2024
4.5 stars
After Annie opens with the death of Annie – a wife, a mother of four, a nurse, a best friend. This is not a spoiler because the synopsis of Anna Quindlen’s latest novel makes it clear from the get-go that Annie’s death is the starting point of the story. So what the book is about, really, is not so much Annie dying but the grief that follows the loss of her, as experienced by Annie’s husband, her daughter, and her best friend, Annemarie. (A quibble: why have an Annie and an Annemarie in the same story, especially when the author is an Anna? It’s a few too many Anns to keep straight.)
We know nothing about Annie when she dies, but what is so impressive about this novel is how much this changes by the story’s end. Quindlen reveals Annie to us through the grief and memories of her loved ones, and not only does she stir the emotions of her reader by doing this – tears burned my eyes for the entire first chunk of the book – but the intimacy of her writing puts us right there with Annie’s husband and daughter and Annemarie. It’s not just Annie we know; we also know the people who loved her and witness how they grow in her absence.
Quindlen has a loose, fluid style to her writing that some may like, some may not, which gives the story a scattered feel despite it being told in a linear fashion. It’s the way Quindlen inserts the characters’ memories of Annie into the narrative – it seems random, almost haphazard, because she jumps back and forth so much in the past while staying on a forward line through the present. It’s easy enough to keep up, though, if you’re mindful of where you are in the story.
I loved this book. It worked for me on so many levels.
My sincerest appreciation to Anna Quindlen, Random House, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
After Annie opens with the death of Annie – a wife, a mother of four, a nurse, a best friend. This is not a spoiler because the synopsis of Anna Quindlen’s latest novel makes it clear from the get-go that Annie’s death is the starting point of the story. So what the book is about, really, is not so much Annie dying but the grief that follows the loss of her, as experienced by Annie’s husband, her daughter, and her best friend, Annemarie. (A quibble: why have an Annie and an Annemarie in the same story, especially when the author is an Anna? It’s a few too many Anns to keep straight.)
We know nothing about Annie when she dies, but what is so impressive about this novel is how much this changes by the story’s end. Quindlen reveals Annie to us through the grief and memories of her loved ones, and not only does she stir the emotions of her reader by doing this – tears burned my eyes for the entire first chunk of the book – but the intimacy of her writing puts us right there with Annie’s husband and daughter and Annemarie. It’s not just Annie we know; we also know the people who loved her and witness how they grow in her absence.
Quindlen has a loose, fluid style to her writing that some may like, some may not, which gives the story a scattered feel despite it being told in a linear fashion. It’s the way Quindlen inserts the characters’ memories of Annie into the narrative – it seems random, almost haphazard, because she jumps back and forth so much in the past while staying on a forward line through the present. It’s easy enough to keep up, though, if you’re mindful of where you are in the story.
I loved this book. It worked for me on so many levels.
My sincerest appreciation to Anna Quindlen, Random House, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
March 3, 2024
Really wanted to like this. It was a good, fast read. An interesting story of a father and his four children dealing with the sudden death of the wife and mother. Anne is a character that seemed almost too good to be true. She loved her family and is sorely missed by all she touched in her short (age 37 at death) life. I too really liked her in these pages but the novel fell short for me in other ways.
It was mostly a tell not show novel. I was being told a story rather than the incidents that really made it up. Too often I felt removed from the emotional impact by the omnipresent narration. The other confusing aspect for me was that the story was told as in the present day but felt in the telling more to be in the late 1960's or 1970's. I had a hard time putting my finger on why I kept assuming an earlier time frame while listening. It might have been the small town aspect or the simple environment and references.
The audio narration was well done by Gilli Messer. I do like Anna Quindlen's writing and am always drawn to her books. But I did want more than I got from this story.
3.5 stars rounded down.
It was mostly a tell not show novel. I was being told a story rather than the incidents that really made it up. Too often I felt removed from the emotional impact by the omnipresent narration. The other confusing aspect for me was that the story was told as in the present day but felt in the telling more to be in the late 1960's or 1970's. I had a hard time putting my finger on why I kept assuming an earlier time frame while listening. It might have been the small town aspect or the simple environment and references.
The audio narration was well done by Gilli Messer. I do like Anna Quindlen's writing and am always drawn to her books. But I did want more than I got from this story.
3.5 stars rounded down.
November 14, 2024
A heartbreaking tragedy that becomes a beautiful story of resilience... I loved and felt Ali...I'm sure many parentified children can relate in ways... I can't see anyone liking Dora...I truly can't stand people like her. Annemarie's arc was not really convincing to me, but what hit me hard was Jenny. Overall, I really loved how the author captured the emotions, anger, confusion, self-pity, and the overbearing and pervasive sadness of remembering someone so loved and someone who was so loving as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2024
I was invited to read this by the publisher as I had read/reviewed one of this author's previous works, Alternate Side years ago. This offering tackles the tender subject of a youngish mother of four suddenly dying, and the aftermath experienced by her grieving family. I do enjoy reading human interest stories about everyday people doing normal things. This story takes off immediately with the mom Annie dying from a brain aneurysm right in the middle of the kitchen floor while making dinner for her family. The reader is taken through the ambulance arriving, the funeral experience, and the burdens taken up by the oldest child, Alexandra (Ali). As a sidebar story, Annie's very best friend Annemarie is also struggling with this loss. Annie helped Annemarie get clean when she was addicted to painkillers. Annie's husband Bill deals with a multitude of issues like maintaining the house, dating, and helping his kids navigate life without their mom.
There was a lot of emotional fodder to bulk out this book, and the author handled it well. I admired the character of the deceased Annie, a woman who appreciated the small and simple pleasures of life like having babies and lovingly caring for the residents of the nursing home she worked at. I also liked the character of Ms. Cruz, the therapist at school who gently and compassionately listened and nurtured healing. I was drawn to the character of Ali, who as the eldest (and the only daughter) was forced to grow up in a hurry, helping her younger siblings get to school, learning to do laundry, and making meals. This was a good "quiet read" with some important life lessons.
Thank you to the publisher Random House for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
There was a lot of emotional fodder to bulk out this book, and the author handled it well. I admired the character of the deceased Annie, a woman who appreciated the small and simple pleasures of life like having babies and lovingly caring for the residents of the nursing home she worked at. I also liked the character of Ms. Cruz, the therapist at school who gently and compassionately listened and nurtured healing. I was drawn to the character of Ali, who as the eldest (and the only daughter) was forced to grow up in a hurry, helping her younger siblings get to school, learning to do laundry, and making meals. This was a good "quiet read" with some important life lessons.
Thank you to the publisher Random House for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
April 13, 2024
Thank you to Random House for the free copy of After Annie.
A big thank you @bookwormbecks for buddy reading After Annie with me, and even more, for your steadfast friendship.
The Brown family has lost their matriarch, Annie, a young mother of four children and a beloved wife, friend, and sister. Annie’s eldest, though only thirteen, a daughter named Ali, has to step up and fill in. Each child manifests their grief differently, as does Bill Brown, the father, Annemarie, Annie’s best friend, and a few of the other side characters.
The most powerful aspects of the story are the messages on grief and loss. Some of the quotes could be printed in gold, and I would hang them on my wall. This is mostly a simple, straightforward story in Quindlen style, but there were some sub plots. Well, I just wasn’t sure why they were there, such as the one with Ali’s friend, Jenny, but they didn’t take away from my connection to the story. I also questioned some of the dynamics, and as a psychologist, particularly one who works with children, I questioned some things about/with the counselor/psychologist… I’m used to having some difficulties with that type of portrayal, and I could also separate that from my enjoyment for the most part as well. Readers should know that there are strict and enforceable ethical guidelines that prohibit several actions in the book. This may be why I land on four stars for now. I’m an emotional reader first, and if a book sticks with me long after reading it, I will definitely revisit that.
Back to the story overall, I loved watching the characters grow and find a way to move with their grief. I also loved the friendship between Annie and Annemarie and how the history of their bond was portrayed. Annie was probably my favorite character, and I had the most sense of who she was in her role within her family and also as a friend. I grieved her loss alongside her family, and her story has stayed in my heart. Recommended to friends who enjoy a thoughtful portrayal of grief.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
A big thank you @bookwormbecks for buddy reading After Annie with me, and even more, for your steadfast friendship.
The Brown family has lost their matriarch, Annie, a young mother of four children and a beloved wife, friend, and sister. Annie’s eldest, though only thirteen, a daughter named Ali, has to step up and fill in. Each child manifests their grief differently, as does Bill Brown, the father, Annemarie, Annie’s best friend, and a few of the other side characters.
The most powerful aspects of the story are the messages on grief and loss. Some of the quotes could be printed in gold, and I would hang them on my wall. This is mostly a simple, straightforward story in Quindlen style, but there were some sub plots. Well, I just wasn’t sure why they were there, such as the one with Ali’s friend, Jenny, but they didn’t take away from my connection to the story. I also questioned some of the dynamics, and as a psychologist, particularly one who works with children, I questioned some things about/with the counselor/psychologist… I’m used to having some difficulties with that type of portrayal, and I could also separate that from my enjoyment for the most part as well. Readers should know that there are strict and enforceable ethical guidelines that prohibit several actions in the book. This may be why I land on four stars for now. I’m an emotional reader first, and if a book sticks with me long after reading it, I will definitely revisit that.
Back to the story overall, I loved watching the characters grow and find a way to move with their grief. I also loved the friendship between Annie and Annemarie and how the history of their bond was portrayed. Annie was probably my favorite character, and I had the most sense of who she was in her role within her family and also as a friend. I grieved her loss alongside her family, and her story has stayed in my heart. Recommended to friends who enjoy a thoughtful portrayal of grief.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
January 16, 2025
Phew- that was an emotional read! After Annie explores so many themes: grief, loss, mother-child relationships, abuse, addiction and recovery…I think this book deserves a deeper and more meaningful review so let me sit with my thoughts for a minute and get something down.
February 23, 2024
First five star of the year for me.
Wow, what a powerful novel about the sudden loss of a quiet, strong woman that held together so many people. Told through the seasons, this novel perfectly encapsulated the grief, the awkward moments, the quiet struggles. I could picture this family, this house, the materials, the depression. Quindlen is pretty incredible at writing normal scenes and she knocks it out again with this one.
I found myself rooting for these characters, for them to grieve the woman that brought them all together. A family that could exist in every single town, told with such brutal honesty I found myself reaching out to those friends who are especially important to me. A quiet reminder to hug your loved ones and check in on your friends who become your family.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Wow, what a powerful novel about the sudden loss of a quiet, strong woman that held together so many people. Told through the seasons, this novel perfectly encapsulated the grief, the awkward moments, the quiet struggles. I could picture this family, this house, the materials, the depression. Quindlen is pretty incredible at writing normal scenes and she knocks it out again with this one.
I found myself rooting for these characters, for them to grieve the woman that brought them all together. A family that could exist in every single town, told with such brutal honesty I found myself reaching out to those friends who are especially important to me. A quiet reminder to hug your loved ones and check in on your friends who become your family.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
February 27, 2024
After Annie by Anna Quindlen is a beautifully written story of loss, love, grief, and learning to move on after death of a loved one. When Annie Brown dies suddenly, she leaves behind a loving husband, four young children, and her best friend who had depended on Annie to keep her from returning to her addiction. The story is divided by seasons and is told in the third person, revolving through the reactions of Bill, her husband who had married her because she was pregnant but had truly loved her and struggles to imagine life without her, thirteen year-old Ali, already mature beyond her years but now forced to take on responsibilities for her siblings, and Annemarie, the best friend, who has always been dependent on Annie for support and is unsure how to continue sober without her. These characters are three dimensional and it is easy to empathize with them. The story is poignant and heartbreaking but never sinks into melodrama or manipulation. It allows the characters to work through their grief and ends on a hopeful note. A beautiful story, almost impossible to put down.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review
March 24, 2024
Alright..I was annoyed with this book by page 50. Two best friends…and their names are Annie and Annemarie…like really Anna Q? You couldn’t have come up with a different name to separate these characters a tad bit more…of all the female names out there…it annoyed the ever living shit out of me. Toppled with the fact of the messy time…are you in the past again? Oh present day? Wait wtf time period am I in right now? Too blurred. And then introduce a character Jenny with a terrible storyline there just to be thrown at the wayside later. I couldn’t wait to finish it just to be done. Don’t bother reading this….waste of time
February 25, 2024
I chose to read this book because Anna Quindlen writes beautifully. She didn't disappoint in this novel of grief and hope.
Description:
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.
Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice, and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is a story that ends with hope, a beautiful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways.
My Thoughts:
There's no question that this family, as well as Annie's best friend Annemarie basically fell apart after Annie's death and couldn't seem to find a way forward. I had to admire Ali, who shouldered so much responsibility after losing her mother, for stepping in and trying to take care of her father and younger brothers. She had to grow up so fast! Annemarie was a real mess. She had leaned on Annie so much for support with her sobriety. The book covers the family and AnneMarie for one year after Annie's death. It is an emotional story and at times difficult to read. I loved the counselor at the school who helped Ali so much.
Thanks to Random House through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication February 27, 2024.
Description:
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.
Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice, and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is a story that ends with hope, a beautiful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways.
My Thoughts:
There's no question that this family, as well as Annie's best friend Annemarie basically fell apart after Annie's death and couldn't seem to find a way forward. I had to admire Ali, who shouldered so much responsibility after losing her mother, for stepping in and trying to take care of her father and younger brothers. She had to grow up so fast! Annemarie was a real mess. She had leaned on Annie so much for support with her sobriety. The book covers the family and AnneMarie for one year after Annie's death. It is an emotional story and at times difficult to read. I loved the counselor at the school who helped Ali so much.
Thanks to Random House through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication February 27, 2024.
February 28, 2024
I try to read everything Anna Quindlen writes. Her stories are so affecting, so real, so relevant. She knows relationships, families and friendships. Her characters are genuine. Their situations are ones many of us have experienced: the loss of a loved one, formulating a path through hardship or grief, maybe with some stumbles, but always with hope.
Annie's story is a sad one - gone too young and without warning. The people she leaves behind - a husband, three little boys, a thirteen year old daughter, and a best friend who is now friendless - are at first at a loss how to go on. But gradually they will all come to see that a by-product of having Annie's love is that they now have inside of them the tools needed to move forward and how to help each other.
One of Quindlen's best.
Annie's story is a sad one - gone too young and without warning. The people she leaves behind - a husband, three little boys, a thirteen year old daughter, and a best friend who is now friendless - are at first at a loss how to go on. But gradually they will all come to see that a by-product of having Annie's love is that they now have inside of them the tools needed to move forward and how to help each other.
One of Quindlen's best.
March 18, 2024
Anna Quindlen does what she does best......gives us characters caught up in unthinkable situations, and shows us how they deal with it. Annie, young mother of 4 children, dies suddenly on the first page, leaving a hole in her family and in the heart of her best friend, and in the rest home where she worked as a caregiver. Annie may be gone, but she is still a vibrant character through the memories of the people who loved her. She was my favorite character, as a matter of fact, in addition to some of those in the rest home.
Her kids broke my heart, as did her husband, as they all navigated the storms of grief and loss.
This is a sad book in many ways, but with a hopeful ending. Quindlen is a master of combining common sense with wisdom and sorrow.
Her kids broke my heart, as did her husband, as they all navigated the storms of grief and loss.
This is a sad book in many ways, but with a hopeful ending. Quindlen is a master of combining common sense with wisdom and sorrow.
Read
April 3, 2024I have to DNF this for now. I can’t tell who’s who for the first little bit when it changes chapters etc.
Parts of it were good.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Parts of it were good.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
March 19, 2024
4.5 stars
This is a beautifully written story about a young wife and mother, Annie Brown, who collapses on the kitchen floor one night and never gets up again. In the aftermath, her devastated family, swimming in grief, try to cope with the loss of the person who was the center of their universe — her husband Bill is shellshocked and buries himself in his work; her daughter Ali, only 13 years old, yet as the eldest, takes up the responsibility of caring for her 3 younger brothers as well as her father; Ant, at 11 years old, becomes angry and silent; the two youngest boys, Jamie and Benjy, don’t understand what is happening and constantly ask when their mommy will be returning from the hospital, only for their questions to go unanswered; and then there’s AnneMarie, the best friend since childhood who was dragged back from the brink of her own drug-fueled self-destruction by Annie, and now is in danger of spiraling out of control again after losing the one person who was her anchor and kept her on solid ground.
The narrative is divided up based on seasons, starting with the winter day when Annie dies, then follows the family through the subsequent spring, summer, and autumn, at the same time alternating between the perspectives of Bill, Ali, and AnneMarie as they are forced to navigate a world without Annie in it. The story is so sad and heartbreaking — I especially felt for Ali, who had to take up so much on her own while the adults in her life were adrift and didn’t pay her much attention. All the kids, in fact, I felt so much sympathy for that the entire time I was reading, I just wanted to reach out and hug them, comfort them.
The writing here is so moving and heartfelt — Quindlen captures the nuances of ordinary life so perfectly; at the same time, the way she has her characters navigate grief and loss felt so realistic that, at various points, I found I had tears streaming down my face.
I know Quindlen is a prolific author but this is actually the first time I’ve read any of her books. It definitely won’t be the last time however and with such a huge backlist, I’m glad that there will be plenty of her books to explore in the future.
Received ARC from Random House via NetGalley.
November 5, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of “After Annie” in exchange for an honest review. This book was unrelentingly depressing. For 200 pages it was just full of sadness with one page at the end that implies life will go on. Annemarie and Jenny’s storylines seemed like overkill and were not handled with very much care or nuance—they were also awkwardly/quickly wrapped up at the end. I can’t put my finger on it. The book seemed dated somehow. I’m not sure what it was about it. I know that it’s supposed to demonstrate that people are human and fallible and grieve in their own ways, but I just couldn’t connect with any of them. None of them were very likable. It felt brutal to read and I just felt so sad for the children the whole time. Maybe I’ll pick it up down the road and have a different experience.
March 18, 2024
This wonderful story explored the tragedies of losing a young, wife, mother, and friend. It's a sad story, one we all can relate to as everyone has lost someone who was special to them and definitely was loved.
The unexpected death of Annie, left a family bereft of so many things and as they come to terms with loss, remembrances of a wife and mother and friend are difficult and filled with sorrow. Later, as time moves on, there is definite hope that the family and friends will never forget, and through Annie, they come to realize that hope for the future will carry them through.
Jan and I enjoyed this sad but true story.
The unexpected death of Annie, left a family bereft of so many things and as they come to terms with loss, remembrances of a wife and mother and friend are difficult and filled with sorrow. Later, as time moves on, there is definite hope that the family and friends will never forget, and through Annie, they come to realize that hope for the future will carry them through.
Jan and I enjoyed this sad but true story.
March 29, 2024
When Annie Brown suddenly dies, she leaves behind a husband, four young children, and a lifelong best friend left wondering how they will manage without her. Annie was the center of their world and kept them all together. The story follows those closest to Annie on how they are able to go on without her by keeping her memory closeby.
A poignant tale about a family, grief, loss, living, addiction, resilience, and the power of love. The author did an amazing job crafting this tale and did not sugarcoat the process of grief. As someone who has experienced the excruciating loss of immediate family members, I easily connected to the characters in the story and what they are going through. After Annie is one of those stories that will stay with me long after reading and deserves five full stars!
I listened to the audiobook version which was narrated by Gilli Messer who did a fantastic job.
After Annie by Anna Quindlen was published on
February 27 so it's available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
A poignant tale about a family, grief, loss, living, addiction, resilience, and the power of love. The author did an amazing job crafting this tale and did not sugarcoat the process of grief. As someone who has experienced the excruciating loss of immediate family members, I easily connected to the characters in the story and what they are going through. After Annie is one of those stories that will stay with me long after reading and deserves five full stars!
I listened to the audiobook version which was narrated by Gilli Messer who did a fantastic job.
After Annie by Anna Quindlen was published on
February 27 so it's available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
January 26, 2024
I set this aside after the first chapter. I have known two people who died suddenly the same way that Annie does in the first chapter of this book. I picked it up again and set it down again. After a week, I picked it up again and stuck with it.
This is a book about death and grief and learning to live without the most important person in your life.
There is Annie’s husband, Bill, a cute plumber. They married hastily when Annie became pregnant. He is a good husband and father and sees his work as helping people. He can provide his family with a house rented from his mother but couldn’t give Annie her dream kitchen or the kids their own rooms.
There are the kids, the wise before her time eldest, Ali, and brother Ant, and the little boys.
And then there is Annemarie, Annie’s life-long best friend and confidant. Bill has held Annemarie in suspicion ever since Annie risked her job at the nursing home to help Annemarie overcome her addiction.
Quindlen creates wonderful characters and she keeps you emotionally engaged. Grief and loss is not the end game here, for in their own way, each character finds their way into the future, Annie’s love still sustaining them, but able to grow and move on.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
This is a book about death and grief and learning to live without the most important person in your life.
There is Annie’s husband, Bill, a cute plumber. They married hastily when Annie became pregnant. He is a good husband and father and sees his work as helping people. He can provide his family with a house rented from his mother but couldn’t give Annie her dream kitchen or the kids their own rooms.
There are the kids, the wise before her time eldest, Ali, and brother Ant, and the little boys.
And then there is Annemarie, Annie’s life-long best friend and confidant. Bill has held Annemarie in suspicion ever since Annie risked her job at the nursing home to help Annemarie overcome her addiction.
Quindlen creates wonderful characters and she keeps you emotionally engaged. Grief and loss is not the end game here, for in their own way, each character finds their way into the future, Annie’s love still sustaining them, but able to grow and move on.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
January 2, 2024
A beautiful and poignant story from beloved Anna Quindlen on how death of a loved one affects everyone around her.
Annie is an exuberant and friendly person who loves her husband and four children and enjoys her nursing aide job at a senior citizen home. She cares about her patients and they love her.
Bill and Annie started to date during a time of moral high standards expected of everyone. So when Annie gets pregnant after their first time together they naturally, get married. Four kids later, they’re still in love but tired, exhausted parents.
Annmarie, Annie’s best friend since high school leans on Annie for any troubles in her life and there are many. Their bond however is tight.
Annie dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm in the beginning of the book. Still young and vibrant nearing forty everyone is shocked. Her family, husband Bill and the four kids are devastated, as is Annmarie.
Our story is primarily told in three voices: Bill, Annmarie and Ali, the oldest child at 14 years old. Bill and Annmarie are almost paralyzed with grief and aren’t prepared to deal with the children’s grief and loss of their mother. The mother that held everyone together.
The younger boys are all affected in various ways. Ali is the one to step up and fill her mother’s shoes. Only fourteen, Ali becomes the wise and mature person who brings them all together again.
We learn as they learn to move forward without Annie but still honoring and remembering her.
A beautiful story.
Thank you Edelweiss and Random House.
Annie is an exuberant and friendly person who loves her husband and four children and enjoys her nursing aide job at a senior citizen home. She cares about her patients and they love her.
Bill and Annie started to date during a time of moral high standards expected of everyone. So when Annie gets pregnant after their first time together they naturally, get married. Four kids later, they’re still in love but tired, exhausted parents.
Annmarie, Annie’s best friend since high school leans on Annie for any troubles in her life and there are many. Their bond however is tight.
Annie dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm in the beginning of the book. Still young and vibrant nearing forty everyone is shocked. Her family, husband Bill and the four kids are devastated, as is Annmarie.
Our story is primarily told in three voices: Bill, Annmarie and Ali, the oldest child at 14 years old. Bill and Annmarie are almost paralyzed with grief and aren’t prepared to deal with the children’s grief and loss of their mother. The mother that held everyone together.
The younger boys are all affected in various ways. Ali is the one to step up and fill her mother’s shoes. Only fourteen, Ali becomes the wise and mature person who brings them all together again.
We learn as they learn to move forward without Annie but still honoring and remembering her.
A beautiful story.
Thank you Edelweiss and Random House.
March 6, 2024
I feel the worst for Jenny and the book isn’t even about her. This book was sooooooo boring I couldn’t believe it.
It’s the story of everyday life after children lose their mother. It’s just so plain and BORING. The Jenny thing was added I bet to spice it up. If it wasn’t in there, absolutely nothing interesting would have happened in this book. I can’t even imagine losing my mother, especially watching her die, but boy did this book need more.
It’s the story of everyday life after children lose their mother. It’s just so plain and BORING. The Jenny thing was added I bet to spice it up. If it wasn’t in there, absolutely nothing interesting would have happened in this book. I can’t even imagine losing my mother, especially watching her die, but boy did this book need more.
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