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High Hopes: A Memoir
Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild will root for Anne Abel as she intrepidly sets out alone for Australia at the age of sixty, seeking to capture some Bruce Springsteen energy and fight off her lifelong, debilitating depression.
At the age of fifty-nine, Anne has never been to a concert. Then, she reluctantly goes to a Bruce Springsteen concert—a man she knows nothing about—to spend time with her son and daughter-in-law. For three-plus hours Bruce Springsteen’s energy, humanity, and enthusiasm lift her out of her lifelong depression and makes her feel alive.
A year later, due to increasing classroom violence where she taught, Anne walks out the door thinking, I’m never coming back. But, getting into her car to go home, she realizes that because she suffers with severe recurrent depression, without the structure and focus of teaching she will be at risk for falling into a deep depression. She’s been inpatient twice at a psychiatric hospital, had three regimens of electroconvulsive shock therapy, and tried over twenty medications. Anne needs a new and different plan. Then she in four months Bruce Springsteen will be touring in Australia. So even though Anne hates to travel and be alone, she books the trip. Eight concerts, five cities, twenty-six days. She hopes that harnessing some of Bruce Springsteen’s energy will keep her out of the abyss.
Anne doesn’t go on this trip to change. But much to her surprise, she returns home a different person.
At the age of fifty-nine, Anne has never been to a concert. Then, she reluctantly goes to a Bruce Springsteen concert—a man she knows nothing about—to spend time with her son and daughter-in-law. For three-plus hours Bruce Springsteen’s energy, humanity, and enthusiasm lift her out of her lifelong depression and makes her feel alive.
A year later, due to increasing classroom violence where she taught, Anne walks out the door thinking, I’m never coming back. But, getting into her car to go home, she realizes that because she suffers with severe recurrent depression, without the structure and focus of teaching she will be at risk for falling into a deep depression. She’s been inpatient twice at a psychiatric hospital, had three regimens of electroconvulsive shock therapy, and tried over twenty medications. Anne needs a new and different plan. Then she in four months Bruce Springsteen will be touring in Australia. So even though Anne hates to travel and be alone, she books the trip. Eight concerts, five cities, twenty-six days. She hopes that harnessing some of Bruce Springsteen’s energy will keep her out of the abyss.
Anne doesn’t go on this trip to change. But much to her surprise, she returns home a different person.
- GenresMemoir
424 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2025
31 people are currently reading
5695 people want to read
About the author
Anne Abel
2 books76 followersAnne Abel is an author, storyteller and influencer. Her first memoir, “Mattie, Milo, and Me,” about unwittingly rescuing an aggressive dog, was inspired by her Moth StorySLAM win in New York City. It was published in 2024. Her second memoir, “High Hopes,” is about fighting depression by following Bruce Springsteen’s Australia tour, at the age of 60, even though she hates to travel and hates to be alone, and hadn’t known what a Bruce Springsteen was a year earlier. This story won a Moth StorySLAM in Chicago. It will be published by She Writes Press on Sept. 23, 2025, Bruce Springsteen’s 76th birthday. In January 2025, she was featured on Newsweek.com: “Boomer’s Story About How She Met Husband of 45 Years Captivates Internet.” Her credentials include an MFA from The New School for Social Research, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a BS in chemical engineering from Tufts University. She has published on topics ranging from dogs lovable and difficult, to coping with depression, family dysfunction, generational trauma, overcoming writer’s block and being a FaceTime grandmother. She has freelanced for multiple outlets and formerly wrote a weekly column, “The Homefront,” for Main Line Welcomat. She taught English and creative writing at the Community College of Philadelphia. Anne lives in New York City with her husband, Andy, and Wendell, a one-year-old cavapoo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 10, 2025
I found this book through a goodreads giveaway and was pumped because I love Bruce Springsteen and I love memoirs.
This book was interesting. You see the narrator try to navigate crippling depression by following Bruce Springsteen around Australia. The mental gymnastics needed for narrator to accomplish that when she was dealing with essentially a bag of rocks in her bag at all times is incredible. I love the idea of Bruce being an uplifting north star in someone's life.
My pause (and omission of 2 stars) comes in the way the narrator speaks about her relationship with others. When she first brought up her DIL, then her son. There were moments in her story where she described interactions with others that I felt were a little over the top. The ending takeaways felt very, woe is me, no one cares about me. It took away from the journey and the Bruce appeal.
The book wasn't riveting, even mundane at times, but I appreciate when people put themselves out there. I struggle with my own things and hearing other stories make you realize you aren't alone (like Bruce). The commentary towards the end shattered it a little for me.
This book was interesting. You see the narrator try to navigate crippling depression by following Bruce Springsteen around Australia. The mental gymnastics needed for narrator to accomplish that when she was dealing with essentially a bag of rocks in her bag at all times is incredible. I love the idea of Bruce being an uplifting north star in someone's life.
My pause (and omission of 2 stars) comes in the way the narrator speaks about her relationship with others. When she first brought up her DIL, then her son. There were moments in her story where she described interactions with others that I felt were a little over the top. The ending takeaways felt very, woe is me, no one cares about me. It took away from the journey and the Bruce appeal.
The book wasn't riveting, even mundane at times, but I appreciate when people put themselves out there. I struggle with my own things and hearing other stories make you realize you aren't alone (like Bruce). The commentary towards the end shattered it a little for me.
September 28, 2025
I really like the writing style. The way the concerts and her feelings were described felt like I was there. I admit I do not know a lot about Bruce Springsteen, but I was happy that Anne was able to connect to his music and message in a way that helped her work through some of her troubles. I loved her courage to make that long of a trip by herself and reflect on her illness and how she was handling it versus what she could do better. It did not feel dry or slow and felt more like a story than a memoir.
Thank you @booksforwardpr @annesimaabel for the gifted copy.
Thank you @booksforwardpr @annesimaabel for the gifted copy.
December 8, 2025
Reaching the highest notes after a lifetime of lows (High Hopes Tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, eight concerts in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Hunter Valley, Brisbane, Australia; twenty-six days in February 2014, with Before/After): High Hopes is a miraculous, triumphant, soul-stirring tribute to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
Upending our notions about mental illness, Anne Abel’s arresting, vivid, no-holds-barred 400-page memoir speaks to us like a confidante. Sharing why and how she jumped into the fire at age sixty all alone despite her fears, anxieties, and lifelong battle with severe depression (since she was sixteen), Abel defies all the odds against her. Not just to survive – as in pushing herself “minute by minute” over days, weeks, months, decades – but to thrive with a “surreal” exuberance and joy that becomes real.
An extraordinary, emotional roller coaster story of feeling she’d “never in her life felt this happy,” “so alive,” having subjected herself to over twenty antidepressants, two inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, and three electroconvulsive shock treatments, ECT, with no long-lasting effects. Life-enhancing, life-altering, her bold recounting is striking in its frankness, rawness, determination, and sheer willpower, which enabled her to be receptive to a man and his music “who did not promise life everlasting but life in the moment.”
You know this man. Even if you’re not a rock n’ roll devotee of The Boss.
Bruce Springsteen has been on the national scene since the early seventies. Legendary for his high-octane energy, though he too powers through depression. A few years older than Abel, he was still rockin’ and rollin’ with every ounce of energy he could muster reflecting Abel’s summoning of every ounce of her energy to get to eight of his concerts on the vast Australia leg of his High Hopes Tour.
It wasn’t until Abel was fifty-nine that she went to her first music concert, the first time she inhaled Springsteen’s magnetism, greatness, lyrics aimed at the downtrodden. She didn’t forget how intoxicating he was, instinctively knowing the first step she’d take when one day she quit her teaching job at a community college, landing in her fifth year with a belligerent, scary group of students finally realizing, “I deserve better.” At sixty, she carried out her plan.
With a whole lot of music and soulful storytelling, Springsteen and his long-lasting E Street band, along with wall-to-wall fans as far as the eyes can see, he unlocked something buried deep inside Abel. His lyrics echoed her struggles and the dreams she never allowed herself to have believing she was undeserving. Calling him a “super rock star,” a “mega human,” “superman,” and “revivalist preacher,” Springsteen’s essence made her feel as if he wrote and sang those words solely for her. Part of his magic; zillions of his die-hard followers feel the same way too. Here’s a few telling us how he changed their lives – the heart and soul of High Hopes:
https://vimeo.com/1032224608?fl=pl&am....
“How do you get through the day and stay alive inside?” Springsteen’s resonating voice asks.
“Have you got the spirrrrrrit,” he fires up:
https://youtu.be/fZaV7_WNb-U
How did Abel get through the day? How she did she manage to make sure that her three boys came home from school every day and never found their severely depressed mother in bed?
Abel lived for her children. She was also blessed with the love and support of a man she’s been married to for thirty-four years. Clearly in her fight all the way, not anonymously like other memoirs sometimes do, telling us who he is: a distinguished professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where they raised their boys. Owing also to for four years teaching remedial English that had boosted her morale.
Abel’s prose rises and falls capturing the highs and the lows. When her mood soars, you can hear her words almost keeping the beat of Springsteen’s music. An extensive playlist accompanies the book. Among her favorites are “Waitin on a Sunny Day,” “Dream Baby Dream,” “Working on a Dream,” and “If I Should Fall Behind.” (https://youtu.be/eaZRSQfFo8Y)
Springsteen and Abel humbly attribute their achievements to the people who immeasurably helped them. He to his E Street Band – Steven Van Zandt, Tom Morello, Max Weinberg, Nils Lofgren, Jack Clemons, and others. She to some very special and kind strangers she met when she was all by her lonesome (Andy, her husband, couldn’t make it, then said of course he could, but she decided to take the giant leap without leaning on him).
One of those special people who made a difference has her own compelling story. Barbara Carr was Springsteen’s co-manager for thirty-four years. After Abel returns home, to Abel’s amazement she reaches out to her like she did in Australia. This chunk of the After section is also inspirational and challenging even with her newfound sense of self.
Not to be overlooked or understated is the savior role of exercise in Abel’s life. Wonderfully dedicated to exercising an hour every single day no matter what to energize and lift her up. Living proof that those highly beneficial endorphins are everything they’re cracked up to be.
Still, its Springsteen’s profoundness and qualities that make Abel’s story the stuff of legends too. Without her rigorous exercise regime she couldn’t have made that happen. Going from throwing herself onto the kitchen floor “sobbing” in “emotional agony” to never feeling so “strong,” “in control,” “empowered” all on one page in the telling. When it hits her she’d been standing on her feet for over three hours “clapping” and “swaying” and “smiling” enthralled by a “man with the biggest, kindest, most effervescent smile I had ever seen.” While immersed in his “strumming and tapping and singing and dancing,” feeling her “heart opening for this man” whose “energy, humanity, and empathy” “filled my soul.”
How else to explain how a sixty-year old woman finally deafened the unrelenting drumbeat of psychologically abusive negativity from her mother (her father too but less so given his criticism comes much later) reeling through her head she’s a “loser,” “pathetic”? What’s pathetic is how damaging a mother’s carping can be to a child’s psyche, particularly a girl’s.
Abel’s amazing story led me to look into the science and effectiveness of music therapy for people suffering with depression. A whole body of research is out there; music therapists a bona fide profession like art therapists. A few resources from the American Psychiatric Association, Cleveland Clinic, National Library of Medicine, and Ohio University begin to explain what happened to Abel. Music therapy is far more than releasing the feel-good endorphins attributed to exercise. It actually creates new connections in the brain.
Although Abel’s breakthrough came later in life, High Hopes is for everyone who needs a push in life, no matter how tall a mountain to climb or small, impossible or unlikely.
While we cannot possibly feel the depths of Abel’s euphoria discovering that elusive, mystical, existential sense of belongingness, her long, long-time coming relief, glory, and richness of feeling good about and proud of herself, we can proclaim how moving High Hopes feels.
Upending our notions about mental illness, Anne Abel’s arresting, vivid, no-holds-barred 400-page memoir speaks to us like a confidante. Sharing why and how she jumped into the fire at age sixty all alone despite her fears, anxieties, and lifelong battle with severe depression (since she was sixteen), Abel defies all the odds against her. Not just to survive – as in pushing herself “minute by minute” over days, weeks, months, decades – but to thrive with a “surreal” exuberance and joy that becomes real.
An extraordinary, emotional roller coaster story of feeling she’d “never in her life felt this happy,” “so alive,” having subjected herself to over twenty antidepressants, two inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, and three electroconvulsive shock treatments, ECT, with no long-lasting effects. Life-enhancing, life-altering, her bold recounting is striking in its frankness, rawness, determination, and sheer willpower, which enabled her to be receptive to a man and his music “who did not promise life everlasting but life in the moment.”
You know this man. Even if you’re not a rock n’ roll devotee of The Boss.
Bruce Springsteen has been on the national scene since the early seventies. Legendary for his high-octane energy, though he too powers through depression. A few years older than Abel, he was still rockin’ and rollin’ with every ounce of energy he could muster reflecting Abel’s summoning of every ounce of her energy to get to eight of his concerts on the vast Australia leg of his High Hopes Tour.
It wasn’t until Abel was fifty-nine that she went to her first music concert, the first time she inhaled Springsteen’s magnetism, greatness, lyrics aimed at the downtrodden. She didn’t forget how intoxicating he was, instinctively knowing the first step she’d take when one day she quit her teaching job at a community college, landing in her fifth year with a belligerent, scary group of students finally realizing, “I deserve better.” At sixty, she carried out her plan.
With a whole lot of music and soulful storytelling, Springsteen and his long-lasting E Street band, along with wall-to-wall fans as far as the eyes can see, he unlocked something buried deep inside Abel. His lyrics echoed her struggles and the dreams she never allowed herself to have believing she was undeserving. Calling him a “super rock star,” a “mega human,” “superman,” and “revivalist preacher,” Springsteen’s essence made her feel as if he wrote and sang those words solely for her. Part of his magic; zillions of his die-hard followers feel the same way too. Here’s a few telling us how he changed their lives – the heart and soul of High Hopes:
https://vimeo.com/1032224608?fl=pl&am....
“How do you get through the day and stay alive inside?” Springsteen’s resonating voice asks.
“Have you got the spirrrrrrit,” he fires up:
https://youtu.be/fZaV7_WNb-U
How did Abel get through the day? How she did she manage to make sure that her three boys came home from school every day and never found their severely depressed mother in bed?
Abel lived for her children. She was also blessed with the love and support of a man she’s been married to for thirty-four years. Clearly in her fight all the way, not anonymously like other memoirs sometimes do, telling us who he is: a distinguished professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where they raised their boys. Owing also to for four years teaching remedial English that had boosted her morale.
Abel’s prose rises and falls capturing the highs and the lows. When her mood soars, you can hear her words almost keeping the beat of Springsteen’s music. An extensive playlist accompanies the book. Among her favorites are “Waitin on a Sunny Day,” “Dream Baby Dream,” “Working on a Dream,” and “If I Should Fall Behind.” (https://youtu.be/eaZRSQfFo8Y)
Springsteen and Abel humbly attribute their achievements to the people who immeasurably helped them. He to his E Street Band – Steven Van Zandt, Tom Morello, Max Weinberg, Nils Lofgren, Jack Clemons, and others. She to some very special and kind strangers she met when she was all by her lonesome (Andy, her husband, couldn’t make it, then said of course he could, but she decided to take the giant leap without leaning on him).
One of those special people who made a difference has her own compelling story. Barbara Carr was Springsteen’s co-manager for thirty-four years. After Abel returns home, to Abel’s amazement she reaches out to her like she did in Australia. This chunk of the After section is also inspirational and challenging even with her newfound sense of self.
Not to be overlooked or understated is the savior role of exercise in Abel’s life. Wonderfully dedicated to exercising an hour every single day no matter what to energize and lift her up. Living proof that those highly beneficial endorphins are everything they’re cracked up to be.
Still, its Springsteen’s profoundness and qualities that make Abel’s story the stuff of legends too. Without her rigorous exercise regime she couldn’t have made that happen. Going from throwing herself onto the kitchen floor “sobbing” in “emotional agony” to never feeling so “strong,” “in control,” “empowered” all on one page in the telling. When it hits her she’d been standing on her feet for over three hours “clapping” and “swaying” and “smiling” enthralled by a “man with the biggest, kindest, most effervescent smile I had ever seen.” While immersed in his “strumming and tapping and singing and dancing,” feeling her “heart opening for this man” whose “energy, humanity, and empathy” “filled my soul.”
How else to explain how a sixty-year old woman finally deafened the unrelenting drumbeat of psychologically abusive negativity from her mother (her father too but less so given his criticism comes much later) reeling through her head she’s a “loser,” “pathetic”? What’s pathetic is how damaging a mother’s carping can be to a child’s psyche, particularly a girl’s.
Abel’s amazing story led me to look into the science and effectiveness of music therapy for people suffering with depression. A whole body of research is out there; music therapists a bona fide profession like art therapists. A few resources from the American Psychiatric Association, Cleveland Clinic, National Library of Medicine, and Ohio University begin to explain what happened to Abel. Music therapy is far more than releasing the feel-good endorphins attributed to exercise. It actually creates new connections in the brain.
Although Abel’s breakthrough came later in life, High Hopes is for everyone who needs a push in life, no matter how tall a mountain to climb or small, impossible or unlikely.
While we cannot possibly feel the depths of Abel’s euphoria discovering that elusive, mystical, existential sense of belongingness, her long, long-time coming relief, glory, and richness of feeling good about and proud of herself, we can proclaim how moving High Hopes feels.
October 17, 2025
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
It’s almost hard to believe Anne is real… I mean, who hasn’t heard of Bruce Springsteen? But what a fun ride, to travel along with her to 8 concerts in a country she’s never visited before!
We dive right into the classroom violence that leads Anne to quit her job. Then, we learn a little at the beginning about Anne and her life. Her battles with depression play an important role in why she decides to embark on an Australian journey, so that part is particularly highlighted. She has some adult sons, a husband, and a few dogs at home – but, no one goes with her on her 26 day trip.
Even though she left her job willingly, she just knows herself well enough to know that she has to have something to DO with herself, in order to keep herself moving forward. She picks following the E Street Band on the Australian leg of their upcoming tour seemingly at random – but she also does it because she remembers that seeing her first concert made her feel energized.
She sets herself a goal, and trudges toward it dutifully. In all honesty, she is not excited prior to going. She’s nervous, puts off packing, etc. Even while in Australia, she has her ups and downs. Which makes sense, as no one has all good days for 26 days in a row.
But bit by bit, she feels her energy rising. She starts having more good days than bad ones. Even though she hates traveling and sets out with no intentions of sight seeing.
One of her favorite things to do while on this journey is just people watch. And, as she is staying at the some of the same hotels as the band in several cities, the people watching is pretty good!
Even on days when she has to drag herself to the concert, she always ends up feeling better that she went. At most of the shows, she also ends up connecting with someone else on some level, whether about Springsteen or traveling or whatever. They may be others in the audience or even her cab driver! She’s starting to get better at being on her own, and connecting with people along the way.
And eventually, she even does some sight seeing – although, only for a few hours.
One surprise, to me, was that she finishes her trip and heads home with a quarter of the book left. What else is there to talk about? Well, by now we know Anne needs a goal to keep herself motivated. So she creates one, and then another. She keeps learning about music, rock and otherwise. She sees a few other concerts by musicians she’s just read about on Wikipedia, including Beyonce! She even guest co-hosts an E-Street themed radio show on SiriusXM!
And of course, one thing that Anne takes away from this particular journey is that there are people who would be interested in hearing this story.
It’s almost hard to believe Anne is real… I mean, who hasn’t heard of Bruce Springsteen? But what a fun ride, to travel along with her to 8 concerts in a country she’s never visited before!
We dive right into the classroom violence that leads Anne to quit her job. Then, we learn a little at the beginning about Anne and her life. Her battles with depression play an important role in why she decides to embark on an Australian journey, so that part is particularly highlighted. She has some adult sons, a husband, and a few dogs at home – but, no one goes with her on her 26 day trip.
Even though she left her job willingly, she just knows herself well enough to know that she has to have something to DO with herself, in order to keep herself moving forward. She picks following the E Street Band on the Australian leg of their upcoming tour seemingly at random – but she also does it because she remembers that seeing her first concert made her feel energized.
She sets herself a goal, and trudges toward it dutifully. In all honesty, she is not excited prior to going. She’s nervous, puts off packing, etc. Even while in Australia, she has her ups and downs. Which makes sense, as no one has all good days for 26 days in a row.
But bit by bit, she feels her energy rising. She starts having more good days than bad ones. Even though she hates traveling and sets out with no intentions of sight seeing.
One of her favorite things to do while on this journey is just people watch. And, as she is staying at the some of the same hotels as the band in several cities, the people watching is pretty good!
Even on days when she has to drag herself to the concert, she always ends up feeling better that she went. At most of the shows, she also ends up connecting with someone else on some level, whether about Springsteen or traveling or whatever. They may be others in the audience or even her cab driver! She’s starting to get better at being on her own, and connecting with people along the way.
And eventually, she even does some sight seeing – although, only for a few hours.
One surprise, to me, was that she finishes her trip and heads home with a quarter of the book left. What else is there to talk about? Well, by now we know Anne needs a goal to keep herself motivated. So she creates one, and then another. She keeps learning about music, rock and otherwise. She sees a few other concerts by musicians she’s just read about on Wikipedia, including Beyonce! She even guest co-hosts an E-Street themed radio show on SiriusXM!
And of course, one thing that Anne takes away from this particular journey is that there are people who would be interested in hearing this story.
September 4, 2025
📚 Book Review: High Hopes – A Memoir by Anne Abel
Anne Abel had endured one too many desks thrown in her classroom. So she walked out—and swore she’d never return. That moment of defiance became the first step in a journey she shares in her powerful new memoir, High Hopes.
Anne discovered Bruce Springsteen not just as a musician, but as a lifeline. Her first concert wasn’t just her first Springsteen show—it was her first concert ever. I often say there are two kinds of people: those who leave their first Springsteen concert saying, “Boy, that was long,” and those who say, “When can I do this again?” Anne is firmly in the second camp. That night changed her life.
Battling lifelong depression, Anne made the bold decision to travel solo to Australia for eight Springsteen concerts across five cities in twenty-six days. This book chronicles that adventure. From meeting Bruce’s co-manager Barbara Carr, to staying at the same hotel as the E Street Band, to getting stranded after a show when her driver lost track of time—Anne’s story is raw, real, and deeply inspiring.
She discovers strength she didn’t know she had. She finds community in unexpected places. And she reminds us that sometimes, chasing the music leads us back to ourselves.
I loved this book. I loved being part of Anne’s journey. She’s a total bad arse, and I hope to meet her at a future Springsteen show. Because like Bruce says, “It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”
Anne Abel had endured one too many desks thrown in her classroom. So she walked out—and swore she’d never return. That moment of defiance became the first step in a journey she shares in her powerful new memoir, High Hopes.
Anne discovered Bruce Springsteen not just as a musician, but as a lifeline. Her first concert wasn’t just her first Springsteen show—it was her first concert ever. I often say there are two kinds of people: those who leave their first Springsteen concert saying, “Boy, that was long,” and those who say, “When can I do this again?” Anne is firmly in the second camp. That night changed her life.
Battling lifelong depression, Anne made the bold decision to travel solo to Australia for eight Springsteen concerts across five cities in twenty-six days. This book chronicles that adventure. From meeting Bruce’s co-manager Barbara Carr, to staying at the same hotel as the E Street Band, to getting stranded after a show when her driver lost track of time—Anne’s story is raw, real, and deeply inspiring.
She discovers strength she didn’t know she had. She finds community in unexpected places. And she reminds us that sometimes, chasing the music leads us back to ourselves.
I loved this book. I loved being part of Anne’s journey. She’s a total bad arse, and I hope to meet her at a future Springsteen show. Because like Bruce says, “It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”
August 5, 2025
Remarkable memoir by a 60ish woman who has struggled with sever depression, ECT, PTSD, and lack of motivation or appreciation by family for most of her life. After attending a Bruce Springsteen concert on a whim, she is stirred profoundly by his ebullience and sincerity in his music, lyrics, and improvised spoken interludes with the audience. She is overcome with curiosity to find out all about him, having never been a music fan.
After her draining job becomes too much for her, she abruptly leaves and decides to embark on an 8-concert Springsteen tour of Australia. She travels first class and has a travel agent arrange her connections, tickets, and hotels. Clearly she is well-to-do as it seems she can afford to travel in style. During her travels she rubs elbows with Springsteen's team but that's about all.
This book is mainly about the major changes in her that she pushes forward with, determined to bring some semblance of hope (although the tour name is High Hopes) and glimmers of joy which transports her with Bruce's music. She meets interesting people in Australia, but mostly meets herself.
Great read for music fans and ESPECIALLY Bruce Springsteen fans.
Without giving spoilers: a message to Ms. Abel--- you should ask Dave Marsh to have you on his show to talk about THIS BOOK.
Thanks to Net Galley for the eARC.
After her draining job becomes too much for her, she abruptly leaves and decides to embark on an 8-concert Springsteen tour of Australia. She travels first class and has a travel agent arrange her connections, tickets, and hotels. Clearly she is well-to-do as it seems she can afford to travel in style. During her travels she rubs elbows with Springsteen's team but that's about all.
This book is mainly about the major changes in her that she pushes forward with, determined to bring some semblance of hope (although the tour name is High Hopes) and glimmers of joy which transports her with Bruce's music. She meets interesting people in Australia, but mostly meets herself.
Great read for music fans and ESPECIALLY Bruce Springsteen fans.
Without giving spoilers: a message to Ms. Abel--- you should ask Dave Marsh to have you on his show to talk about THIS BOOK.
Thanks to Net Galley for the eARC.
August 25, 2025
High Hopes: A Memoir by Anne Abel is part travel diary, part mental health memoir, and part love letter to the unexpected ways life can pull you out of the dark!
At fifty-nine, Anne had never been to a concert. She wasn’t a Springsteen fan; she barely knew who he was. But one reluctant night out with her son and daughter-in-law changed everything! For three straight hours, Bruce’s energy, generosity, and sheer joy cracked open something inside her that lifelong depression had kept sealed away.
When her career and anchor suddenly became unbearable, Anne found herself at a dangerous crossroads. She’d battled severe recurrent depression for decades, been hospitalized, endured ECT, and cycled through more medications than she could count. Then she had an audacious thought: What if she followed Springsteen to Australia? Eight concerts. Five cities. Twenty-six days. Alone!
What unfolds is not some magical cure, but a deeply human, unexpectedly funny, and profoundly hopeful journey! Anne’s writing is raw yet uplifting, proving that even the smallest spark, a song, a lyric, a moment of connection can ignite something big enough to keep you going!
⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and Anne Abel for sharing this book with me!
At fifty-nine, Anne had never been to a concert. She wasn’t a Springsteen fan; she barely knew who he was. But one reluctant night out with her son and daughter-in-law changed everything! For three straight hours, Bruce’s energy, generosity, and sheer joy cracked open something inside her that lifelong depression had kept sealed away.
When her career and anchor suddenly became unbearable, Anne found herself at a dangerous crossroads. She’d battled severe recurrent depression for decades, been hospitalized, endured ECT, and cycled through more medications than she could count. Then she had an audacious thought: What if she followed Springsteen to Australia? Eight concerts. Five cities. Twenty-six days. Alone!
What unfolds is not some magical cure, but a deeply human, unexpectedly funny, and profoundly hopeful journey! Anne’s writing is raw yet uplifting, proving that even the smallest spark, a song, a lyric, a moment of connection can ignite something big enough to keep you going!
⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and Anne Abel for sharing this book with me!
August 25, 2025
High Hopes: A Memoir by Anne Abel is well written, however not a favorite for sure. There were several points where I wished the book would finish because while I enjoyed the premise it felt like the memoir focused on how the world was against her healing journey.
Anne suffered from severe depression and had tried many therapies in order to try to alleviate it. She finally decided after a rare acceptance to get out in the world to a concert that she would follow a bucket list of sorts. She decides to see Bruce Springsteen concerts, 8 of them, alone, in Australia. Anne is from Philadelphia and does not enjoy traveling nor did she know much about music, which is what makes this an interesting choice to overcome fears. Following along you feel so proud of her for navigating her depression and anxiety, but I also felt that when she returned the way she seems to feel about her friends and family's lack of enthusiasm for her accomplishment fell flat for me.
Thank you to She Writes Press for the advanced reader copy via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Anne suffered from severe depression and had tried many therapies in order to try to alleviate it. She finally decided after a rare acceptance to get out in the world to a concert that she would follow a bucket list of sorts. She decides to see Bruce Springsteen concerts, 8 of them, alone, in Australia. Anne is from Philadelphia and does not enjoy traveling nor did she know much about music, which is what makes this an interesting choice to overcome fears. Following along you feel so proud of her for navigating her depression and anxiety, but I also felt that when she returned the way she seems to feel about her friends and family's lack of enthusiasm for her accomplishment fell flat for me.
Thank you to She Writes Press for the advanced reader copy via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2025
High Hopes by Anne Abel is part memoir and part fiction, but mostly memoir. It's about our author Anne who is almost 60 and never been to a concert. She attends a Bruce Springsteen concert with her son and his wife and has a great time and feels much more alive when she sees him on stage. The story fast forwards to a year later where Anne is depressed and leaving her classroom teaching career. She decides to go on a tour with Bruce Springsteen by attending all of his concerts in Australia for 26 days, by herself. This story is so unique overall as you really travel with the author on her journey where she finds inner strength and find out who she is as a person. I must admit I wish for that in my life, I would like to find out who I am like Anne did. I really enjoyed this read and recommend to fans of memoirs and also fans of Bruce Springsteen too!
July 18, 2025
I loved Mattie, Milo, and Me by Anne Abel, so I knew I needed to check out High Hopes, and I was not disappointed! I love Anne's style of writing, and I appreciated her vulnerability. I thought the premise of the story was so interesting, and I loved "traveling" around Australia with Anne as she pursued her love of Bruce Springsteen! Anne is such a great storyteller, would highly recommend this book.
October 6, 2025
An Engaging Memoir of Renewal. This book captured my attention from the very first page. Abel writes with clarity and emotional depth, making her journey accessible to readers who may or may not share her experiences with depression. The narrative is structured around her Australian trip to see Bruce Springsteen, but at its core, it’s about rediscovering vitality and meaning. A powerful, relatable memoir that will resonate with many.
October 12, 2025
I picked this book up because my husband and In-laws are absolute Springsteen nuts. I, myself, love a novel that highlights how different things can be good for our mental health... and music is a huge one. I loved reading about Anne's journey learning to look very life again and how she navigated the changing tides around her with work, family, and internally. I have a newfound appreciation for Springsteen and for the magic that music can do to help heal the soul.
October 29, 2025
Courage woven into every page.
Reading this memoir made me reflect on my own excuses for not doing the things I long for. Anne’s leap into something as unlikely as following Bruce Springsteen across Australia at sixty is both brave and beautiful. Her struggles are raw and relatable, but her determination to keep moving forward is inspiring. I closed the book feeling like courage can look quiet yet still roar.
Reading this memoir made me reflect on my own excuses for not doing the things I long for. Anne’s leap into something as unlikely as following Bruce Springsteen across Australia at sixty is both brave and beautiful. Her struggles are raw and relatable, but her determination to keep moving forward is inspiring. I closed the book feeling like courage can look quiet yet still roar.
October 29, 2025
Springsteen Meets Soul-Searching.
I’ve never been much of a Bruce Springsteen fan, but this book gave me a new appreciation for his energy and what it meant to Anne. The way she ties his concerts to her fight against depression is both moving and unique. I found myself rooting for her at every step of her journey through Australia. It’s rare to find such a blend of grit and heart in one memoir.
I’ve never been much of a Bruce Springsteen fan, but this book gave me a new appreciation for his energy and what it meant to Anne. The way she ties his concerts to her fight against depression is both moving and unique. I found myself rooting for her at every step of her journey through Australia. It’s rare to find such a blend of grit and heart in one memoir.
October 29, 2025
A story of the ordinary becoming extraordinary.
What I loved most about this book was how ordinary details of travel became extraordinary because of Anne’s perspective. She didn’t set out to reinvent herself, yet the journey shifted her in ways she couldn’t anticipate. That’s what makes her story so relatable—change often sneaks up when we least expect it. Reading this was a reminder to stay open to surprises, even late in life.
What I loved most about this book was how ordinary details of travel became extraordinary because of Anne’s perspective. She didn’t set out to reinvent herself, yet the journey shifted her in ways she couldn’t anticipate. That’s what makes her story so relatable—change often sneaks up when we least expect it. Reading this was a reminder to stay open to surprises, even late in life.
November 25, 2025
The problem with this book is that I didn’t accomplish anything else in my life for 2 days. I was obsessed and couldn’t put it down! That’s a good thing when a story grabs you like that. I totally enjoyed High Hopes and appreciated the candid way Anne shared her story. I couldn’t wait to hear about what came next. An intriguing read, but also an important one, because it opened my eyes to depression. Thank you for sharing this amazing story with the world, Anne.
October 2, 2025
Easy to read and hard to forget
I picked this up not knowing much about it, and I flew through it in two days. It’s written in a way that’s super easy to follow, but the emotions stick with you. Anne’s trip to Australia felt both crazy and brave. I loved the mix of music, travel, and personal healing.
I picked this up not knowing much about it, and I flew through it in two days. It’s written in a way that’s super easy to follow, but the emotions stick with you. Anne’s trip to Australia felt both crazy and brave. I loved the mix of music, travel, and personal healing.
October 5, 2025
As someone who has battled anxiety and occasional bouts of depression, I found Anne Abel’s High Hopes deeply inspiring. Her resilience, honesty, and authenticity shine through every page, offering comfort and encouragement to anyone navigating their own struggles. This book is a reminder that hope and healing are possible, even in life’s hardest seasons.
October 6, 2025
True testament to how powerful music can be
This memoir beautifully illustrates how music can impact lives in profound ways. Abel takes readers along on her emotional journey, showing how Bruce Springsteen’s concerts became a source of energy and healing. Her reflections are deeply moving and universal. I highly recommend this book for fans of music, travel, or stories of resilience.
This memoir beautifully illustrates how music can impact lives in profound ways. Abel takes readers along on her emotional journey, showing how Bruce Springsteen’s concerts became a source of energy and healing. Her reflections are deeply moving and universal. I highly recommend this book for fans of music, travel, or stories of resilience.
October 6, 2025
Could relate more than I thought I would. I’ve never been to a Bruce Springsteen concert, but the way Anne described it, I almost felt like I was there. I really understood her struggle with depression and how music gave her a spark. The book gave me hope that little things can really matter. Definitely worth the read.
October 9, 2025
Abel’s voice is refreshingly candid, offering an unflinching look at mental illness and recovery. She does not shy away from her most difficult moments, which makes her eventual renewal all the more powerful. High Hopes: A Memoir balances honesty with optimism, resulting in a narrative that inspires hope. It is a worthwhile read for anyone navigating personal struggles.
October 9, 2025
I felt like I sitting with a close friend while reading this. Anne doesn’t try to be flashy she just tells her truth. Her story about leaving teaching and choosing to follow Bruce Springsteen’s concerts across Australia was amazing. You can feel her transformation with every chapter. By the end, I felt so happy for her.
October 27, 2025
An inspiring story of transformation
This book captures the courage it takes to step away from the familiar and into the unknown. Anne’s decision to follow Bruce Springsteen’s tour in Australia at sixty is bold and deeply human. Her story demonstrates that transformation can come at any stage in life. I found it uplifting and beautifully written.
This book captures the courage it takes to step away from the familiar and into the unknown. Anne’s decision to follow Bruce Springsteen’s tour in Australia at sixty is bold and deeply human. Her story demonstrates that transformation can come at any stage in life. I found it uplifting and beautifully written.
October 29, 2025
A moving and honest memoir.
Anne Abel’s High Hopes: A Memoir is a powerful exploration of resilience and personal growth. Her willingness to openly discuss her lifelong struggle with depression adds depth and authenticity to her journey. The way she finds renewal through music and travel is both unique and inspiring. This is a memoir that lingers long after the last page.
Anne Abel’s High Hopes: A Memoir is a powerful exploration of resilience and personal growth. Her willingness to openly discuss her lifelong struggle with depression adds depth and authenticity to her journey. The way she finds renewal through music and travel is both unique and inspiring. This is a memoir that lingers long after the last page.
October 29, 2025
Feels like I’m friends with the author.
Anne Abel has a gift for telling her story in a way that feels like a close friend sharing secrets. I was swept into her journey from the very first chapter. The honesty about her depression and her fight to find joy touched me deeply. This is a memoir that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Anne Abel has a gift for telling her story in a way that feels like a close friend sharing secrets. I was swept into her journey from the very first chapter. The honesty about her depression and her fight to find joy touched me deeply. This is a memoir that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading.
October 29, 2025
An honest account.
So many books about depression either gloss over the reality or wallow in it, but High Hopes does neither. Anne tells her story with such clarity and truth that I felt seen in my own struggles. Her decision to take that bold trip is something I’ll remember whenever life feels overwhelming. This is a book of survival and small miracles.
So many books about depression either gloss over the reality or wallow in it, but High Hopes does neither. Anne tells her story with such clarity and truth that I felt seen in my own struggles. Her decision to take that bold trip is something I’ll remember whenever life feels overwhelming. This is a book of survival and small miracles.
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October 30, 2025A testament to resilience and perseverance
At sixty, many people slow down, but Anne Abel takes off on an adventure that changes her life. That boldness alone made me cheer for her. Her honest recounting of depression and healing gave me chills more than once. This is a story I’ll be recommending to my book club.
At sixty, many people slow down, but Anne Abel takes off on an adventure that changes her life. That boldness alone made me cheer for her. Her honest recounting of depression and healing gave me chills more than once. This is a story I’ll be recommending to my book club.
October 30, 2025
Resonated more than I originally thought.
I originally picked this book up because I enjoy travel memoirs, but what I found was much more meaningful. Anne’s journey wasn’t just about the miles or the concerts, but it was about finding ways to keep going when life feels too heavy. That kind of perseverance speaks to all of us. I’m grateful for her openness in sharing such a personal story.
I originally picked this book up because I enjoy travel memoirs, but what I found was much more meaningful. Anne’s journey wasn’t just about the miles or the concerts, but it was about finding ways to keep going when life feels too heavy. That kind of perseverance speaks to all of us. I’m grateful for her openness in sharing such a personal story.
October 30, 2025
A testament to resilience and perseverance.
At sixty, many people slow down, but Anne Abel takes off on an adventure that changes her life. That boldness alone made me cheer for her. Her honest recounting of depression and healing gave me chills more than once. This is a story I’ll be recommending to my book club.
At sixty, many people slow down, but Anne Abel takes off on an adventure that changes her life. That boldness alone made me cheer for her. Her honest recounting of depression and healing gave me chills more than once. This is a story I’ll be recommending to my book club.
October 31, 2025
I didn’t think a memoir could feel this alive, but High Hopes does just that. The mix of travel, music, and inner battles is compelling and heartfelt. Anne Abel proves that it’s never too late to chase a new experience and find healing in unexpected places. This is one of those rare books I know I’ll return to.
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