Disconnected

by Jennifer Weiner

From #1 bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a haunting tale of addiction and obligation, secrets and redemption. Now available on CD and as an audio download for the first time!

Shannon Will is nearing thirty and has already made six trips to rehab (not that anyone’s counting). But this time, she swears, will be different. She’ll clean up her act, go to meetings, find a sponsor, and make a clean break with her past—starting with a new phone number.

But old ties aren’t so easy to sever. When Shannon’s new phone starts getting messages she was never meant to see, Shannon has to decide whether to risk getting involved, or stay safely disconnected.

Gripping, suspenseful, and smart, Disconnected is a riveting tale of addiction and obligation, secrets and redemption.

Genres: Audiobook, Short Stories, Fiction, Chick Lit, Addiction, Adult, Adult Fiction

Audiobook

First published October 18, 2013

About the author

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

Reviews

[Delee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This e-book short story came up as a recommended purchase on my Kobo page, and at .99 cents I thought what the hey...



After hitting rock bottom- 28-year-old Heroin addict, Shannon Will leaves the rehab center-for the 6th time- and vows to change her life once and for all.

Her first stop is the phone store- to change her cell phone number, so that none of her past acquaintances can get a hold of her- and she can't get a hold of them. There she meets- Devonte Harrison- a helpful man behind the counter, who adds his number to her short list -of two- contacts (the other being her parents).



...but someone else has her number, and is sending her strange messages and photos. The photos in particular are making Shannon uncomfortable...because there is something vaguely familiar about the location shown in the images, and she thinks she may have been there before.



DISCONNECTED was very different from anything I have read by Jennifer Weiner. It is one of three short stories that she started releasing every year near Halloween, and it does have that kind of spooky feel to it. As with most short stories just as you are starting to care about the characters- it is allllllll over...but I have read that Shannon Will- is a secondary character in Weirner's new full length novel- All Fall Down- coming out April 2014.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 3.75 stars**
Narrator Jess Weixler

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have learned that selecting audiobooks is just another tool that I use to procrastinate folding laundry. In an attempt to correct this behavior, I no longer allow myself to search for specific titles or cross check unknowns with Goodreads. At this point, I force myself to pick from the first three pages, then hit play as I begin the insurmountable task of laundry at my house. Why the backstory on my boring housework? Well...I have read and enjoyed Jennifer Weiner in the days before Goodreads. I thought I was signing up for a light read. Instead, I got a novella that delved into some scary, dark territory. This quick audio kept my interest and scared me with its real/ghostly view of addiction. Well done. 4 stars.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read another Kindle short, Recalculating, by this author and loved it, so I thought I’d try this one. Seems stupid that it gets a spot on my Books Read shelf, since it’s such a teensy little thing. In fact, beware: if the story sounds like it’s ending at around the 65% mark, it is! The rest of the Kindle “book” is a preview plus other ads for her books, which is pretty damn annoying. That’s what you get when you spend 99 cents I guess. Anyway, this story was mildly interesting, but lacked the wit that Weiner is known for. It’s a dark story about a junkie, so no wonder it’s without wit. I did get a feel for life on the dark side, but I didn’t like the ending—I wanted the mystery to be solved in a different way. The story did a little genre-hopping, which I’m purposely being vague about in order to avoid a spoiler. Suffice it to say that I didn’t like the genre it hopped to :)

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ worth the 1hr listen. Good short story.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a really short story. It's about Shannon-- a girl Allison from "All Fall Down" met at rehab. She has gone through rehab multiple times and has noone to turn to. She goes and gets a cell phone that her parents pay for. It's the only way they help her because they want to be able to get ahold of her but not enable her addictions. She starts getting texts from an unknown number about a girl who is stuck at a drug house. Shannon goes to save her and finds her kidnapped and raped. But it comes out that Shannon is already dead and it is another ghost guiding her along. in the end, she gets a 2nd chance and she wakes up in the hospital room :)

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! I have been taking extra walks during the Corona Virus quarantine. Because I have kind of a short attention span right now, I have been looking at shorter books, ones usually around an hour or so, on my library app, Hoopla. I stumbled on some Jennifer Weiner's that are about that long and are quite enjoyable.

This one is about addiction. I have friends that attend 12 step groups, so the lingo is kinda familiar. I connected to the main character too, which also enhances my reading pleasure. I walked outside on a humid day full of sunshine and listened to this. It is pretty dark..so I don't recommend it for cold winter months. I thought it very well done for a short story and highly recommend it, but spoiler alert....there is a rape in it and drug use.

[Katz Nancy from NJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize that all books can't be roses, violins or even a happily ever after, but Disconnected by Jennifer Weiner was one dreary mess which left me feeling depressed. I now feel that I should have disconnected myself before the ending words but since this was really a short story or novella at 38 pages, I decided to finish it. Actually, I listened to this on an audiotape and the reader was fine. My thoughts have nothing to do with her. And in case you're thinking that I read only happy books, I do read those that aren't that happy but are meaningful.

I have read several of Weiner's books and hope she will go back to her usual witty and funny style in the future.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 A very good, well I am not sure if this is a short story or a novella, but I did like it.Crisp writing and a complete, suspenseful story, also a story that kept me guessing and actually fooled me on more than one occasion.

[April · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time

Did not care for this book at all... Couldn't wait to finish it.. Thought it would get better but it just ended feeling incomplete. Do not recommend..

[Laura Skladzinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting, but I never quite connected with the main character. I guessed the twist fairly early on.

[Milisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this out on audio from my local library not realizing it was 'a short.' That said this was a truly enjoyable read that left me with that AH at the end with where the story went.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... super cheesy. 2.5 stars

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

After her sixth attempt at rehab, Shannon finally decides to embrace sobriety, faithfully attending meetings and make and effort to rebuild her life. In following the advice of her sponsor to cut all ties with her former life, Shannon decides to get a new phone but almost immediately she begins to receive strange texts from an unknown caller which threaten to derail her recovery.

This isn't a story I expected from Jennifer Weiner but it bears the hallmarks of her stylish, tight writing. A dark story of addiction, tempered by a quest for redemption, with a surprise paranormal twist, Disconnected packs quite a punch despite its diminutive length.

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok... Let me get real honest here. I did not expect to like this short. I started reading it because I was bored at work and found the free ebook. So naturally it took me a while to let go of those notions and admit that I was enjoying reading it. So well written... in a way that makes you think and recall previously given information (which is something I truly enjoy in films). I admit that I was highly confused at times, but once I got to the twist at the end everything made sense. I would definitely recommend this short to a friend.

[Lisa B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I really don't read many short stories. I think it's because I'm never sure one single short story is going to be worth my while. Not the case with this one. In just 38 short pages, the author sure packed in a lot with an interesting twist at the end. Bravo, Ms. Weiner.

Thanks to Atria Books, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Brenda Haddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted more

Disconnected is a great short story, a real page turner, as all of Jennifer Weiner's books seem to be. It left me wanting more. Once I started reading I hated the thought of it being a short story. I wanted more details and a longer story line. I hated knowing it was soon going to end soon.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read ghost stories and if I would have known this was a ghost story before I started reading it I wouldn't have read it but then l would have missed out on a great book. Jennifer Weiner is a wonderful author and if you have a little time you need to check this one out. You won't be disappointed.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creepy novella (or long short story) that graphically sets you up for its unexpected ending. Unlike anything else I've read by Jennifer Weiner. Rough topic. I liked the writing but it's a rough topic.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short story while on an airplane and flew through it. It's the story of a girl who has been in and out of rehab, and this time promises to clean herself up for real. It was a compelling read, and I'd love to see Weiner expand on this story idea in a full-length novel.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm what? What was this? What did I just read?

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short story about drugs and rehab with a twisty ending. A darker kind of writing than most of Jennifer weiners books are. But I liked it!

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read but didn't feel like the ending wrapped up the story enough

[Colin Neenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story about an addict. Simple but compelling. (Listened to it.)

[Jean Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish this were a book instead of a short story. Wonderful. Wanted more.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I have a daughter that is a drug addict. She will be 53 next month, and has led this lifestyle for the most part of 35 years. She has come out of it for short periods of time, but always goes back into it. She has been drugged, beaten and raped more than once. Been arrested for shoplifting more than once. Has lived with one man after the other, is HIV positive, and has been sense she was 20. I doubt she is taking her medicine at this point. She has been married and has a 19 year old son. She has been in rehab twice, only to go back into the life of drugs. Her drugs of choice is pot and crack cocaine. She has lived on the streets, slept in tents or on the ground when she had no place else to go. She had all of her teeth pulled in the hospital, and doesn’t seem to care that she has no teeth. Our family has tried to help her but she doesn’t want help. Not long ago she went from 45 days in jail to rehab. Her choice. Our family made sure she had everything she needed. Rehab ministry paid for her to get a divorce, gave her clothes, took her to her doctors appointments, etc. This was a Christian ministry, which Christianity is the way she was raised. She did well for a while, then left early to live with her brother. He went above and beyond for her, and between him and the rest of our family literally lacked nothing. Her brother got her a cell phone which he paid for, we all pulled together to get her a car. Her brother got her a job and was going to pay for her to get dentures. She decided to leave, and took off. I am the last person she talked to, and she made it clear that she wanted to go back to her old ways, to love her life on her terms, and didn’t need permission. She deserted everyone in the family, not caring about my illness or her daddy’s health. We love and miss her so much, and the Lord has spared her life so many times. Her apartment was shot up once, she was robbed at gun point trying to buy drugs, knows killers, and had “ friends” murdered. Was treated for hepatitis C at my urging her to be tested. So much more I could say. Maybe one day she will come home again. There are only three things that can happen if she doesn’t. Hospital, jail, or death. She could go back and forth between the hospital and jail and then die from a disease, or in some other way, like murder, God forbid. We pray for her safety and that the Lord can get through to her. But right now she is DISCONNECTED. I made a few errors in writing this. I apologize for that , but too late to correct them now. ✝️❤️🙏🏻♈️ CathyR

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! Definitely didn't expect how this book ended!!

Shannon Will, is a 28 year old drug addict who's just left rehab for the 6th time. She's been told to change everything in her life in order to stay sober. After she goes to her first AA meeting, she then goes to T-Mobile to change her phone number. She knows if her old drug pals called her, she'll have a hard time saying no to them.

At the phone store, she meets a friendly guy. He puts his number in her phone without her knowledge. Later that night, Shannon starts getting texts from a stranger that weren't meant to be read by her. Someone is texting her thinking that she's someone else, and the messages that are sent are bad. Freaking out, Shannon returns to the phone store and asks for help.

After Shannon receives a text late one night, she calls her phone store friend to drive her to the location she knows the texter is. There she proceeds to save an innocent child who was kidnapped and raped by the texter and several guys.

That's when Shannon realizes the truth about her new reality.

Great story! A must read!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a great short story. I had a quick moment when I thought this might be light reading but then as I got into the tale, I knew this was not light nor was it easy.

This features a young woman recently out of rehab after many tries to get clean. This time she starts over by even getting a new phone that will have only her parents phone number in it. Then come the messages. One after another. A young girl is being raped and hurt and will die unless she helps. How was she getting these on a new phone and why is she getting them. Who is sending them?

I sobbed hard for a moment towards the end but then the story ended and I sat up straight and thought WAIT! WHAT?? And read it again. I’m writing this after the second read through but I’m still startled. Jennifer Weiner has a wealth of talent far beyond the lovely books that she usually writes and that sell so well.

[Saleena Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but effective. I love short stories that can tell a real story, while having a deeper meaning behind it. I wasn’t sure what I would think about this story after reading the last short story collection by Jennifer Weiner. However, I think that she does say a lot about addiction and trauma. It also makes you think about the fact that not all addicts are those who have no hope in life and who have had terrible childhoods. It could happen to anyone, including someone who is well educated and has a well respected job, such as the main character in this story. It makes you stop and think about others you may have misread. You shouldn’t ever judge a book by its cover, because you never know what that person’s going through. If you see that someone may need help, help them.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ I was obsessed w/JW when she was new, as her original protagonists were often in similar life spaces as I was. More kids, less time, I didn't read as much in general, and I drifted away from my temporal obsession with 'chicklit.' I've floated back now and again, and came across this one in audiobook form so I didn't realize that it's a short story until I was done and thought, "Woah! Wait. What?"

All that stated, for me this felt like an intriguing path for a bit of a different style for Weiner, and I liked it. New topic, new take, a bit of mystery. I vote yes.