What do you think?
Rate this book
Audrey Anonymous
Once a corporate powerhouse, Audrey Anderson finds herself in the throes of motherhood, raising a highly emotional teenage daughter and autistic son without much help from her husband. Audrey's goal each day is to survive with minimal drama from her children, but as she relies more and more on alcohol to help her cope, is a growing addiction blinding her to her responsibilities? Can Audrey recognize what is truly important before she loses everything? Audrey Anonymous is a powerful portrayal of one woman's struggle to confront her own selfishness and rediscover the gift of motherhood. Kimberly Conn delivers another poignant novel about the necessity of human connection.
302 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2018
About the author
Kimberly Conn
3 books64 followersBorn in Mississippi and raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, Kimberly now resides in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, two sons and Ruby, the world's best dog. Buying the Farm is her first novel, but she is hard at work on the next one.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 11, 2018
Audrey Anonymous
I bought this book because I came across Kimberly’s first book, “Buying the Farm”, several years ago and it quickly became, and remains, my favorite book. I have read it a couple of times a year since then and I was excited to see she had published a second book. I read the summary and decided that I probably wouldn’t relate, but I would read it anyways because I love the author.
This is a difficult book to review because, although the book is fictional, the story is bold and real, very relatable and is reality for many. It conveys a message. It makes you stop and think. You don’t ever know what someone may be going through. It could be you. It could be your neighbor. You just don’t ever know.
Although I don’t relate to the struggles of alcoholism or using alcohol as a coping mechanism, I quickly related to the emotions of being a wife, a mother and a caretaker of a child with ongoing health issues and the struggles of being a parent of a teenager in this day and age of modern technology.
All characters are well developed, lovable and relatable. This is a great story that leaves you with a stronger will, reminds you of the importance of family and relationships, the importance of communication in every relationship and the difference and impact that just being involved and present can, and will, make in a child’s life, not to mention the life-changing impact of overcoming addiction.
I found that Audrey’s statement, “I have to let go of the feeling that my life did not turn out quite like I once planned and have embraced the possibility that it’s exactly like it was meant to be”, was profound. I think we can all relate.
It’s a quick read. Great message. Definitely recommend.
I bought this book because I came across Kimberly’s first book, “Buying the Farm”, several years ago and it quickly became, and remains, my favorite book. I have read it a couple of times a year since then and I was excited to see she had published a second book. I read the summary and decided that I probably wouldn’t relate, but I would read it anyways because I love the author.
This is a difficult book to review because, although the book is fictional, the story is bold and real, very relatable and is reality for many. It conveys a message. It makes you stop and think. You don’t ever know what someone may be going through. It could be you. It could be your neighbor. You just don’t ever know.
Although I don’t relate to the struggles of alcoholism or using alcohol as a coping mechanism, I quickly related to the emotions of being a wife, a mother and a caretaker of a child with ongoing health issues and the struggles of being a parent of a teenager in this day and age of modern technology.
All characters are well developed, lovable and relatable. This is a great story that leaves you with a stronger will, reminds you of the importance of family and relationships, the importance of communication in every relationship and the difference and impact that just being involved and present can, and will, make in a child’s life, not to mention the life-changing impact of overcoming addiction.
I found that Audrey’s statement, “I have to let go of the feeling that my life did not turn out quite like I once planned and have embraced the possibility that it’s exactly like it was meant to be”, was profound. I think we can all relate.
It’s a quick read. Great message. Definitely recommend.
April 8, 2018
Wow!
Loved this book. From start to finish. From amusing (in parts) at the beginning, to dramatic, to heartbreaking, to heartwarming. Bravo!
Loved this book. From start to finish. From amusing (in parts) at the beginning, to dramatic, to heartbreaking, to heartwarming. Bravo!
March 2, 2019
I received a free copy of this book through the GoodReads FirstReads program.
"Audrey Anonymous" is about a wife of a businessman in constant travel and mother of a teenage daughter and autistic son who finds the means of coping with her life with alcohol. It takes two severe incidents for her to realize how bad her problem is and to decide if it's worth it to turn her life around.
I'd give this book 2.5 stars if I could, but I rounded up to 3 because it started getting a bit better near the end. Most of the early part of the book isn't really fun to read as the author spends much of the time telling rather than showing. This approach also makes it hard to believe our first-person narrator, who makes it pretty clear from the get-go that she has a problem and she knows it and only pretends to be in denial to serve as a plot device. The narrator becomes more believable after , and stays at that point through the rest of the book - but the beginning is spent trying to lay the groundwork quickly, which means Audrey pretty much says "Yes, I have a drinking problem, except I'm gonna say I don't." It would be more believable if she described the drinking more incidentally and didn't dwell on it, only letting us know it was a problem by frequency of reference. The other characters were largely convincing, so it really was just the narrator that I struggled to believe.
I did really like the sort-of twist at the end that .
"Audrey Anonymous" is about a wife of a businessman in constant travel and mother of a teenage daughter and autistic son who finds the means of coping with her life with alcohol. It takes two severe incidents for her to realize how bad her problem is and to decide if it's worth it to turn her life around.
I'd give this book 2.5 stars if I could, but I rounded up to 3 because it started getting a bit better near the end. Most of the early part of the book isn't really fun to read as the author spends much of the time telling rather than showing. This approach also makes it hard to believe our first-person narrator, who makes it pretty clear from the get-go that she has a problem and she knows it and only pretends to be in denial to serve as a plot device. The narrator becomes more believable after , and stays at that point through the rest of the book - but the beginning is spent trying to lay the groundwork quickly, which means Audrey pretty much says "Yes, I have a drinking problem, except I'm gonna say I don't." It would be more believable if she described the drinking more incidentally and didn't dwell on it, only letting us know it was a problem by frequency of reference. The other characters were largely convincing, so it really was just the narrator that I struggled to believe.
I did really like the sort-of twist at the end that .
December 5, 2020
I received a free copy of this book through the GoodReads FirstReads program.
"Audrey Anonymous" is about a wife of a businessman in constant travel and mother of a teenage daughter and autistic son who finds the means of coping with her life with alcohol. It takes two severe incidents for her to realize how bad her problem is and to decide if it's worth it to turn her life around.
I'd give this book 2.5 stars if I could, but I rounded up to 3 because it started getting a bit better near the end. Most of the early part of the book isn't really fun to read as the author spends much of the time telling rather than showing. This approach also makes it hard to believe our first-person narrator, who makes it pretty clear from the get-go that she has a problem and she knows it and only pretends to be in denial to serve as a plot device. The narrator becomes more believable after , and stays at that point through the rest of the book - but the beginning is spent trying to lay the groundwork quickly, which means Audrey pretty much says "Yes, I have a drinking problem, except I'm gonna say I don't." It would be more believable if she described the drinking more incidentally and didn't dwell on it, only letting us know it was a problem by frequency of reference. The other characters were largely convincing, so it really was just the narrator that I struggled to believe.
I did really like the sort-of twist at the end that .
"Audrey Anonymous" is about a wife of a businessman in constant travel and mother of a teenage daughter and autistic son who finds the means of coping with her life with alcohol. It takes two severe incidents for her to realize how bad her problem is and to decide if it's worth it to turn her life around.
I'd give this book 2.5 stars if I could, but I rounded up to 3 because it started getting a bit better near the end. Most of the early part of the book isn't really fun to read as the author spends much of the time telling rather than showing. This approach also makes it hard to believe our first-person narrator, who makes it pretty clear from the get-go that she has a problem and she knows it and only pretends to be in denial to serve as a plot device. The narrator becomes more believable after , and stays at that point through the rest of the book - but the beginning is spent trying to lay the groundwork quickly, which means Audrey pretty much says "Yes, I have a drinking problem, except I'm gonna say I don't." It would be more believable if she described the drinking more incidentally and didn't dwell on it, only letting us know it was a problem by frequency of reference. The other characters were largely convincing, so it really was just the narrator that I struggled to believe.
I did really like the sort-of twist at the end that .
October 7, 2018
This book "felt" pretty honest to me - mom dealing with an autistic son, teen daughter, and mostly absent father (but hooray for the paycheck). Much of the book is spent in Audrey's head, and it's easy to see how the drinks are her one dependable thing (as least in her mind), along with the shame (trying to hide the bottles) and anger. My biggest beef with the book? I had a hard time believing the events around the car accident, especially knowing one of the people involved is in recovery (and seeing the awful accident, wouldn't the desire be for Audrey to be held accountable and seek help?). And honestly, with what IS depicted in the book: would that have been enough for Audrey to admit her problem? I know hitting bottom is different for each person, but I'm just not convinced it had gotten bad enough yet.
I read the author's previous book and it was solid, but I felt it could have been so much better with a strong editor. This book falls in the same category (cut some of the redundant chatter, define the characters a bit better).
I read the author's previous book and it was solid, but I felt it could have been so much better with a strong editor. This book falls in the same category (cut some of the redundant chatter, define the characters a bit better).
March 23, 2018
As a recovering alcoholic, I found it hard to get through this book. While I understand that everyone’s lives and addictions are different, I just found a lot of things to be unbelievable. Audrey’s kids would have surely been taken away in real life. I feel like the author tried to fit too much into one story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 4, 2025
a family’s dysfunction recovery
Another good read by Kimberly Conn and very different from her first one, Easy to read and maintained interest. Very well developed characters capturing a family’s struggle with adolescence, caring for a special needs child, aloof and absent father and alcoholism.
Another good read by Kimberly Conn and very different from her first one, Easy to read and maintained interest. Very well developed characters capturing a family’s struggle with adolescence, caring for a special needs child, aloof and absent father and alcoholism.
July 14, 2022
Another amazing Kimberly Conn book
Kimberly Conn teaches us how to love our challenging lives. My favorite book of all time will always be Buying The Farm, but Audrey Anonymous is right behind it.
Kimberly Conn teaches us how to love our challenging lives. My favorite book of all time will always be Buying The Farm, but Audrey Anonymous is right behind it.
August 19, 2023
understanding addiction
I like the candidness of the narration describing why she choose alcohol as an outlet from the real problem. I hated that the dog was killed but he was a key player in helping and also connection for the boy.
I like the candidness of the narration describing why she choose alcohol as an outlet from the real problem. I hated that the dog was killed but he was a key player in helping and also connection for the boy.
September 26, 2018
It's been an interesting story.
The plot is an interesting one and sometimes predictable. I would definitely recommend It to anyone with similar life situations.
The plot is an interesting one and sometimes predictable. I would definitely recommend It to anyone with similar life situations.
February 26, 2019
Good read
This is a good book. I enjoyed it and will read more of her books. Kimberly Cohn is a greater writer.
This is a good book. I enjoyed it and will read more of her books. Kimberly Cohn is a greater writer.
February 21, 2019
Realizing a review of my review necessary! So I’ve removed the extensive review and will repost it when I’ve given it proper attention to detail.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews