Thank you to NetGalley for this free reader in exchange for an honest review. I have read several books by this same author and each time I am impressed with how poignant her stories are. This one was heartfelt and profound and I am glad I read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

I adore Anna Quindlen and had the pleasure of meeting her at a book signing for this novel. Her stories are so full of heart. You won't be sorry!

Title: After Annie
Author: Anna Quindlen
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: February 27, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Fluid • Resonant • Heartfelt

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Bill is overwhelmed without his beloved wife, and Annemarie wrestles with the bad habits her best friend had helped her overcome. And Ali, the eldest of Annie’s children, has to grow up overnight, to care for her younger brothers and even her father and to puzzle out for herself many of the mysteries of adult life.

Over the course of the next year what saves them all is Annie, ever-present in their minds, loving but not sentimental, caring but nobody’s fool, a voice in their heads that is funny and sharp and remarkably clear. The power she has given to those who loved her is the power to go on without her. The lesson they learn is that no one beloved is ever truly gone.

💭 T H O U G H T S

When I read the synopsis for After Annie I knew I wanted to read it and that it would likely be a book for me. I am surprised this was my first Anna Quindlen book, although I do have several others on my TBR.

Told in four seasonal sections, the narrative follows Annie's husband, children, and best friend for the first year following her sudden death. Although this is a quiet and simplistically written story, it explores the complexities of grief in such a beautiful manner. Through various perspectives it demonstrates how people grieve and navigate life in the after differently. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of Annemarie's (Annie's best friend) perspective because the death of a beloved friend is often overshadowed and overlooked as evidenced within the story.

Each of the characters is flawed in their own way, making them all relatable. As the novel navigates each of their plotlines individually it adds depth to the story, all while circling back to Annie. I will say the grandmother was absolutely harsh and awful - I am glad she was eventually put in her place.

Ultimately, After Annie is a hopeful narrative about finding a way forward, embracing the love that endures, and learning to live life even if its not the life you'd envisioned. There are many small moments sprinkled throughout that allow for reflection. The slower pace and character driven plot won't be everyone's cup of tea, yet it definitely worked for me. I look forward to reading more of Anna Quindlen's work down the road.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• character driven storylines
• exploring grief
• messy families

⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, death of partner, grief, medical trauma, mental illness, addiction, drug abuse, drug use, pregnancy, miscarriage, blood, sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, pedophilia, infidelity, eating disorder, toxic relationship

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"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."

"Maybe grief was like homesickness, something that wasn’t just about a specific person, but about losing that feeling that you were where you belonged, even if where you belonged seemed as everyday as brushing your teeth."

"You need to let them know that sadness shouldn't lead to silence."

I loved the focus on the best friend. How often, when we lose someone, do we focus on only the family. Friendship, especially female friendship, is so intense and I love that it had a place here.

In the opening chapter, Annie Brown, a young wife and mother of four, suddenly dies of a brain aneurysm while cooking dinner. The novel proceeds to explore the effect of Annie's death on her loved ones, focusing particularly on Annie's best friend, Annemarie, a recovering narcotics addict, Annie's oldest daughter Ali, who takes on a caretaking/household manager role at the young age of 14, and Annie's husband Bill, who immerses himself in his work as a plumber to avoid dealing with the realities of his wife's death. This is a sad and beautiful book exploring lots of heavy topics; not just grief, but trigger warnings abound for miscarriage, addiction, and sexual abuse of a child. Because of this, it won't be for everyone, but I loved it. Anna Quindlen is a gifted writer who put words to such specific emotions and situations, particularly in friendship and motherhood.

Annie dies in the opening scene; the story is about how her "typical" middle-class family (husband, 4 young kids) is affected. As such, I went in not expecting much of a plot, and maybe that's why a general lack of "plot" didn't bother me. This is character-study type of story, analyzing the effects of trauma on a family. Because of the beautiful, visceral writing, I found myself tearing up often and rooting for the family to pull themselves together. This novel will likely not appeal to people who want *more*! But I loved it, perhaps because I have kids and often had irrational stay-up-all-night fears of dying and leaving them motherless at a young age, and because I really enjoy Anna Quindlen's writing.

I would recommend to all my mom friends who want a tearjerker!

I am a fan of Quindlen's work and have read a great deal of it, but this novel felt somewhat flat. I don't think it would work well for teaching in a college classroom.

This book will break your heart over and over again, but still manage to put it back together again with hope and love. So many trigger warnings - sudden death, cancer, incest, miscarriage, and drug use. Although we cover all of these hot topics, nothing really happens in the year after Annie Brown's death, except everything happens. After Annie is a book about grief, but also about coming of age, both as an adolescent, a spouse, a best friend, and family. Highly recommended although it is a not an easy read if you have lost a loved one recently. Quick and highly impactful read.

When Annie Brown passes away unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm, her husband Bill is left to pick up the pieces, while simultaneously caring for their four young children. As the year passes, the family struggles to find their new normal. Ali, the oldest child, takes on a mothering role for her younger siblings, while Bill juggles work with mourning the loss of his wife. Annie's best friend, Annemarie, also struggles with her new normal. For so long, Annie has been her touchstone, seeing Annemarie through some of her darkest days. As time goes on, the family begins to rebuild without its matriarch, and ultimately a sense of hope emerges from the ashes of such a terrible loss.

In the vein of most of Quindlen's books, this book was so beautiful and raw in its simplicity. We witness a family's heartbreak, and then have a front row view into how they rebuild and come together stronger than ever. I breezed through this novel, and it was a nice change from the typical genres that I read. If you are a fan of Quindlen you have probably already read this, but if you are new to her as an author, I would highly recommend this read.

I have always ALWAYS been a fan of Anna. This book though, broke me.

So usually when the focus on a book is grief, most of the books I read have all been about the grief leading up to the death (Firefly Lane, Wrecked, and more). After Annie kicks into gear AFTER Annie dies.

Even though Annie has died, her spirit lives on in the book and she is truly a main character even though we hear nothing from her. Witnessing how her family and friends cope with losing her is both heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

Its a deep read and it brought out all sorts of emotions as I read it. This book speaks of healing and it focuses on loss and on healing and accepting the new normal.

Side note: This would be a fantastic boo kclub read.

This was a very heavy book but really tugs at your heartstrings. The story follows the grieving process of three people and how Annie's death affected each of them and how they came together with each other, as daughter, husband and best friend of Annie. Honestly, I loved how Anna handled each of these characters and showing how hard it was to talk about Annie and to see how Ali as the oldest had to take over as caregiver of her siblings because her dad had trouble. We follow their lives over the course of a year, and I loved the development of them, a quick read but definitely grabs your heart right from the beginning. There are a ton of tears to be had through the reading of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! This is a beautiful story about a family and what happens after a young mother dies. This is a human and difficult read, but it’s worth it!

A moving portrait of the family and friends left in the wake after a beloved friend, mother, and wife passes away unexpectedly. I held my breath as the children, husband, and Annie's best friend find their way.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Anna Quindlen’s After Annie is a poignant exploration of grief, resilience, and the enduring power of love. Known for her insightful and empathetic storytelling, Quindlen once again delivers a narrative that resonates deeply with readers.

 The novel centers around the sudden death of Annie Brown, a woman who was the emotional anchor for her family and friends. Her husband, Bill, and their four young children are left to navigate life without her guiding presence. The story unfolds as each character grapples with their loss, seeking ways to move forward while honoring Annie’s memory.

Quindlen excels in crafting characters that feel real and relatable. Bill’s journey from overwhelming grief to tentative hope is portrayed with raw honesty. His interactions with his children are particularly touching, highlighting the challenges of single parenthood in the face of profound loss.

After Annie delves into themes of love, loss, and the strength found in community. Quindlen’s writing is both lyrical and accessible, capturing the nuances of human emotion with precision and grace.

The novel’s pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the characters’ emotional journeys. Quindlen’s skillful use of flashbacks provides insight into Annie’s life and the impact she had on those around her, making her absence all the more poignant.

After Annie is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of grief and the enduring power of love. Anna Quindlen’s compassionate storytelling and deep understanding of human nature make this book a compelling read for anyone who has experienced loss or seeks to understand the transformative power of adversity. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ways in which love can help us heal and move forward.

After Annie turned out to be a little underwhelming for me. The author seems to have a loyal following and it is my first read from her, but after reading how it is her best work, I feel no desire to reach for Quidlen’s other titles.

After the death of a youngish mother, the plot revolves around three characters dealing with her loss. There is a thin line between the grief and moving on and the prose is rushing towards the latter and skipping chunks of the former which I was really excited to read about when I requested the advanced copy of the book. Is it unfortunate that the most interesting character in the novel is killed off so quickly as the rest doesn’t have enough substance and nuance to them for readers to actually care for any of the events described. I enjoyed the blasts from the past when Annie’s personality brought structure and brightness to the pages, but those moments were too brief.

Chapters in the book switch between perspectives of Annie’s husband, oldest child and her best friend. I feel like an additional hundred pages would do the novel good. At times huge chunks of the story happen in unwritten parts; it makes the characters actions feel a tad out of the blue. Nobody in the book seems to be mature which I found frustrating and Annie’s daughter goes straight into martyr mode after losing her mother. There was no need for her to blindly step into her mother's shoes and times call for a less dated approach. When the story follows the daughter, the writer is trying to be as cool as middle schoolers, but it felt cringy and poorly delivered. Not to mention the shock factor in her storyline, one that explodes and later is fully omitted.

It is a proper book, but there is a reason why publishers look for more these days. I could have spent those hours reading something that would actually immerse me into a detailed moving exploration of difficult topics. Instead I got this draft-like bunch of cliches, adding nothing fillers and a painful Disney movie ending. Annie is surely turning in her grave.

Some people are central to all their circles - family, friends, schools, churches, neighborhoods ... and such is Annie. When she dies, her influence continue to shape the lives of those who loved and knew her.

This book is full of characters you want to meet and get to know. You'll experience their emotions, their consideration of how to act and think, and their realization that life goes on but memories remain forever..

Anna Quindlen always writes book that make you sad as you read but happy with the ending. Annie Brown has no idea her headache will leave her dead and her family floundering but she does die and her 4 children, her husband and best friend are left bewildered and helpless.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.

Review: After Annie
Genre: Literary Fiction, Family Drama
{TW: Death of a caregiver, substance use}

After Annie is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of grief and healing. Despite knowing what the book was about, reading this book took my breath away with the raw pain that came from the pages as the characters navigated their own responses. Anna Quindlen writes emotion so well that it was overwhelming at times to read the character's emotions as it felt as though I was feeling those same emotions so often.

The story itself was very slow throughout, often contributing to my questioning about what the point of the novel was. On the opposite side of the same token, this book was incredibly engaging and I felt so strongly for the characters that I didn't mind that there didn't seem to be a lot of plot. I appreciated the real, raw depiction of grief and how it can often lead to reflection and a feeling of being lost.

Overall, this was a well written novel that I found myself absorbed by. This is a great novel for a reader who appreciates: character driven novels, human emotion as the primary plot point, and family dynamics as a central theme.

This was an okay book. I had a few issues with it. I read a while a go and don't remember much about it now.