The author, Anna Quindlen, is a master of her craft; she clearly understands how to artfully use language to weave a portrait of survivors of the death of Annie, a woman who died far too young. Annie left behind a husband and three children and a best friend who need to find ways to cope with and make sense of this tragedy. It took me a while to read this book (more than it typically does) because it is very somber which left me able to digest it in small does at a time). We see with a great deal of detail how each person is suffering because Annie was the linchpin of her universe. Everyone relies on her. The best friend was quite literally pulled from the depths of despair by Annie, now needing to learn how to do it for herself to prevent herself from going under again. One of the boys is acting out in reaction. The older girl is needing to parent but needs parenting herself as the father, while trying to cope as best he can, needs help that he doesn't know how to ask for himself.
It was a good book, however, it is not for those who need something uplifting, or for those who are looking for an action filled plot line--it is very character driven--which worked for me because I liked the characters.
The book is in large sections--chapters are VERY long, even though there are gaps between shorter sections indicated by white space. That was hard for me because I prefer short or medium chapters. However, all in all this was a good book that delves deeply into character study.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing with an opportunity to read this book.

Another beautifully written book by Anna Quindlen - this one is amount grief and friendship and love. There are parallel stories across generations of best friends and secrets. I found all of the characters to be compelling and realistic and there were many moments I cried. The sudden death happens in the beginning of the book so the rest of the book is focused on the impact of Annie on others (in life and death). From her husband, children and best friend and the people she took care of in her job at an assisted living facility. I found this to be a really interesting read - and at times it felt long and other times parts of the plot felt a bit contrived. But even with these comments, I still recommend this as a very powerful read. The characters will stay with you for days after reading this and probably even longer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

A sad and moving story about loss, grief and having to grow up too fast. Ali, was by far my favorite character although all the character development was great. While sad, this book gives hope and resilience to the thought of loss, as over the course of a year, there is much healing. Anna Quindlen is still on top of her game.

I have read and enjoyed several of Anna Quindlen’s earlier novels, so I was eager to read an advance copy of her newest novel, After Annie, due to be published in late February 2024.

Anna Quindlen’s new novel shares the heartfelt and touching story of a young family’s grief after the sudden, tragic death of the titular character, Annie. As always, Quindlen’s writing flows easily and naturally, and her characters are well-drawn and easy to “know.” The pacing is consistent in this compelling, highly readable story. After Annie is a moving exploration of love and grief – and their power to bring about change and growth in even the darkest times.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published in the United States on February 27, 2024.

4 stars

Anna Quindlen’s novels always affect me deeply, and After Annie left me in tears, but hopeful for the book’s characters. After Annie is the story of people left behind after the sudden loss of Annie—her husband, her children, her best friend—and how their lives were impacted during the first year after her death. The novel presents a realistic picture of crippling grief and is not always easy to read. The characters will stay with me for a long time. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for the advance reader copy of this emotional, character-driven novel.

I’m a big fan of Anna Quindlen’s fiction and non-fiction. While the book was well written and I grew to know the characters; I found the story quite sad. I don’t want to give away the plot but let’s just say “After Annie” is just that, how a young family and best friend survive and manage their grief after loss of a mother, spouse and best friend. It’s a quick read and I will say I liked it but I’ve loved other Anna books more.

3.9. An interesting novel that centers on the tragic impact of a relatively young mother’s death on the family and close friends. The book realistically deals very well with the unexpected death, grief, pain and loss that the friends and family experience, from the very young, to the teens, to the father and Annie’s best friend Annemarie. No one is prepared whenever someone close passes away, but more so when it just happens out of the blue. Ms Quindlen did a very good in looking at the loss from all the characters as well as their journey to move ahead. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased and candid review

AFTER ANNIE
Anna Quindlen

Bill's wife, Ali, and Anthony’s mom, Annemarie’s best friend- all dead. One person, one life, much grief, and an overwhelming loss.

For Bill, the days will never end without the universe showing him what he lost when Annie died. For Ali and Anthony, without their cheerleader and secret keeper they find themselves suddenly unseen when the only person who truly saw them dies. Now ghosts of their prior selves, they struggle to move forward, feeling forever trapped in a world that doesn’t exist anymore.

For Annemarie, it’s a matter of life and death.

Annie and Annemarie have been friends for what feels like forever. Annemarie struggles with an addiction to opioids. They have done nothing but wreck and ravage her life, yet it continues. Annie was Annemarie’s bridge to the other side of herself. A side that wanted safety and security and everything that comes with happily ever after.

Now that bridge is gone, and Annemarie is lost and untethered. Unable to find her way back to herself.

AFTER ANNIE is about their friendship. About the parts of Anne Marie that ceased to exist when Annie died. This is about Annie’s life and everything after her death.

There are a lot of character names that start with “A”, but nothing is confusing, each character stands on their own. Annemarie’s story sounds a lot like other stories you have heard. The character construction feels genuine. These people feel like people you know, people you’ve heard about, people you care about.

The writing felt effortless which takes a lot of work behind the scenes. I appreciated the dynamics between the characters. Those living and those no longer.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House, and Penguin Random House Audio for the advanced copies!

AFTER ANNIE…⭐⭐⭐⭐

Anna Quindlen is a master of contemporary fiction. In this tale, ordinary people need to find their way out of an extraordinary and unexpected situation, each on their own unique path. It speaks to the strength of family and friends, and a resiliency from tragedy. The characters are real, the setting and circumstances relatable. And the ending is satisfying.

After Annie by Anna Quindlen

This extremely well thought out and well written family saga by Anna Quindlen takes the reader through a family’s grief after a dear wife/mother/bestfriend unexpectedly passes away. No one is prepared, and there is much to learn about those left behind.

Secrets are revealed along the path of grief, and growth is inevitable. It’s a touching story of love, long-time friendship and the unexpected happenings we call life.

Quindlen is a master storyteller who continues to amaze us. This five star book published by Random House will stay with the reader a long time after the last page is finished.

Not a lot of plot here. A family struggles to move on following the death of their mother/wife. I found it pretty sad. Amazing how it was the teenage daughter who really was instrumental in helping the family move forward. While it was a story well told, it just wasn’t that interesting or memorable other than the fact that therapy really is helpful. I felt that how the children reacted and their dad was very true in understanding the death of their mother. I really felt for the oldest daughter who had so much responsibility thrust upon her while the dad wallowed in his grief. Many thanks to #netgalley #afterannie #anniaquindlen for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"After Annie" by Anne Quindlen tenderly explores the intricate web of emotions woven in the aftermath of loss. Quindlen masterfully navigates the complexities of grief through the lens of a shattered family and a loyal friend grappling with the absence of their beloved Annie. In this poignant narrative, readers witness the transformative journey of Bill, Annie's husband, and Annemarie, her closest confidante, as they navigate the void left by her sudden departure. However, it is Annie's daughter, Ali, who emerges as the resilient beacon of hope, shouldering the responsibility of holding her fractured family together while navigating the tumult of adolescence.

Quindlen delicately captures the essence of loss and resilience, portraying how even in the face of profound sorrow, love endures as a guiding force. Through nuanced character development and rich emotional depth, "After Annie" illuminates the profound impact of love and loss on the human spirit. Quindlen's prose is both lyrical and poignant, inviting readers to contemplate the enduring power of love and the resilience of the human heart. "After Annie" is a heartfelt tribute to the enduring bonds that transcend even death, leaving a lasting impression on the reader's soul.

A story of love, loss, and surviving. Annie is a young mother of four, happily married with many many friends who adore her. She dies suddenly of an embolism . Everyone is lost without her. But gradually, as they grieve , it becomes clear that her love and her strength helps them to survive the loss. A story hard to read but so beautiful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After Annie, by Anna Quindlen, is a challenging and yet, compelling story of one family's struggle during the first year after their beloved wife and mom suddenly dies. Told primarily from the viewpoints of the eldest daughter, the husband, and the best friend, this is a novel of pain, loss, and profound love. For those of you asking why you would want to read a book that sounds so depressing, I urge you to try it because it is also incredibly uplifting and hopeful. These characters find strength and greater love for each other as they grapple with their loss. Quindlen is a master of creating nuanced, imperfect, and very real characters and families. She captures the waves of contradictory emotions and reactions, and recognizing ourselves in this family was somehow comforting. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. I will miss this family!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the beautiful new book by an absolute favorite, Anna Quindlen - 5 stars!

Annie Brown dies suddenly in her late 30s of a brain aneurysm, leaving behind her husband and 4 children to grieve her loss, along with Annie's best friend from childhood, Annemarie. We follow along their path in the wake of Annie's death for the next year.

You already know this book will be gorgeously written because it's by Anna Quindlen, but this simple book of grief is so much more in her capable hands. Told from the POVs of Bill, eldest daughter Ali (only 13), and Annemarie, we see the family deal with Annie's loss in different ways. Ali has to grow up too soon and takes charge of her siblings, while Bill tries to move on without really facing all of his new responsibilities. Annemarie falls back into her dangerous addictions without Annie to keep her on track. But what I really loved were the more subtle themes of knowing in your heart and soul what will make you happy, and then being true to that. Letting those around us really see us and help us when we need it and stand up for us. Sometimes friends do that more than family (contrast the nursing home resident with Bill's mom!). This is an absolute must read - while it's sad, it's also uplifting and hopeful. I know I will keep thinking about this family.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this E-ARC. This book was a very had read for me because Ive also lost my mom. While I was not Ali's age I could understand her so much. I sobbed in some parts that hit way too close to home I laughed and I was so happy to see them get out of that dark place. Seeing what Bill the husband went thru helped me see my dad and his grief in a different way. I loved seeing the different POV of Annie and how her husband, daughter, and best friend saw her. I loved this book so much its just a book that you have to feel.

Annie (wife, mother of 4 young children, best friend) dies suddenly at home. This story follows her family; mainly her husband Bill, daughter Ali and best friend Annmarie, who are trying to navigate their lives without Annie and find their new normal.

OMG. This book gave me ALL the feels. It was so brutally honest and true to the storyline. Even though we learn of Annie’s death immediately, she is an integral part of the story and we get to know her so well thru her family and the lives she touched. She’s very much alive in the pages. The progression of the story, which happens over the first year, is so heartfelt that you can’t help but become involved. I cried while cheering this family on. This is a story full of love, resilience, strength, hope and the memories left behind and how we honor them. This book hit very close to home for me, bringing back so many memories, both happy and sad.

Ms. Quindlen does a wonderful job of letting us know who Annie is, and how her life, and death, affected those around her. This is a love story not to be missed. The characters are so relatable, each one facing their grief in their own way. I can’t recommend this book enough. I look forward to reading my backlist for this author.

Thanks to Ms Quindlen, Random House and NetGalley for this beautiful story. This is my honest opinion.

Love, loss, grief, and living are some of the themes of this gripping, beautiful, moving, and heartfelt novel. Annie is a young mother of four who dies of a brain aneurysm in the first chapter. The book follows her family and best friend through the first year after their loss. Each handles the loss in their own way. Her husband is initially lost but quickly seems to recover. Ant is angry and failing school. Annemarie is so lost without her best friend she fights to maintain her hard fought sobriety. Poor Ali bears the weight of the world on her shoulders. At age 13, she’s expected to be a caregiver to the younger boys, no one seems to pay her any attention except for the school counselor. As you would expect, this is a sad story, hard to read at times. My heart just went out to Ali and I had to fight not to get angry at the adults who ignored her. On top of everything else, she witnesses something she was never meant to see. Really appreciated the counselor who continued to try to assist Ali.

My thanks to Netgalley, the author and Random House

This is a lovely, 5* book that opens with the a mother of four dropping dead on her kitchen floor. Annie is mourned by her husband, her children and her best friend. The woman-sized hole she leaves in their lives is unbearable, but what choice do they have but to bear it and keep living. Her oldest children age too quickly to pick up the slack left by their mom's loss and their father's grief. Annie's best friend finds herself adrift in her own loss and addictions. As sad as this all is, Anna Quindlen always manages to help us believe that Annie's life is more than her loss, and that grief is a process of bringing the two to some balance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I try to read everything Anna Quindlen writes. Her stories are so affecting, so real, so relevant. She knows relationships, families and friendships. Her characters are genuine. Their situations are ones many of us have experienced: the loss of a loved one, formulating a path through hardship or grief, maybe with some stumbles, but always with hope.

Annie's story is a sad one - gone too young and without warning. The people she leaves behind - a husband, three little boys, a thirteen year old daughter, and a best friend who is now friendless - are at first at a loss how to go on. But gradually they will all come to see that a by-product of having Annie's love is that they now have inside of them the tools needed to move forward and how to help each other.

One of Quindlen's best.