Although terribly sad, this is a wonderful story by the ever amazing Anna Quindlen. Told from the point of view of Annie's daughter, husband, and best friend, the characters are real and come to life. Readers must be encouraged to go beyond the devastating first page.

Annie is the vital, vibrant mother of four children. She’s still in her 30’s when she dies suddenly in her kitchen, in front of her husband and children. The entire novel addresses the impact and devastation caused by her death. Quindlen beautifully renders the grief, the chaos, and the difficulties of living with the loss of the beloved wife, mother and friend. Husband Bill is in a fog. He doesn’t know what to do or how to fill the gap. Their children Ali, Ant, Benji and Jamie are also devastated, although the two younger children don’t fully understand that mommy isn’t coming back. One other person who feels the loss as acutely as the family, is Annie’s longtime best friend Annmarie. Years earlier, Annie had saved Annmarie from total destruction and now Annmarie is facing a future without her lifeline.

The writing is gorgeous and the story is poignant. The main narrators are Ali (Alexandra), Bill and Annmarie. Each must deal with Annie’s death in their own way and they are really struggling. Kindly words of sympathy and commiseration do not help with the day-to-day existence of getting through life without the most essential person. This was a family that worked as a unit, with mom being the central cog. Now they must learn how to navigate with their loss. And Annmarie must figure out how to keep moving without her savior.

The book is sad, as any worthwhile book addressing death is. The loss is profound and is ongoing. Moving forward after such a shock is torturous and not without bumps in the road. Readers will feel heartbroken as they watch the family and the friend plod along, almost in a haze.

Anyone can sympathize with the turmoil and anguish surrounding Annie’s death. Such a sudden loss has tremendous impact. Quindlen writes with empathy and care. She presents a moving portrayal of a family and a friend in crisis. Heart-rending and emotionally powerful, a tremendous, touching novel.
4.5*

Full of emotions and a well written journey through a families loss of their mother. All the emotions, very tragic at times but definitely full of hope as well. My first by this author and she definitely captured a small town family and every side of their loss. Was a bit wordy at times and I would get frustrated but then there would be something perfect to make you laugh, cry or gasp. Very much enjoyed the story and the development of each family member over the year that the story is told and enjoyed the timeline being labeled by seasons.

I found the characters highly unlikeable and seemed to be competing as to who knew Annie the best. I couldn’t stand Bill and Annemarie. And forget about Bill’s mother. Also, way too many names that were similar (Annie, Annemarie, Ali, Ant…)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC ebook of After Annie in exchange for an unbiased review.

Quinlan lets readers know immediately that Annie Brown has died suddenly while preparing dinner for her family. Her husband and four young children witness her death. The book encompasses the next year as they deal with the loss of Annie.

The novel is told through the perspectives of three characters - Ali, Annie's oldest child and only daughter; Tom, Annie's husband; and Annemarie, Annie's best friend. Each suffers the weight of loss and each struggles. Ali at thirteen is suddenly in charge of her three younger brothers and the house; it was only a short time earlier that she was deemed old enough to babysit. Tom manages to keep working but ignores his family and their grief. Annemarie superficially handles the pain but finds solace in drugs. The other children, especially Ant, struggle as well. Without Annie they are sinking.

This is a novel about loss but, more importantly, it is a novel about love and family. A lovely book.

A touching tale of the sudden death of one young family’s mother and the year of agony they endure from grief. The story describes each member of the family and friend’s story of grief and their shared healing as the year passes.

Beautiful and melancholy I think this book really taps into the power of a mother and a wife and how they are the glue that holds families together.

My heartaches for all the characters in this book and I loved the conclusion it felt like a wonderful full circle kind of read.

I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a beautifully-written, emotional novel. Annie Brown died suddenly at the age of thirty-seven. The novel follows her husband, her eldest daughter, and her bet friend, in the year after her death. Everything was written about respectfully.

"After Annie" by Anna Quindlen is a poignant exploration of grief, resilience, and the enduring power of love. Quindlen's emotionally resonant prose brings to life the struggles of Annie's husband, children, and closest friend as they grapple with the sudden loss of the woman who held their lives together.

Through richly drawn characters and heartfelt storytelling, Quindlen delves into the complexities of loss and the transformative journey of healing that follows. The characters' raw emotions and struggles feel authentic, making their journey relatable and deeply affecting.

What sets "After Annie" apart is Quindlen's ability to infuse hope and warmth into a story about loss. Annie's presence looms large throughout the narrative, serving as a guiding light for those she left behind. Quindlen's exploration of grief is both tender and profound, offering readers a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.

Overall, "After Annie" is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will linger in the hearts of readers long after they've turned the final page.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I absolutely loved this book! This author has such a way of engrossing you in each character and this was no exception. The family dynamics in this story were so on point and I really related to Ali. Sad, yes, but left me filled with hope. Lovely book. Highly recommend

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦 is a poignant and heartfelt novel that delves into the complex emotions surrounding grief and loss within a family. The story revolves around the sudden death of Annie, the young mother of a large family, and the subsequent struggles they each face in coping with her absence.⁣
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Although this book did start off a little slow for me, I became drawn into the novel as the story progressed. I am so glad I kept reading. Quindlen's writing beautifully captures the rawness and vulnerability of the characters as they navigate through the stages of grief. The author explores the intricacies of each family member's grief journey, highlighting their individual ways of coping with the loss while also depicting the collective impact it has on their relationships.⁣
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One of the central characters, Annemarie, who was Annie's best friend, seemed strong at first but she too grappled with her own grief and struggles to come to terms with the void left by Annie's absence. Quindlen sensitively portrays Annemarie's inner turmoil, depicting her journey of finding solace and healing amidst the grief.⁣
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The novel not only focuses on the immediate aftermath of Annie's death but also explores how life continues to evolve for the family in the year that follows. Quindlen skillfully captures the bittersweet moments of moving forward while keeping the memory of Annie alive.⁣
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Overall, 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦 is a sensitive and delicate exploration of grief, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. The lack of pervasiveness of many modern conveniences almost gives this book a timeless quality. It is a moving and thought-provoking novel that reminds us of the power of love, friendship, and the strength to endure even the most devastating of losses.⁣
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Many thanks to @randomhouse for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Quindlen is a brilliant writer with an even more brilliant mind. I have thoroughly enjoyed all her books and this one was not exception. Although a little slow in spots, Quindlen's ability to connect the reader deeply with her characters had me invested from the jump. WIll definitely be carrying and recommending.

Annie works at a nursing home, her patients love her. Annie is a mother who takes care of her family and her family loves her for it. Annie is a cherished best friend. This beautifully written story is about what happens in the year after Annie dies. It covers how the family tries to get through the hard times and how Annie's best friend struggles. It was such a compelling story. I highly recommend.
Thanks to #netgalley, #randomhouse and @annaqwrites for an ARC of this book.

Another winner by one of the most amazing writers in women's fiction. Anna Quindlen proves you don't need a murder mystery to create tension, conflict, and a great story. Just ordinary people trying to get through an ordinary tragedy. She turns real life into art. A masterpiece.

I love Anna Quindlen’s books. This book breaks your heart right away and continues to chip away at it through the rest. I didn’t think I’d enjoy a book about grieving, but the humanity of the characters paired with the flashbacks really helped me feel connected to the type of person Annie was and the legacy she left behind. I loved the different perspectives, especially having a friend who grew up with her. As a mother now, it was special to read about the ways mothers are born into their new role and how it affects friendships and the need to have them evolve with you. I recommend this book!

When Anne “Annie” Fonzheimer Brown, a mother of four in her thirties, dies suddenly, her children, husband and lifelong best friend are left struggling to cope with their loss. Her husband Bill, reeling from the shock of his wife’s sudden demise and drowning in his own grief finds it difficult to juggle his business and family responsibilities, unable to fathom how to address their new reality with his four children - thirteen-year-old Alexandra “Ali”, eleven-year-old Anthony “Ant”, eight-year-old Benjamin “ Benjy”, and six-year-old James “Jamie”. Ali takes it upon herself to hold the family together, assuming the role of an adult to take care of her father and siblings, each of whom is missing their mother in their own way. Annemarie, Annie’s closest friend, who depended on Annie for support during her dark phases, falls back into her destructive habits, struggling to keep her life from hitting rock bottom.

The narrative follows these characters over the course of a year as they navigate life without Annie, whose unconditional love, support and guidance remain a source of strength even though she has passed on.

After Annie by Anna Quindlen is a beautifully penned, evocative character-driven story that explores loss, grief, addiction, family and remembrance. This is a quiet, slow-paced novel written in simple yet elegant prose. The characters are real and relatable, as are their emotions and reactions to the bereavement they experience and the people around them. The narrative is structured in segments covering the seasons of the following year. As her family members and best friend mourn Annie, we are given insight into who Annie was as a person and her dynamic with those around her, through their memories of her. The sub-plots revolving around the main characters add depth to narrative while also allowing us to explore their respective personal journeys over the course of a year. The story features several supporting characters, most of whom have a significant role to play. While shared loss can bring people together, grief also requires individuals to cope with their respective loss in their own space. The author brilliantly captures both these aspects - how grief manifests in different ways and how Annie’s near and dear ones, the adults and her children, gradually learn to move on in her absence, both as a family drawing strength from one another and as individuals with hope and emotional resilience. Needless to say, this is a thought-provoking story that inspires pause and reflection.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. .

If you are following my reviews in order, you will see that this is my third book in a row about loss. Good grief, what was I thinking? Well, I was thinking: I will read anything Anna Quindlen writes. (Because I have read them all.) And, if you know Anna Quindlen, you will also know that, having lost her own mother at a young age, most of her books, like Disney movies, involve the mother dying. Why, Anna, why? Oh, right, because you do it so well. And even though I knew in advance the mother was going to die (I think it's right there in the summary), it still took me by surprise. Because I had hoped... but there are so many beautiful moments in this book, so many disparate ways of dealing with grief amongst family members. Quindlen is a masterful storyteller, and while I would like her to let a mother live to a ripe old age, I will always be here for her, even if she doesn't.

This book was healing, hopeful and sad. I connected with the characters and the story It was a good read

Beautifully written but sad. A story of grief, family and love and loss, This book captures a family in their struggle after the loss of their mother. It goes back and forth in time to show how someone’s short time on earth can really make an impact.

Anna Quindlen’s quiet novel both invites us in and keeps us at arm’s length, which seems a fitting tone for a story steeped in grief and disbelief. The author deftly weaves together the befores and afters of Annie Brown’s all-too-short life, and Quindlen’s prose is what bumps the book from three to four stars.

As seems somewhat common with untimely deaths – only the good die young, right? – the Annie of the title is remembered reverently following her sudden death of an aneurism one evening while cooking dinner for her husband and four young children. “What would Annie do?” or “What would Annie say?” are unspoken threads, most particularly in the lives of her husband, Bill, best friend, Annemarie, and adolescent daughter, Ali, as each mourns for her in mostly silent, lonely ways.

Hardworking Bill can’t seem to step up and be the wise, affectionate, steady, nurturing dad his kids so desperately need in the aftermath of their mother’s death. Annemarie teeters between wanting to be supportive and being incredibly selfish and self-destructive as she struggles with an opioid addiction that Saint Annie earlier rescued her from (in a rather unrealistic and contrived manner, by the way). And Ali, on the brink of young womanhood – in all the ways eldest daughters may recognize – tries to mother her brothers in all things practical: waking them in the morning, getting them off to school, monitoring homework, and preparing dinner—not to mention trying to keep two smelly hamsters alive, perhaps a metaphor for the emotional neglect of this entire family.

An unnecessary side plot has the poor girl suspecting her enigmatic best friend may be the victim of incest. Not sure why that was necessary, except as a device to show Ali’s longing for her mother’s wisdom and advice, but that’s a pretty heavy load for an already grieving 13-year-old and the resolution is unsatisfying, like so many of life’s mysteries. The novel is structured into seasons—spring, summer, etc.—giving the family opportunities for dormancy, rebirth, and hope in the form of a compassionate school counselor who is the only adult who acts like a grownup.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read.