After Annie

 

After Annie: A Novel  by Anna Quindlen. New York:Random House, 2024. 304 pages. Publication Date March 12, 2024. *****

Annie Brown dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm, leaving her husband, her four young children and her closest friend left to struggle without her. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed with advice from his mother, support from an old girlfriend and the needs of the children. Bill didn't realize how much Annie did in their lives and how much her planning made each day run smoothly. Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost without Annie’s support to keep her from her addiction. It falls to Annie's daughter, Ali, to take on her mother's duties and to seek help for her and her brothers while struggling to understand what is happening to her best friend. 

I received a copy from Netgalley to review. 

Anna Quindlen has written a poignant story about love, grief, acceptance, and family. Annie as a person is developed through the eyes of those who loved and knew her. Far from perfect, her message and beliefs are strong and filled with love. At times I wanted to know Annie and at others to be Annie. There are so many discussion points that I highly recommend this book for a Book Club book. Quindlen reminds us of the unpredictability of our lives and the importance of female friendships. 

From Amazon:

Anna Quindlen is the author of the bestselling novels Blessings and Rise and Shine, amongst others, and of the non-fiction titles Living Out Loud, Thinking Out Loud and A Short Guide to a Happy Life. Her New York Times column 'Public and Private' won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992. She is currently a columnist for Newsweek and lives with her husband and children in New York.

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