"After Annie" explores how the loss of one person can shape the lives of those who loved them.

When Annie Brown dies suddenly, in front of her husband and four young children, the space she leaves behind seems almost too large to fill, not just for her family, but also for her long-time best friend, Annemarie.

The story follows primarily Annie's husband, Bill, their oldest daughter, teenager Ali, and Annemarie as they grieve her loss and try to come to terms with what life looks like without her. Each has their own way of handling things, some healthier than others. But it's a shame that the teenager has to be the healthiest of them all.

Overall, I found this to be a bit of a downer, focusing on all the negative ways someone can process grief instead of more of the positive ways. It was hard watching everyone's lives fall apart until people finally got their acts together a year later. And while it does end on a more positive note, I can't say it was heartwarming or fulfilling in any way... Instead, most of the book is bleak and painfilled, with people behaving badly.

Thank you to Anna Quindlen, Random House and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Such a lovely quiet book. A young mother suddenly collapses in her home, and her family is left in the aftermath. It was thoughtful, troubling, and ultimately hopeful. What an exceptional person this Annie had been. It’s touching, with a lot of depth from difficult circumstances. So glad I read it!

After Annie is a moving, beautiful portrait of a family trying to heal from a sudden, unthinkable loss. Anyone who has ever grieved a love one deeply will find themselves reflected wisely and gently within these pages, while also finding compassion for those whose experiences and reactions differ from our own. After hearing the author speak in person onstage about the gestation of this story and how it evolved, I appreciated it even more. Anna Quindlen deserves to be a mainstay on any thoughtful reader's shelf.

Anna Quindlen has a way of making her characters unforgettable - by the middle of the book, the reader feels as if they are close personal friends telling their story over a cup of coffee or a beer. I grew up outside of Philadelphia, in South Jersey and I can hear that local accent when her characters speak. Quindlen takes ordinary situations and personalities and makes something both extraordinary and relatable. I wanted to hug Annie's preteen daughter and tell her she was doing a great job, shouldering more responsibility than she should have to, that everything would be alright. I also felt for Annie's husband, who is a well developed, 3 dimensional character, who is torn in two directions, unlike some womens fiction, where the male characters are either jerks, or just someone in the background. This book is written with so much emotion, yet it does not become maudlin. It is a book to get lost in and cry or cheer for the characters as they make their way through grief and grow stronger in the end, powered by Annie's undying love.

2.5 stars.

After Annie tells the story of three of the most important people to the titular character, Annie Brown, following her sudden death. Annie's husband Bill, their four children, and her best friend Annemarie, are left to grapple with the void left by her absence. Along with her struggle to move forward in a life without her mother at age thirteen, Annie's daughter, Ali, steps into the combination role of oldest sibling and caregiver within the household. Quindlen explores what the first year following Annie's death looks like for this trio of loved ones.

While I thought some of the dynamics explored between the characters and the flashbacks of Annie were thoughtful and heartfelt, this novel left a lot of unexplored emotions on the table. The distance between the narrative voice and the reader was far too removed for my tastes, preferring a deeper and more poignant excavation of grief. I wanted something far more personal and far more introspective, but instead I only got a vague sense of Annie herself and who she was to these three people in her life.

One of the problems that permeated the novel for me was this strange lack of anchoring on the timeline, which was one of the ways that kept me from really connecting. Annie, Bill, and Annemarie (along with the other adults) felt of another time period, like they were adults from a generation or two before mine, especially with as disconnected as they were in the wake of Annie's death. Bill, in particular, seemed completely devoid of any idea at all of how to communicate properly with his kids.

Additionally, there was an odd choice made for a classmate of Ali's — something that's both revealed and left unresolved in the end — that seems to be there for no particular reason other than a nodding acknowledgment of "some things just can't be fixed."

This one just never pulled me in, and I felt like an outsider the whole time.

After Annie is the story of Annie’s husband, four children and best friend dealing with her sudden death. It is beautifully written, incredibly emotional and wonderfully engaging. I enjoyed the uplifting story of healing and remembering and realizing like will go on after tragedy. Highly recommend!

4.5

Annie Brown, a young mom of four kids, who suddenly dies in her kitchen while making dinner for the family. She leaves her husband, her children, her best friend AnneMarie, her co-workers and the people she cared for at work in shock and bereft. We follow their stories through seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter - the phases of what their family goes through in their grief, loss and how to live life without her and with each other in new ways.

I thought this would be a really depressing book but Anna Quindlan is such a great storyteller and is fantastic at creating such depth in her characters. Such a beautiful story that I'm still thinking about.

My thanks to Net Galley and Random house for an advanced copy of the e-book and the physical book.

I really enjoyed After Annie as I was reading it, but reflecting back I do have some issues with parts of the novel. First, I'll start with what I really enjoyed - I think Anna Quindlen does a wonderful job writing about the aftermath of Annie's death and the way the family works through their grief. It's a really tender story that captures how different people experience grief and what that does to the family unit as they are all figuring out a new way of life without their mother/wife/best friend. I was a little let down by the end and I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly what my issue is - I felt like the storyline with Ali and Jenny was just not necessary to be honest, I'm not sure why we needed that or what it added to this story about Ali's family and their grief, it just felt like filler. I also didn't love Bill dating (??) Ms. Cruz; again, I just think that was unnecessary and unrealistic.

This was my second Anna Quindlin novel, I have also read Every Last One years ago and enjoyed it. I will definitely read more of work, I love her writing, but this one just wasn't my favorite. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the e-ARC of After Annie.

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.