Anna Quindlen’s After Annie is an emotionally raw story—but oh so beautiful. It opens with a gut punch: Annie Brown collapses and dies, leaving behind a stunned husband, four grieving kids, and her best friend, Annemarie. From there, Quindlen doesn’t build a plot so much as she gently lays out the emotional wreckage and lets you sit with it.
Thirteen-year-old Ali takes center stage, trying to step into her mother’s shoes while barely understanding her own grief. Her relationship with Annemarie—who’s battling her own demons—is messy, tender, and real. There’s not a ton of action here, but that’s the point. This is about the quiet, day-to-day unraveling that comes after loss.
Quindlen’s writing is like fine wine. It’s smooth, rich, and lingers long after the last page. If you’re looking for twists and turns, you’ll be disappointed. But if you savor beautiful prose and honest characters fumbling through life’s hardest moments, pick this one up.
It’s a four-star read—deep, reflective, and filled with small, aching truths. Not flashy. Not fast. But definitely unforgettable.
4 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.