You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I love Jennifer Weiner. I have read every single one of her books. However, I have to admit that she has completely resigned herself to the "chick lit" genre, and while she used to straddle that line intelligently, she's abandoned growth and different plot lines and has dove head first into the romantic comedy fiction genre. I love her in a guilty way now, as her last three books have revealed that she is merely cranking out novels for one particular style of audience. I will continue to read her books religiously because I still love her in spite of myself, but it's more of a guilty pleasure now instead of being purely enjoyable.
I struggled with this book a little bit. I couldn't and could relate to the main character. It was frustrating to read about the decisions that she made. I had trouble with her problems because they were such "first world" problems, but I guess it can be easy to get caught up in our bubble. That being said, I can see how her addiction happens to people, especially upper middle class women, who feel the need to put on a show.
The details about addiction were interesting enough, and the book was easy enough to read, that I finished it. But all in all I had that cotton candy feeling I so often get from chick lit. It was good fun at first, then too familiar, and finally I started to wonder why I thought reading it was a good idea.
Allison always expected to stop working when she started her family, but unfortunately life had other plans. Right when the family was getting started her husband’s job got downsized and her blog exploded. Suddenly, she makes more than her husband, but she is still expected to do everything a stay at home mom does. After suffering a back injury, Allison discovers the escape in painkillers. What started out as a temporary release quickly becomes all consuming. She is ordering pills off of the Internet and taking up to 20 pills in one day. Through a series of issues, Allison is no longer able to hide her problem. Will she accept help and stop using? Will she admit that she is an addict?
All Fall Down is a realistic fiction story that has its strong points, but also some issues. Readers will notice that Allison is not an average person. She has money and access to resources that only the rich have. This book helps readers know that addiction is NOT a “poor man’s” problem. Addiction comes in all shapes and sizes, and if readers embrace this philosophy, they will reap many benefits from this book. Weiner’s character and story are well developed, as always, and readers will want to keep reading and not put the volume down. Although this is an adult book, teens who enjoy reading about people overcoming personal issues will want to try this book.
All Fall Down is a realistic fiction story that has its strong points, but also some issues. Readers will notice that Allison is not an average person. She has money and access to resources that only the rich have. This book helps readers know that addiction is NOT a “poor man’s” problem. Addiction comes in all shapes and sizes, and if readers embrace this philosophy, they will reap many benefits from this book. Weiner’s character and story are well developed, as always, and readers will want to keep reading and not put the volume down. Although this is an adult book, teens who enjoy reading about people overcoming personal issues will want to try this book.
So overall for the first 50% of the book I really enjoyed the storyline. However about half way through I kind of lost interest and as it continued I found myself skimming pages. Then it just kind of ends. Hated the protagonist the entire time. She was so whiny and unlike able in so many areas. I gave it 3 stars because I did enjoy the authors writing style and I was invested for the first half
I love how Jennifer Weiner's books are contemporary fiction for women without being classified as romance books. She always writes about real scenarios that we may not otherwise think about happening, even though the story could occur right down the street. This book definitely has a serious storyline, but is still enjoyable and has funny moments. :)
I liked this book very much. It was the right amount of happy and sad and hopeful.
This being my first JW book, it's impossible for me to compare, though I've heard that in this novel, her newest, she departs from her usual lighthearted tone. In this novel, there is definitely still a sense of humor, though it edges on the dark side more often than not, and the crux of the story centers around obligation, pressure, and addiction... not terribly lighthearted topics. What struck me the most was how much I could relate to the protagonist's overwhelmed feelings, so does that mean I could possibly fall down the same rabbit hole that she does? By making such a believable character, Weiner immediately connects with readers, and the story becomes horrifying to think about in all its realism. Raw and truthful, this novel explores how quickly things in a seemingly perfect life can completely fall apart.