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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I think this book was by far my favorite Jennifer Weiner book I have read to date. It had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I do wish Weiner would have made the main character tumble a little harder in her addiction than what she did, but still a very good read.
This was my first Jennifer Weiner book and I enjoyed it! A really quick "read" (I listened to the audio version), maybe somewhat predictable but still very good. I'll definitely read more by this author. The narrator, Tracee Chimo, was excellent!
This was my first Jennifer Weiner book but it will not be my last. I loved this story because there were times when I laughed, that I hated the main character, that I loved her and times I had tears falling down my cheeks. Such a well thought out look at addiction from the unlikely eyes of this addict.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All Fall Down centres around Allison who outsiders may believe has it all. She’s got a successful career, a husband, a beautiful home and an adorable daughter. However, Allison has demons. She’s dealing with a marriage that seems to be failing, her father is suffering from Alzheimers which her mother isn’t coping with. The only thing that makes Allison feel better and feel like she can cope is taking prescription drugs. Allison’s life spirals out of control and All Fall Down deals with a woman’s story of addiction and the road to recovery.
Allison isn’t the most likeable character. It took me a while to get used to her. She’s incredibly selfish and comes across as particularly cold. There were moments of the story that I found to be a little bit unbelievable and some of the pacing was a little bit fast, particularly towards the end, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless!
Allison isn’t the most likeable character. It took me a while to get used to her. She’s incredibly selfish and comes across as particularly cold. There were moments of the story that I found to be a little bit unbelievable and some of the pacing was a little bit fast, particularly towards the end, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was ready to be surprised by this book, because the plot synopsis made it seem so wildly different than the other book I'd read by Weiner ( Big Summer ) but weirdly, they felt similar in a lot of ways.
I think the main way they felt so similar was the main characters - despite obvious differences, both women were freelancers/influencers who made a lot of money doing what they're doing, despite being kind of boring... The plotline about Allison's addiction was obviously pretty interesting but still came across as overdone. My favourite part was all the other characters in rehab - I wish we'd learned more about them and their stories, and spent less time with whiny Allison martyring herself for her family.
I think the main way they felt so similar was the main characters - despite obvious differences, both women were freelancers/influencers who made a lot of money doing what they're doing, despite being kind of boring... The plotline about Allison's addiction was obviously pretty interesting but still came across as overdone. My favourite part was all the other characters in rehab - I wish we'd learned more about them and their stories, and spent less time with whiny Allison martyring herself for her family.
I was listening to this one and just gave up. Was it due to the reader's voice? My dislike of the main character? The impending marital breakdown? I don't know but I was disappointed not to like a Jennifer Weiner book. She has always been a favorite.
This audiobook was thrilling and kind of anxiety-producing and -torpedoing at the same time? I found myself straying at times because I got really impatient with our narrator/protagonist.
This book is a lot of Housewives of Orange County, though with working mothers, and a little bit of Orange is the New Black thrown in. Allison is living with the pressures of "having it all" and gets lost in her painkiller drug addiction. She nearly drives while intoxicated and her husband finds out and stages a sort of intervention. Allison finds out her mother has been an alcoholic her whole life and has hidden it. I would've liked to have Allison encounter at least one other person like her. Only addicted to painkillers. While it is still very serious, I think it took longer for her to realize she had a problem because she wasn't doing the hard stuff. And in recent years many people are getting addicted or OD-ing on pain killers so it would be nice if they could've thrown Allison a bone at some point, if only for the readers who may also be going down that pathѓ?? I'm not sure if addicts read though, I'm sure they do early on.
I appreciate that everything didn't end as a happy ending. Because it almost never does for an addict. So I liked that her and Dave still didn't live together, and she knew her limits to not help Aubrey by letting her crash with Allison. She is growing and getting better and concentrating on herself.
The only thing that was missing was what Sarah thought and whether she was allowing Allison to work part time or not. How was Allison paying for her apartment?
All in all it was a great book. And helped me understand, if only a little, the addiction disease and reinforce the family connections with addiction.
I appreciate that everything didn't end as a happy ending. Because it almost never does for an addict. So I liked that her and Dave still didn't live together, and she knew her limits to not help Aubrey by letting her crash with Allison. She is growing and getting better and concentrating on herself.
The only thing that was missing was what Sarah thought and whether she was allowing Allison to work part time or not. How was Allison paying for her apartment?
All in all it was a great book. And helped me understand, if only a little, the addiction disease and reinforce the family connections with addiction.