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've read quite a few book by this author and just didn't like this one at all. There were a lot of pharmaceutical errors in this book like the fact that Percocet cannot, by law, have refills and other such errors that really distracted me. I disliked Ellie as a character and hated that she always spoke in all CAPS. And The Sound of Rehab....really??? I'm giving this 3 stars though because I've enjoyed Ms. Wieners books in the past.
Not your typical Jennifer Weiner book. It was hard to get into because the main character is insufferable. However, that was the setup for a revealing character arc. I was glad I stuck with it because I think her depiction of suburban addiction was accurate and uncomfortably real.
After a negative experience meeting Weiner at a reading for her last novel, The Next Best Thing, I haven't felt the same about her writing, and All Fall Down was not the book to bring me back around. The supporting characters were underdeveloped, and there's an entire plot line involving the main character, Allison's, father that warrants one weak chapter, then gets referenced over and over as a crucial development. It was a quick read, but mostly because I wanted to be able to move on from Allison.
This was making me way too anxious while reading.
(3.5) I'm a big fan of Weiner and I'm enjoying her foray into dramatic fiction. Her pacing of the MC's fall into addiction was timed well and I appreciated the book sectioned into parts: the beginning, the descent, the fall, rehab and life after. The only thing I didn't like was her husband David. He was SO detached. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be married to an addict but he seemed so unfeeling. Hated him but liked everything else. Good read!
Read this on my mom's old iPad... on her kindle app. This was OK. Felt very go ask Alice or after school special too many times. Also, Allison's husband is an ass.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
This review was originally published on https://herbigmouth.wordpress.com.
Allison Weiss leads a double life. On the outside, everything is perfect – she has an attractive husband, cute daughter, and a successful career as a blog writer. However, she’s becoming increasingly worried that her husband is cheating, her daughter is acting out, and her parents’ are barely able to cope with her father’s Alzheimer’s. Initially, she relies on prescription Vicodin and Percocet to dull her problems. When those aren’t enough, she purchases Oxy Contin online illegally. Soon her life begins to unravel – she’s stealing money from work, lying, tired all the time, and the last straw, she almost drives with her five year old in the car when she’s under the influence. Her husband is furious and her mother is concerned. They send her to rehab where she meets Aubrey, Mary and a whole slew of other addicts. At first, she’s doing everything in her power to get out. She isn’t made in the image of the other addicts. She’s educated, her attendance isn’t court mandated and she has never done street drugs. But the healing doesn’t begin until after she is able to admit that she has a problem.
All Fall Down isn’t the light and humorous read that I’m used to from her. She focuses on the psyche of a young mother in the downward spiral of addiction – which at times can be heartbreaking and upsetting. What I thought Weiner got across really well was Allison’s desperation – for more pills, for her husband’s love and attention, for a way out of her situation – but I was surprised to feel dislike towards Allison because she wanted the easy way out. It wasn’t until she admits to having a substance abuse problem that I really began to care about what will happen in her life– Does she stay with her husband? Does her daughter outgrow her “acting out” phase? Does her mother become more independent?
Weiner’s novels have always been one of my go-to guilty pleasures after I read Good in Bed in university. What drew me to her books initially was that her heroines weren’t made from the traditional chick lit stock that I was reading. They had good jobs, were financially independent, and not a size 2. They were struggling with their weight – just like me. I found them to be more relatable than the characters that were a size less than zero, shopaholics or looking for Mr. Right to give them their happily-ever-after. It’s not one of my favourites (of Weiner’s) but it’s still an enjoyable, if not slightly disturbing read.
Allison Weiss leads a double life. On the outside, everything is perfect – she has an attractive husband, cute daughter, and a successful career as a blog writer. However, she’s becoming increasingly worried that her husband is cheating, her daughter is acting out, and her parents’ are barely able to cope with her father’s Alzheimer’s. Initially, she relies on prescription Vicodin and Percocet to dull her problems. When those aren’t enough, she purchases Oxy Contin online illegally. Soon her life begins to unravel – she’s stealing money from work, lying, tired all the time, and the last straw, she almost drives with her five year old in the car when she’s under the influence. Her husband is furious and her mother is concerned. They send her to rehab where she meets Aubrey, Mary and a whole slew of other addicts. At first, she’s doing everything in her power to get out. She isn’t made in the image of the other addicts. She’s educated, her attendance isn’t court mandated and she has never done street drugs. But the healing doesn’t begin until after she is able to admit that she has a problem.
All Fall Down isn’t the light and humorous read that I’m used to from her. She focuses on the psyche of a young mother in the downward spiral of addiction – which at times can be heartbreaking and upsetting. What I thought Weiner got across really well was Allison’s desperation – for more pills, for her husband’s love and attention, for a way out of her situation – but I was surprised to feel dislike towards Allison because she wanted the easy way out. It wasn’t until she admits to having a substance abuse problem that I really began to care about what will happen in her life– Does she stay with her husband? Does her daughter outgrow her “acting out” phase? Does her mother become more independent?
Weiner’s novels have always been one of my go-to guilty pleasures after I read Good in Bed in university. What drew me to her books initially was that her heroines weren’t made from the traditional chick lit stock that I was reading. They had good jobs, were financially independent, and not a size 2. They were struggling with their weight – just like me. I found them to be more relatable than the characters that were a size less than zero, shopaholics or looking for Mr. Right to give them their happily-ever-after. It’s not one of my favourites (of Weiner’s) but it’s still an enjoyable, if not slightly disturbing read.
Interesting look at how "it" can happen to anybody.
I generally read this author for light chick lit. I did not enjoy this book as much as her others, but being as I was reading this book during a tough time I found it very easy to relate to the character's struggles. Note to self- drugs are bad umkay.