All Fall Down

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Tracee Chimo

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, her “best book yet” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) about a woman confronting her dependence on pills.

Allison Weiss got her happy ending—a handsome husband, an adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But while waiting in the pediatrician’s office, she opens a magazine to a quiz about addiction. She begins to wonder if a Percocet at the end of the day really different from a glass of wine. Is it such a bad thing to pop a Vicodin after a brutal exercise class…or if your husband ignores you? She tells herself that the pills help her make it through her days but what if her increasing drug use, a habit that’s becoming expensive and hard to hide, is turning into her biggest problem of all?

Great listen!

I really liked this book because I could relate to the things she endured as a working mother with an extremely sensitive child. I felt validated by her authentic description of the stress you have every single day. I would recommend the book to anyone who's ever had a child and was married to someone who didn't think they needed to help you.

I gobbled this book up. Addicted?

The authors writing was authentic and funny sarcastic and engaging. I caed about the characters right away becasue they were real. The score of this book is based on it's genre. This may not be a literary masterpiece. It is easily digestable and enjoyable look at a very serious subjst. Taking on topics that are taboo, our dirty little secrets, and presenting them in a way that opens up dialog and raises questions and attention to a serious topic is difficult to do without turning people off. This was the perfect mix of fun and whimsy and informative. I am so excited to find a new author (to me) and see the potential to read severla other works. My only disappointment is that the narrator doesn't have more to listen to. She was absolutley perfect, she lent some changes in her voice for the differing characters but didn't get so caught up in that, to have it become cheesy ( a common mistake). She was flawless. And in truth I went in search of her other works first before I look for more under the author. A lot of people can wirte but a bad narrator can mess the whole Audible process up. Thank you both for a very enjoyable listen. Literally, I did not put it down. I listened from start to finish!

Rang True

This is my 2nd listen - the 1st being in 2014. I remembered that the book moved me, so for some unconscious reason, still can’t name it, I listened again. Maybe it’s because I too love oxy. Whatever the reason, I loved the book even more this time, except that bratty spoiled little girl! But thru the writing I understood why Allison parented her the way she did, and the narrator nailed her annoying sassy voice. This book makes me feel & think, and maybe even understand myself (I think I’d also be a major Karen in rehab- at least initially).

The beginning leads one to expect a bit more

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I did listen to the entire book as I have long been a fan of Jennifer Weiner. The reader was very good. That said, I felt that the last 1/3 of the book became just a tad predictable and not so interesting. The major issues of sexism, class divisiveness, etc. bode well, but then something happened. I also felt the husband was not portrayed as fully as he could have been. He wasn't developed enough as a character - or, perhaps this was the point.

Would you recommend All Fall Down to your friends? Why or why not?

I do not have any friends that would read this book as they tend to not read what the media continues to call "chick lit." While I do not agree with this labeling, I do understand their point. In Ms. Weiner's earlier books, the sharp humor and fast pace was very different from this book. I kept wanting a bit more and more descriptive prose.

Which character – as performed by Tracee Chimo – was your favorite?

I think the daughter, actually.

Any additional comments?

I was unhappy that I felt let down. I was sad that I felt compelled to read to the end because I had such high hopes for this book. I don't know what happened, but somehow the core got tangled. The overly long descriptions of the rehab place became tedious and repetitive.

Great Story

Very good story, and as a mom, I felt I could relate with the main character very well.