My Friend Anna

The True Story of a Fake Heiress

By: Rachel DeLoache Williams

Narrated by: Rachel DeLoache Williams

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF TIME’S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

Sex and the City meets Bad Blood and Catch Me if You Can in this riveting true crime memoir that tells the astonishing firsthand story of Anna Delvey—the fake heiress who conned New York’s elite—and the friend she betrayed.

When Rachel DeLoache Williams meets Anna Delvey, Anna claims to be a wealthy German heiress with boundless ambition and an extravagant lifestyle. She treats generously, covering lavish dinners, luxury hotels, high-end workouts, and nights out across Manhattan. Drawn into Anna’s orbit, Rachel is flattered by the friendship and dazzled by the access it provides.

The illusion shatters during a dream trip to Marrakech, when Anna’s credit cards suddenly stop working. Anna insists the problem is temporary and persuades Rachel to front the costs—first flights, then meals and shopping, and ultimately a private villa costing thousands per night. By the time they return to New York, Rachel has been charged more than $62,000, and Anna’s promises of repayment quickly unravel.

As Rachel pieces together the truth, she discovers Anna has left a trail of unpaid bills and deception throughout the city. Determined to reclaim her life and dignity, Rachel goes to the authorities and finds herself at the center of the investigation that brings down one of the most infamous con artists of the decade.

Fast-paced, immersive, and deeply personal, this memoir offers an insider’s account of fraud, privilege, and the seductive power of ambition—told by the woman who lived it.

After this book, I want to defraud her too

The story is interesting and while I completely understand that in the moment, after building a relationship founded on splurging and being treated, one might make similar decisions. Having heard the entire story, and in the godawful toddler voice, even I want to defraud Rachel. Perhaps I would not have been left wanted to flip a car over had someone else narrated it. Perhaps.

Impressed! Didn't expect

I was interested in the storyline. love watching this type story on TV but wasn't sure how I would enjoy the audiobook. But WOW I absolutely found myself hooked! I really love the authors voice! (I'm pretty sure author was also narrator? not 100%) I had just returned another book because the authors voice was like "nails on a chalkboard" after a couple of hours.

I really enjoyed this book!

Mixed feelings

First, I like when an author reads their own story. It gives it an urgency and intimacy that even a great voice actor couldn’t, because you’re hearing the voice of the person it actually happened to.

However, appalled as I was at Anna’s behavior, I often found it hard to sympathize with the author due to her relentless naïveté. She accepted Anna’s initial generosity a little too quickly and eagerly for my liking. I think the author had all the classic makings of a “mark” (small town rube that nothing bad ever happened to, comes to the Big City not expecting anything bad ever will), and that Anna “saw her coming”.

Having said that, Williams didn’t deserve what happened to her, and I’m glad justice was ultimately done. But I do hope she learned something from the experience.

Grifters, Brands, Rank, Status and VIPs.

"The normal rules didn't seem to apply," the author says of her pleasure moments with the grifter working her. "She was unapologetically ambitious, and I liked this about her." The book is stuffed with successful brands, successful locations, and "high status" names and locations of the nouveau riche / nouveau socially 'Very Important People". How could anything possibly go wrong for someone who sits in the "Select Patrons Only" and "Members Only" sections of the "In" establishments of Manhattan and lives in the West Village on Christopher Street and works for Vanity Fair? And why would such a raving commercial success humble herself by holding back a credit card when she could just become a traveling bank approving loans on the spot based on the current pleasure moments and imagined interest (perks)? And especially when you are grateful for co-conspirators at the airport that "overlook" baggage charges (all the "ordinary people" are burdened with) as you check in with "V.I.P. status". The name of this book could have been called "Vanity Fair". It is campy and hilarious. Accidentally satirical. I laughed until my ribs hurt as propitiative hotel servants and others shapeshifted into stalking thugs when credit cards were disapproved, and imaginary wealthy parent patrons in Germany or Russia supposedly footing all the bills melted away like a dream, American Express got hit with the tabs for the hallucinatory people tripping around Morrocco "living the dream". All the while in the background the author displays her relationship with the illustrious Annie Leiberman, who was 28 million in overdue loans and simply considering "bankruptcy". Needless to say, including this book, several business opportunities have launched from invisible wealthy parents not enabling a youthful and curious disregard for a civilized and fair exchange. No doubt an ambitious and creative person can find an award-winning and witty comedy between the lines.

An Interesting Tale

I first heard about Anna Delvey through articles on Vanity Fair and The Cut. I was intrigued by this story - how could someone manage to conned half of NY elites so effortlessly? When I heard that there was going to be a book about it, I was excited.

As expected, this book was a more detailed account of what happened between Anna and the author. If you never read the article before and interested in the story, you'd definitely enjoy this book. If you've read the story before, the author's narration brought the story to life. You would have a better understanding of how it all could happen. I enjoyed Rachel's voice and emotion in telling the story. Would recommend this!