All Fall Down

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Tracee Chimo

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Allison Weiss has a great job…a handsome husband…an adorable daughter…and a secret.

Allison Weiss is a typical working mother, trying to balance a business, aging parents, a demanding daughter, and a marriage. But when the website she develops takes off, she finds herself challenged to the point of being completely overwhelmed. Her husband’s becoming distant, her daughter’s acting spoiled, her father is dealing with early Alzheimer’s, and her mother’s barely dealing at all.

As she struggles to hold her home and work life together, and meet all of the needs of the people around her, Allison finds that the painkillers she was prescribed for a back injury help her deal with more than just physical discomfort - they help her feel calm and get her through her increasingly hectic days. Sure, she worries a bit that the bottles seem to empty a bit faster each week, but it’s not like she’s some Hollywood starlet partying all night, or a homeless person who’s lost everything. It’s not as if she has an actual problem.

However, when Allison’s use gets to the point that she can no longer control - or hide - it, she ends up in a world she never thought she’d experience outside of a movie theater: rehab. Amid the teenage heroin addicts, the alcoholic grandmothers, the barely-trained "recovery coaches", and the counselors who seem to believe that one mode of recovery fits all, Allison struggles to get her life back on track, even as she’s convincing herself that she’s not as bad off as the women around her.

With a sparkling comedic touch and tender, true-to-life characterizations, All Fall Down is a tale of empowerment and redemption and Jennifer Weiner’s richest, most absorbing and timely story yet.

©2014 Jennifer Weiner (P)2014 Simon & Schuster Audio

Pretty good

The book was best until Part 3 where it bogged down with the rehab thing, especially the “talent show” part. It’s scary to watch someone become addicted almost unwittingly and showed how easily narcotics can be obtained, legitimately or not. Narration was fine except for the daughter’s voice which was whiny and loud, although the daughter was insufferable!

All about me.

This could've been my story. Although I'm male and my story is slightly different, this story hit close to my heart. Many many. It was well read and an excellent choice; especially for anyone who's been around the world of addiction.

Entertaining story, well-written as always

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I love all Jennifer Weiner books. I enjoyed this one about prescription drug abuse, and all that is involved with recovery. It did get slow at times, during the rehab part, but overall, a great read. I did feel that the writing for the 6 year old daughter was poorly done. The six year old spoke more like a 3-4 year old.

What was one of the most memorable moments of All Fall Down?

I liked that we got a realistic view of drug abuse from the addict's view.

What three words best describe Tracee Chimo’s voice?

Annoying at times

Any additional comments?

The voice that the narrator used for the daughter was EXTREMELY annoying. I wish she had used a normal voice. I also hated that she said "withdraRal" instead of "Withdrawal". The emphasis on the "R" was super annoying.

Something I could actually relate to!

This book was AWESOME! I stumbled upon “A Fall Down” at 711?! *STILL can’t believe it🙃* and the description more than peeked my interest. Jennifer Weiner is, in a word: AMAZING! Every experience that Allison went thru, from raising a ‘difficult kid’ to craving the “peace” the pills gave her whenever she’d take them! I used to be addicted to pain killers so I COMPLETELY saw/heard myself in & throughout EVERY chapter! I never went to rehab but that’s not to say I didn’t NEED to go! My deliverance was a bit different but it was deliverance, still! Thank you for the REALNESS this book depicts! The triumphs, the challenges...the realness of [Allison’s] thoughts...EVERYTHING! I can’t WAIT to read/hear it AGAIN! This book should be turned into a lifetime movie! I should play one of the characters🙊

recovery

being a member of NA and celebrate recovery. this book was fun and true. enjoy

Jennifer Wiener at her best

Loved it! Marathon listened to it just couldn't stop. Best novel Jennifer Wiener has written in my opinion.

good story

Good story... a window into the word of the addicted... in the end it was long and anti-climactic... I was fairly bored 3/4 of the way through...

Very moving and deeply touching!

I didn’t expect this book to be as realistic as it was, and even though it is definitely tinged with sadness, it is a beautiful story. I highly recommend it!

Entertaining

All Fall Down was an easy listen. There was a lot a busy mother could identify with, and then there was the relief that most mothers don't turn to drugs. The 12 Step programs were accurately portrayed. The pain of dealing with aging parents was handled with a lot of heart. Tracee Chimo is a fine narrator!

I really love Jennifer Weiner's work

If you could sum up All Fall Down in three words, what would they be?

A better understanding of Addiction

What was one of the most memorable moments of All Fall Down?

Leaving rehab to go to her daughter's birthday party and understanding she was not well

Which scene was your favorite?

her mother's visit to see her in rehab

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the book, it may hit close to home with a few women out there.