Meredith, Alone

By: Claire Alexander

Narrated by: Freya Mavor

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

“The brilliant author of this brilliant book” will have you laughing and crying as Meredith, after spending three years inside her house, figures out how to rejoin the world one step at a time (Gillian McAllister, author of the Reese’s Book Club Wrong Place Wrong Time).

She has a full-time remote job and her rescue cat Fred. Her best friend Sadie visits with her two children. There's her online support group, her jigsaw puzzles and favorite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson poems. Also keeping her company are treacherous memories of an unstable childhood and a traumatic event that had sent her reeling.

But something's about to change. First, two new friends burst into her life. Then her long-estranged sister gets in touch. Suddenly her carefully curated home is no longer a space to hide. Whether Meredith likes it or not, the world is coming to her door...

©2022 Claire Alexander (P)2022 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"I shed tears. Very, very touching, sad, sweet and hopeful."—New York Times bestselling author Marian Keyes

"[A] satisfying debut. The endearing characters offer a sensitive portrayal of what it means to live with mental health issues… with heart to spare.”—Publishers Weekly

"Alexander creates a winning heroine in Meredith and likable characters in her kind friends... An optimistic, feel-good novel."—Kirkus Reviews

Very realistic

Great writing! It felt very long, and although I know the length added to the realism, there were some events included that were very subtle and minor.

Warm and tender depiction of mental health issues

Lovely narration. This book is a quiet and moving story of a woman’s mental health issues and the people who help her manage them. I liked the nuance and the heart portrayed here. Nothing is considered “solved” which is very true of real life. A lovely book overall.

one of my favorite books this year

I am in awe of this little book. Truly loved it. The story and performance are both extraordinary. judging by cover and title I initially thought this was a romance but it's not at all. a very heartfelt story about a woman overcoming trauma and learning to live life again

Sad - sure. Bad overall a story of love and redemption

Yes - it could be difficult listening- but the strength, love and resilience left me feeling hopeful and filled with joy. Highly recommend

So sad

I enjoyed the story and it was very well written, but so very sad. The ending was good.

Whirlwind of emotions

This book was heartbreaking, honest , and somewhat comforting. I had to take a break because of the trauma and strife Meredith went through. I loved the ending & the dynamics. Overall , a great spend of a credit

Sad

This was a well written book, the narrator was fabulous. The storyline, so real and so heavy and so depressing I had to keep stopping. I kept wondering what’s gonna happen when she reaches March 20 20 thank goodness the author stopped before then.

Wonderful read and very thoughtful

I enjoyed this book very much. It was well written and paced. Great narration, as well. It’s a thoughtful book. It’s soulful too. Enjoy!

Deeply depressing

Looking for a fun read? This is not it. This book has no joy, no humor. It’s like someone listed all of the terrible things that can happen and wrote a story to include them all. I wouldn’t even call it dark, per se. It’s just plodding sadness, like.a dirge. This is absolutely the most depressing book.

Depressing

If you want to feel like we’re still on lock down from Covid and May never leave your house then this is for you. Didn’t finish it. Each minute dragged on as of for an hour.