My Friend Anna

The True Story of the Fake Heiress Who Conned Me and Half of New York City

By: Rachel DeLoache Williams

Narrated by: Rachel DeLoache Williams

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

One of Time’s 100 Best Books of The Year

Sex and the City meets Bad Blood and Catch Me If You Can in the astonishing true story of Anna Delvey, a young con artist posing as an heiress in New York City - as told by the former Vanity Fair photo editor and friend of Delvey’s who was scammed out of more than $62,000 and is featured as a character in the Netflix series Inventing Anna.

Rachel DeLoache Williams’ new friend Anna Delvey, a self-proclaimed German heiress, was worldly and ambitious. She was also generous - picking up the tab for lavish dinners at Le Coucou, infrared sauna sessions at HigherDOSE, drinks at the 11 Howard Library bar, and regular workout sessions with a celebrity personal trainer.

When Anna proposed an all-expenses-paid trip to Marrakech at the five-star La Mamounia hotel, Rachel jumped at the chance. But when Anna’s credit cards mysteriously stopped working, the dream vacation quickly took a dark turn. Anna asked Rachel to begin fronting costs - first for flights, then meals and shopping, and, finally, for their $7,500-per-night private villa. Before Rachel knew it, more than $62,000 had been charged to her credit cards. Anna swore she would reimburse Rachel the moment they returned to New York.

Back in Manhattan, the repayment never materialized, and a shocking pattern of deception emerged. Rachel learned that Anna had left a trail of deceit - and unpaid bills - wherever she’d been. Mortified, Rachel contacted the district attorney, and in a stunning turn of events, found herself helping to bring down one of the city’s most notorious con artists.

With breathless pacing and in-depth reporting from the person who experienced it firsthand, My Friend Anna is an unforgettable true story of “glamour, greed, lust for power” (The New York Times), and female friendship.

©2019 Rachel DeLoache Williams (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

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!

Monotonous voice

I have enjoyed the story, really entertaining; specially being a true story. Sadly the narrator is very monotonous and doesn’t engage much.

Much more than a memoir!

No idea how this book even came across my phone, because I have not told the story of being conned myself out of more than $30k to many people. Nonetheless, Amazon somehow had a beat and an algorithm on my interest in such a story that Rachel brings to life in falling prey to a con scheme.

I first say to Rachel herself...soooooo sorry that your noble character and trust was cruelly, and with malice of forethought, dragged through the mud of this horrific experience. I was VERY happy to read that some justice was served and you came through with the resolve of a true champion. Thank you for telling this story... it is quite empowering for people like myself, who would rather trust someone first, and ask questions later.

Rachel's book is a detailed and well written account that feels like a 3D experience of Jumanji... literally bringing you right in as if you are there by her side ready just scream at her "NO!!!! don't lend that money!!!"

This book is a literal God-send to strengthen and encourage generally good-natured people who have been, or are often, exploited and taken advantage of by others. It also proves that criminals like Anna will eventually reap what they sow, and it takes one resilient loud voice in the wilderness to bring them to justice! Thanks for fighting the good fight Rachel! You are amazing and you are making new TRUE friends all over the world by telling this story!

awesome

it was an amazing book. I really feel sorry for Rachel. Rachel's voice is very soothing and should do more audiobooks readings

Entertaining listen

Listened to this after watching Inventing Anna on Netflix. It's an entertaining listen, but gets a little bogged down with details that are irrelevant to the story.

Next time, hire a voice actor

This story is definitely worth telling as a cautionary tale. I have known a few people with similar personalities; late for everything, never having their CC, always making crazy excuses etc. But, I would never have given my CC to anyone in this manner.
I usually like books read by the author but this was hard to listen to. Her little girl voice makes one wonder how she works for an upstanding magazine like VF. It's hard to take her seriously.