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

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).

Jennifer Weiner Fan Here

I do like Jennifer Weiner, though, if you read too many too close together, they all have that same theme. Still, this was an interesting look at addiction from the addict's point of view. Having experienced family members with addiction, it did soften my heart a little to see this POV. Narrating was great, no issues, spot on!

Not the usual Weiner style

I've read many of Jennifer Weiner's books and this was my least favorite. Good story for those struggling with addiction though

very unrealistic ending!!!!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No! Unrealistic ending! No one gets to take a year off!

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

NO! Unrealistic ending! No one gets to take a year off!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No!

Any additional comments?

Unrealistic ending

ok not great

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

No not really. I felt it was some sort of a catharsis for the author...her personal journey

Has All Fall Down turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

What three words best describe Tracee Chimo’s performance?

decent but non-riveting

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

nope

The scary world of pills

I'm sure this book hit the nail on the head for an addict. It was well-written and honest. The main character gets stuck in your head and you find yourself actually agreeing with her. Scary, right?! It is a very serious read (or listen).

Excellent!!!!!!

Loved it,the way she penned an issue that is so relevant was spot on!!!!!!!!!
My 1st J.W. book was "In Her Shoes" and I've loved her since.

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.