All Fall Down: A Novel

Jennifer Weiner

Jun 2014 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes her “best book yet” (Philadelphia Inquirer), a “compulsively readable” novel that shows “there’s no doubt Weiner knows how to deliver a certain kind of story, and well” (The New York Times Book Review).

Allison Weiss got her happy ending—a handsome husband, an adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But while waiting in the pediatrician’s office, she opens a magazine to a quiz about addiction and starts to wonder…Is a Percocet at the end of the day really different from a glass of wine? Is it such a bad thing to pop a Vicodin after a brutal Jump & Pump class…or if your husband ignores you? She tells herself that the pills help her make it through her days…but what if her increasing drug use, a habit that’s becoming expensive and hard to hide, is turning into her biggest problem of all?

Hailed as “a witty, realistic criticism on the modern age” (Boston Herald), this remarkable story of a woman’s fall into addiction and struggle to find her way back up again is Jennifer Weiner’s most masterful, moving, and celebrated work yet.

Ratings and reviews

All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner is a book about a wife, mother, and blogger that gets addicted to pain killers. Allison Weiss (almost 40) is a wife to Dave, a reporter for the Philadelphia Examiner. They have a daughter Eloise (they call her Ellie) who is extremely sensitive (doctor’s diagnosis). Everything is too loud, too rough, or harsh for the little girl. Ellie also has attitude issues. She acts out in public, yells when talking, and definitely likes to get her way (or temper tantrum time). Allison was originally a stay-at-home mom, but then she was hired to be a writer for the blog Ladiesroom.com. Allison writes stories about marriage and motherhood. Dave is at work most of the time or training for a marathon (instead of spending time with the family he is “training” on the weekends). Allison’s father has Alzheimer’s and her mother is having difficulty coping. Her father always took care of her mother (took care of finances, they had a housekeeper, and she does not even drive). Now Allison is having to help her mother in addition to her responsibilities. Allison hurt her back working out at the gym and her doctor gave her some painkillers. That was the beginning of her addiction. They meds helped her get through the day and also helped her writing (she became bolder with her writing). It starts out with one or two pills a day (she has them in little Altoid’s tins), then two pills at a time, and then five or six a day (Oxy, Vicodin, and Percocet). Allison was doctor shopping (going to various doctors to get multiple pain prescriptions). Then Allison discovers a web site where she can get the meds without needing a prescription (how handy). Allison was up to over 600 milligrams a day of Oxycodone when her functioning became impaired (with the help of a glass of wine). She goes to pick up Ellie at school and is stopped by a teacher (a teacher monitors the pickup line at Ellie’s school), Allison knows she needs to do something. She contacts a doctor who gives her Suboxone (it takes care of pain without the opiates). Allison ends up in the hospital. Will she get the help she needs or will she lose everything? All Fall Down tells of how she got addicted and what happens after her addiction is discovered. I found it to be an interesting story and well written (the author has a good writing style). One thing that is odd is Allison’s lack of emotions. She is more matter of fact. You do not feel her love for her husband or daughter. I expected more emotion especially during the second half of the book. We do not get much detail on the husband. His character is also very different in the last half of the book. Davie is made out to be distant and uninvolved (especially with daughter), then he completely changes (it was odd). However, the book had me hooked, and I stayed up late to find out what happened to Allison. I give All Fall Down 3.75 out of 5 stars. I did not like the ending. It was abrupt and leaves the reader with questions. I wish the author had included an epilogue. I won a copy of All Fall Down from Goodreads First Reads Program.

I can't believe the Ohio rape case was mentioned in this story. Hasn't everyone involved been through enough? I just happen to be from that town and it's not Akron. I wouldn't even finish the book.

My brain bleed at the stupidity of the woman and how slow it went..no way in hell would i want to continue reading. .Can't believe she and others don't see it as addiction.same w their 1-2 glasses of wine every bloody day..

About the author

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books, including The Summer Place, That Summer, Big Summer, Mrs. Everything, In Her Shoes, Good in Bed, and a memoir in essays, Hungry Heart. She has appeared on many national television programs, including Today and Good Morning America, and her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, among other newspapers and magazines. Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.