Helpful Score: 2
I typically look forward to reading Jennifer Weiner's books, but the last couple I have tried to read by her have not grabbed me. This book was over 350 pages long. I made it to page 35 but it was so boring I quit reading. I had to force myself just to read that far. To say I was disappointed is an understatement.
Helpful Score: 1
3.0 out of 5 stars - "The brain disease of addiction..is rooted in self-centeredness."
Allison Weiss became a pill-popping addict in the typical slide; it started out as a way to take the edge off a very busy life as mother, wife, daughter, employee, friend -- but quickly spiraled downward into a void where she was spending thousands of dollars buying controlled substances off the internet, lying to everyone, and just teetering on the brink of committing a "pitiful act of incomprehensible destruction" that would put her whole world in jeopardy. After making all the usual excuses and denying her addiction, Allison ends up in rehab with all the other drug users and alcoholics. Determined and insistent that she doesn't really belong with that type of addict and denying the extent of her problem (after all, hers are "prescription drugs"), she resists the advice and support of the counselors who remind her that she's not so smart as she thinks and she hasn't been able to control her drug habit as "your best thinking got you here."
I found the topic of narcotic addiction interesting; the character of Allison, however, did not really push my empathy buttons and I rather disliked her. Lots of emphasis on the philosophy of the 12 step program of AA and description of a less than stellar rehab program. I felt more depressed than anything after reading this thinking about the fact that any addict, for the rest of their life, will have to resist the lure of their drug of choice each and every second. Choosing to stay sober and not use certainly would require intense effort and occupy a lot of time and energy.
This would make a good book club book and I think more geared to the female reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the e-book ARC to review.
Allison Weiss became a pill-popping addict in the typical slide; it started out as a way to take the edge off a very busy life as mother, wife, daughter, employee, friend -- but quickly spiraled downward into a void where she was spending thousands of dollars buying controlled substances off the internet, lying to everyone, and just teetering on the brink of committing a "pitiful act of incomprehensible destruction" that would put her whole world in jeopardy. After making all the usual excuses and denying her addiction, Allison ends up in rehab with all the other drug users and alcoholics. Determined and insistent that she doesn't really belong with that type of addict and denying the extent of her problem (after all, hers are "prescription drugs"), she resists the advice and support of the counselors who remind her that she's not so smart as she thinks and she hasn't been able to control her drug habit as "your best thinking got you here."
I found the topic of narcotic addiction interesting; the character of Allison, however, did not really push my empathy buttons and I rather disliked her. Lots of emphasis on the philosophy of the 12 step program of AA and description of a less than stellar rehab program. I felt more depressed than anything after reading this thinking about the fact that any addict, for the rest of their life, will have to resist the lure of their drug of choice each and every second. Choosing to stay sober and not use certainly would require intense effort and occupy a lot of time and energy.
This would make a good book club book and I think more geared to the female reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the e-book ARC to review.
Honestly surprised by the low reviews of this book. This is a book completely out of the norm for me, and I have never read a book by this author. I was drawn into it within the first chapter and finished the book quickly, especially since it is busy summertime with not much time for reading. I went back and forth on how I felt about the main character throughout the entire book, which is what I think kept me captivated to read more. A hard story line of a suburban mom turned pill popper, yet blunt truths from various perspectives.
This book will make you realize how easy it is for people to get hooked on prescription drugs. The typical mother trying to do it all: take care of a whinny daughter, a full time job and elderly parents! Who hasn't been there and if there is something to take the edge off, so much the better. It doesn't take long for her to realize there is no easy way and getting out from the clutches of the drugs is even more difficult. Great story.
