*** After Annie by Anna Quindlen

After Annie recounts the aftermath of the sudden death of a young and beloved mother as her husband, children, and best friend struggle to regain their footing. Quindlen’s books (here, here, here, here) have been uneven for me but this one tells an affecting story, even if it’s too schmaltzy at times and the ending is all wrong. But the character of the oldest girl carries the story.