My Friend Anna

I was curious to read this after watching the Netflix series. Something about the book just doesn't sit right. It's first hand, so obviously a little biased. However, its riddled with speculations, theories and seems more like a venting journal entry than something worth publishing. I didn't like Rachel from the start and unfortunately my opinion didn't change

I hadn't heard of this case before picking up this book.

It was definitely intriguing right off the bat, and I wanted to know all the details. The author doesn't do a bad job narrating the audiobook either, thankfully. A lot of authors are not skilled narrators, but she did a good job. The beginning was the strongest part for me. There was a definite sense of stress and anxiety that was portrayed quite well.

Personally, I'm not majorly interested in the NYC elite and celebrities in general, so I found all the references to the famous people a bit tiring after a while. I could've done without 20 references to Annie Leibovitz. I think the middle dragged a lot, especially while Rachel was trying to get reimbursed. It led to too much repetition for my liking. It could've been trimmed down quite a bit and still stayed true to the events. Think movie montage. That's all that was needed.

The writing is very simple, feeling very much like a magazine article (which makes sense). Very straightforward and choppy sometimes. It's not terrible but may have been more grating had I read it physically instead of listening to it. I definitely noticed it even while listening.

Your enjoyment of this book will majorly hinge on if you connect with the author. I was pretty neutral, but if you find yourself actively disliking her at any point you should just bail and read something else. If you are neutral or like her, this will be a quick and easy read/listen that you can speed through in an afternoon.

Gripping book! I couldn't stop listening. My empathy punched me in the guy as the author's anxiety seeped through my ear buds. This scam story is just too insane for words. The New York Times pieces on Anna Delvey (“How Anna Delvey Conned New York” and “A Fake Heiress Called Anna Delvey Conned the City's Wealthy”) are also recommended side reading if you're fascination extends beyond the book.