My Friend Anna - Rachel DeLoache Williams

My Friend Anna

By Rachel DeLoache Williams

  • Release Date: 2019-07-23
  • Genre: True Crime
Score: 4
4
From 522 Ratings

Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER​
ONE OF TIME’S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

Sex and the City meets Bad Blood and Catch Me if You Can in the astonishing true story of Anna Delvey, a young con artist posing as an heiress in New York City—as told by the former Vanity Fair photo editor who got seduced by her friendship and then scammed out of more than $62,000.

Rachel DeLoache Williams’s new friend Anna Delvey, a self-proclaimed German heiress, was worldly and ambitious. She was also generous—picking up the tab for lavish dinners at Le Coucou, infrared sauna sessions at HigherDOSE, drinks at the 11 Howard Library bar, and regular workout sessions with a celebrity personal trainer.

When Anna proposed an all-expenses-paid trip to Marrakech at the five-star La Mamounia hotel, Rachel jumped at the chance. But when Anna’s credit cards mysteriously stopped working, the dream vacation quickly took a dark turn. Anna asked Rachel to begin fronting costs—first for flights, then meals and shopping, and, finally, for their $7,500-per-night private villa. Before Rachel knew it, more than $62,000 had been charged to her credit cards. Anna swore she would reimburse Rachel the moment they returned to New York.

Back in Manhattan, the repayment never materialized, and a shocking pattern of deception emerged. Rachel learned that Anna had left a trail of deceit—and unpaid bills—wherever she’d been. Mortified, Rachel contacted the district attorney, and in a stunning turn of events, found herself helping to bring down one of the city’s most notorious con artists.

With breathless pacing and in-depth reporting from the person who experienced it firsthand, My Friend Anna is an unforgettable true story of “glamour, greed, lust for power” (The New York Times), and female friendship.

Reviews

  • Loved it!!!

    5
    By Litadelazari
    Could not put it down! After watching Inventing Anna, this is a great narration of the other side of the story.
  • My Friend Anna

    2
    By jal1111
    Self serving. I know it’s not the $$ amount but you’re not a Madoff victim.💐💗
  • Raw truth with well timed and done sardonic humor

    5
    By kaykaybean13
    I’m floored at how relatable, mature and authentic she remained throughout never covering the ugly the panic the distraught angst she was feeling festering itself in the recesses of her brain. I was disappointed and PO’d learning that Anna never served time for her fraud on someone this woman let down her defense enabled for herself to be vulnerable and it would never make what transpired better, easier. It’s something that I’d guess she’s going to have triggers from prob her whole life. It’s a traumatic experience and sounds as if she was first hand experiencing PTSD in the aftermath because it was such a disregard of her friendship and feelings and the betrayal was too difficult for her to process which is why she allowed Anna to string her along for another month and BECAUSE she loved her friend once and was having a lot of guilt and doubt and fear trepidation of the repercussions of her assistance and approved towards the authorities and prosecutors. This woman has an incredible beautifully bright soul and her spirit is strong and willful. She will prevail. The universe is rewarding her with a lot of happiness at her feet, a lot of unsuspecting WONDERFUL circumstances that is exactly everything she needs. Take care kindred spirit. Love😘
  • A con who manipulated a con

    1
    By Green Tee 🍵
    Rachel Williams and Anna Sorokin are the same - both con artists and thirsty. 😂
  • Scary true story

    4
    By AuntJannie
    It’s so easy to overlook little signs that a person is dishonest. I get that and applaud the author for telling her cautionary tale. It’s well-written and easy to follow, though a bit too detailed for my taste, hence 4 stars instead of 5.
  • Great Read

    5
    By sunaugs
    Thanks to Rachel for sharing her story. There is quite a bit of honesty and self reflection which cannot be easy given all that transpired. The ability to take a difficult situation, learn and grow is a special quality. I read this book in just three days and look forward to more from Rachel.
  • Not a fan

    1
    By demmmmmiiiiiiid
    This book could be summarized in 10 pages and it might be the most boring 10 pages you’ve ever read. I had to skip page after page because it was such unimportant monotonous details. Definitely don’t recommend.
  • Frenemy

    3
    By wordthrill
    Rachel paints the picture of an innocuous and yet dubious creature. There are certainly two sides to this story and I am not sure we get the full picture from the author who was so closely tied to the story that transpired. We all hate the idea of opening our hearts and making ourselves prey to deception. But to actually be conned so thoroughly must truly make one question reality and life perceptions. Upon realization, it flavors every subsequent relationship. Rachel walks us through her friendship with Anna, shows us the masquerade that she herself never looked too hard underneath to discover the real depths. Part of the con was dependent on good manners which prohibits questioning others, especially about matters as personal as finances.
  • This book seems more about the author’s accomplishments than the story of a con artist....

    2
    By Taylorlee90
    Don’t let the sample fool you. I can’t even finish it.
  • My Friend Anna

    5
    By Mobrien884
    Well-written account of a living nightmare. Anna should be deported once she serves her time.

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