A review by themomwithabook
My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams

informative slow-paced

4.0

Review of My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams: 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
 
In early 2016, Anna Delvey meets and befriends Rachel DeLoache Williams.  She’s introduced as a wealthy German heiress; one who enjoys the lavish lifestyle.  Anna invites Rachel out for expensive dinners, private personal training sessions, extravagant spa services, and even goes as far as inviting her on an all-expenses-paid trip to Marrakech.  Only problem is - Anna’s credit cards coincidentally stop working and Rachel suddenly finds herself footing the bill, having more than $62,000 charged to her credit cards.  Anna insists she’ll reimburse Rachel after getting her finances sorted out but weeks and weeks go by with Anna continuing to string Rachel along.  Rachel finally recognizes Anna’s behaviors for what they are - a pattern of deception - and realizes that Anna never had the financial means to pay for the trip and pay Rachel back.  Pulling at this thread threatens to unravel everything about Anna and pretty soon she winds up on the DA’s radar; moving from a glamorous lifestyle wearing designer clothes to a life of monotony, restrictions, and wearing an ill-fitting jumpsuit.  My Friend Anna describes the lavish lifestyle of someone who only got to live it at the expense of others. 
 
After reading news articles about Anna Sorokin, one can’t help but wonder how naive people can be; wealthy and intelligent people who were so easily duped and convinced to continue giving Anna money.  However, reading from Rachel’s perspective provided a context that will only help you to understand the circumstances she was put in and how she was so easily duped.  Williams makes herself a sympathetic character in her own story and readers will feel the weight of anxiety as she faces insurmountable bills and a flaky and deceitful “friend.”  The writing style, pacing, and true-crime content make it a fascinating page turner that almost reads like a work of fiction.  Reading about New York’s most privileged and wealthiest elite being swindled out of their own money by a 20-something year old con artist will have you compulsively jumping down so many rabbit holes - it will be 4:00am before you resurface.
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