Herbie and Annie Aaron have been partners in marriage for almost 40 years, as well as partners on the stage and on TV. Sadly, though, Annie’s breast cancer is back and has spread to her vital organs, giving her only a short time to live. She knows she’s not going to be around much longer, so she encourages Herbie to find another woman to fill the void in his life when she’s gone.

"Many celebrities who write are just trying to cash in on their name, but they usually don’t have anything worth reading. AFTER ANNIE is an exception to that rule."

A few days before Annie dies, Herbie meets a woman named Olive in a bar. Annie believes Olive is the perfect woman for Herbie and encourages him to pursue a relationship with her. Still, after Annie passes away, Herbie is torn between his love for his dear wife and his newly-developing need and desire to be with Olive.

This is a story filled with heartbreak and angst, hope and desire, guilt and redemption. The plot is much more complicated than the short description given here, but I don’t want to spoil the whole thing by telling you much more. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens. Suffice it to say it is so much more than your usual love story.

I wonder how much of this fictional tale is autobiographical, intentionally or otherwise. The book’s author is Michael Tucker, an actor who played Stuart Markowitz on “LA Law.” Tucker’s real-life wife, Jill Eikenberry, played Ann Kelsey on that show. He also has extensive experience in the theater, as does Eikenberry, which is quite similar to Herbie and Annie’s career path. And the real-life couple has campaigned extensively to raise money for breast cancer research, the same disease that takes Annie’s life in the book.

Many celebrities who write are just trying to cash in on their name, but they usually don’t have anything worth reading. AFTER ANNIE is an exception to that rule. Tucker’s previous professional writing experience consists of two books, both about food. This is his first novel, which, if it’s any indication, would suggest that future fictional writing endeavors would be just as successful. Tucker does drop the “F-Bomb” a bit too liberally throughout the story, but all things considered, this is an excellent, worthwhile read.