NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this riveting novel from the #1 bestselling author of Something Borrowed and First Comes Love, three very different people must choose between their families and their most deeply held values. . . . “An unpredictable page-turner that unfolds in the voices of three superbly distinct characters.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution • “A gripping, thought-provoking … Journal-Constitution • “A gripping, thought-provoking journey.”—Jodi Picoult
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THESKIMM
Nina Browning is living the good life after marrying into Nashville’s elite. More recently, her husband made a fortune selling his tech business, and their adored son has been accepted to Princeton.
Yet sometimes the middle-class small-town girl in Nina wonders if she’s strayed from the person she once was.
Tom Volpe is a single dad working multiple jobs while struggling to raise his headstrong daughter, Lyla. His road has been lonely, long, and hard, but he finally starts to relax after Lyla earns a scholarship to Windsor Academy, Nashville’s most prestigious private school.
Amid so much wealth and privilege, Lyla doesn’t always fit in—and her overprotective father doesn’t help—but in most ways, she’s a typical teenaged girl, happy and thriving.
Then, one photograph, snapped in a drunken moment at a party, changes everything. As the image spreads like wildfire, the Windsor community is instantly polarized, buzzing with controversy and assigning blame.
At the heart of the lies and scandal, Tom, Nina, and Lyla are forced together—all questioning their closest relationships, asking themselves who they really are, and searching for the courage to live a life of true meaning.
Praise for All We Ever Wanted
“Page-turning . . . Timely and thought-provoking, it’s Giffin’s best yet.”—People
“Giffin’s novel has style and substance . . . . Truly excellent.”—The Washington Post
“If you’re looking for a book club selection, All We Ever Wanted is bound to spark meaningful and meaty discussions.”—The Augusta Chronicle
“A page-turning exploration of wealth and privilege.”—Entertainment Weekly
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This is one of those books that makes you say wow! When Nina’s son Finch is involved in some questionable behavior at a party and pictures of a school mate get circulated around from his phone it opens a whole can of worms. Lyla and her father Tom demand some answers from the very prestigious school and Finch’s parents Nina and Kirk. When Kirk decides to throw money at the problem it makes Nina question her and her husbands character, so when he refuses to see any other opinion Nina begins to question her own actions and how her son was raised. This book touches on a lot of different topics and puts you right in the characters and how they react. I loved Nina’s character and how she came full circle during the story and the way it was told from different characters point of view.
Reviewed on behalf of Once upon an Alpha
This book touches on the use and abuse of personal privacy breaches and how it affects the lives of the victim(s). It is not a deep tome, and does not really address the devastation that this can and does to people, friends and families, in a true light. It is light reading for this subject. A good read.
Another great Giffin novel!
Kirk and Nina Browning are typical wealthy country-clubbers. Well, Kirk and their spoiled son, Finch are. Nina, on the other hand, has settled into her privileged lifestyle but hasn’t quite forgotten where she came from, a far cry from country clubs and designer clothes. Kirk, however, comes from money and has learned that he can use it to buy his way out of just about any unpleasant situation. This is what he’s taught his son, Finch, who at the beginning of the book finds himself in a very dangerous, offensive situation.
Tom Volpe and his teenage daughter, Lyla, don’t exactly live on the wrong side of the tracks, but they aren’t country club members either. Lyla attends the same exclusive private school as Finch on a scholarship. The two end up at the same party one night where a combination of booze and cell phones sends both their worlds and families spiraling into chaos.
I was hooked on All We Ever Wanted after the first chapter. I couldn’t put it down. There were a lot of surprises in this book, and I mean bombshells that left me shocked and turning the pages. I couldn’t wait to keep reading to get to the bottom of things.
I love the awareness this book brings to contemporary issues including sexual assault, mental health, and the way different social classes are viewed and treated.
I found the end of the book to be very well-written. Giffin didn’t stray from her realness and delivered a realistic ending based on the world the Brownings and Volpes lived in. I loved the message of this book. Bad things happen. Bad choices are made. But life goes on, and strong people go on with it.
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read full review at KaitsBookshelf.com
All We Ever Wanted
While telling a very absorbing and real kind of story about family tensions and conflicts, Emily Griffin points out the need for instilling right values into children at a very young age.
This is the story of two families, each dealing with teenagers. One father uses his wealth and power to protect his son; the other, a middle class working man, makes his daughter face the truth and its consequences.
The writing is so clever you don’t know who should be believed.
It reminds us of the need for communication and honesty in families, between husband and wife, children and parents.
This novel truly did make me think. It would be a wonderful read for anyone raising teens in this troubling time!
This was an ARC that will be released on June 26, 2018. An intriguing story by Emily Giffin that touches on a few very important subjects relevant in today’s society, most importantly, social media and it’s effect on our youth. The story is told in turns by each key character allowing the reader to feel close to each as they see the situation from his or her perspective. The main characters, Nina and Tom, are both likable and realistic, making them very relatable to the reader. Just when you think you know how this story ends there is a surprise twist that proves you wrong. Great storytelling. #AllWeEverWanted #NetGalley