All We Ever Wanted: A Novel

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book. This is a heartfelt story I keep replaying in my head. Initially, you may think "Here's a story with a plot of how this super-rich couple is unhappy because money doesn't buy happiness." In reality, about the only thing money has to do with the story is the power it buys you to tip the playing field in your favor.

Much of the story is told from Nina's POV and from the outside, it seems her life is pretty fantastic. Nina lets us peek at the underbelly of her life - both current and past- and we see her money is doing nothing hiding the ugly side of things in her life with a glittery blanket.

Another main POV we have is from Tom, single father to a daughter who goes to the same school as Nina's son, but in the money-status-world, they lead completely different lives.

The struggles from both Nina and Tom are ones most parents will relate to (and fear.) The author does a fantastic job of leading the reader through the repercussions of decisions made and how much a parent, and money, can affect the outcome. It's a great story that takes you on many ups and downs along with twists you don't expect and an ending that you'll think about even after you read the last page.

Boy gets girl drunk and takes a semi-nude photo of her. The story is about the consequences.

I took a chance on reading this, because Emily loves to write in present tense. All was well until the last 50 pages or so, when she went back to present tense.

I will never read another book by this author.

All We Ever Wanted. Emily Giffin. Nina is basically satisfied with her life: she married into a wealthy Nashville family; her husband makes money hand over fist, and, Finch, her only son has been accepted to Princeton. Tom, a single dad lives across town with Lyla, his daughter; and makes his living as a carpenter and a Huber driver. Lyla is a scholarship student at Windsor Academy where Finch is a BOC. All hell breaks loose when a picture of Lyla in a compromising position taken on Finch’s phone at a Windsor party is passed around. Nina’s husband plans to buy Tom off, but Nina wants to do the “right thing” even if Finch doesn’t get to go to Princeton. A good contrast between the “privileged rich and “normal” people and a reminder that that rich doesn’t equal character or class. Extremely readable.

When the gossip first reaches them, Nina and her husband Kirk are having a typical Saturday night, which for them consists of being honored at yet another gala event. Rumor has it that their son has taken advantage of an unconscious girl at a party by taking and sharing a sexually explicit and racist photo of her.
As Nina tries to find out what really happened at this party, she also begins to find that she never really knew her husband at all. His solution is to throw money at the problem to make it go away.
This domestic drama is quite relevant in today's world and shows that there are some things you just can't buy with all the money in the world.

I received an advance copy for review.

I was disappointed in this one. The story deals with complex and timely issues but in such a superficial and trite way that it came off as much to easy. I haven't read the author before so it might be that her style doesn't fit the complex and complicated story line she was creating. The characters faced some real challenges but it all felt to surface.

Privileged boy takes advantage of scholarship girl. The boy's mother identifies with the girl and realizes her son is as unfeeling as the frat boy that raped her in college, which lead her to break up with her boyfriend and eventually marry a rich guy who keeps her under his thumb.

I recivied a copy of this book from Netgalley in Exchance for my honest review

All We Ever Wanted combines some hot elements of pop and political culture into a mini-thriller. Throughout the book, every time you think you know the story or what’s next, there is a curve ball. This book reminds me a lot of Something Borrowed in that everyone hands are a little messy as we are all humans and this story focuses on mother, f ather and daughter ( not all from the same family) trying to figure out how to clean it up.

I feel like some of the characters were more crafted than others, but the story is unfolds perfectly letting us get more and more glimpeses of who and what is going on

I will say the ending was not my cup of tea, but that is probably because I wanted to know MORE and didn’t want the charchters or plot to end.

This book reminded me a lot of one of my other favorite books by Ms. Giffin, because I love the way she can portray the gray spots of life. Its so easy to say wrong, I would never ect, but I think she shows that even when we do say this, life has a way of showing us another side.

Another great book!

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

June 2018
Women’s fiction

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

Interesting story about family values and finding authenticity in a crazy materialistic world. The story is narrated in alternate chapters by main characters: Nina Browning, Tom Volpe, Lyla Volpe.

It begins with Nina Browning who is married to Kirk Browning, a very wealthy software executive. They had a luxurious lifestyle filled with charity events and fancy cars. Their only son Finch has never known any other life than the one he had at Windsor Academy. Nina was raised in a very modest Bristol neighborhood where her best friend Julie still lives and works as an attorney.

In contrast, Tom Volpe is a single father raising Lyla, a high school sophomore at Windsor Academy. They have a very different lifestyle where Tom works hard as a carpenter to ensure his daughter gets a good education. Lyla is accustomed to the random visits from Beatriz, her estranged alcoholic mother.

The story evolves after a house party at a senior Beau’s house while his parents were away. Needless to say, the party revs up with the heavy consumption of alcohol by the students. An incident occurs which stirs up Windsor Academy to the dismay of the headmaster, Walter Quarterman. Especially since the issue involves Finch Browning whose family provides financial support to the private school.

Consequently, Tom receives an unexpected call from Grace, Lyla’s best friend with whom she was supposed to be studying. Grace desperately seeks his assistance when Lyla is found passed out at party. Stories begin to spiral out of control via social media when a picture of Lyla becomes topic of discussion. Lyla has had a crush on Finch for two years and is flattered by his attention although he was dating Polly.

When differing explanations of the night emerge, it has Nina and Tom investigating the truth, although on differing sides of the story. Is it always important to reveal the truth even when the consequences are high? Does money make it acceptable to cover up mistakes?

Author Emily Giffin’s novel All We Wanted will resonate with anyone raising children in a world where social media impacts nearly everyone. Nina Browning leads a charmed life. She and her husband Kirk are part of Nashville’s elite, living in a mansion, attending countless galas, and raising their teenage son, Princeton-bound Finch.







The perfect veneer cracks when Finch takes a photo of Lyla, a young woman who had passed out drunk at a party. When the photo goes viral, the lives of Finch and Lyla, and their families, are turned upside down.





Lyla is being raised by her single father Tom, and her mother occasionally pops in to wreak havoc. Tom is a working-class guy, and he is infuriated by what he sees as the wealthy getting away with bad, possibly criminal, behavior.



Giffin could have taken an easy way of out the story, but she digs deeper and writes a compelling story about money, privilege, class, social media, the treatment of women, and the values we teach our children.

Intense read about an all to common story. Well written and very believable story line. Uncomfortable story for parents, but, sadly, all to familiar. Characters are human, situations realistic, actions are deplorable.

Teenagers that go to a pricey private school, attend an unauthorized and unsupervised party. Drinking to excess, and stupid and irresponsible decisions are made. Single Dad, Tom, is holding down 3 jobs will taking care of his daughter, Lyla. Kirk and Nina are living the wealthy life and their only child, Finch, is born with a silver spoon in his mouth with no accountability. This story will take you on a ride that could be taken from today’s newspapers. Not to give any spoilers, but two endings to different story lines. One will disgust you, and one will restore your faith.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

I was not really into the book at the beginning. But as the story goes on, I enjoyed the interaction among the main characters and the flash back which filled in the gaps on some of the reaction.

My feelings on All We Ever Wanted change drastically throughout the story. Sometimes I feel that Finch and Kirk did not receive justice for their terrible deeds. I was not too impressed with Lyla. I did not like her character, but at the end of the novel she had changed to this heroine that I feel was not justified. Emily Giffin captures the entitlement of the rich very well. Her description of Kirk and Nina’s house and lifestyle show their superficial life. And to buy an eighteen-year-old a Mercedes is unbelievable. The chapters divided into a different character’s perspective seesaws the story between different financial levels and different beliefs, in the end, the poor outshine the rich.

All We Ever Wanted calls the reader to take into account what is really important in life. It is a tale of how riches can blind the heart , privilege masquerades as freedom and how "small" lies can destroy whole lives. This story is read from the perspective of 3 different characters: Nina, a small town girl who married an enterprising young man and became millionaires by their 15th year of marriage....Tom, a single father, carpenter by trade and Lyla, a smart 16 year old girl who was admitted into the elite, Windsor High School in Nashville, Tennessee .
Lyla, being a typical 16 year old wants to be accepted by the other girls and dreams of the attentions of the most popular and good looking guy in the school. After going to a party and getting herself into a compromising position because of alcohol, she is taken advantage of by someone in her class with a photo that enrages her protective father and provides the town with gossip fodder. Tom, wanting to protect his daughter runs up against the power of wealth, stereotypes, and finds few supports until, surprisingly, the perpetrator's mother becomes involved. This is a very good read and would recommend it for anyone having teens.

4 of 5 stars
Wow, this was totally unexpected. Emily Giffin’s previous novels have been contemporary romances, but this one deals with so much more! Rape, inappropriate sexual photos, bribery, infidelity, lies, shame, and how some people with money and privilege behave in various situations.
I think this book is a real departure from Ms. Giffin’s earlier works, and I was impressed that she tackled such difficult subjects. I am looking forward to more books from Ms. Giffin, as she writes along these theme lines.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #EmilyGiffin #AllWeEverWanted #BallantineBooks

3.5 starts veering towards 4. This was a really great read to get me out of my book slump. It was quick and fast paced, but also packed a heavy punch about different facets of sexism and misogyny in American culture. It rang very true to today’s youth culture — how phones make privacy a thing of the past and the entitlement of young men everywhere that leads them to grow up to be entitled adults. This book hits on a ton of huge, mostly insurmountable issues that this planet suffers from today. There’s no real cure for privilege and men taking advantage of women. But Emily Giffin does a good job of bringing some of these issues out to a more mainstream audience. I like when people with power use their voices for good.

Deeper than a lot of Giffin's previous works, but still her wonderful, readable style.

This was a good book. It was interesting, a quick read and I liked the characters. But it wasn't anything special. The end seemed a little rushed. Everything tied up and made sense, but a little more would have been appreciated.

I received an early copy of All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin from NetGalley and this is my review.
This was a fantastic book. I loved every minute of reading it! It was about an every day family and their struggles; Mostly the struggles inside themselves. It’s about family and how difficult it can be to reconcile your differences (or not). Mostly it’s about being true to yourself and who you are.I really enjoyed it so much. It reminded me a lot of Jodi Picoult.

My Takeaway

Emily Giffin is one of my all-time favorite authors. I just adore this woman!! I have read all her books and get thrilled when a new one comes out. I was lucky enough to win an advanced reading copy from Bookish First – so yay for me! I enjoyed All We Ever Wanted and felt it had the right amount of drama, secrets, and scandal. We know teenagers are capable of foolish behavior — especially if/or alcohol is involved. In this case, a teen committed an offensive act and must deal with the consequences. However, the novel also dealt with racism, values, class, and parenting. I found it interesting how parenting styles varied tremendously from person to person. I also appreciated that Giffin offered the viewpoints of three people: Nina, Tom, and Lyla, because I knew each one’s thoughts and secrets. I think this would be a great book for young adults because of the themes it deals with (underage drinking, relationships, social media, etc).

4.5 Stars (5 Stars Rounded Up)
I won this book in a giveaway and was under no obligation to review it.

Emily Giffin is an author that I constantly see and think that I need to read. I am very happy that All We Ever Wanted was my first book I picked up by her. I went into this blind and was expecting a romance based off of the authors other novels. This was not a romance, and was such an emotional and powerful story that I feel was very relevant for today.

This story is so hard to describe or explain as it deals with so many issues. This is a story around how your actions have consequences and how you will be tested around your true values and character. This is a story about a teenage boy making decisions without understanding how it will impact others. He does not seem to understand the consequences or even care about the consequences. This is also a story involving so many other issues that are very important. You will gets bits of information around suicide, single parents, alcoholism, racism, different classes, values, love, and so much more.

I really enjoyed how we get to see inside the perspectives of the parents instead of just the teenagers involved in the incident. I think it just brought something different to the story and the issues. You are really seeing the issues from the eyes of someone else and not exactly from those who were directly involved. You do get to see through Lyla’s perspective as well. In the end, this was such a powerful story and I wish I heard more people talking about it. I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a try. I cannot wait to read more from Emily Giffin if this is what I have in store!

I have previously read Emily Griffin's books. Her books are known for their light, fluffy characters, dramatic proceedings and happy-ish endings. All I Ever Wanted was a bit of a change for Griffin, but maintained all of the story telling talent we've come to love in her previous books.

The characters were so real, relatable and even "hate-able." The story within was timely and not unrealistic in many high school and college settings. Griffin did an incredible job using her platform to spark deeper thought in how we are approaching the rape, sexual assault debate and the unfortunate outcomes and proceedings that occur. Just as impactful was the self-awareness in how we as females are approaching each other. Are we using our experiences to help others or are we allowing the media portrayal to taint our lenses? Just because she was dressed like that or drinking does not mean she "asked for it."

* Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.

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Debbie Krenzer
Debbie Krenzer's Reviews > All We Ever Wanted
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
All We Ever Wanted
by Emily Giffin (Goodreads Author)
12691311
Debbie Krenzer's review Jul 16, 2018 · edit
really liked it
bookshelves: ebooks, net-galley-books

Wow!

I wish I could say that I sped through this book. However, all I can say is that I wanted to speed through this book. I didn't want to put it down.

I was mesmerized with this story. And it was driving me crazy trying to decide who was telling the truth.

I went back and forth on what was the real truth so much in this book, that my mind probably looked like it was following a tennis match.

This was the second book that I've read lately that dealt with teenagers, alcohol at a party and pictures being taken and displayed on social media. I am still not sure what I would do in this case. I am really glad that I didn't have to deal with this issue!

I really enjoyed this book, however, and was certainly glad that I got a chance to read and review.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I received this book from NetGalley and wish to thank them and the publisher.

This book pulled me into it by having great characters. Once that was settled, in that the characters were who they were, like them or not, question them or not, it became a matter of their story. This story is certainly one of the most modern day stories available. I like that it deals with how simple and yet how horrifying it can be for a teenager to make one mistake and have it be so far reaching. Social media makes everyone's life so available.

I like that the story covers the upper class rich and the middle class as well. It covers kids that have been spoiled by that richness and kids that are embarrassed by their circumstances. It covers love on many levels. It covers single parenting from a father's point of view. All of these issues are current and important. I like that it is told from various perspectives. I sometimes did not know who to believe and while I continued to root for those I wanted to believe, I had my doubts.

A well-written and timely book. I enjoyed it and would recommend it highly.

"Finch is either completely innocent or a total sociopath. He's either more like his mother or exactly like his father. I have no clue which one it is, but I will find out." from All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

There is a reason that Emily Giffin's novel All We Ever Wanted is on the bestseller list immediately upon publication. She is a fine writer who delivers defined characters caught in a complicated knot of the "he said, she said" variety, and rolls out the plot so the reader is hooked and, as the story progresses, can't resist being sucked into the current of ever-deepening revelations.

She incorporates issues of #Me Too, class, and race into the central story, along with youth issues of social media and peer pressure, so the novel feels relevant.

The plot revolves around Finch Bowning, just accepted into Princeton, whose family is extremely wealthy. His mother Nina came from modest roots, while his father Kirk was from one of Nashville's elite even before he became even wealthier. They seem to have everything.

Then there is Lyla, raised by her single father Tom. Lyla is on scholarship at a private school where kids like Finch are clearly from another world.

Then at a party one night, a photograph is taken and circulated, bringing crisis into all their lives.

Nina's own experience offers her insight into Lyla's situation and she wants justice for Lyla. Nina must consider the values her husband has brought into their family, where money is more important than people and anything can be bought. She is forced to evaluate her entire life as she seeks to walk the fine line between what is right and the bonds of family.

I had not read Giffin before and was very pleased with this book.

I won an ARC through LibraryThing.

I would give it three and a half stars total if I could. I felt like some parts were predictable but towards the end there were some surprising twists. Lyla grew on me and I was rooting for her but felt like she made some foolish mistakes but I guess that is part of being a teenager. I enjoyed the setting of Nashville.

This was an extremely relevant book in this day of social media and the MeToo movement. The author explored both topics along with the topic of the rich having more rights in the world than others.

One night at a party, Lyla had too much to drink and fell asleep. Later that evening a picture was posted that went viral at the private school that she attended. The picture was supposedly taken by Finch, a senior at the same school who had just been accepted at Princeton. Finch's family is rich - very very rich and Lyla is definitely middle class and going to the prestigious school on scholarship. Of course, Lyla's dad, Tom, goes ballistic and reports the picture to the school. Finch's dad doesn't seem too concerned because he knew he could buy his way out of the problem but his mom was another story. Never completely comfortable with being rich, due to her middle class upbringing, Nina questions her son's story and is appalled at his actions. The result of the picture causes Nina, Tom and Lyla to question their views of family love and responsibility towards other people.

This was a powerful and emotional story that was a reflection of our current climate in this country.

Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

From the outside, Nina has everything she could ever want. She has a successful (and rich husband), a son on his way to Princeton, a beautiful home, and time to charity work. But that's not really who Nina is, as she finds out when scandal strikes, in the form of a picture of a nearly nude girl that her son snapchats to a few friends. The repurcussions of that force Nina to really examine her life and whether it reflects her values. Her introspection forms one theme of the story, and the did-he-didn't-he question of who actually sent the picture and what the consequences will be, form another. Add to that Lyla, the girl in the photo, who has her own story to tell, and her father, and you get a complex, layered book that explores issues of privilige, complicity, and redemption.

MY REVIEW OF “ALL WE EVER WANTED” BY EMILY GRIFFIN Ballantine Books Published June 26, 2018

“All we Ever Wanted” by Emily Griffin is a captivating, dramatic, intense, emotional. and riveting novel. I had different thoughts and a variety of emotions as I was reading this page turning contemporary novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. The timeline of the story is in the present and goes to the past and future only when it pertains to the events or characters in the story.

The author mentions contemporary issues as media, bullying through media, entitlement issues, and shows us the disparity of class through wealth, and the dynamics in families. As a result of these issues the characters seem to be complicated and complex. There are betrayals and secrets. Some of the characters seem to be unbalanced, dysfunctional and unlikeable. There are a few characters that is easy to feel empathy for. The blurb says” Different people must choose between their family and their values.”

Nina Browning is living an extraordinarily wealthy lifestyle with her husband after he sells his business, and can have anything that money can buy. Their son has just made Princeton, and they have every reason to celebrate, until one evening, some tragic events occur.

While the Browning’s are out at a charity event, their son is at a friend’s house while there is a party going on. Lyla Volpe one of the students, who has gotten scholarship for her academics, and goes to the same private school becomes drunk, and appears to be unconscious. Tom Volpe, Lyla’s dad is called. Tom is a single father bringing up Lyla, and has been extremely over-protective. Tom is a talented carpenter but works many jobs to support his daughter.

At this party someone took a picture of Lyla holding a green Uno card, and is partially exposed. Someone has written a racial comment on the post. Nina’s son was at this party, and there is a possibility he took, wrote, and posted the picture. This immediately gets the attention of the administrator at the private school the kids go to. There is an investigation, and there will be a hearing.

Tom is outraged and wants justice., and worries for the emotional repercussions for his daughter. Nina’s husband has donated a tremendous amount of money to the school, and as Nina watches everything unfold, all her values come into question. If Nina’s son is found to be guilt, he will probably not be able to go to Princeton, and this will be marked on his permanent record. Nina’s past secrets make her feel very protective of Lyla.

Emily Griffin has written a significant and thought provoking novel, that I highly recommend. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Nina and Kirk Browning are new money and very, very wealthy. Their lives look perfect from the outside. However, one day their lives are turned upside down when their son Finch is accused of taking a lewd photo of a classmate and sharing it with his friends. To make matters worse, he added a racist caption on it. The photo quickly makes its way around the elite private high school he attends. The school intends to bring him before their Honor Council, who will no doubt issue a severe punishment. In addition, Finch has just been accepted to Princeton and they will probably revoke his acceptance when they find out about the incident.

Finch’s parents have vastly different reactions to Finch’s situation. His father Kirk feels like this is just a case of boys being boys and will do almost anything to make sure that Finch attends Princeton as planned. Finch’s mother Nina struggles with how she feels about what Finch has done and puts much more thought into what should be done with him than Kirk.

Giffin casts Kirk as a one-dimensional villain in this drama and doesn’t give Finch and his friends much depth either. However, the other characters are well-developed and flawed but sympathetic.

All We Ever Wanted would make a great book club selection. Groups could talk about how they as parents would handle it if their child found himself in this sort of predicament. There are other issues that are good discussion topics but too spoilery for me to mention here.

This book is more serious than the lighter beach-read type books that Giffin is known for. I was surprised by that but in a good way. I thought she did a great job and I enjoyed reading it. I think her fans will as well. Recommended.

All We Ever Wanted
By
Emily Giffin



What it's all about...

Let’s take Nina...a young girl from a small Tennessee town who falls in love and marries Kirk...her college sweetheart and the man she thought she would be with always. Kirk becomes very wealthy and their lives become very grand. Money is not an issue and it’s not a concern when Kirk buys their son Finch...a private school senior...a very expensive car and anything else he wants. However...as is the case in some relationships...Nina notices changes both in Finch and Kirk...subtle at first but more and more troublesome to her. Nina is concerned with Finch’s honesty and morality. Kirk just wants him to have fun without worrying about consequences. When a photo from a party...a photo of a fellow student in a compromised situation appears...and Finch is at the heart of it...Nina’s life begins to crumble. The girl in the photo...Lyla...a scholarship student...is Nina’s main concern. Kirk feels that money can buy silence.

Why I wanted to read it...

This book is the kind of book I love to read...privilege vs morality and character. Which one will win?

What made me truly enjoy this book...

The characters were my main focus...will Nina give up her luxurious life? Can she? What will happen to Finch if he continues on in Kirk’s path? Is it too late?

Why you should read it, too...

Readers who love books about family issues...tense ones that could happen to almost any family because of drinking, drugs privilege and social media will enjoy reading this well written book.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. I also had a paper copy from Random House. It was my choice to read it and review it.