The best Emily Giffin book I’ve read in years. I loved her first 4 or 5, but then she completely lost me with her last few. I was skeptical to read this one but the subject matter sounded like a bit of a departure for her and quite timely, so I gave it a whirl. It was a quick, light read despite the darker #metoo subject matter, which is her writing style; it goes down smoothly and you want to keep reading. I think she explored some topical issues well, if not deeply. Overall an enjoyable read despite a deep dislike for several of the characters (who we were meant to dislike). Thanks for the advance copy!

Emily Giffin does it again! Another very relatable, easy-flow read. Her characters are so well-defined, I found myself wanting more after finishing the book. Being written from the individual points of view of all the major characters gave me insight that is not often established in a general fiction book. Although the plot was predictable, it had greater depth and interest due to the unique style. Nina, Kirk, Lyla, Tom, and Finch were characters that we have all seen in other stories, but Emily's writing the story from each of their perspectives gave it more substance and complexity than I had expected. Nina's moral dilemma was at the heart of the story, and the exploration of it and the path Nina ultimately followed was what kept me reading. The epilogue was the icing on the cake, and it left me wanting more.

Such a timely novel in the age of social media! Having a teenager and an almost-teen, phones, social media, and the consequences of their use are a frequent topic in my house so this novel really hit home for me. We all know the "good" kids who aren't so good when the adults aren't around, and the adults behaving badly. The topic and characters were really relatable to me and I really connected with both Nina and Tom. Lyla was so well written. Glad to see a novel with strong females. I would highly recommend this novel, especially to parents with middle to high school age children.

I liked this book a lot. It really makes you pause and think about the digital days we are living in nothing is private anymore. Emily Giffin' is definitely a talented author,

This book is a perfect summer read, it's fast paced and quick to read. It also touches serious topics, even if it doesn't explore them very deeply. I enjoyed the story, and had a hard time putting it down.

Was kind of surprised that this was a Giffin book, seemed like it was a Jacquelyn Mitchard book or the like. It was very relevant to issues for today--but the thing that kind of threw me was that in the epilogue it said that a decade had passed...if I'm to believe that the majority of this book was set in 2008 I just don't see it. Yes, cell phones existed at that time, but snapchat didn't even start until 2011 and hasn't really become a big deal until the past 3 years or so , social media as a whole--definitely not what it is today. So that part just made the entire thing a head shaker for me.

Overall, the themes are important and the idea of who do you really trust, how can you know who to trust...that was fascinating. I also liked the multiple points of view and the impact of this one incident on so many people.

Wish it would't have been so predictable, wish there would have been more surprises.

Nina Browning appears to have a charmed life. Rich husband, son recently accepted to Princeton, and whirlwind social life that makes her feel better about herself and the wealth she is unaccustomed to. Tom Volpe is a single parent to a teenage daughter on scholarship to the same private school that Finch, Nina's son, attends and while she feels like an outsider at first, finds herself at home, and in love with Finch. Unfortunately, Finch's girlfriend is none to happy about that and the fact that Finch is paying her any attention. So she takes the opportunity at a party to photograph the poor girl passed out on a bed, one breast showing and with a very racist caption......from Finch's phone. The resulting turmoil finds Finch taking the blame and Nina questioning the methods her husband chooses to use with Tom to make it all go away.
In today's world of technology, this story line could be pulled from a headline somewhere in the country almost daily, the truth be told. The willingness for Nina to demonstrate her true desire to help Tom's daughter, after her own college experience long tucked away in the folds of her memory, leads her to further examine the relationship with her wealthy, arrogant, smug and cheating husband, and to determine that the money, nor her son's taking on similar traits, is worth it any longer. Meanwhile she and Tom develop a friendship that could someday turn into more.

Let me start by saying that I LOVE Emily Giffin's writing style. It's light, descriptive, and flowy without overdoing it and she delivers on that same style in All We Ever Wanted. As is general true of Giffin's work, this is not a light-hearted novel. It's real, it's tough at times, and it gives voice to timely concerns.

The story follows Nina, Tom, and Lyla after a high school party gone awry. Giffin gives voice to each unique character well, and switches between points of voice to help us piece together what really happened that night. At it's core, All We Ever Wanted is more about how people respond, adapt, and cope when things go wrong than focusing the mystery of what really happened.

It's a slow-paced, introspective novel that I enjoyed in bits and pieces over two weeks rather than binge-reading like I normally might.

Nina Browning leads a charmed life and she knows it. She didn't grow up rich, in fact, she comes from a very modest background. When her husband sold his tech company for more money than either of them could imagine they were very quickly moved into the upper echelon of Nashville society. Their son just got into Princeton and leads a very privileged life, going to one of the most elite private school in Nashville. One night Finch does something stupid. Something racist and offensive. Nina has a variety of emotions over the situation ranging from anger to embarrassment, but most of all she is shocked that her husband doesn't share her reactions.

Tom Volpe is a working-class guy who has worked hard to give his daughter an education at one of the most elite schools in Nashville. He is a carpenter by day and drives an Uber at night, whatever it takes. He is working one night when his daughter's friend calls to tell him that Lyla is passed out drunk and she is scared. Tom pokes around her phone while waiting for Lyla to come out of it and discovers that somebody took a compromising picture of Lyla while she was passed out. One bad decision could risk everything he has worked so hard for - Lyla's future.

All We Ever Wanted takes on the topic of teen "affluenza." Nina Browning is the kind of mother that all mothers should strive to be like. It would be very easy for her to take the path of least resistance and let her husband buy off Lyla, instead, she recognizes how her husband has become one of "those" men and it makes her sick. I loved the way she did the one thing that no other adult did in this book - show concern for Lyla. The story played out in a pretty predictable manner, but it was the way that I had hoped real-life stories with similar circumstances would play out but never do. There was one part of the conclusion that I was surprised by, but it seemed to be necessary to get the author's point across. -- CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS

Bottom Line - All We Ever Wanted was probably one of my favorite Emily Giffin books. She has the tough conversation that no other author seems to be talking about. It is a topic that could generate a lot of great chatter at your next book club!

Details:
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
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Pages: 352
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Publication Date: 6/26/2018
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I received a free copy from NetGalley. Things are not always as they seem and money does not buy happiness. Interesting as it tells the story from different points of view. Again shows how one action has ripples through time and through other peoples' lives. Interesting read and worth the time.

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By: Leigh Davis | July 26, 2018 12:00 am
So little time — so many books! This month we have double coverage of women’s fiction recommendations with both June and July books. So let’s dive in!
Little Big Love by Katy Regan
What it’s about:
Ten-year-old Zac Hutchinson collects facts: Octopuses have three hearts, Usain Bolt is the fastest man on earth.But no one will tell him the one thing he wants to know most: who his father is and where he went.
When Zac’s mother, Juliet, inadvertently admits that his dad is the only man she’s ever loved, Zac decides he is going to find him and deliver his mom the happily ever after she deserves.
But Liam Jones left for a reason, and as Zac searches for clues of his father, Juliet begins to rebuild what shattered on the day that was at once the happiest and most heartbreaking of her life.
Told through the eyes of Zac, Juliet, and grandfather Mick, Little Big Love is a layered, heartfelt, utterly satisfying story about family, love, and the secrets that can define who we are.
The right stuff: Zac is adorable! Complex family relationship is compelling, and point of view creates an ideal story. A winner!
The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
What it’s about:
Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never, ever show you.
Into her hiding place – the bookstore where she works — come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious deliveries.
Someone has found out about her mysterious past. Will Loveday survive her own heartbreaking secrets?
The right stuff: Marketed as a bibliophile delight, and it is true! Loveday will capture your heart as you become engrossed in the story of her guarding her own heart — from disappointment and betrayal. Wonderful backdrop romance as her Prince Charming helps break down the walls.
The Lido by Libby Page
What it’s about:
Rosemary Peterson has lived in Brixton, London, all her life but everything is changing.
The library where she used to work has closed. The family grocery store has become a trendy bar. And now the lido, an outdoor pool where she’s swum daily since its opening, is threatened with closure by a local housing developer. It was at the lido that Rosemary escaped the devastation of World War II; here she fell in love with her husband, George; here she found community during her marriage and since George’s death.
Twentysomething Kate Matthews has moved to Brixton and feels desperately alone. A once promising writer, she now covers forgettable stories for her local paper. That is, until she’s assigned to write about the lido’s closing. Soon Kate’s portrait of the pool focuses on a singular woman: Rosemary. And as Rosemary slowly opens up to Kate, both women are nourished and transformed in ways they never thought possible.
The right stuff: This book has been compared to Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove because of its heartwarming theme of multigenerational relationships. It’s a marvelous flashback romance and features a developing one. There’s also a Goliath theme — a little guy against big business.
Ain’t She a Peach by Molly Harper
What it’s about:
An Atlanta ex-cop comes to sleepy Lake Sackett, Georgia, seeking peace and quiet—but he hasn’t bargained on falling for Frankie, the cutest coroner he’s ever met.
Frankie McCready talks to dead people. Not like a ghost whisperer or anything—but it seems rude to embalm them and not at least say hello.
Fortunately, at the McCready Family Funeral Home & Bait Shop, Frankie’s eccentricities fit right in. Lake Sackett’s embalmer and county coroner, Frankie’s goth styling and passion for nerd culture mean she’s not your typical Southern girl, but the McCreadys are hardly your typical Southern family.
The right stuff: The funeral home and bait shop combo is pure quirkiness, and it works! Frankie’s eccentricity is too droll. Plenty of romance. Southern idiosyncrasies at their most amusing.
The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller
What it’s about:
Nora, the owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner, is perfectly happy serving up apple cider donuts, coffee, and eggs-any-way-you-like-em to her regulars, and she takes great pleasure in knowing exactly what’s “the usual.” But her life is soon shaken when she discovers she and her free-spirited, younger sister Kit stand to inherit the home and land of the town’s beloved cake lady, Peggy Johnson.
Kit, an aspiring—and broke—filmmaker thinks her problems are solved when she and Nora find out Peggy was in the process of selling the land to a big-box developer before her death. The people of Guthrie are divided—some want the opportunities the development will bring, while others are staunchly against any change—and they aren’t afraid to leave their opinions with their tips.
Time is running out, and the sisters need to make a decision soon. But Nora isn’t quite ready to let go of the land, complete with a charming farmhouse, an ancient apple orchard and the clues to a secret life that no one knew Peggy had. Troubled by the conflicting needs of the town, and confused by her growing feelings towards Elliot, the big-box developer’s rep, Nora throws herself into solving the one problem that everyone in town can agree on—finding Peggy’s missing dog, Freckles.
The right stuff: Miller does a wonderful job of showcasing the complex relationships we have with our siblings and how to lose the judgment and accept differences. Great sense of community, too!
The Lost Queen of Crocker County by Elizabeth Leiknes
What it’s about:
Crocker County crowns a new Corn Queen every year, but Jane Willow’s the one you would remember. She can’t forget Iowa, either. Even though she fled to LA to become a film critic years ago, home was always there behind her.
But when a family tragedy happens, she’s forced to drive back to Crocker County. The rolling farmlands can’t much hide the things she left behind: the best friend she abandoned who now runs a meatloaf hotline, the childhood front porch that sits hauntingly empty, and that fiasco of a Corn Fest that spun her life in a different direction.
Before Jane can escape her past a second time, disaster strikes, and she will have to find a way to right her mistakes and save herself from her regrets. An unflinchingly love letter to the Midwest that unfolds through a celebration of movies, this ferociously endearing novel brings home the saving grace of second chances.
The right stuff: Pure delight for film buffs. Riveting story of small-town girl transformed into mocking, skeptical sophisticate until she returns home and finds the courage to forgive herself and “make it right.” Strong multifaceted heroine. Wonderful “Believe So” theme.
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
What it’s about:
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.
The right stuff: Giffin combines today’s relevant themes of boys will be boys, the impact of social media and the MeToo movement into a compelling read.
Dreams of Falling by Karen White
What it’s about:
On the banks of the North Santee River stands a moss-draped oak that was once entrusted with the dreams of three young girls. Into the tree’s trunk, they placed their greatest hopes, written on ribbons, for safekeeping—including the most important one: Friends forever, come what may.
But life can waylay the best of intentions….
Nine years ago, a humiliated Larkin Lanier fled Georgetown, South Carolina, knowing she could never go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she realizes she has no choice but to return to the place she both loves and dreads—and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home.
Ivy, Larkin’s mother, is discovered badly injured and unconscious in the burned-out wreckage of her ancestral plantation home. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly fifty years—whispers of love, sacrifice, and betrayal—that lead back to three girls on the brink of womanhood who found their friendship tested in the most heartbreaking ways.
The right stuff: This one is everything you’ve come to expect from a Karen White book. Strong female friendships, a second chance at love and a great family mystery! (See an excerpt on HEA from Dreams of Falling.)
The Life Lucy Knew by Karma Brown
What it’s about:
After hitting her head, Lucy Sparks awakens in the hospital to a shocking revelation: the man she’s known and loved for years—the man she recently married—is not actually her husband. In fact, they haven’t even spoken since their breakup four years earlier. The happily-ever-after she remembers in vivid detail—right down to the dress she wore to their wedding—is only one example of what her doctors call a false memory: recollections Lucy’s mind made up to fill in the blanks from the coma.
Her psychologist explains the condition as honest lying, because while Lucy’s memories are false, they still feel incredibly real. Now she has no idea which memories she can trust—a devastating experience not only for Lucy, but also for her family, friends and especially her devoted boyfriend, Matt, whom Lucy remembers merely as a work colleague.
When the life Lucy believes she had slams against the reality she’s been living for the past four years, she must make a difficult choice about which life she wants to lead, and who she really is.
The right stuff: An imaginative (and horrifying) plot of memories that are not truly memories. Strong romance and a true happy ending!
Leigh Davis is a former contributor to Heroes and Heartbreakers. When she is not reading, she’s usually outside throwing balls to her insatiable dogs. She loves hearing and talking about great books. You can connect with her on Twitter and Goodreads.
MORE ON HEA: See more posts by Leigh
Elizabeth Leiknes, Emily Giffin, Karen White, Karma Brown, Kate Regan, Libby Page, Louise Miller, Molly Harper, Stephanie Butland, women's fiction, Recommended reads, Top stories

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of ALL WE EVER WANTED in exchange for an honest review.

All We Ever Wanted was such a deeply poignant and moving story about a young girl in a tough predicament. A lapse in judgement leaves so many exposed. The story follows them as they struggle to put their lives back together, find forgiveness, and move forward.

This book had it all. From loss and love, to deceit and pain. I absolutely loved that this book addressed difficult topics from different perspectives. It was a well rounded look at how a variety of people are affected so differently by a single instance. I think Griffin did a great job of addressing them from the different viewpoints, and the way it was written, I found myself really connecting with all of the characters, no matter how good or bad they were.

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself completely lost in it while the world continued to spin around me. Its not too late to make this your next great summer read. Highly recommended!

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

Let me start by saying I’m NOT an avid Emily Giffin fan. I have put down every other book of hers I’ve started. But this book - was different.

I’m a youth leader with high schoolers in an affluent area so I’m very familiar with all the struggles they face, I’m also a mother to a son who I don’t want to act like Finch.

There is so much of my life that fits along with this book that I think that’s a huge part of why it drew me in.

That being said, this book swept me away, the perspective of each character is so realistic and mellow. It’s not dramatic and hard hitting but each chapter left me wondering “what are they going to do??”

Delightful read. Definitely recommend!! Finished in one day!! I may become a Giffin fan yet...

All We Ever Needed by Emily Giffin is a novel about mistakes, forgiveness, growing, and self-discovery.

Let me preface this review by saying I love Emily's clever mind and I have been a big fan of hers from the beginning with Something Borrowed.

While I enjoyed this story and found it quite relevant in today’s society, it didn’t conclude in any memorable way.
I know every ending shouldn’t be tied up in a bow, but it needed just that extra little nudge to leave the reader with just a little more finite HEA.

The story unfolded and flowed very nicely and the main characters were likable and relatable.

My only wish was a clearer HEA.

I loved this book! It was different for Emily Giffin, but truly kept my attention and had a wonderful lesson.

I thought this book had meaning to it. It looks at the life of two people on the separate sides of the tracks, and how one picture can change everything. It puts a mother in a tough position. She has to decide if she is going to stand by her family or fight for what is right.



** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

I am so grateful to the publisher and author for an early copy of this timely book. My review may be tinged by emphatic clapping for the discussions with my own children (teens) that arose from my reading this book. However, there is no doubt about the power of this book for all readers. All We Ever Wanted tackles a subject matter many authors shy away from, and it is a very murky subject matter with many triggers for some readers. I am a huge Emily Giffin fan, and this book is no exception. I this book I find it incredibly important to discuss and review topics that this author navigated with sensitivity and accuracy. I am going to recommend this as a book club selection. An addictive read, and recommended for all my book loving friends.

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).

My reviews can also be read at www.wanderponder.com

I received an advance copy of this book for my honest review.

This book feels really timely. In the era of black lives matter and MeToo, it's interesting to have a story like this that touches on race and rape, as well as class, among other issues. What I really was intrigued by when reading this book was the way it makes you examine bias. As the reader we come to different parts of the story without all the facts and yet we make judgments, which is natural, but this novel does a good job of exposing our bias. I am not saying anything is what it seems in this novel and I don't want to give anything away.

I suggest reading this book if you want to spend a bit of time struggling with issues of class, sexual assault, and race/ethnicity. It's not that these issues are the only focus of the book as the story is much more about our protagonist, Nina and the younger female Lyla (Tom's daughter) and their journey to finding themselves.

It's also a book about the elite and what money can do and what it does do - i.e. the opportunities it brings and the spoliation it causes.

It is a thought provoking read. It doesn't shy away from topics like suicide and what it is like to be a teenager today. At the same time, it's filled with love, fun, sadness, and joy.

I found that I came away feeling like the book offered a very bright outlook on a feminist future but honestly portrayed a few of the many set backs that women face today. I do find it hard to discuss this book without including any spoilers. I recommend it.

I've read all of Emily Giffin's books and have enjoyed just about all of them. This one, however was very hard for me to get into. I wasn't engaged with the characters, especially Nina who I thought I should've connected to as a mother. There was something distant to the storyline and felt like way too much of an "issue" book. While I think Giffin is a great writer, even in this book, It was just a miss for me overall