All We Ever Wanted is a powerful young adult fictional story about two teens, a young man (from a privileged family) and a young lady (from a working-class family). With both kids in high school, this book deals with the difficult life choices teens make including: parties, alcohol, sexual experiences, as well as honesty and character. The relationships between the parents and young adults in this book are very important, I feel the author portrayed the difficulties of parenthood very well.

I would recommend this book to high-school aged students and above. Some of the issues addressed in the book are very mature, however, as the mom of a high-school son myself, as well as a middle-school daughter these are issues that we need to have open and honest conversations about throughout their lives.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin. A heart-wrenching book. With intense storyline, great characters and dialogue. I look forward to reading more by this author.

The newest book by Emily Griffin centers around Nina, a wealthy Nashville mother, her son Finch, Finch's schoolmate Lyla, and Lyla's father Tom. The story is told in three different points of view as something horrible happens that every parent fears as their kids turn into teenagers.  A high school party turns dangerous when an inappropriate photo of Lyla is sent by Finch. Quickly rumors start to swirl in Nashville and the parents are left trying to figure out & clean up the mess. I have been an Emily Giffin fan since her first novel way back in 2014. She always had the ability to provide a witty, feel-good book. This one is a bit of a departure from that, but I LOVE it. She tackles tough subjects of elitism, racism, and how social media can be incredibly dangerous in the hands of kids. While it was still a quick, easy read, this book was much more thought-provoking and raw. This is one I definitely recommend reading this summer.

Unlike her husband, Kirk, Nina Browning did not have a privileged upbringing. But since Kirk sold his software company a few years ago, their Nashville social status has been elevated. Fabulously wealthy and able to afford anything they want, the Brownings appear to have everything they ever wanted: security, a beautiful home, friends, and Finch, their only child. A high school senior who has attended the exclusive Windsor Academy his entire life, he has just been accepted to Princeton.

In contrast, Tom Volpe is carpenter and part-time Uber driver raising his daughter, Lyla, alone on the other side of the river, i.e. "the other side of the tracks." More than a decade ago, Lyla's mother, who had a drinking problem, left but she has stayed in touch sporadically, turning up for occasional visits. Lyla attends Windsor Academy on a scholarship. Lyla wants to fit in with her wealthy classmates, and engages in typical teenage behavior such as sneaking out with her girlfriends and experimenting sexually.

What started out as a typical Saturday night turns out to be the night that Finch makes "the worst decision of his life." A photo taken during a party at his friend Beau's house changes the lives of the Brownings and Volpes. That photo of a partially unclad Lyla bearing a racist caption is distributed to Finch's Windsor Academy friends, setting off a series of events that none of them could have imagined.

Emily Giffin tackles a controversial and timely topic -- powerful technology misused by teenagers. But All We Ever Wanted is an unapologetic, unflinching morality play in which technology serves as the plot device to set up the conflict. At the heart of the story are characters facing a timeless dilemma: What is the right thing to do? It is a tale about class structure, power, and the things that power can, but should not buy. It is a study in conscience and how those who lack a moral compass will do anything to evade the consequences of their actions. It is a story about betrayal, told from the perspectives of Nina, Tom, and Lyla as they navigate a scandal and search for the truth about what happened on that fateful Saturday night. Did Finch take the photo, add the caption, and send it to his friends? Or was it take by someone else who distributed it in order to retaliate? Ultimately, it is a story about how well it is possible to really know those you love the most.

Nina is the moral centerpiece of the story, a decent woman who has happened upon and never been fully comfortable living an ostentatious lifestyle. The incident at the party forces her to take a good look at her life and marriage. With no remaining alternatives, she has to admit that she and Kirk have been drifting apart even since he sold his company and she has doubted much about their relationship, but never before dared to voice, much less confront those doubts. Giffin's writing is at its finest, however, as Nina questions the way in which they have raised their son. She thought she taught him to be a kind, compassionate, honest young man. But as events unfold, she critiques her own mothering of Finch even as she resolves that she will never abandon or give up on the fundamental goodness she knows she instilled in her son. Tom is also forced to analyze his parenting style, acknowledging that he has overcompensated for the fact that Lyla's mother abandoned her by being overprotective and volatile. But like Nina, he is determined to do what is right and best for his daughter. Giffin also tenderly but believably portrays Nina's disappointment, as well as her strength and resiliency in the face of complete disillusionment.

All We Ever Wanted is a cautionary tale for parents, as well as a searing exploration of the consequences of one careless, casual act that will leave readers pondering "What would I do if . . .?" It is a riveting and deeply moving story about good people trying to do their best in trying circumstances that will resonate with readers.

Emily Giffin has long been one of my favorite authors, and she has succeeded again in writing literature that is relevant and moving in relation to current events, while maintaining subtle opinions. Given all the subject matter, it would be easy to lean toward preachy, but she walks the fine line with grace, and gives readers a chance to ask themselves very tough "what would you do" questions. This is definitely a must-read, and the best book I've read this year!

I enjoy all books by this author and this was no exception. It dealt with a very real problem our society has with teens and social media. I will recommend to other adults and my teen students.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin completely blew me away, and it evoked many of the same feelings I had reading Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

What would you do if your son is accused of sharing a picture with his buddies that contains a half naked girl with a racist "joke" as the caption? Well that is exactly what Nina has to find out when her son Finch is accused of doing just that. Told in alternating viewpoints, this book is a heavy hitter that touches on a lot of pertinent issues in today's society. Chapters alternate between Nina, Finch, Lyla who is the girl in the picture, Lyla's dad Tom, plus a bit of Nina's husband Kirk sprinkled in. I loved the way Giffin did this because not only did it keep the story interesting, it also made figuring out who was telling the truth much harder. Each character had a very strong, unique voice so you can tell this isn't Giffin's first rodeo, and the characterization was perfect for me.

While the main storyline has to do with the photo, there is also a touch of romance, marital woes, keeping up with the Joneses, and relationships between parents and their children. There are so many topics touched upon and I found the book to be quite emotional. Not only is the cover of All We Ever Wanted beautiful, but the inside is as well. There is struggle and sadness, but also a good dose of happiness and hope as well.

I LOVED Nina and Lyla, and I think a lot of women will be able to relate to them (even though Lyla is high school age). They are very strong female characters and they weren't doormats which was refreshing to say the least.

Final Thought: I have heard that All We Ever Wanted is nothing like Giffin's other books (which mainly seem to be romantic in nature), but it was such an amazing book that it makes me want to read her other novels right away. Her writing is superb and she is such an amazing storyteller. I will definitely be thinking of this book for months, and maybe even years, to come.

All We Ever Wanted in 3-ish words: Beautiful, Must-Read, Ponderous

As a reader of the previous publications by Ms. Giffin, I was unsure what to anticipate with this novel, which was a departure from her standard romantic leaning tales and reflected themes that are more typical for authors like Jodi Picoult. I was deeply touched by the issues that were raised regarding parenting, social media use, justice, racial and socioeconomic biases, as were captured from the perspectives of the protagonists. While I empathized the most with the experiences of Tom and Lyla, Nina proved to be a complex figure whose internal/external conflicts reflected dynamics that would arise for many when confronted with a similar scenario in their lives. Ms. Giffin rendered each perspective with a deep sensitivity and thoroughness that I greatly appreciated and forced me to remember the hellish time that adolescence was. I hope that she will continue forth with similar future works.

Nina and Kirk Browning and their teenage son, Finch, live a good life, especially since Kirk sold his company and the family has experienced a great deal of wealth. Nina and Kirk are attending a fundraiser when they hear whispering that Finch has been involved in an incident with another student at his school, Windsor Academy. It soon comes out that Finch has taken an inappropriate sexy picture of Lyla at a party and sent it to friends, accompanied by a racist comment. The photo spreads around the community quickly, causing both the kids and parents to take sides. Lyla's father, Tom, who has been raising Lyla since she was small, is appalled--he cannot believe his daughter is involved in such a mess, and he wants justice for her. Lyla's at Windsor on a scholarship, and she just wants to fit in. Now, Nina, Finch, Lyla, and Tom must grapple with the aftermath of the photo and what exactly happened the night of the party.

This is a timely novel that certainly has a place in the #MeToo moment. It's a topic being covered more and more lately, and the idea of teens and sexting is just as horrifying as always. It draws you in from the beginning, and I found it to be a very fascinating read that kept my interest throughout. By alternating the point of view between Nina, Tom, and Lyla, we get to the story told from a range of characters, including the victim herself.

The biggest issue I had with this one--and even Lyla herself admits it--is that the characters sometimes come across as cliche: the spoiled rich boy hurts the poor, intelligent girl on scholarship. The only light of resistance is Nina, our wealthy wife with the obnoxious, rich husband. Even Nina's friends appear to be clueless (or worse) jerks brainwashed by their picture perfect Nashville lives. Still, Lyla is a great kid and reading her sections is lovely. Her father is a flawed individual, but you can't help but empathize with him as well. Nina is more complicated, and I would have liked to see her take on a little more responsibility for her son and the events that unfold around her. Yes, Nina had a conscience, but she didn't seem to do a lot with it, if that makes any sense, besides apologize.

In the end, I enjoyed this one because it wasn't totally predictable and because I really liked the characters of Lyla and Tom. I found it to be an easy and quick read. Still, it seemed like something was missing as I read, whether it was because some of the book felt like it was populated by stock characters or what, I don't know. While it's not exactly the same story, I would recommend the amazing Girl Made of Stars from Ashley Herring Blake if you're looking for a timely book on this topic. That powerful book blows this one out of the water, and maybe it's that power and emotion that I felt was lacking here.

Nina Browning sometimes can't believe the life she is leading. From the wrong side of town, Nina has married into money and found herself among the elite; she's friends with the wives and is raising a son expected to go on to Princeton. It's almost a dream come true, except she can't help but feel like she's strayed from the girl she once was, especially when her approach to an incident is very different from her husband and their friends.

Tom Volpe does everything he can to give his daughter, Lyla, the life she deserves. A scholarship to the prestigious Windsor Academy makes him relax, but Lyla still doesn't feel like she fits in and one drunken night proves that even further. A photo from a party is spread around, with Nina's son the account the photo originated from and Windsor Academy becomes the hotspot for controversy and blame.

Nina, Tom, and Lyla are thrown together, each trying to discover the right way to handle the situation and questioning if the path they're going down is the correct one. Nina sees herself in Lyla, an innocence she wants to preserve even if it goes against everything her husband is telling she and her son to do. Tom want his daughter to be equal, but even he has to question if he's doing the right thing for his daughter.

All We Ever Wanted is Emily Giffin's latest release and her third book, in my opinion, that tackles present day scandal. It's classic Women's Fiction with a deeper meaning, delving into one's believes, the difference between right and wrong, and the strength it takes to go down the path least travelled. The story of a girl having her photo shared around school is not new to us, we hear about it in the news more often than we'd like to admit, but the story of her parents and the accused parents, that is new. All We Ever Wanted introduces us to Lyla and Nina's son, we know who they are and we have a general idea of how this is impacting their lives, but we get to spend the most time with Nina and Tom. Nina doesn't agree with her husband's methods for "handling it" and Tom doesn't either. They forge an unlikely friendship, their meetings leaving each introspective and aware that a change must be made, that how they handle this is a lesson for their children going forward.

I really liked Nina, I liked how aware she was of her wealth, that it hung on her more like a chain to drag than a necklace. She's previously been passive, accepting that she must be someone new and leave her old self behind, but the photo incident brings her back to college and the strength she wished she would have had then. She channels her energy into Tom and Lyla, befriending them, offering her company, and ultimately turning her back on her husband and son. While she wants the best for her son, that much is obvious, she's also aware that idly letting her husband control the outcome will teach him nothing. She wants better for herself, better for Lyla, and better for her son. Tom is difficult, he's gruff, unexpectedly soft in some ways, and too aware of the class and racial differences he and his daughter have with the other students and parents at Windsor Academy. I say too aware, because he allows them to be different, to be divided based on Lyla's skintone, unaware that he is making her school situation more difficult. The class and racial bias is also a major part of the plot with the photo and leads to lessons for some and shows us the ignorance of others. Lyla just wants someone to hear her, to fit in for a moment, to believe in her. How these two parents decide what is right or wrong is an excellent story and how Nina brings Lyla out of her shell is fantastic. We see two women who care, who are lovers, and who have a desperate want for humanity and Tom, well in him we see a protective single father who wants more for boys and girls, specifically for his daughter.

I really enjoyed this book, Emily Giffin has given us something that is so timely it's hard to believe it's a fiction novel and not another true story in the paper. The characters are realistic and the plot painfully so as well. It's a book that I'd call "unputdownable," not because it's an easy book to escape into, but rather because it is written so well and is so very relevant. I loved the focus on growth, right and wrong, and the lessons that come from mistakes. It's not a light read, it is rather heavy and deals with many difficult topics, but it is an important read and I'm grateful it's written by Emily Giffin, an author I consider one of my favorite and an author I know cares about society and humanity.

This book is apropos in this day and age where social media is used for both good and bad. It shows how one photo can irreversibly change the lives of all involved.

Nina didn’t come from money. She’s now married, rich and money is no object. Her son Finch has been accepted into Princeton. But one night Finch gets into trouble after taking a picture of a half-naked Lyla.

Tom is a single parent, raising his daughter Lyla by himself. He’s extremely proud of her accomplishments which includes getting a scholarship to the exclusive Windsor's Academy. His world is shattered when he's called to pick up a drunk Lyla from a friend's house and then when he sees the damaging photo in question, Tom appeals to the school for retribution.

As usual, Emily Giffin has written a moving, thought provoking novel. It draws you in and you feel connected to these characters..

WOW!!!!!
I could not put this book down. It was so intense and relevant today.

The story details the life of the privileged families who are held to a different set of rules nor held accountable for their actions. A mistake is revealed that is life changing, for a young girl who comes from a blue collar family and a young man who is entitled and comes from an affluent family, both attending a prestigious, expensive school.

The event is revealed early in the story but through multiple points of view, the true story is revealed by the disparity of classes and how wealth provides access that can alter an outcome where actions have consequences.

This story was paced perfectly and the story grabbed and engaged you immediately. Intense, emotional and so climatic in the end. The is my first book from this author and look forward to more.

All We Ever Wanted is worthy of the buzz it's receiving this summer. I had a hard time putting this one down, but I did on occasion to process the story. It is riveting and thought-provoking and so very current.

With alternating points of view (a favorite literary device of mine), we gradually learn the truth of what happened that night: the night when Tom's daughter and Nina's son are involved in a scandal that threatens their peace of mind, their sense of safety, and their very futures.

Teens, alcohol, and Snapchat are a dangerous triumvirate. As a high school teacher, I know how prevalent social media is in many teens' lives, Snapchat in particular (and yes, I've been on there without my permission, so there's that as well). And while I and other teachers have preached and taught the lessons about responsible digital citizenship and the permanence of online presence, I often sense an ignoring of those lessons and at the same time a sense of entitlement among my students. Until it happens to them, they don't really seem to care.

All We Ever Wanted shows us what can happen, and how justice is not always served in the way we believe it should be. It also shows us in this age of #metoo that we cannot judge based upon outward appearances (and dare I say, Facebook and Instagram photos), and that each of us is a walking library of stories and experiences.
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FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I've read and enjoyed several other books by Emily Giffin, so when All We Ever Wanted popped up on NetGalley, I jumped on the opportunity to read this one before it was release.

All We Ever Wanted tells the story of a teenage girl, Lyla, who is the victim of bullying. Finch, a boy she has a crush on, shares a compromising photo of her with his friends via text message. The photo quickly spreads, and Lyla's father, Tom, and Finch's mother, Nina, get involved.

This incident shows some of the pitfalls of the technology era we live in, where teenagers think it's acceptable to take and share less than appropriate photos of themselves, and others, online. It reminds me of !3 Reasons Why, and the important message of why we should have zero tolerant for bullying.

Alternating view points, the story centers on Lyla, and her desires to fit in and forgot about the incident, while Tom and Nina feel justice is deserved and want the truth to come out. Having the story told from these 3 view points was essential to the story, showing how different parents and children react to situations.

The book also touches on racial and class bias. Lyla is half Brazilian, and she and Tom live on the poor side of town, while Nina and her son Finch, live in mansion and attend the local country club. Tom is sure Windsor Academy, the prestigious private school Lyla and Finch attend, will fail to punish Finch appropriately since his parents have the means to make large financial donations to the school, and have done so in the past.

Overall, was very engaging, and a quick read. The only drawback, in my opinion, is that after the slow buildup of the characters and events, the ending feels rushed and unsatisfactory. I wanted more depth and substance. The flash forward in time was nice, but felt lacking.

Loved this book. So different than Emily Giffin’s usual love stories. Very timely. Loved all the separate viewpoints. Would highly recommend.

(Reviewed on Goodreads)

Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for the free e-copy of All We Ever Wanted. All opinions expressed below are my own.

All We Ever Wanted is the newest novel by veteran author Emily Giffin. It is told using alternating POVs: Nina, a wealthy Nashville mother to a male high school senior; Tom, a single-father working multiple jobs to make ends meet and raise his sophomore daughter; and Lyla, Tom's daughter. The novel starts with a drunken photograph that gets shared via social media - Nina's son shares a photograph of Lyla passed out on a bed with a racist comment. The remainder of the book deals with the aftermath of this single event.

I'll admit - I anticipated a "chick-lit" read out of Emily Giffin. It has been years since I had read any of her novels, but I think of them as lighter and more fluffy works of fiction. In fact, that is part of the reason why I wanted to read this one! I was pleasantly surprised at the more difficult subject matter tackled in this one: fidelity, marriage, social classes, rape culture, social media and parenting.

Emily Giffin knocks it out of the park with this novel that approaches difficult subjects with grace and while keeping the reader engaged. She doesn't get on a pulpit to preach about the effects of social media, parenting and rape, but rather lets the story unfold and slowly brings the issues to the forefront.

Personally, I found myself rooting for so many of the characters - even the "bad" ones - you want them to see the error of their ways and want them to admit their wrongs and move forward. I found this to be an excellent work of fiction that feels like it was ripped from headlines - it is timely and tackles an important subject. I highly recommend it - 4.5 stars rounded to 5!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this. I think it's not easy to handle the subject of privilege when the author is one of the privileged. I was concerned about tropes, plot shortcuts and unlikely happy endings. But that isn't what I found. All We Ever Wanted is a well imagined and told scenario of what happens when a young girl makes some unwise decisions and is taken advantage of by boys who not only don't believe there are consequences to face, but don't actually believe they have done anything wrong. It's about the length a parent will go to protect their children, whether those inclinations work for or against justice. It's about integrity and character and how to regain those when we've lost them, or whether we actually can. It's about who owns women's bodies and our choices and whether or not we have to the right to ever feel safe in them or will there always be those who see us as objects to be used.
This book made me mad and sick and sad - and it should. It's the story of a mad and sick and sad world. But there's also a great deal of hope and empowerment to be found there too.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin is an emotional tale that is very fitting in today’s social media obsessed age. One drunken night leads to a risque photo being passed around of a young teenage girl leading to the characters all dealing with the situation from their own points of views.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

‼️Mini Review‼️
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Books: All we ever wanted
Author: @emilygiffinauthor
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you @penguinrandomhouse @prhinternational #partner #sponsor #ad for sending me the free ebook in exchanged for an honest review..
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Three completely different people- Tom, Nina and Lyla are forced to cross paths with each other. A small town girl Nina ends up marrying in the elite of Nashville, although she adapts the luxury life like she was born in it, the girl from bristol never grows out of her. She’s soon hit by something her son does that was not on her schedule. The situation forces her to choose between what right thing to do in the situation is and whats right to do for her son. They could obviously buy their way out of this but would this decision straighten her son out in the long term? Why can’t her heart just go above and beyond for her child, despite his mistakes like every other person does around her? Why is she so reluctant on doing the right thing for Lyla?
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Okay so obviously this is a very different genre from what i normally read but this book was about Nina, my fav main character from this book self discovering herself. Apart from being a mother and a wife, who was she really for herself? What were her morals? Why were they so different from her husbands? This is a story that every woman should read, about diversity, self-discovery and self-help. Amazingly put together by the Bestselling Author @emilygiffinauthor
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I’ll definitely be reading more of her books soon! And Happy July to you all 💕
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‼️‼️How many books did you read this June? I read 3 only 👀 wby? And which one was your favorite?

I really enjoyed this! Somehow I have missed reading all of Emily Griffin's other books, so I was glad to get this ARC from NetGalley. I thought it was just a fun chick lit book, but the themes really were deeper than that. A high school girl goes to a party and after drinking too much, pictures are taken of her and then they are passed around the school. The book is from the point of view of the girl, her dad and the mom of the buy who took the pictures. A very trendy topic and and interesting story line.