This book did a great job tackling some very heavy subjects. At what point do we lose who we really are. A slow process for so many that we only see it when looking back and reflecting or as happens in this book, an event happens that makes you deal with it in a much more in your face the shocks keep coming manner. What can money buy, what can't it buy, and how do you go forward when you were convinced you knew the answers, but you really didn't. All We Ever Wanted has strong characters trying to move forward and make difficult choices. Some are easy to pick what is the right thing to do and some with no clear right or wrong. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced read. Loved it.

All We Ever Wanted was an engaging book on a subject matter that is so relevant today. This is one of several book's I've read recently telling the story from multiple perspectives; however, it seemed most effective in this book. When first reading the book, I wanted to get Finch's perspective. As I got further in the book, I really understood why Emily Giffin chose to focus on the perspectives she did.

I did not want to put this book down when I started reading. It was an emotional story. This book touches on many different subjects which were all worthy of their own discussions: privilege, race, social media, accountability, and sexuality, just to name a few.

I would have liked to see things resolved a little more slowly in the end. I would have like to see more of the aftermath of Lyla and Nina's choices. Despite this, I would still heartily recommend this book.

I’ve read other books by Emily Giffin and enjoyed all of the them. They were great “take to the beach” summer reading... light, breezy romance to pass the time (and I mean that in a good sense). When I saw this come out on Netgalley, I was so happy to be able to receive an advanced copy. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine, Random House for providing this ARC to me for an unbiased review of this book.
As soon as I started reading this book, I knew it was not going to be anything like her other books and that wasn’t a bad thing.
The book gives the reader the perspectives of Nina, Tom, and Lyla when, in a moment of drunken stupidness, a damaging photo is taken and this photo goes viral.
Nina Browning was brought up in a middle class family. She is now very wealthy due to her husband’s successful business ventures. They give a substantial amount of money to different charities but they both have very different reasons for doing this, as you will see when you read the book. They have a son (Finch) who feels that the wealth of his family makes him better than anyone who doesn’t have the finances readily available to them as he does. He thinks more like his father than his mother. Nina doesn’t feel superior because of her wealth and feels that people should be responsible for their actions no matter who they are.
Tom Volpe is a middle class workings single father who is very protective of his daughter, Lyla.
Lyla is a teenager who is trying to fit into a private school where wealth abounds.
Because of the photo that went viral, they all have to come together and you will see how each of them copes with the situation. As the story unfolds, you will see how differently their points of view are concerning what happened that night.
This book grabbed my attention at the first chapter. I would have liked to have seen how the end was played out a little more than it was but I still give it 5 stars. It it hadn’t been such a good book, I wouldn’t have cared that it ended sooner than I wanted it to.

This book exhausted me emotionally...almost too many issues to tackle in one book. Materialism/social class, teenage sexting/bullying, racism, parent/child relationships and doing the right thing even if it hurts the ones you love. I did feel that the initial response of the girl’s father to the central offense (sexting pics) could have been stronger and more proactive. And I was not satisfied with the outcome, but felt there could be no perfect resolution here. Plenty of heartrending moments.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse/#BallantineBooks for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

I devoured this book. I loved it. I loved all the different viewpoints told by the different characters each chapter and how their storylines developed. I thought it ended rather abruptly but then the epilogue was nice. This book tackled a very important issue of our time in a real way.

Emily Giffin may have written her best book yet. All We Ever Wanted is a fast paced, well written novel for families and teenagers living in the all-encompassing digital age. The story centers around students at a private school for wealthy families and a provocative cell phone photo taken of a girl who, while also a student at the school, receives financial assistance. The book raises issues of class, wealth, entitlement and just how far parents will (or should) go to protect their child.

Great book by Emily Giffin! A moral dilemma faces two families after an inappropriate comprising photo of a young teenager passed out drunk at a party is shared among some friends. The story is told in three voices and explores not only the sharing of photos and consequences, but also how money comes into play. Themes of trust, loyalty, love and veracity are explored. Very readable and current book. I really enjoyed reading.

I have read almost all of Emily Griffin’s books and this one has become one of my favorites. The book follows two families and how a picture posted on social media effects thier lives. I enjoyed how the story follows a common problem that teenagers faced today while still keeping the story light and suspenseful. Not the normal, fluffy book from Griffin but still a page turner!

While this was not my favorite Emily Giffin book (my favorites are Something Borrowed and Something Blue) I still really enjoyed it. I wish there could've been more closure in the ending (did they? Are they?) but it was still a great story. I especially liked how the story was told from three different perspectives. Emily Giffin is consistently a great writer, and I have not read a "bad" book of hers. I doubt I ever will, she's that good.

Thank you NetGalley, for this ARC!

I appreciated the good prose, and pace of this book. There was a clear story arc and a nice epilogue at the end to tie up any loose strings.

In the tony town of Belle Meade, TN, Nina Browning is trying to do the best she can raising her only son, Finch, who will soon be leaving for Princeton University. Her husband, Kirk, recently sold his business and made millions, but while the family gained more wealth, the Browning family lost their grounding. Across town, Tom, a single dad, struggles to raise his daughter, 16 year old Lyla. Lyla has a scholarship to the same elite private school as Finch attends. Something happens at a party involving Lyla and Finch, and spreads through the area like wildfire.

The story is told through the perspective of Nina, Lyla, and Tom. The author nailed the voices of each character, particularly the 16 year old, I could almost hear her eyes rolling. Even though we have differences, I could relate to Nina and her idealistic desire to raise a good person, and the struggles she had with each decision she made.

I was provided an ARC of this book from Netgally, but this did not influence my opinion.

3.5 Stars. An honest depiction of the indiscriminate and careless use of our electronic devices: namely taking and sharing pictures in a world of one press of the send button with the result of completely devouring someone's privacy. This is a story of how one night out and one bad choice can turn families upside down and inside out in search of the truth.

The setting was very typical. A wealthy Nashville town which is home to a wealthy private high-school. Finch, born into money has just been accepted into Princeton. Lyla, has been accepted into this same high- school with a financial hardship scholarship trying to fit in until a scandalous picture is unknowingly taken of her.

Of course the parents rally once this all hits the fan. Told in three perspectives, we now have a fairly accurate relevant depiction of a social media cautionary tale told time and time again in real life.

I was sufficiently appalled by the scandalous event that prompted the picture. I would have been a raging lunatic had this been my daughter. The response from Layla's father was appropriate, yet I felt that his response remained a little too passive as the story continued.

This story could have been so much more powerful. In today's climate of over-sharing digitally and freely dispensing racial intolerance a unique opportunity was missed to make more of an impact.

I loved the premise. The contrast between Finch and Layla's world was smartly written. Not knowing who exactly was guilty or innocent made the pages turn faster for me. I was engrossed. What a serious topic I found myself tangled up in. Yet, the bottom fell out of the ending for me. The ending did not match the smart, relevant storyline. It felt rushed as an easy way out of a far more complex story than the ending made it.

3.5 stars

Hard to put this one down! Sometimes our children are not what we had hoped and are leading different lives than the ones presented to their parents. This book deals with some tough topics: privacy in the new world of social media and how families are affected, standing by your belief in what is right regardless of the negative ramifications, teenagers ('nuf said - always drama and turmoil). Griffin handles the intricate relationships in this book with empathy and compassion. The writing is beautiful and absorbing. The characters are believable. Great job Emily Griffin - I really liked it!

Spoiler!!!! Wow! This book covers a lot of heavy topics! I thought it was handled well for the most part, however it bothered me that Lyla was not that concerned, ashamed or embarrassed when a picture of her was passed around when I know my 15 year old daughter would have been mortified. Her and her friend actually commented that she looked hot in the picture. That did not go along w how an actual teenage girl would feel about a picture of her circulating around school would feel! This did not sit well with me throughout the remainder of the book. I wish that part had been written and portrayed differently.

A thought provoking look at values, those that have them and those that only think they have them. It is very timely what with today’s technology, mobile phones, and the very prevalent use by teenagers taking photos of each other and posting on social media. This character-driven novel brings up a very realistic look at what could happen to anyone, anywhere and you’ll ask yourself, what would I do in this situation?

Nina Browning thought she was happily married to a wealthy man, with a popular and outgoing 18-yr old son who just got accepted to Princeton. Her background is very middle class, but she’s been living a privileged life-style since she married business tycoon Kirk Browning. When their son is accused of inappropriate behavior and his scholarship is threatened she realizes that her husband will do anything to prevent their son from facing any harsh repercussions. The son claims he is innocent, but is he? She is seeing a side to her husband that she’d never seen before and she can’t help but see that her son is following in his example, which frightens her.

There’s an important and timely message behind the written words here. Don’t ever assume you know someone completely and unequivocally. A person’s outward appearance or words are often times hiding their true nature.

Written in the format of 3 characters each voicing their side of the story, this held my interest the entire read. We ended up having a discussion in our own family of how something that might seem a lark or seemingly innocent comments on social media can affect others disastrously.

Thankfully, the epilogue let us see what long term effects transpired. I really liked this and recommend it to either YA, or domestic fiction fans. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC and post my honest and unbiased opinion. Don’t miss this poignant story about loyalty and love, especially if you have teens. Watch for this release on June 26, 2018

I wanted to like this book but I just didn't. Sorry, could not finish it. I know that the author is very popular and I was excited to read the book but when I started it, I didn't like it.

One of my favorites by Giffin! Thought provoking and entertaining. I couldn't put it down. This novel is a lot deeper than her previous installments.

Emily Griffin is a great writer. Her books are a quick enjoyable read. But for some reason I didn’t care for this book. Not her writing but the subject. The story is written from the different characters view point which kept the story moving. But i felt the ending was rushed.

What a timely novel. I am speechless and have been thinking about this review for several days. When I first started, I was expecting a typical EG novel: a love story. This is SO much more, and so much more valuable. I'd wager to say this is Emily Giffin at her best. As I was reading, I was constantly reminded of the writing of Jodi Picoult, one of the best there is. My issues with this book aren't with the writing, it's with the population of women who don't feel they can stand for themselves in the aftermath of sexual assault. I think this book gives these women a voice, and speaks up for anyone too afraid to say something. This is a book I would recommend for ANY woman, or man, dealing with sexual assault memories. This does what 13 Reasons Why on Netflix tried, and failed, to do. All We Ever Wanted is very responsibly written during a time when irresponsibility is the norm.

I am very thankful for NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

3 1/2 stars. Intriguing story told from different viewpoints. Relevant to today’s #MeToo movement, sense of entitlement among youth and their parents, and use of technology in today’s world. We hear from the three more likeable characters who are trying to live with integrity in a situation where the social norms are to protect the people closest to you no matter what. There is a very clear moral compass in the story I appreciated, as well as the reframing of what it means to be successful. Good summer reading though it is serious subject matter.

I read the first few pages and was immediately immersed in this book. Very timely subject matter of a teen boy who takes an illicit photo of a female classmate, forwards to friends and the aftermath of his actions. The beginning of the book made me take a deep breath because it was something you could hear about in your neighborhood high school. I actually slowed down my reading at points because I simply didn't want it to end. . Three quarters of the way through I was nervous that it would take a bad turn but thankfully, it didn't. I would highly recommend this book to friends. Different from some of her other books. This one read more like a Jodi Picoult novel.