Emily Griffin's latest novel does not disappoint readers with her compassionate real writing. This is a story about a young man and woman whose lives have the possibility to be ruined by one teenage mistake. Nina Browning is a rich wife with a son Finch. Finch makes a mistake one night that could ruin his future by a teenage prank. Lyla is just a teenage girl with a crush who goes to a party one night not knowing that night could change her life forever. Follow the lives of these families and enjoy. I will highly recommend this book to everyone. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the oppurtunity to read this amazing novel.

Loved this book. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it once I figured out the twist, because it was such an "in the news" topic. But I enjoyed the way the multiple view points gave lots of opinions on what was going on. It came together well, without feeling heavy handed. I enjoyed it a lot!

The book is very relevant in today’s society. All We Ever Wanted is, in my opinion, a complete and unexpected 180 from all of Emily Giffin’s other books, but that is not a bad thing. I was expecting the romantic, tug at your heartstrings, drama that is usually contained in her books, but this one was very different. All We Ever Wanted is a book based on high school-aged teens who attend a prestigious private school and their respective parents. The teens wind up getting themselves into some pretty serious trouble after a night of underage drinking. The book follows these teens and their parents as they navigate through all of this together. Lying, deceit, bribes, betrayal and immorality all come into play in this small upscale town where every one knows everyone else’s business…and they aren’t afraid to share it.

This book tackles a lot of tough subjects and while there is a lot of drama, the issues are handled well. Nina, Tom and Lyla are truly good people and are trying to do what is right in a bad situation.

4- 4.5

I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of Emily Giffin's new book from net galley. Emily Giffin books are one of my favorite summer beach reads. I always look forward to her next book.

This book was definitely different than any other of her books. It is told in several point of views - Lyla - a teenage girl who was a victim of a cruel teenage social media prank, her dad and the mother of the son who did it all. I definitely think it is all prevalent to the times of social media and how it can effect you, your family and your society. How the society that you live is impacted by a scandal and how they handle it. I also related to Nina (the mother) and her emotion of finding out that her son is not the person who she thought she raised well. How you love your child even if they do the unthinkable and how do you move forward while loving your child and hoping that they will change for the better. You feel for both these parents who are trying to protect their child but also want to make sure they have raised their child with morals and strength to overcome it all. I feel for Lyla who was victimized. She is a teenager trying to fit into a society that doesn't really accept her because she doesn't fit their mold. She is trying to find her way and learning who to trust.

I definitely thought is was a great book to read as a mom of boys. I did stop a few times and thought about what I would if I was Nina and realizing that your son isn't the child you hoped you raised and what do you do to change it and move forward in a positive way. I also thought of Lyla and how I would deal with what happen to her as a teenage girl. Lastly, like Lyla's dad, I would fight hard for my child to get the respect and protection they deserve.

Thanks Netgalley for an advance copy! I would recommend this to put this on TBR list

Enjoyed this new novel by Emily Giffin. Captivating family drama about the inappropriate use of social media and the fallout that ensues.

I thought this was book was well done. The character development was simply and elegantly done. This book was an excellent take on the dangers of sexting and snapchat. This is a more serious novel from Giffin but I really enjoyed and I am sad I finished it.

I'm a huge Emily Giffin fan I couldn't wait to read this novel and it did not disappoint! The subject matter is very different from her mostly lighthearted plots about love lost and found. This one deals with two teenagers caught up in a sexting scandal. Popular, rich high school senior Finch takes an inappropriate picture of sophomore Lyla, who attends the same private school as Finch, although she's from the "wrong side of the tracks". Their parents, Nina (Finch's mom) and Tom (Lyla's dad), are forced to help them deal with repercussions of the picture. There are many questions about who is to blame for the picture and how wealth and a sense of entitlement can affect both the person responsible and the victim.

Emily Giffin handles the difficult subject matter so well. She writes with her usual down-to-earth style, making the reader feel like they personally know each character. Each chapter is told from the perspective of either Tom, Nina or Lyla and each character has a distinct voice. Usually with books that switch perspectives there is one character's chapters that I don't like and rush to get through, but that wasn't the case here. All 3 were well-written and kept me interested.

There are a few twists and turns throughout the story that really kept my attention-- so much that I didn't really want it to end. To that point I thought the ending was a little rushed and I wanted a bit more about what needed up happening with each of the major characters. Overall this was a great read--perfect for a summer beach day!

Thank you Net Galley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin drew me in and kept me reading!
Nina came from a small town but married into the elite of Nashville. After her husband sold his tech business, money was never a problem. They have one son, Finch, who is beloved by his classmates and parents, but also is very spoiled. He has just been accepted into Princeton.

Lyla goes to the same private school as Finch but is attending on a scholarship. She is the headstrong only daughter of Tom who works multiple jobs to make ends meet.

A party one night involving alcohol changes these lives in an instant. A cell phone picture was taken of Lyla in her drunken state and was shared with some friends. Unfortunately, it goes viral. It would seem that it was taken by Finch since it was on his phone, but who knows who really took it? He privately told Lyla that he didn't take it, that his girlfriend took it out of jealousy.

As the story goes on, Nina seems to start questioning if her son could have done this. She had been keeping a secret about her own rape from back in her college days. She, therefore, had empathy and concern for Lyla. Tom wasn't sure if her concern was just to help get Finch "off the hook ".

The consequences of that moment in time were so complicated with blame being passed around to others. I am sure parents who read this will think about their own teens use of their cell phones.

I loved the epilogue that explained how everything worked out in the end with a meeting between Finch and Lyla many years later.

I had not read any of Emily Giffin's work before but I love her style and her story, so I will have to read more of her writing.

I want thank NetGalley and Ballentine Books for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own.

One drunken night changes the lives of Nina, Finch, Tom, and Lyla forever. Finch and Lyla go to the same high school , Nina is Finch's mom, and Tom is Lyla's dad.The story is told from the point of view of Nina, Tom, and Lyla. This story is about a common problem in today's world. Sharing pictures to the internet, go wide and far in today's world. Lyla is my favorite character. After everything she has been through, she still cares about others and helping them. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books. All opinions are my own.

All We Ever Wanted really wanted to be a great commentary on one of the big issues in our society. It just fell a little but short. Lyla is a sophomore in high school and the daughter of a single father. When pictures of her in a compromised state at a party surface, the school and the families involved in the situation.

The accused poster of the picture is, of course, a rich kid who has just been accepted at Princeton. The rest of the story is kind of shallow, while trying to break down social class barriers. It all just fell a little flat. It is a quick read, almost too quick. At the end, you kind of wonder where the rest of the story is.

First of all, thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this advance review galley.

Emily Giffin has long been a favorite author and this one definitely doesn’t disappoint.

I loved that it is set in Nashville and Bristol since I live in Kentucky and have visited Nashville.

The storyline is so relevant for you d adults today with social media being at everyone’s finger tips. I would especially recommend this to parents, teachers or anyone with young people in their lives.

It definitely had a 13 reasons why vibe to it without being as raw and graphic. I loved this book and give it 4 stars!

I must note that this is one of the 25 books selected by Anne Bogel for her Modern Mrs Darcy blog Summer Reading Guide that was released today.

#netgalley # randomhouse #srg18 #summertooshort #modernmrsdarcy

If you ever wondered what life would be like as an elite member of society, this book may make you happy with your small town, non-celebrity life. You'll meet Nina, Tom and Lyla, who are thrown together in the midst of a scandal at one of Nashville's most elite private high schools. 

This book will make you think about what loyalty and love look like in your own life, and ponder what you would do if you were one of the characters in Giffin's newest hit. I couldn't put this book down, and I know you won't be able to either! If you're a fan of Giffin's past books, you'll once again love her amazing words.

In the world of social media, it didn't happen if there is no picture to prove it. But some pictures are better left unposted. One photo snapped in a drunken moment at a party spreads like wildfire. Lies and scandal force three people to choose between family and values.

Lyla is a seemingly happy teenager until the consequences of her underage drinking is caught on camera. Her father is beyond angry and reports it to the high school; surely the boy who snapped and shared the photo should be blamed. The racist caption alone is damning. But his parents have another agenda. This novel is basically 400 pages of the consequences of a photo posted on social media. I guess this is relevant in our generation but did we really need a whole book about it?

Some authors are automatically added to my TBR off their name alone. I don't need a book title. I don't need a cover reveal. I don't even need a synopsis. Emily Giffin has proven to be such an author. So when I received the advanced copy of All We Ever Wanted, I read the summary only for brief context before beginning the book. It didn't sound all too interesting but I brushed it off because, hey this is Emily Giffin so why not read it anyway.

I guess every all-star has a bad performance. I am not saying All We Ever Wanted was downright bad but it is definitely least liked of all her books (and I have read them ALL). One of the charms of reading an Emily Giffin book is her ability to make me root for the bad girl. But in this book here? Not even one character was likeable. Only thing I rooted for was the end.

All I wanted was a good read from All We Ever Wanted. It was a bust but maybe the author's intention worked; I am left with questions that make me think: Should a parent always side with their kid? Do we excuse learned behavior? 🤔

Happy Early Pub Day, Emily Giffin. All We Ever Wanted will be available Tuesday, June 26.

LiteraryMarie

I want to start by saying a huge thank you to NetGalley for hooking me up with an early copy! I ADORE Emily Giffin's books and I'm super impatient. So this advanced copy made my year!!

Now on to the book...

Nina is a small-town girl turned high-society mom. She's among Nashville's elite, her husband is rich and successful and their son, Finch, is beloved by all at his private high school and on his way to Princeton.

Tom is a single dad to Lyla, struggling to make ends meet while working several jobs in order to provide the best life he can for his teenage daughter. Lyla lands herself a scholarship to the same private high school Finch attends and she does her best to find her way in a maze of rich, privileged kids.

Then one night at a party all of their worlds are flipped upside down.

An extremely scandalous cell phone picture is taken of Lyla in a drunken moment and it goes viral throughout the community.

But who is to blame? Is it Finch? His best friend? His girlfriend? And why?

The story unfolds to reveal how one stupid decision can destroy so many lives.

This book was a lot deeper and more serious than Emily's other books. It sounds like something pulled straight from a headline. You will absolutely put yourself and your own kids in their shoes and think to yourself "What if this was my kid?". It is terrifying to think that one bad decision that takes mere seconds, could ruin lives like this. But it absolutely could.

I loved that Nina, Finch's mom, was not completely one-sided or blinded by her love for her son. She was fair. She was honest. And she had secretly been through a traumatic experience of her own in college that helped her empathize with Lyla.

This book will keep you turning pages. Especially once you start to second guess whether or not Finch is really a good guy who took the fall for someone he cared about or a bad guy with no heart, just like his father. I flip-flopped on my thoughts of Finch the whole way through the book.

Overall, this book was a fantastic read. I was intrigued from the first chapter and thought it wrapped up nicely in the epilogue.

If you are going into this though, thinking it is another one of Giffin's rom-com's you will be disappointed. This book has more of a family drama/Dateline feel that will keep you hooked until the end.

And you'll also want to ban all social media and/or cell phones from your kids FOR.EV.ER.

I loved this book. I thought it was a great read and I was not disappointed. Do yourself a favor and add this to your reading list.

Emily Giffin has done it again. This is by far my all time favorite novel she has written. The story is told from multiple perspectives centered around an incident that happens at a teen party between Lyla and Finch. We hear from the teens and their respective parents, as they all try and come to terms with the teens' actions, Although Giffin's novels seem to be best known for a rom-com style of writing, this novel tackles some of the tougher issues such as affects of social media, bullying, reputation, and privilege.

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. As a parent, it makes me think about the repercussions of one poorly made decision (one that seems too common amongst teens these days) can have on teens and their families.

I love Emily Giffin's writing. She is amongst a small number of authors whose books I pick up without having any idea what it's about. I have that much faith - that the book will be good regardless of what topic is covered.

All We Ever Wanted is a spectacular novel and a page turner. This might be one of Giffin's best novels to date. This book is quite different from her usual chick-lit. It tackles social media in this day and age. How teens and parents use it differently and the ramifications of several mistakes that can lead to big consequences. Race and social class play a very important role in showing how society continues to use them as dividing forces. This is a very different direction for Giffin but I love it and am looking forward to seeing what other direction her writing takes.

The novel is told from multiple points of view. Each character and voice is distinct. The three main characters are, Nina, Tom and Lyla. Lyla is 15 years old and our victim in the story. Tom is Lyla's, father and a hard working single father. Nina is the quintessential suburban mom.

The actions of Nina's son, Fitch brings the lives of these characters together. A scandalous photograph goes viral altering perceptions and irrevocably changing relationships and family dynamics. Be prepared to be entertained and ride a roller coaster of emotion.
This is one read you won't want $to miss this year.

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?

I couldn’t put it down. A riveting story with lots of food for thought. The author deals with a number of social issues - date rape, marital problems, teenage mental health etc. etc. etc. However, Giffin weaves them into the story beautifully.

I was happy to get the opportunity to read this book but sadly disappointed in its content. The book is about photo posted on social media of a sophomore girl of a private high school passed out on a bed in a senior boy's bedroom at a party along with a racist comment. The boy's family is very wealthy and the girl attends the school on scholarship and lives on "the other side of the tracks" So much of these things can be put together to make an amazing story and the description is what drew me to wanting to read it. Not long into the book I found that instead of wanting to read what comes next, all I found was the dread of poor little rich me, no one wanting to take resposniblity for their actions and lying all around. There was only one main character I felt was likeable and that was the girls father. He was far from perfect but atleast he tried at times to do what was best for his daughter. I found it hard to like the main character especially. She whines about one thing after another. She describes the things her husband does as terrible and disappointing but in the next breath says how these things are what attracted her to him. She talks of how the money changed them, but mostly him. Rarely in the book did I see her as the innocent middle class girl who grew up to marry into a wealthy family that grew even weatlhier in their own right and not enjoy all the perks that came with it. There isn't anything wrong with enjoying the money you've made but doing while making exscuses and whining about it gets old fast.