Emily Giffin is a great storyteller. She draws characters well and creates storylines with easy dialogue that are easy to fall into and hard to put down. Her new book, All We Ever Wanted, shares all these attributes while also covering relevant topics to today’s families and teens. That being said, it is a departure from her usual lighthearted romance and instead deals with issues of race, wealth (or lack thereof), teens/social media and partying and how those three can intermix with disastrous and hurtful results and more.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mrs. Giffin’s book and in fact brought the topic up to my own teenage sons at the dinner table. I am already looking forward to whatever the next book is that Emily writes! Recommended, 4.5 stars for readability and content.

One photo can change your life forever. Lyla a teenage girl finds herself in the middle of a scandal when a picture of her is passed around on social media with an inappropriate comment and a comprising position of her passed out drunk in a bed. A scandal where the truth of what happens needs to be discovered.

This book is so different from the other Emily Giffin books she has written. She covers some serious topics and I think she handled it well. The story is told in multiple points of views and provides the reader with the opportunity to talk and think about the different views. She addresses Social media, race and social standing issues and how it impacts people’s lives. I highly recommend this book.

Quite different from the Emily Giffin novels I have read in the past, All We Ever Wanted tackles big topics in a perfectly balanced way. Being able to read first-person accounts from a variety of the main characters was an interesting structure and lended more depth to the story. The ending was rather quiet and a little surprising, but I found myself quite satisfied with it.

Well-crafted and including some less-predictable moves, this story is interesting but ultimately falls a little flat. Not the authors most captivating offering, and won't stay with the reader as much as others.

Emily Giffin has done it again! I could not wait to settle in with this book as this is one of my go to authors for a relaxed easy read, but that is not at all what you get with All We Ever Wanted. Be prepared for an in depth book dealing with a topic of social media and the repercussions, an issue that needs to be explored in the technology world we are living in. I was immediately drawn into this book from the first and was engaged until the last page yet never wanting it to end. The characters in this story are so well developed and the situation felt so real you will feel like you are experiencing it right along with them. Give this book a try, you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

If you, like me, think: “a summer Emily Griffin new release, must be fun chick lit, you’ll be wrong. This story is m ugh more serious than her other novels that I’ve read and shared similar themes as Beartown. At an elite Nashville high school a compromising photo is taken and predictably spreads fast. This book is the story of what happens after. There were many layers to the story that continued to unravel and peopel’s alliances and values were very unexpected and unpredictable. If you like Beartown I think you’ll enjoy this one! Thanks to @netgalley for this free copy; the title releases June 26th.

Preparing you now. This is going to be a long review. And to preface, I read this book in one sitting. It’s that powerful.

Here’s the gist: Lyla, the poor girl at elite private school Windsor, goes to a party, gets drunk and has an obscene picture taken of her and circulated around school. Then the parents get involved, the drama explodes, and everything does downhill from there.

This was a tough read for me. I went to a extremely wealthy private school like Windsor. And while I was absolutely not poor, my family’s income in no way compared to the vast majority of the other families. Now I want to be very clear. Rich people ARE NOT bad people. Terrible, terrible things happen in all financial classes, in public school and private school. But I do believe that inherent wealth coupled with some parents’ lack of teaching their child responsibility does lead to a sense of entitlement. And entitlement excuses all kinds of wrongs. Drug use, sexual assault, bullying… It’s all there. And it’s terrifying to know that there may be no consequences because the kid’s parents have lots of money. Okay, rant over.

Giffin explores all this and more. It’s told from three different perspectives, all of which struck a deep chord with me: Lyla (the girl whose drunk picture was taken and distributed), Tom (her father), and Nina (the mother of the boy who took the picture).

This was very much a character driven story. I connected with each POV character for different reasons. Lyla was naive enough to sacrifice too much for a boy who liked her. Tom wanted the best for his daughter while not seeing that his actions might just be making it worse. And Nina – probably the most compelling of the three – had to come to terms with the fact that her complacency may have made her son into a monster. They were real, they were powerful, and they were flawed. Amazing development for all three.

While character driven, there were a few small twists and turns that made it hard to know how the novel would turn out. They were all effortlessly done, and even I – who can protect a twist ending from a mile away – was desperate to keep reading. I didn’t even pause for dinner.

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Now there were two things that I didn’t care for in this novel. First, Giffin paints a very hostile and evil portrait of the rich, white, Republican man. And I totally understand why given the current political climate. But bad people take the form of any gender, race, and class. And I may get some backlash for this, but I am a little sick of this particular stereotype. However, it did get a little more nuanced toward the end.

Secondly, the hinted chemistry between Nina and Tom was totally unnecessary and even a little icky. I would so much have preferred it to be platonic. Because when romance is involved, motives get blurry. Would Nina still have done the same things if she hadn’t had the hots for Tom? I hope so.

But overall, this was an extremely powerful book that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a more complex book club/women’s fiction novel. I recognize Giffin’s attempt to dive deeper in her stories, and I think she did a commendable job tackling several tough subjects while still providing a captivating tale.

Nina's son, Finch shares a picture of a classmate (Lyla) passed out with her breast showing with a friend. Even thought Lyla wants it kept quiet, her father goes to the school to damand punishment. Nina knows he needs a punishment but her husband doesn't think the pictures is that upseting. While dealing with the situation with her son and the school, she starts seeing a side of him and of her husband that she didn't realize was there. She has to decide if she wants to keep living safely or if she wants to start living happily. It's a wonderfully written book that kept me interested and surprised me with the twists!

This book filled me with alot of emotion. It spoke of white privilege and elitism along with those who stick their heads in the sand. I admit I was sucked in from the first page and I felt for Nina because Kirk was a piece of work. And obviously was turning Finch into his mini-me. Then there was Tom who was doing his best to raise his daughter Lyla, who to me was both obnoxious and naive. Both families go through a trial of fire. I would have liked to have seen Finch punished for his obscene crimes. Especially when he nearly drove someone to suicide. It was clear that he was afflicted with affluenza. But I was glad Nina stood up for herself. As well as getting rid of the sycophants in her life. And that finally, Lyla matured after learning some hard lessons. This was a gripping and intense read. I enjoyed it immensely! I voluntarily read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have always been a fan of Emily Giffin's, but she really did a fantastic job on this book. The characters were so well developed, and for the most part likable. Giffin touched on an issue faced by many young women, and especially poignant in the #MeToo era, and how many different aspects of someone's life can be affected by such an encounter. I highly recommend this book, and am looking forward to seeing it on the top of bestsellers lists once it is released!

All We Ever Wanted was just what I wanted. It was everything I love in an Emily Griffin book, and then some. The story was gripping in a way that I haven’t seen from her, and I was captivated from the first chapter. It was extremely well written, and it touched on real issues that are being dealt with daily. It takes you on a journey from all sides, and it was hard to put this book down. I wanted to read everything all at once, and I didn’t want it to end because it was just so good.

This arc was provided to me for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

All We Ever Wanted focuses on Nina, a privileged mother whose son, Finch is involved with photographing and spreading an inappropriate photo of his classmate, Lyla around. When Tom, Lyla's dad hears about it, the 4 are then forced to come together to deal with the aftermath. With lies, betrayal, and fighting for the truth, this story will have you on your toes.

More often than not, I have an appreciation for an author when they take a serious issue and bring it to life. Because they are then shedding new light on a topic that needs to be discussed. So for that, I did enjoy this book.

However, I did only enjoy certain aspects of the book. Maybe it's because I don't necessarily agree with how either of the parents handled certain situations. And I for one would have liked for consequences for a certain individual. But I don't want to give too much away.

But if you like Emily Giffin, I don't think you will be disappointed. She really knows how to tell a good story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC copy of All We Ever Wanted. Emily Giffin has written an excellent story of family dynamics between teenagers and parents. Her insightfullness captures the twists and turns of raising teenagers especially when a major crisis arises. Nina and Tom are parents who only want the best for each of their children but they can also recognize that the truth is most important. Emily Giffin writes stories that are true to real life, giving the reader more to think about after finishing the last page

Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC. This book had an interesting and contemporary premise. A wealthy family with a son who goes astray. A girl from the wrong side of the tracks who finds herself in a compromising position on everyone's smartphone.... Social media, dirty pics, date rape. Each chapter told from a different major character's viewpoint. Everyone got a turn, except for Kirk, who apparently didn't deserve one. His would have been juicy...I read this in 2 days. The writing was fresh and the story was well told, but I just didn't find it very realistic or believable. There was very little emotion in any of it. It's hard for me to believe anyone would hear their spouse ask for a divorce and simply say ok if that's what you want. I also don't know who decides in one hot minute that they want to end their marriage. Throughout the book there are so many awful gut wrenching moments but they were nothing but words. I couldn't feel close to any of them, feel anything for any of them. The ending left me shaking my head.

First.... Emily Giffin will always be an author where I keep an eye out for her books. Even if the subject matter isn't necessarily my thing, I still give it a go, just because it's her.

This story was not her usual subject matter (I'm still such on something borrowed and something blue) but it was GOOD.

There's a lesson to be learned in these pages and this book stays with you after you're done reading it.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine books for the ARC!

Do you have a book or an author that you come back to when you’re feeling under the weather or a little blue? A comfort read, for when you just want to be in a familiar story with familiar characters you love?

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin is that book for me. I have read it at least 10 times since I discovered it about a decade ago (!!!). Since then, I have religiously followed Emily Giffin’s career and I always read her newest book just as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read her newest book, All We Ever Wanted, before it had even been released! I think I squealed out loud at work when I got that email.

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I TORE through this book. Devoured it in under 24 hours and just loved every bit of it

Giffin is known as a chick lit author. Light and frothy romance and friendships has pretty reliably been her wheelhouse. Until now.

All We Ever Wanted tells the story of a teenage boy at a prestigious private school who takes an inappropriate picture of a teenage girl, adds a racist comment, and shares it among his friends. This is already quite a departure from what we have come to expect from Giffin and what follows is a timely and provocative look into privilege, parenting, and morality. Told in alternating viewpoints, the reader feels as though they are behind the scenes; witness to the honest, raw, emotion of each narrator.

I can’t express how much I loved this book. Thought provoking, relevant, essential, and real. Delving into a topic that is far too prevalent but discussed with far less frequency.

Read it. Current release date: June 26, 2018

Great new book by Emily Giffin! It deals with real life situations and is very relatable. It is a book that will get you thinking about what you would do in each characters situation. I loved that it gave three different perspectives so that way you receive a well rounded account of what happens. I really felt for poor Nina and love how she realizes she doesn't know who she or her husband is anymore. I would have liked the ending to have a little bit more closure, especially in regards to Finch but I also realize that it was a pretty realistic ending.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Having already been a fan of Emily Giffin before, I thought it would be hard to live up to the hype of Something Borrowed and Something Blue. However, this is a completely different animal altogether. This is a story of a women from a working-class background who marries a wealthy Nashville man and the story of a situation that arises when their teenaged son is attending a private high school. This hits all of the check marks for me : affluence, emotional drama, love, betrayal, redemption. The author is adept at creating a rich and storied world where anything can happen but it seems very likely that the most likely answer will be the most plausible one. I went along with Nina on her ride through betrayal and heartache but ultimately was surprised and proud of the way she handled her situation. A great book to follow up in the footsteps of the #metoo movement.

This is the first Emily Giffin book that I have ever read, so naturally I really didn't know what to expect. I was afraid it would be a high school "fluff" book, but boy was I ever wrong!

The characters pop off the page, and I felt like I was included in the whole decision making process.

Nina and Kirk rose to unthinkable wealth and along the way Nina still was the middle class girl from Bristol, while her husband Kirk enjoyed the privlege and power. Enough to buy his son's major blunder off with a cash donation. Not everyone was pleased, especially the wife Nina or Lyla's strict single parent father.

This book kept me glued to each page and now I will have to go back and buy the rest of Emily Giffin's books.

This book hit home with today's camera ready teens and the social media everyone seems to be connected with now.

Get back to reality and read a good, thought provoking story with a cast of in depth characters.

ENJOY today and would also make a good gift. - sadly I hated to close the last page on this Tennessee tale.

Nina is living a fairy-tale life, far from her middle class beginnings. She has it all; a luxury home, fabulous clothes, upscale events to attend, and her successful husband, Kirk, and their 18 year old son, Finch.
When a photo gets posted to social media involving a passed out, partially exposed student (Lyla) from Finch's school - along with a racist caption - Nina is shocked to find out her popular, athletically gifted son is the person who did it.
The incident serves to bring to light the flaws in many of the characters in the book. Nina's husband, Kirk, is mostly unperturbed by what his son did and figures he can throw a little money at the situation to fix it. Finch, says he's remorseful, then says someone else actually did it, and uses Lyla's pathetic crush on him to try and escape punishment. Lyla convinces herself that the incident is not that big of a deal, and lies to her father, Tom, some more in the hopes of winning Finch's affections. Tom, Lyla's father, says he's trying to defend his daughter, but often comes off as wanting to teach "those rich people" a lesson,
The main disappointment I had was with Nina. I suppose the premise was to show how she realizes her part in creating a not very person in her son, Finch. But she doesn't seem to really grasp that occasionally going home for a visit (she comes from a pretty average home) and deigning to stay at her parent's house, and only really complaining about her husband and son without any real deep discussions with them or acknowledgement that she was also a main driver of the family dynamics, doesn't turn you into a better person. I felt like she somewhat abandoned her son for being a creep, rather than being a parent and pushing them to be better human beings.
There were some issues dealt with in the book that to me were pretty authentically handled. Lyla not feeling that she was a "victim" and wanting to pursue Finch even after his actions seem what a teenage girl might do.
Finch's actions and his responses I think are also often how it would happen in real life.
All in all, it was an easy book to read, but I didn't care for Nina much and that always somewhat lessens the enjoyment for me.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. #AllWeEverWanted #NetGalley