A photo is taken by a boy at a party, a party that shouldn't have happened and of a girl who shouldn't have been there. It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that good, either. The boy grudgingly apologises and appears contrite. The girl wants to forget it. So far, where's the problem?

Her father is livid and his mother is mortified. The consequences reach further than anyone could have predicted.

I read this novel happily enough. It raced along at a great pace, the characterisations were very good, creating a familiar division between the mindsets of the younger protagonists and the older, how they view the world, how they live in the world, and what their expectations are for it. The Belle Mead set are just as any other group of wealthy, self-entitled people are, money no object and the route to anything they want, without exception. Money qualifies and explains and excuses them, but it is all they have going for them.

On one level this is a commentary on the vacuousness of the entitled. No one with money comes out looking very good at all. Only those from the poor end of town, Nashville or any other, end up with any moral high ground or with any sense that they have any value in themselves outside of the digits in their bank account. And yet, on another level, nothing happens to these moral bankrupts. They don't change, they don't see the error of their ways, and they continue as if none of the events around them happened. and they don't ever pay for their crimes. There is no redemption.

And that for me is the let down of this novel. It may be true that the Trumps of this world do get away with whatever they want, but I want to read something that holds some hope that maybe, jut maybe, one day, one of these privileged country club set actually see the consequences of what havoc they wreak and leave behind them. Nina, the mother, is the only character who's path is altered, and even then she doesn't do anything that she couldn't have done already had she chosen to.

There are novels that show life as unalterable and depressing, that you can't fight the way things are, you just have to accept it and make do as best you can, but this novel didn't purport to be one of those, and so the ending is a disappointment, however realistic it is likely to be.

I noticed this story on one of my social media feeds and it sounded right up my street so when I saw it pop up on NetGalley I thought I’d give it a go. New to me author, Emily Giffin easily drew me into the story world of her contemporary fiction with a touch of intrigue that kept my attention until the end.

A story highlighting social class, wealth and privilege and how our digital age, when used inappropriately, can have negative consequences for all involved. The narrative toggles between the perspectives of the main protagonists at the heart of the drama, both the adults and their teenage children. This made the reading quite interesting and engaging and was useful in propelling the story arc forward and giving the reader information and thoughts about the characters aiding understanding and encouraging sympathies and opinions on who may be in the right and who may be in the wrong.

If I’m super critical there was an amount of, what I felt, was unnecessary drama and details, perhaps a few eye roll moments but I did like the ethos of the story and the conflict of loving someone verses standing up for what is right. I very much liked the relationship built between Tom and Nina and thought the development shown was believable. I would have liked to have felt a mother’s love more, it felt like the character was telling me rather than showing so that detracted somewhat from the conflict that was at the heart of the story. Having said that, I became strangely addicted to what felt like a soap opera drama and wanted to get to the end so I had all the facts about exactly what happened at that party.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This story does entice the reader to read more from page one. Kirk and Nina have more money than they can spend, their son Finch has no understanding of money, apart from it gets you everything you want.
Nina knows that Kirk, her husband has changed, and she is not sure she likes who he has become, and she is worried her son her son is taking their wealth for granted.
At a party Finch takes a photograph of a young girl, Lyla, whose dress is disheveled and her breast is exposed, he sends the picture, adding a racist comment to it ,to some of his friends, and it quickly spreads through the ranks of school,
Nina is a appalled that her son has so callously treated a young girl this way, jeopardised his place at Princeton and doesn’t think he has done anything wrong.
The situation gets worse and more embarrassing when Kirk tries to buy off Lyla’s father with a bundle of cash, it brings back to Nina her own trauma as a young girl. Nina decides to meet with Lyla’s father and offer an apology, which leads to her also meeting Lyla and offering friendship and support.
The story is told from different points of view, Nina the mother of the boy accused, Tom Lyla’s father, and Lyla herself who is trying to figure out who is telling the truth about the night of the party. It’s a powerful story of trust and family relationships and simply that money does not provide anyone with ‘all we ever wanted’. 4.5 stars.

A story of how money and privilege can distort the way that we think of ourselves and the way we view others.
It is also the story of two separate parents and the lengths they will go to protect their children regardless of the cost to their personal selves.
A good read that makes you question the actions that you take in life and who really benefits from them.

I really enjoyed this book- very well written and is told from the view point from great set of characters whom I all loved and felt totally part of their story. I really enjoy books that involve adults and teenagers alike and this story managed that perfectly. I’ve just got out of bed very late as woke up early and started reading and just couldn’t put my kindle down until I’d finished. Always a sign of a great book.

Wonderfully written book from all perspectives and gives an insight into how different people view a situation/crime. This story is unfortunately applicable to all ages and can happen to anyone. Highly recommend!

This was great. The characters were brilliantly developed. Heartfelt teenage angst & grown up traumas. A Netflix special waiting to happen!

This is not literature for birds (chick lit) or women’s fiction.

This is everyone’s fiction. Because this kind of story should be directed towards every adult, regardless of gender, colour, class, etc. Such an important message and at times deeply disturbing. This is not a love story. It is both heart-breaking and heart-mending. You will be frustrated half of the time, cry at unexpected moments, and smile rarely. I haven't been on an emotional roller-coaster like this since I read Jodi Picoult!

Important to read, but you need to pick the right moment!

I really enjoyed his book. I found it deeper and more thought provoking then I had anticipated. Definitely worth a read.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it certainly wasn't the page turner I devoured in just one sitting, staying up reading until 4am because I quite simply couldn't put it down.

With unexpected twists and turns along the way, this book will make you gasp, cry and smile. It's one hell of a roller coaster.

Up to date story about modern technology and so much more. Very good,well portrayed characters. Interesting how parental lifestyle and values affect our child and how we can pick and childish ones to follow. A good read.

Nina & Kirk are proud of their son Finch. He is good looking, popular, goes to one of the best schools & has just been accepted into Princeton. At a party at his best friend's house he posts a picture of a nearly naked girl captioned by a racist comment. Lyla is a scholarship girl, whose absent mother is Brazilian & has been brought up by her carpenter father.

Nina is horrified that he son could do this, but is even more concerned about the reactions of her husband & son. She was not born into money & has felt uncomfortable for a while at the obscene amount of money they have. She realises that Finch is overindulged & believes that his dad's money can make everything go away- a view shared by her husband!

The story is told from three points of view, Nina's, Lyla's & Tom's (Lyla's father) This worked very well. They are all characters that the reader can warm to. This is a tale with a topical theme and it makes the reader think how they might react. I found myself wondering what the story would be if the roles were reversed- rich girl/poor boy. I'm sure they would have been very different.

I read this book in a day as I just had to find out how it ended. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this great five star book!

This is very of the moment, social media, privileged kids, bad choices. It was an absorbing read but all ended a bit pat, characters were a bit one-dimensional, storyline predictable . Potential and a page turner but could have been better.

I thoroughly enjoyed this topical novel about how social media, race, gender politics and family can affect lives in America today. There were original and fresh storylines here and I felt myself empathising with many of the characters. Definitely recommend!

This book really surprised me. I’d read the blurb and thought it sounded interesting but I wasn’t expecting it to be so powerful and thought provoking.

The story is told from three perspectives; Lyla a teenage girl who receives financial aid and attends a school full of wealthy, over-privileged kids, her father; Tom, a carpenter and single-parent and Nina; the wealthy parent of spoilt rich-kid, Finch, Lyla’s crush.

The story begins with an indecent photograph of Lyla, drunk and passed out, being shared around the school. As Lyla’s father fights for justice and punishment, relationships form and fracture and the characters question what is morally right and wrong as they try to find out the truth of who was responsible.

Many issues of modern society crop up; casual (and direct) racism, white male privilege and entitlement, as well as the fight women still have in a seemingly equal and free society. I thought the issues were really sensitively tackled and non-biased, allowing for free flow of judgement and thought as a reader. What stood out the most, was how chillingly realistic this sequence of events actually is.

Highly recommended.

This book is incredibly relevant for the world we live in and important. Well written and a great story full of twists while reminding us of the ongoing risks and issues of social media (and raising teenagers the best we can!)

Enjoyable and a fun read!

The story caught my eye from the moment I read the blurb, and I just knew I wanted to read this book. I was not let down and can recommend this to everyone!

Finch takes an indecent photograph of Lyla at a friends party, which he shares amongst his friends.. the photo goes viral, Finch, who's had a privileged upbringing in a wealthy family doesn't believe he's done much wrong. He is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it.... his mother Nina worries how Finch can show no remorse. Brings to light the subject of manipulation and people pleasing... A four star read which highlights the obsession of today's society with social media, and the dangers faced.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read.

All We Ever Wanted has, at its core, a timely and hard to tackle topic, and it does its best to approach it head on. It centres around the fall out after a teenage boy shares an explicit photo of an unconscious girl at a party. I was gripped by the story and wanted to know how it would end. For me, though, I struggled with the characters. I didn’t find any of them quite believable enough in the way they reacted to the situations they were in: the boy’s mother, who acts as the story’s moral compass, doesn’t seem conflicted, and wants only to bring her son to justice - admirable in a morality tale, but a bit of wavering or uncertainty early on would have made her more believable to me, even though the messaging is absolutely sound. The girl at the heart of the scandal doesn’t seem to be too upset about it, more concerned with protecting the boy, who she has a crush on.

Maybe it tries to do a bit too much, but it didn’t quite work for me.

A test of morality, loyalty and family values told from different perspectives with a nod towards our social media society. Compelling and really thought-provoking. Thoroughly enjoyed.