My Thoughts:
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 timely stars to All We Ever Wanted! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Emily Giffin releases a new book, it’s a big deal, and I think All We Ever Wanted is her best book yet!
That said, All We Ever Wanted gets off to a rocky start. The first chapter is narrated by Nina who escaped her middle class roots to live amongst Nashville’s wealthiest. I was worried over-the-top grandeur would take center stage in this book, but it did not. Nina’s son, Finch (no offense to any Finches of the world, but that name made me giggle a few times!), has been accepted to Princeton.
The next chapter is narrated by Tom, a single dad working multiple jobs to raise his willful daughter, Lyla, who earns a scholarship to Windsor Academy, where she rubs elbows with the most privileged kids in town, including Finch, of course. We also hear from Lyla as a narrator.
Everything is going well until a photo goes viral. Amid all this scandal, Tom, Nina, and Lyla are left holding the bag. How will they move past what happened? What is the right thing to do?
All We Ever Wanted is timely because we hear most every day a story where a teen, or even adult, has made a mistake on social media, one that could have a lasting impact on that person and their family, and even their community. I enjoyed hearing from the different points of view, and where the truth actually lies is anyone’s guess.
Additionally, Giffin addressed race and class biases, and there were unexpected twists to the story. All in all, All We Ever Wanted was a powerful and emotional journey. I highly recommend if you are looking for a summer read with plenty of substance and much to think about.
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for an advance copy. All We Ever Wanted will be published on June 26, 2018.
Synopsis:
In the riveting new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love and Something Borrowed, three very different people must choose between their family and their values.
Nina Browning is living the good life after marrying into Nashville’s elite. More recently, her husband made a fortune selling his tech business, and their adored son has been accepted to Princeton. Yet sometimes the middle-class small-town girl in Nina wonders if she’s strayed from the person she once was.
Tom Volpe is a single dad working multiple jobs while struggling to raise his headstrong daughter, Lyla. His road has been lonely, long, and hard, but he finally starts to relax after Lyla earns a scholarship to Windsor Academy, Nashville’s most prestigious private school.
Amid so much wealth and privilege, Lyla doesn’t always fit in—and her overprotective father doesn’t help—but in most ways, she’s a typical teenage girl, happy and thriving.
Then, one photograph, snapped in a drunken moment at a party, changes everything. As the image spreads like wildfire, the Windsor community is instantly polarized, buzzing with controversy and assigning blame.
At the heart of the lies and scandal, Tom, Nina, and Lyla are forced together—all questioning their closest relationships, asking themselves who they really are, and searching for the courage to live a life of true meaning.
I am about 30% into this story and I am finding it riveting. At this point I sympathize with both sides. Teenagers do dumb tings, I know I did when I was their age. I have to think how one stupid drunk action will effect their entire lives.
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I’m so happy you are finding it riveting, Marialyce! It definitely is. I know exactly what you mean. We didn’t have to worry about social media during our teenage years. It’s a huge, huge thing for kids today.
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I’m on the fence about reading this one. So many mixed reviews! I might just wait until I can get it from the library.
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I understand, Lorilin! For me, I was expecting (hoping) for another Something Borrowed, and it has a completely different feel, a different direction for Giffin; not off the map, but different nonetheless. 😊
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That’s what it seems like. Just give me light and fluffy, Giffin! 😅 Sometimes she tries to get too serious, and it doesn’t quite work…
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Wow! Great review Jen! I have this one to read too! But first it’s off to the library because I don’t have enough books to read right?😊💖 Have a great weekend!💞💞
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Thanks, Sus! Yay, I can’t wait to see what you think! Ahh, the library, the smell, the books! Enjoy! I hope you have a great weekend, too! ♥️ 💕
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I had to go Jen! My copy of One Good Mama Bone came in today!😊💖
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Yay!!! I cannot wait for you to read that gorgeous book! So special, Sus!!! ❤🌸🌹
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Beautiful review ❤
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Thank you, Priyasha! 🌹
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Lovely review Jennifer! I need to read this before Tuesday, although I think I need to read around 10 books before Tuesday and it’s just not happening!💕
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Thanks, Berit! Enjoy it whenever you are able to get to it! I was just planning through the first week in July – eek, but the second week in July looks like a mild breather- less books that one week! ♥️
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Yes my schedule opens up quite a bit in the middle of July! Maybe I’ve learned a lesson, although I have a feeling I will be saying the same thing next June!
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I didn’t know this author before, but i think i should familiarize myself with this book 😀
Sounds intriguing! I noticed on myself that i spend less and less time on social media and even when i do, i tend to just do general things and nothing controversial, cuz who needs that sort of attention that crap can bring…
Great review! 🙂
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Thanks, Norrie! So true! Yes, I tend to keep mine very general too! Keeps us out of trouble!
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I’m so happy not to be a teenager these days! All this social media stuff can be great but it can also be the best tool for bullying ever created.
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Same here, FF! Gosh, it has to be hard to navigate all of it as a teen!
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Lovely picture. Wonderful review. Cannot wait to read this one.
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Thank you, Virginia! I hope it’s a book you love!
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Great review. I’ve never read a book by Emily Giffin, but I have a few in my library.
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Thank you, Laurie! I still have a couple from her unread too!
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Wonderful review Jennifer! I loved this one, but I have to say its stories like this that make me thankful I grew up before the social media age. LOL
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Thank you, Carrie! I’m happy you enjoyed it too! Yes, being a teenager is hard enough!
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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I loved your review too! I really just loved this one so much and still can’t believe the main character is from my hometown, lol. I tell people I’m from Bristol and they usually go “where???” unless they follow Nascar lol. I’ve read all Giffin’s and I’ve loved most although there’s 1 didn’t love at all. God, I’m glad social media was not existant when I was a teenager!
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Thank you, Steph! Ack! I kept thinking, “I know someone from Bristol” when I saw that- I had to have been thinking of you because you told me that when we figured out whe were both in NC! I have read most of hers but have a couple Giffin’s hoarded unread because I am really bad about doing that. I have them, but then I save them to savor later. Story of my life! Lol
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Haha! That was me!! Funny…I’m one of those weird people that when I find a new author I really like I generally read all their books in one go unless I have other things I have to read. I guess I get obsessed, lol. I haven’t done that as much since I started blogging and had a variety of books to review, but I will find myself doing it at times. I definitely have books hoarded though that need read, so I know about that! I think I have 300 unread books right now…I’ll never get them read if I keep buying, lol.
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I like your review. This is on TBR list.
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Thank you, Ope! I hope you enjoy it too! It is a wonderfully written book!
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