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.

This is the first Emily griffin novel I have read. She definitely does a wonderful job telling a compelling story that has elements from todays’ news stories.

While the characters are well developed in this book, I felt they definitely fit the stereotypes that many would expect. The ones born wealthy, especially Kirk, lived with a feeling of rich privilege that allowed them to run roughshod over others and take advantage of poorer people acting as if throwing a tiny amount of cash at everything makes it all ok. Nina, who grew up with less and married into this world of wealth was kinder and more empathetic; however, enjoyed being able to spend all that money and live a better life. Even though the characters talk about how all rich people aren’t like Kirk, there are no examples in this book. (I’m not counting Nina.)

Tom, Lyla’s father, had to drop out of college because he couldn’t afford to finish and worked as a carpenter as well as an Uber driver. He comes across as crude when he is introduced in the book, using the f word a lot, and his thoughts of his ex-wife throughout their relationship are vulgar. He often acts without thinking things through first. This seems like more stereotyping to me.

The book also has a sex scene between a sixteen-year-old and another teenager which seems a bit weird in a book that is for grown-ups.

Overall, I did find the book to be well-written.

The author's previous works were more light-hearted and fun. In this novel she brilliantly presents a novel which topics include bullying, social media, date rape and the use of alcohol among teens and what it looks like to grow up juggling all of those issues. The use of the different voices was at times difficult for me to make the switch, but not to where I wanted to abandon the story. In fact I read this in one afternoon, I didn't want to put it down. This should be required reading by all high school students and their parents.

I’ve been a big fan of Emily Giffin’s books since Something Borrowed so I was ecstatic to receive this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. This book didn’t disappoint and was my favorite Giffin book so far!

This novel is told from three different points of view. Nina is a wealthy woman married to a powerful upper class man. Lyla is a teenage girl that attends school with Nina’s son, Finch. And finally, Tom is Lyla’s single dad raising her by himself and trying to provide the best life he can working two jobs to make ends meet. Tom and Lyla’s lives collide with Nina one terrible night with an unfortunate string of events.

Happiness and love can not be purchased and certainly doesn’t come from being part of the upper class. Nina discovers this and herself throughout the book. The book also shows what the ramifications of bullying/assault on social media (or with current technology) and what gossip can do to a community and especially to teens. Great novel with strong women! I love her character development (always). Highly recommend this one!

Thank you Ballantine books and Netgalley for this ARC!

Unlike the other Emily Griffin books I’ve read in the past, this books seemed to drag. The characters were bland and it was hard to invest in any of them. I was so looking foreword to this book, too.

Opening with a lavish gala fundraising event for the prevention of the heavy-hitting topic of suicide, Giffin explores how one bad decision spirals against the backdrop of Nashville's high society. The stories told are ones that have bounced around for decades as the horrible acts of humans can be rapidly spread through a network of society types who eat the misery of others for breakfast. There's discussion of class, race, and oppression of women, but with the exterior of wealth that allures the average reader. These trending topics aren't discussed with any depth, but they do bring to light how one moment changes everything and how something terrible can redirect a person onto a better path.

Not everyone "just gets over things" and the book never gets into the pain of recovery, but it is a surface level exploration of topics worthy of more than a beach read.