All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin has revealed for me an outstanding storyteller, and one I will seek out. I hadn't read this author before, but this will not be the last. I was thoroughly entranced by this book, and must state that it is one of the top books I have personally read in 2018. You know you have a good book when you read past 3:00 am.
This book had me feel all the emotions, as I read about the wealthy in privileged Nashville, Tennessee. There are themes of excessive wealth, racism, consumerism, lack of empathy for less privileged, all wrapped in a great story about straying from your roots and being true to who you are.
Nina Browning marries into Nashville’s elite. Her husband made a fortune selling his tech business, and their entitled son has been accepted to Princeton. Middle-class and small-town girl Nina feels she’s strayed from the person she once was. A crisis coming from her high school aged son makes her see her life for what it has become. It's good. It's a little cliche, but well written and I am okay with that.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Pretty good booking, I found that the writing started to go a little downhill about a third of the way through the book.

The message of this book was overall good.

A change in pace for Emily Giffin's novels but one that did not disappoint! In this book, we are faced with a mother's moral dilemma between trusting and protecting her son and following her moral compass. Giffin's latest novel entwines an upper-crust Nashville family, the Brownings, and a father/daughter duo headed by a working-class single father. During a party one night, Princeton-bound senior Finch Browning allegedly shares a promiscuous photo of sophomore Lyla, who is on scholarship at the prestigious Windsor Academy. Throughout the novel, various plots emerge as we unravel the story. Giffin does an excellent job of portraying the various viewpoints - the angry father, the questioning mother, the embarrassed teenager, and the "typical" golden-child. Every parent will walk away from the novel doing a little soul-searching!

Lyla is a financial aid student at the elite Windsor Academy. She has a huge crush on Finch Browning, a wealthy kid who has just gotten accepted to Princeton. One night they are at a party together and during the party a picture was taken and sent to multiple people at the party. From there, the photo goes viral within the entire school community and gossip spreads like wildfire. Now Lyla's reputation is on the line and it is she said/he said. With so many versions of the "truth" ou there, how will the parents and school be able to figure out where the real truth lies?
This book was so engrossing. It was hard to read and I was glad I wasn't the one who had to decide what was real and what was a lie. Emily Giffin is a very talented writer who tells stories so realistically that you feel as if you were there experiencing it all yourself.

**I read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

I've been a long time reader of Emily Giffin and when I saw the blurb for this book, I was drawn in almost immediately. It seemed like a very different book in the best of ways and I am so happy to say that my instinct was right - this was a fantastic look into the current world of social media that we live in and how both parents and children have to navigate that world. I will say that I thought we were going to get a bit of a cliche plot that we've seen many times before, but again happily, that didn't happen and I believe the story was richer for it.

This story is told from multiple points of view, which again I believe helps to enrich it. We get the perspective of Nina, a woman who married into money and privilege and the mother of a son who is a senior at Windsor Academy. While she's always been happy in her life, she's starting to wonder if she's lost the person she always was before the money and privilege. Tom is the second point of view and he is a single father who works as a carpenter and does the best he can to raise his high school daughter Lyla while living paycheck to paycheck. Our final point of view is Lyla herself. A sophomore at Windsor Academy, she is there on a scholarship and oftentimes does not feel like she fits in. High School is hard enough as it is, but when a compromising photo of her gets shared on social media, everything in her world suddenly changes. Having all of the different points of view in this story helps to paint the picture, but it also makes you realize you really don't know who is telling the truth about what happened that night. I was on the edge of my seat as I made my way through the book to get to the outcome.

To me this book was so much about the relationships you have in your life. Whether that be with a spouse, a parent, a child or your best friend. No one ever wants to disappoint someone they care about and when you are under pressure and in a situation that may not paint you in the best light or might cause problems for you or a loved one, you are more likely to do whatever you can to make it right and this was very evident in this book.

I enjoyed this book immensely and would highly recommend it!

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine Books & NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite writers so naturally I had high expectations of this book. She did not disappoint although I felt this book was a little bit more serious in tone and more mature than the books she’s written in the past (Hello, “Something Borrowed”). The book is actually very relevant considering the current “Me Too” campaign and I occasionally find books like that to be too hastily written but this book really wasn’t. You can tell Giffin put some serious thought into this book and that the intent was to give the reader something to think about after the last page is read. Did I love some of the plot twists? No but not because they weren’t good but because they made me uncomfortable. The book took me a day to read so it’s definitely one I recommend you read when you have time to devote to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an ARC of this book. I was a little skeptical as I'm not a huge fan of "chicklit" however I was pleasantly surprised. The story line is quite timely, given the Me Too movement recently. You initially think it's just a story about a rich family and their trials and tribulations but the plot line eventually leads one to consider moral and ethical dilemmas in many areas, regardless of socio-economic status. I think this would make a great book for parents and teenagers to read and discuss the many important subjects this book touches on.

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. I've read and loved every book that she has written. All We Have Ever Wanted is a bit different than her other novels. It is darker, and the focus of the story is less about a romantic relationship. However, it is equally as amazing as all her other books. From the moment I started to read, I was hooked! The story was current and captivating, the characters were very fleshed out and relatable, and the writing was flawless.

I requested this book from Netgalley, as Emily Giffin is one of my automatic authors. Her books are well written, kind of twisty, but always leave me with a smile on my face.
Not so this one. This is an entirely different experience. Which must have been great for her to write, but was a major shock to read. It's all about expectations, you know? So, have your big girl panties on when you pick up this book and you'll probably be ok.

This is a contemporary novel told from 3 different points of view. I must admit, I read the book twice through before I could come up with a good description of this book. The three different POV's are told in alternating chapters between the characters of Nina, Tom and Lyla.

1. Nina, a former small town girl, is now a member of Nashville's high society elite. Wife of Kirk and mother of Finch who has just been accepted into Princeton.
2. Tom, a carpenter and single dad to Lyla.
3. Lyla, a bright, attractive scholarship student at private school where Finch attends.

This is a story that tackles sexual abuse, date rape, female shame, suicide, social media bullying, racism, negative words, and how all these thing can derail us from achieving our dreams. It's also about how making bad choices (like getting drunk) as a teen can wreck your life forever.
This is NOT a feel good/rom-com story, and even the end didn't leave me with any warm and fuzzies.
It's a tough read, but a good read, especially if you have teenagers at home.

The latest Emily Giffin book, All We Ever Wanted, was one that I was so looking forward to and while I wanted to love it, parts fell flat for me. There are so many subjects in this book that are very relevant right now, sex acts being filmed or snapped, hash tags or comments accompanying such photos / videos and of course, videos going viral over Snapchat and other such apps.

Ms. Giffin had a wonderful idea, but took the easy way out several times with one particular parent that just couldn't see that something was wrong with this and another that was also too willing to forgive. I'm not sure what I wanted to see done differently except I still feel that this was an easy-breezy treatment of a heavier subject...

I do appreciate the ARC I received via Netgalley and while I have greatly enjoyed Emily Giffin's work in the past, this left me disappointed. If you enjoy this author's work or like current topics addressed in fiction books you will probably want to check this one out.

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.