Wow. Beautiful. I’m not going to say “All We Ever Wanted” is Emily Giffin at her finest, because that would discredit her previous novels that are all truly amazing, each in their own way. But AWEW is different kind of story than what we come to know and expect from Giffin.

And it’s wonderful.

Maybe it’s because I got to meet Emily back in 2014 at a book signing in Nashville, but I really believe she is one of the greatest story-tellers of our time. Not only are her books amazing, but she seems as genuine, down-to-earth, and real as the complex characters she writes. I know this book is going to stay with me long after I’ve turned the last page.

What I loved:

Setting: So, I’m from Nashville so I obviously LOVED this setting. I think Nashville really is the perfect place for this story to unfold because you have the rich, privileged, and almost backwards mindset that comes with the south, along with the trendiness of our city. Giffin got everything right: to the teenagers shopping at the Gulch, to the shoutout to the Green Hills mall. I loved seeing my city in the pages.

Writing: Giffin’s writing is beautiful, concise, and poetic. She can spin words and phrases in a way that just makes sense. Whenever I pick up her books, I really feel like I get to know the characters. Also, she was able to pull of 3 distinctive POVs. We have three different, fleshed out voices. Each character sounded like who they were. Giffin can definitely pull off writing “a male voice.”

Plot: This novel is plot driven. You really get sucked into the drama within the first chapter. One might think a gay, twenty-three year old guy might not find parts of this story entertaining (since I am not a parent or a wealthy high class member of society) but everything about this story was fascinating to read about. You really do want to keep turning the pages.

Characters: I absolutely adored, Nina. She is the strongest, most woke character I’ve read about this year. I love how she stuck to her morals and values, even though it was hard for her at times. Tom was dreamy and impossible to not fall in love with. Giffin always writes relationships in the best way. The way her characters act and the relationships they develop with each other just seem so real and genuine. Giffin understands that life isn’t black and white, and she’s able to write that into her novels. Her characters are three dimensional: real, flawed, layered.

My two minor complaints:

The epilogue frustrated me, and I wanted a bit more romance.

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Overall, All We Ever Wanted deserves to be moved to the top of your TBR list when it comes out. This book is relevant to our times. It’s woke, but not political. This story is heartbreaking, moving, and delivers an important message on values, family, privilege, and double standards.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my eARC. This is my honest, unbiased review!

RATING: 3.5 stars

Emily Giffin has been one of my favorite authors from the first time I picked up Something Borrowed. Her Women's Lit novels have always felt so honest and raw of emotion while also being somewhat whimsical and incredibly entertaining. Over the last few books I feel like Giffin has been trying to take her writing one step further; maturing her writing (for an audience that is maturing as well) and layering in timely topics and thought provoking themes. All We Ever Wanted is no different; tackling the extremely timely topics of sexual assault, women's rights and the dangers of social media.

Told from alternating POVs, we follow Finch and Lyla (and their parents Nina and Tom) as a sexually explicit photo taken at a party rocks a Nashville community and forces both sides to take a severe look at their values and beliefs.

I just reread the copy for the book and it's described as "an already divided community takes sides, throws blame, and implodes". After reading the book, I'm not sure we ever really reach a point where those words ring true. Oddly enough, I am both disappointed and relieved by that. It's nice to see Emily stay somewhat true to her writing style, but I'm wondering if she held back a little from what she could have truly put on the page. The story overall felt a little 'surface' to me.

Granted, I devoured this heart wrenching story and I'll pick up anything Emily Giffin puts down.

I was given the chance to read a galley of this in exchange for an honest review.

4 1/2 stars.

Fast paced, as always from Emily Giffin. Very timely book, somewhat unfortunately. I had a touch of anxiety while reading this. For the characters, for the events as they occurred.

I think this is probably an important read for parents today, while fiction, it is based in a large dose of today's reality. I am thankful that I am not a teenager in today's world.

I've been a fan of Emily Giffin since the beginning, and her last two books (before this one) were what I'd consider "misses". This one, though, was a total hit. She has a way of pulling on your hearstrings, even when you least expect it. This book was an interesting look at a timely subject, with its exploration of race and sexism, with more than a little classism thrown in for decoration. Although I was a little sad at the end- as a mother of two boys, it made me upset to see how young men treat young women- the book itself was wonderful. A very easy read. Can't wait for the release- or Emily Giffin' s next offering.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I was so excited to be able to read this book before it came out as she is definitely one of my favorite authors. This is a story about two families who come from a totally different life style. It also deals with social media and the damage it can cause to a family and to someone's reputation. It was a really good storyline and I highly recommend it.

I have read all of Emily Giffen’s books. This one matters most. With social media so misused today, and reputations so easily tarnished, the story was very authentic and could happen to anyone. You don’t want to believe it could be true, but in your heart you know it is. As an avid reader, the pages moved too quickly and I would highly recommend it.

I had no idea what this book was about . I just asked for a copy of it because I love Emily Griffin. This book blew me away ! I could not put it down ! Very current topic and told so well. Emily hit it perfect from all angles, parent and child. Makes you realize just how tough it is to be a kid these days. She does a great job of making you wonder all along who is the guilty party ? Great, sweet, wonderful ending. Cannot say enough how much I loved this book !!!!

This book was very relevant in that it could literally be a headline you read on CNN today...actually, it probably is! This book had the excellently well drawn out characters that Emily Giffin fans are used to getting from her work and the story kept me hooked the whole time. Fantastic book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine Books, and Emily Giffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All We Ever Wanted was an enjoyable book to read - easy, fast, and entertaining. It is about Nina, Kirk, and Finch (a wealthy/privileged family) and Tom and Lyla (a working-class father raising his daughter on his own) and what happens when the two families come into conflict. The topic it addresses is timely (sexting) though I did not feel that the seriousness - and the consequences - of this act was fully explored. I would have liked the narrative to have delved deeper into the emotional repercussions of being violated in this way. All in all, an easy and engrossing read.

ALL WE EVER WANTED by Emily Griffin could have been ripped from the headlines of most any high school today.
Where the elite cool guys on campus get a young teenage girl drunk and the parents have to pick up the pieces.
Or do they try to get their boys out of trouble with their money and positions, leaving the girls in ruins and quite possibly their own marriages.
Emily Griffin has written a compelling story about how teenagers can have no sense of character and expect to get off with every wrong they do. And parents should never ever make waves...
5 stars

I love Emily Giffin books and was so happy to hear her new one was coming out! However, it was definitely different than her usual story telling. It’s a story that fits in a timely matter to what the world is going thru now. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and all in all it’s a good read.

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Random House and to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book. It's a Ripped From the Headlines, very now novel that makes me want to call it something more than ChickLit. Pulled in from Page 1, it is impossible to put down until the last paragraph is read and the heart rate slows down.

Emily Giffin is one of my favorites and I've enjoyed every one of her books, but this one has to be optioned for film. In this political and social network environment and the world of MeToo, Giffin takes us inside Nashville society to be witness to the lives of the very wealthy and those just getting by. Each main character narrates alternating chapters. There's Nina, married to super-rich Kirk (bad apple), mother to Finch (just accepted to Princeton). Tom is a divorced single father, a carpenter whose daughter Lyla is also a student at an exclusive private school, a sophomore where Finch is a senior.

A photo of a drunk girl, partially unclothed, with a racist comment attached, that is widely distributed, causes havoc in all these lives. At core is character. How do you raise an ethical child? Does materialism ruin character? How much influence do parents really have? These questions are particularly valid in our Trumpian time.

More importantly, the books is gripping and hard to put down. I'd be surprised if it didn't hit the NY Times as number 1.

Decent. Not great, but not bad either. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it but wasn't surprised by the 'twist' at the end, if you could call it that.

All We Ever Wanted is a great novel touching on many different, pertinent topics relevant to teens and all ages above. The issue of the power of social media and the multitude of emotions set off by a simple touch of a button are explored through different perspectives: indifferent, innocent-claims made by “jokesters”; the ones affected—those on posts and their friends, acquaintances, and families. Also, the reactions of characters to the post are varied, pointing out the good, the bad, and the ugly true characters inherent in society. The #MeToo hot topic is brought to life through these characters in a very insightful manner that portrays the lifelong, generational, damaging affects of sexual abuse and why it is often unreported. The struggles faced from all perspectives makes this novel a great book for discussions and awakening awareness of this prevalent issue. Best of all, this novel portrays the inner strength that can be found within those determined to succeed as healthy individuals who work to help others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I was late to the game with this author, but I've grown to love her chick lit. I wondered how this one would morph into that, but it was so much more. This book is timely. When a rich young man, with everything on his side, makes a terrible choice that affects not only him, but a girl at his elite school who attends on scholarship. Nina is the wealthy mom, and Tom is the single dad of the teen, Lyla. There are twists and turns, and I found myself hoping that the characters would make the right decisions. I loved this book...I'm pretty certain you will too.

This book was WOW, just WOW. Emily Giffin crafted a wonderful story that had me hooked from the first chapter. It's a story that reaches out to everyone. It tells a tale that says no one is ever too entitled, too rich, too poor, too perfect to have things happen in their lives that we don't plan on. A story about love and loss and being so caught up in out lives that we don't see what's actually happening around us.

A mother's love. A father's fight for justice for his daughter. The inner workings of relationships, including good and bad. The ending was perfect for the book. A nice tie up.

*I would like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest and fair review*

I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I have always been a fan of Emily Griffin, so it was no surprise her latest masterpiece would be marvelous! This book, in short, was very powerful. It is a story about two families from different walks of life who are impacted by social media, wealth, power and healing. A strong message about sexual abuse is prominently displayed in this book. The ending came together very nicely!

Sandy Edwards's review Mar 21, 2018 · edit
really liked it

I really enjoyed this book. The main female character, Nina, was strong and courageous. This book is based on elitism and the choices made to be part of "the group" or stand alone for a cause. What lengths will people go to even if it hurts those who are innocent. I really liked how it ended. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I’ve always loved Emily Giffin’s novels, and this one is no exception. The sweet romance element is not there, but the typical Giffin storytelling is ever present.

HS senior Finch is accused of taking an inappropriate photo of HS sophomore Lyla. Before too much time passes, Finch’s father has bribed Lyla’s father to stay silent, and Finch’s mother and Lyla’s father begin texting and even set up private meetings.

While written as an adult contemporary novel, this could easily pass for YA. The characters are strong and the ending comes together nicely. I am thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.

🌟Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️out of 5
📖Read it if you like: current social topics, multiple points of view, Jodi Picoult 👉🏼This book isn’t out until June 26, so thanks to #netgalley for my advanced proof! I’ve read every book by Emily Giffin and this is probably in my top three (nothing will ever knock Something Blue out of my #1 spot!) but it’s not her typical subject matter. It deals with social class and sexual assault in varying scenarios. I loved the Nashville setting and the uncertainty of where the story was heading, which kept me interested. I finished it in about two days!