I loved this book and couldn't put it down. But I was disappointed in the Epilogue. I felt that it didn't tie up all the loose ends or skimmed over some of the more important parts of the books. I would've like to have closure with Kirk, Polly and would've liked to have known more about the letter that was referenced. Overall, it was a gripping storyline, one that makes me think about how I want my boys to act when they're teenagers/young adults.

This book started out strong for me as I’m
All about the #metoo movement. I was happily surprised that it was such a departure from her other books. But then, sometime around the 10th time the girl in the story told her dad that he was ruining her life, I lost interest. It was so repetitive and predictable.

Though somewhat predictable this book is highly readable. It's also not the usual Giffin chick lit. She delves into issues of race, class and gender which makes the book a bit more thought provoking than Giffin's other work. I think I would have liked a bit more concrete closure with respect to certain characters

I really enjoyed the story and the back and forth between the kids. I only wish the ending had been a little bit more expanded to fully show what happened with the school. I also wish Kirk's character had been explored a little bit more and I wanted him to face the repercussions of his actions! So while the ending did feel a little bit rushed, it was still a good read. 4.5 stars!

One of my favorite Emily Giffin books. I've been a fan since "Something Borrowed." I have read all her books and honestly, I didn't enjoy the last few. But this book changed everything and I was hooked as soon as I started reading and didn't want to put it down.

Pretty much through the whole book I wasn't sure who was telling the truth about what really happened at the party and the stories constantly changed. I also couldn't believe Lyla didn't think it was that big of deal. She even defended Finch and thought the picture was sort of artsy. I enjoyed the story, it reminded me of news stories I had recently seen. I wasn't sure why the police weren't involved. Finch was eighteen and Lyla was underage. I couldn't stand Kirk or Finch. To them the whole incident was no big deal and their money should get them out of any situation. I was glad to see Nina really cared for Lyla and was concerned for her welfare, even though her son was he cause of the problem. There was so much more to the story, especially when Polly revealed what she knew about Finch and his friend. Finch was truly despicable and I could see he modeled himself after his dad instead of his mom. I'm not sure how Nina managed to spend that many years married to Kirk, especially since none of her true friends or family even liked him. How did she not see what type of person her son was turning into?

I definitely recommend the book and look forward to reading more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and the author, Emily Giffin, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

I loved reading All We Ever Wanted! It's the story of teenage immaturity in the social media age. It revolves around a very wealthy family in the aftermath of an inappropriate photo which went "viral". I was compelled to read the book quickly, with all it's emotionally intense "ups and downs". I couldn't wait to find out the truth in this very ugly situation. I was somewhat disappointed in the way Giffin chose to end it, and felt I could have used some more explicit clarity in what actually happened between the main characters. I would categorize this tale as being "young adult" reading.

This read like a Lisa Scottoline book (which is a compliment, as I love her novels) - lots of twists and turns in a big battle to figure out who's right and who's wrong. While Emily Giffin's reads are usually pretty light and beach-y, this one was a hard hitting page turner - I ended up staying up to finish it in one night! The topic was incredibly timely (sexual assault and social media), and the characters were both likable and fascinating. The only thing I didn't love was the romance that sprung up, which felt a bit contrived and detracted from the main plot. Overall, highly recommend this book!

While telling a very absorbing and real kind of story about family tensions and conflicts, Emily Griffin points out the need for instilling right values into children at a very young age.
This is the story of two families, each dealing with teenagers. One father uses his wealth and power to protect his son; the other, a middle class working man, makes his daughter face the truth and its consequences.
The writing is so clever you don't know who should be believed.
It reminds us of the need for communication and honesty in families, between husband and wife, children and parents.
This novel truly did make me think. It would be a wonderful read for anyone raising teens in this troubling time!

I absolutely loved this book! I am an avid reader but I can't seem to ever find interest in anything other than murder mystery. I have started to get really bored with the genre and am trying to find more books like this one. I was so drawn into the story and constantly found myself feeling emotions towards/for the characters. The author did an excellent job developing each character and giving just enough details about one side of the story before switching view points. This was definitely a page-turner...I read it in one day. I loved the ending as it left me at peace with where every character ended up. I would otally recommend this book to friends and family. I can already think of three people that would love it. It covers morals, love, and care for others. Just when you think you have life figured out! ;)

All We Ever Wanted was a fascinating read! The plot dealt with such realistic issues as rape, sexual abuse, racism, financial disparity, and a parent’s unconditional love. The story was told from the perspectives of Nina, Lyla, and Tom. Nina enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle with her snobbish money driven husband and her 18 year old son who enjoyed life too much, especially at the expense of others. For both father and son, unscrupulous actions were a part of their relationship. Nina sought to change that aspect of Finch’s persona. Tom, a carpenter, tried to raise Lyla the best way possible since her alcoholic mother was not really a part of their daughter’s life. Both Tom and Lyla clashed over appropriate wardrobe and curfew, but love was always present.
Then one night…an unchaperoned party, too much drinking, a sexually explicit picture and the aftermath of these events turned the characters’ lives into an emotional whirlwind that consisted of lies and deception but also truth and discovery. None of the characters remained unscathed in this engaging page turner.
This story was well written with intriguing characters. It will make you think, discuss, and debate the actions taken by each character as the story evolved. It will also make think what your actions might be if some aspects of this story became your reality.

Another fabulous novel from Emily Giffin . It’s rare to read a story and what’s its like to be a person trying to be a good, truthful person as well as trying to set the example to people you really love (family). I love that it teaches us no matter whom we love, we need to lead and be the one that stands out and in this story it’s Nina!
She was true to herself even we fighting for a love one. A feel good story of family and why...we need to take a STAND for not only ourselves but for others. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and devour another Emily Giffin novel.

I really enjoyed this book! Much more than the authors last one about the gym teacher. The characters were totally relatable and I enjoyed their unique voices. The story reflected a very realistic scenario in the age of technology/cell phones and “mean girls”. My only complaint would be that it wrapped up too quickly - I would have liked to see Kirk and Finch face consequences/karma in more detail and learn more about Nina and Tom’s relationship development after Finch’s trial.

This book was just okay for me. I'm not sure what I expected exactly. Maybe a little more depth to the characters, but I couldn't even find myself rooting for any of them. They were all pretty unlikeable to me. Tom was perhaps the only fairly redeeming character in the entire book. I wish I could say I would recommend this, but I suppose I would to those who enjoy fluffy chick-lit. I used to, but not so much anymore.

A thought-provoking, timely read, All We Ever Wanted is a bit of a slow burn. An incident happens at the top of the book that Nina, Tom and his daughter Lyla spend the rest of the book trying to decipher, while managing the fall out in their lives.

It's hard for a parent not to be invested in this book. It touches upon some of the core fears that keep us up at night. I think it also did an excellent job of bring issues of class into discussion. Like the book, Big Little Lies, it gives us a peek into a world of privilege in which the "rules" do not necessarily apply for all.

My only beef with the book was one of pacing. Because characters spend a lot of time processing ideas and diving into their backstory, at times the story felt a little slow. Nina's third act visit to her parents (and reconnection with a lost love) in particular felt like it dragged the story down a bit. At that point in the book, I was much more interested in the central drama at play and figuring out how it would be resolved. Have no fear though, the book DOES deliver on that promise, serving up a high-stakes and ultimately (for me) satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Griffin writes as if she is telling you about personal friends. The characters come alive and you immediately fall into their spell. She spins a tale like no other. Highly recommended.

All We Ever Wanted is pretty much all you've ever wanted in a book.

Nina Browning is a wealthy woman from Bristol. And while she lives in Nashville with her husband and son, she's never forgotten the person she was WITHOUT the money.

Nina has it all, wealth, looks, charity work, popularity and a son that just got into Princeton.

But a huge moment - related to her son and social media - shake up her world and she may not recover.

The issue is poignant, true to life and incredibly well written.

Told from multiple viewpoints you'll uncover a bit about everyone as the story unfolds while asking yourself if Nina truly failed as a mother and if she can still help her son Finch.

Truly excellent writing - you won't want to put this one down.

Love love this book. This is one you can not miss. Characters real, though some were unlikeable, but that makes this book. You've probably read this in the news, but that's what makes this book. Great job!
Thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

A great book! Loved the characters and plot development. It was almost like reading a mystery- who is telling the truth? Very timely topic. This book made me think about how I was raising my daughters and how I want them to be treated. It also made laugh, cheer and cry.

NOTE: I received a free copy of the book through NetGalley. Below is my honest review.

I consider it a stroke of luck to have received a free copy of All We Ever Wanted the morning of a snow day. It was the perfect way to spend the day, and if not for needing to feed my kids, I might have finished it in one sitting.

The plot is set in motion as socialite Nina finds out that her son Finch, a senior at Windsor prep school on his way to Princeton, has shared an inappropriate photo of Lyla, a sophomore girl at Windsor on scholarship. Touching on issues of social media, class relations, racial relations, teenage sexuality, friendships (among both teenagers and adults), and marriage, All We Ever Wanted is a page-turner that grabs your attention immediately and keeps apace throughout. The story is told from three different points of view: Nina, Lyla, and Tom, Lyla’s working-class single father. We do not get the story from Finch’s perspective and while not a thriller, the book does have that thriller-like element of the reader’s trying to figure out whether or not to trust Finch, as he responds to the allegations against him to his parents, to the school principal and to Lyla herself.

As a mother of two boys myself, I can most relate to Nina and can imagine facing the nightmare of a son’s misbehavior, particularly in the age of social media. That said, I think she comes off as a bit too heavy-handed and almost one dimensional in her moral superiority, and though Giffin provides reasoning to Nina’s decisions in the backstory, I think there could be more fleshed out about relationships with her husband, her child and her friends that would have provided more complexity to the character.

I feel like I have grown along with Emily Giffin’s books, from dating to marriage to raising children as the subjects of her books have grown. In some ways, I miss the lighter typical “chick lit” I used to expect from her. But I think Giffin handles some topical, heavier issues in this book very well and delivers another strong, engaging page-turner of a book. Recommend.

I am a huge fan of Emily Giffin! I have read all of her books and I was super excited to start this book, All We Ever Wanted. I have to say I was a little put off at first by the subject manner at first but after reading on, I was hooked. Although I think this book could be also classified at a teen book rather than an adult one. It deals with alcohol, sex and social media. Emily hooks you in like she always does. You will fall for Nina and be rooting for her until the end. I do wish Emily wrote more about the ending and the honor council before wrapping it up in a pretty little bow. I would have liked to hear exactly how that "trial" played out. Overall, another hit for Giffin! I would definitely recommend this to others. Thanks for the advanced copy in exchange for my opinion, Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine Publishing Group!
#AllWeEverWanted #NetGalley