All We Ever Wanted is a thought-provoking, powerful, timely novel. Nina's husband Kirk recently made a fortunate selling his tech business and now they are living the good life in Nashville with their teenage son. Surrounded by the wealthy, they live an opulent lifestyle and send their son Finch to a prestigious private school. One night, during a party, a drunken photo is shared from Finch's phone of a half naked girl with a racist caption. Suddenly, the rose colored glasses come off of Nina and she now sees her life, her family, her friends, and her marriage with new eyes. Also told from the perspective of Tom, a hard-working, middle class, single dad of Lyla. Lyla happens to be the girl in the photograph and their world is forever changed. These two families lives are now intersected and the ensuing fallout changes everything for them. As a mom of boys, this book hit me hard. In this technology driven era, it is more important than ever to drill it into our children the power they hold with these smartphones and how the ramifications of one bad choice on these devices can change lives forever. I absolutely loved this book and think it's an important story to hear. Without giving away any spoilers, I was disappointed in events at the end so it fell from a 5 star read for me. You know that feeling when you are reaching the end of a puzzle and you are attempting to fit a piece into the puzzle that seems to fit, but it's not quite the right fit? That was the ending for me. It seemed tidy, and hurried, and left me feeling unfinished. With that said, this is Emily Giffin's best work yet and I'm excited to see what she brings us next. For me, All We Ever Wanted was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @randomhouse for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

I loved reading this book so much. Emily's writing was absolutely perfect!! She ended the first chapter exactly how I wanted it to end -- making me want to read the second!! My favorite part about this book was the growth she showed with Nina from the beginning of the book til the end.

Fast read about issues that seem more and more prevalent these past few years. One Giffin's best books to date.

I have read all of Emily Giffin’s books. While I found this one engaging and relevant, it wasn’t my favorite.

I enjoyed the social media aspect, but couldn’t quite get a read on Finch. Is he good? Bad?

What happens with Tom and Nina? I felt like it just ... ended. So I enjoyed reading throughout but I felt unfulfilled at the end. It was a good read, but not her best.

Thank you netgalley as I received as an ARC for an honest review.

Light beach read tackling a serious and scary subject (especially when you are a mother of teenagers). Characters felt a little flat and unreal to me.

Another hit from Emily Giffin. I truly loved this book and could not put it down. It touches on many things going on in society today and how no matter the situation we need to be good humans to one another. As a mother to a boy I found it important that she loves her son but held him accountable for his actions and did not just brush the aside. A great read!

4 of 5 stars
Wow, this was totally unexpected. Emily Giffin’s previous novels have been contemporary romances, but this one deals with so much more! Rape, inappropriate sexual photos, bribery, infidelity, lies, shame, and how some people with money and privilege behave in various situations.
I think this book is a real departure from Ms. Giffin’s earlier works, and I was impressed that she tackled such difficult subjects. I am looking forward to more books from Ms. Giffin, as she writes along these theme lines.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #EmilyGiffin #AllWeEverWanted #BallantineBooks

I received an advanced reviewer copy from the Publisher (RandomHouse) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I've never read Emily Giffin before, so this is my first read of hers and I think that's a great thing because this book is SO GOOD. I've heard from most people that Giffin writes 'chick-lit' (which is an annoying term b/c just because women love it doesn't mean its lesser but that's a whole other talk). This book is not that and even if you've stayed away because you've heard she writes rom-com, please read this book, it's an important read.

What It’s About: Nina and Kirk have a lot of money and are able to get themselves and their son, Finch, whatever they want, including a wonderful education at a prep school and a future education at Princeton. Then their send snaps a picture of a classmate with her nipple showing and a racist caption. This sends their lives into a spiral, as Nina comes to grips with how she could raise someone who did this. Meanwhile, the victim, Lila, and her father Tom deal with the fallout as well with Tom refusing to concede because his daughter was wronged despite Lila's embarrassment and her desire to make it all go away (by the way I agree with Tom's fight for justice for his daughter but also her desire to move on)

What I loved: Everything. This book is a rollercoaster. I love the story from the mother's perspective of how her son turned out like this. I love the story of the father who wants to defend and protect his daughter, while the daughter wants it all to go away. It is incredibly well considered and thought out and you feel for all the narrators and their dilemmas. This book is very timely. Also, a lot of people hated the ending, I won't spoil it, but it is also very timely and I think that was Giffin's point.

What I didn’t like so much: I didn't like some of the characters but you were meant not to like them. I didn't like the ending (but I thought it was fitting). At times I got annoyed by Tom's anger being taken out on the wrong people but again, it felt realistic. Basically, I guess sometimes I was frustrated but it was part of the story and really I loved the book.

Who Should Read It: Everyone. Sexual assault and harassment are huge issues, and Emily Giffin writes an outstanding novel addressing it from a different perspective.

General Summary: An important read about rape culture that is told (mostly) through the parent's perspective: what happens when your child is the victim? What happens when your child is the abuser? A must read.

All We Ever Wanted is a powerful young adult fictional story about two teens, a young man (from a privileged family) and a young lady (from a working-class family). With both kids in high school, this book deals with the difficult life choices teens make including: parties, alcohol, sexual experiences, as well as honesty and character. The relationships between the parents and young adults in this book are very important, I feel the author portrayed the difficulties of parenthood very well.

I would recommend this book to high-school aged students and above. Some of the issues addressed in the book are very mature, however, as the mom of a high-school son myself, as well as a middle-school daughter these are issues that we need to have open and honest conversations about throughout their lives.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin. A heart-wrenching book. With intense storyline, great characters and dialogue. I look forward to reading more by this author.

The newest book by Emily Griffin centers around Nina, a wealthy Nashville mother, her son Finch, Finch's schoolmate Lyla, and Lyla's father Tom. The story is told in three different points of view as something horrible happens that every parent fears as their kids turn into teenagers.  A high school party turns dangerous when an inappropriate photo of Lyla is sent by Finch. Quickly rumors start to swirl in Nashville and the parents are left trying to figure out & clean up the mess. I have been an Emily Giffin fan since her first novel way back in 2014. She always had the ability to provide a witty, feel-good book. This one is a bit of a departure from that, but I LOVE it. She tackles tough subjects of elitism, racism, and how social media can be incredibly dangerous in the hands of kids. While it was still a quick, easy read, this book was much more thought-provoking and raw. This is one I definitely recommend reading this summer.

Unlike her husband, Kirk, Nina Browning did not have a privileged upbringing. But since Kirk sold his software company a few years ago, their Nashville social status has been elevated. Fabulously wealthy and able to afford anything they want, the Brownings appear to have everything they ever wanted: security, a beautiful home, friends, and Finch, their only child. A high school senior who has attended the exclusive Windsor Academy his entire life, he has just been accepted to Princeton.

In contrast, Tom Volpe is carpenter and part-time Uber driver raising his daughter, Lyla, alone on the other side of the river, i.e. "the other side of the tracks." More than a decade ago, Lyla's mother, who had a drinking problem, left but she has stayed in touch sporadically, turning up for occasional visits. Lyla attends Windsor Academy on a scholarship. Lyla wants to fit in with her wealthy classmates, and engages in typical teenage behavior such as sneaking out with her girlfriends and experimenting sexually.

What started out as a typical Saturday night turns out to be the night that Finch makes "the worst decision of his life." A photo taken during a party at his friend Beau's house changes the lives of the Brownings and Volpes. That photo of a partially unclad Lyla bearing a racist caption is distributed to Finch's Windsor Academy friends, setting off a series of events that none of them could have imagined.

Emily Giffin tackles a controversial and timely topic -- powerful technology misused by teenagers. But All We Ever Wanted is an unapologetic, unflinching morality play in which technology serves as the plot device to set up the conflict. At the heart of the story are characters facing a timeless dilemma: What is the right thing to do? It is a tale about class structure, power, and the things that power can, but should not buy. It is a study in conscience and how those who lack a moral compass will do anything to evade the consequences of their actions. It is a story about betrayal, told from the perspectives of Nina, Tom, and Lyla as they navigate a scandal and search for the truth about what happened on that fateful Saturday night. Did Finch take the photo, add the caption, and send it to his friends? Or was it take by someone else who distributed it in order to retaliate? Ultimately, it is a story about how well it is possible to really know those you love the most.

Nina is the moral centerpiece of the story, a decent woman who has happened upon and never been fully comfortable living an ostentatious lifestyle. The incident at the party forces her to take a good look at her life and marriage. With no remaining alternatives, she has to admit that she and Kirk have been drifting apart even since he sold his company and she has doubted much about their relationship, but never before dared to voice, much less confront those doubts. Giffin's writing is at its finest, however, as Nina questions the way in which they have raised their son. She thought she taught him to be a kind, compassionate, honest young man. But as events unfold, she critiques her own mothering of Finch even as she resolves that she will never abandon or give up on the fundamental goodness she knows she instilled in her son. Tom is also forced to analyze his parenting style, acknowledging that he has overcompensated for the fact that Lyla's mother abandoned her by being overprotective and volatile. But like Nina, he is determined to do what is right and best for his daughter. Giffin also tenderly but believably portrays Nina's disappointment, as well as her strength and resiliency in the face of complete disillusionment.

All We Ever Wanted is a cautionary tale for parents, as well as a searing exploration of the consequences of one careless, casual act that will leave readers pondering "What would I do if . . .?" It is a riveting and deeply moving story about good people trying to do their best in trying circumstances that will resonate with readers.

Emily Giffin has long been one of my favorite authors, and she has succeeded again in writing literature that is relevant and moving in relation to current events, while maintaining subtle opinions. Given all the subject matter, it would be easy to lean toward preachy, but she walks the fine line with grace, and gives readers a chance to ask themselves very tough "what would you do" questions. This is definitely a must-read, and the best book I've read this year!

I enjoy all books by this author and this was no exception. It dealt with a very real problem our society has with teens and social media. I will recommend to other adults and my teen students.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin completely blew me away, and it evoked many of the same feelings I had reading Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

What would you do if your son is accused of sharing a picture with his buddies that contains a half naked girl with a racist "joke" as the caption? Well that is exactly what Nina has to find out when her son Finch is accused of doing just that. Told in alternating viewpoints, this book is a heavy hitter that touches on a lot of pertinent issues in today's society. Chapters alternate between Nina, Finch, Lyla who is the girl in the picture, Lyla's dad Tom, plus a bit of Nina's husband Kirk sprinkled in. I loved the way Giffin did this because not only did it keep the story interesting, it also made figuring out who was telling the truth much harder. Each character had a very strong, unique voice so you can tell this isn't Giffin's first rodeo, and the characterization was perfect for me.

While the main storyline has to do with the photo, there is also a touch of romance, marital woes, keeping up with the Joneses, and relationships between parents and their children. There are so many topics touched upon and I found the book to be quite emotional. Not only is the cover of All We Ever Wanted beautiful, but the inside is as well. There is struggle and sadness, but also a good dose of happiness and hope as well.

I LOVED Nina and Lyla, and I think a lot of women will be able to relate to them (even though Lyla is high school age). They are very strong female characters and they weren't doormats which was refreshing to say the least.

Final Thought: I have heard that All We Ever Wanted is nothing like Giffin's other books (which mainly seem to be romantic in nature), but it was such an amazing book that it makes me want to read her other novels right away. Her writing is superb and she is such an amazing storyteller. I will definitely be thinking of this book for months, and maybe even years, to come.

All We Ever Wanted in 3-ish words: Beautiful, Must-Read, Ponderous

As a reader of the previous publications by Ms. Giffin, I was unsure what to anticipate with this novel, which was a departure from her standard romantic leaning tales and reflected themes that are more typical for authors like Jodi Picoult. I was deeply touched by the issues that were raised regarding parenting, social media use, justice, racial and socioeconomic biases, as were captured from the perspectives of the protagonists. While I empathized the most with the experiences of Tom and Lyla, Nina proved to be a complex figure whose internal/external conflicts reflected dynamics that would arise for many when confronted with a similar scenario in their lives. Ms. Giffin rendered each perspective with a deep sensitivity and thoroughness that I greatly appreciated and forced me to remember the hellish time that adolescence was. I hope that she will continue forth with similar future works.

Nina and Kirk Browning and their teenage son, Finch, live a good life, especially since Kirk sold his company and the family has experienced a great deal of wealth. Nina and Kirk are attending a fundraiser when they hear whispering that Finch has been involved in an incident with another student at his school, Windsor Academy. It soon comes out that Finch has taken an inappropriate sexy picture of Lyla at a party and sent it to friends, accompanied by a racist comment. The photo spreads around the community quickly, causing both the kids and parents to take sides. Lyla's father, Tom, who has been raising Lyla since she was small, is appalled--he cannot believe his daughter is involved in such a mess, and he wants justice for her. Lyla's at Windsor on a scholarship, and she just wants to fit in. Now, Nina, Finch, Lyla, and Tom must grapple with the aftermath of the photo and what exactly happened the night of the party.

This is a timely novel that certainly has a place in the #MeToo moment. It's a topic being covered more and more lately, and the idea of teens and sexting is just as horrifying as always. It draws you in from the beginning, and I found it to be a very fascinating read that kept my interest throughout. By alternating the point of view between Nina, Tom, and Lyla, we get to the story told from a range of characters, including the victim herself.

The biggest issue I had with this one--and even Lyla herself admits it--is that the characters sometimes come across as cliche: the spoiled rich boy hurts the poor, intelligent girl on scholarship. The only light of resistance is Nina, our wealthy wife with the obnoxious, rich husband. Even Nina's friends appear to be clueless (or worse) jerks brainwashed by their picture perfect Nashville lives. Still, Lyla is a great kid and reading her sections is lovely. Her father is a flawed individual, but you can't help but empathize with him as well. Nina is more complicated, and I would have liked to see her take on a little more responsibility for her son and the events that unfold around her. Yes, Nina had a conscience, but she didn't seem to do a lot with it, if that makes any sense, besides apologize.

In the end, I enjoyed this one because it wasn't totally predictable and because I really liked the characters of Lyla and Tom. I found it to be an easy and quick read. Still, it seemed like something was missing as I read, whether it was because some of the book felt like it was populated by stock characters or what, I don't know. While it's not exactly the same story, I would recommend the amazing Girl Made of Stars from Ashley Herring Blake if you're looking for a timely book on this topic. That powerful book blows this one out of the water, and maybe it's that power and emotion that I felt was lacking here.

Nina Browning sometimes can't believe the life she is leading. From the wrong side of town, Nina has married into money and found herself among the elite; she's friends with the wives and is raising a son expected to go on to Princeton. It's almost a dream come true, except she can't help but feel like she's strayed from the girl she once was, especially when her approach to an incident is very different from her husband and their friends.

Tom Volpe does everything he can to give his daughter, Lyla, the life she deserves. A scholarship to the prestigious Windsor Academy makes him relax, but Lyla still doesn't feel like she fits in and one drunken night proves that even further. A photo from a party is spread around, with Nina's son the account the photo originated from and Windsor Academy becomes the hotspot for controversy and blame.

Nina, Tom, and Lyla are thrown together, each trying to discover the right way to handle the situation and questioning if the path they're going down is the correct one. Nina sees herself in Lyla, an innocence she wants to preserve even if it goes against everything her husband is telling she and her son to do. Tom want his daughter to be equal, but even he has to question if he's doing the right thing for his daughter.

All We Ever Wanted is Emily Giffin's latest release and her third book, in my opinion, that tackles present day scandal. It's classic Women's Fiction with a deeper meaning, delving into one's believes, the difference between right and wrong, and the strength it takes to go down the path least travelled. The story of a girl having her photo shared around school is not new to us, we hear about it in the news more often than we'd like to admit, but the story of her parents and the accused parents, that is new. All We Ever Wanted introduces us to Lyla and Nina's son, we know who they are and we have a general idea of how this is impacting their lives, but we get to spend the most time with Nina and Tom. Nina doesn't agree with her husband's methods for "handling it" and Tom doesn't either. They forge an unlikely friendship, their meetings leaving each introspective and aware that a change must be made, that how they handle this is a lesson for their children going forward.

I really liked Nina, I liked how aware she was of her wealth, that it hung on her more like a chain to drag than a necklace. She's previously been passive, accepting that she must be someone new and leave her old self behind, but the photo incident brings her back to college and the strength she wished she would have had then. She channels her energy into Tom and Lyla, befriending them, offering her company, and ultimately turning her back on her husband and son. While she wants the best for her son, that much is obvious, she's also aware that idly letting her husband control the outcome will teach him nothing. She wants better for herself, better for Lyla, and better for her son. Tom is difficult, he's gruff, unexpectedly soft in some ways, and too aware of the class and racial differences he and his daughter have with the other students and parents at Windsor Academy. I say too aware, because he allows them to be different, to be divided based on Lyla's skintone, unaware that he is making her school situation more difficult. The class and racial bias is also a major part of the plot with the photo and leads to lessons for some and shows us the ignorance of others. Lyla just wants someone to hear her, to fit in for a moment, to believe in her. How these two parents decide what is right or wrong is an excellent story and how Nina brings Lyla out of her shell is fantastic. We see two women who care, who are lovers, and who have a desperate want for humanity and Tom, well in him we see a protective single father who wants more for boys and girls, specifically for his daughter.

I really enjoyed this book, Emily Giffin has given us something that is so timely it's hard to believe it's a fiction novel and not another true story in the paper. The characters are realistic and the plot painfully so as well. It's a book that I'd call "unputdownable," not because it's an easy book to escape into, but rather because it is written so well and is so very relevant. I loved the focus on growth, right and wrong, and the lessons that come from mistakes. It's not a light read, it is rather heavy and deals with many difficult topics, but it is an important read and I'm grateful it's written by Emily Giffin, an author I consider one of my favorite and an author I know cares about society and humanity.

This book is apropos in this day and age where social media is used for both good and bad. It shows how one photo can irreversibly change the lives of all involved.

Nina didn’t come from money. She’s now married, rich and money is no object. Her son Finch has been accepted into Princeton. But one night Finch gets into trouble after taking a picture of a half-naked Lyla.

Tom is a single parent, raising his daughter Lyla by himself. He’s extremely proud of her accomplishments which includes getting a scholarship to the exclusive Windsor's Academy. His world is shattered when he's called to pick up a drunk Lyla from a friend's house and then when he sees the damaging photo in question, Tom appeals to the school for retribution.

As usual, Emily Giffin has written a moving, thought provoking novel. It draws you in and you feel connected to these characters..

WOW!!!!!
I could not put this book down. It was so intense and relevant today.

The story details the life of the privileged families who are held to a different set of rules nor held accountable for their actions. A mistake is revealed that is life changing, for a young girl who comes from a blue collar family and a young man who is entitled and comes from an affluent family, both attending a prestigious, expensive school.

The event is revealed early in the story but through multiple points of view, the true story is revealed by the disparity of classes and how wealth provides access that can alter an outcome where actions have consequences.

This story was paced perfectly and the story grabbed and engaged you immediately. Intense, emotional and so climatic in the end. The is my first book from this author and look forward to more.