All We Ever Wanted has, at its core, a timely and hard to tackle topic, and it does its best to approach it head on. It centres around the fall out after a teenage boy shares an explicit photo of an unconscious girl at a party. I was gripped by the story and wanted to know how it would end. For me, though, I struggled with the characters. I didn’t find any of them quite believable enough in the way they reacted to the situations they were in: the boy’s mother, who acts as the story’s moral compass, doesn’t seem conflicted, and wants only to bring her son to justice - admirable in a morality tale, but a bit of wavering or uncertainty early on would have made her more believable to me, even though the messaging is absolutely sound. The girl at the heart of the scandal doesn’t seem to be too upset about it, more concerned with protecting the boy, who she has a crush on.

Maybe it tries to do a bit too much, but it didn’t quite work for me.

A test of morality, loyalty and family values told from different perspectives with a nod towards our social media society. Compelling and really thought-provoking. Thoroughly enjoyed.

A truly hard-hitting story about issues that are most definitely prevalent in society today, especially the Social Media ones.

A Snapchatted photo causes total hell for a young girl, Lyla, and her father, Tom, but they aren't the only ones affected. Nina, the mother of the accused photograper, Finch, is in turmoil too, from a moral perspective, as well as a personal one.

I stayed up late once I had started this book and didn't get out of bed the morning until I had finished it.

The author has really captured a side to this issue that many don't think of, the case of not wanting to make a big deal of being taken advantage of, because of the repercussions that the victim has to suffer.

Add in a pompous husband, Kirk, who will go to any lengths to cover up any bad deeds, his son's as well as his own, a bunch of snobbish friends, and a whole host of other secondary characters who you will either love or want to shoot down, and you have a fantastically written book.

I enjoyed it very much, not because I liked the topic, but that it really covered the issues well.

I'd love to know more about what happened with Lyla and Finch after though!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an unbiased review

This was an absorbing story which I highly recommend to any parent who has teenagers. The story is set around the current newsworthy twofold sock media and racy photo’s being posted the young people who treat things as a joke. Great descriptions of the characters covering the rich and the poorer side of town and how the parents feel about each other.. the two teenagers at the centre are Lyla and Finch and the realistic interactions that 5hey have. I felt that the ending let it down slightly as although it tried to round things up it still left loose ends especially over what had happened to both Lyle and Finch.. A minor issue as the book was so good.

Rich teenagers at a party and a photo is taken with sexual and racist undertones and starts being shared. Nina's son Finch is blamed but denies it. Nina is outraged by the photo but her husband takes the view that boys will be boys. The story develops, One act has a huge knock on effect. Well written book that shows society at its best and worst. Good read

All We Ever Wanted is a heartfelt story featuring a real mix of characters - some (well, many) that I hated and some great people mixed alongside them!

The story follows the events following a teenage party where a well-off boy, called Finch, takes a half-naked photo of a girl, Lyla, who’d passed out, along with a ‘slightly’ racist (the words of his charming father) caption, and it ends up being shared among most of the high school population. Lyla is half Brazilian and from a much less well-off family, so straight away this is very reminiscent of some sickening stories we’ve heard in the news  (in real life) about upper class white boys committing offences, and not seeming to realise how much harm it causes - as they come from a place of privilege and ignorance.

I thought the story was really gripping; I really wanted justice for Lyla, even though she herself was naively blinded by Finch’s good looks and popularity, and I really liked her dad Tom and even his mum Nina, despite her flaws.

Some parts of the story I thought I could see coming a mile off, but it actually wasn’t as clear cut or as formulaic as I expected. There were still some grey areas and some doubts over personalities which only made the characters feel more realistic, and therefore kept me interested without feeling too dramatised.

I raced through this novel and thought it was an enjoyable and thought provoking read, particularly relevant considering the many similar stories we’ve unfortunately heard about on the news recently. Because All We Ever Wanted gives the perspective of Finch's parents as well as Lyla's dad, it feels fresh and relevant, as well as highlighting the emotional side effects of what may seem like a momentary 'lapse of judgement'. Definitely food for thought.

I enjoyed this book very much and it was a page turner from the beginning. Nina is a mother, warm and easy to relate to, and she is in a terrible predicament - wanting to believe her son Finch is innocent of taking a photo of a semi-naked girl, Lyla, from his school, and adding a racist caption but knowing that there’s a distinct possibility he did do it. Her son’s future at Princeton is at stake and Nina’s husband Kirk tries to buy his way out of trouble. There are some wonderful characters, and I particularly liked Tom, Nina and Bonnie. I was intrigued by the different characters, the divide between those with immense wealth and those without, and the questions this book raises about teenagers and their upbringing. I would love it to have been a bit longer but would highly recommend it.

This is a topical and hard hitting book that covers and tackles many current issues
The book starts with a photo of Layla that has been sent ‘around’, Layla is ‘out of it’ and exposed and with a racist caption added, the photo, its fair to say, causes chaos in the privileged suburbs of Nashville
The story then takes narrative from
Layla, Layla’s Dad and Finch’s ( the boy accused of taking the pic ) Mum, Layla and follows their reactions to the photo and what ensues, also featured heavily are Finch himself and Finch’s Dad Kirk
The opulence of the characters lives is fascinating to read as is the entitlement some of them ooze
Its a dark and unsettling read at times and for such difficult subjects the author manages to keep perspective ie its not all one sided and all areas of why this has happened are investigated although it does leave a rather sour feeling of disquiet that this could be commonplace in America and elsewhere and just how damaging social media can be when mis-used and how throwaway decisions can affect others forever
Its hard to say I ‘enjoyed’ this book rather I will say it was food for thought, well written and balanced
8/10 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. It highlights so much that is going on in the world today. How sometimes people live their lives pleasing other people without living their lives for themselves. It also highlights how people can be manipulated, bullied and stereotyped because of your background.
Very well written.

Nina is married to Kirk who since selling his software company is obscenely wealthy. Their teenage son Finch has been bought up being given whatever he wants and is on his way to attending Princeton with his other privileged friends.

At a party hosted be Beau, Finch’s best friend, he stupidly takes a photo of a near naked girl tagging with a racist comment which he shares with his friends.

Nina cannot believe that Finch does not feel like he has done anything wrong, even though this could harm his place at Princeton.

The girl in the photo is Lyla who lives at home with her father a carpenter, she was awarded a scholarship and is not wealthy like her fellow peers. The photo goes viral and her life will never be the same again.

Loved how you feel empathy for Finch’s mother who realises her son if guilty, should be punished for his stupidity and how she strikes up a friendship with Lyla whilst being there to support her.

Definitely makes you think, how would you feel if you’re son had taken a photo of a drunk vulnerable girl, or god forgive, it was you’re daughter, for all to see!! Would you side with you’re son even when you know he is in the wrong?

I was compelled to read this book, it definitely pulls at you’re heart strings with its emotional and powerful journey.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

As usual I really enjoyed this book. Emily Giffin is an amazing story teller and she never fails. This story really highlights the struggles that today's teenagers face with the overuse of social media. A young man is blamed on posting a revealing picture of a girl at a party. Jeopardizing many friendships and causing great hearbreak. A really gritty subject that Griffin handles excellently.

All we ever wanted by Emily Giffin a four-star read that you will definitely want. I was so eager to read this one, I enjoyed the blurb and it sounded good and it was almost great, it just missed that one little thing. This was a great story and being told from different angles made it a touch confusing at times, but it also explained everything and revealed more details. Details that will show you the story unfolding before your eyes. Considering the people involved this story will cross a few buttons and it will make compelling reading for most.

Certainly an interesting read.
Good story and it’s well written
Thank you to both NetGalley and Random House UK for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Despite looking forward to reading this book, I just couldn't get into it.

When photos - indecent ones - appear on the internet of his daughter, it causes a lot of embarrassment and distress to both Lyla and her father. Nina, discovering that her son is the one who shared the pictures, is both of those things in addition to being very upset at the stupidity of a privileged lad who can't see that what he did is wrong and she struggles to understand why he could behave so appallingly. From being in the shadows, both Nina and Lyla find themselves tossed into a very unwelcome spotlight in the community.

I don't know what it was with this one that made me struggle throughout; I can't put my finger on it. It's a competently written story, well-edited but it just didn't gel with me - didn't seem real enough perhaps. Whilst I realise it's fiction, it wasn't a story which captivated or made me care about the characters. I ploughed my way through, but was quite relieved as I stumbled towards the ending, which I thought was a bit rushed and unsatisfactory. 

Due to the plaudits given to this 'best-selling author' I expect I'm out of step with many other readers and whilst it's a sound idea, it just didn't pan out for me. I realise it will probably be enjoyed by others, but it's not a novel I could recommend.

My thanks to publisher Random House, Cornerstone for my copy via NetGalley. As always, this is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Excellent book that is very relevant in this day and age of teenagers with social media. Told from more than one perspective which in some books can be confusing but this just flowed.

I enjoyed the authors style of writing and will read her previous books now I’ve read this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

A story about what can happen when you post something you shouldn't on social media. It is written from the perspective of both families.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I really enjoyed this book, which is so relevant and current and shows the impact that social media can have on so many lives, as it spreads a message. True or not true.

The writing style is good, each chapter written from the perspective of different characters in the book, so you have the view of the victim, the perpetrator, the family. Cleverly written.

A modern dilemma that is handled in a balanced way and makes you wonder how you would have reacted and, ultimately, solved things.

Moving, complex, and a realistic picture of the issues facing today’s teenagers and their parents, All We Ever Wanted was the type of thought-provoking novel that will have readers questioning what they would do if they found themselves in a similar predicament. I really did feel parts were diluted, considering the subject matter I expected it to be much more hard hitting. Character wise there are some stereotypical ones, and I wasn’t convinced the relationship between Lyla and Finch would have taken the direction it did, but never the less I did enjoy this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a good read but not a great read. So hence only a brief note

I really enjoyed this book, it was fresh and up to date, the plot is cleverly written and I enjoyed reading from each character's point of view. I would recommend it to any young person and parents of different backgrounds, it had me constantly questioning what I would do if that was my child.
Finch is a popular student with successful parents who have given him all he has ever wanted. Lyla is also at the same prestigious private school, however her journey has been a little different. She got a scholarship to Windsor Academy. One night at a party Finch takes a drunken picture of Lyla and sends it to his friends, how each of the characters react to this is the basis of the plot. lie's, secrets and twist are what make this a good thought provoking read that kept me reading all night.