I loved this book! ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD follows Anna, a recent college graduate who moves to London to pursue a master’s in literature and work as an SAT prep tutor. Most of her students are wealthy British teens who dream of getting into American colleges, including Pippa, whose mother invites Anna to the family’s Saint-Tropez home over winter break. Anna soon becomes swept up in the world of Pippa’s older sister Faye and her charming friends, including the intelligent Callum and the charismatic Theo. In France, Anna is treated as “the help,” but when the group returns to London, a lie of omission by Theo offers Anna the chance to reinvent herself. Will Anna’s longing for acceptance come at too high a cost?

ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD was a wonderful debut! I loved the London setting and how readers truly get to see the city, and the glamorous world Anna gets drawn into, through her eyes. We embark with her on her travels to Saint-Tropez and Lisbon, go to lavish dinners and entertaining parties, wonder if she will be able to keep up the facade she creates. I enjoyed how the story felt like a coming-of-age narrative and a romance all at once, while also being reminiscent of classic novels from the likes of Jane Austen. Everett does a masterful job of fleshing out Anna’s character and her fears of not belonging anywhere—not at Smith College, where she was a working-class local among affluent out-of-town students, not in London, where she again feels out of place among her new friends. She’s also coping with the grief caused by the sudden loss of her mom, and a fractured relationship with her dad, who still lives an ocean away in Massachusetts. Even when she’s tangled in a web of secrets and lies, Anna is still an easy character to connect to, and you’ll hope she manages to figure things out. Overall, I’d recommend ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD—Emily Everett is definitely an author to watch! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

Anna made it happen: out of an impoverished upbringing, she has pushed her way through to London, the place she and her mother dreamed of. London isn't the J.M. Barrie version, but Anna has vowed that she'll make it her own regardless. As she struggles to make ends meet working as a tutor and part-time bartender to pay student loans and finish her Master's program, she cherishes well-deserved picnics with friends on Parliament Hill, where the view of modern London still brings her joy, and free or low-cost activities like exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods and churches. While Anna is no stranger to poverty, it would really help to have enough money to pay for train fares without worrying about getting kicked off, or making enough to keep her student visa.

When the ultra-rich Wilders need an SAT tutor for their daughter, Pippa, Anna takes the job. One stint of work turns into a winter trip to St. Tropez, where Anna is exposed to another side of life and the people who inhabit the world of privilege. Pippa's sister Faye makes Anna her pet; instead of keeping things professional, Anna is easily pulled into a glamorous life, where money is never a problem. Unfortunately, the lure that attracted Anna hides wicked barbs.

Anna straddles her former life and job and tries to maintain her upscale lifestyle, but the gap is too large. Friendships are strained, whether by neglect or by deceit. What will happen when the bottom falls out?

I really loved this book for its honest depiction of what life for struggling students at or below the poverty line. I also appreciated the balance of characters at both end of the wealth spectrum who manage to be decent human beings. This is a great Bildungsroman, but what makes it great for me is Anna's reflective musings on the lives of great characters in English literature. I imagine that readers who haven't delved into the books Everett mentions will definitely jump in to some classic greats.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for access to the ARC. Opinions herein are my own; I don't get compensation for my reviews.

I had a really hard time connecting to the characters here, which is too bad because I love London. I won't be posting my review as a result.

Anna loves London. She grew up poor and gets the chance to be with the rich. This was a coming of age story where she makes bad choices and learns about herself and grows. It was decent. Nothing groundbreaking but I did enjoy.

I’m a sucker for books about the lives of the ultra wealthy and this did not disappoint! I really loved the main character, Anna and was rooting for her to find her happiness.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

3.5 stars rounded down
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, and all due to the FMC, Anna. I liked her at first and felt great sympathy for her situation, however as the book progressed, I started to really dislike her. You know where it's going to end up as soon as she starts making some stupid choices. And they ARE choices - she could have come clean at any time but chose not to. She could have simply texted a request to Faye but chose not to. I loved the character of Callum, someone she chose to involve in her deception after he's asked her not to. She completely abandoned her real friends and she's lucky they forgave her so easily at the end. I really liked the writing style, though, and even though the second half disappointed me, I would read more by this author.

Set in 2009 London, Anna has moved abroad after her mother's death to pursue her master’s degree. She takes a job tutoring the teenage daughter of a wealthy family, soon becoming entangled in their luxurious lifestyle and elite social scene. As she navigates love, friendship, and personal growth, Anna finds herself changed in unexpected ways. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had been in a significant reading slump so far in 2025 and this book single-handedly resurrected me - I could not believe this was Everett's debut title! Not only was her writing style compelling and compulsive, but I found myself relating to so much of Anna and her story. As an American Anglophile, I romanticize a life living in London much like Anna did. In addition to this, her love of the classics and British literature (who among us didn't have a phase spent obsessed with Jane Austen?) spoke to me and my youth.

Though the book was a touch predictable, I found that Everett provided something that everyone who picks up the book could enjoy - a love triangle, family drama, a coming of age story, transport to countries near and far, a taste of luxury. I appreciated the way Everett used cultural references (i.e. Chelsea Made, Pride & Prejudice, etc.) to mirror the high-low juxtaposition that Anna found herself in.

Heading to London in the spring and this novel put me in the most exciting headspace to visit some of Anna's touchpoints! Can't wait for the release of this one - have already been recommending to anyone who will listen!

A sweet coming of age story set in 2009 London. There is bit of drama, romance, and some beautiful scenes of London and historical context of literature in London.

Anna, is a working class American, who is is studying in London and gets swept away by the lavish lifestyles of the students (and their families) she tutors. She connects with a wealthy tutee whose family invite her to St. Tropez where she meets a cast of 'friends' in the upper class community who she struggles to keep up with. She makes some bad decisions in her efforts to improve her station and fit in with this new group.

The book highlights some important themes - grief, class, and privilege, but still the book has a lightness to it - just touching on these themes in a realistic but not overly heavy way.

The second half of the story picked up quite a bit for me and I loved seeing the arc of her journey - coming to terms with her own identity and embracing her background in a way that was delightful to see.

3 1/2 Stars Rounded Up

Thank you very much to Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

At once entertaining and annoying, All That Life Can Afford features a semi-despicable heroine who had apparently never learned about ethics, trust, love, forgiveness and honesty. When life changes for the better, she still doesn’t seem to appreciate and understand those who brought her to that possibility of happiness so it was difficult for me to celebrate for her. Four stars for the entertainment value of this quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a delightful read! A coming of age story of a young girl from humble beginnings thrust into the life of excess and wealth having to navigate the pitfalls that inevitably come along with that. It was lovely to read of so many far off destinations while saying cozy in my own home.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my EARC.

A beautifully written coming-of-age novel about a young American woman who grew up in poverty. After her mother dies, Anna moves to London to complete her master’s degree. While working as a tutor for a wealthy family’s teenage daughter, Anna gets swept up in the family’s lavish lifestyle and social circle, finding and losing love, friendships and herself in the process. I loved it!

Themes: Love triangle, wealth, privilege, poverty, class, travel, England, literature, friendship, finding yourself

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

All that Life can afford follows Anna, an American who has long dreamed of traveling to London. Attending a Master’s program in London has made her dreams possible, but moving abroad isn’t as glamorous as it seemed, as she constantly struggles with her finances. When a client’s family offers her a tutoring gig in Saint Tropez, she jumps at the opportunity. While there, it’s easy to pretend that she is part of this extravagant and lavish life her client’s family is living, but she struggles to balance her charade of being wealthy with her reality when she returns to London. How long can she pretend before her newfound friends realize her truth?

All That Life Can Afford is bit outside of my usual genre, but I’m so glad that I decided to read it! As an American teaching abroad, I immediately emphasized with Anna. The story had a bit of slow start, but it picks up once she arrives in Saint Tropez. This novel explores the relationship between class and identity quite well. Overall, this is a great coming-of-age story! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

All That Life Can Afford completely pulled me in. Emily Everett captures Anna’s journey so vividly—her love for London, her struggles to make it, and the intoxicating world of the London’s rich kids. The writing is gorgeous and sharp, perfectly balancing the glitter of privilege with the reality of trying to outrun your grief.

Anna’s story feels raw and real, and I loved how the novel explored class, identity, and ambition without ever feeling heavy-handed. The love interests added just the right amount of tension, and by the end, I was rooting for Anna to figure out who she really wanted to be.

It’s an unforgettable coming-of-age story that’s as smart as it is beautifully written. Definitely worth a read!

I read to be transported to different locations, cultures, lifestyles & experiences. That's exactly what this book did. I enjoyed the descriptions of London, Saint Tropez & Lisbon. The nightlife, the architecture, interiors, clothing, good-looking, posh people and the decadent food.

"I've been thinking of Gatsby when I arrived here, but if I was in a Fitzgerald novel now. It was probably Tender is the Night. Young American, newly arrived in the French Riviera seduced equally by its beauty and beautiful people. Destined for disaster."

It was fun reading about Anna and her posh clique celebrating Christmas and NYE on 12/24/24. I especially appreciated how she taught the non-Americans how to play spit, my family's favorite card game.

Like Austen in Sandition, Anna felt like she was in the book - "the young woman who goes to stay w the privileged family by the sea and gets caught up with them, a bit seduced by their world. It felt romantic, what had happened."

Growing up on food stamps. Anna's "understanding of the world was that money unlocked it." anna "had come to this new place and tried to bury the life she had, a life and family she was ashamed of." Anna quickly gets in over her head hanging out with the untouchable life of the wealthy.

Like good reality, this offers a few twists & turns, some double crossing & a few big party scenes. She also reminds us that pancakes are the best dinner to make for the people you love most in the world.

A bit predictable, the characters are so loveable. Fans of Austen, Gossip Girls and those with Wunderlust will definitely enjoy this fun book. I award it 4 out of 5 babkas.

Really loved the synopsis, disappointed when the book didn’t add up to those expectations. Definitely a little too literary fiction for my taste.

I really liked this book about a student who becomes a tutor for a wealthy couple and then kind of low-key steals the life of a rich person.

This is very enjoyable read. It’s the story of a young woman, Anna, lost and depressed in America who seeks a happier life in London. Unfortunately, her financial struggles there cause her to make poor decisions. Her life takes a sudden change when she is hired to tutor the very wealthy PIPPA for her SATs. She is totally welcomed by her family, especially older sister Faye who introduces her to a posh group of wealthy young Londoners.

As a reader, I was totally empathic to her plight and understood her temptation and missteps. This is well written and, as a frequent visitor to London, Everett made it come alive. The characters are definitely defined as good or evil, which did make it predictable.

I do recommend this novel , especially to Anglophiles, since it does a good job of portraying an American outsider thrown into London’s society.

Thank you Netgalley for this delightful novel.

Sooo I'll be moving to London ASAP!

I've always found it a bit unnerving to read a novel about a character who is *exactly* my age and gender. Luckily, my life circumstances have been very different from those of the MC, Anna, but I found this book thoughtful and self-compassionate. It was well-written and made a slightly wild plotline almost realistic. It made me want to go to Europe NOW and made me hopeful that good things lay ahead even when everything seemed to fall apart.

Callum's character was very sweet. The MC's fallout with her friend group isn't unpredictable by any means, but I found the interpretation of classism interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for another wonderful ARC!

I started out enjoying this book, but I quickly became underwhelmed. Nothing about it felt new or interesting; it’s pretty much the same as every other book I’ve read about working class young women getting involved with wealthy families. It reminded me of a less humorous version of The Nanny Diaries. I also didn’t like the main character, I found her annoying. This was a DNF for me at 41%.