All We Ever Wanted
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4.3 • 21 Ratings
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- £5.99
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
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Could one bad decision tear two families apart?
Everyone’s seen the compromising photo of Lyla, a scholarship kid in a prestigious private school.
Everyone knows that Nina’s son, expensively prepared for success since childhood, took the photo.
And everyone thinks they know who to blame.
As events spiral out of control, Nina and Lyla – both outsiders in the elite social circle they inhabit – are drawn together in an unlikely bond of friendship.
Because this photograph is forcing them to question who they really are – and who they are becoming.
A New York Times bestseller and a mainstay of reading groups across the UK, this is a gripping novel about second chances, dark family secrets and how it’s never too late to be the person you want to be.
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What Emily's readers are saying:
‘I could not put this book down […] gorgeously written, and moving’ – real 5-star reader review
‘this truly affected me on so many levels […] [I] finished this book in one day’ – real 5-star reader review
‘I love Lyla. Everything about her rings true to today's high school girl’ – real 5-star reader review
‘I love Emily Giffin’s books, but this one has to be my favourite […] I’m sad it’s over’ – real 5-star reader review
‘This latest novel by Emily Giffin is quite the page turner! This was a one day read for me […] timely and thought provoking’ – real 5-star reader review
‘I absolutely love the characters that Emily creates and her stories are so true-to-life. A must read!’ – real 5-star reader review
‘Finished in two days! Really loved it and it kept me hooked throughout’ – real 5-star reader review
‘I read it in two days because I couldn’t put it down. Thought provoking, timely […] this book is a gem!’ – real 5-star reader review
‘masterfully addresses the influence of social media and exposure on teens, family, and community, class […] smooth, believable, and never heavy-handed […] and a perfect book club read’ – real 5-star reader review
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'Irresistible… All We Ever Wanted will sink its teeth into you immediately and refuse to let go until the novel's thrilling conclusion' – PopSugar
'If you’re looking for a book about romance, single parenthood, race, gender injustice, lost love, or high-class privilege, this novel is for you… All We Ever Wanted is an emotional journey that forces readers to think' – Associated Press
'All We Ever Wanted is a summer read with substance that will seriously make you think' – HelloGiggles
'Stellar… Giffin’s plot touches on social class and misogyny while delivering an excellent page-turning story' – Publishers Weekly
'Emily Giffin is the ultimate smart-girl beach read goddess' – Well+Good
'All We Ever Wanted is the book everyone will be talking about this summer.' – PopSugar
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Would you risk everything to protect your family, regardless of the facts? This dilemma faces Nina Browning and Tom Volpe, strangers whose paths cross thanks to the complex lives of their teenage children. Emily Giffin’s flawed-but-captivating characters propel All We Ever Wanted, each heart-wrenching moment and painfully familiar conversation adding to an almost uncomfortable realism. With its multiple viewpoints, mind-bending plot twists and exploration of scandal, Giffin’s novel is a deeply compelling and emotionally fraught read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Giffin's stellar latest (following First Comes Love), set in Nashville, concerns the wealthy Brownings and the scandal that ensues when their Princeton-bound son Finch appears to have taken a racy photo of Lyla Volpe, a high school sophomore on scholarship at the prestigious Windsor Academy. Nina's husband Kirk grew up with money, and they're richer than ever now that he's sold his tech company. Though he's confident and charming, Nina's starting to question his character especially when Kirk doesn't want high school senior Finch to face the consequences of the photo of Lyla unconscious and exposed at a party. Though it's not revealed until later in the book who took the photo, it gets widely spread around, and the fallout is substantial. Nina wants Finch to be a good person above all, and she bristles when she learns that Kirk tried to bribe Lyla's father, Tom, to drop the issue with the school. Nina tries to right things with Tom, a carpenter who also drives an Uber to make extra cash. Tom has a huge chip on his shoulder that's exacerbated by the stresses of single parenthood, but he finds himself liking Nina despite her wealth. Meanwhile, Finch starts dating Lyla and tells her that he's covering for the person who really took the photo. Things come to a head as Nina attempts to find out whether her son is honorable or as untrustworthy as his father. Giffin's plot touches on social class and misogyny while delivering an excellent page-turning story. This satisfying novel will appeal to readers looking for a nuanced, thoughtful take on family and social dynamics.
Customer Reviews
Great read
Love the book and can’t wait to read more from this author