ALL WE EVER WANTED BY EMILY GIFFIN

This book is an absolute gem and a must read for any woman or mature teen!  I highly recommend it whether you are a fan of Giffin or not. 

Rating: ★★★★★
​Release Date: June 26, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction
Series: None. Standalone. 
Pages: 352 pages
Format: eBook. ARC. 

In the riveting new novel from the #1 bestselling author of Something Borrowed and First Comes Love, three very different people must choose between their families and their most deeply held values. . . .

Nina Browning is living the good life after marrying into Nashville’s elite. More recently, her husband made a fortune selling his tech business, and their adored son has been accepted to Princeton. 

Yet sometimes the middle-class small-town girl in Nina wonders if she’s strayed from the person she once was.

Tom Volpe is a single dad working multiple jobs while struggling to raise his headstrong daughter, Lyla. His road 

has been lonely, long, and hard, but he finally starts to relax after Lyla earns a scholarship to Windsor Academy, Nashville’s most prestigious private school.

Amid so much wealth and privilege, Lyla doesn’t always fit in—and her overprotective father doesn’t help—but in most ways, she’s a typical teenaged girl, happy and thriving.

Then, one photograph, snapped in a drunken moment at a party, changes everything. As the image spreads like wildfire, the Windsor community is instantly polarized, buzzing with controversy and assigning blame.

At the heart of the lies and scandal, Tom, Nina, and Lyla are forced together—all questioning their closest relationships, asking themselves who they really are, and searching for the courage to live a life of true meaning.

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Read my Book Review

Release Date: June 26, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction
Actual Rating: 5+ stars

Highly Recommended 

All We Ever Wanted is an exquisite read that deals with real world social issues that can affect anyone. Giffin weaves an unforgettable tale about a picture sent viral.. One that could very well ruin the lives of all involved, even those who weren't a direct part of it. Told in alternating point of views, this book will get to the heart of a touchy subject and leave readers questioning what they would do if put in this type of situation. Many will have different opinions of the matter, but Giffin stays totally neutral on the topic. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to all mothers, women, and even mature teens. 

For those who want a more in depth description of the book, I'll do so here. First and foremost, this is a story about a picture taken at a party where high school students are drinking. When one gets drunk and goes to an upstairs bedroom, someone snaps a picture of her with a racist comment and sends it to a friend. Said friend then forwards it to others and soon after, everyone has seen it. This book deals with the repercussions of what happens next. Who is hurt by the photo, what the parents do for justice for their children, and how to handle a child who thought they were only having a little bit of fun despite the consequences. 

In alternating points of views, readers will hear from Lyla- the teenager whose picture was taken and spread throughout her school, Tom- the father of Lyla (the victim), and Nina- the mother of the boy who allegedly took the photo. 

Once again, Giffin has penned an unforgettable tale of how one mistake can have repercussions that affect many. She slightly tackles racism and social class as well, making it a dynamic and important book in today's day and age. Having not read a book by her in quite some time, I wasn't sure if this one would be up to snuff with her previous books, but it was and so much more. I think this is actually my favorite book by the author and I would certainly purchase a copy for myself and even friends and family. So make sure you grab a copy. This is THE book that should be in everyone's beach bag this summer.

★★★★★