All We Ever Wanted: A Novel

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 16,701 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 08-11-2024


About this item

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this riveting 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. . . .

“An unpredictable page-turner that unfolds in the voices of three superbly distinct characters.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution • “A gripping, thought-provoking journey.”—Jodi Picoult

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THESKIMM

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.

Praise for All We Ever Wanted

“Page-turning . . . Timely and thought-provoking, it’s Giffin’s best yet.”—People

“Giffin’s novel has style and substance . . . . Truly excellent."—The Washington Post

“If you’re looking for a book club selection, All We Ever Wanted is bound to spark meaningful and meaty discussions.”—The Augusta Chronicle

“A page-turning exploration of wealth and privilege.”—Entertainment Weekly

From the Publisher

Praise for All We Ever Wanted

Jodi Picoult

Kristin Hannah

Harlan Coben


Top reviews from the United States

Joan in Virginia
5.0 out of 5 stars Very moving story
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024
If this is chick lit, as Emily Giffin's writing has been labelled by some, then bring it on. This, as I see it, is a story, which sadly is so close to the heart of a lot of real life for many young people today. Hopefully, this story will serve as a very positive influence. Well written and well said.
Honeymoon Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Engagingly Unengaging
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024
This is a well-written story. Griffin's prose and character development are spot-on. However, the story itself wasn't engaging enough for me. I liked it, but I found myself trudging along to finish it. It's worth a read if you appreciate good writing, but don't expect to be completely captivated by the storyline.
S. Villaire
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. I love that it was a simple read, but yet had a strong message for all women.
brandie0502
3.0 out of 5 stars Good but struggling
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2024
I like the book but am struggling with it. I find most of the characters very unlikable, in fact they are horrible people. I'm almost done and will finish to find out what happens, hoping for a good ending. I do like Tom and Nina and think they are doing everything they can to make things right.
tyla
5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024
I have never heard of this author but after the summary I was intrigued. I could not out this book down. It was relatable, mildly humourous and down right drama filled. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Alexa Kiesling
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024
Good book, have others by this author. Would recommend
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Every parent should read this book.
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2024
I've never read such an inspiring story as this. Lofty morals are so needed in this world as it is today, and here they are so exemplified. KUDOS to Ms. Griffin!!!
Laurel-Rain Snow
4.0 out of 5 stars CONTROVERSY, MORAL CHALLENGES, & TRUTH...
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2018
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.

My Thoughts: In the opening pages of , the controversial photograph that turns an elite school on edge also reveals much about the inner core of the primary characters.

Nina’s first person voice brings out the darkness from her past, the troubled issues in her marriage, and how her son’s behavior now makes her question the kind of person he is becoming. Is he morally bankrupt, like his father? Has she turned a blind eye to what her husband Kirk has become?

Tom struggles as a single parent, hoping he has provided enough for his daughter, filling in the blanks left by Beatriz, who abandoned them years before. How can he give her the values she needs in this community that is suddenly looking like the wrong place for her to be?

Lyla felt like the most real and grounded of the characters, showing her strength, even as she faces a difficult challenge, one that tests who she is in the face of humiliation.

How will the truth reveal itself amidst the lies and betrayals? What decisions will Nina make that will change all their lives? What events will set Lyla on a different, yet better course for her life?

I loved this novel…although I thought the ending was a bit rushed, leaping ahead several years. But the denouement did offer a sense of peace and hope after the maelstrom of the earlier portions of the book. 4.5 stars.

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