I was supposed to pick a happier book to read for number 40. After all the suspenseful, slightly disturbing reads, my boyfriend told me it would be a good idea. This read has a happy ending but is pretty socially relevant all at the same time.
Book Read: All We Ever Wanted
Author: Emily Giffin
Number of Books Read: 40
Emily Giffin’s latest novel is written in the point of view of three people - Nina, whose son has done something really stupid, Tom, whose daughter is impacted by this stupidity, and Lyla, who just wants to get through high school.
Nina has a great life - her husband made a fortune selling a company and they are now in the Nashville elite. Her son, Finch, is headed to Princeton in the fall and Nina worried what their life is doing to him.
Then comes the picture, taken on a drunken night and feature someone who didn’t know it was being taken. And several lives will never be the same.
Tom makes ends meet as a single parent and is, deservedly, pissed off when a picture of Lyla starts circulating. Lyla wants the whole thing to go away. Three lives becomes intertwined, as a father wants justice, a daughter learns the truth, and a mother wishes more for her son.
Add a few lies, some conniving, true friends, and a realization that there’s still time to change and you’ve got All We Ever Wanted.
I’ve read almost all of Giffin’s novels. They’re always good reads (see Something Borrowed and Something Blue). This is one is a little different than Giffin’s other novels, that always end with a feel good, everyone is better off, feeling. This book has people you can truly hate (although I did hate Darcy in Something Blue for a period of time), it’s relatable, and socially relevant.
Overall, Giffin’s latest novel will keep you reading, wondering if some people will ever grow up, and hoping that the bad guy sees some justice. Fingers crossed.
On another note: still waiting for them to make Something Blue into a movie. Can’t leave us hanging with only Something Borrowed.
Next Read: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
