All We Ever Wanted, Emily Giffin
All We Ever Wanted, Emily Giffin
171 Rating(s)
List: $22.50 | Sale: $15.75
Club: $11.25

All We Ever Wanted

Bestseller

Author: Emily Giffin

Narrator: Dorothy Dillingham Blue, Milton Bagby, Catherine Taber

Unabridged: 10 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/26/2018

Synopsis

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

About Emily Giffin

American author, Emily Giffin, was born in the town of Naperville, Illinois, where she had an all-American life attending Naperville North High School. She had an interest in writing even back then. Giffin served as editor-in-chief of the school's newspaper. She received her degrees from Wake Forest and University of Virginia. She worked in litigation in Manhattan after she earned her law degree.

Writing was always the dream for Giffin. She worked as a lawyer to make a living and to pay off school loans. In her limited spare time, she worked on a manuscript, but when presented, it was rejected. Giffin was persistent though, moving to London and retiring from law to work full time on her writing. In London, she began her first well received novel, Something Borrowed, and thus began her accomplished writing career.

Critics loved her work, even comparing her to a modern day Jane Austin, and praised her story-telling skills. Her other works include: Something Blue; Baby Proof; Love the One You're With; Heart of the Matter; Where We Belong; The One and Only; First Comes Love; and All I Ever Wanted. Her books have been well received world-wide and translated into many languages. She and her family now reside in Atlanta.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily May on November 12, 2018

"You should always side with your kid. Always." "Without regard to his actions?" I asked. "No matter what?" Here's two things I know for certain: 1) I would never condone abusive discriminatory behaviour, and 2) I would do everything within my power to protect my sons. So what happens if those two......more

Goodreads review by Deanna on September 28, 2019

My reviews can also be seen at: [URL not allowed] 4.5 Stars!!! “All We Ever Wanted” was my first read from Emily Giffin and I loved it! Life is good for the Browning family. Nina Browning’s husband Kirk sold his software company at the right time and they went from comfortab......more

Goodreads review by Theresa on April 02, 2018

This is a truly powerful, wonderful novel. It’s been many years since I’ve read an Emily Giffin novel, but I enjoyed those books and was excited to read this one. My previous experience with her work did not prepare me for the complex, layered, serious manner of this excellent book. For most of the......more

Goodreads review by BernLuvsBooks on January 19, 2019

"Sometimes you just can't see the things that are the closest to you." All We Ever Wanted was a very thought-provoking read that addresses timely and pertinent subject matter for today's society and technological age. At first glance, Nina Browning seems to have it all. She is rich, focusing......more

Goodreads review by jessica on May 23, 2020

this may be my first book by EG, but i can agree with other reviewers who are more familiar with her bibliography that this story isnt women fiction/chick lit. this is very much contemporary fiction and discusses heavy topics such as privilege, entitlement, racism, sexual assault, and individual wor......more

Quotes

“Giffin is a worldwide best-selling author because she gets under your skin—by creating relatable characters wrestling within believable situations. . . . Giffin crafts an unpredictable page-turner that unfolds in the voices of three superbly distinct characters. . . . Her latest . . . is destined for greatness.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“A gripping, thought-provoking journey.”—Jodi Picoult

“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

“Stellar. . . an excellent page-turning story . . . a nuanced, thoughtful take on family and social dynamics.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A compelling family story that brings up plenty of issues ripe for book group discussions.”—Library Journal

"A timely and absorbing portrait of the complexities of modern life . . . This is Emily Giffin at her very best."—Kristin Hannah

“Nina Browning has it all: the handsome husband, the Ivy-League-bound teenage son, and the big house in the Nashville suburbs. But with one unthinkable social media post from her beloved child, could it all fall apart? Dealing with issues of class, money, and race, All We Ever Wanted is the book everyone will be talking about.”—PopSugar

“This thought-provoking novel follows two Nashville families as they struggle with the fallout from a horrible incident. Their wealthy community quickly becomes divided, with people eager to assign blame and take sides as the families struggle with loyalty and staying true to their values. It's one of Giffin's most topical, gripping books yet.”—Good Housekeeping

“All We Ever Wanted is an emotional journey that forces readers to think.”—Associated Press

“This complex and layered novel will give you all the feels.” —Brit + Co

“Giffin draws the reader in like few storytellers can, and All We Ever Wanted is no exception. She effortlessly captures the voices of a struggling single father, a strong yet vulnerable teenage girl and a mother desperate to know the truth about her own child. All We Ever Wanted is a deeply moving cautionary tale about the perils of privilege.”—BookPage

“A compelling portrait of a woman facing the difficult limits of love.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Riveting and poignant, Emily Giffin's latest novel paints an impossible dilemma that will make readers ponder hard questions about loyalty and love. I was captivated by every page.”—Harlan Coben

“A compelling, fascinating story told through blue-ribbon dialogue and the dual gifts of intelligence and goodness. I loved this novel.”—Elinor Lipman

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