Best-selling author Emily Giffin ventures into new territory in “All We Ever Wanted.” 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.

Nina Browning married into wealth. She’s always worked hard to make sure her only son doesn’t take their good fortune for granted. Finch is on the brink of starting his life at an Ivy League college, just like his father dreamed. The world is at his feet. Unfortunately, he takes a cruel photo of a young girl passed out at a party and it spreads around the school. Suddenly, his future is in jeopardy.

Nina is mortified when her husband tries to throw money at the problem to make it go away. She doesn’t believe Finch’s behavior can be categorized as “bad judgment.” Moreover, there’s a young woman out there who’s crushed. Nina ignores her husband’s wishes and reaches out to the girl.

Lyla wants to forget what happened, but her father has other plans. The more Nina tries to set things right, the more she realizes that her marriage is broken and her elite community is a facade of real life.

“All We Ever Wanted” is an emotional journey that forces readers to think through certain scenarios. The novel analyzes the intricacies of parenthood and the pain of standing beside a child in need, no matter what — even if that child isn’t your own.

As I mentioned in my preview, All We Ever Wanted is different from Giffin’s previous work. I’m a big fan of hers going back to Something Borrowed. Her stories up until All We Ever Wanted, centered on romances for the most part. This one is definitely not a romance but instead deals with timely issues of social media abuse and consent. It also covers class, race and a bit of politics.

I really commend Giffin for taking a different direction with this read. If it would have been another romance, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it like I always do with her books. But she took a risk and it completely paid off.

The story centers on three different people: Nina, a well-off woman wondering if she fits into Nashville’s elite and her family, Tom, a blue-collar carpenter trying his best to raise Lyla, his teenager daughter, on his own and Lyla, who’s trying to find her place in this world, especially in her rich, private school.

A photograph taken of a drunken moment at a party changes the three characters lives forever.

Class and race

Two big components of this novel is focused on class and race. Right away, the book jumps into Nina’s privilege world as she heads out to a charity gala with her husband. We learn that Nina didn’t come from money but she married into it. And her husband got even richer when he sold his software company. While Nina enjoys not worrying about money, she’s starting to realize it might come at a higher cost.

This is in contrast to Tom who works multiple jobs to make ends meet. Tom’s ex-wife left the family when Lyla was little. He’s not a fan of the ultra rich, especially at Lyla’s school, but he recognizes how the school can give Lyla more opportunity. While not a perfect dad, he’s doing the best he can on his own.

Lyla is half-Brazilian but yet, she’s mistaken for Hispanic and Italian. Both class and race intersect in this one and become major plot points.

The story is told from the three characters point of view, which gives more context to the story. They’re all likable: I felt for Nina, Tom loves his daughter and is a firm believer in right and wrong and Lyla, who really shows her strength and perseverance as the story goes on.

Abuse of social media

The story revolves around a snap of Lyla taken without her consent. In a sense, this story is terrifying because it brings to light how social media can be used to harm. The abuse of social media makes headlines each day so this is a timely topic.

The horrifying snap splits the community into two sides. As the mother of the teenage boy who took the photo, Nina struggles on which side she should be on. The action makes her question her own loyalty and love. As we learn more about her background and her son’s actions before and after the snap, she’s left with some hard choices to make.

Beyond race, class and social media, this one is also relevant for the

metoo movement. That section is hard to read but Giffin writes it as delicately as she can.

There are plenty of twists in this read and you’ll find yourself angry at certain characters, I certainly did. Lyla is the victim and I felt Giffin wrote her very well for her age. We read her reactions to the image and her shame, horror and embarrassment. And also her blindspots to the truth.

I love Giffin’s writing style, her dialogue comes at an ease and she’s talented at making characters sound and act distinct. Emily Giffin fans will still very much enjoy this book and I’m sure she gains new fans with this one too.

Is all we ever wanted a good book?

"Dealing with issues of class, money and race, All We Ever Wanted is the book everyone will be talking about." — PopSugar "Giffin is a worldwide best-selling author because she gets under your skin—by creating relatable characters wrestling within believable situations. . . .

What is All I Ever Wanted about?

All I Ever Wanted mainly deals with themes of romantic relationships, dignity, independence and emotional truthfulness . The album received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, who praised her approach with mainstream music, without losing her identity and personality.

Is All I Ever Wanted a good movie?

All I Ever Wanted was considered lighter and less angry than her previous effort, though it also features pop rock and pop punk -inspired songs, as well as dance and soul. Its cartoon-colored artwork was criticized by reviewers and Clarkson herself for using too much Photoshop.

What is the summary of the book all we ever wanted?

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.

Who are the characters in the book all we ever wanted?

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.

What is the synopsis of all he ever wanted?

It is the story of a man whose obsession with a young woman begins when he meets her fleetingly—as he helps her escape from a fire in a restaurant—and culminates in a marriage doomed by secrets and betrayal.

What is the order of Emily Giffin books?

Emily Giffin Books In Order.

Baby Proof (2006).

Love the One You're With (2008).

Heart of the Matter (2010).

Where We Belong (2012).

The One & Only (2014).

First Comes Love (2016).

All We Ever Wanted (2018).

The Lies That Bind (2020).