Wealth, privilege, lies, scandal and heartbreak are the brutal framework of Emily Giffin’s emotional novel, ALL WE EVER WANTED. This story packs a punch that I didn’t see coming when I read the synopsis.
Kirk and Nina Browning run with Nashville’s elite crowd. Their son, Finch has never wanted for anything and his recent acceptance into Princeton is the cherry on the top of his privileged upbringing. Finch is the stereotypical product of this type of rearing – spoiled, narcissistic, and manipulative. Finishing up his final year at prestigious Windsor Academy, he gets drunk at a party and makes a horrible, racist and sexually degrading decision that threatens his academic future but has long-ringing effects on Lyla the victim, and near-death experience for Finch’s ex, Polly. Moreover the event causes Nina to question the moral thread that ties she, Kirk and Finch together.
Told in alternating narratives, the reader hears from Tom, Nina and Lyla but it’s Nina’s story that weaves the complexity of parenting, morality, betrayal and a mother’s love for her son into this provocative plot.
This book is borderline YA and may be appropriate for a mature teenager. It’s a timely story around the recent #metoo movement, this one is a stellar page-turner touching on social class and misogyny.
Kirk and Nina Browning run with Nashville’s elite crowd. Their son, Finch has never wanted for anything and his recent acceptance into Princeton is the cherry on the top of his privileged upbringing. Finch is the stereotypical product of this type of rearing – spoiled, narcissistic, and manipulative. Finishing up his final year at prestigious Windsor Academy, he gets drunk at a party and makes a horrible, racist and sexually degrading decision that threatens his academic future but has long-ringing effects on Lyla the victim, and near-death experience for Finch’s ex, Polly. Moreover the event causes Nina to question the moral thread that ties she, Kirk and Finch together.
Told in alternating narratives, the reader hears from Tom, Nina and Lyla but it’s Nina’s story that weaves the complexity of parenting, morality, betrayal and a mother’s love for her son into this provocative plot.
This book is borderline YA and may be appropriate for a mature teenager. It’s a timely story around the recent #metoo movement, this one is a stellar page-turner touching on social class and misogyny.