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All We Ever Wanted
All We Ever Wanted
Jan 17, 2026 10:15 PM

Author:Emily Giffin

All We Ever Wanted

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Could one bad decision tear two families apart?

Everyone’s seen the compromising photo of Lyla, a scholarship kid in a prestigious private school.

Everyone knows that Nina’s son, expensively prepared for success since childhood, took the photo.

And everyone thinks they know who to blame.

As events spiral out of control, Nina and Lyla – both outsiders in the elite social circle they inhabit – are drawn together in an unlikely bond of friendship.

Because this photograph is forcing them to question who they really are – and who they are becoming.

A New York Times bestseller and a mainstay of reading groups across the UK, this is a gripping novel about second chances, dark family secrets and how it’s never too late to be the person you want to be.

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What Emily's readers are saying:

I could not put this book down […] gorgeously written, and moving’ – real 5-star reader review

‘this truly affected me on so many levels […] [I] finished this book in one day’ – real 5-star reader review

I love Lyla. Everything about her rings true to today's high school girl’ – real 5-star reader review

‘I love Emily Giffin’s books, but this one has to be my favourite […] I’m sad it’s over’ – real 5-star reader review

‘This latest novel by Emily Giffin is quite the page turner! This was a one day read for me […] timely and thought provoking’ – real 5-star reader review

‘I absolutely love the characters that Emily creates and her stories are so true-to-life. A must read!’ – real 5-star reader review

‘Finished in two days! Really loved it and it kept me hooked throughout’ – real 5-star reader review

‘I read it in two days because I couldn’t put it down. Thought provoking, timely […] this book is a gem!’ – real 5-star reader review

‘masterfully addresses the influence of social media and exposure on teens, family, and community, class […] smooth, believable, and never heavy-handed […] and a perfect book club read’ – real 5-star reader review

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'Irresistible… All We Ever Wanted will sink its teeth into you immediately and refuse to let go until the novel's thrilling conclusion' – PopSugar

'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… All We Ever Wanted is an emotional journey that forces readers to think' – Associated Press

'All We Ever Wanted is a summer read with substance that will seriously make you think' – HelloGiggles

'Stellar… Giffin’s plot touches on social class and misogyny while delivering an excellent page-turning story' – Publishers Weekly

'Emily Giffin is the ultimate smart-girl beach read goddess' – Well+Good

'All We Ever Wanted is the book everyone will be talking about this summer.' – PopSugar

Reviews

A gripping, thought-provoking journey

—— Jodi Picoult

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

—— Kristin Hannah

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

Giffin's novel has style and substance . . . a worthy addition to your summer reading stack

—— Washington Post

Timely and thought-provoking, it’s Giffin’s best yet

—— People

A compelling portrait of a woman facing the difficult limits of love

—— Kirkus Reviews

This complex and layered novel will give you all the feels.

—— Brit + Co

Dealing with issues of class, money, and race, All We Ever Wanted is the book everyone will be talking about.

—— PopSugar

Thought-provoking . . . one of Giffin’s most topical, gripping books yet

—— Good Housekeeping

An unpredictable page-turner that unfolds in the voices of three superbly distinct characters . . . It's destined for greatness

—— The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A hot read

—— Woman magazine

The Brighton Mermaid is a breathtakingly brilliant, twisty belter of a book and you need to read it!

—— Miranda Dickinson, author of Somewhere Beyond The Sea

Fast-paced, dark and simmering – can’t recommend this novel enough.’

—— Caroline Smailes, author of The Drowning of Arthur Braxton

Gripping, twisty, scary and uplifting in spite of it all . . . thriller lovers, this one is for YOU.

—— Cathy Cassidy, author of Love From Lexie

A brilliant exploration of the dark side of human nature and the secrets people hide.

—— Life Has A Funny Way blog

Emotive and thrilling this makes for a compelling read

—— Charlene Jess, blogger

It was an excellent, absorbing read, and there's lots of content to sink your teeth into.

—— www.bookbag.co.uk

If you’re looking for a book where you won’t be able to guess where it’s heading, where you are on the edge of your seat and cannot guess the ending then this is the book for you!

—— Needing Escapism blog

I’m convinced it’s this intimacy between reader and character that makes Dorothy’s stories so gripping. In the case of The Brighton Mermaid the suspense, thrill and fear was palpable

—— Maria, Tiger Tales blog

I've been left reeling from this book that packs a humongous punch. The story builds steadily at first but when I sat down for the last 30% this evening, I didn't expect anything like what I read

—— Rachel’s Random Reads

As always Dorothy Koomson uses a number of hard-hitting issues in The Brighton Mermaid but all are deeply woven into the story-line, not one appearing placed for effect alone

—— Cleopatra Loves Books blog

The premise for this story is clever, intriguing and a perfect hook. The lingering sense of threat and ominous atmosphere builds gradually . . . kept me gripped and on edge of my seat

—— Bibliomanic blog

Plenty of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down

—— Opinionated Emz blog

Addictive read full of secrets

—— Fabulist

Simmering with tension and fraught with tales of failed friendship and broken relationships, this is a fantastic summer read.

—— My Weekly

Satisfyingly full of suspense with engaging characters

—— The People

A thrilling new novel about friendship, trust and the thin line that often occurs between what is perceived as morally right and wrong . . . another page-turning, addictive read

—— Black Hair Magazine

Gripping stuff

—— S Magazine

A satisfying page-turner

—— Closer

Page turner

—— Pride Magazine

Gripping, twisty and written with Koomson’s trademark brilliance, this is pure class

—— Heat

A real page turner

—— Life has a funny was of sneaking up on you blog

This is a captivating, spellbinding evocation of how your nearest and not-so-dearest can wreak emotional havoc.

—— Psychologies

Glitteringly good.

—— Kerry Fowler , Sainsbury’s Magazine

The Green Road has been receiving glowing reviews and it's easy to see why. The story, set over four decades, gives us deep insights into the five main characters, all of whom tell us something about ourselves as Irish people, and all of whom you are sorry to leave as a reader.

—— Edel Coffey , Irish Independent

Enright is the most extraordinary writer – her style is simple and honest, no gimmicks, just straight to the heart.

—— Victoria Hislop , Sainsbury’s Magazine

A powerful evocation of leaving and returning home.

—— Ruth Scurr , Financial Times

Masterful.

—— Fiona Wilson , The Times

Watch out for it come Man Booker time.

—— Sunday Times

Enright captures beautifully the tensions of…forced festive gatherings, the sibling rivalry and the maternal melancholy of a woman who does not understand her feelings towards her own children.

—— Good Book Guide

Richly and sensuously realised, it’s vivid with the particularity of places and people and bruisingly intelligent.

—— Tessa Hadley , Guardian

Enright shows real insight and perception when it comes to family relationships. It’s a well-structured and well-paced narrative.

—— Mandy Jenkinson , Nudge

Written with raw and brutal honesty, this is one to savour.

—— Justine Carbery , Irish Independent

Enright’s writing is sharp and lucid and full of beautiful phrases and descriptions.

—— Reading Matters

I love Enright’s style and the spidering out of the siblings’ lives.

—— Claire Skinner , Daily Express

There is beauty and darkness, hypocrisy and humility; it wouldn’t be an Irish novel without them.

—— Sarah Churchwell , New Statesman

The Green Road, about one Irish family, confronts all that is essential: love, death, mothers and our own flawed selves. It is written with a kind of tenderness, beauty and insight that transmogrifies humdrum experience into the epiphanic and back again.

—— Arifa Akbar , Independent

Blisteringly funny and keenly perceptive.

—— Peter Kemp , Sunday Times

Deeply affecting, crackling with wit, and consistently magnificent.

—— Stephanie Cross , Daily Mail

A globe-trotting, kaleidoscopic portrait of Irish siblings and their difficult mother.

—— Justine Jordan , Guardian

A magnificent novel about family and belonging told in stark yet sparkling prose.

—— Stylist

A fierce, funny, loosely woven family saga.

—— Alex Preston , Observer

[A] darkly glinting novel of family life.

—— Ruth Scurr , The Spectator

A bravura example of shifting voices and perspectives, all of which benefit from Enright’s splendid prose and careful restraint.

—— Sarah Churchwell , New Statesman

Enright dissects [her character’s] foibles with warmth, wit and a bracing lack of sentimentality.

—— Simon Kuper , Financial Times

A book you don’t put down until it is finished, dragging you right into the heart of another Irish family as only Anne Enright can.

—— Keelin Shanley , Irish Times

A family saga, beginning with intense and beautifully detailed character studies.

—— Mark O'Halloran , Irish Times

I... enjoyed The Green Road for the dialogue, the clever narrative structure, and the gnarled, contemporary sense of family values.

—— Paul Durcan , Irish Times

I could not put it down. Chapter two is a masterpiece.

—— Edna O'Brien , Irish Times

Stylish prose that charts the fortunes and misfortunes of this family over a period of 25 years.

—— Anne O'Neill , Irish Times

In this brilliant, captivating novel, the poised, impossible and always disappointed matriarch Rosaleen Madigan makes life difficult for her children at a Christmas gathering.

—— Charlotte Heathcote , Sunday Express

Few Novelists pick apart domestic relationships with the poetry and precision of Anne Enright.

—— Claire Allfree , Metro

Sharp yet oh so subtle storytelling […] this is an author at the height of her formidable powers.

—— Stephen Meyler , RTE Guide

An exquisitely written portrait of a family, and a country, on the cusp of enormous change.

—— Paul Nolan , Hot Press

Exquisitely written and hugely enjoyable.

—— National

A brilliant approach to the sadness of a disconnected family, who are like satellites out of sync.

—— Anthony Cummins , Sunday Telegraph

Enright’s virtuosic tale of an Irish family- the Madigans- across continents and decades withholds closure but doesn’t skimp on pleasure

—— five stars , Daily Telegraph

A compelling novel, full of astute observations, beautifully written, sometimes stark and other times aching with longing

—— Collette Sheridan , Irish Examiner

The sweep of the book and Anne Enright's way fo pulling this global migratuon story together with such energy and detail puts her in somewhere beside Toni Morrison

—— Independent, Ireland

Heart-wrenching novel… The surgical precision of Enright’s writing makes you feel that she can, in Wordsworth’s words, “see into the life of things”. There is a singing simplicity to it that tugs at your heart…A masterly work.

—— Christina Patterson , Sunday Times

Beautifully observed. Enright is a great writer.

—— William Leith , Evening Standard

Bold and brilliant.

—— The Week

Incredible… I’m totally captivated.

—— Annie Mac , The Sunday Times

An evocative story about family ties and belonging.

—— Western Morning News

A brilliant read.

—— Western Morning News

A story of fracture and family, selfishness and compassion.

—— SheerLuxe.com

Sharply funny portrait of an Irish family meeting for a final Christmas.

—— Metro

Within pages I was wrapped in the warmth of Enright’s prose… This is a beautiful book… Enright is unquestionably a fantastic writer who, for me with this novel, conjured up the world of a family with all its highs and lows that felt like they might be having this reunion down the end of your road… Enright does two of my favourite things in fiction. She makes the ordinary, and everything we take for granted, seem extra ordinary. She also gives voices to those who have not been able to share their tales… The writing is stunning.

—— Simon Savidge , Savidge Reads

An evocative story about family ties and belonging. Anne Enright is deservedly a well-respected writer.

—— Western Morning News

Enright's novels are fantastically well-crafted, eloquent and funny… Each character is beautifully realized… She finds unexpected adjectives, brilliantly exact description, the spot-on emotion. Her writing is lyrical but always unsentimental. There is pleasure in reading every paragraph, and an enormous wisdom throughout the pages.

—— Mumsnet

Truly wonderful… The dialogue is particularly brilliant… It completely envelops you in the story and will leave you wanting more.

—— Belfast Telegraph Morning

Wonderful… The dialogue is particularly brilliant, capturing all the barbed snappiness of dinner with siblings.

—— Herald

I fell headfirst into the beautifully written prose of this novel, so authentic and charming in its telling of one Irish family over more than two decades. Each vibrant character gets a turn in almost short stories of their own that feel almost like entities in their own right. I adored it.

—— Cathy Levy , Red Online

A resonant, masterly work.

—— Sunday Times

[An] exceptional novel.

—— David Nicholls , Guardian

This is a flawless book, it’s utterly flawless… It has just touched so many other readers. This book is heartbreaking… A beautiful examination of unhappy families… The power of Anne’s writing is you all see a reflection of your own family…it’s tender and it’s beautiful and deserves to be widely read.

—— Victoria Sadler

Enright is undoubtedly one of our most prominent novelists

—— Elif Shafak , Week
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