This novel is wrought with emotion, desperation, fear, and regret. It is a novel that calls to mind the reality for so many young women in our society, and offers just one possible narrative, among so many actual situations. It couldn't be more timely, in light of the #metoo movement, and the state of our current national situation. The story is replete with substance, and Emily Giffin did an extraordinary job of delving into a very troublesome topic, while maintaining the dignity of all involved. I felt the intense emotion of each of the three characters from whose perspective the author wrote, and was truly consumed with trying to understand how this horrific violation unfolded.
Reading All We Ever Wanted from the perspective of a parent of teens of both sexes, I was left aghast at what some teenage boys are capable of, and terrified of what girls can fall victim to in a moment of poor judgement. The sudden recognition, on a more palpable level, that societal norms don't always offer justice in such situations, especially when the wrongdoer comes from a priveleged, well-connected family, hit me like a ton of bricks.
Giffin brought each character to life so vividly. Nina became like a dear friend, and her insistance that her son be held accountable for his actions, no matter the cost, was so admirable. Nevertheless, I felt her pain and ambivalence throughout the entirety of the novel. Tom was so well-characterized, that I felt as though he too, was someone I knew personally. I was in absolute awe of Giffin's ability to reveal the intricacies of Lyla's teenage mind, using convincing teen language, and expressing her insecurities with incredible accuracy. Lyla had me in tears from the sheer realization that teenagers have such a skewed vision of the world, of right and wrong, and of who should be held accountable for their actions, no matter the circumstances.
The only reason I did not rate this novel 5 stars was simply because the conclusion seemed a bit rushed, somewhat contrived, and rather neatly packaged for a novel that seemed so authentic otherwise.
Read 8/23/18
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