What do you think?
Rate this book
Everything We Ever Wanted: Advance Excerpt
An Advance excerpt of the new novel by Sarah Shepard, "Everything We Ever Wanted," with an exclusive essay from the author on writing the book.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
7 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Sara Shepard
129 books14.8k followersSara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 16, 2011
Have you ever felt like things are slipping through your fingers and you cannot do anything but let them? Have you ever wished you could take back things you said before or that you could forget the past and start your life all over again? This is exactly what the Bates-McAllisters are going through in Sara Shepard's latest novel, Everything We Ever Wanted.
It all starts with a telephone call. Sylvie Bates-McAllister, a recently-widowed mother of two gets a late-night phone call from the headmaster of the prestigious private school founded by her grandfather where her adopted son Scott teaches. He tells her that Scott may be involved a hazing scandal and thus may be responsible for a student's sudden death. And with this, the family is thrown into chaos - we embark on a journey to the past, exploring well-hidden secrets and events that have never been told before and enter a world where everyone is being judged, where everyone has prejudices - a world not too far from reality.
I was very excited when I got my ARC of Everything We Ever Wanted. Although this is the first book I have read by Sara Shepard, the blogging world is crazy about the Pretty Little Liars series so I was really looking forward to reading it. As far as the story is concerned, I was expecting something more complicated. About two chapters in, I realized that it was entirely different, but not in a bad way. Shepard's main focus is on people's feelings and emotional growth rather than action itself. Everything We Ever Wanted took me a while to get into because I am used to reading fast paced stories and because I could not relate to any of the characters at first. It takes some time for the readers to get to know them but once you are familiar with their characteristics and you know what their childhood have been like, you do not want to put the book down. You realize that they are just like us: they have their flaws, they make mistakes, they say things they wish they did not say and they have prejudices ... but they are perfectly normal.
It is complex but rewarding and highly emotional story which describes our society perfectly. For me the most meaningful and expressive part of the story was Sylvie's remark towards the end of the book
"I don't have many friends," Sylvie said, her head down. "I...I know a lot of people. But there aren't many people I can really talk to. I find it hard to connect. I've always envied people who find it easy."
Everything We Ever Wanted portrays a world where people swallow up their frustration and pretend that everything is fine,a world that is built up on appearances. It is a novel that will definitely make you think about your own life, that assures us that we all make mistakes but we need to come to terms with them, accept them and learn from them. As cliché as it might sound, it points out that everything that is worth having is worth fighting for and it warns us against being judgemental because nothing is ever what it seems.
It all starts with a telephone call. Sylvie Bates-McAllister, a recently-widowed mother of two gets a late-night phone call from the headmaster of the prestigious private school founded by her grandfather where her adopted son Scott teaches. He tells her that Scott may be involved a hazing scandal and thus may be responsible for a student's sudden death. And with this, the family is thrown into chaos - we embark on a journey to the past, exploring well-hidden secrets and events that have never been told before and enter a world where everyone is being judged, where everyone has prejudices - a world not too far from reality.
I was very excited when I got my ARC of Everything We Ever Wanted. Although this is the first book I have read by Sara Shepard, the blogging world is crazy about the Pretty Little Liars series so I was really looking forward to reading it. As far as the story is concerned, I was expecting something more complicated. About two chapters in, I realized that it was entirely different, but not in a bad way. Shepard's main focus is on people's feelings and emotional growth rather than action itself. Everything We Ever Wanted took me a while to get into because I am used to reading fast paced stories and because I could not relate to any of the characters at first. It takes some time for the readers to get to know them but once you are familiar with their characteristics and you know what their childhood have been like, you do not want to put the book down. You realize that they are just like us: they have their flaws, they make mistakes, they say things they wish they did not say and they have prejudices ... but they are perfectly normal.
It is complex but rewarding and highly emotional story which describes our society perfectly. For me the most meaningful and expressive part of the story was Sylvie's remark towards the end of the book
"I don't have many friends," Sylvie said, her head down. "I...I know a lot of people. But there aren't many people I can really talk to. I find it hard to connect. I've always envied people who find it easy."
Everything We Ever Wanted portrays a world where people swallow up their frustration and pretend that everything is fine,a world that is built up on appearances. It is a novel that will definitely make you think about your own life, that assures us that we all make mistakes but we need to come to terms with them, accept them and learn from them. As cliché as it might sound, it points out that everything that is worth having is worth fighting for and it warns us against being judgemental because nothing is ever what it seems.
March 2, 2017
I finished the book but really didn't care that much for it. The ending Was a disappointment.
January 20, 2020
Decent but not as good as her others.
September 2, 2020
Not much of a plot and story quite depressing.
September 17, 2014
In the past five months, I have read four books about high school scandals. There must be something in the air that has turned so many people's attention to these events. Of course bullying is in the forefront of everyone's mind these days and I think that many of these books do justice to such a complicated topic. Unfortunately, there are other novels that fall short and do not add anything to this canon of literature. Sadly, Sara Shepard's "Everything We Ever Wanted" is one of these works.
The story is told from various viewpoints within the Bates-McAllister family. First, is the matriarch of the family, Sylvie Bates-McAllister whose family established a private prep school in Pennsylvania. Two months after her husband dies, Sylvie receives a phone call from the headmaster of the school informing her that her son has been involved in a hazing situation. Sylvie's son, Scott, is the school's wrestling coach and was in fact adopted by the Bates-McAllister's when he was young. Due to this, he has never felt like he fit in with the rich and famous with whom he was raised. Sylvie's other son, Charles, is devastated that once again his adopted brother has dragged the family name through the mud. Watching all of this unfold is Charles' new wife who has strived most of her life to become a Bates-McAllister and still is made to feel on the outs. The family must attempt to come together during this time and face their past demons in order to save their name, the school, and their family.
Clearly, there is a lot going on in this novel. I would like to say that it is handled well...but it's not. There are far too may issues for a book that is under 300 pages and with characters that lack any development. The plot is horrifically predictable which would not be such an issue if the characters were more realistic and grew during the novel. The relationships portrayed are very thin and therefore hinder the novel from progressing or being meaningful. Though one can easily see where the book is leading you, there are many questions left unanswered. However, this is not like other pieces of literature where you mull over the ending and discuss with friends what really happened. Instead, this is as if you're doing a crossword puzzle and someone forgot the clue for 39 across...you can still figure out the answer but it's annoying and you lose interest. Personally, I will not be recommending this to any friend, book group, or family member. I give it two stars because I believe Shepard could make this into a decent young adult book, but there's nothing here that hasn't already been done...and done better.
The story is told from various viewpoints within the Bates-McAllister family. First, is the matriarch of the family, Sylvie Bates-McAllister whose family established a private prep school in Pennsylvania. Two months after her husband dies, Sylvie receives a phone call from the headmaster of the school informing her that her son has been involved in a hazing situation. Sylvie's son, Scott, is the school's wrestling coach and was in fact adopted by the Bates-McAllister's when he was young. Due to this, he has never felt like he fit in with the rich and famous with whom he was raised. Sylvie's other son, Charles, is devastated that once again his adopted brother has dragged the family name through the mud. Watching all of this unfold is Charles' new wife who has strived most of her life to become a Bates-McAllister and still is made to feel on the outs. The family must attempt to come together during this time and face their past demons in order to save their name, the school, and their family.
Clearly, there is a lot going on in this novel. I would like to say that it is handled well...but it's not. There are far too may issues for a book that is under 300 pages and with characters that lack any development. The plot is horrifically predictable which would not be such an issue if the characters were more realistic and grew during the novel. The relationships portrayed are very thin and therefore hinder the novel from progressing or being meaningful. Though one can easily see where the book is leading you, there are many questions left unanswered. However, this is not like other pieces of literature where you mull over the ending and discuss with friends what really happened. Instead, this is as if you're doing a crossword puzzle and someone forgot the clue for 39 across...you can still figure out the answer but it's annoying and you lose interest. Personally, I will not be recommending this to any friend, book group, or family member. I give it two stars because I believe Shepard could make this into a decent young adult book, but there's nothing here that hasn't already been done...and done better.
October 4, 2011
This book was an advanced reader copy.
I enjoyed Shepard's first adult novel, 'The Visibles', but 'Everything We Ever Wanted' was even better. The Bates-McAllister family is facing a major crisis, or so they think. Sylvie Bates-McAllister, mother to Scott and Charles, is a recent widow with a lot on her mind. Her husband just passed away without warning a few months ago, her son Scott is being implicated in a possible hazing scandal at the swanky private prep-school her grandfather basically rescued and re-founded. Charles is a newlywed who is struggling at work he's wants to be a journalist but is working for an advertising company)and is being confronted with a painful past. And Scott, the younger bother, who is adopted, is struggling with his own identity and place in his family. Joanna, Charles' wife has her own family problems, mainly with her mother, a hypochondriac(Munchausen's), pill popping, alcoholic, and is dealing with her insecurities brought on by moving to the suburbs and fitting into her husband's life.
I love the way Shepard let's her characters think and grow. There is a plot to the story, based on James' (Sylvie's dead husband and the boy's father)death and the secrets he's left behind, as well as the hazing investigation at the school. Joanna's mother's story, though not as key to the other plots is a beautifully wrought tale of mother and daughter, and of self realization. Sylvies' grandfather is a beloved ghost, who's fond memory controls almost every aspect of Sylvie's life. The characters' histories with each other, and the uncertainty of the future together make for some upsetting and later on in the novel, poignant scenes. It is very much a novel of mistaken identity--even the main characters don't know who they are, and the finding out is the best part. Masterfully imagined by Shepard.
Beautifully written, I'd recommend this book for almost anyone. I have not read any of Shepard's immensely popular teen books, but I hope they are as thoughtful and well written as her adult novels.
PS--Other reviewers did NOT like this book as much as I did. I just really felt it was a realistic study of a dysfunctional family. Maybe you have to come from a majorly dysfunctional family to get that like I did.
I enjoyed Shepard's first adult novel, 'The Visibles', but 'Everything We Ever Wanted' was even better. The Bates-McAllister family is facing a major crisis, or so they think. Sylvie Bates-McAllister, mother to Scott and Charles, is a recent widow with a lot on her mind. Her husband just passed away without warning a few months ago, her son Scott is being implicated in a possible hazing scandal at the swanky private prep-school her grandfather basically rescued and re-founded. Charles is a newlywed who is struggling at work he's wants to be a journalist but is working for an advertising company)and is being confronted with a painful past. And Scott, the younger bother, who is adopted, is struggling with his own identity and place in his family. Joanna, Charles' wife has her own family problems, mainly with her mother, a hypochondriac(Munchausen's), pill popping, alcoholic, and is dealing with her insecurities brought on by moving to the suburbs and fitting into her husband's life.
I love the way Shepard let's her characters think and grow. There is a plot to the story, based on James' (Sylvie's dead husband and the boy's father)death and the secrets he's left behind, as well as the hazing investigation at the school. Joanna's mother's story, though not as key to the other plots is a beautifully wrought tale of mother and daughter, and of self realization. Sylvies' grandfather is a beloved ghost, who's fond memory controls almost every aspect of Sylvie's life. The characters' histories with each other, and the uncertainty of the future together make for some upsetting and later on in the novel, poignant scenes. It is very much a novel of mistaken identity--even the main characters don't know who they are, and the finding out is the best part. Masterfully imagined by Shepard.
Beautifully written, I'd recommend this book for almost anyone. I have not read any of Shepard's immensely popular teen books, but I hope they are as thoughtful and well written as her adult novels.
PS--Other reviewers did NOT like this book as much as I did. I just really felt it was a realistic study of a dysfunctional family. Maybe you have to come from a majorly dysfunctional family to get that like I did.
January 7, 2013
I am a fan of both The Lying Game and Pretty Little Liars. However those two series seem really similar to me so I decided to check out some of Shepards other work to try to find a difference and I was not disapointed by Everything We Ever Wanted.
The Bates-McAllister family appear to be the perfect family from an outsiders perspective but one event changes it all. The mother Sylvie gets a phone call notifying her of a potential hazing at her the school her family has founded and that it might have lead to the death of one of the boys. It is also suggested that her son Scott might have been involved and the news leads her to question all the choices she has made that has lead her family to where they are now.
The Bates-McAllister family appear to be the perfect family from an outsiders perspective but one event changes it all. The mother Sylvie gets a phone call notifying her of a potential hazing at her the school her family has founded and that it might have lead to the death of one of the boys. It is also suggested that her son Scott might have been involved and the news leads her to question all the choices she has made that has lead her family to where they are now.
May 5, 2013
This book started out really well. The characters were interesting, the story really taking shape. Then in the middle of the book, it's like someone entirely different is writing. The story becomes disjointed, the characters are vague to the point where it doesn't even make sense. This seems to happen so often in novels. The first half is on fire, the second half burns right out. Too much angst, not enough story. Boring.
August 31, 2013
I liked Sara's other books and from the synopsis, I thought it would be a great read. Unfortunately, the stories wound around in so many different directions and never truly fund it's way. When I finished it I was scratching my head because it never really wrapped up. I was really disappointed.
May 16, 2014
"What if the life you always planned for and dreamed of isn't what you want after all?" That sums up this book where the characters misrepresent themselves (& others), keep secrets, jump to incorrect conclusions, but finally--FINALLY--understand & accept what will make them happy.
March 13, 2015
I really liked this book but the ending is quite upsetting! like I wanna know if Scott contacted Sylvie or Charles ever again or did he just go back to Veronica and started a new life with her...I need answers this so not cool!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2016
I rarely ever give bad reviews but I was not a fan of this book. It was my first book by Sara Shepard and I thought the writing wasn't that great. The plot lead to an empty climax and I was left feeling nothing. I wanted to like it but I just didn't.
December 3, 2011
I'd like to read the entire book!
December 6, 2013
This book was a very boring book. I would not recommended it.
March 3, 2015
Didn't alway connect with the characters.
March 15, 2015
I felt like the author was trying too hard.
February 15, 2016
Sara is really damn good at writing. I started this not knowing anything about the plot, and was pleasantly surprised at the mature family themes.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews