All That Matters

by Jan Goldstein

What's the greatest gift that one person can give another?

Jan Goldstein's stunning debut novel, All That Matters , is a deeply moving, endearing tale of a young woman who, with the help of her feisty grandmother, makes a journey from the very brink of death and despair into a full embrace of life.

Jennifer Stempler has nothing left to the love of her life dumped her, her mother died in a senseless car accident five years ago, and her famous Hollywood producer father started a brand-new family--with no room in it for her. So, 23-year-old Jennifer decides to pursue peaceful (permanent) oblivion on the beach near her home in Venice, California, drifting on a lethal combination of Xanax and tequila. But she can't even get that right.

Jennifer's depression is no match for her Nana's determination. Gabby Zuckerman refuses to let her granddaughter self-destruct. With promises made to Jennifer's father and doctors, Gabby whisks Jennifer back to her home in New York City, intending to prove to Jennifer that her life cannot possibly be over yet. In fact, it has just begun. Through jaunts in Central Park to road trips to Maine, Gabby teaches Jennifer how to trust and hope again. And by relating her own tragic and heroic experience during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Gabby bestows upon Jennifer an understanding of her own life's value. But when Gabby reveals a secret--one that proves to be Jennifer's toughest challenge yet--Jennifer struggles to find out whether the gift will sustain her.

Combining the unabashedly heart-warming sentiment of Robert James Waller's The Bridges of Madison County or Nicholas Sparks's Message in a Bottle with the irreverent humor of Jennifer Weiner's In Her Shoes , Goldstein's All That Matters is an inspirational first novel that leads readers to the core of what matters in life--family, hope, and savoring each moment.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Book Club, Family, Drama, Adult

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1922

About the author

There is more than one author with this name in the database.

Jan Goldstein is the author of two national fiction bestsellers, All That Matters and The Prince of Nantucket, recently optioned for film. His work has been translated into more than a dozen foreign languages and has been selected for the New York Times Hot List as well as by the Book of the Month Club, the Doubleday Book Club, and the Quality Paperback Club. He is the recipient of a Presidential Award for Volunteer work in fostering arts in the inner city and was recently chosen as an international artist-in-residence at Ireland's famed Tyrone Guthrie Centre. Jan is this year's closing keynote speaker at the National Conference on Family Literacy.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Bonnie, a noted clinical psychologist, and their eight year-old firecracker of a daughter, Shira.

Reviews

[Prunella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Completely formulaic schmaltz. You know how it ends after about 2 pages. Unlikeable, undeveloped characters, except for the grandmother. Surely, this must've been an assignment for a creative writing class? Acceptable for YA readers. Otherwise, are you kidding? The story may be "moving", but I think I just got a lesson in how to write abook about anything, by rote, really quickly. Come on now. Pretty cover....

[Dree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isn't it great that problems are so easy to solve!?

Sappy. Painfully sappy. Not one of my better grabs off the library "popular fiction" shelf.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

It tried really hard but didn’t quite make it.

[Blue North · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel "All That Matters" by Jan Goldstein is mostly about Jennifer. The Zuckerman family are the secondary characters who help her cope with chronic depression. There is her father, Barry, her grandmother, Gabby, and her grandfather and her mother, Lili, whom we never meet. Jennifer's mother dies accidentally. The novel is heartbreaking simply because the father is really unavailable. He has a new wife and a new baby. It is also heartbreaking because there are so many losses experienced by each character. For example, there is the Holocaust family stories that Gabby has held in her heart for so long. I am learning that each Holocaust story is dramatically different in some way. Each person who has experienced it seems to come away with more new ways for their present friends and relatives to cope with life today.

There are many jaunts throughout the novel. Gabby's life story takes her back to Poland. Jennifer's story begins in California. While Jennifer visits with Gabby, her grandmother, there is a sorting out of life's struggles. Gabby becomes the very able therapist for her grand-daughter. These casual psychological sessions will lead to New England trip. Jennifer's permanent home is in New York.

One of the major lessons from Gabby's lips for Jennifer is that the ones we love are not eternally gone from us. We carry their spirits with us daily. Some times it feels as though there is a hearing of that mother or father's voice guiding us along. In this instance, Gabby still hears from and feels the presence of her husband and her daughter. She promises Jennifer that her mother, Lili, is still with her and she will remain with her after death. All of those people reside inside of us. We walk with them daily. They are us. We are they. We are one flesh.

Jan Goldstein has shown that there is no need to feel a gap between generations. Gabby does a couple of almost absurd actions all in the name of love for her grand-daughter. I think it is impossible to read this book without examining your inner life. By the way, the novel is small.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book was amazing and I would highly recommend it!! It has a little bit of a love story mixed in with the grandmother and granddaughter bonding just after the granddaughter trying to take her life. I was in tears more than once during this book and the more that I think about this book, I do still have a little sadness left in my heart.

[Andrew Mattson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short but touching story about a grandmother who had very little time left to live and get granddaughter who felt she had no point in living.

When Jennifer tries to commit suicide on a beach in California, after her depression at the death of her mother 5 years ago, a bad relationship with her father, and a boyfriend she loved so much also leaving her, she feels like she has nothing left to live for. This brings her grandmother Gabby, who has emphysema in her lungs, flys to be by her granddaughter’s side and she brings her back to New York to try and be with her and help her see her life has so much potential and she is worthy of living a life filled with love and support.

Gabby, who was also a holocaust survivor, shares with her life and wisdom and love to Jennifer as they bond and help each other heal their shared heartache over the loss of Jennifer’s mother and Gabby’s daughter, Lily. Gabby, despite slowly dying herself, helps bring Jennifer back from embracing death and helps her learn to love and embrace life again, no matter the pain, because there are always gifts to be found in life even after going through the darkest of days where you think it can never get better.

If your looking for a short but incredibly sweet story about love, loss, life, death, and persevering through it all, this is a good read.

[Alexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only read this cause I picked it up at a library book sale, probably wouldn’t have finished it if it wasn’t such a short read. The main character, Jennifer, survives a suicide attempt and her chronically ill grandmother sets out to cure her depression by taking her in, ignoring every medical professional’s instructions, and bringing her on a lengthy roadtrip in an effort to stir the pot of her emotional state. Predictably (spoiler alert) grandma passes away but the bond they formed, along with a hot guy who shows up, gives Jennifer a newfound will to live.

Had some funny and heartwarming moments, but SOOO corny and as a mental healthcare professional I really could not look past the dismissive attitude toward mental health treatment especially for something as serious as suicidality.

[Karla Samman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una novela muy sencilla en su forma y contenido. Resalta que lo que de verdad nutre la existencia son las pequeñas cosas hermosas que nunca faltan en la vida, basta saber verlas. El personaje de la abuela me pareció encantador. Quizás me faltó un poco más de trama.

[Cheryl Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

pg 29-30 You can't wedge yourself into a space in life where circumstances are out of your control.

SUICIDE is NOT always about giving up but about control

pg 123 How hard do we push to save the ones we love? If you were gone do you have someone your kids would turn too?

pg 133 We must choose to live and live a good life in memory of those that have fought for our freedom to live

pg 136 "Gifts waiting for you every day"
GRATITUDE- how do you help someone see the light when their life is miserable?

pg 186 Pain is part of life but not the worst part
Being alone without loved ones is far worse.

[Rhalyn David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings inspiration full of emotion to me especially in the relationship about grandparents. I find this book light but loving, full of love and left me a spark of hope. I know have a deeper gratitude in living a life and being old is not a burden but a blessing to behold.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is more like 2.5 stars. The best part of this story is the spunky, determined grandmother Gabby! Her wisdom “each day is a gift….even with the pain” is felt throughout the book, but it takes nearly 200 pages for her suicidal granddaughter to believe it. Sad but predictable ending.

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked it. A touching story of a depressed granddaughter and her optimistic grandmother, both having gone through their own share of traumatic, life-altering events. It also depends on what space one is in mentally while reading this.

[Nancy Schalk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a powerful tale of life and how precious it is, even through the times of greatest difficulty and sorrow.
I loved the relationship of the grandmother and granddaughter as it blossomed.
Find the joy and beauty in each day.

[Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really hard to feel for one of the characters, but if you stick with it you will see that the character matures. I loved Nana. I can’t say more than this is a story of love, tragedy, forgiveness, and redemption.

[Nancy Richards-Eisener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling, captivating read about life and death, and about our illusions of choices over either one.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little book that reminds us what is important in life. It is a good idea to ask ourselves, 'What was the gift today?'

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched my heart on so many levels and I had the best cry of the year, reading this book.

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, it really touched me, and that surprised me. Very relatable and well developed story and characters.

[Georgette Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story...about serious sad life issues with heartwarming reality of the power of important relationships especially family/grandparent roles intervening in lives when it matters the most.

[Donna Hervieux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the layers of this book and the character of Jennifer's grandmother, Gabby. A window into the life of a Holocost survivor. Loved it, yes, made me cry at the end.

[Melissa Gamm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was drivel, easily forgettable, and the writing was bad as well. The only thing good about it was short length, so I didn't waste much time with it.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Pat Jorgenson Waterchilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read .

[Elizabeth Schoellkopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had a Nana like Gabby!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small and sappy feel-good book about a lot of hard topics (suicide, the Holocaust, etc). Good life lesson in there and made me laugh to picture Gabby getting a piggy back ride in NYC.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on life and what really matters. Take advantage of all the gifts that life offers.

[dianne Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

In All That Matters, Grandma gives life lessons to her granddaughter. "Each day is a gift. It is all about making life an opportunity. Sometimes gifts come in the form of great sadness." It is the type of reading that you do not want to put down, start to finish.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book

[Carolann Krause · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer had nothing left to loose. Her mother died in a car accident and her father remarried and started another family. He had no time for Jennifer and he was a Hollywood producer. Jennifer decides to take her life on the beach in Venice California. Her father wants her to be sent away for help. Her grandmother Gabby came in from New York to take her back with her to try and Rehabilitate her. The father fought her but she won. Gabby was her mothers mother. She bought her to a doctor for help but Jennifer fought with the doctor. He told the grandmother she needs more help than he can give. Gabby has until thanksgiving to turn her around or she must go back to California to a hospital. Finally gabby gets Through o her and tells her of her life story. She was a child growing up in Poland during the nazi rein. Her parents were killed by them but her father threw her out of a window to save her. Jennifer hears about her mother as a child. They take a trip to New England and have a wonderful time bonding. Gabby is sick all this time and Exerted herself trying to take care of Jennifer. Now it is Jennifer's turn to care for gabby. She takes care of her o the end and gabby gives Jennifer her journal that she wrote while hiding from the nazis. Her lasts words o Jennifer were To my greatest gift, my granddaughter....listen for me in your heart, that is where I choose to live....for that is my heaven. Love Nana.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this small (198 pages) book. I guess I am always going to like books that make me feel something, and this one did.

It starts out being about a young lady that is in the act of committing suicide, but not successfully. Her mother has already died, and her father has moved on marrying again and has a new little daughter, and so Jennifer feels deserted, among other things. She ends up in the hospital for psychological evaluation, and who shows up but her grandmother from the other side of the US, NY city.

There are several great messages in this book, but the most important one I think is not to live a life weighted down by sadness, guilt, regret and grief. At some point one must realize that this one life they have, well they might as well enjoy it because it is the only life they have, so find the joy in the simple everyday things, such as the beauty of a butterfly. I have kept a grateful journal at times in my life and it is amazing the things most of us have to be grateful for.

This book is also about perseverance in life, staying alive, getting through very difficult times and having a more positive outlook on life, and lastly, the value of a life.