All That Life Can Afford

by Emily Everett

A taut and lyrical coming-of-age debut about a young American woman navigating class, lies, and love amid London’s jet-set elite.

I would arrive, blank like a sheet of notebook paper, and write myself new.

Anna first fell in love with London at her hometown library—its Jane Austen balls a far cry from her life of food stamps and hand-me-downs. But when she finally arrives after college, the real London is a moldy flat and the same paycheck-to-paycheck grind—that fairy-tale life still out of reach.

Then Anna meets the Wilders, who fly her to Saint-Tropez to tutor their teenage daughter. Swept up by the sphinx-like elder sister, Anna soon finds herself plunged into a heady whirlpool of parties and excess, a place where confidence is a birthright. There she meets two handsome young men—one who wants to whisk her into his world in a chauffeured car, the other who sees through Anna’s struggle to leave her old life behind. It’s like she’s stepped into the pages of a glittering new novel, but what will it cost her to play the part?

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, Coming Of Age, Book Club, Literary Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Emily Everett is an editor and writer from western Massachusetts. Her short fiction appears in Kenyon Review, Electric Literature, Tin House, and Mississippi Review. She is a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow in Fiction. Everett grew up on a very small family dairy farm with her parents and two sisters, studied English and music at Smith College, and studied abroad for a year at University College London. After graduating, she returned to London to do an M.A. in literature at Queen Mary University of London. She lived and worked there from 2009 to 2013. Everett has been managing editor of The Common, a literary magazine based at Amherst College, for eight years. At The Common, she edits fiction, manages print and online production, and hosts the magazine’s podcast. All That Life Can Afford is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna knew she would love London since she first read about it in the pages of a Jane Austen novel. The London she experiences, post-college, is anything like she had expected, and she struggles to keep her head above water living paycheck to paycheck.

When she meets the affluent Wilder family, her luck quickly changes as they fly her to Saint Tropez to be a tutor for their daughter. Soon she is experiencing all that money can afford her, including not one but two potential love interests. But at what expense will her new life come, and is she willing to pay it?

I’ve seen comparisons of this book to the Magnolia Parks series, and I think that’s probably an appropriate comparison. However, Magnolia Parks has a lot of the messy romance drama that kept us coming back for more, you know that train wreck you cannot turn away from. This book, while not a bad debut technically, by any means, felt kind of, well, boring.

I struggled hard to connect with most of the characters, and as a result, never developed any meaningful emotional connection. While I appreciated the flashbacks to the tough moments in Anna’s life, and how much her mother has experienced being both diabetic and of low socioeconomic status, all of the moments in the present felt a little too over the top, lacking in depth. Almost like a trip to Las Vegas, the first few moments are bright and shiny and fun, but soon become cloying to the soul.

🎧 I have mixed feelings on the audiobook, as I did on the book as a whole. The narrator is perfectly fine, but never really added the extra emotion or oomph I wasn’t getting from the physical book itself. I have seen rave reviews of this book, however, so if it’s been on your radar, I’d say to give it a go.

Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️coming of age
▪️rich behaving badly
▪️socio-economic class divides
▪️love triangles
▪️Magnolia Parks vibes

Thank you Putnam Books and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, and loved the writing. Jane Austen and other classic literature melted into pages, timelessly yet freshly.

At its core, the story captures the messy, complex emotions of being young and naive. Anna’s longing to belong, her desire to appear as though she’s made it, and the selfish choices she makes along the way all felt painfully real. She’s too busy defending herself, rationalizing her behavior, and wallowing in self-pity to fully see the people around her—particularly Callum, whose quiet support comes at a cost to his own comfort.

Anyone would be able to relate to Anna to a degree and see a piece of themselves in her contradictions and missteps. It is an honest exploration of ego, insecurity, and the complicated ways we try to find our place in the world.

[Cynthia Feenstra · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Reese Witherspoon recommendation? I’m a bit surprised, as it’s truly awful. Mediocre writing, boring, drawn-out storyline, anti-climactic ending. I try to not give one star reviews, but I can’t even round up and have a clear conscience.

[Sara Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

Anna grew up in a house where her parents struggled financially and lived paycheck to paycheck. Her mother suffered from uncontrollable diabetes and with the cost of insulin life was difficult in their household. Anna escaped reality by reading books like Jane Eyre. She dreamed of traveling to London as an adult.

Anna is hard working and determined to complete grad school in London and achieve her dream of working as an editor. I was able to connect so much with this character. It made me reflect back on my 20s and that desire to build a life unlike the one you grew up in. Anna has a distant relationship with her father and no family to fall back on. When Anna is faced with the challenge of figuring out how to pay for school her counselor asked her if her parents could help. She responded “My father cannot support me financially or in any other way.” I felt this so much. It’s hard being born into a working class family but true wealth is having a supportive and close family. Anna has neither and is determined to create her own stability. This is a story of determination, grief, overcoming obstacles, building relationships and creating the life you want.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think Jane would approve

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was about 65% of the way through when I read that this is a "Pride and Predjudice Retelling"- not sure if this just didn't work on audio for me because of the pacing, but I really loved the first 20% when it was about a fish out of water and a coming-of-age tale, but about halfway through it fizzled. I had to keep going back to re-listen because I was zoning out. I really liked the audiobook narrator but the pacing of the plot was all off for me. Maybe I will try again in a few months!

[⋆｡°✩₊˚༚♡ ୨⎯Ridley Snickett⎯୧ ♡༚˚₊✩°｡⋆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started out pretty slow and boring. Got tired of the narrator whining about how she’s from such a poor, low class family. Didn’t care about her or any of the characters presented in the first 50 pages. DNF.

[Amanda Sullivent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun at first because of set and escapism but gosh the main character was described as “so smart” “so funny” and yet I didn’t laugh once, and she didn’t make one good decision and let people walk all over her.

I read other reviews that this book is slow in the way that old romance books are slow and spend more time describing class differences. But one thing about this book is this girl is not a heroine in any sense. She just sucks and yet people are just falling for her left and right. And the big bad villain is like justified?

For like 10 straight chapters something bad happens to her and she is like oh woe is me. But it’s just the consequences of being a bad person. And then suddenly everything falls back into place within 2 chapters… SURE

Anyways don’t bother reading this, apologies to the author if you see this.

also audiobook reader 0/10 she was crying on the tape and I had to skip ahead

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Byrne, a scholarship student, graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts, and sadly lost her mother shortly after. Having a distant relationship with her father, she chooses to pursue a master's degree in literature in London. To make ends meet, she works as a bartender at night and as an SAT tutor for affluent families hoping to send their children to top U.S. colleges. Tutoring 16-year-old Pippa Wilder becomes a turning point for Anna when the Wilder family invites her on a trip to their home in Saint-Tropez. Accompanying Pippa's older sister, Faye, Anna, from a working-class background, encounters a world she has never known. She meets the moody Callum and the charismatic Theo. Back in London, Theo introduces Anna to his circle of friends, without revealing that she doesn't share their privileged background. Can Anna continue living her dream when it's built on a lie?

All That Life Can Afford is an impressive debut by author Emily Everett. Set in 2009, this Jane Austen-inspired book is a well-written coming-of-age story featuring literary themes of class, privilege, and grief. I especially enjoyed the nods to numerous beloved classic British novels. This book can also be recommended for high school students and young adults.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this!!!! Our main girl Anna is an American grad student who fell in love with England through literature. She’s there for school where she tutors the children of the elite. After getting close with one family, she finds herself in a world she only dreamed out. Classic English literature plays a huge role in this and in a lot of ways it felt like a modern Austen. It explores romance and class and so much more. It made me ache for London.

[Katrina Alonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

The themes of grief, class, and privilege are definitely undersold in the synopsis for this book, which is a shame since those are what really make the story and Anna come to life. Anna's low income background, which was eventually the cause of her mother's death due to complications with diabetes, made her experience around London's wealthiest so much more fraught. Anna's such a delightfully complex character and I loved the journey she took as she found her place in London.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reallllly hated the main character of this book. Had to fast forward through 20-30% just to get to the ending

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up. "A taut and lyrical coming-of-age debut about a young American woman navigating class, lies, and love amid London’s jet-set elite."

This coming of age story about Anna, an American student in London is a modern Jane Austen tale. Anna tutors for the wealthy to try and support herself. The family takes her to St. Tropez where she meets a circle of elite "friends". Anna struggles to keep up appearances which get her into some trouble. To complicate matters, she ends up being courted by two wealthy suitors. Her financial situation and university scholarship hang in the balance.

This is a very enjoyable read and Everett has established herself as a gifted and thoughtful novelist. The themes of grief, class and privilege mixed with classic literature references was quite clever. I will be sure to read whatever she writes next.

The audiobook performance by Alex Finke is exceptional and added to my enjoyment of the physical copy. Many thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted listening copy in exchange for my honest review. 🎧

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof no - not a favorite for me. I’m constantly reminded that when I try them, I really don’t like romance books. For me this was cliche and unrealistic. Some interesting cultural and medical commentary but otherwise not sure what I gained from this.

[Olivia Bedenbaugh · Rating 1 out of 5]

seriously Reese?

[Leslie Ann (lalasbookishlife) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OMG I loooooved this book! All That Life Can Afford was one of my most anticipated April releases, and I’m so happy to report it definitely lived up to the hype I created in my mind.

This was everything I love in a book. Coming of age stories are some of my favorites and this one was incredible. I loved Anna’s character growth throughout the book. Of course the romance storyline was a huge part of why I loved this book so much, but I also really appreciated the subtle nods to Jane Austen’s book and Anna’s journey into the education field. Even though it was completely different than mine, I loved that connection! The themes of class and wealth and the part they play in social standings was just fascinating to read. This book was one of those literary fiction reads that doesn’t read like lit fic… super easy to get into and understand. I absolutely recommend!

Thanks so much for the early copy, @putnambooks (partner)

[Sharlene N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet coming of age story set in 2009 London. There is bit of drama, romance, and some beautiful scenes of London and historical context of literature in London.

Anna, is a working class American, who is is studying in London and gets swept away by the lavish lifestyles of the students (and their families) she tutors. She connects with a wealthy tutee whose family invite her to St. Tropez where she meets a cast of 'friends' in the upper class community who she struggles to keep up with. She makes some bad decisions in her efforts to improve her station and fit in with this new group.

The book highlights some important themes - grief, class, and privilege, but still the book has a lightness to it - just touching on these themes in a realistic but not overly heavy way.

The second half of the story picked up quite a bit for me and I loved seeing the arc of her journey - coming to terms with her own identity and embracing her background in a way that was delightful to see.

3 1/2 Stars Rounded Up

Thank you very much to Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

All That Life Can Afford was ultimately not for me. The story features Anna, a working class American, grieving the loss of her mother, studying and working in her dream city, London. As a tutor, she meets a wealthy family and becomes enthralled with their lives. She quickly attempts to make herself into one of their jet-set members. I found Anna’s choices, especially her lies, difficult to reconcile. All of the challenges she faced were self-inflicted, and it made it hard for me to root for her.
I enjoyed the descriptions of London, Saint-Tropez and Portugal, especially the food. I also appreciated the nods to Jane Austen. Although the story didn’t resonate with me, I think literary fiction readers who enjoy a coming of age story set in London will enjoy it. 3/5⭐️

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable story about a girl making wrong choices to fit in with a different crowd. But, everything ends happily. I guess I stuck with it because I liked all of the Jane Austen book references.

[Valerie Renegar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very juvenile, and predictable although the locations were lovely. I expect better from a Reese pick

[Supriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever dreamed of reinventing yourself or watched someone try and spectacularly stumble, this is your book. Emily Everett nails that mix of heart, humor, and social observation in a way that’s both sharp and effortlessly readable.

Anna Byrne, the protagonist, is equal parts ambitious and endearingly vulnerable. An American grad student in London, she’s juggling student loans, tutoring wealthy teens, and trying to figure out who she is without the safety net her peers seem to take for granted. Anna wants more than just to survive; she wants to belong, to rewrite her story, to be the heroine of her own life. And Everett captures that longing so well that you can’t help rooting for her, even when she makes questionable choices.

Themes of identity, grief, and aspiration are beautifully explored without ever feeling heavy-handed. Anna’s relationship with her mother’s memory, her romantic entanglements, and her attempts to fit into circles far above her pay grade all carry weight, yet the story never loses its pace or warmth. There’s wit, literary nods, and a sense of honesty that makes Anna feel like a real person, not just a character in a “rich kid meets outsider” story.

The supporting characters in Callum, Theo, her roommates, and even the occasional wealthy students, adds layers to Anna’s world, forcing her to confront who she is versus who she wants others to see. And by the end, when she starts to reconcile her dreams with her reality, it feels earned, satisfying, and quietly triumphant.

This book is smart, funny, and emotionally resonant. It’s a story about the cost of aspiration; not just in money, but in honesty, connection, and self respect. Emily Everett has delivered a book that’s as much about life’s little compromises as it is about its big, breathtaking moments. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a thoughtful, character driven read that still has that page turning momentum.

5 stars 🌟

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this one because I wasn't interested in what became of the heroine or in either of her two love interests. But at about the 40% mark, when she returns to England, she started to make some really bad decisions that spelled disaster on the horizon. This added some suspense and anticipation for a lot of drama, and it did not disappoint. She got what she deserved and by that time I had started to become somewhat invested in her and especially the love interest that it was signaled she would end up with. It ended up being pretty good. It ended well although I could have done with more closure with her former friends and especially her father whom I sympathized with even though we only see him through her eyes. It was greatly helped by the literary references and parallels between her journey and various literary heroines including by Edith Wharton, Austen, and Henry James. You would think she would have seen the handwriting on the wall. More later (maybe?).

[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhh. I just honestly did not care about anyone and Anna was so annoying the whole time. Plus it just wrapped up all wayyyyyy too nicely. Way too predictable

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Seemingly based on the author's own experiences as a young adult, this wistful coming of age story set in 2009 features an American abroad who learns that she should have been paying attention when reading the classics: in the UK, class is everything.

I'd caution readers looking for a "propulsive" read that this book is definitely not that. All That Life Can Afford has a pace more like a modern version of the 19th century books that inspired it. If you love the measured and reflective pace of classics, this book will be a perfect fit for you.

Anna, a young American woman of modest means, works as an SAT tutor to fund her graduate degree in the UK. Through her students, Anna gets a taste of how the other half lives. She's thrilled to peep around their gorgeous townhouses and tag along when they decamp to Portugal or France.

But Anna forgets the lessons of Wharton's Lily Bart (don't bother trying to rise about your station) or Newland Archer (rich people stick together) or Undine Spragg (Europeans will always think that Americans are hopelessly gauche) and believes that her new friends consider her one of them. Nope. They are just extending noblesse oblige to the hired help. Distracted by her shiny new squad, Anna turns her back on her true friends (big mistake) so when she makes a gutsy overstep that deeply offends one of the rich ones, she's cast out.

TLDR: It took me a while to adjust to leisurely pace of this book, which is a familiar cautionary tale about a character flying too close to the sun and then discovering what really matters. I was also a little confused about the significance of this book taking place in 2009, as it seemed like an odd choice. Upon reading the author's bio, it seems this book is semi-autobiographical: both the author and Anna went to Smith College and then got masters degrees at Queen Mary College. The author lived in the UK from 2009-13.

[K~Terror · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ | This book started off ‘meh’ for me for the first half but then started to pick up and differentiate itself from many other books. The FMC took a bumpy road to grow up. So she drove me crazy trying to hang with people unlike her by acting like someone she isn’t. That stuff doesn’t really do much for me.

[Marty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️

This started so strong but it the end I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I probably should have DNF’d it at the 50% mark but I wanted to see it through. The characters were insufferable. Maybe I am not the target audience for this.

[Izzy Tuchmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only thing this book had going for it is that it wasn’t super poorly written. Horribly boring plot. Why is this book almost 400 pages? Every character is predictable and boring. Legit scanned the last few chapters because I couldn’t deal anymore

[Dr.Javed Rasheed · Rating 4 out of 5]

All That Life Can Afford follows Anna Byrne, a young American woman from a working-class background who moves to London to pursue a master’s degree in literature — chasing a dream she’s nurtured since childhood. Although she longed for the city through books and fantasies, the reality of London is a moldy flat, financial struggle, and day-to-day grind far from the glamour she imagined. Anna grew up poor in Massachusetts, supported in part by a full scholarship to a prestigious college. After her mother’s death and a strained relationship with her father, she moves to London for further study. To support herself, Anna bartends and tutors wealthy kids — a job that introduces her to the privileged world she’s always admired. Anna begins tutoring Pippa Wilder, a wealthy teenager from a well-to-do London family. The Wilders invite Anna to Saint-Tropez for the holidays, where she meets Pippa’s older sister Faye and her glamorous group of friends. Here, Anna is plunged into a world of luxury: parties, fancy dinners, and carefree days among elites — a life that feels almost like stepping into a novel she���s always wanted to live. Two men enter her life: one who embodies wealth and effortless charm, and another who sees through her façades. Like a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Anna’s interactions with these men — especially the brooding, honest one — mirror themes of misunderstanding, pride, and genuine connection. As the story progresses, the contrast between appearance and reality becomes clearer: the allure of wealth doesn’t guarantee happiness, and pretending to be someone else comes with emotional consequences. By the end of the novel, Anna learns that creating a new life doesn’t mean erasing her past, but integrating her experiences, values, and ambitions into who she wants to become. All That Life Can Afford is a richly textured coming-of-age story about a young woman navigating the glittering but treacherous waters of class, love, and self-discovery in modern Europe — asking the central question: if you change how you appear, can you change who you really are ?? It’s 4 stars from my side !
Dr. Javed Rasheed

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ Mourning is pretty much a universal thing, right? We all have to do it, at some point. Everyone on the planet is doing it, will do it, but when you were going through it, it’s only yours.”

I was intrigued when I saw that Reese has picked this for her April book selection, but immediately thought it might be too “young” for me. I decided to give it a shot after I saw some of my favorite seasoned book friends enjoying it. Plus, I needed a lighter read after my last book. Anna didn’t have a lot growing up and is grieving the loss of her mother. She is such a good girl at heart, but gets caught up making some bad choices to fit in. For a lighter read, this one had some depth to it. I really enjoyed the passages where she’s reflecting back on times with her mom and wishing she could share things with her in her current situation. I also enjoyed Anna’s passion for literature. No, this will not this be a top read of the year, but I really enjoyed the story.

[Louisa Eck · Rating 4 out of 5]

eloise at the plaza meets monte carlo meets parasite meets roman holiday. but mostly monte carlo! to quote selena “i wouldn’t want to be anybody else” :-)