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Everything You Wanted
What would happen if the kids you went to school with decided to break out of their stereotypes? What if the smart kids took a walk on the wild side? Would it be fun and enlightening, or would it make their whole world fall apart?
In Everything You Wanted, Wren Clements has spent her entire life trying to be perfect. Her high school career is about to end, and Wren wants nothing more than to live like a normal teenager for one crazy, lawless night. Willing to risk her A+ grades, extracurriculars, and even her spot at UPenn, Wren and her best friend, Rohit, decide to embark on an evening filled with things they would never do and quickly find there are two sides to everyone. But when someone she knows turns up dead the next morning, things begins to unravel. Could this star student be the perfect suspect, or could this be the perfect crime?
In Everything You Wanted, Wren Clements has spent her entire life trying to be perfect. Her high school career is about to end, and Wren wants nothing more than to live like a normal teenager for one crazy, lawless night. Willing to risk her A+ grades, extracurriculars, and even her spot at UPenn, Wren and her best friend, Rohit, decide to embark on an evening filled with things they would never do and quickly find there are two sides to everyone. But when someone she knows turns up dead the next morning, things begins to unravel. Could this star student be the perfect suspect, or could this be the perfect crime?
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 5, 2021
This book had me hooked from the very first page to the last. I gulped this book down in two sittings! I didn’t want it to end because I fell in love with the character. Raman is a talented storyteller and this book is a must read for everyone who loves young adult murder mysteries!
May 9, 2021
i´m not the best at writing reviews so bare with me
this book was so fun to read it got me out of a reading slump to. when i first started it i was like ¨maybe i should do this who sneaking out thing¨ by finishing this i have come to a decision not to do it although it would be fun i prefer not to die. this book should be turned in to a movie of show it is that good. (if it is just make sure they follow the story) before reading this book make sure you check trigger warnings. the last thing i got to say is for the author Nina Raman, i want a second book.
this book was so fun to read it got me out of a reading slump to. when i first started it i was like ¨maybe i should do this who sneaking out thing¨ by finishing this i have come to a decision not to do it although it would be fun i prefer not to die. this book should be turned in to a movie of show it is that good. (if it is just make sure they follow the story) before reading this book make sure you check trigger warnings. the last thing i got to say is for the author Nina Raman, i want a second book.
May 15, 2021
Nina Raman takes the reader on a profound ride through unintended consequences: Parents who want the best for their children but push them to the brink, demanding perfectionism. Adolescents yearning for self-acceptance and identity, grasp for spontaneous freedom as they graduate high school. What could go wrong? What could go right? Susan M. Puska, author of Seasons of the Birch
May 14, 2021
MUST READ!! This book kept me wanting to read and the overall story is amazing. There are many things that I was so surprised about and there was never a dull moment. MUST READ!!
August 9, 2021
This book was amazing! I don't read a lot of YA murder mystery, but this book makes me want to. The characters are all unique in their own way - and likeable. The first few chapters were a little slow, but once I got past that point, I finished the book in less than 2 days!
I definitely was shocked at the end! And it had a very satisfying ending. I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Nina!
TW for self-harm.
I definitely was shocked at the end! And it had a very satisfying ending. I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Nina!
TW for self-harm.
September 12, 2024
DNF after the prologue.
Which seems harsh, of course, except there was a lengthy trigger warning. Then there was a lengthy note from the author. Then there was the poorly written prologue. By the end of it, I felt like I’d suffered all I could endure.
I’m sure Nina Raman is perfectly nice, and I can see that this book is deeply meaningful and personal for her. BUT, as anyone in publishing could have told her, your writing needs to stand on its own. The reader does not care about who you were in high school and what the Big Themes of the book are going to be, we want to get to the story. This is why acknowledgements and author notes are usually at the end of the book.
After the interminable pages of “But have you thought about… what life would be like if you did something different?” I turned to the prologue. It was written largely through dialogue with no tags, which seemed like giving the reader a bit more work to follow than I wanted to do in the first few pages. But really, it was the end of the prologue, when there is a paragraph in bold italics spelling out What It All Means.
I can only take so much force-fed themes and big ideas before I peace out. (And just saying, formatting the book like a homework paper, with line breaks between paragraphs, did nothing to dispel the homework-y vibe here.)
I’m not surprised I found a stack of this book remaining when my local Barnes & Noble shut down, other than to be surprised B&N carried it in the first place. A cursory googling revealed that New Degree Press is a “hybrid publisher” that’s essentially a vanity publisher… and it shows in this final product.
Which seems harsh, of course, except there was a lengthy trigger warning. Then there was a lengthy note from the author. Then there was the poorly written prologue. By the end of it, I felt like I’d suffered all I could endure.
I’m sure Nina Raman is perfectly nice, and I can see that this book is deeply meaningful and personal for her. BUT, as anyone in publishing could have told her, your writing needs to stand on its own. The reader does not care about who you were in high school and what the Big Themes of the book are going to be, we want to get to the story. This is why acknowledgements and author notes are usually at the end of the book.
After the interminable pages of “But have you thought about… what life would be like if you did something different?” I turned to the prologue. It was written largely through dialogue with no tags, which seemed like giving the reader a bit more work to follow than I wanted to do in the first few pages. But really, it was the end of the prologue, when there is a paragraph in bold italics spelling out What It All Means.
I can only take so much force-fed themes and big ideas before I peace out. (And just saying, formatting the book like a homework paper, with line breaks between paragraphs, did nothing to dispel the homework-y vibe here.)
I’m not surprised I found a stack of this book remaining when my local Barnes & Noble shut down, other than to be surprised B&N carried it in the first place. A cursory googling revealed that New Degree Press is a “hybrid publisher” that’s essentially a vanity publisher… and it shows in this final product.
July 4, 2021
Read this book if you liked A good girls guide to murder!
As a high schooler with strait A’s, I relate to Wren. I’ve thought about having a night where I too let loose and try all the things in too scared to try. I felt the first half of the book was a little slow paced for me. It was important to set up the characters. I guess I’m just someone who likes to jump right into the action. The second half of the book really picked up. I had a few murder suspects but did not see the end coming. I did feel like some scenes went really fast and could have some more detail so we felt the time that the scene took.
As a high schooler with strait A’s, I relate to Wren. I’ve thought about having a night where I too let loose and try all the things in too scared to try. I felt the first half of the book was a little slow paced for me. It was important to set up the characters. I guess I’m just someone who likes to jump right into the action. The second half of the book really picked up. I had a few murder suspects but did not see the end coming. I did feel like some scenes went really fast and could have some more detail so we felt the time that the scene took.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2022
Disclaimer: I saw one of Nina's TikToks and donated to her IndieGogo campaign, so I'm one of the folks listed in the Acknowledgements section.
Even as a YA lover, I went into this book a little skeptical. I was happy to support a young author, but considering the publisher is essentially an author's incubator and doesn't have the reputation of one of the major publishing houses, I wasn't expecting too much. But what I found was actually a well-written, compelling story that took me back to my high school days. Nina does an excellent job of conveying the characters' emotions without being sappy or over-explaining things (a common mistake many beginner authors make), and the story itself is genuinely intriguing.
Though there are some minor flaws with the book, such as a few small typos ("vile" instead of "vial," "peak" instead of "peek") and a slightly rushed ending, I overall enjoyed this read and look forward to more books from Nina. Well done!
Even as a YA lover, I went into this book a little skeptical. I was happy to support a young author, but considering the publisher is essentially an author's incubator and doesn't have the reputation of one of the major publishing houses, I wasn't expecting too much. But what I found was actually a well-written, compelling story that took me back to my high school days. Nina does an excellent job of conveying the characters' emotions without being sappy or over-explaining things (a common mistake many beginner authors make), and the story itself is genuinely intriguing.
Though there are some minor flaws with the book, such as a few small typos ("vile" instead of "vial," "peak" instead of "peek") and a slightly rushed ending, I overall enjoyed this read and look forward to more books from Nina. Well done!
June 30, 2021
Nina Raman is incredible up-and-coming author who takes us on a whirlwind whodunit in her debut novel. Intricate character development, intertwining plot lines, and masterful wording make this book what it is, a heart pounding thriller mixed with a poignant coming-of-age story that everyone will enjoy.
June 18, 2021
Nina Raman unravels a riveting story with relatable characters that will keep you hooked until the very last page. "Everything You Wanted" is a must read for murder mystery lovers, young adult readers, and anybody looking for another page turner.
June 25, 2021
IM OBSESSED!!! I'm not a big reader but this book made me read it in a full sitting. Its full of suspense and feels like you're watching a movie play out. Each character is so unique but also so relatable and accurate to high school kids. If you like murder mystery's you NEED to read this!
May 7, 2023
It’s a book that makes you want to keep reading. For me, the killer seemed obvious but I needed to keep reading in order to confirm my suspicions. I was right. A great book about life and the changes it comes with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
Great crime coming age story! Shoutout to the Author I met in SF, they’re so inspiring
August 31, 2021
Amazing and we'll developed. You will be on your toes the whole way continually changing your mind on who committed the crime.
I love that not only is it hard to guess who the murderer is, but also you are speeding through the first half of the book trying to figure out who was murdered too. It has a very cool Elite vibe for anyone who has seen and loved the show.
The characters are diverse and I finally saw Indian roots portrayed in literature. Everytime Rohit was in a scene, I found myself giggling in joy because I related to his struggles and behavior. It's the type of familiarity you don't realize you desperately desire until you read it and then you don't want to go back 😂
I'm excited for the author's future work especially since this novel was so gripping and fun to read (it's definitely a book to reread too). I hope that it can be turned into a movie 👀
I love that not only is it hard to guess who the murderer is, but also you are speeding through the first half of the book trying to figure out who was murdered too. It has a very cool Elite vibe for anyone who has seen and loved the show.
The characters are diverse and I finally saw Indian roots portrayed in literature. Everytime Rohit was in a scene, I found myself giggling in joy because I related to his struggles and behavior. It's the type of familiarity you don't realize you desperately desire until you read it and then you don't want to go back 😂
I'm excited for the author's future work especially since this novel was so gripping and fun to read (it's definitely a book to reread too). I hope that it can be turned into a movie 👀
June 14, 2022
i really liked this book and i think some people would find the main two characters relatable in some ways , but i think the plot was really far fetched
wren's mother should be ashamed of herself , like ur literally her mother ur meant to love her babes
wren's mother should be ashamed of herself , like ur literally her mother ur meant to love her babes
May 28, 2022
“to the future characters i may kill. run.”
well that made me super interested in the book, unfortunately it didn’t live up. but that’s not to say it was a bad book by any means, quite the opposite. it wasn’t what i had expected but there were many good things including characters who felt as though they lacked a place to belong but in the worst of times they found a place to belong
well that made me super interested in the book, unfortunately it didn’t live up. but that’s not to say it was a bad book by any means, quite the opposite. it wasn’t what i had expected but there were many good things including characters who felt as though they lacked a place to belong but in the worst of times they found a place to belong
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews