lbb00ks's review against another edition
So much dysfunction, so little time. The descent of these characters is unbelievable, and yet, it isn't because you enjoy them so much. One of the best characterizations of a teen's sexual misstep that I've read in some time.
whitmc's review against another edition
5.0
Precisely what I needed to kick my reading slump to the curb and head into summer. I was in Austin for work, and made it to Book People, which is even more amazing than the rumors. I had a plan: find a sales person and ask them for a recommendation to get me out of my slump. But first, I filled my arms with kids books and presents to make walking around reading the backs of books with a stranger that much easier. I found my guy, crossed my fingers that he had the magical skill that most great indie bookstore workers have, and launched into my request. I knew he was going to do it right when he asked what I read lately, pre-slump, that made me happy. Easy, Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. I also confessed that both Swing Time and Manhattan Beach left me uninspired and I quit both halfway through. I wanted good writing, but fast-paced, light enough that I can pick up and put down between chasing the kids. He led me around the store, grabbing books right and left. This was one he pressed into my hands, saying "It's flying off the shelf." I didn't even read the back. I picked it based on the ice cream. And I'm so glad I did. I probably would have written it off a bit if I had read the description on the back, which accurately describes the plot, but not the cunning writing and great character development. It's also set in Silicon Valley, which, let's face it, I get enough of in real life, so would not have been too excited about that part either. But I'm glad I just took it to the register and paid because this was a great book. The character development and insight is believable, although so so hard to watch. The setting is spot-on--country club Silicon Valley in the new money rising years of pre-2008 crash, and the writing is awesome. So funny, brash, and self-deprecating. I really enjoyed this.
rebbemcc's review against another edition
3.0
Read it on a car drive. Passed the time well. Nothing earth shattering, but well-written and captured communication between mother and daughter well.
ladyro54's review against another edition
3.0
Who wrote the description for this book, "smart, comic page turner." There was nothing comical about this book at all.
A man who's company’s IPO has made him a millionaire overnight serves his wife of 29 years divorce papers via messenger. She's blindsided and in denial and then discovers that he has tricked her into signing away her rights to millions he's just made. This is just the beginning. She spirals into Meth addiction, after her pool boy tells her it's better than Vicadin and has the side of effect of weight loss.
Meanwhile her 14 year-old daughter has become popular after losing weight and mistakes attention for affection. She's had sex with 6 boys in her school. She learns that she's been deemed the school slut and that they are keeping a scorecard in the boys bathroom. She also becomes pregnant.
The other daughter, 29 and failed magazine creator, feminist and know-it-all, is kick out by her actor boyfriend, and is 100K in credit card debt. She is called home after learning about the divorce.
They all spend the summer existing together, but clueless about all of the secrets they are hiding. The mother miraculously kicks her meth addiction without treatment, the daughter has a miscarriage, rhe oldest daughter helps her mother by getting someone to publicly shame the father. We are told the husband wants to settle at the end. Mom and her two daughters heal, become the family they should, eat ice cream sundaes and life goes on.
It's a decent book, but the whole time I kept reading, I kept thinking these people can't be this naive and clueless about life.
A man who's company’s IPO has made him a millionaire overnight serves his wife of 29 years divorce papers via messenger. She's blindsided and in denial and then discovers that he has tricked her into signing away her rights to millions he's just made. This is just the beginning. She spirals into Meth addiction, after her pool boy tells her it's better than Vicadin and has the side of effect of weight loss.
Meanwhile her 14 year-old daughter has become popular after losing weight and mistakes attention for affection. She's had sex with 6 boys in her school. She learns that she's been deemed the school slut and that they are keeping a scorecard in the boys bathroom. She also becomes pregnant.
The other daughter, 29 and failed magazine creator, feminist and know-it-all, is kick out by her actor boyfriend, and is 100K in credit card debt. She is called home after learning about the divorce.
They all spend the summer existing together, but clueless about all of the secrets they are hiding. The mother miraculously kicks her meth addiction without treatment, the daughter has a miscarriage, rhe oldest daughter helps her mother by getting someone to publicly shame the father. We are told the husband wants to settle at the end. Mom and her two daughters heal, become the family they should, eat ice cream sundaes and life goes on.
It's a decent book, but the whole time I kept reading, I kept thinking these people can't be this naive and clueless about life.
thebradking's review against another edition
5.0
Let's get this out of the way, my friend Janelle Brown writes really unlikeable characters, I'm told. Of course, I didn't know this until she told me in 2018 that critics of her work have said that about her characters.
I have found her characters (as I'm clearly writing this review long after having read all of her novels)...wildly human, full of flaws and nuance, and haunted by the very kinds of tragic flaws that sink our ships on a daily basis.
What she does is give voice to a very specific time and place in our world. We both cut our teeth covering Silicon Valley during the Dotcom boom. (She more critically than me!) And so as I read All We Ever Wanted Was Everything I couldn't help but click through the characters that we'd come across during those insane years in the Valley.
Yes, the Millers are the absolute prototypical nouveau riche family where the father has abandoned any emotional connection to his family in pursuit of wealth and success, the mother turns a blind eye to that believing her husband is acting in the family's best interest, and the kids are—as you would expect—disasters.
Look, these characters aren't the people you're going to want to have over for dinner. And that's the point. The pursuit of Everything leads if not to destruction than it at least to breaking. Every person in the Miller family is looking for Everything because they've bough into the mythology of the Valley.
Maybe the premise was too time and place for some folks. Maybe you had to have lived through the Valley's meteoric rise, it's transformation of society, and then it's start-up collapse (version 1.0) to really see the characters are something more than archetypes. I don't know. I can't answer that for other readers.
What I can say is this: The Great Gatsby took on Long Island and New York City. Janelle took on Silicon Valley.
I have found her characters (as I'm clearly writing this review long after having read all of her novels)...wildly human, full of flaws and nuance, and haunted by the very kinds of tragic flaws that sink our ships on a daily basis.
What she does is give voice to a very specific time and place in our world. We both cut our teeth covering Silicon Valley during the Dotcom boom. (She more critically than me!) And so as I read All We Ever Wanted Was Everything I couldn't help but click through the characters that we'd come across during those insane years in the Valley.
Yes, the Millers are the absolute prototypical nouveau riche family where the father has abandoned any emotional connection to his family in pursuit of wealth and success, the mother turns a blind eye to that believing her husband is acting in the family's best interest, and the kids are—as you would expect—disasters.
Look, these characters aren't the people you're going to want to have over for dinner. And that's the point. The pursuit of Everything leads if not to destruction than it at least to breaking. Every person in the Miller family is looking for Everything because they've bough into the mythology of the Valley.
Maybe the premise was too time and place for some folks. Maybe you had to have lived through the Valley's meteoric rise, it's transformation of society, and then it's start-up collapse (version 1.0) to really see the characters are something more than archetypes. I don't know. I can't answer that for other readers.
What I can say is this: The Great Gatsby took on Long Island and New York City. Janelle took on Silicon Valley.
bookerage's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book started out with great potential, but the plot got somewhat lost. the open ending was simply disappointing and the story felt unfinished </spoiler >
Great title though!
Great title though!
squirrelmonster's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lindsaydrue's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lit_chick's review against another edition
A rollicking summer read detailing the divorce of a Silicon Valley house wife and the fallout for her and her fragile daughters, all of whom share the same desperate need for love and attention. It was a little predictable toward the end, but it was well written and had a couple of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Great beach read.
bill_lundeen's review
Not my usual type of book, but I somehow enjoyed reading it. No clue how this got on my list, It’s probably Been on there for 2-3-4 years