Synopsis:
Silvie Bates-McAllister has lived her life steeped in family history. For many years, she has served on the Board of Directors of Swithin, the private school that her grandfather rebuilt and reestablished after it was destroyed by a fire. Both of her sons, Charles and Scott, attended the school, of course. And along with her recently-deceased husband, James, she raised her boys in the museum-like family home that she insisted remain exactly as it was left by her grandfather.
Joanna grew up reading about the Bates-McAllisters in the society pages, so she could not believe it when she actually encountered Charles in a bar one evening. Married not long ago, they are moving from their city apartment to a new home of their own. Charles hates his job as an advertising writer, and Joanna worries that Charles is still pining over his former girlfriend, Bronwyn. She has never learned the full details of their break-up or the huge fight between Charles and Scott that she believes precipitated it.
While Charles is the biological child of Silvie and James, Scott was adopted as a toddler. He has always been reckless, wild, unfocused and defiant. He is living with Silvie and working at the wrestling coach at Swithin, the latest of a series of jobs he has held.
When Swithin’s new headmaster notifies Sylvie that one of the members of the wrestling team has been found dead and there are rumors swirling about hazing rituals that Scott may have been aware of or even encouraged, Sylvie’s ritualistic, organized life threatens to implode. The strained relationships of the Bates-McAllisters may not survive this crisis.
Review:
The Bates-McAllisters have long lived their lives shrouded in secret resentments, disappointed, and unspoken feelings. As each learns the news that Scott may have been involved in or condoned something as unseemly as hazing, their reactions reflect their own troubled relationship with Scott. Sylvie built her life around her husband, sons, and her family’s long history in the community. She has worked tirelessly to preserve the family’s reputation, keeping up appearances. The character is reminiscent of Beth, portrayed so beautifully by Mary Tyler Moore in Robert Redford’s seminal film Ordinary People. Silvie is refined, poised, and restrained despite the fact that the emotional turmoil she has experienced for years threatens to erupt at any more and destroy the facade she has so elaborately and painstakingly erected. Through flashbacks, her relationship with James is also explored. His recent death has left Silvie reeling, and she has to decide whether she really wants to uncover the truth about certain aspects of their marriage.
Charles had an extremely difficult relationship with his late father, who ridiculed and belittled him while favoring Scott. Like Silvie, Charles kept his resentment of Scott in check until one fateful night when something horrible happened between them, the details of which he refuses to reveal to Joanna. And, of course, that only serves to heighten Joanna’s curiosity and fuel her own insecurity about Bronwyn. Her fear that Charles is still in love with his former girlfriend threatens to derail their still-new marriage.
Everything We Ever Wanted also explores the issue of adoption. Scott is plagued by what he does not know about his birth mother and the circumstances under which she gave him up. Coupled with the fact that he is so different from the other members of his family, Scott has spent his life trying not to conform. Silvie has enabled him in many ways and continues to do so. Scott is handsome, charming, and has been allowed to get away with behavior that would never have been condoned from Charles, further complicating Scott’s efforts to understand who he is and what he really wants. Scott’s relationship with Joanna poses an additional threat to her marriage to Charles. Scott and Joanna, two people who do not feel that they belong in the world they have been thrust into, are forced to confront and evaluate their feelings for each other.
Shepard tells the story from the various characters’ vantage points, frequently retelling different aspects so that readers can experience events through the characters’ ears. It is an effective technique which, somewhat surprisingly, serves to compel the story forward rather than cause it to bog down. Her exploration of the characters’ carefully veiled emotional struggles, particularly as to Sylvie, are neither overwrought nor melodramatic.
Everything We Ever Wanted is a story about a family that should, by all appearances, be happy, successful, and devoid of turmoil. After all, on the surface, the Bates-McAllisters appear to have everything — wealth, privilege, and advantages that many people only dare dream about. Still, they are not spared from their own frail humanity. They are not thoroughly likable, but in Shepard’s capable hands they are believable and, despite their shortcomings, Shepard compels her readers to care about what happens to them. The result is a fascinating reminder that no one leads a perfect, trouble-free life and appearances are often extremely deceiving.
21 Comments
I’d like to be counted in for this one if it is open to all.
I like that events are re-told using various characters’ points of view. Also, I enjoy books about family relationships.
In real life and fiction, I am constantly reminded that the grass is not always greener.
The adoption issue in this book sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love a good family drama. I mostly want to find out about the fight between the brothers!
I tend to like books concerning adoption, thanks for the chance to win this one!
The theme of adoption and family life fascinates me.
This sounds great! I love the idea of taking this high society, much admired family and showing the underlying problems they experience (just like all of the “regular” people).
This sounds really interesting! We always assume that having money makes life easier and better but as they say more money, more problems.
First of all, I love the cover! Gorgeous. Second, I love Pretty Little Liars, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this too. Third, I find it fascinating to see how everyone deals with the boys death – rather than focusing on the death itself. Thanks for the great giveaway. I have my fingers crossed. lol
I would like to see how the brothers ended up as money doesnt always make your life happier in the end, Seems the richer people tend to hide their dirty little secrets more.
Sounds like a wonderfully in depth story!
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Love the point that even though a family appears to be perfect they are not no one is and even the ones who have it all never do–reading this grounds me and makes appreciate all of the craziness of my family.
I like how it explore so many facets of a family, bilogical, non-biological and their relationships.
i like to read books about family relationships 🙂
Pingback: Sara Shepard, author of Everything We Ever Wanted, on tour October 2011 | TLC Book Tours
I’m most intrigued by the adoption storyline – that’s a topic that always gets my attention.
Thanks for being on the tour!
I love to read stories about family relationships and secrets.
Interesting that we think the privileged are above anything like murder. Keeping everything as your Grandfather had it must having been living a stifling life at home. I’d like to know more about the 2 sons relationship.
It sounds like a great read. I love the idea of this event acting as a catalyst that unveils all these hidden feelings characters have been stuffing down.
I like reading stories about families who are not what they seem.
The adoption issue sounds intriguing to me, because I wrote a thesis on that theme!