All You Never Wanted

Nov 13, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: finishedreviewcopy, yabc-reviews

Over the past year, I've been discovering a love for realistic fiction, my home base having always been fantasy novels for pretty much all of my YA-reading past. When I was an actual teen, my favorite genre to read was chick lit: humor, sexy times, and a hot man for every woman; I pretty much hoped that would be my future. As I've gotten older and seen that this would not be my future, these happy novels have failed to move me most of the time, seeming much less realistic than their depressing c...more Over the past year, I've been discovering a love for realistic fiction, my home base having always been fantasy novels for pretty much all of my YA-reading past. When I was an actual teen, my favorite genre to read was chick lit: humor, sexy times, and a hot man for every woman; I pretty much hoped that would be my future. As I've gotten older and seen that this would not be my future, these happy novels have failed to move me most of the time, seeming much less realistic than their depressing counterparts. With Adele Griffin, I have found another author who writes books full of broken characters and feels.

At its core, All You Never Wanted is the story of two sisters, Thea and Alex. Both are broken, unable to exist comfortably in their own skins. They used to be happy, even after their parents' divorce and father's abandonment. What undid them was their mother's remarriage. Interestingly enough, the problem was not Arthur, the mother's new husband, who treats them well and would do anything for them. The issue is his wealth, and that he travels so much on business, taking their mother with him.

During the time where they had very little money, both girls working to help the family scrape buy and pay the bills, the three of them were a tight family unit. They were close and happy. With the money and resulting luxury, the three have grown apart. More separate and free, the two girls find it hard to figure out who they are or how to behave. The fact that both are classic 'poor little rich girls' is made less obnoxious by their acknowledgment and distaste of that fact, as well as by the fact that they have not always been this way.

Alex speeds toward hermit status, afraid to leave Camelot (the name of their immense house) because of a traumatic experience she had during her internship at a fashion magazine. She withdraws more and more, skipping school, shutting out her boyfriend and sister, refusing to eat, and only barely managing to continue tutoring at Empty Hands, a volunteer center. This last may seem the least important, but her work there, kids like Leonard who count on her, are the only tether keeping her from closing herself inside permanently.

Thea has always worshipped her prettier, older, better-liked sister. Before, Thea was a nerd, who delighted in essay contests and winning trophies for academic achievement. As Alex disappears, Thea overcompensates for the loss of her idol by trying to become Alex, single white female style. No longer caring about her grades, she throws herself into a web of lies in an effort to entertain the highest echelon in her high school, to become one of the popular kids. On top of that, Thea wants Alex's boyfriend, Joshua.

Griffin uses an interesting narrative style to accomplish this tale: Thea's perspective is first person, and Alex's third person limited. This can be a tricky technique to pull off with multiple perspectives, but Griffin does so marvelously. Thea's personality fits a first person narration perfectly, since she's such a storyteller. She wants to be able to tell the audience what's going on in her life her way, put her spin on it and make it a better story. Alex has no desire to be known, feels foreign even to herself.

I ripped through this brief novel, caught up in the drama and pain of their lives. My biggest issue with the book is that I just could not believe the truth of Alex's trauma once I heard it. Call me a terrible person, but I definitely laughed, though it does allow for a nice joke at the end. Also, complex and real as they were, I never bonded with Alex and Thea. Of the two, though, I liked Alex best, despite her weird issue, especially since she has a touching romantic story line.

From what I've heard, this is not Griffin's best novel, but, even so, I can tell that I need to read more Griffin. Her writing has a unique flair and she does not turn away from darkness. Given its brevity, this is well worth a read if you find the concept intriguing or have enjoyed Griffin before. This would make a great readalike for Denise Jaden's Never Enough or Sarah Wylie's All These Lives.(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013, ya-fiction

Alex and Thea's lives changed when their mother married the rich Arthur. They've gone from being the girls with part time jobs to being the girls who have it all. For Thea, this is her chance to become popular. It's her chance to be the kind of girl her sister has always been: the IT girl. For Alex, this sudden change in status is not everything she'd hoped for. It comes with immense pressure. Sure, having her step father get her that amazing internship at Haute was great, but that internship wa...more Alex and Thea's lives changed when their mother married the rich Arthur. They've gone from being the girls with part time jobs to being the girls who have it all. For Thea, this is her chance to become popular. It's her chance to be the kind of girl her sister has always been: the IT girl. For Alex, this sudden change in status is not everything she'd hoped for. It comes with immense pressure. Sure, having her step father get her that amazing internship at Haute was great, but that internship was far from what she'd hoped it could be. In fact, it's that internship that (view spoiler) There is also a boy between the two girls, but that boy plays very different roles to each of them.

This could have been a poor little rich girl story. It could have been a story about two mean sisters. But it's about two very broken people who are broken for not the money nor the change in power. Instead, they're broken because of much deeper rooted issues. It was the changes that amplified and complicated them.

Griffin's writing is not the easiest to fall into but it's masterful. This story is told both through the eyes of Alex and Thea, Thea's story is told through the first person, and Thea is a thoroughly unlikable character. Alex's story is told through third person. And while this is initially a jarring way to read the story, it makes perfect sense for Alex. (view spoiler) Forcing us into first person for Thea makes sense, too, because Thea's all about becoming that First Person in the story, even at the expense of her sister.

I thought Xander was a bit of a convenience in the story, but I was okay with it. I think what Griffin does in this story is noteworthy: she tells us a story about rivalry, about money and power and popularity and love and self-love and respect, but she does so in a way that is extremely teen. What these girls experience and go through on a daily are not LIFE ALTERING THINGS. They're struggling with popularity. With the way that a mother's new relationship changes their lives. With the way that money has an impact on their own self-perceptions. With (view spoiler). Xander's ultimately what Alex needs in her life, as much as he's what Thea needs.

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/01/a... (less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie rated it 5 of 5 stars

“I’d take all those beautiful things in Alexandra. Her dreaminess, her eyes. Then I’d add your fun. Between the two of you is the perfect Parrott. And you know what? I’d marry that girl.” –Alex’s boyfriend Joshua to Thea

Alex and Thea Parrott are sisters who love each other deeply despite their differences. Alex is older, prettier, and more popular. Thea is younger, funnier, and more intelligent. Both however, were happier before their mother married a ridiculously rich man. Before he entered th...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss

Adele Griffin is one of very few authors on my automatic-read list. After reading and being entranced by her novel Tighter, I knew that Adele was magic and that I must get my hands on everything she writes. She did not disappoint with ALL YOU NEVER WANTED. This book was indeed a story of sibling rivalry, on speed, just like the synopsis says. I couldn't put it down. It was this crazy tail-spin, nose-dive, downward spiral, bottlenecking story that just didn't stop.

Alex is wasting away. Ever since...more Adele Griffin is one of very few authors on my automatic-read list. After reading and being entranced by her novel Tighter, I knew that Adele was magic and that I must get my hands on everything she writes. She did not disappoint with ALL YOU NEVER WANTED. This book was indeed a story of sibling rivalry, on speed, just like the synopsis says. I couldn't put it down. It was this crazy tail-spin, nose-dive, downward spiral, bottlenecking story that just didn't stop.

Alex is wasting away. Ever since that terrible thing happened, she's been starving herself. She is little more than a shell of who she used to be. She was once the queen of the school, pretty, with the most popular friends and most sought-after boyfriend. But then that thing happened. And she's never been the same.

But underneath that Barbie-doll exterior, there is something more to Alex. She is kind and thoughtful. She loves deeply. She is hurting, from her father's abandonment and her mother's remarriage. And even though most days she can't even pull herself out of bed (or her car out of the driveway) Alex is still hopeful.

Thea is crazy, though. She envies her older sister like any younger sibling would, but she takes it way, way too far. She spun the craziest lies and a web of stories, for no other reason than to get attention from Alex's popular friends. She spreads nasty rumors about innocent classmates. She makes up wild and incredulous stories about herself, always making herself the hero. Even though I was in Thea's head, I couldn't tell where the truth ended and the lies began. So when she took it too far, it was hard to say whether it was true or not. You didn't want it to be true, but it would crush you to think she lied about something that serious.

ALL YOU NEVER WANTED was emotionally exhausting. Trying to wade through all of Thea's lies, to get to the bottom of her character and what make's her Thea. All the while rooting Alex on in her struggles to face her past and move toward her present. It hurt to read this book, but that doesn't take away from it in any way. Adele Griffin's writing is beautiful and bold and her characters are true to life and pop right out of the pages. (less)

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Mar 31, 2013 BAYA Librarian rated it 2 of 5 stars

This books seems to explore the different ways that lying to others and lying to yourself can be damaging. Thea and her older sister Alex are now living in a too-extravagant house (nicknamed “Camelot” by Thea) in posh Greenwich, Connecticut after their mom marries a wealthy man. Before this marriage, the girls and their divorced mother were barely getting by in their tiny apartment but they had each other and were pretty close. Now their mom seems to be always flying somewhere with her new husba...more This books seems to explore the different ways that lying to others and lying to yourself can be damaging. Thea and her older sister Alex are now living in a too-extravagant house (nicknamed “Camelot” by Thea) in posh Greenwich, Connecticut after their mom marries a wealthy man. Before this marriage, the girls and their divorced mother were barely getting by in their tiny apartment but they had each other and were pretty close. Now their mom seems to be always flying somewhere with her new husband - for vacations or charity events - and the girls are often left alone to adjust to their new reality. Told alternately in first person (Thea) and third person (Alex), we learn that these sisters have dealt with the changes in their lives in very different ways. Formerly nerdy Thea has decided that conspicuous consumption and outrageous but borderline believable lies will make her interesting and popular. Meanwhile, Alex, who has always been somewhat of a golden girl, seems to be in the midst of a nervous breakdown that is getting progressively worse - for a specific reason that is revealed later in the novel. Alex feels repulsed at the idea of eating and will also often be frozen in place by an intangible fear - her reaction to the upsetting incident in her recent past is causing her to slowly disappear, both mentally and physically. Younger sister Thea is simultaneously protective of her fragile older sister and secretly gleeful that she has a chance to usurp Alex’s popularity, which might just include stealing her sexy badboy boyfriend Joshua.

Thea’s narration will grab readers with its audacity, pride, and jealousy. You might not admire Thea as a person, but her ability to manufacture drama and strife is riveting, and you do somewhat empathize with her desire to reinvent herself. It is a lot easier to sympathize with Alex, who, with the encouragement of a cute boy named Xander, is trying to get over her disturbing incident by tutoring poor kids and reaching out to an anorexic girl in a rough part of New York City. But when readers finally find out what the Big Incident was that has caused Alex so much pain, they might wonder how such an incident could really cause her to be so debilitated. In the end, however, it’s not really about the specific incident that Alex experienced, but rather the fact that she is so ashamed about it that she has to constantly lie to herself and suppress the memory of it. Her psychological self-hatred turns into physical self-hatred. While Alex damages her body by lying to herself, Thea is damaging her home, her reputation, and her sister’s relationship with Joshua by lying to everyone else.

All the adults in these girls lives are completely absent, as if they don’t even exist. The story contains an out of control party scene and sexual situations. While this book has some strong writing and explores some interesting psychological issues, there are too many aspects that seem rather unrealistic, and the ending is somewhat abrupt. For older readers only.(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: anorexia, high-school, washyarg, young-adult, sisters

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Alex and Thea are sisters, one year apart and have been very close until recently. A few years ago, their mother married a wealthy business man and the girls are suddenly living in Camelot. Alex is the older, prettier, more popular, more confident one with the hot boyfriend. Thea is younger, plainer, and is treated like the “baby sister” by Alex’s friends (the Blondes). Thea also really likes Josh, Alex’s boyfriend. After a disastrous internship at a top fashion magazine, Alex came home with iss...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012reads, 2012-pub, youngadult, strongfemalecharacters, realistic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dark, but compelling. Thea and Alex share the narration of one week in their moneyed, messed-up lives. Thea wants everything and wants to glory in the power and excess that their mother's marriage to noveau-riche, somewhat tacky, but kind Arthur has brought. Alex doesn't know how to handle going from a middle-class striver to a rich girl who's handed everything on a platter, so she tries wanting nothing - including food. Both miss their newly-absent - emotionally and often physically - mother. A...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I could I would give this book 3.5 stars. The only thing keeping me from a four was feeling like the book ended abruptly. This story is about two sisters who find themselves swept into the lap of luxury when their mother marries a very wealthy man. The author alternates between the sister's point of view from chapter to chapter. I did find it interesting that Alex's chapters are in third person, while Thea's were in first. Alex is the older sister who is struggling with an eating disorder and...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmmmm I'm not really sure what to think of this book right now. It's definitely not like anything else I've read! Maybe it was too serious for my mood right now, but All You Never Wanted deals with some pretty serious stuff and the characters are really, well, strange? Confusing? Maybe raw is a better word. Needless to say, this book was a unique take on high school life.

Thea used to be a bookworm, but now she's taken it upon herself to join the A-crowd, a crowd her older sister Alex has but co...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, teenbooks

Alex and Thea are sisters who have survived some tough times with a divorce and no money. Now their mom has married a gazillionaire and they can have anything they want. But the problem with that is their close knit family has now become splintered by sibling rivalry and a dangerous competitiveness that can only lead to disaster. Alex, the older sister seems to have everthing--beauty, brains and a widely coveted boyfriend. But she is also struggling with an eating disorder. Little sister Thea as...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 4 of 5 stars

It will be no surprise for readers to learn that this particular author, Adele Griffin, is a ‘National Book Award’ finalist, considering the stories she weaves are among the most beautiful and heartbreaking tales ever told. And with this offering, the wealth of emotions are no different.

Here we join the lives of two sisters, who see each other in a far different way than they see themselves. Thea, the younger sibling, was one a bookworm. She was the brainy one who was always getting good grades...more It will be no surprise for readers to learn that this particular author, Adele Griffin, is a ‘National Book Award’ finalist, considering the stories she weaves are among the most beautiful and heartbreaking tales ever told. And with this offering, the wealth of emotions are no different.

Here we join the lives of two sisters, who see each other in a far different way than they see themselves. Thea, the younger sibling, was one a bookworm. She was the brainy one who was always getting good grades and impressing one and all. Over the years, she has wanted more and more to become her popular, beautiful sister. And she uses her ‘other personality’ named Gia, to tell stories (lies that could hurt others), dress in the latest fashions, and basically act like a jerk in order to sit at the ‘popular’ table at school.

Alex is the older sister. A senior in high school, Alex has always had it all - from the outside, anyway. But when her parents broke up and she ended up living in the ridiculous mansion of a rich man her mother married, her life seemed to twist and turn, leaving her more scared than anything else. In fact, Alex finds herself on many occasions sweating profusely, absolutely scared of the rest of the world. Her mental faculties are beyond confused and she is basically wasting away.

Alex’s boyfriend is Joshua Gunner - nice, yet makes extra money by selling dime bags to the rich kids of the neighborhood so that he can save up to one day head to Hollywood and work at his dream job in special effects. Thea is beyond in love with Joshua and wants nothing more than to take him away from her sister - yet another thing about Alex she is more than jealous of.

This story is one of drama and pain, as readers watch Thea covet her sister’s life and work beyond hard to get it for herself. What she doesn’t realize is that the more you cry wolf, the more lonely you become.

Dark and light - this author has written a story where issues of wealth, sex, love, health and the world of the ‘popular’ ones are revealed to show exactly how bad everything can get. But the love and support of two sisters who have always cared for each other does shine through.

Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy(less)

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Jan 28, 2013 StorySnoops rated it 4 of 5 stars

All You Never Wanted is a thoroughly engrossing cautionary tale about sisterhood, jealousy, class conflict, and family loyalty, told in the alternating points of view of both sisters. Alex is a socially adept popular girl, who has the boyfriend of sister Thea's dreams. Thea has made a conscious decision to ditch her smart, good girl image in favor of doing whatever it takes to not only be as popular as her sister, but also to steal the attention of Joshua. The irony of course is that Alex's life...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A dark and disturbing story of sibling rivalry, All You Never Wanted is unlike any contemporary I've ever read. Both protagonists have their own issues - one is a pathological liar while the other is literally wasting away to nothing because of her anxiety - yet those issues pale in comparison to the underlying jealousy motivating every action. With an overnight romance and a vaguely abrupt ending though, All You Never Wanted left me wanting more.

Thea is Alex's younger sister, tired of living in...more A dark and disturbing story of sibling rivalry, All You Never Wanted is unlike any contemporary I've ever read. Both protagonists have their own issues - one is a pathological liar while the other is literally wasting away to nothing because of her anxiety - yet those issues pale in comparison to the underlying jealousy motivating every action. With an overnight romance and a vaguely abrupt ending though, All You Never Wanted left me wanting more.

Thea is Alex's younger sister, tired of living in her shadow. Having decided to re-imagine herself in her inner popular self's image, someone she calls Gia, she's desperate to fit in. And that means becoming best friends with Alex's friends, a group she calls the Blondes, and secretly coveting Alex's boyfriend, Jason. Thea's storyline in All You Never Wanted was enough to capture my attention, as her imagination was constantly in overdrive, working on a new story that might help her to become a part of the popular crowd.

This story is nasty and everyone is spelbound and that's power. They're all hooked and I'm in focus, I'm mixing up this thing like I'm the smoothest bartender in the newest club for people who've all decided at this moment I'm one of them. And if there's guilt down my spine, it's nothing like the heat on my skin as I raise my voice to land it. Likes take nerve, which I'm working on. But nobody needs to know that.

She wasn't above making up a lie in order to become the center of attention, and she had no concern for the consequences; she fully believed she'd be able to talk herself out of any situation with another lie.

While watching Thea descend into desperation, we also had to endure Alex's anxiety-ridden neurosis, which at times, was completely debilitating. Having experienced something traumatizing during a summer internship, Alex has become a shell of the person she once was. Fearful of losing control over her body, she limits what she eats/drinks to the point of developing what seems to be an eating disorder. She has distanced herself from both her friends and family (leaving room for Thea to weasel her way into their lives) and has days where she's unable to pull her car out of the driveway.

With such compelling backstories, All You Never Wanted had me completely hooked. But as Thea's lies became more outrageous and she became more desperate to replace Alex, my concern for her mental health increased to the point where I had to wonder if she would have been clinically diagnosed with some sort of psychosis - and why none of her friends/family thought the same and thought to seek out professional help. And because of the extreme reaction Alex showed to her traumatizing event, I was convinced something extremely damaging had to have happened to her. When the details surrounding the event unfolded, I was left feeling...underwhelmed? What happened would definitely have been mortifying, but I can't imagine it affecting my life as drastically as it affected Alex's.

Towards the end, I loved watching Alex begin to recapture control and live her life again, but I was annoyed that she needed a guy to help her find herself. My annoyance was only strengthened by Alex and Xander's instant romance. Their relationship was so sudden and out-of-the-blue, that I was left wondering if I had missed a chapter. Alex's entire outlook on her life was completely changed by one interaction, and with Xander at her side, it was like her traumatizing event had never happened. And after only one day together, Alex was talking about possibly being in love with Xander! I just wasn't buying it. Add in the completely vague ending, where Thea tells Alex a secret that we're never privy to, and I was left quite disappointed after All You Never Wanted's potential-filled beginning.

With absolutely no resolution for Thea, and something that might be seen as running away from her problems for Alex, All You Never Wanted really came up short in the end. I love that Griffin didn't try to tie everything up in a nice bow, but some resolution is necessary so I don't feel like I've wasted my time. But a really well-done, though complicated, relationship between sisters and a writing style that I enjoyed did make All You Never Wanted a mostly entertaining read.(less)

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Nov 10, 2012 Claudia Burgoa added it

Shelves: 2012-reads, hiked-it, ya

First things first, I need to get this out of my chest: “Where the Heck were the parents”??? !!!

Im not sure how many stars should I give this one. Everything we never wanted deserves five stars for tons of reasons, and also it deserves one for a few others.

The book is told from two different perspectives, one is from Thea as a first person and the other is Alex –Thea’s her older sister- and is told as a third person. Both sisters have a lot of issues. Thea has a huge feud against Alex, and like...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

A story of siblings who have some damage in them. Thea lies and Alex is a mess. Ever since she did her senior internship at Haute, she doesn't eat and she can barely even leave the house. Alex is definitely hiding something, and Thea and Joshua (Alex's boyfriend) seem powerless to help. With Thea's lying getting more and more out of control and Alex feeling like Xander (the guy who runs the volunteers at her new senior internship) could be someone to lean on.... things are bound to explode.

I rea...more A story of siblings who have some damage in them. Thea lies and Alex is a mess. Ever since she did her senior internship at Haute, she doesn't eat and she can barely even leave the house. Alex is definitely hiding something, and Thea and Joshua (Alex's boyfriend) seem powerless to help. With Thea's lying getting more and more out of control and Alex feeling like Xander (the guy who runs the volunteers at her new senior internship) could be someone to lean on.... things are bound to explode.

I really got into this book. I absolutely loved the writing in this book! I was semi-obsessed with it. The way the characters talk and think, they just have such an authentic voice. These characters have personalities that I really haven't seen in other books (and I read A LOT). I have never met another Thea. I felt achingly bad for her, and she wasn't even supposed to be the sister with the problems. She wanted to fit in with her sister, to be noticed by her.... and it kind of turned her into a headcase.

Alex on the other hand was harder for me to get. Yes something happened to her that caused her to feel out of control, but what I didn't get was how Xander made that all better for her. This guy that she didn't really pay much attention to, one day... BOOM it's insta-love? Not quite sure I was feeling that. I said earlier this week on my blog that I dislike it when a girl needs a guy to solve her problems... I think it relays a bad message.

One other thing that was different about this book was the chapters were alternating POV's in alternating tense. Thea's chapters were all in first person... Alex's in third. I didn't mind it though, it made it easier to follow actually.

So, I really liked this book and the thing that is putting me off a full 5-Star rating is the insta-love and the ending! I like when an author gives you some credit and gives you a chance to imagine where the characters might go, but I like some problems cleared up.... these problems were just blowing up! And the ending left me feeling like Alex is a bad sister, and I don't think she really was deep down.

PS- Not a fan of the cover. When I first saw it I thought the book was going to be about a WWII girl. It's fine, but it just doesn't say modern-day at all.

I was give this to review via NetGalley...thanks!
My Blog:
http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot....(less)

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Sep 16, 2012 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arcs, ya

I know there are mixed reviews out there on this one, and honestly I’m stuck somewhere in the middle. On a small level, this is the story of two sisters that suffer the devastating effects of becoming nouveau rich. On a much larger and deeper level, however, this is a story of sibling rivalry… and that story is dark and troubled.

Thea is the younger sister tired living in Alex’s shadow. She has developed this image of what her life should be like and it eats away at her. It consumes her, really....more I know there are mixed reviews out there on this one, and honestly I’m stuck somewhere in the middle. On a small level, this is the story of two sisters that suffer the devastating effects of becoming nouveau rich. On a much larger and deeper level, however, this is a story of sibling rivalry… and that story is dark and troubled.

Thea is the younger sister tired living in Alex’s shadow. She has developed this image of what her life should be like and it eats away at her. It consumes her, really. Thea’s story sucks you in from the beginning. She is so screwed up that you can’t help but continue to read because you want to find out where that train wreck is heading. And what a train wreck she is! Is she crazy? Yes, but that’s an understatement. Border line psychotic? Oh yeah. Pathological liar? Mmm, yep. An endangerment to herself and those around her? Right again! Like I said, complete train wreck.

While Thea’s highly disturbing story unfolds, the mystery surrounding Alex’s neurosis also unravels. You can tell that Alex was once this amazing person (that probably wasn’t too likeable), but her unfortunate “event” has left her scared and damaged. So is so damaged, in fact, that she is allowing herself to fade away—literally. She’s got a plate full of issues to handle too!

So yes, I thought the story behind these two sisters was very interesting. Compelling even. I was captivated for the most part. But the other characters did not hit the mark for me, and I think they took away from the book as a whole. For starters, Alex’s boyfriend was a douche bag. Barf. I understand the purpose he played, but geez. Then there was Xander… I really liked Xander, but the whole Alex-Xander “thing” was too rushed. It happened so quickly. In one paragraph the entire orbit of this book changed and I wasn’t fully buying it. Sorry. I’m happy with the ending. I think it worked, even if it left a lot of questions unanswered. I can certainly say there is no neat little bow ending to annoy you, and that is commendable.

Overall, I think what could have been a phenomenal story was rushed in places, which ultimately took away from the force of the story between the covers. It was still a good read for older YA readers, but not my favorite in this genre.
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Feb 16, 2013 Jill Sherman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

The Gist:
Poor little rich girls.

First Lines:
"She gets into the car and then she can't drive it. Can't even start the engine for th egift of the air conditioner. She is a living corpse roasting in sun-warmed leather. She can hear the quick death march of her heart. Her cell phone is slick in her hand; at any moment it might squeak from her grasp like a bar of soap. She needs to make one phone call, and she wishes she could make it into the past. Into last year. Or two years ago."

Our Hero:
Alex...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Dana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

This book was nothing like what it promoted itself to be. I thought that there would be this huge, dramatic battle for a boy, one sister who has him and one sister who wants him. While that did happen, it didn't happen in the dramatic way that it was perceived to be, mainly because the sister with the boyfriend didn't care after all.
Alex Parrott is beautiful, popular, has a boyfriend and pretty much everything else. Thea Parrott, is the younger sister, and feels exactly like it. She is consider...more This book was nothing like what it promoted itself to be. I thought that there would be this huge, dramatic battle for a boy, one sister who has him and one sister who wants him. While that did happen, it didn't happen in the dramatic way that it was perceived to be, mainly because the sister with the boyfriend didn't care after all.
Alex Parrott is beautiful, popular, has a boyfriend and pretty much everything else. Thea Parrott, is the younger sister, and feels exactly like it. She is considered the brainy one in the family, and hates that moniker. She wants to be popular like her sister, and like her sister, she wants Alex's boyfriend.
Thea will do pretty much anything to be like her older sister. Including telling massive lies to get ahead. Unfortunately, Thea has told so many lies that Alex no longer believes a word she says, which made the end of the book so annoying because you're not sure if what happened, really happened.
Alex, on the other hand, seems to be having a massive meltdown. To the point where I wasn't sure at first if she was pregnant and had had an abortion or not. Alex is also suffering from a severe case of Anorexia, to which no one is doing anything to help her. Alex has a volunteer job as a tutor, and catches the eye of a guy who works there. In a complete and totally weird and unexpected twist, especially since this character was given maybe a few pages of explanation before this, Alex winds up making out with this new boy. Alex had been having problems with her current boyfriend, but it still made no sense for her to go after another guy.
Alex and Thea's mother and step-father were absent from this entire book, and it seems as if they are not really in the picture much anyway, which explained why Alex and Thea were both falling apart. What I didn't understand was why Alex's so called best friends and boyfriend didn't interevene, and why Alex didn't call her mother about her sister's pathological lying.
The writing also left a lot to be desired. Thea's chapters are written in the first person, while Alex's chapters are written in the third person. That being said, I was very bored with this book, and if it hadn't been for Hurricane Sandy wiping out my cable, I wouldn't have bothered finishing this.(less)

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Nov 09, 2012 Cassidy Washburn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, randombuzzers-com, arc-copies

It's very hard to express my thoughts on this book without giving much away.

I will start off by saying that from the synopsis, I thought this book was going to be about the younger sister, Thea, trying to steal Alex's, her big sister's, boyfriend named Joshua.

Well it did involve that but there was alot more to the story than that and to be honest, I don't think the story was that great.

At the beginning, I really enjoyed the story. Alex having problems and Thea trying to deal with everyone talkin...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Meagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

ALL YOU NEVER WANTED is a tough story about sibling rivalry that sticks with you – because it’s amazing to look at two sisters, and see how bitterness can truly screw up a relationship.
I’ve read a bunch of books lately that have multiple points of view that are also in different perspectives or tenses. It can drive a wedge between you and the book, and shake you out of the flow. But with ALL YOU NEVER WANTED, I didn’t really have this problem. I think it’s mostly because Alex’s voice is so lyri...more ALL YOU NEVER WANTED is a tough story about sibling rivalry that sticks with you – because it’s amazing to look at two sisters, and see how bitterness can truly screw up a relationship.
I’ve read a bunch of books lately that have multiple points of view that are also in different perspectives or tenses. It can drive a wedge between you and the book, and shake you out of the flow. But with ALL YOU NEVER WANTED, I didn’t really have this problem. I think it’s mostly because Alex’s voice is so lyrical and strong, yet weak and scared at the same time. Her perspective suits the character, and I think it actually brings us closer, because we’re seeing how she sees herself, but not through her own eyes.
Alex is the older sister, overcome with anxiety in every way. She’s so afraid and so ridden with anxiety that she tries not to leave the house. She also develops what might at first seem like an eating disorder (she eats so little and drinks so little), but it’s a deep-rooted fear of losing control of her bodily functions that controls her, instead. It might be hard for some readers to identify with her – after all, she’s rich now, and some of it might seem like White Girl Problems: The Novel. But when you get past the glitz and glamour of a new life, you might understand: she didn’t ask for it. She didn’t necessarily want it. She was thrust into this new world, and it’s terrifying. Seriously, have you ever watched Gossip Girl? Those rich people sure have some issues.
Thea is the younger sister brimming with jealousy. The new social class her family fits into has taken hold of her, tempting her to become the person that Alex might have been. She lies to interest her sister’s old friends, she manipulates people to get what she wants, and she has no problem going after her sister’s boyfriend. That’s your standard sibling rivalry, but there’s something else going on under the surface. That something is Gia, but I’ll let you read and figure out what’s going on, there.
That’s what I really liked about ALL YOU NEVER WANTED. Adele Griffin brought forth the twisting, winding lives of these two girls and didn’t lay it all out. There’s some nuance in the way things are written. If you’re used to pounding back silly book after silly book, you might have to stop and re-read some things to understand how psychological it actually is.
But every book comes with some frustrations, and for me, Alex and Xander were my main frustration. The connection develops too quickly, and it’s once again “dude comes along and magically fixes a girl,” and although you can argue she isn’t fixed by any means, it’s at least hinted that’s what going on.
ALL YOU NEVER WANTED has an ending that doesn’t send us off with restored faith that these two will make it through and great together. In fact, it leaves us hanging – and I like it. If you enjoy books by Courtney Summers, I’m guessing you’ll love this one.
(less)

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Oct 11, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 3 of 5 stars

All You Never Wanted takes you on a dark journey into sibling jealous, a dysfunctional family. Griffin delivered a unique disturbing contemporary unlike anything I have ever read. This tale takes you on a journey dealing with the effects of instantly having money and emotional issues. It gives you a dark and sinister look at sibling rivalry. While I certainly became entangled in the tale, it left me wanted more.

The tale takes place over the course of a few days and is told from the perspectives...more All You Never Wanted takes you on a dark journey into sibling jealous, a dysfunctional family. Griffin delivered a unique disturbing contemporary unlike anything I have ever read. This tale takes you on a journey dealing with the effects of instantly having money and emotional issues. It gives you a dark and sinister look at sibling rivalry. While I certainly became entangled in the tale, it left me wanted more.

The tale takes place over the course of a few days and is told from the perspectives of each sister. Thea is the youngest sibling and parts of her personality could have been conceived by Stephen King himself. She is a pathological liar and determined to finally outshine the shadow her older sibling, Alex. Alex has had a melt down and feels as if her life is spiraling out of control. She is living in a state of severe anxiety. Thea is planning a party, spreading lies and secretly coveting Jason who is Alex’s boyfriend. The tale that unfolds gives us unique insight into each sister and I found myself swept up in their tales.

Thea immediately captured my intention. She has this dual personality, is a compulsive liar and you never knew what she was capable of from one moment to the next. I began to question whether or not she was psychotic. Let’s just say I would never turn my back on her. Alex on the other hand, I felt sorry for. She definitely needs help and her absentee Mom and new stepfather certainly didn’t win any of my love. We often see this theme of absentee parents in YA to develop the story line. Here it’s quickly obvious that this family is seriously dysfunctional. During the time period this takes place Daddy Warbucks is at a big meeting out of town and Mom accompanies him leaving Alex in charge. Alex!! Who sometimes is so anxiety ridden that she cannot leave her room for days on end. GRR!

The world building was both engaging and frustrating for me. I was captivated by both sister’s and certainly could not stop reading. However things didn’t fit or fell flat for me. I certainly question the parents, and school where Alex was concerned. While her problems were psychological they manifested themselves in very physical ways. Thea seemed to waiver between being concerned for Alex and being angry at her. The reasons for Alex’s breakdown when revealed left me feeling like I missed something. Perhaps there were underlying problem but it wasn’t adequately revealed. Thea's perspective stole the show as far as keeping me enthralled, I felt like I was in the mind of a future serial killer. An unexpected insta-love threw me for a loop as it seemed to come out of left field. While, the ending seemed to offer an escape and a ray of hope for one sibling it left things open for the other. When I closed the book, I was left feeling like I wanted more.

Do I recommend All She Never Wanted? Absolutely because despite all of the issues I noted, this dark, disturbing tale engaged me and was so unique I think it’s worth the read.

I want to thank Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Feb 26, 2013 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: what-s-new-ya-2013, mental-illness, eating-disorders, sibling-rivalry

Something is seriously wrong with Alex. She went through some kind of trauma that has caused her to basically stop eating, stop being intimate with her boyfriend, stop driving, stop hanging out with her friends, etc. This event has changed her life. Although the first half of the book does not exclusively focus on this story line, I was kind of obsessed with it. So, halfway through the book is the big reveal and OHMYGAWD it is a BIG REVEAL. I've read a lot of books - 660 at last count. Never bef...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Michelle added it

Alex and Thea Parrott are proof that money does not buy happiness. For now that they have more money and material goods than they can truly ever appreciate, each finds herself longing for the days when they were living in much more modest surroundings, enjoying the company of their mother and each other. In All You Never Wanted Adele Griffin explores the changing nature of money while showcasing an instance of sibling rivalry gone awry.

While All You Never Wanted is a poor little rich girl story,...more Alex and Thea Parrott are proof that money does not buy happiness. For now that they have more money and material goods than they can truly ever appreciate, each finds herself longing for the days when they were living in much more modest surroundings, enjoying the company of their mother and each other. In All You Never Wanted Adele Griffin explores the changing nature of money while showcasing an instance of sibling rivalry gone awry.

While All You Never Wanted is a poor little rich girl story, it is one with a dark side. Ms. Griffin delves into the hidden depths of various self-esteem and pathological issues with a gravitas and solemnity that underlies their seriousness. Regardless of their reasons, both Alex and Thea have serious issues with self-esteem, body control issues, acute neediness, and pathological lying. Their actions are by turns heartbreaking and appalling because of their inability to stop. Designed for young audiences, All You Never Wanted is a perfect opportunity to discuss such damaging behaviors among the group most in danger of succumbing to them.

That being said, as serious as their issues and behaviors are, All You Never Wanted is not as effective as it could be given, especially for readers outside of the target audience. It is rather difficult to take Thea’s overriding need to be the center of attention as anything other than the desperate actions of a younger sister trying to find her own spotlight at any expense. She is manipulative, calculating, and altogether too spoiled and selfish to be entirely sympathetic. In fact, a reader will sympathize with her basic need for her mother and for her sister and not with Thea herself, as she very much makes the bed in which she is eventually forced to lay.

As for Alex, the penultimate reason for her issues is laughable. It may seem more traumatic for teenage girls, but for this mother of two, it does not seem that big a deal and definitely not the defining traumatic moment it is for her. This lack of acceptability makes it difficult for readers to completely understand why Alex shuts down to the extent she does, as it seems such a drastic reaction to a fairly trivial accident. Even while one recognizes that there is more to Alex’s problem than even she is aware, the fact that Alex keeps remembering this one event dispels much of the credibility of the entire scenario.

What makes All You Never Wanted so interesting is the self-awareness both Thea and Alex have about their actions and their impact on others. In each chapter, they are individually aware of the harm they are doing to themselves (Alex) or others (Thea) but are unable to stop themselves from doing so. It is as if the real Alex and Thea are trapped behind imposters who force them to act against their better judgments. It makes their actions that much more painful and poignant to experience as a reader.

Ms. Griffin’s All You Never Wanted is really a sociologist’s dream text with its exploration of trauma on a teenager’s psyche and the fundamental issue of unmet needs versus wants. Teen readers will be forced to think about Thea’s and Alex’s situations and hopefully glean some important lessons from them about these very serious issues. Adult readers, however, will find it difficult to reconcile the gravity of their problems with some of the less believable scenarios and to overcome the general feel that this is one novel that is as much about the ills of wealth as it is about the fragile healthiness of teens.

Acknowledgments: Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Children's for my e-galley!(less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-reviewed, contemporary, ya-books

This is a dark, dark story.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Thea (in first person) and Alex (in third person), All You Never Wanted tells the story of two sisters whose lives take a drastic change for the worst. Once the queen of the school, Alex has been wasting away since the terrible incident at Haute caused her to begin starving herself. Thea resents her sister for throwing away all that she had, all that Thea wants to be, and plots to steal Alex's friends and power.

The characters...more This is a dark, dark story.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Thea (in first person) and Alex (in third person), All You Never Wanted tells the story of two sisters whose lives take a drastic change for the worst. Once the queen of the school, Alex has been wasting away since the terrible incident at Haute caused her to begin starving herself. Thea resents her sister for throwing away all that she had, all that Thea wants to be, and plots to steal Alex's friends and power.

The characters are intense and complex. Alex is a really nice girl deep inside, but her intense fear of losing control prevents her from getting close to people and living life. She is the one I had the easiest time connecting with and the one I wanted to see find happiness. Xander is the sweetest guy ever under all his tattoos and someone who has the capability to draw Alex out of her shell. Her boyfriend Joshua seems to genuinely love her, but he's at a loss at how to handle Alex's insecurity and he doesn't have the ambition that she has to do something with her life (even in spite of her fears). I'm still not sure what to think of him or what Alex ever saw at him. He seems to be the victim in a lot of ways; at the same time, I don't like guys who fall on the wrong side of the law.

As for Thea, she is one messed up kid. It seems as though she used to be close to Alex, and I can easily picture her as a cute little book nerd. However, she doesn't want to be that nerd. She wants power and popularity, and she's willing to do anything to get it, even if it means spreading false, very nasty rumors about people. Even if it means seducing her sister's boyfriend, whom she's lusting after. In short, she's a manipulative bitch with a talent for coming up with stories on the spot, and she has the ambition to take down her own sister to reach her goals. I wanted to strangle her many times over the course of the novel.

This is an emotionally exhausting story. Though it's a short book, it takes time to process. Thea tells one last story at the end, and we never figure out whether or not it's true. I don't want to believe that she would make up something so horrendous. From her thoughts, I'm hoping that deep down inside Thea truly wants to bring her family together again and just doesn't know how to correctly express herself. At the same time, I don't want it to be real. However, Thea has gone overboard with everything in her quest for power. It is so very hard to trust her, and I can understand if Alex takes a long time to forgive her. If Thea takes a long time to separate herself from her lies and figure out who the real Thea is.

We aren't given any answers at the end of the book. They are for us to come up with on our own as we think about what too much wealth and ambition can do to people. What it means to be strong; what a true partner/sister/friend should be.

This is a book that I recommend reading at least once.

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.(less)

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Nov 27, 2012 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Bulletin, and SLJ!

From publisher marketing:
"Alex has it all--brains, beauty, popularity, and a dangerously hot boyfriend. Her little sister Thea wants it all, and she's stepped up her game to get it. Even if it means spinning the truth to win the attention she deserves. Even if it means uncovering a shocking secret her older sister never wanted to share. Even if it means crying wolf.
Told in the alternating voices of Alex and Thea, Adele Griffin's mesmerizi...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, two-star-reviews

See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.

Ever read a book where you finish it and realize you have absolutely no sympathy for any of the characters? Even if you should? That's how I felt about Alex and Thea in All You Never Wanted. These are girls who are handed everything they could ever want, thanks to their new, wealthy step-father. On the surface, their lives look easy, but problems lurk underneath the surface, making their lives anything but the fairy-tale stories that they appear t...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, e-books, young-adult

All You Never Wanted is an interesting mix of characters, settings, and narrative style. Griffin pulled no punches in experimenting with perspectives as well as making use of elements of the “unreliable narrator” approach to storytelling. Not only that, but she also portrays multiple neuroses and mental instabilities and manages to do so realistically while at the same time not venturing into “after school special” territory.

The story begins at least a year or two after the protagonists’ mother...more All You Never Wanted is an interesting mix of characters, settings, and narrative style. Griffin pulled no punches in experimenting with perspectives as well as making use of elements of the “unreliable narrator” approach to storytelling. Not only that, but she also portrays multiple neuroses and mental instabilities and manages to do so realistically while at the same time not venturing into “after school special” territory.

The story begins at least a year or two after the protagonists’ mother has married a rich man, Arthur (often referred to as King Arthur by the sisters), and moved the family to his McMansion which the girls have of course named Camelot. The sisters have lived in their new home long enough to be familiar with it, but perhaps not yet comfortable with the changes in their lives and both are finding their ways of coping with the new stresses that have developed.

The sisters are night and day in their personalities as well as how they have reacted to the changes in their lives. Thea is the youngest of the pair, and for years spent her time admiring her older, prettier, and popular sister. As a youngster, Thea excelled at writing and storytelling and once took pride in her intellect. However, her arrival at Camelot as well as high school seems to have opened her heart to pangs of jealousy and a desire for popularity like her sister’s. This seems to spike as her sister suddenly becomes a shell of her former self after an internship at a fashion magazine.

Alex is the older sister and seems to have everything together: popularity, brains, taste, and even has a steady boyfriend (whom Thea covets). She wants a simple, orderly life and struggles somewhat with all of the abundances that came with her sudden wealth. However, an emotionally scarring incident during her fashion internship has caused Alex to lose all faith in herself and often she can’t pull herself out of bed let alone make it to school or to the center where she tutors young children.

Griffin tells the story from both sisters’ perspectives, but makes the very interesting (and well executed) decision to have Thea’s portions be in first person while Alex’s sections are in third person. This was an excellent choice as it really emphasizes their personalities. In Thea’s head, she’s the star of her own show, so self-narrating makes sense. She wants to be in control of everything, and sometimes fantasy and reality aren’t as clear as they should be. Meanwhile, Alex feels like she’s lost control of her life, so it fits well that another is narrating her. It’s so uncommon to see multiple perspectives like this, but Griffin does it so masterfully that it didn’t feel awkward.

It’s a little hard to describe the plot of this book since so much of it is just each sister dealing with life and trying to become who they want to be (or return to who they once were). Arthur and their mother do not make an appearance in the story with the exception of memories and the occasional longing for their mother to return home. The absentee parents, particularly the mother, bothered me a bit since both girls reminisced about being very close with their mom. It felt a bit convenient and a bit of a betrayal of the girls. Otherwise, much of the story is Thea planning a party to solidify herself in the high school hierarchy and Alex trying to survive each day. However, that doesn’t mean it’s plotless, it’s just much more focused on character development and interactions than action. Even the stereotypical party that wraps up the book doesn’t overpower Griffin’s focus on the characters’ internal challenges.

Overall, All You Never Wanted is a short but well-executed novel about the way life changes can be magnified during adolescence. There are moments where the book feels a bit like Gone Girl-lite, with Thea’s lies bordering on mental illness, but not in a derivative way. It’s not a thriller by any account, but there’s enough neurotic mental acrobatics to keep the reader on her toes. If you enjoy watching characters grapple with reality and like a very slow release of secrets, this is likely a good choice for a quick fix.(less)

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Dec 31, 2012 Marilyn rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 10th grade and up

Shelves: psychological-fiction, realistic-fiction, youngadultfiction

These two damaged sisters try to navigate their way through a weekend where their mother and step-father are away. I admit I kept yelling at the girls in my head, "No! That's a bad decision, please don't do it!" but that imminently crashing train just kept accelerating down the track, nothing but disaster in sight. Very visceral -I felt like that person driving past that wreck on the freeway, not able to look away. The ending was unsettling for me but I really don't know how else I would've want...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Sana Haque rated it 4 of 5 stars

All You Never Wanted belongs in the category of heartbreaking and hard to the core subjects. In the novel there are two sisters who have everything because of their mother's second marriage. But all they want is a way to start again. Thea wants to be popular, unlike in her past she was a book worm. Alex wants to be back to normal after an internship.The one person that stands in their path ways is Alex's boyfriend, Joshua.

The novel is twisted and will make you flinch, but overall, it will keep...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Sara (LitHacker.com) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The GOOD:
Thea’s narration grabs your attention with its audacity, pride, and jealousy. Sometimes reading Alex’s detached third person narration is kind of a downer, so Thea’s vitality almost feels like fun, even while you may want to yell at her, “Gah! Stop! Why are you doing these things?” Thea’s bad behavior includes inventing attention-grabbing lies that she has to immediately damage control: she equates her lies to performing an exhilarating high-wire act, and it is fascinating to see how sh...more

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