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Everything You Want
With high school mercifully drawing to a close, Emma's only question is, "What next? And can it please be completely unlike what happened before?" Then one lucky little lotto ticket seems to give the answer-or does it? Everything You Want is a story about what happens to an average family when money is suddenly no object. Although Emma is bright and creative and has a supportive family, she isn't exactly excited about life after high school. She's got her share of unresolved issues, including a disastrous ending to her crush of a lifetime, which left her with a broken heart and a bloody nose (how do you move on when the only boy you've ever wanted to date punches you in the face?). Then Emma's family wins fifty million dollars in the lottery, but instead of making everything better, it just makes everything more complicated. Everything You Want is the story of a young woman trying to figure out what she needs when, suddenly, she can have anything she wants.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Shoup
22 books39 followersBarbara Shoup is the author of eight novels for adults and young adults, most recently An American Tune and Looking for Jack Kerouac, as well as a memoir, A Commotion in Your Heart: Notes about Writing and Life. She is the co-author of Novel Ideas: Contemporary Authors Share the Creative Process and Story Matters., as well as in The Writer and the New York Times travel section. Her young adult novels, Wish You Were Here and Stranded in Harmony were selected as American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. The recipient of the PEN Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Fellowship and grants from the Indiana Arts Commission, she is the Writer-in-Residence at the Indiana Writers Center and a faculty member at Art Workshop International.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 1, 2018
Somehow, I found the protagonist Emma's voice to be both relatable (perhaps to a younger self of mine) and annoying. She often came across as immature and self-absorbed, albeit in a pretty believable (for that age and time in her life) sort of way. Still, eventually her voice and way of seeing the world began to get on my nerves.
December 13, 2021
Everything You Want by Barbara Shoup is a great book that has many exciting twists and turns. This novel is about eighteen-year-old Emma whose life is completely changed because of a single slip of paper. The piece of paper is the winning Lotto ticket that is worth 50 million dollars. Although theoretically life should become easier, it just gets more complicated. Between boy problems and troubles at home, Emma is faced with many difficult questions.
I liked this book, but didn’t love it. There are many times throughout the novel that things seem to move along slowly, but when you get to an interesting part such as when a new character is introduced or there is a lot of drama, it can be very engaging. It is simple and easy to understand. You learn about not just the excitement that can happen when you have an abundance of money, but the unfortunate things too. I loved the ending but I felt like it took too long to get there. I feel as though there were many parts of the story that didn’t need to be there to contribute to the plot and they just ended up boring the reader. Overall, this is a cute story, but not one I would recommend.
I liked this book, but didn’t love it. There are many times throughout the novel that things seem to move along slowly, but when you get to an interesting part such as when a new character is introduced or there is a lot of drama, it can be very engaging. It is simple and easy to understand. You learn about not just the excitement that can happen when you have an abundance of money, but the unfortunate things too. I loved the ending but I felt like it took too long to get there. I feel as though there were many parts of the story that didn’t need to be there to contribute to the plot and they just ended up boring the reader. Overall, this is a cute story, but not one I would recommend.
December 2, 2019
Everything You Want by Barbara Shoup is a one of a kind book. Eighteen-year-old Emma, fresh into college can't seem to figure out what she wants and needs. But one day, her dad wins the big LOTTO (lottery) and scores her family seventeen million dollars. Now, she can have anything and everything she desires, from clothing to an RV. But the money instead causes things to become more tangled. Between getting over her past with her old best friend and her future of being known as the huge lottery winner, Emma is unaware of what to do now. Her life has changed and will be different forever.
The book Everything You Want is one of my favorite books I have read lately. It is very simple and enjoyable. There is not much action and it is just laid back. It describes the lifelong dream of almost everyone, winning the lottery. The book nails every detail. Anyone could easily imagine the story.
The book Everything You Want is one of my favorite books I have read lately. It is very simple and enjoyable. There is not much action and it is just laid back. It describes the lifelong dream of almost everyone, winning the lottery. The book nails every detail. Anyone could easily imagine the story.
September 14, 2020
First of all, I think we have all wanted to be in this position or at least read a story about it, so the book gets a point right there just for existing. Beyond that, I can't even point to specific reasons why I love it. Just, you know how sometimes you get a book in your hands and it feels like all-around resplendent, solid, QUALITY? This is one of those books. I loved that it featured a college freshman, and that it took a fairly realistic look at what a not-especially-popular, fairly ordinary college freshman might do if she found herself in this overwhelming new position of family riches and how much good that actually brings by itself.
[2012 addition: Oh man. I've had awful luck with Flux-published books in more recent years, so imagine my surprise when I pulled this review out of storage to add to GR and saw the publishing details!]
[2012 addition: Oh man. I've had awful luck with Flux-published books in more recent years, so imagine my surprise when I pulled this review out of storage to add to GR and saw the publishing details!]
June 3, 2010
About the author:
Barbara Shoup is a local author who lives in Indianapolis. She will be visiting my young adult literature class for an interview.
Here's a description from her official website: "Barbara Shoup is a novelist, a teacher, and the Executive Director of the Writers’ Center of Indiana. Her young adult novels Wish You Were Here and Stranded in Harmony were American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. Vermeer’s Daughter was a School Library Journal Best Book for High School Students. She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the 2006 PEN/Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Working Writer Fellowship. Her most recent novel, Everything You Want, was published by Flux in 2008."
According to the book flap, Shoup was also the writer-in-residence at the Broad Ripple High School Center for the Humanities and the Performing Arts for almost twenty years, and she enjoys mentoring young writers in schools, community organizations, and correctional institutes.
My Review:
Emma, college freshman at Indiana University, is struggling to find her place in the world. She's not happy at school, and she goes home often to visit her family. To make matters worse, she can't even talk to her best friend from high school, Josh, because he has been avoiding her ever since she professed her love for him. When Emma feels like everything is falling apart, she receives some good news from her parents - they have won $50 million in the lottery! The rest of the novels follows the family as they each come to terms with what being rich means. Along the way, Emma slowly discovers what she wants and who she wants to be.
As someone who grew up near Bloomington (home of Indiana University) and lived in Broad Ripple Village (a neighborhood of Indianapolis) for awhile, I really enjoyed reading a story set in places that I was familiar with.
Shoup created very interesting characters and described the family dynamics excellently. At times the book was funny, and at times it was sad, but it was always entertaining.
At times I was annoyed with Emma for her constant negative thoughts, but I did find her character very realistic. I've known girls like Emma.
*spoiler alert* The only part I found hard to believe was when Emma forgave Josh so easily for how he had ditched her and punched her in the face. I was hoping that she would move on and realize that she was better off without him, but I guess it shows character growth on both of the characters parts that Josh was able to apologize and Emma was able to forgive him. Also, I thought that ending the book with a kiss between Emma and Gabe was a little cliche, and I wanted to hear what happened AFTER the kiss!
Overall, I enjoyed this book and plan to read more of Barbara Shoup's novels.
Barbara Shoup is a local author who lives in Indianapolis. She will be visiting my young adult literature class for an interview.
Here's a description from her official website: "Barbara Shoup is a novelist, a teacher, and the Executive Director of the Writers’ Center of Indiana. Her young adult novels Wish You Were Here and Stranded in Harmony were American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. Vermeer’s Daughter was a School Library Journal Best Book for High School Students. She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the 2006 PEN/Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Working Writer Fellowship. Her most recent novel, Everything You Want, was published by Flux in 2008."
According to the book flap, Shoup was also the writer-in-residence at the Broad Ripple High School Center for the Humanities and the Performing Arts for almost twenty years, and she enjoys mentoring young writers in schools, community organizations, and correctional institutes.
My Review:
Emma, college freshman at Indiana University, is struggling to find her place in the world. She's not happy at school, and she goes home often to visit her family. To make matters worse, she can't even talk to her best friend from high school, Josh, because he has been avoiding her ever since she professed her love for him. When Emma feels like everything is falling apart, she receives some good news from her parents - they have won $50 million in the lottery! The rest of the novels follows the family as they each come to terms with what being rich means. Along the way, Emma slowly discovers what she wants and who she wants to be.
As someone who grew up near Bloomington (home of Indiana University) and lived in Broad Ripple Village (a neighborhood of Indianapolis) for awhile, I really enjoyed reading a story set in places that I was familiar with.
Shoup created very interesting characters and described the family dynamics excellently. At times the book was funny, and at times it was sad, but it was always entertaining.
At times I was annoyed with Emma for her constant negative thoughts, but I did find her character very realistic. I've known girls like Emma.
*spoiler alert* The only part I found hard to believe was when Emma forgave Josh so easily for how he had ditched her and punched her in the face. I was hoping that she would move on and realize that she was better off without him, but I guess it shows character growth on both of the characters parts that Josh was able to apologize and Emma was able to forgive him. Also, I thought that ending the book with a kiss between Emma and Gabe was a little cliche, and I wanted to hear what happened AFTER the kiss!
Overall, I enjoyed this book and plan to read more of Barbara Shoup's novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2014
Beginning college, Emma, a college freshman has always had low self-confidence. Right when she’s about to go back home for the holidays, she decides to make a quick decision that leads up to something bigger. Her family wins a lotto ticket which changes her life drastically. Emma and her family go through situations and hardships that makes them doubt who they’ve been. You’d think 50 million dollars would make everything better and everybody happy, but suddenly everything changes in a matter of seconds. The family goes through many obstacles and realized the money changes who they are, and all of them are struggling to find themselves.
I think the book “Everything You Want” by Barbara shoup was really interesting. I can’t figure out if I really did like the book. I enjoyed reading all the hardships that most people could relate to, and how everybody want to find out who they really are. I also enjoyed how this book shows that not everything should be about luxury and money, that theirs so much more in life that actually matters. One of the reasons why I found it hard to see if I really liked it or not is because it was really slow, yet engaging when you get to the major events. I just wish they would make it interesting throughout the entire story. I also disliked how at the end they don’t talk about what happened to everybody else, if they all solved the situations they each faced. I really wish the author would talk about the ending of everybody else, but that’s also something I sort of come to love, is when the author keeps you guessing what happened to everybody else.
In the book “Everything You Want” by Barbara shoup has many inspiring quotes of life and situations that we don’t come around to ever really think about which makes the book stand out a whole lot more. This quote “The paintings are about life itself, how you try to hold on to what you love, all the while knowing that each moment carries its own tiny death within it. Everything, everything is alive and dying at the same time. Nothing lasts.”(Shoup269) stood out to me, because it’s a really long and deep metaphor. I love how it’s comparing paintings to life, and death. I think this quote is trying to show that nothing ever lasts in life and that’s what makes life worthwhile.
I think the book “Everything You Want” by Barbara shoup was really interesting. I can’t figure out if I really did like the book. I enjoyed reading all the hardships that most people could relate to, and how everybody want to find out who they really are. I also enjoyed how this book shows that not everything should be about luxury and money, that theirs so much more in life that actually matters. One of the reasons why I found it hard to see if I really liked it or not is because it was really slow, yet engaging when you get to the major events. I just wish they would make it interesting throughout the entire story. I also disliked how at the end they don’t talk about what happened to everybody else, if they all solved the situations they each faced. I really wish the author would talk about the ending of everybody else, but that’s also something I sort of come to love, is when the author keeps you guessing what happened to everybody else.
In the book “Everything You Want” by Barbara shoup has many inspiring quotes of life and situations that we don’t come around to ever really think about which makes the book stand out a whole lot more. This quote “The paintings are about life itself, how you try to hold on to what you love, all the while knowing that each moment carries its own tiny death within it. Everything, everything is alive and dying at the same time. Nothing lasts.”(Shoup269) stood out to me, because it’s a really long and deep metaphor. I love how it’s comparing paintings to life, and death. I think this quote is trying to show that nothing ever lasts in life and that’s what makes life worthwhile.
Currently reading
October 1, 2015You would think winning 50 million dollars would bring you immense joy, but that isn't the case for college student Emma. In the novel, "Everything You Want", the author, Barbara Shoup, tells the story of Emma and her family's lottery success, and the misery that has come along with it. I chose to read this novel, well mainly because of the cover (which features Freud), but also because of the very well executed, interesting summary on the back.
This story takes place in present day Indiana. At the beginning of this book, we are introduced to all the main characters we see throughout the story: Emma, Jules, Gramps, Mom, Dad, Margaret, Gabe Parker, TIffany, Matt, Josh Morgan, and (most importantly) Freud. Emma is attending Indiana University when her parents come to her dorm room with the exciting news: They've won 50 million dollars.
As the story unfolds and leads to the climax, we are introduced to Josh Morgan as Emma tells of their experiences together in high school. We are also told the story of her Psych goose, Freud. He certainly poses as nuisance to Emma's parents when she brings him home, and because of this Emma's dad decides to get a lottery ticket: the winning ticket!
After they win the money, everything is great, and everyone is happy. But, this happiness doesn't last. As the days drag on, Emma knows less and less of who she really is -- not that she really knew in the first place. All she desires is someone to love and to love her. She desires true happiness, but the people who really care are clouded by those who don't. People ask her daily to share some of her not-so-perfect fortune. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel, and many actions of the characters that make you gasp, "WHY DID SHE DO IT TO HERSELF!?"
The final resolution is most definitely unexpected. Emma finally begins to figure out who she really with the help of many people she encounters along the way. This book is a good one that can make you cry and laugh at the same time. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting more. This is a MUST READ, especially if you are interested in YA novels. It is related to any John Green novels and any other YA, fiction books. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about reading it.
This story takes place in present day Indiana. At the beginning of this book, we are introduced to all the main characters we see throughout the story: Emma, Jules, Gramps, Mom, Dad, Margaret, Gabe Parker, TIffany, Matt, Josh Morgan, and (most importantly) Freud. Emma is attending Indiana University when her parents come to her dorm room with the exciting news: They've won 50 million dollars.
As the story unfolds and leads to the climax, we are introduced to Josh Morgan as Emma tells of their experiences together in high school. We are also told the story of her Psych goose, Freud. He certainly poses as nuisance to Emma's parents when she brings him home, and because of this Emma's dad decides to get a lottery ticket: the winning ticket!
After they win the money, everything is great, and everyone is happy. But, this happiness doesn't last. As the days drag on, Emma knows less and less of who she really is -- not that she really knew in the first place. All she desires is someone to love and to love her. She desires true happiness, but the people who really care are clouded by those who don't. People ask her daily to share some of her not-so-perfect fortune. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel, and many actions of the characters that make you gasp, "WHY DID SHE DO IT TO HERSELF!?"
The final resolution is most definitely unexpected. Emma finally begins to figure out who she really with the help of many people she encounters along the way. This book is a good one that can make you cry and laugh at the same time. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting more. This is a MUST READ, especially if you are interested in YA novels. It is related to any John Green novels and any other YA, fiction books. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about reading it.
May 7, 2008
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Emma, a college freshman, has grown up comparing herself to a more beautiful and accomplished older sister. With her life plagued by embarrassing situations and constantly feeling odd, Emma thinks she will never fit into the world around her. Little does she know; most of her family and friends feel exactly the same way about their own lives.
Emma's tale starts as she attempts to save an annoying goose whose life is scheduled to end because she has finished her psychology experiment. Heartsick at the thought of Freud's cremation, she packs him up in a borrowed cage and takes him home for the weekend. Her parents are not pleased, but they accept it as a typical example of Emma's normal, yet peculiar, behavior.
It turns out that the goose changes their lives when Emma's father uses "golden" as inspiration in the purchase of a lottery ticket and ends up winning an astonishing $50 million dollars. That's when Emma's story truly begins. Does having money improve life or simply make a mess of it?
EVERYTHING YOU WANT details Emma's experiences as she struggles to find her place in the world. Having money doesn't mean that everything falls easily into place. Instead it tends to muddy the waters and make choices less clear and focused.
At times I found Emma an annoying complainer, but as she gradually comes to terms with her situation and begins to recognize that her personal problems are no different or special than anyone else's, I found her more likeable and relatable as a character.
Barbara Shoup takes readers into a world we all dream about, only to reveal that things may not be - everything we want.
Emma, a college freshman, has grown up comparing herself to a more beautiful and accomplished older sister. With her life plagued by embarrassing situations and constantly feeling odd, Emma thinks she will never fit into the world around her. Little does she know; most of her family and friends feel exactly the same way about their own lives.
Emma's tale starts as she attempts to save an annoying goose whose life is scheduled to end because she has finished her psychology experiment. Heartsick at the thought of Freud's cremation, she packs him up in a borrowed cage and takes him home for the weekend. Her parents are not pleased, but they accept it as a typical example of Emma's normal, yet peculiar, behavior.
It turns out that the goose changes their lives when Emma's father uses "golden" as inspiration in the purchase of a lottery ticket and ends up winning an astonishing $50 million dollars. That's when Emma's story truly begins. Does having money improve life or simply make a mess of it?
EVERYTHING YOU WANT details Emma's experiences as she struggles to find her place in the world. Having money doesn't mean that everything falls easily into place. Instead it tends to muddy the waters and make choices less clear and focused.
At times I found Emma an annoying complainer, but as she gradually comes to terms with her situation and begins to recognize that her personal problems are no different or special than anyone else's, I found her more likeable and relatable as a character.
Barbara Shoup takes readers into a world we all dream about, only to reveal that things may not be - everything we want.
December 15, 2014
This book was a really interesting and fun book to read! I really enjoyed it and it was another book i couldn't put down! It was a really interesting read about a girl named Emma, who is a character that was very relate able person. As she is going into the beginning of college. As she has a low self esteem being a freshman in college and all, she later finds a big surprise in her life. Her family has a big event happen that effects her. I won't tell you to ruin it but when you read the book, you will find out. This major event you would guess has great positive impact on all of their lives, but it's not all happy go lucky. The family goes through many hardships and ups and down, that affect Emma greatly. All these events being easy for anyone to relate to. Whether or not family it's easy to relate to. It's a lot about finding out who the family really is, and makes me think, if that event and surprise were to happen to me, what would my life be like and what would change? Would it be better or worse? I found myself asking these questions throughout reading the book. This book is really a slower book you could say because it seemed to take awhile to figure out what would happen next. For me that would be the only downfall to this book. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book a lot. I found this book had many inspiring quotes of life ad situations we face. Hints the title of the book "Everything you want" goes a long very well with the whole plot and story of the book. I highly recommend this book to really anyone because it's a flat out book about life and what could happen next in your life and if it will be a positive or negative impact.
December 6, 2008
It's all because of a goose that Emma's family wins the lottery. Fifty million dollars. You'd think it would make life easier, but suddenly everything gets more complicated. Emma's been immersed in her first semester of college and it's Not Going Well. Her best friend from high school isn't speaking to her because she told him she was in love with him. Emma stays in the psychology lab late on Friday night because her roommate's always making out with her boyfriend. Emma feels lost and alone and she wishes more than anything that she could return to the time when she was small, when her parents took care of her, when things were simple.
Everything You Want is a story about getting, well, everything you want. And then realizing that it's changed you and the things you used to want no longer apply. As a person who felt plenty lost myself during my early college career, I really identified with Emma's struggles. She felt very real to me and I liked that she described her life as both depressing and hilarious. Other characters in the book are pretty well developed, especially her family members who each have different problems adjusting to the money. I also loved that Barbara Shoup painted such a vibrant picture of life at Indiana University. She made me feel like I was walking down Kirkwood all over again. :)
Read more on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
Everything You Want is a story about getting, well, everything you want. And then realizing that it's changed you and the things you used to want no longer apply. As a person who felt plenty lost myself during my early college career, I really identified with Emma's struggles. She felt very real to me and I liked that she described her life as both depressing and hilarious. Other characters in the book are pretty well developed, especially her family members who each have different problems adjusting to the money. I also loved that Barbara Shoup painted such a vibrant picture of life at Indiana University. She made me feel like I was walking down Kirkwood all over again. :)
Read more on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...
December 27, 2008
Everything You Want is a coming-of-age story where it's okay to not be okay. On the surface, our narrator, Emma, has everything she 'needs' to be happy. She's got a loving and supporting family. It's her freshman year of college. She has a more-than-decent roommate to share her dorm. But everything feels wrong, feels off to Emma. And this 'offness' is only magnified when her family wins the lottery and becomes millionaires. Money can't buy happiness for Emma, or for her parents who begin to drift apart, or for her older sister. Money isn't the answer it seems on how to make her life feel right. Emma is clueless as to just what to do to "fix" her life. She's unsure of what she wants, uncertain of what she needs. She's uncomfortable in her own skin, but doesn't know how to 'fix' that. No matter where she goes, who she's with, she can't run away from herself, from her struggle to just be...to be content.
I liked this one. Loved it in a few places even. But as a whole, I can't say that I loved it. Emma's problems are all-too-real no matter your age. There are times in life when you're just not feeling it, where no matter what you do you can't seem to be the person you think you want to be or need to be. So I could relate to Emma. But I wasn't so in love with the lottery elements of the plot. Still, I'd feed comfortable recommending this one.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
I liked this one. Loved it in a few places even. But as a whole, I can't say that I loved it. Emma's problems are all-too-real no matter your age. There are times in life when you're just not feeling it, where no matter what you do you can't seem to be the person you think you want to be or need to be. So I could relate to Emma. But I wasn't so in love with the lottery elements of the plot. Still, I'd feed comfortable recommending this one.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
December 9, 2011
It's hard to say what I thought of this book. I have been having an argument in my head about it since I got to the halfway point. It was both engaging and incredibly slow; it was filled with strong characters but lacked focus; I rooted for the main character even as I was utterly annoyed by her attitude. I enjoyed the experience of reading this story, but I feel like it missed the mark somewhat.
I think I see what the author was going for, though. Emma, the main character, is trying to "come of age" while her family is also coming to grips with their newfound wealth -- which begins to feel more like a curse than a blessing by the end of the story. I bought that storyline outright, despite its inevitable "first-world problem" feel.
But at the same time, I thought there were too many story threads that were picked up and then suddenly dropped. That comes down to the lack of focus. And Emma does a lot of philosophical rambling in the second half of the book, which seemed true to her character but was just not all that interesting to read. I'm also not really sure she was changed in any permanent way by the end of the book, internally, at least. Throughout the book, she seemed to circle around changing only to fall back into her old patterns and mindset.
So, I'm not really sure if I would recommend this. There were some great moments and some great characters, and the family was very well-drawn, but as a whole, it wasn't cohesive enough to be good.
I think I see what the author was going for, though. Emma, the main character, is trying to "come of age" while her family is also coming to grips with their newfound wealth -- which begins to feel more like a curse than a blessing by the end of the story. I bought that storyline outright, despite its inevitable "first-world problem" feel.
But at the same time, I thought there were too many story threads that were picked up and then suddenly dropped. That comes down to the lack of focus. And Emma does a lot of philosophical rambling in the second half of the book, which seemed true to her character but was just not all that interesting to read. I'm also not really sure she was changed in any permanent way by the end of the book, internally, at least. Throughout the book, she seemed to circle around changing only to fall back into her old patterns and mindset.
So, I'm not really sure if I would recommend this. There were some great moments and some great characters, and the family was very well-drawn, but as a whole, it wasn't cohesive enough to be good.
May 14, 2012
This is a wonderful read. It pretty much captivated me over the past couple of days. An enchanting read about Emma, a character I could really relate to. Very awkward and unsure about how to take that first step into the real world and then the money really complicates things instead of making it easier. Her relationship with her former best friend Josh has left her particularly vulnerable. She's really awkward but I could totally understand. I haven't ready an awkward, shy character as real as her in a long time. She was so consistent and so fleshed out. There are plenty of characters but a lot of the book is spent in Emma's head, which might turn some people off. I liked it tho. There was a lot of meandering. People would drop out of the story and then come back. I felt everything was wrapped up nicely, although I would have liked to know more about Jules and Will. I just can't describe how intensely I related to Emma and I think that was the main reason I liked it so much. Not your typical YA book, for sure.
January 2, 2013
This book wasn't what I expected. I thought the goose would have more involvement in the story, but he was just in the beginning. The main character Emma goes through many ups and downs in this novel. She is close to/in depression for most of the book, and this, I think, wasn't clearly explain. It could have been about losing her BFF in high school, or because she missed living at home, or a combination of both. Either way, Emma was upset with herself and the others around her. Winning the money only added to her stress. I was thinking that the story would focus more on her relationships with Gabe, Tiffany, and Josh at college, but early on in the story, she dropped out. The storyline ended up following Emma, and how she ends up finding herself, her learning the importance of her family, and that when bad things happen, you just have to get through them. This book was kind of a different story for me because it focused on one character alone for most of the book. There was a lot of chapters with just her contemplating what was going on in her life. Overall this book is a 3/5.
November 11, 2008
Emma is an eighteen year old college freshman and miserable. She has a perky roommate with serious boyfriend, she's gained more than the freshman fifteen and she spends most Friday nights "partying" with her psychology experiment, a goose named Freud. Add to the mix the presence her estranged best friend from highschool, and Indiana University isn't on Emma's list of favorite places. She winds up rescuing Freud and taking him home to live in a canal near her family home. Soon after, her father wins big in the Lotto Cash game and one would think Emma's life would sort itself out and become much easier. But Emma spends much of the book looking for her place in the cosmos, with a lot of introspection and trying on different things for style.
I may have ranked this book higher on a different day in a different year. It took awhile to "get" Emma, and although she is surrounded by some great characters, all of their angst in general is a bit wearing.
I may have ranked this book higher on a different day in a different year. It took awhile to "get" Emma, and although she is surrounded by some great characters, all of their angst in general is a bit wearing.
January 11, 2012
I think the first thing the Hammonds should have spent some money on was Family Therapy. Maybe they could've gotten to the bottom of Emma's low self-esteem. Was it really because her parents told her how smart she was but neglected to assure her she was also pretty? Then there was Julie who had delusions of making it as a dancer in the Big Apple even though she was well into her twenties. Dad seemed to think everything was grand...how could it not be when you hit the $50,000,000 LOTTO CASH?! His main coping mechanism was denial. And Mom suffered from a guilt complex at having all this money when others couldn't afford to spend more than $15 per person on their Christmas List. And they were all totally self-absorbed.
I very much liked Gramps, though. He knew exactly who he was and what he wanted, and he didn't give a damn about what other people thought about him. He was the only truly emotionally healthy person in the family.
I very much liked Gramps, though. He knew exactly who he was and what he wanted, and he didn't give a damn about what other people thought about him. He was the only truly emotionally healthy person in the family.
August 18, 2008
Loved this book! I recently read Caletti's The Fortunes of Indigo Skye about a girl who wins the lottery, so I was interested to see another book with the same theme so soon. This one is much darker however: college freshman Emma is struggling - she is miserable at school, she's gained weight, and her best friend from high school now hates her. You would think it would all get better when her parents win 50 million dollars, but that's where you'd be wrong. Sure she now has a brand new jeep, designer clothes and a huge bankroll, but Emma still doesn't know what she wants to do with her life, she's still miserable at college, and she still misses Josh terribly. The story of how Emma and her family come to terms with their new social status is funny, sad and great reading. Highly recommended.
March 22, 2009
If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for coming-of-age novels, especially ones that deal with the after-high school time. Not too many authors seem to grab hold of the angst that can set in once you realize you're an adult and you have NO IDEA what the hell you're going to do with your life. Fiction can help you find a foothold, maybe eliminate some possibilities, illuminate others. Shoup does a great job throwing a wrench in the whole mix by giving her main character a million dollars.
The book is in the YA section, but I think it's just as much for the 20-something crowd that isn't quite healed from their leap into the big nasty real world. It reminds you that the world isn't centered around you, though it can really feel like it, and can be heavy and mean. It can also be delicious and full of possibilities.
The book is in the YA section, but I think it's just as much for the 20-something crowd that isn't quite healed from their leap into the big nasty real world. It reminds you that the world isn't centered around you, though it can really feel like it, and can be heavy and mean. It can also be delicious and full of possibilities.
September 25, 2010
okay, so i didn't really like this book to be honest with you, i thought it was okay. the reason i say this is because it kind of droned on about the same stuff for too long. it's like the author was trying to be deep, but didn't know how. it has all of this boring stuff about "cosmic" messages and signs, frankly i thought it was ridiculous. however, i think some of my negativity may have to do with the fact that i was reading this book over the course of like two months because i couldn't find time to read. i think i just got annoyed with everything, and i just wanted to finish the damn book already.
January 15, 2020
I’m happy to report this book reminded me of the important things I need to remember in my life right now: prioritizing, not sweating the small stuff, knowing what and who matters and avoiding sweeping generalizations as much as possible. While I’m not really like Emma, the protagonist in the story whose family wins the biggest lottery prize and then goes through these complicated situations with each other and their friends and life in general, it was easy to relate to her confusion and vulnerability amidst all that was happening. And while it’s predictable to have the story end at a happy note, it was comforting how she was able to somehow figure herself out by the end.
April 2, 2014
While not extremely philosophical in the traditional sense, Everything You Want asks the serious question: what would you do if money were no object? More importantly, how would it change you? After her family wins the lottery, Emma, the novel's college age protagonist, quickly realizes that she is still the same person she always was. Only now, there's nothing holding her back from change. Emma's journey of discovery provides deep detail of self. The reader can feel the despair Emma feels as she tries to regain a sense of self in her daily life. She, and her family, must find a way to work out the new problems which arise out of no longer having any monetary boundaries.
January 27, 2009
It's kind of refreshing to read a YA novel where the parents aren't dead, divorced or in some other way incapacitated. But in Barbara Shoup's Everything You Want I can't say I really liked them. Dad was foul-mouthed and mom was wishy-washy. Neither one of them gave Emma any real support.
Of course their financial windfall disrupted the entire family, but Emma's insecurity and neediness started long before a 50 million dollar lottery win.
She's lucky to have a supportive sister and grandfather who can help her through late adolescence.
Of course their financial windfall disrupted the entire family, but Emma's insecurity and neediness started long before a 50 million dollar lottery win.
She's lucky to have a supportive sister and grandfather who can help her through late adolescence.
September 28, 2008
The premise may sound less than original, family wins lotto jackpot and goes...rich & a little bonkers (in the most down-to-earth way imaginable! But the story is more than that. It's a courageous plunge into who the main character, Emma, is with the money, without the money, with her family, as an individual, as an eighteen-year-old woman trying to make her way in the world. What do I have to say? I learned about my own journey through Emma's travails.
November 9, 2008
When Emma's father wins $50 million, she is liberated from her miserable freshman year at Indiana University and the high school friend who turned on her, but why does untold wealth make her family so miserable? Why does this bright and attractive young woman have such pitiful self image? I can't help thinking I would handle newfound wealth with less angst and more enjoyment...
Despite the good reviews, I found this very disappointing.
Despite the good reviews, I found this very disappointing.
August 29, 2009
As an IU grad who has spent a fair amount of time in Broad Ripple, I enjoyed the connections. The story was pretty heavy on the philosophical toward the end (a trait I would have appreciated more as a college freshman- so, that should appeal to the target audience.) Also- spoiler- I really disliked that Emma agreed to be friends with Josh again. He PUNCHED HER IN THE FACE. I realize he was going through some stuff...but he seemed to be nothing but a loser and she should have moved on.
July 20, 2013
It took me a little while to get into this book, partly just because I was experiencing a book hangover from the last book I read. But it drew me in. At times it reminded me a bit of "Two Moons in August" by Martha Brooks...the desperate aching loneliness of it. But just like "Two Moons in August," there's a lot of hope too. Full characters dealing with lots of layers of life, making for a satisfying and moving read.
September 1, 2015
Something about this book felt a little too run of the mill and took a while for me to feel excited. The main character fell a little flat to me, but the writing style was engaging enough to keep me going. I likes the book more than I thought I would though, as the concept wasn't very appealing to me. It had a really good message and it felt like the author was able to take more of a short story topic and successfully make it something more than that.
February 11, 2009
This is a story of a family who won the lottery and how it changes their lives. I have often thought if I won the lottery I would keep it a secret, but they didnt and everyone changed towards them, perfect strangers would come up to them and ask for money. But not only did others change, they did too.
September 9, 2009
I enjoyed this book. The main character is a young university student (freshmen) at IU. She savea a goose from her lab, and now the goose won't leave her alone. Her family wins the lottery and life is forever changed.
I had the privilege of meeting the author, and Barbara Shoup is a dynamic and interesting person.
I had the privilege of meeting the author, and Barbara Shoup is a dynamic and interesting person.
April 28, 2009
Emma, a college freshman, has a pretty good life but she's not sure where she fits in or even who she is - especially after her best friend Josh flees when she admits she has feeling for him. Things get even more complex after her father wins a multi-million dollar lottery. A cut above the usual angsty teen novels; frank language and some mature college situations.
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