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All That Life Can Afford
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
3 days and 13:35:54
50 copies available
U.S. only
A taut and lyrical coming-of-age debut about a young American woman navigating class, lies, and love amid London’s jet-set elite.
I would arrive, blank like a sheet of notebook paper, and write myself new.
Anna first fell in love with London at her hometown library—its Jane Austen balls a far cry from her life of food stamps and hand-me-downs. But when she finally arrives after college, the real London is a moldy flat and the same paycheck-to-paycheck grind—that fairy-tale life still out of reach.
Then Anna meets the Wilders, who fly her to Saint-Tropez to tutor their teenage daughter. Swept up by the sphinxlike elder sister, Anna soon finds herself plunged into a heady whirlpool of parties and excess, a place where confidence is a birthright. There she meets two handsome young men—one who wants to whisk her into his world in a chauffeured car, the other who sees through Anna’s struggle to outrun her past. It’s like she’s stepped into the pages of a glittering new novel, but what will it cost her to play the part?
Sparkling with intelligence and insight, All That Life Can Afford peels back the glossy layers of class and privilege, exploring what it means to create a new life for yourself that still honors the one you’ve left behind.
I would arrive, blank like a sheet of notebook paper, and write myself new.
Anna first fell in love with London at her hometown library—its Jane Austen balls a far cry from her life of food stamps and hand-me-downs. But when she finally arrives after college, the real London is a moldy flat and the same paycheck-to-paycheck grind—that fairy-tale life still out of reach.
Then Anna meets the Wilders, who fly her to Saint-Tropez to tutor their teenage daughter. Swept up by the sphinxlike elder sister, Anna soon finds herself plunged into a heady whirlpool of parties and excess, a place where confidence is a birthright. There she meets two handsome young men—one who wants to whisk her into his world in a chauffeured car, the other who sees through Anna’s struggle to outrun her past. It’s like she’s stepped into the pages of a glittering new novel, but what will it cost her to play the part?
Sparkling with intelligence and insight, All That Life Can Afford peels back the glossy layers of class and privilege, exploring what it means to create a new life for yourself that still honors the one you’ve left behind.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
1,715 people are currently reading
27.8k people want to read
About the author
Emily Everett
1book103followersEmily Everett is an editor and writer from western Massachusetts. Her short fiction appears in Kenyon Review, Electric Literature, Tin House, and Mississippi Review. She is a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow in Fiction. Everett grew up on a very small family dairy farm with her parents and two sisters, studied English and music at Smith College, and studied abroad for a year at University College London. After graduating, she returned to London to do an M.A. in literature at Queen Mary University of London. She lived and worked there from 2009 to 2013. Everett has been managing editor of The Common, a literary magazine based at Amherst College, for eight years. At The Common, she edits fiction, manages print and online production, and hosts the magazine’s podcast. All That Life Can Afford is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
April 22, 2025
Anna knew she would love London since she first read about it in the pages of a Jane Austen novel. The London she experiences, post-college, is anything like she had expected, and she struggles to keep her head above water living paycheck to paycheck.
When she meets the affluent Wilder family, her luck quickly changes as they fly her to Saint Tropez to be a tutor for their daughter. Soon she is experiencing all that money can afford her, including not one but two potential love interests. But at what expense will her new life come, and is she willing to pay it?
I’ve seen comparisons of this book to the Magnolia Parks series, and I think that’s probably an appropriate comparison. However, Magnolia Parks has a lot of the messy romance drama that kept us coming back for more, you know that train wreck you cannot turn away from. This book, while not a bad debut technically, by any means, felt kind of, well, boring.
I struggled hard to connect with most of the characters, and as a result, never developed any meaningful emotional connection. While I appreciated the flashbacks to the tough moments in Anna’s life, and how much her mother has experienced being both diabetic and of low socioeconomic status, all of the moments in the present felt a little too over the top, lacking in depth. Almost like a trip to Las Vegas, the first few moments are bright and shiny and fun, but soon become cloying to the soul.
🎧 I have mixed feelings on the audiobook, as I did on the book as a whole. The narrator is perfectly fine, but never really added the extra emotion or oomph I wasn’t getting from the physical book itself. I have seen rave reviews of this book, however, so if it’s been on your radar, I’d say to give it a go.
Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️coming of age
▪️rich behaving badly
▪️socio-economic class divides
▪️love triangles
▪️Magnolia Parks vibes
Thank you Putnam Books and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
When she meets the affluent Wilder family, her luck quickly changes as they fly her to Saint Tropez to be a tutor for their daughter. Soon she is experiencing all that money can afford her, including not one but two potential love interests. But at what expense will her new life come, and is she willing to pay it?
I’ve seen comparisons of this book to the Magnolia Parks series, and I think that’s probably an appropriate comparison. However, Magnolia Parks has a lot of the messy romance drama that kept us coming back for more, you know that train wreck you cannot turn away from. This book, while not a bad debut technically, by any means, felt kind of, well, boring.
I struggled hard to connect with most of the characters, and as a result, never developed any meaningful emotional connection. While I appreciated the flashbacks to the tough moments in Anna’s life, and how much her mother has experienced being both diabetic and of low socioeconomic status, all of the moments in the present felt a little too over the top, lacking in depth. Almost like a trip to Las Vegas, the first few moments are bright and shiny and fun, but soon become cloying to the soul.
🎧 I have mixed feelings on the audiobook, as I did on the book as a whole. The narrator is perfectly fine, but never really added the extra emotion or oomph I wasn’t getting from the physical book itself. I have seen rave reviews of this book, however, so if it’s been on your radar, I’d say to give it a go.
Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️coming of age
▪️rich behaving badly
▪️socio-economic class divides
▪️love triangles
▪️Magnolia Parks vibes
Thank you Putnam Books and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
November 1, 2024
I loved this book.
Anna grew up in a house where her parents struggled financially and lived paycheck to paycheck. Her mother suffered from uncontrollable diabetes and with the cost of insulin life was difficult in their household. Anna escaped reality by reading books like Jane Eyre. She dreamed of traveling to London as an adult.
Anna is hard working and determined to complete grad school in London and achieve her dream of working as an editor. I was able to connect so much with this character. It made me reflect back on my 20s and that desire to build a life unlike the one you grew up in. Anna has a distant relationship with her father and no family to fall back on. When Anna is faced with the challenge of figuring out how to pay for school her counselor asked her if her parents could help. She responded “My father cannot support me financially or in any other way.� I felt this so much. It’s hard being born into a working class family but true wealth is having a supportive and close family. Anna has neither and is determined to create her own stability. This is a story of determination, grief, overcoming obstacles, building relationships and creating the life you want.
Anna grew up in a house where her parents struggled financially and lived paycheck to paycheck. Her mother suffered from uncontrollable diabetes and with the cost of insulin life was difficult in their household. Anna escaped reality by reading books like Jane Eyre. She dreamed of traveling to London as an adult.
Anna is hard working and determined to complete grad school in London and achieve her dream of working as an editor. I was able to connect so much with this character. It made me reflect back on my 20s and that desire to build a life unlike the one you grew up in. Anna has a distant relationship with her father and no family to fall back on. When Anna is faced with the challenge of figuring out how to pay for school her counselor asked her if her parents could help. She responded “My father cannot support me financially or in any other way.� I felt this so much. It’s hard being born into a working class family but true wealth is having a supportive and close family. Anna has neither and is determined to create her own stability. This is a story of determination, grief, overcoming obstacles, building relationships and creating the life you want.
April 14, 2025
I absolutely loved this book, and loved the writing. Jane Austen and other classic literatures melted into pages, timelessly yet freshly.
At its core, the story captures the messy, complex emotions of being young and naive. Anna’s longing to belong, her desire to appear as though she’s made it, and the selfish choices she makes along the way all felt painfully real. She’s too busy defending herself, rationalizing her behavior, and wallowing in self-pity to fully see the people around her—particularly Callum, whose quiet support comes at a cost to his own comfort.
Anyone would be able to relate to Anna to a degree and see a piece of themselves in her contradictions and missteps. It is a honest exploration of ego, insecurity, and the complicated ways we try to find our place in the world.
At its core, the story captures the messy, complex emotions of being young and naive. Anna’s longing to belong, her desire to appear as though she’s made it, and the selfish choices she makes along the way all felt painfully real. She’s too busy defending herself, rationalizing her behavior, and wallowing in self-pity to fully see the people around her—particularly Callum, whose quiet support comes at a cost to his own comfort.
Anyone would be able to relate to Anna to a degree and see a piece of themselves in her contradictions and missteps. It is a honest exploration of ego, insecurity, and the complicated ways we try to find our place in the world.
April 2, 2025
I was about 65% of the way through when I read that this is a "Pride and Predjudice Retelling"- not sure if this just didn't work on audio for me because of the pacing, but I really loved the first 20% when it was about a fish out of water and a coming-of-age tale, but about halfway through it fizzled. I had to keep going back to re-listen because I was zoning out. I really liked the audiobook narrator but the pacing of the plot was all off for me. Maybe I will try again in a few months!
August 19, 2024
The themes of grief, class, and privilege are definitely undersold in the synopsis for this book, which is a shame since those are what really make the story and Anna come to life. Anna's low income background, which was eventually the cause of her mother's death due to complications with diabetes, made her experience around London's wealthiest so much more fraught. Anna's such a delightfully complex character and I loved the journey she took as she found her place in London.
April 10, 2025
Anna Byrne, a scholarship student, graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts, and sadly lost her mother shortly after. Having a distant relationship with her father, she chooses to pursue a master's degree in literature in London. To make ends meet, she works as a bartender at night and as an SAT tutor for affluent families hoping to send their children to top U.S. colleges. Tutoring 16-year-old Pippa Wilder becomes a turning point for Anna when the Wilder family invites her on a trip to their home in Saint-Tropez. Accompanying Pippa's older sister, Faye, Anna, from a working-class background, encounters a world she has never known. She meets the moody Callum and the charismatic Theo. Back in London, Theo introduces Anna to his circle of friends, without revealing that she doesn't share their privileged background. Can Anna continue living her dream when it's built on a lie?
All That Life Can Afford is an impressive debut by author Emily Everett. Set in 2009, this Jane Austen-inspired book is a well-written coming-of-age story featuring literary themes of class, privilege, and grief. I especially enjoyed the nods to numerous beloved classic British novels. This book can also be recommended for high school students and young adults.
All That Life Can Afford is an impressive debut by author Emily Everett. Set in 2009, this Jane Austen-inspired book is a well-written coming-of-age story featuring literary themes of class, privilege, and grief. I especially enjoyed the nods to numerous beloved classic British novels. This book can also be recommended for high school students and young adults.
April 6, 2025
I LOVED this!!!! Our main girl Anna is an American grad student who fell in love with England through literature. She’s there for school where she tutors the children of the elite. After getting close with one family, she finds herself in a world she only dreamed out. Classic English literature plays a huge role in this and in a lot of ways it felt like a modern Austen. It explores romance and class and so much more. It made me ache for London.
February 7, 2025
A sweet coming of age story set in 2009 London. There is bit of drama, romance, and some beautiful scenes of London and historical context of literature in London.
Anna, is a working class American, who is is studying in London and gets swept away by the lavish lifestyles of the students (and their families) she tutors. She connects with a wealthy tutee whose family invite her to St. Tropez where she meets a cast of 'friends' in the upper class community who she struggles to keep up with. She makes some bad decisions in her efforts to improve her station and fit in with this new group.
The book highlights some important themes - grief, class, and privilege, but still the book has a lightness to it - just touching on these themes in a realistic but not overly heavy way.
The second half of the story picked up quite a bit for me and I loved seeing the arc of her journey - coming to terms with her own identity and embracing her background in a way that was delightful to see.
3 1/2 Stars Rounded Up
Thank you very much to Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
Anna, is a working class American, who is is studying in London and gets swept away by the lavish lifestyles of the students (and their families) she tutors. She connects with a wealthy tutee whose family invite her to St. Tropez where she meets a cast of 'friends' in the upper class community who she struggles to keep up with. She makes some bad decisions in her efforts to improve her station and fit in with this new group.
The book highlights some important themes - grief, class, and privilege, but still the book has a lightness to it - just touching on these themes in a realistic but not overly heavy way.
The second half of the story picked up quite a bit for me and I loved seeing the arc of her journey - coming to terms with her own identity and embracing her background in a way that was delightful to see.
3 1/2 Stars Rounded Up
Thank you very much to Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
March 14, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OMG I loooooved this book! All That Life Can Afford was one of my most anticipated April releases, and I’m so happy to report it definitely lived up to the hype I created in my mind.
This was everything I love in a book. Coming of age stories are some of my favorites and this one was incredible. I loved Anna’s character growth throughout the book. Of course the romance storyline was a huge part of why I loved this book so much, but I also really appreciated the subtle nods to Jane Austen’s book and Anna’s journey into the education field. Even though it was completely different than mine, I loved that connection! The themes of class and wealth and the part they play in social standings was just fascinating to read. This book was one of those literary fiction reads that doesn’t read like lit fic� super easy to get into and understand. I absolutely recommend!
Thanks so much for the early copy, @putnambooks (partner)
This was everything I love in a book. Coming of age stories are some of my favorites and this one was incredible. I loved Anna’s character growth throughout the book. Of course the romance storyline was a huge part of why I loved this book so much, but I also really appreciated the subtle nods to Jane Austen’s book and Anna’s journey into the education field. Even though it was completely different than mine, I loved that connection! The themes of class and wealth and the part they play in social standings was just fascinating to read. This book was one of those literary fiction reads that doesn’t read like lit fic� super easy to get into and understand. I absolutely recommend!
Thanks so much for the early copy, @putnambooks (partner)
April 18, 2025
Fun, witty and modern rendition on a P&P esque drama
April 4, 2025
This novel is about Anna, an American grad student in London to get a master’s in literature. She’s from a poor family and barely making ends meet, but after getting hired as a SAT tutor for a rich family she gets caught up in trying to fit in in the life of the posh set. But the book is also a coming of age story as she tries to figure out who she is and what she wants from life, a book about literature, a portrait of grief as she mourns her mom, and a book about friendship and romance. And it’s terrific!
I really loved this one. Now that I have a daughter almost as old as Anna, sometimes I struggle with books about characters that young, but not this one! Sure there were times where I wanted to stop Anna from making mistakes, but more in an “aww sweetie, no,� kind of way. Plus I loved the meta quality of this one - Anna talks about studying and loving books about class and poor characters in the world of rich characters like Austen, Wharton, etc. This book is not a retelling but it is sort of a love letter/homage/modern version of such a story, and I loved how smart it was!
And having already had a fantastic and deep buddy read conversation about it, I totally see why Reese’s Book Club picked this one for this month, because there’s just so much to talk about!
4.25 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy; all opinions are my own.
I really loved this one. Now that I have a daughter almost as old as Anna, sometimes I struggle with books about characters that young, but not this one! Sure there were times where I wanted to stop Anna from making mistakes, but more in an “aww sweetie, no,� kind of way. Plus I loved the meta quality of this one - Anna talks about studying and loving books about class and poor characters in the world of rich characters like Austen, Wharton, etc. This book is not a retelling but it is sort of a love letter/homage/modern version of such a story, and I loved how smart it was!
And having already had a fantastic and deep buddy read conversation about it, I totally see why Reese’s Book Club picked this one for this month, because there’s just so much to talk about!
4.25 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy; all opinions are my own.
October 3, 2024
Delightful. Perfect book for every English major who traveled abroad in London during college.
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April 12, 2025Seemingly based on the author's own experiences as a young adult, this wistful coming of age story set in 2009 features an American abroad who learns that she should have been paying attention when reading the classics: in the UK class is everything.
I'd caution readers who love a "propulsive" read that this book is definitely not. All That Life Can Afford has a pace more like a modern version of the 19th century books that inspired it. If you love the measured and reflective pace of classics, this book will be a perfect fit for you.
Anna, a young American woman of modest means, works as an SAT tutor to fund her graduate degree in the UK. Through her students, Anna gets a taste of how the other half lives. She's thrilled to peep around their gorgeous townhouses and tag along when they decamp to Portugal or France.
But Anna forgets the lessons of Wharton's Lily Bart (don't bother trying to rise about your station) or Newland Archer (rich people stick together) or Undine Spragg (Americans are hopelessly gauche) and thinks that her new friends consider her one of them. No they are just extending noblesse oblige to the hired help. Distracted by her shiny new squad, Anna turns her back on her true friends (big mistake) so when she makes a gutsy overstep that deeply offends one of the rich ones, she's cast out.
TLDR: It took me a while to adjust to leisurely pace of this book, which is a familiar cautionary tale about a character flying too close to the sun and then discovering what really matters. I was also a little confused about the significance of this book taking place in 2009, as it seemed like an odd choice. Upon reading the author's bio, it seems this book is semi-autobiographical: both the author and Anna went to Smith College and then got masters degrees at Queen Mary College. The author lived in the UK from 2009-13.
I'd caution readers who love a "propulsive" read that this book is definitely not. All That Life Can Afford has a pace more like a modern version of the 19th century books that inspired it. If you love the measured and reflective pace of classics, this book will be a perfect fit for you.
Anna, a young American woman of modest means, works as an SAT tutor to fund her graduate degree in the UK. Through her students, Anna gets a taste of how the other half lives. She's thrilled to peep around their gorgeous townhouses and tag along when they decamp to Portugal or France.
But Anna forgets the lessons of Wharton's Lily Bart (don't bother trying to rise about your station) or Newland Archer (rich people stick together) or Undine Spragg (Americans are hopelessly gauche) and thinks that her new friends consider her one of them. No they are just extending noblesse oblige to the hired help. Distracted by her shiny new squad, Anna turns her back on her true friends (big mistake) so when she makes a gutsy overstep that deeply offends one of the rich ones, she's cast out.
TLDR: It took me a while to adjust to leisurely pace of this book, which is a familiar cautionary tale about a character flying too close to the sun and then discovering what really matters. I was also a little confused about the significance of this book taking place in 2009, as it seemed like an odd choice. Upon reading the author's bio, it seems this book is semi-autobiographical: both the author and Anna went to Smith College and then got masters degrees at Queen Mary College. The author lived in the UK from 2009-13.
April 15, 2025
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: contemporary womens fiction
Plot: modern day Pride & Prejudice
Emotion: 🧡 yes but no tears shed
Spice: 🫑
Summary: Growing up as a lower class American, FMC struggles to afford her new life in London while working on her masters degree. After tutoring for a wealthy family, she’s thrust into the charmed life of the European elite. Fancy dinners, huge parties, extravagant trips, etc. Can she keep up the facade or will it blow up in her face?
Opinion: I REALLY enjoyed this book and it made rating it difficult. I think it stands somewhere a 4 or 5⭐️. It had twists, suspense, romance, frustration, sadness, emotion (though no tears shed). The characters were all likeable (or purposely dislikeable). The author did a good job describing the European destinations which was helpful for me🇺🇸. Why didn’t I feel like this was a 5⭐️? I don’t really have a great answer. The beginning was maybe a bit slow. I didn’t think I was going to get into it but then about 30% in I was hooked! Didn’t want to put it down. Maybe it was also a little too predictable? This book will live on in my memory for quite some time but it was not enough to place on the 5⭐️ shelf, unfortunately.
Takeaway: a terrific coming of age story with captivating European settings. If you’d like contemporary Pride & Prejudice then this is your book!
Genre: contemporary womens fiction
Plot: modern day Pride & Prejudice
Emotion: 🧡 yes but no tears shed
Spice: 🫑
Summary: Growing up as a lower class American, FMC struggles to afford her new life in London while working on her masters degree. After tutoring for a wealthy family, she’s thrust into the charmed life of the European elite. Fancy dinners, huge parties, extravagant trips, etc. Can she keep up the facade or will it blow up in her face?
Opinion: I REALLY enjoyed this book and it made rating it difficult. I think it stands somewhere a 4 or 5⭐️. It had twists, suspense, romance, frustration, sadness, emotion (though no tears shed). The characters were all likeable (or purposely dislikeable). The author did a good job describing the European destinations which was helpful for me🇺🇸. Why didn’t I feel like this was a 5⭐️? I don’t really have a great answer. The beginning was maybe a bit slow. I didn’t think I was going to get into it but then about 30% in I was hooked! Didn’t want to put it down. Maybe it was also a little too predictable? This book will live on in my memory for quite some time but it was not enough to place on the 5⭐️ shelf, unfortunately.
Takeaway: a terrific coming of age story with captivating European settings. If you’d like contemporary Pride & Prejudice then this is your book!
April 16, 2025
Such a beautiful coming-of-age story!!
April 17, 2025
Predictable story about a girl making wrong choices to fit in with a different crowd. But, everything ends happily. I guess I stuck with it because I liked all of the Jane Austen book references.
April 15, 2025
Oof no - not a favorite for me. I’m constantly reminded that when I try them, I really don’t like romance books. For me this was cliche and unrealistic. Some interesting cultural and medical commentary but otherwise not sure what I gained from this.
December 8, 2024
I read this book in a day. It’s just what I needed - a light, Pride and Prejudice-esque modern rom com. Reminded me of The Nanny Diaries.
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April 6, 20253.5 stars~ mixed feelings for me on this one. The characters had so many unlikeable qualities that it was tough to stay engaged at times. I did love the setting and descriptions!
April 10, 2025
A Reese Witherspoon recommendation? I’m a bit surprised, as it’s truly awful. Mediocre writing, boring, drawn-out storyline, anti-climactic ending. I try to not give one star reviews, but I can’t even round up and have a clear conscience.
April 24, 2025
When a celebrity picks a book for their book club, I am often resistant to picking it up, but this was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed this story of an outsider trying to fit in while dealing with her mother’s death and estrangement from her father. There is some commentary on class and ambition. This is also a bit of a love letter to London and classic literature.
April 8, 2025
I loved this book so much! It wasn’t perfect but I know that I’m going to constantly be thinking about it for a while ❤️
April 14, 2025
Entertaining and written well enough but I can’t help but feel like I’ve read this book too many times before.
April 11, 2025
Reallllly hated the main character of this book. Had to fast forward through 20-30% just to get to the ending
March 26, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book and was excited since it had high ratings. Unfortunately I did not feel that same as other readers. I think I am not the audience for this book and it would appeal to someone of college age.
February 20, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
3.5 stars rounded down
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, and all due to the FMC, Anna. I liked her at first and felt great sympathy for her situation, however as the book progressed, I started to really dislike her. You know where it's going to end up as soon as she starts making some stupid choices. And they ARE choices - she could have come clean at any time but chose not to. She could have simply texted a request to Faye but chose not to. I loved the character of Callum, someone she chose to involve in her deception after he's asked her not to. She completely abandoned her real friends and she's lucky they forgave her so easily at the end. I really liked the writing style, though, and even though the second half disappointed me, I would read more by this author.
3.5 stars rounded down
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, and all due to the FMC, Anna. I liked her at first and felt great sympathy for her situation, however as the book progressed, I started to really dislike her. You know where it's going to end up as soon as she starts making some stupid choices. And they ARE choices - she could have come clean at any time but chose not to. She could have simply texted a request to Faye but chose not to. I loved the character of Callum, someone she chose to involve in her deception after he's asked her not to. She completely abandoned her real friends and she's lucky they forgave her so easily at the end. I really liked the writing style, though, and even though the second half disappointed me, I would read more by this author.
November 27, 2024
Sooo I'll be moving to London ASAP!
I've always found it a bit unnerving to read a novel about a character who is *exactly* my age and gender. Luckily, my life circumstances have been very different from those of the MC, Anna, but I found this book thoughtful and self-compassionate. It was well-written and made a slightly wild plotline almost realistic. It made me want to go to Europe NOW and filled me with hope that good things lay ahead even when it seems like everything is falling apart.
The MC's fallout with her friend group isn't unpredictable by any means, but I found the interpretation of classism interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for another wonderful ARC!
I've always found it a bit unnerving to read a novel about a character who is *exactly* my age and gender. Luckily, my life circumstances have been very different from those of the MC, Anna, but I found this book thoughtful and self-compassionate. It was well-written and made a slightly wild plotline almost realistic. It made me want to go to Europe NOW and filled me with hope that good things lay ahead even when it seems like everything is falling apart.
The MC's fallout with her friend group isn't unpredictable by any means, but I found the interpretation of classism interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for another wonderful ARC!
April 6, 2025
It takes a lot for me to give a book five stars. A story has to have a strongly compelling plot, characters that are fully fleshed out and relatable, and moments that truly draw out my emotions. All That Life Can Afford delivered on every single front.
I grabbed this book on Libby the day it was announced as the Reese’s Book Club pick for April. There was no wait, I had just finished another read, and I figured I’d give it a try. That turned out to be a fantastic decision, because this book is nothing short of phenomenal.
Set in London, the story follows Anna, a young American woman studying abroad on a prestigious scholarship. She’s eager to prove herself in a city and a culture that constantly reminds her of where she doesn’t belong. As Anna navigates her new life—academia, friendships, romance—she’s also wrestling with the weight of grief, class dynamics, and a longing for connection.
What makes this story so powerful is how deeply human it is. We watch Anna grow and come of age in such a grounded, authentic way. She struggles with imposter syndrome—as almost all of us have at some point—and learns the true meaning of friendship, both as a giver and a receiver. Her grief for her mother’s death and her complicated feelings toward her estranged father are tenderly explored, adding layers of emotional depth to her journey.
Emily Everett paints a vivid portrait of class, privilege, and the unspoken caste systems that shape our opportunities and identities. Through Anna’s eyes, we see what it means to search for belonging in a world that often feels just out of reach.
There is so much quiet strength and humanity in this book that I found myself incredibly moved. For that, I give it five fully endorsed stars!
I grabbed this book on Libby the day it was announced as the Reese’s Book Club pick for April. There was no wait, I had just finished another read, and I figured I’d give it a try. That turned out to be a fantastic decision, because this book is nothing short of phenomenal.
Set in London, the story follows Anna, a young American woman studying abroad on a prestigious scholarship. She’s eager to prove herself in a city and a culture that constantly reminds her of where she doesn’t belong. As Anna navigates her new life—academia, friendships, romance—she’s also wrestling with the weight of grief, class dynamics, and a longing for connection.
What makes this story so powerful is how deeply human it is. We watch Anna grow and come of age in such a grounded, authentic way. She struggles with imposter syndrome—as almost all of us have at some point—and learns the true meaning of friendship, both as a giver and a receiver. Her grief for her mother’s death and her complicated feelings toward her estranged father are tenderly explored, adding layers of emotional depth to her journey.
Emily Everett paints a vivid portrait of class, privilege, and the unspoken caste systems that shape our opportunities and identities. Through Anna’s eyes, we see what it means to search for belonging in a world that often feels just out of reach.
There is so much quiet strength and humanity in this book that I found myself incredibly moved. For that, I give it five fully endorsed stars!
April 19, 2025
Quick review: This book was not for me. I started out feeling sympathetic toward the main character then moved to disliking her intensely for most of the book and ended feeling entirely apathetic. Not a good trajectory.
This is penned as a coming of age novel. I see it more as a make bad decisions and suffer the consequences novel. Anna is an American student studying in London. She’s living out her lifelong dream, but it’s not easy. She comes from a family of very modest means; often going without the basic necessities in life because of financial constraints. She is barely scraping by and hits the jackpot when she’s hired by a wealthy family to tutor their daughter.
They introduce her to the glamorous life of exotic vacations, designer clothing, and high society. And Anna likes it. She likes that life so much that she lies and invents a fictitious persona to be accepted among the privileged. This is where she lost me.
I understand the effort to show what she was willing to sacrifice to live the life of her dreams, but her utter shock and dismay when faced with the consequences of her actions struck a sour note. Maybe I’m missing the underlying message of this book, but I could not get past my negative feelings.
I hope other readers will have a better experience. I did enjoy the many Jane Austen references—even if I didn’t see the correlation to Anna’s experience. I did, however, LOVE Alex Finke’s narration. She’s quickly becoming a favorite.
This is penned as a coming of age novel. I see it more as a make bad decisions and suffer the consequences novel. Anna is an American student studying in London. She’s living out her lifelong dream, but it’s not easy. She comes from a family of very modest means; often going without the basic necessities in life because of financial constraints. She is barely scraping by and hits the jackpot when she’s hired by a wealthy family to tutor their daughter.
They introduce her to the glamorous life of exotic vacations, designer clothing, and high society. And Anna likes it. She likes that life so much that she lies and invents a fictitious persona to be accepted among the privileged. This is where she lost me.
I understand the effort to show what she was willing to sacrifice to live the life of her dreams, but her utter shock and dismay when faced with the consequences of her actions struck a sour note. Maybe I’m missing the underlying message of this book, but I could not get past my negative feelings.
I hope other readers will have a better experience. I did enjoy the many Jane Austen references—even if I didn’t see the correlation to Anna’s experience. I did, however, LOVE Alex Finke’s narration. She’s quickly becoming a favorite.
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