All You Ever Wanted

Product Information

With her taut writing and immaculate pacing, Susan Elliot Wright has created a dark and sinister tale of toxic family relationships, full of secrets and lies, layered with a perfect example of the smothering isolation felt by so many new mothers. I was utterly gripped from start to finish.' Lisa Hall, author of The Woman in the Woods Although I’ve been living happily in the North for twelve years, I was born in South East London. I left school at 16 and married unwisely at 18. At the age of 30 I took my two children, left my unhappy life and started again, reinventing myself with an education and a new surname, which I chose by drawing up a shortlist from the telephone directory and sending off for brochures so I’d receive mail in those names. I settled on Elliot; Susan Elliot sounded like ‘me’. Soon after changing my name, I met Mr Right, or in this case, Mr Wright. Within a few weeks, we decided to marry (although it took a couple of years to get round to it). We became the Elliot-Wrights, but we’ve dropped the hyphen now.

With her taut writing and immaculate pacing, Susan Elliot Wright has created a dark and sinister tale of toxic family relationships, full of secrets and lies, layered with a perfect example of the smothering isolation felt by so many new mothers. I was utterly gripped from start to finish.’Lisa Hall, author of The Woman in the Woods For most of my life, I’ve managed to avoid a full-time ‘proper job’, although after leaving school I did put in five years as a civil servant – talk about a misspent youth! Since then, I’ve been a cleaner, barmaid, washer-up, market researcher, cake decorator, FE English tutor, chef, freelance journalist, features editor, non-fiction author and creative writing tutor. However, Anna may not be all that she appears to be and as the story progresses, the reader certainly becomes aware of darker motives on Anna's part. Whilst Emily happily embraces a new female friendship and help with Bonnie.

All You Ever Wanted by Susan Elliot Wright  Summary

Anna is certainly a character that the reader will feel sorry for and her actions are clearly as a result of the trauma and rejection she has faced. With her taut writing and immaculate pacing, Susan Elliot Wright has created a dark and sinister tale of toxic family relationships, full of secrets and lies, layered with a perfect example of the smothering isolation felt by so many new mothers. I was utterly gripped from start to finish.' Lisa Hall, author of The Woman in the Woods I really enjoyed this book by author Susan Elliot Wright. I have not read any other books by her but I really enjoyed the way this was written, using different perspectives and shifts in chronology to show how the two women are connected. Emily has a picture-perfect life: gorgeous husband and baby, good job, great house. But with caring for their daughter, running their home, and returning to work, life is hectic.

An unnerving, suspenseful study of what it truly means to mother and build family ties. Susan creates an authentic and compelling picture of the many facets of a woman’s inner world. The way she portrays motherhood and the responsibility of care is timely, compassionate and honest. I devoured it!’ Amy Heydenrych, author of Chasing Marian With her taut writing and immaculate pacing, Susan Elliot Wright has created a dark and sinister tale of toxic family relationships, full of secrets and lies, layered with a perfect example of the smothering isolation felt by so many new mothers. I was utterly gripped from start to finish." - Lisa HallI absolutely love Susan Elliot Wright's novels and so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this advance copy. All You Ever Wanted is a change of genre for the author as it's more of a psychological thriller and it took me a while to get used to the author writing in this genre. Emily is a thirty something teacher, struggling with balancing working part time. looking after her 1 year old daughter Bonnie and living with a growing sense of paranoia regarding both her husband's fidelity and a sense of being watched. She has a challenging relationship with her adoptive mother and has felt increasingly isolated from her old friends since marrying her husband Simon. When Anna comes into her life she appears to be just what Emily needs - a friend and someone to support her with childcare. A gripping blend of creepy psychological suspense and powerful domestic drama. Elliot Wright uses her insight into human nature and her storytelling skills to thrilling effect.’T J Emerson, author of The Perfect Holiday The contract between Anna and Emily is very interesting and introduces some moral questions for the reader to consider. Anna's life has been one of struggle, rejection and loneliness whereas Emily seems to have a dream life and it does encourage you to question whether you should feel sympathy for her or whether she is ungrateful. I personally felt quite a lot of sympathy for Emily as a character considering the difficulties she faces as a young mum and overworked teacher coupled with the relationship with her husband, who I felt was quite unlikeable.