ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD

Anna Byrne is fighting to make her dream come true. She’s studying for a graduate degree in literature at Queen Mary in London, a city she’s longed for since she was a child. But making ends meet is hard; Anna grew up poor, lost her mother a few years ago, and no longer speaks to her father. Without a safety net, she bartends and tutors to make rent. But when the wealthy Wilders invite her to Saint-Tropez over the December holidays to give private lessons to their teenage daughter, Pippa, Anna is introduced to a high-end way of life and a glamorous group of people her own age through Pippa’s older sister, Faye. When Anna returns to London, the Wilders’ kindness grows, and they offer her the chance to housesit for their home in Highgate. As Anna meets more people in the Wilder orbit and assumptions about who she is spiral, so do the deceptions Anna must maintain if she’s going to stay in this dream where she’s found herself. But the precarity of her situation extends beyond convincing everyone that she belongs—her student visa means she must keep her grades up so after graduation she’ll be able to get a two-year post-study extension. Populated by beautiful people with good wardrobes and big hearts, the novel is fun vicarious living for the reader, but Everett keeps the stakes in sight at all times. Readers can feel the nervous edge with which Anna moves through the world, making this a gripping read from start to finish.

Apr 29, 2025 - 05:10
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ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD
Book Cover

Anna Byrne is fighting to make her dream come true. She’s studying for a graduate degree in literature at Queen Mary in London, a city she’s longed for since she was a child. But making ends meet is hard; Anna grew up poor, lost her mother a few years ago, and no longer speaks to her father. Without a safety net, she bartends and tutors to make rent. But when the wealthy Wilders invite her to Saint-Tropez over the December holidays to give private lessons to their teenage daughter, Pippa, Anna is introduced to a high-end way of life and a glamorous group of people her own age through Pippa’s older sister, Faye. When Anna returns to London, the Wilders’ kindness grows, and they offer her the chance to housesit for their home in Highgate. As Anna meets more people in the Wilder orbit and assumptions about who she is spiral, so do the deceptions Anna must maintain if she’s going to stay in this dream where she’s found herself. But the precarity of her situation extends beyond convincing everyone that she belongs—her student visa means she must keep her grades up so after graduation she’ll be able to get a two-year post-study extension. Populated by beautiful people with good wardrobes and big hearts, the novel is fun vicarious living for the reader, but Everett keeps the stakes in sight at all times. Readers can feel the nervous edge with which Anna moves through the world, making this a gripping read from start to finish.