All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett

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⭐ 5-Star Review: All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett

👉 Grab All That Life Can Afford on Amazon

⚠️ Trigger Warnings:

  • Grief / Loss of parent

  • Deception / Manipulation

  • Economic hardship / poverty themes

  • Emotional abuse / gaslighting

🌟 Initial Thoughts

This book, you guys… I LOVED it. Absolutely endearing. Emily Everett did something so clever here: she pulled me right into Anna Byrne’s mind and made me empathize with her—even when she was making terrible choices. It reminded me a bit of the Anna Delvey saga, though the resemblance is loose. Still, the vibe is there: ambition, reinvention, wealth, and the messy consequences of wanting more than you’ve been given.

I gave this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5). It’s a debut novel that feels anything but—sharp writing, layered characters, and a story that’s both glitzy and heartbreaking.

📖 Spoiler-Filled Plot Summary

🚨 Spoilers ahead—turn back now if you want to go in blind! 🚨

A year after her mother’s death, Anna Byrne leaves Massachusetts for London to study literature. The dream quickly sours: she’s broke, juggling tutoring and bartending, and living in a crummy flat. Life takes a wild turn when she lands a tutoring job for Pippa Wilder, a sweet 16-year-old from a wealthy family staying at The Savoy.

Anna and Pippa click instantly. Soon she’s not just tutoring—she’s swept into the orbit of the Wilder family. Before long, she’s jetting off with them to Saint-Tropez for Christmas, drinking champagne, wearing designer clothes, and living a lifestyle that feels worlds away from her reality.

Enter Faye Wilder (Pippa’s glamorous older sister) and her circle of friends. Anna borrows Faye’s clothes, goes to their parties, and even catches the attention of Theo, one of the group. Meanwhile, she confides her rough past to another friend, Callum, who later turns cold—likely because he knows she doesn’t belong in this world.

Back in London, Anna’s asked to housesit the Wilders’ mansion in Highgate (cue “pinch me” moment). She and Theo continue their romance, though it’s built on lies—she hides her background completely. Borrowing more of Faye’s wardrobe, she cements her place in the group. But secrets have a shelf life.

💥 At a party, Faye spots Anna in her dress and publicly accuses her of being a fraud. Theo vanishes when Anna needs him most, but surprisingly, Callum steps in and gets her out.

Things collapse fast: Anna loses tutoring jobs, her dissertation is in jeopardy, the Wilders threaten legal action, and her world unravels. Homeless and broke, she’s left couch-surfing at her friend Liv’s.

But—plot twist!—Anna fights back. She applies for an apprenticeship at the British Library, doesn’t get it… but lands something better: a full-time role in the education department. She finishes her dissertation and finally catches a break.

Meanwhile, Callum proves he’s not the enemy. He convinces the Wilders to drop their charges and even gets Anna’s missing wages returned. Their relationship turns romantic (and feels so much healthier than anything with Theo).

The novel ends with Anna moving into a new flat with her friends Liv and Andre, working her new job, and—this part made me grin—planning a trip to Vienna with her little found family. After all the chaos, Anna finally has stability, friendship, and a future she earned herself.

💭 Final Thoughts

This story is such a fascinating mix of glamour and grit. You’re pulled between rooting for Anna and cringing at her choices—but that’s what makes it feel so real. It’s not a glossy fairy tale; it’s a heartfelt exploration of grief, ambition, and identity. And honestly? Everett nails it.

If you liked The Girls in the Garden or Social Creature, you’ll be hooked by this.

⭐ Final rating: 5/5. Read it, love it, and prepare to feel all the feelings.

📚 More Books You Might Enjoy

  • Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

  • The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

  • The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

  • My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

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