Review: All You Could Ask For

ALL YOU COULD ASK FOR

by Mike Greenberg

Why did you choose this book? this was a book club selection

When did you read this book? August 2013

Who should read this book?

Source: library

Here is a synopsis of All You Could Ask For  from TLC Book Tours

Brooke has been happily married to her college sweetheart for fifteen years. Samantha’s newlywed bliss is steam-rolled when she finds shocking evidence of infidelity on her husband’s computer.

Katherine works eighteen hours a day for the man who irreparably shattered her heart fifteen years ago.

Brooke, Samantha, and Katherine don’t know one another yet, but all three are about to discover the conquering power of friendship—and that they have all they could ask for, as long as they have each other.

My Review 

When I first heard about this book, it sounded like an interesting story. When I heard it was written by Mike Greenberg of Mike & Mike I knew it was going on my ‘to read’ list. I expected a pretty good story. Turns out it is a VERY good story! Like many others have mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised how well the author captures the voices of the women in the story!

The story is told by three women from their alternating points of view. Samantha is a young newlywed who learns on her honeymoon that her husband is cheating. Brooke has been happily married for many years. Katherine is a high-powered Wall Street executive who has never married.

Part one of the book tells the story of these three women who have never met, and who never do meet during this part of the story. The characters are likeable and interesting. The book is really three independent stories running at once at this point,  and if this was the entire book, this would be a cute story with three happy endings; basically a fun, happy book worth reading. But luckily there IS a part two because, even though I would have been satisfied with only part one, the book is so much more!

In part two, all three women are diagnosed with breast cancer at approximately the same time and all join an online support forum. It is here that they finally ‘meet’. From this point we follow the story of these women as they become friends and support each other in their battles against cancer. I like how the book shows that there is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment plan. All have different forms of cancer and different treatment options, and they make different choices about their treatments. While they do not agree about how aggressively they each want to fight their cancers, they do agree to respect each others choices.  

I like how the book treated the subject of living with cancer. All three women learn to live their lives for today, and to enjoy the happy moments come along. Even though they are aware that cancer can return, they don’t stop living life. They are aware of the possibility of a recurrence but are not controlled by this possibility. This would be a great book club selection!

Mike Greenberg is cohost of ESPN’s Mike & Mike and the author of two previous New York Times bestsellers. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a native of New York City. He lives with his wife, Stacy, and their two children in Connecticut. In conjunction with the release of this book, Mike and Stacy have created a foundation called Heidi’s Angels, through which all of the author’s profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the V Foundation for Cancer Research to combat breast cancer.

You can learn more about the book on the book web site here, where you can find a Reading Guide here. You can also follow Mike Greenberg on Twitter.

Your bookclub could win a chance to discuss the book with the author! Just fill out this form!

You can view a video of the author discussing the book below.

My Rating:  ★★★★   4 Stars

This book review is included in a tour by TLC Book Tours. I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review, which you can read above.

Mike’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, September 3rd: Time 2 Read

Wednesday, September 4th: The Book Wheel

Monday, September 9th: Lesa’s Book Critiques

Tuesday, September 10th: A Bookish Way of Life

Wednesday, September 11th: Sweet Southern Home

Thursday, September 12th: Book-alicious Mama

Monday, September 16th: The Bluestocking Society

Tuesday, September 17th: Brooklyn Berry Designs

Wednesday, September 18th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Thursday, September 19th: My Bookshelf