All You Never Wanted (review)

Alex has always been the popular sister, pretty but also kind. Thea, on the other hand, is mostly forgettable, a smart introvert destined for academic glories but little else. When a change of fortunes makes the sisters obscenely rich, Thea effects a personality makeover, turning her intellectual gifts toward manipulative and malicious storytelling in order to gain the attention of the popular crowd. Alex has changed, too: she’s lost twenty pounds she couldn’t afford to lose and developed a significant anxiety disorder. While her boyfriend is concerned about her physical and mental health, he’s also patient, and Thea uses his concern for her sister to her own advantage, trying to turn his attention to herself. The rivalry here, though entirely one-sided, is nonetheless taut, as Thea tries to insinuate herself into the lifestyle her sister has voluntarily vacated. Alex’s mystery turns on a devastating incident that will produce sympathetic readerly horror, making her escape from her sister a valid move, while Thea’s machinations render her ultimately pathetic and unlikable, even as readers will relate to the motivation behind them. The complex emotional dynamics will engage readers who enjoy sister dramas as well as stories of girls struggling to survive after a trauma.