All We Ever Wanted

As a single father, Tom is dedicated to raising Lyla to the best of his ability. Tom’s development, unlike Nina’s, is less extensive. However, he is dynamic rather than flat. He grows as a father and changes his opinions about people, such as Nina.

At the beginning of the novel, Tom appears to be strict. He worries that Lyla has struggled “to keep pace in [the] polished, privileged world” (15) of the other students at Windsor. This implies that his fear for Lyla extends toward himself as well. As a carpenter, Tom does not make nearly as much money as the other families in the Windsor community, and this makes him insecure. He is also apprehensive and untrusting of the other parents. At first, he thinks Nina is as “an asshole” because “only an asshole could marry a guy like” Kirk (136). He quickly judges Nina due to his experiences with other wealthy people, rather than allowing her to express herself to him.

Throughout the novel, Tom’s relationship with Bonnie illustrates his ability and willingness to grow. Tom tries to understand other viewpoints, including Lyla’s, which allows him to broaden his perspective on the situation with the Browning family. When Lyla expresses her feelings, he thinks about how he feels “the truth of her words on a deeper level that [he] thought possible” (291). Rather than acting on his emotions, such as when losing his temper in Walter’s office, he allows himself time to process what Lyla is saying. By doing so, Tom evolves. He places importance on deepening his relationship with Lyla over being strict and demanding.

Lyla is the protagonist of the novel. She is a sophomore in high school at Windsor, a private school she attends on financial aid. Lyla has white and Brazilian heritage and is in a lower financial class than almost all of her classmates. The other characters intersect through the picture Finch took of Lyla.

Lyla exhibits a broad range of emotions. Toward the beginning of the text, she claims that “it was really hard to find anything to be grateful for lately;” this implies just how much her experiences and moods shape her view of the world (67). She argues with her father, Tom, and, like a typical teenager, sneaks off to a party, which further perpetuates their tense relationship. Although Lyla struggles with Tom’s strict rules and her mother’s alcohol misuse disorder, she is able to understand her father’s perspective while staying true to her own needs. This illustrates Lyla’s ability to be both empathetic and independent.

Lyla can also be naive. Initially, Lyla chooses to trust Finch’s portrayal of Polly as being “jealous.” Lyla’s character deepens when she decides to rush to Polly’s aid and connects to Nina. By the end of the novel, Lyla has matured into a caring and aware young woman. In Polly’s room, she notes that Polly’s fear that her parents will be ashamed of her is not as “painful” for them as her attempted suicide. In this moment, Lyla demonstrates perceptiveness. She is also confident in her decision-making skills and values her integrity as well as the livelihoods of others. Rather than continuing to stay angry at Polly, she prioritizes Polly’s emotional well-being over her own troubles.

At the end of the novel, Lyla fully comes into her own integrity and values. She reflects on how much she, Nina, Tom, and Finch have grown. Though unsure whether she truly forgives Finch or not, she views the situation with empathy and recognizes his internal battle. She does not condemn Finch, nor does she forget the past.