The author has a special talent in pulling the reader into the setting of the story. Almost the entirety of the novel takes place in the Pookies where characters are hiking, camping and trying to work through issues they’ve ignored for the past decade. This story is very much character driven, with internal struggles causing much of the friction between sisters – Olivia and Melanie. I appreciated the beautiful and polished narrative.
If you are used to reading Christian fiction with a strong faith thread, you will get that here but unlike what a Bible-believing reader has come to expect in the Christian Fiction market. Religious faith, New Age faith, agnosticism and everything in between is discussed as characters grapple with their internal struggles. When Melanie and Olivia started discussing Tarot cards and what they meant and believing in reincarnation, the enjoyment of reading completely left. The question of the existence of God continues throughout the novel, with minor characters feeding into the discussion (who by all appearances believe in the existence of God). The dialogue doesn’t resolve the questions satisfactorily – and sometimes is left completely unfinished, an abrupt change in conversation – and invokes more questions than answers. At the end of the novel, neither sister has resolved their issues with faith – or have they? The reader is left wondering.
As well, a sort of friend/love triangle happens which causes more friction between sisters. That kind of trope isn’t my cup of tea, though other readers will love it. It is handled relatively well – but again, it’s just not my thing.
The biggest disappointment for this reader was the faith thread. If this book had been marketed for the general fiction market, I likely would have enjoyed it more. But with the expectation that this is marketed as Christian Fiction, it is lacking in the essentials. Hope and pointing readers to Truth.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

All That We Carried is written by a new to me author Erin Bartels. Estranged sisters, Olivia and Melanie trying to reconnect by hiking up in the Porcupine Mountains. Sibling dynamics come to light as the hike progresses. Old grudges and flashbacks are seen as the women while trying to work through their differences. By the end there is some understanding but no clear cut beliefs.

This is a well-written story that is character driven. The women spend a huge among of time bickering which is not only exhausting for them but also for the reader. All That We Carry truly shows that the baggage they had is too much to carry though they had tried for years to do so. I guess you must face the past to look towards the future. The two sisters did seem to be typical who despite their flaws their motives and intentions were good. The author is able to show this even with all the arguing going on between them. It has a rather vague conclusion that left me with questions concerning the future.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

All That We Carried by Erin Bartels is novel focused on two sisters who become estranged following the death of their parents in a horrific car accident. The sisters could not be more different with Melanie as a driven on-edge prosecutor, while Melanie drops out of college and begins a career as a life coach and blogger. 10 years after their parents death, the sisters take another hiking trip in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which brings back many forgotten memories and repressed feelings from over the years.

The storyline was unique and the author creates a vivid description of the setting that makes you feel like you are in the mountains. The writing created lots of tension between the sister and had a nice pacing throughout with a few slow parts. However, the ending didn't seem to have the same intensity as the rest of the novel which fell a bit flat for me. There is some discussion of God but it is not overt for those who are non-believers. This was my first time reading a book from the author which was a nice intro to her work.

Many thanks to the publisher Revell and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Learning and Coping on a Hiking Trip

Olivia and Melanie Greene lost their parents ten years ago in a fatal auto accident when the girls were on a hiking trip. Each sister has coped with the loss in their own way. Olivia buried herself in law school, work and a materialistic life style. Melanie went to the other extreme dropping out of college and pursuing a spiritual experience crafted from many sources including Christianity.

In an effort to bridge the gap between them, Melanie convinces Olivia to go on a hiking trip in the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Once committed, each sister is not quite sure why they’re doing this.

The author did an excellent job portraying the differences between the sisters. Melanie is a little disorganized while Olivia is controlling and has planned the trip in minute detail. The contrast makes for fascinating reading as the sisters face unexpected dangers and deviations from Olivia’s carefully laid out schedule.

If you’ve even gone camping, you can relate to the problems faced on the trail. Sometimes it seems that whatever can go wrong will. Camping makes you realize that there’s only one way forward. You learn from your mistakes and move on. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the way the sisters coped with their surprises. I highly recommend this book. It’s an excellent character study.

I received this book from NetGalley for this review.

In the ten years since Olivia's friend Justin killed her parents in a car accident, she's withdrawn from her sister Melanie - especially when Melanie befriended Justin, whom Olivia has no intention of ever forgiving. Now, Melanie has pestered her into going on a several-day hike with her, which will give them plenty of time to talk, or argue, or ignore each other - to bridge the gap or destroy the last fragile link between the sisters. But Olivia has regretted agreeing to do the hike ever since that day in March, and has no intention of falling in with whatever 'feel-good' agenda her sister might have. Their time together will challenge them in ways neither would have predicted and give them each time to reassess their lives and relationships, but will it change them for the better, or harden them in their problems?

I wasn't sure how much I was going to like this at the start - the open antagonism between the two sisters was not always easy to watch, and I didn't find it really grabbing me for a while. The other thing I didn't quite like was the ambiguity regarding their beliefs. I'm not looking for sermons (though I don't mind them if done well), but it bothered me that, as a Christian book, I was left feeling like I wasn't really sure where either Olivia or Melanie ended up, after starting off an atheist and a 'believe it all in an attempt to cover all bases' - which ends up with a true belief in nothing. Having said all that, the appearances of Joshua were interesting and thought-provoking, and I did enjoy the way that Olivia and Melanie each grew over the course of the book and learned to face things. The lesson that at times bad things really can be good in hindsight was a good reminder, too. All in all, I generally enjoyed the story.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

I had never read anything by Erin Bartels but I am always really intrigued by how authors handle sibling narratives, the complexity and nuance that often characters such relationships. This story centres around the characters of Olivia and Melanie who have barely spoken in the past ten years due to a traumatic family accident and the searing rift it caused between them and a family friend Justin. The trip itself becomes a sort of metaphorical working through of the obstacles in their relationship. Both sister are harbouring resentments and things that have been left unsaid. The tumultuous trip allows them to finally be open with the other. The journey also presents some consideration of fate, faith and the impact our actions have on those individuals around us.
One thing that was intriguing was the setting itself. In a time where we cannot travel too far from our own doorstep the images and allure of the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan were particularly impactful.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved it.

When an elderly parent dies, hopefully the children mourn, but then life goes back to normal. There is a sense of loss, and sadness, but there is also the realization that death is a part of life and that it is going to happen to all of eventually. However, when people die suddenly, well before old age, the loss can deeply upset family members, either pulling them apart or pushing them together in unhealthy ways.

As noted above, after their parents died in a car accident, the older sister, Olivia, tried to remove as much random chance from her life as possible. She was always prepared, she always planned. Nothing bad was going to happen if she could help it. Her younger sister tried to embrace everything--tarot and Catholicism, Islam and Buddhism. As her sister noted, she avoided making the wrong choice by not making any choice. Melanie is also an online persona who blogs, instagrams and vlogs, and makes money at it. She's a life coach whose goal for her clients is happiness, though she hasn't been really happy since her parents died and her sister refused to speak to her. She decides to try to repair the relationship with her sister through a back country hiking trip.

We follow the sisters as they follow Olivia's meticulously plotted plan--until they get lost and lose their map. As things not on the agenda happen the sisters do eventually connect, with the help of a man they meet on the trail.

The book is published by Revell, which is a Christian imprint. Part of what each sister does during the incidents that take place in the book is to re-evaluate her religious beliefs. I never got the impression that religion had been an important part of their childhood, but after the deaths of their parents, Olivia decided there couldn't be any loving God and Melanie had to believe there was something--she just wasn't ready to commit to any one belief. There is no big "come to Jesus" moment, and, just out of curiosity, I ran a word search for "Jesus" and found the word only once, when Olivia was asking Melanie how Christians could be right about Jesus without other belief systems being wrong. In short, while the book may be an invitation for you to consider your religious beliefs, it is not a sermon encouraging you to adopt the author's beliefs.

I enjoyed joining Olivia and Melanie on this journey of healing and am pleased to give the book an A.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley.

A beautiful story of sisters, of family, of grief. All That We Carried is both a story and a work of literary perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity.

This is a beautifully written story about two estranged sisters who meet for the first time in ten years to go on a hike together in the Porcupine Mountains. Olivia and Melanie are both carrying so much stuff (hence the title) besides their backpacks and they slowly release/share much of it over the course of the hike and the journey home.

Olivia and Melanie are fabulous characters because they could be any of us. There were times I struggled with both of them and by the end I'm really not that fond of either of them but I think that's the mastery of Bartels writing. We don't need to especially like them to be able to have empathy for their stories and the losses and grief they've experienced in the years they've been estranged.

Bartels does a brilliant job taking the reader hiking. I always felt I was along for the hike, bruises, blisters and bears and all, just from my comfy chair. Bartels presents the picturesque surrounds of forest, trails, waterfalls and the magnificence of Lake Superior in all their glory. I was excited to return to the story each day.

There's some intriguing messages about God, destiny, fairness, life being more than just ourselves and life after death. Bartels didn't wrap it up nicely by giving us any answers rather prompts us to think for ourselves how we'd respond with the questions the sisters contemplated. Further, the story didn't end with everything resolved. Yes, both women appeared to have made positive steps in the right direction for themselves and their relationship but for one in particular, there's definitely hope for the future but no clear path to what that might look like.

And that's life, isn't it? Lots of questions, lots of mystery and opportunity to explore beyond our own little worlds to discover the natural beauty of the world but also the hope and joy that comes with choosing to believe there is something more than what each of us carries.

Round up to 3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinions

All That We Carried is the story of 2 sisters who are each struggling with their own lives following the tragic deaths of their parents. Olivia carried on with her life, determined to succeed as a prosecutor. Melanie leads a more serene life as a life coach, blogger and lover of spirituality. The sisters have led separate lives for the past 10 years until one day, they end up taking a hiking trip in the Porcupine Mountains. Along the trip each girl struggles to find the courage they need to find forgiveness with themselves, each other and the past as they learn to love one another again.

This was my second book by the author, Erin Bartels, and while I enjoyed this one, it wasn't my favorite. I was intrigued by the storyline of the sisters, I just had a really hard time enjoying the hiking aspect of it, as that is not something I enjoy in my life. I also was expecting a very dramatic ending, but it ended up falling short for me. There was so much leading up to it, suspense and drama, then it happened, and I found myself a bit disappointed. While not a bad book, I didn't find myself being drawn to continue reading this one. I'm sure there are readers out there who will enjoy this more than I did.

I didn’t know this was a Christian book going in, and I wish I had. For those looking for this genre, this may hit the spot. The setting is vivid, and that’s my favourite part of this book: however, i just couldn’t get on board with the sisters. I wasn’t a fan of either, and I didn’t enjoy the constant arguments. I wish I could give higher praise, I think this will be the book for some readers, but it wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers, and authors for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

This book was beautiful, tender, sad and sweet. It perfectly captured the complex relationships within families especially after a tragedy has occurred. So many Christian books are over the top and in your face but this one kept your focus on the story between the two sisters while gently reminding you of Gods presence.

Olivia and Melanie have been estranged for ten years, ever since their parents died and Olivia left town. Olivia has contributed to the estrangement by not being willing to get together and work things out, until a moment of weakness when she agrees to go hiking with Melanie.
Olivia thrives on being in control of everything, so she plans the entire trip. Melanie seems to have a more relaxed approach and tensions fly between the two sisters when things start spiraling out of control.
This book has the drama of sister arguments, encounters with wildlife, unexpected twists and turns, and the angst of trying to determine what to believe in. It also has beautiful descriptions of the wildlife and thought-provoking conversations. The hike ends up being a life-changing experience, but not in a way they could have imagined or planned for. A story of redemption, dealing with grief, forgiveness, loss and acceptance, it will pull you in and make you want more.
I really enjoyed this book, but felt like the ending was a little rushed, and it did literally leave me wanting more. I have read one other book from this author, and will read more from her in the future, she is a gifted writer.
Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review but was happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a novel that is descriptive of scenery and surroundings, “All That We Carried” by Erin Bartels is extremely well written. It was hard to follow along, however, as the bickering between the two sisters, Olivia and Melanie, seemed almost nonstop. As a Christian book, something seemed to be missing. Perhaps it was the Christian part. The author does do a wonderful job at painting the picture of the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but that was the most redeeming element of this book for me. I do wish that there had been more humor to lessen the abrasiveness of the two sisters throughout the main portion of the book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

All That We Carried
By Erin Bartels
5 Stars

*Book Blurb: Estranged sisters embark on a hiking trip on the tenth anniversary of their parents' deaths in an attempt to reconnect. In the wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.*


You'd think that a story about a sisters hiking trip wouldn't be a page turner but Erin Bartels is a master story teller. Olivia and Melanie couldn't be any more different but what they do have in common are parents that were taken too soon and a hole in their hearts that only God can fill. Melanie is a free thinking, outgoing young woman who believes in everything. Olivia is a cynic, realist who believes in nothing. Battling the elements and past hurts these two sisters come together better than the way they started.

What I found so interesting is how the words just flowed so smoothly into each other. And the dialogue was natural and realistic The faith content was satisfying. Both girls don't know what to believe but they have many conversations about it. It's not until they experience things on their trip that both women entertain that there is a God that loves them. That sometimes bad things happen, but God can take those bad things and use them for good. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Thought provoking book! Two sisters hiking the beautiful mountains of upper Michigan sets to answer many questions that have had divided the two for ten years. The sisters, being totally opposite in personality will seek to over come the past. This story has many literally and figuratively references made to challenge readers to think deeply. Will the sisters find a path to move on? Recommended!

Olivia and Melanie are sisters that haven't been close since the death of their parents. They decide to go on a hiking trip together. During this hiking trip, they are able to discuss their differences and why they have grown apart so much. The meet an unexpected friendly hiker that literally helps save their lives and teaches them what kindness means to others. Throughout the hike, they learn secrets about one another that ultimately brings them closer to each other.

The book has a good story line and theme. I gave it a 3 only because I got bored with the hike. I found it to be a little slow in the middle as the characters were actually hiking through the mountains. The author did do a very good job of describing the scenery and interlocking the characters to one another.

I loved how the author captured the essence of each sister and how they prepared themselves for the hiking trip, in hopes it will reunite them. I adored this surprising, emotionally rich, engaging story, I could not put down. The author explores how sisters (people) can experience the same loss (ten years before) but look at it and dealt with it differently. These sisters learn how to stay alive on this shadowy wooded trail, trying to work together on the difficult terrain. This novel explores trauma, honesty and had a depth of love and understanding that choked me up. I enjoyed these sisters’ courage, as each face their fears, deal with incredible loss and their willingness to get unstuck from the pain of the past.

I was blown away by the compassionate way the author told this story, and brought up difficult topics such as death, religion, forgiveness, what we believe and why we do what we do. It was revealing, as the two search their souls, and hearts for a new comprehension. I liked how the author inserted flash backs to give readers a peek at how the girls' relationship used to be and how they interacted with their parents. Currently, they were treating each other like they did as kids, how did they cross over and treat each other like adults?

This is a well-crafted, gripping narrative start to finish with a surprising conclusion. It is a grand adventure in more ways than one. It is a novel you do not want to miss. Not only that, but It would work well for your next book club pick as there is so much to discuss.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Erin Bartels has quickly become one of my must-read authors. She has a way of tackling difficult subjects with humor and grace, and I appreciate that the elements of faith that are not heavy handed. In All That We Carried, estranged sisters Olivia and Melanie decide to go on a hike in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to try to find a way to reconnect after their parents’ tragic deaths in a car accident a decade earlier. The sisters are as different as two people can be, as evidenced by their reactions to the tragedy, as well as their chosen careers: Olivia is a trial lawyer tasked with putting the toughest criminals behind bars, while Melanie is a life coach with a large group of followers on social media called her Mellies. The sisters’ adventure is filled with various twists and turns, and I adored taking the journey with them.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from Revell through NetGalley for an honest review. We meet Olivia and Melanie Greene who are sisters. They haven't spoken in 10 years since the accident that killed their parents. They decide to go on an October hike in the Porcupine Mountains.
They begin their hike and they don't really get along or have anything in common. Olivia is a lawyer and Melanie is a blogger, a life coach, and likes spirituality. Along the way, they start getting into trouble and a man named Josh comes to the rescue. He seems to know the right questions to ask the sisters as he is talking to them individually. It gets them thinking. There were a few times that the girls needed rescuing and each time, Josh miraculously was there. At the end of their trip, there was a fire. and Josh got them to safety but there were more accidents. Olivia ended up in the hospital but one of her falls led the doctors to find something that if it hadn't happened they probably wouldn't have found the problem in time. Olivia went back to see the falls when she could. There is one passage in the book that stands out and says so much. It is, "She felt the reassuring shape of Josh's compass in her pocket and thought of the last time she had seen a waterfall before today, of that cursed hiking trip in the Porkies that had turned out to be the most bizarre of blessings. She's tried to dismiss it for a while, but when the diagnosis came in she knew she couldn't deny it any longer. There were too many coincidences, too many times, she had been ready to quit but had been thwarted. The bag, the fire driving them on, they stumble that cracked her knee cap, the fall off the escarpment. Even that overly warm day in March that started it all. Every little thing pushing her a little farther along to where she needed to be in order to save her life."
This is the first book I have read of Erin Bartels and it is a book that makes so much sense to me. Sometimes things do happen to get you to where you need to be. I enjoyed this book, it is well written, and we go along on the journey the two sisters have been on, and Erin gives us glimpses of things that makes you think, wonder about, and decide for yourself what you believe.