Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was thought provoking but tricky to follow at times. The themes were a bit vague and I would have enjoyed more details about the characters and overall story: I think this book could be really helpful to people going through similar struggles, but it didn’t quite get there for me.

This book is heavy. This is NOT a quick, easy read. It isn't a fun read. But it's a good one.

I was surprised at how much I relate to Mel. She worries about her stomach getting bigger, I worry about double chins. She needs to exercise for 6 hours a day, and while I don't go to that extreme, I definitely feel like I gain weight every time I don't go to the gym. Anytime I binge on comfort foods (my grandpa did just pass), my first thought is how hard I'll have to work out the next day to get rid of those calories. I always end up talking myself down from that, but that is always, ALWAYS my first thought. I assumed most women feel that way. I guess that isn't the case.

Mel's journey was hard for me to read for those reasons above. I ached with her, I cried with her, I rejoiced with her, I learned with her. This is a book that will become a part of me.

This was such a compelling, relatable and emotive read. One of my best friends has suffered since childhood with an eating disorder and I saw so much of her and her struggles with in this book. A really great book

This book resonates so deeply with me.
Eating disorders are something that are currently very close to my heart, because I have people in my life I care so deeply about struggling to find their way through.
I loved the story, loved hearing from Mel.
It is absolutely heartbreaking, yet oh so beautiful.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Autumn Lytle’s debut novel, ALL THAT FILLS US, is brave, insightful, and powerful. Having read the author’s bio and publisher’s notes, I knew this would be a painful and visceral journey for the protagonist, but the humor and respect for this disease was an unexpected revelation.

The protagonist, Mel, is relatable. At the root of her eating disorder, Mel struggles with self-worth and finding her place in the world, these are universal struggles. Which truly helped me to understand that we all have different ways of processing those pains, but the first step is to recovery is not that different for all of us.

Mel’s journey to Mt. Rainier (I used to be able to see Mt. Rainier when I walked to the mailbox *sigh*) from Grand Rapids, MI seems impossible. Really, it was impossible in her condition, but that tiny ember—spark—of hope drove her.

It was an Every Man’s journey that was so remarkable and nourishing to the soul, I couldn’t stop swiping those pages, until at last I finished with a better understanding of this disease and my own humanity.

Beautifully written, Lytle has given a voice to those with hearts so guarded by shame and worthlessness and pride, it nearly squeezes all the life from these vibrant souls. Her voice and her journey fed this novel so richly. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Highly recommend for the well-written adventure that it is—the incredible subject matter makes it all the more compelling.

I received a complimentary eBook from Revell through #NetGalley, for my honest review.

CW for religion; eating disorders

This book was a hard read for me. Mel was someone I could heavily relate to with her struggles, but following her journey with non traditional means to help solve it made it tough for me.

I think the premise of this book really touched on the fact that we truly have no idea of what is happening in other people's minds and to treat everyone with compassion and kidness.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

A poignant and sadly relatable story. Unfortunately, I have struggled with religion and medical cross-over and found this book triggering and uncomfortable but well written and representative of an authentic experience. This book might not be for everyone, but it is an evocative journey and may help others understand the experience even if they have never lived it.

3.5 stars

This is a challenging read about a woman who struggles with an eating disorder and makes a pilgrimage walking from Michigan State to Mount Rainier. Mel struggles with her thoughts and self-worth, and is addicted to exercise and not eating. Dangerously close to dying, she balks at the care provided her by her grandmother and medical team. She’s ended up one too many times in the hospital and rehab is the next step in her recovery. For whatever reason (which isn’t clear to the reader at the beginning), she refuses this and decides to walk to Mount Rainier, forming a pilgrimage similar to one her dad went on when he was young.

The author does an excellent job giving readers insight to Mel’s thoughts. She battles herself on every page and in every circumstance as she walks, sometimes frustrating to the reader. Lots of interesting characters are presented along the journey, each one somehow helping Mel to heal. There is one character in particular that is spiritual – so lots of teachings that are pulled from a variety of religions. Healing for Mel isn’t found in the love, mercy or grace of God, but rather in reciting prayers and finding God in nature.

If you enjoyed, Erin Bartels’s All That We Carried, a story of estranged sisters hiking through mountains and dealing with their broken relationship, you’ll probably enjoy All That Fills Us.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A promising debut novel from an author I'll be watching in future.

This is a thought-provoking read on a lot of levels. I was amazed at how much I actually saw myself in Mel's thought processes and struggles; I've never suffered from an eating disorder, yet I've had many of the same thoughts, fears, and concerns with weight, the numbers on the scale, and corresponding urges to exercise to perhaps unhealthy levels. Frankly, it was eye-opening and humbling.

I loved that Mel continued on her journey to Mt. Rainier--I'm a PNW girl through and through, and any and every PNW reference made me smile. I wish we'd seen more of her recovery process through some form of medical assistance, whether rehab, therapy, a dietitian/nutritionist, etc. Granted, I have NO idea--again, not having actually experienced an eating disorder myself--what the general (or an optimal) approach is on that front, but I do think it would be helpful for those readers who do and who pick up this read.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

After seeing social media posts raving about this book, I had to read it and was not disappointed. The thoughtfulness, creativity, raw character development and scenic imagery are a stunning and emotional gift to readers.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

This book gets my nomination for book of the year, hands down. It is he breathtaking and awe-inspiring story of a young woman named Mel Ellis who suffers from an eating disorder and a lack of self worth that is slowly killing her. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, she decides to take a pilgrimage on foot from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Mount Ranier in Washington state. The people she meets along the way are both memorable and inspirational. They don’t only insist on feeding her physically, but they also feed her hungry soul. What she is searching for is not found in a protein bar or fewer pounds on the scale, but it is found within herself if she can only survive to discover that truth. This book is a testament to the God who created each of us and who loves each of us as though there is only one of us. Mel realizes that she is damaged goods and throughout the book she has to come to terms with the fact that she can never do enough or be enough to be accepted. She just has to accept that she is. Her pilgrimage is a story that needed to be told and is told in a sweeping saga, complete with beautiful imagery of all that she sees and experiences. My favorite characters besides Mel are Chrystal and David, a sister and her young brother, who offer Mel shelter, first aid and a family that accepts her just as she is. I loved this book and all of its beautiful descriptive passages, but mostly I enjoyed the heartfelt message of hope that it gives.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions 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 Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

All That fills Us is a very well written book.. I enjoyed the plot it was very thought provoking. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

A story that is more of a journey about healing and how hard life can be but there are still good people in the world!

Mel Ellis has an eating disorder and knows full well that it is killing her. She has been trying to get a handle on it for years with no luck. Rehab is her next step, but she can’t bring herself to go. Instead, she decides to do something memorable, walk a trail across the North American Wilderness. There is no way she has the strength, physically or mentally, to make this journey but she sets out anyway and leaves Grand Rapids, Michigan to walk all the way to Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. The trip is hard and several times she almost doesn’t make it, except for the help and kindness of strangers along the way. She learns from each of these strangers and confronts the ghosts of her pasts to live through the adventure she has set out on.

I want to start with the good about this book. This is a hard story with real issues. Eating disorders are a horrible thing to live through for all those involved. And it does take a lot of courage to come back from that. Autumn Lytle does a fantastic job of portraying this. Maybe too good of a job at times, especially for someone who has never lived through that or knows what it is like to be in that situation. With that said, I did find myself annoyed at moments with Mel and her over the top counting of calories and excessive workouts. I say this not to be offensive in any way but as someone who has never gone through this type of thing to understand how hard it is to deal with feeling this way. For someone going through this, I would imagine that this would be a fairly accurate portrayal of dealing with an eating disorder and how it makes you feel. By the back half of the book, I could see a growth in Mel as a character and the way the story unfolded leaves something for everyone to relate to. It is not just about Mel having an eating disorder, it is about her finding her self-worth and loving herself before she can let anyone else love her. To me, that is the overall point of the story and it is a beautiful one that we all need to hear. I would recommend this story to anyone who needs to find a way to let go of the hurt and find a way to love themselves with a reminder that there are really good people left in the world that will come along at just the right time to help us in our hour of need.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Raw, true, and ultimately hopeful, debut author Autumn Lytle offers us a tale of self-realization in the midst of crisis that is beautifully told.



From the moment I heard about this book, I was excited to read it. It did not disappoint. I found this book so hard to put down. The writing is addictive for its beautiful prose and its thoughtfulness. In Mel, we find a heroine that I think many of us can relate to. At the root of her eating disorder, Mel struggles with self-worth and finding her place in the world, issues that are universal. You feel her pain as you read her story and she is just the sort of character you want to hug. Her voice will resonate with you long after you turn the last page.



The beauty and the cruelty of nature are portrayed vividly throughout the book as Mel travels from Michigan to Washington State on foot. Moments of dealing with intense heat and chilling rain serve as a metaphor of the destructive thoughts that Mel faces, and the wonder of gazing at stars in the midst of a corn field, or finally reaching the majestic Mount Rainier portray the beauty that we can feel in our own lives. The people Mel meets on her journey are a fitting part of the backdrop to this story, as well. Each of them teaches Mel valuable lessons, helping her to see herself from a new and healthier perspective.



All That Fills Us is a book that anyone can relate to and take away something from. Coupled with the author’s lovely prose, it made this book a truly satisfying read. I hope to read many more books by Autumn Lytle in the future. Highly recommended.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

All That Fills Us follows Mel, as she decides to walk from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, in order to avoid entering rehab for her eating disorder.

In my opinion, this book was a bit all over the place. I enjoyed the premise and overall storyline, but I foud that a lot of themes were covered quite broadly, without any of them being explored in depth. In particular, her relationship with her faith and her parents, as well as her thoughts as she was slowly recovering should have been explored more deeply. I also felt that the blurb should have made it more clear that the novel focuses heavily on Christianity, as this may turn off some readers who are not interested in this.

Similarly, I found that there was not enough detail in Mel’s experiences when she began eating regular meals again. I am sure this would have been a difficult process for her, but I felt this was skipped over. As a result, it made her recovery process seem a bit unrealistic. Without giving any spoilers, I also found that the storyline involving her relationship with her ex-boyfriend was too rushed. Other elements of the story that I thought were unrealistic included that there were no attempts from the hospital to find Mel, that a couple invited her into their home without much explanation, as well as the dialogue on the whole.

Although I have mentioned a lot of issues I had with the novel, I did still enjoy reading it! My biggest issue was simply that it didn’t go into enough depth, leading to it feeling not very realistic. Despite these issues, if you are interested in the themes of this novel, it is still a worthwhile read. However, please be aware of the trigger warnings (eating disorders, exercise addiction) before reading!

All That Fills Us tells the story of a twenty-four-year-old woman named Mel who is in the throes on anorexia athletica. Her condition is so severe that she has been forced by her grandmother and doctor to submit to in-patient therapy. While briefly released from the hospital to put her things in order before she goes, she instead rashly decides to embark on a cross-country hiking trip from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Mt. Rainer in Washington state hoping that the trip will help her confront her issues. The novel is the story of that journey and the mind of someone suffering from this mental illness.

The book is great in drawing you into Mel's story. For some, the details of anorexia may be quite triggering. A reader should use caution if this is an issue in their lives.

There are three areas where I take issue with the book. First is in the feasibility of the trip. This is a young woman who at the beginning of the book had suffered 3 hospitalizations in the matter of a few weeks for blackouts related to her anorexia. She suffers another early on in the book. There is no way it should have been possible for her to make the early stages of the journey.

Second, the journey's ability to heal her of her anorexia. While the author, who herself suffered from anorexia, acknowledges in the endnotes that Mel's journey is not a substitute for therapy, the story she presents does just that. Mel is magically transformed through the lives of the people she meets along the way. The blame for her anorexia is mostly blamed on Mel's mother, post-college stress, and the boyfriend who rejects her. Mel does not take responsibility for her choices that led to this path. An epilogue would have been a great addition to resolve these issues.

Third, Mel's approach to God is problematic. Mel's mother is portrayed as an incredibly legalistic Christian. Mel is wrestling throughout the book with the idea of not measuring up to God or anyone else. However, the solution is not rooted in the love of God or the gospel but rather the recitation of the prayers of Catholic saints and finding God in nature. This makes you just want to scream the truth at times in the middle of her disordered thinking. As this is a book being put out by a Christian publishing company, I question why this is being considered a work of Christian fiction.

Overall, the book is an engaging take into the mind of someone with this disease while also falling short in several key areas. I received an ebook review copy from the publisher.

Read this if you like: Come back stories, spiritual/religious stories, detailed scenery

Check the triggers*

Mel Ellis knows that her eating disorder is ruining her life. She can't bring herself to go to rehab. She's broken and empty. She makes one last-ditch effort to make hers a story worth telling. She will walk her own road to recovery along the lesser-known trails of the North American wilderness.

Though she is physically and mentally unprepared to face the difficulties that lay ahead, she sets off on foot from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and heads toward Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. During the long journey, she meets strangers with their own stories, as well as ghosts from her past who can no longer be ignored. The land she travels threatens her success at every turn but it's her own dark thoughts she'll have to overcome in order to find peace in the life and the body she has been given.

I liked this book. I'm not really religious and didn't gather that it would be from the blurb. It very much is though. There were a lot of funny parts as well as sad with the tough topic of anorexia throughout the book. I loved the different places she traveled. This comes out May 3rd. Go pick it up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Autumn Lytle, and Revell for the gifted copy.

Thoughtful, clever, and poignant, this is a smashing debut novel. Although the subject matter is heavy (anorexia), I found myself laughing out loud multiple times at the witty writing style. I love feeling like I'm in a character's head, and the first-person point of view in All that Fills Us really delivered an immersive experience. While, as a mom, I was wishing I could intervene and help Mel, I recall those uneasy teen/early adult years, and I feel they were captured perfectly. It's a hopeful, even cathartic book, for those struggling with eating disorders. Well done.

Thank you to @netgalley
and Revell for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Mel is a twenty-something year old woman battling an eating disorder. When faced with an imminent admission to rehab, she flees her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan on foot with her sights set on Mount Rainier in Washington State. As she has only spent about an hour planning her trip, she quickly learns how woefully unprepared she is and must depend on the kindness of strangers several times on her journey. Each time she encounters a kind stranger in a time of need on her trip, she experiences a sort of realization giving her hope for recovery and a resolve to complete her hike.

The author, Autumn Lytle has lived experience with an eating disorder and masterfully expresses the constant disordered thinking of a person with anorexia in this book.

Things I loved about this book include the themes of restored faith in humanity, resilience, and learning to accept help from others/let your guard down.

One thing I didn't realize when I first began reading is that Revell is a Christian publishing house. While there are mentions of God and religion in the book, as a person with different beliefs, this wasn't pervasive enough to bother me. I also did not really take to the love story in the book, but again it wasn't pervasive enough to take away from the book in my opinion.

If you love an underdog embarking on an unlikely adventure, I recommend this book.

If you read and loved Wild by Cheryl Strayed, I recommend this book.

If you have an interest in the inner monologue of someone struggling with an eating disorder, I recommend this book.

⭐⭐⭐.5
1️⃣ The main reason I requested this book was the cover. It drew me in. Let's take a moment to appreciate its beauty...... 

2️⃣ Mel's struggle with anorexia was heartbreaking. I was completely invested in her journey of finding her self-worth, a supportive tribe and her way to physical and mental wellness. 

3️⃣ Mel's solo pilgrimage across thousands of miles to Mt. Rainier was inspiring though at times questionable. I loved reading the descriptions of her finding peace and strength from nature. 

4️⃣ There were themes of faith and spirituality that I wasn't anticipating. I am not a religious person and often these themes can turn me off a book. Despite this I still enjoyed the journey and could see how her faith helped her heal. Though, I think these themes should be mentioned in the synopsis. 

💭  Enjoyed it but, don't think I was the intended audience.