WHAT AN INCREDIBLE BOOK! "All That Fills Us" tackles two delicate subjects boldly: body dysmorphia and religion. I braced myself to read a cringey coming-of-age story where the protagonist realizes her religious parents were zealots and God is within but NOPE- Lytle did something I rarely see in novels- she presented God as a normal person relates.

The main character, Mel, was raised by parents so consumed with religion, they took her little sister and moved to Uganda as missionaries the moment she graduated. Her mom is a flawed parent, but Mel realizes it's not so much God that is cause of her mother's harsh judgements, but her mom's addictive behaviors. She comes to her own and recognizes God as a creator and someone who loves her... which helps he with the real battle at hand, her anorexia.

Mel decides she needs a pilgrimage and sets out, on foot, for Mount Rainer. She walks from Michigan to Washington, while battling anorexia, processing a particularly rough breakup, and pondering her place in the world. Along the way, she meets characters that cause the reader to lay down their biases and enjoy people for their humanity.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Thank you NetGalley and Revel for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable coming of age novel about Mel who is overcoming a breakup, family trauma and an eating disorder. She sets out on a pilgrimage that will forever change her life. I enjoyed this book and following Mel’s journey to self actualization. Some parts were a little drawn out for me, but overall an enjoyable read.

I feel it is important that I preface this review with some major trigger warnings concerning eating disorders. This has not been an issue in my life personally so I was able to read this book without the associated trauma but even still, it was heavy for me.

Melanie is a young woman in Grand Rapids, Michigan dealing with an eating disorder combined with an obsession with exercise that, as the book opens, is causing major problems in her life and death isn't looking like it's that far away. She makes a spontaneous decision to begin a hike to Mount Rainier in Washington State, believing that her answers may lay there. But do they?

This book, especially seeing as it's a debut, was so incredibly good. As Melanie hikes out to Mt Rainier, we learn about possible reasons for her eating disorder including a troubled relationship with her family of origin, her need to feel like she's contributing something to the world and without that being fulfilled she just wants to disappear, and a previous relationship that went awry.

One of my favorite parts of this book was, as Autumn calls them in the author's note, Mel's "trail angels" that she meets along the way. This aspect of the book shows the importance of being open to those around you, both to help and to be helped, and how those that God puts along your path can give you the healing that your family of origin is just incapable of giving.

--Maybe, I thought, maybe this vessel that carries around my tattered and weary soul was made for more than suffering--

Powerful, powerful book but, once again, I do caution anyone dealing with an eating disorder that it may just be a little too close to home as it gets awfully heavy and real before anything begins to change.

-- 4.5 Stars --

[TW: eating disorder, body dysmorphia, body shaming, toxic relationship] Let me start off by saying this book could be extremely triggering for anyone who has or has had an eating disorder. As someone who has struggled through this in my life, I did find myself having intrusive thoughts about myself and my body as I read this book. So, just in warning, this could happen to you as well as you begin to put yourself more in Mel’s shoes as the story progresses. Other than that aspect of this book, the story really is about Mel’s unorthodox healing process. She decides that rather than entering into professional care to help her deal with her disordered eating and lifestyle, she decides to go on a pilgrimage. She decides to hike from Grand Rapids all the way to Mount Rainier. The people she meets along the way are critical in her realizing that her way of life needs to change and that she can live a much healthier lifestyle as she continues on her journey. My heart ached not only for Mel throughout the story as I remembered my own struggle and process through disordered eating but also for everyone she encounters as well. Each has their own struggles and issues going on in their lives, yet they still care for her so deeply. Makes you get a little weepy if I’m honest. Also, as a naturalist in my own personal worship style, the way that Mel connects with God through the way she is out in nature spoke such high volumes to me! I loved it! Overall, this book was incredible and despite the triggers, I would read this book over and over again.


Thank you Net Galley // Revell Books // Autumn Lytle for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Unfortunately, I do not view myself as the intended audience for this book. I think it started out well and gripped me, but as the journey began and the central theme of religion became apparent (to me), I didn't find myself as engaged. Not to say that this wasn't written well - it just wasn't for me.

I read this book with fascination and a growing sense of connection to the main character Mel. I've never struggled with anorexia but I do struggle with body image and my relationship with food. Much of what I found in this intriguing, warm, wise novel was relatable on many levels.

I especially felt comforted by the way that Mel kept her "trail angels" with her as she continued traveling, like an imaginary group of wise council women. And I thoroughly enjoyed walking with her on her journey back to her self. I was reminded again and again, that there is no "right way" or "wrong way" towards healing, only the way that we choose for ourselves.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All That Fills Us is a beautifully written book... but one that, for some, should be read with caution.

I have read many books that deal with eating disorders throughout the years, but I feel like this one really did a great job of capturing the disordered thoughts that come along with that. We see Mel's thought process quite well... which for someone who doesn't have experience with an ED might help to better understand those who do struggle with these same thoughts. On the other hand, for those currently struggling it could potentially be quite triggering as well. The details given about what Mel was eating--- while certainly helping to allow readers into her thought process--- could also be used by someone struggling as a how to. I would still strongly recommend this story, as I feel like it is an important one to be told and the author truly did an amazing job in doing so... but it is not one that everyone should be reading either.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

ALL THAT FILLS US is a story about the healing process, which as the author points out, is far from linear. I appreciate how the novel does not sugarcoat Mel's current situation with anorexia or how messy her journey becomes.

I am not an eating disorder expert, but I worry a little bit that some readers will almost see portions of this novel as a "how to" manual. However, the specifics do make it seem genuine.

Lytle injects faith into the storyline in a natural and inspiring way, which I really appreciated.

The hiking and outdoors aspects to Mel's journey are fun and I enjoyed the quirky and ultimately helpful characters she meets along with the way. I was definitely pulling for Mel and cheering her on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Publishing Group for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

As some of you know, one of my many loves is hiking and being out in the woods. So, naturally, anytime I can get my hands on a book- fiction or non-fiction- about hiking, I am all in. I was excited to get this one, a fictional tale about a woman struggling with an eating disorder who decides to hike toward Mount Rainier as part of her healing journey.

Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. The two biggest issues I had were the way the eating disorder was portrayed and that, unknowingly, this is Christian fiction.

My issue with the eating disorder portrayal was it almost read like a “how to be anorexic” in the levels of detail about what our protagonist ate and didn’t eat and why. Body image was a very important part of this book, but I didn’t feel it was handled as delicately as it should have been.

I don’t have any issue with Christian fiction, but I don’t choose to read it. I was too far in when I started feeling a preachy theme and looked it up to discover I missed the fact that this is how it’s billed. I wouldn’t steer others away from it, but it wasn’t for me.

The writing is very good and the story was interesting, but it just didn’t gel for me in the end. I wish I had liked it more - the theme is excellent and the cover art is gorgeous! I appreciate being given a chance to review it early.

All That Fills Us is an emotional and raw glimpse into the life of a young adult with anorexia determined to work towards recovery in her own way. She decides to walk from her home in Grand Rapids, MI to Mt. Ranier in Washington state. The novel is both heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. I found it difficult to read at first because of how graphic the disordered thinking was described. But, after reading for a little while I was able to see past that and appreciate more of the lessons Mel was learning.

I chose this book to read because of the cross-country hiking involved in the plot. My husband and both my children are adventurers, while I sit home and support them by sending resupply packages.

Melanie Ellis is on the brink of a total body breakdown between starving herself and compulsively exercising. She has fainted, injured herself, and managed to find herself in the hospital again. When she is released, she promises to check into rehab, but instead, packs her backpack, grabs what little food she has in her apartment, and walks away with only a map and a quest on her mind. She takes what little cash she has and sets out to walk to Mount Rainier in Washington state from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

What makes this book so interesting is not Mel's thought processes, but the people she meets along the way who support her, help her, get inside her mind and prove to her she's worth more than she values herself. One line in the book (and I'm going to misquote it) made the whole book worthwhile to read. It said something like, "Before I meant anything to anyone, I meant everything to God."

This is a book about eating and exercise disorders, but it could be translated to many other disorders and the impact other people can have on our lives. It is a book about loving others, loving yourself, but most importantly finding your love for God through finding God's love for you.

Generally I hate buzz-words, but there are a few toxic characters in this book who are oblivious to their own toxicity, and that alone makes things harder for Mel and her recovery. Autumn Lytle writes with first-hand knowledge of the disorder and the struggles to overcome. I hope that this book will be widely received because those who have an eating disorder will get to say, "Someone gets me! Someone finally understands."

In many ways this book is a metaphor for how unprepared each of us is for this journey called life.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and prayers for those who are going through the struggle of an eating disorder.

Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Mel Ellis feels guilty. Guilty because she’s had a good life (average, but without trauma). When she passes out in front of her apartment (again), she wonders if she should finally listen to everyone who tells her she should go into rehab. Her doctor and grandmother both believe Mel’s life hangs in the balance.

Mel doesn’t know if she cares which way the life-or-death scale tips. But the bathroom scale? An entirely different matter. If she can just get her weight to an acceptable number, maybe all her other problems will resolve themselves.

She makes one last-ditch effort to avoid admitting herself to an eating disorders program. But her choice to walk across America might just kill her anyway. Along the way she finds kind strangers, quirky fellow pilgrims, and a slow unraveling of everything she thought she knew about herself. Which may be what she needs to find healing.

Why I Loved This Book

Every few years I pick up a book with average expectations and find myself laughing, crying, and grieving over hurts I didn’t know I carried. All That Fills Us did that for me. As Mel struggles with her eating disorder, I questioned my relationship with food and the way it has interfered in my life. As she compares every female she meets to her own journey with weight, I see myself and how I struggle with comparison.

Her struggles with her relationship with her mother exposed little pockets of grief I didn’t realize I harbored over my relationships with my daughters. All That Fills Us rings true as Mel struggles to understand how the weight of little traumas can steal our joy just as easily as the weight of one big Trauma.

Ultimately uplifting, at times difficult to read (because it triggered emotions from my daughter’s struggle with an eating disorder), All That Fills Us is a must-read for anyone who struggles and wants to believe in hope.

Somehow I made a big mistake when I requested this title. I mistakenly thought that it was a memoir about anorexia! As I got into the middle of it I thought to myself, this reads like fiction and I think the author is embellishing her memories to make the story more interesting. So I looked it up on Goodreads-- oops. I was wrong! Also I didn't realize it was Christian fiction... which I will read once in a blue moon ... but I like to pick and choose books that focus so heavily on religion -- any religion --or even lack of faith. This book mentioned God more than any other book I've read for pleasure before, and again, I'm not putting it down for that! It's just a case of "it's me, not you". Once I knew what type of story this was meant to be I started to forgive the coincidences and over the top encounters. I think that the author was using symbolism to show how the main character felt unworthy by everyone around her, and most of all by God. Her hike, called her pilgrimage, was her way of showing she could be special to God, which didn't need to be done, obviously.

This became a pleasant enough tale of a girl on a journey, alone with her thoughts except when she meets the various helpful folks along the way. She should have been hospitalized for severe anorexia rather than hiking alone halfway across the country, and I had to suspend belief in a character who is at death's door, but able to hike all alone across the country on primitive trails. I did like the description of her fascination with Mt. Rainier and her postcards, and her relationship with her father. She puts much of the blame of her anorexia on her mother, who obsessed about weight, calories, and fit of clothes for herself and her girls. The author's note at the end gave me an "aha" moment about her connection to anorexia.. All in all, the writing was solid, but it is not one that will stick with me for a long time. rating 3/5

This author got my attention and grabbed my heart from the first line, “The worst part of regaining consciousness was the slow and unavoidable realization that the life I was waking up to was hardly worth the effort.”

I quickly became emotionally invested in this story I realized came from the heart of this author as she laid open her life experiences to give insight, understanding, and a peek into what the beginning of the healing process for a food disorder might look like (everyone’s different).

The author shares in notes to readers, ”Mel and I do share the same self-destructive thoughts. Like Me. And millions of others, I struggled with an eating disorder,..Healing is messy, lengthy, and anything but linear…society doesn’t really know what to do with that….The road to recovery can be so very lonely.”

I felt Mel’s pain and shame as she went on this journey, she felt compelled to do since she was eight years old. Some of the adventures she went on during her pilgrimage reminded me a little of the many people Forest Gump met on his run. Mel met so many interesting, and caring people along the trail that gave her encouragement, assistance, and insight she needed to keep going forward one day at a time. Simultaneously, she was being painfully stretched beyond her comfort zone and wrestled with God along the way. Praying she’d achieve her goal.

This is a story with powerful imagery, delightful humor that takes readers on a journey both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. It’s a raw, gritty, emotional, eye-opening story you won’t soon forget. This book is a must-read! The author is a wonderful storyteller and one to watch, looking forward to where she will take readers next.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by 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

I didn't realize that this was Christian Fiction when I requested it, and I probably wouldn't have requested if I'd realized it, but I'm actually glad I didn't know until I was too invested to ditch the book because it was an enjoyable read. I was drawn to the description because I also have lived with an eating disorder, and frankly, Mel's overdramatic behavior and feelings were like they were taken from my own personal diary. I wound up relating to her a LOT, even if I didn't vibe with the finding God portion of the book, which is just a personal thing on my part. Autumn Lytle does a fantastic job depicting mental illness and how recovery can go for some people. Again, I'm not a Christian Fiction person, but I'm very glad I read this! Would definitely recommend, especially for people who don't mind a religious message.

In All that Fills Us we follow the journey of Mel Ellis as she embarks on a self proclaimed pilgrimage where she will walk from outside of Chicago to Mt. Rainier. Mel decides to take this pilgrimage in lieu of going to rehab for her eating disorder. She is completely ill equipped for this journey in every way imaginable. She has no real plan, and inadequate supplies, not to mention she does not have the strength or vitality to walk down the block on her own, much less thousands of miles while carrying a pack. But in spite of all of this, Mel is positive that reaching Mt. Rainier is what she needs to make her whole and give purpose to her life.
Along the way, mostly just when she is at her breaking point, Mel meets kind loving people who take care of her, and help her to heal herself a little bit a time. Other reviewers have mentioned that this pattern seems to become formulaic, and perhaps even a bit unbelievable- she is at a particularly low point and a kind hearted person steps in to help out. I see this as a part of the spiritual nature of the book. Along this journey Mel is coming to terms with her demons and with her faith. I see these kind people as the guardian angels being put in her path at the exact right time to take care of her and gently and slowly guide her to healing and self love.
In the end this is a book about learning to love yourself and accept yourself for who are. It is about learning that you are good enough, and have worth. It is a journey of self discovery, and whether or not you struggle with an eating disorder, or any other addiction, I am sure you will see something of yourself in Mel. You will emphasize with her, cheer her on, and learn along with her.

Mel, the protagonist, decides to go on a long hiking trip after multiple failed hospital admissions to try and treat her for Anorexia. It gives an insight into how people with eating disorders think and feel. I love the contrast to her feeling weak and dizzy from lack of food when she's walking alone, and then feeling healthier once she met kind strangers who fed her and made her feel healthier.

Shelved at 25%. DNF.

I would like to thank Revel and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC and the chance to follow along with Mel on the beginning of her journey.

I want to awe at the cover for a minute, because it truly is what captured my attention at first glance. I've always picked books by covers and its no surprise this one said "gimme" all over it. Once I got to the synopsis, I knew I had to have it. I'm a Michigan girl born and raised in Northern Michigan, now living in Metro Detroit. I am a *sucker* for small niche mentions of our mitten state, especially the mention of a little ice cream shop that was born in my home town.

I found mentions of Seattle--the home of one of my closest friends--and an issue for a struggling young woman that were reminiscent of pressures I felt in adolescence. I thought it was going to be a home run for me. And, at moments it was. Every mention of something so purely "Michigan", especially the little nod to Kilwin's, made my heart so happy. On top of that, Mel's dark humor is something I adore as I tend to use it way too often as a coping mechanism myself. But, At 25%, I am sad to shelve this story--I am just not the intended audience for this book.

There was nothing in the synopsis that hinted toward how heavy of a role Faith/Religion would play in this book. Both Mel's own faith, and that of her family as her parents are missionaries. I had expected to enter a story of self discovery of a young woman as she came to terms with her illness through the stories of others around her and fought for self healing because of her will to survive. In the beginning what is painted instead is a "Pilgrimage" to find God the same way her father had years before turning to his focus in life of missionary work.

Faith is a very complicated topic for me, and sadly one I try to escape from in my fiction, so this is the main reason why I have decided I cannot continue following Mel on her journey.

An additional point that made me decide to move on, is how Mel's eating disorder is portrayed. At moments it feels as though it is being glorified--almost at times giving you a "how to". It goes into great detail talking about exactly what she eats, exactly how much and how she works out, exactly how many calories she's burning in a day. As Mel is the narrator I understand that we are in her head, and she doesn't see it as a large issue, but there are ways to conduct this narrative with a little more caution that I feel is lacking in the beginning of this novel.

Her doctor and those around her only really seem to keep repeating in a broad sense that if she continues down this path she could die, and then it quickly gets overshadowed from Mel's perspective--as though their concerns are exaggerated. We see the harm it is having on her, but the "benefits" of her losing a few pounds always gets mentioned within close proximity. I would have liked to see Mel's glorified ideals of her disordered eating lessened by emphasizing the facts of how damaging it is to ones body. It might not get through to Mel, but could have the potential to get through to impressionable readers.

There is a chance that this story will veer away from my concerns, but based on how heavy of an aspect it currently plays, I cannot safely conclude that in order to continue. This book has a target audience, as the many amazing reviews suggest, and I know many will continue to love it. The descriptive writing style of this author is wonderful and paints stunning pictures as you move through the story, and I hope all that decide to take the journey, enjoy it.

This fiction story follows Mel Ellis, as she embarks on a journey to help herself find a way to overcome an eating disorder that she has. That trip would have her walking to Mt Rainier, in Washington State from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Ill prepared and not in a healthy state of mind or body, Mel is determined to try and heal herself, rather than the way others think she should go about it..
I have never been that close to anyone with an eating disorder, but this story was eye opening to their actions and thinking. It seems like it would be very hard thing to overcome.
Along her journey Mel reflects on her life and the things that brought this Illness on, but luckily along the way she meets so many people wanting to help her, and offering her words of wisdom, friendships, a welcoming hug, or even a meal to eat.
I really enjoyed this story of reflection and friendships and a will to survives as she see what a healthy life could be through the people she meets.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Revell for a copy of this book.

I struggled to get through the first few chapters of this thought-provoking novel. The protagonist’s dysfunctional physical, mental and emotional states were so vividly displayed that it was painful to read. However, the deeper I immersed myself in the storyline, the more I came to appreciate the author’s ability to write such evocative prose.

Melanie (aka Mel) developed an eating disorder – anorexia – as a coping mechanism to deal with her real and perceived failures. After a year of denying herself nutrition and obsessively exercising, she has landed in the hospital and faces entering intense inpatient rehabilitation. However, Mel has another idea; she decides to set out on a cross country trek to reconnect with the person she used to be, one who had personal and professional goals to make a difference in the world. Her destination is a mountain she believes will inspire her to move beyond the limitations of her illness.

Mel’s solo journey on foot from her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Mount Rainier in Washington State would be a challenge for anyone in good physical condition. In Mel’s debilitated state and with her meager funds, it is one step short of insanity. Along the way, she encounters “trail angels” who provide her with not only emotional support, shelter and food, but much needed perspective on life. While these encounters almost seemed too good to be true, they were some of the more enjoyable aspects of the book and helped Mel move out of her narrow, constricted view of herself. At the conclusion of the book, which felt a little truncated, Mel has made significant strides in healing her issues, has made a tenuous peace with God and is able to imagine the possibility of creating a fulfilling life. While the outcome is gratifying (if a bit unrealistic) it really is her journey that is the core of the story.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.