I’ll Take Everything You Have was such a disappointment. I had high hopes for this book based on the description, but it, unfortunately, fell very flat.

The writing style was okay, but it took forever for me to into the book. I do think that if this book was longer, it would’ve had the chance to develop the characters more.

Overall, the characters and pacing weren’t the best. Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This book is not my normal go-to genre, but it was still enjoyable. I always struggle with historical novels, but this one wasn't as difficult for me to get into as most.

I enjoyed a lot about this, including the murky morality of the characters, but I wish the book had been longer; it felt like the ambitious amount of plot Klise wanted to put in this novel would have suited a 400-page treatment, as the twists near narrative's end felt unexpected rather than built up like they could have been in a longer text. On the whole, though, fun!

First of all, I really enjoyed this setting and that the book focused more on Joe and finally having the comfort and support to be himself rather than a romance which a lot of YA books tend to do.

As the story is more character-driven than plot-driven, it didn't entirely work for me as it's not my favourite style of book. The pacing was also little on the slow side for me and I felt like not enough happened for me to personally enjoy it more or that events that did occur could have been introduced into the story better to improve the flow.

I wish that the book was more immersive and that the MC was more a part of his settings but there were definitely enjoyable parts of this and I would sample another book by this author in the future.

I actually did not know this book existed until a publicist e-mailed me about it. As someone who loves a good queer historical fiction story, the premise immediately caught my attention, and I’m so glad it did, because I ended up enjoying it so much.

What really fascinates me about this story is that it’s striking a very fine balance between those feel-good coming-of-age plot points and the really tension-driven glimpses of the 1930s Chicago criminal underworld.

So the story is essentially showcasing the coming-of-age experience in two completely different lights at the same time.

There's that sense of wonder and discovery that comes with Joe being introduced to these underground clubs, these ways of connecting with queer folks that he never new about, and possibly discovering new things about himself and exploring new relationships.

And while the story isn’t especially gritty or dark, there's also a sort of dissonant twist to that idea of self-discovery in the sense that when you’ve always had to suppress your true self, how do you know who your true self *is* when you finally get a chance to express it, and will you actually like whoever it is that you find? What if your true self is a bad person?

So we definitely see Joe experimenting with this newfound freedom of being able to present himself however—and as whoever—he wants. But again, just as there’s an opportunity to be someone incredible, with that freedom also comes the opportunity to make mistakes.

On that note, I do want to make it abundantly clear that this is a coming-of-age story. It’s *not* a queer romance, even though Joe is having some romantic or even physical experiences. And it’s also not about morally-upstanding gays—which I kind of love.

I like that we have this main character who’s discovering—and even crossing—the boundaries of morality, not only because it challenges the misconceptions that any story about queer characters has to show queer folks in the best possible light in order to prove that our lives are valuable, but also because it really ties into some interesting themes about the intersection of safety and lies.

The core of this discussion is really that concept of “authenticity,” which can be a double-edged sword, especially for queer folks, because a lot of us have to hide parts of ourselves in order to stay safe, which is incredibly valid. But then some people perceived as “lying,” and therefore being “inauthentic.”

We’re not going to unpack all of that, but I appreciate how this story approaches that conversation.

Given the time period of the story, Joe definitely has to hide his queerness in order to navigate the world, and that presents an interesting parallel with how he’s having to also hide his light criminal activity in order to keep his job, his freedom, his friends, and his dignity.

In both cases, he finds that he has to conceal the truth so that he can to keep himself safe. But those versions of safety and those needs for safety are very different.

The story also begs the question of how when a huge part of yourself is stigmatized and criminalized, when the life that you want for yourself is one that many people do not want to exist, how are you supposed to know what a good future—what a future worth fighting for—actually looks like?

That’s like the crux of Joe’s situation. He doesn’t feel like he’s been given any good choices. He doesn’t feel like he has any valid way to be legitimized—either in his poverty or in his queerness. And his journey to discover what kind of future he can have becomes that much more tumultuous because of those limited choices.

At the end of the day, this book is partially a love letter to the queer history of Chicago, it’s part coming-of-age, but as I said it also has those crime plot points as well and some interesting twists along the way. There were some minor characterization choices I questioned and some slight pacing issues, but nothing major, in my opinion. This is definitely an underrated queer historical YA that I think more people should read!

3.5

“I’ll Take Everything You Have” follows Joe as he moves to Chicago and gets some not exactly honest work to pay for his family’s farm back home. This novel also follows him discovery more about queer culture and meeting two queer guys, Eddie and Raymond. This wasn’t necessarily a romance despite there being romance. This was definitely more a coming of age story about Joe. I really liked Joe despite him making some decisions I didn’t agree with. The setting is really well done and fits with the book fabulously.

Despite this, I can’t exactly say that I adored this because of how much more could’ve been done with some of the elements. There are many great ideas mentioned that I feel were sort of half discovered. Whether it be with going into the queer spaces more in depth or adding to the murder mystery aspect, a few extra chapters could’ve been beneficial.

Ultimately, this was a pretty solid read. If you’re looking for a short, queer, coming of age in 1930s Chicago, then definitely check this out! Thank you so much for Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I read Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black a couple years ago, which is also set in the 1930s, and I absolutely loved it. I have been chasing that high since. I don't usually read a lot of historical fiction. But when I find one I like, I 'really' like it. And I'll Take Everything You Have sounded like it was exactly what I was looking for. I read it via audiobook. Will Coolyer did such a great job with the slang and accents that, even without a lot of world building, I could picture a 1930s Chicago.

I can't say I completely loved this book. But I did stay up too late reading it. And I was almost late for work because I wanted to finish the last chapter. I'll Take Everything You Have is a coming-of-age contemporary set in the Depression Era. Joe makes his way to Chicago hoping to make enough money to save his family's farm. Unfortunately, his cousin, Bernie, gets him involved in some sketchy criminal activities. All the while, Joe is also coming to terms with his sexuality and kind of dates two completely different guys. Though, this book is definitely not a romance. And he doesn't end up with who I really wanted him to. I do like that he does grow up a lot by the end. Even without a hea I feel the book ends on a hopeful note.

My biggest complaints is that the book felt predatory at times. And I wish we could have explored the Queer spaces of the era a bit more. I also kind of wish it had leaned more into the murder mystery aspect. Everything does eventually and randomly tie back together.

If you enjoy historical fiction and Queer coming-of-age stories then definitely give I'll Take Everything You Have a try.

I'll Take Everything You Have by James Klise is a solid YA historical LGBT+ novel. The description really pulled me in, but it never quite lived up to the hype I'd built up for it. I really liked the idea of a queer coming-of-age story being set in the dark criminal underbelly of Depression Era Chicago. Plus, the main character, Joe, has been sent to the city to do whatever it takes to earn the money to save the family farm. That all sounded very enticing, but I felt a few to many steps removed from the characters be as hooked as I wished I was going to be. It was interesting to learn more about the city of Chicago from a different perspective, but I wanted to be more immersed into the world. Anyway, like I said, this book is a decent read, but it was a little too underwhelming considering what I was hoping for.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- unfortunately, this was a dnf due to the lackluster character development and the plain writing style, leaving me detached from the work entirely. it had an interesting concept, but the characters and the writing style soured my reading experience.

Trigger Warnings: Past death of a parent, crime, classism, homophobia, police, blackmail, alleged suicide, gun, burglary, murder, blood, outing

Representation: Queer

I’ll Take Everything You Have is a queer historical fiction Novell about Chicago in the 1930s. In the summer of 1934, Joe Garbe arrives in Chicago with one goal: Earn enough money to get out of debt and save the family farm. Joe’s cousin sets him up with a hotel job, then proposes a sketchy scheme to make a lot more money fast. While running his con, Joe finds himself splitting time between Eddie, a handsome flirt on a delivery truck, and Raymond, a carefree rich kid who shows Joe the eye-opening queer life around every corner of the big city.

Joe’s exposure to the surface of criminal Chicago pulls him into something darker than he could have imagined. When danger closes in—from gangsters, the police, and people he thought were friends—Joe needs to pack up and get lost. But before he can figure out where to go, he has to decide who he wants to be.

I am thoroughly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this story! I hadn’t heard anything bad about it, but reading the synopsis didn’t seem like my cup of tea. I guess that’s what happens when you assume!

Forewarning, this is not a romance. There are aspects of love and lust, there is a happy ending, but the point of the story is not for the hero to end up in a relationship. I think the author does an excellent job depicting the secrecy of being gay at this time, as well as the burden children often endure to support their parents. The story has strong themes of money and morality, classism, as well as some of the history of being gay during that time period. Overall, it’s a beautiful story of finding oneself and friendship.

I enjoyed this one! It did take a bit before the story really hooked me but once it did, I had a hard time putting it down. Joe goes to Chicago to make some money to send back home to his mother and save their farm. Times are hard and Joe is not afraid of hard work but he is soon drawn into a less-than-honest way to make some real money. I was incredibly worried about how things would work out for Joe before this book drew to a close.

I liked Joe right away but I cannot say the same thing for his cousin, Bernie. I feel like he grew and learned a lot about himself over the course of the story. Joe has always tried to do what is expected of him but while he is in Chicago he is able to explore his true feelings and what he really wants out of life. He spent time with two very different young men, Raymond and Eddie. Things aren’t always what they seem and Joe learns a lot about the kind of man he wants to be. I thought that the fact that the book was set in the 1930s made the story even more interesting.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well-done coming-of-age story. I really liked the characters and loved the way the setting came alive. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that there were a few twists that made the story even more interesting. I would not hesitate to read more of James Klise’s work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.

Thank you algonquinyr for the #gifted copy and for reaching out to send me this book.
This cover is so eye-catching and 1930s Queer Chicago, yes please!

This was such an eventful coming of age story of a young man visiting the city from the countryside for the summer. Trying to make some quick money to help his mother and their farm.

Joe is a pretty decent kid and his cousin is a seasoned city kid now. He has connections and he helped him with a legit job and a not so legit job that would pay out way more. This would lead him into some trouble.

But along the way he met a few guys his age that were attracted to him. And he
had his eyes opened to a whole different community of people that felt like he did.
I really did not know which of the guys was the better choice or if he would leave them both behind. They both kind of ruined his innocent little heart. There's only kissing and cuddling, btw. I'm talking about some illegal activities that were occurring.

Really enjoyed Joe or Charles or whoever he ends up being wherever he is. Hope he was successful with his gay syndicate. The ending was so sweet!

You read the blurb of a book and you think you know what you might expect! Coming-of-age, 1930s, some mild crime... I thought I knew what I was getting into, until about the halfway point hit and a slightly slow moving story became something I just had to finish instead of getting sleep.

This book nailed the speech and vibe of the era, the noir vibes were great and learning about the queer spaces of Chicago in the 30s was very interesting. While I didn't particularly connect to the characters, and found things to move with too much ease (it's YA, i know it's to be expected) I found this to be a very quick read!

This was a quick and interesting read that gave me a lot to think about but not a ton to feel about. I'm a very emotional reader so I wanted to feel more connected to the characters, the struggles, and the triumphs. I am impressed at how complete and full the story is in less than 300 pages.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I'll take everything you have follows Joe's coming of age. It's a story of a country boy who moves to the big city and ends up entangled in a series of questionable situations. I loved to see Joe learning more about himself and experiencing new things. He grows so much during the book and makes choices that define his character. He is able to walk away from things he disagrees with, even when the person doing it is his family. He has a romance with two very diferent boys that adds so much in his story and I loved the resolution.
If you want a fun and short story that'll keep you hooked, this is the one for you!

aw man, i don’t even know how to start this one…

let’s just say that this was not what i expected. it’s not that it wasn’t what it pitched, it was… we’re following joe who moves to chicago to support his family during the struggling life in the great depression. there’s queer scenery and crime underlying it all. but i felt *so* disconnected from it all.

joe doesn’t particularly have much direct impact when he partakes in any of these schemes his cousin gets him into. every queer spot they go to, they don’t interact at all with the people around them. we’re TOLD they’re at a spot, that’s its dangerous, but we never really experience the vibrancy of the queer underworld. and i could say the exact same for the crime aspect of it. like yes, he’s technically involved but beyond two scenes, it kind of just feels like he’s just there. there’s not much nitty-gritty that you’d expect with a story of this kind.

and i can’t believe i’m saying it, but i wish it was longer. i think we would’ve had more time for him to develop the relationships with eddie and raymond, the crew at the hotel he worked at. even del. i just think the shortness of the book made the pacing feel so off. i don’t know. i have a lot of small gripes that i can’t quite articulate at the moment, but that all added up into how i feel about this story. kind of meh. it’s unfortunate considering it was one of my most anticipated releases.

This was a gripping YA read, despite it starting slow.
Unlike a lot of historical works, this one actually feels like it's set in the past. Everything from the slang, the expressions and the movie references feel like they're part of the setting. The only thing that made raise my eyes was the word 'sayonara' which i'm not sure would have been in use in 1930s America.

The blurb made it sound like a gay romance, but the romance was more of a side thing. It's mainly about Joe getting tangled up in various problems, and the more he lies the more gripping the book becomes. Through Joe's experiences, the book discusses the ethics of the era. When is a person rich enough to steal from? And how responsible is the middle man for the crimmes committed indirectly through him?
In the second half of the book I really wanted to know how it would end and which parts of Joe's lies would withstand the consequences.

Overall, a very solid little historical YA novel.

Moved at a good pace for the first like 3/4 of the book, but then kind of sped up at a wild speed in the final portion. You keep waiting for these storylines to intersect and then when they do, it just moves at breakneck speed.

The writing was super accessible, explained the historical context where everything was happening, developed great characters that were easy to connect with and root for, and never felt like it was talking down to its audience.

Definitely will pick up more of Klise's work in the future.

I thought the over all story was pretty good. But I felt like the writing seemed super young. But other than that I really enjoyed this one.