2/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶

DNF @ 12%

I was so excited to start this book after how the last one ended, but it's like we went back to the absolute drag that was the beginning of book one. Not only was it back to being boring, but she's with someone else and we're experiencing their spicy times together, which is usually an ick factor for me. I decided to put it down and pick it back up again later, only to keep putting it off for weeks, so I'm officially DNFing despite really wanting to know how this story ends. Le sigh.

I didn't even realize this is book two of a duet and I still feel completely devastated. One of my top read of 2023. It was so angsty and heavy with heartbreaking feels that after every chapter, I wanted to stop and take a break just to get my pieces together. But it is also so brilliantly written in poetic way that I couldn't put it down. And all that without even reading the first book.

So as I said , I didn't know that this is a duet and thiis is a second book. The story starts at a point when budding artist Leah is trying to put the pieces of her heart together after it got smashed by her brother's best friend Axel. Her was her life line when she was in a pretty dark space but then Axel broke her heart. He is an agent in local famous art gallery and he cannot stay away when Leah starts exhibition and he wants to sign her up. Leah thinks about saying no because it would be taking her back to the black hole of heartbreak and grief but her brother convinced her that this is best for her. future Leah didn't stop loving Axel though she is in some kind of situationship with another good friend Landon. What will Leah do.. in middle of this somehow love triangle?

What is most exciting about this story is that even though I started with the second book ,I did not feel lost .I do not feel like someone dropped to me in middle of the story. I got all the feels..all the push and pull.. all the back and forth.. all the tension of the heartbreak.This book is so well written. The writing of this book is so amazing and beautiful that it just touches your heart, it crushes your heart, it easily transpires all the emotions of the characters right to your heart and I would say that Alice Kellen has a very powerful way of writing. The characters here are flawed. Axel thought that by pushing Leah he is helping her to spread her wings, to live the life on her own but now he realises that he basically hurt her and he is out there for forgiveness . Lea is definitely deeply in love with Axel but she doesn't want to get back to a place where her whole life is depending on Axel. Landon has been there for her, Landon is a safe choice, L!ndon is someone who saved her in a way when she was breaking so badly but the thing is that her heart doesn't want something safe or something secure. It wants the explosive, volatile ,unescapable and sometimes toxic love of Axel. Landon always knew that Leah is holding back and it wasn't easy for Leah. Axel is a great here. I absolutely loved the way he grovelled, the way he earned forgiveness, how he didn't repeat his mistakes , he let her spread her wings but at the end of the day, Leah came back to him . They have years of history. Axel has his scars. He has been helpless a lot of times, bound by promises. He didn't fight earlier but now he is ready.


This story is very emotional one and the kind of story that makes me want to cry sitting at the corner of my room but at the end it also wants to make me smile though tears when the happily ever after comes.. all that from reading only half of the book ! If you want to read about complicated relationship ,complex feelings with lots of tangled chemistry, this is the book for you.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the ARC

I was dying to read All we are together and I was completely passionate about Everything We Never Were, so I wanted to put an end to Leah and Axel's story.

Three years have passed since the painful end of the first part, and on this book we once again put ourselves in the shoes of the protagonists and accompany them in their experiences. It has been good to read Leah again, but above all, about Axel which is the best of this story. The characters have evolved since the first novel, especially Leah.

Despite being a second part, I like that everything goes at its own pace and things don't happen too quickly, so I have been able to savor the scenes more.
Once again I have empathized a lot with both characters and I repeat that in this type of novels where feelings are very important it is essential to connect with them.

It is a novel that makes you reflect on many important topics and that makes you feel. I also recommend that you listen to the playlist that the author has prepared on Spotify while you read it, some songs are so Leah and Axel that I wanted t cherish.

A great romance of second chances and growth between two flawed people. This one is a follow up novel to All That We Never Were. It was way too refreshing and it melted my heart. I love young love and how difficult it is to navigate where everybody seems to believe it is easy and natural.

Leah and Axel are so sweet and perfect for each other. While three years have passed between the first book and this one, the second chance trope shines bright here. The push and pull they feel towards each other is palatable and allows the story to flow and continue without effort as the couple figures out their own problems and issues both alongside and without.

The trials and tribulations make this novel feel very real, and down to earth. Even if you did not happen to read the first half of this duet,
Kellen does a masterclass job of explaining enough so you’re able to understand. However given that it is a duet, I would highly recommend reading the first novel before starting this.


Thank you so much to Netgalley, Alice Kellen and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC!

All That We Are Together is such a great romance story - need to believe in love again, this one is for you! Leah and Axel are the sweetest together and I really enjoyed their second chance romance. I started reading this series with this book, and currently reading book one because I enjoyed it so much. If you enjoy forced proximity, second chance and brother's best friend tropes--- then this one is for you. 4 stars!

This story was a slow beautiful story of growth between two people. The respect and understanding portrayed through Landon is also so refreshing. I loved that it was more than watching Leah unwind and find herself. We get to see Axel discover the pieces of himself that he has been repressing as well.

All That We Are Together by Alice Kellen is the followup story to All That We Never Were. This title features the main characters of Leah Jones and Axel Nguyen, young lovers who are still finding their way in this world and with each other. Three years have passed since the first book and the characters are finding their way back to each by working in close proximity. This title also features the second chance romance trope and the brothers best friend trope.

I have not read the first title in the duet but that did not keep me from enjoying this young love romance story. I found these characters very enjoyable and understand their push/pull romance with each other. I did not feel lost in the story even though I have not read the first book, the author does a good job of catching readers up on the current and previous events.

Overall, I enjoy this title very much and will go back and read the first title in this duet.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!

There are romance books that make you hate the idea of love, or at least, the love depicted in the book. All That We Are Together was one of these books.
Leaving the technicalities, like the writing, pacing and development, aside for a second, the romance was truly hard to enjoy and savor. Axel and Leah's love story was extremely draining to me. I felt exhausted after finishing the book, and I realized that I was engrossed in the book but didn't enjoy it.
Even for a mature, angsty romance, it was overdone. They started toxic and remained toxic to the end. Their characters changed from the first book, but I'd not call it development.
They changed but didn't grow. It was basically both of them searching for a middle ground that both can coexist within.
Back to the writing, it was the same as the first book, poetic and verbose. Some chapters had only metaphors to describe the feelings of the characters, nothing else,which made me skim a lot of pages.
The book needed to be more fast paced, or at least, shortened since there were lots of filler chapters.
In a nutshell, if you like angst, go for it.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Ok this sequel was definitely a step up from the first book! I thoroughly enjoyed this one and it packed more of an emotional punch than the first one.

3 years later, Leah is trying to move on from the heartbreak Axel left behind. She has a new man in her life, new friends, and is going to college. Life is ok on the surface, but deep down she is struggling. Axel is a wreck and when a chance presents itself to reconnect with Leah, he takes it. As Leah is forced to work with Axel as his gallery markets her art, she will need to face the past and ultimately decide if she can open herself up again.

The dual POV was perfect in this one. We really got to immerse ourselves in the character's thoughts and emotions. The second chance at love aspect was so well done. I loved that Axel had to grovel and made amends for what happened in the past. There was the jealously, push and pull, and tears. Leah did not let him back into her life easily and their journey back to each other was beautiful.

Tropes:
- second chance romance
- forced proximity
- brother's best friend

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Quick Summary: A quiet sniffle and a throbbing ache to the heart

My Review: All That We Are Together by Alice Kellen is book two in the Let It Be series. It is the continuation of Axel and Leah's story. It begins three years after All That We Never Were.

About the Book: An inevitable reunion between two lost souls who were destined to grow toward forgiveness, reconciliation, acceptance, and love

My Final Say: This was a gut punching, epic read. I did not want to miss one single word of this romance. I could feel every emotion coming off the pages. All I can do now is shake my head and contemplate reading it again and again.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Series: Yes
Status/Level: 💞

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own thoughts and opinions. I am grateful for the opportunity to review this very touching novel.

📚 All That We Are Together
Let it Be Duet Book 2
✍ Alice Kellen
📖 Contemporary, Romance
4.5★⚊
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La segunda parte de la bilogía Deja que Ocurra. Y dejenme confesarles que este es mi primer libro de esta autora y lo amé. Las razones:
Tiene una hablidad impresionante de transmitir los sentimientos, es imposible no vivirlos. Jamas lo sentí lento al contrario me mantuvo dandole vuelta a la página. Un romance de segundas oportunidades y un viaje para sanar.
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This book is just incredible.
Its my first from this author and I tell y'all .. its so good.
Alice Kellen has the amazing ability to transmit very deep sentiments, you'll be experiencing all kind of highs and lows between these lines.. the romance is angsty, a haunted love and an emotional rollercoaster.
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Special thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for this Arc ❤

I loved reading All That We Are Together. The author Alice Kellen did a very great job with detail of this second chance romance. It has been three years since Axel Nguyen broke up with Leah Jones causing her heart to shatter into broken pieces. Ever since that day three years ago she does everything in her power to move on by distracting herself with work. While Axel is crushed everyday of how much he loves and misses Leah. This book is a journey of a heartbreaking separation with finding themselves alone then reconnecting years later. This book is filled by heartbreak, love, finding themselves, coming back to rebuild something, laughter, healing and hopefully a second chance at love.

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This book was not my favorite. I struggle to get through it and found myself skimming a lot. The characters were frustrating. The conflicts were frustrating and honestly nothing made me root for the main characters to be together. They just felt toxic. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

"All That We Are Together" by Alice Kellen is a romance novel that weaves a heartfelt story of love, heartbreak, and the challenges of moving on. While the book has its strengths, it also has some areas that could have been further developed.

Leah Jones and Axel Nguyen's journey of separation and reunion is the central focus of the story. The emotions between the characters are palpable, and Kellen effectively captures the heartbreak and longing that both Leah and Axel experience during their time apart. The connection between the characters is undeniable, and their reunification is filled with both passion and tenderness.

Kellen's descriptions are vivid, transporting readers to various settings such as the art exhibition and the romantic backdrop of Paris. The sensory experience adds depth to the story, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the characters' experiences.

However, "All That We Are Together" also has some areas where it could have been strengthened. The pacing of the novel could have been more balanced, as some sections felt rushed while others seemed to linger for too long. Additionally, while the chemistry between Leah and Axel is undeniable, the development of their characters and the exploration of their past could have been more nuanced and layered.

Despite these areas for improvement, Kellen's storytelling ability shines through, and the emotional journey of Leah and Axel is engaging. The book successfully highlights the power of passion and the healing nature of art, bringing depth to the narrative.

In summary, "All That We Are Together" is a heartfelt romance that explores themes of love, loss, and second chances. While it may have areas that could have been further developed, the undeniable connection between the characters and Kellen's descriptive prose make for an engaging read. If you enjoy emotional and passionate love stories, this book is worth considering.

I liked this book. The cover is beautiful. The characters were strong and the storyline wonderful.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was not expecting love this as much as I did. I loved Axel in this one and how they grew up from the first book. I love all the Beatles' references.
Alice Kellen written is so unique and her books are so easy-going.
I'll definitly recommend this series to anyone how loves age gap, brother's best friend and epic love stories!

I enjoyed this read, a simple yet graceful romance. The dialogue flows effortlessly throughout the book, resembling a cozy conversation between two old friends. The romantic tension is subtly embedded into the narrative, creating a warm and consoling atmosphere. The subtlety of their connection is beautifully portrayed by Alice Kellen who clearly understands the delicate dance of romance.

Despite having loved the book I did feel like it was a bit of a slower read and unoriginal read at times. Saying that, I can't decide whether this was more of a positive or negative. Whilst, some might yearn for more action, the narrative delicately explores the nuances of love in the simplest moments. I did quite enjoy that this book invites you to slow down, sip a cup of chamomile tea, and embrace the charm of life's quieter moments. It's an ode to the beauty found in life's quiet moments and a reminder that sometimes, love is best expressed in the ordinary.

I enjoyed the two main characters a lot. It was a sweet story that showed that no matter what happens in life, sometimes two people just have such a strong connection that they can make it through anything.

"It scared me that the line between hate and love was so fine, so slender that you could jump straight from one extreme to the other. And I loved him...."

This was a sweet story between two people whose bond and love was so strong that although life was happening around them, their life's, their careers, their strengths and weaknesses couldn't shake the inevitable. Their love.

I was given an ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

DNF @27%. I was intrigued by the way the story was written. At times it was very poetic, but the problem I have with poetry is after a while it bores me. There was nothing to feel hopeful about and maybe that was the point. The characters felt so full of hurt I wasn't sure how to continue.