A captivating historical fiction novel set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. The story revolves around three young Black women: Nell, a member of the elite Black society; Charlotte, a runaway living in the city; and Evie, a slave seeking escape. Lattimore skillfully portrays the risks each character faces. The book immerses readers in the era, shedding light on the complexities of freedom, identity, and friendship. A must-read for history enthusiasts!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review will be posted on publication date to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other indie book sites.

Debut author Lattimore shines a light on some lesser known tidbits from pre-Civil War Philadelphia history, presenting a highly multi-faceted view of Black society. Much of the book is a slower paced character study as chapters rotate between the perspectives of these three characters from very different walks of life: enslaved, formerly enslaved, and born into a wealthy free Black family.

While these three main characters are given ample nuance, the same is not quite as true for smaller roles. The white mistress is odious to the point of caricature and although I don't believe it's the job of this kind of book to give white women the kid glove treatment, I always appreciate in any book to see its antagonists constructed with more complexity.

I appreciate the questions and themes the book raises like the conflict between ethics and self-preservation, but at times it seems to hold the fervent belief that the only valid activism is radical direct action. I'm particularly intrigued by the author's note assertion that the main inspiration for this novel was Les Miserables - housemaid Charlotte and her father are a Black American interpretation of Cosette and Jean Valjean! I wish this had come through more clearly during the text, because greater depth to that relationship and experience would have added so much to the story.

A worthy read; just sometimes with debut novels, you can see their joints and seams in a way that more experienced authors smooth out.

3.5 stars rounded up

CW: race riots, kidnapping, minor allusions to the threat of sexual violence, brief mentions of whipping and a few places where we see the aftermath of targeted violence - this book tends to hold race-related violence at arm's length; nothing is gratuitous.

Any reader searching for a compelling story about pre-Civil War abolitionists and the struggle of fugitive slaves will definitely want to read this debut novel. The author shares a great deal of important historical information, and readers will gain a better understanding of the turbulent quest for freedom.

This intense and thought-provoking story highlights the fictional lives of three young Black women in Philadelphia in 1837. Each must weigh their commitment to their cause and their family while facing the possibility of danger around every corner.

As I read about this riveting course of events, I was emotionally torn by the tension, anxiety, and hazard involved in not knowing who could be trusted while trying to engineer an escape. Great risk was involved with no guarantee of success.

The author's note at the end of this book should definitely not be missed. This book contains a wealth of research and facts about this period in history. I would recommend this to all avid historical fiction fans and general fiction fans alike.

My sincere thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own. I will be posting my review immediately to my Goodreads account and to Amazon and Barnes&Noble on or after the publication date.

An historical fiction based on some true moments, taking place in the 1830's Philadelphia.
Revolves around 3 young black women, each from different backgrounds- Nell, a daughter of a well established family in Philadelphia, Charlotte who we learn her background over time & Evie, a slave who is visiting with her Missus/slave owner in Philadelphia but from the south.

There are secrets & twists & turns & some historical facts which I knew nothing about.

I felt Charlotte was the least understood as she had things she could not or was not ready to share & it made her vulnerable & misunderstood.

It was a very well researched story, showing the turmoil in "free" Philadelphia.

All We Were Promised seemed like a lot less than it promised. It was interesting and it had some wonderful history of Philadelphia and slavery laws. I wish that book had more of an authentic feel in action and language. I loved that the author addressed how “free states” weren’t safe for free people. Overall, I felt it was a bit of a sanitized version of the dangers the people faced. The story moved swiftly but I never felt any tension or danger. It was an easy read but not anything that brought new light to the subject of enslaving and owning others.

All We Were Promised is the story of three black women in 1830s Philadelphia; Charlotte (aka Carrie - a runaway), Nell (born free to a wealthy and established black family), and Evie (enslaved and brought to Philadelphia by her mistress). These three women each seek freedom, a different type perhaps, but a liberation all the same.



I've always been fascinated by the Pre-Civil War years of this country in its relation to Black people and the thin lines drawn between the north and the south in order to keep Black people (enslaved or not) at a distance. I think the author did an excellent job of researching this time period and evoking the sentiments of all involved.


I love the reality of this novel. I think it is a great debut and there are tons of themes and topics that would make for a great discussion.

DNF at 55%
I tried so hard to finish this ARC, but I just couldn’t keep going. After reading 23 of this 43 chapter novel, I let myself put it down. This book wasn’t terrible, but I do not currently have the patience for repetitive writing for the sake of dragging out a story that could have easily been told in 25 chapters.

I do love that this book tackles a time and topic that I rarely see in historical fiction novels. It is set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia and is told from the POV of three young Black women from varying societal classes. Had this book received the benefit of a heavy handed editor, and been trimmed down about a dozen or so chapters, it would have been great! As it is, I became bored and frustrated. I’ll not rate this one less than 3 stars though. I think that a more patient reader who loves historical fiction could very much enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When a housemaid in 1837 escapes the South, she expects her life to be better and different in the North. Charlotte longs to break away and become her own person. When she meets a budding abolitionist, she thinks this will get better for herself, but will they? With a city engulfed in riots and violence, their fight may cost them their lives.

A fascinating historical fiction novel based in 1837-38 Philadelphia that explores the city's abolitionist movement through the eyes of three black women: one born free, one a runaway slave, and a one current slave. It starts a little slow as it sets the scene and builds the characters but once it kicks in it is in high gear the rest of the way. Great characters and a well paced plot kept me enthralled throughout. Highly recommended

Pre-civil war, Philadelphia, three young ladies are already setting the tide for what is about to come. Nell, Charlotte and Evie form an unbreakable friendship that come from a place of struggling for freedom in a time where freedom was not free.

I feel like there aren't as many books written about this historical period as there are the actual War times. I loved the book and the way the story was told.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashton Lattimore, and Ballantine books for allowing me this free e-verson arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All We Were Promised was such an interesting book. It was so interesting that I tried my very best to devour it all slowly. If slowly means less than two days, then yes, I succeeded. In this wonderful book, you will meet Nell, Charlotte, and Evie. They are three women who are set to change the world's views on freedom and slavery. One was born into a wealthy black family; one was a runaway slave and has been hiding for about four years; and one is desperately seeking answers about her family members and yearning to be free herself.

Together, they all have the same goal, but it will not be easy.

Throughout the book, secrets come and go, and it's easy to spot people that one shouldn't trust. I honestly really enjoyed getting to know our three main ladies, but it hurt my heart to see them hurting. Especially when Evie felt abandoned but didn't know what was going on with Charlotte. Charlotte was carrying what seemed like the weight of the world with the secrets of her past life, and she didn't know who she could or couldn't trust with certain information. Then there's Nell, who just wanted the Philadelphia Female Antislavery Society to do more—so much more.

They each take risks to make the world a better place, not only for themselves but also for the upcoming future. Along the way, we definitely met side characters that would be forever welcomed to family gatherings, dinners, and holidays. As well as characters we would never want to see again. The city and its people could be downright violent and extremely racist, but these three held their heads up high with pride. Why do you ask? Well, they saw what freedom could and would look like and just knew things had to be better.

In the end, it all fell on a bittersweet note for me. With the fighting and buildings set on fire towards the end, I just wanted to learn more information about Evie's family. I'm glad that everyone is safe or on their way out of town, but I just wanted a bigger glimpse of happiness for them. The battle has just begun, and I'm hoping this author will write another book set in this time period, but from the point of view of the other ladies we've met along the way.

Or maybe from some people we haven't met yet.

This review will be posted on April 2, 2024 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

🔔 What I loved: the friendship, sisterhood, and strong bond between the three main characters (Nell, Charlotte, and Evie's relationships were the absolute heart of the novel); the Philadelphia setting and history; dispelling the myth that the North was safe and/or welcoming to free Blacks and/or former/runaway enslaved humans
🔔 What didn't quite work for me: I know I'm in the minority here, but I didn't care for the romantic and/or melodramatic subplots (for example, Nell was SO interesting and had SUCH character growth, I found the romance subplot to be the least interesting part of her story)
#AllWeWerePromised
Rating: somewhere between 😐 / meh, it was ok AND 🙂 / liked it
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This book is scheduled for publication on April 2, 2024. Thank you Ballantine Books @randomhouse for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is 1837 in Philadelphia. The famous Pennsylvania Hall is being built due to a coalition of white and Black folks with strong convictions about Abolition. In Ashton Lattimore's story, a free Black woman named Nell assists an escaped slave named Charlotte (Carrie) in freeing a young woman named Evie from her owner. As the three young women seek each other out and try to form a plan, there are famous historical figures in the story like Hetty Reckless, Lucretia Mott, and James Purvis -- just to name a few. The diversity in socioeconomics, color, and priorities is evident in just our three heroines. Philadelphia and other cities in the North were technically free, but filled with a variety of opinions on what the should mean for the present and the future. Ashton Lattimore does an excellent job of showing us how frustrating that could be for those who needed immediate help. Having the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society (PFASS) approve a committee to discuss how escaped slaves can be aided in emergencies is an example of a mismatch between intent and action. We see similar debates today in our society regarding many issues like immigration and the sanctity of life. As with many historical fiction titles, the Author's Note is a valuable resource for the reader. This book is not exception. Here is a quote from the end of that note:

"At its core, 'All We Were Promised' is rooted in the social vibrancy, activism, political engagement, and diversity of Philadelphia's Black community. In telling this story, I hoped not only to resurrect the fascinating history of Pennsylvania Hall but also to shine a light on the often overlooked agency and ingenuity of the Black women and men who helped shape Philadelphia and the abolitionist movement during the critical pre-Civil War period of American history." ~ Ashton Lattimore

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting historical fiction story of three black women in Philadelphia before the Civil War, one born free, one a runaway slave in hiding, one wanting to be free. How their stories intertwine and overlap shows their connections and similar needs. Put in the context of the time period, I found it telling that even today, people still harbor the same prejudices and challenges faced. I found each character developed well and that there was more to their stories than the surface. Lattimore made the time period come alive and bring us story that is not often heard. How ironic that in the city where our country conceived its independence, residents denied those who truly desired independence and let their prejudice rule. I enjoyed this book. Many thanks to #netgalley #ashtonlattimore #allwewerepromised for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved the historical context. The area and time period were very clearly demonstrated and came across vividly. It was a little slow in the beginning as we got to know the women but it picked up pretty fast.

This is an interesting way to learn about pre-Civil War Philadelphia. I thought it was creative to use the three women from different backgrounds to tell how things were. It took a little bit to get into the story, but it picked up the pace as it got to the end.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

There's nothing I love more than a novel that teaches me while it also entertains me. All We Were Promised did just that. All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore is the story of 3 very different African American women in pre-Civil war Philadelphia. Charlotte (Carrie) is an escaped slave living in hiding with her father, who is attempting to pass as a white man. Evie is a slave who is looking to run. Nell is the daughter of a prominent family. These 3 unlikely friends will ban together to not only fight slavery, but also make a difference for those that have escaped or are looking to escape.

I really enjoyed seeing the perspective of the 3 main characters and how their past lives can play into their current situations. I knew almost nothing about Philadelphia being such a hub for the abolitionist movement. I also learned of Pennsylvania Hall. A building erected in 1838, which was set on fire and burned down by protesters only 4 days after it opened.

Lattimore has a way with words that really allows you to see how times were back then. The story is anything but faced-paced, but still engaging enough to keep you coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Ballantine for the ARC of All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore in exchange for an honest review.

All We Were Promised

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story was a unique version of runaway slaves in the pre-civil war era.

Charlotte is a former slave currently hiding as a servant for her father who is passing as white. Nell works with a society of women working to abolish slavery. Evie is currently a slave whose family has been sold into unknown parts of the country. These three women all tell their perspectives as their story unfolds and they try to help Evie escape her owner.

This story started out pretty slow but there was quite a bit of action packed into the end. There were a lot of good side characters I enjoyed as well!

All We Were Promised is a well written pre Civil War historical novel. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.
Link to my platform: https://www.instagram.com/booksta_lana/
Review go live date: March 26, 2024

This is the book I want to press into everyone's hands this year. We follow the lives of 3 women, a free-born Black woman, a woman who escaped slavery, and a young woman who wishes to gain freedom.
The way the author wrote about their different experiences spoke to me and was so different from the other books with similar topics I've read. The author utilizes all senses to paint the settings, I could smell and taste the food, hear the carriages and people talking at the market, feel the fabrics' texture, and see all the vibrant colors. My heart was racing during some events and aching for what the characters had to go through.
Ashton Lattimore writes about the lives of real people and she doesn't shy away from that reality.