Congratulations to Ashton Lattimore on a great debut novel!

What I liked about the book:
1. Debut author who gives us a well-researched historical fiction which a lot of emotional moments.
2. I loved the characters and how they were fleshed out and made real to us.

What I wished was a little different:
1. Some additional editing to help with the pacing of the book - it caused me to put it down a couple of times but in the end I needed to know what happened to the characters and where their lives were going to end up!


Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel told through the eyes of three Black women in 1830’s Philadelphia. Lattimore clearly did her research and I learned a lot about this often u told period of time. The way the women worked together to save Evie was inspiring, even as they put their own freedom at risk. I also thought the unusual relationship between Charlotte and her father was layered and poignant. A great debut novel!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity the read and review this ARC.

This is a novel about an important period of time. The history of free Black citizens, slaves, women and the city of Philadelphia in the early 1800s is not something g that was covered in my history books. I’m grateful to be learning now. I had a really hard time getting into this novel. The pace is slow and the writing repetitive in the first half. It did gain momentum and I’m really glad I finished it. These characters are going to stick with me

Excellent read. Truly captures the tension and danger in the early days of “free slaves” in Philadelphia. The mixing of classes, the old south, abolitionists, and loyalties creates a moving story and one that triggers reflection and new insight.

I can't rave about this enough. I cried and and I learned. I felt truly bonded to these women. I would love to talk about this in a book club. This was absolutely amazing writing!

The story had promise, but moves much too slowly for the average reader. Being a native Philadelphian, I wanted to like this book. We need more empathy for the characters and a tighter narrative line, in my opinion.

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore is the story of the abolition movement in Philadelphia prior to the Civil War. Charlotte, Nell, and Evie are the characters who bring the various experiences to life and the read is a compelling one. Many readers will learn a lot about the abolition movement through this debut novel. I enjoyed this story and look forward to future books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion. All We Were Promised is available now.

Charlotte is an escaped slave from the White Oaks plantation, living with her father in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was in a free state but borders Maryland, which was a slave state. Charlotte’s father has passed as a successful white merchant, while she poses as his servant. She looks forward to her free time to meet her friend Nell, the daughter of a wealthy Black family. Nell supports the abolitionists, while Charlotte lives in fear of being discovered. It is a city where slave catchers actively hunt escaped slaves and even free Black citizens may be snatched. When the mistress of White Oaks arrives in the city, she is accompanied by her slave Evie, who hopes to escape while there. The three young women work together to free Evie, putting themselves in danger. This story takes place prior to the start of the Civil War. The conflicts with the abolitionists, the slave catchers and the general attitude of the public made this a story well worth reading. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing this book.

I really enjoyed this book because of the setting. I never knew about this incident. The action was fast paced and the characters were compelling.

Good book regarding the lives of three women in pre-Civil war Philadelphia...all with differing roles.

The book revolves around themes of friendship, sacrifice and courage. All We Were Promised is a thought-provoking story with well-written characters. It was impressive that even the unlikeable ones were well written. The author brilliantly captures their idealism, vulnerability and desperation.

A very good book. I would read more by this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Ashton Lattimore for allowing me to read this powerful historical fiction novel. This book is based on real events and is a unique time period in history that is often not written about in historical fiction novels. We need more books like this one. I loved that this book had multiple points of view, plenty of family drama, and powerful female friendship storylines. It was a tad slow in the beginning and a bit repetitive, but it is beautifully written. I am excited to read more from his author in the future. Thank you so much for allowing me to review this book.

This is an interesting story set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. Charlotte disguises herself as a housemaid for her passing father so that they can maintain their hard-won freedom. When she meets Nell, who is canvassing for a women's abolitionist group, she starts to see the world differently and wants to exercise her freedom. This becomes especially true when Charlotte bumps into Evie, who was also a slave with her on the plantation. Charlotte swears to help free her, too. To make her plan work, she ropes Nell into helping her, which completely changes their lives forever. It's heart-wrenching and moving.

All We Were Promised excels at immersing the reader in the historical setting. Lattimore has done extensive research, and the book meets my standard for historical fiction. The characters are well-crafted, each unique yet similar in their struggles and growth.

The story is a slow burn until about halfway through, but when it picks up, it's truly captivating. Lattimore's skillful writing and deep understanding of the era make this a compelling read for fans of historical fiction.

This book really had me more than I would like to admit. This author knows how to write a book. The characters and the plot really had me going and it was just a joy to read.

What a story! It kept me on edge the entire time. The intertwining of the lives of these young women trying to make a difference for Black people during a time of such uncertainty, while trying to carve out a place of their own as they grow and evolve. It was tough to read at times, because of the nature of the content, but these stories need to be told.

I loved this read! It's probably going to be in my top reads of 2024. It's based historically in my hometown, and had some history about it that I didn't know about.

"All We Were Promised" by Ashton Lattimore offers a glimpse into a fascinating period of history through the lens of black Americans in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. While the novel is rich with historical context and meticulously researched details about the socio-political landscape of the time, my experience with it was mixed.

I found the pacing to be a significant hurdle, particularly in the first half of the book. The narrative seemed to drag at times, making it a challenge to stay engaged.

However, one undeniable strength of the novel is Lattimore's adept portrayal of the varied experiences of black individuals based on factors such as skin color, social status, and whether they were enslaved or free. The juxtaposition of Philadelphia, located in a free state, with its proximity to the slave state of Maryland, provided a thought-provoking backdrop that underscored the precariousness of freedom during that era.

Lattimore's research shines through in the authenticity of the historical setting and the nuanced portrayal of her characters' lives. She skillfully navigates the complexities of race and identity, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of African American history.

"All We Were Promised" is a commendable effort to explore important themes and historical periods. While the pacing may pose a challenge for some readers, particularly in the slower-paced first half, the novel succeeds in offering a thought-provoking perspective on the nuances of freedom and identity in pre-Civil War Philadelphia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All We Were Promised follows the stories of three black women in pre-Civil War Philadelphia.

Evie a house servant is longing for freedom and an escape from her mistress. Charlotte/Carrie is a runaway living a new life with her passing father. And Nell, a member of the wealthy Black elite society. It's an interesting look at history and their different view points in life.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Hello historical fiction gem. All We Were Promised will take you on a tension and drama filled ride through a very dark time in our history. I really enjoy learning about this time period and the author note at the end was so interesting too!

GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION
[TW: SLAVERY, RACISM]
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thoughts:

A thought provoking tale centering around three women of color in Philadelphia in the 1800s. Each of the women in the novel, Evie, Nelle, and Charlotte, live within different life circumstances despite all of them continuing to live in a world full of racism and systemic oppression. The three women find themselves working together to fight for their freedom, use their voices and escape the violence of slavery.

I ended up really enjoying this novel and always appreciate stories written about that time period that shed light on issues that are often left silent. I absolutely loved the spotlight being shown in the inherent differences between antislavery and white feminism. Because, the differences are stark. I thought the themes were done really well, I loved the three women, and I appreciated the storyline.

This book was very slow to start. There were several times when I thought about DNFIng because I just couldn't focus on the story however at about 60% in the story picked up and I'm so glad I finished. The themes of the story will stay with me for a very long time and I am glad to have read it.