"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.

This is a solid debut! Ashton Lattimore balances historical context with a thrilling story—there are times when I wanted more nuance or detail, but that might have brought down the pacing. I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never researched the prominent Black families in the northern US from this time, but now I want to.

All We Were Promised offers the readers an insight to the pre-Civil War years of Philadelphia. The author presents three distinct female characters from different stations in life. Nell is from a wealthy family, Charlotte is posing as a maid for her passing father, and Evie is a slave brought to the city by her mistress. The novel covers a much overlooked period of American history which is the pre-Civil War time and the pro-abolitionist movement.

The characters are well developed, the research for the novel was extensive. It compels one to dive into their own research of the period. I will be recommending this book to historical fiction fans.

I want to thank NetGalley for offering this title.

In Philadelphia 1937, Charlotte thought she escaped the constraints of slavery after fleeing from her life on a southern plantation. But life as she expected and she is still hiding her true self. Her friendship with Nell gives her hope as she watches her friend, a free Black women campaign for the Abolitionist Movement. When fellow slave and sister friend, Evie, appears Charlotte is determined to help her. But Philadelphia isn’t as welcoming as they hoped, and they are all in danger among the hostile and violent environment.
A historical fiction of a time of which I’ve read very little. Freedom, but not quite for the Black people in the north before emancipation. Lattimore did a fabulous job bringing together three Black women with very different experiences due to their class and geography. Through their eyes, she gives us glimpses of struggles and horrors they faced. Interwoven in the historical details is the story of friendship, betrayal, family, and bravery.
Being true to history and fact, it’s not a light story but well researched and equally fascinating. While very interesting, I consider it a slower paced character driven literary novel where it is well worth spending your time.

A moving story about freedom and resilience. Charlotte and Nell are friends from opposite sides of the tracks. Nell is a wealthy young woman who was born free and Charlotte is a runaway slave who must pretend to be her father’s servant who is passing for white. But both women want to find a way to right the wrongs of slavery and find their chance when trying to help a slave escape. I enjoyed the character development of both women. Although the story moved slowly it picked up towards the end. The writer expressed the themes of classism, racism and racial identity well.

A wonderful story about three very different women living in the same city fighting for the same cause. Ashton Lattimore fully immerses readers in the history of Philadelphia 1837, like no other, and has left at least this reader wanting to learn more.

I really enjoyed this book. Charlotte, an escaped slave, lives a life of relative freedom provided by her father who has established himself as an esteemed furniture maker. Charlotte is befriended by Nell, a free woman, and they begin working together for the cause of enslaved people as well as women's rights. The alternating points of view kept me engaged and I learned a lot about the efforts of the abolitionist movement in Philadelphia pre-Civil War. Time and again, we are reminded of the lengths people will go to secure the things they feel are owed to them - freedom, justice, respect. All We Were Promised does a great job of speaking to those things and the consequences, good and bad, that result from those efforts.

Pre-Civil War Pennsylvania with an excellent variety of characters showing different sides of what was happening.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

All We Were Promised is excellently written. Lattimore's words flow across the screen (pages if you're reading the physical book). The story is intriguing and detailed. It's the type of book that sparks conversations about a time in history full of tension, fears, conflict, and the unknown, kind of like today. Family issues, lies, friendships, and self-discovery are all there in the women who were carving a path for themselves at a time when that wasn't expected to be their priority. Lattimore pulls the reader into her story with her well-researched and emotional narrative.

Lattimore weaves a captivating tale about a servant who conspired with an abolitionist to free an enslaved girl. The character development and research that went into this novel are impressive. Historical fiction is at its best when it educates and entertains while exploring important human themes of love, friendship, and freedom, and this novel does just that. A powerful debut, and Lattimore will be a writer to watch.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

It took a bit for me to get into the story, but once I did, it was pretty enjoyable. It was maybe a little longer than it needed to be and it took to the last third before everything worked up to a pace I enjoyed.

What an incredible novel! Two women of color with completely different backgrounds meet in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. They attend book discussions but which eventually gets them involved in the abolitionist movement. Nell comes from the Black Elite and Charlotte escaped enslavement, but had to leave her friend Evie behind. When Evie is brought to Philadelphia, the city is already rocked with riots and filled with danger. But nothing can compare to what she endures at the hands of her enslavers, and freeing her challenges her former friend Charlotte and Nell. Abolition is no longer just a discussion, now it’s time to act.
Fantastic story, excellent writing and attention to historical detail. The three women have distinct voices, as they each tell of their own part in the whole story. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction and women’s fiction.

An amazing story of a young nation on the verge of a war that will separate the country for longer than anyone dared imagine. IN fact, the division still isn't over depending on where you live and your views. But I digress.
Imagine leaving the only world you have ever known behind. Even if you want to leave, need to leave, finally get to flee...you will still be lost.
Looking for a new place to land, Charlotte finds herself in Philadelphia, where everything from the weather to the women is different. Charlotte finds her voice and confidence in the new world through her friend, Nell, who strokes many people the wrong way. It is a time in history we can not forget. And we can't forget the brave men and women of all races and nationalities that found new homes in New England and fought to change the rights of all Americans. A fact we are still struggling with one-hundred and fifty years later.
With anything new set on shaky ground, like Charlotte trying to put down roots in a big city, one little thing--or person-- can wreak havoc without even meaning too.
The story of these women in this particular era and location needs to be told more often. The people fighting "up North" often get overshadowed by the senseless battles down south. A great addition to your Black History reading list in February and Women's History studies in March.

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore is an important historical fiction novel - delving into the lesser known history of pre-Civil War Philadelphia through the perspectives of three young black women. The author's note is also very important to read to shed light on the laws of this time period. Despite Pennsylvania being a free state, too many loopholes existed at the time (or laws that were ignored) to allow wealthy white families to keep their slaves in a life of servitude. Nell, Evie, and Charlotte navigate the changing sense of "freedom" they are each allotted and band together to help the antislavery movement and prevent Evie from being taken back down South. This was an entertaining historical fiction novel of friendship, family, resistance and love. Definitely recommend this novel. Thank you to Random House/ Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I love historical fiction and found this a very interesting read in Pre-Civil War Philadelphia. It tells the story of 3 black women and how very different each of their lives are and how the world views them during this time.

3.5 stars

While I thought the story had potential to be really interesting and informative, the writing did not work for me.