All We Were Promised is a compelling historical fiction set in the tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War in Philadelphia. The narrative is through the perspectives of three young Black women—Charlotte, Nell, and Evie—each navigating their own unique challenges and aspirations. Lattimore’s portrayal of their lives feels incredibly real, bringing historical authenticity to a deeply human story.

The characters in this novel are its greatest strength. Charlotte, Nell, and Evie's distinct voices and experiences drew me into their world. Charlotte is a determined woman fighting for her autonomy and dignity; Nell, caught between social classes, grapples with her identity and the expectations placed upon her; and Evie, whose ability to pass as white, faces a complex web of opportunities and dangers. Through their stories, Lattimore explores the intersectionality of race, class, and gender with a nuanced touch.

The themes of *All We Were Promised* are both timeless and urgent. Lattimore delves into the risks these women are willing to take for themselves and others, highlighting their courage and resilience in the face of systemic oppression. The novel tackles classism and the often invisible barriers it erects, even within communities striving for freedom and equality.

Lattimore’s depiction of pre-Civil War Philadelphia is rich and evocative. The city, with its tensions and divisions, comes alive as a backdrop to the characters' struggles and triumphs. The historical context is integrated into the narrative, providing depth without overwhelming the personal stories at its core. I found myself not only rooting for Charlotte, Nell, and Evie but also gaining a deeper understanding of the period's complexities.

Lattimore's prose is elegant and evocative, capturing both the beauty and the brutality of the time. The multiple points of view are handled deftly, ensuring that each character’s voice remains distinct while contributing to a cohesive overall narrative. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of tension and reflection that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Overall Ashton Lattimore has crafted a story that is both deeply personal and historically significant, with characters who are as believable as they are inspiring. The novel’s exploration of risk, identity, and resilience resonates powerfully, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of American history and the indomitable spirit of those who lived through it.

I received an e-arc copy of this book via Random House Publishing for review. All opinions are my own.

Set in 1833 Philadelphia, the descriptions of the town and its going’s on surrounding abolition through the voices of an enslaved woman, a woman who escaped slavery, and a free, wealthy black woman and their relationship is interesting and caught my attention. Each character with her history and present situation is developed and intertwined. The plot is rather slow moving, even without taking back stories into consideration, but the premise is sound.

Thank you to Ballentine and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

I really adored this book, telling the story of free blacks, escaped enslaved people and enslaved people trying to escape in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. Nell, Charlotte, and Evie do an incredible job of being stand ins for the different statuses of black people at the time while not being characatures. The plot moves at a great pace and even though the story explores a LOT, it didn't feel like too much. I can't tell if this intended to be a bit more on the YA front given the ages of the main characters, but regardless I think this is great historical fiction and would recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this wonderful eBook. This review may contain spoilers.

I think this book would appeal to a lot of historical fiction readers, especially those who are interested in stories grounded in historical realism. The strongest element of this book is the fact that it’s extremely well-researched; one can tell that the author knows what she’s talking about and is committed to communicating it in as accurate a manner possible. The weakest point is that it does feel like a journalist’s first major endeavor into fiction, which is not much of an issue to me because that’s what it is—it’s easy to see that the author is more well-versed in the technical aspects of writing and the process of research and weaving that research into a piece than fiction writing. That being said, this is an incredibly strong debut, in part, I’m sure, because of the author’s journalistic background. I think that as she writes more fiction, her skill in prose writing will catch up to her strengths. As things stand, I’m on board for what Lattimore writes next, and I’m confident that if she continues writing historical fiction with this level of dedication, she could become a powerhouse in the genre.

The writing style is consistent and strong, very effective and impressive for a fiction debut—that’s another thing I think may be in part a strength of the author’s journalistic background. Description is quite lucid and prevalent, but pretty evenly spread throughout scenes instead of heaped on unevenly. The pacing is incredibly steady, not too fast or too slow. On a technical and grammatical level, this book is clear, consistent, and competent, never distracting the reader with its construction and flowing relatively well both in its style and its mechanics. Overall, the structure of the narrative is also compelling: it alternates between the point of view of the three central characters, Charlotte, Nell, and Evie.

I appreciated the secondary plotlines, such as Nell and Alex’s romance and the familial bond between Darcell and Charlotte, and found them cohesive and very well-woven into the overall narrative. There’s a thematic throughline there of found family that is incredibly effective, forged through the shared experiences of the cast, even as they differ in background and in some of the views their backgrounds have informed. This only bolsters the major recurring theme of praxis and the advantages of direct action in comparison to more rigid diplomatic and bureaucratic forms of activism.

I don’t think the story would have lost something if it were constrained to one of the women’s perspectives per se, but I do think the usage of multiple points of view lends to the breadth of the story covering all three of their vantage points. I think the decision to portray three different positions of intersectionality between race and the factors of class and gender through the point of view characters pays off here. So often in literature dealing with marginalized identities, authors are expected to only portray one specific experience. However, in portraying three different Black women’s entwined stories, Lattimore manages to make a powerful commentary on how oppression can affect people in unique but familiar manners and the way individual experiences with a particular identity can both compare and contrast with another’s.

Lattimore’s choice to use more historically accurate language around race and racial identity within dialogue and the more modern identifier of Black within narration is just one very strong example of ways authors can navigate the changing landscape of language, especially within historical fiction. I also appreciate her discussing those decisions around the language used within dialogue vs in narration in the author’s note. Transparency about linguistic decisions made by authors I believe can make people more conscious of the fluidity of language, especially language around identity, and it’s something I’ve seen done in nonfiction works (for example, Leslie Feinberg’s Transgender Warriors and Lamar Hardwick’s How Ableism Fuels Racism both include notes around the language used within their texts) that I think more authors writing fictional works ought to consider doing. Hearing a writer’s thought process around their choices of terminology is always interesting to me, as well, and can help inform future readers regarding the landscape of language at the time a work was written.

In the author’s note, when Lattimore discusses how she developed the concept for this book, the passion and dedication put into telling this story shines through. This is a lovingly crafted historical narrative about activism and intersectionality with just as much effort put into the characters and their relationships as into the research foundational to it. I understand that the usage of a lack of (or complications with) communication as a major element of conflict may put some people off, but to me, this book is an example of that plot device being used well. Within the story’s particular historical context, the issues with communication make sense; it’s justified within the plot and doesn’t feel arbitrary. If anything, it feels like another well-thought out element of the plot.

An escaped slave living in Philadelphia posing as a housemade befriends a wealthy young black woman who is an active member of an anti-slavery group--but when her still enslaved cousin comes to the city and asks for help, they two women need to decide how much they are willing to risk.

I appreciated learning about this interesting period in the anti-slavery movement in Philadelphia. The story however lacked authenticity like the feel and dialogue of the time and dragged on without enough tension.

Nell, a free black woman from a prominent family in Philadelphia befriends Charlotte, a house maid new to the city. While Nell tries to encourage Charlotte to join abolitionist movements, she's hesitant to place herself in larger social gathering because she's hiding a secret. When Evie enters the story, Charlotte has to create new elaborate stories to keep her past from leaking the truth. These three women, combined with help from their families, are able to escape their past and push forward in helping the future of the runaway slaves.

This was book, though the characters and storylines are imagined, the events could have possibly taken place. Philadelphia was a mixed ground for free born black people, runaway fugitives and slaves visiting the city with their masters. And the Pennsylvania Hall center a meeting ground for abolitionist meetings, it was a bustling city, somewhere you could blend in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

A fascinating debut telling of the lives of three black women in pre-Civil war Philadelphia, the runaway slave posing as a housemaid to her white passing father, the socialite social activist, and the runaway slave fleeing her mistress. During the story we learn the risks people are willing to take for others, themselves and for the future generations. It is also a story of adversity and strength. I enjoyed that it had a bit of everything you want in a good read, including the sisterhood these three women share, secrets, and also a bit of romance. It had a strong ending which I found both satisfying and enjoyable. I enjoyed this debut and will look forward to future books by this author. I highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I hope many people read this book not just for the fascinating and troubling (and inspiring) slice of Philadelphia Black history it excavates, but because of the way the writer makes these long ago scenes and ideas feel fresh and relevant!

Charlotte, a fugitive slave has run with her father to pre-Civil war Philadelphia. The fresh start they are both hoping for proves to be more difficult to obtain than either of them thought, but Charlotte's father is able to find some success as furniture carpenter that caters to the elite of the city. Meanwhile Charlotte's freedom isn't as free as she had expected. At a freedom rally in the city she meets Nell.

Nell is an affluent member of Philadelphia freed black society and as such has been raised knowing only the best that freedom has to offer, while never suffering as the majority of her race has. She is aware of the unfairness most of her race have suffered and is eager to do her bit to raise awareness about those that are still enslaved down south.

Evie an enslaved woman tied to Charlotte's past is visiting Philadelphia with her mistress and eagerly wants to escape the cruel life she is forced to live. Her attempt to escape and gain her own freedom causes all three women to be inextricably linked in a way that none of them could have ever foreseen.

My goodness this book was everything I love about a historical fiction. The heartbreaking situations that the characters continued to find themselves in were truly heartrending and thought provoking.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the E-book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting story-don't miss the author's note at the end! I will read more from this author. However, the one thing I didn't love was that the writing seemed very YA to me. That's not a bad thing, but I wasn't expecting that. It's most marketed as a YA book, so I was surprised. However, with that being said, I will read more from this author.

This book was astonishing - beautiful writing, evocative and stunning, masterful storytelling even though this is a debut novel !
Ashton Lattimore wrote a story following three young Black women in Philadelphia in 1837.
There’s Charlotte, a former slave whose father took her on his escape from a Maryland Plantation in decay only to fashion her into his servant and housemaid in Philadelphia while he passes as a white carpenter and cabinetmaker. The city at least gives her the option to befriend Nell, the daughter of one of Philadelphia’s wealthy Black families. Nell sees the need to do more for enslaved people than her parents’ donations but her parents are worried and those worries are not unfounded in a city that still regularly sees race riots. The third of the women Evie is a slave brought to Philadelphia attend to her mistress’ needs. As the lives of these three women intertwine the story unfolds. Their fight to secure a better future, to end to slavery and help those enslaved was inspiring. I loved how much I learned about life in Philadelphia at the time, as a symbol of freedom that did not want to upset traveling slave owners the mix of people was astonishing- I learned a lot from reading the book and the google deep dives the book sent me on. If you read this book, don’t skip the author’s note at the back. There are a good number of historical facts and historical persons built into the story that I didn’t realize until reading her notes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review..

I normally do not like Historical Fiction books. I did really enjoy this book. Great storyline and I did read it in one day! I would definitely recommend this book.

A historical fiction novel of three Black women in the the pre-Civil War period set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There many Blacks were free at that time. However, prejudices and segregation were also present. I learned of the 6 month rule where slaves would be freed if they were in Pennsylvania for 6 months. Very well written, good character development. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 Stars

The Color Purple for the modern age. This novel reveals thrilling portion of the civil war that is left often untold. Cant want to see what else Lattimore creates.

An enslaved father and his daughter fled to Philadelphia to escape slavery. On the journey the father realized he was light enough to pass. In passing. he felt he could lead a better life, and to explain his daughter who was darker, she was to be his housemaid.

This is an easy but enlightening read. In Philadelphia, there were abolitionist organizations, yet there were still enslaved people as well as free Blacks. This book allowed the reader to experience how all of these different people of color were treated. I’m glad I read this one.

Charlotte and her father escape slavery in the south to live as a white man and his African-American maid in Philadelphia. He is fearful of being discovered as an escaped slave, so he does not like it when he finds out that Charlotte is spending time out in the city with abolitionist women such as her new friend Nell, a free black young woman from a prosperous family. Charlotte's life gets further complicated by the arrival of Evie, her friend from the White Oaks plantation, brought to Philadelphia by their plantation mistress Kate. Evie wants Charlotte to help her escape, but Charlotte cannot let her father know. She enlists the help of Nell and Nell's friend Alex. Things become desperate when Kate unexpectedly walks in the door of Charlotte's home to attend a dinner party hosted by Charlotte's father.
The novel is set during the time of the construction of Pennsylvania Hall, completed in 1837 with funding from abolitionist and women's rights groups so that reformist ideas could be freely discussed by blacks and women who were unable to do so in other venues. The novel discusses slavery, the underground railroad, riots, the disparity between Philadelphian whites, free blacks of wealth and working class free blacks, friendship and the love of a father trying to do the best he can for his daughter.
I learned things about Philadelphia's history I had not known and felt compassion for the characters who were trying to make better lives for themselves and others. Author Lattimore has written an engaging, inspiring novel for readers of historical fiction and women's fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this egalley.

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore focuses on three Black women in 1837 Philadelphia. Nell is a free, upper-middle class young woman living with her parents in a wealthy Black neighborhood. Charlotte and her father James escaped from a Maryland plantation and James now passes as white and is becoming a successful furnitures maker while Charlotte acts as his house servant. Nell befriends Charlotte and introduces her to the abolitionist movement. Evie is brought to Philadelphia by her evil mistress who was James and Charlotte’s owner. Nell and Charlotte get into danger when trying to free Evie.
Lattimore captures the fears and yearnings of these women well in this debut. While it isn’t perfect, it’s a captivating portrait of a neglected era and the plight of Blacks in the north before the Civil War.

I've never read a pre-Civil War historical fiction before—I'm so glad All We Were Promised was my first. Ashton Lattimore handled this story with so much respect and care and love it was breathtaking. This is a historically accurate depiction of Philadelphia during the 1830s, and Philadelphia felt so alive and vibrant despite the violence and cruelty shown in the City of Brotherly Love. I'm from South Jersey so I'm super familiar with Philly and its history, but I honestly have not ever had the pleasure of learning about the history of the Black Americans there, even as a Black American myself. I feel like over the years, like many historical figures and groups, their actual treatment of Black people was very different from what we learned in school. We learned that all abolitionists fought tooth and nail for the freedom of enslaved Black Americans—in reality, anti-slavery meetings often were impactless and abolitionists put forth no real effort to be serious about the work they claimed to set forth to do. This is behavior we can also perceive in the current climate with white American-led freedom groups and ally efforts.

This book was so beautiful. It took my breath away.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

"All We Were Promised" takes readers on a journey through the tumultuous landscape of Philadelphia in 1837, where slavery still reverberated despite the promis of liberty. Charlotte, the resilient protagonist, grapples with the complexities of freedom as she navigates a city fraught with danger and deception.

The novel explores themes of identity, belonging and the relentless pursuit of freedom in a society rife with prejudice and oppression. Charlotte's struggle to reconcile her newfound freedom with the constraints of her past is difficult, as she grapples with the ghosts of her former life while forging a new path forward.

The reader sees a world teetering on the brink of change, where alliances are forged and broken amidst the chaos of race riots and abolitionists. The friendships she forms, particularly with Nell, a fellow seeker of justice, and Evie, a reminder of the bonds forged in adversity are both heartwarming and heart- wrenching.

Ashton Lattimore attention to detail leads us to opulent homes in Philadelpha's elite to the squalid alleys where danger lurks at every turn. The setting is brought to life and serves as a backdrop to Charotte's quest for freedom and autonomy. The book is a tale of resilience, courage, and the enduing power of friendship in the face of adversity. This is a good book that will resonate long after the final page is turned.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an advance copy of "All We Were Promised." #NetGalley #AllWeWerePromised #AshtonLattimore

An interesting topic that has been under-represented in writing.

Well written by a promising author. I will try to write a more in-depth review at a later time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored