I absolutely loved the first book in this series, All That We Never Were, so I was really excited to dive into Alice Kellen's All That We Are Together to see how Axl and Leah's story would wrap up. While I was satisfied with the ending, I didn’t love it quite as much as the first book. The story was filled with a lot of emotions, but it felt toxic at times. That said, I really enjoyed seeing Leah stand up for herself more, which added some great character development. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was great and brought the story to life. Overall, it’s a solid ending to the series, and I definitely recommend it to fans who want closure on Axl and Leah’s journey.

Thank you for the ARC that was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited for this sequel but unfortunately I was quite disappointed. I felt a little weird about liking the first one so much because of the age difference between Axel and Leah and it did feel a bit wrong to be rooting for them, but after 3 years it seemed ok. Leah being needy and whiney and immature was excusable in high school, now, not so much. This time around they both just annoyed me and I lost interest in what happened to them by the end.

"All That We Are Together," the second book in the Let It Be series, offers an emotional journey that explores love and personal growth. The narration by Bridie Lawrence and Dorje Swallow brings a nice dynamic to the characters, adding depth to their experiences.

While the story has its heartfelt moments, I found the plot a bit predictable at times, which made it less impactful than I hoped. The character development was solid, but some aspects felt rushed, leaving me wanting more.

I’d rate this audiobook 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a decent continuation of the series, but it may not resonate with everyone. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy; all opinions are my own!

#NetGalley #AliceKellen #AllThatWeAreTogether #LetItBe #DreamscapeMedia

Miscommunication trope. I found this book dragged when listening to it. I enjoyed part of the story but it was a struggle to push through. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first one.

What I will say is that this is the conclusion I had hoped for. Leah and Axel's love story is as beautiful as it is messy, and I think the author did them justice by showing us the trials and tribulations of their forbidden love.
Book focuses on them as they each came into their own, having undergone tremendous growth from where they began. I have grown quite attached to these two multifaceted, raw characters, and quickly became emotionally invested in them having as close to their "happy ending" as possible. While I wish there was a book three because I would love to spend more time with them, ultimately this is a satisfying conclusion to a series I would recommend.
Read/listen to this audiobook if you like:
• forbidden love
•age gap
• brother's best friend
• messy love stories
• Australian/Paris setting
•dual pov

There’s a lot that I can say about this one but it’s all spoilers. I will say that while I felt a bit ick about the relationship in book one, I still enjoyed it. In All that We Are Together their relationship felt toxic. Axel came across as controlling and wanting Leah to be exactly who he wanted her to be. Leah kept putting up boundaries and he just barged through them constantly. This bullishness was there in book 1, but everything he did was to help her whereas in this book it was all about him and what he wanted. Not for me.

This is the follow up book to All That We Never Wers and picks up three years after Axel breaks Leah's heart. She has tried to move on with her life, but Axel still occupies her thoughts. Her paintings have been helpful in clearing her thoughts of him, but it is those same paintings that bring him back into her life. When her work is presented in an exhibit, Axel can't help but return to see her again. This is a story full of emotion and feeling and I was pulled in from the start and completely captivated by Leah and Axel's journey. The author did a great job of crafting a beautiful story about two flawed people finding their way back to each other and now have a second chance at love. A refreshing story that is sure to melt your heart!
I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. The narrators did a lovely job of bringing the characters and story to life. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary review.

All That We Are Together is a great book but it is a sequel. And I did not know that when I requested it so I was lost for a good chunk of the book. Now I was rooting for the couple but only because I knew I should be.

There were so many factors going on in this book and I really think I would have enjoyed it but since I didn't know it was a sequel I didn't know what was going on for so much of this book it was hard to say I enjoyed it. It seemed like there were beautiful elements that I wish I had read the first one. I am interested in the brother's relationship with Axel as well as with the death of their parents.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

This was a beautiful story. I really enjoyed this one. I didn't even realize that this was the second book in the series. It definitely could be a standalone. I was able to follow along and it was a second chance romance for me.

The book is absolutely beautifully written, although it was a sequel and I had no idea but it was worth every minute.

Looking forward to reading more by the author

I marginally liked this one more than the first book. There was still a ton of miscommunication between the to main characters. Five years had past and they both didn’t seem to really act their ages.

The first one is through her view and the second is from his. To be honest, I like the second one much more than the first one. Though it still didn’t end with them together, it ended happier than the other one. Lots of cute and romantic aspects in this one and the male character finally made up for his actions in the first book.

🌀Synopsis
Leah is moving forward at school. She’s seeing someone consistently and loves her friends. She’s pursuing her art and loves that aspect. It’s going so well that she receives an opportunity to exhibit her art in Paris. The only kicker is that Axel is going to be her agent.
Axel who she hasn’t seen in 3 years. Axel who she’s been in love with and remains in love with even through the other men. They enter their own world in Paris. He vows to never hurt her again and they begin to trust each other. Now it’s Leah’s turn to choose her career or choose Axel.

Similar to the first book in this duology this cover is just beautiful, and the two of the English print books together are just perfect. Also like the first book, this series was printed originally in Spanish back in 2019 and is now being released in several languages.
I enjoyed this book more than the first one as it felt more realistic, mature, and focused on coming of age as an adult. The story starts three years after Axel sends Leah away to live her life without him. They eventually find their way back to each other through Leah's art. Unlike the first story, there is less grief and more focus on both characters finding themselves as individuals and as a couple. The writing is almost poetic and I particularly enjoyed Leah's journey to discover herself and what she wants in life, as well as the role her brother played in her journey. However, I felt that some chapters were unnecessary and could have been left out, such as a one-pager of the main characters waking up cuddling, which added nothing to the story. The narrators did a great job of bringing the characters to life and expressing their emotions. Overall, the book had a satisfying conclusion and a poetic backbone.

This really was just the most toxic and unhealthy relationship ever. Throughout both of the books there were just so so so many issues and red flags about their relationship dynamic.

I gave the first book 2 stars as well but because I had an audio arc I figured I would give the second book a try with the hopes that they would both do some soul searching and healing and be able to have a positive and healthy relationship… but unfortunately that was not the case.

First, Axel was literally horrible to Leah. He was so mean to her and never encouraging of her accomplishments and improvements in her life. It was like he wanted her to be unsuccessful so she had to solely rely on him. I don’t know if he was just bitter and jealous because he was unable to work through his own stuff to paint again or what. It really seemed like he did not want her to grow as a person at all and just wanted her to revert back to that little girl with crippling grief and mental illness that he had to take care of.

Also Leah had done so much healing and was doing so much better from the time between the end of the first book and the second book and the second she was back with Axel it seemed that all of that growth just disappeared.

I was really hoping that they would both take the time to heal and discover themselves instead of constantly relying on the other person and even though the book stated that they did that, in reality neither of them did or at least the book didn’t show that they had changed at all.

Overall, I would not recommend either of the books in this duology and I’m so sad to say that because I thought I would love these based on the cover and description.

I love that this series doesn't have the traditional romance and show life is messy. 🔥

Three years after their epic breakup, Leah has moved on, is making amazing paintings and finally getting recognized. That leads to Axel coming back into her life and wondering if he can take back the biggest mistake in his life.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*This is book 2 in the duology, and you must read book 1 to understand anything that happens in book 2*

Leah and Axel haven’t seen or spoken to each other in 3 years, ever since Axel broke Leah’s heart. Leah has tried to move on, and went away to college and began dating Landon. Feeling a bit more like herself, she begins painting again, and Axel comes back into her life as her art agent.

I struggled so much with this New Adult. I felt Axel still tried to take advantage of Leah and her vulnerability. I appreciate how their chemistry was apparent, but I also felt it was all they had in book 2. I was happy that Leah was able to stand up for herself by the end, but I still am not sold on these two as a couple that I could root for.

In this captivating sequel, we follow Leah Jones as she navigates life three years after her heartbreak with Axel Nguyen. Despite her attempts to move forward, her past with Axel remains a shadow over her present. The narrative beautifully intertwines Leah's passion for painting with her complex emotions, showcasing significant character growth. Axel's reappearance at Leah's art exhibit rekindles old feelings, leading to a whirlwind of emotions and a potential second chance at love. Kellen masterfully explores love, forgiveness, and self-discovery themes, making the characters' journey deeply relatable. The book's heartfelt moments and the added depth of an alternate epilogue left me profoundly moved, making it a memorable addition to the romance genre.

4.5/5 Stars

“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. I loved him in my entire being. With my eyes, my heart. My entire body reacted when he was near, but another part of me hated him. I hated him with my memories, with words never uttered, with scorn and was incapable of opening my arms and offering him forgiveness however much I wanted to do so. When I looked at him I saw black. Red. Throbbing purple. Emotions welling over. And feeling something so chaotic for him hurt me because Axel was a part of me. He always would be. Despite everything.”

I’m not quite sure what it was about this book, but it ruined me so. many. times. I don’t think it was overly dramatic for a romance novel, but I was in tears throughout. I felt like the love story was so relatable. The feeling of loving someone even if they have broken your heart, even if it hurts to do so, had me tearing up constantly.

I loved the plot. I loved that the reader comes into the story and the characters have grown from a trauma that has happened long ago and they are slowly finding their way back to each other. I loved the side characters and the supportive families. I loved that the past pain was recognized, but that the characters also recognized the growth within each other. The book was just amazing. The writing was great - maybe a few too many eye opening revelations - but I took down so many quotes.

Definitely recommend this as a book club pick. There is a lot to unpack and discuss.

Told in a two person POV, we see three years have passed since Alex had broken Leah’s heart. They're supposed to have grown and changed, but they still feel one-dimensional and stiff. The fact that it was Leah’s brother who knowingly knows Leah’s heart is still broken but making an attempt to move on and yet still invite Alex to her very first art gallery is beyond my comprehension. Which leads to the whole "I want to sleep with you but I don't want to sleep with you but then I do" troupe felt really shallow and annoying. Did he really grow up or did he just want what he couldn’t have? I’m not even going to address the cringey moments of each time he fondly recalls her being so young as he visited the family. I get it, he is older than her but you don’t need to have Alex make it seem like he’s a pedophile. Then there is Paris. I felt that I was rushed and trying to make us see they truly belong together and how Alex’s arc of maturity.

The ending was okay, but I didn't love it. The author kept talking about Alex's headaches throughout the book, and I was expecting them to be a big deal. But then at the end...nothing. No explanation or resolution. It was like the author forgot about them. I guess you could argue that the headaches were caused by stress or sadness, but Alex was pretty happy during the parts of the book where he had them. So that doesn't really make sense.

Overall, I'd rate this book itself 2.5 out of 5 stars. However, I truly enjoyed the two narrators’ reading. Their tone inflections of their character's emotions and realizations but the ending of the story itself didn't really satisfy me. The story itself fell short. It’s is the narrators that made it 3 stars.

Many thanks goes to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio copy.

I've never read anything from this author, but I will be reading more now if all her books are like this one. I went & read the first book before reading this one as I saw it was book 2 & it was so good. I'm not completely finished reading this book yet, but I will most definitely be recommending both books to my friends.