Thank you to @netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to review All That We Are Together by Alice Kellen, narrated by Bridie Lawrence and Dorje Swallow. Axel broke artist Leah's heart three years ago. Leah moved on and had a boyfriend, but their paths crossed again as Axel goes to her first exhibit.

Second chance romance, very sweet, a bit spicy. This was a well-written book with lovely prose. I could feel that the characters loved each other and their angst during the time apart. I wished for more plot, however. Beautiful story, but just a bit of a letdown...I was waiting for something more to happen.

The narration was excellent.

I received a copy of this audiobook through NetGalley for a review.

I really enjoyed this story, I will admit that I didn’t read or listen to the first in the series first so I may be missing some context but even with that, I was able to follow the story and feel connected to the characters. I also enjoyed that this was set in Australia (and Paris) because the accents of the narrators added extra interest for me.
I enjoyed the mix of deep emotion and lighthearted silliness with the relationships both romantic and familiar.

I'd eagerly been waiting for this sequel to come out. After reading the first book, I was quite invested in Axel and Leah's romance and whether or not they could repair the damage it had suffered.

This book deals with a large amount of time where they aren't together and then even when they start working their way back together, they really aren't there. Leah can't quite forgive Axel and she's never fully processed how to move forward.

Leah's experienced a great deal of grief in her life. Losing her parents when she was younger made her not want to ever paint again but it was her life's passion. Finally finding her way back to it was a gift. Yet it will always reminder of Axel.

This book is a lot of back and forth with Axel realizing he made a mistake in letting Leah go while she is unsure she can ever trust him again. They both go through some things which will hopefully lead to an overall healthier relationship. This was a heartbreaking story that finally finds it's way to a happy ending. And these two definitely deserve one.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audiobook was enjoyable and done well. The narration felt true to the story and the accents were appropriate (at least they seemed it to me). 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of the ebook and audiobook.

🎨All That We Are Together🎨
“There are wounds that cut straight into the flesh, and those are bad. But still worse are the ones that don’t bleed, that seem scared over. But when you touch them they hurt just like the first day. Axel was my wound.”
✨Second Chance Romance
✨Age Gap
✨Forbidden/Brother’s Bff
✨Loss/Grief
✨Melancholic AF (seriously, this book hurt my feelings lol)
✨🌶️
✨Finding Oneself
✨Dual POV
✨The audio was perfect. Birdie & Dorje did an amazing job at conveying the emotions throughout the book.
✨Amazing supporting characters. The convos between the MMC and his dad and bff brought a much needed lighthearted reprieve.
Con: I needed an extended epilogue 😩

⭐️Disclaimer: I received this book as an arc. All opinions are my own. Thank You NetGalley & Dreamscape for a chance to read this book.⭐️

I loved reading All That We Are Together. The author Alice Kellen did a very great job with detail of this second chance romance. It has been three years since Axel Nguyen broke up with Leah Jones causing her heart to shatter into broken pieces. Ever since that day three years ago she does everything in her power to move on by distracting herself with work. While Axel is crushed everyday of how much he loves and misses Leah. This book is a journey of a heartbreaking separation with finding themselves alone then reconnecting years later. This book is filled by heartbreak, love, finding themselves, coming back to rebuild something, laughter, healing and hopefully a second chance at love.

Quick Summary: A heartbreakingly beautiful, full circle love story

My Review: All That We Are Together by Alice Kellen is the second part of the Let It Be series. It picks up where Axel and Leah's story left off. Three years have now passed and the inevitable reunion between the former lovers finally takes place.

About the Book: Losing the love of your life hurts. It makes you numb. You live but not fully. You go through the motions of being productive, but you constantly crave that which is no more. Memories are haunting. It takes effort just to draw breath. The ever present longing never stops. And still, there is hope. Axel and Leah must see where their tragic ending begins anew and where their new beginning concludes.

Question to Consider: Can a wholly passionate love that's suffered a devastating breaking be rebuilt and made stronger?

About the Narration: Bridie Lawrence and Dorje Swallow did a great job narrating the story. The tone and emotionality of the characters could not have been communicated better. Everything said had meaning and value. I was completely captivated, as I knew I would be.

My Final Say: I knew that the audio of this book would make an impact on my heart. I felt every word. Every emotion was clear and understood. What Axel and Leah shared was all consuming. I believed in them from start to finish.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Series: Yes
Status/Level: 💞
Narration: 💛

I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to review this wonderful work. Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. I cannot say enough good things about this novel. Thank you for trusting me to share my honest thoughts and opinions on this epic story of love.

I was unsure how this one would go after not loving the first one but I was eager to know what would happen with Axel and Leah. For me, the pacing is all off. And while I’m a big supporter of a self journey and finding oneself, the way it’s handled in this story was not for me. I found Axel to be so insufferable and pushy to the point that I cannot even believe Leah put up with it. Some of the intimate interactions were once again so questionable to me. I loved the storyline around art and what it meant for both the mcs but other than that, this fell flat.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copies.

It is important to note that this is the conclusion to the Deja Que Occura (Let It Happen) duet. I will avoid a synopsis since that would most likely give away events from book one, All That We Never Were. 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 if you like:
•forbidden love
•age gap
•brother’s best friend
•messy love stories
•Australian/Paris setting
•dual pov

Thank you {partners} Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for my gifted copies.