This poignant novel about motherhood, love and family was unputdownable. The three female protagonists are flawed, relatable and real. It's an unflinching look at the messiness of motherhood and I loved every page. Leggett is one to watch out for and I can't wait to read what she writes next.

In All They Ask Is Everything, Hadley Leggett weaves a poignant and complex narrative about motherhood, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters. The story follows three women—Hannah, a widowed mother struggling to be the parent she always wanted to be; Julie, a lonely woman who dreams of motherhood and falls deeply in love with the children she fosters; and Elaine, a grandmother who, after being shut out by her daughter, is determined to save her granddaughters from the foster care system.

Leggett skillfully explores the nuanced, often messy realities of motherhood. Each woman believes she is the best mother for the girls, but their deep-rooted personal histories, secrets, and desires complicate their motivations. Hannah’s overwhelming guilt and isolation, Julie’s desperate longing for a family, and Elaine’s determination to correct past mistakes create a web of tension, emotional complexity, and love.

The author’s ability to portray the emotional landscape of each character—along with the emotional turmoil and growth they experience—is remarkable. As their lives intertwine, Leggett captures the ways in which old wounds and new relationships collide, driving the characters toward choices that will change their lives forever.

All They Ask Is Everything is a heartfelt, compelling exploration of what it means to be a mother, to be a daughter, and the sacrifices that come with both roles. The book is emotionally rich, beautifully written, and brimming with the kinds of difficult choices and hard truths that make this story truly unforgettable. Fans of family dramas and character-driven narratives will find themselves captivated by this exploration of love, regret, and redemption.

All They Ask Is Everything by Hadley Leggett is a poignant exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and the complexities of family dynamics. The novel follows three women—Hannah, a widowed mother facing the loss of her children to foster care; Julie, a lonely woman who dreams of motherhood; and Elaine, a mother grappling with estrangement from her daughter—who each vie for custody of the same two little girls. As their lives intersect, they discover that their struggles, fears, and desires bind them together in unexpected ways. Leggett’s nuanced portrayal of the emotional depths of motherhood and family makes for a moving and insightful read, filled with hope, heartbreak, and the powerful bonds that can form in the most unlikely of circumstances.

A sign I love a book: I take it everywhere. Which I did with this one. Even when it was unrealistic to be read wherever I was headed. Filled with tension and high emotion, I couldn't wait to turn the pages to find out the fate of the characters.
The storyline of each rose in poignant, touching arcs. I especially found the ending satisfying.

All They Ask Is Everything by Hadley Leggett is a fantastic debut and a heartbreaking/heartwarming story about motherhood and how each one of us can find truth in our own stories.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

The author does an amazing job portraying Hannah's mindset and how she got to the point of having her children taken away.

My heart broke for Hannah's daughters, Wren and Ivy, and Julie, and yes, even Hannah.

This stark story of the struggles of motherhood and the perils (and blessings) of asking for help is a must-read! It will both break your heart and restore your faith in humanity.

A story of two young children put into foster care after their mother leaves them in the car for over 40 minutes while she is in a store. Told from alternating points of view of the mom, grandmother, and foster mother, the author does a really good job at looking at the issue from all angles and it was really interesting how it all came together. Good book.

This was an interesting book, and I appreciated the point of view and perspective the writer chose here. Also, the topic of the novel is so important and demands our attention.

The hauntingly beautiful novel explores love, loss, and having the guts to start over. The emotional resonance of this book lingers with you throughout the quiet moments of your day, lasting long after you've turned the last page.

The story centres on a character struggling with the weight of her past while trying to carve out a future for herself. Hadley handles heavy themes with incredible sensitivity, creating a story that is raw, honest, and deeply moving.

The writing is lyrical, almost poetic, but never feels overdone. Each sentence carries weight, drawing you into the character’s world and making you feel every ounce of her pain, hope, and eventual triumph. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, their stories connecting with the main story in ways that feel organic and meaningful.

While this is not a light read, it’s an important one. This book challenges you to confront the messy, complicated nature of life and love, offering a story that is both heart-wrenching and ultimately hopeful. Highly recommended for anyone who loves literary fiction that packs an emotional punch.

Thank you Netgalley, Lake union publishing and author Hadley Leggett for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I read this a while back and I did not know what to write in the review. Sometimes you need a space to visit in your mind to word the reviews in the best ways possible. So here I'm.

Told through POV of three women, we get to know how women are judged harshly for everything they do. We, women do not have second chance when it comes to parenting. That is quite obvious from Hannah's story, the beginning of the book when Hannah loses her girls to CPS. Hannah is already struggling after loss of her husband, but she loves her girls Ivy and wren and wants them back.

I was sometimes pissed at Hannah myself, me being a mom but then I realised that sometimes things get out of the hands even when we try our best.

Elaine, Hannah's mother is one of the top and best lawyers and always failed to show her daughter that she mattered the most to her. Elaine focused on her career and how we judge women for doing that? I'm not an exception too. She wants to make amends through saving Hannah's girls.

Third comes Julie, Ivy and Wren's foster mom who falls in love with the girls. She wants what's best for girls and thinks their best would be with her

When I was reading the book, I kept thinking that I judged every single woman in the book and I call myself feminist. I felt ashamed. Why do we put so much on shoulders of women, when men are free to do whatever they please coz "men will be men?" This needs to change. Sooner the better.

Every character is flawed and that's what makes it too true to reality. Coz that's what we do, we make mistakes, we learn from them and we try to be better. Because we are human beings.

Every character here tries to be a better person and that's what matters in the end. And then the ending, although I feel that I would never be able to do what Hannah did. (No spoilers) I do understand that it was the best decision she could make for her girls. A broken person will break everyone around them, unless they fix themselves first.

One more thing I would like to mention is this is debut, an absolutely stunning one. I'm definitely gonna recommend it to everyone.

Wow, amazing emotional read, 3 women all wanting to love the same 2 children. I couldn't put this down. As a mum I resonated with each one of them and it was hard to know what was for the best. I can't wait to read more by this author

Determined to be a better mother than her own, Hannah has devoted her life to her daughters. She ignores her increasing exhaustion and isolation as a widowed mom—until a disastrous mistake lands the girls in foster care.

Julie is single and lonely and dreams of being a mother. After infertility issues lead her to foster parenting, she falls head over heels for Hannah’s daughters. The more she bonds with these sweet, precocious girls, the more she worries about their previous home life and becomes intent on finding a way to keep them.

Recently forced into retirement, Elaine is devastated by the way her daughter, Hannah, has shut her out. When she discovers her granddaughters are in foster care, she resolves to rescue them from the system: her one chance at a parenting do-over.

Each woman thinks she’s the best possible mother, but none understands the full truth. Old hurts, long-held secrets, and budding new relationships collide as they fight for the girls who could make them a family.

Loved it. Will recommend to others. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

*All They Ask Is Everything* by Hadley Leggett is a beautifully crafted, emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of motherhood, family, and the sacrifices women make for love. Through the intertwined stories of Hannah, Julie, and Elaine, Leggett masterfully explores the heart-wrenching choices and conflicting desires that arise when three women, each with their own deep wounds, fight for the same children.

The characters are rich and relatable, and the tension builds as secrets unravel and long-buried emotions come to light. Leggett’s prose is heartfelt, capturing both the fragility and strength of her characters. This novel is a poignant reflection on the different ways love manifests in motherhood and the idea that no one woman has all the answers, but together, they might just find a way forward.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories about family, resilience, and the messy, beautiful reality of life.

Most women who read this story will relate to at least one or more of the main characters. We have recently widowed young mother Hannah, trying to be strong and plow ahead as she attempts to care for her two young daughters alone. We have Julie, mid-thirties and single, craving motherhood while she fosters children who she wants to embrace and love yet knows it will only break her hear when they leave. And we have Elaine, also recently widowed, mother of Hannah, a woman who has (at least from Hannah's perspective) chosen her career over the years instead of her daughter.
This heartwrenching yet heartwarming story doesn't take the easy route. We see Hannah stumble, pick herself up again, and stumble again.
We see two young daughters, especially Wren, the seven-year-old, wise beyond her years as she tries to care for her little sister while trying to help her mom.
While I read, I kept thinking of how different things were for previous generations. Women usually had plenty of family in the same town (sometimes in the same house!) and a good support system to help out when things crumbled. Often, that's not the case today.
I cheered for Hannah throughout her struggles and bet you will too. This book pulls back the curtains to reveal the fine line between saving your family... and saving yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this great debut story!

Smart. Timely. Honest. Messy. This perfectly executed debut novel will make you weep. And then weep for joy. Would translate well to the film.

All They Ask is Everything, the debut novel by Hadley Leggett, is the gripping, heart-wrenching story of two sisters and three women - each of whom believes that she should have the right to be their mother.

Hannah is Wren and Ivy's biological mother but, since her husband's unexpected death three years earlier, she has been drowning under the weight of grief and the unrelenting demands of single parenthood. When she makes a dangerous mistake one day, she faces a battle to prove that she is capable of caring for her children.

Julie, who has become a foster parent after years of longing for a child of her own, is quick to judge and condemn Hannah, unable to find an iota of compassion or understanding for the woman whose daughters she finds herself caring for. She hopes that Hannah will be declared an unfit mother, so that Julie might finally get to have the family she has dreamed of.

Elaine, Hannah's mother, is unsurprised that her headstrong, selfish daughter can't cope with her own children, but she'll be damned if they end up in foster care. She's determined to use whatever means necessary to bring her granddaughters home with her.

Each woman is written with nuance and empathy, given space to account for their shortcomings (or perceived shortcomings.) The reader comes to understand what drives each of them and the obstacles they have had to fight to overcome - or are still fighting against. Hannah's character is a devastating portrait of a mother caught up in the social care system; her love for her daughters and her desire to be the parent they need is never in doubt, but the author does not shy away from highlighting her indisputable failings. She is the incarnation of long-standing questions about the state's responsibility to support parents and children, and whether trauma and mental illness make you a bad parent, or just a good one desperately in need of help.

Leggett sensitively portrays the situation in Seattle's child protective services at a particular moment in time - the author's note clarifies that the events of the story take place in 2017 and 2018. She confronts the failings of a system which has since been extensively reformed whilst avoiding depicting those involved as heartless villains: the social worker and judge we meet are both clearly trying to do their best in an over-stretched, under-funded department which is terrified of giving parents the benefit of the doubt lest their decision has unthinkable consequences for the vulnerable children they are doing their best to protect.

Hannah contrasts markedly with Julie, who espouses a black and white view of what an abusive parent is like, and represents the unsettling reality that some would-be parents are motivated to foster with the sole intention of being able to take someone else's child for themselves. Of all the characters, it was Julie's growth that gladdened me most.

Elaine, Hannah's estranged mother, is a fascinating character. Working for years as a senior partner at a top law firm, she took on the traditionally male role of main breadwinner, but still had to shoulder all the expectations of what a mother should be and do. Elaine's storyline forces the reader to question whether it truly is possible to 'have it all', as women have been told for several generations now. Many readers will empathise with the expectation on Elaine - from her family, her work and society - that she will work like she doesn't have children and mother like she doesn't have a career. 'All They Ask is Everything' is a perfect title.

Each of the women is searching for, as Elaine eloquently puts it, 'that elusive, impossible balance.' Hannah can't prioritise her children's needs when her own basic needs aren't being met; Elaine is distant from her daughter because she wanted Hannah to grow up seeing her mother be more than 'just' a mother'; Julie must decide which she wants more - an uncomplicated life in which her choices are hers alone, or an all-consuming family. Every mother will be able to relate to at least one of these women, and most of us will probably see ourselves in all of them.

Each of the women's perspectives captures the reality of parenting young children with a rare accuracy: the love, the pride, the fear, the frustration, and the sense of utter physical, mental and emotional exhaustion which is the result of being someone else's constant, unwavering sanctuary. From the sweet sibling moments to the irrational tantrums, I recognised my own experience of raising two little girls and felt seen. For their part, Wren and Ivy feel like real children - with their own distinct personalities - in a way that many children in fiction do not achieve.

Hadley Leggett has accomplished something truly special in this captivating debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was blown away by Hadley’s beautiful writing and storytelling. This touching story is about three women at different stages of life who each have their own reasons for fighting for two little girls in the foster care system. Bring a tissue. Or two. As a mom myself this was a dagger to the heart- I could see the reasoning between all the women and it was hard to pick sides! Satisfying ending and I look forward to reading more from this author! Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Validating and such a cathartic read for a mom. I love books like this because they make me feel seen.

Wow, Hadley Leggett does such an incredible job of portraying the hardships of motherhood. What a stunning debut, I can't wait to see what's next from her.

A poignant tale of the struggles and resilience needed for motherhood.

Hannah is trying hard to be there for her kids, but she’s not making the cut. Meanwhile, Julie pines for kids and is thrilled when Hannah’s two little girls are placed in foster care with her. But Elaine, the kids’ grandmother, thinks they belong with family — specifically with her.

The author skillfully portrays three characters, each wanting the best for two little girls. But each character makes heartbreaking mistakes along the way.

A wonderful novel portraying complex relationships and imperfect characters, each trying to do the right thing. Would make a fabulous book club choice.

A testament to the power, joys, pain, and many types of motherhood.