Three black women in 1837 Philadelphia, all searching to better themselves, Charlotte, an escaped slave with her father as he passes for white, Nell a society lady and Evie a childhood friend of Charlotte who desperately is trying to be free. Ashton Lattimore weaves a very realistic story of freedom and the anti-slavery movement in her debut novel. A fascinating read through the lives of these black women during a very dangerous time in supposedly free Philadelphia. I highly recommend this book for those who like independent women and historical fiction.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This story unfolds in 1830s Philadelphia and is based on historical events and real people. Philadelphia is a sharply divided city relative to issues of slavery. There are whites, free blacks, and slaves that are brought into the city by their southern owners who travel for business. They can be kept as slaves for six months before the owners must leave Philadelphia or their slaves will be freed.

We follow an escaped slave and his daughter, Charlotte. He can pass as white, but his darker daughter has to act as his servant. Nell, a free black woman from a wealthy family, is fighting to abolish slavery and help escapees go further north to real freedom. As Charlotte begins to secretly work with Nell, she recognizes Evie, her friend from the White Oaks Plantation. When Charlotte and her father escaped, Evie had to take over all of Charlotte's duties. They plan to help Evie get her freedom.

The reader learns about the historic Philadelphia Hall, a magnificent building constructed by blacks where they could meet and discuss issues with whites who are trying to help the cause. Unfortunately, not all whites in Philadelphia agree with this lofty ambition and riots ensue.

For those of you looking for a historical fiction novel that does not revolve around World War II, this is it! All We Were Promised is an engaging debut following the lives of three young black women in 1830’s Philadelphia. Nell, a freeborn from a prominent black family spends her days talking about freeing the slaves, Charlotte, an escaped slave, spends her days working as a housekeeper while looking over her shoulder, and Evie, a slave, spends her day taking care of a heartless mistress and dreaming of being free. I could not love this book anymore. The writing was amazing and the character growth and development was outstanding. This is easily my favorite historical fiction novel of the year.

It's 1837 in Philadelphia, and after four years in the city, Charlotte's father James is finally establishing himself as a renowned businessman. The only catch is that Charlotte and James are runaway slaves from Maryland, and while James is passing as white, Charlotte has been stuck in the role of his black housemaid, unable to pursue the activism and education she longs for for fear of exposing her father's secrets. But when their former mistress arrives in town with one of their close friends still enslaved, Charlotte realizes that she must act to help free her friend and walk a tightrope to avoid getting herself or her father captured.

This book does a good job of highlighting the frustratingly slow abolitionist movement and the slaver-friendly laws in "free" states (for example, you could bring your slaves with you and keep them enslaved, as long as you didn't stay more than 6 months) in the years leading up to the Civil War. However, there were elements of the story that just felt a bit too unbelievable (particularly near the end), which took me out of the story. A better book on a similar topic is "James" by Percival Everett.

Set in Philadelphia in 1837, All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore is told from the points of view of 3 different, yet similar, women.

Nell is raised a free black woman in Philadelphia. She thinks she can relate to the slave experience. She empathizes with black enslaved people, but she really has no idea.

Charlotte is James housemaid. James is a fair skinned man who is making a name in Philadelphia society. But they are connected on a much deeper level.

Evie is the slave girl visiting Philadelphia with her owner, Kate.

The lives of these three will converge and they’ll never be the same.

I was fascinated by all the facets of life in Philadelphia for black people in 1837. As these three women’s stories are told, we also get a glimpse of the society surrounding everyone as they navigate freedom, enslavement, and all the in-between.

This book was very good. If you want to learn something new about US history, check this one out.

Thank you to @netgalley and #ballentinebooks for the e-copy of #allwewerepromised . This book published April 2, 2024.

Despite being a slow build, it was evident there was a lot of research put into this book. I learned a lot. I was unsure in the beginning because it really was a slow burn, but the payoff was worth it.

Escaped slave Charlotte and her father (who can pass for white) settle in 1837 Philadelphia, but it’s definitely an “always looking over their shoulders” situation, and Charlotte has to pretend she’s her father’s servant. She befriends Nell, an idealistic free young Black woman who wants to work for the abolitionists’ cause. Charlotte pushes Nell and other women who oppose slavery to take more action when Evie, a friend from her slave days in the Carolinas, arrives in the city and seeks a way out of her own situation. A fascinating look at what life was like in my local area almost 200 years ago: I learned quite a bit about history from reading this novel. Couldn’t put it down! (Netgalley review; now available)

A decent read with great characters and an even better atmosphere. Thank you for allowing me to read this. :)

ALL WE WERE PROMISED by Ashton Lattimore is a debut novel and a work of historical fiction set in Philadelphia prior to the Civil War. The happenings revolve around three women termed the rebel ... the socialite ... and the fugitive by the publisher. Charlotte is a former slave who has run away and now poses as a housemaid for her white-passing father; she resents the hierarchy in their relationship and longs for true freedom. Many of her efforts go towards befriending Nell, a young and relatively wealthy Black socialite with connections to the local abolitionist societies. Together, they advocate for helping Evie, a young girl who was like a sister to Charlotte and who is now in Philadelphia with her mistress. Aiding an escape for Evie is a dangerous undertaking and Lattimore does an excellent job of subtly critiquing the hypocrisy of Charlotte's father, Nell's family, and other wealthy abolitionists. However, the story's pace was quite slow; that ongoing frustration paralleled the characters' feelings since they, too, had little agency over events.

I wanted to love this but it fell flat for me. The characters felt out of place for the time, I didn’t connect and the overall story was very slow

Another I have to thank NetGalley for putting on my radar, but in the end I listened to the excellent audiobook. I'm not especially fond of Civil War stories, but this is pre-Civil War Philadelphia and gave an interesting perspective on slaves vs free Blacks during this time. We have a slave visiting from Maryland with her master, a father/daughter couple who had escaped that same master and are living free, and the privileged, respected free Black society of the time. Don't skip the Authors Notes which explained what inspired her. I didn't expect her to mention Jean Valjean and his daughter.

A noteworthy debut, to say the least.

This is a poignant and intricately woven narrative set against the turbulent backdrop of pre-Civil War Philadelphia. This novel brilliantly captures the essence of the era, immersing readers in the palpable tension and the fiery spirit of abolitionism that defined the period. Doe’s meticulous attention to historical accuracy paints a vivid tableau of 1830s Philadelphia, providing an immersive experience that both educates and enthralls.

The story centers around Charlotte, a brave young woman who carries a perilous secret and dreams of true freedom, which feels ever elusive even in the so-called land of liberty. Her plight intersects with Nell, a passionate and wealthy abolitionist, demonstrating the complex dynamics and precarious alliances formed in the shadow of slavery. The addition of Evie, a desperate fugitive from the South, escalates the stakes, weaving a narrative rich with suspense and emotional depth.

The storytelling is nothing short of phenomenal. She deftly crafts a narrative that is as heart-wrenching as it is inspiring, exploring themes of friendship, identity, and the relentless quest for freedom. The characters are beautifully developed, their interwoven destinies pulling the reader into a relentless current of intrigue and moral dilemmas.

All We Were Promised is a testament to the enduring spirit of those who fought against the injustices of their time. It is a gripping, beautifully told story that honors the complexity of history and the individuals who strive to shape it. Highly recommended for its compelling characters, evocative setting, and its profound portrayal of courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting take on slavery during that time. It gave me a lot to think about when it came to already free blacks and those that have run away and consider themselves free. Also an interesting look at someone who is not dark enough to be known outright that they're black and they take advantage of that. I liked how the author jumped between the 3 girls and wrote from their perspective.

This is a straightforward, accessible story of free blacks and escaped slaves set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. The plot moves a bit slowly for my taste, but offers a fresh take on this slice of American history. Readers who enjoy Marie Benedict and other “Women’s Fiction” will likely enjoy this novel. This is the kind of book I could share with my middle grader, mom, or grandma- wide appeal and safe for those who prefer PG.

I am such a big fan of historical fiction novels and love reading about times that are not always written about which is why I requested All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore.

I really enjoyed the three female characters and learning about their history and seeing how their three different lives came together. The characters of Charlotte, Nell and Evie are well written and the emotion in the novel is felt with every page. This one had me feeling the love, anxiety and fear that the characters felt and this is not something that usually happens to me while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

In 1837 runaway slaves James and daughter Charlotte are living free in Pennsylvania, known as America’s birthplace of liberty. James is building a lucrative custom furniture business passing as a white man to the local community. Charlotte still feels trapped inside his home because she is presented to the outside world not as his daughter but as James’s colored maid. Seeking a life of her own Charlotte befriends Nell, a born free young woman who is from a wealthy, privileged black family. Nell is an abolitionist trying to make a difference for all black enslaved people and Charlotte wants to be a part of the movement for freedom for all. At an outing to the local market, Charlotte sees Evie, a young girl who was a slave back at White Oaks, the tobacco plantation that Charlotte and James had escaped from four years earlier. Evie, replaced “Carrie”(Charlotte’s slave name) as house maid to her former mistress. When Evie overhears that she is being sent back down south to god knows what, she is desperate to get away. Together Nell, Charlotte and Evie risk everything to find a way to keep Evie safe and free. This book brings to light the dangers that slaves faced seeking a better life and future for themselves and the lives of their future generations. Highly recommend reading this well written and informative historical fiction book. This ARC was provided by the Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All We Were Promised explored a different side of slavery. What happens once you are “free” and how do you help the friends you left behind? Nell, a black socialite, Charlotte, an escaped slave and Evie, a woman still stuck in slavery come together to try to make a change. In pre civil war Philadelphia, that is not as easy as it would seem. This storyline started off slow but then took off. More than once, I was worried none of the women was going to make it out alive. Sad how humans treat each other.

First let me just say that I cannot believe this is the author’s debut novel. Hats off to her – fabulous job! I absolutely loved the three strong, female lead characters as well as a couple of the male characters. Their passion for trying to make a difference to bring an end to slavery and help those enslaved was absolutely inspiring. The only negative I have is that the spoken words don’t always match the characters’ education level – a prime example would be a speech made at the end that was much more sophisticated and well-spoken than it should have been for that particular character. I still loved the book though.

Please make sure to read the author's note at the back. There are a good number of historical facts and people built into the story that I didn’t realize until reading her notes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Random House) for the complimentary copy of this e-book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

All We Were Promised is a wonderful historical fiction novel that takes place in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. What sets it apart is its depiction of the racial tension that often culminated in violence between blacks and whites, and the lack of cohesion and unity among the people of color living in the city. The characters are strongly depicted with clear personalities that emerge as the plot develops. There is Nell, a free black woman of privilege whose desire to fight for abolition grows as she learns first-hand about the evils of slavery. There’s Charlotte, a runaway slave with secrets she cannot reveal, but who has a strong desire for a life on her own terms when she gets a taste of freedom. There’s Evie, a slave from Charlotte’s past whose presence can ruin Charlotte’s life, and James, Charlotte’s father who tries to pass as white and give Charlotte advantages he couldn’t provide before. A cast of minor characters and relationships round out the story. When the former mistress of James and Charlotte is living in Philadelphia, their danger heightens. Will the former slaves be discovered and carried back into bondage, or will they find the support they need, while rioting mobs threaten to undo all the work Nell and her supporters are doing for the cause of abolition?

I feel the author did a wonderful job of transporting the reader into this time of division and unrest in Philadelphia. Even when slavery was banned in Pennsylvania, loopholes in the law created openings for slaveholders to bring their slaves in. The law of having slaves brought in for six months or less temporarily was overlooked, especially in the case of a prominent resident like George Washington. This book taught me facts I did not know. The newly constructed Pennsylvania Hall, a building where much of the abolition activities were set to take place in the story, is barely remembered today except for a line historical marker. Kudos to Ashton Lattimore for shedding light on this era in our history. And even today, when we find ourselves divided as a nation on many issues, it is a stark reminder that we can be stronger together if we work for equality and inclusion. I would also love a sequel as I have lingering questions about how these characters grow and develop in the future.

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Set in 1837 Philadelphia, we meet Charlotte, Nell, and Evie, three black women who come to the city of liberty with different experiences. Charlotte escaped slavery in the south with her father, who is able to pass as white. Now, although she's supposed to be more free, her father's fear and worries about being discovered put limitations on her. Nell grew up in Philadelphia as one of the richest black families in town. Although she participated in the abolition society, she is content to allow the slow movement of politics to lead the movement. Evie, is a slave, currently in Philadelphia with her mistress. Will being in a free city provide her the opportunity of freedom?
When these three ladies' lives collide in a volatile time in the city's history, they will learn from each other, learn how to trust, and maybe learn how to change history!
I enjoyed this one. It did take some time for me to get into, and seemed slow at first. But once we got to the main action it was moving quickly and I didn't want to put it down! I loved the different perspective that I've rarely read about!
Because I'm so far behind on my reviews, this one is already available so go check it out!!
#NetGalley #AllWeWerePromised