Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

In all honesty I don't quite know what I think about this book. I guess I would give it a 3.5 star rating. I enjoyed the plot as a whole and the writing and characters were good. However, there was a lot of back in forth to past and well further past and keeping up was a little confusing at points. None the less I finished the book to see if I was right about the outcome. I would have liked a better conclusion where somebody, anybody else found out the secret. Also not sure where the title comes into play but not so much of a deal.

All in all I enjoyed the book and read it straight through in a few hours. I would recommend it and would probably even read it again to see if I missed anything.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

Beautifully dives in to serious, possibly triggering subject matters with sensitively and delicate hand without glossing over them or being preachy. Brenda Benny has just the right touch to melt the hard while also breaking it. Savannah’s plans are sweet and beautiful until her world is rocked by sexual assault. Although it is incomplete as it is the first book in a two part series. I think that was unnecessary. I wish the author would have tightened up the writing some and just given us the whole complete story with questions answered.

Did not finished this book. Overall, I didn't enjoy it that much. Hope I'll have better luck with other books from this author

I think that this was a good book that deals with a very serious topic. The writing was good, it really drew me into Savannah's world and helped me understand her feelings. The contrast between Savannah's first love and the horrible incident she's been through is interesting.

Read July 20

CW: Rape

This is a dual timeline book set in 1994 covering the few months leading up to the end of school party before everyone goes off to university or wherever, and the aftermath of that party and how it has changed Savannah.

I wasn’t entirely convinced by the 90s setting. Very little is mentioned that is relevant. A couple of bands, Kurt Cobain’s suicide and an O.J. Simpson car chase. It wasn’t very immersive. I think the author wanted to rely on gossip and hearsay after the party rather than social media evidence but pulled it off slightly clumsily. I also wasn’t entirely convinced by the flip-flopping time chapters either. The “after” chapters were often so brief that I don’t think it would have made much difference in the narrative if it had played out chronologically. The only thing I can think of was a phone call that in the end when it was revealed seemed to lack impact,

I’d have also liked to have read more about why Savannah wanted to travel rather than go straight to college. It’s also implied by Savannah that she’s in her sister’s shadow but then no-one else mentions her sister which was odd. Also while it’s realistic and I understand it I was still disappointed that Savannah didn’t tell anyone about her rape.

I found it hard to get into this book. I didnt really connect with the characters. It sort of reminded me of a YA book. The ending was very abrupt and disappointing for me.

This book was heartbreaking. The characters and story made want to cry. Main character deal and copes with trauma herself and doesn't ask for help. Her friends are not talking to her. I just felt so bad for her. She doesn't have to cope with alone. This book just made me cry.

This is a topic that resonates with so many women, as it seems that if you really dig in, most girls have at least one night in your past that you wonder about--did something happen that I don't remember? Did I really consent to what I do remember? Seeing Savannah go through the questioning was heartbreaking but very realistic.

Thank you for providing a copy of this book for review however I was unable to open the file for this document unfortunately! Apologies.

So often books that are not easy to read are the ones that offer so much insight into a situation you may have no knowledge of.
It’s a raw and unflinching look into the life of a sexual assault survivor. It may, much like Louise O’Neill’s Asking For It, trigger some that read but I hope they find some comfort in the solidarity with the main character.
The ending is a little abrupt, but this will have a pay off, I’m certain, when the sequel is released.

I stopped and started this book a few times, which probably made the reading experience more confusing than it should have been...

But I still thought it was quite a good book; It just took me a very long time to get into.

I'm not a historical fiction fan, so the setting also probably contributed to me finding this a difficult read.

Also, there was a lot more heavy content than I was expecting. The book dealt with it really well, but it was not a light & breezy read.

Overall though, still a good book.

This book was well written and I think it was helpful to piece together the story having chapters that were before the party and chapters that were after.
The story of sexual assault that Savannah goes through is unfortunately all too real for many women.
Theres a lot left to be desired for Savannah's story and the end of the book seems very abrupt. Brenda Benny is a talented author and I hope to see a sequel to this book.

This book should come with a serious warning because man when I was reading I was thinking this should be a new adult or college age book but then I thought about it some more and I realized that this does happen to high school girls and boys and it is hidden and not talked about very often. So the more I read the more I was sad for Savannah because she was the one violated and her best friend and boyfriend did not speak to her. They acted like she didn't even exist and that pissed me off so bad because that is a rotten thing to do to your girlfriend and best friend.

Savannah did have one positive person on her side and boy oh boy did I love him. Her other best friend Pete he stayed by her side and talked to her and helped her get through the tough times. This story really had me crying and yelling at my kindle and I need to know what is going to happen in book two. I need it like ASAP so I can see how Chase redeems himself if he does at all because what he did in my eyes in effed up and unforgivable.

Before I get into my review, I just wanted to add there is a trigger warning that deals with Sexual Assault.

I read this a while ago, but I have been putting on my review because I wasn’t sure how to word my review. This book does deal with a tough subject that hasn’t been talked a lot in books, or the ones that I have read anyway. I did enjoy this book and how it was written, I’m just feeling a little indifferent on it.
Savannah is about to go to Ecuador to volunteer before going to collage and in the flashbacks that we get to see why she was a little resident on going. One night that Savannah is at a party and she gets pretty hammered because of some things that happen. I don’t want to spoil why, but when she wakes the next day on the bathroom floor and she only remembers a little here a there, but one thing that she is convinced on is that she was raped an doesn’t know who the attacker was. We then follow her on the journey to find out who had done it. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, it felt like it was reading the story and then the next it was over, I was hoping that there would have been more instead of ending suddenly.

This book should come with a trigger warning even though it deals with important issues in a very respectful way.
I cared a lot about Savannah (the main character). Your heart will break for her for a number of reasons.

While this book talks about sexual assault, it also reminds you of how beautiful and important your first love can be. It is Book One so I'm glad that the book was not going to end as abruptly as it did (It was almost as if the author was like "thats it I'm done". I can't wait to read the rest of this story.

thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for my honest review.
This my first book by this author. It was an interesting story that draws you in and grabs your heart. It deals with a tough subject and does it with out placing blame on the victim. It deals with it realistically in some ways but the ending I had trouble with. It's not a nice neat ending but it also seemed too easy. A lot of people who have dealt with rape might find the ending unsatisfying. It's not always easy to just pick up and get on with your life, but I guess that's what makes good fiction!

This is a sensitive book and was emotional to read. I wanted so many times to reach into the pages and help this girl. My heart broke for her. It’s never easy to read about rape and rape culture, especially when it’s a YA book for me. I just feel there was a lot left of this story and that’s why I only gave it 3 stars. Thanks NetGalley for my copy of this book and maybe there could be a follow-up novel to help resolve some of what was left on the table here.

4.5 stars

This review is based on an ARC of All the Promises We Break courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Liddle Book Press).


After reading Brenda Benny’s first novel ( That Secret You Keep ) I knew I was a fan right away, so I was expecting a good story when I picked up All the Promises We Break. Instead what I read was a phenomenal, empowering, enchanting, and beautiful story, with such depth and sincerity that I couldn’t fathom why Benny’s first novel didn’t leave such an impact in my mind. I am truly amazed at her level of talent with prose. Brenda Benny really is an author who deserves more notoriety!

All the Promises We Break deals with rape. In all my life as a reader, I have never, ever read such a genuine and tender portrayal of this topic—not even from Ellen Hopkins, the YA Queen of Fucked-Up-Topics. Savannah (our mc) has such immense voice and depth that her story becomes personal, and it’s like all I wanted to do was jump into the pages and hug her and be her confidant. Savannah is a character that I truly cared about, and her story was one that kept me interested page after page.

Aside from the topic of rape, this novel also acts as a coming-of-age at a time where Savannah has plans and ideas, but she doesn’t know what she wants to do, a situation I know many, many people can relate to.

I know some people may not like the ending, and may be disappointed with how things play out, but as for me, I loved it. I very strongly connected to the choices that Savannah made, and I believe that many women in her situation would have done exactly the same. I like reality in my books, and this novel has a very realistic finale.

(Ugh, my review feels so boring compared to the book it’s about! It’s been a few days since I finished reading All the Promises We Break and I am still thinking about it, even while reading my next book, so that really says something. )

All the Promises We Break is a truly spectacular and important novel, and I strongly urge you if you are interested in this novel to pick up a copy ASAP! You won’t regret it!