On paper, I should have loved this story. Historical fiction- check. Southern- check. Coming of age- check. And so on. But I didn't.

I feel like this book has an identity crisis. It is trying to fit into so many genres/subgenres and just feels lost to me.

Not only did I feel the book was all over the place, very little actually happened. And what did happened was extremely predictable.

As for character development, there wasn't any. Other than Bert, no one changed. And Bert was an instant change- from very childish, immature, and unworldly to over-sexualized child.

I listened to the audiobook and was also not a fan. The narration was slow. I sped it up early on. I also did not care for the narrator.

I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Narrator 5 stars
This narrator along with the story gave me Scout feels (to kill a mockingbird bird)

Story 2
I just could not get into this story. I didn't feel anything towards the characters or story. It was just very flat for me personally.

**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

“We browns are a family of love. And love can cure most everything.” ~All the Little Hopes.
This wonderful novel by Leah Weiss was narrated by Kate Forbes and I loved it! I highly recommend listening to this. The novel takes place in a small town in NC during the 1940’s during and uncertain time in our history. There was war, prejudice, a whole lot of changes going on. I just fell in love with the Brown family. They invited me into their home and I never wanted to leave. Lucy and Ally Bert were precious and I especially loved their Mother. There’s is a trace of mystery to this and I enjoyed the way the author told me this story. She’s quickly becoming one of my favorites. This was just as good or better than, “If the Creek Don’t Rise”. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed it.
Thanks RB Media via Netgalley.

Thirteen year old Allie Bert (Bert) Tucker has been banished by her father and sent to help her pregnant Aunt in Riverton, North Carolina. After traveling across the state by bus, she arrives, but it’s not the situation she expected. Her Aunt doesn’t want her there and throws her out, right into the arms of the stable, wonderful Brown family.

Lucy Brown is also thirteen and soon Bert and Lucy are best friends and share everything. Lucy is besotted with Nancy Drew and the girls get caught up in the mysterious disappearances of three men in their community. A sweet coming of age story that takes place during WWll, the Browns have a tobacco farm and raise bees for honey. Filled with a great cast of characters, we watch as Bert develops into a wonderful young woman alongside Lucy.

While I loved If The Creek Don’t Rise, this book was on the slower side for me and while an enjoyable read, it drug in some places.

I would have really loved to have this audio book narrated by dual younger voices. It would have really brought the book to life!

All the Little Hopes by Leah Weiss (Author), Kate Forbes (Narrator)

It's 1943 Riverton, North Carolina, and thirteen year old Nancy Drew fanatic and bibliophile, Lucy Brown, works with her family to tend to their bees on her family's tobacco farm. The girl knows big words and likes to use them! All of Lucy's family are bibliophiles, the house is full of books everywhere, and they have weekly readings for anyone who wants to attend.

Above Ashville, North Carolina lives thirteen year old Allie Bert Tucker, whose family is poor, can't read, and might be likely to marry her off very soon except that her mom dies and she is sent to live with her crazy aunt in Riverton. As soon as Bert and Lucy meet they become best friends and this meeting adds family and learning to Bert's life, as she is invited to come live in their home.

This story meanders and winds around a variety of subjects but always shows that the love of family (whether adopted or blood family) is the key to handling the hardships that life throws at a person. Lucy soon has Bert lassoed into trying to figure out what has happened to several missing men, following the principles of Nancy Drew. There is the apprehension that comes with the town's new German POW camp and having two of these POWs working for the family. There is the constant worry about a brother and a brother in law fighting in the war, waiting anxiously for the next letter so that the family knows they were at least alive when that letter was written.

Wealthy Aunt Fanniebell is a favorite character of mine. She lives across town in a big house and she takes both girls under her wing, showing them the ropes to dressing up and having tea parties. Aunt Fanniebell is very smart but it's a struggle to understand what she is saying since she mixes metaphors, names, and whatnot in every sentence she utters. This is one progressive lady though and she is friends with the mysterious Trula Freed, a mystic who has the girls transfixed.

The chapters are short, alternating between the points of view of Lucy and Bert. Often there are long gaps of time between chapters, and if anything, I wish the story could have gone on a little longer. It's a slow story but I became attached to this family and their friends and would love to know what happens after the story ends.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for this ARC.