This a first time read by Ashton Lattimore, new author to this reader. “All We Were Promised” is an exceptional and well-written debut novel for Ms. Lattimore. It has well-developed characters…an abolitionist who is wealthy, Nell; Charlotte who is a fugitive slave; and a slave, Evie whose lives somehow intertwined in Philadelphia pre-Civil War. Their story will captivate you, as it did me and I found it hard to put this book down. Usually, I have shy aware from reading multiple POVs, however although there are three in the book, interest clearly comes from Charlotte’s and Nell’s POVs.

This story delves into the lives of the wealthy, Black citizens…those passing and/or slaves wanting to be free members of society. The three Black women in this story bring to the pages their personal choices and views…more importantly their involvement in a female society for antislavery. Ms. Lattimore is adept with bringing her characters to life and the risks that they face during that era pre-Civil War. This book will immerse you with feeling the experiences of the people of that era, especially Nell, Charlotte and Evie. My caution to readers is the backdrop on race related events while reading as it brings a bit of reality to this novel. A recommended historical read that I truly enjoyed and thought again was well-written and worth the read.

I voluntarily listened and reviewed an audio of this book via NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publishing: April 2, 2024
Pages: 352

The lives of three Black women -- a wealthy abolitionist (Nell), a fugitive slave (Charlotte), and a slave (Evie) -- intersect in pre-Civil War Philadephia. Charlotte has escaped from a Southern plantation and started a new life in Philadelphia. Then she sees Evie, a friend from the plantation, who is still enslaved by the same mistress that Charlotte escaped from. Can Charlotte with the aid of her new friend, Nell, help Evie gain her freedom?

As I read All We Were Promised, I found myself completely captivated. The story has three POVs, but Nell's and Charlotte's dominate. It was interesting to see slavery through their eyes. Black families of wealth aren't often the subject of pre-Civil War books, so Nell's perspective was especially unique. Additionally, having well-developed characters' viewpoints gives the reader a complete picture of the era.

The most intriguing aspect of this story is the setting. Pre-Civil War Philadelphia was home to a large and very politically active free Black community. In a city on the edge of social upheaval, these women must grapple with the question of what is freedom for all--and what risks are they willing to take to help others gain it. All We Were Promised also touches on passing, class disparities, and feminism.

I was thoroughly impressed with this debut novel! Historical fiction fans will enjoy this compelling, character-driven story of life in a free state before the Civil War. All We Were Promised would also make a great selection for book clubs as there's a lot to discuss.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for the gifted copy.

All three main characters in this book are so fully developed and it makes for a really great reading experience. No one was entirely a savior or a victim, and they were allowed to work through their flaws and toward freedom. This was a read where I learned so much and enjoyed the storytelling. I would love to know where the MCs go from here!

What a debut! This book takes you back to Philadelphia, 1837 and into the lives of the wealthy, free Black families, citizens that were passing, and slaves who wanted to be free. Nell is from a wealthy Black family and wanting to be a bigger part of the abolition movement and meets Charlotte who is an escaped slave hidden away by her passing father but who wants more to her life. The two of them are working toward a better future until Evie shows up. Evie knows Charlotte from the plantation days down south and is in Philadelphia with her mistress. Charlotte wants to help free her friend Evie, but obstacles keep getting in the way. The book takes you on a journey of their capture and they find the inner strength to carry on until they can be rescued.
I found myself invested in the characters and rooting for their safety and freedom. The supporting characters of their families gives depth and background to the choices Charlotte, Nell, and Evie make. While I found the first third of the book a little slow, you are rewarded by the end by a beautiful story of friendship and family. The story dives into lives of the wealthy families that enjoyed freedoms that only money can bring and the lengths one will go to make sure others can experience the freedom beyond their skin color. The events experienced by the characters, both pleasant and violent, make you really reflect on the past and how we can do better.
If you are looking for a character driven, pre-Civil War historical fiction book, I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you Random House - Ballantine and Net Galley or a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
#AllWeWerePromised #NetGalley

All We Were Promised gave information about black women in pre-Civil War in Philadelphia and how they were all treated differently according to their walk in life. There are many books about how life was for slaves in the south and not many in the north. Even though I love historical fiction, I felt that the story was monotonous and could have been cut down a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a free e-ARC for my honest review.

"All We Were Promised" is a captivating historical fiction set in Philadelphia during 1837, centered around the lives of three young girls: Charlotte, Nell, and Evie. Charlotte and Nell form a deep bond through their involvement in the Philadelphia Female Antislavery Society. Nell hails from one of the city's most affluent Black families, while Charlotte, who fled a southern plantation with her father—who is now passing as white—finds solace in her newfound friendship with Nell. Meanwhile, Evie, once Charlotte's closest companion on the plantation, yearns for freedom and seeks refuge in Philadelphia with her owner. Determined to assist Evie's escape to freedom, Charlotte and Nell navigate the complexities of secrecy and trust, with Charlotte guarding her identity as an escaped slave from everyone, especially Nell.

A captivating historical fiction novel set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia. The story revolves around three young Black women: Nell, a member of the elite Black society; Charlotte, a runaway living in the city; and Evie, a slave seeking escape. Lattimore skillfully portrays the risks each character faces. The book immerses readers in the era, shedding light on the complexities of freedom, identity, and friendship. A must-read for history enthusiasts!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review will be posted on publication date to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other indie book sites.

Debut author Lattimore shines a light on some lesser known tidbits from pre-Civil War Philadelphia history, presenting a highly multi-faceted view of Black society. Much of the book is a slower paced character study as chapters rotate between the perspectives of these three characters from very different walks of life: enslaved, formerly enslaved, and born into a wealthy free Black family.

While these three main characters are given ample nuance, the same is not quite as true for smaller roles. The white mistress is odious to the point of caricature and although I don't believe it's the job of this kind of book to give white women the kid glove treatment, I always appreciate in any book to see its antagonists constructed with more complexity.

I appreciate the questions and themes the book raises like the conflict between ethics and self-preservation, but at times it seems to hold the fervent belief that the only valid activism is radical direct action. I'm particularly intrigued by the author's note assertion that the main inspiration for this novel was Les Miserables - housemaid Charlotte and her father are a Black American interpretation of Cosette and Jean Valjean! I wish this had come through more clearly during the text, because greater depth to that relationship and experience would have added so much to the story.

A worthy read; just sometimes with debut novels, you can see their joints and seams in a way that more experienced authors smooth out.

3.5 stars rounded up

CW: race riots, kidnapping, minor allusions to the threat of sexual violence, brief mentions of whipping and a few places where we see the aftermath of targeted violence - this book tends to hold race-related violence at arm's length; nothing is gratuitous.

Any reader searching for a compelling story about pre-Civil War abolitionists and the struggle of fugitive slaves will definitely want to read this debut novel. The author shares a great deal of important historical information, and readers will gain a better understanding of the turbulent quest for freedom.

This intense and thought-provoking story highlights the fictional lives of three young Black women in Philadelphia in 1837. Each must weigh their commitment to their cause and their family while facing the possibility of danger around every corner.

As I read about this riveting course of events, I was emotionally torn by the tension, anxiety, and hazard involved in not knowing who could be trusted while trying to engineer an escape. Great risk was involved with no guarantee of success.

The author's note at the end of this book should definitely not be missed. This book contains a wealth of research and facts about this period in history. I would recommend this to all avid historical fiction fans and general fiction fans alike.

My sincere thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own. I will be posting my review immediately to my Goodreads account and to Amazon and Barnes&Noble on or after the publication date.

An historical fiction based on some true moments, taking place in the 1830's Philadelphia.
Revolves around 3 young black women, each from different backgrounds- Nell, a daughter of a well established family in Philadelphia, Charlotte who we learn her background over time & Evie, a slave who is visiting with her Missus/slave owner in Philadelphia but from the south.

There are secrets & twists & turns & some historical facts which I knew nothing about.

I felt Charlotte was the least understood as she had things she could not or was not ready to share & it made her vulnerable & misunderstood.

It was a very well researched story, showing the turmoil in "free" Philadelphia.

All We Were Promised seemed like a lot less than it promised. It was interesting and it had some wonderful history of Philadelphia and slavery laws. I wish that book had more of an authentic feel in action and language. I loved that the author addressed how “free states” weren’t safe for free people. Overall, I felt it was a bit of a sanitized version of the dangers the people faced. The story moved swiftly but I never felt any tension or danger. It was an easy read but not anything that brought new light to the subject of enslaving and owning others.

All We Were Promised is the story of three black women in 1830s Philadelphia; Charlotte (aka Carrie - a runaway), Nell (born free to a wealthy and established black family), and Evie (enslaved and brought to Philadelphia by her mistress). These three women each seek freedom, a different type perhaps, but a liberation all the same.



I've always been fascinated by the Pre-Civil War years of this country in its relation to Black people and the thin lines drawn between the north and the south in order to keep Black people (enslaved or not) at a distance. I think the author did an excellent job of researching this time period and evoking the sentiments of all involved.


I love the reality of this novel. I think it is a great debut and there are tons of themes and topics that would make for a great discussion.

DNF at 55%
I tried so hard to finish this ARC, but I just couldn’t keep going. After reading 23 of this 43 chapter novel, I let myself put it down. This book wasn’t terrible, but I do not currently have the patience for repetitive writing for the sake of dragging out a story that could have easily been told in 25 chapters.

I do love that this book tackles a time and topic that I rarely see in historical fiction novels. It is set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia and is told from the POV of three young Black women from varying societal classes. Had this book received the benefit of a heavy handed editor, and been trimmed down about a dozen or so chapters, it would have been great! As it is, I became bored and frustrated. I’ll not rate this one less than 3 stars though. I think that a more patient reader who loves historical fiction could very much enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When a housemaid in 1837 escapes the South, she expects her life to be better and different in the North. Charlotte longs to break away and become her own person. When she meets a budding abolitionist, she thinks this will get better for herself, but will they? With a city engulfed in riots and violence, their fight may cost them their lives.

A fascinating historical fiction novel based in 1837-38 Philadelphia that explores the city's abolitionist movement through the eyes of three black women: one born free, one a runaway slave, and a one current slave. It starts a little slow as it sets the scene and builds the characters but once it kicks in it is in high gear the rest of the way. Great characters and a well paced plot kept me enthralled throughout. Highly recommended

Pre-civil war, Philadelphia, three young ladies are already setting the tide for what is about to come. Nell, Charlotte and Evie form an unbreakable friendship that come from a place of struggling for freedom in a time where freedom was not free.

I feel like there aren't as many books written about this historical period as there are the actual War times. I loved the book and the way the story was told.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashton Lattimore, and Ballantine books for allowing me this free e-verson arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All We Were Promised was such an interesting book. It was so interesting that I tried my very best to devour it all slowly. If slowly means less than two days, then yes, I succeeded. In this wonderful book, you will meet Nell, Charlotte, and Evie. They are three women who are set to change the world's views on freedom and slavery. One was born into a wealthy black family; one was a runaway slave and has been hiding for about four years; and one is desperately seeking answers about her family members and yearning to be free herself.

Together, they all have the same goal, but it will not be easy.

Throughout the book, secrets come and go, and it's easy to spot people that one shouldn't trust. I honestly really enjoyed getting to know our three main ladies, but it hurt my heart to see them hurting. Especially when Evie felt abandoned but didn't know what was going on with Charlotte. Charlotte was carrying what seemed like the weight of the world with the secrets of her past life, and she didn't know who she could or couldn't trust with certain information. Then there's Nell, who just wanted the Philadelphia Female Antislavery Society to do more—so much more.

They each take risks to make the world a better place, not only for themselves but also for the upcoming future. Along the way, we definitely met side characters that would be forever welcomed to family gatherings, dinners, and holidays. As well as characters we would never want to see again. The city and its people could be downright violent and extremely racist, but these three held their heads up high with pride. Why do you ask? Well, they saw what freedom could and would look like and just knew things had to be better.

In the end, it all fell on a bittersweet note for me. With the fighting and buildings set on fire towards the end, I just wanted to learn more information about Evie's family. I'm glad that everyone is safe or on their way out of town, but I just wanted a bigger glimpse of happiness for them. The battle has just begun, and I'm hoping this author will write another book set in this time period, but from the point of view of the other ladies we've met along the way.

Or maybe from some people we haven't met yet.

This review will be posted on April 2, 2024 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

🔔 What I loved: the friendship, sisterhood, and strong bond between the three main characters (Nell, Charlotte, and Evie's relationships were the absolute heart of the novel); the Philadelphia setting and history; dispelling the myth that the North was safe and/or welcoming to free Blacks and/or former/runaway enslaved humans
🔔 What didn't quite work for me: I know I'm in the minority here, but I didn't care for the romantic and/or melodramatic subplots (for example, Nell was SO interesting and had SUCH character growth, I found the romance subplot to be the least interesting part of her story)
#AllWeWerePromised
Rating: somewhere between 😐 / meh, it was ok AND 🙂 / liked it
•
This book is scheduled for publication on April 2, 2024. Thank you Ballantine Books @randomhouse for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is 1837 in Philadelphia. The famous Pennsylvania Hall is being built due to a coalition of white and Black folks with strong convictions about Abolition. In Ashton Lattimore's story, a free Black woman named Nell assists an escaped slave named Charlotte (Carrie) in freeing a young woman named Evie from her owner. As the three young women seek each other out and try to form a plan, there are famous historical figures in the story like Hetty Reckless, Lucretia Mott, and James Purvis -- just to name a few. The diversity in socioeconomics, color, and priorities is evident in just our three heroines. Philadelphia and other cities in the North were technically free, but filled with a variety of opinions on what the should mean for the present and the future. Ashton Lattimore does an excellent job of showing us how frustrating that could be for those who needed immediate help. Having the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society (PFASS) approve a committee to discuss how escaped slaves can be aided in emergencies is an example of a mismatch between intent and action. We see similar debates today in our society regarding many issues like immigration and the sanctity of life. As with many historical fiction titles, the Author's Note is a valuable resource for the reader. This book is not exception. Here is a quote from the end of that note:

"At its core, 'All We Were Promised' is rooted in the social vibrancy, activism, political engagement, and diversity of Philadelphia's Black community. In telling this story, I hoped not only to resurrect the fascinating history of Pennsylvania Hall but also to shine a light on the often overlooked agency and ingenuity of the Black women and men who helped shape Philadelphia and the abolitionist movement during the critical pre-Civil War period of American history." ~ Ashton Lattimore

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting historical fiction story of three black women in Philadelphia before the Civil War, one born free, one a runaway slave in hiding, one wanting to be free. How their stories intertwine and overlap shows their connections and similar needs. Put in the context of the time period, I found it telling that even today, people still harbor the same prejudices and challenges faced. I found each character developed well and that there was more to their stories than the surface. Lattimore made the time period come alive and bring us story that is not often heard. How ironic that in the city where our country conceived its independence, residents denied those who truly desired independence and let their prejudice rule. I enjoyed this book. Many thanks to #netgalley #ashtonlattimore #allwewerepromised for the opportunity to read and review this book.