I received an advanced copy of Ashton Lattimore's new book All We Were Promised from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The story is set in Philadelphia and revolves around three black women. Nell is an abolitionist from a wealthy black family living in Philadelphia. She befriends Charlotte, an enslaved woman, who escaped to Philadelphia with her father. Her father can pass for a white man. He starts a business, and Charlotte is left at home to act like his servant. Nell invites Charlotte to some abolitionist meetings she attends. While at the market one day Charlotte finds Evie, a slave she knew from the plantation she lived on who has been brought to Philadelphia with her mistress. Nell and Charlotte realize they have to find a way to help Evie achieve her freedom - which isn't as easy as one would think - even in Philadelphia.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this story that takes place in 1837 before the start of the Civil War. Charlotte, along with her father James, is an escaped slave settling in Philadelphia. She becomes friends with a free young lady named Nell. These two young friends are also involved in helping another slave, Evie, escape. There is a lot of adventure in this story. I was rooting for their safety all along the way. This is a very well-written story about friendship and courage.

The publisher reached out to me asking me to pre read this book based on my typical genre. I’m so glad they did this was a great book. It was a different era than I normally read but I was happy to learn more.

It was set between the Revolutionary War and Civil War in Philadelphia. It’s the story of three young women and their lives at that time. Nell, a black woman who was born free and raised in an upper class family, Charlotte who was a slave but ran away, and finally Evie who is currently a slave under the same master as Charlotte. Nell and Charlotte become friends and work with abolitionists in a city that is being fueled by racial tensions. While out at the market one day they run into Evie. Evie wants to run from her master but can’t figure out how to. Thus starts a friendship between the three.

The story explains how slaves were free once they had been in the city for 6 months and how owners got around this law. Great historical fiction and safe for YA readers as well.

The author does a good job of tying the stories together. She also does a good job of describing places and things. I could smell the food that Charlotte and their cook made as she described the spices they used.

The only con was the ending seemed unrealistic. Even a free black person at that time would not be seen speaking to a white person as they did (unfortunately). But it was still a good book. And I would definitely recommend it for middle school and up. FYI a few references to masters impregnating their slaves but this is an important historical fact. Would be a great discussion piece for an English class.

Inspired by the true events surrounding the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society and the 1838 convention of anti-slavery advocates at Pennsylvania Hall, Lattimore weaves a poignant and suspenseful tale. Readers will find themselves invested in the lives of these diverse protagonists, each navigating their unique circumstances in a society marked by the tensions of abolitionist fervor and staunch pro-slavery sentiments. Rooting for these young characters, readers witness a journey of self-discovery and historical understanding, as they grapple with essential truths about themselves and their roles in the unfolding history of the nation.

A very well written and researched historical fiction story that should be read in high schools today. It tells the story of 3 African American women during the 1837 abolitionist movement in Philadelphia. The women are one slave, one former slave, and one fully emancipated, but each are still very vulnerable, due to the color of their skin. It will tug at your heartstrings and make you think of a nations history as you may not have previously done. Very impressive for a debut novel and can see it being a tv series or movie.

I thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for my ARC of this wonderful book!

Review I posted on Goodreads

Thank you NetGalley for an ebook ARC. I enjoyed reading a story I knew so little about in history. Although aware of the historical information regarding slavery and free Blacks in Philadelphia, I was not aware of the history of Philadelphia Hall. How fascinating! I thoroughly enjoyed the changing perspectives and their influence on the overall telling of the story.

This is an historical novel set in Philadelphia before The Civil War. It is well researched, and involved some fascinating and appalling history concerning Pennsylvania and slavery which I’d never encountered in history class ( I am from Pennsylvania).

The characters in the story describe diverse experiences. For instance, there’s Nell, a young woman born into a wealthy Black family in Philadelphia, Charlotte (or Carrie), a woman who escaped a Southern plantation with her father, and James, Charlotte’s father, a talented woodworker who is passing as a rising businessman in the white community. Charlotte is posing as her father’s domestic servant, a role James keeps her tethered to to keep her safe, which unfortunately does not keep her happy. And finally, there is Evie, a close friend Charlotte left behind so unceremoniously when she ran away, and who just happens to suddenly appear in Philadelphia, but not as a free woman.

I’m impressed that the author took on the hard task of imagining the mindset of young Black women in Philadelphia during such a scary and brutal time. Lattimore was able to tell these women’s stories and make their conversations and actions seem real and believable. Actually, all the people who populated this story felt real. The anger, angst, and fear that Nell, Charlotte, and Evie experienced was palpable.


The engaging plot of this novel was inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, and the evolving relationship between Jean Valjean and Cosette. In Lattimore’s story, we watch as James and Charlotte fight their way free and then find their different identities and ways forward in life. All We Were Promised is a fascinating story that I would recommend to most people.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine and Netgalley for this opportunity

All We Were Promised is a historical fiction novel set in Philadelphia, PA in the midst of the abolitionist movement. The book is an enlightening and interesting story following 3 black women, Charlotte who is a runaway slave from Maryland living under the weigh of lies and lack of freedom, Nell a well born black woman fighting to abolish slavery, and Evie a young enslaved woman just starting to fight for her own freedom.

The book is full of information and I loved getting a glimpse into this time in American history. I enjoyed the contrast between the characters and their unique life experiences. Their perspectives, as well as some of the supporting characters like Alex and Darcel, were what made this story so interesting.

My biggest concern and the reason this book falls around 3/3.5 stars for me is that the story was written in the 3rd person narrative. This ultimately made it feel clunky and hard to connect with the characters, which is really important to me. Additionally, some of the biggest plot twists were revealed in way that felt anti-climactic, so some of the emotion that comes from a plot twist was lost/lacking. Because of these reasons, I didn’t always want to dive into this book as much as others I had available.

Overall, this book is worth reading simply for the perspective on a time in our country’s history that isn’t written about as much. I feel proud of the author for venturing into the world of novel-writing and am grateful everything she shared with the world through this book!

Thanks NetGalley and Ballantine Books for early access to this novel!!

What an inspiring and informative tale. Set before the civil war we follow 3 women whose lives collide in a very special way. I really enjoyed being able to read about the free black people who were able to make a life for themselves and their families. That is something I feel we don’t get a lot of in historical fiction set during this time period.

The character development was a bit slow moving but eventually these 3 young ladies matured in admirable ways.
This was a solid debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Extraordinary. Beautifully written and rich in detail. Everyone should experience the emotions from this novel.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The three main characters were all great, and I think it was a different portrayal of this period of American history than we typically see. The author clearly did a lot of research (I kept discovering new people and places that really did exist!) and overall, this was just a joy to read. It had its heavy moments, of course, given the subject matter. But I liked it and look forward to more from this author.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars for a historical fiction book that explored the conflicts between abolitionists, slave holders and northern racists in 1837 Philadelphia. This book is narrated by three women characters:
Charlotte/Carrie, an escaped slave now living as a free woman
Nell, a free black socialite
Evie , a slave who wants to escape her mistress Kate.
Slave holders can have slaves in Pennsylvania for temporary periods only. The narrative moves the plot well and held my interest. The characters were believable and, except for the slave holders, likeable.
#AllWeWerePromised #NetGalley
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley

I loved this book so much!

This is the story of three amazing young Black women, each with their own connection to slavery. It's the pre-Civil War North, and things are wild. Charlotte's a runaway enslaved daughter, posing as her dad's servant, trying to grab some freedom. Nell's born rich but wants more than just a cushy life. And Evie, a young slave brought up north, just wants a taste of freedom. Their stories come together in the fight against slavery laws, driven by a shared love for justice and f history between them.

This is the author's debut novel and it's awesome! It's based on a true story and I can't recommend it highly enough.

5.0 stars
HIGHEST recommendation

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Ashton Lattimore, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Wowza!! This was an amazing book and my first 5-star book of 2024. The story is a difficult one to read - it is about Philadelphia in 1837/1838 when enslaved people could be brought by their enslavers for six months of every year. In the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence, but again it said, "All men are created equal" except for people of color, enslaved people, and women! UGH!

Many horrifying facts made me realize that so much of American History that I learned was white-washed. Now, by reading historical novels that are fictionalized, but are based on truth - there are so many sad and disgusting facts that I never learned.

This is NOT the easiest book to read at times, but it was enlightening, informative, and well done. Please read this fantastic debut novel!

Wow! This was a compelling and powerful read about the abolitionist movement of 1837 in Philadelphia. It focuses on the lives of three disparate women of color: a runaway slave, a young slave and a freeborn woman. The historical research which went into its telling is vast and spot on. The writing is smart, evocative and rich. The characters are well and and carefully developed. The setting of scene is exquisitely rendered. Ms. Lattimore's understanding of the law is apparent in the telling. It's truly difficult to imagine this being a debut novel; it's just that good.

Charlotte (formerly Carrie) is a young former slave who several years previously, fled a Maryland plantation with her father (who comfortably passes as a white man) and settled in Philadelphia. To keep up her father's charade as he establishes himself as a fine furniture maker, Charlotte presents herself as her father's maid. She bristles against the restraint of her lot in life, especially when her father forbids her being out in public, for her own safety, of course. For a free woman, she doesn't feel very free. She becomes friends with Nell, an altruistic freeborn woman with aspirations of making a difference in the world, specifically, raising funds in support of anti-slavery legislation and petitioning congress to make those necessary changes. But when called on by Charlotte to help a young slave girl break free from her mistress, how far is Nell really willing to go? Afterall, it's illegal to aid a slave in their flight for freedom.

If well written historical fiction appeals, then this may well be an excellent choice for you.

I am grateful to Ballantine Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected e-book of this story. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: April 2, 2024
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0593600153

Ashton Lattimore depicted pre-civil war Philadelphia with her excellent research and with an engaging historical fiction read. It was a tumultuous time between blacks and whites and for blacks and whites. I learned a great deal about this era. I applaud the author for her detailed accounting of life, at that time, and especially because she did not “preach” about slavery. She eloquently told a well investigated accounting, of living through those times for enslaved blacks and for free blacks and for those, both black and white, who were trying to procure change and tolerance. Brava! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #AllWeWerePromised, #NetGalley, RandonHousePublishingGroupBallentineBooks.

Ashton Lattimore did a beautiful job in writing this historical fiction. The book is well researched and she brings the characters to life. The story takes place in Philadelphia during the 1830 a time period filled with resentments between races, working classes and wealth. Pennsylvania was a free state, but it wasn’t safe for abolitionists.
Thank you #NetGalley, #BallantineBooks, #AstonLattimore and #AllWeWerePromised for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Ballantine Books an Imprint of Random House. This story is about heroism, lies, betrayal, prejudice and some romance. What would you do to escape the horrors of your life? Charlotte is a girl that has had a very tough younger life but when her father whisks them away in the middle night is it for the best? Can you ecery truly be free? Nell is a black women who always has been free and hasn't had to worry about a lot of things. So can she truly help those who want to be free. Can she just talk about or come up with a plan of action. What happens when in trying to start over your past comes into your lives. This story can be read anywhere and by anyone.

This novel managed to be both informative and entertaining, a very difficult combination. I enjoy historical fiction, but often the author spends too much time informing or too much time entertaining. I felt that All We Were Promised gave me so much insight and information into the lives of free black people in the city of Philadelphia n the 1830’s. I thought it was very fitting that the novel was set in the city of brotherly love when it was obvious by the actions of many at the time that blacks were still seen as property. I thought the author handled the very difficult topic of the duty of free blacks to enslaved blacks with understanding, never becoming overpowering. I enjoyed the characters, their problems and the interesting plot.
I will be recommending this novel to all my reading friends and suggesting it to my book club. There are many themes to discuss in this enjoyable historical fiction nove.

A unique look at three women in pre–Civil War Philadelphia! It's the 1830's and Charlotte is living virtually the same life she had as a slave - she is maid to her father who passes as white. She has little choice as they escaped the South together. Her bright and charming friend Nell takes her under her wing and she begins to experience the less known life of the wealthy blacks living free in the city. It's not until her oldest friend Evie appears in the city as a "maid": for their old plantation that Charlotte is forced to act.

What happens next sheds light on a style of life we have heard little about - the plight of free black persons who still are not free enough.- living in fear of capture or of injury for speaking their minds.

A great look at a piece of history that we are seldom exposed to.
#randomhouse #ballantine #allwewerepromised #ahstonlattimore