In "All That We Are Together," Alice Kellen crafts a heartwarming and emotionally resonant story of love, loss, and the power of human connection. Through her vivid characters and evocative prose, Kellen weaves a narrative that explores the intricacies of relationships and the enduring bonds that unite us in times of adversity.

Plot Overview:

The novel follows the lives of three strangers brought together by fate: Alex, a young widow struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband; Noah, a troubled artist grappling with demons from his past; and Lara, a free-spirited traveler seeking refuge from a painful secret. As the three navigate the complexities of grief, guilt, and healing, they form an unlikely friendship that transforms their lives in unexpected ways.

Interwoven with their stories are glimpses into the lives of those they encounter along the way, from supportive friends and family members to enigmatic strangers who offer unexpected solace and wisdom. Through a series of serendipitous encounters and chance meetings, Alex, Noah, and Lara discover that they are stronger together than they ever could have imagined.

Character Development:

Kellen’s characters are beautifully drawn and deeply human, their struggles and triumphs resonating with emotional depth and authenticity. Alex, Noah, and Lara emerge as complex and relatable protagonists, each grappling with their own inner demons and insecurities. The supporting cast, including friends, family members, and love interests, add depth and richness to the narrative, their interactions with the main characters driving the plot forward with warmth and authenticity.

Themes:

"All That We Are Together" explores themes of love, loss, and the redemptive power of human connection. Kellen delves into the ways in which grief can bring people together, forging bonds of empathy and understanding that transcend the boundaries of age, background, and experience. The novel also examines the healing power of forgiveness and acceptance, illustrating how the act of letting go can pave the way for new beginnings and second chances.

Another significant theme is the importance of living life to the fullest in the face of adversity. Through Alex, Noah, and Lara’s journeys, Kellen celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for growth and transformation in the wake of tragedy. The novel serves as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Setting and Atmosphere:

The setting of "All That We Are Together" is a lush and atmospheric backdrop that reflects the emotional landscape of the characters’ journeys. From the sun-drenched beaches of a Spanish coastal town to the bustling streets of a vibrant city, Kellen’s vivid descriptions transport readers to a world alive with color, texture, and sensory detail. The atmosphere is one of warmth and intimacy, with each scene infused with a sense of intimacy and connection.

Writing Style:

Alice Kellen’s writing is lyrical, evocative, and brimming with emotion. Her prose is infused with a sense of warmth and empathy, drawing readers into the hearts and minds of her characters with grace and sensitivity. Kellen’s storytelling is both intimate and expansive, with each chapter unfolding like a series of interconnected vignettes that illuminate the complexities of human relationships with depth and nuance.

Conclusion:

"All That We Are Together" is a poignant and uplifting novel that celebrates the transformative power of love, friendship, and forgiveness. Alice Kellen’s compassionate storytelling and richly drawn characters make this book a joy to read, while her insights into the human condition add depth and resonance to the narrative. It is a novel that will linger in the hearts of readers long after the final page is turned, reminding us of the enduring power of connection and the beauty of life’s unexpected moments.

Recommendation:

This novel is recommended for readers who enjoy heartfelt and emotionally resonant stories of love, loss, and redemption. "All That We Are Together" is perfect for anyone looking for a beautifully written and deeply affecting read that will tug at their heartstrings and leave them feeling uplifted and inspired. Alice Kellen’s novel is a testament to the enduring power of human connection and the healing balm of friendship and love.

This is the follow up book to All That We Never Wers and picks up three years after Axel breaks Leah's heart. She has tried to move on with her life, but Axel still occupies her thoughts. Her paintings have been helpful in clearing her thoughts of him, but it is those same paintings that bring him back into her life. When her work is presented in an exhibit, Axel can't help but return to see her again. This is a story full of emotion and feeling and I was pulled in from the start and completely captivated by Leah and Axel's journey. The author did a great job of crafting a beautiful story about two flawed people finding their way back to each other and now have a second chance at love. A refreshing story that is sure to melt your heart!
I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. The narrators did a lovely job of bringing the characters and story to life. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary review.

All That We Are Together is a great book but it is a sequel. And I did not know that when I requested it so I was lost for a good chunk of the book. Now I was rooting for the couple but only because I knew I should be.

There were so many factors going on in this book and I really think I would have enjoyed it but since I didn't know it was a sequel I didn't know what was going on for so much of this book it was hard to say I enjoyed it. It seemed like there were beautiful elements that I wish I had read the first one. I am interested in the brother's relationship with Axel as well as with the death of their parents.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

This was a beautiful story. I really enjoyed this one. I didn't even realize that this was the second book in the series. It definitely could be a standalone. I was able to follow along and it was a second chance romance for me.

The book is absolutely beautifully written, although it was a sequel and I had no idea but it was worth every minute.

Looking forward to reading more by the author

I marginally liked this one more than the first book. There was still a ton of miscommunication between the to main characters. Five years had past and they both didn’t seem to really act their ages.

The first one is through her view and the second is from his. To be honest, I like the second one much more than the first one. Though it still didn’t end with them together, it ended happier than the other one. Lots of cute and romantic aspects in this one and the male character finally made up for his actions in the first book.

🌀Synopsis
Leah is moving forward at school. She’s seeing someone consistently and loves her friends. She’s pursuing her art and loves that aspect. It’s going so well that she receives an opportunity to exhibit her art in Paris. The only kicker is that Axel is going to be her agent.
Axel who she hasn’t seen in 3 years. Axel who she’s been in love with and remains in love with even through the other men. They enter their own world in Paris. He vows to never hurt her again and they begin to trust each other. Now it’s Leah’s turn to choose her career or choose Axel.

Similar to the first book in this duology this cover is just beautiful, and the two of the English print books together are just perfect. Also like the first book, this series was printed originally in Spanish back in 2019 and is now being released in several languages.
I enjoyed this book more than the first one as it felt more realistic, mature, and focused on coming of age as an adult. The story starts three years after Axel sends Leah away to live her life without him. They eventually find their way back to each other through Leah's art. Unlike the first story, there is less grief and more focus on both characters finding themselves as individuals and as a couple. The writing is almost poetic and I particularly enjoyed Leah's journey to discover herself and what she wants in life, as well as the role her brother played in her journey. However, I felt that some chapters were unnecessary and could have been left out, such as a one-pager of the main characters waking up cuddling, which added nothing to the story. The narrators did a great job of bringing the characters to life and expressing their emotions. Overall, the book had a satisfying conclusion and a poetic backbone.

This really was just the most toxic and unhealthy relationship ever. Throughout both of the books there were just so so so many issues and red flags about their relationship dynamic.

I gave the first book 2 stars as well but because I had an audio arc I figured I would give the second book a try with the hopes that they would both do some soul searching and healing and be able to have a positive and healthy relationship… but unfortunately that was not the case.

First, Axel was literally horrible to Leah. He was so mean to her and never encouraging of her accomplishments and improvements in her life. It was like he wanted her to be unsuccessful so she had to solely rely on him. I don’t know if he was just bitter and jealous because he was unable to work through his own stuff to paint again or what. It really seemed like he did not want her to grow as a person at all and just wanted her to revert back to that little girl with crippling grief and mental illness that he had to take care of.

Also Leah had done so much healing and was doing so much better from the time between the end of the first book and the second book and the second she was back with Axel it seemed that all of that growth just disappeared.

I was really hoping that they would both take the time to heal and discover themselves instead of constantly relying on the other person and even though the book stated that they did that, in reality neither of them did or at least the book didn’t show that they had changed at all.

Overall, I would not recommend either of the books in this duology and I’m so sad to say that because I thought I would love these based on the cover and description.

I love that this series doesn't have the traditional romance and show life is messy. 🔥

Three years after their epic breakup, Leah has moved on, is making amazing paintings and finally getting recognized. That leads to Axel coming back into her life and wondering if he can take back the biggest mistake in his life.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*This is book 2 in the duology, and you must read book 1 to understand anything that happens in book 2*

Leah and Axel haven’t seen or spoken to each other in 3 years, ever since Axel broke Leah’s heart. Leah has tried to move on, and went away to college and began dating Landon. Feeling a bit more like herself, she begins painting again, and Axel comes back into her life as her art agent.

I struggled so much with this New Adult. I felt Axel still tried to take advantage of Leah and her vulnerability. I appreciate how their chemistry was apparent, but I also felt it was all they had in book 2. I was happy that Leah was able to stand up for herself by the end, but I still am not sold on these two as a couple that I could root for.

In this captivating sequel, we follow Leah Jones as she navigates life three years after her heartbreak with Axel Nguyen. Despite her attempts to move forward, her past with Axel remains a shadow over her present. The narrative beautifully intertwines Leah's passion for painting with her complex emotions, showcasing significant character growth. Axel's reappearance at Leah's art exhibit rekindles old feelings, leading to a whirlwind of emotions and a potential second chance at love. Kellen masterfully explores love, forgiveness, and self-discovery themes, making the characters' journey deeply relatable. The book's heartfelt moments and the added depth of an alternate epilogue left me profoundly moved, making it a memorable addition to the romance genre.

4.5/5 Stars

“It scared me that the line between hate and love was so fine, so slender that you could jump straight from one extreme to the other. And I loved him. I loved him in my entire being. With my eyes, my heart. My entire body reacted when he was near, but another part of me hated him. I hated him with my memories, with words never uttered, with scorn and was incapable of opening my arms and offering him forgiveness however much I wanted to do so. When I looked at him I saw black. Red. Throbbing purple. Emotions welling over. And feeling something so chaotic for him hurt me because Axel was a part of me. He always would be. Despite everything.”

I’m not quite sure what it was about this book, but it ruined me so. many. times. I don’t think it was overly dramatic for a romance novel, but I was in tears throughout. I felt like the love story was so relatable. The feeling of loving someone even if they have broken your heart, even if it hurts to do so, had me tearing up constantly.

I loved the plot. I loved that the reader comes into the story and the characters have grown from a trauma that has happened long ago and they are slowly finding their way back to each other. I loved the side characters and the supportive families. I loved that the past pain was recognized, but that the characters also recognized the growth within each other. The book was just amazing. The writing was great - maybe a few too many eye opening revelations - but I took down so many quotes.

Definitely recommend this as a book club pick. There is a lot to unpack and discuss.

Told in a two person POV, we see three years have passed since Alex had broken Leah’s heart. They're supposed to have grown and changed, but they still feel one-dimensional and stiff. The fact that it was Leah’s brother who knowingly knows Leah’s heart is still broken but making an attempt to move on and yet still invite Alex to her very first art gallery is beyond my comprehension. Which leads to the whole "I want to sleep with you but I don't want to sleep with you but then I do" troupe felt really shallow and annoying. Did he really grow up or did he just want what he couldn’t have? I’m not even going to address the cringey moments of each time he fondly recalls her being so young as he visited the family. I get it, he is older than her but you don’t need to have Alex make it seem like he’s a pedophile. Then there is Paris. I felt that I was rushed and trying to make us see they truly belong together and how Alex’s arc of maturity.

The ending was okay, but I didn't love it. The author kept talking about Alex's headaches throughout the book, and I was expecting them to be a big deal. But then at the end...nothing. No explanation or resolution. It was like the author forgot about them. I guess you could argue that the headaches were caused by stress or sadness, but Alex was pretty happy during the parts of the book where he had them. So that doesn't really make sense.

Overall, I'd rate this book itself 2.5 out of 5 stars. However, I truly enjoyed the two narrators’ reading. Their tone inflections of their character's emotions and realizations but the ending of the story itself didn't really satisfy me. The story itself fell short. It’s is the narrators that made it 3 stars.

Many thanks goes to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio copy.

I've never read anything from this author, but I will be reading more now if all her books are like this one. I went & read the first book before reading this one as I saw it was book 2 & it was so good. I'm not completely finished reading this book yet, but I will most definitely be recommending both books to my friends.

This is the second book in a two-part series. While I really loved the characters in the first book, I hated the cliffhanger ending. It seemed like the story just stopped in the middle, with nothing resolved.

In Book 2, we jump three years later. There's been no contact all that time between Leah and Alex. And then suddenly, Alex forces himself back into Leah's life by showing up to her very first art gallery opening. There's no thought about whether or not she might want him there, or what his sudden and unexpected presence might do to her--especially on a night that's supposed to be about here!

It's not until about midway through the book, when he's upended Leah's life and relationship, that he starts to realize that loving someone means considering their needs.

And unfortunately, as much as I felt there was too much sex overshadowing the development of their relationship in Book 1, it's even moreso in Book 2. Their physical need for each other seems to be the basis of their entire relationship, which doesn't make for a very satisfactory romance for me.

I'm glad to have been able to read the conclusion of their story, but don't feel very satisfied by it.

Thank you to Alice Kellen, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

All That We Are Together was a semi-challenging read. The second in the series, Leah seems to be finally moving on from Axel. She has a healthy relationship, having success in college, and making her first break into the art world. Untillll Axel shows back up.

I understand this is supposed to be a second chance romance and the culmination of years of love and longing, but Axel seems to pop up and force his way in just as Leah is getting her life together. I struggled with his attitude toward Leah's pain. I didn't like how he didn't seem to really respect Leah's relationship with Landon. He immediately starts physical contact with her and calling her babe. It was just frustrating and it didn't seem like he allowed her to really distance and decide she wanted him.

The Paris plot line when Leah lives alone seemed rushed. Her character development to an independent woman was unfulfilled.

It just wasn't my favorite. But the narration was great! I loved the accents and the dual POV. I did think some of the chapters were just too short and the POV bounced back and forth a little too fast at times.

*Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Alice Kellen for the audiobook. I am always glad to leave my honest opinion!*

I was thrilled to read part two! The time jump seemed to make the age difference feel a bit less ick. From the first interaction, this obviously meant to be romance was in the cards. I really loved how art was such a central part of the story. Where book one left me wanting more, this book left me satisfied. So glad to have read the conclusion to this entertaining story.

I was cheering this book on from the beginning, but all in all, it was just anti-climactic for me. I do have to say I loved the Australian accents in the narration, and enjoyed several of the small details like The Beatles references (“Let it Be” series name) and all the artistic elements. The story between Leah and Axel and their reunion after 3 years apart was slow to reemerge and, at times, their conversations and relationship was immature… especially because Axel was supposed to be quite a bit older than Leah.

I did not read the first in this series either and perhaps there was a lot of the backstory I just missed, but I would have like more context and more immersion into the characters, just needed MORE to the story for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t realize this was a series and didn’t read the first. This may have influenced my opinion as my perspective may have been different knowing the cast better. Three years after Axel broke Leah’s heart she is trying still trying to find her footing to move forward. The only time she feels whole and like herself is when she is painting. When Axel creeps into her life, he does it under the guise of helping her professionally. He does so by going behind her back and contacting her school to offer his services of representation. Being a pleaser of sort and not wanting to share why she doesn’t want to work with him, she opts in so please her school community and its members. In a nutshell, it is good for everyone, except for her. When she sets boundaries, Axel waltzes right across them with zero concern about her. He worms her way back in, then when she tries to do anything for himself he loses his mind. They are both immature, but they are young and can learn and grow. What I found so disturbing was his level of misogyny, narcissism constant emotionally abusive behavior. I found it difficult really commit to the story as I didn’t either of the MC’s terribly likable so wasn't terribly invested in what happened to them. Just wasn’t for me.