Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance eARC . This book was very good! I enjoyed the writing and was fascinated by the fictional depiction of the real story of the Kosova Liberation Army - Albanians in the US who raised money and arms for defending Albanians in Kosovo in the late 90s. Something I admit I knew nothing about. I have a good friend from Albania so when I saw this book on Netgalley I decided to request it and see what perspective i could get. This one led me to another book, a memoir called Free by Lea Ypi, which is also very fascinating.

⭐️ REVIEW ⭐️

📖 Everybody Says It’s Everything by @xhennyfromtheblock 📖

Thank you to #NetGalley (@netgalley) and @atrandombooks for the opportunity to read this eARC and provide my honest thoughts.

🌟Rating: 4/5 stars 🌟

Emojis: 👩‍🦽‍➡️🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒🏳️‍🌈🛼💉❤️‍🩹👦

Synopsis: Twins growing up in the United States in the nineties unravel larger truths about identity and sibling bonds when one of them gets wrapped up in the war in Kosovo. Xhenet Aliu tells the story of a family both fractured and foundering, desperate to connect with the other and the world at large, but not knowing how.

Genres/Themes: Fiction, Family, Belonging/Relationships

My thoughts: Wow, did this story really draw me in. I was so invested in learning more about the characters of this book from the first chapters - Pete and Drita, Jackie, Dom and Antonella, Shanda and Dakota. The chapters switch character point of view and timelines, revealing motivations, actions and consequences. The story line explores the meaning of family, relationships and connection, balanced by the themes of culture/ancestry and the world view. Aliu hooked me and kept me reading through the first 85% of the book, but I did feel like the ending fell a little flat and left many of the plot lines open ended. Overall, I’d rate this one four out of five stars and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a book that threads diversity, adversity, family and cultural connection.

((Trigger Warnings: accident/injury, pregnancy and loss, adoption, war))

Xhenet Aliu’s Everybody Says It’s Everything is a heartfelt, multi-layered novel that explores family bonds, cultural identity, and personal reckoning. Following Albanian American twins Drita and Pete—who were adopted and raised in Connecticut—the story unfolds as their diverging paths force them to confront their fractured relationship and hidden family history. Aliu’s writing shines in its deep character work and emotional nuance, particularly in how she weaves themes of immigration, estrangement, and reconciliation against the backdrop of the Kosovo War.

While the novel offers a compelling and often poignant portrait of sibling dynamics and identity struggles, it occasionally feels meandering, and some narrative threads could have been more tightly woven. The pacing lags in places, making it a slower read despite its powerful themes. Nonetheless, Aliu’s sharp, evocative prose and her ability to capture complex human emotions make this a worthwhile novel for readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven stories.

Final Verdict: A solid, thought-provoking read that’s deeply moving but not always evenly paced. Best for those who appreciate family sagas with a literary touch.

(3.5/5 stars)

Woah! Such a beautifully written story!
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This book was a beautiful story of family, and the nuances of the familial relationships. This book is both heartbreaking and raw and feels so emotionally real.

This was my first time reading this author, and I was not disappointed! Overall, I was really impressed by Aliu's depth and emotional resonance. The characters and their development were definitely the highlight for me. I loved how each character was fleshed out with nuance and care, particularly the evolving relationship between Drita and Shanda. Their dynamic felt so authentic, and it was a joy to see how it transformed over time, making me invested in both of their journeys.

The book’s exploration of Albanian/Kosovan heritage was another standout aspect. It’s not often that you see such rich cultural history at the forefront of a story, and I found it both eye-opening and thought-provoking. The timelines shifting between the 1990s and 1970s also worked really well—offering different perspectives and adding layers to the plot that kept me engaged.

At times, the pacing felt a bit slow, and there were moments where the narrative seemed to drag on longer than necessary. A few sections also felt a little disjointed, where transitions between scenes or ideas weren’t as smooth as they could’ve been. That said, these were minor quibbles in an otherwise solid read. Everybody Says It's Everything stays with you long after you’ve finished it, and I found myself reflecting on it even when I wasn’t reading. It’s a captivating story with wonderful character development and a unique cultural perspective, making it a very worthwhile read.

I liked the idea of this book and even the individual stories - but I found that the overall book was not engaging enough. The characters were one-dimensional, which at times made it difficult to connect with them. There were multiple perspectives and timelines, which I do not think fully worked in this book. The story is about Albanian twins, who were adopted by an Italian woman in a wheelchair. It follows them into adulthood and the very different paths that they take in life. The story switches between the past and current day - explaining why they each made decisions which led them to today;. The book unravels family dynamics, finding your identity, acceptance and multicultural differences. I loved all the themes of the book and I even enjoyed all the stories woven throughout. I just did not love the execution. I think focusing on one character's life experience would have made for a strong story and more dimensional character.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Set in the late 90's, Drita and Petrit (Pete) are twins who were adopted and raised in Connecticut by a wheelchair bound mother. The twins become estranged once Drita goes to college and Pete connects with Shandra, who is struggling with drug addiction.

Drita soon puts college and her bright future aside to care for their mother, while Pete disappears, leaving behind Shandra and their son.

Set during that strange time in the 90s before we all carried a computer in our pocket, and with the background of the war in Kosovo, this is a study in family duty and honor. Relationships are explored, as is the meaning of the word "family". This is a beautiful character study of a family in turmoil.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Great writig and a talented author but I did not connect with the characters or story enough in the beginning. The pacing was strong in the very beginning but then tapered off as characters were introduced. The characters were well developed and felt realistic

This was a very unreadable book about sad and dysfunctional people. I suffered through about a third before giving up.

I appreciate this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, in exchange for an honest review. It was simply not what I was expecting from the preview.

I was intrigued by the premise as it follows twins from Albania that were adopted and raised in the US, removed from their heritage. It’s such a beautiful story about family, identity and the relationship you have with your country when you feel like you don’t have a right to call it yours. This had so many surprising elements and beautiful moments and it really stuck with me! I especially loved that we got to see their mom’s story of friendship turn to love and the unfair hand that she was dealt with her accident and marriage. I loved her perseverance and even though she didn’t necessarily make the rights decisions, we get to see her side of the story. I also loved Dritas relationship with her nephew and how it reflected the relationship with her brother. It was a beautiful book with an emotional ending.

This is a story of a family that was cobbled together and ultimately torn apart by secrets and lies. The story is told from multiple view points across many different times to tell the story of Drita and Pete, who were raised as Albanian twins but were in fact, not twins. Their mother, who was paralyzed in a car accident adopted them both at about the same time from different venues. After disappearing for some time, Pete stumbles into a group of Albanian militants who are planning a military attack and Pete feels like this would be a good thing to do. If you like complicated family dramas without clear resolutions, this is definitely the book for you.

Xhenet Aliu’s Everybody Says It’s Everything is an ambitious, character-driven novel that explores identity, fractured family bonds, and the weight of heritage. Set against the backdrop of late ’90s America and the Kosovo War, the novel follows adopted twins Drita and Pete, who once shared everything but have since drifted apart. When Pete’s girlfriend and their son arrive unexpectedly, Drita embarks on a journey to find her missing brother—only to uncover painful truths about their past, their Albanian roots, and the secrets surrounding their adoption.

Aliu’s writing is sharp, and the novel’s premise is intriguing, particularly in how it weaves global conflict into an intimate family drama. The exploration of heritage, identity, and what it means to truly belong is thought-provoking. However, in a book so deeply focused on character relationships, the biggest drawback is the difficulty in fully connecting with Drita and Pete. Their emotional distance from each other often made it hard for me to invest in their struggles. That said, the novel’s unraveling of family secrets and its unexpected twists keep the story engaging, even when the characters themselves feel elusive. The narrative also captures the unsettling tension of growing up as an immigrant or adoptee—straddling cultures while never fully belonging to either.

Gorgeous, gorgeous cover.

Perfect for readers who love complicated, messy family dramas. The different POVs and the late 90s setting was compelling to read, but I had a lot of unanswered questions by the end. A few plot lines felt not fully fleshed out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy.

I really tried to get into this book but I found the writing not for me. I kept putting it down and never really wanted to come back to it after several attempts. I am sure others will enjoy the complex family story involving siblings, adoption, and cultural experiences.

Thanks Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for the advanced reader copy.

Everybody Says It’s Everything by Xhenet Aliu is a well written story told from multiple points of view across multiple timelines involving family secrets, lies, cultural identity and found family. The novel features adopted twins Drita and Petrit (Pete) who were raised in Connecticut in the 1990’s by their wheelchair bound mother, Jackie. Drita and Pete become estranged as teens when good girl Drita goes off to college and Pete ties himself to drug addicted Shandra. Pete eventually finds himself wrapped up in the war in Kosovo. And Shandra turns to Drita when she becomes overwhelmed with caring for her son with Pete, Dakota. I found the background stories of Shandra and Jackie to be most compelling.
“Everybody says it’s everything” refers to family ties. The main characters explore what it means to be family, whether by blood or not. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by this moving character based family drama. I didn’t anticipate becoming so invested in the lives of these troubled people. 4/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. 3/18/25

If you are a reader who likes complicated family dramas, this book is for you. Drita and Petrit are Albanian twins adopted by an Irish-American couple. Now adults, Drita is faced with Pete’s former partner and child after he leaves. Told from Drita’s, Pete’s, their mom’s, and Pete’s parter’s points of view with flashbacks, the truth of the twins’ origins comes out when Pete signs up to join Albanians fighting their genocide in Kosova. The story is compelling, but a number of questions remain unanswered and some of the characters, especially Pete’s partner, weren’t fully fleshed out.

If allowed, I would give this 3.25 or 3.5 stars. It just wasn't quite a 4 star book for me. I enjoyed the story of a paralyzed woman adopting two small children and raising them. I enjoyed the story of the grown children trying to find themselves and the twists their lives take. But I didn't necessarily care for anyone in the book, nor did the presentation of the story pull me in. While it needed both timelines, I really preferred the current one and would have loved following it through the Albanian conflict story at a deeper level. It felt very surface level. And maybe that was appropriate for a book that is about family, but that storyline never felt quite engaging enough.

I don’t remember whether I read Aliu’s prize-winning earlier novel Brass, but it seems that this new one shares location and themes with the earlier book. This one, despite an awkward title, also displays a technical deftness and an accessible, sometimes comic tone of voice. It’s one of those books that’s more pleasurable in the journey rather than the arrival. In fact I felt the ending was flubbed, but did find myself engrossed in the exploration of family, upbringing, parenting and finding one’s tribe all of which make up the meat of the tale. The serious child is another successful element.
Aliu is a good writer. Perhaps she needs to widen her lens.

This was beautifully written and told in different POVs across many years.

Twins Drita and Fred were adopted by their mother, Jackie, when they were babies. We follow this family as secrets begin to unfold. The author did an excellent job portraying how identity or the search of it can shape who we become.