I loved this multi-POV story of what it means to be family. How do we define success? How does our understanding of family shape who we are? Where should our loyalties lie? Aliu has beautiful writing that kept me enticed. Some of the characters needed a bit more depth, but an enjoyable story overall with good points to think about.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The twin aspect was fascinating and very well done. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

This was an absolutely beautiful story of family and family ties, all the ways that we are tied to our families in ways good and bad. The subject matter is very relatable as we all have certain familial relationships that have try and test us, and tie us together all the same. All of us have certain family members that complicate things, maybe some of us even are that person. This was a very personable and relatable story, it felt very realistic and it's strongest parts were it's characterizations. The character work was impeccable here, the dialogue was the best part about this because it was so raw and unflinching and honest, it really cuts thru all the exterior. bullshit and gets right to the heart of the matter.

This was readable, and engaging but it was not the most unique book I've ever read, even with it's ethnic elements I still felt the sensation of having read similar books before, but that did not make this any less readable. It never bored me which is major, the pacing was steadfast throughout and for that I gave it 4 stars because of its enjoyability factor. The writing seemed at times to think it was smarter than it is, but for some that type of pontificating works, but for me I had to detract a star.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange of an honest review. I had difficulty staying focused on the characters. There seemed to be too much jumping around, and it left me feeling like I couldn't get interested in either the story or the characters. There was a strange undertone throughout the book that I can't put my finger on. The twins started out to be interesting, but then reverted to being about Pete's drug abuse and criminal history, and Drita's interaction with Pete's son and his mother. Then, jumps to their adopted mother, Jackie. This book was not one that I can recommend, as I had difficulty finishing it.

Plot: Siblings Pete and Drita have made choices that have sent their lives on different trajectories. Drita went to college and is a nurse and holds it over Pete’s head that he’s made mistake after mistake. When people from Pete’s life arrive in Drita’s, she considers what makes someone family and what you will do for them.

Themes: family, success, addiction

Characters: the story alternates between Drita and Pete’s POV as well as their adopted mother Jackie and Pete’s girlfriend Shanda. Honestly, Shanda’s story was the most intriguing to me. Jackie’s backstory was also interesting, but I didn’t find the majority of these characters likable at all.

Writing: The book was very well written and shines a light on Albanian/Serbian conflict that I didn’t know much about. I really disliked how much the story timeline jumped around. We alternate POV but then also jump from the early 90s to the 80s and back to present time all throughout the book.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

Beautifully written account of boy-girl twins raised by a woman in a wheelchair, who learn through hard lessons the meaning of family. Told from shifting points of view, structuring itself across various eras, with a twist that explains some of the choices made for better or for worst. What appealed to me most was the realistic dialogue that propelled the action and the characterizations that enhanced it.

Drita and Pete are twins, or so they believe. Their mother, Jackie, has a car accident and is unable to have children. She adopts these two children from two different mothers. The two children have very different personalities. This story weaves between the lives of these twins. Pete is married and has a child. After Pete leaves his wife, Shandra, and child, Dakota, Drita decides to locate him. The story develops each character very well. The plots with the twins’ lives and the interweaving within the plot are very clear.

I found this book thought provoking and well written. It runs deep and is very well done. While at times it was difficult to read due to the heaviness of the situation, it was realistic. It felt like a true portrayal of the challenges of life including the loss of a child, drug abuse, child neglect, and recruitment for war for the Kosova Liberation Army. Overall, it is an excellent book; and, for me, it was a page turner. I think it probably will win some awards and be a bestseller.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Thanks to the publisher, Random House, and the author for the privilege to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks for this review copy. I enjoyed reading about the twins and their sibling bond. The writing is good.

I have mixed feelings about this. I found it hard to get into, almost stopped with Pete's bowel issue so to speak. The characters didn't feel quite real to me or developed enough. I was interested in the more historical, roots part of the story and parts were moving and interesting so glad I continued.

This was a great story about family, friendship, and what it means to be a family. It was well written and the characters came alive. I loved the story and only wished that the ending had a bit more resolution. Other than that, it was great!

Drita and Pete are adopted twins raised in suburban Connecticut and are complex and compelling protagonists. Their diverging paths—Drita’s adherence to societal expectations and Pete’s rebellion against them—paint a vivid portrait of sibling dynamics and how shared origins can lead to vastly different destinies. Drita’s return home to care for their ailing mother and her determination to help Pete’s son inject the story with a quiet heroism that feels authentic and inspiring.

The novel truly shines in its exploration of identity and heritage. The twins’ initially distant and abstract Albanian roots gradually come into focus through Drita’s discovery of their family history and its ties to the war in Kosovo. These revelations are woven seamlessly into the narrative, exploring how cultural identity can shape—and heal—fractured relationships.

The supporting cast, particularly Pete’s girlfriend and young son, add depth and emotional stakes to the story. Their struggles bring urgency to Drita’s search for her brother and highlight the complexities of familial obligation and redemption. The ultimate revelation about the twins’ adoption and its connection to more significant historical events is surprising and deeply affecting, adding a powerful layer of meaning to their journey.

Aliu’s prose is tender and evocative, capturing the nuances of sibling love and conflict with authenticity and grace. The story is filled with heartbreak and hope, making it as much about forgiveness and growth as it is about uncovering the past.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was really good. Good writing (with a few awkward sentences) and complex characters. I wasn't sure any of them grew as much as I wanted them to or realized how they'd been wrong about each other, but they did a little bit. I felt the author wasn't sure if she wanted this to be an ideas book or a book of plot twists, and I wish it had gone more into the ideas it book brought up, such as the usefulness or morality of violence, and the importance of "blood" or what makes people family. I am glad I read it, though.

This is a really tough read, but it was completely worth it. I love novels that are about families and the feeling of trying to find your place within a family and within the world. Very poignant in these trying times

Did not finish - Aliu is a good writer but the characters felt rather one-dimensional to me. While I appreciated that this would probably have led to a good evolution as the characters evolved, they just weren't holding my interest.

A must read. This book is about two siblings, Pete and Drita, who are raised as twins. Pete, the irresponsible brother, goes off and marries a drug- addicted woman and they have a child. When Pete realizes that he is not a great father because his son almost died on his watch, he disappears. His wife and Pete’s five year old son, with nowhere to turn, find Drita and move in with her. Drita goes on a mission to find Pete and does so, but only after learning that his new goal of fighting the war in Kosava with his new Alabanian friends, is misguided. So much to untangle here about sibling rivalry, choices, societal limitations, poverty, and drug addiction. Great writing and a great story.
Thank you NetGalley for a ARC.

Everybody Says It's Everything follows twins Drita and Pete, Albanian by birth but raised in Connecticut after their adoption. Despite growing up together, the two siblings develop in opposite directions, and as adults, the twins’ paths diverge even more. Drita leaves graduate school to help care for their mother, but she’s estranged from Pete. When Pete’s girlfriend and son arrive unexpectedly seeking her help, Drita feels compelled to find her brother. This search forces Drita to confront the complexities of family and her own identity, all while unearthing the difficult truths behind their adoption.

I think the most compelling part of this book was its focus on Albania and Kosovo, both places I've yet to read about in other books. The family dynamics were complex and heartfelt, but I did find the pacing slowed down about halfway through, and my interest waned. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in complex relationships and explorations of cultural identity.

Thank you so much to Random House Marketing for inviting me to read a copy, and to NetGalley of course!

This was a well written family drama but I started losing interest in the plot about 3/4 of the way through.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214986238

Books about adoption are my go-to's. I try to read them often. As an adoptive mom, this story was interesting and authentic. I liked Aliu's writing and storytelling abilities. Aliu crafted the complex characters and subject skillfully, moving the story along at a pace I enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Twins, Drita and Pete, are of Albanian descent, and adopted into a Connecticut home. They grow up with a typical middle American upbringing. Thought connected through blood, the two diverge as they age; Drita is the good girl doing all the correct things, whereas Pete is the bad boy destined for nothing. The story fast-forwards to when the twins are in their 20s, with Drita leaving her graduate school to return home and help care for their mom. She is estranged from her brother, but one day his girlfriend and son show up asking for help. Drita is determined to find Pete (who has actually been sucked in to a group of Albanians who are educating him about the Albanian struggle), but instead faces a reckoning as she learns about their heritage and the war in Kosovo and how that ties into their adoption.

I really enjoyed this book. I was quite interested to read a book about Albania and Kosovo as these countries are not frequently written about, so that was a very big personal enjoyment for me. Another great part of this book was it essentially being a character study, which I thought the author excelled at; there was a strong lens looking at the dynamics of family and how complex the relationships can be. I think we have all had a family member we wanted to "save" and have tried numerous routes for that, and this is depicted well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such beautiful story of family, identity, and what we owe relatives, blood related and not. I am not a big historical fiction reader but this one gripped and moved me. There’s also a twist that hit close to home for me - family secrets and lies are more common than you’d think. I loved the many backstories this book included, and that it takes place in the late 90s, the beginning days of chat rooms, the internet, and online sleuthing.