Sloan Harlow might be my most recent favorite author find - this book and her previous one (Everything We Never Said) were fun, frightening page-turners with good characters and a big helping of romance. Loved the desert setting here, which added great atmosphere. I'm torn on the little bits sprinkled in from Logan's point of view: on one hand, the glimpse into his thoughts added more mystery, but on the other hand, they also took away from some of the suspense. All around a good story with a crazy ending.

All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow is a dark romantic thriller that grabs you from the opening pages and doesn’t let go. After losing her father and everything she owned in a house fire, River Santos finds her life upended again when an anonymous donor gives her two million dollars. Grateful but suspicious, River can’t help but question everyone around her—especially as long-buried family secrets begin to surface.

The tension builds steadily as River navigates grief, betrayal, and the mystery behind her unexpected fortune. The slow-burn romance with her brooding coworker Logan adds emotional depth and sizzle, while his own hidden past keeps the suspense tight. Harlow skillfully balances romance and thriller elements, weaving in twists that kept me guessing right up to the shocking reveal.

Though a few moments stretch believability, the emotional stakes and layered characters make this a compelling, binge-worthy read. With its mix of high-stakes drama, dark secrets, and undeniable chemistry, All We Lost Was Everything is perfect for readers who love their thrillers with a heavy dose of romance and family intrigue.

River Santos works at the local diner with the strangely aloof Logan Evans and her best friend Tawny. It's been nine months since her house burned to the ground and she lost everything, including her father. As she scrambles to rebuild her life, living with her Tita Anna, she begins to uncover dark pieces of her family's past. This was a good thriller! I really liked the characters and how the different relationship dynamics played into the story. The writing was good and done in a way that suits the book. The ending was good, and while I did see it coming, I felt like it was the most perfect way to conclude the book. I do want to note that while this is marketed as a young adult thriller, I would personally categorize it more towards new adult as the characters are 18, and the explicit scenes in this are also more 18+

River lost everything, including her dad, when her house burned down. Now living with her aunt, she tries to make sense of the tragedy while also moving on with her life. It was easy to feel River's grief, but I questioned a lot of her choices. The supporting cast of characters included: Tawny, River's best friend and coworker; Logan, a moody coworker who plays a big role in the discoveries River makes; Noah, the ex who broke River's heart but won't go away.

I liked the story, although I thought the romantic scenes were cringy. I admit, I did not see the twists, and the reveal dropped my jaw. The ending happened so quickly, I would have liked to see more of the aftermath. This was a good book, but not as good as Everything We Never Said.

This book pulls you in fast and doesn't let go. It's raw, emotional, and messy in all the right ways. I really connected with how it showed grief and trauma without sugarcoating anything. The wri9ting is addictive-one of those where you sit down to read a chapter and suddenly it's two in the morning, (like now) lol. The characters are flawed, real, and easy to root for, and the mix of tension, secrets, and heat is done just right. Definitely one of those reads that sticks with you after it's over.

This one really really really fell flat for me. I loved Sloan Harlow's debut last year, so I was really excited to get my hands on this one early. However, it took me months to finish this one. I had to force myself to pick this book up. Literally nothing happened the first 75% of the book and then a ton happened the last 25%. The start was way way way too slow.

All We Lost Was Everything is a gripping romantic thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. River Santos's journey of loss, mystery, and self-discovery is both heart-wrenching and captivating. The blend of suspense, romance, and unexpected twists made for an engaging read. While some plot elements required a bit of suspension of disbelief, the emotional depth and character development more than made up for it. Highly recommend for fans of suspenseful romances with complex characters.

This book sucks you into the story immediately, and keeps the reader hooked throughout. Some of the plot twists I saw coming, and some I didn't, which kept me on my toes as I kept reading. For me, it was a quick read and one that was easy to get into.

This story pulled me in right away. It’s an emotional, fast-paced mix of mystery and coming-of-age, centered on a girl piecing her life back together after losing her home, her father, and the sudden disappearance of her mother. Then a mysterious $2 million shows up in her GoFundMe—and everything changes.

The writing is sharp and heartfelt, with just the right balance of suspense and vulnerability. The main character is strong but messy in a totally relatable way, and the slow-build romance adds even more depth without taking over the story.

If you’re into emotional thrillers with secrets, family drama, and a bit of romance, this one really delivers.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC for my voluntary and honest review!

Overall, lots of twists with a couple which I didn’t see coming. I wasn’t 100% sold on the relationship - they spoke twice and all of a sudden they are madly in love; I needed a lot more substance on their dynamic. Some of the plot points didn’t hit and the end was unrealistic for me but it was still a quick, fun read.

I love this cover; it draws you in and is just visually stunning. The book, though, was mediocre. It wasn't the best book I've read, but it had enough twists and drama that kept me engaged, though it took me FOREVER to get through it. I think because I wasn't very invested. The story follows two POVs. Primarily, it is the River. The river whose house burned down, killing her father. She was dragged to safety by a mysterious figure. After the fire, she moved in with her Tita Anna because her mom had taken off before the fire, and no one knows where she is. She does that, just vanishes, then appears back after a while. River starts learning about some family secrets along the way, and as she digs in further, her world spirals more out of control. In the midst of this, she is drawn to Logan, her handsome coworker who has lost a mother and understands her grief, but tries his best to stay away from her. That's our other POV, Logan. Logan doesn't have a lot of chapters, but he has enough to understand why he does the things he does, and gives clarity to the reader where he should be giving it to the girl he's dating. There is a lot of yearning, growth, revelations, and red herrings tossed about. River is obsessed with finding the closure for her dad and hoping her mom will come up. She wants to be strong, but calls in a lot to work when she has boy trouble, and she has a lot of boy trouble because no one communicates. I mean, they are 17/18, so they haven't learned that yet. Everyone is keeping secrets, and sometimes they just get a bit ridiculous. Again, the story is ok, not strong, but it's ok.

rounded up, 3.5 stars

River Santosis is going through A LOT. She is grieving the loss of her father, who died in a house fire, and she hasn't seen her mother in almost a year. Right now, all she has is her aunt, with whom she lives, and her best friend, Tawny. The one highlight of her life is Logan. This hot guy who works at the diner with her.

This was an interesting read. The majority of the book is spent with River trying to find her mother and discovering other things related to the fire. I know this is a YA, however, the characters read younger than college age. There were several plot twists. Some were predictable, but others I did not see coming. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow is a contemporary romance mystery that follows River Santos and Logan Evans. River is reeling from the loss of her dad and her mom's disappearance when Logan and she began to grow closer, the lies that have crafted her world start to unravel, and no one is left unscathed.
This book was good, but there were a few glaring issues. One being the pacing in the beginning it was all about the romance (which lets be honest Logan was obsessed in the best way) then seemingly out of nowhere everything comes down at the same time like it’s hit after hit it was like the romance and the mystery couldn’t coexist in this book like it was about the romance between River and Tristan then it was completely about something else. To the point that I forgot that she was given 2 million dollars anonymously while reading.
The romance was hands down the best part of this book. Logan was a great MMC, and he was FOINE, which helps. The chemistry was great, and I love when the MMC falls first and falls harder, so he was hands down the best character and one of my favorite contemporary MMCs ever. The pacing of the book was too off, and the plot became heavy all at the same time was just not my cup of tea, so 3 out of 5 stars.

I finished this book about a week ago and have already forgotten most of it. It reads YA, but there are very spicy sexy scenes that I wouldn't want my young adult daughter to read. This should probably be labeled as new adult instead. Also, its fairly unbelievable that these two barely non-virgins would be this sexually advanced and skilled. I didn't think the spicy scenes were necessary for the plot. Also, this is labeled as a dark romance and I think there was supposed to be some dark, broody alpha guy vibes from the MMC, but I wasn't really getting that. The entire thing was VERY cliche and followed the pattern of every other book recently published in this genre. I ended up skimming most of it. Because of the explicit scenes, I can't even put this on my high school classroom shelf. Also, I'm not a big fan of insta-love and I thought the continuous reveals at the end were a bit over the top and unnecessary.

If you're looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you hooked with a gripping mystery, this one’s it. From the very first chapter, I felt this emotional pull that didn’t let go. The story centers around a young woman who’s dealing with the devastating loss of her father in a fire. And while she’s still grieving, her mom disappears—but no one really seems too alarmed. Apparently, her mom has a habit of vanishing into the wilderness for long stretches. Still, something feels off, and that’s where the mystery really starts to build. It’s not quite a thriller, but there’s definitely a sense of unease that keeps you flipping pages and questioning everything.

What really got to me, though, was the emotional depth woven into all the suspense. The mix of heartbreak, uncertainty, and that quiet desperation for answers felt incredibly real. Add in a sprinkle of romance and you’ve got a story that hits you in the feels while keeping you curious about what’s really going on. It was the kind of book that made me pause and think, especially about how we process loss and how far we’ll go for the people we love. If you’re into stories that combine emotional healing with a puzzle to unravel, this one belongs on your TBR.

River Santos lost everything in a fire—her dad, her home, and any sense of normal. A year later, she’s still stuck… until a mysterious $2 million donation and a flirty diner coworker shake things up. But just as things start to feel hopeful, new clues suggest the fire wasn’t an accident. With twists, tension, and real emotion, this story pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

In All We Lost was Everything River Santos lost her guitar, her songbook, and her clothes when her family's house burned down. But most importantly, her father died in the fire and her mother has disappeared. When River's friends create a "Go Fund Me" account to help with expenses, someone donates two million dollars, and she is mystified. Working at a diner, she finds herself wondering if everyone who enters might be her benefactor. Her coworker Logan Evans, who previously wouldn't give her the time of day, surprises her when he helps her save face in front of her ex, Noah Pierce, who inexplicably dumped her when she was expecting a proposal. Slowly, Logan and River's relationship warms up, and he helps her investigate secrets about her family, as well as his own. The fire may not have been an accident and her absentee mother is the prime suspect. The reasons for Noah's inexplicable defection also come to light. This story is not only a heart-pounding mystery, but also a complicated romance involving revelations about familial, as well as romantic love.

Sloan Harlow's ALL WE LOST WAS EVERYTHING was everything I look for in a story: well-paced, wonderfully told, believable characters. Joy plummets into doubts and trust is questionable -- who funded River Santos' ruined life so dramatically and to what end? I stayed up way too late reading this well-written story, wondering what I would do with the windfall and all the shifting ground beneath my feet. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

I maybe overdid it on YA the past few months as this was a slog to get through. Teen romance folks & lovers of a plot twist, this may be for you. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP & NetGalley for this e-arc.


The reader may lose sight of the fact that this is not only a romance but also a thriller as the plot twists and turns. The focus stays intact by the several surprising turns. I spent a big chunk of the second half of the book speculating on what I believed would happen, yet I was still startled at the end. I don't want to spoil things, so you'll have to see for yourself. Not everyone or everything is as it seems. This novel definitely caught me off guard, and I'm excited to read more of Harlow's work.