All The Promises We Break

This was a hard book to read and at some times agonizing. Writing a book about this topic can be difficult and you risk writing something offensive or something that hurts people. but the author managed to write something that helps people understand how victims of sexual assault feel.

First off, thank you NetGalley for providing me with an "on the house" copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Another thank you to the author, Brenda Benny, for allowing her book to be read in exchange for a review before its release date. Without getting too much into detail to avoid any spoilers, I really enjoyed this book. This book deals with the events prior to, during and following a night of sexual assault. What begins as an end of the school year party for Savannah quickly turns into a night she will, unfortunately, not be able to remember - or will she? With high school finally behind her, a trip to Ecuador planned, college and a boyfriend who she's crazy about, this party changes the course of everything going on in Savannah's life. Did this assault really happen? Was it rape or drunk sex with her boyfriend? Why can't Savannah remember? If it was rape, who? Deep down, Savannah immediately knows the truth. I applaud the author of this book for choosing to write about something so serious and sensitive while still somehow keeping the book light and entertaining. This was a book about taking something so awful that occurred in someone's life and choosing to not forget, but to overcome and put it into the past. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can't wait to read the second book in this series!

All The Promises We Break is a outstanding book Brenda Benny is an incredible author who took me on a journey I didn't think I would be able to get thru it without breaking but I did and it was AMAZING!

I enjoyed this book. It explores the tricky themes well and wasn’t heavy handed, and it built the plot and characters well.

4.5 stars

This review is based on an ARC of All the Promises We Break courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Liddle Book Press).


After reading Brenda Benny’s first novel ( That Secret You Keep ) I knew I was a fan right away, so I was expecting a good story when I picked up All the Promises We Break. Instead what I read was a phenomenal, empowering, enchanting, and beautiful story, with such depth and sincerity that I couldn’t fathom why Benny’s first novel didn’t leave such an impact in my mind. I am truly amazed at her level of talent with prose. Brenda Benny really is an author who deserves more notoriety!

All the Promises We Break deals with rape. In all my life as a reader, I have never, ever read such a genuine and tender portrayal of this topic—not even from Ellen Hopkins, the YA Queen of Fucked-Up-Topics. Savannah (our mc) has such immense voice and depth that her story becomes personal, and it’s like all I wanted to do was jump into the pages and hug her and be her confidant. Savannah is a character that I truly cared about, and her story was one that kept me interested page after page.

Aside from the topic of rape, this novel also acts as a coming-of-age at a time where Savannah has plans and ideas, but she doesn’t know what she wants to do, a situation I know many, many people can relate to.

I know some people may not like the ending, and may be disappointed with how things play out, but as for me, I loved it. I very strongly connected to the choices that Savannah made, and I believe that many women in her situation would have done exactly the same. I like reality in my books, and this novel has a very realistic finale.

(Ugh, my review feels so boring compared to the book it’s about! It’s been a few days since I finished reading All the Promises We Break and I am still thinking about it, even while reading my next book, so that really says something. )

All the Promises We Break is a truly spectacular and important novel, and I strongly urge you if you are interested in this novel to pick up a copy ASAP! You won’t regret it!

This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will not be the last! This book had surprises at every turn! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next, there was another surprise. Definitely recommend!