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All We Were Promised
All We Were Promised: A Novel | Ashton Lattimore
8 posts | 9 read | 15 to read
A housemaid with a dangerous family secret conspires with a wealthy young abolitionist to help an enslaved girl escape, in volatile pre-Civil War Philadelphia. The rebel . . . the socialite . . . and the fugitive. Together, they will risk everything for one another in this beguiling story of friendship, deception, and women crossing boundaries in the name of freedom (Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends). Philadelphia, 1837. After Charlotte escaped from the crumbling White Oaks plantation down South, shed expected freedom to feel different from her former life as an enslaved housemaid. After all, Philadelphia is supposed to be the birthplace of American liberty. Instead, shes locked away playing servant to her white-passing father, as they both attempt to hide their identities from slavecatchers who would destroy their new lives. Longing to break away, Charlotte befriends Nell, a budding abolitionist from one of Philadelphias wealthiest Black families. Just as Charlotte starts to envision a future, a familiar face from her past reappears: Evie, her friend from White Oaks, has been brought to the city by the plantation mistress, and shes desperate to escape. But as Charlotte and Nell conspire to rescue her, in a city engulfed by race riots and attacks on abolitionists, they soon discover that fighting for Evies freedom may cost them their own.
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review
JenniferEgnor
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Pickpick

I saw this book in the new release section at my library and couldn‘t leave it on the shelf. I couldn‘t put it down as it was a fast paced and scary read. When the all too familiar face of a slave owning mistress appears in Philadelphia with a young enslaved woman, other newly freed Black women in the city must band together to not only free her, but to stop the mistress from dragging them back to her plantation in the South. Direct action⬇️

JenniferEgnor demands courage, and it isn‘t easy within a sea of white rage. Some events, places and people within this book are real. It is never easy or happy to read about the history of slavery in America, but we cannot escape the past. We must reckon our history. This story is a reminder that the north was not necessarily free territory, and despite the anti-slavery laws enacted before the civil war‘s ‘end‘ to slavery, many loopholes existed that⬇️ 3w
JenniferEgnor still allowed it to continue, no matter what the law stated. Reminder: people is policy; fascism is not stopped by voting alone…we must fight it with everything we‘ve got. 3w
15 likes2 comments
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BookBosomed1
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Pickpick

This is the author‘s debut novel. The book is organized from the perspectives of all three young women. Aspects of historical fiction, such as the abolitionist movement in Philadelphia, are mixed within the ficitional tale. At times, the book felt if it was longer than necessary. However, I learned things I had not known before. So, overall, I recommend it. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6327698340

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Cathyloves2read
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Mehso-so

While this was a good story, it didn‘t move fast enough for me at times. I read a lot of historical fiction. This book just seemed more “historical” to me. It just didn‘t pull me in the way many other books do. That being said, I did find it to be well written. I did learn a lot about the role that the city of Philadelphia played in abolition. There were many things I didn‘t know before I read this book.

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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

I‘m impressed this was a debut novel. The writing was great! The three main characters had distinct voices and personalities. This is a difficult, but important time to read about and I liked hearing from three different perspectives. I‘m excited to see what the author produces next.

#52bookclub24 #publishedin2024

63 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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marleed
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Pickpick

This is very good historical fiction and I encourage anyone to read the author‘s note prior to reading the story. There is so much research of 1938 Philadelphia and the note helps you appreciate the genuine circumstances her fictional characters navigated.

73 likes2 stack adds
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Lsmoore43
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All We Were Promised

This is such a beautifully written story. Yes it's filled with lots of sadness and angst. It has a lot in it that might make you feel uncomfortable. It might even teach you something. It has all the things that I love in a good historical novel. It's emotional. Heartwarming in many ways. The way these women stood together to fight for one of them, and for each other.

Full review: https://tinyurl.com/3c46wufh

Texreader What an awesome review 7mo
Lsmoore43 @Texreader Thank you so much. 7mo
marleed I thought this was everything I love in HF. There was so much research put into 1938 Philly and her fictional characters allowed her to tell that research in a great way. 7mo
Lsmoore43 @marleed I agree. It was the best. 7mo
26 likes1 stack add4 comments
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SilversReviews
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Pickpick

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Pre-Civil War

An excellent, well-researched but heartbreaking historical fiction read with endearing characters you will connect with and tension that will have your heart pounding when evil characters come on the scene. 5/5

FUL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/bdhb6whr

@ashtonlattimore
#ballantinebooks

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SilversReviews
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4/4

I suggest adding it to your TBR now!! 😊

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Pre-Civil War

Did I see Charlotte in the market?

Is that really Evie?

An excellent, well-researched but heartbreaking historical fiction read with endearing characters you will connect with and tension that will have your heart pounding when evil characters come on the scene. 5/5

Librarybelle Stacking! 8mo
40 likes6 stack adds1 comment