A review by klutzykara
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

The synopsis of this historical fiction novel set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia sounded promising. And while I do believe the overall narrative is worth reading (and well-researched), I unfortunately found the execution of it rather disappointing. It started strong, but I found myself skimming in the middle section of the book as I was frustrated that the plot stopped moving in a meaningful way for so long and I just didn't feel the characters were engaging enough on their own, despite wanting to know how it ended. It is a debut, so I don't mean to be overly critical. Just to perhaps temper expectations and hope the author's next book improves upon the weaknesses here.