A review by shaysshelf
All My Love by Morgan Elizabeth

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

๐ฉ๐ฎ๐› ๐๐š๐ญ๐ž: May 3, 2024
๐ฌ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ: Atlas Oaks #1
๐ ๐ž๐ง๐ซ๐ž: contemporary romance
๐ฉ๐š๐ ๐ž๐ฌ: 383
๐ฉ๐จ๐ฏ: dual
๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ž๐ฌ:
- childhood friends to lovers
- second chance, dual timeline
- rockstar x song writer
- small town
- forbidden romance
- close proximity
- has a dog
- it's always been you
- found family
- matching tattoos
- secret marriage

CW/TW:
- emotionally abusive parent
- death of a parent (off page)
- alcoholism
- depression

Wow. Morgan Elizabeth really stepped out of her comfort zone to deliver us this incredible story inspired by Sweet Home Alabama, the Notebook and Noah Kahan! I would have argued that this book is very TTPD coded - especially because I know Morgan is a Swiftie, but I had this ARC on my kindle before Tortured Poets dropped.

All My Love delivered so much emotion - the type of love, friendship, utter heartbreak and healing that can only be exchanged by those with a soul deep connection. Morgan rakes us through the coals of heartbreak outside of the primary relationship too. We have a young boy who lost his mother to cancer, then watched his father drink himself to oblivion, repeatedly be told he will never be good enough for the girl he loves and battling the same demons he resented his father for struggling with. We have a young girl who is verbally torn to shreds by her mother whom she is only seeking love and approval from, while constantly being pitted against her twin sister, battling depression and watching the love of her life spiral into the lifestyle of a rockstar.

The story had so much depth and impact - the love was all consuming, the hurt was shattering and both Stella and Riggins are the epitome of tortured poets. Stella is a successful songwriter who found her love of music writing songs with her childhood sweetheart, best friend and musician Riggs. It's been years since she left - he's been sober, unable to write songs and decides it's finally time to return to his small town when he finds out they've been married for years.

Thank you so much to Valentine PR and Morgan Elizabeth for the opportunity to read an ARC.