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lylesgirl2020 's review for:
All We Lost Was Everything
by Sloan Harlow
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of All We Lost Was Everything is set to be published on May 6th 2025.
All We Lost Was Everything was a compelling and emotional read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The writing flows smoothly, and the pacing builds a great sense of intrigue, making it easy to get swept up in the characters’ world.
That said, I found myself occasionally unsure of the book’s intended audience or genre. At times, it felt like a YA novel, but then it would pivot into themes and scenes—especially the steamy moments—that felt more appropriate for an adult audience. The mix of romance, mystery, and women’s fiction kept the story unpredictable, but it also made the tone feel a bit uneven in places.
One aspect that stood out to me was the use of dual POV and the interwoven "letters from mom." These additions offered emotional depth and helped layer the narrative, though the timing of the letters sometimes felt abrupt or unclear—especially when they seemed to appear after texts from River. I imagine the formatting may make more sense in the final print version.
Harlow does a strong job of tackling difficult themes—grief, abandonment, addiction, responsibility, and first love—in a way that feels both sensitive and impactful. There's a lot of emotional weight in this story, and I appreciated how thoughtfully each plotline was resolved. The theme of forgiveness, in particular, was handled with maturity and realism.
Overall, this is an intense, twist-filled read that balances emotional growth with romantic and suspenseful elements. I recommend it—but for a more mature YA audience, ideally 18+, due to the presence of sex, violence, and emotionally heavy content.
All We Lost Was Everything was a compelling and emotional read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The writing flows smoothly, and the pacing builds a great sense of intrigue, making it easy to get swept up in the characters’ world.
That said, I found myself occasionally unsure of the book’s intended audience or genre. At times, it felt like a YA novel, but then it would pivot into themes and scenes—especially the steamy moments—that felt more appropriate for an adult audience. The mix of romance, mystery, and women’s fiction kept the story unpredictable, but it also made the tone feel a bit uneven in places.
One aspect that stood out to me was the use of dual POV and the interwoven "letters from mom." These additions offered emotional depth and helped layer the narrative, though the timing of the letters sometimes felt abrupt or unclear—especially when they seemed to appear after texts from River. I imagine the formatting may make more sense in the final print version.
Harlow does a strong job of tackling difficult themes—grief, abandonment, addiction, responsibility, and first love—in a way that feels both sensitive and impactful. There's a lot of emotional weight in this story, and I appreciated how thoughtfully each plotline was resolved. The theme of forgiveness, in particular, was handled with maturity and realism.
Overall, this is an intense, twist-filled read that balances emotional growth with romantic and suspenseful elements. I recommend it—but for a more mature YA audience, ideally 18+, due to the presence of sex, violence, and emotionally heavy content.