4.25⭐️

“As the self-proclaimed cradle of liberty, Philadelphia was already a city of broken promises, with accommodationists straining to silence antislavery speech and Southerners shuttling their very much not-at-liberty slaves in and out of the city’s borders. Where abolitionists were concerned, it was fast becoming a city of broken contracts as well.”

Set in 1837 All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore is a captivating novel that sheds light on the activism, the politics, and the socio-economic and racial divide in the pre-Civil War Philadelphia. Though Pennsylvania was a “free state” with an active free Black community, racial tensions were high, bigotry and rioting prevalent, with laws that protected Southern slave owners passing through. A combination of fact and fiction, the immersive narrative features several prominent activists and abolitionists from that era and references true events like the burning of Pennsylvania Hall ( 1938) by an anti-abolitionist mob. The author is unflinching in her depiction of bigotry, cruelty and racially motivated violence.

The narrative is shared from the perspectives of three women :
Charlotte is a housemaid and former runaway who is forced to hide her truth – a secret that could upend the lives her father has built for himself, though her life is not what would have hoped for in a “free state”. Nell is the daughter of an affluent Black family who is motivated to do more for those in need of assistance. She is disillusioned when she faces resistance while appealing to the Philadelphia Female Antislavery Society to approve a committee that would play a more active role in aiding runaway slaves. Nell and Charlotte are friends but she is unaware of Charlotte’s past. They frequently attend Antislavery Society meetings together– a secret Charlotte keeps from her father, fully aware that he would rather she stay within the confines of their home.

Charlotte is forced to confront her past when she sees Evie, an enslaved sixteen-year-old in Philadelphia with her mistress Kate, in the market. Kate was the wife of the man who owned Charlotte and her father and Evie took Charlotte’s place after they ran away. Evie knows the kind of life that awaits her and is desperate to escape, She approaches Charlotte for help and Charlotte agrees. But Charlotte knows that she alone would not be able to help Evie and enlists Nell’s help to formulate a plan.

Revolving around themes of friendship, sacrifice and courage, this is a thought-provoking story with well-written characters (even the unlikable ones). The romantic track was subtle and skillfully woven into the primary narrative. The author brilliantly captures Nell’s idealism, Charlotte’s vulnerability and Evie’s desperation - three young women from different circumstances with stories that intersect – shared experiences that enable them to gain perspective, face harsh realities and find their own voices. As they embark on their individual journeys, it is evident that the road ahead will not be easy, but we will want them to succeed. I did feel that certain aspects of the story could have been explored further, but, overall I thought this was a promising debut and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

The Author’s Note is well-written and informative and definitely enriches the overall reading experience.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

Escaped slaves James and Charlotte have sought refugee in Philadelphia. James, able to pass as white has built up a furniture making business, leaving his daughter Charlotte to pose as his maid. Unhappy with her limited life, Charlotte begins making friends with Nell, a free black abolitionist.

This was a well written and paced book. I enjoyed reading about a time period and perspective that I know little about. I did think that Nell felt a bit stereotypical and predictable. She was not as well rounded or developed as the other characters. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Pre-Civil War

Did I see Charlotte in the market?

Is that really Evie?

Both Charlotte and Evie had been slaves at the same plantation in a Southern state.

Charlotte escaped with her father, and they now live freely in Philadelphia but are hiding a secret.

Charlotte’s father, a business owner who can pass as a white man, and Charlotte playing his housekeeper live freely hoping their secret will be kept.

It seems as if Charlotte’s father cares only about himself, his business, and his success. I felt sorry for Charlotte and the restrictions her father kept on her.

Evie came to Philadelphia with Katie her mistress, but she desperately wants to be free and not go back to the South with Katie after she marries.

Evie seemed disgusted with everything and abandoned by Charlotte, and I felt bad for her too.

Charlotte becomes friends with Nell, a well-to-do black woman who is trying to help Charlotte get Evie out of Philadelphia, but when Charlotte disappears from Nell's life, she becomes worried.

Can Charlotte and her new friend Nell help Evie now that Charlotte has disappeared? If they do find a way to help Evie, will it compromise their lives?

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

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ( )

What an emotion-filled, well-researched tale of Philadelphia in the late 1830s! I enjoyed it immensely. By this time, most Blacks in Philadelphia were free, ranging from the unemployed to upper middle-class families. There were also enslaved people in the city, as slave owners from other states were allowed to bring their slaves into Pennsylvania. Not everyone was happy with being a free state, and at this time, Philadelphia was a city of race riots and attacks on abolitionists.
The novel is a pleasant yet frightening read. Dangers are hiding around the corner for everyone, regardless of their standing. Each character is fully fleshed out so the reader understands and empathizes with their actions. The story is a coming of age for all the main characters as they learn to thoughtfully make decisions about their true commitments to people and ideals. Historic figures interact with the fictional ones, making the story more realistic. The book itself is very informative. Aston Lattimore deeply researched all her topics and does an extraordinary job of mixing in facts without becoming pedantic. I strongly encourage all readers to peruse the Author’s Note at the end of the book. It contains a substantial synopsis of the historical background of the novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, Ballantine Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.. ( )

Wow! This was a compelling and powerful read about the abolitionist movement of 1837 in Philadelphia. It focuses on the lives of three disparate women of color: a runaway slave, a young slave and a freeborn woman. The historical research which went into its telling is vast and spot on. The writing is smart, evocative and rich. The characters are well and carefully developed. The setting of scene is exquisitely rendered. Ms. Lattimore's understanding of the law is apparent in the telling. It's truly difficult to imagine this being a debut novel; it's just that good.

Charlotte (formerly Carrie) is a young former slave who several years previously, fled a Maryland plantation with her father (who comfortably passes as a white man) and settled in Philadelphia. To keep up her father's charade as he establishes himself as a fine furniture maker, Charlotte presents herself as her father's maid. She bristles against the restraint of her lot in life, especially when her father forbids her being out in public, for her own safety, of course. For a free woman, she doesn't feel very free. She becomes friends with Nell, an altruistic freeborn woman with aspirations of making a difference in the world, specifically, raising funds in support of anti-slavery legislation and petitioning congress to make those necessary changes. But when called on by Charlotte to help a young slave girl break free from her mistress, how far is Nell really willing to go? Afterall, it's illegal to aid a slave in their flight for freedom.

If well written historical fiction appeals, then this may well be an excellent choice for you.

I am grateful to Ballantine Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected e-book of this story. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: April 2, 2024
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0593600153 ( )