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All They Ask Is Everything
In this hopeful debut about the silent struggles of motherhood, three very different women want custody of the same two little girls—and learn they have more in common than the children they’re fighting for.
Determined to be a better mother than her own, Hannah has devoted her life to her daughters. She ignores her increasing exhaustion and isolation as a widowed mom—until a disastrous mistake lands the girls in foster care.
Julie is single and lonely and dreams of being a mother. After infertility issues lead her to foster parenting, she falls head over heels for Hannah’s daughters. The more she bonds with these sweet, precocious girls, the more she worries about their previous home life and becomes intent on finding a way to keep them.
Recently forced into retirement, Elaine is devastated by the way her daughter, Hannah, has shut her out. When she discovers her granddaughters are in foster care, she resolves to rescue them from the system: her one chance at a parenting do-over.
Each woman thinks she’s the best possible mother, but none understands the full truth. Old hurts, long-held secrets, and budding new relationships collide as they fight for the girls who could make them a family.
Determined to be a better mother than her own, Hannah has devoted her life to her daughters. She ignores her increasing exhaustion and isolation as a widowed mom—until a disastrous mistake lands the girls in foster care.
Julie is single and lonely and dreams of being a mother. After infertility issues lead her to foster parenting, she falls head over heels for Hannah’s daughters. The more she bonds with these sweet, precocious girls, the more she worries about their previous home life and becomes intent on finding a way to keep them.
Recently forced into retirement, Elaine is devastated by the way her daughter, Hannah, has shut her out. When she discovers her granddaughters are in foster care, she resolves to rescue them from the system: her one chance at a parenting do-over.
Each woman thinks she’s the best possible mother, but none understands the full truth. Old hurts, long-held secrets, and budding new relationships collide as they fight for the girls who could make them a family.
331 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2024
About the author
Hadley Leggett
1 book73 followersHadley Leggett is a novelist and science writer whose winding career path has included degrees in medicine, biochemistry, Spanish, and journalism. After moving all over the United States during her childhood, she now lives in Seattle with her husband and three children, as well as her parents, three cats, and an ever-rotating troop of foster kittens. All They Ask Is Everything is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
September 20, 2024
A terrific debut novel. I’m done raising my children, raised seven, but I could relate to the mother’s struggles in this story. She tries her best, is a single mother, but one mistake, lapse in judgment, albeit an avoidable one, and her whole world changes.
I can’t imagine the struggles of single parenting, but I can identify with society’s expectations of motherhood. What I liked most about this book was it showed three different women and their love for two little girls. The frustration of wanting, but being unable to have children and a frustrated grandmother who wants to rescue the girls. But, who is right? Is it possible that more information is needed? Maybe a little help and understanding? The author efficiently handles these different viewpoint. To see how it turns out you will have to read the book.
ARC from Netgalley.
I can’t imagine the struggles of single parenting, but I can identify with society’s expectations of motherhood. What I liked most about this book was it showed three different women and their love for two little girls. The frustration of wanting, but being unable to have children and a frustrated grandmother who wants to rescue the girls. But, who is right? Is it possible that more information is needed? Maybe a little help and understanding? The author efficiently handles these different viewpoint. To see how it turns out you will have to read the book.
ARC from Netgalley.
September 17, 2024
Finally, a novel that portrays parenting young children accurately. So often, kids are in novels just seem to exist in the background when, in reality, parenting is all-consuming and full of complicated, conflicting emotions. As a mother to a toddler myself, "All They Ask Is Everything" made me feel seen.
The three women vying for custody of Wren and Ivy (who aren't the generic children you often find in adult novels but, rather, fully fleshed out characters) all wanted the best for them, but they all had different ideas of what that meant. Each of these women was well-meaning, but none of them was perfect: I simultaneously wanted to shake each of them by the shoulders in frustration and pull them in for a hug in sympathy.
Pretty early on in the story, I was confident I knew what the ending would be, but a couple plot twists caught me by surprise (in the best way).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I continue to think about it often. The story has made me consider what my blind spots are in my own parenting. That's not to say that this novel is only for parents; I think anyone who loves a story with multi-dimensional characters would find "All They Ask Is Everything" a compelling read.
The three women vying for custody of Wren and Ivy (who aren't the generic children you often find in adult novels but, rather, fully fleshed out characters) all wanted the best for them, but they all had different ideas of what that meant. Each of these women was well-meaning, but none of them was perfect: I simultaneously wanted to shake each of them by the shoulders in frustration and pull them in for a hug in sympathy.
Pretty early on in the story, I was confident I knew what the ending would be, but a couple plot twists caught me by surprise (in the best way).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I continue to think about it often. The story has made me consider what my blind spots are in my own parenting. That's not to say that this novel is only for parents; I think anyone who loves a story with multi-dimensional characters would find "All They Ask Is Everything" a compelling read.
August 9, 2024
Very interesting book. Part legal drama, part family drama. The are complicated backstories behind the drama. Three women are battling for custody of 2 little girls. The grandmother, the mother and the foster mother.
All three main characters are flawed. The mother, Hannah, through life circumstances, has lost her 2 little girls to Child Protective Services. She desperately wants to regain custody but keeps making bad decisions. Julie, the foster mother, quickly loves her new charges but she is trying to fill a void in her life. Elaine, the grandmother, missed the mark at motherhood with Hannah and is trying to make amends.
All the above circumstances create a messy but interesting story. Add in strong characters from CPS, an old love interest, a two very cute little girls who want to belong and be loved. I can't help to try to cheer Hannah on, but throughout the book, I don't know if this is the right direction. She loves her daughters but just can't get her priorities straight. Hannah is very adept at making wrong decisions, for herself and her daughters.
There are many facets to the story. The struggle of motherhood, finding balance, acceptance. The book demonstrates how mother/daughter relationship evolve during the course of life. It's all there.
I appreciate that the author gave a lot of herself into the writing of this book. And, I love the fact that one of the best ways to celebrate is with ice cream!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
All three main characters are flawed. The mother, Hannah, through life circumstances, has lost her 2 little girls to Child Protective Services. She desperately wants to regain custody but keeps making bad decisions. Julie, the foster mother, quickly loves her new charges but she is trying to fill a void in her life. Elaine, the grandmother, missed the mark at motherhood with Hannah and is trying to make amends.
All the above circumstances create a messy but interesting story. Add in strong characters from CPS, an old love interest, a two very cute little girls who want to belong and be loved. I can't help to try to cheer Hannah on, but throughout the book, I don't know if this is the right direction. She loves her daughters but just can't get her priorities straight. Hannah is very adept at making wrong decisions, for herself and her daughters.
There are many facets to the story. The struggle of motherhood, finding balance, acceptance. The book demonstrates how mother/daughter relationship evolve during the course of life. It's all there.
I appreciate that the author gave a lot of herself into the writing of this book. And, I love the fact that one of the best ways to celebrate is with ice cream!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
April 5, 2024
I was super impressed with this debut from Hadley Leggett. She writes beautiful fiction of family and motherhood---all the challenges and expectations. Here we have three women battling over custody of two young sisters. The story takes us on a journey of secrets and forgiveness, culminating in a satisfying conclusion. I particularly like the way Leggett humanized being a mother, and how we all make mistakes and need our own little villages. A poignant, thoughtful read.
January 25, 2024
I love novels that tackle real-life issues and turn them on their head. In this brilliant debut, Hadley Leggett reflects on the impossible challenge of not just being a mother, but being the perfect mother.
ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING follows three women as they fight for the same two little girls, who are put in foster care after their mom, Hannah, makes a big but realistic mistake. Then there is the girls' foster mom, Julie, who desperately wants to be a mother herself, and their grandma, Elaine, a high-powered lawyer who wasn't ever what you'd call maternal.
The brilliance of this novel lies in its ability to make you see all three points of view and understand why each of these women believe they are who the little girls need. It's a deep exploration of motherhood, love, grief, family—and asking for help when life overwhelms you completely. The book is incredibly hopeful and satisfying and will make readers reconsider the impossible standards expected of mothers everywhere.
ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING follows three women as they fight for the same two little girls, who are put in foster care after their mom, Hannah, makes a big but realistic mistake. Then there is the girls' foster mom, Julie, who desperately wants to be a mother herself, and their grandma, Elaine, a high-powered lawyer who wasn't ever what you'd call maternal.
The brilliance of this novel lies in its ability to make you see all three points of view and understand why each of these women believe they are who the little girls need. It's a deep exploration of motherhood, love, grief, family—and asking for help when life overwhelms you completely. The book is incredibly hopeful and satisfying and will make readers reconsider the impossible standards expected of mothers everywhere.
October 28, 2023
I had the pleasure and privilege of reading an advance copy of this beautiful yet at times painful story about mothers and daughters. It gave me so many big thoughts and big feelings. As a woman, a mom of three, a working mom, a wife, a daughter … at times while reading this I honestly found myself overwhelmed as I identified with every single character! Truly superb writing how Leggett accomplishes that. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Five stars for this debut novel!
January 3, 2024
I dare you to read the first chapter of this incredibly well written debut and not find yourself fully invested in the outcome, flipping the pages to find out what could possibly happen next. I had all the feelings running through me as I read: fear, frustration, compassion, and hope. Every mom I know has worried whether or not she’s doing right by her children, wondered if the choices she’s making are the right ones. ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING faces these fears head on, shining a light on the dark crevices of motherhood, where mothers sometimes make catastrophic mistakes, “maternal instincts” don’t come naturally, and becoming a mother doesn’t come easily.
Hadley Leggett does a masterful job creating characters that are richly alive and painfully relatable. Each of three POV characters will grip you, forcing you to question what you believe of the others. It’s one of those captivating reads where you somehow find yourself rooting for conflicting things, wanting for the characters what they hope for themselves even as you can see them barreling toward a painful reality check. Bittersweet at times, ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING is ultimately a hope-fueled story about what it means to love like a mother.
Hadley Leggett does a masterful job creating characters that are richly alive and painfully relatable. Each of three POV characters will grip you, forcing you to question what you believe of the others. It’s one of those captivating reads where you somehow find yourself rooting for conflicting things, wanting for the characters what they hope for themselves even as you can see them barreling toward a painful reality check. Bittersweet at times, ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING is ultimately a hope-fueled story about what it means to love like a mother.
May 18, 2024
WOW! Holy cow! It’s not often that I read a book that hits every single emotion I’ve ever had in a sympathetic, well thought out way. I was crying, smiling, and just feeling all the emotions of the three women when I read the final page. I have never written such a long review so here goes:
I seriously can’t express how emotional this book made me and how much it made me reflect on my own life and decisions. I won’t get into that because it’s not about me, but I can’t recommend this book enough to ALL women: mothers by choice, women who never wanted to be mothers but didn’t have a choice, women struggling to become a mother, women who are childless by choice, etc. It was so well written and thoughtful in every aspect, and I couldn’t put it down. What a debut from Hadley Leggett! Please write more books!!
In All We Ask is Everything, we meet three women who are dealing with their own personal struggles: Hannah, a widowed mother of two young girls who is struggling with her mental health; Julie, a woman who wants nothing more than to be a mother, but life keeps throwing her curve balls; and Elaine, Hannah’s driven, hard working but mostly absent mother. Each woman thinks she knows what is best for the girls but do they really? I wasn’t surprised by the ending as I kind of saw it coming, but that didn’t stop me from absolutely loving this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hadley Leggett, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my review. All They Ask is Everything will be available August 27, 2024.
I seriously can’t express how emotional this book made me and how much it made me reflect on my own life and decisions. I won’t get into that because it’s not about me, but I can’t recommend this book enough to ALL women: mothers by choice, women who never wanted to be mothers but didn’t have a choice, women struggling to become a mother, women who are childless by choice, etc. It was so well written and thoughtful in every aspect, and I couldn’t put it down. What a debut from Hadley Leggett! Please write more books!!
In All We Ask is Everything, we meet three women who are dealing with their own personal struggles: Hannah, a widowed mother of two young girls who is struggling with her mental health; Julie, a woman who wants nothing more than to be a mother, but life keeps throwing her curve balls; and Elaine, Hannah’s driven, hard working but mostly absent mother. Each woman thinks she knows what is best for the girls but do they really? I wasn’t surprised by the ending as I kind of saw it coming, but that didn’t stop me from absolutely loving this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hadley Leggett, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my review. All They Ask is Everything will be available August 27, 2024.
September 28, 2024
All they ask is everything - Hadley Leggett
Hannah cannot believe what has happened. Social services have taken her daughters after she left them in the car briefly, while she got ingredients to make pancakes. It was just a moment but she has depression and her mind often drifts. When she is tested for drugs and found positive, her girls end up in foster care with Julie. A woman who has fertility issues. Both women want the girls and both of them don’t expect the turns of events that lead to a dangerous situation.
This book has some triggers. Suspected abuse, death of a spouse, fertility issues and mental health. I was blown away with this book. It comes from the POV of Hannah, Julie and Hannah’s mother Elaine. They all want the girls and the girls work through their complicated emotions of wanting to be with their mother but Julie provides the love and care they need. Hannah often drifts into severe depression and Wren often ends up parenting her little sister. Broke my heart.
I could really feel the anxiety and depression. Being a parent can be so hard and losing your spouse… Can really destroy someone. I think this book might be one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to.
5 stars. All the stars
Hannah cannot believe what has happened. Social services have taken her daughters after she left them in the car briefly, while she got ingredients to make pancakes. It was just a moment but she has depression and her mind often drifts. When she is tested for drugs and found positive, her girls end up in foster care with Julie. A woman who has fertility issues. Both women want the girls and both of them don’t expect the turns of events that lead to a dangerous situation.
This book has some triggers. Suspected abuse, death of a spouse, fertility issues and mental health. I was blown away with this book. It comes from the POV of Hannah, Julie and Hannah’s mother Elaine. They all want the girls and the girls work through their complicated emotions of wanting to be with their mother but Julie provides the love and care they need. Hannah often drifts into severe depression and Wren often ends up parenting her little sister. Broke my heart.
I could really feel the anxiety and depression. Being a parent can be so hard and losing your spouse… Can really destroy someone. I think this book might be one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to.
5 stars. All the stars
August 27, 2024
I loved this book for many reasons. First, the characters - each of the three main “voices” had faults and virtues in abundance, which was what made the plot so gripping. Three women want custody of two little girls, and I found my allegiances switching back and forth as I began to realize that none of them would be a perfect mother. The descriptions of the pluses and minuses of the foster care system, the sympathy for those working their who are trying to do their best with their excessive workload, brought another element of ambiguity to the story. Who is in the right here? Is anyone in the right here? I found the unspooling of the story compelling and couldn’t put it down until I reached the last page.
April 20, 2024
Hadley Leggett's debut turns an honest, poignant, and tender lens on parenthood in its various forms. When overwhelmed Hannah leaves her young daughters unattended in a car while she pops into the supermarket, she and her kids are thrust into the world of DHS and foster care. And when foster parent Julie takes the girls in, Hannah and her estranged mother Elaine both want them back. But no one is a villain here, but rather three very different women struggling to do what's right.
At the root of Hannah's struggle is grief and pride, which is actually similar to her mother's journey and even Julie's. This book really rang true for me as a parent, and I recommend All They Ask Is Everything wholeheartedly.
At the root of Hannah's struggle is grief and pride, which is actually similar to her mother's journey and even Julie's. This book really rang true for me as a parent, and I recommend All They Ask Is Everything wholeheartedly.
August 24, 2024
This was such a thought-provoking novel. Who should care for the children? Alternating chapters between the three women vying for custody of these sweet and spunky sisters, made for a very fast-paced story. Ms. Leggett never favored which of the adults should be their guardian, only what was ultimately in the best interest for the well-being of Wren and Ivy. As the adults eventually began working together toward the most secure and stable outcome, the rainbows finally began to overcome the stormy days of the past for this family.
I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of Hadley Leggett's debut of All They Ask Is Everything; thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of Hadley Leggett's debut of All They Ask Is Everything; thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
August 30, 2024
Hannah has recently lost her husband. She has two little girls. And Hannah is spiraling! Due to a unique situation, her children have been taken away from her. She is struggling with this fact, and refuses to accept help in any shape form or fashion.
There are so many emotions that the reader experiences in this tale. I found Hannah’s situation so tragic. But I also found her to be so stubborn. There is a southern saying, “ you are biting your nose off to spite your face.” It basically means, don’t be so stubborn that you hurt yourself in the process. Hannah tended to do that on more than one occasion. She frustrated me. But, who is to say, that I would not have done the same thing. Anything to save my kids!! Hannah‘s heart was definitely in the right place, even if she didn’t go about it in the correct manner.
Then there is Hannah’s mother, Elaine. She is a piece of work. But I absolutely love the way this story turned out. You have to read this to find out! And believe me, you do not want to miss it!
The narrator, Eva Kaminsky, could not have been better!
Need a fantastic book from start to finish…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
There are so many emotions that the reader experiences in this tale. I found Hannah’s situation so tragic. But I also found her to be so stubborn. There is a southern saying, “ you are biting your nose off to spite your face.” It basically means, don’t be so stubborn that you hurt yourself in the process. Hannah tended to do that on more than one occasion. She frustrated me. But, who is to say, that I would not have done the same thing. Anything to save my kids!! Hannah‘s heart was definitely in the right place, even if she didn’t go about it in the correct manner.
Then there is Hannah’s mother, Elaine. She is a piece of work. But I absolutely love the way this story turned out. You have to read this to find out! And believe me, you do not want to miss it!
The narrator, Eva Kaminsky, could not have been better!
Need a fantastic book from start to finish…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
August 6, 2024
All They Ask is Everything by Hadley Leggett. Thanks to the author for the gifted signed Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hannah is exhausted and grieving but she tries her best for her two daughters until an incident lands them in foster care. Their foster mother Julie has always wanted children and sees herself as protecting the two girls.
While a difficult topic to read about I tbink this was cleverly done. It revolves about three women. I loved how it showed how perceptions can change and the risk of bias. I was frustrated so many times reading this but the author was able to end it in a way that worked best for all and showed true development.
All They Ask is Everything comes out 8/27.
Hannah is exhausted and grieving but she tries her best for her two daughters until an incident lands them in foster care. Their foster mother Julie has always wanted children and sees herself as protecting the two girls.
While a difficult topic to read about I tbink this was cleverly done. It revolves about three women. I loved how it showed how perceptions can change and the risk of bias. I was frustrated so many times reading this but the author was able to end it in a way that worked best for all and showed true development.
All They Ask is Everything comes out 8/27.
June 15, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beautiful story of three women, all wanting the best for two young girls. Hannah makes a tragic mistake that ultimately lands her two young daughters, Wren and Ivy, into foster care. Julie, a single foster mom ends up caring for the two young girls and instantly becomes attached to them. And finally, Elaine, is Hannah’s mother, who hasn’t spoken to her daughter, or her granddaughters in over a year; but now wants to be involved in their lives.
I really enjoyed this debut novel about the struggles of motherhood & how it takes a village, honestly, just to stay afloat at times with children. Will definitely look for more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC. This book is released on August 27; definitely add it to your list! #booksbyashleynicole
Beautiful story of three women, all wanting the best for two young girls. Hannah makes a tragic mistake that ultimately lands her two young daughters, Wren and Ivy, into foster care. Julie, a single foster mom ends up caring for the two young girls and instantly becomes attached to them. And finally, Elaine, is Hannah’s mother, who hasn’t spoken to her daughter, or her granddaughters in over a year; but now wants to be involved in their lives.
I really enjoyed this debut novel about the struggles of motherhood & how it takes a village, honestly, just to stay afloat at times with children. Will definitely look for more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC. This book is released on August 27; definitely add it to your list! #booksbyashleynicole
September 4, 2024
You all know how much I love a good motherhood story, and oh boy, do I ever have a recommendation for you today. ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING by Hadley Leggett is a heartfelt debut that truly delivers! A parenting misstep ends in heartache for one grieving mother as she fights for custody of her two young daughters with two other women. My heartstrings were pulled, stretched, and yanked in three different directions. Of course my heart broke for the mother, but I also empathized with the other two parties as well. In the end, all three women want the exact same thing—the very best living conditions for the two girls. My heart was split into three.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Family and legal dramas
- Reflections on loss, grief, and healing
- Mental health representation
- Motherhood and marriage
- Foster family stories
- Emotional reads
- Multiple POVs
- Well-developed characters
The plot moved quite quickly, yet the reader still really gets to know and connect with the characters. It was equal parts plot and character driven, which scores Leggett some major writing points. Oh, and the conclusion was intense and shocking! I didn’t see it coming at all. Overall, this is a super solid debut, and I can’t wait to read more from the author.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Family and legal dramas
- Reflections on loss, grief, and healing
- Mental health representation
- Motherhood and marriage
- Foster family stories
- Emotional reads
- Multiple POVs
- Well-developed characters
The plot moved quite quickly, yet the reader still really gets to know and connect with the characters. It was equal parts plot and character driven, which scores Leggett some major writing points. Oh, and the conclusion was intense and shocking! I didn’t see it coming at all. Overall, this is a super solid debut, and I can’t wait to read more from the author.
August 27, 2024
"We're all doing the best we can, right? If I could, I'd change a thousand things about the way I mothered you."
All They Ask Is Everything is a thoughtful, deeply layered reckoning with all that mothering asks of women: the ever elusive search for "balance," the endless sacrifices, the silent struggles and shame, the crucial need for support. It is a reminder that, in the decision-laden deep sea of parenting, there is endless murky gray area with few bursts of stark black or white.
What I admire most about Leggett's crafting of this novel is how she refused to make any of the three mothers at its core all-victim, all-villain, or all-hero. Each woman had moments I applauded, and each had moments I judged. Furthermore, each became impossible to put in a box with a trite label like "good mom" or "bad mom" once you pieced together so many parts of each of their stories. After all- as mothers and as humans - we ALL contain multitudes.
This story was so clearly written with such care, and with such compassion. It prompted me to reflect empathetically on my own relationship to mothering, and to how I was mothered.
More than anything, this book reminded me that none of us are defined by our very best moments, nor our very worst. The messy middle is where real life happens, day in and day out. And we get through it, and we do better, when we're assured that we're not alone. It truly does take a village to care for our kids without abandoning ourselves.
All They Ask Is Everything is a thoughtful, deeply layered reckoning with all that mothering asks of women: the ever elusive search for "balance," the endless sacrifices, the silent struggles and shame, the crucial need for support. It is a reminder that, in the decision-laden deep sea of parenting, there is endless murky gray area with few bursts of stark black or white.
What I admire most about Leggett's crafting of this novel is how she refused to make any of the three mothers at its core all-victim, all-villain, or all-hero. Each woman had moments I applauded, and each had moments I judged. Furthermore, each became impossible to put in a box with a trite label like "good mom" or "bad mom" once you pieced together so many parts of each of their stories. After all- as mothers and as humans - we ALL contain multitudes.
This story was so clearly written with such care, and with such compassion. It prompted me to reflect empathetically on my own relationship to mothering, and to how I was mothered.
More than anything, this book reminded me that none of us are defined by our very best moments, nor our very worst. The messy middle is where real life happens, day in and day out. And we get through it, and we do better, when we're assured that we're not alone. It truly does take a village to care for our kids without abandoning ourselves.
August 21, 2024
As a mother, this book consumed my heart and I really felt for each of these women.
Hannah- makes a mistake that anyone could have but with grave consequences which result in her kids being taken away by the state to foster care.
Julie- the foster mother just tries her best to help these sweet girls while their mother gets help.
Elaine- Hannah's own mother who was not the best at always being there for her daughter and it makes Hannah scared for her girls that she might get custody.
Motherhood is hard and I really like the portrayal of the kids. They are central characters to this book and their feelings are validated through Julie I thought.
Such a great debut !
Hannah- makes a mistake that anyone could have but with grave consequences which result in her kids being taken away by the state to foster care.
Julie- the foster mother just tries her best to help these sweet girls while their mother gets help.
Elaine- Hannah's own mother who was not the best at always being there for her daughter and it makes Hannah scared for her girls that she might get custody.
Motherhood is hard and I really like the portrayal of the kids. They are central characters to this book and their feelings are validated through Julie I thought.
Such a great debut !
April 5, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC copy of All They Ask is Everything.
This was a very well written book, the story was engaging and flowed smoothly. That being said, I strongly disliked every character except for Julie and the ending was incredibly unsatisfying. Even consider her difficult life circumstances and mental health challenges, Hannah disregarded the health, safety, and well-being of her daughters with every decision she made throughout the story and, in my opinion, the book should have ended with her going to jail.
3 stars.
This was a very well written book, the story was engaging and flowed smoothly. That being said, I strongly disliked every character except for Julie and the ending was incredibly unsatisfying. Even consider her difficult life circumstances and mental health challenges, Hannah disregarded the health, safety, and well-being of her daughters with every decision she made throughout the story and, in my opinion, the book should have ended with her going to jail.
3 stars.
September 29, 2024
I needed to put in order my ideas after finishing this book, what an impactful debut.
I was completely invested in this story since the first chapter and finished it in one sitting.
A story about motherhood, loss, the meaning of love and compassion. This is one of those stories that left a mark and I won’t forget soon.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Hadley Leggett released August 27, 2024.
I was completely invested in this story since the first chapter and finished it in one sitting.
A story about motherhood, loss, the meaning of love and compassion. This is one of those stories that left a mark and I won’t forget soon.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Hadley Leggett released August 27, 2024.
June 6, 2024
You will initially be immersed in the compulsive, emotionally unstable mind of Hannah, a mother who all-out loves her kids, but who is struggling on the brink of drowning in her grief and circumstances. Next, you will become equally sympathetic to the plight of single Julie who always knew she was meant to be a mother, and who is riding the emotional roller-coaster of waiting for a baby to foster in hopes of adopting. Finally enters Elaine, Hannah’s high-powered and emotionally distant mother who always gets what she wants. The welfare of the two little girls at the focus of this novel does not have any easy answers, especially when secrets abound, and the truth is unclear. The character development throughout the novel is exquisite and inspiring as these initially single-minded characters expand their outlook as their stories become entwined.
This is Hadley Leggett’s debut novel, but you will be thirsty for her next offering.
This is Hadley Leggett’s debut novel, but you will be thirsty for her next offering.
August 31, 2024
Meh this just didn’t work for me. The whole thing was just infuriating on every level. All three lead characters were abysmal. Everything was just so over the top including the cops actions and Hannah becoming increasingly more manic. The ending was very disappointing.
My arc was provided for review
My arc was provided for review
September 3, 2024
Fast & well written…just hated pretty much all of the characters and their dumb decisions.
September 9, 2024
Happily stumbled upon this and so glad I did! I fell into this book and loved it!
August 30, 2024
ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING
BY: HADLEY LEGGETT
About 3.50 Stars!
This is a first time novel making its debut, written by a thought provoking author, Hadley Leggett, called, All They Ask Is Everything is a character driven literary fiction novel, which brings to light a fast paced important subject by this author right in the beginning. Right away you're introduced to a grieving, single parent named, Hannah. As the mother's impulsive decision is life altering that had me saying to myself: "OH NO DON'T DO IT!," that kicks off the action by which the thesis is one that sets up the rest of this novel, by which this poor choice focuses. Her actions made with good intentions wanting to do something nice for both of her young children, but so not responsible reverberates like skipping stones in a lake. Causing concentric circles that progress continuously heartbreaking consequences for herself, in addition to being frightening for both her, and her innocent children. She has two daughters named Ivy, who is three years old, and Wren who is a seven year old that has been given too much responsibility resulting her to have to act as a stand- in mother to her younger sister and herself. This was made more poignant for me when I read the informative Author's Note, and the Acknowledgements section, of the laws regarding foster care with specific afflictions that are protective regarding parents in Washington State. Indicative citing how it relates to this mother and her interactions with the Child Protective Services changing the organizational shifts in policies, and law changes that have been instituted around the same time period that this literary fictional but very raw narrative takes place in, 2017.
There are three main characters with alternating chapters told in the third person points of view that starts off with Hannah, who is around forty who is the biological mother of Wren and Ivy. I didn't find her as emotionally devastated by losing custody of her children since I wouldn't be able to function in her position. Seeing your children being carted off with police after you didn't think they were harmed by your split second decision. I can only surmise Hannah must have known better to explain her reaction being not traumatized more significantly. Being arrested and charged with serious offenses to be atypically authentic by how a mother would be inconsolable I would expect. The children didn't seem equally realistic as they were separated by the only parent they had would have been equally inconsolable as they watched from the police SUV as their mother was arrested. The fact of a mother and her two young children being ripped apart from each other I would imagine would elicit unimaginable terror from both Hannah and her young children. If that happened to me when my two children were that age, the results would have both myself and them hysterical by the sheer amount of shock. I don't think anything could prepare me or my children at that age to be separated by an unknown entity, let alone police without being prepared for such a huge shift in our lives. If this narrative would have included the powerful grief stricken response instead of it being portrayed as if it was a normal occurring experience that their reactions displayed with being so calm it would lend more credibility. Since Hannah and her children didn't react in a manner that matched their circumstances which was a family torn apart without notice it didn't seem to phase the children. Maybe the author didn't want to upset her audience leading her to display less effect, on both Hannah and her young daughters. Maybe it's my own imagination, nevertheless I would have shown a stronger reaction by the shock at never expecting to be ripped apart the way these three were.
Julie is the Foster mother who Child Protective Services places Hannah's two young daughters in her custody. Rhonda is a secondary character that is the case worker who is from Child Protective Services in Seattle, Washington who is assigned to Hannah's daughters' and she seems overworked by her lack of returning Julie's phone calls whenever Julie calls her with concerns or questions regarding Ivy and Wren. Julie's most important goal in life is becoming a mother, but has been unsuccessful at having her own children. Her townhouse is perfectly equipped to take the girls and seems to be able to provide the structure and stability that these two young girls need. She is responsible for providing a home for Hannah's two daughters' and she has arts and crafts, books, comic books from her childhood that she shares with Wren. Ivy refuses to talk which seems realistic to her being separated from her mother being only three it seems naturally an effect from suddenly being thrust in a strange environment with a stranger who she's never met. Julie takes them to the library and is shocked in the morning to see Wren cooking breakfast when Julie finds them awake in her kitchen. She takes them to Target to buy them new clothes when she turns her back and Wren slips out of her sight, which she quickly locates her. Her problem is that she gets attached to them as if she expects them to stay with her, but she is kind to them seeing that they are constantly supervised. It's not what the girls are used to since at home they would wander their neighborhood unsupervised and a neighbor gives Hannah a prescription bottle of green pills that gave her energy before the girls were taken. Since the girls show up in dirty pajamas they get bought new clothes and are fed healthy snacks along with Julie making sure that they are fed healthy meals which she models for them that they are to be prepared by her. She thinks that both girls are better off with her than with their mother Hannah, and is elated to hear that Hannah's arraignment turns out that her toxicology screen shows amphetamines in her system. Hannah is sent to see a doctor before she's released from jail and he tries to persuade her to go through mental health rehabilitation for a quicker way to get custody of her girls back which she refuses and Julie is thrilled that she can keep Hannah's daughters' longer. She takes Wren to the doctor when she sees bruises on her ribs and back. Hannah finds out that she's been accused of having been abusive physically to Wren when the doctors don't believe that Wren said that she fell off a ladder. The Doctors don't find cracked or broken ribs that they expect when Julie has her Case Worker named Rhonda involved but at Hannah's arraignment She expected to get her children returned immediately and they aren't due to the allegations of abuse mixed with her toxicology showing amphetamines in her system without a prescription. She should have listened to the doctor at the jail who told her to agree to go the mental health rehabilitation route, and she would get her children returned to her sooner. He told her with a doctor's care she could get a doctor to help her with a prescription explaining the amphetamines was a cross over mistake resulting in the lab. Hannah also lies about having a living relative who happens to be her mother who could have had the girls released from Foster care and they could have been reunited the next day with her mother being the guardian getting CPS to not keep making things worse for Hannah now that Hannah's Case worker, Rhonda and Julie's belief that Hannah caused multiple bruises on her daughter with physical abuse added on to Hannah's problems. There's no spoilers here. Just be prepared that this is just the beginning of a long story of bad judgement that continues that at times it took all of my patience.
Hannah has a mother who she appears to hate that lives in Chicago where Hannah grew up who was a high powered attorney named Elaine. Elaine is being forced into a retirement that she doesn't want that she plans on fighting. Hannah was extremely close with her father who nurtured her, and she felt that he loved her, until he recently died of pneumonia. Hannah has been estranged from her mother ever since he died, she blames her mother for his dying earlier than he would have, since he caught it when her mother placed him in a nursing home. Hannah knew her father didn't have long to live, but thinks that her mother chose her job predictably, as Elaine's first priority over caring for her husband. Just like it was with her mother leaving Hannah being raised by her father, choosing her job rather than spending time with Hannah. Ever since Hannah saw that her father died from bacterial pneumonia instead of viral, she was robbed from getting a chance to say goodbye because he died quickly in only two days after he caught it. She knows already he had been diagnosed with cancer, but looked forward to spending as much time as possible with him, traveling to Seattle since he knew Hannah was grieving her husband's death. They enjoyed their time spent together as a family which her father showed an interest during his retirement visiting Hannah and his granddaughters, fixing up a vacation home on an island they worked on near Seattle. He planned on giving that remodeled cabin to Hannah to vacation there or move there if she wanted to. Ever since she read his autopsy report that states it was bacterial instead of viral she feels that if her mother didn't place him in the nursing home he wouldn't have died so soon. She has not spoken to her mother since she blames Elaine for her not being able to spend the time with her father, since just like Elaine failed to mother Hannah, her job came first. Hannah believes that her mother's job came before her father's care causing him to catch pneumonia in the nursing home, robbing Hannah the precious time they had left. His death was a shock to Hannah since he died sooner than she expected not giving her the time to say goodbye.
Elaine finds out that her granddaughters are in the Foster care system. She travels to Seattle and Hannah is ordered to anger management and outpatient psychiatric therapy which in a private meeting prior to her hearing with a Public Defender she has already told the Public Defender that she doesn't have any other family who can take the girls in. I thought Julie was taking great care of Hannah's daughters', but I would have thought that Hannah would have rather have her daughters' stay with her mother instead of a stranger, if only for her daughters' comfort to know they were with family. Plus, her mother could have helped her with defending her, since she was a much more experienced attorney, who she could have gotten Hannah's daughters' out of foster care, and Hannah would have been reunited with them right away. Her mother went to CPS and tried to get the records regarding Hannah's case, but was denied by the receptionist since Hannah didn't want her mother to take care of her daughters'.
Hannah, Julie and Elaine alternate their points of view told in the third person. Hannah isn't what you might think of her as she is suffering from grief. She lost both her father and her husband, but most of all herself from being left with two young daughters to raise which it would be difficult to do with finding herself without a support system. Julie isn't a bad person, but I sometimes felt frustrated with all three of these main characters for their choices left me frustrated in that all three of them each in their own way were responsible for making a bad situation worse. The novel has a lot of great things going for it, although I felt that it got bogged down and I grew bored and had to force myself to finish it at around the 30% mark. It's not like I could abandon it, since it's a Net Galley ARC that as much as I regretted choosing it, I will always continue to read it until the end no matter how much I'd found it just wasn't for me. I think that the Author has her heart in the right place, with an important message to put out in the world. Sometimes, I read something based on the many five star reviews, when I have a different criteria which I will keep to myself. Please read other reviews as I have an outlier opinion, and I'm a minority, overall. I do wish this author my very best wishes for success with this. I love the ending, and I just think that I am the wrong fit for this. I didn't learn anything that I didn't already know, and I think that this will appeal to a much younger reader. I will end this by saying that I feel it could use an Editor to tighten it up, as I think that it took too long to deliver the point.
Publication Date: August 27, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley, Hadley Leggett and Lake Union Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#AllTheyAskIsEverything #HadleyLeggett #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley
BY: HADLEY LEGGETT
About 3.50 Stars!
This is a first time novel making its debut, written by a thought provoking author, Hadley Leggett, called, All They Ask Is Everything is a character driven literary fiction novel, which brings to light a fast paced important subject by this author right in the beginning. Right away you're introduced to a grieving, single parent named, Hannah. As the mother's impulsive decision is life altering that had me saying to myself: "OH NO DON'T DO IT!," that kicks off the action by which the thesis is one that sets up the rest of this novel, by which this poor choice focuses. Her actions made with good intentions wanting to do something nice for both of her young children, but so not responsible reverberates like skipping stones in a lake. Causing concentric circles that progress continuously heartbreaking consequences for herself, in addition to being frightening for both her, and her innocent children. She has two daughters named Ivy, who is three years old, and Wren who is a seven year old that has been given too much responsibility resulting her to have to act as a stand- in mother to her younger sister and herself. This was made more poignant for me when I read the informative Author's Note, and the Acknowledgements section, of the laws regarding foster care with specific afflictions that are protective regarding parents in Washington State. Indicative citing how it relates to this mother and her interactions with the Child Protective Services changing the organizational shifts in policies, and law changes that have been instituted around the same time period that this literary fictional but very raw narrative takes place in, 2017.
There are three main characters with alternating chapters told in the third person points of view that starts off with Hannah, who is around forty who is the biological mother of Wren and Ivy. I didn't find her as emotionally devastated by losing custody of her children since I wouldn't be able to function in her position. Seeing your children being carted off with police after you didn't think they were harmed by your split second decision. I can only surmise Hannah must have known better to explain her reaction being not traumatized more significantly. Being arrested and charged with serious offenses to be atypically authentic by how a mother would be inconsolable I would expect. The children didn't seem equally realistic as they were separated by the only parent they had would have been equally inconsolable as they watched from the police SUV as their mother was arrested. The fact of a mother and her two young children being ripped apart from each other I would imagine would elicit unimaginable terror from both Hannah and her young children. If that happened to me when my two children were that age, the results would have both myself and them hysterical by the sheer amount of shock. I don't think anything could prepare me or my children at that age to be separated by an unknown entity, let alone police without being prepared for such a huge shift in our lives. If this narrative would have included the powerful grief stricken response instead of it being portrayed as if it was a normal occurring experience that their reactions displayed with being so calm it would lend more credibility. Since Hannah and her children didn't react in a manner that matched their circumstances which was a family torn apart without notice it didn't seem to phase the children. Maybe the author didn't want to upset her audience leading her to display less effect, on both Hannah and her young daughters. Maybe it's my own imagination, nevertheless I would have shown a stronger reaction by the shock at never expecting to be ripped apart the way these three were.
Julie is the Foster mother who Child Protective Services places Hannah's two young daughters in her custody. Rhonda is a secondary character that is the case worker who is from Child Protective Services in Seattle, Washington who is assigned to Hannah's daughters' and she seems overworked by her lack of returning Julie's phone calls whenever Julie calls her with concerns or questions regarding Ivy and Wren. Julie's most important goal in life is becoming a mother, but has been unsuccessful at having her own children. Her townhouse is perfectly equipped to take the girls and seems to be able to provide the structure and stability that these two young girls need. She is responsible for providing a home for Hannah's two daughters' and she has arts and crafts, books, comic books from her childhood that she shares with Wren. Ivy refuses to talk which seems realistic to her being separated from her mother being only three it seems naturally an effect from suddenly being thrust in a strange environment with a stranger who she's never met. Julie takes them to the library and is shocked in the morning to see Wren cooking breakfast when Julie finds them awake in her kitchen. She takes them to Target to buy them new clothes when she turns her back and Wren slips out of her sight, which she quickly locates her. Her problem is that she gets attached to them as if she expects them to stay with her, but she is kind to them seeing that they are constantly supervised. It's not what the girls are used to since at home they would wander their neighborhood unsupervised and a neighbor gives Hannah a prescription bottle of green pills that gave her energy before the girls were taken. Since the girls show up in dirty pajamas they get bought new clothes and are fed healthy snacks along with Julie making sure that they are fed healthy meals which she models for them that they are to be prepared by her. She thinks that both girls are better off with her than with their mother Hannah, and is elated to hear that Hannah's arraignment turns out that her toxicology screen shows amphetamines in her system. Hannah is sent to see a doctor before she's released from jail and he tries to persuade her to go through mental health rehabilitation for a quicker way to get custody of her girls back which she refuses and Julie is thrilled that she can keep Hannah's daughters' longer. She takes Wren to the doctor when she sees bruises on her ribs and back. Hannah finds out that she's been accused of having been abusive physically to Wren when the doctors don't believe that Wren said that she fell off a ladder. The Doctors don't find cracked or broken ribs that they expect when Julie has her Case Worker named Rhonda involved but at Hannah's arraignment She expected to get her children returned immediately and they aren't due to the allegations of abuse mixed with her toxicology showing amphetamines in her system without a prescription. She should have listened to the doctor at the jail who told her to agree to go the mental health rehabilitation route, and she would get her children returned to her sooner. He told her with a doctor's care she could get a doctor to help her with a prescription explaining the amphetamines was a cross over mistake resulting in the lab. Hannah also lies about having a living relative who happens to be her mother who could have had the girls released from Foster care and they could have been reunited the next day with her mother being the guardian getting CPS to not keep making things worse for Hannah now that Hannah's Case worker, Rhonda and Julie's belief that Hannah caused multiple bruises on her daughter with physical abuse added on to Hannah's problems. There's no spoilers here. Just be prepared that this is just the beginning of a long story of bad judgement that continues that at times it took all of my patience.
Hannah has a mother who she appears to hate that lives in Chicago where Hannah grew up who was a high powered attorney named Elaine. Elaine is being forced into a retirement that she doesn't want that she plans on fighting. Hannah was extremely close with her father who nurtured her, and she felt that he loved her, until he recently died of pneumonia. Hannah has been estranged from her mother ever since he died, she blames her mother for his dying earlier than he would have, since he caught it when her mother placed him in a nursing home. Hannah knew her father didn't have long to live, but thinks that her mother chose her job predictably, as Elaine's first priority over caring for her husband. Just like it was with her mother leaving Hannah being raised by her father, choosing her job rather than spending time with Hannah. Ever since Hannah saw that her father died from bacterial pneumonia instead of viral, she was robbed from getting a chance to say goodbye because he died quickly in only two days after he caught it. She knows already he had been diagnosed with cancer, but looked forward to spending as much time as possible with him, traveling to Seattle since he knew Hannah was grieving her husband's death. They enjoyed their time spent together as a family which her father showed an interest during his retirement visiting Hannah and his granddaughters, fixing up a vacation home on an island they worked on near Seattle. He planned on giving that remodeled cabin to Hannah to vacation there or move there if she wanted to. Ever since she read his autopsy report that states it was bacterial instead of viral she feels that if her mother didn't place him in the nursing home he wouldn't have died so soon. She has not spoken to her mother since she blames Elaine for her not being able to spend the time with her father, since just like Elaine failed to mother Hannah, her job came first. Hannah believes that her mother's job came before her father's care causing him to catch pneumonia in the nursing home, robbing Hannah the precious time they had left. His death was a shock to Hannah since he died sooner than she expected not giving her the time to say goodbye.
Elaine finds out that her granddaughters are in the Foster care system. She travels to Seattle and Hannah is ordered to anger management and outpatient psychiatric therapy which in a private meeting prior to her hearing with a Public Defender she has already told the Public Defender that she doesn't have any other family who can take the girls in. I thought Julie was taking great care of Hannah's daughters', but I would have thought that Hannah would have rather have her daughters' stay with her mother instead of a stranger, if only for her daughters' comfort to know they were with family. Plus, her mother could have helped her with defending her, since she was a much more experienced attorney, who she could have gotten Hannah's daughters' out of foster care, and Hannah would have been reunited with them right away. Her mother went to CPS and tried to get the records regarding Hannah's case, but was denied by the receptionist since Hannah didn't want her mother to take care of her daughters'.
Hannah, Julie and Elaine alternate their points of view told in the third person. Hannah isn't what you might think of her as she is suffering from grief. She lost both her father and her husband, but most of all herself from being left with two young daughters to raise which it would be difficult to do with finding herself without a support system. Julie isn't a bad person, but I sometimes felt frustrated with all three of these main characters for their choices left me frustrated in that all three of them each in their own way were responsible for making a bad situation worse. The novel has a lot of great things going for it, although I felt that it got bogged down and I grew bored and had to force myself to finish it at around the 30% mark. It's not like I could abandon it, since it's a Net Galley ARC that as much as I regretted choosing it, I will always continue to read it until the end no matter how much I'd found it just wasn't for me. I think that the Author has her heart in the right place, with an important message to put out in the world. Sometimes, I read something based on the many five star reviews, when I have a different criteria which I will keep to myself. Please read other reviews as I have an outlier opinion, and I'm a minority, overall. I do wish this author my very best wishes for success with this. I love the ending, and I just think that I am the wrong fit for this. I didn't learn anything that I didn't already know, and I think that this will appeal to a much younger reader. I will end this by saying that I feel it could use an Editor to tighten it up, as I think that it took too long to deliver the point.
Publication Date: August 27, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley, Hadley Leggett and Lake Union Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
#AllTheyAskIsEverything #HadleyLeggett #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley
August 20, 2024
All They Ask Is Everything is a well-written and interesting book which focuses on three different women and their separate plights for custody of two young girls.
I thought this book was going to sucker punch me in the feels and while it definitely did have sad moments scattered throughout, I just didn’t feel as invested as I wanted to be. I think this is down to the fact that I found pretty much all of the characters unlikable, right up until the end. While I empathised with the shit hand Hannah had been dealt, she just made some truly awful decisions when it came to the safety of her daughters and I found her quite insufferable. Hannah’s mother, Elaine, didn’t fare much better - her motivations for wanting custody of her granddaughters (that she barely knew) seemed self-centered. Julie was the most tolerable but even she had me questioning at times why she had become a foster carer.
It didn’t feel like enough time was given to each of the women in order for me as a reader to really get into their heads and discover more about them. The author did a good job at shining a spotlight on motherhood in general and how the journey differs from woman to woman.
The ending was a bit too fanciful and unrealistic, considering the harsh world of court cases of this nature, I’m just not convinced the judge would have happily ended matters ordering Hannah to take the girls out for ice cream. While I do love a happy ending, this one didn’t really fit with the rest of the story.
Thank you Lake Union Publishing & Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was going to sucker punch me in the feels and while it definitely did have sad moments scattered throughout, I just didn’t feel as invested as I wanted to be. I think this is down to the fact that I found pretty much all of the characters unlikable, right up until the end. While I empathised with the shit hand Hannah had been dealt, she just made some truly awful decisions when it came to the safety of her daughters and I found her quite insufferable. Hannah’s mother, Elaine, didn’t fare much better - her motivations for wanting custody of her granddaughters (that she barely knew) seemed self-centered. Julie was the most tolerable but even she had me questioning at times why she had become a foster carer.
It didn’t feel like enough time was given to each of the women in order for me as a reader to really get into their heads and discover more about them. The author did a good job at shining a spotlight on motherhood in general and how the journey differs from woman to woman.
The ending was a bit too fanciful and unrealistic, considering the harsh world of court cases of this nature, I’m just not convinced the judge would have happily ended matters ordering Hannah to take the girls out for ice cream. While I do love a happy ending, this one didn’t really fit with the rest of the story.
Thank you Lake Union Publishing & Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2024
Thank you Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I requested this book because I wanted to see a diverse look at motherhood and at complex women characters. The story has a good premise and the book did give a look into women life, and the different struggles that women/mothers experience but it seems superficial and couldn’t reel me into their lives as I would liked.
While Wren and Ivy sound adorable little girls, the grown-ups seem very two dimensions. The author tried to do too much with each character not given enough space and time or depth in my opinion. By the time the ending came around, I wasn’t really interested in what would happen, and something drastic and tragic would need to occur in order to break the numbness that I felt towards this book.
Honestly, I would probably really enjoy a story that focus on each of those motherly characters individual arcs if well developed, but this book simply wasn’t my cup of tea.
I requested this book because I wanted to see a diverse look at motherhood and at complex women characters. The story has a good premise and the book did give a look into women life, and the different struggles that women/mothers experience but it seems superficial and couldn’t reel me into their lives as I would liked.
While Wren and Ivy sound adorable little girls, the grown-ups seem very two dimensions. The author tried to do too much with each character not given enough space and time or depth in my opinion. By the time the ending came around, I wasn’t really interested in what would happen, and something drastic and tragic would need to occur in order to break the numbness that I felt towards this book.
Honestly, I would probably really enjoy a story that focus on each of those motherly characters individual arcs if well developed, but this book simply wasn’t my cup of tea.
June 19, 2024
It's every mother's nightmare: your kids are asleep, it's cool outside, you have to decide whether to get them up or let them sleep while you spend 5 minutes in the store--and when you come back, child protective services is taking your kids away from you.
Hadley Leggett's stunning debut follows three women at odds with each other, all of them desperate to love the two young girls at the center of the storm. Hannah, their biological mother, paralyzed by grief and depression; Julie, the girls' foster mother, who has a powerful unfulfilled longing for motherhood; and Elaine, the girls' grandmother, estranged from her family and desperate to reunite. Playing these women's hurts and mistakes and biases off each other makes for high drama, indeed. I love a book where there are no "bad guys," books in which everyone is doing their best and it's still a mess. Because that's what life is like, and in a book we know we're going to get to an ending that will satisfy--which we don't always get in real life.
Leggett is a gifted author, deftly weaving plot threads and characters together to create a tapestry of stunning beauty and heart-wrenching clarity.
Hadley Leggett's stunning debut follows three women at odds with each other, all of them desperate to love the two young girls at the center of the storm. Hannah, their biological mother, paralyzed by grief and depression; Julie, the girls' foster mother, who has a powerful unfulfilled longing for motherhood; and Elaine, the girls' grandmother, estranged from her family and desperate to reunite. Playing these women's hurts and mistakes and biases off each other makes for high drama, indeed. I love a book where there are no "bad guys," books in which everyone is doing their best and it's still a mess. Because that's what life is like, and in a book we know we're going to get to an ending that will satisfy--which we don't always get in real life.
Leggett is a gifted author, deftly weaving plot threads and characters together to create a tapestry of stunning beauty and heart-wrenching clarity.
May 9, 2024
I was very fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy from NetGalley but all thoughts are unbiased and my own!
I enjoyed this book! I know some folks may disagree with me, but I liked the characters and how realistic they were. Sure each of the characters some really bad decisions at points, but I thought it showed how they were human.
The story surrounds two young girls as they navigate through foster care. The book flips between three main women, Hannah (the biological mother), Julie (their foster mother), and Elaine (their grandmother). At points in the book, you see each of main women be put in situations where there isn’t a winning outcome for any choice they make. Because of these struggles and decisions the women have to make, you start to see all sides of foster care system.
I really was interested in this book and the whole time I couldn’t wait to figure out what was next for this family. Highly would recommend!!!
I enjoyed this book! I know some folks may disagree with me, but I liked the characters and how realistic they were. Sure each of the characters some really bad decisions at points, but I thought it showed how they were human.
The story surrounds two young girls as they navigate through foster care. The book flips between three main women, Hannah (the biological mother), Julie (their foster mother), and Elaine (their grandmother). At points in the book, you see each of main women be put in situations where there isn’t a winning outcome for any choice they make. Because of these struggles and decisions the women have to make, you start to see all sides of foster care system.
I really was interested in this book and the whole time I couldn’t wait to figure out what was next for this family. Highly would recommend!!!
June 11, 2024
A compelling read that depicts multiple perspectives on motherhood with honesty and emotional intimacy, All They Ask is a smartly written, relatable, and unexpectedly touching debut.
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