All We Were Promised transports readers to 1837 Philadelphia, where three young Black women—Charlotte, Nell, and Evie—struggle against societal constraints and personal secrets. Charlotte, who recently escaped slavery, lives as a servant to her white-passing father in a city she thought would guarantee her freedom. Nell, from a wealthy, freeborn Black family, is passionate about the abolitionist cause and introduces Charlotte to the movement. Their paths intersect with Evie, Charlotte’s old friend, who remains enslaved and longs for escape. The story delves into the meaning of freedom, both physical and emotional, as each woman seeks a better future in a city simmering with racial unrest and anti-abolitionist sentiment. Lattimore enriches […]