Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early!

This was a heart wrenching book that really tackled real world issues of being a mom. I am not a mother myself but I have many friends who are and who have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations. I think this painted the perfect picture of what motherhood is like from different types of moms.

The three different points of view had very different narrators, and I think that was a wonderful way to show how motherhood is different for everyone. What made me love the book so much is that everyone came together in the end to make sure the two little girls had the absolute best choice made on their behalf to have a fantastic life. This also painted the picture not to judge a book by its cover and that someone might have a whole lot more going on then what you know.

Kudos to the author for being able to tell this story so beautifully. I do wish we got an epilogue to see what eventually happened, but other then that I truly enjoyed this book!

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.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This really is a beautiful story of womanhood and motherhood. The characters are so well developed and I had such a great time following them through the story.

Anyone could relate to this, stunning.

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.

What a heart wrenching, honest account of the many shades of motherhood! I absolutely loved the premise of different stages of motherhood (mother and grown daughter) and the different roles of motherhood—foster mom versus biological mom. This beautifully captivating story about the highs and lows of motherhood and the different shades of justice for the children takes a comprehensive and complete look of a classic case of things aren’t always black and white when it comes to parenting children. I couldn’t put down the last one hundred pages, I was hooked at every turn to see how the relationship and dynamics between these women would evolve. The details and characterization of the young girls left me feeling as though I knew them! This will bring any mother who has ever felt overwhelmed to tears in a good way! This story helps us feel “seen” and understood! Bravo to Hadley for tackling the complexity of motherhood with such grace and beauty in a tale I will remember long after I’ve finished the book!

This was an amazing, heart wrenching story about 3 women trying to do what's best for two young girls. Told in alternating points of view, the story is told by Hannah (who loses her children to the foster system), Julie (the foster mom who takes Hannah's 2 girls), and Elaine (Hannah's mom who is fighting for custody of her grandchildren). Throughout the book, I felt like I was rooting on each the different characters as information was unfolding. I loved the character development and I thought that the entire book was fast-paced and interesting!

This book gripped me from the first page. It centers on Hannah, an overwhelmed mother of two who suffers from depression after the deaths of her husband and father. When an incident leaves her children in the custody of social services, she'll do anything to get them back. The books is told through three POVS of three women who want custody of the children: Hannah, her mother Elaine, and Julie the foster mother where the kids are placed.

This stunning debut by Hadley Leggett viscerally captures the struggles of motherhood and the challenge of caring for ourselves while also doing what's best for our children. I was so emotionally invested that the book was almost hard to read at some points because I felt each character's turmoil so deeply. I loved everything about it and can't recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for the advance reader copy.

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 loved this book - the issues addressed in it to do with mental health, grief, and motherhood were so well written. I loved the changes in perspective between Elaine, Julie, and Hannah. The only reason it isn’t a 5 star book for me is because the ending felt abrupt and I felt there wasn’t closure for all the storylines that took place.

This book was quite a ride that had me laughing one moment and tearing up the next. By the end I was doing both on the same page–oh the feels! As a father, I don't think I am the intended target audience for this book but I'm so grateful I got to read it.

The characters pop off the page with complexity and depth – the author does a lovely job of peeling back the layers of each woman (and the girls too!) as the story unfolds. After the first few chapters, the story ensnared me and refused to let go until the very end. I found myself emotionally invested in the fate of the children and the women fighting to care for them, unsure of how I wanted things to end.

I enjoyed the masterful balance between descriptive, elegant prose and a compelling plot. Each word feels meticulously chosen and perfectly placed, resulting in a reading experience that is effortless, enriching, and engaging. Unlike other books that juggle multiple perspectives, this one seamlessly transitions between them, leaving me eagerly anticipating each successive chapter.

I ended up staying up until about 2am to finish, unable to put it down. Reading on my phone, in the dark laying next to my sleeping wife, I wanting to wake her afterwards to thank her for all she has sacrificed and given to our family and our children. (I let her sleep and told her in the morning instead.)

This is not merely a story; it is an experience that helps you see the nuance and challenges woman face in a world that asks too much, doesn’t say thank you nearly enough, and often paints things in absolutes. It left me with feelings and a deeper connection that I will stay with me long after the final page.

I wasn't sure how this book was going to make me feel because I was worried about the emotions it might involve. However I felt the author did a good job showing all sides of the story and made me feel for all the characters involved. It was a touching read, I'd definitely read more.

I love a sweeping family drama, so I was very intrigued by the description of this book. So glad I picked it up, because wow, it was powerful. Seeing the same event from multiple viewpoints was such a clever way to present this story. I found myself equally rooting for all the women, even when it seemed like a positive outcome for them would negatively affect another. The commentary relating to foster care and how much more we need to do as a society to support families will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommend this book.

I really liked this book! It was engaging from the start. I like multiple perspective books, and this one did a nice job balancing the narratives of these three women. I found that I was ultimately rooting for them all, even as I was frustrated with them at times. The story reads really quickly, but there's a lot of meat in there. A lot of things to think about, like what modern motherhood demands, the different approaches women take, and how so many people can fall through the cracks because there isn't enough support. But the narrative is never preachy! It's a "show don't tell" experience.

I feel like I'll be reading every Hadley Leggett book from here on out! Definitely an enjoyable, thought-provoking book, perfectly paced. And a perfect title!

"All They Ask Is Everything" by Hadley Leggett is a poignant and emotionally charged exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us together.

At the heart of the novel are three women—Hannah, Julie, and Elaine—whose lives intersect in unexpected ways as they navigate the complexities of parenthood. Leggett masterfully delves into the inner workings of each character's mind, revealing their fears, hopes, and deepest desires with empathy and nuance.

Hannah, a widowed mother, is determined to provide a better life for her daughters than the one she had. However, when a mistake lands her girls in foster care, Hannah's world is turned upside down, forcing her to confront her own limitations as a parent.

Julie, single and longing for a child of her own, finds herself drawn to Hannah's daughters after becoming a foster parent. As she forms a bond with the girls, Julie is forced to confront her own insecurities and fears, wondering if she is truly capable of being the mother they need.

Elaine, Hannah's mother, is grappling with feelings of rejection and abandonment after being shut out of her daughter's life. When she learns of her granddaughters' plight, Elaine sees an opportunity to make amends and forge a new connection with her family.

As the three women come together in their fight to keep the girls out of the foster care system, Leggett expertly navigates themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of unconditional love. Through moments of heartache and triumph, readers are reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of familial bonds.

With its richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and compelling storyline, "All They Ask Is Everything" is a captivating read that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. Leggett's poignant exploration of motherhood and sacrifice is sure to tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever loved and lost, reminding us that, in the end, all that truly matters is the strength of the bonds we share with those we hold dear.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This isn’t the type of book i would usually read, however, i am so glad i decided to step out of my comfort zone. What a debut to kick off the authors writing career.

It was beautifully written, heartbreaking, and weaved a complex story about family and parenting. It was told in three perspectives, but despite the, the story was easy to follow and it was clear who’s point of view we were reading from. This was absolutely brilliant and I’m excited to read what comes next from the author.

I really was draw to this book with the title and the impression the cover gives you. It fully reminded me of how my life is going at the moment, with everything full throttle and 160% being expected from you, at all times and your mind running frantic. I am so glad that made me jump for this book as it was such an excellent and well written read. It is easy to connect with and really think about the way things are going. I found the flow of the book was so good and I just sunk into it, really taking in what the author was saying. Genuinely excellent.

In this stunning debut, Hadley Leggett expertly weaves a story that captures the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, love and heartache that embody motherhood. The story unfolds through the lens of three different women at various ages and stages of life who only want to do what's best for two little girls. At its heart, the story delves into the mental and emotional complications of motherhood, especially the loss of identity many women grapple with after having children. However, Hadley Leggett doesn't give us a book filled with doom and gloom but the hope, strength, and power women find when fighting against all odds for the children they love. A beautiful story told at breakneck speed, All They Ask Is Everything is a must-read for anyone who has experienced the power of love amid loss and grief.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt that I cared so much about Hannah, Wren, Ivy, Elaine and Julie that I couldn’t put it down. A great insight into all is not what it seems and I would love to read more from this author.

I was hooked on All They Ask is Everything by the end of the first chapter. Due to their grieving mom's mistake, two young girls end up in foster care. They're taken in by a woman who wants to be a mom, and these girls are her first chance. A surprise visitor starts out as an adversary, but becomes an advocate. Naturally, the girls' mom is unhappy and resentful., until she realizes this is what needed to happen so she can get her life back under control. The whole book shows the good side of foster care, along with mentioning several times just how overloaded the system is, as are the people trying to work in it. It also shows that family is more than just the people you're related to by blood. Finally, while it's not directly mentioned, the mom comes across has undiagnosed bipolar disorder with mania and depression.

A lovely story about love and care, growth and self awareness.

Hannah with her undiagnosed depression and messy life. Julie with her desperate desire for a family. Elaine with her strong sense of righteousness. Three very different women circle around 2 children.

From the description, I thought most of the book would be about each woman trying to get custody of the children, but most of the book is just about the three adults, their backgrounds and how they grow to understand themselves. It's only right at the end that it pulls together into deciding who cares for the children. So the book is much more about personal growth than child custody. And that's a good thing :)