I struggled to get through the first few chapters of this thought-provoking novel. The protagonist’s dysfunctional physical, mental and emotional states were so vividly displayed that it was painful to read. However, the deeper I immersed myself in the storyline, the more I came to appreciate the author’s ability to write such evocative prose.

Melanie (aka Mel) developed an eating disorder – anorexia – as a coping mechanism to deal with her real and perceived failures. After a year of denying herself nutrition and obsessively exercising, she has landed in the hospital and faces entering intense inpatient rehabilitation. However, Mel has another idea; she decides to set out on a cross country trek to reconnect with the person she used to be, one who had personal and professional goals to make a difference in the world. Her destination is a mountain she believes will inspire her to move beyond the limitations of her illness.

Mel’s solo journey on foot from her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Mount Rainier in Washington State would be a challenge for anyone in good physical condition. In Mel’s debilitated state and with her meager funds, it is one step short of insanity. Along the way, she encounters “trail angels” who provide her with not only emotional support, shelter and food, but much needed perspective on life. While these encounters almost seemed too good to be true, they were some of the more enjoyable aspects of the book and helped Mel move out of her narrow, constricted view of herself. At the conclusion of the book, which felt a little truncated, Mel has made significant strides in healing her issues, has made a tenuous peace with God and is able to imagine the possibility of creating a fulfilling life. While the outcome is gratifying (if a bit unrealistic) it really is her journey that is the core of the story.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I loved the character’s voice and the way it felt like I was sitting down next to them and listening to them telling us their story — sarcasm and darker humour and all. It’s sucked me in, had me rooting for her and truly invested in what happens. The plot was a little slow and I did find myself wondering often when something exciting was going to happen. However, saying that, her character development still had me invested in the story and wanting to know how it all turns out. And for me, the protagonist is the make or break, and the book definitely had that nailed.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for a chance to read and review this book.

(3.5 stars; 7.5/10)

"All That Fills Us" is a solid novel that takes us through Mel Ellis' eyes as this twentysomething girl attempts to find purpose in her life, amidst an eating disorder, while going on a hiking trip across America to Mount Rainier.

There's actually a lot going on here, and there are some agile moments here. One of Lytle's most obvious strengths, and she gives us plenty to chew on here, is her ability to paint a picture of the nature around her. The phrases and sentences she use are easily evocative of the landscape. Descriptive language is important to me, and when Lytle is allowing us to see the physical world through Mel's eyes, there is beauty to behold.

I also think Lytle did okay as well giving us insights into Mel's eyes. It is a precarious slope sometimes when we use a lot of our own background information while writing a novel. I do not wish to make a supposition, but Lytle did state in her author's note that she overcame an eating disorder, and obviously this is a work of fiction, but at times, Mel's words almost appeared memoirish. That's not necessarily a bad thing; even though we are supposed to show and not tell, I felt that when Mel bared her soul to the reader, usually we could feel the pain and the frustration she was emoting.

One other thing that I thought was engaging and even realistic, and I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, was how Mel's faith often collided with the observations around her. This is realistic. I am a man of faith but one who's faith is gnarled, and it's refreshing to see people wrestling the way Mel did (even if perhaps things were tied up in too nice a bow by the end). It was often the case when Mel would say something like how being in nature brings her closer to God, and then this thought was very swiftly juxtaposed with something like, "Wow, thank goodness I'm skinnier than her." And I think that dichotomy is real. It shows that no human, even one connected to God, is immune from judging. There are some good quotes here on faith I highlighted.

There are some things, however, that are not as strong. One is that this is pretty by-the-numbers in terms of the sinusoidal nature of the plot. In other words, Mel travels somewhere, meets some nice people who help her, and she's on her way. And this happens repeatedly, and it gets a little predictable and almost breaks verisimilitude at times. While I try my best to believe in the humanity, this became too unbelievable at times. Repeated individuals take Mel under their wings, and this might have been believable once, but the plot point is reemphasized. It's hard, as some of this perhaps is necessary to propel the plot forward, but it didn't always seem true-to-life.

I'm also not once for saccharine romances, but that might just be my own personal tastes; the conversations with Alex became mawkish at times when in person, though I actually though the postcards to him was a nice device throughout. It was okay also that Mel's relationship with her mother was basically left up in the air (and it was also nice to know this was not an immediate transference of Lytle's own relationship with her mother, since she was rousingly endorsed in the author's note).

All in all, while in parts predictable, Mel's journey is an important one, and I appreciated what Lytle had to say throughout and the empathy she was able to give her character in the process.

All That Fills Us is the story of Mel, a girl with an out of control eating disorder that has landed her in the hospital multiple times. With her family and doctors at the the end of their rope, Mel decides to try to heal in her own way first: by hiking from Grand Rapids to Mount Ranier National Park. The trip would be difficult for the healthiest of people, and Mel will need to rely on the kindness of strangers to get her through this trek.

All That Fills Us is such a great book. Great does not even begin to described how much I loved this book, it is easily one of the best books I have read in a long time. Mel is such a good lead that goes through so much throughout her journey: the reader will feel for her yet get so frustrated with her at the same time. The author took great care with covering the topic of eating disorders/compulsive exercise and really brings the reader into Mel's mindset. I loved the use of kind strangers that she meets along the way and how they all have struggles of their own. Another great note is Mel's complicated relationship with God, and how she never really loses her faith along the way. Finally, reading the afterward and also the author's website gave me even more of an appreciation for this book. I'm am so glad the she chose to share parts of her story in this book. I absolutely loved All That Fills Us and cannot recommend it enough.

Thanks to Netgalley and Revell for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

Mel is a young woman who has been struggling with an eating disorder for years. She restricts her food intake and over exercises and has been hospitalised several times. When her Grandma heads off on a cruise, Mel takes the opportunity to go on a hike of over 2000 miles. She's unprepared for the trip as she doesn't want to take proper care of herself but ends up relying on the kindness of the strangers she meets along the way. I thought this book was incredible and so interesting. Really loved it!

I always love well-developed, interesting characters and Mel made such an interesting, contrasting character. This story was so well done. I got so attached to her and this book had me all in my feelings.
It's a very thought provoking story that will sit and ruminate in your head for a long time.
Autumn Lytle's debut ALL THAT FILLS US is a wonderful story and one that I truly enjoyed!

Revell,
Thank you for this eARC!
I will post my review to B&N, platforms, blog and Waterstone close to pub date!

Highly recommend! This moving story is beautifully written and the characters will stay with you long after you finish it. My first book to read by this author but definitely not my last.