Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke is everything! It's absolutely one of my top favorite novels by her for sure!

Lauren and Jack have been married for 20 years. They have two teenagers, and their life is nowhere near what they expected it would be at this point in their lives. So distanced that they feel more like strangers than a couple. They find themselves asking, at what point did we stop trying? Stop caring? Stop paying attention?

This story hit all my feels buttons! Having been with my husband for 14 years now and the fact that I knew that I'd be able to relate to this story so easily made me a little nervous jumping in. But I didn't want to put it down, and it's a great lesson in not taking your partner for granted. Not taking time for granted and making sure to live life...not just survive day by day.

Truly an amazing love story that gives you hope that things can turn around, even if you think you are at the end of your rope! Amazing job Adriana Locke!

This was a heartwarming read. In the beginning Lauren and Jack are in a terrible spot with their marriage. I honestly felt Jack really was trying but it just wasn't enough for Lauren. I completely understood where she was coming from because at some point in a marriage we've all been there. Having it feel as things get stagnant and it all falls on one person's shoulders. I loved how the kids came up with the idea to have the family vacation. It was really cute with the way the schemed this plan. Overall, this was a great read that will tug on your heartstrings.

I absolutely loved the marriage in trouble trope. Jack and Lauren went through a tough time, but you still rooted for them. I enjoyed this book and loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the arc of this book.

This was a excellent ready by Adriana Locke. You will want to continue reading to find out what happens next! She keeps you intrigued that you can't stop reading.

Five solid stars for this book. It’s the story of Lauren and Jack and their two children Michael and Maddie, and Jack’s father Harvey. Lauren and Jack have been married for twenty years and have grown apart. They are both miserable and Lauren has taken action: she’s started her own life, her own career. After a while she realizes that Jack doesn’t fit in that life anymore. You can feel the sadness of the situation: <i>I hate that this is what we’ve become—that the only way we’re happy is when we’re apart. </i>
She’s given up on their marriage, their relationship, and she doesn’t think Jack cares anymore. <i>Unlike me, he’s unbothered by our unofficial separation—because that’s what our life really is. We’re both here for the kids and maybe convenience, but this isn’t a marriage and hasn’t been for a long time.</i> So she’s contemplating getting a divorce.
Their family used to spend a few weeks each year in their cabin in the woods, but Jack and Lauren decide to cancel it since they don’t think they’re able to fake being the happy couple in front of their children and their granddad. They think they are oblivious to what’s going on, since Jack spends all his time at his business and they’re already living separate lives. As Lauren says: <i>“We aren’t even passing ships in the night. We’re more like trains operating on different continents.”</i>
But the kids have noticed. And without Lauren and Jack knowing, they plot to get the family together for two weeks at the cabin. You can imagine their surprise when both of them turn up there and see the other one there as well. And that’s when you see the greatness of the author, the way this story is written! With so much raw, authentic emotions - it really describes everything that goes through your mind in a situation like that:

<i>“What are you doing?” I ask, stopping a solid ten feet away from him.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
I exhale, the sound ragged and rough. “Why are you here?”
His eyes narrow and slowly, oh so slowly, he turns toward the truck.
“Jack?” I ask, irritated.
“What do you want, Lauren?”
My name sounds so generic coming out of his mouth. Lauren. Lauren, like I’m an aggravating mechanic at the shop. Not Lauren like the mother of his children—the woman who’s spent her life building something special with him. The woman who has given every moment, every ounce of energy, every speck of life in her to make his life happier.
My teeth grind together at the perceived insult. </i>

<i>I point toward my car. “If you need anything out of there, get it, because I’m going home.”
“Mom,” Maddie whines. “No. You can’t leave.”
Jack stills beside me.
“I can’t stay here, Maddie.”
“Yes, you can.”
My face burns.
I don’t know how to navigate this. My defenses climb up. My shoulders stiffen as all three members of my family stare at me like I’m the problem. I don’t want to be the problem, and I don’t want to be the bad guy. And I sure as hell don’t want to stay here because Jack pities me. </i>

How do you get passed this? It is something that you can’t rush, can’t skip over. You need the right pace, and an authentic way to address all the hurt, the heartbreak, the guilt, anger, shame, insecurity and even the mourning of what was before, but also the wish for all the hurting to end. It is handled so incredibly well! Because how do you get passed that? Can you even get passed that stage, or is it too late?

The reflection, the way of writing is truly brilliant. It’s like watching a movie that sometimes switches to slowmotion to make you pause a bit and think back…
<i>I make my way into his kitchen, taking in the thin layer of dust on the cabinets and table. The drop cloths that covered the living room furniture are lying in a heap in front of the sink.
As I pass the doorframe, I notice how faded the lines are that Mom marked on the wood every summer to see how much I’d grown. I also can’t help but notice her red apron hanging on the hook by the refrigerator. It looks like she could walk right back in, sling it over her neck, and whip up a batch of her famous fried chicken.
God, I miss her. </i>

You might think this makes this book very heavy, but it’s not! It has a good pace, just the right amount of pace to not skip over the issues easily but what needs to be done, thought over and talked through to get to the other side. I love that the issued raised weren’t dismissed easily and too quickly but were handled perfectly. And I really like that it wasn’t like them having a talk and everything was all of a sudden hunky dory. There were real issues and they have a way of creeping up again. Truly an amazing book about love, life, heartbreak, second chances, doubt, guilt, growing up, maturing, the difficulties of communicating, life choices and consequences - it has it all. The watershed moments of marriage. I just would have toned it down on the F-word. I think it is unnecessary to use foul language.
The book is written in Lauren’s and Jack’s point if view, which gives insight to both sides. The secondary characters enrich to the story: the teenagers have their own path and challenges in life, and the father-in-law has the maturity to look back and reflect on the past. Even the people around them play a realistic role as bystanders. All of this makes this book a very well written and balanced book! The ending is very satisfying and the epilogue wraps it all up perfectly. I can highly recommend this book. It’s a book for everyone; male or female, single or married. Each can take something out of it and enjoy a good story at the same time.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher Montlake for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved reading the entertaining and engaging romance story. When Jack finds out his wife has an appointment to meet with a divorce lawyer, he is willing to change and do whatever he can to change Lauren's mind. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story.

I LOVE marriage in trouble tropes!! So combine that with kids, a dog, and a hilariously blunt grandpa and it’s everything i need in my life.

Nothing but it all is about Jack and Lauren who’s relationship is on the brink of collapsing. Lauren wants a divorce and Jack is completely clueless on why.

I love how this book showed honest communication and having hard conversations between two people who clearly love each other deeply. it gives me hope for human kind 😂.

The best part of this book besides the romance we’re the other characters. The children, the people around town, the friends they all made this book super enjoyable.

This is my first time reading author Adriana Locke books. I was hesitant in the beginning. But, I have no regret after reading. The novel feel very real to be a fiction.. The author has beautifully woven the memories and moments, and captures the emotions of each characters. A warm- hearted reading, like a breeze after a storm.

Recommended for readers
📌who like a good romance
📌A less spicy boom
📌Family/couple drama
📌Couple next-door story
📌Small town life
📌A relaxed read after the hustle bustle of daily life.

Nothing But It All is a heartwarming, second-chance romance by Adriana Locke.

Lauren and Jack are two of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read. While I’m not married, I’ve had several conversations over the years with my married friends who were experiencing the same thing Jack and Lauren are going through. This book highlights the importance of communication and shows how the lack of communication impacts relationships. I loved how this book showed that both Jack and Lauren had some changes to make and, that in order for a marriage to be successful, there has to be some give and take.

I always look forward to Adriana's books and Nothing But It All did not disappoint. I want to live in her books because no one can write family dynamics quite like her! I adored Harvey and his relationship with the kids. And, of course, sassy Snaps was hilarious.

Even though this book doesn’t come out until February, I’ve already recommended it to so many people! If you’re looking for a small town, second chance, marriage in trouble romance, this book is definitely for you!

A second chance romance
Jack and Lauren have been married for 20 years. Have 2 children in their last few years of school and have been living together separately for 2+ years.
The kids pull a parent trap on them and bring them back to their usual summer hangout. A trip which they had cancelled for the first time.

There's a lot of emotion here but its a super slow burn and I would have liked to see more of Jack and Lauren reconnecting.

Still a good read overall.

Nothing But It All by A. Locke, published by Montlake is a full length, stand-alone, small town romance.
Lauren and Jack are married for twenty years with two teenagers. Cracks are showing, they're struggling, the stay at home mom and the auto shop worker. Lauren already gave up and wants to move on alone, but the kids have other plans. Roped to go on vacation with all of them, they're on a 14 day summer vacation. 14 days of hope, longing, heartbreak.
A heartwrenching, heartfelt, heartwarming, gives all the feels story from an author who knows how to keep her readers captivated and intrigued from start till the last page.

This was only my second marriage in trouble book and I didn’t care for my first one so I didn’t have high expectations for this book but read anyway cause love Adriana as an author. I LOVED IT!!

I’m not a big fan of time jumps and I thought with a marriage in trouble book there would be some but Adriana was able to convey the story and situation with only one time jump which was between the prologue and chapter 1.

If you’re big on spice there’s not much, but still 100% worth the read!

Though there were parts where Jack and Lauren would place blame and not take responsibility for the troubles in their marriage I love how we saw the growth in each of them when they made self discoveries and both started making the effort.

Harvey, Michael and Maddie are the perfect scheming supporting characters. Usually I’m so focused on the main characters that I don’t pay any mind to the “background” characters but I loved their family dynamic. Also, can’t forget to give the love to the sassy yet adorable Snaps.

THIS BOOK!!! When I saw it I knew I would automatically read it because HELLO it’s Adriana Locke!! Then I read the synopsis and was like MUST READ NOW!! This is unlike anything she’s written before. It’s 1000000% relatable. It’s not your fall in love story, how they met and fell for each other. It’s your we’ve been together forever and life has happened and have we grown/changed to much for this to work. Is it time to just throw in the towel and let it all go. It’s about knowing that marriage isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. It’s hard work to keep a marriage. You will go through the good and bad times but the real question is do you want to go through them together??!!! I loved the character growth in this story. I loved that through out the book though there were some pointed fingers the characters were able to go wait, BUT I stopped doing this or I didn’t do this or wow, I didn’t really realize. Loved every minute of this story. Go read it!!!

I love everything about this story. The storyline felt realistic and as if the reader is right there experiencing it all with the characters. The anguish of the characters and their situation. It really makes you stop and think about your own life and experiences. It’s true love and reestablishing what was once there, but somehow was lost along the way. I’m all in on this one and highly recommend it to everyone. You all need to click this.

What an incredible read. From the very first chapter I was drawn into the Lauren and Jack's story. A married couple that has lost their way. Lauren has had enough and she if ready to file for divorce and move on with her life. She feels like she has lost herself in her marriage. That she is no longer a person but just a mother who takes care of everything with no help from her husband. Jack honestly does not realize that Lauren wants a divorce. He loves his wife and he has no idea what he did wrong or how to fix it. It is a good thing that their children, Michael and Maggie, and Jack's dad know just what to do. They trick Lauren and Jack into the family vacation that they cancelled. During this vacation they both learn so much about each other and their relationship. It is such a heartwarming read. It will pull at your heartstrings. I am really hoping that Michael and Maggie get their own books. I would love to read more about this family. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4* Not what I expected. Despite the 'meddling' there's nothing faux or contrived about this tale. Just love and famiy.

As my into to this author, this is an impressive tale of a long-married couple that's allowed life and work to get in the way of connecting with each other, and they're in danger of losing what it is that brought them together, except, their kids and one of the granddads, have other plans.

This could have been cliche and faux but there was real warmth to this tale, as well as adults being adults and not tetchy, spoiled, selfish people, and there was genuine love, liking and respect for each other, though with the leads, they'd lost sight of some of that.

Yes, there was a bit of meddling but it was lighthearted, it was believable and it was something I could see happening in a family that loved each other and didn't want to give up on each other. It could have been faux and cheesy, with kids involved, but add in the granddad, and it ended up a great, sweet, emotional tale with a litle turnabout that felt believable, too.

ARC courtesy of Montlake Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke is a second chance marriage-in-trouble romance. This is Lauren and Jack‘s story.
 
From the outside Lauren and Jack have a good life with two kids and a house. But at this point they’ve almost fallen out of love and are no more than roommates.
 
Lauren single-handedly runs the household and cares for the kids. She is like a super mom and more like a single parent. But she can’t do this anymore and it’s sucking all her happiness. This was so sad to see, and I could understand her point of view perfectly.
 
Jack‘s mechanic shop is something he built from the ground up. That was admirable, but at the same time he spent more time apart from his family and especially wife. He did a horrible job of being a father and a husband and I honestly don’t understand how we couldn’t see that earlier.
 
Their marriage is on the brink of being over, but their teenage kids lure them into the family‘s cabin in hopes of them reconnecting. Their kids were the best and I liked the role they played in the story. Lauren carried all the weight of their relationship and it’s on Jack to do something about it. During the first half of the book Jake just listened but didn’t show any actions and that bothered me. He had it all and just needed to put in the effort, which he finally does. I liked how they reconnected, but wish this book included couples therapy and the characters could have really benefited from it.
 
Overall, this is a good marriage-in-trouble romance. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Love the emotion in this book. The characters are lovable and the descriptive writing draws you in. If you want to read about relatable real world problems, this book is for you

A beautifully written love story about a married couple finding their way back to each other, with a little help from their family members (teenaged son and daughter and their grandfather). Featuring side love stories involving those family members, giving a fun multi-generational view of love in ages and stages of life.

LOVED!!

Loved, loved, loved. I could not put this down and a marriage in trouble trope? It’s been so long!

I was enchanted with Nothing but It All. Lo and Jack were going through so much and you are out right into the middle of it. You can’t help but feel heartbroken and hopeful.

The star of this book though!? Harvey! Oh what an adorable silly old man! What a character, I loved him and the kids.

The side characters are equally important as Lo and Jack and I loved all of them.

I feel like I want to just re read this over again to feel all the feelings I just did!

Bravo!


**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to review.**