Hallelujah! 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.

This intimate look into depression, CPS, and the foster care system takes readers along for the ride as three mothers struggle to do what's best for two young sisters.
Hannah is struggling. After the sudden loss of her husband and father and her estrangement from her mother, she is barely keeping it together. Just when she thinks things have turned the corner, the unthinkable happens, sweeping her and her daughters into the world of Child Protective Services and the foster care system.
After one failed relationship too many, Julie is determined to take matters into her own hands by becoming a foster parent. When Wren and Ivy arrive at her doorstep, she can't help but fall for the independent seven-year-old and her toddler sister.
Elaine is looking down the barrel of forced retirement when she discovers her grandchildren are in foster care. Ever the efficient lawyer, she rushes to correct what must surely be a mistake,
All They Ask Is Everything brings a clear and compassionate eye to the world of foster care and CPS. With compelling and well-rounded characters, Leggett asks the reader to look beyond the stereotypes and imagine what can happen when women support each other, and things go right.
All They Ask Is Everything is an excellent recommendation for book clubs, readers of women's literature, and family dramas.

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.

A beautiful and well observed book about the myriad ways in which children can be 'mothered'. Hadley Leggett explores our deepest emotions and I loved how she doesn't settle for simplified scenarios or easy answers to complicated family situations. A thoughtful and sensitive book and I highlighted many passages. Especially loved the line: 'fumbling through the grief-dark' - such an apt way of describing the aftermath of losing a loved one. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. And I also loved the cool cover!

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.

As every mother knows, expectations to be the best mom are through the roof - not only from your kids, but your family, our society, and your own inner drive to give your kids all they need to thrive. This riveting story captured my heart from page 1! I even missed my bus stop on my morning commute because I got totally lost in the compelling action.

While I was rooting for all three adult women in the story, I especially appreciated the author's oh-so-true depictions of the two little girls. I fell in love with both of them and enjoyed the memories they evoked of my own years as a mom.

This is a wonderful, well detailed, emotional story that reinforces the adage: "It takes a village to raise children",
Motherhood is hard. Super hard.
Every Mom makes mistakes while raising children and so often second guess themselves.
This novel tells of the journey of three women (Mom, Grand-mom and foster mom) who do want the best for two little girls,
Can they put their own emotions and needs aside to help these youngsters and help them grow and become that village that is necessary?

This book is truly a well written debut novel that I enjoyed and am still thinking about.
I look forward to reading more from Hadley Leggett.
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Lake Union Publishing for this amazing ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

Hannah is struggling - her husband died in a tragic accident, she has an estranged relationship with her mother, and her biggest champion, her father, recently lost his battle with cancer. She is also a single mom to two young daughters, Wren and Ivy. Hannah's depression has made parenting difficult, and on the first day she feels well enough to spend time with her children, she makes a mistake that jeopardizes her and her daughters' futures forever.

All They Ask Is Everything had all the makings for me of a perfect novel, but unfortunately fell too flat in some areas to be worthy of five stars. There were too many story lines we never saw flushed out, and they often felt in competition with each other rather than interwoven as part of the bigger narrative. It was hard to focus on Julie's desire for children when she was also processing a broken engagement and her desire to date again. It seemed as if Jake's purpose to the story was to ultimately diagnose Wren and not to help Julie overcome her fear of inadequacy in relationships. Another example is Elaine's guilt over her son-in-law's death. It was too much on top of an estranged relationship with her daughter, struggling with gender norms in the workplace and at home, and losing her identity as a lawyer when she was forced to retire.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and the nuance she brought to discussing the foster care system. It was also refreshing to see Hannah not reduced to a stereotype of a neglectful, drug addicted parent. I would give All They Ask Is Everything 3.5 stars.

I loved 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, and a daughter … at times, while reading this, I honestly found myself overwhelmed as I identified with every single character! Truly superb writing the way Leggett accomplishes that. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Five stars for this debut novel!

All They Ask is Everything by debut author H. Leggett, published by Lake Union Publishing is an unputdownable read. I was iintrigued right from the start.
Blurb:
In this book about the silent struggles of motherhood, three 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 girls, the more she worries about their previous home life and becomes intent on finding a way to keep them.
Recently retired, 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.

Real life family drama. What's not to love?! Don't miss this book.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

All They Ask is Everything was a gut punch to my emotions.

My child may be an adult, almost 30, and living her best life, but she will always be my baby and the thought of losing her, even now takes my breath away. Hadley Leggett’s book has this reality for Hannah and we feel her emotions in every word. Each of the three women vying for custody does so with what we hope is the best of intentions, but still, Hannah just broke my heart.

Ms. Leggett has written a beautiful story that I cannot wait to buy when it comes out so I have a physical copy to have on my keeper shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in lieu of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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.

I loved this book. The story follows three potential caregivers for two little girls- and will have you questioning who you are rooting for all along the way, while you end up rooting for them all. Written with such care and nuance, I love the way Hadley Leggett shows motherhood from multiple perspectives, with all its messiness and gray areas. There is even an unexpected romantic thread- which I adored- and it added some lightness to the story without taking away from the serious subject matter. In fact, for such a heavy subject matter, the book never felt heavy, quite the opposite, it was full of hope and heart. Propulsive and tender-hearted, I can't recommend this novel enough.

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.