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cyndibecker's review against another edition
4.0
Lindsay Detwiler is expanding her horizons a bit. With All of You she tackles the darker side of life. Upfront I'll saw that this isn't a down and dirty gritty read, but with subjects such as mental health and addiction, the story will be far from light. But this is a story about taking chances and risk and ultimately hope and embracing change.
Both of the main characters, Marley and Alex are incredibly likable. From the moment of their unusual introduction to each other and the not so subtle way they are pushed together, I had a great feeling about them. Marley is the creative one but she's stuck on being stuck. She's convinced herself of the role she is to play in life. It's rather tragic, but Alex is is just the right antidote. Not that he isn't without his prescribed notions of the path he's on, but he's already started striking out on his own, veering off the familial expectations of him.
All in all I found this a super sweet story about first love. As to those heavy topics, Detwiler handles them with sensitivity and uses some of life's harder lessons to flush out her characters. I'm a long standing fan of Detwilers and I love the idea of her "Rescue Me" series and All of You is a very promising start.
Both of the main characters, Marley and Alex are incredibly likable. From the moment of their unusual introduction to each other and the not so subtle way they are pushed together, I had a great feeling about them. Marley is the creative one but she's stuck on being stuck. She's convinced herself of the role she is to play in life. It's rather tragic, but Alex is is just the right antidote. Not that he isn't without his prescribed notions of the path he's on, but he's already started striking out on his own, veering off the familial expectations of him.
All in all I found this a super sweet story about first love. As to those heavy topics, Detwiler handles them with sensitivity and uses some of life's harder lessons to flush out her characters. I'm a long standing fan of Detwilers and I love the idea of her "Rescue Me" series and All of You is a very promising start.
taniamg's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet emotional love story with no drama. Alex met Marley when she fell off the bridge and he saved her. He’s the out of town doctor doing his residency in this small town and she’s the barista of the coffee shop in the town.
They are from different worlds and backgrounds but yet they are attracted to each other and don’t care about their backgrounds. Marley shows Alex how to live a little to be adventurous to enjoy life and he shows her how to not be afraid and face your fears and go after your dreams. He saved her.
It was a beautiful story showing how their relationship was building and how for any little problem they supported each other. I liked how Alex didn’t let his father mentality mess up his relationship with Marley and that it didn’t come in between them.
Very sweet read with emotional and very real matters.
They are from different worlds and backgrounds but yet they are attracted to each other and don’t care about their backgrounds. Marley shows Alex how to live a little to be adventurous to enjoy life and he shows her how to not be afraid and face your fears and go after your dreams. He saved her.
It was a beautiful story showing how their relationship was building and how for any little problem they supported each other. I liked how Alex didn’t let his father mentality mess up his relationship with Marley and that it didn’t come in between them.
Very sweet read with emotional and very real matters.
alwaysbooking's review
5.0
There is so much story packed into this novella. This is such a different twist on anything I have ever read by Lindsay Detwiler. It deals with a couple heavier topics like addiction and suicide. Marley seems like such an addictingly care free person. I love her personality. How corky she is yet sweet and giving at the same time. Henry’s little appearance is just perfect!! I loved every second of it!! Alex was raised in the complete opposite environment that Marley was. Everything was precise and done for a reason. He is going to become a doctor, and move back to California to work with his father at the facility his father wants him too.
For some reason this odd couple is the perfect fit for each other it seems. However they both have their demons they need to fight. In such a little book this author managed to evolve these characters so well it floored me. Did I want more??? Of course! I always want more when I fall in love with the characters. How did she fit a slow burn romance into a Novella?? How?? I really don’t want to spoil this book for anyone. So I really just suggest you go and buy it and read it for yourself!!
For some reason this odd couple is the perfect fit for each other it seems. However they both have their demons they need to fight. In such a little book this author managed to evolve these characters so well it floored me. Did I want more??? Of course! I always want more when I fall in love with the characters. How did she fit a slow burn romance into a Novella?? How?? I really don’t want to spoil this book for anyone. So I really just suggest you go and buy it and read it for yourself!!
sbauer16's review
4.0
All of You was my first book by Lindsay and I enjoyed it!!! It was a fairly quick read for me with heartwarming moments. I would certainly read more by this author again.
elizabethsprettylittlereads's review
4.0
Most times, I like my romance novels to be gritty, intense, complicated, and a little dark. Other times I’m in need of a sweet, endearing story—one that simply makes me smile. All of You by Lindsay Detwiler did exactly that.
“She was the lifeblood I waited to uncover. She was the answer to the midnight wish I didn’t know I’d asked for.”
Lindsay had my complete attention with the opening to Alex and Marley’s story. These two were the sweetest together. Alex with his caring, genuine nature of wanting to help others. Marley being unapologetically herself while enjoying the simplest of things. They each embraced each other, and brought out the best in each other.
“This time, it’s not really Alex who saves me. I think this time, our lips still locked, our hearts beating wildly, we save each other.”
All of You was a wonderful and unexpected change in my reading. One that I didn’t realize how much was needed, but fully embraced and loved. A sweet story full of depth, and beautiful characters trying to break free from other’s wishes and do what makes their hearts happy.
“She was the lifeblood I waited to uncover. She was the answer to the midnight wish I didn’t know I’d asked for.”
Lindsay had my complete attention with the opening to Alex and Marley’s story. These two were the sweetest together. Alex with his caring, genuine nature of wanting to help others. Marley being unapologetically herself while enjoying the simplest of things. They each embraced each other, and brought out the best in each other.
“This time, it’s not really Alex who saves me. I think this time, our lips still locked, our hearts beating wildly, we save each other.”
All of You was a wonderful and unexpected change in my reading. One that I didn’t realize how much was needed, but fully embraced and loved. A sweet story full of depth, and beautiful characters trying to break free from other’s wishes and do what makes their hearts happy.
smack's review
4.0
I don’t usually read romance but I was lucky enough to win a copy of this. Super cute story, loved the characters and I found myself totally absorbed in finding out what happens to them (thank god for epilogues!).
romireads's review against another edition
5.0
4.75/5 stars!
Finally, a romance story without all the unnecessary dramatic actions! When I read a love story I have at least one point of agitation when it comes to the actions of the main characters – they think they’re not good enough for the other and so they just think it’s best to quit the relationship altogether. They make an assumption about the other and, without starting a conversation about it, they just end it! In my experience, that’s not a good foundation for a relationship. So, yes, I was so very happy with both Marley and Alex as the lovebirds in All of You. The love between them felt real and grounded. It was like reading about my feelings for my boyfriend and our relationship that’s mainly founded on trust and friendship. Instead of taking rigorous actions, Marley and Alex decided to talk about it with each other when they felt they needed it. I loved to read a romance story that didn’t need drama or lots of steamy scenes in order to be entertaining and lovely to read.
Unfortunately, the book was only 200 pages long – I wanted SO much more!! I loved reading about Alex, Marley, Margaret and Joe. Marley was a tough and inspirational woman and Alex the sweetest man! And can I please just have a couple like Margaret and Joe living next to me?
I could’ve easily read 200 more pages of this story set in what seems like the perfect small town Rosewood – it was simply a lovely read.
* an ecopy of this book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review *
Finally, a romance story without all the unnecessary dramatic actions! When I read a love story I have at least one point of agitation when it comes to the actions of the main characters – they think they’re not good enough for the other and so they just think it’s best to quit the relationship altogether. They make an assumption about the other and, without starting a conversation about it, they just end it! In my experience, that’s not a good foundation for a relationship. So, yes, I was so very happy with both Marley and Alex as the lovebirds in All of You. The love between them felt real and grounded. It was like reading about my feelings for my boyfriend and our relationship that’s mainly founded on trust and friendship. Instead of taking rigorous actions, Marley and Alex decided to talk about it with each other when they felt they needed it. I loved to read a romance story that didn’t need drama or lots of steamy scenes in order to be entertaining and lovely to read.
Unfortunately, the book was only 200 pages long – I wanted SO much more!! I loved reading about Alex, Marley, Margaret and Joe. Marley was a tough and inspirational woman and Alex the sweetest man! And can I please just have a couple like Margaret and Joe living next to me?
I could’ve easily read 200 more pages of this story set in what seems like the perfect small town Rosewood – it was simply a lovely read.
* an ecopy of this book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review *