Review: All We Lost Was Everything

All We Lost Was Everything

Written by: Sloan Harlow

G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

2025

A thrilling romantic suspense, All We Lost Was Everything keeps the reader on their toes while also keeping them engaged with a steamy romance.

Although it’s not my usual genre, All We Lost Was Everything kept me engaged from start to finish, and I have no regrets about reading it.

Storytelling

All We Lost Was Everything is a novel told from two different points of view. The main perspective follows River, who is somewhat of an orphan. Her father died in a fire, and her mother has been missing for over a year. River is just trying to get by each day.

Then her ex-boyfriend, Noah — referred to as “Golden Boy” — unexpectedly returns to town, complicating her life. His return isn’t abusive in nature; rather, it’s more of a “I regret breaking up with you” kind of situation. Before their breakup, they were best friends, and he ended things without providing any reasoning or closure. I appreciated that the author, Harlow, avoided cliché explanations like cheating or wanting to date someone else. Instead, the reason is tied to a deep-seated secret that involves their parents, which is crucial to the story’s depth.

Logan is also linked to another mystery connected to their families. The novel is filled with reveals, tension, and intrigue throughout, making it engaging. There are multiple mysteries that intertwine like pieces of a puzzle. Just when you think you’ve solved one mystery, another one emerges for the characters to tackle, keeping the reader on their toes.

Both Logan and River are dealing with grief, and I admire how Harlow addresses the various ways people cope with the loss of a parent. They each grieve differently and for different reasons, which adds emotional depth to the story and allows readers to invest in the characters.

My biggest issue with the novel is the romance between River and Logan. While I don’t mind that it gets steamy, I do feel that it progresses too quickly. This is clearly a case of “he falls first,” and although he’s charming and River has had a crush on him, she tries to avoid his aloof, stoic demeanor. Watching their relationship develop is intriguing, but I think it escalates too fast.

I understand the fast pace is intended to create high tension and keep readers engaged from start to finish. However, I personally prefer slow-burn romances, where you can truly see characters fall in love. Although there’s good communication between River and Logan, which helps make the relationship feel more authentic, I still wish their romance hadn’t progressed so quickly.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, All We Lost Was Everything, while not normally my cup of tea, was surprisingly addictive. This is definitely a book you can read in one sitting because it moves so quickly and keeps you on your toes. There are multiple mysteries that all tie together for a climactic ending.

Cynthia Ayala

Cynthia Ayala-Bujnicki majored in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. Editor-in-chief of Cyn's Workshop, she loves to read and write while tending to her pepper plants. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids Dante and Selene and two furbabies Mr. J the Kitten who Thinks He's Batman (yes, that is his full name) and Nyx.