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It is 1837 in Philadelphia. The famous Pennsylvania Hall is being built due to a coalition of white and Black folks with strong convictions about Abolition. In Ashton Lattimore's story, a free Black woman named Nell assists an escaped slave named Charlotte (Carrie) in freeing a young woman named Evie from her owner. As the three young women seek each other out and try to form a plan, there are famous historical figures in the story like Hetty Reckless, Lucretia Mott, and James Purvis -- just to name a few. The diversity in socioeconomics, color, and priorities is evident in just our three heroines. Philadelphia and other cities in the North were technically free, but filled with a variety of opinions on what that should mean for the present and the future. Ashton Lattimore does an excellent job of showing us how frustrating that could be for those who needed immediate help. Having the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society (PFASS) approve a committee to discuss how escaped slaves can be aided in emergencies is an example of a mismatch between intent and action. We see similar debates today in our society regarding many issues like immigration and the sanctity of life. As with many historical fiction titles, the Author's Note is a valuable resource for the reader. This book is not exception. Here is a quote from the end of that note:

At its core, 'All We Were Promised' is rooted in the social vibrancy, activism, political engagement, and diversity of Philadelphia's Black community. In telling this story, I hoped not only to resurrect the fascinating history of Pennsylvania Hall but also to shine a light on the often overlooked agency and ingenuity of the Black women and men who helped shape Philadelphia and the abolitionist movement during the critical pre-Civil War period of American history. ~ Ashton Lattimore

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.