Actual Rating: 4,5☆

❥ 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

⬥︎ What happens after your happily ever after?
Lo and Jack had the life they always dreamed of, a beautiful house in a nice suburb and two wonderful children. But as the time goes by, they find themselves further away from each other.

⬥︎ This is a book that shows us what happens after the honeymoon phase. It's a book that will bring out your emotions and make you hope that they sort everything out and get well once and for all.

⬥︎ I loved Jack and Lo. It's easy to relate to them and their perspectives. On one hand we have Lo who wants to be seen, who wants to feel loved, who wants to feel like herself again. On the other we have Jack who, despite loving his wife, no longer knows how to communicate with her and feels rejected.

⬥︎ I loved the way they worked on their relationship. The way Lo said everything she felt to Jack was raw and real, but once the weight had been lifted, she was able to understand that she had also been "wrong" in certain situations in their relationship. And that it wasn't just Jack's fault, but also hers for not trying harder, for not trying to understand where he was coming from.

⬥︎ I loved that we could see how their kids were dealing with this situation, especially being teenagers who have a better idea of what's going on. I loved that we could see a different stage of love from each family member.
And Pops? Save him at all costs!

⬥︎ I loved the way the author portrayed what many couples go through the years in a long marriage. And at a time when it's easy to say goodbye to a relationship, she showed us the reason why we should fight to stay in it. Of course it won't all be rainbows and unicorns and there will be arguments, but there are also those moments that fill your heart, those little details that make you smile in the middle of the day.

⬥︎ This is a book about love, an emotional one, which leaves you with your heart in your hands and a tear in the corner of your eye, but which is so worth reading. Definitely a favourite ♡

⬥︎ Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful story. Arc provided by Valentine PR via Netgalley.

Lauren has spent the last two decades dedicated to her husband the family they have created but she feels like she is doing it alone. She loves her children and her husband Jack but feels like she is not a priority, and it has reached a breaking point. She isn’t certain what could possibly change in two weeks of forced proximity when her husband doesn’t seem to understand how she feels.

Jack is blindsided by the new that Lauren wants to separate. Even though their relationship has some challenges he believed that he was doing what a husband was supposed to be doing and that was financially supporting his family. This is a wake-up call of how distant he and Lauren have become, and he is determined to reclaim her heart and his family.

Marriage and life can be challenging, and it is easy to become sidetracked by the little things and lose sight of what is important and that is the people you love. Seeing Lauren and Jack understand where they went wrong and recapture the love they shared is sure to touch your heart.

Lauren hasn’t been happy in her marriage in a long time. With her husband spending more time at work than at home she’s been essentially raising their two kids on her own while trying to find her own happiness. She’s tried to communicate with her but it seems nothing will change and they are headed for the dreaded d word.

Jack has been trying to keep his business going so his wife and kids will have nothing to worry about but he can feel his wife pulling away and he’s not sure what to do about it. After they call off their yearly summer trip he’s more concerned than ever.

Maddie & Michael aren’t letting their parents give up on each other so easily. They band together with their grandpa to hatch a plan for one more summer of nostalgia to see if they can’t force them to work it out.

This is only the second marriage in trouble romance I’ve read because I wasn’t sure if this trope was for me but I loved it so much. This might be my favorite book by Adriana and certainly a top read of the year. It’s so easy to see how things fell apart and yet how hard it was for each of them to empathize with the other despite their years together.

It’s one thing to fall in love but it’s another thing to watch that love almost slip away before coming back together even stronger than before. This book put me all in my feels and even had me checking in on my own marriage.

I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a fantastic engaging and emotionally mature romance that will have you falling in love with the entire Reed family. This one is not to be missed.

This book is real: a family struggling and losing their way but has a 20-year history. Ms. Locke, who brings us the big noisy families, shows us the other side, the venerability and hope for a rebuild and a second chance. There are many emotions in this one, but there is also some humor. I highly recommend this to any fan of Ms. Locke and second chances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

Great book about a couple who are having marriage issues and how they work through it to get that HEA. I liked that the characters had teenagers and a elderly parent to worry about just like in real life. I always enjoy Locke’s books.

Nothing But It All is a read that really hits home (most reads have a touch we can relate to), with the relationship aspect. Only difference is I didn't get the Nothing But It All HEA. Lauren and Jack are struggling in their marriage and when Lo gets the courage to stand up for herself and move forward with a divorce option, her teen meddlers and father-in-law decide they have other plans. They have two weeks to give it their All or throw in the towel. It wasn't easy between the two, but differences aside, they learned how it fell apart and what they needed to do to fix it. Add in your teens, the father-in-law, business and your BF and you get yourself some laughter, tears and trying to figure it out. I think others will truly be able to relate this to the story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading in general.

Powerfully emotive and wholly consuming, Nothing But It All is a wonderful story about what happens after the happily ever after…
Jack and Lauren’s story is complex and, at times, heartbreaking, while also being inspiring and full of hope. Different to most romances I read, I’m so glad I gave this story a chance!

Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke is the story of Jack and Lauren. Jack and Lauren have been married for about 2o years and have started to grow apart. Jack with having tunnel view on the business a providing for his family. Leaving Lauren feeling like she is doing everything alone. But their kids, Michael and Maddie have conspired with their Grandfather to bring them back closer then ever.

This novel by Adriana Locke brings all the feels! The story chronicles Lauren and Jack's struggle to revive their broken marriage. The "every day" responsibilities of family life have taken a toll on their marriage and they are on the brink of divorce... UNTIL... Their two children and their grandfather intervene. :) I loved following the evolution of their relationship and the rebuilding and rekindling of their relationship. Tropes in this book: forced proximity, second chance romance, and troubled marriage. I never thought I'd be a fan of a "troubled marriage" novel, but this one was so well-written! Love Adriana Locke's work and I'm looking forward to her next novel! This one releases Feb 20, 2024 and I highly recommend! :)

A realistic and emotional dive into the depths of a troubled marriage and the small but important steps needed to rescue it.

Lauren’s despair and feelings of hopelessness started us off. Through her eyes, we experienced all her doubts, pain, and dreams with her. And then through Jack’s eyes, we saw his motivations, the love he has for his wife and his family, and his anguish of ever finding a solution that will see them back together. With understanding for their respective outlooks came plenty of frustration over their inability to just talk to each other. The forced proximity probably wasn’t the greatest idea ever, but it did give them an opportunity to start discussing their grievances without regular life interfering. There were a lot of other events happening at the same time, such as worry over Jack’s father’s health and the pitfalls of teenage relationships.

This book kept my attention quite well and I really wanted to see how these two would resolve their issues. If you like a marriage-in-trouble, second chance, spicy romance, then this is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So much emotion and love.

What happens when two people who love each other stop being involved in each other’s lives? Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke looks at a marriage on the brink. Jack and Lauren have been married for twenty years and have two teenage children. Lauren feels that Jack has checked out of their lives and Jack can’t seem to say anything without starting an argument. When their kids Jack’s father team up to “parent trap” them it becomes a revealing and heartrending story. 

The emotional impact of this story lived with me long after I finished the book. I needed a couple of days to process before writing this review. This story is real and gritty, and some hard truths were fleshed out. But love and remember to give nothing but it all wins. I loved these two, their kids, Harvey, the grandfather, and even Snaps the dog. The juxtaposition of relationships in several stages displayed in this book gave me all the feels. And I mean that. I was happy, sad, weepy, and elated as I read the journey of Lauren and Jack from apathy back to love. I highly recommend this book and kudos to Ms. Locke for handling a tough and personal subject. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

“Nothing But It All” is a captivating novel that unexpectedly touched my heart. Whether you’re a newlywed or, like Lauren (and myself), have weathered two decades of marriage, this book is a must-read. Beyond mere romance, it imparts profound life lessons applicable to anyone, regardless of their relationship status.

What sets this story apart is its raw authenticity. The painful realities of life strain even the strongest bonds, and we witness a marriage teetering on the edge. Lauren, who has devoted her life to her family, finds herself disconnected from her husband after years of juggling kids, responsibilities, and misplaced priorities. Divorce seems inevitable, but she hasn’t factored in her children and father-in-law. Enter a group of scheming teenagers, a cantankerous old man, and a husband unwilling to abandon the love of his life. Their shared connection, though frayed, refuses to fade completely. Can they rekindle their love? Are they willing to try?

Enter the clever old man who orchestrates an unexpected family vacation—a last-ditch effort to salvage their relationship. Lauren’s awakening moment arrives when she realizes something crucial is missing from her life. Something just for her, independent of her role as a wife and mother. As someone who once grappled with a similar identity crisis, I empathize deeply. Parenthood is a beautiful journey, but sometimes we lose ourselves along the way. Lauren’s journey resonates, reminding us that self-discovery is essential, even within the context of a long-standing marriage.

Lauren found a hobby she loved and made it so much more than a hobby. Similarly, I started a blog, and it changed my life. When your pleas for help fall on deaf ears, you learn to do it all. You lose yourself in the process of being everything to everyone else. Your existence becomes defined by others.

Jack, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaware of Lauren’s inner turmoil. His focus was on building his business, and over time, he and Lauren seemed to live parallel lives. The heartbreak lies in the love they still share, despite the pain caused by their circumstances. They love each other fiercely, yet their shared life has become a mere existence.

As I read this story, tears flowed freely. The dedication alone struck a chord deep within me. Sweet nostalgia mingled with my own emotions, creating a tapestry of heartache. This fictional tale felt achingly real, like a biography waiting to be lived.

Lauren’s thoughts and emotions mirror my own experiences as a mom and wife. The troubled marriage depicted here is poignant and raw. Lauren and Jack’s journey takes us on an emotionally charged ride. Locke’s words resonate, emphasizing the importance of family love woven into every page.

Nothing But It All isn’t just the best book I’ve read in a long time—it’s also refreshingly unique. Its authenticity and relatability make it a gem unlike anything else.

I love Adriana's books because they are so full of emotion and soul.
This one a little harder to read at first because it starts as the married couple has problems and then they separate. But what happens when they get the opportunity to spend some time together and reconnect? Maybe find their love again?
Lauren and Jack's story will make you feel everything! Every doubt, every decision, every hope, every sad moment, every drop of love and rediscovery. They are one of the most relatable couples I have encountered in a book in a long time.
I loved their teenager kids, Michael and Maddie, and how they interacted with their parent and everyone around them.
I loved to see the kids fighting for their parents to get back together, and that Jack didn't give up on the love of his life.
All in all, this story was perfect and I highly recommend it.

Lauren and Jack have been married for twenty years, but he’s always working, leaving her to take care of everything alone. Lauren wants to live her own life, so she’s contemplating divorce. Jack didn’t realize how she was feeling, but he is determined to change her mind when he finds out.

Michael and Maddie, their teenagers, were so fun and such troublemakers (but in a good way). I loved the way they worked with their grandfather to help Lauren and Jack rediscover their love for each other.

I felt for Lauren. The emotions she felt were valid, and I was glad that Jack opened his eyes to see things from her side. She didn’t just forgive him and let things go back to the way they were; Jack had to actually follow through. And he really put in the work to show her he still loved her and needed her in his life.

This book was angsty and emotional. It was a journey of heartache, sacrifice, and love.

I loved this story with its marriage in trouble with a parent trap twist plot from Adriana Locke!

Lauren and Jack are married with two teenage children, and they each run a successful business. What's not so successful is their marriage. In the Prologue we see the cracks that have formed and how they fight but never resolve anything. Now, two years later, nothing is better between them. That's when the kids and Jack's father conspire to bring them back together.

Adriana did a fantastic job with creating Lauren and Jack. They were realistic characters with realistic problems in their marriage. At some point they stopped connecting and understanding what being apart and working all the time was doing to their relationship. I could relate to Lauren's feelings of the neverending work of being a stay-at-home parent. When you're home and children are your job it's really hard to turn it off, and feeling like you are not supported by your spouse can be so hard. I really liked seeing the two of them come together with the forced proximity of being at the cabin together with the family. It was wonderful to see their spark reignite as they got back to what made them work and how much they loved each other.

This was such a wonderful story with great character and relationship development. I enjoyed reading it both as an ebook and audiobook. The narrators were both easy to listen to, and they brought the characters to life nicely. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year!

I loved The Sweet Spot so I was excited to read Nothing But It All by Adriana Locke.
Another entertaining read from Adriana Locke. Nothing But It All was an emotional, heart warming read that pulled a number of emotions from me whilst I was reading.
A wonderful story full of love, great characters, and a story that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The family dynamic was intriguing and entertaining.
With endearing characters.
I just love her writing and look forward to more!

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Lauren and Jack's marriage felt very real. After over twenty years together the flame had flickered out and every day life had taken over their once loving relationship. Anyone who's been married long term knows that this can happen if both people aren't investing time into each other.

I loved the way the children and family conspired to give them one last push to keep things together. Seeing that their love story wasn't over, it just needed a little hand. I got teary more than once during this book and recommend if you're looking for a sweet, small town kind of read. I loved it.

This book was a vast departure from the typical meet and fall in love with a happily ever after. Lauren and Jack are on the brink of splitting up. They're living separate lives while raising their teenagers Michael and Maddie. The teens are disappointed that their summer at the cabin is cancelled, but Lauren can't fake it anymore. Then weird requests keep coming... early pick up for Maddie from a sleepover, picking up medication and groceries for gramps and bringing it to the cabin. As they spend time together, albeit forced in the beginning, Lauren and Jack begin to realize what brought them together and why they needed to give themselves a second chance. Oh how this story made me cry!

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Talk about going through all the emotions!! I loved how real this felt and how much I related to it. It was a different type of “romance” than I normally read but I absolutely fell in love with it. You forget how easy it can be to not express yourself while things keep piling up. Nothing But It All was a wonderful reminder of how to fight for what you love! It was full of angst, love, and shenanigans!

Lauren and Jack had been married for twenty years and the pressures of life were getting to them. They were more like roommates going through the motions, than a happily married couple. Was it time to give up and get a divorce or was there still something left to save?

I loved how the kids got grandpa involved, all the parent trap vibes! The kids saw through what Lauren and Jack couldn’t. I am glad that they both wanted to put in the effort and make it work! Adriana really hit this one out of the park. I don’t think I can truly get all of my feelings out for this review. It made me want to hug my entire family and be grateful for every sacrifice each one of us has made. Gah, it was just amazing!!

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️

“𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮—𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧—𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮”

𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 20 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘱 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘱𝘢 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰-𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 “𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺” 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭….?

“𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚—𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮’𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠,”

I’m going to say outright, that this is the best marriage-in-trouble book I have ever read, granted I haven’t read that many, but the last few I read left me with some disappointment. I think this is the most relateable and realistic look at marriages that suffer from negligence, from both sides. I love that Lauren didn’t put all the blame on Jack (yes, she did throw a lot of shit at him, but deservedly so), and she actually admit and apologize for her role in their strained marriage. Nothing gives me more icks when the FMC only blames MMC and not taking any responsibility. Relationship/marriage is a 2-way street, it goes both ways.

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙚, 𝙇𝙤? 𝘼𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩. 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙.”

And another applaud to the author, that this book didn’t even need smut to keep me interested, there’s literally nothing happened until 70% of the book, and the smut is just one sweet scene, and even when it’s taken away, I will still enjoy this book and not feel like I’m waiting for something more. That’s one of the issues I have from other marriage-in-trouble books, they usually have a lot of smuts (usually hate sex) to keep it interesting and add nothing to the plot. In this book, we see how they unravel the reason why their marriage fell apart and find a way to put it back together. And it's not an easy task, that would be for one of them to sacrifice their life for the family and it will only add to the resentment that's been building up. But in the end, they figured it out.

“𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄’𝙢 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩—𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 . . .𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧.”

That ending! I burst out into tears with how it ended, it didn’t give me a frustrating “third act break up”. It wrapped up so beautifully, and “FAIR” for both parties, it left me feeling satisfied. Adriana Locke is a new to me author, I was so excited to read her book, and it did not disappoint! Highly recommend this book for fans of this trope!

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 the author and Valentine PR 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠.