All I Stole From You By Ava Bellows (Review by Amanda Woodruff)

4 stars

Trigger warning for infidelity

I started this book as soon as it arrived on my doorstep and finished it in one day. I generally write off things that contain cheating and infidelity but the writing style of this one made me keep going.

I was drawn to Maggie for some reason. Maybe it was because she was dealing with the recent death of a loved one like I am, or maybe it was because she was trying to find herself amongst the chaos of her life. I’m not really sure but I really liked her. I found her enduring and damaged and wanted her to find what heals her.

As the story continues we learn more and more about her and her history. The damaged relationship she has with her father, how the divorce of her parents has shaped her outlook on relationships and men in general and the supportive relationship she shares with her sister, niece and brother in law.

Maggie is trying to escape her grief, insomnia and caffeine dependency. She does this by going to a party with her best friend and roommate. At the party she meets a guy named Rob and ends up kissing him. She then finds out his married and they commit to being friends.

Rob insists Maggie text him when she arrives home safely. This text turns into a call which turns into meeting for breakfast the next day. All of this happens while his wife is out of town working.

Rob is honest about everything in his life to Maggie however things still evolve and form into a relationship. This continues throughout the entire book and it draws you in, and I’m not sure how but it hooks you. I was rooting for these two to make it work while wanting his wife to find out and smack them both.
The ending was slightly disappointing but I understood the authors decision to write it like that.

In the end this book is two very damaged people trying to come together to fix one another and experience life together.

If you want a quick and summer like read pick this one up!
Happy Reading!
-Amanda