All That We've Got

by Jendella Benson

'Few people can write the way Jendella does' - Kelechi Okafor, author of Edge of Here
'All That We've Got is simply brilliant' - Dorothy Koomson, author of Every Smile You Fake
'A heartwarming story about the strength of...Black women' - Taylor-Dior Rumble, author of The Situationship
'Simultaneously thought-provoking, heartrending and uplifting' - Onyi Nwabineli, author of Someday, Maybe
'An engrossing, empowering story' - Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?

Over one relentlessly hot summer, two women's lives are about to collide in the most unexpected ways.
Mimi is a single mum in her twenties, looking to break free from her family's judgements and her church's oppressive, hypocritical gossip to establish who she is on her own. But a dangerous new romance could lead her into trouble...

Meanwhile, fifteen-year-old Abi dreams of emulating the life she sees through social media and helping her mother with the bills. When she's offered the chance to make money fast by helping a group of local boys, she and her friends jump at it. But soon they're crossing county lines, and Abi finds she's in over her head...

Could Mimi and Abi forge a bond that could free them both, at the heart of a community they've taken for granted?

A powerful commentary on the city we don't always see, this is the stunning new novel from Jendella Benson, the author of the acclaimed Hope & Glory.

Genres: Fiction

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2024

About the author

Jendella Benson is a British-Nigerian writer and editor from Birmingham, now based in London. She is Head of Editorial at Black Ballad – the award-winning digital media platform and online community for black women in the UK and beyond. In her role, she has commissioned and edited hundreds of black women and non-binary journalists and writers from across the globe and worked with brands such as Dove, Comic Relief and Google.

Jendella started her writing career as a columnist for Media Diversified, MTV UK, and Christian Today and has since written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times STYLE Magazine, The Telegraph and The Independent. She is the author of two novels – HOPE AND GLORY and ALL THAT WE’VE GOT – and her short story, Kindling, was published in THE BOOK OF BIRMINGHAM. She was a judge for the 2023 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing and is a member of the advisory board for the award-winning, Brixton-based bookshop, Round Table Books.

Jendella has a background in photography and filmmaking and her visual work has featured in the Guardian, on BuzzFeed and been exhibited internationally, most notably at the House of Commons, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and at the International Center of Photography in New York as part of ICP Projected in May 2018. In 2016, she gave a TEDx on reclaiming the stories that define us, and has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’sWomen’s Hour, as well as speaking at various universities and conferences.

Reviews

[Bukola Akinyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story of friendship, choices and consequences, parenting, being Black, British & young.

Told from the points of view of Mimi, twenty something year old single mother and Abi, a fifteen year old trying to make money. Both of them tell their stories with strong voices bringing in other memorable characters.

I loved their unlikely friendship, the writing stlye and character development.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was engaging from start to finish and was thought provoking and empathy inducing.

[__Thebookspace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello booklovers 📚

All that we’ve got - Jendella Benson

This book was fantastic. That’s it, that’s the review.

Lol kidding.

Honestly, this book had me hooked from the beginning, we follow two FMCs Mimi who is in her twenties and Abi who is 15.

Mimi is a single mum, trying to figure out what’s next in terms of her career path. She has a fragile relationship with her mum due to a few factors but one being her mum thinking Mimi doesn’t know who the father of her child is - this is capital M messy! - but no spoilers so 🤐. She gets swept up in a whirlwind hoodmance with Raph and starts to do things she shouldn’t.

Abi’s storyline really got me. Abi comes from a single parent household, with a mum who struggles to make ends meet and she decides she needs to make some money to help out. Jendella delves into how easy it is to get caught up with the wrong crowd and end up over county lines, the dangers of this and the impact it has on mental health, families, friendships and the overexposure to drugs. Although this is a fiction book, county lines is a real epidemic and I am glad that Jendella makes it one of the focuses in her book. I found myself unconsciously holding my breath for the girls in that house, I was anticipating that they’d get out or get freed and it was 100% an emotional rollercoaster.

I loved the friendship that formed between Abi and Mimi. We’d think it was Abi that needed Mimi, but I think it’s safe to say they both needed each other as much as the next.

I would recommend this book 10 times over. If you haven’t read this book, please pick it up!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Vicki Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book about black teenage girls and gangs in London. The story flicks between young single mum Mimi and teenager Abi, whose stories cross paths as they are neighbours.

Both girls find themselves in danger and I spent the whole second half of this book absolutely gripped.

This was particularly eye opening for me being a white teenager who grew up in sleepy Suffolk.

Mimi and Abi felt so real to me and I know I will keep thinking about them, hoping they are getting on ok.

[Sahar · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up. This had so much potential but it was drawn out and lacked depth. Some of the conversations and actions of these young girls, especially towards the end of the book were so unrealistic. Disappointed and I don’t get the rave reviews.

[Zoe Radley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book, brilliant read about women/girls trying to live on their own terms but keep finding themselves being sucked into dangerous situations, for Abi it’s being involved with a group of boys dealing drugs and being held captive to them after one of her “friends” gets her and another girl involved. Mimi a single mum, wanting so hard to be independent and not wanting to be near her family who only know her as “the good girl” even though after an incident involving a pastor she doesn’t feel strong enough to confront it or them. Until she finds herself drawn to a charming man, who seems to be too good to be true…. Soon these two women find themselves together and working out how they can help each other. I love this book it tugs at your heart and these women find their feistiness and their power to overcome their demons. A fantastic book.

[lauren brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

read almost in 1 sitting! such a fantastic story.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is told in alternating chapters by Mimi who is a single mother in her twenties trying to establish herself and 15 year old Abi who wants the good life she sees on social media. Abi is offered the chance to make money fast. Abi & Mimi forge a bond and I love that they were not written as stereotypical characters. I found them to be very intelligent and forward thinking.

I went in blind, I thought the story was just about friendship, but there is just so much more. It’s about family, motherhood, aspirations, the dangerous of young people running county lines and being forced into illegal activities.

This is the first book I have read in a while where ALL the secondary characters piqued my interest. Not to say the Protagonists were not interesting, they were very much so, however the secondary characters had such unique voices and stories. From Deanna being a foster child, Ty-Rex involved in illegal activity, Mimi’s judgemental parents, to Abi’s single mum Marie, they were all worthy and strong enough to hold their own stories. This is great penmanship from the author.

I enjoyed this one, I read it very quickly.

[Uzoamaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This. This is what I mean when I say I love books with dialogues. I really enjoyed reading this book about the lives of Abi and Mimi. With really strong themes around teen pregnancy, friendships, [toxic] relationships, gangs and grooming. I really enjoyed the female POV and how the saying “it takes a village” comes to life. Yayyyyy finally a second book I’ve enjoyed. I’d say 4.5 stars, can’t wait for her third book.

[Petra Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and could hardly put it down! While I later discovered that the setting was fictional, it felt so authentic that it could have been anywhere in the UK. The story is a starkly realistic portrayal of teenage life, highlighting their daily struggles with social media, bullying, addiction, and aggression, as well as the challenges faced by young, single mothers. The gripping storyline had me hooked right up until the very end—I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved loved loved this book, it was so easy to read for me, the characters really annoyed me but i wanted the best for them at the same time and i love when authors can take me along with them like that, i wish there was more to the book tbh

[Mandy Milsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for any parents/teachers of vulnerable girls. Most of us know the signs for County Lines/gang culture for our boys but this truly highlights the terror facing our girls. Read it, talk about and always look for the tell-tale signs xx

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Couldn't put it down

[Kershanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Good read that captured my attention and held my interest to the very end. The their stories were interwoven was unique.

[Nemereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Farridat Idcngl0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much because I could really relate to it.Found this book interesting the whole way.Thank you ,for creating a masterpiece 😘😘

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5.

I really enjoyed Jendella’s debut, Hope & Glory, but this latest novel is even better! It’s compelling, fresh and gritty, and has two brilliant strong female leads.

I found this an eye-opening and devastating commentary on drug gangs, and the way they entice young desperate people into that world with the promise of easy money. The storyline with Abi and her friends, and how quickly they became trapped and taken advantage of was terrifying - it definitely hits hard. And then we also have Mimi’s emotional storyline of her young pregnancy and the way she was also mistreated, and the effect it had on her relationship with her parents.

It’s definitely not an easy read, but the unexpected female friendships and strength of these women (and their support systems) makes it well worthwhile. And I loved the hopeful ending!

[Jayslibrary_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you remember the last book that made you excited to pick it up each time?
All That We’ve Got is one of those books.

All That We’ve Got delves into the story of Mimi, a single young mother navigating family judgment and church expectations while striving to establish her own identity. Along the way, she encounters someone who may lead her astray. Meanwhile, her 15-year-old neighbor Abi faces her own challenges as she tries to support her mother financially. Abi risks trouble when local boys tempt her with quick money, leading her to cross county lines.

This was such a memorable read. I loved how Jendella Benson covered important topics in this book. The story felt so real and authentic, with characters and situations that resonated deeply. The themes are incredibly current and necessary for everyone to read.

One of the central themes, Abi falling victim to a county lines gang, is particularly impactful. This is a side to London that isn’t typically written about. This issue is so prevalent in today’s society, and Jendella’s portrayal is both poignant and eye-opening. It sheds light on the vulnerabilities of young people and the harsh realities they face. This story doesn’t shy away from these difficult topics, making it a powerful and relevant read.

Highly recommended for those who are looking for a current, insightful and gripping read.