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Alex & Eliza #3
All For One
In this dazzling finale to the trilogy that began with the New York Times bestselling Alex & Eliza: A Love Story, the curtain closes on the epic romance of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler
1785. New York, New York.
As a young nation begins to take shape, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler are on top of the world. They’re the toast of the town, keeping New York City buzzing with tales of their lavish parties, of Eliza’s legendary wit, and of Alex’s brilliant legal mind.
But new additions to Alex & Eliza’s little family mean change is afoot in the Hamilton household. When they agree to take in an orphaned teenage girl along with Eliza’s oldest brother, John Schuyler, Eliza can’t help but attempt a match. It’s not long before sparks start to fly…if only Eliza can keep herself from interfering too much in the course of true love. After all, she and Alex have an arrival of their own to plan for, though Alex’s latest case brings a perilous threat that may destroy everything.
The sweeping love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler comes to a close in All for One, the riveting final installment of the New York Times bestselling Alex & Eliza trilogy.
1785. New York, New York.
As a young nation begins to take shape, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler are on top of the world. They’re the toast of the town, keeping New York City buzzing with tales of their lavish parties, of Eliza’s legendary wit, and of Alex’s brilliant legal mind.
But new additions to Alex & Eliza’s little family mean change is afoot in the Hamilton household. When they agree to take in an orphaned teenage girl along with Eliza’s oldest brother, John Schuyler, Eliza can’t help but attempt a match. It’s not long before sparks start to fly…if only Eliza can keep herself from interfering too much in the course of true love. After all, she and Alex have an arrival of their own to plan for, though Alex’s latest case brings a perilous threat that may destroy everything.
The sweeping love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler comes to a close in All for One, the riveting final installment of the New York Times bestselling Alex & Eliza trilogy.
391 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 2019
164 people are currently reading
7025 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
187 books15.8k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
August 3, 2019
When I finished the first book in this trilogy I swore I’d not read the second, and when I finished the second I promised myself I’d poke my eyes out before I read the third, but here we are.
The writing is rubbish, and it swings between weird moments of frivolous characterisation (why is Alexander Hamilton tap dancing?) and stupid info dumps of historic information, I’m assuming to prove how well researched she is.
And she might be, but you wouldn’t know, because she changed so much of the history in this. People are born in the wrong year, characters are invented, she deliberately moved one of the pivotal moments in Hamilton’s life forward 10 years and changed how the world found out about the Reynolds affair for what? Eliza to look a bit more “sassy”? And then to top it off she writes an authors note that basically says I DIDN’T CHANGE TOO MUCH I SWEAR followed by a list of EVERYTHING SHE CHANGED.
Oh, and her Eliza is a snobbish, annoying, selfish woman, to go with her Alexander’s boorish ways.
AWFUL. WHY. THANK GOD THERE ISN’T A 4TH ONE I’LL TRY AND READ.
The writing is rubbish, and it swings between weird moments of frivolous characterisation (why is Alexander Hamilton tap dancing?) and stupid info dumps of historic information, I’m assuming to prove how well researched she is.
And she might be, but you wouldn’t know, because she changed so much of the history in this. People are born in the wrong year, characters are invented, she deliberately moved one of the pivotal moments in Hamilton’s life forward 10 years and changed how the world found out about the Reynolds affair for what? Eliza to look a bit more “sassy”? And then to top it off she writes an authors note that basically says I DIDN’T CHANGE TOO MUCH I SWEAR followed by a list of EVERYTHING SHE CHANGED.
Oh, and her Eliza is a snobbish, annoying, selfish woman, to go with her Alexander’s boorish ways.
AWFUL. WHY. THANK GOD THERE ISN’T A 4TH ONE I’LL TRY AND READ.
November 8, 2019
For a trilogy conclusion, this installment was a bit boring. It wasn’t as eventful as the other two books of the series.
Eliza came off snobby and a bit unreasonable often in this one. Alex does not come off in a good light but considering the Maria situation and the way he spoke to Eliza at times in the book, it is understandable. I was waiting to see how De La Cruz was going to handle the Maria Reynolds situation and I have to say I thought she handled it very well. Her author note was a great addition also.
Eliza came off snobby and a bit unreasonable often in this one. Alex does not come off in a good light but considering the Maria situation and the way he spoke to Eliza at times in the book, it is understandable. I was waiting to see how De La Cruz was going to handle the Maria Reynolds situation and I have to say I thought she handled it very well. Her author note was a great addition also.
April 25, 2022
This trilogy was awful. Like they really emphasized the fiction aspect of historical fiction. The Hamiltons had enough actual drama in their lives that fake stuff didn't really need to be developed and yet...this felt like Jane Austen's Emma with Eliza's misplaced matchmaking. The Reynolds affair in the final book and only just now getting to the birth of their first born was a weird pacing choice. These books were painfully boring and honestly could have just been a contemporary YA romance with how many liberties were taken with historical events.
March 16, 2021
I hate to start sounding like a broken record when it comes to my reviews on this series but this book, like the others, had me aggravated by the timeline being so wrong that it hurt to read once again. In some parts the author dropped a lot of information and that resulted in making the story drag. In this book Elzia is trying to be a matchmaker for her new friend Betty Van Rensselaer and her footman named Drayton and her lady's maid Emma and her brother John. Eliza is trying to match John with Emma and Betty with Drayton. Obviously that's not what happens with the relationships. Betty and John being the perfect couple because they are both pompous spoiled rich kids with Daddy issues and a drinking problem. Emma and Drayton are also the perfect couple because they are both sweet poor servants that have a happy(ish) life ahead of them. Eliza was so annoying whenever she played matchmaker because she was so blatantly wrong. Her character severely decreased in this book. Whenever I found her on the page (which was quite often) I was so annoyed with her. Alex sucked of course because he is a cheater and refuses to open up with Eliza and on his fifth meeting with Maria Reynolds he tells his whole back story. And then sleeps with her. Everybody sucked. I can’t think of one positive thing to say about this book. Read at your own risk.
Some specific quotes that happened within two pages that particularly made me angry.
Page 117
“A small sound escaped Maria’s mouth, a sign of release, surrender even, as if she had been holding something in since she walked into Alex's office two hours before. Although the likelier truth, Alex thought, was that she had been holding her breath for far longer.
Did this author just phrase “ she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding”
in a different way. How cliche.
Page 118
""There, there" Alex said, taking her to the chair and easing her down. The only chair being The Rocker which seemed somehow too feminine a seat from which to conduct business”
So we're gentrifying Furniture now, cool.
Some specific quotes that happened within two pages that particularly made me angry.
Page 117
“A small sound escaped Maria’s mouth, a sign of release, surrender even, as if she had been holding something in since she walked into Alex's office two hours before. Although the likelier truth, Alex thought, was that she had been holding her breath for far longer.
Did this author just phrase “ she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding”
in a different way. How cliche.
Page 118
""There, there" Alex said, taking her to the chair and easing her down. The only chair being The Rocker which seemed somehow too feminine a seat from which to conduct business”
So we're gentrifying Furniture now, cool.
July 17, 2019
3.5/5, rounded up for the trilogy as a whole.
“Nation-building can be a rather callous endeavor..”
This was the final book in the Alex & Eliza trilogy and I read it around the 4th of July, which was the perfect mood read. This wasn’t my favorite of the three, but it wrapped up the story nicely.
I was impressed with the writing and details - from Eliza cutting the pages of her new book in bed, to the pressure on Hamilton, you really get the feel of a new and growing country along with a growing marriage/family.
The characters’ personalities also shine, and even when you don’t much like them, you can understand them.
I definitely recommend this trilogy.
“Nation-building can be a rather callous endeavor..”
This was the final book in the Alex & Eliza trilogy and I read it around the 4th of July, which was the perfect mood read. This wasn’t my favorite of the three, but it wrapped up the story nicely.
I was impressed with the writing and details - from Eliza cutting the pages of her new book in bed, to the pressure on Hamilton, you really get the feel of a new and growing country along with a growing marriage/family.
The characters’ personalities also shine, and even when you don’t much like them, you can understand them.
I definitely recommend this trilogy.
October 15, 2022
Rating: 3.25/5
Review to come!
Review to come!
July 12, 2019
Perhaps I just know the real story too well, but the author took far too many liberties for my taste. Of course I understand that historical fiction will stray from the facts in order to support the author’s vision. However, I think that shifting the order of significant events in the main characters’ lives (especially people as significant as Alexander & Eliza Hamilton) serves no purpose. For instance, Philip Hamilton was not in utero when the Reynolds affair occurred, he was 10. That’s a pretty significant change in the story, because Alex cheating when his pregnant wife of more than a decade was at home with multiple children, is quite different than him straying so soon in their marriage. It’s no more acceptable, but different, and serves no real purpose. Furthermore, Eliza (whom I consider one of the purest characters in American history) was snobbish and a little annoying in this story, contrary to the other Alex & Eliza books, and all the other Hamilton stories. This just wasn’t my favorite read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2019
3.5 / 5 stars
I enjoyed this, just as I've enjoyed the other books in the series. The historical details were meticulously researched. But...this was very repetitive. Very little actually happened. So I didn't absolutely love it, and I'm wondering if maybe the first book should have just been a standalone since it was the best of the three. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this (mostly fictional) take on the Hamiltons' story.
I enjoyed this, just as I've enjoyed the other books in the series. The historical details were meticulously researched. But...this was very repetitive. Very little actually happened. So I didn't absolutely love it, and I'm wondering if maybe the first book should have just been a standalone since it was the best of the three. Regardless, I enjoyed reading this (mostly fictional) take on the Hamiltons' story.
August 25, 2019
(Realistic rating: look, I had to be rounding down from two stars on this series eventually, and this is it, we are here. It's more for the series as a whole than this book in particular, but I DO think the second book in the series is the best [if for a very, VERY loose definition of the word], so I suppose that means it's fair to give the other two one star. [I don't have a review for Alex & Eliza on this account, but rest assured it would be one star, too. Realistically, it's closer to 1.5? Like, it's not TOTALLY unreadable dreck. But you should definitely not make the effort to consume it. Like, ever.)
I mean... these books are bad, y'all. They're bad! It's hard to say which of them is the worst -- the first is outright offensive, the second is boring as fuck, and this one COMPLETELY destroys a character we're supposed to like and root for (which, I mean, I never did, ha, but it was clear that was the intent in prior books!), turning her into a complete snob who manipulates everyone around her and becomes wildly defensive when called out on it and/or reminded that other people have lives and desires other than those she might choose for them (not to mention the classism truly jumping out!!). And, of course, I can't overstate how fucking absurd it is to write about the Reynolds affair in a YA book!! Yes, let's teach teenagers that staying with your cheating significant other is the only way to truly prove you're adults who can make a relationship work!! GREAT IDEA, MELISSA. BEST IDEA EVER.
I really don't even know where to start on a lot of the issues of this book; obviously, I'm really furious about the cheating and about Eliza's wild dive into classism and selfishness (which BARELY gets fixed at the end, and honestly way too late!!), but I'm also really mad about a relatively minor plot point, which is the pregnancy -- Eliza not realizing she's pregnant when she misses all the signs despite desperately wanting a baby, and the weirdly praise-filled descriptions of being pregnant in a book aimed at teenagers?? ??? Come on, Melissa, what agenda are we promoting here?? And let's not even start on the further constant references to her pale skin (in a book inspired by the almost-all-POC musical!!), which has been constant throughout the entire series. Just... it's a nightmare, folks. Start to finish, it's a big steaming pile of garbage. Please do yourselves a favor and never, ever read this series.
I mean... these books are bad, y'all. They're bad! It's hard to say which of them is the worst -- the first is outright offensive, the second is boring as fuck, and this one COMPLETELY destroys a character we're supposed to like and root for (which, I mean, I never did, ha, but it was clear that was the intent in prior books!), turning her into a complete snob who manipulates everyone around her and becomes wildly defensive when called out on it and/or reminded that other people have lives and desires other than those she might choose for them (not to mention the classism truly jumping out!!). And, of course, I can't overstate how fucking absurd it is to write about the Reynolds affair in a YA book!! Yes, let's teach teenagers that staying with your cheating significant other is the only way to truly prove you're adults who can make a relationship work!! GREAT IDEA, MELISSA. BEST IDEA EVER.
I really don't even know where to start on a lot of the issues of this book; obviously, I'm really furious about the cheating and about Eliza's wild dive into classism and selfishness (which BARELY gets fixed at the end, and honestly way too late!!), but I'm also really mad about a relatively minor plot point, which is the pregnancy -- Eliza not realizing she's pregnant when she misses all the signs despite desperately wanting a baby, and the weirdly praise-filled descriptions of being pregnant in a book aimed at teenagers?? ??? Come on, Melissa, what agenda are we promoting here?? And let's not even start on the further constant references to her pale skin (in a book inspired by the almost-all-POC musical!!), which has been constant throughout the entire series. Just... it's a nightmare, folks. Start to finish, it's a big steaming pile of garbage. Please do yourselves a favor and never, ever read this series.
September 9, 2019
2.5 Stars
This review is a mess of me yelling about everything, also ***Spoilers for HISTORY***
Okay. So their marriage is going all good. And then... [Maria Reynolds, enter stage left]
Let's just have a conversation about feminism. The usual.
But first. Me yelling about a-spec erasure in this line.
Extended period without romantic intimacy
Romantic intimacy being sex. But sex isn't the only kind of romantic intimacy?? Like it's obviously a part?? But cuddling?? Holding hands? And they're era appropriate?? Dude. Go hug your pregnant wife rigHT NOW.
It's really sad.
Yeah, so feminism. Eliza obviously forgives Hamilton for cheating on her while she's with child, and I'm like. Good for you?? But?? Why?? Contributing to this point is a line from 'Burn' that says
You'll sleep in your office instead
Like no divorce. No cutting all ties. This is 1785. She still has to rely on him and raise his child and pay for their lives. And she knows he'll do it cause he screwed up. But she can't rely on herself.
This has been a piece on feminism and a-spec erasure, News at 6.
Trigger and Content Warnings: previous loss of loved ones, alcoholism, talk of gambling, talk of prostitution, physical abuse, domestic abuse, toxic masculinity, talk of privilege, sexism, classism, cheating
1). Alex & Eliza ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
2). Love & War ⭐⭐☆☆☆
----------
I swear I've gone into a reading slump... this is the first book I've read and it's basically been a week... this does not bode well
This review is a mess of me yelling about everything, also ***Spoilers for HISTORY***
Okay. So their marriage is going all good. And then... [Maria Reynolds, enter stage left]
Let's just have a conversation about feminism. The usual.
But first. Me yelling about a-spec erasure in this line.
Extended period without romantic intimacy
Romantic intimacy being sex. But sex isn't the only kind of romantic intimacy?? Like it's obviously a part?? But cuddling?? Holding hands? And they're era appropriate?? Dude. Go hug your pregnant wife rigHT NOW.
It's really sad.
Yeah, so feminism. Eliza obviously forgives Hamilton for cheating on her while she's with child, and I'm like. Good for you?? But?? Why?? Contributing to this point is a line from 'Burn' that says
You'll sleep in your office instead
Like no divorce. No cutting all ties. This is 1785. She still has to rely on him and raise his child and pay for their lives. And she knows he'll do it cause he screwed up. But she can't rely on herself.
This has been a piece on feminism and a-spec erasure, News at 6.
Trigger and Content Warnings: previous loss of loved ones, alcoholism, talk of gambling, talk of prostitution, physical abuse, domestic abuse, toxic masculinity, talk of privilege, sexism, classism, cheating
1). Alex & Eliza ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
2). Love & War ⭐⭐☆☆☆
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I swear I've gone into a reading slump... this is the first book I've read and it's basically been a week... this does not bode well
October 13, 2021
Why is this book so bad?
Is it the complete change in timeline? Is it the unneeded fictional characters? Is it the fact she keeps writing about corsets instead of stays? Or is it the swathes of text and badly written dialogue that is convoluted and clearly just a way to up the word count?
It's all that. But it's also the fact that de la Cruz committed the cardinal sin of writing a book that is completely and utterly boring. There's no beat around the bush here. Despite having decades of historical events to pull from and characters that are all fascinating in their own right, she instead writes a book that smashes two major events together (plus a complete mishap of deciding not to write about Eliza contracting yellow fever and instead sticks to pneumonia) and winds up with a barely-cooked meal.
Why Philip's birth was pushed to 85, I have no idea. Nor do I understand why Maria Reynolds and her storyline was brought forward and written so... poorly. Maybe de la Cruz was trying to garner sympathy for her, but there were so many ways to go about it. Or maybe she was trying to make Alexander appear less guilty, but again, it didn't work.
Also, Eliza was damn near intolerable in this book. Her storyline was so dull I wound up skipping most of her chapters, and what little I read I couldn't stand due to her insufferable personality. Maybe she was meant to be opposed to Maria, who didn't judge Alexander, but we were still meant to cheer for her at the end? I guess?
This book feels like Riverdale. It started off... weak, but fine, and somehow became worse.
Is it the complete change in timeline? Is it the unneeded fictional characters? Is it the fact she keeps writing about corsets instead of stays? Or is it the swathes of text and badly written dialogue that is convoluted and clearly just a way to up the word count?
It's all that. But it's also the fact that de la Cruz committed the cardinal sin of writing a book that is completely and utterly boring. There's no beat around the bush here. Despite having decades of historical events to pull from and characters that are all fascinating in their own right, she instead writes a book that smashes two major events together (plus a complete mishap of deciding not to write about Eliza contracting yellow fever and instead sticks to pneumonia) and winds up with a barely-cooked meal.
Why Philip's birth was pushed to 85, I have no idea. Nor do I understand why Maria Reynolds and her storyline was brought forward and written so... poorly. Maybe de la Cruz was trying to garner sympathy for her, but there were so many ways to go about it. Or maybe she was trying to make Alexander appear less guilty, but again, it didn't work.
Also, Eliza was damn near intolerable in this book. Her storyline was so dull I wound up skipping most of her chapters, and what little I read I couldn't stand due to her insufferable personality. Maybe she was meant to be opposed to Maria, who didn't judge Alexander, but we were still meant to cheer for her at the end? I guess?
This book feels like Riverdale. It started off... weak, but fine, and somehow became worse.
May 1, 2021
I enjoyed the final book in the Alex & Eliza series. For most of the middle part, I was set on rating it 3 stars. I felt like the story was drawn out. Almost every time I got to Alexander Hamilton’s POV, I wanted to put the book down because I did not want to read about him and Maria Reynolds. But I plowed through, and I’m glad I did. The book was redeemed by the ending. It was done well. I enjoyed reading about the servants (who were fictional). I liked that we get to see Eliza dream up her orphanage. Overall, this was a good ending to the series. I definitely recommend you read it, especially if you are not familiar with the story.
June 11, 2019
Glad to be done with this series. It wasn't that it was boring (remember - this story is set in the 1700s and the first-world issues are not being invited to the right parties or having the proper China to display during tea) it was that too much time was given to describing things that had no value to the story. I don't care what type of cookies were served at tea or that these people talked as if they were better than everyone else. It was a peaceful story and nothing more.
June 15, 2019
I love historical fictions and this was no exception. I love the way Melissa de la Cruz wrote this trilogy it was beautiful and flowed together easily. The characters were my favorite especially Emma and Drayton. I was just really disappointed that Alex cheated on Eliza it really ruined their relationship for me.
January 10, 2021
It was okay. There wasn't much happening in this book except a bunch of talking. Eliza plays matchmaker with two couples I did not really care about and there is no action or excitement until near the end of the book.
September 24, 2021
Worst book of the trilogy in my opinion. Had a hard time getting into this story and just wasn't very exciting. Really felt like a let down.
September 3, 2023
This series was amazing 👏 🙌 if your a history nerd or just really like hamiltons story I suggest you read this obviously it's not all historically accurate but it gave me new appreciation for hamilton AND Eliza( which for me is new cause I kinda didn't care about her earlier) its kind of like historical fan fiction which personally I enjoy this is definitely more on the romance side and not political but I still enjoyed it also ty for getting this far I tend to rant when I like a book
July 23, 2020
4.5
I'm gonna miss them sm 😭😭😭
I'm gonna miss them sm 😭😭😭
September 29, 2022
2.5
just very boring in my opinion. only read so i could finally have finished the series. very sad that i didn't end up enjoying this series, but oh well.
just very boring in my opinion. only read so i could finally have finished the series. very sad that i didn't end up enjoying this series, but oh well.
August 2, 2024
WHAT??? I COULD NEVER FORGIVE A CHEATER MY HEART SHATTERED WHEN I READ MARIA REYNOLDS' NAME. I KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN BUT DIDNT KNOW IT WOULD HURT THIS MUCH
July 14, 2020
***WARNING, THIS REVIEW HAS SPOILERS!!!!
This was definitely a 2.5 stars for me. It was such a let down and greatly affected my opinion of the series. While this book definitely kept me intrigued and I did want to know what was going to happen next which is a problem the last book had I just had so many issues with this one that there was pretty much nothing I liked about it. My first issue was the affair. I get that this was a important part of their love story and unlike some people I have no problem with the fact that the author was not accurate with the timeline of it, I am mostly upset with how she handled it. The author showed us none of the recovery from the affair and instead just skipped ahead to when everything was fine again. Because she showed none of the recovery I am unable to forgive Alex for what he and unable to understand how Eliza was able to. It was like one second Eliza is absolutely furious about it and then like a year later she is saying how much she loves and forgives Alex without any real explanation why. My second big issue was with Eliza. She has changed into this person I am not a huge fan of and a lot of her actions just made me so annoyed frustrated. Her entire matchmaking thing that she did throughout the book was so annoying because both, the people around her and I could both see that the matches she was trying to make were not going to work out and she refused to listen to anyone who tried to tell her so for most of the book. Then when she did find out she was mad at the matchees for not falling in love with the people she wanted and even accused one of the matchees of deceiving her into believing this falsehood when in fact the matchee had done the exact opposite! Her stubbornness and ignorance was overall super annoying to read. She has changed into such a different character since the first book. While this should happen with characters Eliza has just changed into this such unlikable character that I can barely stand. Alex has definitely changed a lot too and, while definitely not for the better, he is no where near as bad as Eliza. Overall I did not like this book and was definitely a bad end to the series. This series overall definitely went downhill. It went downhill when the war ended. I still think the first one was cute and I could definitely see myself re-reading that, definitely not two and three.
This was definitely a 2.5 stars for me. It was such a let down and greatly affected my opinion of the series. While this book definitely kept me intrigued and I did want to know what was going to happen next which is a problem the last book had I just had so many issues with this one that there was pretty much nothing I liked about it. My first issue was the affair. I get that this was a important part of their love story and unlike some people I have no problem with the fact that the author was not accurate with the timeline of it, I am mostly upset with how she handled it. The author showed us none of the recovery from the affair and instead just skipped ahead to when everything was fine again. Because she showed none of the recovery I am unable to forgive Alex for what he and unable to understand how Eliza was able to. It was like one second Eliza is absolutely furious about it and then like a year later she is saying how much she loves and forgives Alex without any real explanation why. My second big issue was with Eliza. She has changed into this person I am not a huge fan of and a lot of her actions just made me so annoyed frustrated. Her entire matchmaking thing that she did throughout the book was so annoying because both, the people around her and I could both see that the matches she was trying to make were not going to work out and she refused to listen to anyone who tried to tell her so for most of the book. Then when she did find out she was mad at the matchees for not falling in love with the people she wanted and even accused one of the matchees of deceiving her into believing this falsehood when in fact the matchee had done the exact opposite! Her stubbornness and ignorance was overall super annoying to read. She has changed into such a different character since the first book. While this should happen with characters Eliza has just changed into this such unlikable character that I can barely stand. Alex has definitely changed a lot too and, while definitely not for the better, he is no where near as bad as Eliza. Overall I did not like this book and was definitely a bad end to the series. This series overall definitely went downhill. It went downhill when the war ended. I still think the first one was cute and I could definitely see myself re-reading that, definitely not two and three.
March 17, 2020
I am thoroughly disappointed. Alexander Hamilton is such an immensely fascinating historical figure, especially once the Revolutionary War ended. The Federalist Papers, his affair (the first sex scandal in US history, if I’m not mistaken), and the duel that would ultimately take his life (and the rivalry with Aaron Burr that would cause that duel) all combine into a tale that is sadly rarely talked about in contemporary American historical books. I was excited to read the high drama and emotions that cheating on one’s spouse would bring about in a novel, and instead I was treated to nigh on 400 pages of... boring nothingness. Eliza? Apparently my memory isn’t as good as I thought it was, because she turned from a caring, warm-hearted wife and inspiring figure into a petty, insecure, and downright selfish woman who spends her days pining for a child and meddling in the love lives of those in her immediate circle. Alexander? He’s written spending almost the entire book worrying about this pointless case for Trinity Church. Come on, Mrs. De La Cruz. If I’m picking up a novel about the tumultuous latter half of one A. Hamilton’s life, I want to hear about his political career and disastrous affair, not who he and his wife are going to dine with that week and his endless worries about money. While I appreciated the author’s note at the end, overall I wouldn’t recommend this book. I quite liked its two predecessors, so this trilogy’s conclusion was just... sad. The dialogue didn’t flow, the descriptions were alright, and the characterization for everyone felt just off. I’ve read worse, but I’ve also read far, far better. Especially from this trilogy in particular. I’m going to go listen to Hamilton now (Act 2 in particular) so I can remember what a satisfying tale of A. Ham’s later life is like. Please don’t waste 321 pages out of 386 about drivel, get the plot moving along.
And for crying out loud women did NOT wear corsets in the 18th century! They wore stays (which mostly provided breast and back support). And bustles??? Sorry, I only know panniers. Details, I know, but those tiny details really threw me out of the story. At least the description of the changing width of skirts was accurate, from what I gathered. Alas.
And for crying out loud women did NOT wear corsets in the 18th century! They wore stays (which mostly provided breast and back support). And bustles??? Sorry, I only know panniers. Details, I know, but those tiny details really threw me out of the story. At least the description of the changing width of skirts was accurate, from what I gathered. Alas.
May 8, 2019
Since the time I've read the first two installments in the series, I have become a lot more educated in who Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Hamilton were. As a result, the history nerd part of me was a little upset in the way the facts were twisted around. With that being said, the book nerd part of me loves how the author captured the essence of the characters and time period. I gave 4 stars because of this.
I enjoyed reading about Alex and Eliza's playful and intimate side of their relationship. They were still the adorable couple I read about in the first and second book, but they also grew more as a couple.
I thought it was interesting the way Maria Reynolds was presented. I didn't particularly like it, but I think the author believed it was important to humanize her. Otherwise, what would Hamilton have seen in her?
To be honest, I didn't like the epilogue (or at least the last couple of pages of it). I found it odd that the timeline would go from Hamilton's death all the way back to when Alex and Eliza first met. I guess it was to show the full circle of events and come back to where it all began. But still.
Overall, reading this installment and series was a great experience. But, I don't agree with the chronological change in events. It strayed a little far from the facts for my tastes. Still, it's a nice additon to the historical fiction genre and I liked reading about what could have been the epic love story of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton.
Btw, I noticed the colors of each installment's background on the cover represents a Schuyler sister. Pink for Angelica, blue for Eliza, and yellow for Peggy. Yes, that's how much of a Hamilton fan I am.⭐😂
May 23, 2019
Yay, we've reached the conclusion of the Alex & Eliza Series. I started reading this series two years ago, and we have reached the end. It was a satisfying conclusion to an epic love story and has a beautiful yet tragic end to the love story of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton.
Even though All For One takes some historical liberties and lacks the accuracy as well, All For One is still a pretty good book. The language, clothing style, and social standards are very accurate to the 1780s, even though the end of the love stories of John Schuyler, Betty, Drayton, and Emma are very predictable. Eliza and Alex both irritated me many times in this book more than Alex and Eliza AND Love & War.
ALEX HITTING HIS PREGNANT WIFE ELIZA IS NOT OKAY. The fact that this action was not addressed later and condemned pissed me off because DOMESTIC ABUSE is NEVER okay. Also, Alex being so weak that he couldn't resist having an affair with Maria Reynolds disgusts me, even after he finds out about Maria's intentions.
If you don't mind historical inaccuracies but like the love story of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, I recommend Alex & Eliza.
Happy Thursday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
Do things that make you happy, and above else, amor omnia vincent.
with love forever,
Reenie
💋
Even though All For One takes some historical liberties and lacks the accuracy as well, All For One is still a pretty good book. The language, clothing style, and social standards are very accurate to the 1780s, even though the end of the love stories of John Schuyler, Betty, Drayton, and Emma are very predictable. Eliza and Alex both irritated me many times in this book more than Alex and Eliza AND Love & War.
ALEX HITTING HIS PREGNANT WIFE ELIZA IS NOT OKAY. The fact that this action was not addressed later and condemned pissed me off because DOMESTIC ABUSE is NEVER okay. Also, Alex being so weak that he couldn't resist having an affair with Maria Reynolds disgusts me, even after he finds out about Maria's intentions.
If you don't mind historical inaccuracies but like the love story of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, I recommend Alex & Eliza.
Happy Thursday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
Do things that make you happy, and above else, amor omnia vincent.
with love forever,
Reenie
💋
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2020
3.5 stars
This last book of the Alex & Eliza trilogy proved to be an interesting read. There were several things I didn't like about it, but the things I liked outweighed them by a significant amount.
What I liked - Being a huge Hamilton fan, I appreciated the many nods towards the musical - . Though the story didn't exactly follow in the footsteps of the Broadway show, it was nice to be able to see how Alex and Eliza dealt with the latter years of their marriage.
What I didn't like - The book slowed down to a snail's pace in the middle, with the many sections of random rhetoric on Alex's church case. Those were extremely unnecessary; I found it hard to understand and overall not contributing to the development of the story. The subplot of Eliza trying to arrange two marriages didn't make it any better.
Finally, the plot sped up at the end with . Even though her husband betrayed her, I admired how Eliza was eventually able to forgive him, because some things in life need to be let go (I wish I could say that for Alex and Aaron Burr's rivalry).
I enjoyed watching Alex and Eliza's story come to an end - that is, the story of their romance. After her husband's death, Eliza lives for about 50 more years to come!
This last book of the Alex & Eliza trilogy proved to be an interesting read. There were several things I didn't like about it, but the things I liked outweighed them by a significant amount.
What I liked - Being a huge Hamilton fan, I appreciated the many nods towards the musical - . Though the story didn't exactly follow in the footsteps of the Broadway show, it was nice to be able to see how Alex and Eliza dealt with the latter years of their marriage.
What I didn't like - The book slowed down to a snail's pace in the middle, with the many sections of random rhetoric on Alex's church case. Those were extremely unnecessary; I found it hard to understand and overall not contributing to the development of the story. The subplot of Eliza trying to arrange two marriages didn't make it any better.
Finally, the plot sped up at the end with . Even though her husband betrayed her, I admired how Eliza was eventually able to forgive him, because some things in life need to be let go (I wish I could say that for Alex and Aaron Burr's rivalry).
I enjoyed watching Alex and Eliza's story come to an end - that is, the story of their romance. After her husband's death, Eliza lives for about 50 more years to come!
December 29, 2020
For a historical fiction romance i was 0ver all impressed. As you read historical fiction you always have to keep in mind that artistic liberties are taken, and not everything is exactly how it really happened. But with that being said I think the author did very well in this trilogy. I can tell she did her research and used her skills as a story teller to make it into something entertaining and enjoyable.
I was very interested to see how she was going to write about the whole situation with Maria Reynolds. Difficult topics are hard to write and read about but I think Melissa did a great job in focusing and spending more time on the crucial aspects and character building events, instead of going in to unnecessary detail on other parts.
The one main critique that I have is that the second book has a broken heart on the cover, so I naturally assumed that "the incident" was going to happen in that book but 8t doesn't happen until close to the end of the third book. In my opinion I think "the incident" should have happened at the end of the second book and the last book would have taken the time to show how they over came it as a couple and the other events in their life that Melissa didn't have time to explore.
I was pleasantly surprised with the end of the epilogue and how it made me feel finishing the book.
I was very interested to see how she was going to write about the whole situation with Maria Reynolds. Difficult topics are hard to write and read about but I think Melissa did a great job in focusing and spending more time on the crucial aspects and character building events, instead of going in to unnecessary detail on other parts.
The one main critique that I have is that the second book has a broken heart on the cover, so I naturally assumed that "the incident" was going to happen in that book but 8t doesn't happen until close to the end of the third book. In my opinion I think "the incident" should have happened at the end of the second book and the last book would have taken the time to show how they over came it as a couple and the other events in their life that Melissa didn't have time to explore.
I was pleasantly surprised with the end of the epilogue and how it made me feel finishing the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2020
This series was so stupid. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Melissa de la Cruz should write historical fiction flat out, not this weird fanfic. I don't understand why she put Alexander and Eliza Hamilton in this story when it really was very historically inaccurate. The true story of the Hamilton's is a lot more interesting and juicier than this. It would have been much better if she'd created her own early Americans.
This was bad, historical inaccuracies aside. The "rivalry" between Burr and Hamilton was underdeveloped and it was so weird when the duel was brought up. There were mentions of Hamilton as the Secretary of the Treasury throughout the series, but we only see him in the role for 2 paragraphs in the epilogue. Alexander and Washington giving each other longing looks as they pass each other in the streets? Stupid! The epilogue also features a creepy scene of Eliza and Angelica watching Alexander sleep. Literally, why? So creepy. And don't even get me started about that fiasco of a wedding in the last chapter.
The trees did not deserve this.
This was bad, historical inaccuracies aside. The "rivalry" between Burr and Hamilton was underdeveloped and it was so weird when the duel was brought up. There were mentions of Hamilton as the Secretary of the Treasury throughout the series, but we only see him in the role for 2 paragraphs in the epilogue. Alexander and Washington giving each other longing looks as they pass each other in the streets? Stupid! The epilogue also features a creepy scene of Eliza and Angelica watching Alexander sleep. Literally, why? So creepy. And don't even get me started about that fiasco of a wedding in the last chapter.
The trees did not deserve this.
April 29, 2020
As much as I love de la Cruz's storytelling, I frequently found myself not wanting to pick up the third book in her Alex and Eliza series, because I knew the unfavorable outcome, and more so, the unfortunate events that lead up to it. Nevertheless, de la Cruz brings Eliza's younger brother, John Schuyler, and Betty Van Rensselaer into the main plot, and adds some fictional characters as well that help to brighten the story and distract from the inevitable tragedy. One might argue that book three takes the most liberties in Alex and Eliza's stories, yet it also spotlights Eliza's true strength, endurance and loyalty, and still touches on Alex's lasting legacy in our country. The conclusion of the story left me wanting this series to be made into a television series or movie, and has me itching to read more about the amazing Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton.
I encourage readers to read de la Cruz's Authors Note in each book, where she explains the liberties she takes, and motivations.
I encourage readers to read de la Cruz's Authors Note in each book, where she explains the liberties she takes, and motivations.
May 26, 2020
This trilogy was so disappointing in general, but this book was just awful! I did like the first, and the second I found boring but ok despite the discrepancies and inaccurate history. But this one is a mess. I never expected a YA series to be super historically accurate, but goodness, there were WAY too many liberties taken, too much history was changed imo. Like, big major events were completely changed! Maybe it makes for a better story in the author’s mind, but it’s incredibly off putting to me. And to completely change Eliza’s personality and turn her into a snob, again, just not what I’d expect when reading about the Hamilton’s and very disappointing. The whole trilogy reads like really bad fan fic.
Also, I couldn’t get past all the editing errors. There were multiple times I had to read a sentence multiple times to try to figure out what it was actually saying because there was either a word missing or misplaced. Super frustrating.
Also, I couldn’t get past all the editing errors. There were multiple times I had to read a sentence multiple times to try to figure out what it was actually saying because there was either a word missing or misplaced. Super frustrating.
January 17, 2021
This was a great conclusion! I will say that while I was reading all the matchmaking parts about Eliza, I kept thinking about Jane Austen's Emma because her thoughts and actions sounded very similar — I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but it's certainly interesting. In regards to the affair, I would've thought Alex and Maria would've spent a lot more time acting like lovers than was portrayed in the book, but I'm not an expert so who am I to judge if that's what happened historically?
I loved Emma and Drayton, but since it was all Eliza's point of view I thought them loving each other and calling each other by endearing names was a little sudden — maybe something could've been added from Emma's POV to show that that was happening. But that doesn't take away from the 5 stars.
Also **slight spoiler** I loved how the last section of the book took place on the day Alex and Eliza met, in 1777, and how Eliza actually started liking him then! I thought it was a nice touch. :)
I loved Emma and Drayton, but since it was all Eliza's point of view I thought them loving each other and calling each other by endearing names was a little sudden — maybe something could've been added from Emma's POV to show that that was happening. But that doesn't take away from the 5 stars.
Also **slight spoiler** I loved how the last section of the book took place on the day Alex and Eliza met, in 1777, and how Eliza actually started liking him then! I thought it was a nice touch. :)
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