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I'll Take Everything You Have
From an Edgar Award-winning author, this historical noir novel follows the life-changing summer of sixteen-year-old Joe Garbe as he discovers queer community in 1930s Chicago and gets caught up in the city's crooked underbelly.
In the summer of 1934, Joe Garbe arrives in Chicago with one Earn enough money to get out of debt and save the family farm. Joe’s cousin sets him up with a hotel job, then proposes a sketchy scheme to make a lot more money fast. While running his con, Joe finds himself splitting time between Eddie, a handsome flirt on a delivery truck, and Raymond, a carefree rich kid who shows Joe the eye-opening queer life around every corner of the big city.
Joe’s exposure to the surface of criminal Chicago pulls him into something darker than he could have imagined. When danger closes in—from gangsters, the police, and people he thought were friends—Joe needs to pack up and get lost. But before he can figure out where to go, he has to decide who he wants to be.
I’ll Take Everything You Have is a vivid portrayal of queer coming of age in Depression-era Chicago, and a timeless story of trying to make your future bright when the rest of the world is dead set on keeping it hidden in the dark.
In the summer of 1934, Joe Garbe arrives in Chicago with one Earn enough money to get out of debt and save the family farm. Joe’s cousin sets him up with a hotel job, then proposes a sketchy scheme to make a lot more money fast. While running his con, Joe finds himself splitting time between Eddie, a handsome flirt on a delivery truck, and Raymond, a carefree rich kid who shows Joe the eye-opening queer life around every corner of the big city.
Joe’s exposure to the surface of criminal Chicago pulls him into something darker than he could have imagined. When danger closes in—from gangsters, the police, and people he thought were friends—Joe needs to pack up and get lost. But before he can figure out where to go, he has to decide who he wants to be.
I’ll Take Everything You Have is a vivid portrayal of queer coming of age in Depression-era Chicago, and a timeless story of trying to make your future bright when the rest of the world is dead set on keeping it hidden in the dark.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2023
26 people are currently reading
5216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
February 28, 2023
I’ll Take Everything You Have is not your usual gay YA novel. Set in 1934 in Chicago, it pictures a sixteen-year-old boy working in Chicago during the summer to earn money so he can help his mom pay off the debts of their farm. In Chicago, he meets two boys, Eddie, who delivers liquor to hotels, and Raymond who’s rich and privileged.
First of all, this is not a romance story. I’ll Take Everything You Have is about Joe, who meets, for the first time in his life, other queer boys and finally feels that he can be who he wants to be. Meanwhile, life in Chicago is rough, pulling Joe into something darker than he could have imagined.
The pacing is rather slow, and the story is mainly character-driven, meaning the book is full of Joe’s inner thoughts. Still, it’s very easily readable. I loved the descriptive writing, and I could see Chicago in 1934 and its inhabitants so vividly. I read the story eagerly and wanted to know badly what would happen with Joe, Raymond, and Eddie.
A few times, I felt certain things came out of nowhere, and I think the story could have been a bit longer to connect certain events better. But overall, I really liked Joe, the Chicago setting, and the writing, and I loved the realistic ending.
Thank you so much, Algonquin Young Readers, for trusting me to read and review this story! And James, I’m really curious what you’ll be writing next!
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First of all, this is not a romance story. I’ll Take Everything You Have is about Joe, who meets, for the first time in his life, other queer boys and finally feels that he can be who he wants to be. Meanwhile, life in Chicago is rough, pulling Joe into something darker than he could have imagined.
The pacing is rather slow, and the story is mainly character-driven, meaning the book is full of Joe’s inner thoughts. Still, it’s very easily readable. I loved the descriptive writing, and I could see Chicago in 1934 and its inhabitants so vividly. I read the story eagerly and wanted to know badly what would happen with Joe, Raymond, and Eddie.
A few times, I felt certain things came out of nowhere, and I think the story could have been a bit longer to connect certain events better. But overall, I really liked Joe, the Chicago setting, and the writing, and I loved the realistic ending.
Thank you so much, Algonquin Young Readers, for trusting me to read and review this story! And James, I’m really curious what you’ll be writing next!
Follow me on Instagram
February 28, 2023
thank you to algonquin young readers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
aw man, i don’t even know how to start this one…
let’s just say that this was not what i expected. it’s not that it wasn’t what it pitched, it was… we’re following joe who moves to chicago to support his family during the struggling life in the great depression. there’s queer scenery and crime underlying it all. but i felt *so* disconnected from it all.
joe doesn’t particularly have much direct impact when he partakes in any of these schemes his cousin gets him into. every queer spot they go to, they don’t interact at all with the people around them. we’re TOLD they’re at a spot, that’s its dangerous, but we never really experience the vibrancy of the queer underworld. and i could say the exact same for the crime aspect of it. like yes, he’s technically involved but beyond two scenes, it kind of just feels like he’s just there. there’s not much nitty-gritty that you’d expect with a story of this kind.
and i can’t believe i’m saying it, but i wish it was longer. i think we would’ve had more time for him to develop the relationships with eddie and raymond, the crew at the hotel he worked at. even del. i just think the shortness of the book made the pacing feel so off. i don’t know. i have a lot of small gripes that i can’t quite articulate at the moment, but that all added up into how i feel about this story. kind of meh. it’s unfortunate considering it was one of my most anticipated releases.
aw man, i don’t even know how to start this one…
let’s just say that this was not what i expected. it’s not that it wasn’t what it pitched, it was… we’re following joe who moves to chicago to support his family during the struggling life in the great depression. there’s queer scenery and crime underlying it all. but i felt *so* disconnected from it all.
joe doesn’t particularly have much direct impact when he partakes in any of these schemes his cousin gets him into. every queer spot they go to, they don’t interact at all with the people around them. we’re TOLD they’re at a spot, that’s its dangerous, but we never really experience the vibrancy of the queer underworld. and i could say the exact same for the crime aspect of it. like yes, he’s technically involved but beyond two scenes, it kind of just feels like he’s just there. there’s not much nitty-gritty that you’d expect with a story of this kind.
and i can’t believe i’m saying it, but i wish it was longer. i think we would’ve had more time for him to develop the relationships with eddie and raymond, the crew at the hotel he worked at. even del. i just think the shortness of the book made the pacing feel so off. i don’t know. i have a lot of small gripes that i can’t quite articulate at the moment, but that all added up into how i feel about this story. kind of meh. it’s unfortunate considering it was one of my most anticipated releases.
March 9, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! It did take a bit before the story really hooked me but once it did, I had a hard time putting it down. Joe goes to Chicago to make some money to send back home to his mother and save their farm. Times are hard and Joe is not afraid of hard work but he is soon drawn into a less-than-honest way to make some real money. I was incredibly worried about how things would work out for Joe before this book drew to a close.
I liked Joe right away but I cannot say the same thing for his cousin, Bernie. I feel like he grew and learned a lot about himself over the course of the story. Joe has always tried to do what is expected of him but while he is in Chicago he is able to explore his true feelings and what he really wants out of life. He spent time with two very different young men, Raymond and Eddie. Things aren’t always what they seem and Joe learns a lot about the kind of man he wants to be. I thought that the fact that the book was set in the 1930s made the story even more interesting.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well-done coming-of-age story. I really liked the characters and loved the way the setting came alive. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that there were a few twists that made the story even more interesting. I would not hesitate to read more of James Klise’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.
I enjoyed this one! It did take a bit before the story really hooked me but once it did, I had a hard time putting it down. Joe goes to Chicago to make some money to send back home to his mother and save their farm. Times are hard and Joe is not afraid of hard work but he is soon drawn into a less-than-honest way to make some real money. I was incredibly worried about how things would work out for Joe before this book drew to a close.
I liked Joe right away but I cannot say the same thing for his cousin, Bernie. I feel like he grew and learned a lot about himself over the course of the story. Joe has always tried to do what is expected of him but while he is in Chicago he is able to explore his true feelings and what he really wants out of life. He spent time with two very different young men, Raymond and Eddie. Things aren’t always what they seem and Joe learns a lot about the kind of man he wants to be. I thought that the fact that the book was set in the 1930s made the story even more interesting.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well-done coming-of-age story. I really liked the characters and loved the way the setting came alive. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that there were a few twists that made the story even more interesting. I would not hesitate to read more of James Klise’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.
April 10, 2023
Finally something different for readers of YA, after the past few years of essentially the same template and its variations. Chicago in the summer of 1934 is vividly depicted in this novel, with a cast of believable characters led by the protagonist Joe, equal parts naive farm kid, while fast learning the ropes of big city life and how to come to terms with his queerness. The way Klise handles the sex scenes is particularly deft, not needing prurient description while also being clear that these young men are not limiting their encounters to chasteness.
The novel might be just a touch overlong, and a few of Joe's decisions seem plot-driven more than entirely plausible. I was slightly thrown by the book's tone switch after things got considerably darker than what had previously transpired. But overall it is such a breath of fresh air that it deserves four strong stars.
The novel might be just a touch overlong, and a few of Joe's decisions seem plot-driven more than entirely plausible. I was slightly thrown by the book's tone switch after things got considerably darker than what had previously transpired. But overall it is such a breath of fresh air that it deserves four strong stars.
August 3, 2023
I love when I stumble upon books that aren’t on my radar and enjoy them. This isn’t perfect and there are a lot of morally gray characters but I really enjoyed it and appreciated the setting in Chicago and the 30s and the references to Dillinger.
May 2, 2023
3.5
“I’ll Take Everything You Have” follows Joe as he moves to Chicago and gets some not exactly honest work to pay for his family’s farm back home. This novel also follows him discovery more about queer culture and meeting two queer guys, Eddie and Raymond. This wasn’t necessarily a romance despite there being romance. This was definitely more a coming of age story about Joe. I really liked Joe despite him making some decisions I didn’t agree with. The setting is really well done and fits with the book fabulously.
Despite this, I can’t exactly say that I adored this because of how much more could’ve been done with some of the elements. There are many great ideas mentioned that I feel were sort of half discovered. Whether it be with going into the queer spaces more in depth or adding to the murder mystery aspect, a few extra chapters could’ve been beneficial.
Ultimately, this was a pretty solid read. If you’re looking for a short, queer, coming of age in 1930s Chicago, then definitely check this out! Thank you so much for Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
“I’ll Take Everything You Have” follows Joe as he moves to Chicago and gets some not exactly honest work to pay for his family’s farm back home. This novel also follows him discovery more about queer culture and meeting two queer guys, Eddie and Raymond. This wasn’t necessarily a romance despite there being romance. This was definitely more a coming of age story about Joe. I really liked Joe despite him making some decisions I didn’t agree with. The setting is really well done and fits with the book fabulously.
Despite this, I can’t exactly say that I adored this because of how much more could’ve been done with some of the elements. There are many great ideas mentioned that I feel were sort of half discovered. Whether it be with going into the queer spaces more in depth or adding to the murder mystery aspect, a few extra chapters could’ve been beneficial.
Ultimately, this was a pretty solid read. If you’re looking for a short, queer, coming of age in 1930s Chicago, then definitely check this out! Thank you so much for Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2022
I AM HERE FOR 1930s QUEER CHICAGO JOY! This book is TERRIFIC with too many twists and turns to count!!!! Compulsively readable, with believable characters and realistic settings, I was enthralled from start to finish!
March 17, 2023
2023 reads: 82/350
joe comes to chicago in hopes of making enough money to save the family farm. his cousin sets him up with a hotel job and then proposes a shadier plan: joe will take a french class with some wealthy people and report back when they’ll be out of town. he meets raymond in that class, who opens his eyes to the queer community in the city, and eddie at work, the handsome and flirty delivery driver.
morally-questionable mcs are my favorite, and of course joe didn’t make the best decisions, yet i couldn’t help but feel for him. i loved his character development throughout the story and, while i didn’t expect it, i liked how this story ended. overall, i really enjoyed this historical coming-of-age story and would recommend to others.
joe comes to chicago in hopes of making enough money to save the family farm. his cousin sets him up with a hotel job and then proposes a shadier plan: joe will take a french class with some wealthy people and report back when they’ll be out of town. he meets raymond in that class, who opens his eyes to the queer community in the city, and eddie at work, the handsome and flirty delivery driver.
morally-questionable mcs are my favorite, and of course joe didn’t make the best decisions, yet i couldn’t help but feel for him. i loved his character development throughout the story and, while i didn’t expect it, i liked how this story ended. overall, i really enjoyed this historical coming-of-age story and would recommend to others.
October 23, 2022
Received as an ARC.
I'll Take Everything You Have centers around Joe Garbe, a young man hoping to support his mother and help pay off the debts they owe in their small town of Kickapoo. He gets a job as kitchen help with his cousin, Bernie, in Chicago. Suddenly he finds himself caught up with Bernie in something criminal, if only to make ends meet. Pulled through the city's dark underground while tangled up with two handsome boys --- Eddie, a flirt with a delivery truck, and Raymond, a rich and carefree kid --- Joe discovers what truly matters to him when the world tells him what should be kept in the dark.
This book was short and quite fast-paced, but I enjoyed the events Joe found himself going through as the story progressed. We only ever get his POV, which is interesting enough that I was able to stay intrigued with, but I think I would have also enjoyed seeing the story through Eddie or Raymond or even Bernie's eyes. He spends a lot of time with Raymond and Bernie, but Eddie didn't seem to get enough attention throughout the story despite being showcased as a potential love interest.
This is not a love story by the way. Joe gets intimate with Eddie and Raymond, but this story is about him and his journey as a character. From knowing who he should really listen to and who he should really trust. I liked that this story didn't focus on building a sole relationship but showed all the people that mattered in Joe's life. I wish that we could have switched POVs every now and then. What was Eddie thinking and doing off screen? And Raymond and his trip to Canada? Or Bernie, despite his rough exterior, with his hidden fondness for his cousin?
Overall, this was fun to read.
I'll Take Everything You Have centers around Joe Garbe, a young man hoping to support his mother and help pay off the debts they owe in their small town of Kickapoo. He gets a job as kitchen help with his cousin, Bernie, in Chicago. Suddenly he finds himself caught up with Bernie in something criminal, if only to make ends meet. Pulled through the city's dark underground while tangled up with two handsome boys --- Eddie, a flirt with a delivery truck, and Raymond, a rich and carefree kid --- Joe discovers what truly matters to him when the world tells him what should be kept in the dark.
This book was short and quite fast-paced, but I enjoyed the events Joe found himself going through as the story progressed. We only ever get his POV, which is interesting enough that I was able to stay intrigued with, but I think I would have also enjoyed seeing the story through Eddie or Raymond or even Bernie's eyes. He spends a lot of time with Raymond and Bernie, but Eddie didn't seem to get enough attention throughout the story despite being showcased as a potential love interest.
This is not a love story by the way. Joe gets intimate with Eddie and Raymond, but this story is about him and his journey as a character. From knowing who he should really listen to and who he should really trust. I liked that this story didn't focus on building a sole relationship but showed all the people that mattered in Joe's life. I wish that we could have switched POVs every now and then. What was Eddie thinking and doing off screen? And Raymond and his trip to Canada? Or Bernie, despite his rough exterior, with his hidden fondness for his cousin?
Overall, this was fun to read.
June 16, 2023
I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narration. Would recommend.
This story was so twisty and turney. I literally had an hour left of the audio book and told a friend at dinner “I bet you this is what happens” and BOY WAS I WRONG OMG!
There wasn’t as much romance as I was hoping for in this but it ended on a really sweet queer friendship vibe that I really connected with.
If you’re in the mood for gay boy in 1930’s Chicago and can handle the homophobia that is involved in such a thing than I definitely will recommend this as a short nice read.
Ill definitely be seeing what this author does next.
This story was so twisty and turney. I literally had an hour left of the audio book and told a friend at dinner “I bet you this is what happens” and BOY WAS I WRONG OMG!
There wasn’t as much romance as I was hoping for in this but it ended on a really sweet queer friendship vibe that I really connected with.
If you’re in the mood for gay boy in 1930’s Chicago and can handle the homophobia that is involved in such a thing than I definitely will recommend this as a short nice read.
Ill definitely be seeing what this author does next.
June 14, 2023
Simply written, but beautiful for it. An easy book to devour in one sitting. Excellent.
August 1, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
May 28, 2023
(3.5 stars)
May 6, 2023
I would give this 3.5/5, rounded up!
This was absolutely not the usual kind of book I read, but I did enjoy it, when I got past having to hear a man’s voice in my ear on my hot girl walks 😉 I was stressed, then I wasn’t stressed, then I felt second-hand embarrassment, then I was SUPER stressed, but it all turned out okay in the end, and this was one book where I can honestly say that I’m SO happy with how it ended.
This is an ideal read for fans of historical queer fiction with a coming-of-age vibe. Jonas, again, I think you would really enjoy it!
This was absolutely not the usual kind of book I read, but I did enjoy it, when I got past having to hear a man’s voice in my ear on my hot girl walks 😉 I was stressed, then I wasn’t stressed, then I felt second-hand embarrassment, then I was SUPER stressed, but it all turned out okay in the end, and this was one book where I can honestly say that I’m SO happy with how it ended.
This is an ideal read for fans of historical queer fiction with a coming-of-age vibe. Jonas, again, I think you would really enjoy it!
April 8, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll Take Everything You Have by James Klise is a solid YA historical LGBT+ novel. The description really pulled me in, but it never quite lived up to the hype I'd built up for it. I really liked the idea of a queer coming-of-age story being set in the dark criminal underbelly of Depression Era Chicago. Plus, the main character, Joe, has been sent to the city to do whatever it takes to earn the money to save the family farm. That all sounded very enticing, but I felt a few to many steps removed from the characters be as hooked as I wished I was going to be. It was interesting to learn more about the city of Chicago from a different perspective, but I wanted to be more immersed into the world. Anyway, like I said, this book is a decent read, but it was a little too underwhelming considering what I was hoping for.
I'll Take Everything You Have by James Klise is a solid YA historical LGBT+ novel. The description really pulled me in, but it never quite lived up to the hype I'd built up for it. I really liked the idea of a queer coming-of-age story being set in the dark criminal underbelly of Depression Era Chicago. Plus, the main character, Joe, has been sent to the city to do whatever it takes to earn the money to save the family farm. That all sounded very enticing, but I felt a few to many steps removed from the characters be as hooked as I wished I was going to be. It was interesting to learn more about the city of Chicago from a different perspective, but I wanted to be more immersed into the world. Anyway, like I said, this book is a decent read, but it was a little too underwhelming considering what I was hoping for.
May 21, 2024
One star for the historical content. I enjoyed the slang terms and found some of Joe's new experience scenes to be enjoyable. There's a highlight when they're going to have a pizza pie and he asks if they ought to have lunch before their pie, then thinks it doesn't look finished. I enjoyed those bits when Joe felt authentic.
The rest....... I hate Joe. I hate him so much. He's a self-righteous, moralizing little shit. "Oh he's discovering his queer identity" AS A TWO-TIMER? Is that his queer identity? Literally, all he had to do was say to Ray or Eddie, "Hey, I like you as a friend, but there's someone else." But no, because that's not what Joe wants.
But what does Joe want? Well, he wants a queer community, that's valid. He also wants to go to college. To study... uh... college. I guess. Honestly I wasn't even clear on whether or not Joe was still in school and how he meant to get into any college, let alone what he planned to study. His plan is just "college". And even that is pretty weak throughout the book.
I got the feeling we were supposed to look down on Bernie. Now, Bernie sucks because he's a homophobe, but I had the sense his selling books with forged signatures and participating in burglaries are also reasons we're not supposed to like him. JOE DOES TOO. Joe doesn't get pulled in too deep and spend half the book trying to get out, Joe knows what he's doing, does it anyway, fucks everyone over, spews lectures, and rips off his cousin at the end and I think it's supposed to seem okay because well, that Bernie, he's a criminal dontcha know.... yeah, so's Joe. Entirely. Joe's a criminal who backstabs family.
Joe is also, overall, the worst thing a character can be in a novel like this. Joe is passive. Joe moralizes and looks down on basically everyone (other than rich people, who as a class are sympathetically portrayed), but he takes the damn money at the end, doesn't he? Because he deserves it. Somehow. Joe just... sucks. He spends the book whining about everyone else's choices as he goes along with them.
I really hated Joe.
The rest....... I hate Joe. I hate him so much. He's a self-righteous, moralizing little shit. "Oh he's discovering his queer identity" AS A TWO-TIMER? Is that his queer identity? Literally, all he had to do was say to Ray or Eddie, "Hey, I like you as a friend, but there's someone else." But no, because that's not what Joe wants.
But what does Joe want? Well, he wants a queer community, that's valid. He also wants to go to college. To study... uh... college. I guess. Honestly I wasn't even clear on whether or not Joe was still in school and how he meant to get into any college, let alone what he planned to study. His plan is just "college". And even that is pretty weak throughout the book.
I got the feeling we were supposed to look down on Bernie. Now, Bernie sucks because he's a homophobe, but I had the sense his selling books with forged signatures and participating in burglaries are also reasons we're not supposed to like him. JOE DOES TOO. Joe doesn't get pulled in too deep and spend half the book trying to get out, Joe knows what he's doing, does it anyway, fucks everyone over, spews lectures, and rips off his cousin at the end and I think it's supposed to seem okay because well, that Bernie, he's a criminal dontcha know.... yeah, so's Joe. Entirely. Joe's a criminal who backstabs family.
Joe is also, overall, the worst thing a character can be in a novel like this. Joe is passive. Joe moralizes and looks down on basically everyone (other than rich people, who as a class are sympathetically portrayed), but he takes the damn money at the end, doesn't he? Because he deserves it. Somehow. Joe just... sucks. He spends the book whining about everyone else's choices as he goes along with them.
I really hated Joe.
March 15, 2023
Trigger Warnings: Past death of a parent, crime, classism, homophobia, police, blackmail, alleged suicide, gun, burglary, murder, blood, outing
Representation: Queer
I’ll Take Everything You Have is a queer historical fiction Novell about Chicago in the 1930s. In the summer of 1934, Joe Garbe arrives in Chicago with one goal: Earn enough money to get out of debt and save the family farm. Joe’s cousin sets him up with a hotel job, then proposes a sketchy scheme to make a lot more money fast. While running his con, Joe finds himself splitting time between Eddie, a handsome flirt on a delivery truck, and Raymond, a carefree rich kid who shows Joe the eye-opening queer life around every corner of the big city.
Joe’s exposure to the surface of criminal Chicago pulls him into something darker than he could have imagined. When danger closes in—from gangsters, the police, and people he thought were friends—Joe needs to pack up and get lost. But before he can figure out where to go, he has to decide who he wants to be.
This eARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am thoroughly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this story! I hadn’t heard anything bad about it, but reading the synopsis didn’t seem like my cup of tea. I guess that’s what happens when you assume!
Forewarning, this is not a romance. There are aspects of love and lust, there is a happy ending, but the point of the story is not for the hero to end up in a relationship. I think the author does an excellent job depicting the secrecy of being gay at this time, as well as the burden children often endure to support their parents. The story has strong themes of money and morality, classism, as well as some of the history of being gay during that time period. Overall, it’s a beautiful story of finding oneself and friendship.
Representation: Queer
I’ll Take Everything You Have is a queer historical fiction Novell about Chicago in the 1930s. In the summer of 1934, Joe Garbe arrives in Chicago with one goal: Earn enough money to get out of debt and save the family farm. Joe’s cousin sets him up with a hotel job, then proposes a sketchy scheme to make a lot more money fast. While running his con, Joe finds himself splitting time between Eddie, a handsome flirt on a delivery truck, and Raymond, a carefree rich kid who shows Joe the eye-opening queer life around every corner of the big city.
Joe’s exposure to the surface of criminal Chicago pulls him into something darker than he could have imagined. When danger closes in—from gangsters, the police, and people he thought were friends—Joe needs to pack up and get lost. But before he can figure out where to go, he has to decide who he wants to be.
This eARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am thoroughly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this story! I hadn’t heard anything bad about it, but reading the synopsis didn’t seem like my cup of tea. I guess that’s what happens when you assume!
Forewarning, this is not a romance. There are aspects of love and lust, there is a happy ending, but the point of the story is not for the hero to end up in a relationship. I think the author does an excellent job depicting the secrecy of being gay at this time, as well as the burden children often endure to support their parents. The story has strong themes of money and morality, classism, as well as some of the history of being gay during that time period. Overall, it’s a beautiful story of finding oneself and friendship.
January 17, 2025
Joe's arrival in Chicago leads to an unrealistically convenient scenario where every character he meets is queer and attracted to him. The romantic subplots feel rushed and artificial, while the dialogue often appears awkward. The murder plot and cover-up lack credibility, and many plot developments seem contrived rather than organic. The relationships lack authentic development. While 1934 Chicago provides a rich historical backdrop, the story fails to capitalize on this setting. Joe remains oddly passive in his cousin's criminal schemes. The novel's treatment of queer spaces feels superficial—locations are merely named and labeled as dangerous, but we never experience the vibrant reality of the queer underworld. What could have been a compelling coming-of-age story set in the criminal underground of Depression-era Chicago ultimately falls short of its potential.
June 6, 2023
I enjoyed a lot about this, including the murky morality of the characters, but I wish the book had been longer; it felt like the ambitious amount of plot Klise wanted to put in this novel would have suited a 400-page treatment, as the twists near narrative's end felt unexpected rather than built up like they could have been in a longer text. On the whole, though, fun!
April 25, 2023
I read Chasing Starlight a couple years ago, which is also set in the 1930s, and I absolutely loved it. I have been chasing that high since. I don't usually read a lot of historical fiction. But when I find one I like, I really like it. And I'll Take Everything You Have sounded like it was exactly what I was looking for. I read it via audiobook. Will Coolyer did such a great job with the slang and accents that, even without a lot of world building, I could picture a 1930s Chicago.
I can't say I completely loved this book. But I did stay up too late reading it. And I was almost late for work because I wanted to finish the last chapter. I'll Take Everything You Have is a coming-of-age contemporary set in the Depression Era. Joe makes his way to Chicago hoping to make enough money to save his family's farm. Unfortunately, his cousin, Bernie, gets him involved in some sketchy criminal activities. All the while, Joe is also coming to terms with his sexuality and kind of dates two completely different guys. Though, this book is definitely not a romance. And he doesn't end up with who I really wanted him to. I do like that he does grow up a lot by the end. Even without a hea I feel the book ends on a hopeful note.
My biggest complaints is that the book felt predatory at times. And I wish we could have explored the Queer spaces of the era a bit more. I also kind of wish it had leaned more into the murder mystery aspect. Everything does eventually and randomly tie back together.
If you enjoy historical fiction and Queer coming-of-age stories then definitely give I'll Take Everything You Have a try.
I can't say I completely loved this book. But I did stay up too late reading it. And I was almost late for work because I wanted to finish the last chapter. I'll Take Everything You Have is a coming-of-age contemporary set in the Depression Era. Joe makes his way to Chicago hoping to make enough money to save his family's farm. Unfortunately, his cousin, Bernie, gets him involved in some sketchy criminal activities. All the while, Joe is also coming to terms with his sexuality and kind of dates two completely different guys. Though, this book is definitely not a romance. And he doesn't end up with who I really wanted him to. I do like that he does grow up a lot by the end. Even without a hea I feel the book ends on a hopeful note.
My biggest complaints is that the book felt predatory at times. And I wish we could have explored the Queer spaces of the era a bit more. I also kind of wish it had leaned more into the murder mystery aspect. Everything does eventually and randomly tie back together.
If you enjoy historical fiction and Queer coming-of-age stories then definitely give I'll Take Everything You Have a try.
August 10, 2023
I found this story about a gay character coming of age in 1930s Chicago to be entertaining and thought-provoking. It is still so hard to imagine the danger that being gay posed during this time in history. A person could lose family, community, home, livelihood, savings, and freedom if the wrong person knew that she or he was queer. Even so, Chicago was home to many "pansy parlors" where people sought community despite the threat. Enter Joe, a sixteen-year-old boy trying to find some work in the big city in order to save his family farm. His cousin guides him not only to getting a job, but to becoming involved in Chicago's famous criminal underworld. It was a quick read that maintained my interest throughout.
dropped-dnf
August 20, 2023DNF at 50%
There's nothing wrong with the writing here, just it's not what I'm in the mood for and I think that is largely because I'm not the intended audience. Honestly, I've just gotten to where I can't read anything remotely YA anymore.
It's a little too heavy on the internal dialogue with nothing happening outside of that. Things that should have had a big impact on our MC's life didn't seem that way and we're just meandering through his day to day.
I might come back at some point because I feel like I'm giving up right before things actually start to happen but I shouldn't be literally half way through a book before.
There's nothing wrong with the writing here, just it's not what I'm in the mood for and I think that is largely because I'm not the intended audience. Honestly, I've just gotten to where I can't read anything remotely YA anymore.
It's a little too heavy on the internal dialogue with nothing happening outside of that. Things that should have had a big impact on our MC's life didn't seem that way and we're just meandering through his day to day.
I might come back at some point because I feel like I'm giving up right before things actually start to happen but I shouldn't be literally half way through a book before.
July 4, 2023
this was a really neat book! i love the characters that were written and they felt so real, i will say one thing though, joe is kinda a scum. but he’s a “innocent one at that” his character is a little bit questionable. and the whole end plot with eddie and ray was a bit fast all of the sudden and weird. but i overall really liked it. stilll can’t believe they casually commited a crime like that tho
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2023
Me ha encantado. Un coming-of-age queer histórico con una ambientación diferente a la típica Nueva York años 80-90. He conectado mucho con la prosa y la sencillez de la historia de este chaval que se va descubriendo en la gran ciudad.
August 9, 2023
Thanks to Wyatt for the recommendation. I will read any book about Chicago regardless of time frame. This book is about Joe who comes to the "big city" and is taken under the wing of his cousin Bernie. Joe is helping his family back home in Kickapoo to get ahead of their bills. Besides working a "respectable" job, he is tempted by ways to make fast and large amounts of money in the gritty criminal underbelly of the city. Joe is becoming aware of his sexuality and attraction to men. There are two men who become interests for him: Eddie and Raymond. I was rooting for Eddie for some reason but I was happy with the ending. I found the history of coping and passing both fascinating and sad. The mystery at the center of the book was great. And the scheme to rob homes when people were on vacation feels like an old one! Good writing, fast paced.
The author's note has a great tie to Sturgeon Bay (& the spark for this book)!
The author's note has a great tie to Sturgeon Bay (& the spark for this book)!
February 25, 2025
I liked this book. It was entertaining, and explores a side of history that really should be written about more. However, I didn't find anything excellent or really engaging about it, just a simple decent read.
May 2, 2023
Snyggt omslag, kul att den utspelade sig på 30-talet (fast ibland kanske det var lite väl många tidsmarkörer), bra atmosfär, rätt så spännande story, om än med lite märkliga omotiverade vändningar.
July 17, 2024
It was cute - bought it impulsively from an authors table. Nothing crazy or special but it had interesting chicago and queer history.
October 9, 2024
New favourite book tbh (Raymond Kendrick they could NEVER make me hate you)
November 1, 2024
Pffft. Huh? Like seriously HUH!!! 💁♂️
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