The All Of It by Jeanette Haien

 The All Of It My Rating: 3.0

While fishing in an Irish salmon stream one rainy morning, Father Declan de Loughry reflects on the recent deathbed confession of his parishioner, Kevin Dennehy. I won’t reveal the spoiler, but Kevin’s widow, Enda, shares the deeper story of her life — finally confiding "the all of it."

Haien’s novel is a quiet, intimate exploration of conversations and moral dilemmas. If you go into it expecting a fast-moving plot or deep character arcs, you might be disappointed. The All of It is, at its heart, about two people grappling with secrets, faith, and forgiveness in a series of thoughtful, sometimes meandering conversations.

The beauty of the novel lies in its quietness — the rainy Irish setting, the slow unfolding of Enda’s story, and the way Father Declan wrestles internally with what he hears. It's not a novel of action; it’s a novel of reflection. 

Readers who enjoy a contemplative, dialogue-driven story will find much to appreciate here. I really enjoyed the writing but wasn't invested in the characters. Those looking for a more traditional narrative structure, or a strong sense of character development, may find themselves wanting more. Still, Haien’s careful prose and the novel’s meditative tone make it a memorable (if understated) read. Haien’s intimate novel of conversations and dilemmas