Title: All We Once had
Author: Katy Upperman
Publication: February 3, 2026
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Teen, YA Fiction
Pages: 416

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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)

Piper and her older sister could not be more different. Tati assumed guardianship when their parents were killed by a drunk driver, and some days Piper feels more kinship with her best friend and her family. Except Gabi isn’t speaking to Piper, just when Piper could really use a friend. Which is not how she expected to start the summer before senior year.

Escaping to their apartment complex’s pool for some space, Piper is stunned to see Henry. Her Henry. The boy who, three years ago, sat next to her at this same pool and offered the kind, calming presence she needed while she was deep in her grief. Together, they walked the beach, talked about their passions, and ultimately, shared a kiss. It was a perfect night. Except Piper hasn’t seen him since.

Henry is back in Florida to spend time with his dad and escape the relationship drama he left at home. Fate has brought Piper and Henry back together when their lives are most complicated with devastating secrets. With no one to confide in but each other, Piper and Henry must confront their painful pasts and the tumultuous present. Is this the start of another goodbye or a second chance at love?

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

After reading Everything I Promised You by Katy Upperman and giving it five stars, I knew I would be picking up whatever she wrote next! That book was easily one of my favorite reads of the year, and I absolutely fell in love with Upperman’s storytelling. She has this incredible ability to take really difficult, emotional topics and turn them into beautiful stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. All We Once Had follows Piper, a teenager who is still struggling with the loss of her parents and navigating a complicated relationship with her older sister, who is now her guardian. When Henry, a boy she shared a special night with three years earlier, unexpectedly comes back into her life, the two reconnect while dealing with some pretty difficult situations of their own. I loved the premise of this story and how Upperman once again managed to combine romance, grief, family struggles, and growing up into one emotional journey.

One of the things I appreciate most about Upperman’s writing is that she doesn’t shy away from hard topics. Her characters are dealing with real-life situations, and she isn’t afraid to show how messy those situations can be. I especially appreciated the complicated relationship between Piper and her sister, Tati. Grief affects everyone differently, and I thought it was interesting to see how two people who experienced the same devastating loss could handle it in completely different ways. I also enjoyed the relationship between Piper and Henry. Both characters are carrying their own emotional baggage, and their connection gives them someone to lean on while trying to figure everything out. This isn’t just a cute teenage romance. There is so much more happening beneath the surface, and that’s something I really love about Upperman’s books.

While I really enjoyed this story, I wouldn’t say it quite reached the same level as Everything I Promised You for me. That book absolutely destroyed me emotionally, in the best way possible, and set the bar incredibly high for anything I read by Upperman afterward! This one was still beautifully written, but it didn’t leave quite the same lasting impression. I also think there is a lot happening throughout the story, with several serious issues being explored at once. At times, it felt like a lot for these characters to navigate. However, I appreciate that Upperman doesn’t try to make everything easy or wrap up every difficult situation with a perfect little bow. Life doesn’t work that way, and I think that honesty is part of what makes her storytelling so special.

With that being said, I am quickly becoming a huge Katy Upperman fan! I love an author who can make me genuinely care about fictional characters and the difficult situations they are facing. Her writing is emotional, thoughtful, and beautifully done. I especially love that her stories are grounded in real-life struggles and remind readers that healing, forgiveness, and moving forward aren’t always easy. This was a solid four-star read for me, and I will absolutely continue picking up her books in the future. If you enjoy contemporary YA novels with emotional depth, complicated relationships, and stories that will tug at your heartstrings, I cannot recommend giving Katy Upperman’s books a try enough. And while you’re at it, definitely pick up Everything I Promised You too. You can thank me later!