All This and More

All This and More completely captivated me—mind-bending, emotionally rich, and unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. Peng Shepherd takes the concept of a “what if?” and spins it into a mesmerizing exploration of identity, regret, and second chances, all wrapped in a dazzling speculative twist.I was hooked by the idea of a reality TV show that lets you rewrite your life, but I stayed for the deeply personal journey at its core. The protagonist’s longing, uncertainty, and hope felt so real, and I found myself questioning what I would change, if I had the chance.Shepherd’s writing is sharp and immersive, with just the right blend of heart and high concept. It’s both an emotional rollercoaster and an intellectual puzzle, and it hit me in ways I didn’t expect.This is one of those rare novels that entertains while making you reflect on your own life. A smart, moving, and wildly imaginative read, and I loved every page.

A really interesting concept that is all gimmick without real character development or depth. The book wimps out on a proper ending and its impossible to tell what the heroine actually wants. The book is chaotic and misses the mark while dancing around trying to make any real statement about the pursuit of happiness.

Sometime confusing

I liked the ending of this book. I liked the way she really leaned into there being no right answer. I was intrigued enough to read each of the final 3 options. However the fairly well executed gimic doesn’t really make up for how shallow the characters are. I thought the main character was relatively sympathetic at the start, but each dramatic change in venue left me more and more annoyed with her. You don’t learn courage or experience true growth when you’re simply handed celebrity and awards. The premise is stupid and annoying. I also felt that her relationships were extremely questionable. That she can be so enamoured with replacement mate while still wishing for original mate just feels greedy. She’s constantly saying she’d do anything for her daughter but she abandons her over and over. Both her best friend and her pet dog are dragged through her drama with nearly no concern about the damage inflicted on them. I just can’t really like someone who does all that. While I kind of sympathize with the main character’s decision making, I hate that the story totally fails to address her greatest regrests. She regrests choosing courses that are safe or self-sacrificing. But if this story is supposed to be a do-over, we see her continuing to do that again and again…up until the very end where the decision is taken out of her hands and put into the readers control. Its a waste of an interesting plot device

I loved Shepherd’s book The Cartographers, so I was excited when I saw her newest book at the library. Of course, I added it to the other books in my library bag.I was surprised to see that All This & More is a choose-your-own-adventure book, similar to those I read when I was young: “If you’d like this to happen, turn to page 12. If instead you’d like this to happen, turn to page 42.”Unfortunately, the format didn’t work for me in this book.The plot felt disjointed and clunky, and I found it difficult to connect with most of the characters.