Member Reviews
I loved this unique storyline in this book. It was almost nostalgic. This was so much fun to read!
What do you even say about a book like this? On one hand, it was incredibly unique with a fast-paced plot and some really interesting scifi details, but on the other hand the story left so many unanswered questions and plot holes. I loved it and I hated it at the same time.
I think the device of the "choose-your-own-adventure" wasn't as effective as it could have been. One of the draws of these stories is that the end outcome is entirely dependent on the choices you make, and that wasn't the case with this book. I personally think this would have been a better book without the gimmick.
I was definitely interested in Marsh's story and the cool scifi details, but I just felt like they weren't fully explained. I felt like this book left so many loose ends and it was very unsatisfying. It wasn't as if the loose ends were purposeful, because I got the sense that the author wanted this to feel like a complete story, which made it even more annoying.
This was my second book by this author and my second time with the same complaint. Her editor is doing her dirty and needs to take a deeper look at all of the threads to make sure they get tied up by the end.
2.75 stars rounded up
I loved this book so much: I RAN to the nearest bookstore to purchase this book as soon as pub day hit. I found that this book reminded me of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY….but better and less shallow/generic. I finished most of this book within 24 hours. Incredible plot and story-building. Sci-fi but make it relevant to this mom-of-two-kids who chose to stay at home. This one was all up in my alley and I did not mind one bit. I in fact liked it a lot and have been racking my brain to understand how choose-your-own-story books work bc does that means there’s at least 50% of the book that I have not read? The characters are so well-thought out and translate to paper so well. I felt like I knew Marsh, Dylan, and Ren. I also really enjoyed the ending - all 3 endings. I loved how it all came together at the end.
Peng Shepherd is back with her third inventive and compelling novel, which focuses on a woman who wins a chance to re-do all of her past mistakes and reinvent her life. But is it too good to be true? Shepherd’s imagination is on full display in this cracking Choose Your Own Adventure tale.
Before I had even look at the blurbs about this book, I had, after reading the synopsis, thought the book had major The Midnight Library vibes. That is exactly right - but with major "Choose Your Own Adventure" style points thrown in as well. Unfortunately, this book is ultimately not in the same league as The Midnight Library. It is a unique concept that just seems to drag on a little too long. Also, one section, about the failure of her marriage just seems out of place. I wanted too like the book more than I did.
Who wouldn't want a chance to re-do things, to right the wrongs, to make crooked paths straighter? Great premise, but I got a bit bogged down in places and just plain confused at what was being re-done in others.
I was an avid reader of choose your adventure books growing up, so when I saw this I was really excited. It was a great concept, but it just didn't work out how I thought it would/ how I remembered it being in other choose books. I wouldn't say there were "endless options" as I am that person who marks pages to go back and make the other choice. Overall the story was so-so. I was annoyed by the main character and how she goes from really meek and accommodating to a really demanding person who expects things to be just so. I get the underlying message and what not, but it just was flat for me.
- ALL THIS AND MORE has such a fabulous premise. What if you could go back to the road not taken? Could you make your life absolutely perfect in every way?
- However, I think this book would have been better in a linear narrative format rather than the choose your own adventure style. Things got repetitive fast since we had to be sure we didn’t miss important plot points on any particular path. At one point I even got looped around to chapters I’d already read.
- The format also meant Marsh’s character growth kind of came out of nowhere. Instead of actually learning things, she just suddenly was a more take charge person because the plot needed it to move.
- The rules and mechanics of the quantum bubble also weren’t really cohesive. I’m not a stickler for explaining all the science in sci-fi, but it didn’t follow its own logic.
he chance to change her life and make it absolutely perfect as a part of a reality TV show, she finally sees it as a way to prioritize herself and get her life absolutely right. But once she’s in the show, she starts to realize something is a bit off…
I adore the ideas Shepherd brings to the table in her novels. I really liked the way this one combined the exploration of how things might have changed if you had taken a different route in life with a reality TV show. All This & More is an invitation to play. Much as the audience could comment on what Marsha can choose to do with her life, as the reader, you got to choose what happened next. I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books as a kid and this was extremely nostalgic and fun in that sense. There is a way to read the book with a more linear narrative but I loved jumping around, changing the choices and seeing how things impacted the ending.
The mystery in the novel makes itself known pretty early and there were times I was frustrated to have to let it go when moving onto a different storyline (even though that letting go seemed right for the MC). While I really find the concept of exploring how things might have gone, I prefer when the MC is equipped mentally with what their new life entails, instead of trying to figure out who is who (this was a criticism I had of The Midnight Library as well).
But even with those criticisms I had a lot of fun reading this one. I also admire it for its format, it couldn’t have been an easy novel to write or arrange. It’s also been really fun to hear what everyone else’s first few choices and journeys through the book. I’d love to see the stats from the ebook after more people have read this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read.
Peng Shepherd does it again!!! I highly recommend checking this one out!!
I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Peng Shepard for allowing me to review this unique “choose your own adventure” story. I love the idea of getting to choose different scenarios and I think the author did a great job crafting this book. I would have liked a little more time in each scenario, but I had a great time with it all the same. I hope this author continues to write interesting and unique sci- fi books because I am a huge fan! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Thank you again for allowing me to review this book that kept me turning the pages like crazy! I highly recommend it.
OMG this was so much fun. With such a unique and interesting premise, the execution really could have fallen apart. But Peng Sheperd really nailed this "choose your own adventure" style, and in a way that really worked with the underlying premise of the book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Some plot points were obvious (which is fine) and some really took me by surprise. The premise also provided some thought provoking topics. I can't wait to see what this author does next.
such an interesting premise and concept but unfortunately i came out of it with mixed feelings. the ‘choose your own adventure’ was such a cool approach but i felt like we didn’t get to spend enough time in each scenario to really connect
It was a book! I loved the idea of this- a choose your own adventure of sorts- and for the most part, I think it delievered. I can only imagine how hard it was for the author to construct, but I do think I might have appreciated this more had it been told in more of a linear format. I kept wondering if I was missing something, and it was SO very plot driven, I never found myself connecting with Marsh. An ambitious book with a lot to like, though not a favorite.
Peng Shepherd has written another imaginative, inventive story with All This and More.
What if you could go back and make different decisions and change the trajectory of your life? Marsh gets to be on a reality show that allows her to do just that. But what are the consequences of changes? Will everything just work out better?
Peng has written this almost like a Mad Libs for adults. A great story about choices and the long-term effect of decisions.
I was fine with his choose your own adventure until we reach the final episodes. Until then it was a fun story: giving people options to find out what their lives would be like if they could change it, Final episodes though: what did I read? How convoluted things can become?
I’m not going to lie. I hated Ren the moment he was introduced. He was this extremely needy, love-bombing psycho starting day 1. He didn’t open his mouth to say one original or insightful thing. I understand Marsh needed some love and affection, but I didn’t know that she needed a Ken doll with no brain. Her character started to annoy me more and more. She kept saying she was trying to make this bubble great for everyone but nope, she was extremely self possessed.
I loved the intricacies of Shepherd’s earlier books. This started with a similar premise, but characters were so unlikeable. If they were tiny bit different with more back bone, I would have liked this story so much as an adult find your own adventure.
First thank you to William morrow and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Synopsis: Marsh’s life has hit a rough patch when she is selected to be the contestant on the hit reality tv show all this and more. She will get the chance to redo some of her life decisions and try to make her life perfect. Will she be able to figure out the right choices or will it end up worse?
What I liked: the premise of this book is very unique and so entertaining and engaging. I wanted to read this so badly. I really enjoyed the first quarter of the book where she was making some tweaks and adjustments and seeing how it changed her life. However I have to admit the middle part took a left turn that seem to go too far. I liked part of the ending where she realizes that maybe you don’t need to tweak your life. However the run up to all of them had her and all family members winning the best awards and being perfect first. I would have liked a little more mystery in it. Overall the writing was great but the story was a little too grandiose and lean a little preachy for me. I think it was a great attempt and concept
I was initially a bit skeptical about this book because it includes a Choose Your Own Adventure element, which could end up being fun or cheesy. Shepherd handled this element so well be incorporating it into the structure of a reality TV show. Marsh, whose life has come crashing down following her divorce from her husband, Dylan, realizes that she never accomplished what she wanted to in life in deference to her marriage. She’s offered the opportunity to star in a juggernaut reality show called All This & More, which uses quantum technology to allow people to make changes to their lives. Marsh has to make choices along the way about what she wants her life to look like and the reader gets to make choices right along with her. Obviously, there's a big sliding doors vibe to this book. The story is fast-paced and I enjoyed the focus on what makes a “perfect” life, though the plot did start to feel frantic eventually. But, things soon got interesting and I was drawn back in for the ending where the reader gets to choose between 3 possible outcomes. This is not a perfect book, but it was fun and a refreshing change of pace for me. It would make a fantastic book club pick as each reader most likely read a slightly different book based on the choices they made. Highly recommend for fans of The Measure by Nikki Erlick, The One by John Marrs, and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
All this and More was an excellent read. I liked the character exploration and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from this author.