This was just OK felt like it could’ve been edited a lot more. It was way too long and dragged at points.

I loved the Cartographers but this really didn't work for me. I was super interested at the beginning, but the cringey way the fans of the show were included and the little dialogues felt unrealistic. I also think it was WAY too long, it got soooo repetitive and draggy, and the twist (?) wasn't interesting enough to make up for it.

Peng Shepherd does it again once more proving she’s an out of the box writer. Her Book of M is still one of my favorite books so I knew I had to read All This and More.

And wow, Peng’s imagination knows no end. This book is a Choose Your Own Adventure style book with the reader being able to make the protagonist’s choices.

The premise of this story is a reality TV show where, because of a “quantum-bubble”, the contestant is able to go back and make different choices in her life. She can become rich, or famous, or find the love of her life, or all of the above.

Needless to say, the adventures go quite over the top and it was really fun to see what would happen next.

*Thanks so much to William Morrow and to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*

4.5 Rounded up

I wasn't fully sure what to expect from this book. The premise was fascinating, but so complex that I wasn't sure if it could truly be done well. I absolutely loved it! There were so many moments to reflect on the concept of perfection and what it would mean to have the perfect life and also how addicting it could be to have the power to change anything in our lives on a whim. The first half of the book had a bit more of a serious tone, that nearly seamlessly shifted into the fast paced chaos of the second half. The mystery evolved slowly at first and then nearly all at once towards the end. There could've been opportunities to plant more clues for the reader to follow, but the reveal felt worth the wait by the end and, while I couldn't predict the outcome too far in advance, I had the realization moment at nearly the same time it was revealed in the story. My main complaint was the ending (I read 2 of the 3 possible endings), I was frustrated with the main character's choices, but I also understand why the character made that choice and the development that led to those decisions. In terms of character development, I saw growth and change from the main character in a lot of ways, but not in the ways that I would've hoped for. I took it as commentary on the way striving for absolute perfection can be a dangerous game.

There's quite a bit of rambling in this review, but I did thoroughly enjoy this read and was constantly thinking about what could happen next when I wasn't reading. It's been awhile since I've been so hooked on a story.

All this to say though, due to the nature of the book, your experience may be different. The beauty of a choose your own adventure novel is that your choices could make the read a completely different experience. There are clearly some constants, but I'd be curious to return to this book again in a year or so and see how a different path plays out the story.

Thank you Thoughts from a Page, William Morrow, and the NetGalley for this early book copy.
I had the hardest time rating this book because it was a 5-star rating for the idea, plot, and just the way it made me feel. However, execution was not for me.

I loved the general idea of choosing your own story and had the most fun with it. I loved the twist at the end and the topic of making your life perfect. The ending made me think about my life and I am still coming back to this book now and then, thinking "Would I want a chance to make other choices, what if they would have been better?".

What did not work for me mainly was how our main character's life revolved around 2 men. It would have been nice to have a third option of "erase them both, single mom with a strong career". (I understand why it was not an option, I just wish there was an option).
Also, the way she was so obsessed with her daughters' talent made me feel like she did not see Harper for anything but her musical skills. There was no real development to the character, for me, she ended up where she began.
The "sci-fi/magical realism" aspect of a Bubble got too confusing in the end and some scenes made little logical sense and took me out of the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book and I think it was a great idea, it just was not the right book for me.

This was one of my most anticipated summer reads but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I especially didn't understand the perseveration on the concept of perfection. I also wonder if—because of the choose your own adventure component—this would have been better in print.

Reality tv show “All This and More” is a global phenomenon. It is must-see tv: audiences watch a selected contestant re-live crucial moments of her life and make different choices in order to set her life on a new path. Making her life more perfect is what this season’s contestant, 40-something single mother Marsh wants. She wonders if she could achieve more, be happier if she had the chance to go back. This tv show is her chance to find out.
Bestselling author Peng Shepherd’s newest is a creative choose your own adventure type of book; readers follow Marsh as she tries to change her life and can choose which path they want her to follow. It is an ingenious concept; it just wasn’t for me. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Harper Collins for an advance copy for review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

3.5 rounded up

I loved The Cartographers and choose your own adventure books, so I was very excited to receive an eARC of All of This and More. The premise of a reality TV show that lets one lucky contest relive important moments in their life to make different choices and attempt to create their perfect life is intriguing. Marsh is season 3's contest (but what happened to season 2?) and we get to choose some of her adventures in the book. While I did enjoy the premise, the book seemed a bit too long and I wished the mystery of season 2 and Chrysalis had been more prominent. I also wish Marsh had grown more of a spine and become more assertive about her wishes for her life. She mostly went with the flow, no matter how absurd things became or how far from her wants and dreams her various lives got. I am impressed at how the author was able to tie so many threads together. I would still recommend this book, but I would recommend The Cartographers over it.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

WHAT DID I JUST READ?! I need EVERYONE to read this book when it comes out July 2024. All This and More is as if an episode of Black Mirror was made into a book. It will bend and blow your mind. You get to choose your path with this book- send the main character to which alternate universe you think fits her best throughout the novel. It’s unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever read before. And it’s something you can read again- in a totally different way. Again. And again. 5/5 stars for uniqueness but bumping it down a star because my ending was a bit anticlimactic… but then again I chose that? I need to sit down and read it again.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review.

A true high-wire act of a novel, brain-bending on the page and altogether astonishing as an act of literary creation. Shepherd tosses the reader into a quantum-bubble reality TV series that allows the main character to re-make their lives in the hope of making things better as they go. Luckily, we don't spend a ton of time on the feasibility of that but instead run full-tilt into the wild possibilities, including a choose-your-own-adventure style structure to the book (that still manages to make sure you wind up where you ought to be, an astounding effort on Shepherd's part that cannot go unacknowledged). Things go totally bonkers by the end and there's a purposeful unease to every ending option (at least all of the ones I found) but that, too, seems to have been the point. It's a strange book but an amazing one too, confounding and also life-affirming.

Peng Shepherd certainly knows how to write a unique story. I really enjoyed The Cartographers and was so excited to read this new "choose your own adventure" style book. The story is set in a reality show where the main character can choose how to change her life at certain points. As the reader, you're making the choice to see where things go, and it was interesting to see the direction through the story. I won't say more than that, as it's best not to know too much. I will say that reading this on an e-reader was a little challenging, and I would highly recommend the physical copy.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #WilliamMorrow for a free copy of #AllThisAndMore by Peng Shepherd. All opinions are my own.

I love a good reality tv plotline and this was unlike any other. While I found some of the technical parts of it confusing, the characters kept me engaged. I enjoyed the refreshing spin on the old Choose Your Own Adventure books!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of All This and More by Peng Shepherd.

This book was ingenious and so much fun. I’ve never read anything like it, even though it will be compared to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. While there’s a similar premise - trying on different lives - the execution is completely different. The format of the choose your own adventure novel kept things whimsical, the techno thriller aspect of a quantum bubble changing reality gave it depth, and the “message” of not needing everything to be perfect kept out meaningful. I was glad I read this and an ebook as picking your paths made it more final, it was hard to flip back and question your choices as a reader.

A very fun ride worth your time.

This book is unlike any other book I've ever read and I am still thinking about it way after finishing. It was wonderful and I wish I could read it for the first time again. 4.5 stars

All This and More"by Peng Shepard is a groundbreaking novel that offers readers an interactive and immersive experience like no other. In this captivating story, Shepard explores the concept of second chances and the complexities of choice through the lens of quantum technology.

The protagonist, Marsh, finds herself at a crossroads in life, feeling like she has missed out on opportunities and longing for a chance to rewrite her past. When she is selected to participate in the revolutionary reality show All This and More, which grants contestants the ability to alter their life's trajectory, Marsh sees it as her ticket to a better future.

What sets this novel apart is its interactive format. Readers are given the power to influence Marsh's decisions and ultimately shape the outcome of the story. This interactive element adds an exciting layer of engagement, allowing readers to ponder the consequences of each choice and explore the myriad paths Marsh's life could take.

Shepard's writing is both poignant and thought-provoking, delving into themes of regret, redemption, and the pursuit of happiness. All This and More is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and interactive storytelling. With its compelling narrative and innovative format, it offers an unforgettable reading experience that will leave readers pondering the endless possibilities of their own lives.

Peng, how are you so freaking cool? What if our physics made it so we could go back and change those moments in our life that we wish we could change? And what if that was a reality show? A combination of Choose Your Own Adventure and technology gone too far, this is the very story that will give readers choice and chances for outcomes directed by what page you will turn.

This innovative novel presents a woman granted the chance to correct all her past mistakes, chasing her dream of a "happily ever after" with relentless resolve. The twist? You, the reader, determine her path, reshaping her future with each decision.Enter Marsh, a prudent and reserved woman at forty-five, wrestling with a stagnant career, a broken marriage, and a detached teenage daughter. She feels she's missed out on love, achievement, and adventure, longing for an opportunity to reboot her life.The story, pulsating with momentum and creativity, held me spellbound with its sheer unpredictability—a narrative experience unlike any other. Shepherd weaves a captivating tale centered on Marsh, who, thanks to cutting-edge "quantum technology," can revisit crucial crossroads in her life. As readers, we steer Marsh's path through our choices, echoing the allure of traditional choose-your-own-adventure tales. Astonishingly, this reader-driven approach complements the story, heightening the suspense, particularly as the narrative approaches its zenith.Marsh's character strikes a chord universally—after all, who hasn't daydreamed about a second chance or questioned their influence over life's trajectories?If you're in search of a mesmerizing, enjoyable, and thought-provoking read, this novel promises to deliver. Its distinctive storytelling will captivate you from beginning to end.A sincere thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this exceptional literary discovery.

I’ve been a fan of Peng Shepherd for a while as their use of literary fiction commingled with science fiction that isn’t necessarily explained is right up my alley.

This is basically a baby of The Bachelor and The Circle meets Bandersnatch (Black Mirror) with beautiful and intricate writing that takes us on an incredible journey. If you like reality tv this is for you, and if you don’t, this is still for you.

It’s been quite some time that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading a book as much as this since Invisible Monsters Remix by Chuck Palahniuk. It takes an impeccably detailed writer to pull off a tell your own story book in the way that Shepherd does. I quite literally lost sleep by choosing to continue reading this far past the time I should have.

A complaint I was hearing was that it was too long, but it ended so quickly for me that I could’ve read another 100-200 pages. Shepherd writes in a way that is exhilarating and you never want it to stop. I was completely hooked after a single page and that momentum didn’t end until the acknowledgements.

I truly cannot wait for this to release as I will immediately purchase the book so I can explore all the choices I didn’t make and see what I missed out the first time around. Utterly breathtaking and am blown away.

DNF: I couldn’t finish this book. It was so hard to follow the story line and seemed extremely repetitive without any plot/narrative. Definitely a great book for a reader who likes to jump around.