Author: Peng Shepherd
Genre: Speculative fiction / Contemporary fantasy / Philosophical fiction / Metafiction
Ideal for: Readers who enjoy reality-bending narratives that ask “what if” questions
Why I Picked It Up
Peng Shepherd has carved out a reputation for weaving genre-bending, thought-provoking stories that blur the line between the fantastical and the deeply human. From her acclaimed The Book of M to The Cartographers, she has shown a consistent ability to take big, speculative “what if” concepts and anchor them in emotional truth. With All This & More, she once again delivers an inventive narrative that combines reality TV spectacle with questions about identity, memory, and the choices that shape our lives. While the book is bold and addictive, it occasionally stumbles in execution, landing it solidly at four stars instead of five.
Plot Summary (Spoiler‑Free)
At the heart of All This & More lies an irresistible concept: a reality TV show that allows participants to rewrite their lives. The show—complete with dazzling production, audience votes, and a charismatic host—invites contestants to revisit past decisions and see how things might have turned out if they had chosen differently.
The protagonist, a woman dissatisfied with the trajectory of her life, enters this surreal arena to see what alternate realities might have been possible for her. Each episode brings a twist in her story, not just reshaping her world but also testing her sense of self. The central question becomes: if you could undo your regrets, would you still be you?
It’s a premise that instantly hooks readers, especially in our own era of curated social media identities and reality TV obsession.
Themes and Ideas
One of the most compelling aspects of All This & More is its thematic richness. Shepherd isn’t just spinning an imaginative yarn; she’s interrogating issues that cut close to the bone.
- The Illusion of Choice: The book plays with the tantalising fantasy of “what if,” but also exposes how even altered decisions can lead to unexpected consequences. The past may be mutable in this world, but happiness is never guaranteed.
- Identity and Authenticity: If a person’s past changes, do they remain the same individual? Shepherd uses the protagonist’s journey to explore how much of identity is shaped by external circumstance versus internal core.
- Spectacle Culture: The reality TV setting is more than a backdrop; it’s a biting critique of how society consumes personal stories for entertainment, reducing even profound life struggles into voting fodder.
- Regret and Acceptance: Beneath the glitzy surface, the book is ultimately about making peace with one’s life—even its imperfections.
These themes elevate All This & More beyond a clever gimmick, grounding it in philosophical and emotional terrain.
Characters
The unnamed protagonist is the book’s anchor, and Shepherd portrays her with nuance. She’s neither purely likeable nor irredeemable—just human, weighed down by mistakes, longing, and the temptation of reinvention. Readers may not always agree with her choices, but her vulnerabilities make her relatable.
The supporting cast, however, feels less fully realised. The host of the show, with their blend of charisma and menace, is an intriguing figure but at times drifts toward caricature. Contestants and secondary characters flicker in and out of the narrative without leaving deep impressions. While this may mirror the ephemeral nature of reality TV, it occasionally undermines the novel’s emotional stakes.
Writing Style
Peng Shepherd’s prose is sharp, cinematic, and engaging. She has a knack for pacing, keeping readers turning the pages as the protagonist jumps between timelines. The structure—alternating between “episodes” and behind-the-scenes glimpses—works brilliantly to mimic the rhythm of television while maintaining the intimacy of a novel.
Her descriptive passages shine, especially in capturing the surreal atmosphere of the set and the emotional intensity of watching one’s life unravel and reform. However, there are moments when the book leans too heavily on exposition. Some scenes explain the mechanics of the show rather than letting readers experience them organically.
Why It Works So Well
- Inventive Concept: The reality-TV-as-life-rewrite premise is one of the most original narrative devices in recent fiction, instantly engaging and thought-provoking.
- Thematic Depth: Shepherd doesn’t waste the premise; she digs into profound questions about regret, authenticity, and the human condition.
- Page-Turning Momentum: Despite its philosophical undercurrents, the novel is compulsively readable. Each “episode” creates suspense about how the protagonist’s life will shift.
- Cultural Relevance: In an age where social media, reality TV, and self-curation dominate, the book feels incredibly timely.
Where It Could Have Pushed Harder
- Character Development: Outside of the protagonist, the cast feels underdeveloped. The secondary figures function more as plot devices than fleshed-out individuals.
- Over-Explaining: Some sections fall into telling rather than showing, particularly when detailing how the show works. This occasionally disrupts the immersive experience.
- Emotional Distance: While the novel is intellectually stimulating, it doesn’t always deliver the emotional gut-punch that its premise promises. Readers may admire it more than they feel it.
You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy…
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Final Thoughts
Peng Shepherd’s All This & More is a daring, inventive novel that successfully blends speculative fiction with social critique. Its central conceit—a reality show that lets contestants rewrite their past—feels both fantastical and eerily plausible. While the execution isn’t flawless, the book is consistently engaging and intellectually stimulating.
This is a story that will spark reflection long after the last page. Readers may find themselves asking what choices they would redo, and whether the fantasy of a perfect life is worth the risk of losing one’s authentic self.
For all its brilliance, All This & More doesn’t quite achieve perfection. The underdeveloped side characters and occasional over-explanation keep it from reaching the emotional heights of Shepherd’s previous works. Yet, as a piece of thought-provoking fiction, it stands tall and reaffirms Shepherd’s status as one of the most inventive voices in contemporary literature.
All This & More is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and anyone fascinated by the interplay between identity, regret, and the media spectacle of modern life. It may not be perfect, but it is ambitious, clever, and deeply relevant—a book that entertains while challenging readers to reflect on their own choices.
