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All of It
The world has changed, but time marches on, its passage marked only by the listless days and sleepless nights as David and his faithful canine companion, Tig, march across a desolate and barren landscape. God, if there ever was one, has abandoned mankind and left it to squabble in the dirt.
With two mouths to feed and dwindling supplies, David grows desperate. He awakes one morning, cold and hungry, to find himself on the outskirts of a small town, seemingly deserted. Could this be his salvation or his doom? Left with little choice, David goes on, Tig at his heel.
Welcome to Elm Brook, trespassers shot on sight.
Read the debut novel from Jon Haag, a grim-dark post-apocalyptic tale. Nihilistic and brutal, All of It is a meditation on hope and overcoming the trauma that defines us.
With two mouths to feed and dwindling supplies, David grows desperate. He awakes one morning, cold and hungry, to find himself on the outskirts of a small town, seemingly deserted. Could this be his salvation or his doom? Left with little choice, David goes on, Tig at his heel.
Welcome to Elm Brook, trespassers shot on sight.
Read the debut novel from Jon Haag, a grim-dark post-apocalyptic tale. Nihilistic and brutal, All of It is a meditation on hope and overcoming the trauma that defines us.
- GenresHorror
353 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2025
57 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Jon Haag
1 book14 followersJon Haag is a former journalist working in information technology. His debut novel, All of It, is available on Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 3, 2025
I hate feeling like I'm dunking on a debut but here we go.
A very solid proportion of this book is spent dealing with exactly my most hated apocalyptic-lit trope, , but by the time I realized it would be the case I had already read a good chunk of it. Now, even a worn-out trope can be done well and be made to feel fresh and while it wasn't super goofy or anything egregious it also was nothing special. I suspect that the banality of it all was intentional but for me it failed to land.
I think the author was going for The Road but with more dogs (the dogs weren't annoying at least) and complete with the recollections about the wife being spread out throughout the book but these characters inner lives weren't particularly interesting so there wasn't much to make up for it being the typical collection of tropes.
That said, there were a few good scenes and moments were the writing was really good.
A very solid proportion of this book is spent dealing with exactly my most hated apocalyptic-lit trope, , but by the time I realized it would be the case I had already read a good chunk of it. Now, even a worn-out trope can be done well and be made to feel fresh and while it wasn't super goofy or anything egregious it also was nothing special. I suspect that the banality of it all was intentional but for me it failed to land.
I think the author was going for The Road but with more dogs (the dogs weren't annoying at least) and complete with the recollections about the wife being spread out throughout the book but these characters inner lives weren't particularly interesting so there wasn't much to make up for it being the typical collection of tropes.
That said, there were a few good scenes and moments were the writing was really good.
March 6, 2025
Unsettling but in the BEST, page turning, can’t put this down type of way! I absolutely loved the directions these characters took! The perfect amount of existential dread tempered with humility and hope. A post-apocalyptic world where the greatest threat to humanity is your fellow man. Can’t recommend this enough!
August 8, 2025
I stumbled across this book by accident and I generally enjoy a post-apocalyptic read, especially if it’s different in some way. The reviews seemed generally positive so when this dropped to 99p, I popped it on my Kindle.
The main character in this story is David and we join him and his dog Tig, after there has been an event that has meant the end of life as he knew it. The world has changed, the cities are empty, the landscape is desolate and barren and any people that are still alive are struggling and desperate. We follow David and Tig as they search for some normality and human kindness and we see the different characters and experiences they have along the way.
First of all, I thought the writing was good. I didn’t know until after I started the book that this is a debut novel, which makes it more impressive. It reads well and the descriptions of the landscape and desperation are really brought to life. The characters are authentic and I found myself invested in their lives and backstories. As expected, the story is incredibly grim at times, but the author does a great job of giving you a sense of hope throughout. Some of the scenes are pretty graphic but handled well and the flashbacks are weaved into the story and pace of the book. My only real complaint is that it felt like the book dragged on. The first half was brilliant and I was swept along with the story but the second half of the book really slowed for me and dragged on. I think we could have cut out a whole load of pages towards the end. I don’t know if there is another one in the series but I would be interested to see what happens next.
Overall, a good first book with strong characters but the story dragged in the second half for me.
The main character in this story is David and we join him and his dog Tig, after there has been an event that has meant the end of life as he knew it. The world has changed, the cities are empty, the landscape is desolate and barren and any people that are still alive are struggling and desperate. We follow David and Tig as they search for some normality and human kindness and we see the different characters and experiences they have along the way.
First of all, I thought the writing was good. I didn’t know until after I started the book that this is a debut novel, which makes it more impressive. It reads well and the descriptions of the landscape and desperation are really brought to life. The characters are authentic and I found myself invested in their lives and backstories. As expected, the story is incredibly grim at times, but the author does a great job of giving you a sense of hope throughout. Some of the scenes are pretty graphic but handled well and the flashbacks are weaved into the story and pace of the book. My only real complaint is that it felt like the book dragged on. The first half was brilliant and I was swept along with the story but the second half of the book really slowed for me and dragged on. I think we could have cut out a whole load of pages towards the end. I don’t know if there is another one in the series but I would be interested to see what happens next.
Overall, a good first book with strong characters but the story dragged in the second half for me.
November 10, 2025
Following an apocalyptic shift in his reality, David has to decide who, if anyone, to trust in this new world, and how to survive with his his dog, Tig. It's intense, brutal and heartbreaking and grips you from beginning to end.
Post-apocalyptic fiction is usually tough to read. It's a harsh unforgiving world once hope has been lost. What do you do? Where do you go? How do you survive? Questions you don't normally need to think about or consider suddenly are front and center leaving you, as the reader, to wonder if you know anything about surviving a situation like this, and I think the answer for most of us is a resounding no. The reason stories like this are so troubling is that it's not so hard to imagine it happening. These types of stories are not so far fetched anymore. It's easy to get wrapped up the abstract horror possibilities of this type of world - zombies, aliens, etc - some outside supernatural force that changes the world we live in, but in reality, the most dangerous threat in a post-apocalyptic world is man himself, and how do we rectify that we are our own worst enemy?
This book is extremely well written and thought-provoking albeit grim. It forces you to take a critical look at the state of humanity, and how close we are at any given moment to falling into complete chaos. Great debut novel from Jon Haag.
Post-apocalyptic fiction is usually tough to read. It's a harsh unforgiving world once hope has been lost. What do you do? Where do you go? How do you survive? Questions you don't normally need to think about or consider suddenly are front and center leaving you, as the reader, to wonder if you know anything about surviving a situation like this, and I think the answer for most of us is a resounding no. The reason stories like this are so troubling is that it's not so hard to imagine it happening. These types of stories are not so far fetched anymore. It's easy to get wrapped up the abstract horror possibilities of this type of world - zombies, aliens, etc - some outside supernatural force that changes the world we live in, but in reality, the most dangerous threat in a post-apocalyptic world is man himself, and how do we rectify that we are our own worst enemy?
This book is extremely well written and thought-provoking albeit grim. It forces you to take a critical look at the state of humanity, and how close we are at any given moment to falling into complete chaos. Great debut novel from Jon Haag.
February 23, 2025
Post-apocalyptic fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, but All of It pulled me in from the very first pages. The story was captivating, weaving a world that felt both unsettling and eerily possible. What stood out the most, though, were the characters—so well-developed that I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, eager to uncover their pasts and uncertain futures.
The novel balances fast-paced tension with moments of quiet introspection, making it more than just a thrilling read. It explores themes of survival, morality, and human resilience in a way that lingers long after the final page. Even for those who don’t typically gravitate toward post apocalyptic tales, All of It proves to be an immersive and thought-provoking experience.
The novel balances fast-paced tension with moments of quiet introspection, making it more than just a thrilling read. It explores themes of survival, morality, and human resilience in a way that lingers long after the final page. Even for those who don’t typically gravitate toward post apocalyptic tales, All of It proves to be an immersive and thought-provoking experience.
September 25, 2025
Really good!
Harsh, dark and violent, this is not a gentle walk in a park…
This is humanity in all its « glory », how civilization is so thin and why humans needs some ethical rules if we don't want to fall into utter chaos. This is where we are plunging right now if we don't have enough decent people to reverse the flow of hate that comes from the putrid mouth of those who are shouting so loud for the last decade. This is where some « leaders » are dragging us for their petty ego. This is our future if we let them win. This is a world without empathy and love…
Beautifully written, nonetheless, hard to believe that this is the first book of the author and that this is auto-publish!
Harsh, dark and violent, this is not a gentle walk in a park…
This is humanity in all its « glory », how civilization is so thin and why humans needs some ethical rules if we don't want to fall into utter chaos. This is where we are plunging right now if we don't have enough decent people to reverse the flow of hate that comes from the putrid mouth of those who are shouting so loud for the last decade. This is where some « leaders » are dragging us for their petty ego. This is our future if we let them win. This is a world without empathy and love…
Beautifully written, nonetheless, hard to believe that this is the first book of the author and that this is auto-publish!
April 2, 2025
This book was exquisitely crafted, a true masterpiece. The characters were multidimensional and authentic, I was deeply invested in their lives and backstories. It delves into the complexities of the human experience, tackling darker themes in a way that's both poignant and thought-provoking. I felt a profound emotional resonance throughout the entire book.
May 8, 2025
Wow this book was beautifully written. Scary post apocalyptic story that hits all too close to home. Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. This book is about David and Anna who meet under extreme circumstances. Both of them having suffered insurmountable loss. Both trying to see a shred of humanity left in a dying world.
December 26, 2025
Ok
If you have ever read Cormac McCarthy and like his free flowing use of language stay away from this book. Its Aldi version of McCarthy. An author who wants to write like McCarthy but labours at it. The story could have been told in half the time, had a better more complete ending and been less tedious. So it's only ok. I doubt if I will read anything else by the author.
If you have ever read Cormac McCarthy and like his free flowing use of language stay away from this book. Its Aldi version of McCarthy. An author who wants to write like McCarthy but labours at it. The story could have been told in half the time, had a better more complete ending and been less tedious. So it's only ok. I doubt if I will read anything else by the author.
January 17, 2025
I really loved this book. This is not typically my go-to genre but the story was captivating and the characters were well-developed and relatable. It is incredibly grim at times, but the author does a great job of giving you a sense of hope throughout the story.
March 2, 2025
This book was good thriller. Not my typical type of book but I enjoyed it! Makes your brain think along with it. Being from Stoneboro myself if was easy to place myself in a small town and played out my own layout of Elm Brook. Can’t wait to see another book from Jon Haag!
June 28, 2025
Fantastic
I hope to read more from this fantastic author. 5 Stars from me.
Highly descriptive, highly emotional, highly violent abut so realistic that I felt I was there. A book I highly recommend.
I hope to read more from this fantastic author. 5 Stars from me.
Highly descriptive, highly emotional, highly violent abut so realistic that I felt I was there. A book I highly recommend.
October 30, 2025
I listened to this on audio. This book didn’t hold my interest at all. I played it in the background while working and it was just a bore. Nothing really happened. The typical apocalyptic story. The narrator was so mono tone as well.
January 13, 2026
Marvelous
What a debut for an extraordinarily talented writer! Post apocalyptic fiction has acquired a master! I can’t say enough about this book or its author; but suffice it to say that ALL OF IT is just that!
What a debut for an extraordinarily talented writer! Post apocalyptic fiction has acquired a master! I can’t say enough about this book or its author; but suffice it to say that ALL OF IT is just that!
January 25, 2025
A very captivating read. The world was very immersive and the characters relatable. The story is driven well and kept me wondering what would happen next.
June 10, 2025
Snooze alert.
This book was just full of fluff. It is a very boring read. Pick another book. I have nothing good to say about this book.
This book was just full of fluff. It is a very boring read. Pick another book. I have nothing good to say about this book.
July 10, 2025
What a stunning debut novel.
December 19, 2025
Went around in post apocalyptical circles for a while and ended mid tale. I presume there will be a follow up.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews