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Everything Happens So Much
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26The Midnight Library meets Everything Everywhere All at Once in this unputdownable adventure about a woman whose fantasies of escaping her humdrum life inadvertently disrupt the fabric of reality.
Esme Good is an unremarkable young woman working a dead-end job in an unremarkable city. Her only escape is The tiny potions that allow you to disappear for fifteen minutes into alternate versions of yourself. Sadly, these only confirm her suspicion that she is, in a cosmic sense, living her worst life.
Then, after a workplace incident that could have happened to anyone, Esme unintentionally becomes the most important person in this—or perhaps any—universe. We don't have time to get into exactly why this is, but to remedy it, Esme must find an uncharted land and fulfil a prophecy that has been on hold since the dawn of time.
She has spent her whole life trying not to become a main character. Now, a lot of things are about to happen to in fact, everything, and so much.
Esme Good is an unremarkable young woman working a dead-end job in an unremarkable city. Her only escape is The tiny potions that allow you to disappear for fifteen minutes into alternate versions of yourself. Sadly, these only confirm her suspicion that she is, in a cosmic sense, living her worst life.
Then, after a workplace incident that could have happened to anyone, Esme unintentionally becomes the most important person in this—or perhaps any—universe. We don't have time to get into exactly why this is, but to remedy it, Esme must find an uncharted land and fulfil a prophecy that has been on hold since the dawn of time.
She has spent her whole life trying not to become a main character. Now, a lot of things are about to happen to in fact, everything, and so much.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I gave this one to 25 or 30% and it wasn't anything that I was expecting. The main character, Esme, wasn't a person I wanted to spend any time with. Not much of what I read made sense and it didn't really have a supernatural feel to it at all.
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth and we both bailed on this one.
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth and we both bailed on this one.
October 11, 2026
If Everything, Everywhere All At Once and Terry Pratchett’s sardonically humorous Discworld had an illegitimate love child, but that child was a little bit confused and didn’t have too much self confidence.
Everything Happens So Much was a riot.
It’s a science fiction, multiversal comedy about what it means to be yourself, and similarly what happens when you spend a little too long thinking “what if”.
This one won’t be for everyone. It is chaos manifest. It’s a little bit Douglas Adams; and his absurd yet on the nose humour. It’s a little bit Terry Pratchett; with his slapstick yet moralistic writing (and footnotes used for comedic effect).
It’s a little bit, well, good.
We follow an ensemble of four characters;
Esme Good, who has unintentionally become the most important person in the entire multiverse
Talmeck, someone who works with Esme.
Chip, an adventurer who has been sent to prison.
Jessica, Chip’s sentient fake leg.
If that reads a little odd, just be sure that this entire book is similar. It looks at ethics, philosophy, religion and God, cults, sentience, love, and fate.
This was a bloody fun book.
Big recommend.
4.5/5.0
Everything Happens So Much was a riot.
It’s a science fiction, multiversal comedy about what it means to be yourself, and similarly what happens when you spend a little too long thinking “what if”.
This one won’t be for everyone. It is chaos manifest. It’s a little bit Douglas Adams; and his absurd yet on the nose humour. It’s a little bit Terry Pratchett; with his slapstick yet moralistic writing (and footnotes used for comedic effect).
It’s a little bit, well, good.
We follow an ensemble of four characters;
Esme Good, who has unintentionally become the most important person in the entire multiverse
Talmeck, someone who works with Esme.
Chip, an adventurer who has been sent to prison.
Jessica, Chip’s sentient fake leg.
If that reads a little odd, just be sure that this entire book is similar. It looks at ethics, philosophy, religion and God, cults, sentience, love, and fate.
This was a bloody fun book.
Big recommend.
4.5/5.0
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Little, Brown and Company for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was an ambitious and inventive book in the spirit of books like those of Douglas Adams. It didn’t work for me, but it wasn’t entirely a bust.
The narrator addresses the reader, which I never like, and there are footnotes and other little asides. Some of these worked and some of them did not. This book’s humor was generally hit or miss. I would have preferred that more time was spent on plot and character development and less on trying to be endlessly funny. Not to say it wasn’t at all clever, because at times it was, but by about the midpoint I was getting exhausted.
The main character, Esme, has nearly no personality. That’s one of the key points of her character, but it makes for an unengaging read. The other characters were similarly underdeveloped. That makes this more of a plot-focused novel, but the plot just kind of fizzles out too.
Fans of Andrew H. Murray’s podcasts and other works may be the right audience for this one.
This was an ambitious and inventive book in the spirit of books like those of Douglas Adams. It didn’t work for me, but it wasn’t entirely a bust.
The narrator addresses the reader, which I never like, and there are footnotes and other little asides. Some of these worked and some of them did not. This book’s humor was generally hit or miss. I would have preferred that more time was spent on plot and character development and less on trying to be endlessly funny. Not to say it wasn’t at all clever, because at times it was, but by about the midpoint I was getting exhausted.
The main character, Esme, has nearly no personality. That’s one of the key points of her character, but it makes for an unengaging read. The other characters were similarly underdeveloped. That makes this more of a plot-focused novel, but the plot just kind of fizzles out too.
Fans of Andrew H. Murray’s podcasts and other works may be the right audience for this one.
August 3, 2026
3.5⭐️
The Story Eaters of Yamm x Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency x VR/Meta Reality x Dr. Who vibes
The book feels like it’s trying to be clever, especially with its use of word play, but it didn’t land for me. I just wanted to story to be told.
Also the use of footnotes was twee - cc:
‘None of the above is germane to the meeting currently happening, but it was calculated that even at footnote size it would take a whole page. So.’
Esme’s overuse of The Elsewhere’s (tiny potions that give you 15min snippets of your alternate life from a different universe) which was basically a drug addiction (that ended up destroying the fabric of the universe) could’ve been a interesting take on the story, but all we got was a oneliner saying that IS interesting, but we have another story to tell so we’re skipping over that,
was annoying.
All the quirky characters she meets while on this journey to fulfill a prophecy, escape the clutches of various basically Time Lord/multiverse cops were interesting and had solid motivations. The execution felt trite and too meta (you’ll understand if you read) and it didn’t work for me.
The title does make sense. Everything happens SO MUCH. Reading the quotes I highlighted back, the book is quite humorous and I know I’ve read books with this same narrative structure that I liked better so I’ve raised my rating from a week ago.
Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Publication Date: November 10, 2026
‘When you start to tell a story, the best location you can begin in is somewhere crisp and easily visualised, somewhere your audience can imagine in a moment.’
‘Has she shown herself aware of anything out of the ordinary?’ The junior hood thought about how to answer. ‘I would say she is among the least aware people I’ve ever seen. But she’ll have to realise eventually.’
Esme Good. Average height, average build, average hair. She would have made a great spy, but for the twin facts that a) she was so unobtrusive nobody had ever noticed her long enough to ask if she’d be interested, and b) she had never shown an aptitude for languages, analysis, pattern-forming or any of the other skills that might have complemented her unobtrusive presence.
There they were. Eight little bottles, enough to provide her with eight wonderful experiences. A full day’s worth of happiness, if she spaced it out right.
The Elsewheres, of course, only transplanted you into versions of yourself who were at the age you were now.
So the two of them sat next to each other night after night, so preoccupied with the truths they hadn’t mentioned that they didn’t have time to wonder what the other hadn’t told them.
She also had 264 billion simultaneous heart attacks, but there was so much else going on that they were an afterthought.
‘What if I don’t sign?’ ‘You’ll be shot, and although I know it would be done very sensitively and tastefully, I imagine that’s not the outcome you imagine for yourself.’ Esme signed.
‘I just . . . Why is this happening to me? I work in Municipal Complaints.’ Chip shrugged. ‘Everything happens to someone. You’re not immune just because your job’s boring. Anyway, you’re here now.’
‘Did this leg just call me a floozy?’
‘Pretty big coincidence. You told me to watch out for coincidences.’
‘Why? Can’t they just leave me alone?’ ‘I’m afraid not.’ ‘I feel like you’re about to explain something.’ Talmeck took a deep breath.
The problem here is that if all the other versions of you die at the same time, you will have suddenly inherited every other version’s protagoninium.
Most of her memories full stop were from other Esmes.
Some thoughts are so delicate they can’t even be spoken by our own legs.
‘You’re going to be fine, Esme.’ ‘You don’t know that.’ ‘I do. In fact I’m willing to bet you’re not going to die. The protagoninium won’t let you. This isn’t the end of the story.’ ‘How do you know?’ ‘You haven’t kissed me yet.’
The Story Eaters of Yamm x Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency x VR/Meta Reality x Dr. Who vibes
The book feels like it’s trying to be clever, especially with its use of word play, but it didn’t land for me. I just wanted to story to be told.
Also the use of footnotes was twee - cc:
‘None of the above is germane to the meeting currently happening, but it was calculated that even at footnote size it would take a whole page. So.’
Esme’s overuse of The Elsewhere’s (tiny potions that give you 15min snippets of your alternate life from a different universe) which was basically a drug addiction (that ended up destroying the fabric of the universe) could’ve been a interesting take on the story, but all we got was a oneliner saying that IS interesting, but we have another story to tell so we’re skipping over that,
was annoying.
All the quirky characters she meets while on this journey to fulfill a prophecy, escape the clutches of various basically Time Lord/multiverse cops were interesting and had solid motivations. The execution felt trite and too meta (you’ll understand if you read) and it didn’t work for me.
The title does make sense. Everything happens SO MUCH. Reading the quotes I highlighted back, the book is quite humorous and I know I’ve read books with this same narrative structure that I liked better so I’ve raised my rating from a week ago.
Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Publication Date: November 10, 2026
‘When you start to tell a story, the best location you can begin in is somewhere crisp and easily visualised, somewhere your audience can imagine in a moment.’
‘Has she shown herself aware of anything out of the ordinary?’ The junior hood thought about how to answer. ‘I would say she is among the least aware people I’ve ever seen. But she’ll have to realise eventually.’
Esme Good. Average height, average build, average hair. She would have made a great spy, but for the twin facts that a) she was so unobtrusive nobody had ever noticed her long enough to ask if she’d be interested, and b) she had never shown an aptitude for languages, analysis, pattern-forming or any of the other skills that might have complemented her unobtrusive presence.
There they were. Eight little bottles, enough to provide her with eight wonderful experiences. A full day’s worth of happiness, if she spaced it out right.
The Elsewheres, of course, only transplanted you into versions of yourself who were at the age you were now.
So the two of them sat next to each other night after night, so preoccupied with the truths they hadn’t mentioned that they didn’t have time to wonder what the other hadn’t told them.
She also had 264 billion simultaneous heart attacks, but there was so much else going on that they were an afterthought.
‘What if I don’t sign?’ ‘You’ll be shot, and although I know it would be done very sensitively and tastefully, I imagine that’s not the outcome you imagine for yourself.’ Esme signed.
‘I just . . . Why is this happening to me? I work in Municipal Complaints.’ Chip shrugged. ‘Everything happens to someone. You’re not immune just because your job’s boring. Anyway, you’re here now.’
‘Did this leg just call me a floozy?’
‘Pretty big coincidence. You told me to watch out for coincidences.’
‘Why? Can’t they just leave me alone?’ ‘I’m afraid not.’ ‘I feel like you’re about to explain something.’ Talmeck took a deep breath.
The problem here is that if all the other versions of you die at the same time, you will have suddenly inherited every other version’s protagoninium.
Most of her memories full stop were from other Esmes.
Some thoughts are so delicate they can’t even be spoken by our own legs.
‘You’re going to be fine, Esme.’ ‘You don’t know that.’ ‘I do. In fact I’m willing to bet you’re not going to die. The protagoninium won’t let you. This isn’t the end of the story.’ ‘How do you know?’ ‘You haven’t kissed me yet.’
July 22, 2026
This was funny, irrelevant, and absolutely ridiculous story. It’s like Douglas Adams and Doctor Who sat down to Korite a comedy. The pacing is quick. The characters are funny. The banter is top-tier and dry. Overall, this is a story about stories and deciding what is life really all about. I had a fun time reading. It didn’t change my life, but it was a fun ride. I’m glad I went on it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book stimulates the imagination. It’s quirky and entertaining with mathematics, science, technology and drugs. It sounds like someone could have been getting a little high while writing this but no: it's pure science fiction.
After working for 12 years in customer relations filtering out complaints, Esme Good was ready for a more fulfilling job. However, when she gave her notice, she was offered a 25 percent increase if she signed a contract to stay for another 30 years in the same position.
It was a slow start, but then the story pulled me right in. I was captivated by the characters. Esme worked with Talmeck, her best friend. Much like our world, he was promoted. She wasn’t. Esme needed an escape. Rather than alcohol, she had an addiction and would drink “Elsewhere” where she could see an alternate version of herself in various lives. Her other forms appeared to be similar across different realities.
Esme wasn’t sure about continuing her job and took a dose of Elsewhere in a restroom. She was frustrated as nothing seemed to be happening. That’s when this story took off. She wanted a change and she got it. The pace accelerated.
I was awestruck with some of the technological advancements that one never knows if it could be on the cusp of existence. This book made me smile with the humor. The word “coincidence” kept creeping up just in time. The plot was engaging and made me think of the vast possibilities that aren’t familiar just yet. Who knows what’s out there.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC with an expected release date of November 10, 2026. The thoughts I share are my own.
After working for 12 years in customer relations filtering out complaints, Esme Good was ready for a more fulfilling job. However, when she gave her notice, she was offered a 25 percent increase if she signed a contract to stay for another 30 years in the same position.
It was a slow start, but then the story pulled me right in. I was captivated by the characters. Esme worked with Talmeck, her best friend. Much like our world, he was promoted. She wasn’t. Esme needed an escape. Rather than alcohol, she had an addiction and would drink “Elsewhere” where she could see an alternate version of herself in various lives. Her other forms appeared to be similar across different realities.
Esme wasn’t sure about continuing her job and took a dose of Elsewhere in a restroom. She was frustrated as nothing seemed to be happening. That’s when this story took off. She wanted a change and she got it. The pace accelerated.
I was awestruck with some of the technological advancements that one never knows if it could be on the cusp of existence. This book made me smile with the humor. The word “coincidence” kept creeping up just in time. The plot was engaging and made me think of the vast possibilities that aren’t familiar just yet. Who knows what’s out there.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC with an expected release date of November 10, 2026. The thoughts I share are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everything Happens So Much by Andrew H. Murray is a quirky, comedic science fiction adventure. It is highly recommended. Set expectations aside and meet Esme Good, who always has a look of constant, but slight panic, like she's forgot something. It is set in a different universe from you and me, it's basically the same but, as the narrator who breaks the fourth wall throughout the novel informs us, you'll notice the differences.
Esme works for the GMCL, General Municipal Complaint Line, where she takes calls and listens to complaints all day. Her supportive work friend, Talmeck, is nearby. She knows she is not living her best life ever. Her only escape, and one Esme has been exploiting for years, is Elsewhere, a drug that offers her 15 minutes out of her life and into an alternate version of herself. From these escapes she knows there are better versions of her out there. On the day she plans to quit, she ends up extending her work contract for decades. After this, on her break, she hides in the bathroom to take a dose of Elsewhere, which triggers cosmic chaos. Esme accidentally becomes the most important person in the universe. She is arrested, and eventually has a government agency called the Fabric of Reality Authority after her and her companions.
This is a creative, darkly hilarious, chaotic novel packed full of absurd, impossible situations, funny characters, and non-stop action, which does, indeed, result in everything happening so much. Included in the novel are footnotes and comments from the author, breaking the fourth wall and adding mirth and an additional reality. It can definitely be ridiculous and vexing at times, while simultaneously entertaining, delightful and wonderfully imaginative. It also tangentially explores the concept that a different life may not have made you happier.
Esme is a messy character and won't be appealing to everyone. Her identity crisis and discontent with her life can be frustrating, especially after she becomes the most important person in the universe, along with all the chaos that entails. She does reach a place of acceptance and contentment as she understands that she does have a meaningful role to play in the life. This won't be a good fit for everyone, but those who can set any preconceived expectations aside and appreciate the journey will probably also enjoy the novel.
Everything Happens So Much is a wonderful choice for everyone who can appreciate a fanciful, quirky science fiction adventure. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
https://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/...
Esme works for the GMCL, General Municipal Complaint Line, where she takes calls and listens to complaints all day. Her supportive work friend, Talmeck, is nearby. She knows she is not living her best life ever. Her only escape, and one Esme has been exploiting for years, is Elsewhere, a drug that offers her 15 minutes out of her life and into an alternate version of herself. From these escapes she knows there are better versions of her out there. On the day she plans to quit, she ends up extending her work contract for decades. After this, on her break, she hides in the bathroom to take a dose of Elsewhere, which triggers cosmic chaos. Esme accidentally becomes the most important person in the universe. She is arrested, and eventually has a government agency called the Fabric of Reality Authority after her and her companions.
This is a creative, darkly hilarious, chaotic novel packed full of absurd, impossible situations, funny characters, and non-stop action, which does, indeed, result in everything happening so much. Included in the novel are footnotes and comments from the author, breaking the fourth wall and adding mirth and an additional reality. It can definitely be ridiculous and vexing at times, while simultaneously entertaining, delightful and wonderfully imaginative. It also tangentially explores the concept that a different life may not have made you happier.
Esme is a messy character and won't be appealing to everyone. Her identity crisis and discontent with her life can be frustrating, especially after she becomes the most important person in the universe, along with all the chaos that entails. She does reach a place of acceptance and contentment as she understands that she does have a meaningful role to play in the life. This won't be a good fit for everyone, but those who can set any preconceived expectations aside and appreciate the journey will probably also enjoy the novel.
Everything Happens So Much is a wonderful choice for everyone who can appreciate a fanciful, quirky science fiction adventure. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
https://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/...
Review of advance copy
A sci-fi, fantasy, time-traveling adventure that left me wondering… what on earth did I just read? And more importantly, why did I enjoy it so much?!
I'm not quite sure where to start with this one because there is A LOT going on, but in the very best way. Fans of Douglas Adams will probably find themselves right at home, as I kept thinking of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy while reading. There's also a touch of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore about the wonderfully silly, absurd and completely bonkers humor.
Our FMC, Esme, doesn't seem to have a great deal going for her and is rather fond of escaping the mundanity of everyday life with her 15 minutes of tiny potions, which transport her to an alternative world where things are a whole lot more interesting. But one of these little escapes goes rather spectacularly wrong, leaving her in a whole heap of trouble and relying on a very odd bunch of companions to help her find her way back to her safe zone.
This is definitely one of those books where I think it's best to go in knowing as little as possible. Just be prepared for something odd, ludicrous, ridiculous and thoroughly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the updated version of the police reading you THEIR rights, and the timely reminder that feeding ducks could come back to haunt you if you're not careful! 😂
Completely bonkers, wonderfully imaginative and great fun. Not quite sure what I expected, but I'm very glad I took the trip! Oh a tip is be sure to listen to the authors Q&A at the end of the audiobook as the symbology will make you go aha
🎧 Many thanks to Hachette Audio for my ALC
A little taster that still makes me smile and sums up the ‘silly’ humor well
“Once you have a heat source, in my case I used an armpit but any orifice will do….”
I'm not quite sure where to start with this one because there is A LOT going on, but in the very best way. Fans of Douglas Adams will probably find themselves right at home, as I kept thinking of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy while reading. There's also a touch of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore about the wonderfully silly, absurd and completely bonkers humor.
Our FMC, Esme, doesn't seem to have a great deal going for her and is rather fond of escaping the mundanity of everyday life with her 15 minutes of tiny potions, which transport her to an alternative world where things are a whole lot more interesting. But one of these little escapes goes rather spectacularly wrong, leaving her in a whole heap of trouble and relying on a very odd bunch of companions to help her find her way back to her safe zone.
This is definitely one of those books where I think it's best to go in knowing as little as possible. Just be prepared for something odd, ludicrous, ridiculous and thoroughly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the updated version of the police reading you THEIR rights, and the timely reminder that feeding ducks could come back to haunt you if you're not careful! 😂
Completely bonkers, wonderfully imaginative and great fun. Not quite sure what I expected, but I'm very glad I took the trip! Oh a tip is be sure to listen to the authors Q&A at the end of the audiobook as the symbology will make you go aha
🎧 Many thanks to Hachette Audio for my ALC
A little taster that still makes me smile and sums up the ‘silly’ humor well
“Once you have a heat source, in my case I used an armpit but any orifice will do….”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everything Happens So Much has been compared to Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but while both are absurdist science-fiction romps, Murray's execution falls short. His over-the-top quirkiness becomes tiring halfway through, and I found the main character unsympathetic.
Esme Good is so bored with her life that she is addicted to The Elsewheres, a potion that transports users to a 15-minute alternate reality to spice things up. After a meeting with her boss doesn't go as intended and she faces an even more dismal future, she takes a dose of The Elsewheres and finds herself in a universe where she is suddenly a very important person. This forces her to step outside her submissive self and become someone beyond her comfort zone to set things right in her universe.
I had a problem relating to Esme, especially her lack of ambition. Even when she tries to change and things go awry, she remains unsympathetic. I liked the premise, but the forced humor didn't sit well. The book explores loneliness and self-reliance well. Esme grows as a character and rises to her challenges, proving she doesn't need to escape into alternate realities to find happiness. 2.5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, for an advance copy of this book for review in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 10, 2026.
Esme Good is so bored with her life that she is addicted to The Elsewheres, a potion that transports users to a 15-minute alternate reality to spice things up. After a meeting with her boss doesn't go as intended and she faces an even more dismal future, she takes a dose of The Elsewheres and finds herself in a universe where she is suddenly a very important person. This forces her to step outside her submissive self and become someone beyond her comfort zone to set things right in her universe.
I had a problem relating to Esme, especially her lack of ambition. Even when she tries to change and things go awry, she remains unsympathetic. I liked the premise, but the forced humor didn't sit well. The book explores loneliness and self-reliance well. Esme grows as a character and rises to her challenges, proving she doesn't need to escape into alternate realities to find happiness. 2.5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, for an advance copy of this book for review in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 10, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Little, Brown and Hachette Audio for the ARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is definitely going to find lots of readers who vibe with its time travel and sci-fi vibes, but I was not that reader. Esme Good is a character worth rooting for and her adventures were fun and interesting in this story, but the time travel and science really lost me. Admittedly I need these types of stories to be uncomplex and more rooted in reality than most readers, so this could very well be a me problem, but there were several parts where I just got confused and started skimming. I did appreciate the underlying message of the story, but the execution didn't work for me. Again, I think a lot of readers will love this.
This book is definitely going to find lots of readers who vibe with its time travel and sci-fi vibes, but I was not that reader. Esme Good is a character worth rooting for and her adventures were fun and interesting in this story, but the time travel and science really lost me. Admittedly I need these types of stories to be uncomplex and more rooted in reality than most readers, so this could very well be a me problem, but there were several parts where I just got confused and started skimming. I did appreciate the underlying message of the story, but the execution didn't work for me. Again, I think a lot of readers will love this.
September 16, 2026
an odd little story with a very important question at its center. this absolutely felt like reading the hitchhikers guide to me and i just loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'Everything happens So Much' by Andrew H Murray is a quirky sci-fi fantasy.
Esme Good is ordinary. She works at an average job ; she lives in a boring city, Her one escape is the elsewhere's , tiny potions that allow her to disappear for 15 minutes at a time into an alternate version of reality. Instead of making her feel better , seeing all the different ways she could have lived only reinforces how dissatisfied she is with the life she's currently living. Then one completely ordinary workplace incident causes something decidedly not ordinary to happen. Through an absurd quantum accident, Esme somehow eliminates every other possible version of herself across the universe. . and as the title says everything happens so much.
This book is crazy in the best way. With all the ridiculousness and absurdity is a surprisingly heartfelt story about regret, identity ,loneliness, and wondering whether the life you're living is the wrong one. This book really emphasizes the combination of bizarre action, unexpected twists, humor, and genuine emotional tenderness. What gave me pause was how much heart seemed to be underneath the comedy. It isn't just random chaos for the sake of chaos.Esme's journey ultimately ask a pretty meaningful question, If you could see every possible version of your life would you actually be happier knowing what you could have been? 4.5 stars.
I received this Arc from that gallon exchange from my opinion
Esme Good is ordinary. She works at an average job ; she lives in a boring city, Her one escape is the elsewhere's , tiny potions that allow her to disappear for 15 minutes at a time into an alternate version of reality. Instead of making her feel better , seeing all the different ways she could have lived only reinforces how dissatisfied she is with the life she's currently living. Then one completely ordinary workplace incident causes something decidedly not ordinary to happen. Through an absurd quantum accident, Esme somehow eliminates every other possible version of herself across the universe. . and as the title says everything happens so much.
This book is crazy in the best way. With all the ridiculousness and absurdity is a surprisingly heartfelt story about regret, identity ,loneliness, and wondering whether the life you're living is the wrong one. This book really emphasizes the combination of bizarre action, unexpected twists, humor, and genuine emotional tenderness. What gave me pause was how much heart seemed to be underneath the comedy. It isn't just random chaos for the sake of chaos.Esme's journey ultimately ask a pretty meaningful question, If you could see every possible version of your life would you actually be happier knowing what you could have been? 4.5 stars.
I received this Arc from that gallon exchange from my opinion
May 25, 2026
Esme Good spends most of her life on this plane completely checked out. Thanks to an innovative substance called the Elsewheres, anyone can take a fifteen-minute vacation to another timeline--a different version of their own life. Have you ever wondered if maybe there's somewhere you're better off, more fabulous, richer? There's one timeline where Esme has a yacht (and also happens to be a life-saving pharmaceutical wunderkind, but back to the yacht...).
The trouble is, Esme finds her regular life so stultifying that, when she's not at her job, she's in one of the Elsewheres. This soon becomes a bit of a cosmic problem, rather a "worlds collapsing in on themselves" sort of conundrum, and a motley crew (including Esme) assembles to try to fix the issue.
This was such a fun novel, kind of an amalgam of Hitchhikers Guide and Breakfast of Champions in wit and scope. I thoroughly enjoyed this (as someone who's always wondered about the paths not taken) and immediately added the author's previous works to my TBR.
I was provided an e-galley of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The trouble is, Esme finds her regular life so stultifying that, when she's not at her job, she's in one of the Elsewheres. This soon becomes a bit of a cosmic problem, rather a "worlds collapsing in on themselves" sort of conundrum, and a motley crew (including Esme) assembles to try to fix the issue.
This was such a fun novel, kind of an amalgam of Hitchhikers Guide and Breakfast of Champions in wit and scope. I thoroughly enjoyed this (as someone who's always wondered about the paths not taken) and immediately added the author's previous works to my TBR.
I was provided an e-galley of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This was my first ARC, and I don’t take that opportunity lightly.
Unfortunately, Everything Happens So Much wasn’t a good fit for me. While I could see the potential in the premise, I struggled with the execution from beginning to end.
My biggest hurdle was the writing style. It continually pulled me out of the story, and despite reading the entire novel, I never adjusted to it. The frequent fourth-wall breaks distracted me from the narrative rather than drawing me deeper into it. What might have felt clever in small doses became repetitive for my personal taste.
Because of this, I also found it difficult to connect with the characters. Esme, Tolmak, Chip, and Mina all had roles to play in the story, but I never became emotionally invested in any of them. As a result, the stakes felt low, and I wasn’t particularly concerned about what happened next.
Around the halfway point, I began losing motivation to continue. I finished the book, but found myself skimming sections simply to see how everything would conclude. By the end, I was left feeling emotionally unchanged. I didn’t experience much excitement, suspense, or heartbreak—only occasional curiosity about where the story was headed.
The concept of Elsewhere initially intrigued me, although it reminded me of The Elsewhere Express, another recent release that also didn’t work for me. I’ve realized this particular type of speculative concept may simply not be one that resonates with my reading preferences.
One element I did enjoy was the prison escape sequence. It was easily the most engaging part of the novel for me and briefly raised my hopes that the story was about to shift into something more adventurous. I also found the computerized tank fascinating and would have loved to spend more time with that aspect of the story. Instead, the novel moved in a more philosophical direction, which ultimately didn’t land for me.
Readers should also know that the book contains themes involving substance abuse, LGBTQ+ relationships, and grooming. The Elsewhere substance functions much like an addictive substance within the story, and its consequences become a significant part of the narrative. Some readers may appreciate these themes, while others may prefer to know about them beforehand. Personally, as a Christian reader, these elements made the book a less enjoyable experience for me.
While this book wasn’t for me, I recognize that readers who enjoy experimental writing styles, philosophical science fiction, and metafiction may have a very different experience.
I’m disappointed that my first ARC ended up being such a mismatch for my tastes, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review it. I always hope my reviews are helpful to both fellow readers and the publishing team.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars.
Unfortunately, Everything Happens So Much wasn’t a good fit for me. While I could see the potential in the premise, I struggled with the execution from beginning to end.
My biggest hurdle was the writing style. It continually pulled me out of the story, and despite reading the entire novel, I never adjusted to it. The frequent fourth-wall breaks distracted me from the narrative rather than drawing me deeper into it. What might have felt clever in small doses became repetitive for my personal taste.
Because of this, I also found it difficult to connect with the characters. Esme, Tolmak, Chip, and Mina all had roles to play in the story, but I never became emotionally invested in any of them. As a result, the stakes felt low, and I wasn’t particularly concerned about what happened next.
Around the halfway point, I began losing motivation to continue. I finished the book, but found myself skimming sections simply to see how everything would conclude. By the end, I was left feeling emotionally unchanged. I didn’t experience much excitement, suspense, or heartbreak—only occasional curiosity about where the story was headed.
The concept of Elsewhere initially intrigued me, although it reminded me of The Elsewhere Express, another recent release that also didn’t work for me. I’ve realized this particular type of speculative concept may simply not be one that resonates with my reading preferences.
One element I did enjoy was the prison escape sequence. It was easily the most engaging part of the novel for me and briefly raised my hopes that the story was about to shift into something more adventurous. I also found the computerized tank fascinating and would have loved to spend more time with that aspect of the story. Instead, the novel moved in a more philosophical direction, which ultimately didn’t land for me.
Readers should also know that the book contains themes involving substance abuse, LGBTQ+ relationships, and grooming. The Elsewhere substance functions much like an addictive substance within the story, and its consequences become a significant part of the narrative. Some readers may appreciate these themes, while others may prefer to know about them beforehand. Personally, as a Christian reader, these elements made the book a less enjoyable experience for me.
While this book wasn’t for me, I recognize that readers who enjoy experimental writing styles, philosophical science fiction, and metafiction may have a very different experience.
I’m disappointed that my first ARC ended up being such a mismatch for my tastes, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review it. I always hope my reviews are helpful to both fellow readers and the publishing team.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The central premise is immediately compelling. The idea of using potions to glimpse alternate versions of your own life is a fantastic hook on its own. Even before the plot expands into something more cosmic, that concept creates instant curiosity, because Esme’s dissatisfaction feels rooted in something deeply familiar: the nagging question of whether another version of your life might have turned out better. It’s a setup that’s funny, bleak, and full of possibility, and for a while it felt like the book was going to be exactly the kind of weird, melancholy speculative fiction I love.
What worked best for me was Esme’s dissatisfaction and the way the novel taps into that specific fear that a different job, relationship, or life choice might not actually have made you happier after all. The alternate-lives concept is such rich material for exploring regret, identity, and the fantasy of escape, and I thought the book was strongest when it stayed grounded in those ideas. There’s also a dry, dark sense of humor running through the novel that landed well for me more often than not.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure the execution fully lives up to the strength of the premise. Where it lost me somewhat was in the shift from that intimate, emotionally resonant setup into a much larger cosmic plot. Once the stakes widen and Esme becomes significant in a broader reality-bending way, the story becomes less interesting than the original concept promised. I kept wanting more of the strange sadness and dark comedy of Esme measuring her life against its alternate versions, and a little less of the bigger plot machinery.
That said, there’s still a lot here to admire. It’s inventive, often very funny, and built around a genuinely strong concept, and I can absolutely see it working better for readers who enjoy messy protagonists and speculative fiction with an absurd streak. For me, though, it was one of those books I admired more in theory than in practice: clever, interesting, and worth reading, but not quite as affecting or satisfying as I wanted it to be.
Overall, Everything Happens So Much is clever, strange, and often very funny, and even when it didn’t fully come together for me, I appreciated what it was trying to do. If you’re drawn to speculative fiction about alternate selves, missed chances, and unhappy women being pulled into increasingly bizarre circumstances, it’s definitely worth a look.
What worked best for me was Esme’s dissatisfaction and the way the novel taps into that specific fear that a different job, relationship, or life choice might not actually have made you happier after all. The alternate-lives concept is such rich material for exploring regret, identity, and the fantasy of escape, and I thought the book was strongest when it stayed grounded in those ideas. There’s also a dry, dark sense of humor running through the novel that landed well for me more often than not.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure the execution fully lives up to the strength of the premise. Where it lost me somewhat was in the shift from that intimate, emotionally resonant setup into a much larger cosmic plot. Once the stakes widen and Esme becomes significant in a broader reality-bending way, the story becomes less interesting than the original concept promised. I kept wanting more of the strange sadness and dark comedy of Esme measuring her life against its alternate versions, and a little less of the bigger plot machinery.
That said, there’s still a lot here to admire. It’s inventive, often very funny, and built around a genuinely strong concept, and I can absolutely see it working better for readers who enjoy messy protagonists and speculative fiction with an absurd streak. For me, though, it was one of those books I admired more in theory than in practice: clever, interesting, and worth reading, but not quite as affecting or satisfying as I wanted it to be.
Overall, Everything Happens So Much is clever, strange, and often very funny, and even when it didn’t fully come together for me, I appreciated what it was trying to do. If you’re drawn to speculative fiction about alternate selves, missed chances, and unhappy women being pulled into increasingly bizarre circumstances, it’s definitely worth a look.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Esme Good has always lived an extraordinarily ordinary life. The most exciting part of it is when she uses an Elsewhere to visit one of the other versions of herself in the multiverse. She gets 15 minutes in another Esme's life, sometimes one where her choices led to great fame and fortune and occasionally where she's worse off than she is in this reality. She's addicted to alternate realities, using Elsewheres multiple times a day, and pays very little attention to her drab, everyday life. That is until an incident at work breaks the fabric of reality and suddenly Esme may be the most important person in any universe.
If I were to give this a one word description it would be quirky. But I can say more, of course, because I loved this weird, slightly chaotic, and kooky story. I laughed (note the humor is very British) and even teared up a time or two. It's hard to compare this to other titles, but throughout my reading I was reminded of Starter Villain by John Scalzi, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (particularly the images of the end of the world/ocean), and the sitcom The Good Place. There was a tiny romantic subplot to this that made me grin and a load of interesting and zany side-characters. I was rooting for Esme the entire time even if her life before this change was "random and unshapely" and now her story arc is big and booming, containing way too much protagonist energy (the author dubs this "protagoninium"). If I had any complaints it's that this ended rather quickly and the final events were a bit uncontrolled.
This all sounds a bit strange, and it's true. But the underlying message of this book is in its title, "everything happens so much." Everything happens to someone. There's some control we have over our life's trajectory, but some things happen at random and by chance. We are the ones who decide whether we'll live in the moments given to us or try to escape them "Elsewhere." I'm glad for Esme that she finally started living in the present.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for the digital review copy and the opportunity to read and review early.
If I were to give this a one word description it would be quirky. But I can say more, of course, because I loved this weird, slightly chaotic, and kooky story. I laughed (note the humor is very British) and even teared up a time or two. It's hard to compare this to other titles, but throughout my reading I was reminded of Starter Villain by John Scalzi, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (particularly the images of the end of the world/ocean), and the sitcom The Good Place. There was a tiny romantic subplot to this that made me grin and a load of interesting and zany side-characters. I was rooting for Esme the entire time even if her life before this change was "random and unshapely" and now her story arc is big and booming, containing way too much protagonist energy (the author dubs this "protagoninium"). If I had any complaints it's that this ended rather quickly and the final events were a bit uncontrolled.
This all sounds a bit strange, and it's true. But the underlying message of this book is in its title, "everything happens so much." Everything happens to someone. There's some control we have over our life's trajectory, but some things happen at random and by chance. We are the ones who decide whether we'll live in the moments given to us or try to escape them "Elsewhere." I'm glad for Esme that she finally started living in the present.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for the digital review copy and the opportunity to read and review early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The description compares this novel to The Midnight Library and Everything Everywhere All at Once, and I'll throw Kafka's The Trial in as well. The worldbuilding in this is fantastic and the story eases you into the insanities and quirks of this universe at a perfect pace, aided by entertaining footnotes describing some of the laws and creations of the world. I found this very entertaining and enjoyable and will be looking out for other books from Andrew Murray.
Esme Good is as normal as one can be, living an unremarkable existence that consists of working her dead-end job and then going home to her apartment where she lives alone. Her one joy in life is found in Elsewheres, a drug that took the world by storm a few years ago but has become commonplace since. Esme takes Elsewheres daily, and they transport her into an alternate version of herself for fifteen minutes at a time. Her addiction to the drug has only further proved to herself that she is the most boring and normal version of herself that exists. After a workplace incident, Esme wakes up and is arrested on unknown charges and is informed she has become the most important person in any universe.
When imprisoned she is accidentally thrown into an occupied cell, and luckily for her the inmate, Chip, was planning his escape that very day. Chip is Doc Brown from Back to the Future meets Willy Wonka and his plan goes off seamlessly, with the two escaping to a restaurant, Perma Friday, that is only open on Friday's, if you come on a day that isn't a Friday they cryogenically freeze you until the next Friday that they have a table available. If you have found this description enjoyable and are able to assimilate into this world, you will love this book.
The story continues on as the adventuring Chip, his sentient leg Jessica, and Esme's only friend in the world, her coworker Talmeck, journey with Esme to find an uncharted land and fulfil a prophecy that has been on hold since the dawn of time.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Esme Good is as normal as one can be, living an unremarkable existence that consists of working her dead-end job and then going home to her apartment where she lives alone. Her one joy in life is found in Elsewheres, a drug that took the world by storm a few years ago but has become commonplace since. Esme takes Elsewheres daily, and they transport her into an alternate version of herself for fifteen minutes at a time. Her addiction to the drug has only further proved to herself that she is the most boring and normal version of herself that exists. After a workplace incident, Esme wakes up and is arrested on unknown charges and is informed she has become the most important person in any universe.
When imprisoned she is accidentally thrown into an occupied cell, and luckily for her the inmate, Chip, was planning his escape that very day. Chip is Doc Brown from Back to the Future meets Willy Wonka and his plan goes off seamlessly, with the two escaping to a restaurant, Perma Friday, that is only open on Friday's, if you come on a day that isn't a Friday they cryogenically freeze you until the next Friday that they have a table available. If you have found this description enjoyable and are able to assimilate into this world, you will love this book.
The story continues on as the adventuring Chip, his sentient leg Jessica, and Esme's only friend in the world, her coworker Talmeck, journey with Esme to find an uncharted land and fulfil a prophecy that has been on hold since the dawn of time.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Kathleen Quinlan of Little, Brown and Company for sending me the link for an ARC of Everything Happens So Much.
In the publisher's note was the comment that this book is reminiscent of Everything, Everywhere All At Once (a movie I actually hated) but almost from the beginning what I kept thinking of was Neil Gaiman's Good Omens with the omniscient narrator just casually mentioning absolutely absurd things, and the use of footnotes.
Esme Good has a boring little life, with an office job where she listens to people's complaints all day. Her preferred method of escape is by drinking Elsewheres, little bottles that transport the consumer into another version of themselves for 15 minutes at a time. Esme has no hobbies or out of work activities other than drinking Elsewheres, often spending entire evenings just popping into alternate Esmes one after the other. Some are glamourous and have good lives, others are almost identical to her real life but still worth popping into.
Esme has finally had enough of listening to people's complaints and decides that she will go give her notice and will take some time off before worrying about what comes next. To celebrate she has stocked up on Elsewheres, even has a bottle at the office. When instead of quitting she finds herself signing a long-term contract for a new promotion in which nothing will change, Esme throws caution to the winds and drinks an Elsewheres in the ladies' room near her office. Nothing will ever be the same for Esme.
Like in Good Omens we learn that there are many things going on under the surface of the world around us, including whole bureaucratic divisions devoted to maintaining the fabric of reality, which Esme has disturbed. There are secret agents, sham trials, absurd prisons, gifted prisoners, old lady cab drivers, a sentient leg named Jessica, and so on.
In the end Esme has to learn to be the leading lady of her own life story and actually take action sometimes rather than just passively watching her life go by.
In the publisher's note was the comment that this book is reminiscent of Everything, Everywhere All At Once (a movie I actually hated) but almost from the beginning what I kept thinking of was Neil Gaiman's Good Omens with the omniscient narrator just casually mentioning absolutely absurd things, and the use of footnotes.
Esme Good has a boring little life, with an office job where she listens to people's complaints all day. Her preferred method of escape is by drinking Elsewheres, little bottles that transport the consumer into another version of themselves for 15 minutes at a time. Esme has no hobbies or out of work activities other than drinking Elsewheres, often spending entire evenings just popping into alternate Esmes one after the other. Some are glamourous and have good lives, others are almost identical to her real life but still worth popping into.
Esme has finally had enough of listening to people's complaints and decides that she will go give her notice and will take some time off before worrying about what comes next. To celebrate she has stocked up on Elsewheres, even has a bottle at the office. When instead of quitting she finds herself signing a long-term contract for a new promotion in which nothing will change, Esme throws caution to the winds and drinks an Elsewheres in the ladies' room near her office. Nothing will ever be the same for Esme.
Like in Good Omens we learn that there are many things going on under the surface of the world around us, including whole bureaucratic divisions devoted to maintaining the fabric of reality, which Esme has disturbed. There are secret agents, sham trials, absurd prisons, gifted prisoners, old lady cab drivers, a sentient leg named Jessica, and so on.
In the end Esme has to learn to be the leading lady of her own life story and actually take action sometimes rather than just passively watching her life go by.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If Captain Jack Sparrow and the Cheshire Cat wrote a book, with some creative assistance from Sherlock Holmes (the RDJ version) and Mel Brooks, it would be this book. It was a mad cap, ridiculous delight from beginning to end!
We follow Esme Good, an employee in the Municipal Complaints department; when our story begins Esme is, quite frankly, barely living her actual life. She has a bit of an addiction (understatement) to a substance known as the Elsewheres, a concoction that gives the user 15 minutes in the consciousness of one of their alternate selves (of which there are literally hundred of thousands) to see what their life is like. Following a very unsuccessful attempt at taking charge of her work life, Esme hides in the bathroom to escape into an Elsewhere, and suddenly finds herself at the center of a whole lot of extraordinary adventures. Chaos most definitely ensues.
The absolute gall the author had to write such a bizarre and delightful book is astounding. The footnotes are hilarious. There is a talking leg named Jessica. There are fantastical escapes and bad guys with no morals and loose agendas. Some elements reminded me loosely of the movie The One, with Jet Li, but in a good way. I am not a science fiction junkie, so I'm sure I missed many a reference or joke, but I do love a good, well written story, and this most definitely fits the bill. While I don't think this is a book for everyone, if you are someone who likes the ridiculous and somewhat bizarre but with some heart and a solid reminder not to get lost in the Elsewhere of life, then I think you will like this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
We follow Esme Good, an employee in the Municipal Complaints department; when our story begins Esme is, quite frankly, barely living her actual life. She has a bit of an addiction (understatement) to a substance known as the Elsewheres, a concoction that gives the user 15 minutes in the consciousness of one of their alternate selves (of which there are literally hundred of thousands) to see what their life is like. Following a very unsuccessful attempt at taking charge of her work life, Esme hides in the bathroom to escape into an Elsewhere, and suddenly finds herself at the center of a whole lot of extraordinary adventures. Chaos most definitely ensues.
The absolute gall the author had to write such a bizarre and delightful book is astounding. The footnotes are hilarious. There is a talking leg named Jessica. There are fantastical escapes and bad guys with no morals and loose agendas. Some elements reminded me loosely of the movie The One, with Jet Li, but in a good way. I am not a science fiction junkie, so I'm sure I missed many a reference or joke, but I do love a good, well written story, and this most definitely fits the bill. While I don't think this is a book for everyone, if you are someone who likes the ridiculous and somewhat bizarre but with some heart and a solid reminder not to get lost in the Elsewhere of life, then I think you will like this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“Everything Happens So Much” is by Andrew Murray. Okay, I am a wanna-be fan of Terry Pratchett - I love the dry statement of things, I love the sarcastic yet truthful “it’s just out there” tone of his books - but I guess, for me, this book slipped a bit too much beyond Pratchett and into something else (I saw “Doug Adams-esque” mentioned too - I don’t know, maybe?). There was much to love from this book - the writing was very British, very Pratchett like, and at the same time taking left turns into (for me) what the heck is going on area that while fun, I also got very lost and realized that I really wanted a solid, grounded map (which wasn’t possible as this was a trip into a multi-verse sphere). Honestly, if you enjoy Terry Pratchett, you’ll probably really like this book (my partner’s a fan and nailed Pratchett’s and Murray’s explanations/descriptions of Esme Good to a T … without having read the book, I just described the situation). So while this book didn’t work for me (though I wanted it to!), I can see it really appealing to a number of people in my reading circle (of which there are only two others, but, well …). Three stars because it has potential, but this wasn’t a book I have to read again.
“Everything Happens So Much” is by Andrew Murray. Okay, I am a wanna-be fan of Terry Pratchett - I love the dry statement of things, I love the sarcastic yet truthful “it’s just out there” tone of his books - but I guess, for me, this book slipped a bit too much beyond Pratchett and into something else (I saw “Doug Adams-esque” mentioned too - I don’t know, maybe?). There was much to love from this book - the writing was very British, very Pratchett like, and at the same time taking left turns into (for me) what the heck is going on area that while fun, I also got very lost and realized that I really wanted a solid, grounded map (which wasn’t possible as this was a trip into a multi-verse sphere). Honestly, if you enjoy Terry Pratchett, you’ll probably really like this book (my partner’s a fan and nailed Pratchett’s and Murray’s explanations/descriptions of Esme Good to a T … without having read the book, I just described the situation). So while this book didn’t work for me (though I wanted it to!), I can see it really appealing to a number of people in my reading circle (of which there are only two others, but, well …). Three stars because it has potential, but this wasn’t a book I have to read again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Little Brown and Company, NetGalley, & Andrew Murray for this eARC.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I’m all for quirky storytelling, but this felt quirky in a way that never quite clicked. The biggest struggle for me was the structure - the footnotes at the end of (almost) every chapter were so long and added to the overall chaos. Having to flip back multiple pages to remember what each footnote referenced was frustrating and incredibly time‑consuming, especially on an e‑reader. It pulled me out of the story every single time.
I also found myself dreading picking this book back up. I’m not usually someone who DNFs - I’ll push through almost anything - but honestly, if I didn’t feel like I owed the author and publisher a full read and review, this would have been the one. That sense of obligation was the only thing that kept me going.
I actually loved the idea behind the plot, but I didn’t care for the way it was executed. The pacing felt scattered, and the constant interruptions made it hard to stay grounded in the narrative.
In the end, this just wasn’t the right fit for me, though readers who enjoy unconventional formats or experimental storytelling may feel differently.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I’m all for quirky storytelling, but this felt quirky in a way that never quite clicked. The biggest struggle for me was the structure - the footnotes at the end of (almost) every chapter were so long and added to the overall chaos. Having to flip back multiple pages to remember what each footnote referenced was frustrating and incredibly time‑consuming, especially on an e‑reader. It pulled me out of the story every single time.
I also found myself dreading picking this book back up. I’m not usually someone who DNFs - I’ll push through almost anything - but honestly, if I didn’t feel like I owed the author and publisher a full read and review, this would have been the one. That sense of obligation was the only thing that kept me going.
I actually loved the idea behind the plot, but I didn’t care for the way it was executed. The pacing felt scattered, and the constant interruptions made it hard to stay grounded in the narrative.
In the end, this just wasn’t the right fit for me, though readers who enjoy unconventional formats or experimental storytelling may feel differently.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In this fascinatingly complex sci-fi novel, readers meet Esme Good, an unremarkable young woman working a dead-end job who only finds an escape in The Elsewhere, potions that allow you to spend fifteen minutes in an alternate reality. Esme thinks that these potions reveal that she is living in the worst timeline, but a workplace incident soon makes her the most important person in her reality (and possibly all other realities), and the only way to fix it is to find an uncharted land and fulfil a prophecy. Fascinating, unique, and fast-paced, readers will love the challenges and uncertainty ahead of Esme as she moves from side character to protagonist in a story she never wanted to lead. The book is fascinating and packed with complicated details and characters, and readers will love the challenges and characters waiting for Esme. The world-building is fascinating and comes to life with all the details, and readers will particularly like the ways in which Esme grows and changes (sometimes unwillingly) over the course of the story. Unique, fascinating, and packed with details, sci-fi fans will love this immersive new novel from Andrew Murray and the challenges ahead of Esme as her life drastically changes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for the advance copy.
October 7, 2026
NetGalley Review
Esme just wanted a bit of escapism.
And now reality itself has gone wrong.
This was not my normal type of read but it was quite the ride. It reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events, with just so much happening, some of it not making any sense, is over explained to make it make sense and fit the narrative; including the narrator, or the author, coming in to explain something. Overall, the story was very funny and very captivating.
I do feel like I need to get a physical copy of this book and annotate it. Like I created the picture but now I need to go in and get the tiniest details to truly pull it all together.
Esme Good is an unremarkable young woman working a dead-end job in an unremarkable city.
Her only escape is The Elsewheres: tiny potions that allow you to disappear for fifteen minutes into alternate versions of yourself. Sadly, these only confirm her suspicion that she is, in a cosmic sense, living her worst life.
Then, after a workplace incident that could have happened to anyone, Esme unintentionally becomes the most important person in this-or perhaps any-universe.
We don't have time to get into exactly why this is, but to remedy it, Esme must find an uncharted land and fulfill a prophecy that has been on hold since the dawn of time.
Esme just wanted a bit of escapism.
And now reality itself has gone wrong.
This was not my normal type of read but it was quite the ride. It reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events, with just so much happening, some of it not making any sense, is over explained to make it make sense and fit the narrative; including the narrator, or the author, coming in to explain something. Overall, the story was very funny and very captivating.
I do feel like I need to get a physical copy of this book and annotate it. Like I created the picture but now I need to go in and get the tiniest details to truly pull it all together.
Esme Good is an unremarkable young woman working a dead-end job in an unremarkable city.
Her only escape is The Elsewheres: tiny potions that allow you to disappear for fifteen minutes into alternate versions of yourself. Sadly, these only confirm her suspicion that she is, in a cosmic sense, living her worst life.
Then, after a workplace incident that could have happened to anyone, Esme unintentionally becomes the most important person in this-or perhaps any-universe.
We don't have time to get into exactly why this is, but to remedy it, Esme must find an uncharted land and fulfill a prophecy that has been on hold since the dawn of time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everything Happens So Much by Andrew H. Murray is delightfully absurd, which is exactly what I want from a multiverse novel. If reality is going to split into infinite possibilities, the least it can do is have a sense of humor.
Esme Good escapes her disappointing life by taking Elsewhere, a drug that lets her spend fifteen minutes as an alternate version of herself. Understandable. Somewhere out there is probably a version of me who has finished the laundry, knows what’s for dinner, and doesn’t need a password reset.
Murray gives the complications of “multiuniverseness” just the right amount of ridiculousness to keep things fun. I don’t need a physics degree and a wall covered in red string; I need a reason to happily follow the next bizarre turn. This book delivers.
Beneath all the wonderfully strange chaos is a thoughtful look at the temptation to believe another version of your life must be better. Apparently, even infinite possibilities can’t save us from comparing ourselves to someone else, even when that someone is also us.
Five stars for making existential uncertainty such a good time. In another universe, I’ve written a more sophisticated review. In this one, I’m happily recommending the weird book.
Esme Good escapes her disappointing life by taking Elsewhere, a drug that lets her spend fifteen minutes as an alternate version of herself. Understandable. Somewhere out there is probably a version of me who has finished the laundry, knows what’s for dinner, and doesn’t need a password reset.
Murray gives the complications of “multiuniverseness” just the right amount of ridiculousness to keep things fun. I don’t need a physics degree and a wall covered in red string; I need a reason to happily follow the next bizarre turn. This book delivers.
Beneath all the wonderfully strange chaos is a thoughtful look at the temptation to believe another version of your life must be better. Apparently, even infinite possibilities can’t save us from comparing ourselves to someone else, even when that someone is also us.
Five stars for making existential uncertainty such a good time. In another universe, I’ve written a more sophisticated review. In this one, I’m happily recommending the weird book.
October 25, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the early copy of the book!
I’d describe this book style as a mix between Terry Pratchett and Night Vale, in the best way. Andrew H Murray has a really unique way of seeing the world and I loved his surreal, dry humour.
(One tiny niggle, no spoilers, if you’re trying to help a woman’s face be less shiny… don’t use foundation. Use powder.)
I loved the main character too - and she was a very flawed person, but had a good heart. I think us as the audience actually had a bit of a head start on this topic: we had the distance to see how she was just letting her own life pass her by.
The moral of the book isn’t a unique one, but the way it’s told is so interesting and fun. This gives me another book to compare this to: The Midnight Library! They both have a “look at your life and see it in a whole new light” kind of vibe.
The side characters were really unique too, I could envision them all really well (apart from Mina, for some reason my brain could just not latch on to her!) and really enjoyed seeing them join Esme in her story.
Honestly, I’ve already recommended this book to my dad as this sort of surreal observant take on life is right up his street, and it might be for you too!
I’d describe this book style as a mix between Terry Pratchett and Night Vale, in the best way. Andrew H Murray has a really unique way of seeing the world and I loved his surreal, dry humour.
(One tiny niggle, no spoilers, if you’re trying to help a woman’s face be less shiny… don’t use foundation. Use powder.)
I loved the main character too - and she was a very flawed person, but had a good heart. I think us as the audience actually had a bit of a head start on this topic: we had the distance to see how she was just letting her own life pass her by.
The moral of the book isn’t a unique one, but the way it’s told is so interesting and fun. This gives me another book to compare this to: The Midnight Library! They both have a “look at your life and see it in a whole new light” kind of vibe.
The side characters were really unique too, I could envision them all really well (apart from Mina, for some reason my brain could just not latch on to her!) and really enjoyed seeing them join Esme in her story.
Honestly, I’ve already recommended this book to my dad as this sort of surreal observant take on life is right up his street, and it might be for you too!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everything Happens So Much is a sci‑fi fantasy novel built on a creative premise and a strong emotional core. The story follows Esme Good, who lives a very uneventful life. She is using small potions that let her slip into alternate versions of herself for fifteen minutes at a time. Each version shows a life better than her own. After an accident leaves Esme as the only remaining version of herself, she becomes the key figure in a prophecy and must travel to an uncharted land to save the world, despite having no interest in being the main character.
The book uses its absurd setup to explore loneliness and the idea of choosing different versions of your life. It raises questions about whether someone would want to know that other choices might have led to something better. While the tone is comedic, the plot is stays focused with well explained world building, and Esme’s journey carries real emotional weight.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
The book uses its absurd setup to explore loneliness and the idea of choosing different versions of your life. It raises questions about whether someone would want to know that other choices might have led to something better. While the tone is comedic, the plot is stays focused with well explained world building, and Esme’s journey carries real emotional weight.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Clever, witty and quirky speculative fiction and sci-fi fantasy.
Esme Good is ordinary. She works an average job, lives in a boring city and feels she’s living the worst version of herself. She lives for those fifteen minute blips when she can experience a different version of herself. Then one day one completely ordinary work incident eliminates every possible version of herself. This sets off a series of bizarre adventures that at times are difficult to follow. Esme is like many of us always wondering if we did this or that would be happier? Would we be better versions of ourselves?
The alternative life concept is a great premise for a book. And the book is strongest when it explores regret and the fantasy of escape. The absurdist footnotes at the end of some chapters are laugh out loud! The characters are sweet and wholesome. The absurdist side of me (which I usually call prevent) er joyed Esme but my realistic side at times was confused. Overall I enjoyed this cute book. It did take me away from reality.
This is a book that should appeal to readers who enjoy speculative fiction that includes a sci-fi element. The writing is super too.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for granting me access to this ARC.
Esme Good is ordinary. She works an average job, lives in a boring city and feels she’s living the worst version of herself. She lives for those fifteen minute blips when she can experience a different version of herself. Then one day one completely ordinary work incident eliminates every possible version of herself. This sets off a series of bizarre adventures that at times are difficult to follow. Esme is like many of us always wondering if we did this or that would be happier? Would we be better versions of ourselves?
The alternative life concept is a great premise for a book. And the book is strongest when it explores regret and the fantasy of escape. The absurdist footnotes at the end of some chapters are laugh out loud! The characters are sweet and wholesome. The absurdist side of me (which I usually call prevent) er joyed Esme but my realistic side at times was confused. Overall I enjoyed this cute book. It did take me away from reality.
This is a book that should appeal to readers who enjoy speculative fiction that includes a sci-fi element. The writing is super too.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Everything Happens So Much by Andrew H Murray
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Sci-Fi/Humor
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: November 9, 2026
In Everything Happens So Much, we follow Esme as her life unravels after an incident involving a drug that allows you to live 15 minutes in one of your alternate lives. Prison breaks, talking legs, strange cults, and general hijinks follow!
This was such a wildly funny read! I think we have all wondered what our lives could have been and felt discontent about where we are, so it is easy to see how Esme becomes addicted to spending time in alternate (and much more exciting) lives. The writing style kept me giggling throughout, and the side characters were all deliciously outrageous, which I loved.
I got a little lost in the middle for a quick second, but the story pulled me right back in. Beyond all the humor, it is actually a fantastic way to ruminate on living in the moment, appreciating the life you already have, and making the most of it instead of wasting time yearning for something else.
Thank you so much Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Sci-Fi/Humor
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: November 9, 2026
In Everything Happens So Much, we follow Esme as her life unravels after an incident involving a drug that allows you to live 15 minutes in one of your alternate lives. Prison breaks, talking legs, strange cults, and general hijinks follow!
This was such a wildly funny read! I think we have all wondered what our lives could have been and felt discontent about where we are, so it is easy to see how Esme becomes addicted to spending time in alternate (and much more exciting) lives. The writing style kept me giggling throughout, and the side characters were all deliciously outrageous, which I loved.
I got a little lost in the middle for a quick second, but the story pulled me right back in. Beyond all the humor, it is actually a fantastic way to ruminate on living in the moment, appreciating the life you already have, and making the most of it instead of wasting time yearning for something else.
Thank you so much Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Other readers have compared this highly original novel to Douglas Adams, Doctor Who, and Terry Pratchett. To me, it felt like Blake Crouch’s Recursion written by Monty Python. In any case, it’s fun, funny, and unlike anything being published lately. That said, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I love British humor (ahem… humour?), but the author interrupts the action far too often with little asides designed to make readers laugh. I guffawed at a few, but mostly, I just wanted to know what would happen next. There’s also a bit of quantum physics, philosophy, and even self-improvement thrown into the mix. The supporting characters are so cute that I found myself invested in the story largely because of them. Esme, the protagonist? I get that she’s supposed to be a bit of a mess, but I never quite warmed to her. I really wanted to love this book, and I didn’t. I didn’t dislike it, either. It just wasn’t for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Little, Brown and Company.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Little, Brown and Company.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley. This book will be published around November 10, 2026.
Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray is quite fun. It takes place in a world that feels familiar but is definitely not ours. In it, people have the opportunity to experience one of their many parallel lives in 15 minute increments by taking a potion, like a 5 hour energy drink, but not. You can already see how this could become addictive. The thing is, that isn't even the craziest part of this story. I think it is best read if you don't know much more than that, but it is a real RIDE. I felt like I was running through the book to find out how it ended. I also laughed a lot because there are things included that are truly hilarious and also tip the cap to readers. Read it for the fun of it.
Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray is quite fun. It takes place in a world that feels familiar but is definitely not ours. In it, people have the opportunity to experience one of their many parallel lives in 15 minute increments by taking a potion, like a 5 hour energy drink, but not. You can already see how this could become addictive. The thing is, that isn't even the craziest part of this story. I think it is best read if you don't know much more than that, but it is a real RIDE. I felt like I was running through the book to find out how it ended. I also laughed a lot because there are things included that are truly hilarious and also tip the cap to readers. Read it for the fun of it.
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