So Much for That

[1] The novel, a social satire, follows American entrepreneur Shep Knacker, as he is forced to pay for medical care for his wife, preventing him from following his goal of retiring to a third world country.

NPR reviewer Maureen Corrigan is very positive about the novel, praising its language and writing, saying "What's really striking here is the way Shriver's juiced-up language and droll social commentary never flag once throughout this long and deliciously involved novel.

"[3] Ron Charles of Washington Post Book World, concluded that " So Much for That is a furious objection to watching the dream of health, financial security and old-age companionship wither and die.

"[6] Telegraph reviewer Lucy Daniel described the novel as successful in critiquing the American health care system, writing "It’s a wonder that subject matter on the surface so bleak can be transformed into something so uplifting.

"[5] The Guardian was more mixed, praising the "fast-paced exchanges" within the novel, but noting that Shriver has a "tendency to rely too heavily on dialogue to explain complicated issues such as the workings of the US healthcare system or the intricacies of chemotherapy.