Title: All the Lonely People

Author: Kannika Claudine D. Peña

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Rating: 5/5

A novel with six interconnected stories loosely tied together through the transient lens of the main character, “All the Lonely People” by Kannika Claudine D. Peña tells tales of sadness, grief, and loss—and the fact that not everything in life has a definite answer nor a gratifying closure. 

Primarily set in Metro Manila, the stories enclosed within the narrative provide a brief yet meaningful glimpse into the lives of people across different walks of life.

The book takes readers into multiple perspectives, shifting from the protagonist, Marya, to the rest of the characters throughout, giving each person their dedicated chapter where a part of their lives respectively play out. Each works through their past, leaving open-ended conclusions as their lives continue.

If only material things could tell the tale

Each story entails a lost item that becomes a starting point for each character to develop their backstories. In Via’s chapter, the story begins with her finding a lost wallet on the bus, which is revealed to belong to a good samaritan who once helped her during a time of crisis with her ex-partner. In Cindy’s story, meanwhile, her lost engagement ring becomes a pivotal point for her to examine and reflect upon her relationship with her fiancé. However, the novel mainly focuses on the lead character, Marya, who has her own story born from tragedy and loss, as she tries to rebuild her life in the hustle and bustle of the city. 

The novel encourages the reader to look beyond the items in question and realize that each has something worthwhile to tell. Marya’s lost and found logbook she keeps at her job at an apartelle, symbolizes this idea, as she diligently sketches and jots down the missing items she finds, separate from those belonging to the other characters in the story.

Lost and found 

All the Lonely People is definitely more than just a collection of stories, or tales of people losing (and sometimes finding) their things—it is a novel of reflection, longing, and human connection. These themes can be seen in Gemma’s story, where she finds herself still yearning for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother’s love after years of neglect. Similarly, Ronald, in a separate narrative, examines his past as an ex-convict and how his absence drifted him away from his family. 

The book also reminds us of impermanence and how change is, ironically, the only thing that stays constant. In Dan Ian’s chapter, he briefly meets someone on the phone, who unknowingly reminds him of the relationships that matter in his life, no matter how flawed it may seem.

The collection of tales brings a message of empathy, hope, and acceptance. Each person has a story of their own—perhaps for some, it is easier for them to tell through the items they cherish, or even things they themselves may find mundane.

Seek and you will find

On a grander perspective, All the Lonely People challenges the reader to see the beauty in an imperfect life—to look back at the past, keep a level head in the present, and be persistent in hoping for the future. The concept of sonder—the realization that everyone else has a life as real and colorful as one’s own—is a strong theme in the novel, as it showcases the various colorful and reflective lives of different people. Peña’s purposeful descriptions allow the readers to watch from a distance, allowing them to be immersed in a world where many people from different walks of life peacefully coexist at the end of it all. 

Beneath the surface, everyone has a story to tell, and the novel wonderfully showcases the beauty of imperfections, redirection, and hope of the characters featured. From bystanders, we become witnesses to the unfolding tales of these people as they march on towards the end of their particular chapter in their lives.

Ultimately, this book embraces the humanity of it all, showing that loss, nor a lack of definite closure, does not mean that it is the end—it could be a door leading to forgiveness, new beginnings, and opportunities, simply waiting to be opened.

All the Lonely People is available for purchase through Milflores Publishing, Shopee, and Lazada.