I loved the pro-social overtones of this near future that focused on a transitional stage between dys- and pro-topia. Shusterman dives into the fragile systems that hold modern society together and pressure tests them with a pandemic that leaves those who survive the virus in a state of perpetual contentment and compassion. Excellent balance among disparate storylines of the ways that the virus affected different populations and individuals and intriguing engagement with ideas about the systems that hold society together without being pedantic. Highly recommend for young adults and adult-adults alike.

This book reminded me why I LOVE the dystopian/post apocalyptic genre!! 🤯
I genuinely loved this book for beginning to end. The story, the multiple POVS (yes please!), the details!
While there are a couple people you follow throughout the story, I enjoyed the random accounts of other people around the world and how they were dealing with the virus.
The ending just leaves you wanting more!! Wondering what happened 😬

You follow a handful of people in the world after a pandemic that leaves half the population feeling utter contentment. Who wouldn’t want to be happy all the time?

This book makes you think! At first you think well of course who wouldn’t?! But it really shows you the pros and cons.

I HIGHLY recommend this book! 🙌🏻

What would happen if a pandemic causes all its victims to be happy and charitable, even to the detriment of the self? That is exactly what this story explores and it is a very thought provoking concept. Each character is quite flawed but they all have redeeming qualities or actions, so I felt my opinions changing about each 'side' of the pandemic over and over throughout the story. I was pleased with the character development and how the ending wrapped up the story but did not give us all the answers. I felt that the lack of answers was very realistic and I know I will be thinking about this book for a long time going forward.

Scythe is my second favorite series ever. Needless to say, I had high expectations. The premise is genius, but the execution felt like a let down. The plot feels circular in that every scene or circumstance seems to be the same but slightly altered. There was no forward movement, and the uniqueness of the central plot therefore wore off quickly.

neal did the damn thing again. i didn’t know if he could top the scythe series and he surely proved me wrong. i can’t wait to read even more from him.

This book is such an interesting concept - a virus that causes happiness. Pure, unadulterated compassion, empathy, contentment, and happiness. It was such an interesting thought experiment and was intriguing when the downsides to this were shown. It makes for many interesting moral dilemmas. I enjoyed the book a lot. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for the ARC!

This was a great read. You could easily have shaved off 100 or so pages and not lost anything, but overall, I really enjoyed it. It makes you think...what would you do? Would you want to catch Crown Royale and live a life free of anxiety, pain, and burdens, or avoid it at all costs and maintain your 'true' sense of self, faults included?

I knocked off a star only because the ending gets pretty far-fetched and crazy. I also would have loved an epilogue explaining what happened 1 or more years down the line, but for the most part, this was an extremely readable book with engaging characters, and I'm so glad I got a chance to read it early. Thanks, NetGalley!

Fans of Shusterman’s Scythe trilogy (among his numerous other hits) are going to devour his newest, All Better Now. In a post-Covid world, there’s a new pandemic, but instead of leaving the infected with a lingering cough or weakened immune system, this virus leaves them feeling happy in ways they never imagined. They do everything for the benefit of the greater good, but if that seems too good to be true, it’s because it is. Three teenagers get wrapped up in major ways as the world grapples with competing agendas, conflicted societies, and moral dilemmas. This is a fast-paced thriller featuring various perspectives, and in true Shusterman-fashion, ties things up while leaving us eager for the next installment.

Shusterman is an author that I can always guarantee is a win with teen readers. As a classroom teacher, he was always an easy recommendation. His catalog of books keeps kids hooked, but also inspires them to dig into the information that informs the fiction. This book is no different. He writes teen characters that we root for and admire; he paints a dystopian society that felt too close and too real at times, and he left me thinking about the plot, the characters, and what’s next for days.

Took me a few days to finish All better now, thank you to the publisher & Neal Shushterman for the ARC of this. I loved it, I couldn’t imagine a virus like this. Or which virus I’d rather have. To be happy forever? If I don’t die first… I want to say sign me up. Sometimes though, you have days where you need to be sad. Another great by Neal Shusterman.

I've been reading Neal Shusterman's work for well over a decade now, and this was my ~10th book of his. While it had many of the elements that I enjoy about Shusterman's writing, I must admit this was probably my least favorite of his books.

What worked well:
- The premise of this book was super intriguing. In general, appreciate the way that Shusterman creates these dystopian worlds based on interesting philosophical and ethical dilemmas. In this case he explores the question: How would people react when faced with a rampant virus that leaves recoverees feeling only joy and gratitude (thus creating a pandemic of happiness)? The way the author approaches these philosophical topics through the eyes of his characters is always captivating, and for All Better Now I was hooked pretty early on.

What didn't work for me:
- Unfortunately, the initial premise was just about the only thing I enjoyed. The book felt so underdeveloped (especially for being over 500 pages long). The characters didn't grow; the plot didn't progress; and the romantic relationship was so forced, the only way I knew they were in a romantic relationship was because Shusterman kept telling us the characters had never loved anyone else so much.
- Above all else, I found some of the writing to be cringeworthy (at best). At one point the straight protagonist kisses a queer character (with a crush on him) out of pity. Shusterman also wrote phrases like: "[She was] irked to be mansplained by a woman" or, "She was Brown, but not Latina. Her accent pointed to India."

After sticking it out and completing all 500 pages, the book ended on a cliffhanger that left me feeling ultimately unfulfilled and frustrated.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

This may be my favorite Shusterman yet. I think it is perfectly timed. Young people are starting to begin to process the pandemic. I love how the protagonists are also the antagonists. I will definitely be using this book in my young adult literature and writing courses.

This was so interesting and quite a scary concept of a world we could live in. I don't know how I'd like this world. The characters were all so different and fleshed out and I like how none of them were really perfect, good people. They all were in that Grey area. Especially Morgan, she was an interesting character, while on the other hand, Ron was getting on my nerves.

I read the Scythe series and enjoyed the premise of it, but not necessarily the writing (dry and slow for me for parts of the books, but not the whole series). This one is much better! I was into the book the entire time, and the writing was very easy to read.

The plot is interesting and actually made me think about how things would pan out if the virus succeeded. It’s honestly an intriguing idea, and realizing that being eternally content and willing to help others may not be a good thing is a bit of a wake up call to me. The characters are interesting enough, and I like the little backstories and side characters we get to know while reading. It’s also a wonderful addition to see into the minds of each side of the virus.

I enjoyed this quite a bit, and the ending is diabolical. If this isn’t a series, the ending is very thought provoking. 4.25⭐️

All Better Now is a fresh look at the question of what emotions are allowed and acceptable, and what happens if people simply can't feel 'bad' emotions. It wrestles with the real questions and posits convincingly the dangers and losses of unbounded optimism. Neal Shusterman's story is compelling with well drawn deep characters that are worth spending time with.

I wasn't sure I was read for a post-covid pandemic book, but the premise of a virus that makes you happy in a YA novel? I decided to give it a spin. Glad I did.

A new virus with a slightly higher death rate than covid, but if you recover, you become very Zen about everything - relaxed, happy, calm. Sounds great right? Well, when the uber wealthy recover, they give away all their money and give up their power. If you have yet to be infected, this appears to be a horrible outcome! And what about the economy if everyone is content with what they already have? This could spell disaster for the planet! But we are early on in the new pandemic and it may go one way or the other, and there is a fight on to influence the outcome. A few recoverees want to spread the virus so that others can feel their new-found inner peace. Influential non-infected people want to stop the spread ASAP and are researching a vaccine solution. And these two groups are actively working against each other, trying to foil each other's plans. Where will this end? Read the book and find out.

Neal Shusterman's All Better Now, publishing on February 4, 2025, is an intriguing take on a pandemic thriller. Here the virus has a long-term side effect of leaving the infected feeling content. On it's face, the concept of no longer feeling things like fear, anger, disappointment, etc. sounds appealing, but the situations the characters are faced with soon bring forth questions about moral and ethical dilemmas, disruptions to political and economic structures and so on. This was a fun and wild ride.

For me, the pacing felt off. There were sections that felt too slow to me where I found myself resisting the urge to skim through to get to the next part. Other than those spots where I felt it slowed down a bit too much, I thought this was a really enjoyable, thought-provoking read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced e-reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Neal Shusterman's books have been at the top of my list of recommendations for independent reading for my middle school students for years, and I was excited to read his latest novel. The concept of a virus which has the long-term effect of making people more uplifted is unique and and the book elicits fantastic ethical and moral questions about life. Overall, I felt the book was a little slower-paced that previous books by the author and some scenes and conversations between characters could have been eliminated to speed it up. However, there were enough action scenes to keep me intrigued, and the ending has a great setup for a sequel. I would recommend this more for independent reading for high school-aged students than my student population as some topics such as suicide may be challenging to read about without the guidance of an adult. If I could, I would give this 4.5 stars as I did enjoy it very much.

Since reading Scythe, I’ve been a big fan of Neal Shusterman, and his take on a pandemic story doesn’t disappoint. In this book, a virus has a bizarre long-term side effect—it makes people content. The idea of a world without dissatisfaction raises fascinating social questions: would the peace it brings be worth disrupting the economy and society as we know it? The characters are torn, with some wanting to eliminate the virus and others believing it’s exactly what the world needs. While I didn’t love it as much as the Scythe series, it’s still a thought-provoking and very good, 4.5 Star, read.

Neal Shusterman’s “All Better Now” is a wild ride as society is gripped by another pandemic. This virus is deadly, but survivors are left with a deep sense of peace and contentment. Daily irritations no longer bother them and negative impulses no longer govern them. Powerful people see this as a threat to society and will do whatever it takes to stop a kinder, gentler world from taking hold. Three teens end up at the center of the fight, but which will they choose? Let the virus play out or eradicate it as quickly as possible?

Schusterman gives the reader a lot to think about. What would happen to society if suddenly people were no longer interested in conflict and no longer experienced the daily frustrations of life? What if the richest people in the world decided to throw their money behind a cure…no matter the cost in money or damaged human lives? What if you were given a directive and ample funds to carry it out, but the directive is ultimately morally gray? Would you carry it out? What makes an action heroic?

Overall, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking story. It was hard to put down because you know there is more action right around the corner. There is room for a sequel and I would be interested to know what comes next.

Classroom considerations: “All Better Now’s” accessibility makes it great for small classes that might discuss morality, ethics, or what makes society function. There are variations on the Trolley Problem and discussion on what makes an action moral (or not).

This book is great for teens and adults who enjoy thrillers.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A good thriller following a formula Shusterman uses in his Scythe and Unwind series. In this book, a global pandemic leaves its survivors content and altruistic. Wealthy individuals want to find a way to stop the virus before it leads to economic and social upheaval. Three teenagers find themselves in the middle of this dilemma: one convinced the virus paves the way to a better future for humanity, one who will stop at nothing to put an end to the virus, and one who values human agency and choice. Who is right? While I appreciate the ethical dilemma the book poses, I have to wonder if there’s a missed opportunity to explore the importance of both positive and negative emotions - that too much of one or the other can be problematic.