A virus has been spreading. And whoever's been infected gets the worst fever. Unfortunately, some have perished. However, some of them gets better and they experience contentment like any other. The type of contentment that people give up their homes and riches, and experiencing bliss and happiness like never before. So now, some wants everyone to be infected, but some feels like this phenomena is comparable to body snatching and would never want to get sick.

I read a Neal Shusterman book before, but I haven't read a lot of them. And this book feel as though I actually experienced Neal Shusterman's writing. He really knows his audience. He knows that his readers are so into the book, that there's stuff that will be missed. So what he does is he'll actually explain the metaphors he puts in there. It was so amazing to see.

Anyway.the book itself is familiar to what the world has experienced. But this takes it up a notch. It was interesting how the author presented full contentment and how it affects society. For a bit there, it felt as though the author was explaining what heaven is like whenever healed people explain the feeling of contentment. It was truly interesting.

It's crazy having to read multiple POVs because the reader gets to see the degree of how this virus affects all the people. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's no holes because you get to read everything. The writing is just genius.

This book was full of twists. It was one thing after another after another. It was totally entertaining and there's even points where you'll ask yourself what would you do if you were in that situation. Very interesting and very twisted for sure. This was definitely a good real.

* I received an eARC of this book

This book was pretty fascinating to read post-pandemic. It was a bit mature for my 5th and 6th graders, but perfect for upper middle school. It really made me think and made me think of the influence of people in power.

Thank you for the eARC!! Neal Shusterman has done it again!

All Better Now takes place in a post-Covid world that is once again ravaged by a pandemic— only this time, the virus makes you happy.

The way Neal Shusterman is able to build a world and cast of characters is incredible to me. Each character has motives to fulfill their own needs and are given incredible challenges to overcome. He is also able to lightly examine the way our society works and how misinformation can spread without being heavy-handed or overly political.

This novel is a MUST read.

Shusterman takes this wild premise to it's logical conclusion, exploring the lengths people would go to to keep or change the status quo. No one comes out with clean hands, which makes the story feel more realistic. A little too long for my tastes but overall a good read.

I was hooked by the layers of moral implications in All Better Now by Neal Shusterman. He is the modern-day dystopian author that is favored by many of my middle school students. The premise of a second pandemic will ring true to readers that lived through the first. His characters are diverse, and their struggles and conundrums bring them to life. The idea that a virus could bring contentment to all infected brings into question the ideal of happiness and how much faith is put into that concept. So hard to decide... Would you want to be infected or not? Read this to help you decide!

I thought All Better Now was propulsive and thought-provoking, if a bit long. I think what sets this book apart is that there is not a clear delineation between the right and wrong sides. Two of the main characters represent polar extremes and a third represents the moderate center / voice of reason (it felt very apropos of our current U.S. politics). I especially enjoyed the “elsewhere” chapters that occasionally fed back into the main story, and the ending perfectly set this book up for a sequel. But the nature of the virus and some of the more outlandish plot points required too great a suspension of a disbelief for me to fully enjoy this story.

A classic case of “what would you do?” When faced with the idea of a contagion that you either believe changes who you are completely or just takes away your worries and your fears, what would you choose? Contract the virus and live a life of nonstop contentment or fight for your right to choose? Or live it fear of all choices?

The concept of this book was definitely interesting. A story that is a dramatized play on how we were effect by COVID and how extreme the 2 sides of beliefs could be. It had you thinking constantly what your belief would be in that situation. It also had me teetering the whole time. Parts of it felt like the meaning of the story was just going right over my head but in the end I think I got it. There really is no right choice.

Morgan was irritating the whole time. The fact that she was just a teenager both blew my mind and just made sense with how she thought she knew everything. Mariel and Rón were great and perfect for each other. I actually loved Dame Havilland 😅 I felt for Blas and his undying love for his son. The end of this book kinda felt like nothing was actually resolved. No one won, no one really lost. I guess that may have been the point though?

Overall, not a bad read but definitely takes more brain power to get through that I was expecting. You actually have to pay attention the whole time or you’ll be lost from one chapter to the next.

Man, this one was fun. Interesting premise, likeable AND unlikable characters, with twists and turns. I got this one as an ARC, but would be happy about my purchase if I had bought it. Solid 4.25 ⭐

I have enjoyed other books from this author, but I didn’t care for this one. I didn’t really care for any of the characters and didn’t particularly care what happened in the end. This one was a miss for me.

In “All Better Now” the Crown Royale virus takes center stage as the new pandemic that is shaking the world to its core. This pandemic is unlike others before it, in that it changes most of its victims in a way that is unexpected. The story carries on the tale through a wide array of characters giving side plots to the overall plot. I felt that the book had quite a bit of extra information that wasn’t totally necessary for the story as a whole, and at 528 pages could have been cut out to reduce the sheer size of the book. Overall the story was enjoyable, some parts more than others but it was a bit slow moving for myself.

As is typical with Neal Shusterman books, I find myself thinking a lot about All Better Now after finishing it. This novel has the threads of multiple people woven through a pandemic brought on by a virus. At first glance it seems the loss of negative feelings such as sadness, grief, and anger that comes after recovery from the virus would be a benefit to society. It is quickly shown that there are drawbacks that come with the loss of some human emotions.

The main three young adults followed through the book each show a different perspective of the pandemic situation. Nothing is black or white about their actions and goals and I found each character hard to like at times. The impact of this virus on the ultra-rich was also thought provoking for me.

Overall it is a mix of thriller and science fiction; this kept me reading and trying to puzzle the pieces together and thinking about how the virus would affect current society.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

All Better Now

What a trip, honestly Neal Shusterman can do no wrong.
I can not type the correct words on how this affected me.

Humans have lived through multiple pandemics, plagues, and madness. What is the worst that could happen if everyone was happy?
Could we live through another round of social distancing, or continue the loneliness epidemic that has increased since 2020? Or just breathe in the micro organisms and live?
Too many questions and twice as many answers, free will might be the only thing humanity has in common. Crown Royale has swept in and has made its masses of followers.

I am writing this unbiased review in exchange for an early ebook.

Thank You to Neal Shusterman, publishers, and Netgalley

Crown Royale is the latest pandemic to sweep the world. The symptoms are similar to Covid but with a higher mortality rate. Those who recover all experience a strange long-term effect, complete and utter contentment. No more jealousy, greed, anxiety, or depression. Without negative feelings, people are more empathetic and willing to help others, sometimes to the extreme. There are those who think this might be just what the world needs to be all better now and those who stand to lose all their power if Crown Royale has its way.

This obviously raises many interesting new questions and dilemmas, but I'm struggling to find adequate words to express my thoughts and feelings. I'm speechless. Just read this book! I absolutely burned through this 500+ page dystopian thriller, following Muriel, Rón, and Morgan through Schusterman's latest creative and eerily relevant world. I'm conflicted about the ending, though. I can't tell if this is going to be a series, so I'm giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I would increase my rating if I knew for certain that it was the start of a series. I loved Schusterman's Scythe series, and I can't believe it took me so long to pick up another of his books.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of All Better Now.

I am deeply conflicted about Neal Shusterman’s “All Better Now.” Set in a post-Covid near future, a new virus is on the move. However, if one recovers from this new pandemic, they experience a state of happiness and joy unknown before the illness. The pros of surviving but up against our capitalist society, selling us happiness. The fascinating premise keeps the novel moving. The story focuses on 3 young people on the two sides of the debate. For a 500+ page book, it’s remarkable that so little character development occurs. The minor characters evolve and change from their initial stance on the virus, but the main characters are stubbornly unwavering. I’m fascinated to know how the second will end, however; I’m not sure if I want to spend more time with these characters.

A new pandemic is sweeping the globe and this one has different long-term effects on any survivors … they have a feeling of utter contentment. These survivors no longer feel greed, stress, or even a drive to be the best. Is there a problem with always being happy? Some would say, “Yes!” While people are working hard to create a vaccine that would stop the virus, others are working on a way to spread it faster. Who will win out? Are humans about to become extinct?

All Better Now is a stand-alone science fiction story that hits very close to home after our recent COVID-19 pandemic. The science is a little past our current science, but not so far advanced that it isn’t plausible soon. Shusterman created characters on both sides of the issue that are easy to relate to and no matter which side you are rooting for … the ending is satisfying. All Better Now is a fun read for sci-fi fans.

So for starters I am a Neal Shusterman fan! But this one, for over 500 pages, I felt like not enough was happening at times? Granted, I still really enjoyed it, and I’ll be curious to know how it evolves in the next book because I think we have just set the scene..for chaos! Let's go.

I loved the premise of a virus taking over and making people happy/content/grateful, and hopeful for their lives and the aha moment they have no matter what their previous conditions were.

I think it will continue to bring up a lot of big questions on human nature, how people react when faced with a crisis, in this case, a virus that seems to “change” you, even if for the better.

There are those who hide away out of fear or protection (or both) and others who embrace it. I like that we get characters in all these spaces so we can see how they are all reacting to the same situation. There’s a good amount of conflict, and both sides feel strongly that they are right. Which then leads to all sorts of typical human chaos, destruction, and potential war.

But the question is, is the world better off when everyone gets out of their own way, forgives themselves, and is always good to others? Or do we need a mixture of dark and light to persevere?

I do think the ending of this was predictable, but that’s not always a bad thing! The way it all went down was worth the ride. And again, you can tell this is just the beginning. I’m curious to see all the character arcs and if anyone changes their viewpoint as the story progresses.

I did find it very interesting to flip the storyline, especially coming off a recent pandemic, to have this virus that appears to be doing good rather than harm. As humans, I think it’s frightening either way.

Thank you to @netgalley and #simonandschuster for this ARC

I love Neal Shusterman’s books. This book is scarily real. A play off of the very worse of the pandemic, Shusterman takes the idea of the pandemic and mixes a bit of realism and fantasy. A bit confusing on the character switching, it may be helpful to lead into each chapter with who their names that would be great.

All Better Now was a sharp and inventive thriller that flipped the usual pandemic narrative on its head. In a world where happiness becomes a literal contagion, the book raised fascinating questions about what it truly means to be content and who benefits from societal discontent. The premise alone hooked me, but it was the trio of teens at the heart of the story who kept me invested.
The characters were vividly drawn, each bringing a unique perspective to the unfolding chaos. Whether grappling with the virus’s euphoric aftereffects, the moral implications of spreading happiness, or the darker agendas of those in power, their journeys were compelling and emotionally charged. I particularly enjoyed how the author explored themes of free will, societal control, and the lengths people will go to protect—or dismantle—systems of power.
The pacing was relentless, balancing tense action sequences with quieter, thought-provoking moments. The author's signature knack for blending big ideas with intimate character arcs shone throughout. My only minor complaint was that some of the world-building felt a little under-explored, leaving me wanting more details about the virus’s origins and the societal shifts it caused.
Still, All Better Now was an engrossing read that left me pondering long after I turned the final page. It was both a cautionary tale and an exploration of the human condition, wrapped in an addictive YA package. If you’re a fan of speculative fiction with high stakes and moral complexity, this book is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was excited to get into this one based on the premise, but disappointed when I actually did get into it. By 20% I wasn't entertained enough to want to continue reading. It feels like more of a speculation on COVID instead of a unique plot that also happens to center around a virus. I don't know, maybe this would have been better in 10 years when the YA audience (who's parents went though COVID) are mature enough to draw parallels to the novel and reality. I enjoy Shusterman's style of writing so if that is enough to keep you, then you might enjoy more than I did. Thank you as always to the publisher and Netgalley!

I was immediately pulled in by the premise of this book but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The use case of multiple POVs was distracting and some of the random backstory given seemed really unnecessary. Morgan was unbearable and not in an interesting way that made her a good villain. Then we get to the ending and it all feels like it’s unfinished.