Neal Shusterman is an automatic buy for me, but I'll admit I was a little apprehensive when I saw it leaned more to the sci-fi genre. Plus, the fact that we're all pandemic-ed out also turned me off. I was TOTALLY wrong with this one! In addition to Shusterman's usual flowy, yet captivating, writing style, he created powerful characters and storyline that caused me to reconsider my own beliefs and prejudices toward others and also helped me to reevaluate what's truly important in life. It did take me a few chapters to get into it, but once I got into the story, it was difficult to put down. With most YA books I'm looking for a quick, enjoyable, relatable read, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much this one forced me to think. Shusterman does it again - thanks so much for the ARC!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This was so nostalgic for me. I grew up reading Neal Shusterman, and this book put me right back in my middle school literary days (in a good way). Mr. Shusterman tells us a new tale this time with a fresh dystopian world and epidemic, and it feels OH so good. I really loved the premise, and I can't wait to see what happens next. It was fast-paced, there was on-the-edge-of-your-seat tension, and I loved every minute. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

Crown Royale - the next Corona pandemic, but this one comes with a gift (or a curse): recoverees suddenly have very different values and lifestyles. Some people in the world embrace this, while others see it as a living death. Three young people play pivotal roles in a world rocked by the disease - Morgan, who stumbles into great power and great responsibility; Mariel, who's just trying to do the best she can with what she's got, and Tiburon, whose decisions are tied to his billionaire father, even when he makes his own choices.

This is classic Shusterman dystopia, with carefully considered conflicts and lots of character development. I really loved the diversity of the cast, showing how different ages, economic levels, and ethnicities dealt with the challenges. He made compelling arguments for different sides of the question "Where does personal choice end in the interest of the greater good?" And even moreso, "Who gets to decide what the greater good is?" All Better Now is a great combination of action and philosophy. I definitely recommend it!

This was my first Neal Shusterman book and it didn't disappointment! I appreciated the strong characterization and tension in the story, and the plot was Plotting, with everything happening at a brisk, exciting pace.

I thought this was an interesting concept, but I just couldn’t get into it. I wasn’t excited to pick it up and get back to the story. This was a DNF at 20% for me.

4.5 ⭐️!

If Shusterman is gonna write it, I’m gonna read it and probably love it. Neal has quickly become an auto-buy author for me.

Summary of the book:
A new virus causes people to experience lasting happiness, free from stress and negative emotions. While most embrace this, those in power—politicians, media, and corporations—see it as a threat to their control and profits. They launch campaigns claiming that constant happiness is dangerous, even developing a vaccine to restore people’s previous emotional states. Amidst conflicting messages, two teens, whose lives have been disrupted by the virus, find themselves at the center of a fight to uncover the truth.

Shusterman excels at taking intricate sci-fi concepts and making them accessible, even for readers who typically struggle with the genre, while still exploring deep social issues. I’m incredibly impressed by how seamlessly he weaves together three distinct storylines without losing any complexity.

I absolutely loved the three main characters—Mariel, Ron, and Morgan. They’re brilliantly crafted, with layers of depth and complexity that made them feel truly multifaceted.

At first, I thought writing about a pandemic might be too soon, especially for those directly affected, but the unique take on the virus is so clever. I haven’t seen this perspective explored before, and it really sets the story apart.

This book is a must read and I think will be pretty popular with readers.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Books for providing this ARC

Neal Shusterman has been one of my auto-read authors for years. In my opinion, there isn’t another author out there who is tackling contemporary societal issues through a dystopian lense as well as he does.

I was first introduced to the concept of All Better Now when Shusterman made a visit to our school district a couple of years ago, and I was immediately intrigued. What if there was a highly contagious disease which could ultimately lead to a blissful existence for all? On the surface it seems obvious that this would be a good thing, but, as always, Shusterman plays Devil’s Advocate in a way that allows the reader to authentically analyze the gray areas presented through the characters’ actions, decisions, and motivations.

All Better Now is quintessential Shusterman. From the very first page, he introduces us to an eclectic cast of characters who find themselves already in the midst of the conflicts that will eventually draw them all together. My favorite part of reading any Shusterman story is trying to figure out how all of our characters’ stories are going to eventually interweave. And just like previous stories, I wasn’t able to determine the exact nature of these connections which is part of Shusterman’s genius.

This is a fantastic book, I really enjoyed it! I was hooked from the beginning and loved following the wild ride that the story took me on. There are so many twists and turns that I kept wondering what would happen next. And just when I thought that I had something figured out, I was very wrong. This is a deep book that left me questioning everything in the best way. I highly recommend you give it a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.