Shusterman’s new young adult novel, All Better Now, takes the all-too familiar world of a pandemic and pairs it with an old cliché: Happiness is contagious. In this case, literally.

For survivors of Crown Royale, the latest coronavirus pandemic, the world is a much happier place: “Recoverees,” as they are called, lose the ability to deeply feel negative emotions. As a result, they walk away from their cares and possessions and exist in a perpetual state of serenity. To some, this sounds like a dream come true. Who wouldn’t want to just “don’t worry, be happy” as in the Bobby McFerrin song? For others, this sounds like a loss of self and agency on par with becoming a zombie (minus, you know, eating people and unintelligible moaning), and it must be stopped at all costs.

With complex teen characters at the helm, opposing views of what should be done about Crown Royale, machinations by people in power, and morally “gray” areas, this book would produce rich conversations and comparisons to the real world for students. I am a fan of Shusterman; his books are usually among my first suggestions for my more reluctant readers, and this did not disappoint. I didn’t love it as much as the Scythe books (hard to beat!), but I really enjoyed this one and have a copy in hand to add to my classroom shelves tomorrow.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Neal Shusterman is at it again! While the Arc of a Scythe series will always hold a special place in my heart, I didn't realize how much I missed Neal Shusterman's writing style and story-impact on my brain until I picked this up.

While there has been a lot of pandemic-based stories because of COVID 19's impact on society, Neal Shusterman has approached it a little differently than I've seen anyone else so far. This time, another pandemic chases the tail of COVID 19, and it brings an interesting twist - if you want to read the summary, you can see on Goodreads here!

Recommendation: If you're looking for another story, similar to the Arc of the Scythe series in terms of the type of story it is, then I'd definitely give All Better Now a try. If you're not a fan of societal commentary stories like that, where he focuses on humanity and how people handle things like self-preservation and the consequences of those approaches, then All Better Now isn't the story for you. All Better Now makes you think and reflect - and isn't much of an escapist book, if that's what you're looking for.

The summary doesn't touch on names, so I won't either, but I can say that our teenager protagonists are about as opposite as can be. I won't touch on how and why, to avoid spoilers, but, as expected, they both play pivotal roles in the story, including influencing each other. This story touches on not only the different perspectives of what happiness is and how it's obtained, but also the consequences of having a pandemic that "creates happiness" in people and how dangerous - or not - that really is.

This story challenges assumptions you would make about a virus that leaves those infected feeling utter contentment. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? To no longer feel stress, depression, greed, or similar negative feelings anymore?

. . . But is it?

Neal Shusterman challenges this question with All Better Now, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it early!

**IF YOU WANT TO READ THE BOOK BEFORE GETTING SPOILERS, STOP HERE! YOU CAN ALWAYS READ THE BOOK AND COME BACK. I'M ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU.**

Mariel and Ron are interesting main characters, and it's really interesting to watch Mariel's street-smarts and her drive to survive [and, sometimes, attempt to thrive!] make Ron stop and think about his life and his choices, and how those decisions can change the impact he can have. It's beautiful how her influence seems to drive him to make the decisions he makes - that Mariel ultimately disagrees with! Which, in turn, changes the decisions she makes.

Neal Shusterman always makes his readers think, and I love how he challenges the assumptions we all make - that a particular influence can only produce one kind of response or outcome. Shusterman explores that [incorrect] thought process and challenges our understanding of what it means to influence those around you - and the consequences of your attempted influence backfiring.

I love this exploration of what it would mean to lose all the negative feelings in your life - and the importance they play in our happiness! There's definitely an argument for this sort of virus not playing out this way [that the human condition would respond differently to losing all the negative feelings we experience], but, personally, I loved seeing Shusterman's take on what it would do to people, and how it could both be a blessing and a curse, a solution and a problem, a peaceful existence and a dangerous one.

My only [minor] "complaint" about this book is that it has a sort of open-ending. I do like that it gives readers the space to draw their own conclusions or to let their imagination run wild, but part of me really wants to see how the countervirus fares "out in the wild" and if the feeling of abject misery and anxiety ever goes away with victims of it, or if the world is now doomed to only have the choice between utter contentment and unending anxiety.

And how is Morgan going to handle this choice? If that feeling of unending anxiety doesn't fade, will she choose having some control, even if it kills her drive, or will she choose having no control but at least never losing her drive? The world may never know! [I have my own thoughts on this, but it's one of the few things I, personally, don't like about open-endings.]

Also, I absolutely love his use of non-main characters that we see for maybe a few pages later become so impactful to the story. I love this reminder that, even though a story hinges on the main characters, it also hinges on the secondary [or even more minor] characters.

As always, I hope you enjoyed the review, and be kind, stay safe, and read on!

I love pandemic books. And I've been meaning to read Neal Shusterman FOREVER. So when I saw that All Better Now was about a highly contagious virus that leaves people in an irreversible and extreme state of contentment, I was intrigued. All Better Now raises so many amazing questions: if this virus brings about happiness, is it desirable? Should it spread or be stopped? Who gets to make these ethical decisions?

However, I felt the premise and the themes raised and explored fell short of reaching their full potential. Shusterman raises question after question without ever taking a stance. Who is good or bad, right or wrong? Everyone and no one. The book is way too long and I found myself a bit frustrated with the ending because it felt like an ending, not a conclusion. Things were left unresolved in a way I didn't enjoy. After reading over 500 pages I wondered, what was the point? What was the message?

Despite all this, I found the subject of the book to be very interesting and think it would make for a fantastic discussion and debate.

Probably more like 3.75 stars. I did enjoy the plot and Neal Shusterman just knows how to write good stuff, but I had trouble getting attached to any of the characters, which is important to me when reading. A second virus has hit the world after COVID, but this one makes everyone that survived feel a sense of joy and compassion for others. Sounds like a wonderful world, right? Well, this book has a good way of making you realize why it might not be so grand. It has people trying to avoid the pandemic, people trying to infect everyone, people trying to create a vaccine, and people with other ill intentions…a little bit of everything. I think this will definitely appeal to teens and it is an interesting concept. I would recommend to teen readers and others who enjoy YA or this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this early.

This is by the dystopian master himself, neal shustermen and yes this is another dystopian that sounds so strange. It follows 3 teenagers navigating a new pandemic that pops up shortly after covid resolves and we just follow them as they have to figure out this new version of living, and what that means is surviving one of the side effects to this virus which makes you become utterly content where billionaires are giving up all the fortunes and living in the woods like to that extreme and we see the impacts of the economy and capitalism, it's all fascinating. As you can see the one little smiley guy on the cover there is the one infected, you’re just a beaming ray of sunshine but to you and everyone's detriment. Get it soon and have a copy on your shelves.

AHH IM SORRY
i love neal shusterman so much, b ut I feel like this was giving dry (one of his other standalones)
like the idea is so cool, messed up, and thought provoking like always, but it's something about the characters and pacing
the arc of a scythe and skinjacker series' are sooo good, and even unwind, but I've found that his standalones are just more lackluster
I didn't hate it, but I did hate that I didn't love it.
the whole pandemic thing was a little too relatable though.

3.5
I’m not sure what to think about this one. There were many pieces that were great about it especially the compelling premise and character interactions. For there being so many characters it was never difficult to keep track of them.

That being said- I never really cared about any of them enough. This was far more of a conceptual novel than either plot or character driven. I do appreciate that we were allowed to sit it the discomfort of the right thing to do. Part of the reason it was so difficult to connect with the characters was due to this they just are in such a different decision making framework than any of us have ever been

Not sure if this is setting up for a series. I could see it working as a standalone but there were definitely threads left untied.

I found this novel to be both enjoyable and thought-provoking. How a virus can be seen as man's greatest threat and a saving grace, depending on where you stand. While the length of the book was intimidating, the pages flew by. I don't know how well this book will go over with a YA audience, but it works from an adult's perspective.

I generally love Neal Shusterman's writing and this was no different. The premise is very interesting--an extremely contagious virus that kills one in twenty five people, BUT if you survive, you live in utter contentment. No stress, no depression, no greed. Just a utopian collectivist society dream--or is it nightmare? It presents a ton of discussion opportunities, and would be great at a book club.

However, I didn't feel connected to the characters in the same way that I felt connected to the characters in Scythe. I also struggled a little with the takeaway, but I guess maybe that will be explored in future books. I would definitely recommend this to a group of teens that wanted to discuss together, or to high school teachers. I'm not sure I was hooked enough to continue the series myself.

This is a very intriguing and unique novel.

The premise is--there's a new virus going around, nicknamed Crown Royale. It has a higher mortality rate than Covid, but those who recover have the result that they are completely content, happy, and optimistic about everything. While this might seem positive to many, it has the side effect that people are no longer selfish or success driven, and this disrupts the economy. Multiple people with different agendas either want to stop or spread this virus.

Although this is tagged as a young adult novel, I'm not sure I'd classify it as such even though there are some characters in their older teens (there are also elderly and middle aged characters.) It focuses on global and human issues, not just for young people but for everyone.

Even though the page count of this novel is daunting, I felt like it moved along at a fast pace, focusing on different aspects of the situation. The book provides a lot of food for thought, because at first I was thinking--well, that sounds pretty good, everyone content in life and thinking in altruistic ways, but there is always a negative side, even to something that seems positive.

The ending was a bit disappointing, maybe it is set up as a cliffhanger for another book, but I'm not sure there's much new that could be said about the subject without completely rehashing this plot.

Overall I found this book entertaining, original, and thought provoking.
One warning--if you have trauma surrounding the pandemic, this book does have death and similar themes, so you might want to steer clear.

Imagine a world where an extremely contagious virus kills one in 25 people…but those who survive experience utter contentment. Stress, depression, and greed are all things of the past for survivors of the Crown Royale virus.

Many people purposely contract the virus to achieve enlightenment, but the people in power who depend on fear, anger, and insecurity to sell their products and drive viewership to their broadcasts know that being happy all the time is bad for business and productivity. But with everyone pushing their own agenda, what’s the truth?
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Happy Publication Day to All Better Now by Neal Shusterman! I’ve enjoyed a number of Shusterman’s books in the past, so I was elated to receive an ARC of his newest YA thriller from @netgalley and @simonteen

I really enjoyed the way that the story shifted between four VERY different characters, all of whom had different backgrounds and goals.

Shusterman is so gifted at writing books that make you think about current social issues critically and this was no exception. I think this book would be exceptionally interesting to read in a setting with room for discussion like a book club or a classroom. I’m definitely planning to purchase a copy for my teenage daughter’s Dystopian Lit teacher!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and thought it was one of the most original concepts I’ve come across in a LONG time. The ending was satisfying but a bit open-ended, so I will be curious to see whether additional books follow!

What another incredible start to a series by Neal Shusterman!

Shusterman has an amazing way of creating dystopian worlds, taking an idea and twisting it into something larger, which was exactly what the premise of this book is. Let’s take a global pandemic that spreads quickly, making people get sick, with some people that die, but some that recover. But those that do recover are “all better now”. Everything about them, they don’t experience bad emotions, they have empathy for others, in a way it seems humanity has evolved for the better. Billionaires are giving away all their money, people are forgoing material belongings in favor of better experiencing their life. Everything seems better. Keyword: seems.

Could being happy all their time be dangerous? What happens to humanity when you lose the ability to feel bad feelings? Two sides in this war: those wanting to get the virus, and those fighting against it, to develop a vaccine developed to rid people of their inner peace.

I absolutely love Shusterman’s writing style. His Scythe and Unwind series are two of my favorite series of all time, and this book has that same clever, thoughtful, intricate writing style that I love. A global pandemic is not a new idea, but the idea that it could make humanity better is something I’ve never seen before.

Not only does this new idea bring something exciting to this genre but writing through a young adult lense further develops this story. YA can sometimes be frustrating to read as an adult, as the decisions made can be frustrating to read, from someone who is older, and might not make those same decisions. Shusterman’s characters never feel juvenile in their decisions. Their words, actions and choices always fit their age group, which makes the book that much more compelling to read!

I flew through this book, I loved the characters we met, I loved the characters that I wanted to hate and I hated the characters I wanted to love. To say I experienced all the emotions is an understatement, and I absolutely cannot wait to continue this series!

This was my first book by Neal Shusterman and despite it not being a 5 star read personally, I will be reading others. He came up with a very unique concept that really gets you to thinking. If there's a disease going around that would make you happy and carefree all the time, would you try to catch it? Or would you try to avoid it, hoping to preserve the ability to have an array of normal human emotions, including pain and sadness? Very thought provoking and relevant, especially given the current political climate.

My biggest rating ding is that it just felt disjointed at times. You bounce back and forth between Morgan, Mariel, and Rón's POVs. And just as soon as you get used to them, then there are other random stories thrown in too. While I enjoyed seeing the effects of Crown Royale in various situations, they also messed with the flow and the book could have been shorter and easier to follow.

All in all, this book is one I will be thinking about for years to come and will pick up the sequel when it comes out.

"All Better Now" by Neal Shusterman is a dystopian pandemic novel set in the near future. With echoes of COVID-19 throughout, it feels as though the story isn't set too far ahead, as many characters reference their experiences during the earlier pandemic. This new virus has a surprising side effect for survivors: those who don't succumb emerge blissfully happy afterward. Any anxiety, depression, or anger they felt before the illness vanishes upon recovery. Who wouldn't want an outcome like that? Well, the rich and powerful, for one. They fear being "brainwashed" into relinquishing their fortunes, prompting them to work toward a vaccine that safeguards their interests.

Several characters have their own interconnected plotlines, making it take some time to find your bearings and fully immerse yourself in the story. It wasn't terrible by any means, but each time I set it down, I didn’t feel compelled to pick it back up. I was fortunate to receive a review copy of the audiobook as well, which allowed me to finish it in that format.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing a review copy of "All Better Now."

Leave it up to Neal Shusterman to come up with the most interesting concepts. This book was no exception. I liked the humor in the writing, the overall vibe, the way it made me think about human behavior, and the entire story line. It was interesting from the start to the finish.

This is my first Shusterman and though it is categorized as YA, it didn't feel YA to me. Set in a near future after the Covid pandemic, a new virus has been identified, Crowne Royal. 25 % die, but the recoveries have new
personalities. They are happy and altruistic. Of course. a search for a vaccine begins.
Meanwhile there are forces at work trying to create a vaccine against Crowne Royal because it is destroying capitalism as we know it.
The book presents an interesting dichotomy. Is it better to be happy and altruistic or is it better to have all emotions. Is it worth it to have 25% of the people who catch the virus die, so the 75% can live in a blissful state??
What happens when the unembraced begin to hate and want to either kill or lock up the recoveries.
Shusterman has created an allegory for the present political situation. The book ends on a cliffhanger and we shall see how the allegory plays out.
I realize I haven't mentioned the characters, but a lot of discussion would literally be spoilers, so you will have to read the book for yourself to see how this story plays out.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest opinion.

After falling in love with the Scythe series, I eagerly read Shusterman's new book! I was not disappointed! Shusterman takes the reader to a new level of a virus. I mean, the virus side effects do not sound terrible! All the negative feelings that affect millions of people daily are gone: greed, anger, stress, and even depression.
The pandemic is in full blow and four different people and how their lives intertwine in surprising ways! Also, how each of the characters thought they were doing the right things, but it did not always work in the best way. I'm trying to decide how I feel about this book, but it's amazing, not only amazing, it's interesting and very thought-provoking! While I loved the storyline and the writing style, Shusterman has a very thrilling easy-to-read writing style that is not only captivating, it's addicting! However, there were times the writing seemed very long-winded, and the pacing dragged at some places but it does not take away from the story! Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was an interesting read and very thought-provoking!

This was a fun premise, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready for Covid-19 commentary with a fictitious pandemic (that makes people happy upon survival??). I enjoyed this, but thought it was a bit too long, and I didn't love any of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I find that Shusterman books always blow me away with the imagination in each scenario he comes up with. His books are always juicy and great for inciting discussion and this is no different. Would be perfect for a book club and not just for young people. This can just as easily be consumed by adults. The flaw for me in this book lies in the characters. They don't feel fully developed and I didn't care for any of them. It was hard for me to really care about the plot because of this, so after the novelty of the pandemic scenario wore off, I was bored. I'd still highly recommend this to certain readers, especially those who enjoy dystopian books or YA sci-fi, which there isn't nearly enough of in the world. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy almost book publishing day to All Better Now! This was the first book I've read by Neal Shusterman and, unfortunately, I think that this was just okay. I didn't necessarily hate it but I was a little confused as to the big takeaway of the book. I felt like the concept was very intriguing — having a pandemic, similar to COVID-19, except this time it just makes people happy. The pacing went a little slow as well that it made it hard for me to connect with the characters and the story.