3.5/5

I was a huge fan of the Scythe books, so I was excited to read something new by this author. I overall enjoyed this read - I think it was really thought provoking, but the concept was more interesting to me than the story itself. Nothing wrong with the writing, but perhaps it was a little too on the nose and reminiscent of COVID, which didn't work for me. I was pretty pleased with the ending, though.

It's an interesting concept. What would it be like to be content at all times?

I'm super excited to see how the next book plays out and if either side will win.

I have been a Neal Shusterman fan for years. As a middle school librarian I had his titles in science fiction, horror, and dystopian. No matter the genre, his books always hooked me at the start and kept me reading. His Scythe series is on my Top 5 list of all-time favorite series. That said, my expectations for All Better Now were very high. It did not disappoint.

Set in the near future, the next world pandemic has struck. Those having contracted disease, once healthy, have a level of contentment, empathy, and happiness that has them abandoning their materialistic impulses. For obvious reasons, the capitalists titans are not pleased with this and are looking for a way to vaccinate the public against this scourge. The twisty plot and engaging characters kept me engaged through the entire novel. Highly recommend this read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

It's no surprise that this particular book is thought provoking, bleak, and an unpredictable ride from the author of Scythe. A truly remarkable young adult dystopian tale. And for anyone out there that doesn't read YA make an exception.

All Better Now is a story that would have thrived back in the dystopia mania days. It reminded me of dytopia/utopia book series like Delirium and Glitch and The Program. But now I feel like the pandemic has made these books less appealing.

I've enjoyed Neal Shusterman's writing in the past, and this book was no exception! I liked the premise and thought the book was well-executed, for the most part. Sci-fi isn't always my jam, but I liked the dystopian aspect to it. There was a lot going on through the different points of view that made it a bit hard to follow at some points, but overall, it was a great read!

I love Neal Shusterman’s writing and the way his mind works. The concepts in his books are so interesting and I loved that about ALL BETTER NOW. My main issue with this book was that there are too many POVs. I found the constant switching was confusing and I was not fully able to follow who was who and who was motivated by what while reading this book.

I think fewer points of view or more established POVs (headers with the narrator’s name) would have made this easier for me.

Overall, a great concept with a little difficulty in execution. I would definitely read more of Neal Shusterman’s books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've loved a few of his other books, so I didn't even read what this was about. I should have. I honestly don't want to read about Covid or, in this case, the next pandemic. I still enjoy his writing style and the way he makes you think. I just didn't like the overall subject matter.

DNF at about 40%

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Teen for this arc. All opinions are my own. The writing for this book was fine. However, I don't think I'm ready to read about another pandemic post COVID and the ways people respond to it. If you feel you are ready for that kind of story, this is an interesting premise of a virus that will either kill you, or leave you happier. Lots of ethical questions explored.

This is a rough one for me. I like the concept much better than the execution. The storyline is interesting, but the book is way too long, and I wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters, which was super frustrating because it made me not care about it in general.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ya know sci-fi-y pseudo-apocalyptic future books aren’t normally my thing, especially ones that revolve around pandemics and viruses, but this one just hits different. While it’s all too real in this day and age after COVID-19, the particular pandemic in All Better Now makes this book a really fascinating philosophical exploration of the deep underlying meaning to life as a human. Are we even capable of lives of mindfulness and contentment? Would we choose that path if we could? Is something lost when we no longer function out of self interest?

So combine these philosophical musings with some well created characters, a plot that was interesting enough to keep me going but not so fast I felt whiplash, and some fascinating plot twists there at the end, I loved it. My only negative is that I was really trying not to read series for a bit and didn’t realize til the book ended this is only book one… drat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

The world is thrown into chaos once again. A new viral epidemic is rampaging across the world but this one is quite a bit different. This virus erases negative feelings! No more stress, depression, or greed; just happy feeling and empathy. As the virus spreads the world is split in two; those who caught it and want it spread to everyone and those racing to find a vaccine to prevent the downfall of the world. Two teens are thrown into this chaos as they fight to survive this new world. Somehow they are the answer to all the world’s problems.

This was a good book! It’s very well written and the story is masterfully done. Overall it’s very enjoyable. This book is also not for me. I knew going into the book I was reading about a covid-esque situation. I didn’t realize how much this book was going to talk about actual covid. It’s just too close to reality for me. I know crown royale is not a real thing but everything else in the book is. I guess I was expecting something different than what was delivered. Again, the book is good, I just don’t think I’m the target audience. In the end I give it 3.5/5 stars for the good ride I had while reading it!

I really enjoyed this book. It definitely gave a different but interesting feel when it comes to pandemics. I couldn't put this book down. I love how Neal writes dystopian set in worlds very similar to our own

After hearing so much about Schusterman’s Scythe series, I was elated to get my hands on the ARC of All Better Now. I wanted to like it, and the premise is interesting, but I had to plod through the book to finish. There are too many storylines and characters to get fully invested in the story. Also, there were so many unbelievably morally corrupt characters, I could not relate to any of them. I do think the writing and the overarching storyline are good, but the book is entirely too long. I will definitely read another Schusterman book, because his other books get lots of acclaim. And, honestly, I will probably read the sequel to this book simply because I need closure.

All Better Now is about the Crown Royale virus that changes people. People do not have sorrow, fear, or anger any more. For some this is a blessing and for others this is a curse. The two sides are at odds with each other and start a war.

I received an eARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. The premise was intriguing and the book definitely followed through on it (which may seem like duh but lately all the books I've read with an intriguing premise have failed on the execution part). This book didn't shy away from the dark sides of both camps of belief (the embraced and the unembraced). I like that it described the early stages and later stages of the disease propagation in a way that felt authentic, even if it was uncomfortable. I also enjoyed the random bits at the beginnings of some of the different parts that showed snippets from other parts of the world and other peoples individual experiences with the disease. It was also fun to later see those characters who got a little solo spotlight be referenced in the larger context of the story of Rόn and Mariel. I cannot wait for the next book in this duology.

To be honest I couldn't get into.this. I was struggling with it and had trouble staying invested. I did finish it though and I felt like it was maybe a bit much emotion wise.for.me

I love Neal Shusterman. The concept of this story is brilliant and, as with most of Shusterman's books, makes you rethink your reality and step outside of your comfort zone. Imagine a virus which has a side effect that causes happiness. Sounds wonderful, but Shusterman shows us the pitfalls of being blissfully happy all the time. My personal issue with the book stemmed from the lack of character development. I am very much a character driven reader and I just didn't feel connected with the characters or cared what happened to them.

All Better Now takes the idea of a pandemic like the COVID-19 pandemic we experienced in 2020 and adds an intriguing twist. Like COVID-19, people can get very sick and die. But, this Crown Royale virus has a unique end result for survivors. They have a strange euphoric peace and relentless desire to help their fellow man.

The story bounces between four distinct points of view:

Mariel is a teen who loses her mother to the virus and ultimately discovers she has natural immunity.
Ron is a young adult who is considered high-risk and purposefully contracts the virus. He is also the son of a billionaire who wants to end it.
Dame Glynis Havilland is a powerful figure who contracts the virus and fears for what will happen next. (In her case, she survives and realizes the errors of her previous ways.)
Morgan is a cunning and brilliant young woman who Glynis hires to safeguard her empire and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Each of the characters has their own agenda. Ron, a 'super spreader', is compelled to take on a mission of infecting as many people as possible with Crown Royale with the thought humankind will be better for it. Muriel feels a connection to Ron, but questions his actions. Dame Glynis switches from Team Eradication to Team Crown Royale. And, Morgan will push the envelope with no concern for how her actions affect others.

Overall, it is an interesting premise. A virus that wipes away depression and leaves you with feelings of love for others. However, readers soon see that the altruism of Crown Royale survivors isn't all it positive.

I had not read a book by Shusterman, but am intrigued to see what other thought-provoking concepts he comes up with. I'm also thinking this could be a good title for our teen book club to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Neal Shusterman for the electronic advance reader copy to read. All opinions are my own.

Shusterman seems to always come up with the most thought-provoking, unique premises for his novels. I could easily see this one as the topic of a book club debate.

It sounds miraculous, but the Crown Royale virus leaves its survivors with a sense of peace and euphoria after recovery. No more stress, depression, negative thoughts - even the 4% of the population who succumb to the virus are truly happy before they pass. But there are unexpected consequences to these unprecedented levels of joy. The wealthiest citizens are giving away/donating their money, materialistic things are no longer important, people are quitting their jobs and sailing around the world, etc. The world economy is in jeopardy.

This story is told from four POVs: Mariel, an immune teen who suffers from depression, Ron, a billionaire's son who's recovered, billionaire Dame Glynis Havilland, and Morgan, a ruthless, young business prodigy Glynis hires to guard her fortune when Glynis succumbs to the virus. Each has their own reasons, selfish or not, for wanting to eradicate or spread Crown Royale, and their paths converge over the course of the novel.

All Better Now may be categorized as Young Adult, but this is easily a crossover novel. Recommended for fans of debate-worthy, intriguing premises, rich characterization, and stories that stick with you days after reading the last page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.