I really enjoyed Neal Shusterman’s style of writing. I am a sucker for books that have different POVs that all tie in together. I will admit, I had my favorite characters and would just drag through certain POVs but by the end, I was excited to read it all. The storyline did hit pretty close to home with the pandemic and current political climate. I would definitely recommend this to others!

Would you give anything to be happy all the time?
☹️
A new virus is sweeping the world and those who end up surviving it find themselves utterly content and happy, unburdened by life’s troubles and darkness. No more stress, depression, greed or negative feelings to weigh them down. Those who have seen the “cured” don’t want anything to do with this virus. They believe the people who survive it become a shell of their former selves. As the pandemic infects its way around the globe we meet three youth each have different experiences with the virus and must decide if the world was better off before or if everyone is all better now.
😀
I have no clue how @nealshusterman comes up with these awesome stories, but I was hooked on this one the moment I picked it up. The concept alone should be celebrated for its ingenuity, but the characters and the way Shusterman is able to weave their stories together, crescendoing into a climax & twist ending was sad and beautiful at the same time. Such a great read that fans of his Arc of the Scythe series will enjoy too! This title releases February 4!

CW: homelessness, DUI, depression, suicide attempts, suicide ideation, suicide, death, pandemic, medical content, torture, addiction, kidnapping, toxic relationship, grief, parental death, murder, alcohol, violence

I would have given it five stars if not for the length. It probably didn’t need to be 500+ pages for this one. Hard for kids to pick up unless they’re already diehard Shusterman fans.
4.5 ⭐️

This was a different take on the emerging pandemic fiction genre. I found the overall concept intriguing, although it was difficult at times to know which side to root for. I guess more will be revealed, since this is the beginning of a series. I thought that the story got bogged down in details in some places, and I was wanting things to move along a bit more quickly. I am interested to see how the story develops. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Very interesting premise I was excited to explore even if I have not read a lot of scifi novels. . It somehow failed to grab and pull me into the story though. Which could be on me due to my inexperience in this genre.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGallery for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts on the work.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonteen for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Wow. This book was a weird one and one that makes you think. A mysterious virus takes over in a post COVID world and it allows people to be content and not feel any negative emotions. Some people want to embrace this and others don't want it near them because of what they think it will feel like. This book follows 3 main characters Rón, Mariel and Morgan. Each of these people have their own role to play in the story. I found these characters to have an interesting depth and motivation, some for good and others evil, depending on how you look at it. This book really made you think, if a virus with a low mortality rate could give you permanent contentment, would you?

I am not sure that I would want to contract the virus. I think part of what makes humans so interesting is that we can experience complex emotions. If there was no sadness, the joy wouldn't seem as exciting in a way. Overall, this book was incredibly interesting. I love Neal Shusterman's writing and this is no different. This book made me uncomfortable at times but I believe that it was meant to and I love that.

#SimonTeenInfluencer #AllBetterNowBook #SimonTeen

This book would make a fantastic book club choice; there were so many philosophical discussion topics that rose up in it.

The story takes place several years after the Covid epidemic, with the spread of a new virus known as Crown Royale, which is claiming the lives of one in twenty five who catch it. The striking result in the survivors is that they have become utterly content and happy, no longer feeling a need to consume or caring how others view them. As you might imagine, some people are willing to take the risks of being infected in order to experience that sort of euphoria in their lives.

This causes some of the wealthy and powerful to go into crisis mode, trying to find a method of defeating the virus to keep the world's economy and systems in place. Others make it their mission to infect as many people as possible, to bring about a new peaceful, content society.

I felt a little overwhelmed at how many characters and minor plot lines were introduced, but overall loved the multiple third person POV. When I first read the synopsis, I thought: what a utopia if this played out. But things are not so simple. Does an ideal society need more complexity than permanently happy people? This was such a thought-provoking, action-packed read; I can't wait to talk about it with others!

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this ARC!

I think this was such an interesting take on a pandemic and the virus. At times reading it, I thought wouldn't it be nice if this happened to some of the people in this world. The after effects of this virus are CRAZY! I was intrigued the whole time though and couldn't wait to find out how it ended.

Thank you @simonteen for my #gifted copy of All Better Now! #SimonTeen #SimonTeenInfluencer #SimonTeenPartner #AllBetterNowBook

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

I have been hearing about this author for so long, with so many people recommending books like Scythe. When I saw Schusterman had a new book coming out, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. I don’t usually read dystopian fiction, but I thought this one was really interesting and timely. There is a virus on the rise and once people are infected, people find that stress, depression, and greed no longer impact them. People are happy. But being happy is bad for business. Soon, there are campaigns that try to convince people that being happy all the time can be dangerous. There’s even a vaccine to get people back to how thy used to be. I loved some of the central questions of this book. Is unfiltered happiness a gift, or is it a curse?

While it was a little harder for me to get into the book, I definitely recognize that as a ME problem, and nothing to do with the book itself. It is strictly the genre and nothing to do with the writing. It is a very well-written book. It just took me a little bit longer to get into the book. If you love dystopian fiction, I think you are definitely going to want to check this one out.

Posted on Goodreads on January 31, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 4, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 4, 2025
**-will post on designated date

A new virus kills one out of twenty five. Those that it doesn’t kill are never the same. They become completely happy; selfishness and greed are eradicated from them. Three teens from different backgrounds find themselves in the middle of a battle between those that want to spread the disease and those that want to stop it.

Don’t be put off by the young adult genre. This is a book everyone can enjoy. Also don’t be put off by the size. It reads very quickly. The heart of the story is the characters and I loved how the main ones were so different, yet their stories worked so well together. The idea of the pandemic was interesting, especially the controversy and philosophical arguments behind it. The characters grow a lot, which is one of my favorite things about young adult characters, especially in a dystopian world.

“This disease… if it doesn’t kill you, it steals your agency. Your ambition. It turns you into someone you’re not and ruins you.”

All Better Now comes out 2/4.

An intense dystopian of what could have been. A deadly disease is plaguing the world... and it's making survivors happy? What could this mean for a world that thrives on vengeance, war and spite...

Following three very different characters as they discover their new role in this society and what they need to do to survive.

Thank you to Simon Teen for the e-ARC!

This book was solidly okay. I think the plot set up was intriguing and the characters were interesting. I was entertained throughout. There were some fun and poignant moments in the different communes throughout. However, I also was left to feel like I was missing a real ending.

I guess my major complaint about this book is it doesn’t seem to have a point of view, or even a point. I like my scifi to be thoughtful or exciting, or both, but it fell short on both marks. The book spent too long wondering about the morality of spreading versus fighting the virus, but didn’t ever make it to real societal commentary beside “it would be good if people were more selfless but then maybe they won’t be motivated? or maybe not?” To the opposing side, this is sold as a thriller, but it never feels particularly exciting, even though there are technically several fight scenes and high stakes throughout. Between this, and the lack of really glowing chemistry between any of the characters, the book as a whole fell flat for me.

I think some people will enjoy this book. If you enjoy a mix of some action and some thoughtfulness in science fiction, maybe the balance would hit right for you. This could serve as a younger adult’s intro to dystopian fiction, and I’m not sure it would be a disappointment, but I also think young adult science fiction/dystopian fiction could be a lot stronger than this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Man, Neal Shusterman just EXCELS in this genre. He does it so well basically every single time and blows my mind.

This plot had me interested and intrigued from the jump. This spin on a pandemic book with a virus that essentially makes you happy is so unique.

I really want to know how he comes up with some of the most interesting ideas!

I had always sworn off “pandemic” novels because they’re just too close to home, but I think this was a very approachable way to tackle this topic.

I wanted to fly through this, but I felt myself savoring it instead.

I feel like that ending set us up for a sequel!?!? I sure hope so! I’m so ready for more.

Thank you to Neal Shusterman for continually crushing the game on these.

I wasn't the biggest fan but an entertaining read following COVID. I didn't exactly like the characters, which was a shame because normally Neal's characters draw me in but I'm sure it's someone else's favorite!

The idea was genius, with every possible avenue of the pandemic thoroughly explored! My frustration was the pacing. I don't know what it was, but despite the glorious idea and wonderful content, the pacing dragged.

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman, 528 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $18.
Language: R (94 swears, 6 “f” + British and Spanish swears); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Rón (16yo) wants to believe that Crown Royale, the latest virus, really leaves survivors happier because he needs that in his life. Morgan (19yo) wants nothing to do with the virus—until a wealthy patron offers to hand over her entire fortune if Morgan will fight against it spreading. Mariel doesn’t know what to think; she just wants to survive another day of living with her mom out of their car. Though they don’t yet know it, these three teenagers will affect the future of Crown Royale all over the world.
In Shusterman’s version of the future, Crown Royale comes after coronavirus. The various points of view from all over the world share different perspectives on whether the new virus is good or bad and why they believe that. Rón’s, Mariel’s, and Morgan’s stories invite readers to step into a new space to discuss concerns about viruses and vaccines that allows them to ask questions from new points of view and with new vocabulary. On top of that, the story itself is engaging and surprising. I look forward to the sequel.
Rón is described as having “brown” skin, Morgan is Eurasian, and Mariel is implied White. The mature content rating is for illegal activity; alcohol use, including underage drinking; mentions of drugs, nudity, condoms, masturbation, sex, and rape; kissing; and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, mentions of domestic and child abuse and war, gun use, bioterrorism, suicide, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Recommended: definitely
For interesting ideas that are worth thinking about and discussing, for a lot of emotional extremes

Thoughts:
It's hard for me to capture how much I love about this. I could definitely go on and on about it. In short though, I can say that there is so much I have been thinking about from this book even after I've finished it, and I desperately want to talk to others about it as well and share ideas. That's some of the highest praise I can give a book, personally: it's engaging and makes me want to consider the ideas presented.

Breaking it down, the basic premise of contagious happiness is given a wonderfully nuanced evaluation without ever trying to tell the reader what the "right" answer is. Different scenarios are presented and left to the reader's decision. The revelation at the end of how they are trying to fight the virus provides its own fascinating counterpoint to add to the conversation. It was complex enough to do the idea justice which is just as I'd hoped from this author who has tackled other big controversial adult topics in the format of young adult novels. Masterfully.

Moving on, the plot is somewhat short if you lay out all of the key milestones, but the conversations around each milestone are deep and from multiple perspectives. There are two main character stories followed, but there are probably 20 different characters whom we get a perspective from, even if it's only for a few paragraphs. I loved this as it made the world feel big and allowed a natural way to present conflicting opinions and ideas by each person and their experiences.

The key conflicts -- what happens with Crown Royale? -- are pretty tense and have some really exciting moments. The ending is terrifying in a way, and I love it. I think it can end where it did and leave it at that, but also if there's a second book in this world I'd be interested in seeing what else Neal imagines for us in these situations. It is a book of extremes, with terror and fear and hatred, but also with transcendent joy and buoyant hope. It is, unfortunately, somewhat parallel to the feelings of the world today. Nightmares coming to life, with communities coming together to protect each other. Terror, and joy.

Anyway, this book is SO good, and a great option for high school and up most likely. Middle grade maybe for more advanced readers, or with a lot of conversations and guidance for them as they go.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

Mariel is a teen living in San Francisco during the next pandemic after Covid. They are homeless, and mostly stay in their car. Ròn is the teenage son of one of the most wealthy men in the world. He lives with his father in a luxury high rise, also in San Francisco. Ròn and Mariel cross paths at his father's building and while it is only a short period that they are together, they feel a connection. The pandemic, Crown Royale, is unique in that if you are lucky enough to recover from it, you are forever a content person.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I love Shusterman's writing style and the premise of this book is so unique. It was interesting to read about what the fears are of having a population where people are never unhappy. The issue that I had was the pacing. There were so many characters and settings introduced in the first one fourth of the book that it felt very slow until they started coming together. But this introduction of new people without knowing where they fit, kept happening, and throwing me off track. The concept and writing make the book worth reading especially if you are a fan of dystopian stories.

Thank you to the NetGalley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a great story with amazing commentary on the ways in which we are often our own worst enemies, how the powers that be plot against our success because it doesn't drive capitalism, and truly a come back for dystopia. Great read! More review to come later!

This was a trippy book for sure, and really makes me suspicious. Set years after the covid pandemic, a new virus has emerged. It has low mortality rate but it creates this unending joy and happiness in recoverees. It's really jarring to see POV from both sides, recoveree and people who have not gotten it, and honestly Neal Shusterman is probably spot on with how people would react.

Definite must read.

very dystopian vibes, not my fave neal shusterman but interesting storyline? didn't love execution tho