A new virus is spreading its way across the world. But this virus acts differently than any virus humanity has seen before. Those that survive experience utter contentment. People find that after getting infected, all of their negative emotions are completely gone. The virus quickly gains a following, but not everyone is happy with its affects.

The rich and powerful are desperate to find a cure for this virus. After all, if everyone is content, that's bad for business. In this new, virus addled world, three teens find themselves at the center of it all. But not in the ways you'd expect.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of All Better Now by Neal Shusterman to review! Don't let the fact that this book is about a pandemic turn you away. Shusterman uses his talent for writing dystopia to weave an engaging story that explores the aftermath of COVID in an interesting way.

There is quite a bit of set up in this book, both to let the reader get to the know the characters and the current state of the world. The plot really picks up about halfway through the book as the virus takes hold and our three main characters get thrown into the middle of everything. In true Neal Shusterman fashion, we not only get to see what's happening their lives, but also around the world. And just when you think there's no way he can make it all connect, he will throw in twists that make everything more interesting.

Though the main story is about a virus, Shusterman will also have you contemplating the big questions like: is unending happiness a gift? Does humanity need its darker side to maintain balance? Should we cure people who haven't asked for it? How do you balance a virus that gifts people ultimate contentment without turning the other way?

While the main story is concluded in this book, there is potential for another book at the end. But you won't be left on a cliffhanger! If you enjoy complex, layered stories with a strong cast of characters, definitely pick this book up in February!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. Definitely sci fi, with a few hints of what we went through for covid, but much worse! Great descriptions from the author

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of All Better Now. For me, sometimes Neal Shusterman really hits (Unwind and Scythe), and sometimes he misses (Bruiser and Game Changer). All Better Now is firmly in the "hits" camp.

You might think that we're not quite far enough removed from Covid to be able to enjoy a book about a new pandemic, mask-wearing, and isolation. I disagree. The Crown Royal virus was a very interesting sci-fi style virus that feels removed enough from reality to be enjoyable instead of triggering upsetting memories. The effects of Crown Royal also leave a lot of room for discussion about what it means to feel emotions, what it takes to make a society function, and what happens when people are fundamentally changed.

Though there were a few points in the book where I found myself skimming (scenes in the treehouse in particular), this book kept my attention and kept my allegiances shifting as the plot unfolded. I look forward to making All Better Now a possible book club selection because I think there is a great deal to discuss with teenagers here.

Crown Royale is the new COVID-19. People who survive are happy, content, and eager to spread the joy from the virus’s effects. Three teens’ lives are forever upended by the new pandemic. Homeless, Muriel’s life is forever changed when her mother passes away from the virus. Ron Tigre Escobedo’s life changes when he contracts the virus and survives. Discovering that he is an alpha-spreader, one who continues to shed the virus, Ron decides to spread it as much as possible. Who could stand in his way? Enter Morgan Willmon-Wu. Heiress to deceased Hungarian-born, Dame Havilland’s fortune, Morgan has also inherited the dame’s plans to eradicate the virus. Stuck in between is Muriel. She soon discovers that she has a natural immunity to Crown Royale. Will Crown Royale spreaders get their wish, or will the virus be eradicated?

The plot is engaging, well written, and intense. The characters are well developed, engaging, and flawed. The world building is engaging and draws the reader into the novel. Readers who have enjoyed other Neal Shusterman books or who enjoy science fiction, moral dilemmas, and globe-trotting fiction will wish the sequel was already written. Recommended for most library collections. Gr 7 and up, 5 stars.

Mr. Shusterman delivers another thoughtful and concerning commentary on society. The concept of another virus spreading across the earth is unsettling to begin with, but the addition of the concept of happiness and justice makes it that much more concerning. It was an engaging, yet startling read. I am curious for the second book in what will prove to be a masterful series.

There's a new pandemic, but this isn't like COVID. This virus is causing those who catch it to become perfectly complacent. But what's a world, an economy, without competition and drive?

I really wanted to like this book, but it was a bit of a drag. I kept looking at the progress I had made and was surprised that there was still so much left to read meanwhile, there really really was not a lot happening. I typically love a good dystopian, but I think this one was just too longwinded for me.

Are you a fan of ya thrillers? If so, check out All Better Now by Neal Shusterman. It was a great read.

Crown Royale is the new COVID-19. People who survive are happy, content, and eager to spread the joy from the virus’s effects. Three teens lives are forever upended by the new pandemic, Crown Royale. Homeless, Muriel’s life is forever changed when her mother passes away from the virus. Ron Tigre Escobedo’s life is forever changed when he contracts the virus and survives. Discovering that he is an alpha-spreader, one who continues to shed the virus, Ron decides to spread it as much as possible. Who could stand in his way? Enter Morgan Willmon-Wu. Heiress to deceased Hungarian-born, Dame Havilland’s fortune, Morgan has also inherited the dame’s plans to eradicate the virus. Stuck in between is Muriel. She soon discovers that she has a natural immunity to Crown Royale. Will Crown Royale spreaders get their wish or will the virus be eradicated?

The plot is engaging, well written, and intense. The characters are well developed, engaging, and flawed. The world building is engaging, well drawn, and sucks the reader into the novel. Readers who have enjoyed other Neal Shusterman books or who enjoy science fiction, moral dilemmas, and globe-trotting fiction will wish the sequel was already written. Recommended for most library collections.

After reading the Unwind series, I expected great things from this book. I was not disappointed! The plot was engaging. The characters were mostly well-developed. The ending left several openings for a sequel. My only complaint is that I noticed a number of misused words throughout the book. This did not change my rating though. Overall, an excellent book. I look forward to reading the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and S & S Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-ARC of this book!

Could a virus be a good thing? This is the question humanity is asking as a new virus has emerged: Crown Royale. Similar to coronavirus, it is a respiratory illness that is highly contagious, and it has a high mortality rate. However, unlike previous pandemics, those who have recovered from Crown Royale have a new found sense of purpose. In fact, recoverees are not just happy, but euphoric, and willing to do whatever is necessary to help humanity. There are many recoverees who are giving up homes, money, and status to help those less fortunate. While crime rates lower over the world, people are left wondering: should they intentionally get infected?

The story follows the perspectives of three teens: Rón Escobedo, the son of a multi-billionaire tech genius; Mariel Murdoch, a girl who has been without a home for quite some time and is trying to wrangle her mother’s strange whims; and Morgan Willmon-Wu, a strategist who uses her wit (and some luck) to obtain a millionaire’s fortune. Each character has a unique role to play & may just find if the world with Crown Royale is, in fact, all better now.

🦠🕸️🧪

Another Neal Shusterman universe that leaves the reader spiraling about huge philosophical questions!! I have been a fan of Shusterman for a long time (swipe to see when I met him in 8th grade!!), so I’m always eager to read more!

There were parts of this that weirdly reminded me of Scythe (especially in relation to the reverence the recoverees have for Crown Royale—it reminded me of the Tonists from the Scythe universe). One of the things that I appreciated about this story is that it was its moral ambiguity—each character has a unique set of beliefs that are explored, and then the chaos that ensues lets the reader ponder what they would do in each scenario. I will say, since this is about a pandemic and that’s so present in our minds, it was harder for me to suspend disbelief in this one (which is crazy because I had NO PROBLEM doing that with Scythe 🤣). I think Shusterman fans and sci-fi fans will really enjoy this—I definitely need someone to read it so I can talk to someone about it!!!!

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #scifi #dystopian #panemic #BookRecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookreview #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookreviewers #librarian #librarians #librariansofinstagram #librariansfollowlibrarians #teenlibrarian #middleschoollibrarian #schoollibrarian #bookinfluencer #schoollibrarians #advancedreaderscopy #mglit #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #YAlit #highschoolbooks #highschool

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book!
The book had me completely involved, interested, and glued to the pages in the first half but lost me in the second half. Neal Shusterman has created a novel around a pandemic similar to Covid as far as how the virus is spread, but in this case the virus will change your entire life outlook if you survive it. This novel was extremely thought provoking but I felt that it dragged on quite a bit. I think the length could have been cut down a significant amount. It seemed like things were fast paced in the beginning but as I continued to read I found myself slowly losing interest and just wanting to hurry up and finish. The characters in the beginning of the book were great and relatable, but by the end I was no longer as invested in their stories. I also felt that the description of the book did not accurately describe the contents within the story. Overall I love Neal Shusterman and I typically love his writing style but this book was just not for me.

This book was very creative with having a new virus (with all the feels similar to when we all went through covid) but for the outcome to be true happiness. Everyone thinks that would be awesome to have. However, I love how the author turned this positive into the main problem of the book. I love dytopian books and it truly made me think. It was great to have multiple perspectives with this book to see it through the eyes of various people.

This is the great pick for fans of the Scythe series or other dystopian novels that make you think about the potential and shortcomings of humanity. The premise is that there is a new pandemic plaguing our world a few years after the Coronavirus. But this virus leads to people not only getting sick, but, as they recover (if they don't die), they reach a new sense of peace, happiness, and enlightenment they did not experience previously. Those who experience this newfound sense of joy are kinder, more unselfish, less interested in consumption, and want to make the world a better place. It seems great, right? Many people want to spread this virus to others as a way of spreading happiness. But, the wealthiest and most powerful leaders in the world worry about the negative economic impact of this type of thinking and want to stop the virus at any cost to maintain the status quo. Many plot twists and turns and multiple storylines intersect in a powerful way that underscores the author's themes around the role of happiness and satisfaction vs. money and power. I highly recommend this for readers who enjoy complex stories that make you think.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC that allowed me to make this review.



Taking place after the Covid-19 pandemic, All Better Now showcases the best and worst of humanity when faced with the idea of an eternal happiness that you may not be choosing for yourself. All Better Now is not a book that tries to persuade you one way or the other, but rather equally presents multiple ideas on the concept of a virus that has the ability to make anyone permanently happy.



I was surprised to like this book, though I first had to press on through the beginning, which is a bit of a slog compared to the rest of the book. You can tell the author found a momentum after the first couple of chapters. I love all the characters - they're very well done, and it's easy to imagine where all of their motivations come from. I found myself particularly drawn to Mariel, one of three characters I would refer to as our protagonists. She, like the reader, does not maintain the same opinion throughout the book, which feels very human of her.

The plot, for being another pandemic novel, was well done. I didn't find it boring, or as if I was simply back in 2020. There were also details that were included to make everything feel real - rather than explaining it all away with big ideas, we see the consequences of everything that's going on. I enjoyed that the ending was final, but still left what happens after up for interpretation.

One thing that tripped me up big time was realizing that all three main characters were teenagers. Morgan is an adult at 19, but Mariel and Rón are both under 18 (though close to it). For a part of the characters that would be so vital, I was thrown off to read, over 50% of the way in, that any of them were that young.

Overall, this book gave me the impression of the type of thing you might pull off the family bookshelf on a boring Saturday and read through the entire thing in one day, encapsulated by the story and what happens next. It feels like a classic with a modern flair.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review!

In All Better Now, the world is in the throes of another global pandemic: Crown Royale. But this pandemic has an unexpected side effect. Those who contract the virus and survive are eternally content, no longer able to feel negative emotions such as grief, anger, depression, or anxiety. While a world of happy people sounds great, the consequences of this new outlook from those who recover splits public opinion. There are people who view the virus as dangerous and as an erasure of a person’s true personality/humanity, and there are people who view the virus as a gift, and it is their responsibility to spread this gift throughout the world, despite the 5% mortality rate. The lives of three teenagers, Mariel, Rón, and Morgan; are all impacted by Crown Royale. As their lives converge, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

This is a YA novel that’s more than a YA novel. It’s a societal commentary that can be analyzed and discussed by readers of all ages. The pace of this book was exactly right, and the build up to the meeting and convergence of our three main characters happened at the perfect time. The third person point of view in this novel allows readers to see the motivations behind each of the three main characters’ moral/ethic code and compare that to the readers’ own moral/ethic code.

One thing I love about Shusterman‘s writing is his ability to give importance to every single character that is introduced. It doesn’t matter if the character is only seen for a single interaction- the interaction will have meaning. This is something that I noticed in his Arc of a Scythe series, but also very prevalent in this novel. I also found interesting was that this book seemed to hinge on the debate between self interest versus the greater good. However, as we saw through the lens of the characters, one enduring human trait seems to be the tendency of people to rationalize their beliefs and actions to make these one and the same.

The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I could easily see this turning into at least a duology, if not a series. However, I also think that leaving the end of the story, a bit open-ended also serves its own purpose. I believe it really forces the readers to sit with this novel and its moral and ethical implications. It will make the reader question what they would believe if this dystopian scenario were to occur in real life. My one complaint about this book is that it is a bit long, and took me longer than expected to get through. There was never a clear point in the book where the plot felt like it was dragging, but I had to read the middle in chunks each day as I went through the story.

This is a book that I will definitely be recommending, and I truly hope that I can convince people to read this book- mainly because I would love to have conversations with people about the moral/ethical implications. I think it was just truly fascinating and I’ve never read anything like this. Shusterman is so skillful and creative with making these dystopian worlds that, although are clearly dystopian, also don’t seem so far removed or far-fetched that readers can’t imagine this happening. No one thinks that they’re going to live through a world changing event- until they do. Shusterman is really great at tapping into that boundary between what is within the realm of possibility, versus a concept too far from our grasp of reality.

This book has a fascinating premise with complex, engaging characters. At times the story felt like it jumped around, but everything tied together by the end; Shusterman is a master plotter. Though in some places the writing felt too over-the-top, I appreciated the nuance and moral quandaries that make this novel so interesting and important. Overall, this is an amazing read and has great food for thought. Fans of Shusterman’s other dystopian novels will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted on Goodreads and will be posted to Amazon upon the book’s publication.

I was already a fan of Neal Shusterman, especially "The Unwind" series before I started reading "All Better Now." He has a knack for coming up with creative premises that are both entertaining and thought provoking. This is no exception. Filled with engaging characters, a well paced plot, and some truly unexpected twists, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for an advanced reader copy.

.

Thank you @simonteen #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Being that Scythe was my absolute favorite book last year I may have screamed a bit when I got this one in the mail! What a unique and interesting concept once again that Neal has dreamt of! A virus that spreads and after the initial effects wear off most people find that they are more happy and content with their lives. Not only that but willing to help others and just be a better person in society. What could be better than that utopia? Naturally like anything in life the threat of power makes people do things out of character and the results can be disastrous!

After reading Scythe I will forever read any and all things Neal writes. He creates a one of a kind book with characters that are impossible to not become invested in. This book will make you think deep thoughts and especially begs the question “If you were given the gift of happiness and could feel no other emotion…is that truly a good thing?” my favorite parts of this book were the dystopian world Neal created and watching both side fight desperately for what they felt was right. My only gripe about this book is I wish Covid was left out of it. I still don’t feel like I want to read about it. And although this one was a variation of Covid I just wish it wasn’t mentioned. It’s a me thing. 😅 The behaviors and effects of the infected were also unique to watch! If you love a tension filled adventure, a fight for what’s right, an exploration of what’s morally right make sure to grab this one!

This is a thought-provoking and timely read that delves into the complexities of a world transformed by an unprecedented virus. What I found particularly compelling was the way the author weaves together the perspectives of three teens from different backgrounds, each grappling with the impact of the virus in their own unique way. Their journeys are both relatable and heart-wrenching, making it easy to become invested in their fates. The book does an excellent job of highlighting the tension between those who benefit from a discontented society and the growing movement of Recoverees who believe in spreading the virus to save the world. The ethical dilemmas and moral questions raised throughout the story kept me engaged and made me reflect on our own society's values and priorities. The final chapters, in particular, were a powerful culmination of the various plot threads, leaving me with much to ponder.

This is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and anyone interested in exploring the deeper implications of a world where happiness is both a blessing and a curse.

Wow! What a ride that was!

I’ve read several Neal Shusterman books. The Unwind series is astounding, and I still think about Challenger Deep all the time, so I jumped at the chance to read this book in advance of its release. I was a little wary of reading about a pandemic, but I took a leap of faith—and I was handsomely rewarded.

All Better Now begins when the new pandemic is just days from becoming very serious. Shusterman wisely avoids mirroring the actual politics and rhetoric surrounding COVID too closely in order to imagine what the next pandemic could be like. What if the transmission, symptoms, and mortality were all basically the same, but the outcome was shockingly different—and maybe even positive? What if, instead of returning to normal or experiencing long COVID, survivors emerged blissful and content?

The story had an entertaining mix of likeable and unlikeable characters, people doing things I like and things I don’t. The plot had just enough twists and turns to keep the story moving steadily, with intense action scenes that occasionally made me forget I was merely reading. Shusterman gives us a global perspective on this pandemic without giving us too much to keep track of. There was a jaw-dropping twist at the very end that could leave room for a sequel, but I hope there isn’t one because this story was beautifully built and concluded.

I appreciated the insight into characters afforded by switching perspectives, and I also appreciated the diversity in characters’ ethnicities. It seemed very natural instead of forced for social gain. I’ll admit that it’s still spooky to read about COVID in the past tense. I’ll also admit that I’m interested in everything Neal Shusterman writes. This book was no exception. Read it!