All Better Now

In All Better Now, a virus is spreading, but this one is different: first there's a fever, and then utter contentment. Those that survive the Crown Royale virus find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone. This all sounds too good to be true and big businesses soon realise that their market audiences are dwindling; people no longer need to buy new, they are happy to make do.

Those in power want to stop the spread of the virus and are prepared to go to great lengths to do so. Social media campaigns are created to convince people that being eternally happy is dangerous. All the while, a growing movement of Recoverees plan ways to spread the virus as fast as they can, in the name of saving the world.

This fabulous dystopian novel intertwines the lives and values of three teens. Mariel, who has lost everything, including her mother, after she contracted the virus and died; Ron, who has Recovery Syndrome, and has never wanted for anything in his entire life, thanks to his generous father's fortunes; and Morgan, a highly talented, motivated teen whose fortunes change beyond belief. The first part of the novel rotates through the third person perspectives of these three protagonists until eventually, their lives converge.

I'm fortunate to have reviewed several great books and I often begin those reviews with, 'This is one of the best books I've read in ages…', or something similar. Well, All Better Now by Neal Shusterman is probably THE best young adult novel of 2025! An absolute rollercoaster of a read with so many plot twists and turns that I had no idea whatsoever how it was all going to end, and I wasn't disappointed, just brilliant!

I challenge anyone to read this book and not want to discuss it. The changing third person perspective gives the reader the opportunity to explore issues such as friendship, morality, and human nature. I would love to sit with a group of young students and get their take on the behaviours and attitudes of the characters in this book. Is it possible to empathise with Mariel, having lost her mum? What would you do if you found yourself in Morgan's position? So many questions…

However, no need to worry, because unlike some books these unanswered questions don't lessen the impact of this fabulous story, they just make for another unseen twist, - right up to the very last page! I highly recommend All Better Now by Neal Shusterman for KS3 (ages 12+) and beyond.

Trigger warning - All Better Now does describe the loss of loved ones during an epidemic and therefore those who lost family and friends to Covid19 may find this difficult.

512 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 14+

A new virus infects people across the world, but survivors are left feeling total contentment, devoid of any want or desire. When consumers stop spending money and the world’s richest people give their fortunes away, the search for a cure begins. Three very different teenagers find their lives turned upside down by events and find their lives converging in ways they couldn’t imagine.

All Better Now is an interesting dystopian tale that expands on the world's recent covid situation. The premise that anyone who catches the new virus becomes completely content, but with a risk of one-in-25 deaths, begs several questions, which the author has cleverly covered within the book. Would you purposely want to become infected, would you aim to infect others, and why might some want to avoid infection?

The book is engaging from the offset, and the characters throughout are interesting, funny, ruthless and determined. It highlights clearly the capitalist need for consumer spending, and the depths leaders and the supremely rich might go to, in order to keep the hierarchy at present. Depicting media scaremongering and its effects, as well as possible downsides to utter contentment, it is certainly a book that will make the reader think.

The story is told through the eyes of three teenagers with very different backgrounds who each experience the virus differently, which is entertaining and keeps the narrative pace interesting. Several side characters are genius, while others farfetched, but all add to the general confusion of a world gone mad.

All Better Now would make a great book and concept for group discussion covering morals and ethics, and although it has a complete ending, the door is left ajar for a sequel. Recommended

512 pages / Reviewed by Lorraine Ansell, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+