All Better Now

By Neal Shusterman

Book Overview

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

From New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman comes a "thought-provoking and grimly enjoyable" (Kirkus Reviews) "epic biological thriller" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about a world where happiness is contagious but the risks of catching it may be just as dangerous as the cure.

A deadly and unprecedented virus is spreading. But those who survive it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen before: utter contentment. Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone.

More and more people begin to revel in the mass unburdening. But not everyone. People in power--who depend on malcontents and prey on the insecure to sell their products, and convince others they need more, new, faster, better everything--know this new state of being is bad for business. Surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos. Campaigns start up to convince people that being eternally happy is dangerous. The race to find a vaccine begins. Meanwhile, a growing movement of Recoverees plans ways to spread the virus as fast as they can, in the name of saving the world.

It's nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their agenda. Three teens from very different backgrounds who've had their lives upended in very different ways find themselves at the center of a power play that could change humanity forever.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1534432752
• ISBN13: 9781534432758
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.0" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

scary happiness virus!

This book gave me so many conflicted emotions! Mostly from three viewpoints, one immune, one bent on finding a vaccine for the virus, and one willing to spread the virus to everyone to give them the chance to feel "happiness". I liked seeing it from three different views so you could see both the good of the virus (no selfishness/willing to help everyone), the bad side effect (putting others above yourself even if it kills you and wanting to give it to everyone, taking away choice), the selfishness /self preservation of the those who hadn't gotten sick and how it all effected the world. And then the third view (Mariel) which is in the middle, seeing the good of both and the bad. Personally, I think Crown Royale is good, as long as you can live in a completely safe area. Cause having the compulsion to save another, when you are not capable of doing so and then dying is horrible! Though I also think that I would not want to be unable to feel regret and sadness, because that is part of humanity. And I got annoyed at the leaders of the "embraced" who were exactly like cults though Morgan's hatred of the recoverees was also not fun to read about and her solution had issues too. I did love Dame Glynis Havilland though. Her character was amazing both before and after catching Crown Royale! A good book bringing up the humanity of people, freewill, happiness being forced on people along with a suppression of self over the greater good versus being "miserable" and selfish. It really makes you think about what the good choice would be.