ALL BETTER NOW by Neal Shusterman

5 stars!

An epic, philosophical masterpiece!

This amazing, thought-provoking, moral dilemma-wrestling, dystopian thriller centers upon a new airborne virus Crown Royale, a next generation COVID-19, that leaves those surviving it with an intense sense of happiness, contentment, euphoria. They no longer crave “stuff” and instead feel a deep altruistic drive to give their possessions away as well as leap in to help others in need.

The recoverees want everyone to experience this, even if it means some deaths along the way during a typical 4-day virus recovery period. They see the virus as offering the best possible evolution of humankind away from our base hostile instincts. But some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and corporations, who thrive off human greed, consumerism and strife, want to stop this new virus in its tracks.

Three older teens get swept up in this battle for the future of humankind: Mariel, who’s the only human known to have immunity to the virus, Ron a mega-spreader of the virus who’s the son of a mega-wealthy family who pre-virus struggled with depression and suicidal tendencies, and Morgan, a protegee who unexpectedly becomes the heir of a controlling woman who mandates that Morgan must use all her inherited wealth to eradicate the virus. Ron emerges from the virus wanting to save humanity by giving the virus to as many people as possible with Mariel drawn to his side to counter his more radical impulses. Morgan takes ambitiously and passionately to her mission to shut down the virus, going completely over the top in what that might mean.

All converge on a protected subterranean lab in buried deep in Northern ice to heart-pounding ending that leaves open the possibility of a sequel (yeah!).

While marketed as a young adult novel, this amazing book will appeal to adults just as strongly. Just thought-provokingly brilliant!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.