READ & REVIEWED: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman is a thought-provoking young adult novel which challenges readers to confront their beliefs about change, identity, and the greater good.

In All Better Now, the world faces a new existential challenge: the Crown Royale virus. This highly contagious pathogen carries a one-in-25 mortality rate, but for survivors, it transforms life profoundly. Recoverees are gifted with mental clarity and blissful contentment. While the virus holds the promise of utopia, it also sparks suspicion and fear among unaffected individuals who see recoverees as profoundly changed beings.

Caught in this moral and societal tug-of-war are three teens whose choices could shape humanity's future. Ron, a billionaire's son who believes spreading the virus will achieve global harmony; Morgan, heir to a powerful consortium with the resources to halt the virus's spread; and Mariel, who is immune yet torn between opposing ideologies.

A master of dystopian world-building, Shusterman raises compelling ethical questions with his trademark flair and acerbic humour in this young adult novel. Both Ron and Morgan represent extreme perspectives, yet their motivations are strikingly relatable, leaving readers pondering where they stand if this chilling scenario becomes reality. Would you willingly risk infection if the virus promised a better version of yourself? Should people be given the choice to contract it if they can’t see the potential benefits? Is absolute contentment a gift or an insidious curse?

I felt the pacing in the first half is somewhat slow but the narrative gains momentum in the second half, culminating in an explosive climax. Overall, this story is a thought-provoking exploration of morality and humanity which challenges readers to confront their beliefs about change, identity, and the greater good. Thank you Definitely Books (Pansing) for sending this newly-released title over for my review!

Disclaimer: The book was provided by Pansing for our review. As always, all opinions are ours.

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