All Better Now

All Better Now has a fascinating premise. In a world post-COVID pandemic, a new virus is spreading, but this time, those who recover have fundamentally different outlooks on life. The recoveries, as they come to be called, are kinder, calmer, more empathetic. Many mental illnesses, such as depression, are eradicated in the recovered because all negative emotions, such as regret, anxiety, and anger, are gone. It creates the idea that if you have no driving force or ambition, can you and society survive everyone being like that?
Taking this concept and fully developing all aspects of this idea is the driving force behind this story. For example, it sounds great that the rich who recover suddenly give away all their material wealth. However, those not infected become more fearful of becoming altered and losing everything they care about. The economy and work production are being affected radically, so the elite in power pay for propaganda campaigns to sway public opinion about the dangers of contracting this disease. These euphoric recoveries sound rather wonderful, but there are several “lemming” experiences throughout where someone is in danger and, without thought, plan, or expertise, the recoveries fling themselves at the problem ready to help and end up increasing the death toll.
The story is told in 3 perspectives, Mariel, Morgan, and Ron, plus side stories from other people interacting in this world. I normally base my love on a book by the character development, but this is one of the few times that the characters were a means to explore the concept. Mariel is naturally immune, Ron is a super spreader, and Morgan comes into a large sum of money and a missive to find a vaccine to stop the disease. Through these different perspectives, we can see the progression of the disease and how it all comes to a resolution.
The recoveries are supposed to be docile, but when they believe their condition is a gift and a way to bring about a better world that saves the planet, even they can go to extremes because they are now fanatics. Those filled with fear about change also feel justified in their extreme ideas.
This whole story was deeply thought-provoking. It is well explored and feels believable through most of the book. While reading the story, it is hard not to go down the rabbit hole of what would happen in an xyz scenario if the disease were real. As good as it all sounds, there are convincing reasons why it would be problematic. This book would be a great book club choice or debate class assignment.

ALL BETTER NOW is an interesting YA sci-fi/dystopian novel about a pandemic that changes personalities. Following a few years in the wake of COVID, the Crown Royale virus has a high mortality rate, but it also makes people who survive erased of emotions other than contentment, with the wealthy giving away all their money and possessions. The story contains many perspectives but focuses on a few teens, primarily Mariel whose circumstances have led her to be homeless with her mother, Ron whose father is the second wealthiest man in the world, and Morgan whose ruthlessness led a wealthy woman to leave everything to her when she caught the virus.

What I loved: This was an unexpected journey through learning about the virus and the world changed in the wake of it, much like that during COVID but with very different consequences. A personality-altering virus is really novel and this worked well somehow. The varied points-of-view added to the interest in the story, capturing different aspects of the world and experiences during the virus. The journey takes a lot of twists and turns, and it hooked me a bit of the way through with some surprising reveals later in the story.

Themes around wealth disparity, homelessness, what we leave behind, loss/grief, selfishness and selflessness, and government/industrial lies were all really thought-provoking and some seen throughout history but also in our modern day. In some ways, it almost felt more like speculative fiction or a twist on the contemporary rather than a dystopian. The treatment of wealth and its value were played out in unique ways with the effects of the virus that seems to remove negative emotions, and this could create some really great discussions - good for a book group!

What left me wanting more: There are a lot of perspectives in the story, so it took a while to really connect with them and get into the story. For that reason, it felt a bit slow at first, but it did pick up later in the story once it really got going.

Final verdict: ALL BETTER NOW is a thought-provoking and intriguing YA sci-fi/dystopian that I would recommend for people who enjoy multiple perspectives, twisty plots, and solid themes.

The world is in the throes of another pandemic, this one caused by a virus called Crown Royale. The odd thing about this disease is that people who survive the infection seem to have their outlook on life drastically improved. Because of this, Dame Havilland, who is a fairly evil and vindictive business woman, hires Morgan, a young woman not long out of school, to take over her business empire if she dies of the infection or survives and becomes nicer, so that Morgan can continue to use her power to make money and irritate others. We also meet Gena Murdoch and her daughter Mariel, who have been struggling with poverty and homelessness. They steal a credit card and rent a very posh but inexpensive Air BNB owned by Blas Escobedo, and meet his son, Rón, who hasn't really enjoyed being related to his father. The elder Escobdeo is fabulously wealthy, having developed an effective digital N95 mask that displays the wearer's face and made a lot of money. Rón has struggled with mental health issues and twice attempted suicide. After the Murdochs leave the Air BNB, they end up at the Pier Peer Collective, run by a man who recovered from Crown Royale and wanted to create a community where everyone could be helped. Gena is I'll with the virus, and when she dies, Mariel is allowed to stay, although has to be limited to where she goes because she hasn't had the disease. When an incoherent Rón shows up, however, she stays by his side to help him, and realizes that she is immune to the disease. Dame Havilland recovers from her bout, and is a bit angry that she turned her business over to Morgan and tasked her with irradicating the disease. Morgan sets up a lab near the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, and isn't too concerned about scientific ethics. Meanwhile, once Rón recovers, and and Mariel go on a road trip; he is a super spreader and he and Mariel decide together whom he should infect. Blas tries to find his son, using all of the resources at his disposal, and finally locates him at a Buc-ees in Battle Ground, Indiana. Rón has managed to reprogram the masks so he can make them super heated with his phone, and there is a fire that he and Mariel both narrowly escape. Dame Haviland takes drastic measures to change Morgan's mind, even trying to threaten her ailing mother, but isn't able to make much headway. As circumstances cause Morgan, Mariel, and the Escobedos to collide, what will the future of the Crown Royale virus be?

Shortly after Covid, another virus comes but the survivor's whole countenance on life changes for the better. Suddenly people no longer desire to fight or are angry at others. Instead, they are filled with happiness and joy. Not everyone is happy about this. There's Mariel and her mother who are down on their luck and encounter Ron, the son of one of the richest men in the world. There's also Morgan who finds herself in charge of the Havilland Consortium after the owner gets the Crown Royal virus. Each goes about doing everything in their power to stop the virus. While another finds a new purpose by being a super spreader. Either way, humanity is in question.

What worked: Engrossing futuristic twist on a virus that changes people to be happy and those who search to stop it. Crown Royale does kill but those who survive are changed in such a way that they become not only happy but empathic and no longer care about material things. Not all in the world are happy about this. That would include Dame Havilland who refuses to lose her ability to create havoc around her. Also Blas Escobedo, one of the richest men in the world works to find a vaccine that will cure those from the side effects of Crown Royale.

I really was invested in this futuristic story and how all three of the main characters come together with their own goals on how to defeat or accept Crown Royale. Later, those who haven't gotten sick call survivors the Compromised and fight against them. Seems not everyone wants peace when that means the stock market and financial institutions fail since no one cares about those things anymore. I loved the twist on what would happen if a deadly virus had a more positive outcome. I mean, who wouldn't want to be less stressed and have compassion for others?

Mariel and Ron's relationship is complicated. At first, Mariel is a homeless teen who meets Ron when her mother gets a stay at his father's exclusive penthouse. Then they come together on a road trip after Ron recovers from the virus. His new purpose is to help others, but Mariel worries about his true intentions.

Morgan is intelligent and hard-driven. When she 'wins' the Havilland estate, her true self is revealed as someone who will do anything to benefit herself. She will do that even if others around her suffer. She comes across at times as a stereotypical villain, whose only redeeming quality is her mother. But even then that relationship seems one-sided.

The idea of a virus that might actually be good for humanity is intriguing. It made me think what would happen if there was a deadly virus that might help others. If anything that concept had me musing over such a world.

Interesting twist on a deadly future virus with a cast of characters who either work together or try hard to stop the consequences of what comes. Another winning Shusterman novel!