In All Better Now, Neal Shusterman delivers a bold, genre-bending YA dystopian thriller that flips the traditional narrative of contagion on its head. Set in a world where a mysterious virus brings not death but happiness, this 528-page novel is an intricately plotted, emotionally resonant story that explores the moral cost of contentment, the commodification of emotion, and the treacherous war between truth and influence. With Shusterman’s signature philosophical undercurrents and character-driven storytelling, All Better Now is one of the most intellectually daring and thematically rich young adult novels of 2025.
About the Author: A Voice of Vision in YA Literature
Neal Shusterman is no stranger to speculative fiction. He’s the mind behind the Unwind dystology, the Arc of a Scythe trilogy (Scythe, Thunderhead, The Toll), and Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award. Known for blurring genre lines and pushing conceptual boundaries, Shusterman combines narrative experimentation with profound social commentary. All Better Now by Neal Shusterman continues this tradition, but with a tone more intimate and morally conflicted than even his previous works.
Premise and Setting: Utopia in Disguise
The novel opens in a world in flux. A new virus called “Crown Royale” is spreading like wildfire. Its symptoms include a brief fever followed by a life-altering transformation—people become emotionally unburdened. Anxiety, anger, greed, grief—all gone. It’s utopia for some, but for governments, media conglomerates, and corporations, this outbreak of joy threatens the very foundation of capitalism and control.
As power structures reel in response, a dangerous counter-campaign emerges: vaccines, propaganda, social media manipulation—all engineered to reignite discontent and keep the population normal (read: marketable and malleable). Amid this chaos, three teens—Mariel, Rón, and Morgan—navigate a maelstrom of truth, lies, and their own moral awakenings.
Characters: Complex, Contradictory, and Compelling
Mariel: The Anchor of Empathy
A street-smart teen burdened by the scars of poverty and loss, Mariel is both emotionally guarded and morally earnest. Her resistance to the virus isn’t physical but philosophical—she wants to feel. As someone who has fought to survive in a world that has never shown her kindness, she resists the idea of artificial peace, even when it promises healing.
Rón (Tiburón Tigre Escobedo): The Redeemed Heir
A wealthy tech heir with a tragic past, Rón embodies privilege and paradox. Once suicidal, his post-recovery transformation into an evangelist of the virus is as unsettling as it is profound. His journey—from invisibility in his father’s shadow to self-sacrificial savior—is deeply moving and at times chilling.
Morgan: The Catalyst and the Mirror
Morgan is the third point of this philosophical triangle. Charismatic, brilliant, and a little too enamored with their own importance, they play both friend and foil. Morgan’s arc asks readers to consider the line between activism and ego, between saving the world and wanting to be remembered for doing it.
Themes: Discontent as Currency
Shusterman’s central thesis is radical—what if happiness is the greatest threat to the systems we’ve built?
The virus is not just biological but existential. By erasing dissatisfaction, it dismantles capitalism’s most essential engines: desire, envy, fear. Shusterman asks:
- If we were truly content, would we still create?
- Would we still compete?
- Would we still be ourselves?
The book also explores:
- Media manipulation – How news cycles and social media are weaponized to manufacture reality.
- Mental health – Through Rón’s suicide attempts and recovery, the novel honestly explores depression without romanticizing or reducing it.
- Free will vs. public good – The ethical crux of the novel. Should happiness be a choice, even if that choice leads to chaos?
Structure and Pacing: A Multi-Threaded Conspiracy
The novel is divided into eight parts, with shifting POVs and interludes from locations across the globe—from Barentsburg to Tokyo, Brazil to Chicago—building a sense of international stakes. Shusterman’s chapters are short and dynamic, yet laced with introspective depth. The prose is smooth, sharp, and occasionally satirical. His dialogue dances between naturalistic and poetic, with metaphors that land like punches.
The global vignettes add texture and scope, but occasionally interrupt the pacing, especially in the middle sections. However, they enrich the world-building and thematic resonance, making the slight delay worthwhile.
Writing Style: Signature Shusterman with a Darkly Optimistic Twist
Shusterman’s style here is both philosophical and cinematic. He writes with the sharp observation of Scythe and the psychological intimacy of Challenger Deep. His use of metaphor and internal monologue is particularly strong, especially in scenes involving Rón’s battles with his past and Mariel’s moral reckonings.
For example, when Mariel contemplates the virus as both a “cloud and clarity,” it captures the essence of the book’s conflict: is ignorance bliss or is feeling—even pain—necessary for meaning?
Best Moments: When the Virus Becomes a Voice
Some of the most haunting and memorable scenes include:
- Rón’s emotional appeal in the airport terminal, where he infects a crowd with peace like a modern-day prophet.
- Mariel’s final confrontation with the infected woman and her decision to value individual choice over collective peace.
- The tragic beauty of Rón finally seeing the color blue—a metaphor for emotional wholeness.
These moments exemplify Shusterman’s talent for elevating sci-fi with soul.
Critique: Strong, But Not Without Flaws
While All Better Now by Neal Shusterman is conceptually brilliant and emotionally stirring, there are a few caveats:
- Occasional exposition-heavy passages – Some explanations of the virus’s mechanisms and the vaccine resistance movement feel slightly didactic.
- Character juggling – With three main characters and several globe-trotting interludes, not all side characters receive the development they deserve.
- Moral ambiguity sometimes muddles urgency – The thematic depth occasionally slows the pacing, especially in the final act.
That said, these are small critiques in an otherwise ambitious and artful narrative.
Similar Reads: For Fans Of…
If you enjoyed All Better Now by Neal Shusterman, you might also like:
- Scythe by Neal Shusterman – Also by the author, exploring a future without death.
- They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera – A YA novel blending existential themes and character intimacy.
- Feed by M.T. Anderson – A biting critique of consumerism and digital saturation.
- The Program by Suzanne Young – Teens being “cured” of depression through controversial means.
Final Verdict:
While it has minor narrative hiccups, the novel’s daring premise, emotionally layered characters, and Shusterman’s polished prose make it an essential read for YA dystopia fans seeking more than surface-level thrills.
Should You Read It?
Absolutely—if you enjoy speculative fiction that challenges societal norms, values character development as much as plot, and isn’t afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. All Better Now by Neal Shusterman is a book that lingers long after its final page, much like the virus it imagines—contagious, unsettling, and transformative.