Celebrate the release of Neal Shusterman's latest YA lit addiction with Simon Teen...
😊 ALL BETTER NOW ☹️
by
Neal Shusterman
SIMON TEEN
About the book...
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 plan 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.
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 plan 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.
😷 AVAILABLE NOW! 💉
🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂
From the cover to the content, I was hooked! It takes place in a world and time not unlike our own; in fact, it's pretty much our own (maybe even a little less unbelievable considering the current political climate and fallout, but I digress)...post COVID-19, and a new pandemic to deal with that leaves wreckage of some kind (death) or another (emotionally stunted, yet happiness and contented turned up to a gazillion watts) in its wake.There are those that want to further it (think natural selection and super-spreaders), those that want to avoid it, and those that see it as an opportunity. Which side will win? Does ANYONE truly win? I'd like to say so, and yet... I'm not so certain.
The ending is a bit of a tangle because there are so many loose bits to tie up, however the journey to get to that point 👉.... worth every page. Seeing what the virus did to people, it was quite the double-edged sword. Would one really want to be replaced with a "sunny side always up" version of themselves? Would we still BE ourselves? After all, it's our experiences that make us who we are, so without the ability to feel the spectrum of those events and moments, would our contentment be real or only FEEL real? Would it even matter anymore? I mean removing the worries, anxieties, and struggles sounds like a weight lifted... but I think I'd hope to be in Mariel's proverbial boat. It's a little lonely, but REAL.
Following each character's trajectory from beginning to end was incredible, at times confusing, and many more times SURPRISING! The twists and turns, hidden agendas and open plans of attack, and ultimately THAT ENDING, will keep you turning pages, second guessing, and reevaluating your predictions until the very end. A great addition to the author's body of work, and a high recommendation for #YAlit fans that love when fiction and reality cross paths in a severe way!
🩸Given the choice, which would YOU choose?
😃 Bring on the happy!
😷 Mask me up!
🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂 🙃 🙂
Special thanks to Thad at Simon & Schuster for the copy for review and the chance to bring this title to you! (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now wherever books are sold.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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