Winner of the 2025 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Romance
Featured on Zibby Owen’s Summer Reading List
One of Biblio Lifestyle’s Best Books by Asian Authors of 2024
“Humor abounds in this story that also sensitively explores issues of mental health and recovery.” —The Seattle Times
“Never Been Better offers a fresh perspective with a fun plot and a good amount of humor. . . . If you have experienced mental illness, or been close to someone who has, you’ll likely relate to many of the messages in this book.” —Hippo Press
“[An] unexpectedly funny but also sad but also uplifting tale of illness, recovery, and true love.” —Good Morning America
“[An] invigoratingly comic debut novel . . . Full of sharp, pithy dialogue and farcical scenes that will put a grin on your face, this story about love, friendship, and family also offers hard-won wisdom about mental health and the myths that surround it. . . . Navigating the contrast between humor and pain can be tricky, but Simpson makes it look easy in her first novel. A funny, refreshing, and generous story full of wisdom on mental health.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Laugh-out-loud funny . . . Simpson’s refreshing debut depicts the reality of living with mental illness, which will resonate with many readers.” —Booklist
“A hilarious, honest, refreshing, and moving story about mental health, friendship, and love. Never Been Better is a brilliant debut.” —Emily Austin, author of Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead
“Life after the psych ward combined with a destination wedding and secrets between friends can only lead to raw yet heartfelt hijinks in this delightful debut by Leanne Toshiko Simpson. Searing and honest, Never Been Better is that most rare of things—a novel that combines humor, heartache and hope in one page-turning package, with lyrical and wickedly funny writing in spades. Simpson is a writer to watch!” —Uzma Jalaluddin, author of Much Ado About Nada
“Leanne Toshiko Simpson’s Never Been Better is an exuberant debut rich with snappy dialogue, madcap misadventures and a lot of heart.” —Rebecca Hardiman, author of Good Eggs
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