sevensableyes's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It hurts to rate it beneath a 4 star, but I feel like the story didn't live up to the hype I've seen online. It's a good book, very entertaining, but it was frustrating. The characters were frustrating, their constant miscommunication and misrepresentation of each other was... frustrating.
I didn't really believe the friendship between Sam and Sadie, at least not beyond their college years.
Honestly, by the end of the book, I liked Sam more than Sadie. She held so much resentment towards Sam, and just didn't even try to talk to him about it? If she was so upset, why not just leave? Why drag everything on? I just don't get it.
This book was sold to me as a platonic-love story and a complicated friendship. But I could barely see the friendship, and
I didn't really believe the friendship between Sam and Sadie, at least not beyond their college years.
Honestly, by the end of the book, I liked Sam more than Sadie. She held so much resentment towards Sam, and just didn't even try to talk to him about it? If she was so upset, why not just leave? Why drag everything on? I just don't get it.
This book was sold to me as a platonic-love story and a complicated friendship. But I could barely see the friendship, and
Spoiler
can it really be called platonic if Sam was in love with Sadie?Spoiler
Fuck Dov. Why did Sadie keep in contact with that awful man? Why was his abuse used as a lighthearted joke between them? Why didn't he die?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Car accident, Racism, Sexism, Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Death of parent, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Abortion
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This novel took 2022 by storm and topped every "Best Book" list I came across, so I knew I had to pick it up. I am always cautious to pick up a book with so much hype, because I worry it will never be able to live up to the adoration it seemingly has. However, this book blew me away, and deserves every word of praise it has received.
"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" follows two young people from when they meet as children throughout their lives until they are in their thirties. Sadie and Sam meet in the hospital, where Sam is a patient following a major car accident that took his mother from him, and where Sadie is spending time because her sister is very ill. Sadie and Sam bond over their shared love of video gaming, and a special friendship grows, until Sam finds out that Sadie was asked to be his friend because he would not speak to anyone. A decade later they reconnect with each other and decide to build a game together, which launches their careers and takes them both back home to LA.
Gabrielle Zevin's writing is immaculate. The characters all have very distinct personalities and are perfectly crafted to be interesting on their own, but equally intriguing when paired with the other characters in the story. Throughout the novel, there are moments in the writing that are just so beautiful you want to stop reading the savor the words.
Marx was one of my favorite characters that I have ever read. He is compelling and captivating and has the most beautiful outlook on life. He approaches everything, no matter how seemingly small with the brightest, most positive attitude. His personality is electric, and he was EXACTLY what both Sam and Sadie needed in their lives. The moment he was shot I knew I was going to be devastated. My heart broke for Sadie, and Sam, but I really loved being in Marx's head while he was in a coma. This type of writing seemed risky, but it moved the story along in a fresh way and made me feel despair on a whole new level.
I really enjoyed that this was not a typical love story about two friends that share so much life together. This story is about finding yourself and cherishing the people you meet along the way that help you to evolve into your truest self. Yes, Sam and Sadie would be great together, but that is not the point of this story.
I will undoubtably read more from Gabrielle Zevin in the future.
"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" follows two young people from when they meet as children throughout their lives until they are in their thirties. Sadie and Sam meet in the hospital, where Sam is a patient following a major car accident that took his mother from him, and where Sadie is spending time because her sister is very ill. Sadie and Sam bond over their shared love of video gaming, and a special friendship grows, until Sam finds out that Sadie was asked to be his friend because he would not speak to anyone. A decade later they reconnect with each other and decide to build a game together, which launches their careers and takes them both back home to LA.
Spoiler
This novel approaches a myriad of subjects with grace, care, and talent. Grief is a prominent theme throughout the novel, and it becomes a huge topic of discussion for all of the characters. Grief can feel crippling and isolating, and what this novel does superbly is highlight that you are never really alone. Despite all of the loss and heartbreak throughout the novel, the characters each move through the motions in their way to process through their grief and become stronger versions of themselves.Gabrielle Zevin's writing is immaculate. The characters all have very distinct personalities and are perfectly crafted to be interesting on their own, but equally intriguing when paired with the other characters in the story. Throughout the novel, there are moments in the writing that are just so beautiful you want to stop reading the savor the words.
Marx was one of my favorite characters that I have ever read. He is compelling and captivating and has the most beautiful outlook on life. He approaches everything, no matter how seemingly small with the brightest, most positive attitude. His personality is electric, and he was EXACTLY what both Sam and Sadie needed in their lives. The moment he was shot I knew I was going to be devastated. My heart broke for Sadie, and Sam, but I really loved being in Marx's head while he was in a coma. This type of writing seemed risky, but it moved the story along in a fresh way and made me feel despair on a whole new level.
I really enjoyed that this was not a typical love story about two friends that share so much life together. This story is about finding yourself and cherishing the people you meet along the way that help you to evolve into your truest self. Yes, Sam and Sadie would be great together, but that is not the point of this story.
Spoiler
I will undoubtably read more from Gabrielle Zevin in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death, Gaslighting, Sexism, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Miscarriage
lemonflower's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Injury/injury detail, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Cancer, Misogyny, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
bethsarah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Car accident, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
pinkbookscoffee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It was nostalgic, with depth. I appreciate the themes of video games and theatre, and the friendship love story.
I actually related to a lot of things in this book.I married a game developer. I loved doing theatre in high school and college. I’m 9-10 years younger than the main characters, so their childhood and college years were a different timeframe, technologically, but most were timeframes that I remembered nostalgically.
I don’t know what the overlap is between those who have read this book and those who have participated in game development, but most of the reviews I’m seeing are from people who say they don’t know too much about games. That’s fine, but I’m just curious. Like, how many other people have read this book that have also, for example, opened Unreal Engine? Is it just me?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Death
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