Reviews with content warning for Abortion - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

It wasn’t a bad book at all. I think it just wasn’t really for me. I wasn’t interested in the plot (shockingly. I love games) and the most interesting part for me was the relationship dynamic.

Imo the characters barely changed throughout the book (though i’m sure some hardcore fan fully disagrees with me on that) and they never really improved themselves, which i dont mind, but when the book is focused around their flaws i feel like they should’ve .. improved their flaws.

Marx was my favourite character by far, he was so wonderful and sweet and just argh. I love him.

I was surprised that i didn’t get sad when he died. But also i guess I was expecting him to.

.

Overall the plot felt repetitive and honestly so were the characters. I probably won’t read this again for a long time, but it’s not bad.

Content Warnings

speterson47's review against another edition

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3.0

Sam and Sadie meet in an unconventional way at a children hospital while they are young. Sam has just been through a terrible accident and Sadie helps him come out of his shell by playing games together. They spend much of their formative years caring for each other, but never at the same time. This story spans much of their lives and covers their careers as video game designers.

A realistic fiction, with part video game description (slight sci-fi feel). Would recommend to video game fans that enjoy a little bit of drama true to life. Sadie and Sam both go through various tragedies in their lives, sometimes together.

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crowlaplumme's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There are parts of this book that I really liked and other parts where I was lost and confused about how I felt about the book. Up until halfway through the book, I thought it was going to be a solid 5 star rating but sadly, the second half didn't land the finish for me.

[SPOILERS]

I REALLY wanted Sam to be the asexual and aromantic icon. Sadly that didn't end up being the case. Once Sadie had begun dating Marx, Sam's character turned into one of bitter jelousy and of the mindset that people belonged to one another. It was a bummer because I was rooting for Sam through his entire story arc, especially when he began experiencing phantom pains and depression. When Sam mentioned how he didn't care for sex during that brief rendez-vous with Lola, I was estatic, thinking that he was ace. I love a good platonic relationship between a man and woman, and Sam and Sadie's was just that; until it wasn't.

Sadie was an interesting character, her paranoia felt very real. Her depression after getting an abortion and losing Marx felt genuine. However, Sam pulled himself together for the sake of their company, while Sadie had a harder time. At some points, despite wanting to be empathetic to what Sadie was going through-- especially pregnant, it was hard to see her absence in the company and what it meant for other characters (characters, we begun to care for, like the other workers of Unfair Games, who couldn't continue to work on the DLC). Whether it meant delaying the DLC or cancelling it altogether, Sadie's inaction affected others at Unfair Games who had undergone the same trauma of losing Marx (sure, not in the capacity of losing a lover, but as a co-worker and friend. Not to mention, some of them were in the building when the confrontation went down.)

I'm certain I'm not alone when I say that Marx was the best character in the book. My eyes were glued to the page when we got that solo chapter from Marx's perspective. His romance with Sadie felt natural, there was a romantic interest initially, but then they became friends. It made their relationship solid. Unlike, Sam's 180 to desperately wanting Sadie's romantic affection. The best part about Marx is understanding that despite his death, the memory of him was able to pull Sam out of his stupor ("What would Marx do?"). His memory being immortalized by Sadie and Sam in their games, was a lovely detail to the positivity that he brought-- I just wished we got more of him alone and getting to have some time with understanding who he was without Sadie, Sam, and Zoey.

However, I felt as if that last portion of the book, with Emily and Dr. Daedalus was where it all really fell apart for me. Sadie consistantly made selfish choices that she blamed on Sam, inferring parts of his character. For example, she believed that Sam tricked her into getting back with Dov in order to get the Ulysses game engine for Ichigo. She made the decision to get back with him, but she goes about the story saying that she had no agency in the matter. I liked Sadie as the professor, who understands her shortcomings, and uses it as a positive experience to get others to grow. As opposed to making the game, with her name on it and blaming its poor sales on Sam's "sabotage."

A reoccuring theme about the relationship between Sam and Sadie is that Sam is the one constantly reaching out to Sadie and it is not reciprocated. Sam noticed she was depressed and stayed with her until she got out of bed. Sam was the one who had to pull himself together for Unfair Games. Sam was the one to reach out to her as Daedalus. However, when Sam needed a friend after his surgery, Sadie was nowhere to be found. Again, while Sam did not lose Marx as a lover, he lost an incredibly important friend, but Sadie did not feel that she could confide in him. Sam, who felt incredible guilt that the attackers wanted HIM and not Marx, yet Marx took the bullet for him.

(Also, the two men who stormed the building were unhappy that Mapletown allowed for same-sex marriage. A concept that Sadie recommended to Sam, for their friends Ant and Simon. However, Marx's death was the fault and action of the two men, alone. However, under Sadie's flawed logic to claim that it was Sam's fault, "They were after you," than, to an extent, she can be responsible, too. This is a part of Sadie's character that really bothers me.)

Content Warnings

coleslawcowgirl's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had a hard time reading the back half of the book. This has nothing to do with a lack of cohesion or intrigue and everything to do with an excess of tears that became increasingly hard to see through. 10/10 would read again but perhaps I’ll get my own copy to avoid paying a water damage fee to the library.

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schorlett's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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avadore's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found this book so frustrating, I just wanted sam and Sadie to talk, like actually talk, to each other!!! I can't believe such a strong creative partnership could be marred by so many misunderstandings! Also so brutal and violent in a couple of places, really stomach churning and upsetting. The more reflective parts saved it for me, especially the couple of lines about aging right at the end.

Content Warnings

hanamayfield's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

I love a book about deep relationships that aren’t romantic and this one was perfect. I cared so deeply about these characters and their feelings for each other and now I’m left reflecting on my own relationships too. This will be on the top of my list of recommendations for a long time.

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charliw90's review against another edition

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emotional 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

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