anniesbookpicks's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual violence
maidinnah'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
It's hard to summarize how much I loved this expansive, intricately-written novel. Stellar beyond imagination, Tomorrow is about more than a duo of video game creatives who strike gold -- it's a multi-layered story about a relationship built on shared passions, containing universes within universes to immerse yourself into. Zevin deftly weaves between realities, virtual or otherwise, to show how life can be relentless in its imperfections, but, like video games, can offer infinite opportunities for reconciliation, revival, and reinvention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion, Mental illness, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
prynne31's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The writing was great, but I disliked the characters immensely. PLEASE CHECK THE CWs!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Chronic illness, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Vomit, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Drug use, and Cultural appropriation
schnooglefaceduthie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Mass/school shootings, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Vomit
Minor: Homophobia
capitolsara's review against another edition
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
3.75
Honestly leaving this book (literally just closed the kindle) a little conflicted. I thought it was incredibly well written, almost to a fault with the amount of nickel words that were thrown in there. I liked the timeline aspect and jumping through years but I think I got a bit lost post 2005 and could have used more dates to ground. It was also much more Jewish than I expected it to be which was a great surprise and if I ever go back and reread I would want to reflect on the more subtle Jewish elements that are probably on display but not as apparent when I was so engrossed on the story.
Spoiler
When the shooting happened, I was fully gripped. I do wish I had known to expect that going in but understand I'm not sensitive to spoilers. Somehow I knew Marx would die from when he got with Sadie but I guess I expected a video game death and not the long drawn out chapter. But that chapter was my favorite and I had to actively stop myself from continuing because it was 10:30 pm and I knew I'd stay up to read the next 1/4 of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, Car accident, Cancer, Abortion, Homophobia, Hate crime, Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
isleoflinds's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
I went into this book with mixed expectations. I tried reading it when it was first released, but couldn't get into it. When it started getting a lot of attention, I heard a negative review for it that made it sound really interesting, so I took another shot. As an ace person who is pretty steeped in nerd culture, I was really excited for a story sold as "two friends who were often in love -- but never lovers." To that end, I was not disappointed. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow delivered all the gaming nostalgia and a heart-tugging story about a different kind of love. However, there were elements of the book - especially the second half - that were tedious and, at least to me, undercut a lot of the first half seemed to build up to.
I thought that the characters - Sadie and Sam - were really well-rounded and flawed, but believable people. I was disappointed in the development of the character Marx, who felt most often like a plot device despite also appearing to be almost as significant as Sam and Sadie. Many of the tropes included about halfway through also felt unnecessary and I think a lot of the tension between Sadie and Sam could have happened without employing them. In general, I think Sadie's story was marred by too many gender-related difficulties. I know that being a woman in tech (now, but especially in the 90s) was difficult, but the bulk of the harm she experienced wasn't even related to her work, and I just wish we could have seen her face other issues.
The structure of the book was incredibly compelling - it is built around the vague idea that each "part" is its own game. Especially in the first half of the book, I could really feel the themes aligning with the structure of the book in an intriguing way. The story took a lot of turns in the second half that were just not for me () and I do think it affected my reading. The execution of Part IV was by far my favorite use of the novel's video game structure, however, and made the closeout of the story more satisfying.
Overall, I think that Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow had great bones for a story, I just wish it had been a little shorter and/or that it had spent more time considering the significance of Marx. In a story about the complex ways that people can love one another, Marx was central to this, and making <spoilers>the NPC</spoilers> seemed more of an afterthought to be profound rather.
My final very small complaint is the little statement at the end about <spoilers>"this generation thinking their whole personality is their trauma." I am a millennial, so perhaps this very Gen X sentiment just isn't for me, but in 2022, the inclusion of this bit feels quite purposeful. It was said and largely abandoned, squeezed in at the end and unexplored. Why say something that significant and then end the book with "oh I guess maybe our trauma made us who we are too... or maybe not!" Trauma use colloquially often refers to 'the difficult things I have experienced in my life that give me perspective on the world and how I interact with it.' Perhaps this is nuanced, but it just felt quite dismissive and not necessary.</spoilers>
I thought that the characters - Sadie and Sam - were really well-rounded and flawed, but believable people. I was disappointed in the development of the character Marx, who felt most often like a plot device despite also appearing to be almost as significant as Sam and Sadie. Many of the tropes included about halfway through also felt unnecessary and I think a lot of the tension between Sadie and Sam could have happened without employing them. In general, I think Sadie's story was marred by too many gender-related difficulties. I know that being a woman in tech (now, but especially in the 90s) was difficult, but the bulk of the harm she experienced wasn't even related to her work, and I just wish we could have seen her face other issues.
The structure of the book was incredibly compelling - it is built around the vague idea that each "part" is its own game. Especially in the first half of the book, I could really feel the themes aligning with the structure of the book in an intriguing way. The story took a lot of turns in the second half that were just not for me (
Spoiler
miscommunication trope, two accidental pregnancy tropes for the same character, dead baby daddy, and just a general waste of what could have been a really enlightening use of the NPC chapter concept.Overall, I think that Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow had great bones for a story, I just wish it had been a little shorter and/or that it had spent more time considering the significance of Marx. In a story about the complex ways that people can love one another, Marx was central to this, and making <spoilers>the NPC</spoilers> seemed more of an afterthought to be profound rather.
My final very small complaint is the little statement at the end about <spoilers>"this generation thinking their whole personality is their trauma." I am a millennial, so perhaps this very Gen X sentiment just isn't for me, but in 2022, the inclusion of this bit feels quite purposeful. It was said and largely abandoned, squeezed in at the end and unexplored. Why say something that significant and then end the book with "oh I guess maybe our trauma made us who we are too... or maybe not!" Trauma use colloquially often refers to 'the difficult things I have experienced in my life that give me perspective on the world and how I interact with it.' Perhaps this is nuanced, but it just felt quite dismissive and not necessary.</spoilers>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gaslighting, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, and Sexual violence
cinnaminskies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Death, Suicide, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Grief, and Medical trauma
kaitlanl's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings and Sexual violence
jenmcreads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
I was conflicted throughout reading this book, but ultimately I did enjoy it. I would advise checking trigger warnings on this book as I think the way it is written can hit pretty hard on trigger points. What I loved in this book was the exploration of the value we place on romantic versus platonic relationships, given the central relationship in the book is platonic. The story was emotional, and well-paced given its sweeping timeline. I did not love the handling of mental health in all cases, but that is to a degree a matter of personal preference. I would definitely recommend this book, however would caution to read when you feel fairly stable in your own mental health. (Specific minor spoilers hidden with spoiler tag)
Spoiler
I was honestly particularly upset by the use of a background character's suicide to propel the plot of main characters who did not even know her. That felt emotionally manipulative and exploitive to me and it was a part of the book I struggled to move past. Similarly, I felt the treatment of abortion was quite glib and did not add much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Car accident, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
thatokiebird's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“But this was classic Sam - he had learned to tolerate the sometimes-painful present by living in the future.”
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a book about two friends who are so wreaked by their presents that they perpetually choose to either live in the future or pause living at all. And this book wreaked me! But not in a bad way. It's unlike anything I've read that I can recall. It's a story of two people who grow up together, love each other endlessly, and never have a traditionally romantic or physical relationship - just a complicated, toxic, frequent ghosting friendship.
The story is written in a surprisingly pompous way; like the author utilized the thesaurus for 90% of words, and it took some getting used to. But the two main characters are quite pompous themselves, so it actually checks out once you get to know them. The book reads slow and methodically, but it seems to span quickly over many decades.
I'm convinced that although on the surface this book is about Sam and Sadie - in a plot twist, it is actually a book about Marx. Without Marx, I don't believe there would have been a story here. It would have simply been a boring book about two people who suck. But Marx is genuinely good, wholesome, still flawed yet hopeful and his pure care and kindness for the people around him is the driving force of this book.
This book is challenging, and completely worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I was frequently annoyed and I think that's not a bad characteristic for a book. It's the type of book that visits your thoughts occasionally and hangs on and challenges you and your thought process.
“There was the life that you lived, which consisted of the choices you made. And then, there was the other life, the one that was the things you hadn't chosen. And sometimes, this other life felt as palpable as the one you were living.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Abortion, Cancer, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Car accident, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy