Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Book Review
Genre: Contemporary fiction | Literary fiction
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Year: 2022
Pages: 482
I saw Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow everywhere when it was first published, with rave reviews. It’s a book I’ve been meaning to read for a while. So, when I spotted this edition in Australia, a different coloured cover to the UK edition here, I decided to take it home with me (I’m a sucker for a special or unique edition).
This isn’t a romance story. It is, however, a story about love…
Sam and Sadie’s journey begins in 1987 at their local hospital. They bond over their love of video games; playing together brings joy, escape, fierce competition - and a special friendship. Then, all too soon, their friendship comes to a swift end.
When Sam and Sadie spot each other eight years later in a crowded train station, it’s as if no time has passed. They soon begin working together on their own video games, creating virtual worlds to delight, challenge and immerse. Soon, their collaborations make them global superstars but along with success, money and fame come betrayal and tragedy…
I read somewhere that reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow felt like reading an indie movie, and I completely agree - it has that sort of vibe to it. The novel has many similarities to Sally Rooney, with fleshed out character relationships and miscommunication between our protagonists Sam and Sadie. It’s less about gaming and more about the push-and-pull relationship between our protagonists throughout the years.
Because it’s such a chunky book, I did think the story waned in parts. This might have just been my reading experience, as I was unable to read this book as consistently as I hoped, so perhaps this didn’t help the slower pacing of the story. I also didn’t feel as emotionally invested in the characters as I thought I would. Again, I’m not sure if this was because of my stilted reading experience or simply because the novel was so overhyped, but some character events didn’t feel as impactful as I thought they could have been.
I still enjoyed the book - I liked Zevin’s writing of character interactions and dialogue, with this type of prose that elevates the reading experience for me. I think the first section of the story was the best; the story was set up really well and so were the characters. I just felt like the story petered out in the middle but then picked up again towards the end. I also thought the character progression of Sadie and Sam was well-written and plotted.
I’d love to give Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow a reread in the future to see if my thoughts change! Should I try reading another book by Gabrielle Zevin?
★ ★ ★ ★ / 4 stars