Absolutely stunning. The beautiful writing had me gasping out loud, and I dare anyone who reads this not to fall in love with the characters. This is a book I will be gifting to everyone I know for a long time.

Great read! I am not a gamer so I hesitated before reading this book. After so many great reviews I dove in head first and was not disappointed. Such a unique story. I love the tale of a platonic relationship based on shared interests and lots of conflict. This is an absolute must read and I am so glad I decided to join the world and read this wonderful book.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I am torn on this book. I did not love it, but I did not hate it. I found the characters to be the same way. Clearly, I was rooting for Sam and Sadie to get together, but I have this intense dislike for books that spend the entire time going on again, and off again with their relationship – even a friendship. Despite my dislikes, I wanted to keep reading. I enjoyed their gaming relationship and was pleasantly surprised that that did not deter me. The jumping in timeline throughout felt like it took away from the fluidity and concentration. I felt like I never knew what year we were in unless the author expressly told me to point blank. It felt as though the author had this constant urge to stay woke throughout. I respect the intention, but it came across as a bit forced in places and just seemed like it was there to add length to the story.
I think it comes down to enjoying the first half of the book, but the second half kind of fell apart once they got the company started. Marx was apparently flawless, but I agree that he was an NPC. He was added to this story to provide yet another conflict between Sadie and Sam. The end was just not satisfying for me. Once I was in the last twenty or, so pages and she was having lunch with Dov again, I just rolled my eyes. As I said, I hate when books try to go for this secret romance angle and just end up playing this hot-and-cold scenario with the characters.
I just wanted to read this story of Sam and Sadie – Becoming friends, going to college together, working together, and happily ever after. But I guess the goal was for the parallel to that and to have your heartstrings pulled, but never be quite satisfied.

I didn't know what to expect with this one - I'd heard rave reviews but usually don't read books around fantasy or games or anything. I really enjoyed the style of writing. The author did a great job of bringing the video games to life. There were many different plot lines but I think for the most part everything came together really well.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Published: July 5, 2022
Genre: Realistic fiction; literary fiction
Trigger warnings: cancer, loss of a parent, gun violence
Rating: 5/5 stars – one of the best books of the year, very original story. You should read it and become friends with the characters.
Summary from Amazon
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER •WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD • Sam and Sadie—two college friends, often in love, but never lovers—become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.

"Delightful and absorbing." —The New York Times • "Utterly brilliant." —John Green

One of the Best Books of the Year: The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, TIME, GoodReads, Oprah Daily

From the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom.

These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.

Review: Sam Masur and Sadie Green meet in a hospital when they are both 12 years old. They bond playing video games together as Sam recovers from a horrific car accident. Both are loners who love escaping into the worlds of the games. This is used often in the novel as a theme. This novel explores their platonic friendship over the course of over 30 years beginning with their fateful meeting in that hospital room. This is a novel I am still thinking about, and I am not even quite sure that I was able to fully comprehend and enjoy their story to the fullest – I have already contemplated reading this over again in the summer when there are less distractions. I was instantly sucked into the story of these characters and could not put this book down. I almost feel the author intended for the reader to fall in love with the characters as friends as one is reading their story – it is impossible not to like them or impossible to find fault with them and hate them in certain moments, similarly to what happens in a true friendship – those moments of deep love for one another or deep envy for one another. Gaming is also a main theme of this novel, and since I am not a regular gamer, I will say that the way it is added into the novel as a theme is compelling – the idea of world building, looking at things from a gaming point of view was refreshing and adds to the originality of this story. This book is a recommended read – I do not want to say much more about this book other than it is a must read – you will not be able to stop reading about these characters, the story was so realistic it made me forget that it was fiction and I was held captive in the world of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. (Yes, that is Shakespeare, yes I could not adequately tell you everything about this book in this cryptic review.)

When I started the book, I was a little nervous that it wouldn’t be my cup of tea, as there is a lot of dialogue and story around video games (e.g., ideas of games, producing them, playing them). I, however, loved this book.

The writing is exceptional. Although video games keep the plot moving, the story is about so much more than video games. It’s about friendship, love (romantic and non-romantic), grieving/loss, & much more.

The characters are incredibly lovable. The main three characters are Sam, Sadie, and Marx. Gabrielle Zevin does an exceptional job humanizing these characters, and I found myself rooting for all three of them. I have never liked this many characters in any book I’ve read.

The book is a long book, and it covers 3 decades. Although it may be daunting for some, the length enriches the characters and story.

This book has a lot of hype (e.g., the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction & BOTM’s 2022 book of the year), and it certainly lives up to the hype.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was not able to finish this book. I could not get interested in the story enough to keep reading. I made it about 40% of the way through and decided to DNF because this book was not for me.

This novel has been in print for awhile, and recently a friend suggested, demanded actually, that I read this novel because the stories in this novel were so gripping. There were 80 people on the waitlist before me, so I thought I'd see if it was still available with NetGalley, and lo and behold, the next day I was granted a copy.

Not being a gamer, when I started this novel, I found it rather plot driven. As a former public school teacher and English professor, I thought about how high school students would like this story about these two young kids meeting at a hospital and playing video games together. Then the characters grow older, and I thought, I can see young adults really loving this novel. But my friend and I are in our sixties, and neither of us were gamers, so I texted him to see what he really liked and he sent a postcard in the mail to say he had to explain himself and that he found the book enthralling early on boy meets girl, boy doesn't get girl plot, and that his daughter in her thirties was home for the holidays and she was deeply engrossed in the novel and cried when she finished reading it, and alas, he admitted he hadn't finished the novel before recommending it.

It's been a rather grey and wet winter, but not snowing, so I hunkered down to read it over the weekend, and I found the novel interesting in how the actual prose (I am a sucker for finding great lines in a novel, lines that I want to repeat over and over to anyone who will listen), and I hadn't found those in the novel, but the plot of the young, successful gamers interested me, though I would have liked to have spent more time with Sam's grandparents, but then, the prose took a dramatic change on the chapter titled "Marriage," about 2'/3 through the novel. I wondered why this prose, this reflection hadn't occurred sooner, but it didn't, and I don't want to give away spoilers, but when Marx's life changes dramatically, the style of the writing also changed dramatically. I finished the novel feeling much more positive about the writing, the story, and wonder if I should try playing a video game..

“What is a game?" Marx said. "It's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It's the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.”

This book is winning awards all over and it certainly deserves it. It has such a unique fingerprint, it is a fresh concept...genre bending while still being heavily literary. Having the '90's video game subculture as a background for this story of friendship gave it the perfect, gritty feel. Normally we only see video games used in science fiction but this was not at all in the realm of sci-fi/fantasy or even speculative fiction. This is a modern and fresh perspective while still being nostalgic.

Sadie is a young girl trying to find her way in a male dominated work space, while Sam is her BFF/partner who has his own set of turmoil including poverty, disability and grief. They both grow and change so much throughout this story (and their lives) it can be frustrating and heartbreaking but it is always consistent. I loved seeing how their life events would manifest into art and become Easter eggs in their video games (obviously, the Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was the best and most heartbreaking).

This story treads through so many concepts and social issues as Sam and Sadie navigate their careers and lives including misogyny, gun violence, LGBTQ issues, disability, childhood cancer etc.etc.etc. it is certainly heavy! Most of all I really loved seeing a platonic life-long friendship between members of the opposite sex.. i think that is important to have in life and in our stories.

All in all, as a girl who grew up in the '90's playing video games I was SO excited for it (+ the hype and the gorgeous cover art was irresistible) while I really enjoyed the read and I think it does deserve all of the awards and attention it has received (again such a unique and genre bending book!) I personally enjoyed it less than I was hoping.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I had heard so much about this book and tried to purchase it multiple times, but always sold out. When I was approved on NetGalley, I was elated! Honestly, even with the hype of the book, I had no idea what to expect from “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”.
The character developments are truly incredibly written and portrayed throughout. I wish I knew more about gaming to fully understand parts of the story, but I have to say by the end of the book, I gained some knowledge about the gaming world, which I appreciate now. That said, the main and more important core of the book, though, is the multi faceted relationships within life itself.

The book is unpredictable, but not unbelievable. It is easy to relate to the characters - someone we know or someone we are.
My educator platform is geared toward middle schoolers, and although I loved the book, I do not recommend it for the tween audience, which I decided when Dov was introduced.

Enjoy this beautiful book. One to become a true classic!

It is not very often that I read a book that I cannot get out of my head to the point where I actually remember how I felt while reading it AS WELL AS what the story was about, but that is exactly what has happened with Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This book WRECKED me, and even though I’m sitting here writing my review over 6 months later, I still remember it as though it was yesterday. To be perfectly clear, I am not a video game person at all. Back in the day, I did play the occasional game of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and The Oregon Trail on the computer, but for me, that was where it ended. So, it was a little surprising to me that I ended up loving a story about Harvard students creating a video game so much. In reality, while video games are a large part of the story, the real story is about love, friendship, and betrayal. There is some romance, but it’s nowhere near like a normal romance book, and there is so much hurt tucked into this story as well.

And here is where we get to the part where I gush about the audiobook because it was truly fantastic and narrated by Jennifer Kim & Julian Cihi. These two man, they were able to make this book completely and fully memorable, and I don’t think I would have gotten so emotional if I hadn’t been listening to them. I was downright ugly crying in parts, and not only is this from the writing, but I honestly believe Kim and Cihi made these parts hit me even harder. Of course, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow isn’t going to be for everyone, but for me, it was an epic story, and the depth of these characters and what they endure just blew me away. Oddly, I even got into the gaming parts of the book which I really never thought would happen, and that’s probably another reason I loved it so much. I wish I could read it again for the first time, and this has definitely motivated me to read more of Zevin’s novels.

What an incredible storyteller and incredible story!
Sam and Sadie are such memorable characters. They are inevitably drawn to each other and connect initially in such a unique, creative manner. They become eternally intertwined in the gaming world and video games.
The brilliance of this book is conveyed because, although, it revolves around the complexities and ingenuity of gaming, the reader doesn't have to have prior knowledge. It's foremost about the deep relationships cemented by the ups and down of what life presents. Disability, love jealousy and loyalty are all explored. The currency of so many social issues bring the story to heart.
I grew so attached to these fictional characters. The many secondary characters were so deftly portrayed. This was a special book and a special read!

I’m not the last person to read this book(ahem…six months ago), but I just might be the last person to review it. You can probably already guess why.
It wasn’t a win for me. There I said it. Obviously, cause I died. Of typhoid. (giggles maniacally)

Tomorrow x3 is an exploratory love letter to gaming, how connections & relationships can be made through gaming, and the psychological & sociological impacts of (you guessed it) gaming. Youngsters Sadie & Sam bonded over games like the Oregon Trail in the hospital; she’s there for her sister who is sick & he’s there recuperating after an accident. Many afternoons together playing video games draw them closer together until one day, they have a falling out. Years later during the college years, they randomly come across each other again and begin making games together. Life as a game maker/player isn’t always about winning, Sadie & Same experience losses both on the screen and in real life.

Ultimately, it was the last third of the book that had me pressing “Alt”+”F4” on the imaginary keyboard of my readerly processor. I can’t say much about it except for the silent tirade in my brain because of spoilers, but I will say this…the miscommunication trope reigns supreme & internet gaming can be so dang creepy. While the insight into the gaming world (types & popularity, development, politics) was extremely interesting, I had difficultly identifying Sadie & Sam as actual friends.

Off to go try my luck on Oregon Trail again, toodles. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read & review this book.

The messy and complicated lives of Sam and Sadie are such an accurate depiction of friendship and the changes that relationship must go through. This book starts off strong and is very readable. The narrative jumps from the present to the past and back which sometimes left me wanting more. However, it was very pleasantly written while raising awareness to current social concerns.

Highly enjoyable novel about friendship, love, loss and making your own family. I didn’t mind the gaming aspect as Ms. Zevin didn’t get super nerdy with the lingo.

I wanted to love this book because the reviews are overwhelming and impressive. So I will be blunt. I enjoyed the beginning of this story, whenSam and Sadie were young. And the characters were interesting. But there is only so much video game references one can take. They did open up a world of storytelling, but way to much than was necessary. After so many references about gaming I felt it slowed the true story down and got in the way of the plot and relationships that were the “real” ones. I also had difficulty with word choices. It seemed as though the author wanted us to know how much of a vocabulary swam around in his mind. Sometimes the simpler word choice is best.

This book is a five star read that will captivate readers from the first page. With its unique and nuanced characters, intricate plot, and beautiful writing, it is no surprise that this book has become a bestseller. Zevin's skillful weaving of romance, tragedy, and ambition into a complex and satisfying narrative will keep readers turning the pages until the bittersweet conclusion.

This is a book I highly recommend. I am in no way a gamer, but I absolutely loved this book. This was such a unique coming of age story about the complex friendship between Sam and Sadie. I loved the beautiful writing and the well fleshed out characters. It was such a heartfelt read. Do yourself a favor and read this book, you won’t regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for this ARC.

most popular book of the year. consider me impressed. takes a lot to impress the world. this book meets a lot of checkmarks.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a beautiful story of friendship and love as it is a heartbreaking story of those same friendships and love. It is complicated as it is relatable. While I have no experience in programming and designing games, Gabrielle Zevin amazing storytelling and writing made it accessible and easy to understand. One of my favorite tropes is the aspect of perception versus reality. It's not always successful, but Zevin did this so well in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I will not soon forget Sam, Sadie and Marx's journey. I am already looking forward to a re-read very soon,