This Day Changes Everything is the super cute second YA lbgtq+ romance by Edward Underhill. Abby and Leo, two teens that are in NYC to perform with their separate school marching bands to perform in the Macy's day parade, end up having a life changing day together when they both get on to the wrong subway train. Not only are Abby and Leo on an adventure in NYC but they are also on an adventure of self discovery. Abby has just recently come to the realization that she might be queer, but because of the small town she comes from, she doesn’t feel she has any peers to help her navigate these feelings. Leo is a trans boy just trying to get accepted and seen for who he is by his school and also his own family. This book had everything a YA romance needed. There’s hidden smiles, angst, group texts, amazingly supportive friends, and the sweetest kiss. Just like Always the Almost, This Day Changes Everything is such a well written novel about being a teen and discovering your sexual Identity and just trying to feel accepted, especially by your family, for your gender identity. Edward Underhill’s romances are great for anyone, but they’re especially great for those in the trans and lbgtq+ community. Thank you netgalley and SMP for a digital copy of this arc.

4.5 stars! This book was so fun! I love a book that takes place over about a day because you get so much detail and you truly feel like you’re with the characters as the time starts to tick by. I really enjoyed the main characters and this is such a great YA book that deals with identity and love. I enjoyed how this book examines gender and sexuality, and also how it dispels some common misconceptions about how there is no one “right” way to love someone. This really made my heart so happy. That warm and fuzzy feeling was definitely there for me. I do wish we had a little more about what happened after the end of the day adventure that is the main plot, but I also understand why the author stopped the story where it did.

The fast-paced plot, filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Underhill's vivid descriptions of New York City transport readers to the heart of the action, making it feel like they're experiencing the city alongside the characters.

Immediately, I wanted to read Edward Underhill's sophomore novel based on the cover!

Abby Akerman thinks everything has a rightful place and fate. She's thrilled to be marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, especially with it being the same setting as her all-time favorite romance read. It's the perfect time, in her opinion, to open up about her feelings towards her best friend.

Leo Brewer just wants to get on the bus, march in the parade, and go back home. He KNOWS and trusts that the world is out to bite them,, one bad luck happening at a time. This especially is about to become true as their whole family, ahem Southern family, finds out that they're trans. Thanks a lot, Universe.

But the Universe definitely has other plans as Leo and Abby run into each other on the wrong subway train in NYC. Off on a mission to help Abby share her feelings and stop fate from happening for Leo, they set their sights on exploring NYC. To them, this day will change everything.

I enjoyed reading another Underhill, this time dealing with NYC and the magic of belief in all the right places. I strongly believe the importance of others seeing themselves on the page and find that every single time I open a book authored by Edward.

Ahhhhhhh!!! Edward Underhill has done it again. This book was so, so good. There were so many elements that left me wanting more, because these characters were so close to my chest. I love the musical elements in both of his books, and I hope we get to see more of that moving forward from him! These transmasculine queer characters are EXACTLY what we need right now, and Edward has a gift in telling their stories!

I have been withholding my review in support of the boycott on St. Martin’s Press and it’s imprints and I will continue to do so until a the concerns are addressed. Readers and influencers demand accountability and action.

This book was requested by a previous Lesbrary reviewer who did not finish or review it. In order to keep my Netgalley feedback up to date, I am submitting this review marking it as a DNF, though it was another reviewer who requested this.

This was a quick and quirky read loved that they got to navigate around together finding themselves. Would recommend this one

Thoughts and Themes: I started reading this book and ended up putting it down for a bit because I couldn't get into it. I am really glad that I picked it back up and decided to give it a try. I really wasn't invested in the story until a little over 30% into the book so I am glad that I kept reading. I got invested as Leo and Abby meet each other on the train and wanted to k now more about what happens next for them.

I loved the way that this story unfolds and becomes a love story about Leo and Abby instead of what we originally thought we were getting. I loved following them all throughout New York City and this book made me want to go out to the city and experience it myself.

Characters: In this book you are introduced to our main characters, Leo and Abby, along with some of their friends, Kat and Evan. Throughout the book you get to meet some side characters and have a bit of interactions with Leo's sister as well.

I love the relationship between Leo and Abby and how this develops all within a day. I love the way this shifts from them being closed and guarded off from the world and each other to them seeing pieces of each other that others don't get to see. I appreciate how the author manages to show each of their feelings about the other and their confusion over those feelings.

Writing Style: This book is told in first person going back and forth from Leo and Abby's perspectives. I liked that we got to see both sides of the story and hear how they were both interpreting things. I appreciated how the author shared both of their feelings as things were unfolding.

Abby is in love with her best friend Kat. And when her school band travels to New York to play in the Macy’s Day Parade, she is going to tell her.
Leo is also in New York with his band. And while his extended family thinks he’s “just a tomboy”, they are about to learn the truth.
After a subway mix up, Abby and Leo find themselves on an epic adventure, spending one magical New York City day together.

This was a story of two teenagers figuring out who they are and navigating a society that doesn’t always accept them. From exploring and expressing new feelings, to finally letting people see who you really are, Abby and Leo’s story did not disappoint.

This felt like a queer version of Nicola Yoon’s The Sun is Also a Star, and I am here for it.

This is a cute, quick read that will appeal to lovers of sweet YA romance. I enjoyed Leo and Abby's trek around NYC as they learn about each other and explore not only the city but the possibilities of the future. Lots of wonderful representation. Overall, a likeable enough set of characters, plot, and conclusion.
A few times the flow of the narrative seemed stalled because a character steps outside of the action to explain something rather than letting the reader figure things out.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC of This Day Changes Everything! All opinions in this review are my own.

This Day Changes Everything is part Dash & Lily and part The Lizzie McGuire Movie. While I can see it being a really fun read for a teen, it stressed me out as an adult that Abby and Leo were wandering around the city (and yes, I do recognize I'm not the intended audience for this book). I did really like how Abby and Leo navigated their way through both their adventure and their budding relationship. The author does an excellent job of showing the range of queerness and characters who don't want to be defined by labels. The scene in The Strand where Abby and Leo find a group of people they feel like they truly belong with was sweet. Overall, this is a fun teen adventure in New York City. The author shows both the good and the bad of New York, and created truly loveable characters.

This book was sweet but probably not something I will be thinking about frequently. The rom-com element was whimsical but there were parts that took that a little too far or where the characters were oblivious ending in missed opportunities and the plot dragging on. In the end, though I did enjoy the story and loved all the representation!

I want to read this and support the author so badly but SMO has still not addressed the boycott or Readers for Accountability so this one will just have to wait.

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Edward has done it again! This book is beautiful and I adore it.

Leo is a grumpy trans boy and Abby is a chaotic maybe-queer ball of sunshine. They're teenagers who feel like teenagers. They're messy and young and searching and determined to stick up for themselves. They may not have the words to describe themselves (or like the words available to them) but they're so earnest in their pursuit of understanding. They want to belong and you can feel it in every word.

I fell in love with NYC again while reading this book. I've lived here for years and years, I've been to all the sites Leo and Abby visit. I've worked those Thanksgiving buffets for parade members. But seeing all the little ways the vibe here helps Leo and Abby feel comfortable, how they learn and grow? It's amazing and heartwarming. I love how fully Edward captured that feeling.

Once again, I'll be shouting at everyone I know to go read this ASAP!

Some parts of this book felt like it was made for me. As a former band kid, as someone who looks back on my HS choir trip to NYC with fondness, as someone who was queer and from a small town in high school, as someone for whom <i>Ferris Bueller</i> is in my top five films, I think I was set up to love this. I loved these aspects of the book: the parts where we got to see New York and band kid mischief.

However, I didn't realize going into this book that it's not a contemporary, but actually a romance, which was disappointing to me. I think this book could have had so much potential if it was telling the story of a life-altering friendship and the important of queer friends: instead it turned towards insta-love, which won't bother everyone, but definitely bothered me. I felt that the romance cheapened the messages of the book when a different approach could have underscored some of the themes that were otherwise present. It was still a fun vibe and a fun audiobook, but I just saw so much more potential in this story and in these characters.

I liked Edward Underhill's debut, but his second novel? Probably loved it even more, especially as a new New York City commuter - could definitely relate to the confusing train system and getting lost in the beauty of the city. Read in one day and have no regrets

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free review copy! I loved Edward’s second novel just as much as his first. Delightful and so much fun!

Sweet and fun and just so, so GOOD. I loved every moment of this, there is nothing better than a story of queer joy.

This was quick read, but a great slow burn queer romance. Im not a big fan of slow burn romance, I wish some time it was a little more rushed.
Would definitely recommend. 3.5 stars.