Another great book by this author! A sweet, queer YA book that spans across NYC, and builds character along the way.

I wanted to love this one so much, especially because I loved Underhill's debut book, but I struggled through just finishing the first chapter and ended up DNFing this.

A fictional character the FMC is obsessed with is mentioned nearly 30 times in the first chapter, by name. A number of other things were repeated multiple times.

I just can't get past the repetition and what feels like a lack of a thorough edit (as an editor).

4.5 stars!

I enjoyed this book so much! It reminded me a lot of "Dash and Lily's Book of Dares" by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, which makes sense since the two are compared in the description of this book. "Dash and Lily" is one of my favorite YA books, and this one is joining it!

I love how magical New York is in this story, and how free it feels to go somewhere outside your hometown where no one knows you. I really appreciated how Leo was written as a trans man, I think as one himself Edward Underhill provides a unique perspective on that experience. I also liked how the characters didn't feel a need to label themselves as anything other than queer, and realized that they will work on figuring it out along the way.

The romance was a really sweet and I loved having the dual perspective, so I could see the two slowly falling for each other. One of my favorite tropes is the guy who is so grumpy he never smiles, but the girl gets smiles out of him *cough cough Pride and Prejudice* and that was done so well in this as well!

I'm a little on the fence about Abby thinking she loves Kat to falling in love with Leo so fast, but I also understand that when you're queer it is hard to distinguish between platonic and romantic love, so I'm really happy Underhill included that.

Overall I thought this book was really entertaining, and I loved the characters and the setting. Will be buying a physical copy for sure!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book!

I highly recommend this book to readers who love teen realistic fiction, queer romance, and New York City!!!

As these two characters Abby and Leo start to bond and to understand themselves better in NYC, it makes them wonder about the other one’s place in their lives.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy for review and I enjoyed my first time reading from this author Edward Underhill. Thank you.

New York City was even more magical than her favorite book described. The sights, the sounds, the hustle and bustle… it all mixed together to form a unique experience she never could have fathomed. What made it even more stunning was the stranger exploring the city with her and the moments that were turning into forever memories.

This Day Changes Everything is a queer YA romance following Abby, who is questioning her sexuality, and Leo, a trans boy. Their bands are in the city to perform in the Macy’s Day Parade and they both end up separated from their bandmates when they get on the wrong train. Now they must navigate the streets on New York together and find their way back.

This was so cute! I loved the New York City setting and getting to experience the wonder through the characters’ eyes as they explored the city together. This was giving me “The Sun is Also a Star” vibes as these characters connected over the course of an adventurous day. So much great queer rep and another book by Edward Underhill that I loved. I will always pick up his books!

If you’re a New York City setting fan and want a cute insta-love queer YA romance… pick this book up!

A charming tale of teens finding each other and themselves during a trip to Manhattan. This has an affirming and positive outlook. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This Day Changes Everything is about two high schoolers: Abby Akerman and Leo Brewer. Both teenagers are members of their high school marching bands, both of which have been selected to perform in the New York City Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Set over the course of one day, this book traces Abby and Leo’s paths through New York City as they begin to understand their own identities more and what they mean to each other.

The two characters are very different: Abby believes in the universe, while Leo is much more cynical and doesn’t trust the universe at all. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives in the book because it allows the reader to learn about both characters’ intimately.

My favorite part of the book was the band aspect: as a trumpet player and a member of my high school’s concert band and pep band, I related to many things Abby and Leo described, from bus rides with your band to excruciatingly long rehearsals. I also loved the New York City descriptions. I found it easy to follow along from the writing, and the portrayal of the city was really cool.

I found that the romance developed very quickly, probably because the story is set over only one day, which I didn’t love, but I think the characters are sweet together.

Overall, I thought this book was a nice, light read!

Edward Underhill did not fumble his second novel--this queer YA romance is sweet and swoony!

Set in NYC, two queer teens find themselves lost from their marching bands and on the same train car--headed the wrong way. Leo is lost in another sense, too. He feels forgotten and overlooked. His parents refuse to tell their families that he's trans so they deadname him and call him a tomboy. Abby is also lost--trying to figure out her label and how to pronounce her love to her best friend Kat.

Read if you love:

-- getting lost/being lost parallel
-- grumpy-sunshine
-- trans male rep
-- queer rep - questioning labels
-- NYC shenanigans including the Empire State Building, a queer book club scavenger hunt at the Strand, eating pizza and more

Underhill fills a very important void in the year YA genre of angsty queer kids figuring it out through their anxiety and finding first love!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: February 13, 2024

This is an adorable YA queer coming of age romcom. I read this in one day because I couldn’t put it down. This has great rep and will have you racing with these characters through NYC toward a HEA!

This Day Changes Everything is a fun, sweet story that I hope reaches many young readers, queer and straight. The only reason it wasn't a five-star read for me is there were a few plot points that I felt were unnecessary and/or forced. But the characters are well-formed and their romance is a delight.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy in advance of publication.

A very cute YA queer story perfect for fans of Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist and Ferris Buellers Day Off. Leo and Abby are their own worst enemies, and simultaneously so loveable. There’s so much adventure packed into a book that takes place within a day and a half. It’s an epic scavenger hunt, a journey of self-love and self-discovery, a front row seat to watching two teens slowly fall in love, a grand gesture, and a lovely look at the importance of being seen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I loved the author’s first book so I really was looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint. It had me at the fact it’s queer and about marching band. I enjoyed the whole cast of characters and the premise of it happening all over a day. Highly recommend!

4 stars for Edward Underhill's sophomore novel, This Day Changes Everything. This LGBTQ+ YA Comtemporary Romance novel is set in New York City featuring Abby and Leo. They are on two different marching bands that have been selected to be in the Thanksgiving Macy's Parade and while Abby believes this is going to be the best magical trip with her best friend and crush Kat, Leo wishes he wasn't here at all because his family is about to implode with his being trans about to be on national TV. But when Kat and Leo both get on the wrong train, their entire day is derailed and becomes an enemies to lovers adventure through Manhattan. Very well written but a little bit too much was thrown at the reader without being explored. Kat's last minute admission was unnecessary in my opinion - we don't need everything and the kitchen sink. I loved both Kat and Leo, and them getting to explore who they are in the big city.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC!

Leo and Abby are one the trip of a lifetime, marching with their band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. When their bands are sightseeing, both of them end up on the wrong train together. They spend the day trying to get back to their bands.

Once you get past the disbelief that two kids could run around NYC without their chaperones noticing, this is a cute book. My teenage self would have loved to see kids in marching band in a book. The story itself is sweet and wholesome.

While I’m not a fan of most insta-love stories, I did very much enjoy this one between Abby and Leo and getting to read about them fall in love over the course of a day full of adventure in New York City. After getting off on the wrong foot, or should I say wrong subway, Abby and Leo don’t seem like the best partners to travel through New York together. After that initial meeting they set their sights on a new idea and a way to hopefully repair their initial animosity, they journey through the city collecting items for Abby to woo her crush and tell her that she loves her. But over the course of the day Abby and Leo start to fall in love with each other and the magic of New York City.

Overall, this was a cute queer ya romance and I recommend!

Read if you like…
•hate to love
•queer YA romance
•nyc adventure
•insta-love

When I saw Edward Underhill was writing another YA book, I knew it was a must-read following his debut, Always the Almost. However, This Day Changes Everything didn't appeal to me as much for a few reasons. Some of those were personal: I have mixed feelings about 24-hour romances and this one just didn't do it for me, and, part of what I loved about Always the Almost was the setting in Wisconsin—while both main characters here, Abby and Leo, come from small towns, the book is really about New York, which I tend to find less interesting. But I also felt that this lacked the strong characterization that was in Always the Almost, perhaps, in part, due to the 24-hour romance nature of the plot.

That being said, I do really enjoy Underhill's writing. I think the trans representation here is so important, as well as both main characters' inner monologues (and occasional dialogue) navigating their identities and what those identities mean to them when interacting with their families, friends, and the greater world. I will definitely be reading Underhill's next book. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Abby and Leo were really great characters. I loved their frantic exploration of New York City while (somewhat) unintentionally ditching their band field trip.

The comp for this was Dash and Lily, and This Day Changes Everything absolutely has those vibes! I loved this story of two Midwest teens in New York City in order to play in their high school bands at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade who get separated from their respective schools and find a friendship (and more!) together.

This Day Changes Everything is a joyous queer romp through New York City.

This is one of those books that makes me so happy for the modern YA audience. There’s so much more representation available now and stories like this are just so full of queer and trans joy that fills your heart with all the warm and fuzzies. It feels like everything great about an 80’s high school movie but in a modern setting.

We follow two teens who happen to get separated from their respective school’s tour groups. They have to find their way back to their friends, but there’s a lot of self-actualization to do along the way. There’s unrequited love, grumpy/sunshine, and a whole bunch of fate. I really thought both MCs had great stories and were well fleshed out. These are teens that feel like teens and there was

This Day Changes Everything is a wonderful coming of age story full of wit and hope. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading!

This was so CUTE! Such an enjoyable read with a lovable cast of characters and a super fun premise. Pacing was perfect and it made me laugh a few times. Both lighthearted and emotional. Just all around a great read. I think young readers will adore it.