Book Review: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
- jolaineabad
- Sep 3
- 4 min read
If this were game, he could hit pause. He could restart, say different things, the right one this time. He could search his inventory for the item that would make Sadie not leave.
Rating: ★★★ (3 stars)
Genres: Adult // Contemporary, Drama, Creativity
Quick Thoughts: I thought this was a science fiction story with time travel and a cozy vibe, but it felt more like a sad and depressing read.
⚠️ Content Warning
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin contains mature and potentially triggering themes, including:
Chronic illness & disability (Sam’s chronic pain and mobility challenges)
Car accident (trauma and aftermath)
Death & grief (loss of loved ones, mourning)
Gun violence / shooting (a pivotal scene later in the book)
Suicide mention
Depression & mental health struggles
Toxic relationships / workplace conflict
Sexual content (not graphic, but present)
Infidelity (referenced in relationships)
Drug use (portrayed but not abusive)
👉 This list may not include every possible trigger. Please read with care and at your own comfort level.
🎭 Drama | 👾 Creativity | ⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆ Platonic Relationship |
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
One late December afternoon, Sam Masur, a student at Harvard University, was trying to exit the subway when he spotted his childhood friend, Sadie Green.
Sam couldn’t remember why they had stopped talking for six years, but Sadie did. Still, their shared love for video games pulled them back together.
Not long after, Sadie showed Sam a game she had created called Solution, hoping to hear his thoughts. Little did she know, it wasn’t just Sam who was intrigued. Marx Watanabe, Sam’s charismatic Harvard roommate who studied theater, also found the game fascinating.
While Sadie was still recovering from a painful breakup, Sam persisted and encouraged her to work on a new project—one that would change not only their lives and their friendship, but also leave its mark on the world of video games.
But how can a mathematics student, a computer science student, and a theater major change the world of video games—and how will this journey shape their relationship?
Initial thoughts 💬
This book is filled with amazing quotes that connect to real life and show how games can mirror it.
At first, I thought it was going to be about time travel or have science fiction vibes, based on how I understood the blurb.
I was intrigued to see how the story would unfold between the characters. But I never expected it to focus so much on video games, a platonic relationship, and the complexity of long-term friendship.
There were also some topics in this book that I think affected my overall experience, which is why I sometimes felt like I was dragging myself through the reading.
My Book Review ✎ᝰ.
If you're always aiming for perfection, you won't make anything at all.
After reading this book I had to stare at our ceiling for god knows how long because, in all honesty? I got bored and confused at the same time. Although I can’t really say shit about it because of all the amazing relatable quotes in it. Maybe it’s because the main plot—which is gaming—is not for me.
The story started with childhood friends who had very different traumas and experiences that they carried with them until they became adults, but despite those experiences, they were reunited through video games, which helped them escape the cruel reality.
Their childhood meeting is heartbreaking, and I have to admit, I often felt that Sam’s behavior—starting from when he was young—was quite toxic compared to Sadie Green. But then there’s Marx. Despite growing up in a broken home, he shines as the light and warmth between the three of them.
In all honesty, I felt bored with this book for a lot of reasons, and I felt like I was dragging myself to finish it—I almost DNF’d it. But I still pushed through, and I really can’t talk shit about it because this book does have a lot of iconic, relatable quotes.
First, Sadie got herself into a relationship with her professor, who was married, and she often came across as ungrateful for the life she had. She didn’t really complain about it, but the way her character was written made me feel that way about her.
Then there’s Sam, who always endured pain even when he could have reached out for help. That’s very relatable, especially for kids who grew up in the 90s and given his situation. But even after having a lot of money, he still chose to endure the pain. I’m not new to poverty, but when you already have so much money, you should take care of yourself. Health is wealth.
Marx, I really felt sad for him. Without him, Sam and Sadie’s game wouldn’t even be out there, but they treated him differently and even insulted him sometimes. In my opinion, they only showed genuine love for him when he died, like that’s the only time they realized he was important. And I still can’t believe Sam called him an NPC after everything he did for them.
With all that being said, I can say I envy whatever friendship they had, because this kind of friendship does happen in real life. The way the universe gives you ups and downs made me realize that maybe it’s just a way to keep our feet on the ground. Although they were very toxic, their kind of relationship isn’t something everyone gets to experience.
Overall, I can say that this book might have a lot of drama, and even though I mentioned that it’s not for me, it’s still an eye-opener for a lot of reasons. I would still recommend it, especially if you’re a gamer, because I think the only reason I didn’t enjoy it is that I’m not one. I’m a player, yes—but being a gamer is completely different.
Rating ☕︎
☕☕☕
Happy Reading!
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