Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - If Tomorrow Doesn't Come

At it’s heart, this is a beautiful and poignant story of a girl struggling with depression and suicidal ideation, finding her way back to herself. Finding ways to feel the love and beauty she’s already surrounded with that she has not been able to feel for so long, accepting herself, finding how to finally live for yourself and no one else. Finding hope amidst despair, and learning how to let others in. It’s about a love story for the ages, one that feels like it might just withstand the end of the world.

I originally picked it up after having it recommended on Facebook as “a book that will rip your heart out and have you sobbing”. And while it is want nearly as devastating as i had expected and hoped, i think it will be heartbreakingly beautiful and hopeful for people who resonate with the main character more. This book is for people who feel an unending abyss of pain, one that feels like it has no beginning or end, no rhyme or reason, no way out. For the people that don’t know how to love themselves, who feel shunned by their families, their communities, and their religion. The ending was not what i expected, and while i originally felt like it wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped, i think the author did an amazing job staying true to her characters and was so thoughtful and careful about the messages she wanted to send about depression and suicide. About needing yourself just as much as you need others.

I loved every character in this book, and each story has so much to say about love, family (found and born), and happiness.

Content Warnings

lizreadsbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Mental health issues take a front seat in this apocalyptic YA/new adult novel. Big CW for suicidal thoughts, depression, and homophobia, though these themes are largely handled with care. Queer love at the end of the world with no shortage of angst.

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squiggly_cj's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The premise was compelling, as well as the web of relationships and how those changed over the character's lives. I appreciated that the author

left room in the ending rather than taking it right up to the last second.

I felt that a lot of the character developments were abrupt, and the timelines weren't as realistic or smooth as they could have been. I'm willing to chalk up at least part of that to the apocalyptic setting, but I still felt it could have been more elegant. Probably wouldn't read again, but I largely enjoyed it.

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falibat's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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adrianas65's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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saxy_lady's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was a HEAVY read, make no mistake. But I related so much to the main character it shook me to my core. Not only does this book depict a beautiful and yearning sapphic romance, but it also takes a good hard look at depression. This may be the most accurately depicted depression I have seen in quite a while. I remember sitting and reading this and thinking “I feel/felt the same way!!!”

This book is not for everyone. It triggered me a little bit, but FOR ME it was SO WORTH IT. There are resources in the back of the book for numerous agencies that help LGBT youth and those suffering with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Ultimately, you know yourself better than anyone. If reading about depression and suicidal ideation is going to be an issue. There’s no shame in skipping it. But if you can do it, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. I don’t think a book has made me feel this much in a long time.

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