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sglance9's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
notlikethebeer's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I will be honest: I'm not a fan of InstaLove. So those parts of this book didn't really do it for me. However I did really enjoy the ride around Manhattan, and the way both protagonists found themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
booknerdery's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The story is alright but I felt like the book was ‘meh’ overall. I’m glad I read it but looking forward to reading other things.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing and Transphobia
legalplanner's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Edward Underhill, you've done it again. You've gone and made me fall for your characters again.
I loved Abby and Leo so much. Not just because they are band nerds like I am, but because they were trying so hard to figure themselves out and that's such a hard thing to do. I remember trying to figure out who I was, what I liked, crushes, telling your family... it was all so hard. I also think that New York was such a magical place for this to happen because as a small midwestern city friend you always imagine going to New York, Washington D.C., or other big cities and experiencing the magic you've only read about.
The 24 hour timeline really kept things moving and made me feel for the characters more than I was prepared for. It shows just how much one day can change things for you and set your course for a new direction. I cannot wait to see what else Underhill house in store for us in future books because this was yet again another LGBTQIA+ book that does wonders for the soul.
I loved Abby and Leo so much. Not just because they are band nerds like I am, but because they were trying so hard to figure themselves out and that's such a hard thing to do. I remember trying to figure out who I was, what I liked, crushes, telling your family... it was all so hard. I also think that New York was such a magical place for this to happen because as a small midwestern city friend you always imagine going to New York, Washington D.C., or other big cities and experiencing the magic you've only read about.
The 24 hour timeline really kept things moving and made me feel for the characters more than I was prepared for. It shows just how much one day can change things for you and set your course for a new direction. I cannot wait to see what else Underhill house in store for us in future books because this was yet again another LGBTQIA+ book that does wonders for the soul.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
paiges_on_pages's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Outing
Minor: Vomit and Deadnaming
theoceanrose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
bookboxbabe's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
*thank you netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review*
okay wow i actually really liked this
i was weary going in when i realized this was insta-love and set over only a day, but i fell deeply in love with these characters and their relationships to each other
not only are the friendships healthy and solid (i’m looking at you evan), but the relationship between leo and abby felt genuine and developed in a way that felt natural. seeing them fumbling and being awkward teens was so refreshing in a sea of ya novels that feel a little too grown up
this book is also dripping in representation and is the kind of book i would have loved when i was still a teen finding myself. the way these characters navigated who they were really tugged on my heart strings. and it showed that it’s not a simple yes or no answer, especially at the beginning of one’s journey
also, as a former band kid, i loved the marching band aspect. it made me miss the days of suiting up and performing.
okay wow i actually really liked this
i was weary going in when i realized this was insta-love and set over only a day, but i fell deeply in love with these characters and their relationships to each other
not only are the friendships healthy and solid (i’m looking at you evan), but the relationship between leo and abby felt genuine and developed in a way that felt natural. seeing them fumbling and being awkward teens was so refreshing in a sea of ya novels that feel a little too grown up
this book is also dripping in representation and is the kind of book i would have loved when i was still a teen finding myself. the way these characters navigated who they were really tugged on my heart strings. and it showed that it’s not a simple yes or no answer, especially at the beginning of one’s journey
also, as a former band kid, i loved the marching band aspect. it made me miss the days of suiting up and performing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria, Outing, and Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia and Deadnaming
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free copy of this book.
- THIS DAY CHANGES EVERYTHING is basically "eeee so cute!" in book form. I loved everything about it, from the queerness to the band nerdery to the running around NYC landmarks hoping for magic. It's beautiful queer joy wrapped in a book.
- I love that Abby and Leo are allowed to be grumpy and touchy, that they can feel both joy and frustration.
- It's also great to see a YA novel where the queer characters are still figuring themselves out: trying to find the right label, or decide that labels might not even be necessary at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Deadnaming and Vomit
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Both Abby and Leo’s bands have been chosen to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. However, where Abby is excited about the opportunity, Leo isn’t as much. For Abby, New York is her chance to tell her best friend she’s in love with her with a huge romantic gesture–an annotated copy of their favorite book. She has it all planned out. On the other hand, Leo is afraid of getting outed as trans to his entire extended family and just wants the day to be over.
After they both get on the wrong train, Leo causes Abby to lose her book. Separated from their bands, they decide to spend the day in New York getting Abby souvenirs to give her best friend instead. But the more they spend time together, the more they realize that maybe there’s a spark.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill to review! Underhill’s debut, Always the Almost, was such a great read, so I was excited to pick this one up.
Let me start by saying: why didn’t this come out in November? I can think of very few YA books set around Thanksgiving, and I think a November release date makes so much more sense. I get that it’s a romance, so that’s probably why it’s coming out in February, but still. It would have made such a great November book!
Anyway, the characters in this are so well-rounded and realistic. Both of them come from smallish towns, trying to figure out how to best live their queer identities where they don’t know a lot of queer people. For Abby especially, getting to be in New York and see the possibilities gave her the confidence to come out to her friends. On the flipside, Leo is out, but has a lot of anxiety around his extended family seeing him and accepting him. They both work well as narrators, and Underhill creates distinct voices for both of them.
This book is being pitched as Ferris Bueller meets Dash and Lily, and honestly, what a great description. You get a bunch of fun adventures roaming around New York city, all the while you can tell that Abby and Leo are growing feelings for each other. It’s such a fun, lighthearted story, with a supporting cast that is there for their friends, no matter what.
With this and his debut, I think Underhill is carving out his place in the YA queer romance genre. I can’t wait to see what else he does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Deadnaming
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for inviting me to review a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
After a series of events involving wrong subway cars and a lost romance novel, Abby and Leo end up wandering the streets of Manhattan getting souvenirs for Abby’s Epic Scene for her best friend (and secret crush) Kat. While the two are quite opposites: Leo, a skeptic and is bracing for the impact of his extended family finding out he’s trans on live TV, and Abby, a hopeless romantic who feels that she can get her own rom-com moment, learn more about taking chances in life and love over the course of a whirlwind day in the heart of New York City.
As a fan of Underhill’s debut novel, Always the Almost, I was excited to be invited to review his second novel, This Day Changes Everything. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this book, the concept in itself seemed interesting. However, I read books in the past that had a similar concept to This Day Changes Everything and wasn’t really impressed with them.
Nevertheless, I believe that Underhill has done it again with creating another swoonworthy, queer rom-com in This Day Changes Everything.
For a book that unfolds itself over the course of three days and all of the main action on a single day, Underhill does a great job with pacing out the plot in This Day Changes Everything . I felt that it never got too hectic and it was just the right amount of pacing where you can follow along with the characters without feeling too lost or feeling like everything is moving at a snail's pace.
Though, it did take a while for me to form a connection with the two MCs, Abby and Leo, compared to Underhill’s previous work. Since you only get a brief snapshot of their background, almost all that you get to know of Abby and Leo comes from their time together in New York. While this may be off-putting to some readers, I think the investment of seeing Abby and Leo’s strong character development and growing connection is worth it. Amidst Underhill’s beautiful writing, you get to feel the rush of falling in love and finding a sense of belonging in just a single day, which I feel Underhill does a great job of capturing in this book.
That being said, if you’re looking for a YA queer rom-com that features grumpy x sunshine, has bookworm undertones, and/or chance encounters set in New York City, you might enjoy reading This Day Changes Everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia