A review by actualresultsmayvary
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
I am writing the body of this review before giving a star rating because I am yet to sort out my thoughts.
On the whole I really enjoyed reading this book and I enjoyed the writing style and the switching perspectives and timelines. I particularly loved the part of the book told in the second person from Marx's perspective whilst he was in a coma.
However, from about halfway through the book I found Sadie and then Sam quite unlikeable. Their justifications for huge fallings out were either based on easily resolved miscommunication (a trope which I can't bear) or on things which were ultimately just silly. They then seemed to make up (often after years of not talking) for again quite trivial reasons. I also found that there were sometimes small inconsistencies with the descriptions of events and whilst I am willing to write that off as an intentional decision to show that Sadie and Sam perceived things differently, I don't think it was well done.
I liked that Sadie's relationship with Dov felt realistic but I feel he was given too much of a redemption arc for a man who was essential a predator who abused her for years.
I think overall this is just a book that was overhyped for me personally, it was good but not brilliant.
Moderate: Murder and Emotional abuse