A review by dhutton1997
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I will say this book was beautifully written. I typically cannot stand to read character-only books— I find them to be too slow and boring— but I truly enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to other folks who (1) prefer character development only over plot, (2) are okay with reading books with major characters that you do not like, and (3) are comfortable with reading books with major triggers. 

Now tor my grievances which include spoilers. like major spoilers.
I did not like Sam. At all. However, the beauty of Zevin’s writing is that I still sympathized and emphasized with him so I still wanted his life to be okay. Sam had gone through so much(Anne’s death, developing a major physical disability, getting an amputation, and experiencing chronic phantom pain.) I wanted him to be happy but I believe he was written to be an unlikeable character so we can sympathize with the challenges that Marx and Sadie faced with their ever-changing relationships with Sam. I think Sam’s feelings for Sadie were very confusing for me to understand. I didn’t comprehend whether it was a platonic major love or romantic. I believed it was platonic until late in the book when he said he would’ve slept with her if it wasn’t for his foot/low self-esteem. I think the book needed someone to read the book solely to follow the plot line of Sam and Sadie’s relationship for inconsistencies with how Zevin acknowledged it. explanation: I still call it a relationship because a friendship is a relationship. Due to the fact that this book was heavily marketed as a deep-dive into the longevity of a friendship stronger than love is why I rated it a 3.5. I was too hung up on that aspect to fully understand Sam’s character which made it difficult to read some portions of the book. 

Good things but still spoilers: 
I liked Sadie. I sympathized with her. She made me realize things about my own past relationships. Again, illustrating the beauty of Zevin’s writing. 

When Marx died, I was so upset and had to set down the book. It was heartbreaking to read this when you know they’re  pregnant and what Sadie thought about it.I appreciated how she handled the coma scene and felt it did true justice to the experience. It was heart-wrenching, beautifully written, and absolutely perfect.<spoiler/> Zevin’s writing was so beautiful and I can see this book being taught in English university classes. 
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