A review by dogoodwithbooks
This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill

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. 
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