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

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Three undergraduate friends get together in 1990s Cambridge, Massachusetts to build a video game. Ultimately, their game, Ichigo, will change the rest of their lives. Essentially, this is A Little Life: Video Games Edition. While the synopsis may seem light hearted, almost every trigger warning imaginable applies to this book.

I LOVED the main characters in this novel. The pages turned themselves. I absolutely could not put this book down. I loved following Sadie, Sam & Marx’s game building adventures. I also enjoyed the side plots (secret highways, Anna Lee). The changes in POV throughout the different chapters were fascinating. I especially loved seeing the dynamic of the three main characters through the eyes of a nurse (p.119-120). The chapter from the point of view of a video game character was a delight as well.

My issues with this novel came after the 248 page mark. The story seemed to divert from its original intention (focusing on friendship & video game building). The “Mariages” addition to Mapletown really felt like a plot line that was just shoehorned into this novel so that the author could justify killing off one of her characters. It did not feel believable.

I was also disappointed in Sadie & Marx’s relationship. As much as it had been teased throughout the story, when they finally got together, I felt underwhelmed. Their relationship didn’t feel overly romantic? Or sexual even? The most interesting thing they did together as a couple was buy a house…

It was also jarring to see Dov get a redemption arc towards the end of this novel?!? Especially considering the abuse he put the female main character through, without ever meaningfully apologizing for his actions or becoming a better person.


Overall, I adored this book and the richly drawn characters that Zevin created (except Dov). However, the last 150 pages did negatively impact my enjoyment of this novel. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings