Perhaps in part due to the intense hype surrounding this book, and my expectations being so high, I feel I liked but did not love it. It's an interesting story, and I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the way it was told over the course of many years and many phases of life the characters go though. That being said, I did not much like Sadie or Sam. Both seemed a bit self-obsessed and reminded me a little of Sally Rooney characters (not a compliment, I'm afraid). I did really like Marx, though, as a balance between the two. Another reason why this book may not have resonated the way it did with others is that I am not, and never have been, a gamer. So the notion of getting excited about the creation of these, to me inane, games was not something I could identify with. In some ways, the games were probably a metaphor for life, but it seemed a little pretentious to me. I feel I am sounding too critical of a book I am rating three stars. I did mostly like it and despite being long, it held my attention from start to finish. I really liked Zevin's previous book, "The Storied Lif eof AJ Fikry", so maybe I am unfairly comparing the two. I think, perhaps, what was missing here was significant interior development of the characters. I felt the teenage versions thought much like the adult versions, were, in fact, perhaps less self-obsessed even. I am such a character driven reader, that it was this that may have bothered me most.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book. Unfortunately it took Book of the Month announcing this as book of the year in order for me to pick this up.

I know I'm not likely the target audience for this book. I prefer fantasy books and I almost never gravitate towards contemporary. However, seeing so many positive reviews made me want to give this book a try. And I am truly glad that I did.

The writing is beautiful. It honestly feels so well done. The characters have so much growth, and not just in the literal sense. We meet them as preteens, but follow them all the way into their thirties, and they are just so well rounded and feel so real. As readers, we experience so many of life's challenges and hardships with these characters and while they are forced to grow up, move on, fall apart, they always come back together in ways that feel real and authentic.

I also thing that the author did a wonderful job making a book about video games appeal to someone who doesn't play all that many games. I still was able to follow along and understand most of what was going on. At times, I wish there was a bit less video game talk, but I understand that it was their job, their escape from reality, and their hobby. So it's a personal problem that at times it just felt like a bit much because I truly do understand the point of it all and what the author was doing in creating these worlds inside this world. It is remarkable. Just a bit too heavy for my taste.

I think that my lower rating doesn't stem from lack of enjoyment, because I actually REALLY liked this book. I think that (again, me problem only) I let the hype and expectations for this book sway my judgement and I feel a little bit confused since I didn't turn that last page with my mind blown. I did love these characters for the most part; though at times they were so annoying, but that was the point I think. There was also A LOT of tragic things that happened in this book. Like cancer, mass shootings, death and abortion, for example, but for some reason, for as much as I loved these characters, none of these (aside from that last death) hit me in the feels. I just think that with four hundred pages, and how much depth these characters had, I SHOULD have felt more connected and cared more. I just didn't though. I wish I could give half stars because I would give 3.5 because three feels like an insult. So I will be rounding up to 4.

Video game fanatics and lovers of great writing and unique stories—I must call your attention to one of my favorite books of 2022!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is honestly a millennial’s dream come true. If you who grew up in the 90’s when Oregon Trail, Nintendo and Mario was king— you’ll fall in love with the story of two friends joining forces to create a popular video game and the journey it takes to get there.

I think what I felt the most enamored with is how the author captured such depth to these characters and their relationships. As a reader, you don’t necessarily see where each chapter eventually takes you and I think that is truly where the brilliance in the writing lies. And that ending… wow, how it all comes together just really captured my heart. And I’m telling you, there is a profound connection to everything you come across. (If I gave you an example, it would spoil it.)

Now, as a video game fanatic myself, I loved the references to Donkey Kong, Zelda, Oregon Trail, Animal Crossing, and even King’s Quest and the Sierra brand. I also loved the fictional games (hello, Solution and Mapletown) when it came to the characters’ own original creations. Like…Gabrielle… with those ideas you could definitely make some of your own games! Her creativity is just wild!

Ultimately, it’s rare I come across a book these days that completely blows me away from the first chapter, and it’s no wonder this one has made so many “best of” lists and awards. I think that if this one didn’t already receive so much love, I would be shouting from the rooftops for others to pick it up! Although, I am STILL doing that with my non-bookish friends, at least.

Overall, do me a favor and read this book. Even if the premise doesn’t sound very interesting, even if you’ve never even played video games much, I think you’ll find something in at least one character or friendship that deeply resonates with you in one way or another. As of today and months after reading this amazing book, I still think about what a magnificent story this was, and I can’t wait to read more by this brilliant author.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @aaknopf for the advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Hands down one of my favorite books of the year! This is typically a genre that I would shy away from and am not typically interested in video games, but the author did such a fantastic job with the writing and descriptions that I was absolutely hooked from the start. The complex relationships, the nuance with which this story is told, and the symbolic life lessons that are filtered throughout truly made this a remarkable book.

This book just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters and found I didn’t look forward to reading about them each time.. I don’t know anything about gaming and have never been interested in that world and in my opinion I think you need even the slightest interest in coding, gaming or gaming design.

Two childhood friends form a life-long bond over video games as their mutual experiences force them together, while simultaneously pushing them apart.

Wow. I'm done. I honestly thought that this book would go on for <i>tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...</i> A 400 page book should not feel like an absolute chore to read, but this was. While the pacing was a major issue for me from the jump, the characters were probably the biggest issue of all. Neither Sam or Sadie are particularly likable. Marx is the star of this show. I wanted a book all about Marx, from Marx's perspective, with bits of Sadie & Sam sprinkled in. <spoiler>Instead, Zevin decides to kill off the best character in her snoozy slog of a novel and leave us with our two terribly unlikable protagonists who still, years after poor Marx's extremely brutal and unfair murder, have not done much growing or changing</spoiler>. This was also my first Zevin novel so maybe this is just a habit of hers in general, but the language was just so ludicrously pretentious. I didn't realize going into this novel that this was one of those contemporary fiction wannabe literary great deals...

I think overall I'm just disappointed because this won Goodreads Choice award for 2022's best fiction...What? How? Why? Did I read a different book from the vast majority of you all? This was just a no go for me. Maybe read it for the beauty that is Marx. But I'd probably recommend just skipping over this one entirely.

DNF because the premise and characters felt both unrealistic and unlikable. Their college experience seemed far-fetched and inhibited my enjoyment of the novel.

This is one of my favorite love stories. Yet, it's not a conventional one. Rather, it's a story about soul mates that are platonic, something that is so rare and coveted. It is about art. It is about connection. It is about failure and beginning again. And it is phenomenal.

This book starts with Sam and Sadie happening to cross paths again after they had a falling out as children when they became fast friends. They both have a past and present of loving video games and Sadie is now in school as a programmer, and Sam wants them to have a future in gaming as collaborators, just the two of them against the world. What they create from their creativity and limited resources launches them into legendary status with plenty of money and success, but also with this brings them stress, sorrow, and betrayals as well the joy. This story spans 30 years as you see parts of the past and present as Sadie and Sam navigate this success and what they truly want from their lives going forward, both together and separately.

Even through the trials and tribulations of the cast of characters, Zevin does insert tenderness and warmth throughout the story and I think the ending was wonderful. To me, this is the perfect type of ending that makes you feel like you really lived a whole life with these characters that jumped to life from the page, and it becomes a bit hard to say goodbye to them. That is really the highest kind of praise I can give a book—when I just simply do not want to leave it. I loved Sam, Sadie, and Marx, and the latter really took me by surprise with how much I came to care about him. The characterization is excellent, and Zevin knows her character’s souls and it shines through the pages. Sam and Sadie made downright frustrating choices throughout their lives, albeit human ones. They all contain so much depth and complexity, and I think the book elevated to an even higher level because of the characters themselves.

Zevin created a story that packs an emotional punch. You feel pain, you feel euphoria. You get your heart broken and then feel your spirits lift again. It’s a wholly inspiring story of what it takes to maintain a lifelong friendship, especially one as creative partners, something that to Sadie and Sam is even more intimate than anyone realizes.

And the nostalgia! The video games! The descriptions of the games that Sam and Sadie make—just wow. I truly feel like I could picture it exactly in my head, and it made me wish I could play the games that they made because they sound so fun.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a triumphant and moving piece of storytelling and one that I will always think of fondly. This is a new all-time favorite. 5 stars.

Tomorrow ✖️3

You know I was not sure about “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow “simply for the fact that I detest video games. However, on the other side of the coin I kept hearing all of the raving reviews. So in the end, how could I resist right? Well, I’m glad I didn’t listen to my first mind because if I had passed on this book I would have missed out on an incredible and inspiring reading experience!

Gabrielle Zevin presents us with a lot of themes to unpack in her thought provoking novel. One that resonates the most with me is the theme of love and friendship.

Take Sam and Marx for example. Marx enters Sam’s life when Sam is just a shy and quiet college freshman. From the moment Marx meets Sam he takes him under his wing and cares for him just as he would a brother. Aside from sharing Korean heritage on their respective mother’s side, these two men are as different as two people can be. While Sam comes from a poor working class background Marx is much higher up in the socioeconomic totem pole. Marx is a gregarious social butterfly sort of fellow while Sam is a self-proclaimed misanthrope.

I’d say the obvious question is how on earth did these two vastly dissimilar people become such good friends? The short answer is their mutual love of games. During one point of the story Marx even notes the intimacy that can be built between two grown men when they’re playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Sam and Marx’s love of games lasts throughout their entire friendship. It takes on many different forms including a partnership with Sadie where they create their groundbreaking and innovative video game company Unfair Games.

While Sam and Marx have a relatively easygoing relationship the same cannot be said about Sam and Sadie’s friendship. Their friendship has spanned decades and many of those years are marked by a series of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and sometimes outright hostility. At the center of their often tumultuous relationship is their respective love of gaming, which is interesting because as previously stated gaming is what cemented Max and Sam‘s love and respect for each other.

Although I may be in the minority when I say this I really feel that many of the problems that occur between Sam and Sadie are as direct result of Sam’s actions. When it comes to the games that they create Sam tends to have tunnel vision, which is a major problem because it prevents him from truly empathizing with the emotional pain she experiences in life. Sam values the game so much that he performs the ultimate act of betrayal by encouraging Sadie to go back to Dov, her toxic former mentor/ex, so that she can gain access to his trademarked graphic engine, which Sam believes is the important missing element in Ichigo, the very first video game he and Sadie created together.

In the end Sam redeems himself in my eyes by performing the grand gesture of all grand gestures. When Sadie is at her most unreachable emotionally he proves that he is the only one who can breach her walls. Gaming is Sam’s love language and he uses it to create an immersive gaming world where he is able to communicate his feelings for Sadie. This is what finally convinces her that Sam truly does care for her and that he does find value in their friendship. Gaming, which has torn them apart for many years has finally brought them back together. By the end of this story the message is clear: as long as there is gaming there is Sadie and Sam.

“Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” is well-deserving of its many accolades and awards. It will resonate with me for many years to come. I am truly grateful to NetGalley for gifting me this incredible book in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to love this book. I didn’t rate it right away, because I kept feeling bad about my lack of love- but let’s face it, it was boring. The characters were static, nothing happened. I don’t understand. I kept waiting for it to get good. It wasn’t even that long of a book, and it felt never ending.

One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. In a blurb featured on the back, Nathan Hill calls it the Great American Gamer Novel and that’s a start to describe it. It’s expansive, it took over a part of my heart that I willingly cede to Sam and Sadie and Marx forever. A rumination on friendship, on the purpose and joy of gaming, and on the power of connection.

You almost want to stop reading so that you delay the inevitable conclusion of this masterpiece. A loving, introspective look at flawed young people. A tale of ambition, loss, redemption.

This book was not for me unfortunately. I wanted so bad to like it because everyone else has loved it. I just found myself so bored and unable to even finish.

As a huge fan of Gabrielle Zevin, I was so excited to read this newest entry and it did not disappoint. I am not a gamer, but the world of these characters completely captivated me. Totally awesome.

Unpopular opinion, but. I did not love this book. I went in with huge expectations and I was quite disappointed. There has been so much hype about this book. What I did like was the deep friendship between Sam and Sadie. I adored Marx and his devotion to gaming and to Sam and Sadie. The characters were well fleshed out. This was touted as a book where you did not need to have an interest in gaming to enjoy and appreciate the book. For me this was not true. I am not a gamer and have zero interest in gaming. The plot revolves around the friendships and that was lovely. However, the gaming jargon and a good part of the last part of the book related to a particular game and it bored me. People have this on their best of 2022 list. Sadly it will not be on mine. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion of the book

This book is not for me. I ended up not finishing up because I didn’t care for the writing style. The storyline sounded great, but I just could not read it.

Beautiful novel by Gabrielle Zevin! This isn’t a novel I’d expect to enjoy, I’ve never played video games, I’ve never had an interest in computer science either but at the heart of a novel is a young group of friends figuring life out and dealing with unimaginable headships along the way: beautifully written.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I just finished an absolutely lovely book about ….. gaming. I know absolutely nothing about the subject, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this world with its rich and interesting characters and a compelling plot.

Apparently I like books about things I know zip about. This joins the terrific hockey books by Frederick Backman and the Walter Tevis’s wonderful book about chess. Maybe this should be a new genre for me.

One of the best books of 2022. This novel will stay with me for a long time. I enjoyed the references to literature throughout the book and just how important the pieces are. As a person who does not really follow vide games, I was still able to appreciate the role video games play in this novel. Such a beautiful book.

This was the best book I have read all year. Like her earlier book, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, I was completely immersed in the story. I love the characters, they are so multi-dimensional and realistic. I voted for this on Goodreads as the best book of 2022;