My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

This book completely took me by surprise. I loved it! It is a contemporary fiction (and coming of age) about Sadie and Sam/Mazer, who met as children playing video games, had a falling out, and reconnected again at Harvard. They build video games, and over decades grow up together and deal with issues that strengthen and often fracture their friendship at the same time. They become famous as game creators and with wealth, they have a new slew of problems and attention. They are friends that have a deeper love than that of romance, but as collaborative creators - which to them is a much stronger love.

I really loved this even though I am not really a gamer. The back and forth between timelines was easy to understand but so masterfully woven by Zevin that it kept my interest throughout the story. This story gave me all the feels - I was near crying, smiling, and in the end, enchanted.

Thank you to Knopf books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Probably in my top 5 favorite books of 2022! This is an untraditional love story in that it describes an epic love between imperfect and platonic life-long friends. I didn’t want this one to end and loved the use of video games (playing and creating) being what brought and kept these friends together.

I was really excited for the book but after reading it I just could not get into it. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone with this one as I typically don't read books in this genre but I read good things about this novel so I decided to give it a try. The relationship between the two main characters great to see overtime and watch it grow with ups and downs ( Sadie and Sam ) It was written very well but personally I did not love it and i struggled to get though it. Gaming for me just is not my thing although I did enjoy the Mario and Oregon trail references this book just did not do it for me, I expected more. I do want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this novel.

This sweeping novel immerses readers in the friendship and creative partnership of two brilliant game developers, Sadie and Sam. Tx3 orbits around the 30-year relationship between these characters, with all the complex interdependence, misunderstandings, and growth that make up lifelong friendships. Tx3 is an ambitious and impressive work, illustrating the rippling impacts of these characters' multilayered identities (race, gender, ability) and life experiences (privilege, trauma).

And yes, this book is for everyone⁠—gamer or not⁠—but as someone who does play once in a while Tx3 was a delightful look into the magic that goes into game development! Watching Unfair Games grow reminded me of moments that took my breath away... that final scene in The Last of Us, stunning graphics in God of War, and getting that rare paintbrush in Neopets.

I do think the hype got to me just the tiniest bit on this one, because I did want a bit more from the conclusion. (Also, we get it Zevin, you own a thesaurus.) However, Tx3 is one that I would widely recommend and it's sure to be a new favorite for many readers!

I wasn’t sure, in the beginning, if I would like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. The title appealed to me, for sure, because it just sounds cool.

This wasn’t exactly what I got from the story, but I will admit it was still a really good story. Two people do start creating video games together, but the romance was just never really there.

Content warning: mentions of physical injury, depression, and murder.

I had mixed feelings about the book, because I felt like Sam had to push Sadie into doing the game, and while she seemed like she wanted to, most of the work fell to her.

I also ran into a couple issues with wording, because the author used one word in particular, Phenomenological, that I’ve never heard before.

I’m not a dummy, but I ran into this same issue several times throughout the book, and I hope that’s because it was the uncorrected proof, and that hopefully the author’s editors told her to quit using 50-billion-dollar words.

I had to ask a friend on Twitter what the word meant, and I’m still not sure I understand it, much less know why it was used in that place in the story.

I did find the book hard to put down. The descriptions of how they built the various video games throughout the book was super interesting. And the dynamic between Sam and Sadie, while frustrating and dysfunctional, was well-done enough to keep me invested.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is not action driven. It’s very much the dynamic between the characters that keeps the story flowing, and keeps the reader invested in the story.

While the language wasn’t always understandable, the story was relatable, because we’ve probably all had that friend that we’re friends with because it’s been so long, and even though it doesn’t really work anymore, it just keeps going.

I feel like that was the way it was with Sam and Sadie.

Sam was in love with Sadie, but never admitted it to anyone, even himself, so kept pushing her to do things with him, and she kept pushing back and asserting boundaries. So, while the story was good, I did feel like at some point enough was enough.

This might have been intentional on the author’s part. If so, well done! It worked!

My favorite character was Marx.

He and Sam were roommates in college, and Marx just kind of took Sam under his wing and protected him. This probably wasn’t the most healthy of relationships, but Marx just seemed like the kind of person who would do that. Maybe he’s an Enneagram 2, who knows?

Marx was wealthy, but never acted like it. He never acted like he was doing things for Sam out of anything but the goodness of his heart. I loved that about him. He truly took care of those around him, and made them feel loved, secure, and safe.

I do recommend Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, especially if you love either of these two things: character-driven stories, or video games.

The discussions around building the various games throughout the book was super interesting and made me kind of want to learn how to code them.

Not enough to actually DO it, because while I love learning new things, it seems like it would be a lot. I did really enjoy that part, though.

This book is getting so much hype and for good reason! It's the story of a complicated friendship that spans decades and evolves and changes so much as time goes on. Sam and Sadie meet as children in a hospital when Sam is recovering from an accident and Sadie is visiting her sister. They bond over their mutual love of video games and create a friendship that changes the course of their lives. As with every relationship, they have their ups and downs, and in this case there are whole years during which they do not speak. Their love of video games constantly draws them together as they spend time developing and producing successful video games that become their careers.

Individually, Sam and Sadie are such complex characters. They are definitely not perfect people and they have flaws, which just makes them both all the more relatable. Sam deals with immense chronic pain, but doesn't want the people around him to worry. Sadie deals with self doubt and toxic relationships. Both deal with the highs and lows of their careers. Each individual experience makes them both such compelling characters. While the story is about Sam and Sadie, there are a few ensemble characters that leave an impression. Most importantly Marx, their friend and third business partner in their company. He's there with Sam and Sadie from the earliest phases of video game development and I felt that he was a really grounding source for the two of them throughout the book.

This is a long book and it is definitely a slower read. I know I've said this before, but a lot of times books that have a slower pace don't always work for me. This one definitely did! While this book took me a long time to read, I was very immersed in the story throughout. I thought it was incredibly well written and a thought provoking book. Each character is developed so well and I really felt like I got to know about their backstories and their motivations and ambitions. I was invested in Sadie and Sam the entire time. I like some of the stylistic choices made, especially some of the chapters and interludes that switched to the second person. I felt like these changes made the book more readable throughout.

This book is very much about the characters but it is also about video games. I've never been much of a video game person and I will admit that some of the references went straight over my head. However, I don't think that took away from my reading experience. I was just as invested in the story. I do think that if you're a fan of video games, you will enjoy the nostalgia throughout the book. You don't need to be a fan of video games to love this book! I would highly recommend this one to fans of character driven novels and fans of slower paced, immersive books!

I loved Young Jane Young and The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, so I have been excited for her next book. I am very much NOT a video game fan though, so I wasn’t sure about this one. I thought I might just read the ARC or listen to audio and then I saw this copy with the blue edges and I realized the cover was based on the painting The Wave - and so I ordered this one from Waterstones.

And now, I am so glad. Reading it was such a joy (I enjoyed every moment of the pretty blue page edges) and the book was so much more than video games. The focus of the book centered on Sam (who is half Jewish/half Korean like the author) with a destroyed foot (background of which is told later in the book), and his college roommate and a girl, who visited him in the hospital and who shared a love of video games. Sam runs into Sadie by chance by his campus at Harvard. She is at MIT and created a video game in a course that she shares with him. After playing the game, he decides they were destined to make video games together.

I loved these friendships so much, and the ride they had together. I loved glimpses here and there that let you know a little of what was coming. Even though I am not a gamer, I do have a degree in computer science, so I enjoyed the background of their work. I also have a background in art and loved the references to Japanese artists and musicians. I could see how their own coming of age was similar to the coming of age of technology/gaming.

I also enjoyed her chat with the B&N bookclub. Some of my favorite take-always were about health being a great equalizer / how it rises above class. And also -
You can’t guarantee what kind of love you will have in life / or which love will be the most important - that of colleagues and friends were both like family.

I think this one will stay with me for a long time - one of my favorites of the year.

I've given this as a gift to the adults I know. LOVE IT!
For readers of Ready Player One, or who enjoyed watching the show Halt and Catch Fire.

“Every time I run into you for the rest of our lives, I’ll ask you to make a game with me.”

What I liked:
- A love between friends that is deeper than that between lovers, despite the ebbs and flows of their relationship.
- Characters are multifaceted, lovable, flawed, and frustrating in a realistic way
- Includes thoughtful inclusion of topics on identity, disability, depression, sexism, racism

What Didn’t work for me:
- Character-driven book rather than plot driven, but the characters didn’t grow much over the course of the book. I was invested in the characters, but ended up being disappointed by not getting more from them by the end of the book.
- The chapter that is a video game world took me out of my reading flow, but it was creative.
- The timeline jumping around
- Felt like a really long book even though it’s not THAT long (416 pgs); not a quick read for me

——-
Thank you to @netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story of a lifelong love - even if it doesn't turn out the way you think. Sadie and Sam become friends when they are young, but have a bumpy road ahead of them. Conflicts and misunderstandings abound, but eventually they decide to design a video game together. It becomes a hit, and launches them into a whole new world of game development. They meet friends and lovers along the way, and their friendship continues to be bumpy. I had a hard time relating to either one of our main characters, and it lacked some of the emotional resonance that I remember from AJ Fikry. Nonetheless, it's a wonderful coming of age story, sure to resonate with anyone nostalgic for pre-internet gaming.

I ended up dnfing this one but might revisit it later. I’m not sure if it’s the story or just my mood but it didn’t grab my interest.

I like the concept of the book and the general theme. I have issues with the pacing of the book. I was generally coasting along the book but didn't feel like the plot was strong until the last third of the book. I was in a constant state of waiting for the book to have a strong plot action point.

The characters are interesting. I both like and dislike them at the same time. Disliking Sadie more than Sam. It makes them more realistic as humans but it bothers me how much slack she gets and how favorable the author seems towards Sadie.

The end left me wanting more. I enjoyed the journey but wouldn't recommend or read this book again.

Sam sees Sadie in a crowded subway station in Boston, after years apart. Sadie and Sam first met when they were very young, as pre-teens. Sadie's sister is in the hospital for treatment, and Sam is there due to a car crash and the subsequent injuries. They bond over video games, but when it comes to light that Sadie was logging service hours while visiting Sam, he feels a betrayal of her friendship.
However, when they meet again, Sadie asks Sam to review a game she has created. In doing so, Sam and Sadie are brought back together. Their collaboration along with Sam's roommate and guidance from Sadie's teacher/married lover, jolts them into stardom. They become extremely successful, but with success comes tragedy.
Sam and Sadie love each other, but never become romantically involved. Rather, this story tells a tale of ups and downs that life takes and it is a journey of missteps, as well as ambition, heartache, and forgiveness.
A cleverly written story in the world of video games which will appeal to those who are gamers, especially.
Heartbreaking at times, and at other times, hopeful - it is an epic story.

I saw a girl walk out of a bookstore with this title under her arm, like she had been waiting to buy it and now it was finally hers. I'm glad I gave it a chance! I love a sprawling novel that tracks a relationship over time. It's reassuring that a modern novel like this can still be good.

Much like the title, this book is incredibly repetitive. It’s also very full of gamer-speak and with little translation (or maybe it was there and I missed it or forgot) and as someone who does not speak gamer I found this to be annoying.

Maybe it’s because I couldn’t understand much of it, maybe it’s because it’s super repetitive or maybe this just isn’t for me but I found this to be boring and I do not understand the hype at all. But to each their own.

I loved reading this book! The writing was so fabulous that I read certain parts over again. While reading it I was reminded of the book, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. The friendship of Sam and Sadie and then later with the addition of Marx, gave me such a good feeling. I wanted the happy ending for them all. The fact that the story revolved around their lives in the gaming world made it such a welcome story. If you're a gamer, then you know. I would love to live in the world of Dr. Daedulus and Ms. Marks. That was true happiness for a time. I will keep tgis book and reread it like an old friend.

This is a tender and sometimes heartbreaking novel about the friendships you can’t escape and the relationships that define you. It so exactly captures the insecurity of growing up and the uncertainty of who you are. The characters are somewhat one-dimensional but at the same time intricate within themselves. The relationships the characters have with each other, within and without the games, are the most realistic and relatable parts of this novel.

I couldn't get into this even though I tried a few times. I have heard really good things, I just don't think it's my kind of book.

There is so much to love about Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This book spans a friendship that's so much more between Sam and Sadie who meet at a hospital as children and reunite as college students. They're both avid gamers and highly intelligent and eventually create games together. What happens during their relationship tests their friendship and also makes it more solid.

I read Zevin's previous hit book, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, with my book club, so I thought I may enjoy this one, but you never know. Right away, the way the story is written, the nuanced and original characters, and the surprising twists and turns never get old. I felt fully invested in all the characters--even the supporting ones and felt their pain, their joy, and empathized with them all.

While the book does focus on two gamers, people who do not particularly like video games will not feel left out. It's really not about gaming or designing games although you'll find a lot of the book deals with those pursuits, but it's only a part of the book. And it is easily digested because the story itself is so good. Seriously, this book could have been about any other industry--firefighting, cooking, whatever--and anyone could enjoy it.

I will say being married to a gamer, raising a gamer, and dabbling in games myself did resonate when I read the book. But that only increased my enjoyment. So, it's perfect for people who do love video games of any kind.

As I read this, I thought, why am I not binging on Zevin's other books? These two books that I've read of hers were amazing. It's no surprise that both are being made into movies because the books are both so engaging. And I was even more excited that Kunal Nayyar from The Big Bang Theory is playing A.J. Fikry in the movie, which I believe is coming out soon.

Loved this book and hope to get my hands on the rest of her books. Zevin is an excellent writer who will probably offer even more exciting and appealing books and characters in the future.

“What is a game?’ Marx said. ‘It’s tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It’s the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.” (pg. 336)

Sensational. A true masterpiece, and absolutely one of my favorites of the year!

A coming-of-age character-driven book two people creating video games, but it’s so much more than that. It delves into the complexities of relationships, friendships, family, identity, disability, and love.

It had all the nostalgia paired with the coziest, immersive, and creative writing. Melancholy and complex, simple yet engrossing, a story about connection and feeling connected to one another with flawed and redeemable characters, there was just so much about this story I loved. I simultaneously wanted to savor and devour this book. This is a story that I know will stay with me for a long time.

A brilliant story about two people who love video games and each other.

⚠️ It should be noted that there are many trigger warnings for this one!