Member Reviews
This is a story about time. Barrett Bloom had a rough time in high school, and is looking forward to a fresh start in college. But her hopes are dashed from the very first day of her freshman year, September 21, when she learns that her roommate is her high school nemesis, she is embarrassed in her first class (a physics class she did not even want to take), she messes up her interview for the school newspaper, she accidentally set a frat on fire, and is locked out of her room and is forced to sleep on the couch in the common room.
The next morning, she wakes up back in her bed -- and realizes that she is reliving her first day of college again. She soon discovers that she is stuck in the time loop with Miles, the fellow student who embarrassed her in the physics class, and that he has been in the time loop for months. After Barrett's efforts to escape the time loop on her own fail, she reluctantly agrees to team up with Miles to try to find a way out. As they spend more time together and take increasingly outlandish adventures, and realize their differences are highly complementary, they begin to fall for each other -- and wonder what will happen to their budding relationship if they ever get to September 22.
I loved this book. I am a huge fan of the author's work, especially her book Today Tonight Tomorrow, so I was very excited to read her latest -- and it really delivered. I enjoy a time loop story, and this is one of the best ones I've read in a long while. The challenge of time loop stories can be twofold -- how to keep it interesting when a day keeps repeating and how to resolve the time loop itself. In both respects, this novel succeeds. Separate from the time loop device, Barrett and Miles are each such compelling characters, and it was a delight to go on their journey from near enemies to much more as they learned more about each other, their families, and the ways that past experiences inform how they approach college and relationships. I really appreciated how their mutual Judaism was incorporated into the story and the role it played in their growing connection. I was particularly impressed by the discussion between Barrett and Miles about his identities where he shared "I'm not half Japanese, half Jewish. I'm both—Japanese and Jewish." This struck me as a particularly insightful exploration of the multiple identities many people have..
Very strongly recommended!
Oh my god, Rachel Lynn Solomon can write the PANTS off a good enemies-to-lovers YA. We already knew this. But I did NOT know she could also write an enemies-to-lovers YA story about two characters stuck in a time loop that would keep me on the edge of my seat. And damn, she really did!!!!
The story follows our girl, Barrett Bloom, who hopes freshman year will be a fresh start for her. She’s ready to move on from past traumas. The universe is like, “you wanna bet?” And on her second first day of classes, she gets stuck in an Groundhogs Day-type time loop. Unfortunately, she’s stuck with the jerk, Miles, from her Physics class who embarrassed her in class on her (first) first day. While Barrett and Miles search endlessly for a way out, their disdain for each other slowly forms into respect and friendship and eventually, OF COURSE, some good old fashioned ✨romance✨
It’s important to note that I am not a sci-fi girlie. I am uninterested in time travel. If anything it can make me anxious??? (Don’t get me started on all the parallel lives I could be living right now but am not.) And yet, I loved this book. It was so accessible. It was incredibly engaging. There were MANY moments I was gasping out loud, yelling at the characters, and damn near throwing my phone across the room. It’s the kind of book where you sort of HAVE TO have a visceral reaction.
If you’re interested at all in boys who like period dramas, time loop movies like Palm Springs, two secluded people finding their greatest comfort in being together, those ridiculous freshman seminars you’re forced to take, or female leads who realize that most of the time moving forward means dealing with past emotions, this is the book for you!!!!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
I love this book. This might be my first five star rating in months. It’s Groundhog Day meets When We First Met. Enemies to lovers troupe, coming of age, and just overall sweet. The pacing is good, fun, humorous, and the characters lovable especially Miles. There were also high school trauma and addiction.
As Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory stated ‘The physics is theoretical but the fun is real.’ Yes, there’s a lot of references to physics from time travel to quantum mechanics but you don’t need to be a scientist to understand the premise of the book. What I can totally relate is references to Pride and Prejudice, which movie adaption is best, and the hand flex.
This is my first book from Rachel Lynn Solomon @rlynn_solomon and probably not my last. I received this ARC from @netgalley and @simonandschuster for an honest review.
ehh..
everytime i read a rachel lynn solomon book, its just okay. something about it was so forgettable, sorry to say. it didn't seem original, and this was a personal preference: i am just so sick of the time loop trope, especially when it isn't done well.
3.5/5 stars overall.
I had pretty big expectations going into this read. Barrett was a fun main character to follow and her quips had me laughing. A character who relies on jokes to hide the darker sides of themselves is always an interesting point of view to have. It also leads to lots of character development! Which I think was a huge part of this book; change and how time affects a person.
It felt long sometimes, topics were repeated and I felt like it could've been shorter. The romance was so satisfying and seeing them get closer with each 'day' had me kicking my legs in the air. Miles was honestly my favorite character; his nerdiness did it for me. Me and Barrett were crushing on him together for most of the book, LOL! I also really appreciated the touches on body/beauty standards and how Barrett continued to grow in viewing herself. It's something I wish was talked about more and makes it feel a lot more inclusive to readers.
I liked the reveals, it kept the plot moving. I like how much it leaned into the running in circles of being stuck in a time loop. This author has an engaging writing style, making you feel close to the main character.
If the pace was just a smidge faster, it would've been a favorite.
I do recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!
3.5
This is the first of Solomon's YA novels I've read and it didn't disappoint. The Groundhog Day-style time loop situation isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it proves entertaining with two likable protagonists in Barrett and Miles (I'm not sure I really understood the explanation of what was happening to them, but that's never really my priority in this kind of story).
A small pet peeve of mine in YA: Barrett and Miles are reliving their first day of college and Barrett plans to be a journalism major, but keeps referring to herself as a journalist. YA loves to act like teenagers are very skilled at something like this when really they're just... 18-year-olds (I teach these people, so I think it's fair to say). This is really neither here nor there, just a thing I think when I read YA and roll my eyes a little.
Anyway, I've added all of Solomon's backlist titles that I haven't read to my Libby app and look forward to getting to them when I get the chance! This was a fun one.
Barrett and Miles are college freshman whose first day involves navigating not only the typical challenges - dorm roommates, finding classes, settling into campus social life - but also the atypical - they get stuck in a time loop that has them reliving that first day over, and over, and over again.
Barrett is a curvy Jewish gal who lacks a filter, was raised by a young single mom, appreciates aughts pop culture, and understands Toxic is Britney Spears best song.
Miles is a bit of an adorable Jewish-Japanese nerd, an introverted child of academics, whose laptop sticker proudly declares PHYSICS MATTERS.
While in the time loop they live it up - puppies! and ice cream! giant ball pit! and Disneyland! - they research ways to try to break the loop, they make mistakes, they grow separately and together after a rocky introduction. The relationship arc of Miles and Barrett is very slow, my one criticism of this story is the pacing. I felt as though we spend a lot of time on the Groundhog Day type structure and I wanted more relationship development.
As with any other Rachel Lynn Solomon books you can expect great dialog, a satisfying range of casual diversity, including that of Jewish culture, of course, and a world populated by imperfectly loveable characters. See You Yesterday gave me plenty of Today Tonight Tomorrow vibes. Though I think T3 is ultimately a superior read Yesterday is a delightful treat of a story.
Rachel Lynn Solomon could write an instruction manual for putting together a computer and I would devour it. And this was no exception. Many of you know, I am NOT a sci-fi person, but there's something about a time loop that just gets me. I find the concept so interesting and when done well, amazingly fun. Well, this was a fun one!
Rachel knows how to write a protagonist that I absolutely love. You really get to know them; Barrett's interior life is rich. Plus: the Jewish representation. Honestly, that is WHY I read Rachel's books because she has nuanced and outwardly Jewish characters. As I've gotten older, I've realized that's why I was so drawn to certain authors like Judy Blume, because their characters are authentically and proudly Jewish. I honestly think Rachel could be this generation's Judy Blume; I would've been OBSESSED with her as a teen.
My only critique is that this book was a bit long; it felt like I was reading it a lot longer than I expected. But honestly, I can never get enough of Rachel's books, so that's not even a negative.
•••
Thank you Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Another 5 star reviews for Rachel Lynn Solomon coming your way...
There is nothing this woman cannot write. I am admittedly not the biggest YA fan, and yet here I am, unable to stop thinking about Barrett & Miles!!!
When I found out that this book was going to be a play on Groundhog Day I was immediately intrigued... but also a bit skeptical. I never liked those types of movies, where the same day is replayed over and over... so I knew that for this to keep my attention, it was going to have to be different.
BOY. WAS. IT. DIFFERENT. Rachel includes so many thoughtful reps in this book- from Judaism, to body image, to mental health, to bullying... and beyond. She touches upon so many important topics in such a thoughtful and intentional way.
And the romance??! Bye. I wasn't expecting to feel so emo over a YA love story but here I am!! This one was so good. I can't wait for everyone else to read it!
I was worried that because this is a Groundhog Day type of plot line that the writing and storytelling would get monotonous, but luckily it didn't! The first few chapters were a little similar but that was clearly done to set up the narrative and the main details of September 21st for Barrett. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect to the story and found myself most intrigued by that plot line.
It was also great to see how Barrett and Miles grew as the story went on. I enjoyed their dynamic a lot, and how they helped each other grow. I definitely appreciated the fun pop culture references --- sometimes authors can go overboard with those, but to me, these references felt like part of Barrett's character , not just the author dropping a bunch of random pop culture references, especially since most of them were from the 90's and 2000's, it didn't feel as "look at how cool I am and how I know all about current trends!" as some other books. Shoutout to RLS for mentioning two of my favorite shows of all time, Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, as I tend to do with the majority of Rachel Lynn Solomon's works!
I received a complimentary copy of See You Yesterday from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I absolutely loved this book! My only complaint is that there was not more of it. Truly. The plight of college newspaper hopeful, Barrett Bloom, and future physicist, Miles Kasher-Okamoto, both firmly stuck on the same first day of college classes for over a month was phenomenal. The ideas they came up with (testing many of them), plans that they made, and opportunities they had were so much fun to read—I almost wished I was stuck there with them! The love/hate relationship that developed was intense and riveting. I really had a difficult time putting this one down. Thank you for a great read!
I love the Jewish representation in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books! In this one, Barrett and Miles are both Jewish and Miles is also half Japanese American. There is also LGBTQ rep in the book. When Barrett has a pretty awful first day on her new college campus, including her high school nemesis arriving as her roommate, a botched newspaper staff interview, and a fiery end to a frat party, she is pretty confused when she wakes up on that same first day – September 21 – again. When she discovers that Miles is caught in the same Groundhog Day-esque time loop and he has been living this same day over and over for awhile now, they decide to team up to try to find a way out. As they spend time together, Barrett opens up about the high school bullying she went through, Miles shares some family issues, and they begin to fall for each other. This is likely my favorite Groundhog Day inspired book yet. I loved Barrett and I loved the fun things she and Miles did together – especially when they adopted lots of dogs to play with! The college setting was fun and the story (and cover) gave me Today Tonight Tomorrow vibes. I recommend grabbing this one as soon as you can!
Rachel Lynn Solomon added a pleasant twist to a Groundhog Day style book. Barrett is stuck repeating her first day of college over and over again. Along the way, she found out that one of her classmates, Miles, is in the same predicament. It’s a quirky read (in a good way) and I can’t wait to add this to my class library for my students to enjoy.
I'll be honest that when I saw that this had a time travel situation in it, I was skeptical. I love RLS's books for the characters: how funny and sweet they are, and all of the hijinx they have to get themselves out of. I didn't know if I wanted or needed a whole complicated plot. Never fear! This plot adds to these adorable characters. Miles is so lovable and nerdy. RLS does a fantastic job of creating vulnerable male characters. It took me a little while to warm up to Barrett because she's so disastrous and caustic at times, but once I learned more about her history, I had a lot of compassion for why she walks around with so much armor. There's an important storyline here about dealing with trauma and bullying, and I appreciated the way Barrett slowly starts to share her story, and work to process it healthily. The romance is also sweet, and the time travel added some nice suspense to the traditional romantic plot. I ended up adoring this book.
I was already a huge fan of Solomon before I read this book, but WOW!!! I’ve seen the time looping trope in so many movies, but in this book it hits so different (and in the best possible way.) Barrett and Miles are so dorky and so adorable and I just want to wrap them both up in the biggest hug ever. The story was absolutely lovely, and I totally wish I haven’t read it yet just so that I could read it again for the first time. Definitely add this to your TBR, but prioritize it! Solomon won’t let you down!
*Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing me with this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!*
Sum it up:
It’s the first day of college for Barrett Bloom, and it’s not going well. Not only has she made several disastrous mistakes, but she’s also managed to let one of her wildest dreams of working for the Washingtonian slip through her fingers. When Barrett wakes up, determined to start again, her wish becomes reality as she’s been transported back in time to start the day over, and over, and over again…
Why it stands out:
Though this was categorized under “romance,” this story feels like something so much more dynamic with the way Solomon develops the plot, characters and relationships. Solomon creates a charming and likable slow-burn set against the backdrop of essential moments for folks transitioning from their teens to their twenties. Barrett is not only independent and capable, but she’s also vulnerable, soft, and a romantic heroine with a real, human body. I really enjoyed the time and care that was taken in developing the relationship between Barrett and Miles. The depth of their connection made their romantic encounters more than just “believable,” to the point that I sped through the last 50 pages rooting for their romantic resolution. I hold a special place in my heart for these two now and always!
Who should read it:
Fans of 10 Things I Hate About You, The Dust Factory, Groundhog Day, She’s All That , the Breakfast Club and/or any other story where the main character is trapped in a time loop and charged with fulfilling deep personal growth .
Favorite quotes or scenes:
“Jesus, I want to wrap this boy in cellophane and then wrap that in a blanket so he never has to get his heart broken ever again.”
“This is something different, something new and delicate and terrifying.”
“With Miles, I want the lights on.”
rachel lynn solomon has done it again everyone say thank you rachel
read for
- groundhog day time loop (ft. physics! explained in layman's terms)
- enemies to lovers ft. forced proximity
- slow burn
- lovable, complex characters you can't help but root for
- wholesome while still not shying away from serious topics
- getting caught in the rain
- he bandages a wound for her........thank me later
- they accidentally gave us the honeymoon suite
this book was so fun. it's barrett, a college freshman hoping for a new start in college, getting caught in a time loop, repeating september 21 over and over and over again. but then she discovers that the annoying guy from her physics class, miles, has been stuck in the same time loop too
barrett is such a fave. she's strong, she's firey, she's ambitious, just an amazing main character. and miles is sweet, nerdy, and i want nothing more than to give them both a hug. they're everything, you want nothing more for them to find happiness (and to escape september 21).
the romance <3 i loved it so much. barrett and miles make me feel so warm & fuzzy -- i loved seeing them open up to each other and share their full selves with each other. THEYRE SO CUTE
the plot of the book was super cool! i think RLS did a good job of trying to spice up the idea of having the same thing happen every day, with barrett and miles doing so many different things, from driving to canada to adopting 15 puppies to tracking down a professor that seemingly disappeared from the face of the internet. it did get a bit repetitive toward the end (which is my main critique), tho i was still engaged the whole way through the book and i like the premise of the time loop in general
like the other RLS books i've read before, it's definitely an older YA - would recommend for 16+
thank you to netgalley & simon and schuster for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
CW: PTSD, panic attacks, sexual harassment (past), bullying (past), addiction (mentioned)
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
CW: anxiety, panic attack (on page), sibling with addiction, car accident, bullying (past)
I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-m/f new adult romance
-Jewish rep
-close proximity cause we're stuck in a time loop together
-competency kink
-slooooow burn
-opposites attract
I adored this book but let's be honest Rachel Lynn Solomon wrote it so of course I did. She personified that feeling so much of the expectation of going off to college and the endless possibility. And then trapping the characters in the first day. This book was fun, a bit bonkers, and just full of heart. I adored Barrett, fiesty, not much of a filter, and trying to not let her terrible experiences in high school holder her back.
And sweet gruff Miles. Every time she earned a smile from him oomph my heart. These two were so perfectly matched, putting up walls for so many different reasons. Not at all seeming like two people who would be a great couple but being that for each other, knowing when to offer the other support, or a sarcastic comment, or you know a dick tattoo.
This book mentions the OC, Felicity, and Veronica Mars so there was no way for me not to love it. Honestly I would have been fine being stuck in a time loop with these two forever.
Steam: 2
Disclaimer: I am social media mutuals with the author
Although I’m not usually too into Groundhog Day-esque books, I’ve really enjoyed Rachel Lynn Solomon’s other works. I was intrigued to see what she would do with this concept, and it turned out to be a lot of fun! In See You Yesterday, Barrett relives her first day of college over and over again — and maybe falling for the boy who’s stuck in the time loop with her.
After a hostile high school experience, Barrett is excited to become a different person in college. When her first day goes horribly, she can’t help but think that college is going to be miserable too. However, the next day, she wakes up and discovers that it’s the first day of college, again. She soon discovers that Miles, a boy in her physics class, is stuck in the time loop with her, and the two of them attempt to find a way out while also growing to know each other better.
I really liked Barrett’s character arc. In high school, she reported a story in her school newspaper that resulted in the entire school turning on her twice. She’s ready for a fresh start, but as time keeps looping, she eventually recognizes that you don’t become a new person in one day. It takes time, and sometimes you grow in ways you don’t recognize.
The characters were great! Barrett doesn’t let the world get her down; she’s determined, even if that determination is a little more chaotic than productive. Meanwhile, Miles is the opposite. He’s very logical and science-y to Barrett’s emotional and hand-wave-y. They both get to know each other better and begin to realize the other person’s good qualities in the process, even if they disagree a lot at the beginning.
Part of Barrett’s horrible first day includes waking up to realize that her former best friend Lucie. They haven’t been friends in years; instead, they’ve been very hostile toward each other, especially on Lucie’s side. I liked seeing them make up (several times, in different ways, across different days) and realize that they just grew apart as opposed to genuine antagonism.
The romance was very sweet! Again, Barrett and Miles are pretty much opposites, but both of their characteristics cause the other to open up. They also bond over being Jewish, while Miles shares how being half-Japanese has caused him to feel like even more of an outsider. I really liked reading about the progression of their relationship.
The plot itself was better than I expected. I just was scared it would be repetitive, but every day was fairly new. It was also very chaotic, as Barrett and Miles oscillate between genuinely trying to hunt down what caused them to be stuck, and giving up and doing the most chaotic thing they can think of that day. I couldn’t help but laugh at certain moments and overall found this book to be very fun.
See You Yesterday unravels a romance while stuck in a time loop. I really liked the characters and had a lot of fun with the plot. If you’re looking for a fun contemporary with a sweet romance and a slight sci-fi twist, I recommend you pick up See You Yesterday!
While this wasn't my favorite Rachel Lynn Solomon novel, I enjoyed the read because of the author's ability to craft characters and settings that are interesting and rich. She's also very conscious of the rep in her writing, which I appreciate.
This was my first "time loop" book and I think Rachel handled the trope well. The middle felt slow-moving, however, and I think it needed a bit more conflict to keep things engaging. Overall, not my favorite, but still a worthwhile read.
A thanks to Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.